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