USA > Wisconsin > Wisconsin, its story and biography, 1848-1913, Volume VII > Part 4
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CAPTAIN LUDLOW L. HILL. An influential and popular figure in nav- igation circles on the Great Lakes system is Captain Hill, who main- tains his residence in Kenosha, judicial center of the county of the same name, and who is general manager of the Hill Steamboat Line, which operates the fine steamers "Maywood," "Flora M. Hill" and "Marquette," on the Waukegan-Kenosha Route. Daily service is given between Chicago and the two ports noted and a daily express service is maintained throughout the entire year. The Hill Line con- trols a large and substantial freight business and the full official corps of the company is as here noted : Ludlow P. Hill, president; William Wallace Hill, vice-president; Captain Ludlow Leonidas Hill, general manager; and Robert F. Church, general freight agent. The head- quarters of the line are maintained in Kenosha, which is the home of all the officers, except Mr. Church, who has his residence and headquarters in the city of Chicago.
Captain Hill is a native of Wisconsin and a representative of one of the sterling pioneer families of this state. He was born at Wone- woc, Juneau county, on the 8th of August, 1855, and is a son of Lud- low P. Hill, the present well known and highly honored president of the Hill Steamboat Line. Ludlow P. Hill was born in the state of
LP Hill
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New York and is a son of Ludlow P. Hill, Sr., who was a native of Connecticut and a representative of staunch colonial stock in New England. Ludlow P. Hill, Sr., early established his home in the state of New York, and in 1839 he emigrated thence to Illinois, where he established his home on a farm that is now the site of the city of Elgin. There he continued to devote his attention to agricultural pur- suits for seventeen years, and he was one of the sterling pioneers of that state. At the expiration of the period noted he removed with his family to Beaver Island, Michigan, where he remained two years, and he then, in 1853, established his home at Wonewoc, Wisconsin, where he engaged in the hotel business, besides which he owned and operated a farm in that immediate vicinity. There he and his wife continued to reside until their death. His father was a valiant soldier in the war of 1812, as was he also in the French Canadian war, his family being granted an appreciable pension in recognition of his military services.
Ludlow P. Hill was a boy at the time of the family immigration to Illinois, and his early years were passed under the conditions and influences of the pioneer days. Thus his educational advantages were most limited, but he had the mental receptivity and the ambition which make such a handicap of little force, as he is known as a man of broad and liberal information and as one who has profited fully from the lessons gained in the school of practical experience. . . He remained at the parental home until he had attained to the age of twenty-four years, when he wedded Miss Cecelia Seaman, and insti- tuted his independent career, which has been one of consecutive appli- cation and large and worthy achievement. Of the eight children of this union five are now living, and concerning them the following brief record is given: William Wallace is vice-president of the Hill Steamboat Line; Captain Ludlow L., subject of this sketch, is gen- eral manager of the same line; Eva H., who resides in Kenosha, is the widow of John L. Potter; Ada C., is the wife of Albert J. White and maintains her home in Chicago; and Willie Seaman. The latter, the youngest son, is a partner in and local agent. of the Hill Steamboat Line at Kenosha.
Soon after his marriage Ludlow P. Hill became keeper of a light- house on Lake Michigan, a position which he retained eighteen months. Thereafter he maintained his residence at Racine, Wisconsin, for a short period, and then removed with his family to Wonewoe, this state, where he engaged in farming and lumbering operations. In 1864 he removed with his family to Drummond Island, in Lake Huron, about thirty miles distant from Mackinaw City, where he resided two years. Finally, after having twice changed his place of residence, he came'to Fish Creek, Door county, Wisconsin, in 1884, and here he and his sons became fishermen and sailors. Somewhat later removal was
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made to Wonewoc, this state, where the family home was maintained for seven years. At Fish Creek Mr. Hill and his sons built their first vessel of importance, the same being placed in commission in their fishing operations. From their fleet of fishing boats they gradually evolved a freight-transportation fleet. The "L. P. Hill" was the first boat built in Fish Creek. Four years later was built the steamer "Cecelia Hill," named in honor of Mrs. Ludlow P: Hill, and this large and finer vessel likewise was placed in commission in the freight- ing trade on the northern end of Lake Michigan. There operations were continued, with ever increasing success, until 1903, and in the meanwhile the facilities of the service had been greatly amplified and improved. In the year noted was effected the organization and incor- poration of the business, under the present title of the Hill Steam- boat Line, the headquarters of which have since been maintained at Kenosha and the business of which has grown to large volume, as the management and service have been in every respect reliable and adequate. The line operates exclusively in the freight traffic and proves a valuable acquisition to commerce on the Great Lakes and incidentally to that of Chicago, as well as the Wisconsin ports. Branch offices are maintained in Waukegan and Chicago, and from a modest inception the business has been developed into one of the largest and most important of the kind on the great inland seas.
Captain Ludlow L. Hill acquired his early education in the public schools at the various points where the family resided from time to time and he has been closely associated with his father's business operations from the days of his youth. He has been an influential factor in the development of the substantial enterprise now controlled by the Hill Steamboat Line and as its general manager is known as a man of excellent administrative ability and progressive policies. He is one of the loyal and public-spirited citizens of Kenosha, where the Hill family is one of prominence and influence, and while he is essentially a business man and has no desire to enter the arena of practical polities he is unwavering in his allegiance to the cause of the Socialist party.
In the year 1879, on Drummond Island, Michigan, was solemnized the marriage of Captain Hill to Miss Flora M. Aldridge, and of the ten children of this union eight are living, namely: Leon A., Wal- lace E., Iva L., Caddie E., Hazel O., Ruby M., Titania, and Florence.
OLAF R. SKAAR. For twenty-seven years Olaf R. Skaar has been an active member of the Wisconsin State bar, and for the last eighteen years of that period of the bar of La Crosse, among whose distinguished members, by his learning, industry, ability and character he has held high rank, while he is no less valued in the community as a liberal- minded, public-spirited and enterprising citizen. Mr. Skaar is a native
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of Norway, and was born December 2, 1858, a son of Rasmuss and Serva (Rise) Skaar, both of whom died in that country.
Olaf R. Skaar remained in his native land until he had graduated from the University of Norway, when he came to the United States as reporter for a Norwegian newspaper, arriving in Madison in 1883. After a short stay in that city he came to La Crosse and became a teacher in the city schools, his career as an educator covering one and one-half years, at the end of which time he went to Viroqua, Wis- consin, and there entered upon his legal studies in the office of W. N. Carter, a prominent attorney of that place. He subsequently spent some time under the preceptorship of H. P. Proctor, and in September, 1885, entered the legal department of the State University, at Madi- son, where he was graduated in the class of 1886. Returning to Viroqua, he entered upon the practice of his profession in partnership with his former instructor, Mr. Proctor, and this connection continned until Mr. Skaar was appointed assistant chief clerk of the land office, under the Peck administration, in 1891. After serving four years in that capacity, he came to La Crosse, and this city has since been the scene of his professional labors. Mr. Skaar's professional life has been passed upon the highest plane of a lawyer's work. Early taking prominent rank, he soon attracted to himself a clientage of the most valuable kind which falls to the lot of a legist. The largest interests have been in- trusted to his care and guidance and his success in their management has been evinced by the command of a volume of business which has been bounded only by the limits of his own time and inclination. In spite of his arduous professional duties, however, Mr. Skaar has found time to devote to the duties of citizenship. He was one of the original incorporators of the Gale Norwegian College, at Galesville, Wisconsin ; has been a trustee of the Lutheran Hospital of La Crosse for four years, and is a member of the La Crosse Board of Trade. His fraternal con- nection is with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In poli- tics a stalwart Democrat, he has labored faithfully in the ranks of his party, whose choice for important State office he has been on several occasions, and has been a member of the Democratic State Central Committee for sixteen years. He is a great admirer of William Jen- nings Bryan, and is intimately acquainted with that statesman.
On December 6, 1896, Mr. Skaar was married in La Crosse, to Miss Anna Gunderson, sister of Dr. A. Gunderson, one of the leading phy- sicians and surgeons of this city. They have become the parents of three daughters.
WILLIAM HILKER. Now living retired, William Hilker has for more than forty-five years been identified with manufacturing circles in Racine, and his enterprise and ability to build up a large industry from small beginning, has placed him among the foremost citizens of
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Racine. His name throughout nearly all the period of his residence has been associated with the brick industry, and he was one of the pro- moters and active upbuilders of several of the largest concerns of this kind in Racine county. Mr. Hilker is a notable representative of the German-American citizenship, and through his sturdy qualities of self reliance, thrift and energy acquired a more than ordinary material success. At the same time he has been public spirited, and a man of opinion and influence in civic and social relations.
William Hilker was born in Westphalia, Germany, on July 17th, 1843. Ile was born on a farm, and his father died before the birth of this son. His mother, whose name was Henriette Hilker reared her family of four sons in Germany and when all had grown up, came with them in the fall of 1867 and spent the remainder of her life in their homes at Racine, where she passed away on the 27th of October, 1889, when in her eighty-eighth year. The parents had formerly both been members of the German Reformed Church, but after coming to America the mother united with the Evangelical Association. The two surviving sons are Henry, now of Milwaukee, and William.
The German schools afforded Mr. Hilker a substantial education, and as he spent the first twenty-four years of his life in his native land, he had applied himself to industry and self-support in that country, and had also seen active service in the regular army, during 1866. In the Fatherland he had already acquired a skill in the art of brickmaking, and after locating at Racine in 1867, worked as a day laborer in this industry for some time. In 1872, associated with his brother Adolph with S. H. Haumersen and two others, he established a brick yard at Cedar Bend in Racine. This was the foundation of the subsequent large industry conducted personally in association with others by Mr. Hilker. The plant has been, at various times, doubled in capacity, and its product has had a reputation with the trade that keeps its sale always equal to the capacity of the plant. The Hilker Brothers finally bought out the other partners in the enterprise, and continued their partnership until the death of Adolph in 1900. The latter's widow continued her husband's ownership, although she left the active management in the control of Mr. William Hilker. There were two other yards conducted under the Hilker name, one of them being situated at the foot of North Main street, and the other at Wind Point, three miles from Racine. A large number of employes were on the pay-rolls of these factories, and the plants manufactured a high grade of cream colored pressed and common brick.
In November. 1867, Mr. Hilker married Miss Minnie Hebrock. The three children of their marriage were: William F., who early became associated with his father in business, and for many years has been a manufacturer of overalls and shirts, a corporation styled the Hilker- Wiehers Overalls Manufacturing Company. He married Miss Ida
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Schwendener, and their five children are named: Tusnelda, Harry, Roy, Carlton and Bethea. Mary, the second of the three children married Eugene Erny, and their five children are Eugene, Jeanette, Florence, William and Edward. Anna, the third child, died when a little more than four years old. The mother of this family, who was a member of the Evangelical Association, and a devoted wife and mother, died in 1873, at the age of thirty-seven.
On September 8, 1873, occurred the marriage of Mr. Hilker to Miss Julia Kenhnau, whose parents John and Mary (Hummel) Keuhnau, were both natives of Germany, her father being a farmer, and after immigrating to America located about ten miles from Milwaukee, where Mrs. Hilker was born. Her parents, after fourteen years in that local- ity, where they were among the first settlers, sold their property and moved to Barden, this state where he continued throughout the active period of his career as a farmer. Both Mr. and Mrs. Keuhnau were members of the Lutheran Church, and the father was one of the prom- inent men in his community. Mr. and Mrs. Hilker have become the parents of eleven children, whose records stand as follows: Minnie, the wife of John Wiechers, and the mother of five children, Junior, Alice, Jerome, Benton and Richard. Frederick, who has been associated with his father in business, married Miss Hannah Koch and their children are Mildred, James, Gladys and Harold. Lydia, who mar- ried Oscar Wiechers, and has three children, Ruth, Marion and Theo- dore; Clara; Bertha, who died in her fourth year; Charles, who died before he was three years old; Benjamin; Alfred; Jeannette; Walter ; and one who died in infancy.
Mr. Hilker has always been noted for his good citizenship, as well as his business enterprise. For a number of years he actively sup- ported the Republican party, but more recently changed to the Pro- hibitionist Party, since he thought its principles most conducive to the permanent welfare and progress of his country. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church, while he has membership in the Church of Christ. He has always been devoted to religion, and church affairs, and gives his earnest cooperation to all things that will promote the morality and better life of his community. For many years the Hilkers' home in Racine has been the handsome brick house which stands at 1430 West Sixth street.
SAMUEL CRAWFORD. A life of exalted purpose and service was that of Judge Samuel Crawford, who gained distinction as one of the most able and influential lawyers and jurists of Wisconsin in the pioneer epoch of the history of the state and who marked the passing years with large and worthy achievement. He was one of the first members of the supreme court of Wisconsin and its early records indicate in no uncertain way his pre-eminent legal ability and his full and re- Vol. VII-3
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sourceful apprehension of the principles of equity and justice. He left a marked impress upon the history of Wisconsin jurisprudence, stood exemplar of the most loyal and broad-minded citizenship, ordered his life on the highest plane of integrity and honor, and made his life count for good in its every relation. By his character and services he dignified and honored the state of his adoption and in this history of Wisconsin consistency is observed when there is entered a definite and specific tribute to the memory of this able lawyer and jurist, this strong and noble man, this liberal and distinguished citizen, whose influence touched in a benignant way the formative period in the history of the commonwealth.
Judge Crawford was a native of the fair Emerald Isle and in his character exemplified the best of the traditions and attributes of the race from which he sprung. He was born in the village of Ballibay, county Monaghan, Ireland, on the 11th of April, 1820, and thus he was nearly forty-one years of age at the time of his death, which occurred at Mineral Point, lowa county, Wisconsin, on the 28th of February, 1861. He was summoned to the life eternal in the very zenith of his powers and activities, and his death was deeply mourned in the state which he had signally honored and which had given him honor in re- turn. In his native land Judge Crawford was afforded excellent educa- tional advantages, including those of higher academic order, as his father was a prosperous merchant and thus able to give him adequate opportunities for gaining a liberal education.
Ambitious, earnest and self-reliant, Judge Crawford determined to seek his fortunes in the United States, and in 1840, as a young man of twenty years, he came to this country. For a time he pursued the study of law at Warwick, Orange county, New York, as he had determined to fit himself for the profession in which he was destined to gain marked success and distinction. About a year after his arrival in America he came to the west and located at Galena, Illinois, a town that was at that time one of the important industrial and commercial centers of the northwest. He was accompanied by his brothers, James, John and Stewart, one of whom, Stewart, was a druggist and John a physician, and it is worthy of note that both of these brothers became honored and influential citizens of Galena, where they passed the residue of their lives. For a time Judge Crawford worked as a mechanic, at Ga- lena, and he then resumed the study of law, under the preceptorship of John M. Douglas, who had come from the state of New York to Galena in 1840, and who became known as a profound and successful advocate and who was one of the foremost lawyers of Illinois in the early days. besides which he served several years as president of the Illinois Central Railroad Company. At Galena in that early period were found en- gaged in practice many of the leading lights of the legal profession in the west, including Thomas Drummond, who later served on the bench
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of the United States district and circuit courts; Elihu B. Washburne, who served as a member of congress and as secretary of state in the cabinet of President Grant; Van H. Higgins, who was later one of the leading members of the Chicago bar; Madison Y. Johnson, who was charged with disloyalty to the government at the time of the Civil war, but who was acquitted, the charges against him having been a mat- ter of conspiracy ; and many others whose names became prominent in the legal profession. It was thus under most auspicious conditions that young Crawford pursued his legal studies, and there was much of inspiring influence in the very environment. His careful training and incidental experience at this time undoubtedly had much to do with his future success at the bar and his eminence on the bench. Much of the litigation in the local courts grew out of conflicting mining claims at Galena and other points in that famous center of mining industry, and after being admitted to the bar, in 1844, Judge Crawford located in the mining town of New Diggins, in the adjoining Wisconsin county of Lafayette and but a few miles distant from Galena, the judicial center of Jo Daviess county, Illinois, in the same mining district. His energy, ability and personality soon gained to him a large and sub- stantial law business and his early work was largely in connection with mining litigations in the Galena field. His admirable powers as an advocate attracted the attention of Francis Dunn, who was at that time one of the foremost lawyers of southwestern Wisconsin, and who invited Judge Crawford to form a professional alliance with him at Mineral Point, which was then the judicial center of Iowa county, Wisconsin. The partnership association also included David W. Jones, who was brother-in-law of Mr. Dunn and who afterward served as secretary of state of Wisconsin. The new firm controlled an immense and import- ant law business and the partnership alliance continued until Mr. Dunn ยท went to California, in 1850. From that time forward Judge Crawford conducted an individual law practice, the same extending through the Fifth and adjoining circuits, as well as into the supreme court of the state and the United States courts. He gained special prominence and priority in connection with mining and criminal causes, and his repu- tation as a resourceful and versatile advocate far transcended local limitations.
When, in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of the new state of Wisconsin, the separate supreme court was organized, Judge Crawford was elected one of its first members. Under the law creating this tribunal the two associate justices, Judge Abram D. Smith and Judge Crawford, drew lots for the long and short terms, and it was the fortune of Judge Crawford to be allotted the short term, which ex- pired May 31, 1855. On the 1st of June of that year Judge Cole suc- ceeded Judge Crawford on the bench of the supreme court of the state,
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but it was later determined that Judge Crawford's term, under the constitution of the state, did not expire until January 1, 1856.
Judge Crawford proved a man of profound judicial acumen and his record on the bench bore testimony to his broad and accurate knowledge of the science of jurisprudence as well as his determined efforts to pro- mote justice and equity. He sat on the bench during the June and December terms in 1853, the June term in 1854 and also the December term of the latter year, his only decision in this last mentioned term being found in Volume IV of the Wisconsin Reports. His other deci- sions are in the first three volumes of the Wisconsin Reports and are veritable models of conciseness and circumspection. His opinions show great care in preparation and indicate that he fully appreciated the dignity and responsibility of the high office of which he was the incum- bent. These opinions have stood the test of more than half a century and a great part of them continue as the law of the Wisconsin supreme court at the present time. Concerning the rulings of Judge Crawford the following pertinent statements have been made and are worthy of perpetuation : "He seems to have written but one dissenting opinion, viz .: In re Sherman M. Booth, reported in the third volume of Wis- consin Reports, and this dissenting opinion cost him his re-election to the bench. When he became a candidate for re-election, in 1855, his views in regard to the power of congress to legislate in regard to fugitive slaves, as expressed in his dissenting opinion in the case noted, were not at the time popular in Wisconsin, though they were sound and were afterward approved by the Supreme Court of the United States when the Booth case came before it, and he was defeated by Judge Cole. He had, however, the confidence and esteem of his party, and by it was nominated for congress, against the late Governor Washburne, in 1856, and in 1859 he was his party's nominee for the office of attorney general of the state, his defeat on each of these occasions having been incidental to that of his party and thus being due to normal political exigencies." From a most appreciative estimate of the character and services of Judge Crawford are taken the data that are to be found incorporated, without formal quotation, in the several ensuing para- graphs.
After his retirement from the bench Judge Crawford passed some, time in Madison, the capital of the state, in practice before the supreme court, and he then resumed the practice of his profession at Mineral Point, where he continued in the successful work of his profession until his untimely death. While there engaged in assisting the district at- torney of Lafayette county in the prosecution of a murder case, on change of venue, in February, 1860, he was taken suddenly ill in the court room, just before the close of the testimony. He was removed to his home and there his death occurred a few days later, on the 28th of
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