USA > Wisconsin > The United States biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of eminent and self-made men, Wisconsin volume > Part 27
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been admitted to all the courts of Wisconsin, as well as the circuit and district courts of the United States.
He is at present (1876) senior member of the firm of Warner and Ryan, and conducts a large, influen- tial and successful practice, giving his personal at- tention to the largest and most important cases. Aside from his legal practice, Mr. Warner has been a large operator in real estate, and has been actively interested in various other public and private enter- prises. In 1852 he was appointed postmaster of Kaukauna by President Fillmore, at which place he was chosen supervisor, justice of the peace, and town superintendent of schools. Since that time he has held the offices of town clerk, police justice, justice of the peace, city attorney, circuit court and United States commissioner for the eastern district of Wisconsin. With all enterprises connected with the welfare of his city he has been in hearty sym- pathy, and to his public-spiritedness she owes much of her present prosperity. He is a director of the First National Bank of Appleton, and president of the Northern Mineral Iron Company. He has erect- ed several large blocks and business places in Apple- ton, and is one of ten who have taken stock to the amount of seven thousand five hundred dollars each to build a large cotton factory.
In business he has had a varied experience, losing all of his property in Michigan during the crisis of 1836-40, and again, in 1848, losing most of his property through his (then) partner in Sheboygan. He commenced in Appleton with three hundred dollars, and from that small beginning, by indomi- table courage, economy, business tact and "push," has built up an extensive and remunerative business, and now lives in the enjoyment of an ample fortune. He is truly a self-developed type of the true Western
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man with the inherited large New England brain, and is still actively prosecuting with all diligence his profession and a large measure of varied busi- ness, and, while absent for recreation in the South during the spring of 1876, was chosen an alderman to represent the business ward of his city, without- his knowledge until his return.
His success may be attributed not alone to energy, enterprise and perseverance, but more to the fact that he turned them into the channel of his native inclinations and abilities, and to his strict integ- rity. Mr. Warner has a high social standing, and the practical knowledge he has gained · from his studies, travels and observation renders him a most agreeable companion. His political views are inde- pendent democratic- holding that good measures without good men to enforce them are antagonistic
elements. Though not a member of any church, he is a regular attendant upon the Congregational ser- vice, and a firm believer in the practical truths of Christianity, though not an admirer of creeds.
He was married, April 11, 1837, to Miss Polly Coomer (still living), and by her has one daughter, the wife of Henry D. Ryan, his law partner.
He is a man of quick perceptions, sympathetic feelings, prompt to resent an injury, ready to forgive a wrong carelessly committed, earnest in advocacy - making his client's cause paramount to all con- siderations - has no patience with laziness, but always has a considerate regard for involuntary suffering, is keenly methodical in everything, with wonderful executive ability, and insists on "making things move rapidly " around him. "Business first," is his motto.
RICHARD F. WILSON,
EAU CLAIRE.
R' ICHARD F. WILSON was born at Port Re- public, Maryland, on the 14th of May, 1825, the son of George W. Wilson and Mary Ann Wilson. His father was a merchant ; his mother's family were planters. His parents moved to Rushville, Illinois, in 1832; thence in 1844 to Dane county, Wisconsin. In consequence of the difficulties incident to so new a country, his parents were unable to give him a liberal education ; hence, at a very early period, he was thrown upon his own resources for such success in life as his natural ability would enable him to achieve. He received from nature the elements of character which if developed by education, observa- tion, or experience, would impress himself very sensibly upon the public mind, and, in a marked degree, give direction to public thought. The consciousness of these powers has never failed to animate and sustain him in all his various enter- prises, and he has rarely known such a word as fail. During his residence of twelve years at Madison he was by turn sergeant-at-arms to the legislature, assistant sergeant, transcribing clerk, agent of the State to select lands for the university and for the common schools, superintendent of locks on the Fox and Wisconsin river improvement, agent to select lands for the capital of the State, and to appraise those lands as well as those of the sixteenth section. He subsequently moved to Eau Claire, he
being one of the original proprietors of the land on which the city is built. The population of Eau Claire at the present time exceeds ten thousand inhabitants. The manufacture of lumber amounts to a hundred and sixty millions of feet annually, besides laths and shingles. There are two flouring- mills of large capacity, two foundries, machine shops, four district graded schools, eleven churches of the various Christian denominations, a court house which cost seventy-five thousand dollars, city hall twenty thousand dollars, post-office forty thousand dollars. The growth of this city is almost un- paralleled in the West, and if any one man can, while pointing to it with exulting pride and joy, say, "this is my work," that man is Richard F. Wilson.
Mr. Wilson was married at De Pere, Wisconsin, on the 29th of August, 1853, to Miss Martha Newton, the daughter of A. D. Newton, a missionary to the Indians of Lake Superior, his first location being at Mackinac. He was subsequently in the employment of the American Fur Company at La Pointe on Lake Superior. Mrs. Wilson was born at La Pointe and educated at Green Bay. She is a member of the Episcopal church, is a lady of rare personal attractions, of cultivated intellect, of amiable dispo- sition, and well qualified to wield a beneficent influence over not only her husband but over all others who come within the circle of her womanly
Mr 1
Phowilson
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charms. She has materially aided her husband in the accomplishment of his enterprises by her wise counsels, derived not so much from the deductions of reason as from that intuitive knowledge peculiar to her sex. If there are any truly self-made men, Mr. Wilson is entitled to that appellation. "Self- made " is an indefinite term, and conveys an inade- quate idea of the means, natural or acquired, by which men achieve success. The term is" well calculated to flatter the vanity of men, already too vain for efficiency in themselves or pleasure to
others. Nature gives men their capacities, circum- stances develop them. As their capacities vary, so must the means of their education. A college edu- cation may dwarf the giant proportions of some intellects, while it expands others. The world's criterion of merit is success, and with this ad- measurement Mr. Wilson has reached a high stand- ard. If he had lived in the classic days of Greece and Rome he would have been as much honored as the founder of a city as Romulus was of Rome, Cadmus of Thebes, or Queen Dido of Carthage.
J. S. DOUGLASS, A.M., M.D., Ph.D., MILWAUKEE.
D' R. J. S. DOUGLASS was born in the town of Westmoreland, Oneida county, New York, July 4, 1801. His father was a pioneer farmer, and dea- con of the Baptist church, and a man of considerable moral influence. His mother was a woman of rare mental and moral qualities ; her government, though strictly moral, was absolute ; disobedience on the part of her children was unknown, and yet a blow from her was never inflicted.
The Doctor in early life was feeble and delicate, and unable to work on the farm. He was fond of books and acquired learning enough at fifteen to teach a district school, in the meantime pursuing a course of collegiate studies with such success as to receive from the Madison University the honorary degree of A.M., and in 1870 the degree of Ph.D. After finishing his preliminary studies he commenced the study of medicine and graduated at the Fairfield Medical College, in 1824. He commenced practice in Oswego and soon had a large business. He mar- ried Miss Martha Pierson, who lived three years and died without issue. He changed his location to Vernon, and afterwards to Hamilton, New York Here he married Miss Frances M. Boardman, daugh- ter of Captain George Boardman, of Schenectady, and sister to the wife of the Rev. George W. Eaton, president of the university.
At this time his theory and practice of medicine underwent a radical change in favor of the homœo- pathic system, and soon after locating in Milwaukee, in 1848, he published for one year a monthly journal advocating that system, and a few years later a sim- ilar journal for one year. Since then he has published two books, one of which is a standard work, having
reached its thirteenth edition. He has also con- tributed annually many articles to the medical jour- nals. In 1855 the Doctor accepted the chairs of materia medica and of special pathology and diag- nosis in the Homœopathic Medical College at Cleve- land, Ohio, which he held three years. He has been a member of the American Institute of Homœopathy since 1847, for one year its president, and once its annual orator. In political sentiment he is a repub- lican of the abolition school. In religion he is what is termed orthodox, and a member of the Baptist church.
He has had six children ; all living except the eldest daughter. His wife, but a few years younger than himself, is a lady of culture, accustomed to lit- erary society, an amateur artist, and preserves her youthful and artistic tastes in a remarkable degree. Dr. Douglass is in the first rank in his profession in the State. He is a perpetual student, both of books and of nature. He is never so busy that he has not time to investigate the last idea, and appre- ciate the last discovery in medicine. He is no less skillful in using remedies than industrious in learn- ing them. He has good sense, rare discrimination, with strong powers of comparison and reasoning which distinguish the successful physician.
He is a botanist, and is known to the learned in that department of science, while in his own pro- fession the preparations brought to the notice of the profession, of our indigenous plants, have become important remedies to the profession.
He is as radical in the pursuit of improvements as the youngest enthusiast, yet he is prudent and con- servative, and insists on the proof furnished by ex-
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periment. He rejects no suggestion on account of its humble origin. Neither prejudice nor disgust stand in the way of inquiry, nor can aught but gen- uine merit command his assent. He is simple and unpretending in his private life, and seeks no place for himself. He does nothing to be seen of men. He is amiable, cheerful, and an agreeable compan- ion. He has strong convictions, yet charitable to others' opinions. No one for the want of money
was ever refused his aid, nor was any appeal made to his sympathy in vain. With the wisdom of expe- rience and the prudence of age he unites the zeal, the benevolence, and the interest in daily things which age is apt to lose. He is fresh in mind and warm in heart ; of all men of his age in this section of the country he is the youngest. So unassuming a man will not be fully appreciated until his patients shall be compelled to look for another to fill his place.
ORRIN W. BLANCHARD, M.D.,
DELAVAN.
O RRIN W. BLANCHARD, a native of Claren- don, Vermont, was born on the 22d of Octo- ber, 1808, and is the son of Willard Blanchard and Sarah née Platt. The family is of French origin, descended from a count of same name, and settled in Rhode Island five generations ago. His paternal grandfather was a soldier in the revolutionary war, and a pensioner until his death. His father, a far- mer by occupation, was a leading man in his town. He served in the war of 1812 as captain of a com- pany of "Green Mountain Boys." While at home on a furlough, before the battle of Plattsburgh, he received word to raise more volunteers and come as soon as he could, for a battle was expected. In obedience to the order he enlisted one hundred men, and returned to his company just in time for the battle.
He was a prominent member of the Baptist church, and died in Wisconsin in 1860, at the age of seventy-eight years.
Orrin's early tastes were to become a mechanic, but after closing his studies in the academy at Au- burn, New York, not being able to gratify his desire, he began the study of medicine under Dr. Daniel D. Wait, of Cayuga county, and later continued it with Dr. Cady, of the town of Senate, near Auburn, and afterward attended a course of lectures at Castleton, Vermont. Beginning his practice near Auburn, in 1828, under a diploma from the State of New York, he continued with good success till 1841, when he took his second course of lectures, and graduated from the medical college at Pittsfield, Massachusetts. His studious habits, his love for the profession he had chosen, his clear and compre- hensive mind, his early mastery of the fundamental principles, his conscientious devotion to the interests
of those entrusted to his care, had at the time of his graduation marked him as a man of more than ordi- nary ability, and he was at that early stage regarded as one of the few alumni who was destined to achieve distinction in his profession.
In the latter part of 1842 he removed to Wiscon- sin and established himself in practice at the city of Racine with Dr. B. B. Cary. Two years later his partner, having received an appointment from the government, withdrew, and Dr. Blanchard continued his practice at Racine for the next three years, dur- ing which time his business was very prosperous, and he became widely known as a careful, com- petent and successful physician and surgeon. Owing, however, to the delicate condition of his wife's health he was obliged to leave the lake shore, and abandoning his large practice removed to Delavan and opened a new field. During the twenty-nine years of practice in this place he has met with that success as a physician,- but more especially as a surgeon,-which follows as the result of thorough qualification, and constant, honorable effort. His devotion to his profession has absorbed his entire attention, almost to the entire exclusion of every other interest. Though he has annually earned from six to eight thousand dollars he has seldom made any effort to collect or secure his pay ; many who owe their lives to his tender, watchful care and his professional skill have never paid him a dollar for his services. While this characteristic has been at times seriously embarrassing to him financially, yet it has tended to exhibit in a stronger light his concentrated attention to the one grand object of his life. Dr. Blanchard has been especially noted, during the last twenty-five years, as a surgeon. He gave especial attention during his academic course
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to physiology and anatomy, and early familiarized himself, both by experiments and the study of the leading authors, with every part of the human sys- tem. Not content with a superficial knowledge of the principles of his profession nor with moderate success, he has from time to time purchased the leading works and consulted the best authors, and has consequently continually advanced in the sci- ence of his profession. His reputation as a surgeon has for many years extended beyond the bounds of his adopted county. Had he settled in Chicago he would probably have ranked in reputation among the best surgeons of the West. His thorough knowledge of medical jurisprudence has brought him into prominence in important trials as a witness, where he has ever commanded the respect and con- fidence of the court, counsel and jury.
In the year 1851 Dr. Blanchard was appointed assistant surgeon in the regular army, and spent three years in New Mexico in that capacity. While there, at the instance of the commander-in-chief, he performed a very difficult operation on the Spanish governor Armijo, for which he received a present of one thousand two hundred dollars in gold. During the late civil war he was appointed surgeon of the 40th Regiment of Wisconsin Volun- teers (one-hundred-days men), and at the expiration of their term was presented by his regiment with a beautiful gold-headed cane for meritorious conduct. It was his regular custom to go with his lantern at two o'clock in the morning and visit the sick and care for their wants; and by his constant kindness won the love and gratitude of all under his charge. He was afterward commissioned surgeon of the 49th Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers, and re- mained with it till the close of the war. In this regiment also he won the affections of the men, and they presented him, at the expiration of their term, with a valuable gold watch.
After the close of the war the Doctor resumed his regular practice, devoting much of his time, how- ever, to important surgical operations, and other cases that demanded special medical skill ; and his opinion is generally sought and almost uniformly respected by other physicians in important cases. Shortly after the close of the war his son, C. C. Blanchard, graduated from the medical college and entered into partnership with his father under the name of Blanchard and Son. They now do the leading business of the county, and it is not im- probable, judging from his success thus far, that the son will fully maintain, with the same experience, the reputation of his father.
Politically, Dr. O. W. Blanchard was a democrat until the breaking out of the recent civil war, when he identified himself with the war party; manifested his patriotism by inducing his three sons to enlist in the volunteer army, and by contributing his own services and skill as above stated. Since the war he has acted with the republican party.
His religious training was under Baptist influence, and he is now a consistent member of that church. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, and for seven years was master of the lodge in Delavan.
He was married on the 27th of March, 1831, to Miss Nancy Foster, of Arcadia, Wayne county, New York. There are three sons, the issue of said marriage, all residing in the county of Walworth.
Only those who have known Dr. Blanchard inti- mately for many years can fully appreciate his mer- its ; modest and retiring in manner, yet firm and self-reliant in his opinions when formed after careful investigation and mature reflection. Ever charitable and courteous to his professional brothers, never indulging in the petty scandals and insinuations too common among the members of his profession- when he shall have finished his labors here it will be truly said of him that he has not lived in vain.
FRED BERTSCHY,
MILWAUKEE.
F RED BERTSCHY was born in Ingolsherm, France, on the 14th of November, 1836. He was the son of Jacob and Margaret Bertschy, who were people of sterling and upright principles, and took great pains to instill into the mind of their son correct ideas of morality and honesty in all things.
Jacob Bertschy came with his family to America in May, 1845, and settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he became proprietor of the Mansion House, a hotel situated in that part of the city known as Kilburn Town. He was a very benevolent gentle- man, and took great pains in assisting immigrants
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from his own "sunny France " in purchasing lands in the United States, for which labor he received no remuneration. He still occupies an honored posi- tion among the pioneers of Milwaukee.
Fred Bertschy was but nine years of age when he crossed the Atlantic with his parents, and his edu- cation was acquired at the common schools of Mil- waukee. From his boyhood he had always desired to become a miller, and on leaving school he was put to work in a mill, where he thoroughly learned the business. Subsequently leaving the mill he entered the Second Ward Bank of Milwaukee as teller, where he remained two years; then went to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and worked in a mill about one year, when he returned to Milwaukee, and has ever since been a resident of that city. Soon after his return he erected a mill of his own, and began business for himself. At this time he had but very little capital, but by honest industry and attention to business he steadily progressed until 1868, when he met with some financial difficulties; these his native energy and perseverance soon overcame, and he is now doing a large business. Beginning with comparatively nothing, at the age of twenty-four he had accumulated the sum of eighty thousand dollars.
During the year 1874 he shipped to Europe one hundred and sixty-five thousand barrels of flour, and has made arrangements to manufacture during the year 1875 one hundred and eighty thousand barrels. His brand of flour brings the highest market price in New York for the foreign market. He is the only mill-owner in Milwaukee who is also a practical miller. To him belongs the credit of building the first steam mill in Milwaukee.
His religious views are those of the Protestant faith. He is a good citizen-as so earnest, indus- trious and honest a man must necessarily be - and enjoys the respect and confidence of the community.
On the 26th of July, 1863, he married Miss Johannalı Spangenberg, a most estimable lady, who has proven herself a "helpmate " to her husband in all respects. Her father, Mr. Spangenberg, is still a young man, who has much influence and con- siderable wealth, although he has lost large sums of money at different times through various specula- tions.
Since the above was written we have received the sad intelligence of the death of Mr. Bertschy. His actively useful life closed, after a severe illness, on the roth of June, 1876.
TERAH J. PATCHEN, M.D., FOND DU LAC.
T ERAH J. PATCHEN, a native of Butternuts, Otsego county, New York, was born on the IIth of November, 1818, and is the son of George Patchen, a farmer, and Phœbe née Rockwell. He passed his early life on his father's farm, but finding the narrow routine of farm life ill suited to his tastes, he early inclined to professional life. After receiv- ing a common English education in the schools of Painted Post, Steuben county, New York, he spent five years in teaching vocal music, his object being to procure means wherewith to prosecute his studies. During this time he gave his spare hours to the study of medicine, it being most suited to his taste. In 1845 he began the practice of his profession as a licentiate, under the laws of his State, and in 1852 graduated from the Ohio Homeopathic Medical College, at Cleveland, with the degree of M.D. During the next three years, he engaged in prac- tice at Bath, Steuben county, New York, and at the end of that time removed to Fond du Lac,
Wisconsin, and established a practice, which though small, gradually increased in extent and influence, until it has now (1876) become large and remunera- tive, and Dr. Patchen is widely known as a careful, skillful and successful physician. He was for a number of years president of the State Homœo- pathic Medical Society ; also holds an honorary degree from Hahnemann Medical College, of Chi- cago; is an honorary member of the Illinois State Homœopathic Medical Society, and also a member of the American Institute of Homoeopathy. Aside from his professional duties, he has always shown a most worthy public-spiritedness, and his name has been associated with many of the most important enterprises of his city. In 1870, his fellow-citizens honored him with the office of mayor, and in this capacity he rendered efficient service for the welfare of Fond du Lac. He has always taken a deep interest in the temperance cause, and during one year was grand worthy chief templar of his State
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Jy Patchin M. 2.
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and represented the State organization at the national convention held in Indianapolis and Nashville.
In his religious sentiments he is a Universalist, and heartily sympathizes with and supports all public and private charities, and works in every way in his power for the good of his fellow-men.
In his political views he is untrameled by party prejudices ; and supports for office him whom he considers most worthy and best fitted for the place.
Naturally of a social, generous and genial dispo- sition, he makes friends wherever he goes, and by his many gentlemanly qualities and expressions of
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