Eau Claire County, Wisconsin - Biographical sketches (2 of 2 so headed), 1914 (part 7 of 8)

Lucian V. Ripley is known today as an iutiueutial and substantial business man of Eau Claire, but the history of his life's work is woven into the annals of the development of the great timber lands of America. The story of his life is au epic of the w^oods. Even as a boy he was familiar with the forest, the lumber camp and the hardy woodmen, among whom he was destined to become a leader. He was not one of those who began life with ample means to insure success; he started out for himself with only the woodcraft he had learned in his father's lumber camps for capital, and by his ability, hardihood and labor he achieved success and won the confidence of men of large affairs.

He was born in St. Clair comity, Michigan, October 8, 1842, and is of English and German descent. His parents were Volney A. and Maria (Klein) Ripley. His paternal grandfather, Abuer Ripley, was a native of England. He married Abigail Cornell, and to those two belong the honor of establishing this branch of the Ripley family in the United States.

Volnej^ A. Ripley was born in New York and became one of the pioneers of St. Clair county, Michigan, where he was engaged in the lumber business for many years. His children were as folloAvs : Lucian V., Marcus T., Charles, Mary and Joseph, who are living; Ida, Norman and Lillian are deceased. Joseph Ripley is now prominently connected with the enlargement of the Erie canal, and was one of the commissioners connected with the building of the Panama canal, and is the designer of the locks used upon the great interoceanic waterway.

Lueian V. Ripley grew to manhood in St. Clair county, ]\Iichigan, receiving his early education in the common schools and taking up the lumber business with his father as soon as he was old enough. Disaster overtook his father's business in 1865 and the following year his father died. Lucian V. Ripley for a time struggled to build a new business out of the wreck of his father's enterprise, but the outlook was not promising, and in 1868 he began to locate pine lands for N. W. Brooks, of Detroit, a gentleman who had early recognized young Ripley's ability as an appraiser of forest timber, and who had unbounded confidence in his judgment and integrity. He did a great deal of valuable work for Brooks and soon others sought his services, and he has continued in that line of business to the present, operating largely in Michigan and Wisconsin, and also in states bordering on the Mississippi to the West, and in timber states East to the Atlantic ocean. For more than fifty years he has been a prominent factor in the timber business of America, and that fifty years the most marvelous half century the world has ever known in the lumber industry as well as in other lines of exploitation, all of which have set the days of our grandfathers nearer to the dark ages than they are to us. In this great constructive period 'Mr. Ripley has been not only an active Avorker but a leader among the leaders. Everywhere he is regarded as an expert in estimating the value of timber lands, and he makes reports for investors and corporations all over the country. The fact that Coi-- nell University is one of his principal patrons is a clear indication of his knowledge and ability as an appraiser.

]\Ir. Ripley has been a resident of Eau Claire since 1882 and is one of its leading citizens. He is a man of cultured tastes, engaging personality and felicitous social qualities. At 72 he is a slender man of medium height, active and alert, giving the clear impression that in his prime he was as hardy as an oak and as supple as a willow. For some years he has been interested in farming as well as forestry and has a fine farm near Eau Claire.

On October 20, 1870, Lucian V. Ripley married Belle M. Burdette, daughter of Joseph Burdette, of St. Ignace, Mich. They have three children living, viz : Fred B. ; Belle, who is the wife of Dr. R. R. Chase, one of the leading physicians of Eau Claire, and Alie Ripley, who resides with her parents.

John Roach,* who is one of the energetic and well-to-do farmers of Union toAvnship, was born in Ireland, and is one of a family of ten children born to Joseph and Mary (O'Neal) Roach, both natives of Ireland, where they Avere married. Of the others Nicholas, Joanna, Annie and Thomas Avei-e born in Ireland, Avhile Mary, Ellen, Margaret, James and Joseph were born in Eau Claire, to AA'hich place the parents emigrated in 1856. Soon after arriving here the father purchased the farm on Avhich John, our subject, noAV resides, and they Avere classed among the thrifty, enterprising and well-to-do farmers of the county. After a residence in the tOAA'n of Union of tAventy-nine years the father died. November 29, 1885, and the mother passed aAvay in 1865.

John Roach, the subject of this sketch, attended the common schools of Ireland, and in 1865 came to Eau Claire. Since the death of liis father he has carried on the home farm. Avhich noAV consists of 80 acres of highly cultivated land, improved with modern buildings and equipment. He is engaged in general truek farming, and makes a specialty of raising high-grade Poland- China hogs.

Mr. Roach mai-ried Miss Prances A. Lawler, of Trempealeau county, Wisconsin, and they have an interesting family of five children: Mary, Catherine, Walter, Annie and Lauretta, all of whom were born in the town of Union, and all are members of St. Patrick's church of Eau Claire.

Joseph Roach, a member of the Wisconsin Refi'igerator Company of Eau Claire, was born here on March 16, 1859. His parents, Joseph and Mary (O'Neal) Roach, were born in Ireland, where they married and had five children. They emigrated to America and to Eau Claire county, Wisconsin, in 1856, and settled on a farm in the town of Union, where the balance of their family of ten children were born. (See sketch of John Roach.)

Mr. Roach obtained a good education in the public schools of Eau Claire county, and for twenty-seven years followed the occupation of lumbering in its various branches. He is now assosociated with the Wisconsin Refrigerator Company, with whom he has been for seven years.

In 1880 Mr. Roach married Miss Hannah ]\IcCaghey, of Seymour, la., and they have five children, all living at home, viz : Joseph E., Albert T., Francis P., William R. and Anna S. M. Two of the boys are now (1914) employed by the Eau Claire & Chippewa Falls Electric Railway Company, and Elmer holds a position with the Phoenix Furniture Company, of Eau Claire. Albert holds a position at the N. W. Steel & Iron Works. Mr. Roach is a member of St. Patrick's church, of this city, the Knights of Columbus, Holy Name Society and the Modern Woodmen.

Patrick McCaghey, father of Mrs. Roach, was born in Ireland and came to the United States in 1858. He married Mary Muldoon, and they reared a family of eight children, viz : Margaret, Lucy, Mary, Hannah, Nellie, Rose, Frank and William, all of whom are married and have families.

Joseph Warren Ross, who is considered one of Eau Claire's pioneer concrete contractors and substantial business men. is a native of Clearfield county, Pennsylvania. He was born December 16, 1859, the son of John and Mary H. (Hall) Ross. The former was born March 30, 1835, in Pennsylvania, and the latter September 25, 1835, in the same state. They are the parents of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, all of whom are now (1914) living and all married. The parents are both liv- ing at Osseo, Wis., where they are enjoying their declining years in the comforts of their pleasant home, surrounded by a host of friends and acquaintances, who admire them for their ambition to perform for themselves the labors connected with their home. The grandfathers, named respectively George Eoss and John Hall, were counted among the early settlers in the Keystone state.

Joseph W. Ross came to Wisconsin with his parents and received his education in the common schools of Trempealeau county , where he grew to manhood. He came to Eau Claire in the spring of 1891 and engaged in contracting in concrete work, which he successfully carried on until 1904, when he established the Eau Claire Concrete Company, of which he is president and general manager. This concern manufactures all kinds of concrete building material, and under the careful management of Mr. Ross are doing a flourishing business. As a citizen he is public spirited and enterprising and ready to contribute of his time and means to the advancement of the public interest and general good. He is a member of the IMethodist Episcopal church, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Foresters.

Mr. Ross was married December 22. 1890, to ]\liss Mattie Louis Garfield. She died November 22, 1891, leaving besides her husband and infant daughter, Bernice Vida Ross, born October 18, 1891, who is a graduate of the Eau Claire high school and now in attendance at Lawrence College at Appleton, Wis. On November 20, 1897, Mr. Eoss was again married, this time to Anthonette Skoien, of Pigeon Falls, Wis.

Isaac Rothstein, who has been a successful business man of Eau Claire since 1876, was born June 7, 1854, in the Province of Suwalki, in Russia, on the frontier near Germany. There he obtained a good education, mastering the languages of several nations, among them being German, Polish, Russian, Hebrew, Swedish and English, which aided him greatly in facing the world independently, as he did in early life, among strangers and away from his relatives. He left his home in 1874, and after enduring many hardships for two years in Germany and Sweden he finally in the fall of that year sailed for Quebec, Canada. From there he came West to Milwaukee, and ol)taiued a position at selling linens on the road, which he followed for some time, and in 1876 he came to Eau Claire and engaged in the grocery business with his brother-in-law, Julius Kohn, the firm being J. Kohn & Co., until 1884, when Mr. Kohn died, and Mr. Rothstein car- ried on the business alone. The firm lost heavily in the floods of 1880 and 1884, but this did not affect the persistent efforts of Mr. Eothstein to make a success of their business, which was located at that time one-half block north of Fournier's Academy. In 1881 they built a store on Eau Claire street, where he continued until 1890, when he purchased the hardware stock of George E. Aubner, and took his brother-in-law, William Kelle)-, as partner, the firm name being changed to I. Eothstein & Co., handling- furniture, crockery, hardware, etc. They occupied the store at 212 South Barstow street for five years, and during the panic of 1893 gave up that store and moved the business to 311 Eau Claire street, where it has since remained successfully handling all kinds of paper stock, wool, furs, iron, rags, rubber, hides, etc. Mr. Eothstein also has one of the modern homes in Eau Claire, having built his residence new in 1883. He belongs to the Independent Order of B'nai Brith, was a charter member, and is now (1914) its president. He is also a member of the A. F. & A. M., Eau Claire Lodge, No. 112. He was elected to the office of justice of the peace of the second Avard, but declined to accept it. He cast his first vote for President Grant, and is a staunch Eepublican, public spirited and generous.

In 1876 he married Miss Sofie Kohn, of this city, and their children are Gizlla, Dalli and Nathan G., a successful advertising man of Chicago, 111., married Miss Ruth Hoffman, September 11, 1913, of Chicago, 111., and Tilly.

William Eowe,* ex-mayor of Eau Claire and well known as 01] e of the influential and substantial business men of the city, was born near Scranton. Pa., December 29, 1850. His parents. Henry B. and Lucinda (Bieseeker) Eowe, were both natives of the Keystone state, and on the paternal side Mr. Eowe comes of revolutionary ancestry. His paternal grandfather was Henry B. Eowe, Sr., and his maternal grandfather, John Bieseeker, was a soldier in the war of 1812. His father, Henry B. Eowe, Jr., came to Eau Claire in 1857, where his family joined him in 1859, He was a carpenter and joiner by trade, which occupation he followed until the breaking out of the civil war, when he enlisted and served one year as a member of Company D, Eighteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Soon after his return from the war he engaged in the grocery business in Eau Claire, which he followed for about fifteen years. His death occurred in 1884 at the age of 52 years. His widow, mother of William, is now (1914) still living at the age of 85. They were the parents

William Rowe spent his early youth in Pennsylvania and came to Eau Claire with his parents, where he received his education in the public schools and grew up with the city. He began his business career as clerk in the general store of W. H. Smith, serving in that capacity for seven years. In 1875 he formed a partnership with S. J. Smith and under- the firm name of Smith & Rowe engaged in the retail grocery business in Eau Claire, following that line of trade for six years, after which for two years he sold logging supplies. In 1883 he became a member of the firm of Honer, Rowe & Co., wholesale grocers, continuing in business under this name until November 7 of the same year, when the Eau Claire Grocery Company was incorporated, and Mr. Rowe became its treasurer, a position he filled for nine years, at which time he became president of the company, acting in that capacity until 1907, since which time he has acted as house salesman.

Mr. Rowe is a man of cultured tastes, engaging personalitj' and solicitous social qualities. He is actively connected with the order of Free and Accepted Masons, being a member of the Royal Arch and the Eau Claire Commandery, Knights Templar. He is a member of the Sons of Veterans and of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. He has served several years as member of the school board, was alderman of the third ward for several terms, and served four terms as mayor of the city, two terms of one year each and two terms of two years each, a continuous service of six years from 1900 to 1906.

On September 27, 1876, Mr. Rowe was united in marriage witli Miss Mary A. Reay, daughter of William and Adeline (Humphrey) Reay, of Hemingford, Canada, and by this union has three children: Clarence H., William A. and Wilfred L. Rowe.

Napoleon Santo, who was one of Fairchild's progressive business men, had been a resident of that village since 1890. He was born at Green Bay, Wis., May 26, 1847, the son of Joseph and Flora (Colville) Santo, the foi-mer a native of Canada and the latter of Portage City, Wis. Reared in this state, he became selfeducated, and his first employment was in the shingle mills of Green Bay and Shawano counties, where he remained for seventeen years. He came to Pairchild, Eau Claire county, in 1890. and from that time to his death. November 28, 1913. was engaged in various lines of business, in all of which he has been successful. He first engaged in the livery business, which he followed for five years, then ran a butcher shop for three years, and for the last fifteen years had been engaged in the cold storage and ice business, and for the same period had been the local agent in Pairchild for the Mitchell Brewing Company, of La Crosse. During his residence in Eau Claire county Mr. Santo accumulated considerable property, consisting of both farm land and village property.

Mr. Santo had been twice married; his first wife was Louisa Champaign, of Green Bay, Wis., by whom he had three children: Charles, Samuel, and Sarah, wife of Julius Lambert. He married for his second wife Miss Ida AUerdon, also of Green Bay, and by this second union has four children : Carrie, Clara, Pearl and Raymond.

Herman Schlegelmilch, one of the early men of the city of Eau Claire and one who did much to foster and build up the young cit.y, was born in Suhl, Province of Saxony. Germany, May 19, 1830. He was educated in his native town and learned the trade of gunmaker in the famous factory at Suhl. Subsequently he worked at his trade in Bromberg, Hamburg, Magdeburg and Luebeek. In 1853 he came to America and worked at his trade in New York, Bethlehem, Pa., and Chicago. In 1855 he started a business of his own in Beaver Dam, Wis., and remained there until 1860, when he went to Cedar Rapids. la., and embarked in the grocery business. This venture did not turn out to his liking and in October, 1860, he came to Eau Claire, where he worked at his trade until 1866. In that year he erected the first brick building in Eau Claire and in it opened a hardware store. This business proved very successful and was carried on by Mr. Schlegelmilch all his business life.

Mr. Schlegelmilch married Augusta Krueger, at Beaver Dam, Wis. She, like himself, was a native of Germany and a woman of superior qualities. They reared a family of five children, namely, Dora, Louise, Emilia, Herman F. and Eda. Mr. Schlegelmilch will always be remembered as one of the men who helped to make Eau Claire a thriving city. By his ability and high character he gave an impetus to the business of the infant city and he took part in public affairs to advance the best interests of the city. He was alderman of the city when it was incorporated and also served for some time thereafter, and he had been one of the supervisors when the community was a little village. He died in the year 1903, and his name will always hold an honored place in the archives of the Old Settlers' Association of Eau Claire, an organization that is of the highest credit to the people of the city and county.

Herman F. Schlegelmilch, son of Herman and Augusta (Krueger) Schlegelmilch, was born in the city of Eau Claire, September 28, 1867, and has lived in this city all his life. He received his early education in the local schools and then became associated in business with his father, who was for many years the leading hardware merchant of Eau Claire. Subsequently Herman F. Schlegelmilch went into the hardware business for himself and was engaged in that line for about twenty twenty years altogether.

In 1909 he became interested in the Union ]Mortgage Loan Company, of which he is president and a member of the board of directors. He is one of the property owners of the city.

Mr. Schlegelmilch has never taken any active part in polities and is no partisan, believing that the selection of good men for public office shows better citizenship than blind adherence to any party. He is thoroughly a business man and a most successful one, enjoying the confidence of the substantial men of the city and respected by all. He takes a wai"m interest in the welfare of the city of Eau Claire and for five years held a seat on the board of education. He also served for some time as a member of the associated charities board. He is spoken of as a broadminded man, liberal not only in his views but in his support of all worthy enterprises, and is regarded as one of the most capable business men of the city. His fraternal organization is the Masonic.

John Schneider, a prominent and substantial German farmer of Union township, Eau Claire county, "Wisconsin, was born in Sarbruch, Germany, June 20, 1843. His parents, Nick and Catherine (Leich) Schneider, emigrated to the United States in 1853 and settled in Ozaukee county, Wisconsin, on a farm which the father cleared and improved and where he lived until his death at the age of 58 years. His wife, mother of John, also died tliere at the age of 60 years.

Arriving in Ozaukee county with his parents when ten years of age, John was reared on the farm, attended the district schools and assisted in the farm work, and has ever since followed the occupation of a farmer. In 1894 he came to Eau Claire county and purchased the farm of 160 acres in the town of Union, 120 acres of which he still owns and has under a good state of cultivation, well improved with a substantial residence and outbuildings, all put there by Mr. Schneider, who in his farming operations uses the latest methods and keeps his place well stocked with up-to-date machinery, good horses, cattle and hogs.

Mr. Schneider married, February 11, 1861:, Miss Susan, daugliter of Nicholas and Catherine (Wolf) Watry, pioneer settlers of Belgium, Ozaukee county. Wis., and natives of Luxemburg, Germany, and are the parents of sixteen children. Their children are : Nicholas ; John, who lost his life at the age of twelve years in a threshing machine; Lizzie, wife of E. P. Neuens; Mary, the wife of Otto Schmid; Thomas; William; Peter; Margaret, wife of Carl Schmid ; Daisy, deceased wife of Carl Schmid ; John P. ; John; Joseph; Rosa; Susan, wife of Frank Bowers; Aloysius, and George. Mr. and Mrs. Schneider are devoted members of the Sacred Heart Catholic church of Eau Claire.

Mr. Schneider was a soldier in the civil war, having enlisted in the Fifty-first Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in which he served about four months, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. A Democrat in politics; Mr. Schneider has never sought office, but takes a lively interest in the affairs of his county and state.

On February 11, 1914, Mr. and ilrs. Schneider celebrated their golden wedding at the Sacred Heart church and school of Eau Claire, at which event all of their fourteen living children were present with their families. There were twenty grandchildren, of which two are twins, sons of Susan Bowers, and one great grandchild. Miss Harriet Schneider, aged two years, daughter of Thomas Schneider. Jr., of Milwaukee.

William H. Schulz. If one were called upon to name the halfdozen school men in Wisconsin wlio have tlie clearest insight into the philosophy and the pedagogy of education as they apply to the elementary and high school, he would name as one of the six Superintendent William II. Schulz, of Eau Claire. Sir. Schulz ' type of mind qualifies him for painstaking and systematic study. With this ability he combines the practical skill Avhieli applies theoretical conclusions to everyday problems of seliool life.

The courses of study which are in operation in Eau Claire are unsurpassed in the state. In addition to his practical work as educator Mr. Schiilz is the author of a number of essays, stories

Superintendent Schulz has reached his present eminence in education in Wisconsin by slow degrees. He is a native of Wisconsin and of Sauk county, where he was born July 22, 1858. He got his education in the i-ural schools of his native county, the high school at Baraboo and the University of Wisconsin.

He began his career as teacher in the rural schools of Sank county. He was successively assistant principal in the high school at S|)riii^- Green, jiriucipal of the high school at Argyle, couuty siipciiiiti'iiiliMil (if Sauk county, principal of a state graded school at Ahh'iiiau, principal of high school at Spring Green, principal of the high school at Sank City, superintendent of city schools at IMerrill, and he is at present superintendent of schools at Eau Claire. Under his supervision are 12 schools, 130 teachers and about 4.000 pupils.

He is a member of the Northwestern Wisconsin Teachers' Association, the Wisconsin Teachers' Association and of the National Education Association. He was married in 1885 to Miss Enieliue H. Nold. He has two children, Alviua and Henry. Alvina is in her senior year at normal school, aud Henry is a graduate of the Stevens Point Normal and the University of Florida.

Charles W. Scott,* one of the pioneers of Eau Claire county and a resident of Scott's Valley, to which place he came over half a century ago. and still remains, one of its most active, enterprising, highly respected and altogether valuable citizens. ]\Ir. Scott was born in Jefferson county, this state, June 17, 1849, the son of Robert E. and Helen (Moore) Scott, natives of Scotland. The parents came to the United States from near Edinburgh, Scotland, and first located in Jefferson county, Wisconsiu, from whence they came to Eau Claire county, and settled five miles west of where the city of Augusta is now located, in what has become known as Scott's Valley, the same having been named after the Scott family. Robert E. Scott, our subject's father, was by occupation a farmer, and by reputation a good, loyal citizen, and a man of most exemplary habits. He was well educated and before coming to the United States was cashier of a bank at Roxburyshire, Scotland. He held numerous local offices, and took a commendable interest in all public matters. He was a member of the Baptist church, and at the time of his death, which occurred on June 9, 1895, at the age of 75 years, Eau Claire county lost one of her most substantial aud representative men. Helen iloore

Scott, mother of our subject, who was a lady of rare womanly graces and domestic virtues, passed away October 1, 1875, at the age of 75 years.

Charles W. Scott received a limited education in the district schools, was reared on the homestead farm, has spent liis whole life in farming, and belongs to that class of men who have had part in transforming the county from its wild state to a populous community of rich, fertile and beautiful farms. lie owns GSO acres of land under a good state of cultivation and well improved with substantial buildings, and is one of the most progressive and public spirited farmers in the county. A Republican in polities, he takes an active interest in the affairs of his party, and has held many local offices. He has one brother, John M. Scott.

In 1871 Mv. Scott married Miss Emily Shephard, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Fowler) Shephard, of Debonshire, England. Her parents came from New York state and settled at Sagett's Harbor about 1846. There were four children in the family. Those besides Mrs. Scott are Frank A.. W. R. and Isabella, wife of Webster Smith, of Eau Claire county.

Mart:n Severson, who for thirty-one years was in the employ of the Daniel Shaw Lumber Company, of Eau Claire, eighteen years of wliich time he acted as foreman, was born in Frederiekstad, Norway, April 20, 1859, son of Sever and Helen (Janson) Anderson. The father came to the LTnited States in 1888 and located at Eau Claire, where he died in 1889, at the age of about 52 years. He was twice married, first to Helen Janson, and they had five children, viz: Martin; Hannah, who is the wife of Oluf Olson ; Genne, wife of Anton Johnson ; Axel, and Helga, who was

Martin Severson, our subject, grew to manhood in Norway, receiving his education in the public schools. LTpon reaching his majority in 1880 he emigrated to the United States and soon after his arrival in this country located at Eau Claire and entered the employ of the Eau Claire Lumber Company, with whom he remained for three years. He went from there to the Daniel Shaw Lumber Company, witli whom lie remained for thirty-one years, as above stated.

]Mr. Severson has been married three times. He first married Sine Torgeson, of Eau Claire, and they were the parents of three children, viz : Minnie, who is the wife of Herman Voss, Elmer and Carl. He married for his second wife Mrs. Thora Eriekson, and his last marriage was to Mrs. Tena Johnson. 'Slv. Severson is prominently identified in social circles, being a member of Odin Lodge, No. 43, Knights of Pythias; the Equitable Fraternal Union, Sons of Norway and the A. 0. P. He has always taken a commendable interest in public matters and for fifteen years, up to the time of the new commission form of government was established in Eau Claire, he represented the fourth ward in the City Council, was president of the Council one term, and has the honor of holding the longest consecutive term of any alderman in Eau Claire.

Arthur Mott Sherman, retired lumberman and farmer of Eau Claire, Wis., was born in Wirt, Allegany county, N. Y., May 30, 1834, the sou of Samuel and Jlalinda (Stanton) Sherman. His paternal grandfather, Peleg Sherman, a native of Washington county. New York, was a pioneer of Allegany county, that state, where he followed the vocation of farmer and miller. He died in Wirt, that county, at the age of 86 years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and fought in the battle of Plattsburg. He married Hannah Willett, who lived to the ripe old age of ftO years. Of their family five children grew to maturity, Samuel. Ruth, Eliza, Harriet and Ann ]\Iaria. Benjamin Stanton, maternal grandfather of Captain Sherman, was a pioneer farmer of Onondago county, New York. Samuel Sherman, father of our subject, was born in Wasliington county. New York, in 1804. He was among the early settlers of Allegany county and one of its foremost citizens. He built the first oil mill and ashery there, wooded the first ploAV in Wirt, brought the first cook stove to the town, built eight saw mills in the county, the last one being erected at the headwaters of the Allegheny river. The machinery used in this mill was later shipped to Eau Claire, Wis., on a raft constructed of lumber of its own sawing, by way of the Allegheny and Ohio to Cairo, thence up the Mississippi and Chippewa rivers in 1880 by boat to Eau Claire. The civil war broke out and the machinery remained on the banks of the Chippewa until 1863, when it was brought to the Dells and set up by him and his son, Sidney, who sold his interest in 1865 to Elam Burdick. After the close of the war Samuel Sherman lived for twelve years at Petersburg, Va., and then returned to Eau Claire, where he resided until his death in 1897. The children of Samuel Sherman were Hannah, who married Thomas Bauer; Hiildah married Thomas Kenyon; Arthur M., Sidney, Mark H. and Stanton.

Captain Sherman was educated at Alfred and Riehburgh academies in New York, learned the trade of locomotive engineer at Dunkirk, N. Y.. and followed that vocation in various see- tions of the country until 1854. In 1855 he went to California via Panama and engaged in gold mining in Calveras county, and there erected quartz machinery. In June, 1857, he came to Eau Claire, and with his brother, Sidney, engaged in the lumber business. When the civil war broke out he was engineer on the steamboat Stella Whipple. Resigning this position, he raised a company and went to Milwaukee and was there made captain of Company L, Second Wisconsin Cavalry, under Colonel C. C. AVashburn. This company was raised in the fall of 1861 and took part in the battles of Ozark Mountain, Batesville. Bayou ( 'ach, Helena, Clarendon and other skirmishes around Memphis. It also participated in the Grearson raid and in the capture of Vicksburg. Captain Sherman was mustered out of the service at Vicksburg in the fall of 1864 and returned to Eau Claire and purchased his father's interest in the saw mill which he later sold to O. H. Ingram, after which he engaged in logging and farming for twenty years. He cleared and improved three farms, the Oak Grove farm of 80 aci-es in the town of Union, the Cloverdale farm of 360 acres in the Town of Union, and Lake View farm of 240 acres, the latter being located in Dunn county. He was extensively engaged in breeding heavy draft horses and trotters (he raised Bell Ure and Stet Brino), Durham cattle and Poland-China hogs.

In public affairs Captain Sherman is no less active and ai- Hueutial than as a business man in advancing the interests of the city and county. Believing it to be the duty of every citizen to contribute to tlie extent of his ability to the good government of the county in which he lives, and believing also that good government is a matter of the greatest importance, he has taken the time from his personal affairs to serve one term as sheriff of the county and also one term as \indersheriff. lie served as chief of police and chief of the fire department of Eau Claire and was instrumental in uniforming the police department.

Captain Sherman was married in Memphis, Tenn., June 1, 1863, to Antoinette Stetson, daughter of Samuel and Almira (IMaxon) Stetson, of Allegany county New York, and by special order of General Ilulburt, his wife was allowed to accompany him on the Vicksburg campaign. Captain and Mrs. Sherman have three children living: Arthur S. enlisted and got his death knell in the Spanish war at Porto Rico; Hallie, wife of Arthur Miller; Belle, wife of John Ure, and Fannie, wife of James G. Radebaugh.

Oluf Sherman, oue of the wideawake and popular jewelers of Eau Claire, was born in Waupaca, this state, July 4, 1869. Ilis parents, Oluf and Juliane (Hasler) Sherman, who were born respectively in Solor and Skein, Norway, emigrated to the United States in the spring of 1869. After arriving in this country they came to Wisconsin and settled at Waupaca, where the father, a shoemaker by trade, followed that vocation until 1874, when he brought his family to Eau Claire and for fourteen years was engaged in business for himself. In 1888 he entered the employ of the A. A. Cutter Shoe Manufacturing Company, in whose employ he has since remained. Mr. and Mrs. Sherman raised a famil.y of four children, as folloAvs : Maurice, Oluf, Adolph and Julia, who is now deceased.

Oluf Sherman came to Eau Claire with his parents when he was 5 years old and has grown up with the city, receiving his education in the third ward public school. In 1885 he began his apprenticeship at the jeweler's trade with G. P. Duncan, of this city, serving altogether five years. He later entered the employ of John Holt, with whom he remained for nine years. In 1898 he embarked in business for himself on South Barstow street, in which he has since successfully continued.

On December 20, 1890, Mr. Sherman married ]Miss ^latilda, daughter of Berger and j\Iaria Semmingseu, of Strum, Trejupealeau county. Wis., and formerly of Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Sherman have an interesting family of eight living children, viz: Oliver, Irvin, Bert, Victor, Irma, Hazel, Gordon and Sylvia. Mr. Sherman is a member of Grace Lutheran church, the Mystic Workers of the World and the I. S. W. A., and politically is a Republican.

Richard D. Shipman,='= a prominent man of business in Fairchild, was born at Neillsville, in Clark county, Wisconsin. June 3, 1872, a son of Shulan and Lydia (Savage) Shipmau. the father was born in Pennsylvania and the mother in Nova Scotia, who settled in Trempealeau county, this state, about 1879, on a farm of 80 acres, in the town of Sumner, which they cleared and improved, and where they still reside. They reared a family of three children: Frances, wife of Bert Wilson; Richard D. and Monroe J.

Richard D. Avas raised in this state and educated in the common schools. He began early in life as a laborer in the lumber camps, and later was a section hand on the Mondovi branch of the Omaha Railroad. In 1894 he embarked in the butcher business at Osseo, Wisconsin, and conducted a thriving meat market there for about ten years. In 1905 he moved to Pairchild and associated himself with Mr. A. Smith in the meat business under the firm name of Smith & Shipman, in which he has since successfully continued. He conducts an up-to-date market, and also is an extensive buyer and shipper of live stock for the Chicago market, in addition to which he makes a specialty of dealing in milch cows.

On May 15, 1892, Mr. Shipman was married to Miss Eliza Jennie, daughter of James and Mary (Wood) Curry, of Postville, Iowa, and they have two children, Cleo 0. and Richard D. Jr.

Mr. Shipman is a member of the Masonic Lodge, No. 213, and the Blodern Woodmen of America, both of Osseo. He is a Republican in politics, and has served six years as a member of the board of trustees of the village of Fairchild. He is a man of good judgineut and well liked for his business ability and square dealing.

Prank A. Shute, a popular merchant of Altoona, Wis., was born in IMonroe county, January 17, 1864. His father, Benjamin Shute, was a native of Nuneton county, Warwickshire, England, while his mother, Jane (Gillan) Shute, came from the North of Ireland. They were pioneers of this state and lived in LaCrosse, Jlonroe and J]au Claire counties. He was a railroad man by occupation and superintended the construction of all bridges and buildings for the Omaha division of the Chicago, St. Paul, ]\Iinneapolis & Omaha railroad. In 1882 he located in Eau Claire, where he resided until his death in 1896. at the age of 72 years. Of seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Shute, Sophia married George B. Robinson; John; Sarah and Edgar are deceased; Marion married A. D. Brewer; Emily married E. W. Pond, and Frank A., the subject of this sketch.

Frank A. was raised on a farm in Monroe county until he reached the age of 18, and was educated in the common schools and Tomah high school. In 1882 he entered the employ of the Omaha Railroad Company as bridge builder, and was later in the grocery business for two years in Eau Claire, then again took a position with tlie same railroad company, witli wlioni he renuiiued until 1!I01, employed as carpenter, fireman, round-house despateher, etc. He has been a resident of Altoona since 1806, and has been engaged in his present business since 1901.

Mr. and Mrs. Shute are attendants and supporters of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Sliute is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Foresters, and has served as alderman and treasurer of Altoona. He is a well-informed nuui and hi.shly esteemed by a host of friends.

Charles A. Singel, treasurer of Eau Claire county, was born in the city of Eau Claire, IMarch 17, 1884, the son of Charles B. and Eva Singel. both natives of Germany, and who came to the United States early in the 50 's, going first to St. Louis. After a short sojourn there they moved to Diirand, in Pepin county, from whence they moved to Eau Claire, where they have since resided. The grandfather of our subject was Carl B. Zengle, the name being changed to Singel by our subject.

Charles A. received his education in the German Catholic schools of Eau Claire. After leaving school he was first cmployed for six and one-half years by the Pioneer Furniture Company. He then entered the employ of the Chicago. St. Paul Minneapolis & Omaha railway, now a part of the Northwestern system, as brakeman. After five years' service, while making a coupling he was accidentally injured, losing his left arm on Sef)- tember 5, 1908. After his recovery from the accident he was employed for four years as collector for the law firm of AV. II. & T. F. Frawley, and on November 4, 1912, he was elected treasurer of the county, succeeding Hans Lund, and in the primarj^ election September 1. 1914, he was renominated for the same office.

]Mr. Singel is a man of gi-nial, social temperament, and enjoys the friendship and confidence of the residents of Eau Claire. and is filling his responsible position to the satisfaction of the community in general.

Erick Skamser," one of the old settlers of Eau Claire, where he has resided for nearly lialf a century, thirty-three yeai's of which time he has devoted to the hotel business, is a native of Norway, and was born February 11. IS.jT. When twelve years of age, in 1869, he came to Eau Claire, and while still quite young he started in the lumbering business, which he followed for about eleven years. After severing his connection with the lumbering industry he entered the employ of the Phoenix Manufacturing Company, remaining with them for two years. He then embarked in the hotel business, in which he has since continued and is still successfully engaged.

as follows: Sever, Loss, Louis, Christ, Edward, Alif, Erick (the subject of this sketch), George, Leona, Thayer, Thomas and Otto. Mr. Skamser is a thrifty, progressive and up-to-date hotel man. and is one of the prosperous citizens of the city who is in sympathy with any movement tending to the betterment of his community. He is a member of the Sons of Norway and of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

He was married to Miss Sarah Olson, daughter of Abraham Olson, of Eau Claire, and they are the parents of four children, viz : Erick, Archie, Leonard and Esta Skamser.

John M. Slagsvol, successful business man of Eau Claire and son of Thorvol Slagsvol, is a native son of Eau Claire and was born February 13, 1882. He has spent his entire life in this city, receiving his education in the public schools. He embarked iu the mercantile business iu early life, and for thirteen years has been connected with the Samuelson store, one of the finest and up-to-date dry goods stores in northwestern Wisconsin, of which he is now vice-president and treasurer.

Mr. Slagsvol married Miss Margaret Kelley, daughter of Capt. John Kelley, of Eau Claire, in 1908. He is prominent iu business as well as in social circles and is a member of tlie Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Thorvol Slagsvol is oue of the wideawake, popular and ]>rogressive business men of Eau Claire, where he l;as Ijeen a resident for forty-three years. A son of Norway, he was born iu Modum, Christiania Stift, October 12. 18-13, and came to Eau Claire in 1871 and for a time was employed by Knap, Stout & Co., and for twenty years following his arrival in Eau Claire he was engaged in the timber business, and in 1891 he started in the buying and selling of real estate, a business which he still continues, and at this time is an extensive dealer in western Canada lands. The success he has attained in his business ventures is the result of his straightforward, upright and manly methods and his persevering industry.

Mr. Slagsvol is a man of pleasing personality, a lover of good cheer and in sympathy with whatever tends to the normal or material betterment of his fellows. He is a member of the Grace Lutheran church and an extensive owner of business and residence property in Eau Claire. He was united in marriage with Merritt Thompson, of Eau Claire, by whom he has six children, named, respectively, John, Thomas, Oscar, Marvin, Anna and Severre.

Earl V. Slawson, deceased, was a native son of Wisconsin and born in Janesville. the son of George R. Slawson, a representative and highly respected citizen of that place. He spent his youth in Janesville, receiving his education in the public schools; he later went to Minnesota, locating at West Red Wing, where he engaged in the grocery business. In 1890 he came to Eau Claire, Wis., and resided here until his death, which occurred October 9, 1901. He was a public-spirited man, of .sound judgment and clear foresight, and was always ready to do his part in furthering any project looking to the betterment of his city and community. He confined himself to legitimate business transactions, avoiding speculation, and his success was due to sound business principles and steady application. Soon after his arrival here he entered the employ of the Mill Supply Company as bookkeeper, remaining with this firm for several years, and then became associated in a like capacity with the Phoenix Manufacturing Company. It was while in the employ of the last named company that ]Mr. Slawson, associated with other employees of the firm, organized the Phoenix Furniture Company. They purchased the woodworking business of the old company and secured the plant of the old National Electric Companj^ which they used for a factory. Mr. Slawson became manager of the new concern and it was then that he displayed his wonderful executive ability, and under his management the business was made a success from the start, adding an important factor to the industrial enterprises of the city. During the two years that ]\Ir. Slawson was at the head of this institution he placed it on a solid footing and was constantly enlarging the forces, and his untimely death was a severe blow not only to his own enterprises but to the people of Eau Claire generally, and was mourned by the entire community as well as by his family.

He was married in Bay City, Pierce county. Wis., to ]Miss Margaret E. Goggins, of Diamond Bluff. To this union two children were born, viz: Paul E., who resides in the state of AVashington, and IMargaret P., who is noM* attending the State University at Madison. ]\Ir. Slawson was prominent in fraternal and social circles: was a member of the Baptist church, and also of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Mrs. Slawson has been for many years an active member of the Woman's Club of Eau Claire, and for two years has been matron of the Eai; Claire Children's Home, and is now (1914) wortliy matron of the Eastern Star, Eau Claire Chapter. No. 126.

Absalom Smith, who for more than two score years has been prominent among' the successful lumbermen of the Northwest, was born February 10, 1854, and while his birthplace is given as Lincoln, Sunbury Parish, N. B., he was really born in the state of Maine, while his mother was there on a visit. His grandfather, Jeremiah Smith, was a native of England and a captain in the British army, and after his removal to New Brunswick at about the age of 30 he also served as captain in the army there, and later successfully carried on an extensive lumber business, and died at the age of 80 years. His son, Jeremiah Smith, father of our subject, was born in New Brunswick, February 19, 1823, and also served as captain in the army stationed there, and was a successful lumberman. He married July 29, 1843, Elizabeth Poss, who was born in Sunbury county, July 29, 1815, and died July 29, 1890. She was of German descent, and the name "Foss" was originally spelled "Fofs. " She had a brother named Leonard, a bachelor, who lived in Cape Town, South Africa, and was many times a millionaire, but he and his wealth have both disappeared. They were the parents of six children, viz. : Orin (whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work) was born April 26, 1845; Leonard, born September 18, 1846; David, born April 26, 1850; Louisa, bor;i November 3, 1852, married Thomas E. Till; Absalom, our subject, and Emeline, who was born September 6, 1855, married George Armstrong, of New Brunswick, and had one son, Moses, who now resides in New Brunswick. She died August 1, 1876.

Absalom Smith attended the common schools of New Brunswick until he was thirteen years of age, and from that time on he worked on his father's farm and in the lumber woods until 1872. In October of that year, accompanied by his brother, he came to Eau Claire county and for one year was engaged at lumbering with J. S. Goodrich. For the next six years he was in the employ of the Eau Claire Lumber Company and was at one time foreman of the Valley Lumber Company. In 1879 he engaged in lumbering on his own account on the Chippewa river, employing at that time fifty men, but his business has increased to such an extent that he now employs 400 men. His seat of operations is now in St. Louis county, Minnesota, where he uses the most modern and up-to-date appliances in his himber and logging operations. In addition to his many thousand acres of timber land he owns a fine farm in Union township of 240 acres, which is carried on under the supervision of his wife, while he

On March 25, 1877, Mr. Smith married Margaretta Mealy, who was born April 22, 1857, daugKter of John and Mary Mealy, of New Brunswick. Mrs. Smith died on March 26, 1891, leaving besides her husband two sons, Charles M., born February 23, 1878, and Claude V., born August 12, 1885, both of whom reside at Fairbanks, Minn., where they are extensively en^atied in the lumber business.

On May 29, 1892, Mr. Smith took for his second wife IMatilda Israel, who was born August 19, 1870, daughter of Israel, now aged 74 years, and Martha (Nelson) Isrealson, now aged 54 years. Her father is a member of one of Eau Claire's pioneer families.

John Smith, son of the first Jeremiah Smith, went to California in 1849 during the gold excitement and while there succeeded in accumulating a fortune. He later went to xVustralia and from there moved to Alberta, B. C, wliere lie liad a family and made his home.

Fraternally Absalom Smith is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen and the Masons, and religiously is a member of the Baptist church. While he adheres to the principles of the Republican part.y, he has never aspired to political fame, but is always ready to sanction any movement on foot tending toward the betterment of his community and the county at large. He is rated as one of our most successful and public-spirited citizens, and a man well worthy of prominent mention in tlie history of Eau Claire county.

Arthur Myron Smith,* of Union township, Eau Claire county, belongs to that younger class of progressive farmers of his section. His father, Leonard Smith, was born in Lincoln, Sunbury Parish, New Brunswick, September 18, 1846. He married Emma Jennie Montieth, who was born February 2, 1856, and they had two children: Edith May, born December 24, 1878, married Alexander Graham, an engineer, and Arthur M., the sub.ject of this sketch. The parents came to Eau Claire county in 1872, where the father found employment in the lumber camps. During the winters for many years, his time was spent in the woods at logging, and at one time he owned nearly 100 head of horses, which he employed in his lumbering operations. In 1878 he purchased a large farm in Union township which he successfully carried on until his death. He was thrifty and progressive, and everything he undertook was done in a systematic manner and he took great pride in making his farm a model eooutry home, and every acre of his laud was under a good state of cultivation. His wife, mother of our subject, whose death occurred February 27, 1908, -was a woman of charming personality, was held in higli esteem by all who knew her.

Captain Jeremiah Smith, grandfather of our subject, was born in New Brunswick, ^February 19, 1823; he also followed lumbering and served as captain in the British army. He married Elizabeth Foss, who was born July 24, 1815, and moved to Eau Claire county after the death of her husband, and made her home in Union township with her son, where she died at the age of 80 years.

Captain Jeremiah Smith, great grandfather of Arthur, was born in England, served as captain in the British army both in England and New Brunswick, whither he came when he was thirty years of age, and followed lumbering and farming during his lifetime.

Arthur ]\I. Smith was born on the farm in Union township, December 30, 1892. He attended the common schools until he reached the age of 16 and was then employed at farming by his father and others until 1913. In 1910 he purchased from the estate of his father a farm of 140 acres and in April, 1914. started at farming on his own account and had in crops this year the whole 140 acres. His land is in a good state of cultivation and improved with iip-to-date buildings. He is energetic and uses many modei'n labor-saving devices in his farming operations. In addition to his general farming he is engaged in market gardening, finding a ready market for his produce in the city of Eau Claire.

'Slv. Smith was married in April. 1914, to jMiss Emily Ellen Lymburner, daughter of Millard and Bertha A. Lymburner, of Union township. He is a Republican in politics, while fraternally is a member of the IModern Woodmen of America.

Eli Arthur Smith, who ranks among the prosperous farmers of Washington township, is the son of the late William E. and Priscilla (Crandall) Smith, and was born in Pepin county, Wisconsin, October 27, 1870.

William Eli Smith, father of Eli A., was born in Trumbull county, 0., July 17, 1844. His father, William Smith, was bom in Herkimer county, New York, February 25, 1812, and married February 25, 1834, Cornelia Gilbert, who was born at Fairfield, Conn., November 25, 1814. In 1849 the family moved to AVisconsin and settled at Hanchettsville, Dane county, where they livod until 1853, thence moved to Oxford, Marquette county. In the summer of 1859 William E. Smith came to Eau Claire and when the civil war broke out he enlisted in Company G, Fortyeighth Wisconsin Infantry, and served with distinction until his discharge on New Year's Day, 1865. He then returned to his home in Eau Claire, where he remained until 1867, at which time he purchased an 80-acre farm in Albany. Pepin county, and there followed farming until 1874, when he sold his farm and returned to Eau Claire county and bought another SO-acre tract in section 8, Washington township, to which he subsequently added until he owned 327 acres and where he lived until his death. January 24, 1894, his remains being laid to rest in Forest Hill Cemetery. Eau Claire.

In 1867 he married Priscilla Crandall, daughter of Gardiner and Bridget (Crandall) Crandall, natives of New York State. They were the parents of six children, viz. : Ella, who died when young ; Carrie C. married Ira Schwartz and resides in Eau Claire ; Eli A., the subject of this sketch; Anna M. was married first to Stephan Springate and second to P. Thomson and resides in Chicago. 111. ; Charles H., who lives at Barton, N. D., engaged in the coal and wood business, and Edith, who died while young. T'.ie mother of these children died April 12, 1876. and on December 30 of the same year Jlr. Smith married Louisa Riley, daughter of William O. and Catherine (Van Horn) Riley, who now resides in Eau Claire.

Eli A. was raised on the farm, receiving his education in the district schools of Washington township and the city of Eau Claire. He worked for his father on the farm and then for a time was employed by the Arbana Rolling Stock Company at Decatur, Ala., after which he purchased a team and for nine winters engaged in teaming for various lumber companies. He then for two seasons ran a threshing machine, and in 1898 purchased the old Fleming farm of 160 acres in Washington township and since that time has carried on general fanning and stock raising, making a specialty of Percheron horses. Polled Durham cattle and Poland-China hogs. In addition to his general farming operations he does quite an extensive dairy business.

Mr. Smith has always taken an active interest in tlie affairs of his town and for sixteen years was school treasurer and six years treasurer of the town and three years as road commissioner. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Yeomen and the Percheron Society of America. In 1899 he married Dora May Frank, daughter of Nicholas and Dellah (Blair)

Frank, both old settlers of northern "Wisconsin. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born six children: Howard E., Frank E., Mabel Isabel, Floyd Norman, Ruth Marie and William Wallace Smith.

Fred Smith, farmer and stock raiser of Bridge Creek, Ean Claire county, was born at Neukalen, Germany, January 9, 1851, the son of Frederick and Augusta (Busch) Smith. His ancestors were all natives of Germany and for the most part farmers. He had one uncle who tilled the office of public weigher in his native town, receiving a salary of twenty cents per day. He was also secretary of one of the home banks. In 1852 the father wishing to better his condition financially, came to America on a prospecting tour. Arriving in this country, he made his way to Watertown, Wis., where he found employment. At the end of tAVO years, having saved his earnings, he returned to Germany for his family. Upon his second arrival to the United States, he located on a farm in Eau Claire county where he died at the age of 67 years, and the mother was 59 at the time of her death. In their immediate family were seven children, of whom Fred is the eldest. Of the others Laura is the wdfe of F. J. Hill, and resides at Beach, North Dakota; Amelia is now Mrs. C. A. Rick, of Augusta, Wis. ; Matilda is now Mrs. Otto Wirth, also of Augusta ; May married Samuel Horrel, from whom she was divorced and is noAv the wife of George Hilts, of Augusta ; Anson is also a farmer near Augusta, and Frank, who is at present, 1914, in Canada.

Fred received a limited education in the common schools and grew to manhood on the farm. In 1859 he moved to his present location in Bridge Creek where he owns 200 acres of highly cultivated and well improved land. In 1876 he went to Minnesota where he lived for twenty years. He returned to Eau Claire county in October, 1895, and resumed his residence in Bridge Creek, where he is now considered one of the prosperoiis and Avell to do citizens. In addition to his home farm of 200 acres, he OAvns 80 acres in Minnesota Avhicli is being operated by his son, Howard.

JTr. Smith married in 1879 Miss Augusta, daughter of August and Eliza (Matthews) Sherman, and they are the parents of three children, viz.: Harry E. resides in Minneapolis; Howard L. lives at Waltham, ]\Iinnesota, and Grace L. resides at home. Mrs. Sherman, mother of Mrs. Smith, was born in Canada, October 9, 1829, the daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Hall) Matthews, and is the only surviving member of a family of eleven children. She was married in 1842 and raised a family of Avhom Mrs. Smith and one son survive. She makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Smith, and is a charming lady of 85 years, loved and respected by all who know her.

Mr. Smith, who has practically been a resident of this county since 1859, has seen many changes take place, and has had a hand in making many of the improvements in his township. He is public spirited and enjoys the friendship of a wide circle of acquaintances. He is prominently connected with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, is a regular attendant of the TTniversalist church and is independent in politics.

John Henry Smith, one of the pioneers of western Wisconsin, who is now I'etired and resides in Fairchild, Eau Claire county, was bom near Columbus, Bartholomew county, Indiana, September 11, 1832, the son of Adam C. and Cj'nthia Ann Smith, natives of Scotland and pioneer settlers of Bartholomew county where they lived until 1835. They then moved to Illinois, locating on the East side of the Illinois river ten miles above Peoria, and tliere purchased 80 acres of land which they improved and lu-ought to a good state of cultivation and there made their home until 1854, when they sold out and moved to Vernon county, "Wisconsin, and homesteaded a quarter section of land. Here they set to work to clear and subdue the land and establish the family home where the father died in 1880. Of five children born to Mr. and ]\Irs. Smith, four grew to maturity: John IT., William T., Annie E., who first married Daniel Smalley and taking for her second husband George Norris, both of whom were veterans of the Civil War, and James M.

John Henry grew to manhood in Illinois, receiving his education in the common schools of that state .and the graded schools of Kokomo, Ind. He came to Vernon county with his parents in 1854 and on July 21, 1863, located on Scott's Creek, Jackson county, within half a mile of what is noM"- the village of Fairchild. There he purchased a farm of 80 acres, 40 of which he improved and there resided for five years when he disposed of his place and re-purc!iased 40 acres, one and a quarter miles east, of which he improved 20 acres and here made his home until 1C06, when he retired and moved to the village of Fairchild, where he has since resided. A man fond of out-door life and adventure, a large part of Mr. Smith's early life, after he became seventeen years of age, was spent in hunting and trapping in Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin.

to them four children were born, Mary J;, who married James Sires, is deceased; Sarah A., married Freeland Engalls; Ella and Lena A., wife of Thomas Wilson. ]\Ir. Smith was a soldier in the Civil "War, having enlisted July 31, 1862, in Company B. 20th Regiment, "Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and took part in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., where he was wounded, lie was also in several skirmishes in all of which he received three gun shot wounds, and on account of disability, was honorably discharged at Springfield, ilo., June 15, 1863, and has since made his home in Jackson and Eau Claire counties. Mr. Smith is the inventor of a patent potato machine which peels and washes the tubers ready for use. He is also an inventor of a patent barrel hoop which does away with rivets. Mr. Smith is now 82 years old, but his eyesight is perfect, and he can shoot with a rifle as accurately as in early life.

Orin Smith,* a representative and progressive farmer of Union township, was born in Lincoln, Sunbury Parish, New Brunswick, April 26, 184:5, and is the eldest of a family of six children born to Captain Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Foss) Smith. Of the others, Leonard, born September 18, 1816, is deceased; David, born April 25, 1850, resides with our subject ; Louisa, born November 3. 1852, married Thomas Till, Avhose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; Absalom, born February 10. 1854, and Emetine, born September 6, 1855. The father, who was born and raised in New Brunswick, was a well known lumberman, having been engaged in that business for many years. He lived to see many miles of timber land cleared and converted into fine farms. The latter part of his life was spent in farming. He died and was buri(>d at Lincoln, New Brunswick. After the death of her husband, the widow, mother of our subject, moved to Eau Claire county and made her home with her sons in Union township, where she died at the age of nearly 80 years, and her remains were laid to rest in Lake View Cemetery.

Jeremiah Smith, grandfather of Orin, was born near Faruiiugham, England, and after serving as Captain in the British army, came to North America when about thirty years of age, locating in New Brunswick, where he also served as captain in the army located there. He was a pioneer of that country, which at the time of his locating there, was but a wilderness. He cleared the land and followed farming as well as lumbering, and was instrumental in having Great Britain make many colonizing settlements, and at the time of his death, he was considered one of the leading citizens of that section. Captain Jeremiah Smith, fatl'er of Orin, was born in Lincoln, N. B., February 19, 1823. He served as captain in the British army then located there, and married Elizabeth Foss, who was born July 24, 1815.

Orin Smith, the subject of this sketch, was ediu^ated in tlie common schools of his home town and lived at home with his parents, engaged in farming and lumbering until 1872, when he came to Wisconsin, locating at Eau Claire. Soon after his arrival here, he entered the employ of the Eau Claire Lumber Company, remaining with that firm six years. He spent eleven winters in the employ of the Valley Lumber Company, and since 1882 he has followed farming in Union township, devoting the winter months to lumbering up until 1898, since which time, his whole attention has been given up to farming and dair.ving. His fine farm of 220 acres is well improved with modern buildings, and the place is well equipped with many up-to-date labor-saving devices, and although he is now, 1914, 69 years old, he is active and can do a day's work with the best of men. He keeps a good herd of milch cows in his dairy, and the cream is sold to the Eau Claire Creamery Company.

Ml-. Smith has been twice married ; his first wife. Elizabeth Grass, whom he married in New Brunswick, died in the town of Union in 1892 and was buried in Lake View Cemetery in Eau Claire. He married for his second ^A-ife, Barbara Alma Smith, daughter of George Smith, of LTnion township, but of no relation. Mr. Smith is one of the prosperous men of his town and takes pride in making his one of the model homes in the count.y. He is a stockholder and director in the Union Threshing Machine Company of the town of Union, while in polities he is an independent Democrat.

S, E. Smith,* whose death occurred in Eau Claire on April 7, 1907, was deeply mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, was one of the city's enterprising and public-spirited men. Mrs. Smith, a charming lady of culture, opened a dressmaking establishment in 1889, and by her good business qualifications, honorable and upright dealing, has built up a good and substantial bvisiness, and at this time. 1914, is one of Eau Claire's most fashionable ladies' tailors, conducting her business at the same location in which she started some twenty-five years ago. In religious circles she is prominently identified with the Catholic church, while Mr. Smith, in his life time, was a Congregationalist.

Mrs. Smith is a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Parquette) Charland. Her father, for some years, was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Wasliington township, but later moved to

Seattle, Wash., where he now resides. They were married at Montreal, Canada, and reared a family of eight children, viz. : John, Ephriam, Mary, Eli, Frederick, Mildred E., Elizabetli and Heniy.

John M. Sorlie, senior member of the firm of Sorlie-Biichholz Company, clothiers and gents' furnishings, Eau Claire, was born in Fredrikstad, Norway, October 3, 1861, son of Sever A. aad Oleane Sorlie. He was reared in his native city, a place of twenty thousand population, graduated from the high school in 1877 and received a diploma from the agricultural school in 1879. He came to the United States in 1880 and located in Eau Claire on April 16, of that year, where he has since resided. After his arrival here, he worked several years at lumbering, spending the winters in tlie woods and the summers in the mills of Eau Claire for various lumber companies. On October 3, 1887, he entered the clothing house of H. J. A. Scliafer, of Eau Claire, as clerk, and followed that occupation until 19C0, when he was elected clerk of Eau Claire county, and served two consecutive terms. On January 7, 1904. he embarked in the grocery business as a member of the firm of Sorlie & Buchholz, in which he was engaged until March 9, 1905, when the Sorlie-Buchholz Company was incorporated. The company deals exclusively in clothing and gents' furnishings, and is one of the leading and largest establ!«liments of its kind in Eau Claire.

On June 11, 1887, Mr. Sorlie was married to Hannah, daugliter of Anton and Marie Hanson of his native city, who came to Eau Claire in 1882. To this union two children were born, Martha, deceased and Mahala Otelie. In religious belief Mr. Sorlie is a Lutheran, but is an attendant and supporter of the United Conference Church, of Eau Claire. He is a member of the "W. A. W. of A., and the I. S. W. A. In 1912, under the new commission form of government, he was elected as councilman of Eau Claire by special election to fill an unexpired term to April 21, 1914. This office he filled with credit to himself and the citizens generally. Politically he is a Republican.

Joseph Barton Spaulding was born on the fariii in tlit* town of Koshkonong, Jctfcrsoji county, Wisconsin, September' 18, 186S, of New England ancestry, the family dating back to early colonial days. His grandfather served in the war of 1812. Lyman Spaulding and Olive Mellieia (Beach) Spaulding, parents of J. B., were both born in Madison county, New York. Tlie father settled in Jefferson county in the early forties and followed farming all his life. He enlisted in Company H, 49th Wisconsin infantry during the Civil War. He moved to Nebraska in 1880 and took up a homestead, M'here he died at the age of 56 years. The mother died April 17, 1896. They had a family of six children, as follows : John, county superintendent of schools at Alexander, Neb. ; Medora, married Irving Spitzer and resides at Fort Atkinson ; Ira Ulyssis, killed in a storm in eastern Colorado; Margaret, married Lee Hake, of the state of Washington; Martha, died at the age of three years, and Joseph B.

Kaised on the farm, Joseph received his education in the common schools and the high school of Port Atkinson. He learned the printers' trade in the office of the W. D. Hoard Company at Fort Atkinson, publishers of "Hoard's Dairyman," remaining with that firm ten years, afterwards superintendent of the Westcm Advent Publishing Association, Mendota, 111., for three years. In 1903 lie purchased a 200-acre farm near Augusta and carried on general farming and dairying until 1909, when he sold his farm and returned to the printer's trade, taking a position with the "Daily Telegram," and still remains with that paper. He was a charter member of the Diamond Valley Society of Equity, of whicli he was at one time purchasing agent. He is a charter member of Eau Claire Typographical Union, No. 5r)8, and a mem- ))er of the United Order of Foresters. He enlisted as a musician in Company B, 1st regiment, Wisconsin National Guards in 1890 and served eight years as bugler. In 1909 he re-enlisted in Company E, 3d regiment as a private, and has risen to the rank of corporal. During the Spanish-American war in 1898 he was mustered into the service of the United States at Camp Harvey and served seven months in the 7th army corps.

Mr. Spaulding married Anna Margaret ChrLstianson, daughter of Peter and Elsie (Peterson) Christianson, of Grant, Mich., and to them seven children have been born : Dorotiiy Viola, died in 1913; Anna Margaret; Joseph Berton; Jonathan ^Michael ; Elsie ; Ernest Edward, and Clara June Spaulding.

Guy Speirs, president of the Wisconsin Creamery Owners" and Managers' Association, and prominently identified with the successful business men of Eau Claire, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, April 16, 1862, the son of Gavin, of Strabungo, and EUerslie, Elizabeth (Stuart) Speirs, of Argyleshire, Scotland. The father was a prominent lumberman and manufacturer of packiug boxes, wliile the mother was one of the old-time Stuarts. The men on both his father's and mother's side had a leaning

In February, 1873, Mr. Spiers lauded in New York and remained in and about New York City until he came west to Eau Claire county in 1876. He first settled near Augusta, where he was engaged in farming for several years. He then moved to the town of Washington and there divided his time between farming and lumbering, and for some years was a confidential and trusted employe of the Anderson Brothers, John and William, who were extensively engaged in logging. During this period, Mr. Speirs, not only familiarized himself with the logging business, but developed a model farm in the township and during his residence there, he served several years as a member of the county board of supervisors, and in 1901 was appointed by the circuit court a member of the Clark county tax commission. In 1904 Mr. Speirs moved to the city of Eau Claire and engaged in the implement business, and shortly thereafter became interested in the creamery. He soon disposed of his other interests and devoted his entire time to building up the business of what is now known as The Eau Claire Creamery Company, of which he is president. In addition to Eau Claire, this company has branch creameries at Chippewa Falls, Greenwood, Cadott and Cameron, New Auburn and Bruce, and besides making butter, they manufacture cheese and ice cream. Mr. Speirs has also been treasurer of the Wisconsin Buttermakers' Association and is a director fur the state of Wisconsin in the National Dairy Association

In 1886 Ml-. Speirs married Lodema M. Smith, of Augusta, who died in the late '90 's, and on September 18, 1901, he married a second time and chose as his wife Laura Hobbs, daughter of Hobbs, one of the pioneer settlers of this county. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Speirs: Richard, Donald, Jennie and Doris. Fraternally Mr. Speirs is a member of the Masonic Order, while he is a Republican in politics. In addition to his many business enterprises which consume much of his time and attention, he finds great pleasure in working among his flowers and beautifying his home.

Clarence George Spragne, is another one of the well known farmers and dairymen of Brunswick township, and is the son of George Asa and Alma Ann (Amidon) Spragae. His father, George Asa Spragne, was born at Bordino, Oneida county, New York, September 11, 1824, and during his younger days was for many years engaged in railroad contracting and building, and lie superintended the construction of many miles of railroad, both in New York and Indiana. He came to Eau Claire, Wis., in 1854, and it was he who built the first ferry over the Chippewa river, in about 1856. He at one time owned and operated for a number of years a black.smith shop, and also conducted a livery stable for two years. In 1875 he purchased a farm of 120 acres in Brunswick township, and from that time on until his death, ^\'hich occurred on December 1, 1904, carried on general farminsr. He was twice married, first to Lydia Rich, to whom one 'child was born and died in infancy. He took for his second wife Alma Ann Amidou, who was born at IMarshfield, Vt., November 6, 1841, the daughter of William Harrison and Louisa (Mann) Amidou. They had three children, viz.: Benjamin Clayton, born May 2G, 1861, died September 28, 1867; Clarence G., the .sub.iect of tliis sketch and Mary Alma, liorn June 3, 1873, married C. P. IMoses and resides in Eau Claire ^Irs. Sprague, the mother, still survives and makes her hoiiic witli Mi-s. Closes.

Clarence G. was born on the old homestead in Brunswick township, June 21, 1868, where he now resides, 120 acres of well improved land and carries on general farming and dairying. Reared on the farm, his boyhood days were spent about the same as that of most country boys, attending the common school and assisting with the farm work, and lumbering and logging. For two years he worked at lumbering on the famous Beef Slew. In 1900 he took charge of and operated the home farm of 120 acres until the death of his father, and since 1904 he has conducted the same farm on his own accoiuit. wliere lie now resides. In addition to his general farming he does an extensive dairy business, shipping his cream to the Rock Falls Creamery, and besides, Ke is an extensive breeder pf Guernsey cattle and Pereheron horses.

Mr. Sprague is a progressive and public spirited man and has held many offices in the town and county. lie is now iiresident of the board of trustees of the count.v insane as.vlum and ])oor farm, and also the tuberculosis sanitarium at Mt. Washincrton. He has been chairman of the Brunswick town board, served as assessor three years, was school treasurer one year, school clerk for many years and a member of the county board for several years. In fraternal matters Mr. Sprague is a member of the Modern AVoodmen of America, the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, being a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter Council and Commandery.

H. E. Steinbring,* the popular postmaster of Fall Creek. Eau Claire county, was born at Menomonie, Dunn county, March 26, 1891, and is a son of Gottlieb Steinbring. He was reared in his home county, receiving his primarj^ education in the common schools, which was supplemented with a course of study at the Northwestern University at Watertown, and at the Dr. Martin Luther College, of New Ulm, Minn. He came to Fall Creek in 1908, and was variously employed as bookkeeper and clerk in the stores of the village, and while thi;s employed, showed such superior abilitj^ that he easily formed a wide acquaintance among the business men and citizens generallj'. He was appointed postmaster of the village, a position he has since filled with honor to himself and credit to his constituents.

Joseph A. Stilp, secretary and treasurer of the Dells Paper & Pulp Company, oue of the largest industrial concerns in Eau Claire, is one of the public spirited and substantial citizens of the city, who has attained to success by patient and persistent efforts in the line of an honest calling, and who holds the confidence and esteem of his acquaintances by reason of the honorable, upright and manly character of his dealings. He was born in Neenah, Winnebago county, Wisconsin, April 23, 1870, the son of John Stilp, who was born in Prussia, where he learned the trade of shoemaker. When a young man, he came to the United States and for a time followed shoemaking at Milwaukee. He later moved to Neenah. continuing at his trade there, which he followed until his death in 1899, at the age of 82 years, and became well and favorably known as one of the best boot and shoe makers in AA^innebago county. He married Josephine Birling, who died in 1905, aged 74 years, and was laid to rest beside her husband in the cemetery at Neenah. They were both prominent members of the Catholic church, and the parents of six children, as follows: Mary C, married Thomas Cavenaugh : John is a merchant at Neenah ; Margaret, who died in 1911, married F. J. Sensubrenner, of Neenah ; Josephine is the wife of W. H. Pieweger, of Oshkosh; Joseph A., the subject of this sketch. and Stephen R., who is engaged in the paper business at Kimberly, AVis.

by trade, came from Prussia to America in about 1840. After his arrival in this country, he came west to Milwaukee, and there made his home, engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes. He reared an interesting family of children, amoiig whom may be mentioned, Jacob, Llatthew, John and Barbara.

Joseph A. was raised in Neenah, receiving his education in the parochial schools of that place, finishing with a commercial course at Piouona College, at St. Francis, Wis. After finishing this course, he secured employment with SIcGregor Brothers Lumber Company, at Menasha, AVis., as bookkeeper. Later severing his connection with this firm, he entered the postofSee at Neenah and Menasha as postal clerk. He afterwards became associated with the J. R. Davis Lumber Company, at Phillips, Wis., and his next employment was with tlie Spokane Hardware Company, of Spokane, Wash., remaining there three years. He then purchased a half interest in the company of King & Smith, in Spokane, the firm name changing at that time to King, Stilp & Company, manufacturers of sash, doors and blinds. After being engaged in this business for several years, he returned to Neenah and spent one year with the Kimberly & Clark Company, manufacturers of paper. In 19C0 he came to Eau Claire and became associated with the Dells Paper & Pulp Company, as bookkeeper, later assuming the position of cashier. He later acquired an interest in the concern, of which he is now secretary.

Mr. Stilp is a thorough business man, well versed in all branches of paper making. He is a man of generous impulses, social and domestic in his tastes and habits, a lover of good fellowship and alive to all that is best in life. He has been connected with various organizations, and is a member of the Kniglits of Columbus, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the St. Patrick's Church. In April. 1891, he married Miss Nina B. Snyder, daughter of John R. and Elizabeth (Cleveland) Snyder, of Spokane. Wash. Mr. and Mrs. Stilp are the parents of two children : John Henry, who fills a position in the sulfite department of the paper mill, and Arthur Roland Stilp.

Hans S. Strandness, vice president of the Union Savings Bank, of Eau Claire, was born in Kenyon, Minn., July 28, 1882. His father, Jacob 0. Strandness, was born in Norway, and while yet a young man, emigrated to the United States. Soon after his arrival in this country, he came west to Goodhue county. Minnesota, via prairie schooner and located at Kenyon, that state, where for many years he was engaged in the mercantile business. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and at the time of his death, in 1887, was one of the substantial and influential men of his town. He was married to Anna Westermo, a native of Wisconsin, who after the death of Mr. Strandness, married Nelson Nordby, and resides at Kenyon, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Strandness were the parents of seven children, viz. : Inga, who married L;irs Helverson, a farmer of Hettinger, N. D. ; Matilda, married A. Pinsterm, an attorney in Kenyon, Minn. ; Christian, is a farmer at Bowman, N. D. ; Hannah, married G. A. Flom, a banker of Kenyon ; Jacob, is engaged in the butcher business in Minneapolis; Hans S., the sub.iect of this sketch, and one child who died in infancy.

Hans S. spent his boyhood in Kenyon and was educated in the common and high schools. After his graduation from tlie latter, .he spent one year as clerk at Kenyon, Minn., and three years as bookkeeper in the Bristol National Bank, and for the next eight years was in the bank at Courtney, N. D., serving three years of the time as assistant cashier. He next went to the Stutsman County Bank, purchased an interest in that institution and was one of the officials until 1914. At this time he moved to Eau Claire and connected himself with the Union Savings Bank, of which he is vice president. In 1911, associated with others, he organized the Kenyon State Bank, of which institution he is still a stockholder and director. In addition to liis banking affiliations, Mr. Strandness is secretary of tlie Union Mortgage & Loan Company, of Eau Claire.

On June 3, 1906, he married Miss Lulu A. AVolf. daughter of John C. and Julia (Brekke) Wolf, of Eau Claire, and granddaughter of the late Victor Wolf, of military fame. Besides the important positions Mr. Strandness occupies in the financial circles of Eau Claire, he is prominently connected with tlie ]Masonic Order.

August Strauch, a prominent resident of Bridge Creek township, and one of the foremost German farmers of Eau Claire county, is a native of Priissia, Germany, and was born February 18, 1852. His father, who was also born in Germany, died when August was a child, and his mother married for her second husband, John Luetke. By her first marriage there were two sons, Edward and August. To the second union one daughter, named Tena, who became the wife of August Sinskie, was born,

August attended the common schools in Prussia and came to the United States with the other members of his family. In 18G6, when August was fourteen years of age, the family came to Wisconsin and located in Green Lake county, where they re- ilr. KStraueh owns 400 acres of tine hind, highly improved hy cultivation, substantial and commodious huildinfjs, and has one of the finest country homes in the community, well indicative of the thrift and andjitiou of its owner. In addition to his general farming, he carries on stock raising and does a successful dairy business. In 1879 he was married to Miss IMinnie Burndt, daughter of Frank Burndt, a native of Germany, and they have raised a family of seven children, viz. : William married Ida Bedke, August married Emma Warmbier, Edward married Dora Zank, Tena is the wife of William Clark, Rudolph Gust married Jliss Elma Reetz and Emil. Rudolph and Eiiiil live at home and assist in operating the farm.

A Democrat in politics, Mr. Strauch has never aspired to j)0- litical fame, but is always read.y to sanction any movement on foot tending to improve his community and the county at large. He is rated as one of our best citizens and a man worthy of I'rciiiiineni nii-ntidn in the history of Eau ("laire county.

John Strasburg, a lifelong resident of Eau Claire county, is the son of Joichim and Christiana Strasburg. who were born in the Province of Pommerain. Germany, where they lived until 1858. when they emigrated to the United States. Upon their arrival in this country, they came west to Wisconsin, stopping first in Jefferson county, where they remained one year, and in 1859 came to Eau Claire county, and here spent the balance of their lives engaged in farming. They Avere among the energetic and thrifty pioneers and were held in the highest esteem by the citizens of their community. The father died at the advanced age of 84 years, and the mother at the age of 72. They reared a family of seven children, five sons and tw^o daughters, the latter are now Mrs. Louise Steinke and Mrs. Caroline Krause. The sons are August, Frederick, Herman, Henry and John.

John Strasburg was born in Eau Claire county, August 20, 1869. He was raised on the home farm, and his boyhood was spent in about the same manner as most farmer boys, attending the district schools in winter and assisting on the farm during the summer months. His whole life has been spent in this county where he is now successfully engaged in farming. He is associated Avith his brother, August, the eldest of the boys, who was born August 19. 1858. They are carrying on prosperous and extensive farming operations on a fine fai-m of 190 acres, located in sections 14 and 28, Lincoln township, four miles southwest from the village of Fall Creek. This farm, which is owned by August Strasburg, is under a high state of cultivation and well improved with a modern residence and barn, the place being well equipped with many of the latest labor-saving devices and upto-date appurtenances, which go to make a model and attractive farm home.

In 1893 Wr. John Strasburg was married to ]Miss Tillie Schacht, daughter of John Schacht, by whom he has two cliildren, Edward and Louise. Mr. and Mrs. Strasburg aiid family are devoted members of the Lutheran church.

Robert H. Stokes, who ranks among the successful business men of Eau Claire, is a native of Blenheim, Kent county, Ontario, Canada, where he was born July 16, 1870. His parents, Joseph and Mary Ellen Stokes, were born in Grantham, England, and IMorpeth, Kent county, Ontario, respectively. The father came from England to Canada in 1852, and engaged in farming, and there married.

Born on a farm, Robert H. there spent his early boyhood, attending the common schools and assisting in the farm work until he was sixteen years of age, when he worked as clerk in a grocery store, remaining thus employed for two years. He next learned the tailor's trade, which he followed but a short time, when he entered Albert College, at Belleville, Ont., where he prepared for the university. Completing his education, he came to Wisconsin in 1895 and entered the Methodist ministry. After six years of labor in his chosen profession, his health failed and at the conference held in Miller, S. D., May 1, 1901, he resigned his pastorate. He later came to Eau Claire, and on October 1, 19C5, he embarked in the undertaking and picture business, wliich occupation he has since followed with marked success.

Mr. Stokes has always taken an active interest in public affairs, and Avhile he is in no sense a politician, he has served as justice of the peace of the 7th ward of Eau Claire for four years. He has been elected and is now serving his third term as coroner of the county. Mr. Stokes is careful, conservative and methodical in his affairs, and in all his business dealings, is known for his uprightness and fairness. He is a man of fine personal qualities, social and companionable and a lover of good comradeship. On August 4, 1897, Mr. Stokes married Miss Jennie' M. Cash, of New Lisbon, "Wis., and they are the parents of three children, viz.: Robert B., E. "Wallace and "Vernon C. Stokes.

Andrew Sutherland Biography 879

Scotland, and his mother, Flora Maelnnis, of Mull, Scotland. He was married to Catherine MacViear, daughter of George and Christina MacViear, pioneer residents of Waukesha, Wis. He came to Waukesha, Wis., with his young family, in the fall of 1854, and during the winter of 1855, visited Eau Claire as a landseeker. In June, 1856, he moved from the southern part of Wisconsin in covered wagons drawn by oxen, and made a permanent settlement in the town of Union, in Eau Claire county. Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland were an active force in the social and religious life of their community. They were noted for their genial hospitality, and both friend and stranger received from them a kindly Avelcome. Through their whole life they were both ardent advocates of temperance reforms. They were two of the six constituent members of the First Baptist Church, of Eau Claire. In politics Mr. Sutherland was of the Republican party. He is survived by his aged wife, six sons, three daughters, thirty-four grandchildren, and nineteen great grandchildren.

Richard B. Swaxthout,* publisher of "The Fairchild Observer" and dealer in real estate and life insurance, of Fairchild, Wis., was born in Lee county, Illinois, December 2, 1862, to Elijah and Elizabeth (Brown) Swarthout, natives of Pennsylvania, and pioneers of Lee county, where the father purchased a farm of 160 acres, upon which he made all the improvements. He retired to Paw Paw, Lee county, in 1876, where he built a residence, and there resided until his death. He was a successful farmer, and owned besides the homestead two other farms. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Joshua Swarthout, also a native of Pennsylvania, whose father emigrated to the United States from Germany. The maternal grandfather, Solomon Brown, wfts a prominent and successful hotel keeper, of Wilkesbarre, Pa., where he was the proprietor for mauj^ years of the White Horse Tavern.

Richard B. was raised on the home farm in Lee county, Illinois, attending the common schools and assisting in the farm work. In 1876 he began his apprenticeship at the printers' trade, at Paw Paw, 111., serving three years. He then started out to see some of the world. He spent six months in Bloomington. 111., landed in Chicago in 1879, and in 1880 again went on the road. In 1884 he located at Caldwell, Kan., where he published the "Caldwell Journal" until 1891. He then returned to Chicago and was employed on the Chicago Tribune and other papers until 1905 when he went to Roekford, 111., and was there engaged in newspaper work for two years, and in 1907 came to Eau Claire county, locating at Fairchild, where he has since owned and successfully published the "Fairchild Observer." which is a wideawake and up-to-date country newspaper. He is also engaged in the real estate and insurance business.

On February 16, 1887, ue married Henrietta, daughter of John and Henrietta (Houghton) Dawson, of Caldwell, Kan., and they are the parents of two children, Elizabeth, wife of W. A. Butler, and Orville R. Mr. Swarthout is a member of the Masonic fraternity, has served as a member of the board of supervisors of Eau Claire county three years and is one of the influential Republicans of his town.

William Swift. The Swifts were one of the best known families among the earlj^ pioneers in Eau Claire county. Edward Swift, father of William, was a native of Fermana county, Ireland, and was born in 1804. He married Ann Macgomery, and soon afterwards they came to America, locating first in New York Cit}^ Later they moved to Albany, N. Y., and from there went to New Haven, Conn. Allured by stories of the great west. Mr. Swift came to Wisconsin, and after a short stay in Kenosha county went to Milwaukee county and located near Hale's Corners, in 1842. There he remained for seven years and then moved to Portage City, Columbia county, where he lived for another seven years, but finally came to Eau Claire county and settled on a farm in Brunswick township, m 1856. There he remained during the rest of his life. He died in 1873, at the age of 69.