Posted on: EauClaire Co. Wi Query Forum Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Wi/EauClaire/528 Surname: Kalanquin, Emonin ------------------------- Yes, I think we have some common relatives. My grandmother had a Christmas card from "your cousin, Josie Smith" in Idaho!

Morning everyone! This is the last segment of the history of the Lumber Interests in Eau Claire Co., so lets get right to it. In 1868 a small rotary sawmill was built on an island above the Dells, three miles and a half from Eau Claire, but within the city limits, by Prescott, Burditt & Co., with a daily capacity of nearly 40,000 feet. A few years afterward, 1873-74, this mill was torn down and replaced with a gang and rotary mill having a daily capacity of 100,000 feet. It was operated until and including the year 1889, cutting from 10,000,000 to 16,000,000 feet of lumber each season. The business was organized in 1879 as a corporation under the name of the Dells Lumber Company, with a capital of $100,000. A gang and rotary mill was built by R. F. Wilson, of the west side of the Chippewa River, a short distance north of the Madison street bridge, in about 1878, but was burned down two years later. It was rebuilt by the Pioneer Lumber Company, which operated for a time, then it remained idle for about four years and was then sold to the Dells Lumber Company. Arthur M. and John S. Sherman settled in Eau Claire in the winter of 1856-57, and in 1860 commenced the erection of a mill at Big Eddy, later known as the Eddy Mill. It was sold by them to Ingram & Kennedy in 1869. The brothers then engaged in the logging business and bought an interest in what was known as the Boyd mill, which went out with the flood of 1880 and was landed in a completely demoralized condition seven miles down the river. In the fall of 1880 they began the erection of the Sherman mill on the east side of Half Moon lake, which was completed in July, 1881. After operating about one year it was burned down. It was then rebuilt by the owners, who sold a controlling interest in it to the Chippewa Logging Company. The logging company then purchased the interest of the Sherman brothers. After running the mill for several years under the name of the Sherman Lumber Company, it was shut down. It was next sold to John S. Owen and R. E. Rust, who associated themselves together and organized the West Eau Claire Mill Company in 1887, with a capital of $42,000. The Sherman mill thus became merged in this company. The Westville Lumber Company was incorporated in 1882, with a capital of $100,000, for the manufacture and marketing of lumber, and operated a mill at Shawtown on or near the site of the Alexander Boyd mill hereafter referred to. The Rust-Owen Lumber Company was incorporated in April 1882, with a capital of $300,000, with the mills at Drummond, Bayfield county, Wis. The principal office was at Eau Claire. The Davis & Starr Lumber Company was organized in June 1886, with a capital of $100,000, which was increased to $250,000. The corporation owned and operated a small mill at Little Black, Taylor county, on the Ashland division of the Wisconsin Central, now the Soo Railroad. This mill was burned down in t he spring of 1889, and a new plant with the latest improvements was erected the same year. The main office was at Eau Claire. The Montreal Lumber Company was incorporated, with its principal office at Eau Claire, in August 1887, with a capital of $500,000. The works were at Gile, a suburb of Hurley, on the Montreal river, Ashland county, Wis. The Sterling Lumber Company was incorporated in March, 1888, with a capital of $100,000, with main offices in Eau Claire. The mill was located at Sterling, Clark county, Wis., on the Wisconsin Central Railway. At an early date, the exact date not being remembered, a mill was constructed near the entrance of the canal into Half Moon lake by Stephen Marston. This mill was abandoned a few years later. Mr. Marston came from Maine and was among the early settlers of Eau Claire. He engaged in the mercantile business which he carried on successfully. He died many years ago. Mead and Angel operated a mill on Half Moon lake in 1867 and 1868 and prior thereto. Wilcox and Parker also operated a shingle mill on t he lake during the same time. Wilson and Foster in 1867 and prior thereto operated a mill near the entrance of the canal and adjacent to the Pinkum mill. It was not a success financially and was finally abandoned. Porter and Moon operated a mill at or near the outlet to Wheaton Springs for some years. This firm also had an extensive mill located at Portersville, in the town of Brunswick, particular mention being made where that town is considered. It purchased from the Mississippi River Logging Company the interest they purchased from the Eau Claire Lumber Company and operated the mills until within a few years. Also their extensive mill and interest at Stanley, the principal office being at Eau Claire, the name of all the concerns here being changed to that of the Northwestern Lumber Company. The Northwestern Lumber Company is found in the industries of Eau Claire. Alexander Boyd owned and operated a mill at Shawtown as early as 1866. Also W. B. Estabrook. McGuire and McRae owned and operated a mill in the town of Union, located on the west side of the Chippewa River a few miles south of Eau Claire. There was also another mill called the Gordon mill located a short distance from the mill last named. ++++++++++ That's the story and I'm sticking to it! :~) Tomorrow's story? "The Reign of Terror in Eau Claire!" See you then! -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net

Posted on: EauClaire Co. Wi Query Forum Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Wi/EauClaire/527 Surname: KALANQUIN ------------------------- My 2nd great grandfather was Francois Kalanquin, who from 1870 until his death in 1901 resided in or around Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. I believe that Pierre-August was my grandfather's nephew. I have done some research on the Kalanquin line, especially in the Eau Claire area. I have a copy of the 1880 Fed. Census of Eau Claire City, 6th ward which lists one "Klonquin", Chas. J, wife, Josephine and daughter, Josephine, and "Klonquin", Augustus, wife, Maria, daughters, Augustin, Maria, and sister, Amelia. I also have a copy of the Declarations of Intentions that August Kalanquin filed in Eau Claire County, State of Wisconsin on April 3, 1883. Eau Claire City Directories from 1882 - 1885 lists an August Kalanquin. I haven't had much luck in finding family members in other states although I have a copy of the death certificate of Edd E. Kalanquin, born 5 Oct 1887 in Rushville, Nebraska, son of August and Mary Kalanquin, and died 4 March 1966 in Alliance, Box Butte, Nebraska. In my mother's possession is a copy of the death record of Thos Kalanquin who died 15 Feb 1933 in Enaville, Shoshoni, Idaho. His parents are listed as August KaLanquin and Pierquet. Hope this info is of value.

Here is another segment about the lumbering businesses in Eau Claire Co. Another successful mill enterprise was that inaugurated by the late Daniel Shaw at what was named after him, Shawtown. He located his plant at the outlet of Half Moon Lake in 1856. He was born in 1813 at Industry, Franklin county, Maine, and chose lumbering as a vocation and engaged in business in Allegany county, N. Y. He was successful in the selection he had made, but, desiring to enlarge his sphere of operations, he came to Wisconsin in 1855 and traveled through the Chippewa valley pine district. Satisfied with the outlook, he, in association with Mr. Clark, the father of Dewitt C. Clark, purchased a large quantity of pine lands and removed to Eau Claire with his family the following year. Another element that induced him to take this course was that he had been successful in associating himself with Ingram & Kennedy, Smith & Ball and Adin Randall, and obtaining a charter from the legislature authorizing them to excavate a race or canal from the river to Half Moon lake and establish a sheer boom at a suitable point, and so stock the mills at Shawtown. The whole work was pressed forward with commendable dispatch, but the terrible collapse in the commercial centers of the West and the almost total prostration of the lumber trade in the next succeeding years placed an effectual check on these operations and presented obstacles to running the mill with satisfactory results that few men could surmount; but he battled with them all and came out the victor by associating himself with Mr. C. A. Bullen. The firm finally succeeded in establishing the business on a solid basis when the mill was destroyed by fire in August, 1867. Nothing daunted, the firm rebuilt the mill in the same year on a more extensive scale and with improved machinery, augmenting their resources by taking into partnership with them Newell & Ferguson. The institution was incorporated in 1874 as the Daniel Shaw Lumber Company, with a capital of $500,000. The first officers were: Daniel Shaw, president; C. A. Bullen, vice-president; C. S. Newell, treasurer, and G. B. Shaw, secretary. Additions were made to the plant which occupied many acres of land with twelve buildings. The Empire Lumber Company also had its works at Shawtown. A mill was erected there by Ingram, Dole & Kennedy in 1856. Mr. Dole retired soon afterward and the firm became known as Ingram & Kennedy. They were previously operating in Canada. The hard times of 1857 taxed their resources to the utmost, and to add to the impediments in the way to establishing a successful business the mill was, about two years later on, consumed by fire. This loss was, however, overcome, and after struggling through the depression that existed during the war period, business gradually improved under the able management of the senior partner. At about the same time, and adjacent to the site of the Ingram & Kennedy mill, another mill was constructed by John P. Pinkum and operated by him, having a capacity of about 30,000 feet per day. In 1869 they purchased of Arthur M. and John S. Sherman what is known as the "Eddy" mill, which was located northeast of Mount Simon on the Chippewa River. The members of the firm ultimately associated themselves with the Charles Horton Lumber Company, of Winona, Minn., and Dulany & McVeign, of Hannibal, Mo., and organized the Empire Lumber Company on March 26, 1881, with a capital of $800,000, Mr. Kennedy retiring. The sawmill erected by Adin Randall in 1856 on what later on became Menomonie street, "Randall's Land" passed shortly after into the hands of Smith & Ball. George A. Buffington, who came to Eau Claire in 1856 from Cattaraugus county, New York, and ran a livery and kept a hotel purchased the interest of the junior member of the firm in the mill property in 1859. The institution was thenceforth and until March 5, 1872, operated by Smith & Buffington, when it was incorporated with a capital of $250,000. The first officers were George A. Buffington, president; C. M. Smith, vice-president, and C. M. Buffington, secretary. The old mill was removed in 1874 and one of the largest steam mills in the valley erected on its site, William Carson having purchased the interest of Smith, and with this addition the company became financially strong, and owning to the integrity and good business judgment of both Mr. Carson and Mr. Buffington, the entire transaction was a grand success. The capacity of the plant was 25,000,000 feet of lumber, 20,000,000 shingles and about 15,000,000 laths and pickets a year. The number of men employed was 200, including the mill hands and those engaged in the lumber camps. +++++++++++ We have one more segment of this story, which I'll be sending out tomorrow. It's a pretty good history, huh? -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net

We are starting a new topic today. This one is much shorter -- about 3 days worth of news. But I thought you all would enjoy this as lumbering was one of the biggest draws for bringing people to Eau Claire Co. in it's earliest of days. This chapter comes from the book "The History of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, 1914": LUMBER INTERESTS The lumber interests have always been foremost in the growth and prosperity of the whole Chippewa valley and Eau Claire especially. The water facilities at this point for sawmills, especially on the Eau Claire river, is what first attracted lumbermen to this locality. From one little mill started in 1846 by McCann, Randall & Thomas, there grew up a number of what may be justly called mammoth institutions. The almost insurmountable difficulties some of them had to contend with by reason of floods, the natural courses of the rivers and financial depression are noted at length elsewhere. This mill was destroyed by the flood of 1847, and another one was erected in its place in the winter of 1847-48 by George W. and Simon Randall in association with Philo Stone and H. Cady. The last named disposed of his interest to Mr. Swim, and Simon Randall's share went to Mr. Pope. This was early in the "fifties." The firm thus became Stone, Swim & Co., and they parted with the property in the spring of 1855 to Carson, Eaton & Downs. The second sawmill was built on the Eau Claire river by J. J. Gage, James Reed and Captain Dix in 1848. This property with large tracts of pine lands and one-half the village plat became vested in the two first named parties. After operating the mill for several years the whole property was placed on the market. Adin Randall came to Eau Claire in the summer of 1855 and undertook to find a purchaser. As a preliminary step he obtained a bond from the owners agreeing to dispose of the property at a fixed price. He negotiated with Nelson C. Chapman and J. G. Thorp, who purchased the property in May, 1856, for $42,000, although they did not come to Eau Claire and take possession until the following year. Shortly afterward they purchased the entire property of Carson, Eaton & Downs, and thus became the proprietors of both mills. Nelson C. Chapman was born in Durham, Green county, N. Y., in 1811, removing to Norwich, Chenango county, when sixteen years of age. He remained there, doing a successful business, until 1846, when he removed to Oxford in the same county and entered into partnership with J. G. Thorp. His birthplace was Butternuts, N. Y., and the date 1812. He entered the store of Ira Wilcox at Oxford in 1829. Seven years afterward he was taken into partnership and the firm was known as I. Wilcox & Co. In 1846 the senior member disposed of his interest to N. C. Chapman, and thus was formed the firm of Chapman and Thorp. The business was carried on in t he same place until 1857, when Mr. Thorp removed to Eau Claire and Mr. Chapman went to St. Louis where he continued the business of the firm until his death in 1873. An amusing incident grew out of the contract with Gage & Reed, at least to those who were not affected by it. A certain sum was paid down and the balance was to be liquidated by installments. Gold was plentiful at this time and did not command a premium, so no stipulation was made as to the mode in which the accruing sums were to be discharged. Before the last payment became due, money in any shape, but especially gold, was not to be found in the West. Gage & Reed having signified their intention not to accept anything else, looked forward to a foreclosure, particularly as the sum amounted to $9,000. When the day for settlement came their astonishment can be more readily imagined than described when the money, principal and interest, was handed to them in American gold. Such was the manner in which this firm conducted their business. By adhering to this system they established a name and credit that carried them not only through the monetary crisis that existed from 1861 to 1865, while thousands became bankrupt, but to success. Not only did they surmount all difficulties, but in ten years they had made valuable accessions to their real estate. In 1866 the Eau Claire Lumber Company was incorporated with a paid-up capital of $160,000, with Joseph G. Thorp as its president. Such was the magnitude of its rapidly increasing business that in 1880 its capital had increased to $3,000,000. In addition to the lumber mill plant it had at one time machine shops, flouring mills and an elevator in Eau Claire, besides mills at Meridian and Alma, giving a combined capacity of 100,000,000 feet a year. As much as 40,000,000 feet of lumber was cut in one year. The company erected a large brick store in 1874 to replace the one destroyed by fire that year for the retailing of general merchandise at a cost of $30,000. At one time the transactions of this branch of the business amounted to $350,000 a year. The losses of the company at various times by fire and flood would aggregate a very large amount. The extensive flourmill was destroyed by fire in 1877 when a loss of $50,000 was sustained, with insurance of $27,000. On December 19, 1878, the machine shop was also burned down. A year afterward the boiler of the planing mill exploded, killing J. Wright Hoskins (the engineer), Anthony Gallagher and Michael Helping. Thomas Hall was also injured and the mill badly shattered. The shingle mill went up in flames in June, 1890, inflicting a loss of $15,000. The Mississippi River Logging Company purchased the whole of the property in 1887 and the business was carried on by them. +++++++++++++ We'll read about Daniel Shaw and a few others tomorrow. Join us again, won't you? -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net

We are on our last segment of this chapter, with only one biography left, which we will read. But in looking at this last segment, I see that it isn't a long bio as I first thought, but more of a "closing statement" (would lawyers do anything less?) Also, please note that one biography that is mentioned as not being listed in this chapter is being added to the end of this email as it appears in the book "The Rivers Flow On" by Lois Barland -- just in case someone is looking for it! :~) Burt E. Deyo was born in Peru, Huron county, Ohio, son of Erastus and Salome (Mauley) Deyo. The father was born in New York state and descended from the Huguenots, while the mother was born in Ohio of English ancestry. Burt E. was educated at Oberlin College and the law department of Harvard University; read law in the office of Bartlett & Hayden, was admitted to the bar in 1882, and to practice in the Supreme Court of the state in 1900. The foregoing list is not complete. We have endeavored to make it complete, but many who are now living at Eau Claire have neglected to furnish the proper data from which personal mention could be made, while some others have died, and still many others have moved away, and we have not been able with reasonable effort to reach them. Among those omitted may be mentioned Texas Angel, Abel W. H. Frawley, Frank R. Raff, De Alton Thomas, A. C. Larson, A. H. Shoemaker, E. M. Bradford, Heman Day, T. F. Frawley, Jr., V. W. James. In the early days the practice of law was not very remunerative, and the strict method of procedure and decorum was not always observed. It was within the province of the judge to admit applicants to membership of the bar. Judge Fuller was very accommodating in performing this part of his official duty. It was not by him deemed essential that the applicant should have even read or looked into a law book. All that he required was that some members of the bar move the admission of the applicant, and with one exception the motion was granted. Hence we had a number of members of the bar not mentioned in the foregoing statement who never read or practiced law, among which were R. F. Wilson, James Gray, Captain Seeley and some others whose names I do not now remember. The exception was Arthur Delaney, who edited a paper on the west side. His admission was moved by Alexander Meggett. Evidently the judge was not in a receptive mood, or else nourished a grievance against Delaney. The judge promptly denied the application. When asked for a reason he replied that Delaney was drunk. The young Irishman's ire was aroused; he felt he had not only been abused but grossly insulted. Quick as a flash he came back with the retort: "Judge Fuller, you are so drunk yourself you cannot get off the chair." The judge called upon the sheriff to put him out. Delaney, as he was being forced through the door by the obedient sheriff, turned and addressing the indignant judge, said: "Judge Fuller, I am going over to my office and I will write an article about you which will cut a wound so deep that even whiskey won't heal." And he did. It is not improbable that the judge was somewhat under the influence of ardent spirits, which, if reports are true, he was addicted to their use in no slight degree. Delaney was quite a character in some respects. He was able, even brilliant, and possessed a genuine Irish wit to a considerable degree. He was an ardent democrat and so was Dr. W. T. Galloway. Democrats in those days were about as scarce as hens' teeth. The congressional district was very large, with scattered settlement here and there, and in the northwestern part of it Pepin and Prescott on t he Mississippi river were the most prominent. Delaney and Galloway, with the latter's team, started to attend the convention at Pepin, some sixty miles west. They had an ample supply of democratic enthusiasm with them. Everything went along well until they reached a point somewhere near Fall City, when a dispute arose, and the doctor, being a powerful man, weighing over two hundred pounds, and Delaney rather slight in build, threw Delaney out of the buggy and started on without him. Delaney, not daunted by this little mishap, trudged on on foot, occasionally catching a short ride, reached the convention just as it was about to adjourn. He was granted the privilege of addressing that body, and in the course of his remarks explained why it was that his arrival was so late. In eloquent words he stated how the doctor and himself had started out from Eau Claire full of enthusiasm and of mind socially and politically; how a disagreement occurred over some slight matter, how the doctor forcibly ejected him from the buggy; of his long and weary march to reach the convention, and added: "Gentlemen of the convention, that was a contest. It was a contest between stomach and brains, and stomach was ahead." Ever afterward, if you wanted to arouse the ire of the genial doctor, all that was necessary was to refer to the closing remarks of Delaney. A special term for the whole district was provided by law to be held at Prescott, in the extreme northwest corner of the state, in t he month of July. There was no railway then from Eau Claire, and the Eau Claire lawyers having business before the court were obliged to journey by team, usually a two days' drive. One morning Messrs. Meggett, Cousins, H. Clay Williams and the writer started for Prescott to attend the July term. We got started a little late owing to the fact that we had to wait a long time for Mr. Cousins. His tardiness, however, was explained by a statement of the fact that the night before a baby boy had come to gladden his household, and thus Marshall, his first born, was ushered into the world. It is needless to state that his tardiness was excused. The first night we stopped at Brookville, near Hersey, a stage station on the road from Eau Claire to Hudson, if I remember right. It was about dusk, as we drove up; the keeper of the stable came out with a lantern and was engaged in assisting to unhitch the team, when Meggett asked him the question: "Say, how many votes did I get in this town for senator? My name is Meggett." The stable keeper, thinking for a moment, replied: "I guess you got two." Meggett indignantly retorted: "Well, if that is the case, we will drive on to the next station." That he would not stay over night in a town where he got only two votes. This was met by the statement from the stable keeper: "If I was in your place I wouldn't mind. You didn't get any votes in that town." It was Judge Humphrey's first year upon the bench. We returned by the way of Hudson and were the guests that evening of the judge and his estimable wife. She was a most devout Christian lady, and in the course of the evening, addressing herself to Mr. Williams, inquired if he was a member of the church, and he, without even the slightest hesitation, replied: "Yes, of the Episcopal church." If he had ever been inside of the church no one ever had any recollection of it. She further inquired if he was a member of the Bible class, to which he replied that he was its leader. She was much interested and pursued her inquiries as to whether many of the prominent residents of Eau Claire belonged to the class, and, without even a smile, he replied "Most of them," mentioning Cal Spafford, Jan Gray, Dick Wilcox and several others. To fully appreciate the cheek of Williams under the circumstances a person would have to be acquainted with the habits of himself and those he mentioned as members of his Bible class. The judge was a great humorist and enjoyed a practical joke. It was amusing to observe his efforts to keep his face straight while Williams was thus responding to Mrs. Humphrey's inquiries. Another incident then I have done, although there were many of a somewhat similar character that occurred in those days which would today shock the dignity of courts if indulged in. At Judge Humphrey's first term at Chippewa Falls, Judge Wiltse, a long time justice of the peace, applied for admission to the bar. The judge appointed Mr. Cousins, Meggett and the writer as a committee to examine him in open court as to his qualifications. The court was held in Mitchell's Hall, if I recollect correctly; at any rate it was in a hall over the corner drug store formerly kept by Harry Goddard. There was no court house then. The room was full to overflowing, as almost the entire population, as was usual, were present. Andrew Gregg, Jr., as district attorney and the only resident lawyer. Some farmer who owned a pair of mules had hitched them immediately in front of the hall. While the committee in the presence of the court was proceeding with great dignity in interrogating Mr. Wiltse one of the mules set up an unearthly bray. Mr. Gregg, who was in the back end of the hall, immediately addressed the court: "Hold on! Hold on! There is another jackass that wants to be admitted." It seems that Mr. Gregg had not liking for Mr. Wiltse. ++++++++++++ And here is the bio of Arthur H. Shoemaker as found on page 452 of "The Rivers Flow On":: Arthur H. Shoemaker was born in Iowa and came to Eau Claire in 1891. He was a partner with L. A. Doolittle for some years and then with M. B. Hubbard. He was reporter of the Circuit Court for 34 years. He was in the same office on the second floor of the building at the southwest corner of Barstow and Grand for 50 years until it was destroyed by fire. He married Mrs. Jennie D. Whittier in 1900 and they lived in the old cobblestone house at 1011 State street from 1909 until Mrs. Shoemaker died in 1951. A daughter, Jean, married Arthur L. Jones. Mrs. Shoemaker was very active in many organizations and was on the district, state or national boards of many societies. +++++++++++++++ And speaking of the above book, I'm wondering if you all would be interested in hearing some of the stories from it as well. I know some of you own the book yourself, but others who have never had access to it might appreciate some of the materials found in it. There are a few stories left in the book that we've been working out of, "The History of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, 1914" that I will be completing, but would like to hear your thoughts on where else we should be going from here. Your comments on the mail list are very welcome as it may spark a good discussion and give me some ideas. Thanks! -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net

Today's segment is a shortened version -- there are only a few biographies left, but the last one is a long one. So I'll give you all but the last one today. Guess what you'll get tomorrow? :~) Robert D. Whitford, attorney-at-law, was born in Jefferson county, New York, July 2, 1851, son of Edward W. and Clarinda (Odell) Whitford. Edward Whitford, paternal grandfather of Robert D., was for many years a resident of Rensselaer county, New York, and one of the pioneer farmers of Jefferson county, this state, where he settled in 1833 and died in 1862, aged 84 years. Robert S. Odell, the maternal grandfather, was a farmer of Rensselaer county, New York, where he died. The father of Mr. Whitford farmed for several years in Jefferson county, and later in Fayette county, Illinois, where he died in 1892. Mr. Whitford was reared in his native county, coming to Wisconsin in 1869. He located at Milton. He took a classical course in Milton college, read law in the office of Bennett & Sale, at Janesville, and was admitted to the bar in November 1878, after which he located at Menomonie January 1, 1880. He practiced there until 1893, when he went to Superior, and on September 1, 1899, located at Eau Claire. He married September 4, 1882, Miss Anna Shaw West, a niece of the late Daniel Shaw, and they have two children. George L. Blum, Judge of the County Court of Eau Claire county, was born October 6, 1869, at Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He received his education in the public schools of Eau Claire and at the University of Wisconsin, graduating from the law department in 1893, and was admitted to the bar the same year. In February, 1895, he formed a partnership in Eau Claire with John B. Fleming under the firm name of Fleming & Blum, which arrangement continued until January 1, 1908, since which time he has practice alone. He was elected Judge of the County Court in April, 1901, and is now -- 1914 -- serving his fourth term of six years. Judge Blum married Margaret D. McGillis, of Eau Claire, and they are the parents of three children: Genevieve F., Margaret G., and George L., Jr. John Bernard Fleming, mayor of Eau Claire, was born in the village of this name, June 27, 1866, to Michael and Catherine Fleming, and is of Irish descent. His father was born in Buffalo, New York, and his mother in Washington county, Wisconsin. They settled in Eau Claire in 1865. Mayor Fleming was educated in the parochial and public schools, entered the law office of Levi M. Vilas in 1884, and was graduated from the law department of the Minnesota State University, and was admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of Minnesota in 1889, and to the state and federal courts of Wisconsin in 1891. He became cashier of the Union Savings bank of Eau Claire, and secretary of the Union Mortgage & Loan Company in 1907, resigning when elected mayor in 1910 for a term of six years, and is the first mayor of Eau Claire and Wisconsin to serve under the new commission form of government. He was associated in practice with George L. Blum for ten years, was private secretary for Hon. William F. Vilas 1891 and 1892; register of the United States land office in Eau Claire 1895-1900. He is a member of the Elks, the Knights of Columbus and St. Patrick's church. He married Edith S. Robinson at Milwaukee, December 12, 1894, and has one daughter -- Edith Marion. Joseph C. Culver was born in Eau Claire, July 26, 1880, the son of Joseph C. and Emma (Kern) Culver. He was educated in St. John's Military Academy, Delafield, Wisconsin, and at the Cornell University at Ithaca, New York. He was married November 8, 1905, to Miss Mary McDonough, of Eau Claire. Henry McBain, attorney-at-law and judge of the Municipal Court of Eau Claire, was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, September 3, 1857, the son of John and Mary (Fisher) McBain, and is of Scotch descent. He acquired an academical education at Canton, New York, and came to Eau Claire county in 1871, locating at Augusta, where for several years he was clerk in the postoffice. Associated with others he was for three years engaged in merchandising at Augusta. He was elected clerk of the Circuit Court and came to Eau Claire in 1885. For sixteen years he served as clerk of the court, during which time he studied law and was admitted to the bar September 3, 1898, and since 1910 has served as municipal judge. He married Emma B. Crawford, of Augusta, and has two children -- Gladys and Mabel. Judge McBain is a member of the A. F. and A. M., the R.A.M. and Knights Templar. +++++++++++++++ With this topic coming to an end tomorrow, I'd like to discuss where we go from here. So I'll be tossing out some questions to you all tomorrow and hope that you will let me know your thoughts once again. This is not a test! :~) -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net

Here's more of those biographies... William W. Downs, who ranks among the influential, successful progressive members of the bar of Eau Claire county, Wisconsin, was born in Menomonie, Dunn county, Wis., November 7, 1851. His parents, Burhee and Laura J. (Dunn) Downs, were natives of eastern Maine, and pioneers of Dunn county, having settled at Menomonie in 1849, where the father engaged in the lumber business as a member of the firm of Knapp, Stout & Company. He later was a member of the firm of Carson, Rend & Company, and then for a number of years was engaged in business alone. After a residence in Eau Claire of a decade or more, he died in about the year 1888 at the age of seventy-four. William W. Downs came to Eau Claire in 1868, receiving his primary education in the public schools of the city. He afterwards entered the University of Wisconsin and was graduated from the law department in 1874. He commenced the practice of law the same year at Eau Claire, where he successfully continued until 1886, when he removed to Bayfield county, Wisconsin, and was there actively engaged in the practice of his profession until 1911, then returned to Eau Claire and resumed his practice there. Mr. Downs is a careful and conscientious student of the law, and in his practice employs the force of a clear, logical and judicial mind, thoroughly disciplined and trained by varied experiences of his forty years of study and practice. In June, 1874, he was wedded to Alice Daniels, a native of Ohio. Mr. Downs is an attendent and supporter of the Lake Street Methodist church, is a member of the Bayfield Lodge Free and Accepted Masons, and a member of the Royal Arch Masons of Eau Claire. While a resident in Bayfield, he served one term as district attorney for Bayfield County. George J. Losby, who is one of the promising young lawyers of Eau Claire, was born in that city June 30, 1873. His parents, John and Christian Losby, were born in Norway and emigrated to the United States in the late sixties. They settled in Eau Claire, where the father was variously employed by different lumber companies up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1901. George J., the only son in the family, grew to manhood in this city, obtaining his education in the public schools and in the Eau Claire Business College, and for six years held a position as law stenographer. He began the study of law in 1894 in the offices of Judge William F. Bailey and L. A. Doolittle. He was admitted to the bar in 1897 and in 1901 was elected clerk of the court, serving in that capacity five consecutive terms or a period of ten years, and since 1910 has been in the active practice of his profession. He married in 1901 Miss Josephine Hansen, of Eau Claire, and two children have been born: Alden and Idele Losby. Mr. Losby is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and the I.S.W.A. Before the Eau Claire city government went on the commission form basis he represented the Eighth ward in the city council four years. Charles T. Bundy, member of the well known law firm of Bundy & Wilcox, was born in Menomonie, Wis., March 2, 1862, son of the late Judge Egbert B. and Reubena (Macauley) Bundy. The father was born at Windsor, N. Y., the son of Dr. O. T. Bundy, of Deposit, that state. The mother was born in Glasgow, Scotland, a daughter of William and Margaret Macauley. Charles T. grew to manhood in Menomonie and there resided until he came to Eau Claire in 1894. He was educated in the public schools of his home city and Madison, graduating from the law department of the State university and was admitted to practice in all courts of the state, both state and federal, the Supreme Court of the United States, courts of appeals in Chicago, St. Louis and San Francisco. He commenced his practice at West Superior in partnership with C. R. Fridley until he formed a partnership with T. F. Frawley and Roy P. Wilcox in 1897, under the name of Frawley, Bundy & Wilcox, which business arrangement continued until the death of Mr. Frawley in 1902. Since that time he has been associated with Mr. Wilcox under the firm name of Bundy & Wilcox. Mr. Bundy has been connected with much important litigation, among which may be mentioned the following cases: Harrigan vs. Gilchrist, United States vs. Barber Lumber Company et al., the Eau Claire National Bank vs. Jackman in the United States Supreme Court, and water power cases in Wisconsin, including the famous Dells case. On October 22, 1890, Mr.Bundy married Miss May Kelley, daughter of John, Jr., and Cornelia (Drawley) Kelley, of Menomonie. To Mr. and Mrs. Bundy have been born four children, viz.: Nell R., Katherine M., Egbert B. and Lillian, the youngest of which died in 1910. Religiously Mr. Bundy affiliates with the Episcopal church, while fraternally and socially he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. +++++++++++++ And there will be more biographies tomorrow! See you then! -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net

We're almost on the home stretch for this topic, with just a few pages left of biographies. Here are some more: Roy P. Wilcox has made an indelible impression on the public life of Eau Claire, and, as a lawyer, stands preeminently high. Through his seventeen years as an active attorney he has come to be recognized as one of the able practitioners of the bar of Wisconsin. Roy P. Wilcox was born in the city of Eau Claire, June 30, 1873, and is the son of Nelson C. and Angeline (Tewkesbury) Wilcox. He is of English and Irish lineage and comes of one of the oldest families in America, the Wilcox ancestry dating back to early colonial days. He received his early education in the public schools of Eau Claire and then took a course in the law department of Cornell University, at Ithaca, N. Y., graduating in the class of 1897. One year previous to his graduation he had been admitted to the bar of Wisconsin, and immediately after leaving Cornell he began the practice of his profession in his native city. On September 1, 1897, he became a member of the law firm of Frawley, Bundy & Wilcox; since the death of the senior partner, July 1, 1902, the firm has been Bundy & Wilcox. Mr. Wilcox has achieved success at a time in life when most men are fortunate if they have laid the foundation for success; and this has been accomplished by his own ability and energy, for he left college not only with exhausted resources, but with debts to pay. While his success has been due mainly to his legal abilities, he has shown a capacity for business that, of itself, would have made him a success in commercial affairs, and has been connected with some large projects that have been managed most admirably, notably the water power and utility properties formerly owned by the Chippewa Valley Railway, Light and Power Company, the values of which were greatly enhanced under the management of this company, of which he was one of the organizers. On occasions Mr. Wilcox has been active in public affairs, but never as an official, nor obtrusively. For instance, Eau Claire was the first city in Wisconsin to adopt the commission form of government, and Mr. Wilcox was very distinctly connected with the movement that culminated in that result. He assisted in drafting the bill providing for government by commission in the cities of Wisconsin, and when the bill was introduced in the legislature he went to Madison and worked for its passage. Then, when the bill became law, he took the platform in Eau Claire to advocate the adoption of this form of government in his home city, and to his efforts is due, in no small degree, the fact that Eau Claire has its present satisfactory form of city government. After this he was invited to other places to address the citizens on the new lan of managing civic affairs, with the result that the commission form of government was adopted in every city he visited, with two exceptions. As a lawyer, Mr. Wilcox is both a wise counsellor and an exceedingly able advocate, and his record as a trial lawyer has seldom been equaled. He has acted as attorney for railroads and other corporations for years, defending them against damage claims for injuries, losses, etc., and his success has been startling, considering that he has had to appear before juries on the unpopular side of every such case. He is a forcible, logical, impressive speaker, possessing forensic qualities of a high order, and a manifest honesty of purpose glowing in all his efforts makes him formidable as a pleader in any cause. During the last fifteen years his firm has appeared on one side or the other of most of the big legal cases in and around Eau Claire. On June 17, 1903, Mr. Wilcox married Maria Louisa, daughter of Manuel and Clementina (Santander) de Freyre, of Lima, Peru, South America. They have two children, Louisa M. and Francis J. Mr. Wilcox is prominently connected with St. Patrick's Catholic Church, of Eau Claire, the Knights of Columbus, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the American Bar Association and the Wisconsin Bar Association, of which he is a member of the committee on legal education. Martin B. Hubbard, ex-judge of the county court, was born near London, Ontario, Canada, August 11, 1849. His parents, Alfred and Mary A. (Dighton) Hubbard, who were natives of Jefferson county, New York, emigrated to Eau Claire county, Wisconsin, in 1865, settling on a farm in Bridge Creek township, and were among the early pioneers and most progressive and influential citizens of that town. The father retired from active farm duties at the age of sixty-five years and moved to the city of Eau Claire, where he died on May 6, 1908, at the age of eighty-two years. His wife, mother of our subject, passed away March 31, 1910, aged eighty-four years. They were both devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and were held in the highest esteem by all who knew them. The original Hubbard family emigrated from England to America and were among the early settlers in Connecticut. Martin Hubbard, grandfather of Judge Hubbard, who was a successful lumberman and manufacturer in Canada during the early forties, died in 1855 at the age of fifty-five years. His wife, Maria Putnam, died in 1866. Benjamin Dighton, maternal grandfather of our subject, also a native of Jefferson county, New York, whose wife was Amanda Cole, was a prominent Methodist clergyman in Canada. Martin Hubbard is the eldest of a family of four children, the others being Amanda, wife of N. E. Pride, of Otter Creek township, Eldred, also of Otter Creek, and Elva, wife of J. H. Tifft of Eau Claire. Judge Hubbard received his education in the public schools of Canada and Augusta, Wis. He early served as town clerk of Bridge Creek township, resigning that office in 1876 to enter the office of the clerk of court, and while thus engaged commenced the study of law. In 1883 he entered the office of L. R. Larson, as clerk, and while in that position performed the duties of municipal judge under Larson. He was admitted to the bar of Eau Claire county in 1883, continuing in Mr. Larson's office until 1885, when he entered upon the practice of his profession, in which he has since continued. He was elected judge of the county court in 1896 and served one term of four years. A republican in politics, he has been a member of the republican central committee for ten years, and for eight years served as its chairman. He has been a member of the board of education eight years, and president of the same for two years. Judge Hubbard is prominently identified with the commercial and financial interests of Eau Claire, being secretary of the H. T. Lange Company, secretary of the Dells Lumber Company, secretary of the Reedsburg Canning Company and a member of the board of directors of the Eau Claire National Bank and of the Eau Claire Savings Bank. He stands high in Masonic circles, is a member of the Blue Lodge, chapter and commandery. In 1889 Judge Hubbard was married at Augusta, Wis., to Miss Elizabeth Reed, daughter of William and Elizabeth Reed. ++++++++++++++ That's it for today, but watch your mailboxes tomorrow as we will have more good reading of these legal men's biographies. -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net

Hi Folks, Whew! I'm back at it after a crazy week last week. Sorry I abandoned you all, but unforeseen things came up that I had to deal with -- like a trip to the ER and being admitted to the hospital for a day or two and then dealing with Thanksgiving at my house! We made it through it all and now I'm back to getting some work done. Here are more of those biographies that we've been reading from the book "The History of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, 1914": Joseph W. Singleton, a prominent member of the Eau Claire county bar, was born in Louisville, St. Lawrence county, New York, September 8, 1861, son of Peter and Ellen (McCarthy) Singleton, both natives of St. Lawrence county. Thomas Singleton, paternal grandfather of Joseph W., was a native of England and followed the trade of ship carpenter prior to coming to the United States, and was a soldier in the Napoleonic War. Emigrating to America, he became one of the pioneers of St. Lawrence county, New York, where he engaged in farming and lived there until his death. The maternal grandfather, Dennis McCarthy, was a native of County Mayo, Ireland, and was also a pioneer of St. Lawrence county, settling on the Long Sault Island, where he resided until his death by drowning in Sault rapids. Peter Singleton, father of Joseph, was a farmer by occupation, and spent his whole life in the county where he was born, and died at the age of seventy-two years. Joseph W. was educated in the common schools of St. Lawrence county, the Jesuit College, and the Georgetown University of Washington, where he was graduated with the degree of bachelor of philosophy and bachelor of laws in 1888. He also afterward taught school for one year in the St. Joseph College, at Burlington, Vt. and in October, 1889, was admitted to the bar of that state and practiced his profession in Burlington three years. He came west, and on January 4, 1892, located in Eau Claire, where he has since carried on a successful practice of law. The first two years after coming to Eau Claire he was connected with the office of the late Thomas F. Frawley, and on February 1, 1894, became the first tenant in the Ingram Block where he has since had his office. Mr. Singleton was married to Miss Ellen Francis, daughter of Patrick and Bridget (O'Brien) Gleason, of Cylon, St. Croix county, Wisconsin, and four children had been born to them, viz.: Joseph W., Jr., and Ellen Geraldine, twins; Lydia F. and Paul G. Mr. Singleton is a prominent member of St. Patrick's Church, the Catholic Knights of Columbus. He served as city attorney of Eau Claire from 1895 to 1897 and represented the Sixth Ward as alderman in the Common Council for six years, and was municipal judge for four years, and in politics is a democrat. Lelon Ansil Doolittle, a prominent attorney of Eau Claire, was born in Russell, St. Lawrence county, New York, July 22, 1853, a son of Ansil, Jr., and Jane Ann (Smith) Doolittle. His great grandfather, Abraham Doolittle, was one of five brothers who were representative farmers, merchants and mechanics of their day in the town of Cheshire, New Haven county, Connecticut. The grandfather, Ansil Doolittle, married Maria King, and they were the parents of three sons and three daughters. The eldest son, Ansil, Jr., father of Lelon Ansil, married Jane Ann Smith, and they were the parents of three sons and one daughter; the later married Edgar E. Davis. The eldest son, Marshall Erwin, is a practicing physician. The youngest son, Rollin Edson, is a lawyer, as is also our subject. Lelon Ansil was reared on the farm, attended the district school, and at the age of seventeen secured a second grade teacher's certificate and made a success as a school teacher. At the age of twenty-two years he had completed a regular college course and was graduated from the St. Lawrence University with the class of 1875, paying his tuition by teaching as principal of graded schools, selling subscription books, and farm laborer. The practice of awarding honors at graduation had not then been adopted in this institution, but his good work and conduct were recognized by electing him to membership in Phi Beta Kappa. Through the influence of friends he came to Wisconsin in 1877 and settled at Neillsville, where during the summer of that year, he accepted the position as principal of the high school of that city. After serving one year, he resigned and entered the law department of the University of Wisconsin, finishing the two-year course in one year. After graduating with the class of 1879, he returned to Neillsville and was soon thereafter appointed county judge of Clark county. Up to that time no indexes had been made of the probate records; there was no court calendar, minute book nor court record in the office; all the papers except such as had been lost or destroyed were in a heterogeneous mass, but within six months every paper entitled to record was recorded, and all the records of the office were as complete and as perfect as it was possible to make them. Before his term of office as judge had expired he was elected county superintendent of schools, a position he filled with honor to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents until he moved to Eau Claire in January, 1885. While much of his time at Neillsville was taken up with his official duties, he built up and conducted a successful law business, and in 1879, in company with Hon. James O'Neill, founded the Neillsville Times, which they edited jointly until Judge Doolittle moved to Eau Claire, and which, under their management, became the leading weekly paper of the county. Judge Doolittle came to Eau Claire to avoid newspaper work and politics, and after his arrival gave his sole attention to the practice of law, and has since been engaged in the general practice of his profession. He served as city attorney for three years, and for several terms as president of the Associated Charities. He has been one of the directors of the Eau Claire Public Library for many years, and for several terms has been president of the board. Since 1903, he has been largely interested in real estate in northern Wisconsin, being president of the Traders' Land Company, which is capitalized at $10,000.00, and also of the Guaranteed Investment Company, with a capital of $76,000.00, both of which were incorporated in 1904. Judge Doolittle was married May 4, 1880, to Bessie Adams Weeks, daughter of Friend and Betsey Maria (French) Weeks, of Rutland, Vt., and they have one adopted son, Maxson Rusk Doolittle. The judge is a member of the First Congregational Church of Eau Claire. +++++++++++ That's all that I can muster for today. We will be finishing this chapter this week (God willing) and will move on to other things from there. Take care everyone, and I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net

Posted on: EauClaire Co. Wi Query Forum Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Wi/EauClaire/520 Surname: Nelson, Hyde ------------------------- Researching a Nels P. Nelson that homesteaded in the land office of Eau Claire in 1857. He was married to Jennie by 1875 and had thease children: Claudia Elida Nelson b/1875 Otto, Ralph, William Peter b/1882, Edward Nelson. Jennie had a son John Louis Hyde b/1869 also in Wi. when she married Nels Nelson. By 1902 the Nelson/Hyde family removed to Snohomish Co. Washington. Would like to connect to the Nelson/Hyde family of Wi.

Here are more biographies about the men who served Eau Claire Co. in the legal profession. LaFayette M. Sturdevant, attorney-at-law, Eau Claire, Wis., was born in Warren county, Pennsylvania, September 17, 1856. His parents, Hiram N. and Sarah A. (Reed) Sturdevant, were both natives of the Keystone state and of Holland Dutch descent. In 1865 they came to Wisconsin and settled in Clark county, where the father purchased a 120-acre tract of land, to which he subsequently added 80 more acres, all of which he cleared and improved with substantial buildings and the land brought to a good state of cultivation. Here he made his home until his death in 1888 at the age of sixty-seven years. He reared a family of six children as follows: LaFayette M., Mary, wife of Amenzo Verbeck; James E., Arthur H., Fred F., and Almeda. LaFayette M. was reared on the farm from the age of nine years, and grew to manhood in Clark county, receiving his education in the public schools, and taught school five terms in that county. At the age of 20, in 1876, he began the study of law in the office of his cousin, J. R. Sturdevant, at Neillsville, Wis., and was admitted to the bar in 1878, when he at once began the practice of his profession with L. A. Doolittle under the firm name of Doolittle & Sturdevant. At the end of two years, in 1880, he severed his connection with Mr. Doolittle and entered into partnership with J. R. Sturdevant, forming the well-known firm of Sturdevant & Sturdevant, which arrangement continued for eight years, when the partnership was dissolved, and from 1888 to 1903 Mr. Sturdevant practiced alone in Neillsville. In the latter year he was elected attorney general of the state, and re-elected in 1905. Finishing his second term in 1908, he became attorney for Governor Davidson, at Madison, holding that position until August, 1910, when he located at Eau Claire, where he has since been in active and successful practice of his profession as a member of the firm of Sturdevant & Farr. Mr. Sturdevant has been twice married; his first wife was Minetta, daughter of Orson and Euretta (Hastings) Bacon, of Neillsville, Wis., by whom he had three children, viz.: Clarence L., Hugh H., and Viola E. The present Mrs. Sturdevant was Mary E. Williams, daughter of Peter Williams, of Camp Point, Ill. In politics Mr. Sturdevant is a republican, and as such represented Clark county in the legislature for two terms and served the same county two terms as district attorney. He is a member of the Unitarian Church, Modern Woodsmen of America and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. John C. Gores. Born March 26, 1857, at Oshkosh, Wis., When thirteen years old left school to earn his living. Admitted to the bar in his native city June 26, 1884, and thereupon removed to Eau Claire, where he has resided ever since. For several years a member of the legal firm of Gores & Miner, afterwards Gores, Frawley & Miner. In 1889 chosen by the Common Council alderman of the Eighth Ward to fill a vacancy, which choice was unanimously ratified by the people at the following election. Twice thereafter elected alderman, the last time without opposition. Served on the School Board and County Board. Since 1890 practiced law alone, specializing in office work. In 1897 acted as referee to try the case of Laycock vs Parker, which, up to that time, was the most lengthy case tried in Eau Claire county. On appeal to the supreme court, the case was affirmed and the court in the opinion expressed its special approbation of the manner in which the trial was conducted by the referee. In 1897 appointed as city attorney, to which office thereafter two different proffered appointments were declined. In civic affairs and in politics has always taken a proper degree of interest. At all times a thorough-going, independent and progressive, though not an extremist. Believes that the spoils system tends to draw the worst instead of the better men into politics. During the time of the greenback and free silver agitation in 1877 and 1878, contributed newspaper article in favor of the resumption of specie payment and against free silver. In the last battle for free silver in 1896 wrote a pamphlet entitled "Honest Money -- An Essential in the Prosperity of the Republic." Was the first in the city to advocate publicly the adoption of the commission form of government for cities. Thereafter visited Galveston, Tex., where the plan was first tried, to observe its practical workings. In 1905, when it was proposed by the governor in his message to Wisconsin legislature to re-establish the former method of taxing mortgages, Mr. Gores opposed the proposition in an exhaustive printed argument entitled "The Taxation of Mortgages with Reference to Northern Wisconsin." which was submitted to the legislature. The law was left unchanged notwithstanding a governor's attitude. Throughout life has been a strong book lover, and acquired a reading knowledge of several foreign languages. June 18, 1890, was married to Kate Schultze, who has resided in the city since her birth. Julius C. Gilbertson, a well-known lawyer of Eau Claire and member of the legal firm of Larson & Gilbertson, was born in the city of Eau Claire, June 28, 1875, and is a son of Tolof and Susan (Lamb) Gilbertson, both natives of Norway. The paternal grandfather of Julius C. -- Gilbert Peterson -- came to the United States in 1867 and settled in the state of Iowa, where he resided until his death. John Lamb, maternal grandfather of Mr. Gilbertson, emigrated to the United States and was among the pioneer farmers of Dunn county, Wisconsin, having located there in 1866, where he lived na died. Tolof Gilbertson, the father, who wa a machinist by trade, came to Eau Claire in 1867. He was an industrious and hard working man and worked at his trade at the time of his death in 1911 at the age of sixty-three years. He was the father of ten children, eight of whom are now (1914) living, as follows: Mary is the wife of Charles Sullivan; Julius C., Tilla, now Mrs. Vigo Neilson; Adolph, Cora, Victor, Robert and Clarence. Julius C., whose whole life has been spent in Eau Claire, acquired his elementary education in the public schools. In 1893 he matriculated with the University of Wisconsin, at Madison, where he spent four years, graduating from the College of Letters in the class of 1897. He was admitted to the bar of Wisconsin. In 1898 he was elected judge of the municipal court for a term of four years, and in 1902 was re-elected. Judge Gilbertson is a man of ripe scholarship, well grounded in the fundamental principles of the law, with the ability to apply them in practice, and both as an office counselor and a practitioner in court has won most gratifying success. He is a republican in politics. He was a member of the state legislature in 1911. He is highly esteemed for his manly qualities, and by none more than those intimately associated with him who know him best. He is a member of the Eau Claire Lodge, No. 242, A. F. and A. M., the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Modern Woodmen of America, Knights of Pythias, I. S. W. A., and the Sons of Norway. Judge Gilbertson married in 1903 Miss Jessie McGrath, daughter of John F. and Mary (Burns) McGrath, one of the old and highly respected families of Eau Claire. To Mr. and Mrs. Gilbertson have been born two children - Jocylyn M. and Julius C. Gilbertson Jr. +++++++++++ We still have a few more biographies to get through. I will try to get some out to you each day during this week, but may not be able to live up to that commitment if company arrives earlier than expected for the Thanksgiving holiday. I'll try though, okay? :~) The hard part is getting my house clean. Yuk! It's much more fun to type! -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net

I am new to this list, and the companion county website is one of the best I've seen. I started websurfing for someone else (Reincke) and wound up finding Kromrey on your website. I am trying to connect (Wi) Kromrey to my (Ia) Krumrey people and ultimately find Mr. Schultz :-) Does anyone happen to have the obit for Martin Ferdinand Kromrey? Hoping he might be brother to Gottlieb Martin Krumrey or Wilhelmine Krumrey Kley. Thanks, Angie visit:http://community.webtv.net/web-angie/Webspinsters (always evolving)

Nance, Thank you for the URL and information. This is very helpful! Russ Prust In a message dated 11/17/00 7:53:02 AM Central Standard Time, nsampson@spacestar.net writes: << http://www.more.lib.wi.us/search/c917.75+Ea8d/c917.75+ea8+++d/-5,-1,0,E/frames et&F=c917.75+ea8+++d&2,,257 >>

Nance, I was at the ARC in Eau Claire several weeks ago and they do have copies of the Eau Claire directories from the 1890's. Shawn Ford

Here are more biographies to add to your collections... John E. Stillman settled in Eau Claire in its earliest days. He was the first teacher in the first public school. The building was erected in the village of Eau Claire in the winter of 1856-57. It was of green, rough boards, located on what is now Barstow street, near Grand avenue, East, and in dimension was 16 by 24 feet. As schoolmaster Mr. Stillman was succeeded the following summer by Miss Mary Arnold. At that time there were fifteen pupils. Later Mr. Stillman engaged in the practice of law. Served as county judge from 1863 to 1865. In 1860 he married Miss Mary Lashier, of Fall River, Wis., to whom there were born three sons and two daughters. In 1872 he was practicing law under the firm name of Stillman & Edwards. In 1873, on account of ill health, he removed to Florida where, with other Eau Claire men, he helped establish the town of Orange City. In 1882 Mr. Stillman moved to Washington, D. C., where he resided for one year, then returning to Orange City. He died in 1883. Horace W. Barnes was born in the town of Colesville, Broome county, New York in 1818. His boyhood was spent in the family of an uncle who settled in a dense beech and maple forest in Medina county, Ohio, where he lived a life of constant toil, without one day's schooling until his majority, and Shakespeare's line would then forcibly apply to the youthful Buckeye: "This boy is forest-born, and hath been tutored in the rudiments of many desperate studies.: How many men famous in American history have laid the superstructure of their education and built up an honorable name for such rough materials as poverty and the adverse circumstances that pioneer life always impose! There seems to have been something inspiring in the grand old woods where the early days of many of our most distinguished men first saw the light; and in overcoming the many natural obstacles always encountered in new districts, high aspirations and a determination to achieve grander results take possession of the hardy backwoodsman and frequently leads to victory, honor and fortune. These feelings inspired Mr. Barnes, and with indomitable energy he set himself to earn the means to education himself. By the most rigid economy and assiduous attention to his studies, he acquired a good English and mathematical education and considerable proficiency in the classics at Oberlin Institute, Ohio, acquisitions that he utilized in teaching and surveying until 1852, when he commenced the study and practice of law in which he soon won distinction as a sound legal adviser and laborious faithful advocate. As a pleader, Mr. Barnes displayed qualities which, if not always insuring his own success, were well calculated to quench the ardor and paralyze the force of his adversary. Carefully noting as the cause proceeded, the points which his antagonist intended to make, he would anticipate him and tell the court and jury precisely what his opponent would say, frequently using the exact language in which it would be clothed, and emasculating the argument of all points of power before it was uttered. He felt defeat intensely and seemed to suffer even more than his client the loss incurred by any want of skill or foresight in managing a suit, and hence in all civil suits was wary and cautious, always exacting a full, impartial statement of the case from his client before taking it, and not then unless the evidence, justice and a reasonable prospect of success justified it. In serving the public, no matter in what capacity, his industry and perseverance were untiring, and he shares with Mr. Thorp the honor of exposing frauds in the accounts of the Eau Claire county treasurer and of restoring the credit of the county. Mr. Barnes came to Eau Claire in 1858 and was elected district attorney the next year, 1859, and county judge in 1865; was a member of the legislature in 1861 and 1867. In politics, was a steadfast republican, and during the war zealous and active in carrying forward any and every measure for its prosecution. In his friendship he utterly ignored position or caste, and wherever he found what he considered a true man, he was his friend, but scorned obsequious or patronizing airs, and was sometimes so impolite as to prefer blunt honesty to assumed gentility. In 1872 he removed to Oswego, Kans., with his family, where he now resides in the practice of his profession. Abel Davis, who was one of the early settlers of Eau Claire, was born January 16, 1842, in the town of New Portland, Maine. He spent his early life on a farm, receiving a common school education, and in January, 1862, enlisted in the Fourth Maine Battery, serving until August 9, 1862, when he was wounded at the battle of Cedar Mountain, for which he received his honorable discharge. Returning home he resumed his former occupation, at which he worked until the spring of 1868, when he came to Eau Claire, Wis. and from that time until 1872 labored in the saw mills and woods. In the last named year he commenced the study of law in the office of J. F. Ellis and later entered the law department of the Wisconsin State University, from which he graduated in 1874. Returning to Eau Claire he engaged in practice with J. F. Ellis, remaining in that firm for five years, when, on account of ill health, he retired from active practice and returned to Main in 1888. He resumed the practice of law in Pittsfield, Maine, where he died on October 12, 1905. Loren Edwards, formerly a prominent attorney of Eau Claire and now a resident of Oconomowoc, this state, was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, on September 7, 1843, the son of David and Margaret Edwards. His father was born in New Haven, Conn., and of the same family ancestors as Jonathan Edwards. Loren Edwards received his early education in Erie county, Pennsylvania, where he resided until 1865. He attended the Waterford Academy there, supplementing that with a course in the Lawrence University, Wisconsin, and was graduated with the first class in the Law Department of the State University at Madison, after which he studied law for a time in the office of Gregory & Pinney in Madison. In 1871 he removed to Sacremento, Cal., and practiced law there for two years, then came to Eau Claire and practiced until 1878, thence to Milwaukee, where he continued until 1881, and from that date until 1886 he practiced in Allegany county, New York He went from there to Kansas, where he practiced for ten years and in the meantime served as County Judge of Barber county. In 1896 he moved to Oconomowoc where he has since resided, and enjoys a lucrative business. He was admitted to practice in the Supreme courts of Wisconsin, California, New York and Kansas, and to the United States Circuit courts in Wisconsin. With the exception of his partnership relations with Mr. Stillman, of Eau Claire, and with Mr. Westover, in Oconomowoc, he has practiced alone, and while in Eau Claire he held the office of District Attorney, and for some time was Municipal Judge of the Western District of Waukesha county, this state. He served in the United States Navy during the civil war, and is a bachelor, a Mason and a republican. Andrew Judson Sutherland, one of the well known lawyers of Eau Claire, is a native son of Wisconsin, having been born in London, Dane county, this state, April 28, 1856. His parents, Andrew and Catherine (McVicar) Sutherland, who were natives of New Brunswick, Canada, settled in Eau Claire county in 1856, the same year our subject was born, and located in the town of Union, where the father purchased 240 acres of wild land, which he cleared and improved, making one of the banner farms of the township. He lived to the ripe age of 87 years, and died in 1909. His widow, mother of our subject, is now (1914) still living at the age of 90 years. They reared a family of nine children as follows: Christinia, married Angus McVicar; Peter, George, Charles, John, Andrew J., Flora M. (became the wife of Austin H. Langdell), Margaret and Neal Sutherland. Mr. Sutherland was reared on the homestead farm, spending his boyhood days in much the same way as do most farmer boys, attending the district school and assisting in the farm work. Deciding to enter upon the career of a lawyer, he entered the law department of the State University, at Madison, and was graduated with the class of 1884. Soon after his graduation he opened an office in Eau Claire for the practice of his profession, in which he has since successfully continued. On November 30, 1884, Mr. Sutherland married Mary Brown, daughter of Henry and ? (Baker) Brown, of Cambia county, Pennsylvania, and has four children, Mary Elsie, wife of Rollen Alcott; Laura Edith, Bessie Irene and Judson Clair. Mr. Sutherland is a member of the First Baptist Church, of which his mother is the only survivor of the original members. Politically Mr. Sutherland is a democrat. He was a candidate for Congress on the democratic ticket in 1914 for the tenth district. +++++++++++++ That's if for today and for this week! Have a great weekend everyone, and I'll see you on Monday! -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net

The L. E. Phillips Memorial Library has their catalog online. I did some digging around and found that they have a copy of the 1862 business directory for Eau Claire and then I came to this page (the URL is too long to put on one line, so make sure you copy and paste the whole thing into your browser: http://www.more.lib.wi.us/search/c917.75+Ea8d/c917.75+ea8+++d/-5,-1,0,E/frameset&F=c917.75+ea8+++d&2,,257 For the Area Research Center (ARC) aka McIntyre Library at the UW-EC campus, I found this: http://voyager1.uwec.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?Search_Arg=Eau+Claire+Directories&Search_Code=SUBJ_&PID=7803&CNT=50&SL=None&BROWSE=1&HC=4&SID=1 (again, please cut and paste this into your browser, as it is too long to fit on one line here) I couldn't find any holdings for the Chippewa Valley Museum Library, but I hope the info above will help you some. -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net

--- PRUSTR@cs.com wrote: > I wanted to know the location of > directories so I can look at > them the next time I am in Eau Claire. > > Thanks again. > > Russ Prust > West Bend, WI > Russ, Try the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library or the Chippewa Valley Museum Sue Svoma __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Get organized for the holidays! http://calendar.yahoo.com/

The Drammen Lutheran Church Birth records have been put online tonight. There are links to the pages on the main Eau Claire page at http://www.rootsweb.com/~wieaucla/eauclair.htm under the category of "Churches". Or you can just click on the links below to take you to the pages directly. This database was donated by Lisa Johnson, and a very big thank you goes to her for her hard work and generosity. The database is alphabetically sorted, and typed as transcribed. You will find discrepancies in spelling, which makes this an even more interesting database to search through. Here are the direct links: Surnames A through G http://www.rootsweb.com/~wieaucla/drammenb1.htm Surnames H through K http://www.rootsweb.com/~wieaucla/drammenb2.htm Surnames L through Z http://www.rootsweb.com/~wieaucla/drammenb3.htm If you find records that are a help to you, why not send a thank you to Lisa. Her email address is listed at the top of each of these pages. She's done a terrific job! Thanks, Lisa!!! -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net

PRUSTR@cs.com wrote: > Thanks for your response. I am looking for Haydens between 1890 and 1930 > approximately. I wanted to know the location of directories so I can look at > them the next time I am in Eau Claire. > > Thanks again. > > Russ Prust > West Bend, WI Hi Russ, I'm not sure if there are any of the directories from the 1890 time frame in Eau Claire. I only said they existed because Ancestry.com had three of them added to their databases in the recent past. These included the 1889-1890, the 1891-1892 and the 1893 directories. So the directories are in existence, I just don't know where else they would be. Does anyone else know if any of these are located in the library or ARC at Eau Claire? What about the library at the museum at Carson Park? Are there any older city directories there? Anyone? -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net