Part VIII. Biographical Sketches
- Members of the Sixtieth Congress
United States Senators [p.
1115]
ROBERT MARION LA FOLLETTE (Rep.) was born at Primrose, Dane
county, Wisconsin, June 14th, 1855;
graduated from state university of Wisconsin January, 1879;
admitted to the bar February 1880; elected district attorney
of Dane County November, 1880; re-elected in 1882; elected a
member of the forty-ninth congress 1884; re-elected in 1886;
re-elected in 1888; defeated for re-election in 1890; elected
a district delegate to the national republican convention in
June, 1896; elected a delegate at large to the republican national
convention June, 1904; elected to the United States senate to
succeed Joseph Very Quarles January 25, 1905. Took his seat as
United States senator January 4th, 1906. His term of service
will expire March 3, 1911.
ISAAC STEPHENSON (Rep.) was born in York county, near Fredericton,
New Brunswick, June 18, 1829. His early life was spent in assisting
his father who was a farmer and lumberman. A short time was spent
at public schools but most of his education is the result of
observation and experience. At the age of fourteen years he moved
to Bangor, Me., but shortly thereafter came west, locating at
Milwaukee. After a few years spent in unsuccessful farming, he
transferred his operations to lumbering in the northern peninsula
of Michigan. His earliest work in the field was contracting for
putting in logs in the winter, while during the summer, he carried
freight to Chicago and Milwaukee by boat. When the first land
office was opened in northern Michigan in 1848, Mr. Stephenson
and his associates purchased large tracts of timber lands on
the Escanaba, Ford and Sturgeon rivers and on Big Bay de Noquet.
In 1857 he discontinued contracting logs and engaged in the manufacture
of lumber. Since that date his business operations have grown
rapidly until today he is one of the most extensive lumber manufacturers
in the United States. In addition to its manufacture, he maintains
large yards for the wholesale and retail of paper. Mr. Stephenson
is also a banker and owns a model dairy and stock farm. His business
interests are centered at Chicago, Milwaukee and at his home
city, Marinette. Politically, he has been a republican since
the organization of that party. He was a member of the assembly
in 1866 and re-elected in 1868. In 1882 he was elected to congress
and served three terms when his business affairs required his
declining a renomination. In 1880 and in 1892 he was a delegate
to the republican national convention. In 1900 was delegate at
large to the Republican National convention at Philadelphia;
honestly elected delegate at large to Chicago Convention in 1904
and was chairman of the delegation, but was counted out because
the national committee had the power to do as it pleased. In
May, 1907, Mr. Stephenson was elected to the United States senate
to serve for the unexpired term of Hon. John C. Spooner, resigned.
His term of office will expire March 4, 1909.