USA > Wisconsin > The United States biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of eminent and self-made men, Wisconsin volume > Part 90
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the rebellion, business languished, and in 1864 the Judge went to California, and traveled over the Pacific slope for his health, information and recrea- tion. He returned to Wisconsin in 1867, greatly improved in physical strength, and began farming in Winnebago county; being soon seized with the rheumatism he was crippled for five years. Not meeting with success in farming, he, in August, 1874, removed to Appleton and resumed the practice of law, in order to improve his finances; and in com- pany with Humphrey Pierce is now (1877) doing a remunerative business.
Judge Collins is a firm believer in Christianity, has a profound reverence for sacred things, believes that " All nature is a glass reflecting God," and that
mind is infinitely superior to matter and indestruc- tible, hence immortal.
Mrs. Collins was Sarah Heaton Huggins, of New Haven, Connecticut. She is an intelligent woman, of polished manners, dignified deportment and ad- mirable domestic qualities. They have had six children, three sons and three daughters, all still living. Alexander W. has a family and is a farmer, living at Neenah, Wisconsin ; the other two sons are single. Jessie Wingate is the wife of Samuel McCord, a banker of Milwaukee; Charlotte Aber- nathy is the widow of Edward D. Ilsley, late of St. Paul, Minnesota, who died March 31, 1877; and Caroline B. is the wife of Thomas H. Brooks, a mer- chant of San Francisco, California.
ALEXANDER MITCHELL,
MILWAUKEE.
A LEXANDER MITCHELL, who has been long recognized as the most conspicuous represent- ative of the commercial interests, not only of Wis- consin, but of the Northwest, was born in the parish of Ellon, Scotland, some twenty-four miles north of the city of Aberdeen, and about twelve miles west of the town of Peterhead, the most easterly point in Great Britain, and named after Peter the Great of Russia, on the 18th day of October, 1817.
His father, John Mitchell, was a well-to-do farmer in Aberdeenshire, a man of large natural endow- ments, great force of character, and of very consid- erable influence in his community. He was well posted in the common law, and served as a kind of legal adviser for the whole district. He generally acted as arbitrator in all disputes in the neighbor- hood, his word being usually an end of all contro- versy. He died at the ripe age of eighty years in the year 1848. His mother, whose maiden name was Margaret Lendrum, died when Alexander was but a few years old, and he was brought up by his eldest sister, Margaret, afterward Mrs. Johnston- a most excellent woman, who nobly filled the double relation of sister and mother. The family are of English origin, the grandfather having moved to Aberdeen from Northumberland about the middle of the eighteenth century.
The educational career of Alexander Mitchell was bounded by the parish schools of his native place, which, however, implies more than might at first be
supposed, for he there learned not only the three "R's," but also the higher branches of mathematics. He subsequently spent about two years in a lawyer's office in Aberdeen, with a view to the legal profes- sion, during which period he studied the Latin lan- guage and other branches. Abandoning this idea, however, he became a clerk in a bank at Peterhead, where he received his first insight into the business of which he has since become one of the most illus- trious representatives. At an early age he began to manifest that ambition to succeed which has borne its fruits in later years, and when his brothers were selecting their professions for life, he always insisted that he would be a laird.
He was one of the many Scotchmen who in 1839, and about that period, decided to try their fortunes in America. He came to Milwaukee in the employ- ment of a Scottish joint stock company, which had organized under the name of the Wisconsin Marine and Fire Insurance Company, of which he was secre- tary, George Smith being then president. At that time the population of the city numbered only twelve hundred, and the Indian war-whoop was still heard in the ears of its few inhabitants. He at once took the lead of the banking business of the West, and after a few years succeeded Mr. Smith in the presi- dency of the institution, and it will not be disputed that he has done more to raise the city of his adop- tion to its present influential position than any other man. The Wisconsin Marine and Fire Insurance
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Company did not long confine itself to the business of insurance. The crisis of 1837 had left the North- west without any medium of exchange. Some cur- rency was absolutely necessary. Certificates of deposit of the above named company, bearing the signatures of George Smith, president, and Alexander Mitchell, secretary, were issued, and served the pur- poses of currency from St. Louis to Detroit. More than two millions of dollars of these certificates were in circulation at one time, secured only by the per- sonal responsibility of the two gentlemen whose names they bore ; and though often " run," their bank never failed to pay its bills in gold on presentation throughout all the panics under which the coun- try has suffered for the last thirty-seven years.
This famous bank, mention of the organization of which occurs in the history of 1839, was first opened in the month of May of that year, in a small frame building standing upon Broadway, between Wisconsin and Mason streets, about the center of the block; Mr. Mitchell giving his personal atten- tion to the business, and acting not only as its secretary, but as cashier and teller also. Here he remained till the spring of 1840, when he was joined by Mr. David Ferguson, his present able cashier, and the office was removed to the north side of Wisconsin street, near the alley, in a small one-story frame, built by Mr. Solomon Juneau. Here it re- mained till the spring of 1842, when the increasing business made a second removal necessary, which was made to what is known as the old Loury Man- sion, on the northwest corner of Broadway and Wis- consin streets, where the Northwestern Life Insur- ance building now stands. Here a new and more commodious office was fitted up, where the institu- tion remained till 1846, when the still increasing business necessitated a third removal, the lot upon the southeast corner of East Water and Michigan streets - the old Juneau homestead - was now pur- chased, upon which a suitable building was erected, into which the office was removed. Soon after this Mr. Smith withdrew his interest, and Mr. Mitchell became president and sole proprietor. The busi- ness remained on this stand until August, 1853, when the whole square was burned- the flames making such rapid headway that the clerks had barely time to place the money and effects of the bank in its securely built vaults before they reached the build- ing. The fire was scarcely extinguished before the ground was alive with men clearing away the débris, such was the energy of Mr. Mitchell, and a new
structure quickly took the place of the burned one, of vastly increased dimensions, in which the busi- ness was conducted until the year 1876, when it was pulled down to make way for perhaps one of the most magnificent buildings of the kind in the North- west, if not in the country, now in process of erec- tion and drawing near to completion. It was de- signed by Mr. E. Townsend Mix, and in dimensions is eighty by one hundred and twenty feet, and is seven stories in height, including the basement.
The style of architecture is that known as renais- sance, highly ornamental. The basement is of granite from the St. Cloud quarries, and the upper stories of Haldeman (Ohio) blue sandstone. The columns supporting the pediment over the main entrance are of Scotch granite of the quality known as " blue-gray," highly polished. The interior con- struction is fire-proof, the iron columns, girders and floor beams being overlaid with terra-cotta plating. The cost of the entire structure when completed and furnished will be about half a million dollars. Such is, in brief, the history of this famous bank and banker.
But it is not alone as a banker that Alexander Mitchell has become prominent. During recent years his personal attention has been directed more to railroads than to his original business of banking, though he still owns the largest bank in Wisconsin. Seventeen years ago there were three railroads en- tering Milwaukee, running west. These were the Milwaukee and La Crosse, Milwaukee and Prairie du Chien, and Milwaukee and Watertown. The managers of these roads were at total variance. A few months more and one after another would have been " gobbled up " by the Chicago and Northwest- ern, and all the trade of the vast country to the west taken around Milwaukee to Chicago. Mr. Mitchell, with the interest of Milwaukee at heart, and without the fear of Chicago before his eyes, consolidated all these roads into the Milwaukee and St. Paul rail- road. With the extensions since built through Iowa and Minnesota, this road has become one of the most important in the United States, being about fourteen hundred miles in length. To this masterly scheme of Mr. Mitchell is due the fact that Milwau- kee has become the great wheat granary she now is.
As above stated, Mr. Mitchell became president of the Wisconsin Fire and Marine Insurance Com- pany Bank on the resignation of Mr. Smith. He is besides president of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad, and of the Western Union rail-
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road. He is also a director of the reorganized Northern Pacific railroad, and president of the Northwestern Fire Insurance Company, with a paid- in capital of seven hundred and fifty thousand dol- lars. He is also commissioner of the public debt of the city of Milwaukee, director in the gas company and one of the trustees of the Milwaukee Hospital, besides many other offices of honor and trust too numerous to mention.
In politics, Mr. Mitchell was for many years a republican, though in early life he took but little interest in political matters. During the late war he was a warm supporter of the government, and not only gave his influence on the side of the Union but gave liberally of his means toward every object connected with the war, or the welfare of the Union soldiers and their families. Subsequently, however, he favored more prompt and conciliatory measures of reconstruction than those adopted by the govern- ment, and in consequence separated from the then dominant party and acted with the democratic party. His views on the subject of reconstruction are lu- cidly set forth in the following letter to Senator Doolittle, of Wisconsin, published in the Milwau- kee " Daily News " of July 29, 1866, which, on ac- count of the uncommon prescience which it dis- plays in forecasting the future, we insert entire. It will be seen that the principles set forth in this re- markable document, over eleven years since, are substantially the same as those adopted by Presi- dent Hayes as the basis of his southern policy.
MILWAUKEE, July 23, 1866.
Ilon. J. R. Doolittle, Washington, D. C.
DEAR SIR, -- I duly received the call of the executive committee of the National Union Club for a convention to be held in the city of Philadelphia on the 14th of next month, and absence from home alone prevented mne from sooner expressing my cordial approval of the principles therein set forth, and my intention to support the adminis- tration in maintaining unbroken the union of the States under the constitution which our fathers established.
It is a strange and melancholy fact, that although over a year has elapsed since every rebel laid down his arms and yielded submission to the federal constitution and laws; although the sword has long been sheathed, and those who met in fratricidal strife are now rivals only in the arts of peaceful industry ; although Nature has covered with her verdure and golden harvests the blood-stained battle-fields, and the whole land rests once more in peace, yet the wounds of the nation remain unhealed, and the results for which so much blood and treasure were spent have failed to be fully realized.
The reason is that our statesmen have not met the prob- lems of peace so ably as our soldiers did the stern duties of war. They have failed to exhibit those enlarged views of public policy and that lofty patriotism which the diffi- culties of the hour demanded. They seem to have forgotten that the question was not how to execute vengeance or inflict punishment and political disgrace, but how the seeds of loyalty could best be planted and fostered throughout
the recently rebellious South; how we could best over- come the estrangement that existed between the two sec- tions of our common country ; and how best cultivate a spirit of reconciliation and encourage mutual affection, sympathy and respect.
It seems that the smallest possible knowledge of human nature and the slightest acquaintance with the teachings of history should have been sufficient to show that a policy toward the South of implacable resentment for the past and unconquerable distrust for the future, a policy dividing the people into victors and vanquished, ever evincing a desire to punish, disgrace and humiliate, however grateful it might be to partisan malignity, would not be likely to bring the two sections into harmony, or restore the devotion of the South to the old government. Neither can it be honestly supposed that the exclusion of the southern States from a voice in the councils of the Union is calculated to increase their love for that Union ; nor will spurning from the doors of congress of even their loyal representatives be deemed the best method of encouraging loyalty. If we of the North really desire the people of the South to become once more true to the government of their fathers, let us give them some interest in its concerns; if we wish them cheer- fully to obey our laws, let us establish some claim upon their obedience by giving them a voice in their enactment, and welcoming the loyal men whom they send to represent them in the councils of the nation.
The policy of exclusion and alienation so far pursued has, to some extent, destroyed the feelings of kindness and trust manifested by the rebel armies at the time of their surrender, and must eventually debase the character of the southern people and greatly deteriorate their capacity for self government -a result fraught with untold calamity to the whole Republic. How antagonistic this policy of ven- geance and alienation is to the principles of popular govern- ment; how it must weaken our power in case of a foreign war; how the doubt, uncertainty and distrust it engenders injures our financial position and retard the material pros- perity and development of the South, must he evident to every candid, thinking mind, and its speedy and complete abandonment must be the devout wish and earnest endeavor of every enlightened patriot.
The approaching convention has my warmest approba- tion, because I think its influence will be to hasten on this desirable end, and to obliterate all traces of intersectional hatred, to bring the North and South into relations more friendly than they have been for many years, and to lead to the representation in congress hy loyal nien of every State from the Potomac to the Rio Grande.
I cannot close without expressing my confidence in the sincerity, honesty and patriotism of our President. The self-forgetfulness which he displayed in burying in oblivion all the wrongs and insults he has suffered at rebel hands, when his responsibilities as chief magistrate of the nation called him to sink his personal feelings in his duty to his misguided countrymen, must ever mark him as the worthy successor of him who showed "malice toward none, charity to all."
I cannot, in "a brief letter," write all that I could desire on these important questions, but I feel constrained to add that I believe it to be every man's duty to take his place with those whose views are right on the momentous issue of the present hour, and not be carried into supporting a hurtful policy merely because it may be advanced by those who were right on an issue now dead and gone; neither are we to despise the cooperation of any merely because they may have held erroneous views on questions now settled forever. Our present duty must dictate our present position, and we owe it to ourselves and to our country to work with all who are right now, however mistaken they may have been before, rather than with those who are wrong now, however sound they may have been years ago.
By the hearty cooperation of all liberal-minded patriots, the administration can be sustained and the foundations of the Union reestablished in the affections of the whole
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people. So shall the great Republic prolong its unparal- lelled career of progress, and maintain its place in the van of the advancing nations.
I remain yours truly, ALEX. MITCHELL.
This letter went the rounds of the conservative press at the time, and received the very highest commendation from the New York "Tribune."
In 1870 he was elected to congress from the fourth district of Wisconsin, including the city of Milwau- kee ; and again in 1872 by the same constituency, serving in all four years. He declined a third elec- tion, to the great regret of his district. He was not noted for much speaking while in congress, but dur- ing that period he made two memorable speeches- one in favor of abolishing our present navigation laws, and the other in favor of a return to specie pay- ments-which received much attention at the time of their delivery, and were widely quoted and favor- ably commented on by the New York and Chicago press.
Like his fathers, for several generations, he was raised in the communion of the Presbyterian church, and was for some years a trustee of the first Pres- byterian church built in Milwaukee ; but on remov- ing his residence to the west side of the city he united with other gentlemen in organizing the St. James' Episcopal Church, with which he has since acted. He is not a communicant, but serves upon the vestry, and is prominent in the councils of the congregation and in the deliberative assemblies of the church. He is, moreover, one of the most liberal contributors of his means toward the insti- tutions of the church generally, while he bears a large share of the expenses of his own congregation.
He is a diligent reader and keeps abreast of the times on all important questions, especially those relating to the finances of the country, and is credited with entertaining the clearest and most practical views on this subject of any other man in the Northwest.
He is withal a true Scotchman. His countrymen take a laudable pride in speaking of him as a repre- sentative of Scotland in many of the good and noble characteristics of her sons. Although some thirty- eight years absorbed in the active business of the busy West, he has still all the marks of a genuine Aberdonian, and finds time for fostering whatever . tends to strengthen and perpetuate the memories of his native land, which he visits once in every two or three years. He was the first president of the Milwaukee St. Andrew's Society, which was or- ganized in 1859, the annual picnics and games of
which are held every year in a beautiful grove on his farm in the eighth ward of Milwaukee. Here it may be also stated that his residence on Grand avenue is not only the finest in the State, but his conservatories cover a larger area than those of any other private establishment west of New York. Al- though he is rather shy and reticent with strangers, yet he is possessed of fine social qualities; and with his intimates is quite genial and jovial,- good at story telling over a dinner-table. He has a few "chums " or "boon companions" in whose com- pany he spends most of his evenings, alternating from house to house. These assemblages are some- times facetiously styled "vestry meetings." He is also a member of the Old Settlers Club, and takes a deep interest in its affairs ; and has a just pride in belonging to that early band who did the pioneer work in this Queen City of the Lakes.
In all the public positions of honor and trust which he has held, and in his varied dealings with his fellow-men, in the endless details of his exten- sive private business, not a word can be said truth- fully but in his praise, even by his bitterest ene- mies-if he have any.
His success has been truly wonderful. He is to- day, without doubt, the wealthiest man west of New York city. He is also one of the most active men in the city,- never idle, but always keeping his vast wealth in motion, and has done more to ornament and beautify Milwaukee than any other man in it ; and his name in commercial circles is a tower of strength, neither is there with him any such word as " fail."
In person he is of medium height, stoutly built, of ruddy and fair complexion ; a keen, expressive eye; a voice clear and musical, strongly tinctured with the Scotch accent; sees at a glance all that is being enacted around him ; decides quickly ; reads a man through like a book, and is never deceived. Such is Alexander Mitchell.
He was married October 7, 1841, to Miss Martha Reed, daughter of Seth Reed, of New England an- cestry, but one of the earliest settlers of Milwaukee. She is a lady of considerable energy and force of character, who has for many years managed all the affairs of the family and home property, and is, moreover, an earnest patron of the fine arts. She distinguished herself highly as vice-regent from Wisconsin of the Mount Vernon Association for the purpose of purchasing the home of Washington at Mount Vernon from the heirs of "the father of his
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country," and making it the property of the na- tion. Last year, under her management, the public schools of Milwaukee contributed in pennies a suf- ficient amount to build two lodges at the land en- trance to the mansion, while at her own expense she furnished the room in which Martha Washington died, in the style of the period of the revolution. She was also one of the original founders of the Milwaukee Protestant Orphan Asylum, also the In- dustrial School for Girls, and her name is associated with all the charitable institutions of the city, while she is invariably the largest contributor to every enterprise, whether religious or benevolent, for the benefit of the city, or the welfare of any class of its inhabitants. She is an exemplary member of the Episcopal church-one of the most ornate and
costly edifices in the State, to the building of which she was a liberal contributor.
For some years past she has been accustomed to spend her winters in a beautiful villa on the St. John's river, Florida, which was named the "Villa Alexandria," by Governor Seymour, of New York.
They have had six children, all of whom died in infancy, except one son, John Lendrum, who was born October 19, 1842 ; was educated in England and Germany, and is a gentleman of large talents and high culture. He represented the south sena- torial district of the city of Milwaukee two terms in the State legislature. His time, however, is chiefly spent in rural pursuits on his beautiful farm south- west of the city, where he raises some of the finest blooded horses in the State.
INCREASE A. LAPHAM,
MILWAUKEE.
was completed, in 1825. The celebration was tele- graphed by means of cannon at convenient dis- tances, from Buffalo to New York, October, 1825.
I NCREASE ALLEN LAPHAM was named after his maternal grandfather, and was born March 7, 1811. His father was Seneca Lapham, who mar- ried Rachael Allen. According to the family record, The beautiful specimens of organic remains he found in the deep rocks gave him his first idea of geology, and initiated a habit of observation which has continued through life. He found amusement in the study of nature; and as he knew none of a similar taste his long walks were made alone. Increase was born in Palmyra, Ontario county, New York, on the 7th of March, 1811. His father, as a contractor, was engaged in the construction of the Grand Erie canal. In 1818 the family moved to Pennsylvania, where his father had a contract with the Schuylkill Navigation Company; but soon after In 1826 his father had procured a place for him as rodman on the works of the Miami canal, Ohio. He went per steamer to Cleveland and Sandusky. His father a few years before had made a similar voyage in the steamer Walk-in-the-Water, which had so little power that oxen were employed to pull the boat up the rapids between Black Rock and Buffalo. Proceeding by stage to Middletown, he commenced work under Byron Kilbourn, assistant engineer. returned to Galen, Wayne county, New York, where he was employed in the construction of the locks of the Erie canal. In 1822 the family moved to Roch- ester, while Increase remained at work on the farm. One of the arches in the first aqueduct at Rochester was built by his father, on a sub-contract. In 1824 he moved to Lockport, where his father had charge of the construction of the combined and double locks. Here young Lapham earned some money In December of the same year he went to Louis- ville, Kentucky, secured a better position on the canal around the falls, and attended the school of Mr. Mann Butler, the historian, of Kentucky. At Louisville he saw General Jackson, on his way to Washington to be installed as President; and met with Captain Basil Hall, who showed him his astro- nomical instruments. by cutting stone to be used on the locks. Soon after this he engaged in the engineer service as rod- man for his brother Darius, who had already ob- tained the position of assistant engineer. In June, 1826, he was employed for a short time on the Wel- land canal, Canada. While at Lockport he made and sold a number of plans of the locks to persons traveling in search of information. He was present At Louisville he commenced a collection of native plants. This collection has grown to the extent of when La Fayette passed through Lockport on his tour of welcome, June, 1825, and when the canal | eight thousand specimens, many received from Eu-
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