Eau Claire County, Wisconsin - Biographical sketches (2 of 2 so headed), 1914 (part 6 of 8)

Charles J. Newhouse. Among the well-to-do, thrifty and progressive farmers of Eau Claire county is he whose name head.s this brief review. . He was born December 17, 1862, and is one of a family of seven children, born to John Newhouse, who was ;i native of Bilefeld, Gei'many. The fatlier lived a long and busy life and died at the age of 77 yenrs, and tlie mother died at the age of 72.

The other children, besides our subject, are: Mrs. Henrietta Shong, Mrs. Mary Richards, Frederic Newhouse, Mrs. Eliza Griswold, Henry Newhouse and William Newhouse, deceased.

Charles J. Newhouse was born on the farm, attended the common schools and assisted in the farm work. He has always followed this occupation and carried on his operations with good success and profit. He noAV owns 320 acres of fertile land under a good state of cultivation, and well-improved with a fine class of substantial buildings and all the appurtenances and conveniences that go to thoroughlj' equij:) an up-to-date model farm.

He is also engaged in .stock raising, keeping a fine herd of Holstein cattle and from twenty to thirty head of milch cows, and does an extensive dairy business.

betli L. Newhouse. lu fraternal matters Mr. Newhouse is prominently identified with the Masons. He is a loyal public spirited man and takes active interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his town and county.

James H. Nickerson,* influential farmer and president of the Fairchild village ; was born in McHeury county, Illinois, September 14, 1865. His parents, Stephen and Margaret (Bright) Nickerson, were natives of Cazenovia, New York, and England respectively, and is of Scotch and English descent. The parents of Mr. Nickerson were pioneers of McHeury county, where the father owned a farm of 250 acres, which lie subdued, improved and brought to a good state of cultivation, and where he lived and died. The family consisted of four children - Alvarado is deceased ; Jlorence, deceased wife of Loren Warner ; James H., the subject of this sketch, and Rosa.

Mr. Nickerson was reared on the old homestead in ]\lcllenry county; attended the district school and assisted in flu- farm work. After attaining his majority, he went to Rock county, Wisconsin, where he was variously employed for several years. He subsequently returned to his home county and embarked in the livei-y business at Marengo, which he followed in connection with the buying and selling of real estate for thirteen years. In 1900 he came to Eau Claire county and purchased 1,000 acres of land in the town of Fairchild, of which he still owns 480 acres, ItiO acres of which he has improved and cultivated himself. Iii addition to his farming operations he is engaged in the buying and selling of real estate in Wisconsin and adjoining states. He is married and has resided in flic village of Fairchild sinc-e 1900. In 1913 he was elected presidi-iit ol the village and has tilled thoffice with dignify and honor.

John H. Nygaard, the popular county clerk of Eau Claire county, a position he has continuously held since 1904, was born in Norway, January 19, 1863. the son of Ilalvor II. and IMaren (Jacobson) Nygaard.

Halvor H. Nygaard, father of John II., was born in Norway in 1828, and was one of tlie prominent and successful men of liis native town, where he was engaged in the merchant tailoring business until 1890. In that year he came to this coiintry and settled in Eau Claire, and for a number of years followed the occupation of tailor. He afterward moved to Washburn, N. D.. where his son, Hans C. had preceded him and where he now lives in retirement. He is a devoted member of the Lutheran church and in politics believes in the doctrines of the Republican party. He married Maren Jacobson, of Norway, who is now deceased, and the following children were born to them : Hans C, who resides in Washburn, has been prominent in polities all his life in and around Washburn, N. D., and where for twelve years he has been Register of Deeds. John H., the subject of this sketch; Annie married John Thompson, a merchant in Taconia, Wash., and Carl, who is engaged in the merchant tailoring business in Tacoma.

John H. Nygaard was educated in the common schools of Norway, and in early life learned the trade of cutter in his father's tailoring establishment, where he was employed until 19 years of age. Learning of the tempting opportunities for advancement in this country, he set sail in 1882 for America, and upon his arrival, he came to Eau Claire and was employed as cutter for eight years in a tailoring establishment. In 1892 he formed a partnership with Mr. John Baker in the same business under the firm name of Nygaard & Baker, at which he continued until the Fall of 1904, when he was elected county clerk of Eau Claire county on the Republican ticket, and by re-election without opposition has held the office ever since. He is one of Eau Claire's most prominent officials, progressive and up-to-date, and has done much in the line of his duty to place Eau Claire among the banner counties of the state, and has been the means of causing to be piiblished several directories of the county officials and maps, for the convenience and benefit of his constituents.

Mr. Nygaard is a man of pleasing personalit.y and readily wins the good will and holds the confidence of those who come within the range of his influence. He is a man of genial, social temperament, loyal to his friends and is actively identified with the Free Masons, Knights of Pythias, the I. S. W. A., Sons of Norway, the Beavers, the Eau Claire Rod & Gun Club and the County Clerks' Association. He is also a member of the Lutheran church. In 1888 he married Miss Julia Logan, daughter of John Logan, of Eau Claire, and they are the parents of four children, as follows : John Richard, a graduate of the high school, Avas appointed to the West Point Military Academy through the influence of Congressman John Eseh, of LaCrosse; Mildred S. is a graduate of the common and high schools of Eau Claire, and in 1913, graduated from the Normal School of Superior, and during this year, 1914, has taught school at Chippewa Falls ; Eva N. and Julia S. Nygaard live at home with their parents.

Pulp Company, of Eau Claire, is descended from a long liue of Irish ancestry. His father, John O'Brien, was born in County Cork, Ireland, where he was for some time engaged in the groi;- ery business. He married Ann Donavan, and in about 1842 came to tlie United States with his family. After his arrival in this country he went direct to the state ciuarries in Vermont and followed that line of employment for some years, and later engaged in state contracting at Hydeville, Vt. He died at the age of 67 years and was buried at Turners, Mass. Mrs. O'Brien died at tlie age of 68 years. They were the parents of eight children, as follows : Catherine married S. R. IMorrison aud made her home at Turners, Mass. ; Patrick, James and Helen are deceased. Those now living are Mary Ann; Thomas; Eugene and John, who is foreman for the Chapman Brass it Valve Works at Chickepee Falls, Mass.

Eugene O'Bi-ieii A\as bom at Hydeville, in the western part of Vermont. Seiiteiiiln r 2r>. ]S."),"). lie received a common school education in Veriuont, and at the age of sixteen, commenced work in the cutlery business at Turners Falls, Mass., for L. Russell & Company, in their Green river works, remaining in their employ four years, after which he engaged with the Manthue Paper Company at Turners Falls, and was employed as beater engineer, then back tender, then machine tender, and then promoted to boss machine tender, and there obtained a thorough knowledge of paper making. In 1879 he came to Wisconsin and located at Appleton, where he was employed by Kimball & Clark as boss machine tender during his time of service with tliis concern. He went from Appleton to Neenah, and was there employed as machine tender and assistant superintendent for the Winnebago Paper Company for seven years. In 1894 he came to Eau Claire and became associated with the Dells Paper & Pulp Company as superintendent, and since 1909 has been general superintendent of the company's entire plant. Since becoming connected with this concern, he has made many improvements in the plant, erected new buildings and made extensive alterations in the old ones, and now has five hundred men under his direct supervision.

Mr. O'Brien is a keen business man and an expert mechanic, and as such, has made many improvements in paper-making machinery, holds many patents and is considered an authority on the paper-making industry in both the United States and Canada. He is progressive and enterprising and takes a commendable interest in all public affairs. Besides his connection with the paper business, he is a director of the Larson Automatic

Pump Company. In religious affiliations he is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, and is also a member of the Knights of Columbus. He married Helen Burk, daughter of Thomas Burk, of Greenfield count.y, Massachusetts. To this union have been born eight children, of whom five are now (1914) living, as follows : Edward, a traveling salesman ; Eugene, chemist and assistant superintendent of the Dells Paper Company ; Thomas, assistant chemist for the Dells Paper & Pulp Company ; Nellie married Sylvester Gilford, banker and broker, of Calgary, Alberta, and Raymond OBi-ien. Those deceased are: Thomas, Nellie and William.

Thomas Francis O'Connell,* president and general manager of the T. V. O'Connell Tile Company, of Eau Claire, was born January 15, 1865, at Bell Creek, Goodhue county, Minn. His father, Patrick O'Connell, who was born at Galway, Ireland, iii 1818, emigrated to America in 1836, landing in New York City. He went from there to Louisville, Ky., Avhere he married Catherine Griffin. He was employed at railroad work and made Louisville his home until 1858, when he moved to Bell Creek, Minn., and there purchased 160 acres of land, and successfully followed general farming until his death in 1892, at the age of seventy-four years. He was a member of the Catholic church, and as a Democrat in political faith, he took an active interest in the affairs of Bell Creek. He was the father of nine children, of whom six are now (1914) living, viz: Mary, now Mrs. J. C. Lewis, resides at Michigan City, Minn. ; Catherine married Edward McNamara ; Thomas P., the subject of this sketch ; Timotliy resides at Grand Forks, N. Dak., where he is engaged in the meat business, and James, a salesman of Milwaukee. Those deceased are: John ; Jane, deceased wife of M. J. Nilan, and Patrick. John O'Conjiell, grandfather of Thomas F., was lioi'ii in Ireland, and lived all his life in and near Galway.

Thomas F. was reared on the farm and his l)oyliood days were spent much the same as the usual farmei- boy, attending the district schools and assisting with the farm work until lie was nineteen years of age. He then went to St. Paul and connected himself with J. F. Tosterin & Son, where he learned the trade of tile setter, serving an apprenticeship of two years. He then worked as a journeyman seven years for the same firm, after which he went to Chicago and there followed his trade for tAvo years. At the end of that time he returned to St. Paul and to the employ of the old firm, remaining with them from 1894 to 1906, the last eight years of the tinie was foreman of their large force and did most of the estimating on contracts. In ]906 he came to Eau Claire and engaged in the tile business for himself, witii his office at 428 North Barstow street. In 1913 he erected a dwelling and office building on Chippewa Road and Second Crossing, and moved his office there. lie does contracting in all kinds of tile work, mantels, bath rooms, etc.

In 1901 he married Lucy McJIjiiius, daiiiihtiM- of -lohn and Lottie McManus, of St. Paul. To tliis union two ,-hildr.-ii have lieen born: Mary Fern and Art.hur Dean, the latter deceased. Mr. O'Connell is one of the entei'prising and public spirited men of l']au Claire and is always interested in the welfare of his city, lie is a member of the Knights of Columbus and for twenty years he has been associated with the Modern Woodmen of America, and is a prominent member of the Catholic church.

Gustav K. Opheim,* who, for thirty years, was one of the most popular hotel men of Eau Claire, was a native of Norway, and born in 1855. After arriving in America he came to Wisconsin and spent one year at Rice Lake. He came to Eau Claire in 1884 and from that time on, to the time of his death, which occurred January 22, 1914, he was engaged in the hotel business and during this interval, becaine favorably and popularly known. He was a man of thrift and ability and made a grand success of his business, as well as gaining and retaining the good will of his fellowmen. His religious affiliations were with (^ur Savior's Norwegian Church and he was a popular meml)er ot the Knights of Pythias and the Sons of Norway, lie was nuirried in Chippewa P'alls, Wis., to Miss Anna M. Christofson, and they became the parents of two children - Sever C. and Oscar B. Opheim.

M. E. Paddock is a native son of Wisconsin, was born in Eau Claire county, April 18, 1880, and is one of a family of six children, born to Edgar Alfonso and Adelia (Travis) Paddock, and grandson of Anson Paddock, the pioneer of the Paddock family in this countr.y. The others are E. B., who is on the home farm; Clara, wife of C. W. Warner, of Augusta; Earl, who resides in Elkhorn, this state ; Bessie, wife of Harvey Horrell and Jessie, wife of Alfred Thompson. Anson Paddock, a native of IMessina, St. Lawrence county. New York, came west to Wisconsin, first settling on Beef River in ISofi, and thence in 1861 moved to Eau Claire county and settled on a farm in Bridge Creek township near the present homestead of the Paddock family. He had four children: Bradford, deceased; Lucinda, who became the wife of Henry Curran; Edgar Alfonso, father of our subject, who died in 1890, at the age of 42, and Myron was aeci- deutly burned to death in infancy. Anson Paddock, as well as his son, Edgar Alfonso, were men of thrift and progress, and did their full share in helping to transform Eau Claire county from its wild state to one of productive farms and pretty homes. They took a prominent part in the affairs of the county, were enterprising and industrious, and at their death, left the most valuable of all inheritances, that of an honored name.

M. E. Paddock was raised on the homestead farm, obtained his education in the public schools and helped in the farm work. He married in 1903 Miss Minnie Schroeder, and by her has three children: Marjorie, Marion and Edgar. Mr. Paddock, associated with his brother, E. B., under the name of Paddock Brothers, are operating the home farm of 320 acres of choice land which is in a good state of cultivation and improved with a modern residence, barns and other outbuildings. They carry on general farming, stoekraising and dairying, using in their operations the most upto-date methods. They have a fine herd of 56 full blooded Holstein cattle, 20 head of which are milch cows. They make a specialty of breeding and raising Percheron horses, and have in their stud some fine imported specimens. Their hogs, of which they raise large numbers, are of the Poland-China breed, while their sheep are of the Cotwell variety. While Mr. Paddock is among the younger class of fariners, he is considered good authority on many branches of farming industry, and occupies a place of ])rominenee in the community where he resides. He is a member of the J\Iodern Woodmen of Ainerica, while in politics he is a Re]iul)liean.

Robert Emmett Parkinson, the genial proprietor of the Eau Claire House, and probably the dean of hotel men in Wisconsin, was born in St. Lawrence county. New York, January 24, 18-59, a son of William and Anna (Sullivan) Parkinson, and comes of English and Scotch-Irish ancestry. His father, a native of England, and son of John Parkinson, came to the United States in 1842, settling in St. Lawrence county, New York, where he was engaged in farming. There our subject was reared until seventeen years of age, receiving a limited education in the common schools. In 1876 he came to Eau Claire county, first locating in Augusta, where he spent two years in the employ of a grain firm. In 1878 he came to the city of Eau Claire and engaged with the Eau Claire Street Car Company for two years, after which he entered the employ of the Daniel Shaw Lumber Companj^, where he remained three years. Since 1883 he has been connected with the Eau Claire House, then as now the leading hotel of Eau

Claire. His first employment in this hotel was that of bell boy, being advanced later to clerk and in 1887 he became one of the l)roprietors, the firm being Foster & Parkinson. In 1888 Daniel ^IcGillis purchased Mr. Foster's interest and the hotel was conducted under the firm name of Parkinson & McGillis until 1895, .since which period Mr. Parkinson has been sole proprietor of tne hotel, which lie lias conducted on up-to-date principles in every respect aiul made it one of the most popular hostelries in Wisconsin and it is only just lo say of Mr. Parkinson that under liis careful, attentive and successful management, he was enabled in 1911 to come into possession of the hotel property in its entirety. His success has been achieved by his own persistent efforts, always on hand to greet his guests on arrival, and he is most favorably known by the traveling public from coast to coast and familiarly known by the commercial men as "Bob," his affalde and genial manner having made him one of the most prominent men in the business.

Politicall3' Mr. Parkinson affiliates with the Republican party, wliile fraternally he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is a leading member of the Eau Claire County Old .Settlers' Association. He married May 4. 1899. Anna, daughter of William Emerson, of Milwaukee, and they are the parents of one daughter, lone May Parkinson.

Ole J. Parker, who foi' twenty-two years was a member of the police force of Eaii Claire, was born in Norway, November 12, 1847. When he readied the age of maturity in 1868, he came to America and first located at LaCrosse, and after remaining there one summer, he came to Eau Claire and worlved in the lumbering industry for Chapman & Thorpi', with whom he remained until 188G. In the Spring of the last nniin-il year, he was ap- ])ointed to a position on the city police force and discharged his duties efficiently until 1896, when he resigned and went to Montana, remaining there about two years. In the Fall of 1898 he returned to Eau Claire and ^vas employed on the river and in the lumber yards of the Dells Improvement Company, and also the Northwestern Lumber Company until the Spring of 1900, when he was reappointed to the police force, a position he filled until September 1, 1912. when he again resigned.

Mr. Parker married Miss Thora Peterson Risem. who died September 17, 1902. To this imion four children were born. viz. : Belle. Annie, Joseph C. and John P., all born in the city of Eau Claire. Annie married Mr. W. A. Clark, former principal of the Eau Claire training school; Joseph C. resides in Salt Lake City, Utah; John is in Los Angeles, Cal., and Belle resides at liome with her fatlier.

Earle S. Pearsall, district manager for the Wisconsin National Life Insurance Company, was born in Ontario, Canada, February 15, 1872, the son of James and Isabel (Gonsolus) Pearsall, and is of English and Spanish extraction. He was reared in Nebraska, received his education in the public schools of Columbus, that state, and the Omaha business college. He began his business career in 1888 as clerk in the dry goods store at Columbus, and later entered the First National Bank of that city as liookkeeper, but resigned that position to accept the management of a gents' furnishing store in the same town, and continued in that position until the breaking out of the Spanish- American War. At that time, 1898, he Avas a member of the Nebraska National Guards, which later became the first regiment of Nebraska volunteers; he served fourteen months in the Philippines as a sergeant in the Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection. On his return home in 1899, he located at Omaha, Neb., where he was engaged for a short time in the brokerage business, and in 1900 came to Eau Claire, where he has since been connected with the Dells Paper and Pulp Company, and the Eau Claire Dells Improvement Company, being secretary of the latter corporation, and since 1911 he has been district manager of the Wisconsin National Life Insurance Company, also secretary of the Davis Falls Land Company, Inc.

On June 14, 1900, Mr. Pearsall married Miss Emile Davis, daughter of David R. Davis, of Eau Claire, and has two children, Earle S., Jr., and Jane Geraldine. Captain Pearsall is a member of Christ Episcopal Church, of Eau Claire, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias, is also commander of Camp No. 27, Spanish-American War Veterans. Upon coming to Eau Claire, Mr. Pearsall joined the Wisconsin National Guards and since 1902 has been captain of Company E, Third Regiment. .

Charles Pelletier,* successful business man and highly respected citizen, of Eau Claire, was born at Sand Rock, Canada, and is one of a family of eighteen children born to Mitchell and Sophia (Laird) Pelletier, all of whom are now deceased, but three. Besides our sub.iect the others were Ilal, Francis. Thomas, Joseph, Ida, Virginia, Adelaide, Mary, ^lartin, Ostin, Alexandei'. John, Charles. Jule, Lewis, Mitchell and Fida, and one who died

Raised in Canada, Mr. Pelletier received his education in the schools of his home town. He came to the United States and spent two years in Grand Traverse, IMiehigan, and then in 1871 came to Eau Claire where he was first employed with the Daniel Shaw Lumber Company, with whom he remained for fifteen years. He served five years on the police force of Eau Claire under Mayors Farr and Bailey, and twenty-six years ago opened a grocery store in the city of Eau Claire and for fifteen years of this time ran a bakery shop in connection with the grocery. He has prospered and has become one of the solid business men of Eau Claire, and owns at this time considerable real estate, including four buildings on the street where he lives. He is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Cluirch, and a member of the Order of Catholic Knights.

ilr. Pelletier married ]\Iiss 'Sluvy Mauing, of Durand. Wis., who died in 1902 without issue, and two years later, in 1904, Mr. Pelletier took for liis second wife Catherine Weisenfelt. of Eau Claire.

John W. Pepper,* proprietor of the Eau Claire Dray, Express and Bus line, which he established in 1876. was born in Charleston, Illinois, March 20, 181:7, the son of Samuel S. and Dorcas (Wiley) Pepper, both natives of Kentucky, and pi(uieers of Coles county, Illinois, where they followed farming and milling and made their home during the remainder of their lives.

John W. was reared in his home county and attended the common schools. At the age of 21, in 1868, he went to Rochester, iliunesota, and for five years was employed in a livery stable. He came to Eau Claire in 1873 and secured a position as foreman in Samuel Ellis' livery stable, remaining thus employed for three years. In 1876 he embarked in bii.siness for himself on a small scale, which has since grown into one of the largest and leading transfer lines in the city, working ten horses and two autos and employs seven men and one stenographer in the office.

On February 17, 1875. Mr. Pepper married Miss Eliza Sprague, daughter of Orrin and Cynthia (Brown) Sprague, of Rochester, Minnesota, and they are the parents of the following children : Gertie, deceased; Jessie, wife of Fred LaMerr; Grace, wife of George W. Town; John; Valeria, wife of Ray Fowler, and Guy Hamilton. Mr. Pepper is a stockholder in the Egg-0 Baking Powder Company, of Eau Claire, and served as alderman from the

First Ward for two years. His three brothers, William, Alexander and Samuel, as well as himself, were soldiers in the Civil War. Mr. Pepper enlisted as a private in Company I, 135th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, May 10. 1864, and was honorably dist^liarged from the service September 28, of the same year. He is now a member of Eagle Post, No. 52, G. A. R., of Eau Claire.

Gustave E. Petrick, assistant sales manager of the International Harvester Company, with offices in the Harvester Company building. Eau Claire, was born in Fall Creek, this county. May 30, 1873, and is the son of William and Matilda (Reinholz) Petrick. William Petrick, his father, was born in Germany, and at the age of about seven years, in 1858, came to America with an older brother and first resided in Green county, Wis. He moved to Fall Creek in 1870, and was successfully engaged in farming until 1909, when he retired and now resides in the village of Fall Creek at the age of sixty-five years, where he has been prominently identified with the affairs of the village and the Lutheran church. He married Matilda Reinholz, who was al.so born in Germany, and came to the United States in 1870. ilr. and Mrs. Petrick are the parents of twelve children, as follows: Gustave E. ; Rudolph, a meat dealer in Eau Claire; William, a lumberman of Northern Minnesota; Helen married Herman ]\Iouldenhauer ; Adolph is a farmer in Montana ; Otto is engaged at farming in Pall Creek; Pauline; Fred runs a restaurant in Superior, Wis.; Tillie; Amelia; Walter, and Herman.

Gustave E. was educated in the public and high schools of Fall Creek. Finishing his education, he became associated in 1892 as salesman with Tagert Brothers, of Augusta, dealers in farm implements, after which he became connected with the Deering Harvester Company as traveling salesman, making his headquarters at Winona, Minn. In 1906 he was appointed assistant general agent of the International Harvester Company, Eau Claire, which position he still occupies. He is a member of tlie Eau Claire Club, Y. M. C. A., Knights of Pythias, also director of the Girnau Manufacturing Co. In 1900 Mr. Petrick married Emma Bartig, daughter of August and Louise Bartig, of Augusta, and they have one son, Edward Donovan Petrick.

Forest George Pierce, wlio resides in the town of Brunswick, ErUi Claiie county, wliere hv is engaged in farming and stocl: raisiug, was l)orn at Fosbroke, Dunn county, February 10, 1879. His father, Mervin E. Pierce, was born in November, 1849, at Paris, Kenosha county. Wis., and moved to Eau Claire with his parents at tlie ag(> of eiglit ycais, and was liei'e educated in tlie years and then removed to Brunswick township and purchased the John Winrose farm of 120 acres, to which he has added many improvements and now resides, one of the most prosperous farmers of his township. He is a general farmer and stock raiser and carries on an extensive dairy business. He married Sarah Bradford, daughter of George H. and Margaret (Cater) Bradford, of New York State, and they have the following children: Hattio married Birney Churchill, a well-known contractor, of Eau Claire ; Forest G., the subject of this sketch ; Schuyler, a farmer in the town of Brunswick; Henry resides at Rock Falls, Wis.; Edgar married Cora Morris and resides at home and carries on the farm.

George Pierce, paternal grandfather of Forest G., was born in the State of New York, but later moved to Kenosha county. Wisconsin, where he followed farming for a number of years, then moved to Eau Claire county and later to Dunn county, where he died, having spent his entire life engaged in farming.

Forest G., after finishing his education in the common and high schools, took a course in dairying in Madison, after which he returned to the home farm and assisted in its operation until he became connected with the Eau Claire Creamery Company as butter maker, a position he held for three years. In 1909 he purchased the Washington Churchill farm of 130 acres in Briuiswick township, located on the Chippewa river, which is now known as the Riverside Farm. In addition to his general farming, he is largely engaged in raising full blooded Holstein cattle, Percheron horses and Red Duroc hogs, and also does an extensive business, selling his milk and cream to the Rock Falls Creamery. He is one of the active and progressive farmers of his town, is independent in politics and belongs to the Catholic church.

On May 20, 1908, he married Miss Francis E. Comings, daughter of George F. Comings, of Brunswick township, and they are the parents of two ehildren^Francis Willard and George Forest Pierce.

Cora Scott Pond Pope, daughter of Levi W. Pond and Mary Ann McGowan ; born in Sheboygan, Wis., March 2, 1856, and at the age of two years came to Eau Claire, Wis., one of the youngest of the baby pioneers.

At the age of eighteen I united with the Congregational church, but soon fell into trouble by refusing to partake of fermented wine of the Communion service. The prohibition of the Holy "Writ meant prohibition for me. "If meat maketh the brother to offend," etc., meant wine in that day in this. In 1877 at the age of twenty-one, I entered the University of Wisconsin and studied there for three years.

"Bob LaFoUette and Belle Case, who afterward became his wife, were my close friends. The later career of these two people have more than fulfilled their early promise and they stand today two of the bravest, most advanced characters in American history.

At the University I began the study of dramatic work and in 1880 went to Boston, where I continued it for four years at the New England Conservatory, under Eben Tourjee. Then I taught in that institution for a }^ear. "'

I was naturally a reformer and at the age of sixteen 1 saw the need of reform in women's dress and abjured corsets and to this day have not worn them.

Since early life I have been a militant Prohibitionist. /In Boston I met and became inspired by those wonderful women, Mrs. Lucy Stone, Rev. Anna Shaw, Mary A. Livermore, Julia Ward Howe and others and .joined with them in the work for women's suffrage and for six years I worked with them and organized eighty-five Woman Suffrage Leagues, raising money for state work by subscription and great bazaars, dramatic entertainments, etc.

In 1890 I was urged by Mary A. Livermore to carry that work into other states and raise money for different charities, so for the next fifteen years I gave thfi^ entertainments in most of the large cities of the United States. J In 1891 I married John T. Pope, of Chicago. He had three litffe boys, Lester, Marshall and Clarence, who lived with my mother for twelve years, while Mr. Pope and I continued the work I had begun.

Since 1886 I had been investing in real estate in Los Angeles, and in 1905 we permanently located in that beautiful city. I have had a European trip since coming here. The Los Angeles Examiner invited me to chaperon four of its young women contestants to Europe. We were gone two months, visited twelve cities in America and twelve in Europe, France, Belgium and Holland, boosted for the Examiner and had the best of hotels, guides, service, meals and tours in all these cities at the expense of the Examiner, one of the most remarkable publications in the country. I return to Los Angeles and to real estate. If I win out in my real estate deals I hope to spend many years yet in the service that I love, urging greater justice to the mothers of our race; to help to better the development of children; to urge the moral safeguardings of young girls and boj's in order to abolish vice and to raise the "one standard" of morals for men and women, in marriage and out of it; to give justice to the great army of labor that creates all our necessities and comforts of life, and to give equal laws and equal suffrage to men and women - equality for all alike before the law for every race and clime and color. Only by so doing, as God gives me light, shall I hope for life eternal.

"If you have a kindness shown, pass it on. "Twas not meant for you alone ; pass it on. Let it travel down the years, let it wipe another's tears, 'Till in Heaven the deed appears, pass it on."

I am impelled to give this tribute. It is but auother testimony to the countless millions of women martyrs who take up the noble office of motherhood - your mother, the mothers of the ages past, and for the centuries and ages to come, who has thought of them? What has been done for them to lessen their burdens? What Avill future ages give to these noblest of earth's martyrs who must forever enter the valley of the shadow when giving birth to humanity Avho people this globe?

The life of one dear mother, my mother, passes before me. IMother of eight children and one other she took in childhood - a family of nine to care for, to nurse and sew and mend and cook. We were given the most absolute devotion of a mother's care. In health and sickness, the unending duties of the day and night watches. It staggers belief that this one woman, without preparation, with no education for parenthood, married before she had reached the age of sixteen, could aeeomplish what this dear mother has done.

The family was raised in very moderate circumstances. The purse was never full. /My father made a great fortune by an invention, but the money passed through other hands and his interests were kept from him.

All we had could have been used for our family for modi^st physical comforts. Mother needed it all, but at any time she would divide what she had with the widow and orphan children and give her bed and loaf to the stranger. The sick she nursed and gave comfort to unfortunates. When church and neighbor called for assistance she gave to the limit of her strength, and so happy was she in the giving. It was her life. All she had and all she was she gave.

Intensely devoted to home duties, her table was alwaj^s spread. The story of the loaves and fishes was demonstrated when the sons and daughters and grandchildren and friends and neighbors came to see us.

Upon Simday evenings mother's hospitable table was ready. She would go out herself to prepare the evening meal at any time, no matter what the physical or financial sacrifice to her. Her savory dishes were known far and near. All enjoyed coming. Her life and happiness was in giving.

She had nearly reached her sixtieth year and had earned a comfortable and honorable release from life's severe duties, when three little motherless boys, 4, 6 and 8 years of age, were brought to her at her request. Without hesitation, not even for a moment, did she stop to consider the consequences to her. They needed her, her home and care. She took them and for twelve long years she reared those boys. Do you know what it meant to her at that age? A new family. She must begin all over again. Never in all those years did I hear one word of regret for the comfort and ease she had resigned for them.

These boys have reached young manhood now. I trust they will give to others a noble quality of mind and soul because of the care for them. The eldest of them wrote to me : "Dear grandma's great work was over before she left Wisconsin for Los Angeles four years ago. I was thinking, with all the progress this country has made during her life of seventy-eight years, grandma's work, woman's work, is not relieved or changed since the day she left New Brunswick. Our indebtedness to her is very great and can never be repaid. I realize more and more what a

Whenever her purse was nearly empty, then an inborn faith compelled her and the need was met. _She made homes for two sisters and a niece several years. ' One by one .she sent young people to business college. They are today prosperous and enjoying the results of that education and her sacrifice. Oh the little babies she has mothered ! Hers was not a selfish mother heart for her o\vn children only. She had the universal mother love.

"Grandma Pond" did the duty of a brave soldier. She builded well. She gave her life to her children, her fi-iends, her country and her God with absolute unselfishness, and no one knows to what limit but the blaster Himself, who watched over her. She never spoke of herself or asked for a favor for herself.

In her last days I often said to her, "Mother, I am sure of one thing - He who said 'Suffer little children to come unto me' is waiting for you, and He has many little children He will put in your arms till their own mother comes,' and she gazed into the wonderful ej'es of the face of Christ upon the wall when she could not speak or recognize me. I know, and she understood. Devotion and unselfishness is uplifting and pays the bigger profits. In the end the life goes straight to their throne.

Life's tasks were great. Tliey are over and the crown is dear m^her 's. j Levi Wesley Pond was born in Baring, Me., March 1, 1827. He was one of a family of four children; besides himself theiFe were Emily, Gertrude, William H. and Charles Nash Pond. Their father. Charles Pond, and his brother came fi^ora England in the same ship with Governor Winthrop. of Boston, who wrote home to England : ' ' Tell the old man Pond that his two sons are doing well." The other brother is lost to history and little has been chronicled of the life of the father of these four children. He was drowned while still a young man while crossing the St. Croix river at Barjjig, Me., in 1831, while ice was running during a spring freshey leaving his widow in straightened circumstances to care for and educate the daughter and three sons as best she could. Little enough time was given for schooling in well-to-do families, so these children did not fare very well in that regard, for stress of circumstances compelled them to begin in early life to earn their own living by working out. helping theii- mother in her struggle to care for and educate her fatherless children. Their sister Emily w^ given the opportunity to get more schooling than the boys. , They grew to manhood in Baring, Calais and places near by, working in the woods, mills and off the coast in fishing schooners. Levi loved the sea and at --^ the age of 16 went to Boston and sailed in the Cumberland, a war frigate mounting nineteen guns. This ship was sailing on her trial trip for a cruise in the Mediterranean Sea, which lasted two years. The Cumberland made a most brilliant record in the sea annals of the American navy before she was sunk Ij^the Rebel ram Merrimae at Hampton Roads in the civil war^J

The night before sailing John B. Gough, the celebrateoProhibitionist, who had been holding temperance meetings in Boston, Avent on board and addressed the crew. All the officers and men, except two young English sailors, signed the pledge. These two stubbornly refused, and as every sailor was allowed his rations and potion of grog, they stepped out from the rank regularly, and amid the laughter and jeers of the crew, took their daily grog. The entire crew, except these young Englisli sailors, yielded readily to discipline. Those young fellows caused so much trouble when in liquor that they were often severely punished by their officers, but to no avail. The officers conceived the idea of exchanging these two young men at one of the ports for two total abstainers of another vessel. This was accomplished at the next port and the Cumberland set sail, the first government vessel afloat, manned by a Prohibition crew, officers and men. So remarkable were the reports to "Washington from tliis vessel, manned by total abstainers, that the idea took root and finally resulted in laws being passed by Congress abolishing grog on all government vessels with the exception of the officers' "wine mess." This law is still on the statue books. However, the recent edict of the secretary of the navy, Daniels, abolishes July 1, 1914, even the "wine mess" of the officers. I He married IMary Ann McGowan, November 10, 1850, at ]Musquasli, N. B., and soon after migrated to Sheboygan, Wis., and later to Wabasha, Minn., then to Chippewa Falls, Wis., ^d from . there to Eau Claire in 1859. - CatCxa- (pOu.'^ '-: )> . -^

He had an inventive mind and after reaching the region afterwards so noted for its mill and logging operations, he turned his thoughts to labor-saving devices for forwarding that great industrj-. He invented a number of valuable appliances for saw mills, but the crowning effort of his life was the invention of the slieer boom, which revolutionized the methods of handling logs in rimiimg waters and added millions of dollars to the profits of the lumbermen of the United States. Ilis inventions, like those of countless other inventors, profited him little. The big companies with whom he was associated took the fruits of his mind and left him the husks. -^

April 26, 1869, while operating a saw mill across the river from Fifth avenue, the boiler exploded, wrecking the mill, killing three men and blowing Mr. Pond into the river. He was not seriously injured, however. O/r'i C^- panics were then endeavoring to beat Mr. Pond out of his put- J^i^O *-^Vo^ ent by trying to get Congress to annul it, as they had been beaten in every court. What they failed to do by direction they did by indirection, however, in the end. q r^

Later in his life, in 1870, he leftliis home, went to New Brunswick, secured a patent in that country, and for the first time began to receive the just results from his invention. Hereturued to his family in Eau Claire in 1907, where he died February 29, 1^308. " -

"^ In the year 1850 the old family Bible records the date of the marriage of my father aud mother, Levi Wesley Pond and Mary Ann McGowan, ages 21 and 16 years. "

- ' Father was born in Calais, Me., March 1, 1829, and mother in j\Iusquash, N. B., April 19, 1835. Father's ancestors, two brothers from Englaiid, came over in the vessel with Governor Winthrop, of Boston, Avho wrote home. "Tell the old man Pond that his two sons are doing well."

My mother's ancestors were Scotch, English and Irish, and landed in Halifax, N. S., and migrated to New Brunswick. She lived most of her young life with her grandmother and had hei- i n tZy\-, schooling in a Catholic convent. - \*yY'*-^^^

Father was educated in the liberal school of experience. His ^''-^^'w. "^^ |~(]r l)arents died early. As a little boy he worked around with hard, ^-^ *( cold, exacting people, and walked many miles to a school for brief periods, poorly fed and clothed. But he was naturallj' a marveloiis^ speller. He rarely missed any word even in later years. |When a mere boy he went to sea in fishing schooners, and at 16 went to Boston and sailed in the Cumberland, a war frigate of the United States government, mounting nineteen guns, on its trial trip for a two years' cruise to the Mediterranean. This ship made a most brilliant record before it was sunk by the ironelad Merrimae at Hampton Roads in the civil war.

The uight before sailing John B. Gough, the celebrated Prohibitionist, who had been holding temperance meetings in Boston, went on board and addressed the crew. All the officers and men, except two young English sailors, signed the pledge. They stubbornly refused, and as every sailor was allowed his rations and potion of grog daily, they stepped out from the ranks regvilarly and, with laughter and ridicule of the crew, took their daily grog. The entire crew, except these young English sailors, yielded readily to discipline. Those young fellows would cause trouble daily and get disorderly and drunk. They were severely punished; strung up sailor fashion, but to no avail. The officers conceived the idea of exchanging these two men at one of the ports for two prohibitionists of another vessel. This was accomplished at the next port and the Cumberland set sail, the first government vessel afloat manned by a prohibition crew of officers and men. So uplifting were the reports to Washington from this prohibition-manned vessel that the idea took root, and finally resulted in laws being passed by Congress abolishing grog on all government vessels with the exception of the officers' "wine mess." This law is still on the statue books. The recent edict of the secretary of the navy, Daniels, abolishes July 1 . 1914, oven the "wine mess" of the officers.

After two years' coasting in the Mediterranean Sea, sick and tired, a company of homesick men one morning heard the command, "All sails up for America." A deafening shout went up; it meant "home and native land." Father was 19 years of age, and in the brief interval before his 21st birthday' he laid siege for the hand of my mother.

He and his bride set out for Sheboygan, Wis., where he built a saw mill, and was ever afterward interested in some department of milling of lumber. About 1852 he sold out everything, intending to go to California, but the first child, Charles, died, and they gave up the journey. Emma E. and Cora S. were born in Sheboygan also. They moved to Wabasha, Minn., where Edward E. Avas born; then to Chippewa Falls,, where George W. was born; next to Eau Claire, where Levi Eugene, Gilbert A.- and Katherine were born. The last child lived but a few days.

Father had an inventive mind. His brain grasped without study practical inventions. He saw what was needed to simplify logging on the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers. He invented several machines for use in saw mills and gave them to a Milwaukee firm to manufacture. Soon he told me this wealthy firm had nearly duplicated them and they were put upon the market, but not as his patent, and he was frozen out. He invented the shear boom. Because he had it in use upon the Chippewa river some lumbermen tried to get this away from him. He gave the Eau Claire Lumber Company one-half intei-est to establish his rights in the courts and put it upon the market of the country. They carried it to every court and even to the Supreme Court of the United States. He won in every case. The Eau Claire Lumber Compaiw began to build the shear booms for various lumber interests. (How well I recall the scrip that was issued from the company s store in Eau Claire as our share of the tolls for this invention. Father long had urged the company to agree to send a representative to the Puget Sound territory. Alex. Kemp, an employee of this company, was finally sent to see what could be done. He was gone some time at great expense, returned and reported "nothing to be done," and father set out for his old stamping ground in Maine and put in shear booms at Fredericktou, on the Arvostoek, and later upon the St. John's river. What the company did he never could learn. He secured a new patent and operated it^r the St. Johns Liuiiber Company for the remainder of his life. I P^vA .

I was traveling in California in 1897 ; went to Portland, Ore., and met by chance Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Rooney, brother and sister-in-law of ]\Ir. Eust. I asked how they happened to be in the West. Mr. Eooney said, "We came here to collect the tolls for the shear booms in the rivers at Puget Sound. We have .just collected the last tolls. They have been paying for years through the life of the patent." At last! The same old story, and not one cent of the thousands of dollars collected at 10 cents per thousand feet sawed lumber of all that passed through the booms did my father, the inventor, receive. Mr. Kemp's "nothing doing at Puget Sound" came rolling back fi'om childhood's memory.

While steaming to Seattle from Tacoma on board the glasscovered deck roof of a vessel, an agent for Lipton's tea was showing us the sights and pointing to a famous mill on the Sound, I said, "Did you ever hear of any 'booms' in this country?^'' He replied, using the copyrighted name 'shear booms," "Why, bless your soul, these rivers are full of them." Ten cents per thousand feet of lumber passing through those booms during those j-ears must have totaled something large for the already fat purse of the Eau Claire Lumber Company. I told my father of this when I saw him. He never asked a question or spoke a word, but I shall never forget the unutterable look of patient long suffering in his face. The j'^ears of disappointment, broken contracts, promises unfilled, a grasping corporation! The old, old story! And until our govei-nment has passed laws to buy and give the inventor a sum for his invention commensurate with the public's needs, for all inventions and copyrights, the story will be the same. The inventor starves while the product of years of labor swells some one's fat purse.

Frederick W. Weyerhaeuser recently died in Pasadena, one of the richest men in the world. "One generation passeth away and another generation cometlu What profit hath a man of all his labors?" In my childhoodme was one of the poor mill owners below Eau Claire, in the first history of my father's shear booms. He used these boOms, of course, during the entire life of the patent, and when the patent was renewed and when it expired afterward. Incomparable benefits were his. Millions upon millions of feet of lumber passed through these booms at lO cents per thousand feet, for royalties were climbing up into five and six figures. Father, tlie inventor, one-half owner, and the Eau Claire Lumber Company, represented by J. G. Thorpe and "Tommy" Gilbert (T. E.), called Frederick W. Weyerhaeuser to Chicago for a meeting to agree upon a price for his royalties due them. Father and Gilbert agreed to 7 cents per thousand feet sawed lumber. But no agreement was reached, and it was decided to call another meeting at Milwaukee. But that meeting has never been called to this day. But Mr. Weyerhaeuser ceased logging on the Eau Claire river, where all the logging of the Eau Claire Lumber Company was carried on, and finally they were bought out by Mr. Weyerhaeuser, and all the many thousands and thousands of dollars due my father upon royalties for shear booms tolls, not one dollar came to him from Frederick W. Weyerhaeuser. \

Father trusted men. When he invented the shear boom the poor mill owners along the Eau Claire and Chippewa river opened their belt buckles a new notch each year. The paltry hundreds they made each year sM-elled to thousands and then to millions. The shear boom made it safe for them to cut the timber and send it down the Chippewa. The logs then were seldom lost. They could not escape to go by the millions of feet down to the Mississippi river unclaimed.

The first shear boom fatlier made after several years of thought. When it came it was the entire picture in a flash. He made it of tirabers bolted together about four feet wide, several hundred feet long, fastened above at one end to piling in the river. The other end was free. Shears or lee boards were fastened to the outer side. A windlass and rope or chain controlled these shears or lee boards in order to have the force of the current throw the boom to the shore and turn the logs into the company's sorting booms at the mill where these logs belonged.

Previous to the invention of the shear boom these logs would follow the current of the river and would give the sorting booms a wide berth. Men would go out with chains and ropes in boats, or wade up to the armpits in water to save these logs. The river would be covered solid during a freshet with these logs sailingjiown to be lost forever in the Mississippi. I My father did more than any man or set of men with the invention of his shear booiaJ:|) make the millions of dollars for the lumbermen of Eau Claire. \ He was generous, happy, trusting. He died unhappy because h'fe could not give his family the comforts whicli belonged to them. Men had deceived him. He would not fight. He did not want to live in Eau Claire and spent most of the last years in Maine and New Brunswick. But the sweetest song to him was "Home, Sweet Home." In the beautiful "land beyond" tlie years of sorrow are forgotten.

Horace N. PoUey was born at Messena, St. Lawrence county, New York, March 10, 1842, and is descended from New England ancestry. His parents were Ii'a and Delila (Russell) PoUey, who came from Vermont to New York state and followed the occupation of farming. Mrs. PoUey died in 1844, leaving Horace, two years old, and one sister, Delila. Four years later, in 1848, the father came west to Wisconsin, locating at "West Point, Columbia county. He was again mai'ried, this time to Miss Katherine Hutchins, and to them five children were born, two of whom are now living, viz. : Hiram E., resides at Madison, Wis., and Etta, tlie wife of Albert Mcintosh, of Lodi.

Horace N. Policy spent his boyhood days on tlu' farm in Columbia county aiul attended the public schools. When nineteen years of age, in 1861, he enlisted as a musician in Company H, 11 til regiment. Wisconsin Volunteer infantry, and was afterwards promoted to principal musician and served as such until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged in September, 1865. He was first attached to the 13th army corps and afterwards transferred to the 15th army corps, his time of service being confined to operations in the West and Southwest. He took part in the siege of Vicksburg and the battle of Champion Hill. After the close of the Avar he returned to tlie farm in Columbia county and later moved to Eau Claire county. He afterwards went to Trempealeau county, where he spent two or three years, then returned to Eau Claire county, Avhere he resided until his death, September 18, 1914.

In 1863 Mr. Policy married :Mis,s Letitia Bush, daughter of Parley and Letitia Bush, of Sauk county, Wisconsin. To this union nine children were born, viz. : Kittle, wife of Frank Searle, resides at Milaca, Minn. ; Ira lives at home ; Foster B. resides in the Milk River valley, Montana; Maude is deceased; Ellen M. ; Madel and Amy are at home; Ray H. lives near Rice Lake, Wis., and Delila, who is a professional nurse, resides in Detroit, Mich. A Republican in politices, Mr. Policy was a staunch adherent of that political faith, and a firm believer in the principles of protection and other cardinal doctrines of th(' Republican party. His services in behalf of the party and his fitness for official position were recognized in his nomination for and his election to the General Assembly in 1897, and his re-election in 1899. In addition to his two terms in the legislature Mr. Policy served as assessor for Bridge Creek township twenty-three years, a remarkable record and one which is seldom equaled and rarely surpassed. In social matters ]\lr. Policy occupied a conspicuous place and was an active member of the George E. Perkins Post, No. 98, Grand Army of the Republic.

Thomas Pope, deceased, who was for many years a prosperous and inHuential lumberman and farmer of Eau Claire county, was a native son of Wisconsin and born in Waukesha county. He came to Eau Claire in 1868 and engaged in lumbering, which he followed for several years, and was later for twelve years engaged in farming near Augusta. He was a careful, conservative and methodical man in his affairs, and in all his business dealings was known for his uprightness and fairness. He was a man of fine personal qualities, social and companionable, a lover of good comradeship and lo.yal to his friends.

He married Miss Ellen Roach, daughter of Joseph and Mary (O'Neal) Roach, natives of Ireland and prosperous farmers of Union township. To them three children ^vere born : George W., Anna and Nellie. George W. married Mary Torseth and has four children: Louis, Charlotte, Helen and Leonard. He is now in the employ of the United States government as rural mail carrier. Nellie married Leonard Bryant and resides at Minneapolis.

The death of Mr. Thomas Pope, which occurred August 1, 1889, was considered a great loss by the citizens of Eau Claire, and he was mourned l)y his family and a large circle of friends.

George W. Prescott, one of the pioneer lumbenneu of Eau Claire eounty, was born in Balkuap county, New Hampshire, September 14, 18o7, and came west to Wisconsin with Ids parents and settled in Columbia county in 1855. One year later, in 1856, Mr. Prescott came to Eau Claire and worked for a time on the river, and then at carpentering for one year. After that he spent some two years as engineer on a river steamer, after which hi^ engaged in the lumber business in its various branches. In 1868 ]\lr. Prescott, associated Avith Mr. A. Burditt, started a small rotary saw mill on an island above the Dells, M'ith a daily ca- ]uu-ity of nearly 4I),()()() feet of lumber. In 1873 and 1874 this mill was torn down and replaced with a gang and rotary mill having a daily capacity of 100,000 feet. The business was organized as a corporation in 1879, under tlie name of the Dells Lumber Company, witli a capital of $100,000, and the following gentlemen as officers: II. P. Graham, president; George W. Prescott, vice-president, and A. Burditt, secretary. Thus for 46 years ilr. Prescott has been engaged in lumbering, and for 34 years of that time has been associated with the Dells Lumber Company, in which he is still active, and the prominence which be has attained as a successful business man and worthy citizen of one of the chief cities of the state has come to him as the legitimate reward of a well directed effort, sterling integrity and sagacious enterprise.

On Decemlier 3, 1863, Mr. Prescott was married at Fond du Lac, Wis., to Miss Clara Clark. Three children were born to ;Mr. and I\Irs. Prescott: Addie L.. died in infancy; ]\Littie A., died September 10, 1899, and Clara Ida, who lives at home and keeps house for her father. Mrs. Prescott, a woman of rare domestic virtues and motherly love, died March 18, 1913. Mr. Prescott is a member of the Masonic lodge and one of Eau Claire's substantial business men. His father, George W. Prescott, was married three times, first to Comfort Morrison, by whom there was no issue; his second wife was Peggy Taylor, and to this imion three children were born : Joseph, Theophlus and Comfoi't. He married for his third wife Abigal Small and three children were born: George W., the subject of this sketch; Moses W., and Judith M. Mr. Prescott. Sr., died in Columbia county, Wisconsin, in 1884, and liis wife, mother of our subject, passed away in 1880, lionored and respected by all who knew her.

N. A. Preston,* who for many years was one of the leading photogra|)hers of Eau Claire, was descended from an old and iioiiiu'ed New England family and was born at Calais, Maine. He came to Eau Claire in 1868, and for thirty-six years occupied a prominent place in business and social circles. He was high minded and public spirited, and while not connected with any religious denomination he attended the Congregational church and contributed liberally to its support. He married Miss Addie Buttsfield, who was formerly from Rochester, N. Y., and they had two children - Mary and Ida - both of whom are deceased. In the death of Mr. Preston, which occurred September 11, 1904, Eau Claire lost one of her most loyal citizens.

The father of Mrs. Preston was Thatius Buttsfield, who for many years was a resident of Menomonie, Dunn county, this state. He married Rebecca Webb, of New York city, by whom he had ten children: Addie, Frances, Shei-wood, George, William, Thatius, Jr., Justin, Marcus, Flora and Martha, six of whom are deceased. One sister, Mrs. William Conwell, of Washington town.ship, and two brothers, Thatius and George survive. Mrs. Preston, before her marriage, followed the vocation of school teacher and for a number of years taught in the city of Eau Claire and also in Dunn county. She has made her home in Eau Claire for about fifty years.

Henry Cleaveland Putnam. No history of Eau Claire would be complete without the record of Henry C. Putnam, for he was one of the pioneers of the city before it became a city, and the activities of his successful life were closely identified with the growth and jirosperity of this community. More than that, the history of liis family is coeval with the history of this country from early colonial days, and members of both branches of his family were notable in American history.

Like many American families, the Putuams have English ancestors. They are also more remotely descended from Charlemagne through the counts of Boulogne. The original name of the family was Puttenham, contracted in America to Putnam. Puttenham, Vale of Anlesbury, England, was their ancestral home. It is mentioned in the siirvey under William the Conqueror, 1085 A. D., and recorded in the Domesday Book. From or soon after the latter part of the 12th century the Puttenhams were undisputed lords of the manor of Puttenham, which remained among their possessions until the middle of the 16th century and now belongs to Baron Lionel Nathan de Rothschild. Sir George de Puttenham was one of the courtiers at the court of Queen Elizabeth of England and wrote a book on "Poesie" for the lords and ladies of the court.

The Ainerieau line is clearly traced back to John Putnam, was born in 1582 in England, settled at Salem, Mass., in 1634, and died in 1662. The second generation is represented by John, Jr., the third and fourth by Eleazer, and the fifth by Henry, who, with his seven sons, took part in the battle of Bunker Hill, where he and three of the sons were killed. Of his surviving sons, Eleazer was the father of Dr. Elijah Putnam, who removed in 1792 from the vicinity of Boston to Madison, N. Y., where he practiced his profession and was a widely respected citizen. His wife was Phoebe Wood. Of their sons, Hamilton, born in Madison in 1807, married Jeanette Cleaveland, a descendant of Moses Cleaveland, who removed in 1635 from Ipswich, England, to Woburn, Mass., and from M'hom all the Cleavelands in this country are descended, as are all the Putnams from John Putnam. Hamilton Putnam was a merchant at Madison in early life, but removed in 1842 to Cortland, N. Y., where Ik; engaged in farming.

Henry C. Putnam was the sou of Hamilton and Jeanetti; (Cleaveland) Putnam, and was born in Madison, N. Y., March 6, 1832. His parents moved to Cortland, N. Y., in 1842 and there he received his early education in the public schools and the old Cortland Academy. At the age of sixteen he began the stud\ of engineering at a private school in Cornwall, Conn., and made such progress that in 1850 he was given a position as civil engineer on the Syracuse & Binghamton Railroad. He remained in the service of that corporation for two and one-half years, after which he went into the South and was employed for two years on railroads in South Carolina and Georgia.

In Aixgust, 1855, Mr. Putnam came to the state of Wisconsin, and, with headquarters at Hudson, he engaged in surveying and locating government lands. In 1856 he became an engineer for wliat is now the Prairie du Chien division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad.

On May 23, 1857, he settled in Eau Claire and. made it his permanent home. In that year he also entered permanently into the business of smweying and locating pine lands, at first for eastern capitalists and soon for himself, and within a few years liecame largely interested in timber properties.

In addition to his ability as an engineer and his knowledge of forestry he was gifted with rare business acumen, and his interests steadily increased until he became one of the most prominent business men in the state.

He was a man of varied capacities and of marked ability in each. Admittedly one of the most thorough and practical authorities on forestry in the United States, he was also devoted to the study of geology from his yonth, and read in nature's book the secrets of her long life. He developed the artistic side of his mind by study and made an interesting collection of old prints and engravings. He was a man of fine business acumen, a successful banker and an able public official. He was agent in "Wisconsin for the Cornell University and located for the university the large body of fine timber lands on the Chippewa river and its tributaries, from the sale of which the university afterwards derived such a large sum of money, and which placed that institution among the wealthiest in this country. He was a member and for some time vice-president of the American Forestry Association, and between the years 1880 and 1883 he examined the forests of the western states and territories, and also of British Columbia, under the direction of Professor Sargent, of Boston, and his report on the condition and resources of those forests was embodied in the tenth census of the United States. In 1883 he was engaged by the Northern Pacific Railway Company to make a special examination of the forests tributary to their lines and to make a report thereon. Both this report and that prepared for Professor Sargent are still regarded as models.

In 1885 he visited France, Germany and Switzerland to examine the forests of those countries and to study the methods of replanting there employed. Subsequently he made a report of his observations to the British Association of Science, of which he was a member, and his report was pronounced the most practical and satisfactory ever made to the association. He also made a map of Pennsylvania, which was adopted by the government in preference to those of the "scientific" timber experts.

Mr. Putnam was a stockholder and director in many enterprises, among them being the Grand Ronde Lumber Company of Oregon, the Bow River Lumber Company of Calgary, B. C, the Brennan Lumber Company of St. Paul, the Rust, Putnam & Owen Company of northern Wisconsin, the Pioneer Furniture Company of Eau Claire, and several minor concerns. In 1876 he organized the Chippewa Valley Bank in Eau Claire, which was one of the solid financial institutions of its day, and proved a strong auxiliary to his extensive operations, as well as a boon to the then young city.

of lumber, began to decline Mr. Putnam was one of the first tu make an endeavor to furnish other kinds of employment for the working people of Eau Claire. To that end he organized the Eau Claire Linen Company, of which he became president and took stock in the National Electric Manufacturing Company and other new enterprises. These were not profitable for the capitalists. but they served to benefit the working people during a period of transition.

Out of the events of Mr. Putnam's career might be woven an epic of the woods, or the story of a master of industry, or the pleasing history of an altruist. With all his exploitation of the forests and the building up of massive business projects he still found time for the cultivation of his own mind and for beneficient thought of his city and his fellowmen. In the early days of Eau Claire he served it officially as surveyor and register of deeds, and during the fifty-six years of his residence in the city he was one of its most patriotic citizens.

Putnam Park, which is conceded to be one of the handsomest natural tracts in the United States, Avas donated to the city of Eaii Claire by Mr. Piitnam. This splendid park comprises 230 acres upon which much of the original timber still stands, adding greatly to its beauty and attractiveness. Also in his will he left the generous sum of ten thousand dollars to be expended on improvements upon the park, and liis heirs are faithfully carrying out his wishes.

In religious belief he was a Presbyterian and a member of the First Presbyterian church in Eau Claire, of which he was a trustee for many years. He laid the cornerstone of the first building erected by that church in 1857. It was a wooden structure, and when the society desired to replace it with a finer and more commodious edifice, in 1891, he subscribed one-fourth the entire cost. Also he was the prime mover in giving Eau Claire its present splendid Y. M. C. A. building. He made the first donation to the building fund, the handsome sum of twenty thousand dollars, stipulating that the city raise thirty thousand more so as to make a fifty thousand dollar fund, and so earnestly did he advocate the cause that contributions aggregating eighty thousand dollars came in. To him is due the credit, not only for its inception, but for the success of the movement that gave the city this edifice of which its citizens are proud. He was a prominent Mason and was one of seven men who established the first, ilasonie lodge in the Chippewa valley. All good projects and

On August 8, 1858, Henrj' Cleaveland Putnam married Jane Eliza, daughter of Henry and Mary (Hunniwell) Balcom, of Oxford, N. Y. Their children are Ernest B. Putnam, a business man and banker of Eau Claire and Sea Breeze, Fla., ajid Sarah Lynn, now Mrs. James 0. Hinkley, of Chicago. Mrs. Henry Cleaveland Putnam.

No truer tribute to the character of Mrs. Henry C. Putnam could be written than the above lines from the gifted pen of George Eliot. Mrs. Putnam possessed one of those perfectly rounded characters which could stand the closest scrutiny, so that those who knew her best admired her most. Thoiigh a quiet, home-loving woman, her intellect and character were so strong and her love for humanity so great that she was easily the best beloved and foremost woman ot her city.

Possessing a strongly sympathetic nature she intuitively interested herself in the welfare of all who needed her assistance. During the fifty years she lived in Eau Claire her life was filled with good deeds and kind words, and at her death it was truly said that "She held a place in the affections of the people of this community such as is held by no other person."

No stronger evidence of the usefulness of her life and the enduring place she still holds in the affections of the people of this city can be given than this incident, which came under the observation of the writer years after Mrs. Putnam's death. A simple country woman, whom she had many times befriended, in deep distress and with apparently no one to help her, in despair burst into tears, exclaiming, "Oh, if Mrs. Putnam were only here, she would help me, she always did." Numerous incidents like this attest the fact that Mrs. Putnam was truly beloved in the community she loved so well, and that her truest monument will always be found in the heart and memory of its people.

Mrs. Putnam's maiden name was Jane E. Balcom. She was the daughter of Henry Balcom, of Oxford, Chenango county, New York, who was descended from a long line of worthy ancestors in America. He was the sixth in descent from Henry Balcom, who was born in Balcombe, Sussex county, England, in 1630, and who was the first of the family to settle in America. In 1665 he was a resident of Charleston, S. C, where the records show he was a large property owner. Henry Balcom, the fourth, was born in Sudbury, Mass., in 1740, and was a revolutionary soldier. At the outbreak of that war he and his wife patriotically melted their pewter plates into bullets, and he acted as scout for General Stark in the battle of Bennington, August 16, 1777. Henry Balcom, the sixth, was born in Oxford, N. Y., in 1798. He became prominent in public affairs, was a member of the state legislature and took great interest in the construction of the Chenango canal. He was a man of fine sensibilities, purity of motives and exalted character - traits transmitted to his daughter-, the subject of this biographical sketch. He married Mary Hunniwell, daughter of Lyman and Dorcas (Lynn) Hunniwell.

Jane E. Balcom was born in Oxford, Chenango county. New York, in 1832. In 1857 she came to Eau Claire, where she met Mr. Henry C. Putnam. Thej^ were married in 1858, and here she lived her quiet, beautiful life for fifty years, the only breaks being a visit to Europe and several winters spent in Washington, D. C. In Eau Claire she reared her children, maintained an ideal home and showered blessings from her bountiful hands.

The marvel of it is that she sought no public recognition, never appeared before a public audience, and yet she won the confidence, respect and affection of all classes to a remarkable degree. While gentle and self-effacing, her attitude toward the world was broadly sympathetic and the inherent strength and honesty of her moral nature made a strong impression upon all who came within the radius of her influence. Her unobtrusive charity won her the love of a wide circle of people who looked to lier for comfort and aid in thcii- hour of need, and her advice and counsel, no less than her bencfartions, were sought by many.

Her beneficences were never heralded, yet the wide scope of her sympathies is revealed in the history of a single day of her life, which her daughter confided to a friend. On that day a young man who was about to begin his business career came to her for advice and encouragement. Later a man who was in business difficulties came to her for suggestions and assistance. In the afternoon came an unfortunate girl to tell of her shame and desertion, and to cry her grief nut in tlie presence of her comprehending heart. All classes came to lici' and all hearts were lightened hy her presence. Mauy felt honoi-ed and were made happy by lier smile of recognition and she was called "Rich in experience that angels might covet."

For fifty years she was to Eau Claire a devoted and efficient promoter of the welfare of the city and its people. She started the first library in Eau Claire and the present library building and its architectural beauty were largely due to her initiative and fine taste. Tlie mortuary chapel in the Forest Hill cemetery was built by her heirs at liei' rci|ni'st and dedicated to the use of her townsfolk.

Perhaps the clearest light upon the character of this strongly gentle woman may be revealed by what she herself wrote in the front of lier Bible: "If you would increase your happiness and prolong your life, forget your neighbor's faults. Remember their temptations. Forget faidt-finding and give a little thought to the cause that provoked it. Forget the slander you have heard. Forget all personal quarrels and histories. Obliterate everything disagreeable from yesterday ; start witli a clear sheet today and write upon it, for sweet memory's sake, only those things which are lovely and lovable."

Gentle as she was the strength of lier character left its imi^ress upon whomsoever she met and was an infiuence for permanent good. As the record of a single day in her life shows the wonderful trust and confidence of diverse people in this remarkable woman, so one instance out of the numberless reveals the deep and lasting impres.sion slie made u]>on all. This touching instance is supplied by a letter and beautiful poem sent to lier in 1897 :

My Dear IMrs. Putnam : I have looked for years to find something in print that would express my feeling towards you. These verses seem to have been written especially for you. My sincere wish is that you may live long and enjoy everything that is good and beaulifid in this world, and may God's richest blessing be with you and youi' loved ours, is the wish of

Touching thee lightly with tenderest care ; Sorrow and death they have often brought nigh thee, Yet they have left thee but beauty to wear. Growing old gracefully, Gracefullv fair.

Nearer each day to the pleasant home light ; Far from the waves that are big with commotiou, Under full sail and the harbor in sight. Growing old gracefnlly, Cheerful and bright.

Past all the islands that lured thee to rest, Past all the currents that lured thee unwilling Far from any course to the land of the blest. Growing 'old gracefully, Peacefid and blest.

When the bright faces of children are seen; Never a year from the young wouldst thou borrow - Thou dost remember what lieth between; Growing old willingh^ Thankful, serene.

Rich in a faith that hath grown with the years. Rich in a love that grew from and above it, Soothing thy sorrows and hushing thj^ fears. Growing old wealthily. Loving and dear.

Ready and willing thy hand to relieve ; Many a face at thy kind word has brightened, "It is more blessed to give than receive." Growing old happily. Ceasing to grieve.

Have a sweet recompense youth cannot know; Ears that grow dull to the world and its glory. Drink in the songs that from Paradise flow. Growing old graciously, Purer than snow.

to become interested in Christian Science and was instrumental in inaugurating the movement which has since resulted in the establishment of the Christian Science church in this city. The reality of her religion was made manifest by her love of humanity as expressed in her devotion to good works.

She died June 6, 1907, lamented even as she was beloved and in its issue of June 12 the Eau Claire Leader published this tribute to her from an inikuown author :

The radiance of Mrs. Putnam's personality was diffused beyond her own fireside, beyond her owu circle of friends, out into the highways and byways of life, cheering, encouraging, blessing. Such a type of woman Wordsworth surely had in mind when he wrote these lines:

"The reason firm, the temperate will, Endurance, foresight, strength and skill, A perfect woman, nobly planned, To warm, to comfort and command."',

Fred Raddatz, who since 1895 has been proprietor of the popular Kneer House, is a native of Germany, where he was born October 2, 1860, his parents being Adolph and Louisa (Rick) Raddatz. In 1872, when only twelve years of age, Mr. Raddatz left his native country for the United States and upon his arrival he came to Eau Claire, Wis., and located at Pall Creek, and for four years worked on a farm. In 1876 he came to the city of Eau Claire, and for the next two years acted in the capacity of teamster. He then found employment as runner for the Galloway House and by strict attention to business and pel-severing efforts he worked up to the position of clerk. Here he remained until 1895, when he became proprietor of the Kneer House, which he has since successfully conducted. His most estimable wife, Emma, is a daughter of the late Mathias Kneer.

Mr. Raddatz is one of the popular and influential men of Eau Claire and takes an active interest in all public matters. He is prominently identified with various fraternal organizations, being a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and has filled all the chairs of that order. He holds membership in the Maccabees, the ITnited Order of Foresters, the Beavers and the German Singing Society. He is an extensive owner of real estate in Eau Claire, among wliich may be mentioned the Kneer Hoiise and adjoining property. In political affiliations he is a Republican.

Adin Randall. The beautiful city of Eau Claire clusters around the .iunctiou of the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers. These picturesque streams are not navigable and the uninitiated instinctively asks : What caused a city to grow up at this place ? The answer is, the great lumber industry of the last half of the nineteenth century, and thai liriiigs in the names of men - men of the woods, the river and the mill - the sturdy pioneers. Among these was a carpenter, a man of unusual energy and enterprise, a true pioneer, who saw so clearly the possibilities of the site of Eau Claire that he stood upon the forest-lined banks of the Chippewa and visioned the future city.

in those days and he had no great opportunity to take advantage of even the little education obtainable. While stiU a youth he learned the trade of carpenter and worked at it in New York state until he was twenty-five years of age. In 1852 he married Clamenzia Babcock, and in 1854 moved west and settled in Madison, "Wis. There he became a building contractor and made a little money, with which he bought an interest in a saw mill in Eau Claire in the fall of 1855.

It was in that year that Mr. Randall first came to Eau Claire. Quickly he saw the advantage of the location and, selling out his interest in the saw mill, he moved his family here in the spring of 1856. For a short time he was associated with Gage & Reed, but soon sold out his interest in the business and purchased the land which is now the Avest side of the city of Eau Claire south of Bridge street and between Half Moon lake and the Chippewa river. This tract he had platted under the name of the city of Eau Claire, but it was then, and for some time afterwards, known as Randall Town. This tract was then covered with brush and stunted trees, and all this part of the state and to the northward was primitive wilderness, but he talked Eau Claire to everyone and sounded the praises of this location wherever and whenever possible. He built a small planing mill at the foot of what is now Ninth avenue, and he secured the right to operate a ferry on the Chippewi!, betAveen the east and west sides.

Acting upon the faith which he had in the future of Eau Claire - a faith that others noAV see realized - he began to anticipate the future city. To that end he donated the land for Randall Park to the corporation and also the site for the West Side cemetery. To the First Congregational church he gave the land which that society still owns and occupies, and to the Methodist church he donated half of the land which constitutes the present high school grounds. He planned to build his own residence upon the attractive site where the coiu-t house now stands, and he took pleasure in assuring the pessimists that the west side would one day have street cars running along its thoroughfares. But, standing amid the brush and trees, they could not see the panorama that rose iip before his time-penetrating eyes.

Few living can remember, but who has not read, of the period of hard times that came to this country after the close of the Crimean war. Then, as now, a European conflict brought a war tax to America, but then the tax was paid in a different manner. A wave of depression swept over the country, money was more than scarce, it was hardly obtainable, and Mr. Randall was one of the thousands whose plaus aud hopes were shattered by the tinaueial convulsions that shook the very foundations of the West from 1857 to 3860. In order to carry out his plans he had mortgaged the west side and being unable to meet the claims of the mortgagees they took the property.

Ill 1860 he sold out his planing mill and went to Chippewa Falls. He remained there but a short time, however, and then built a saw mill at Jim Falls, which he ran for two years. Having sold that mill he purchased a grist mill at Reed's Landing and made it over into a saw mill. This he operated until the time of his death, which occurred in April, 1868. when he was but thirtynine years of age.

Notwithstanding his remarkable energy, his buoyant optimism aud his irrepressible spirit of enterprise, he never shared in the harvest of wealth which he clearly saw was coming to Eau Claire, biit he helped to sow the seed for that liarvest. His inclinations were entirely for business projects and it is said that he started or suggested more enterprises than any other man the city has known. He cared nothing for public life, yet when Eau Claire county was erected by the legislature in 1856 he was elected the first county treasurer.

He is described as a man of cheerful disposition and undaunted courage. Disaster could not crush him, and when it came he continued to Avork with an ardor and energy that were the admiration of his friends. He was revered by his familj' and he will always live in the hearts of the workinginen, with whom he was a great favoi-ite. A mechanic himself, he took a personal interest in their lives and affairs and liked to get their ideas on all matters pertaining to their welfare. When the civil war broke out his employees and other workinginen came to him and said they would form a companj' and go to the front if he would be their captain. This he wished to do and Avas only hindered by the fervent solicitations of his Avife and children.

A handsome bronze statue commemorates Adin Randall in the park Avhich he gave to Eau Claire. The memorial Avas a gift to the city from Mr. 0. H. Ingram, and, unquestionably, is a tribute of high regard from a wonderfully successful man to the memory of a truly remarkable one. But there is a legend in Eau Claire Avhich tells of a secondary reason for the erection of this statue. It is said that AA'hen Mr. Ingram came to Eau Claire, in 1857, he Avas, at first, disposed to return to Canada, Avhere he had interests too promising to exchange for the Avilds of Wisconsin. But IMr. Randall talked to him of tlie advantages of Eau

Claire, took him up the Eau Claire river, showed him the vast forests of pine, and ultimately persuaded him to locate here. If this be true, Mr. Ingram v.'ould, naturally, hold him in kindlj' remembrance, and for this one act, had he done nothing more, Adin Randall was worthy of perpetuity in Eau Claire, for he secured to the city the greatest constructive business man the community has ever known.

Edgar H. Randall, a well known business man of Eau Claire, has been a residi-ut here since 18,56. He is the son of Adia Randall, who was born in Brookfield, Madison county. New York, October 12, 1829, and came to Wisconsin in 1854, settling first at Madison, this state, where Edgar, our subject, was born on May 5, 1855. Adin Randall followed his trade of carpenter and joiner for one year in Madison, and in the fall of 1855 came to Eau Claire and in the spring of 1856 moved his family here, consisting of his wife and two children. Soon after his arrival he engaged in the lumber business with the firm of Gage & Reed, whose mill occupied the site where the Mississippi River Logging Company's lower mill on the Eau Claire river was located. He soon after sold his interests to J. G. Thorp and purchased the land on the west side of the river south of Grand avenue west, extending from Half Moon lake to the river, and platted it as Adin Randall's first and second addition to the city of Eau Claire. but it was generally known at that time as "Randall Town." H.' built a saw mill, which he e(iuipped with machinery for planing and making sash, doors and blinds. In 1861 he moved to Chippewa Falls and ran the big mill there. In 1863 he built a dam and saw mill at Jim's Falls, which he conducted until 1865, when he sold it "to French & Giddings, and then bought a mill at Reed's Landing, which he fitted \iv and operated until he died, April 26, 1868. He gave Randall Park and Lake View cemetery to the city; also half of the high school lots and the lots for the First Congregational clrarch.

On March 8, 1852, Adin Randall married at Brookfield, N. Y., Miss Clamenzia E. Babcock, daughter of Rawson and Maudana Babcoek, and they reared a family of six children, viz. : Burdett M., Edgar IL, Nellie G., Dora M., Eva and Adin W. Randall. The mother of these children passed away on November 1, 1885.

Edgar H. obtained his education in the public schools of Eau Claire, learned the trade of sign painter, and since 1876 has been engaged in sign business in this city. Mr. Randall married, on August 4, 1887, Miss Helen M., daughter of John A. and Mary J. Bride, of Otter Creek township, Ean Claire county. To Mr. and

Mrs. Randall have been hoiii three eliildien. viz.: Adiii A., l)oni August 30, 1888; Everett II.. bom Apiil 12. ISIIO, and Helen Fern, born Jlartdi :], 189:).

Robert Lee Eickman, inventor, jjresidenl and manager of the Cement I'roduets and Const I'lietion Company, ol' Eau Claire, was born Xovendiev 8. in Bedford county, Tennessee, the son of Newton K. and I\lary Jane (Alford) Rieknian. The father was born in Williamson county, Tennessee, in 181,"), and there and in adjoining counties spent his life engaged in farming. His death occurred December 21. 1872.

In November. 1S77. Ins mother removed to Somervell county, Texas, and the following year to Young county, Texas, where he lived on the farm until 1883, when he apprenticed himself to Mr. J. B. Norris, of Graham, Texas, to learn the trade of a tinsmith, after completion of which he took a course in a business college and then I'eturned to (iraham. whei'e Ins former employer, Mr. Morris, started him up in business under the firm name of R. L. Rickman & Co. After continuing this business for five years Mr. Norris and he organized the J. B. Norris Hardware Company, of which he was vice-president ami bookkee])ei' until he sold his interests in the spring of 1898.

On October 6. 1893, after a .short attack of malai-ial fever, his mother, who had always been his constant companion and counselor, died at the age of 73 years. Any success that he may meet with through life will be largely attributable to her influence over his early manhood.

In October. 1898, he moved to Colorado Springs, Colo., where he resided for more than a year, going from there in the spring of 1900 to Denver, Colo., where he remained for some two and a half years, during which time he perfected a "valveless'" air di-ill and some other inventions. After being "fleeced" out of these inventions, he decided to take Horace Greeley's advice and "go west," and started for Vancouver, British Columbia, arriving there on June 30, 1902. After spending some tinu' here, he decided to enter into the manufacture of cement products, and do a general contracting business, wliieh he carried on until tlie fall of 1910. "While engaged in this line of work he was convinced that the machines in use for the manufacture of cement blocks, sewer pipe, brick, etc.. were inadequate for the purpose and set about to evolve machines that would meet the requirements. In 1911 he closed out his interests in British Columbia and came to Eau Claire for the prtrpose of building the machines which he had invented. ITe has 1)uilt a large power sewer pi]ie and power block machiue, which he has installed and has in successful operation. These machines have large capacity and turn out an excellent quality of material at a greatly reduced cost of labor. He is receiving many inquiries concerning his machines from all parts of the world, and hopes to be able in a short time to place these machines on the market.