USA > Wisconsin > The United States biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of eminent and self-made men, Wisconsin volume > Part 65
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Before removing to the West, Dr. Steele had writ- ten more or less for the "Methodist Quarterly Re- view," the "North American Review," the "Christian Examiner," and other eastern periodicals of a high order; also for the " Northwestern Christian Advo- cate," of Chicago; and the scholarly tone, vigor of thought and critical ability displayed in his writings undoubtedly aided in securing to him the presidency of this institution. His department is ethics and political economy. On the latter branch he has a work ready for the press. His class recitations in- spire, among the students of Lawrence University, a deep interest in the science of wealth, and his writings published upon it attract considerable at- tention from abroad.
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Dr. Steele, whose honorary title came from the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, in 1866, has had charge of the financial department of the college most of the time since he settled in Appleton, and has done a vast amount of work out- side his duties indicated by the curriculum. In him are combined, in an eminent degree, what we do not always find in college-bred theologians- profound scholarship and excellent business talents. As a college president he is popular and successful, and has already passed beyond the average term.
In 1873 Dr. Steele spent about four months in Europe, visiting England, Belgium, Germany, Aus- tria, Switzerland, Italy and France, enriching his mind with the fruits of careful observation, keeping a diary by which he is enabled to refresh his own memory in reference to sights and scenes in the old world, and which he may some day publish in book form.
President Steele has represented the Wisconsin conference three times in the quadrennial general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church.
On the Ist of July, 1852, he was married to Miss Susan J. Swift, of Prophetstown, Massachusetts. They have had three children, one of whom is now living. Mrs. Steele is a well-educated woman, of
great executive abilities. She is president of the Woman's State Temperance Union of Wisconsin ; corresponding secretary of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church for Wisconsin; and usually does a great deal of public work. At the present time (April, 1877) she is en route to Europe, expecting to remain abroad about five months.
An intimate friend, an associate teacher, of Presi- dent Steele's states that he is a scholar of the sound and strong, rather than ornamental class. "His learning is of a wide range, embracing not only the usual classics of a college course, but some knowl- edge of oriental and modern European languages." The direction of his post-graduate researches has been largely theological, ethical and philosophical ; though for the last few years he has made a spe- cialty of political economy. His mind is logical and strong, and he has taken high rank as a writer upon some of the most difficult themes of modern thought. In personal character he possesses the most sterling and genial qualities. He estimates his own merit very modestly, and even disguises his learning by the simplicity of the speech of his social life, though his pulpit oratory is often stately and eloquent, as well as original and convincing.
PROF. CHRISTOPHER BACH, MILWAUKEE.
T `HE subject of this biography, a native of Nie- derhone, province of Hesse-Cassel, Prussia, was born on the 24th of March, 1835, the son of George Bach and Catarina Wollenhaupt. His father, a fresco-painter by profession, attained a considerable degree of celebrity in his locality; and it was his desire that his son should adopt the same occupa- tion. For a time Christopher worked with his father, but finding the business ill suited to his tastes, abandoned it. While still a youth he devel- oped fine musical talents, and after the death of his father, which occurred when he was about sixteen years old, he was enabled to devote himself to the cultivation of his musical powers. His favorite in- strument was the violin. Going to Eschwege, he placed himself under the charge of the celebrated Philip Muscat, musical director at that place, with whom he studied during the next four years. At the age of twenty years he left his native land, and
in company with his mother, two brothers and three sisters, sailed for America, arriving in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, his present home, on the 3d day of July, 1855. Though but a young man he at once under- took the task of organizing a military and string band. Selecting from those whom he could find six whom he deemed suitable to his purpose, he put them under a course of training, and gradually added to this number as he found talent suited to his need, and now has an orchestra of thirty and a military band of twenty-five pieces. This band has attained an enviable celebrity, and has no superior in the United States, aside from those of Thomas' and Gilmore's. His attention, however, has not been wholly devoted to the training of his band. Becoming a pupil of the celebrated Eduard Sobo- lewsky (a pupil of C. M. von Weber), he applied him- self with vigor, and completed his studies in thor- ough-base and musical composition. During his
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earlier life, while studying in Hesse-Cassel, he be- gan the composition of music for military bands, and after his arrival in Milwaukee continued com- posing and arranging operatic overtures. Later he engaged in a more general work of composition, and besides his band music and lighter pieces has com- posed and published works of a higher order, and become widely known for his superior musical tal -- ent. During the first ten years of his residence in Milwaukee he gave lessons on the violin and piano, but owing to his other manifold duties was com- pelled to abandon it. His success as a musical director was duly recognized, and he was sought to take charge of the orchestras in the theaters of the city, and is now leader of the orchestras of the two
German theaters, and of that of the Grand Opera House in Milwaukee, and also leader of one of the most successful singing societies in his State.
In 1874 Professor Bach visited Germany, and was there welcomed and most highly entertained by masters of music and celebrated composers. Dur- ing a recent trip to the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, he experienced a most happy surprise when he was complimented by his hosts of friends and admirers with serenade and supper.
He was married on the 21st of October, 1856, to Miss Maria Riemann, of Bishausen, Germany, by whom he has four sons and two daughters. The two eldest sons have developed marked musical abilities, and will follow the profession of their father.
EDWARD H. G. TREACHEM, M.D.,
MILWAUKEE.
T HE subject of this sketch, a native of Wells, Somersetshire, England, was born October 18, 1821. His father, Thomas Treachem, was formerly an extensive silk and woolen manufacturer. By reason of business reverses he was for some years occupied in the management of an academy, and during that time acquired great notoriety as a news- paper correspondent. About 1830, without his knowledge, his friends secured for him a lucrative appointment under the English government, which, however, his self-denying determination to enter the church forced him to decline. Being censured by his friends for the course which he had chosen, he was too proud to submit to what he considered an insult to his conscience and manhood, and accord- ingly embarked with his family and property for the United States, settling, in 1831, in Onondaga county,
New York. After one year of theological study under Rev. Joseph Clark, he was ordained by Bishop Onderdonk, of New York. He was a man of thorough education, and labored with zeal and energy in his Master's work until 1849, when he died, mourned by all who knew him. His last words to those who stood by his bedside were : "And now, brethren, I commit you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified." His devoted wife, Elizabeth, survived him a number of years, but never recovered from the loss of her husband, and passed away in the same peace of a
living faith that had ever marked her life. Their example has been a potent influence in moulding the characters of their children. Edward H. was early instructed in the English branches by his father, and after his arrival in this country studied in the academy at Skaneateles until the removal of the family to Nunda, Livingston county, New York. Later, he studied at the academies of Canandaigua, East Bloomfield and Richmond, and received a liberal education. Upon closing his studies, in 1839, his purpose was to enter the legal profession, an ambition, however, which he abandoned, and fol- lowing the advice of a prominent physician and his father's desire, entered the office of Dr. Harvey Jewett, of Canandaigua, New York, and after three years of hard study graduated, in 1843, from Hobart Medical College, of Geneva, New York, and there began the practice of his profession. In 1844 he formed a partnership with Josiah Clark at Livonia, which, however, was soon dissolved, and he con- tinued his practice alone in the same place until 1855, when he removed to Warsaw, Wyoming coun- ty, New York. Not satisfied with having abandoned his purpose of studying law, he entered the office of Judge Tinus W. Thayer, formerly a partner of ex- Senator Doolittle, and during his first year made most satisfactory progress. He was, however, again doomed to disappointment, being compelled by the illness of his wife to relinquish his purpose. Leav- ing Warsaw he, in 1858, established himself in
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medical practice at Olean, New York, where he re- mained until 1865, when he returned to Warsaw and opened a drug store in connection with his profes- sion. In 1867 he suffered the entire loss of his store and office by fire. One year later he settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, his present home, and be- came identified with the interests of the south side. He has since entered heartily into many charitable and religious projects, being an earnest, consistent and leading member of the Protestant Episcopal church.
Politically, he was formerly a Henry Clay whig, but upon the dismemberment of that body became identified with the democratic party. In 1860 he strongly advocated the nomination of Stephen A. Douglas, and rendered good service during the can- vass in his behalf. At the opening of the rebellion he espoused the Union cause, and canvassed his district for recruits, never allowing party spirit to blind him to the interests of his country. He be- lieved that the South had brought the calamity upon herself. His course in advocating the prosecution of the war was duly appreciated, and he was nomi- nated on the democratic ticket for the State legis- lature. His opponent, Hon. W. P. Angel, at one time a prominent lawyer and politician, was a good man to poll his party's vote, and yet the popularity of Dr. Treachem, although he was defeated by two hundred votes, was so great that Mr. Angel ran eight hundred votes behind his ticket. He has held
several political positions, although in no sense a politician. During the war he was commissioned surgeon several times, but was prevented from entering the army by the severe and protracted ill- ness of his wife.
He has been twice married : first, in 1845, to Miss Elizabeth Wright, eldest daughter of Samuel Wright, late of East Bloomfield, New York. They had two children, Samuel Edward and Charlotte Elizabeth. Mrs. Treachem died of typhoid fever in 1854. In January, 1856, he was married to his present wife, Mary Isabella McElwain, eldest daughter of Hon. John A. McElwain, of Warsaw, New York. They have one child, John McElwain Treachem.
Although Dr. Treachem has suffered several financial reverses in the practice of his profession, he has been eminently successful. His great aim is to use his professional skill for the good of his fel- lows, and to this end he has labored among the poor without compensation, as faithfully as among the more highly favored of his patients. The same qualities that have gained for him the love of the poor and afflicted have marked him in his private character of husband, father and friend, and have won for him the esteem of all who know him. He las two brothers living, Drs. J. G. and William Treachem, of Racine, Wisconsin. His eldest broth- er, Dr. Thomas M. Treachem, of Auburn, New York, recently died in that city in the triumph of an ever-living Christian faith.
EDWARD D. HOLTON,
MILWAUKEE.
E DWARD DWIGHT HOLTON, son of Joseph and Mary (Fisk) Holton, was born at Lancaster, New Hampshire, April 28, 1815. In his earlier years he worked upon the farm where he was born. Left to the care of his mother when very young, she, when he was fourteen years old, indentured him as merchant's clerk to D. Smith, of Bath, New Hamp- shire, for a term of four years, for which he was to receive the salary of thirty-five dollars per year.
His education was what the common school af- forded: but, fond of books and anxious to acquire knowledge, he diligently applied himself to study during his spare hours, and gathered sufficient knowledge to qualify himself for teaching. At the close of his indenture he returned to his native vil-
lage, where he taught school a year; after which he resumed his position as clerk, and entered a store in the town of Lisbon, New Hampshire. But his former employer, who had important mercantile interests in Buffalo, New York, desirous of securing the services of a trusty agent to look after them, remembered the faithful and intelligent boy whom he had trained to business, and offered the place to young Holton, who gladly accepted it. Accordingly, in the spring of 1837, Mr. Holton proceeded to Buffalo and as- sumed the responsible position of book-keeper and cashier in the shipping and forwarding house of M. Kingman and Co., and continued to act in that capa- city, to the complete satisfaction of his employers, nearly four years. At the end of that period, in the
Jair afollow
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fall of 1840, having determined to become a mer- chant, and believing himself qualified for a more independent place, he resigned his position, pur- chased goods on his own account, and proceeded to Milwaukee, then a frontier town with scarcely more than one thousand inhabitants, where he opened a store and carried on a prosperous and constantly increasing business until 1850.
In 1849 Mr. Holton, believing that something should be done to open up the rich prairies of the interior and develop the latent resources of the State, interested himself in the organization of a railroad company, that should traverse the State westward from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi, and labored unceasingly and successfully in raising stock for the proposed road. He became its active manager and financial agent, and remained con- nected with the great enterprise until it was com- pleted to Prairie du Chien. Before the completion of the road the management fell into difficulty, and defaulted upon the payment of the interest of the bonds, and the bondholders were clamorous for a foreclosure, and demanded possession of the road. This was resisted by the management on the ground of injustice to the stockholders and other creditors, because, as they believed, there was abundant value in the property for a fair return to each and all of the creditors and owners. In this view Mr. Holton earnestly participated, and, as a member of the legis- lature of the State in 1860 and 1861, carried through a law called a readjustment law, by which the bond- holders were permitted to take possession of the road, with a new bond or preferred stock as they might elect, having a first lien, and the subsequent liens and ownerships to be preserved intact, and deriving dividends in their order as first, second, third and fourth classes, and the revenues of the property being employed for the payment of divi- dends on these classes; and in the event of no revenue to either of the classes in any one year, there should be no loss of ownership or position, but it simply waited until revenue enough should accrue, when it should draw its dividend or interest. The ownership of the road, then reaching to nearly eight million dollars, embraced citizens widely scat- tered over this country and Europe, and involved the assent, especially of first-mortgage holders, to carry this scheme into successful operation. It was a novel scheme, and to most persons seemed impracticable. Mr. Holton, who thoroughly be- lieved in its feasibility, and had the satisfaction of
witnessing its accomplishment, and of bearing an important part in its consummation, and, further- more, at an early day after the adoption of the plan, of seeing the increase of the property to be fully adequate to the payment of the interest, and full dividends paid upon each and all of the several classes, so that the common stock at length reached as high a figure as two hundred per cent. in the New York market, thus more than fulfilling all of his promises touching the pioneer railroad of the State.
In 1852 Mr. Holton became the president of the Farmers and Millers' Bank of Milwaukee, a small institution of fifty thousand dollars capital, then re- cently organized, and in operation under the new banking law of the State. In this, as in all the enter- prises that engaged his attention, he bent his ener- gies, and speedily carried the stock of this bank from fifty thousand dollars to half a million, and continued in its successful management for ten years. During this period very considerable dis- turbances arose in Wisconsin banking, owing to grave defects in the law regulating banking, in this, that there was no central redemption; and banks were started in great numbers throughout the State and in inaccessible portions of it. Currency at this period came from Georgia and other States careless of their legislation, and threatened to flood the coun- try with irredeemable paper. Mr. Holton was among the first to point out this threatened danger, and was fearless in attacking through the press, in public addresses, and in pamphlets, this great evil, and at the same time in demanding that the banks of the State should fix upon some place or places to re- deem their issue. The greatest excitement pre- vailed, and this war raged high and called down upon his head the loudest imprecations of all those engaged in this species of wild-cat banking, and finally ended in a bank riot and mob in the city of Milwaukee. Fortunately, justice triumphed, and Mr. Holton is believed to have been instrumental in heading off large amounts of this irresponsible currency from entering the State, and this saved the people from loss to the extent of millions.
Early in 1862 President Lincoln conferred upon Mr. Holton the appointment of allotment commis- sioner, Congress having authorized the appointment of three for each State; the object of which was to secure to the soldiers an allotment of their pay, or a part thereof, to their families or friends, and thus save from waste in the camp vast sums that would be valuable if sent home. Quitting his large and
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varied business, he gave himself personally to this work, following the Wisconsin regiments from State to State, traversing many of the western and south- ern States, and, with his associates, was instrumental in securing large allotments from the regiments vis- ited. In devoting himself to his duties as commis- sioner, together with the change of climate and exposure, he contracted disease, and was compelled to return north. After many months' illness, finding himself weak and prostrate, his health greatly im- paired, he returned his commission to the President, unable further to execute it. He also resigned the presidency of his bank, first, however, having taken steps to bring it under the new national law as a national bank, and in the summer of 1863, with his family, sailed for Europe, bearing influential letters from Secretary Seward and others. While in Europe, he imparted much information to the inhabitants concerning American affairs, and removed many prejudices. During this absence he wrote letters, which were published in the Milwaukee "Sentinel," and were read with interest by the public.
At the expiration of a year Mr. Holton and family safely returned from their European journey, and retired to his farm in the suburbs of Milwaukee, and, seeking the best Devon cattle, the best Southdown sheep, and the best Morgan horses, made a practi- cal demonstration of what he knew about farming.
After the great Chicago fire he was called from his retirement to take the management of the North- western National Insurance Company, with a paid- up capital of only one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and he has brought it, within the three years, to one of the strongest and soundest companies in the country, its assets in this brief period increasing to a million of dollars. In connection with his ser- vices as manager of the Northwestern National In- surance Company, he has taken an important part in organizing and maintaining the International Board of Lake Underwriters, of which he has been presi- dent from its organization to the present time, whose field of operations embraces all the great lakes and connecting rivers, and the ports of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Mr. Holton is a prominent member of the National Board of Trade, having been its president, and often appointed upon important committees. In the an- nual conventions of that body he has ever been fearless in the expression of his views, and taken bold and advanced ground as the public weal seemed to require. Being a fluent and eloquent speaker, a
ready and able debater, he never fails to hold the attention of any assembly he addresses. Having a large experience, and endowed with rare penetra- tion, he seldom hesitates to discuss any important matter of public interest. In 1869, for instance, he made an able and telling speech before the National Board of Trade at Richmond, Virginia, on the sub- ject of our national finances, in favor of returning to a specie basis, which subject was referred to a spe- cial committee, of which Mr. Holton was a member, who reported resolutions recommending the restora- tion of the specie standard of value at the earliest practicable period. During the same session he also spoke on the question of government subsidies to internal improvement, taking strong ground in oppo- sition thereto. On questions of improvements and extension of our great rail and water highways he has manifested the same interest, and has been very active in forwarding all such improvements, but conservative in respect to methods, especially when interfering with the powers of the State.
In politics, Mr. Holton, in his early advent to the then Territory of Wisconsin, was elected, without any solicitation on his part, high sheriff of the county of Milwaukee, embracing at that time what are now the counties of Ozaukee, Washington, Waukesha and Milwaukee. This was in 1843. In the year 1844 the anti-slavery question had a wide and thor- ough examination in the city of Milwaukee, and out of it grew the organization of the liberty party of the State of Wisconsin. In this Mr. Holton became deeply interested, and from that time acted with unabated zeal and fidelity with the political abo- litionists of the country, carrying the discussion into church as well as state. He was frequently a can- didate of this party, and was run for congress in the infant days of this organization. In 1853 he became the nominee of the free-soil party of Wisconsin for governor against William A. Barstow, democrat, and J. C. Baird, whig, concentrating, for the first time in the history of the State, a large free-soil vote. In 1856, without any seeking of his own, on the ground not only of his anti-slavery sentiments but of his advanced opinions respecting State rights, he was nominated as one of the prominent candidates for United States senator, the other two being J. R. Doolittle and T. O. Howe. He however withdrew from the field, leaving Mr. Doolittle, who held simi- lar opinions, to be made United States senator. He is a staunch republican, but no partisan, and is not a politician in the modern acceptation of that term.
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In religion Mr. Holton is a Congregationalist. He embraced religion at the early age of seventeen. In this, as in business matters, he has given much time and attention, entering earnestly in furthering any measure for the extension of Christ's kingdom, the erection of churches, and the strengthening of the various missionary and benevolent organizations connected therewith. He has been president of the Home Missionary Society, and vice-president of the American Missionary Association. He became a total abstainer from all intoxicating drinks early in life, and has ever maintained these principles. In his active business life he has not forgotten the
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