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