USA > Wisconsin > The United States biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of eminent and self-made men, Wisconsin volume > Part 80
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nence as a lake port town. There he read law and practiced until June, 1848, when he crossed the lake to Milwaukee. There he practiced until the autumn of 1849, when he removed to Strong's Landing, now the city of Berlin, in Green Lake county. Here for nearly thirty years he has been in legal practice, but has been called to fill so many positions of trust and responsibility, outside his profession, as to be able, of late years, to pay but little attention to it, except indirectly.
In 1852 Mr. Rogers was elected justice of the peace, and held the office twenty consecutive years. He was appointed municipal judge in May, 1870, and served five years. He was elected mayor in the spring of 1875, for the term of two years; reëlected in 1877, and now, in his seventy-first year, is at the head of the municipality. He is a true and competent man, and the citizens of Berlin delight to honor him. Few men have lived a more active life, and few of his age are as sprightly and in all respects so well preserved.
In early and middle life Mr. Rogers was an anti- slavery whig, and naturally drifted into the repub- lican ranks when that party was organized. He had long been a great admirer of Horace Greeley,
and voted for him for President in 1872. Mr Rogers is a conscientious and unselfish politician. While a resident of Michigan, after it had become a State, he was nominated against his wishes for member of the legislature, and took the stump against himself, aiding to elect his opponent, whom he considered a more competent man.
On the 29th of October, 1832, he was married to Miss Ether E. Hagar, daughter of Jonathan Hagar, esquire, of Middlebury, Vermont. They had six children, all born in Michigan, and five of them are still living, three sons and two daughters. The sons, Edward G., Josias N. and Frederic L., are lawyers, and living in St. Paul, Minnesota. Both daughters are invalids. The elder, Sarah L., is at home; and Harriet H. is in the St. Mary's Hospital, Milwaukee.
Mr. Rogers has seen a great deal of frontier life, but "roughing it " has neither broken his spine nor his spirits, nor injured his morals or manners. He is a courteous and kind old gentleman, standing as erect as in middle life, preserving the dignity of true manhood, and shrinking from no responsi- bility which his fellow-citizens deem proper to put upon him.
CHARLES J. L. MEYER, FOND DU LAC.
T `HE rapid development of the Northwest has been prolific in the development of men of talent. The great industries of the country have brought forth a brilliant display of genius, which proves that the victories of peace are greater than those of war. Prominent among those who have contributed to this progress is Charles J. L. Meyer, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
Mr. Meyer was born in Minden, west Prussia, in May, 1831. His father was a joiner and manu- facturer of sash and doors. Up to the age of four- teen his life was spent in school. As a boy, he was remarkably fond of study, and had an aptness for acquiring knowledge. He was of a retiring dispo- sition, and often preferred seclusion to companion- ship. In all his undertakings he displayed intensity of application. This characteristic has distinguished him through life.
During the last year of his attendance at school the Governor of the Province made a visit of in-
spection. Young Meyer, being the first scholar of the institution, was called before the governor and put under a rigid examination. The ready and in- telligent replies from so youthful a student interested the governor, and he immediately proposed to qualify him for the service of the State, with the assurance of his protection and favor. The youth, however, had determined to follow the calling of his father; and though fully aware that he was declining an offer which would have been gladly embraced by those whose worldly prospects were greater than his, he had resolved to win or lose in the struggle of life by his own efforts.
On leaving school he entered his father's work- shop, and spent three years in acquiring the trade. The business, as conducted in a small Prussian town, was not sufficient for the ambition of the young mechanic, and he resolved to seek a new field for his labor. Bidding adieu to his home and country, he left for America with a few friends and
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Chalup fellyer
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only sufficient means to reach the shores of the western continent.
Arriving at New York, and finding the great city was not suited to his tastes, he resolved to go west, and took passage on an Erie canal boat bound for Buffalo. After a successful ocean voyage, Mr. Meyer encountered the first perils of navigation at Syracuse. The canal had suffered a break, and farther west- ward progress was blocked. Our traveler, being without means to defray the expenses of detention, sought employment in Syracuse. then only a small place, but failed. Nothing discouraged, he took the highway eastward in search of employment, deter- mined to accept the first that offered. His first suc- cess was an offer from David Collins, junior, a farmer at the little village of Fayetteville, about twelve miles from Syracuse, to work on a farm, at five dollars a month. It was accepted; and here the young German's talents were soon discovered, and at the end of the term of his agreement the satisfied farmer voluntarily gave him six dollars, instead of five, as was agreed. The succeeding winter was occupied in cutting cordwood, splitting rails, making saw-logs, and in doing any available work.
In the spring the father of farmer Collins erected a saw-mill, and Mr. Meyer assisted the millwright, who was so pleased with his dexterity in the use of tools that he persuaded him to remain and learn the trade of millwright. After one year at this business he found the exposure too great in the severe winters, and he abandoned it. He then re- turned to Syracuse, and spent a year in learning the wagon-making trade. In 1855 he concluded to go farther west ; came to the city of Chicago, where he worked six months at the wheelwright business, and then moved to Fond du Lac, at that time a small city of four or five thousand inhabitants, since grown to about sixteen thousand.
Here Mr. Meyer, in a very small shop, commenced business on his own account. He made sleighs, filed saws, carried on general joiner work, and made sashes, doors and blinds. His work was all per- formed by hand, and at first chicfly by himself. But his business grew, and in 1859 he spent five months at the East, making himself acquainted with the best kinds of machinery applicable to his trade. On his return the work of enlarging and expanding his business began. He first rented steam-power, as his means were yet insufficient to build a factory.
In 1861 he erected his first shop, the work of building being performed by himself and brother.
He put in a small steam-engine, and this was the real starting point from which the colossal business now carried on by Mr. Meyer has grown.
From the first start his shops have been crowded with work; every venture has been crowned with success; and the resolve of the boy, that he would one day distinguish himself, has been amply fulfilled. He now ranks as one of the largest manufacturers of sash, doors and blinds in the world, and the pro- ducts of his workshops may be found in every direc- tion. His business career has been one of marvelous prosperity, and the short period of time in which his immense trade has been created tells the story of the exhaustless energy, tact and skill of the man who has accomplished such great results.
In 1866 Mr. Meyer built two large factories, one being one hundred by two hundred feet, three sto- ries high ; the other fifty by one hundred and eighty feet, two stories high. The great consumption of lumber induced him to cut the material for the sup- ply of his factories; and in 1868 he erected a saw- inill, with a capacity for cutting one hundred thou- sand feet a day, and in connection with it a shingle mill. He established a depot in Chicago for the sale of his goods, through which an immense trade has been acquired ; and subsequently he erected in the same city a branch factory, sixty by one hundred and twenty feet, five stories high, with an addition, thirty by sixty feet, two stories high, at the foot of North Water street, on the North Pier. The Chicago factory is devoted to the manufacture of stairs, stair railing, balusters, etc. In connection with this is an extensive lumber yard, the trade in dressed lumber being a principal feature.
The ground covered by his buildings, lumber yards, etc., in Fond du Lac, comprises over fifty acres, and the floor room of his various factories, mills and warehouses, contains over two thousand two hundred and twenty square feet. To operate his various machinery six large steam-engines are used, and employment is given to nearly one thou- sand hands.
This grand success is not the work of chance, but of a superior intellect, keen perceptions, ready dis- cernment, and great executive ability. Personally, Mr. Meyer is most courteous and genial, and is dis- tinguished by his large-heartedness and liberality.
Notwithstanding the multiplicity of his engage- ments, he has filled the offices of alderman and mayor of the city; was delegate for the State at large to the National Republican Convention held at Phila-
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delphia; was the organizer of the Northwestern Union railroad, of which he was president for three years, and is still a director.
Mr. Meyer was married in August, 1852, to Miss Elizabeth Hax, a lady of excellent womanly quali-
ties, by whom he has had five children. The eldest son is now a valuable assistant in the management and conduct of this vast business, and although yet young, has developed business qualifications of a very high order.
HON. WILLIAM STARR, RIPON.
W TILLIAM STARR was one of the pioneer educators of Wisconsin, and his name has become identified with the school system of that State. He is more especially known as one of the originators and promoters of the normal schools of Wisconsin. His efforts in this direction greatly aided in instituting the present mode of instructing teachers for their work, raising it from the desultory and fragmentary efforts in public schools and acad- emies to that of professional teaching in organized normal schools.
This gentleman is descended from the good old Puritan stock of Connecticut. He derives his chris- tian name from his maternal grandfather, Captain William Starr, who was a resident of New London when Arnold made his dastardly raid upon that place, his house being swept away with the rest. His maternal grandfather was a farmer, residing at Westfield at the time of the revolutionary war. His ancestors were among the first settlers of the Con- necticut valley.
His father was Samuel Starr, and his mother was Lydia Adkins. They had eleven children, William being the youngest. He was born at Middletown, Connecticut, March 3, 1821. He never had the advantages of a father's care, as that parent died three months before he was born, his death being caused by over-exertion and exposure while saving property during a freshet in the Connecticut river. He left a wife, with a large family, in straightened circumstances, but her native ability and energy en- abled her to provide for the support of her family.
When quite young William was taken to northern New York by his mother, who had a sister living there. Here she subsequently married a thrifty farmer. Early in life Mr. Starr developed a de- sire for more knowledge than the customary three months' school during the winter season afforded, and at the early age of fourteen he started out for himself with the determination to earn an educa-
tion commensurate with his youthful aspirations. He engaged to work on a farm at three and a quar- ter dollars per month. With this sum he had to purchase his clothing and books. He sought the best schools and academies. While attending these he worked for his board a portion of the time. As soon as of sufficient age to be trusted with a school he commenced teaching, and followed that occupa- tion during winters, keeping along with his studies at the same time, and attending academies in the summers, until he was twenty-two years of age. When pursuing his studies in winter he often had to walk daily two miles, a portion of the time on snow-shoes. His favorite study was mathematical branches, but heeding judicious advice he subse- quently devoted time to the languages; not be- coming a regular graduate, yet achieving more than the usual college course. During the two latter years of his student life he found that it was not necessary to attend a school, and that by habits of application he could accomplish fully as much at home, adding the advantage in this of following the bent of his inclination in choice of studies. Hav- ing acquired a solid scientific and literary educa- tion, he buckled on his armor for the battle of life. As a consequence of the enterprise already devel- oped in his early career, he forestalled the cele- brated advice of Horace Greeley and went west, landing at Southport in 1843. He soon after trav- eled on foot through a portion of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, ending his explorations by returning to Southport. Here his education en- abled him to commence a private school in the spring of 1843. He began with eight scholars, in- creasing his classes and closing at the end of two years with gratifying results. He then went to Ripon, Wisconsin, where he was married in 1857, and where he has since continued to reside. His wife's maiden name was Annie Strong. They have an only son, named William James, born in 1861.
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Mr. Starr has been closely identified with the business interests and general enterprises of his section of the State. His fortune has chiefly been realized from operations in real estate, while at the same time he has been engaged in dealing in gen- eral merchandise, lumber, grain and farming. He has also performed his portion of the duties of offi- cial position, having held various town and city. offices, acting as chairman of county supervisors two successive years, and being a member of the general assembly two terms during the exciting years of the war. Having been a leading spirit in bringing about the establishment of the normal schools of the State, he was appointed a member of the first board of regents, and has held that office continually since that time, and at the death of C. C. Sholes, the president, he was chosen to the posi- tion to which he has been since that event annually elected. He has also been a member of the board of trustees of Ripon College since its organization. President Starr·has distinguished himself as a pro- moler of the cause of education, making the per- fecting of the normal-school system a work of love in order to elevate the standard of common-school teaching in the State. His efforts, together with
those of his associates on the board of regents and other co-laborers, have resulted in bringing the workings of these schools to a high state of perfec- tion.
As concerns his religious views, he is a member of the Episcopal church, and of low-church pro- clivities.
Mr. Starr has never made politics a prominent feature of his life. He was originally a democrat, and continued such until compelled to leave that organization in obedience to the demands of his more progressive views on the slavery question. He became identified with the republican party at its formation, and although not a partisan, has since consistently acted with that organization.
The career of Mr. Starr is a model for the com- ing youth. From an early age he has, unaided by helping hands or encouraging words, achieved a success in both public and business life that many have failed to attain with every advantage placed at their disposal. At the same time he is approaching the declivity of life with a public and private char- acter free from spot and blemish, having run a ca- reer of probity and honor, esteemed and respected by the many who know him.
ALBERT KENDRICK, M.D.,
WAUKESHA.
A LBERT KENDRICK, a native of Vermont, is a son of Adin Kendrick, for many years a physician. at Poultney, where Albert was born August 1, 1813. His mother was Ruth née Mar- shall, and her mother was one of the brave women who lived in the times which "tried the souls of men." During the early part of the struggle for independence, hearing that the British were march- ing in the direction of her house, she took her two little children with her on horseback and fled toward Bennington. Before reaching that place the children became very hungry, and she stopped at a house which proved to be that of a tory, and asked for a loaf of bread, at the same time taking out her money in order to pay for it. The woman of the house said she had no bread. As Mrs. Mar- shall passed out of the house in the dusk of eve- ning, she espied a table set for the "red coats," and laden with bread and other provisions. She seized a loaf of bread, put her children on the
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horse, mounted the beast herself and made tracks for Bennington, feeding her little ones while under full gallop. The grandfather of our subject, Samuel Kendrick, was for a time in the military service.
When seven years old, Albert suffered the mis- fortune of having his right hand cut nearly off, and was so maimed as to unfit him for most kinds of manual labor. He was, therefore, kept at school through all his younger years, and finished his literary education at the Hamilton Seminary (now Madison University), New York. At seventeen he began to read medicine. He attended three courses of lectures at Castleton and Woodstock, Vermont, and graduated from the latter place when twenty years of age. After practicing about three years at Poultney, Vermont, and the same length of time at Ticonderoga, New York, and about sixteen years at Granville, in the same State, he, in June, 1855, settled in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Dr. Kendrick is a modest, unassuming, quiet
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man, and, refusing all political preferment, is con- tented with a good standing among those of his pro- fession, a good reputation for medical skill among the people of Waukesha village and Wankesha county, and a worthy name on the church records.
He has been a member of a Baptist church since about sixteen years of age. He is a nephew of Nathaniel Kendrick, D.D., once president of Ham- ilton Theological Seminary ; a cousin of Asahel C. Kendrick, D.D., the eminent Greek scholar, of the University of Rochester, and father of A. A. Ken- drick, D.D., president of Shurtleff College, Upper Alton, Illinois. The Kendricks are a prominent
family among the Baptists in the United States. Dr. Kendrick is a liberal contributor to religious, benevolent and literary institutions.
He has a fourth wife. His first two wives were sisters, Orpha and Martha Smith, of Ticonderoga, New York; he living with the former five, and with the latter twenty-five years. His third wife was Millicent Olin, of Waukesha. His present, Mary Tyler, of the same place. He had three children by the first wife, two of them still living,-the son, already mentioned, and a daughter; two sons by the second wife, both living; and one child by the third wife, not living.
JOHN TAPLEY,
RACINE.
JOHN TAPLEY was born in the parish of Pad- dlesworth, county of Kent, England, August 13, 1824, being the youngest of a family of ten children born to Daniel and Elizabeth Tapley, natives of the same place, where the ancestors of the family had resided from the dawn of history. For generations they had been engaged in ocean trading, principally in the East Indian tropic. The name is well known in heraldry, and the motto on the family crest or coat-of-arms, which has been handed down from time immemorial, speaks a truth borne witness to by all who have lived long enough to observe the transitory nature of created things-"All things change."
His father began a seafaring life at the age of ten years on one of his father's ships, and at the age of twenty-one commanded a fourteen-gun sloop, well manned, with a letter of marque, commissioned to take all the French vessels she could capture on the high seas. He took several prizes during the Pen- insular war, and was slightly wounded in one en- gagement, but never made prisoner. Retiring from the sea at the close of the war with a handsome for- tune, he purchased an estate upon which John was born. His birth occurred in the days when the church collected its tithes of the increase of the land, flocks, herds, etc., and being the tenth child the babe was offered to the parson as his share of the increase of the family, who laughingly replied, "Send him over, and I'll take him." The father, however, decided that, large as the family was, he could not spare him, and reconsidered the proposal.
In 1825 a lease expired to an estate belonging to the Earl of Radnor, which had for many years been in the family of Mr. Mark Sanford. Mrs. Tapley's father, and upon which he had amassed a fortune. John's father decided to sell his freehold and rent Walton Farm, as the estate referred to was called ; a step which, owing to the prostration of busi- ness following the war with France and the burdens of taxation incident thereto, swallowed up his entire fortune, and induced him in April, 1835, to leave England for America, taking with him four of his children, and Old Mollie,* a faithful family servant. He settled at Lairdsville, Oneida county, New York, where, purchasing a small farm, he was enabled to live comfortably with the aid of a small annuity se- cured to him by Mrs. Tapley's father. .
Our subject was now eleven years of age, and for two years thereafter remained at home, working for the neighboring farmers during the summer, and during the winter months attending the country district schools. These two winters comprised all the school advantages he ever enjoyed in America. But he was endowed with good natural gifts, which he assiduously cultivated by reading and observation. When thirteen years old his father hired him to Mr.
* The history of Mollie is told in the following epitaph upon her tomb, over which was erected a handsome marble slab in Mound Cemetery by Mr. Tapley in 1861 :
" THE GRAVE OF MOLLIE .- To the memory of one who humbly, affectionately, faithfully, did the duties of her sta- tion in the service of Mr. Daniel Tapley, England, and his son John, of this city, for nearly half a century - Mary Ambrose, born at Folkstone, England, July 4, 1785. Died at Racine, May 24, 1861, aged seventy-six years. 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant.'"
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Jacob Hunt, at Andover, Oneida county, New York, for two years, where, in assisting in the duties per- taining to a country store and post-office, adjuncts to which were a doctor's office and a farm, with cows to milk night and morning, books to post, mails to make up, medicines to mix, and dry goods and groceries to be sold in barter with country cus- tomers, his opportunities for the attainment of hab- its of industry, as well as economy, on a salary of one dollar per week, out of which he was expected to clothe himself and pay incidental expenses, were ample.
When fifteen years of age his father decided to have him learn a trade, and accordingly apprenticed him to a cabinet-maker in Clinton, New York, for a term of three years. During his apprenticeship a cousin was attending Hamilton College, close to the village, through whom John obtained access to the college library, a privilege which he improved by extensive reading, and which proved to be the most important educational advantage of his life.
Just at the close of his apprenticeship his mother died. This was the first great sorrow that fell athwart his pathway. She was a noble, Christian woman, whose example and advice to her children had a controlling effect upon them while she lived, and is still remembered and cherished as a treas- ured keepsake. Saddened and disheartened at the loss of his wife Mr. Tapley returned to England, taking with him two of his sons, our subject and an elder brother named Edward. The latter soon re- turned to America, but John remained for a time in England, and was soon after appointed to a position in the custom-house at London, a life office, bring- ing him in contact with business men of every com- mercial country in the world. He had already be- come known as "the Yankee," on account of his open advocacy and preference for America and its institutions.
Marrying, in 1848, Miss Charlotte Scott, daughter of Robert Scott, Esq., of Addington, Kent, Eng- land, he announced his determination to leave the service of the Queen so soon as he could make his arrangements to do so, which being consummated he sailed with his family for the United States in April, 1850. The two preceding years, 1848 and 1849, were those in which the cholera scourge vis- ited London, when so many were prostrated by the epidemic that the duties of those not on the sick- list were increased tenfold. Mr. Tapley was spared the scourge, but the strain on his physical and nerv-
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