The United States biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of eminent and self-made men, Wisconsin volume, Part 8

Author: American Biographical Publishing Company
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Chicago : American Biographical Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1108

USA > Wisconsin > The United States biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of eminent and self-made men, Wisconsin volume > Part 8

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He may not possess the highest order of intuitive genius : he may never have been able to write " Pil- grim's Progress," nor "Paradise Lost," nor " Ham- let." Whatever of intellectual excellence he pos- sesses arises from the deep earnestness of his moral nature, which leads to concentrated thought and to that discipline of his mental faculties to which he has subjected them through long years of laborious study -labor necesse est excellentice. No truly great man was ever flattered by flattery, and Mr. Ryan has no trait of character more positive than his in- stinctive aversion to the language of panegyric as applied to himself. No person ever praised him

generously without risking his contempt. With a profound reverence for ability in others, endowed with a clear perception of the just claims of real merit, but abhorring the arts which secure a mere- tricious reputation, he owes his position at the bar and on the bench to none of those adventitious cir- cumstances which usually attend public promotion. But Mr. Ryan, as a whole, is remarkable for no sin- gle peculiarity, but rather for a combination of pe- culiarities. His mind is an aggregation of superior powers, harmonious, and yet diverse. He is a ready and impressive orator, and yet a writer of remarka- ble accuracy and beauty of diction. His prepared lectures are finished models of literary composition, but scarcely less so than his addresses extempor- aneously spoken. At the bar, in the lecture-room and on the bench his speech is always affluent, ex- pressive and precise; while he never hesitates for a phrase, no phrase escapes him which is not of strik- ing import, by reason of the compactness and grace of its structure. In logical strength and in that mental power of quick and searching discrimination which is the highest manifestation of a purely intel- lectual ability, he is without a superior. In the rhetoric of invective, in the recitation of prosaic fact, or in the analysis of dry details, and in rapid, terse and impressive argument, he possesses a power of apparently exhaustless resources. In the ordinary practice of his profession no flaw of the law, no per- version of the truth, no weakness of the judge es- capes his observation, or evades discovery and expo- sure. With mental faculties thus comprehensive, disciplined and critical is combined a physical tem- perament naturally sensitive, which inspires every mental act with electrical energy. Thus constituted, no question, whether of law or politics, is subject to his investigation which is not illuminated by the light of his genius or solved in the fire of his criticism. Tetigit nihil non ornavit. It has been said that qual- ities like those which distinguish Mr. Ryan rarely comport with the conservative character of the judge; that he is better fitted for the contests at the bar than for the deliberations of the council chamber. This would be true of many men of equal or greater ce- lebrity, but of less varied and comprehensive genius. It might have been partially true of Mr. Ryan before the softening influences of mature age had endued him with that intellectual calmness which best befits and adorns the exercise of strictly judicial duties. But it cannot be truly said of any man that, simply because of his great ability in all departments of

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mental labor to which he has been called, he is un- fitted for the particular department to which fortune or his own convictions of duty may summon him. Julius Cæsar was the most distinguished warrior of his age. He was an orator of so high an order that many thought him the rival of Cicero. He was one of the wisest of the senators. He conversed with the magi of the east concerning the sources of the Nile and the mountains of the moon. He was the best historian of his day, and his "Commen- taries " is the text-book of our day. He was withal a passionate lover. No man was ever great without strong passions. They are the winds that drive the vessel ahead. This delineation of Mr. Ryan's char- acter would be imperfect, and a gross injustice to truth would be done, were I to omit to mention

another prominent and most creditable characteris- tic of the man, a quality which has been the guar- dian of his youth, the crown of his manhood and the consolation of his mature years. I refer to his profound reverence for the Deity, and that spirit of humility and devotion to religious duty which have ever characterized the lives of the truly great.

In view of Mr. Ryan's forensic efforts at the bar, the brilliant flashes of his genius and the pitiless sarcasm of his wit; in view of his luminous opinions as a judge, in which he reasons with the force of logic and the certainty of demonstration; in view of his varied learning and classic taste, as exhibited in his lectures, and in view of the purity of his personal character, he may say with as much truth as any man can, Exegi monumentum ære perennius.

JAMES B. MARTIN,

MILWAUKEE.

JAMES BAYNARD MARTIN, a native of Bal- timore, Maryland, was born on the roth of August, 1814, and is the son of John and Maria Martin. His ancestors settled in Maryland at an early day and both his parents were natives of the eastern part of that State. James' early ambition was to become a merchant, and he never ceased to foster the desire until he saw its realization He was educated at St. Mary's College, Baltimore, and after closing his studies accepted a position in the commission house of Messrs. Matthews & Hopkins. The following incident, which has had a wonderful effect in molding his character as a business man, occurred a few days after entering upon his work, and is worthy of record. Calling him into the counting-room, Mr. Matthews said, "James, how does thee like the place?" He replied, "I am pleased that I came." "Then, come here to me," and looking him steadily in the face, he said : "I want thee to remember two or three things, without which thee can never be successful. Always give good weight - good measure -and never deceive or take advantage of a customer. I noticed that thee had gloves on yesterday when delivering goods - did thee ever know a muzzled cat to catch a rat ?" "No, sir; but I do not understand what you mean." " I would advise thee," said the wise Quaker merchant, "when at business never to wear gloves." To these lessons then learned, to the in-

structions and advice then received, Mr. Martin at- tributes the success of his life. In 1845, removing to Wisconsin, he settled at Milwaukee, and at once en- gaged in merchandizing and in real estate opera- tions. Later he engaged in the milling business, and during a period of thirty-nine years conducted his various business enterprises with success, and has accumulated an ample fortune. In buying and shipping wheat he has taken the lead. In 1873 he shipped on his own account over four million bush- els, and over five million five hundred thousand in the following year. During all these years of active business he showed a most worthy public-spirited- ness, and his name has been associated with many of the most important interests of his city. By the erection of many fine buildings he has contributed a lasting benefit, both by increasing the beauty of Milwaukee and enhancing the value of real estate. Mr. Martin is preëminently a business man, and if we were to seek for the secret of his remarkable success, we should find it in the manner in which he has always conducted his affairs. He has always given his business his personal supervision, and by his thorough knowledge of all its minor details has been able to grasp opportunities and turn them to his interest. When asked by one, inquisitive to learn the secret of his success, how much he was worth and how he had made his money, to the first inquiry he replied, " None of your business ; " to the

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second, "I made one-half of what I am worth by minding my own business, and the other half by letting other people attend to theirs." Eccentric as it may seem, the incident unfolds the true secret of business success and is worthy of remembrance.

In political matters, Mr. Martin holds very de- cided views, and though a democrat from early life, has never been a partisan, but always supports for

office him whom he regards most worthy and best fitted, regardless of party distinctions or prejudices. He has never, however, taken any official positions, his business having wholly engaged his attention.

In his religious communion, he is connected with the Episcopal church. He was married on the 23d of December, 1835, to Miss Eliza Yates, of Utica, New York.

MATT H. CARPENTER,

MILWAUKEE.

M ATT H. CARPENTER was born at More- town, Washington county, Vermont, on the 22d of December, 1824, the very day Daniel Web- ster delivered his great oration on Plymouth Rock in commemoration of the landing of the Pilgrims. It is not certain that he received any inspiration at his birth from the fact that Webster's intellect was, at that moment, in full play, but it is certain that his having been born on that day did not inspire him with Puritanism, for no man enjoys a more painful freedom from that gloomy bent.

His mother died when he was eleven years of age, and he went to live in the family of Hon. Paul Dil- lingham, at Waterbury, Vermont, and this was his home while he remained in Vermont. In 1843 he was appointed a cadet at West Point, on the recom- mendation of Hon. John Mattocks, then member of congress from that district. In 1845 he went on furlough with his class, and, in consequence of ill health, resigned and resumed his studies in the office of Mr. Dillingham. He was admitted to the bar in Montpelier, Vermont, in the spring of 1847, and went immediately to Boston and entered the office of Hon. Rufus Choate, as student, and was admitted to the bar of the supreme judicial court of Massachusetts, in the spring of 1848. No man ever enjoyed a better opportunity to round out a legal education than he enjoyed while with Mr. Choate, who became very fond of him, always treated him as a son, and took great pains to instruct him in the intricate mat- ters of the law. During a part of the time Mr. Choate's eyes failed him, and Mr. Carpenter acted as amanuensis, and thus enjoyed a rare opportunity not only for legal but literary culture. When Car- penter was admitted Mr. Choate aided him in pro- curing a law library, and gave him money to start West. He removed to Beloit, Wisconsin, and com-

menced the practice of his profession with three dollars and fifty cents in his pocket. He claims to have held his own well financially, though he says he has more frequently had less than more. He had been in Beloit about four weeks when he was at- tacked by inflammation of the eyes, and was under medical treatment for three years, the last year in the Eye Infirmary in New York, a patient of Dr. Kearney Rogers, and for about one year of this time he was very nearly totally blind. During all this time Mr. Choate loaned him the money to pay his bills, and on recovery of his eyesight he returned and resumed practice at Beloit. On one occa- sion while in the asylum he had no money to pay his board, and wrote to Mr. Choate to that effect, as he had been invited to do. But, to his dismay, he received no answer. Some ten days elapsed, and still no answer. The boarding part of the asylum was then kept by an excellent lady, Mrs. Green, who was poor herself and unable to give credit, though her kind heart would have led her to feed all man- kind if she had been able. Receiving no reply from Mr. Choate he frankly stated to his landlady his sit- uation, and advised with Dr. Rogers as to what could be done. The doctor said to him if he had no false pride in the matter, the best thing was to go over to the Bellevue Poor House; that he, the doctor would go with him and commend him to the superintendent, and would come there and continue to treat him. Mr. Carpenter said he would go. This was Saturday; and Monday morning Doctor Rogers was to call and take him in his carriage over to the poor house. But Sunday morning Mr. Car- penter received a letter from Mr. Choate sending him a plenty of money, saying he had nearly worked himself to death, and his physician had packed him nolens volens on a steamer and sent him to England ;

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that in the hurry of his departure he had entirely forgotten to make provision for Mr. Carpenter, and concluded as follows : " I sincerely hope my thought- lessness has not subjected you to any inconvenience, and I beg you will consider my purse absolutely at your disposal until you are healed. We all live for the future, and I have the utmost confidence both in your future and in your integrity, so draw upon me for whatever you want, and repay when you can." Such generosity could not be forgotten, and Mr. Carpenter has, since his more prosperous days be- gan, continued to practice it toward the needy within his reach and ability. In 1852 Mr. Carpenter was elected district attorney for Rock county. This in- troduced him into practice, and from that time his practice has continued to increase. In 1858 he removed to Milwaukee, where he has resided ever since. He made his first public speech at Beloit in the fall of 1848, in reply to a free-soil speech made there at that time by Hon. Charles A. Eldridge, since so distinguished as a democratic member of congress.

Carpenter remained a democrat until the firing on Fort Sumter, in April, 1861. The night before the election of Lincoln he made a speech at Watertown in favor of the election of Douglas, and predicted that should Lincoln be elected, the recruiting drum beat would be heard in the streets of that city within one year. Lincoln was elected, and the predicted drum beat was heard in half that time. In the fall of 186r, after a draft had been ordered, there was a great effort made to raise a company in Watertown, but with not very great success. The utmost excite- ment prevailed there, and some of the foreign born citizens residing near the town had packed up their traps and actually started for their native country. Several families on their way were stopped at Water- town by Secretary Stanton's famous "stay at home " order. The people telegraphed Carpenter to go there and make a speech. He went; arriving there in the evening they put him upon a dry-goods box in the street, and he spoke for two hours to a crowd of from three to five thousand. Before daylight the enlistments had nearly filled the roll of the company, and about half were foreign born, some of those who had started for Europe being among the number. Mr. Carpenter made the first speech in the North- west after the attack upon Fort Sumter. He con- tinued speaking all over the Northwest until the termination of the war; made more war speeches than any other man. At the conclusion of the war

when the constitutionality of the congressional plan of reconstruction was brought before the supreme court of the United States, he was selected by the government as counsel. He argued the case, but it never was decided. Reconstruction went on, on the plan Mr. Carpenter attempted to show to be consti- tutional. Mr. Carpenter is a man of distinguished ability, of logical mind, of extensive learning, of fervid eloquence, withal of genius, a quality rarely combined with logical power and statistical research, and these qualties have received the sanction of success. He has been successful in his eloquent appeals to the masses of his countrymen in support of his political views; he has been successful at the bar in the exhibition of his legal lore; he has been successful in the halls of legislation in com- manding respect for his statesmanship, as evidenced by his elevation to the presidency of the Senate of the United States, an honor under the circumstances unparalleled in the annals of that august body.

That a legislature of Wisconsin, which he mate- rially aided in creating, could have repudiated her favorite son is an evidence of ignorance so gross as to excite pity rather than contempt, or of ingratitude so base as to affix a lasting stigma upon its deliber- ations. The abiding sense of justice in the public mind is as well the incentive to the noblest actions as their ultimate reward. The days of trial and of trouble may come to Wisconsin, as they have come to other peoples, when she, like Athens of old, will find that she also had a Timon, and that her prayers may prove as fruitless in the latter case as in the former.

Mr. Carpenter's mother died when he was but eleven years of age. She was a devout Christian ; he was her first-born, and until the day of her death her favorite. She held him on her lap as he came to years capable of receiving mental impressions, and instilled into his mind and his heart a love of the Bible, and a woman's conception of the divinity and loveliness of our Saviour's character. She read and explained to him the striking events in the gos- pel narrative with eloquent feeling, and then, with the boy, on bended knees, prayed to God that the boy she loved so well might never forget the lessons she had taught him, nor fail to walk in the paths they pointed out. One half of her prayer was an- swered. No one can read the letters, speeches and arguments, or listen to the conversation, of Mr. Car- penter, without observing that the Bible is his classic and that he has studied it thoroughly. The other

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half of that mother's prayer has not been so thor- oughly answered. Sensitive, impressible and of poetic temperament, the beauties of scripture taught by a pious and eloquent mother could not fail to make a deep impression on his mind and to color his thoughts and speech. The theory of religion is merely intellectual, and may be correctly compre- hended; the beauties of the gospels may move the emotions, soften the heart and refine the sentiments, and yet the continuous daily walk, the earnest and solemn devotion of Christianity, may not be realized. It is one thing to admire, worship and weep; it is another and quite severer task to take up the cross

and follow faithfully. Peter believed and loved, and yet in an unexpected emergency he denied and cursed. Paul was less emotional but more stead- fast. Peter was an orator, Paul a philosopher. Peter could arrest the attention of the multitude and enlist their sympathies. Paul taught imperishable philos- ophy to be studied in the closet and absorbed by the intellect. The best leaders are not always the best followers; the best teachers are not always the best disciples. The hand that can strike the harp with the most entrancing effect may hold the shep- herd's crook, but is not fashioned to carry the heavy burden.

J. B. PARKINSON, A.M.,

MADISON.

J. B. PARKINSON, A.M., late professor of civil polity and international law in the University of Wisconsin, was born near Edwardsville, Madison county, Illinois, April 11, 1834. His parents were of southern birth, but came to Illinois at an early age. His father is a farmer, wedded to his calling. He received only such common school advantages as the newly settled West afforded, but is a man of excellent judgment and strong common sense. His mother was the daughter of a Presbyterian minister. She was a woman of vigorous intellect, of more than ordinary culture, of excellent literary taste, and withal a true Christian. She died when the subject of this sketch was but twelve years old, but not without leaving the impress of her teachings. She was a devoted and self-sacrificing mother. In 1836, just after the close of the Black Hawk war, Professor Parkinson's parents moved to Wisconsin, and settled upon a farm near Mineral Point, upon which his father still resides, at the ripe old age of seventy. The school privileges there were limited, but of such as could be secured, young Parkinson had the full advantage. The school-house, with its modern paraphernalia, was unknown, and apart- ments in private houses were made to take its place. But there is, after all, for natures suited to receive it, a beneficial educating influence in this pioneer life, in the rough, rude contact, with its stern privations. After having become well grounded in the primary branches of education, young Parkinson, in 1850, at the age of sixteen, entered the preparatory de- partment of Beloit College, and continued his

studies there nearly two years. In the spring of 1852, the California gold fever raged fiercely. His father having fitted out an expedition for an over- land trip to the Pacific coast, young Parkinson was placed in charge of it. After five months spent upon the plains, and three years of varied experi- ence in the mines of California, he returned home, not sadder, but wiser-full of hope-and with savings sufficient to carry him through college. In 1856 he entered the University of Wisconsin, and four years afterward graduated with the highest honors of his class. He was at once tendered a tutorship in the university, which he held for one year, and then resigned to accept the office of superintendent of schools of LaFayette county, to which he had been almost unanimously elected. In 1861 he was married to the daughter of Major Robert Gray, of Mineral Point, a native of Wiscon- sin, a woman of decided character, and one who has proved herself a model wife and mother. The leisure of a few of the first years of married life were spent in improving and beautifying a delightful country home. During those stirring times, Mr. Parkinson took an active part in the discussions of the day, and was regarded as a very forcible and effective speaker. He has always been a democrat in politics, though of a liberal type. After the war began, he took strong grounds in favor of its vigor- ous prosecution, and never saw the time when he thought it wise to entirely abandon the political organ- ization whose great leading principles he thoroughly subscribed. He was twice the nominee of his party

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for the office of State superintendent of public in- struction, making in each case an excellent run against the Hon. John G. McWynn, of Racine. In 1866, under the law reorganizing the State Uni- versity, he was appointed by Governor Fairchild a member of its board of regents. This position he held for one year, when he was elected to the chair of mathematics in the university, which professor- ship he held for six years, though during most of that time he also had charge of the departments of civil polity and political economy. In 1871 he joined with the three young men, with whom he is still associated, in the purchase of the "Madison Demo- crat," and was for some time upon the editorial staff. The paper at once took rank as one of the ablest journals in the State. During the same year he was chosen chairman of the democratic State central committee, which position, as well as his editorial connection with the "Democrat," he resigned at the close of the year. In 1873 he was elected professor of civil polity and international law in the State University, although the subjects pertaining to this chair had already been under his instruction since 1868. He has prepared a complete course of lectures upon the outlines of international law, which has been very highly commended; also par- tial courses in constitutional law and political economy. Questions of civil polity and economic science are those in which Professor Parkinson has always taken the deepest interest, yet his earnest, active nature chafed under the somewhat monot- onous duties of a professorship. In 1874 he re- signed his chair in the university, and resumed his editorial connection with the " Democrat," which

position he now holds. He is also at the present time president of the Wisconsin State Board of Centennial Managers. The basis of his intellectual character is that of a plain, practical common sense, which, together with his logical arguments and an- alytical acumen, render his conclusions convincing, to which he firmly adheres with the confidence of their truth. His style, as a writer, partakes of the qualities of his mind, simple, lucid and concise. He is a forcible speaker, with a well modulated voice and distinct enunciation. He is an able debater, and enjoys discussions. His power consists in the plainness of his propositions, the closeness of his reasoning and the earnestness of his manner. Op- position brings out his full strength, which it is diffi- cult to resist, and still more so to defeat. His habits are domestic, social and scrupulously moral. He is strongly attached to home and friends. Home is his sanctuary from the troubles of life, and friend- ship is a holy name. In manner he is dignified without affectation, and affable, without familiarity. In stature he is tall and spare, though strong and active. «His temperament is sanguine, nervous, with hope enough to aspire to high position, and nerve enough to reach it. His qualities of mind, natural and acquired, qualify him for the position of teacher of the science of law and of government, or for their administration. He is essentially a legislator. The position in which he would render the most service to his country would be as president of a university, the minds of whose inmates he would enlighten by his learning, and whose morals he would improve by his example. His greatest use- fulness would appear in the halls of legislation.

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The United States biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of eminent and self-made men, Wisconsin volume, Part 8

Author: American Biographical Publishing Company Publication date: 1877 Publisher: Chicago : American Biographical Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1108

Author: American Biographical Publishing Company
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Chicago : American Biographical Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1108