Part VIII. Biographical Sketches
- The Wisconsin Legislature
Members of the Assembly [pp.
1139-1148]
HERMAN L. KERN, Speaker; C. E. SHAFFER, Chief Clerk; W. S.
IRVINE, Sergeant-at-Arms.
The assembly consists of 100 members. They are chosen biennially
and receive $500 for their services during their term.
The speaker is chosen by the members and receives an additional
$500 for his services as speaker. The assembly of 1907 contains
76 republicans, 19 democrats, and 5 social democrats.
Adams and Marquette Counties.
One District. Population, 1900 - 19,650.
FRANK J. KIMBALL (Rep.) was born in Washington county, New
York, Nov. 25th, 1846, came to Wisconsin in
1854 where he received a common school education, lived on
a farm in Columbia county until 1872, then moved to Briggsville,
Marquette county, his present home. After leaving the farm, clerked
in a general store for one year and then went into the sewing
machine business. He was local agent for three years and general
agent for six years; went in to general merchandising in 1885
which occupation he still follows; held the office of town clerk
for five years, school district clerk for twenty and notary public
for fifteen years; was elected member of the assembly in 1902
and was re-elected in 1906, receiving 2,086 votes against 93
for E. Reynolds (Pro.).
Ashland County.
One District. Population, 1900 - 20,176.
OVE H. BERG (Rep.) was born in Schlesvig-Hostein, Germany,
Dec. 20, 1840, where he received a good common
school education. After his thirty-second year he held several
responsible positions, one of which he hfilled for nine successive
years from 1872 to 1881 when he emigrated with his family to
America and in 1883 finally settled in Ashland, Wis. Here he
conducted a meat-market and grocery store in company with his
son, M. H. Berg, who now conducts the business alone, O. H. Berg
having withdrawn in 1892. In political affairs he has always
been a staunch and active republican; has been a member of the
republican county committee for twenty-two years and a member
of the republican city committee of which he has also served
as chairman. At present he is a member of the board of education
on which he has served for two terms. He received the nomination
for member of the assembly in 1906, and at the general election
received 1,796 votes against 733 for Albert F. Fox (Dem.) and
226 votes for Jno. F. Miles (Soc. Dem.).
Brown County.
First District. The towns of Ashwaubenon, Howard, Pittsfield,
Suanico and the city of Green Bay. Population, 1900 - 23,372.
TIMOTHY BURKE (Rep.), of Green Bay, was born on a farm in
the town of Morrison, Brown county, Wisconsin; was
educated in the district schools of that town but matered
all the higher studies largely through his own efforts; taught
school for several years and during his leisure time studied
law. He entered the law department of the University of Wisconsin
in the fall of 1897 and passed the state bar examinationi in
December of that year, but attended the law school until the
summer of 1898; was member of the assembly for the second district
of Brown county, Wiscconsin, in 1895 and 1896 and was sheriff
of Brown county in 1901 and 1902; after leaving the sheriff's
office, he engaged in the practice of law and is a member of
the firm Kittell & Burke; was elected chairman of the republican
county committee in 1904 and was re-elected in 1906; was elected
to the assembly in 1906 receiving 2,023 votes against 845 for
T. J. Boyle (Dem.) and 229 votes for F. Camm (Soc. Dem.).
Brown County.
Second District. The towns of Allouez, Bellevue, Depere,
Eaton, Glenmore, Green Bay, Holland, Humboldt, Lawrence, Morrison,
New Denmark, Preble, Rockland, Scott and Wrightstown, the village
of Wrightstown, the city of De Pere, and that part of Oneida
reservation within the county of Brown. Population, 1900 - 22,987.
WALLACE S. HAGER (Rep.) was born in the town of Freedom,
Outamie county, in 1891. Received his education in
the country school and Appleton high school. Taught school
in Outagamie, Brown and Shawano counties. Was married in 1882.
Moved to Shawano county in 1884, where he cleared a farm. Was
member of county board, school clerk and town clerk for five
years. Sold his farm and moved to Maple Valley, Oconto county,
where he lived from 1894 to 1902, being engaged in logging, farming
and fruit raising. Was member of school board four years. Came
to De Pere in 1902 where he has since conducted a fruit garden.
Has served on the city council three years, all of which time
he has been a member of the committee on streets and sewers.
Has been two years member of the library board. Has always been
an active and progressive republican in politics. Was president
of the republican club in 1904, also a member of the county committee.
Was nominated at the primary without opposition and elected member
of the assembly in1906, receiving 1,201 votes against 1,102 votes
for Edw. Mulloy (Dem.).
Barron County.
One District. Population, 1900 - 23,677.
GEORGE E. SCOTT (Rep.), of Prairie Farm, was born in Durand,
Pepin county, Wis., July 3, 1860, where he received
a common school education. He is a merchant and miller. In
both 1904 and 1906 he was elected to the assembly without opposition.
Bayfield, Sawyer and Washburn Counties.
One District. Population, 1900 - 23,506.
LORENZO N. CLAUSEN (Rep.) was born in Hemnes, Helgeland,
Norway, October 5, 1855, where he received a
common school education. At the age of fifteen he emigrated
with his parents to America, coming direct to Otter Tail county,
Minn. Here he remained for nearly ten years, being engaged most
of the time in common farm work and teaching school, having meanwhile
attended the State Normal School at St. Cloud, Minn., for some
time. He then moved to Dalton, Minn., where he was appointed
postmaster in 1881, and afterward clerked in Fergus Falls, Minn.,
for about two years. He was the first mail agent between Wadina
and Fergus Falls. On account of ill health he was compelled to
resign the position in 1884, and moved to Washburn, Wisconsin,
where he resided since. In 1885 he was appointed town clerk,
holding this office by re-election for four years; has served
as justice of the peace most of the time since 1885; was secretary
of the board of education for several years, and at the present
time is a member of the board; was appointed deputy collector
at Washburn in 1886, holding this position nearly eight years.
In 1893 he was elected chairman of the town board for one term.
During the five years from 1889 to 1894 he was cashier at the
Bayfield County Bank, and in 1898 was elected county treasurer
for Bayfield county for one term. He has been chairman of the
republican county committee of Bayfield county for ten years.
He is engaged in real estate and insurance business. Was elected
to the assembly in 1904, and re-elected in 1906, receiving 2,815
votes against 624 votes for Wm. Alexander (Dem.) and 168 votes
for Emil Swanson (Soc. Dem.).
Buffalo and Pepin Counties.
One District. Population, 1900 - 24,670.
C. A. INGRAM (Rep.), of Durand, was born in the town of Waubeek,
Pepin county, March 19, 1867; attended district
school; taught school in Dunn and Pepin counties; attended
the state university; graduated from the law school in 1892;
district attorney of Pepin county from 1893 to 1897; established
the "Entering Wedge" at Durand in 1893 and interested
in its publication until January 1st, 1901; is senior member
of the firm of Ingram & Ingram, attorneys at law. Was elected
to the assembly in 1906, receiving 1,911 votes against 1,035
for Frank Pierce (Dem.).
Burnett and Polk Counties.
One District. Population, 1900 - 25,279.
J. P. PETERSON (Rep.), of Luck, Polk county, Wis., was born
in Denmark, March 21, 1859; came to Neenah, Wis. in
1867. Moved to Luck, Wis. in 1869, where he has resided since;
attended the city schools of Neenah, normal school and college.
He began teaching in the public schools in 1877 and taught several
years, was superintendent of schools of his county six years
and is an active member of the National Educational Association
and of various scientific societies. He has at various times
held the offices of justice of the peace, town clerk, chairman
of his town, postmaster and other public and semi-public positions.
He has been in the mercantile business since 1889. Nominated
of member of assembly in 1906 and elected, receiving 2,035 votes
against 1,006 votes for C. W. Staples (Soc. Dem.).
Calumet County.
One District. Population, 1900 - 17,078.
HENRY ROLLMANN (Dem.) was born in the town of Marshfield,
Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, February 9th,
1853, received a common school education in the public school
of the town, then attended the high school at Fond du Lac, for
two years, and in 1870 entered a drug store as an apprentice,
where he remained until 1873; he then went to Chilton, Calumet
county, Wis. and started a drug store, and has since resided
there; has served four years as alderman, city mayor for two
years, and a member of the county board for two years; was elected
to the assembly in 1906, receiving 1,436 votes against 1,003
votes for Daniel R. Curtin (Rep.) and 71 votes for Herman C.
Thiersen (Soc. Dem.).
Chippewa County.
First District. The towns of Edson, Delmar, Lafayette, Sigel,
Tilden and Wheaton, the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th and 10th
wards of the city of Chippewa Falls, the city of Stanley, and
the villages of Boyd and Cadott. Population, 1900 - 15,676.
THOS. A. ROYCRAFT (Rep.) was born in County Cork, Ireland,
May 26, 1853; came to this country in 1863 and
settled on a farm near Omro, Winnebago county, Wis. Moved
to Chippewa county in 1866, where he has resided ever since;
received a common school education; is a farmer, dairyman and
mechanic; has held the office of assessor for three years, chairman
of the town board for three years, and town treasurer for six;
has also been a director of the Eagle Point Insurance Company
for seventeen years. Organized the Layfayette Dairying company
in 1897, and has been the secretary of that company ever since.
He has always been a republican. He was elected to the assembly
in 1904, re-elected in 1906, receiving 1,330 votes against 993
for Louis Olson (Dem.).
Chippewa County (and Rusk).
Second District. The towns of Anson, Auburn, Arthur, Bloomer,
Big Bend, Cleveland, Colburn, Dewey, Eagle, Point, Flambeau,
Lawrence, Sampson, and Strickland, the village of Bloomer, the
first, second and seventh wards of the city of Chippewa Falls.
Population, 1900 - 17,361. (By act of legislature in 1902 the
couty of Gates--now Rusk--was formed (comprising the towns of
Atlanta, Big Bend, Dewey, Lawrence, Rusk, Strickland and Flambeau
and the part of township 33 north, range 7 west, lying south
of Chippewa river), and remains a part of the Second Assembly
district of Chippewa county.)
THEODORE M. THOMAS (Rep.), of Ladysmith, is a native of Wisconsin,
being born in Fond du Lac county,
September 11th, 1876. He is a lawyer by profession and was
a successful practitioner for five years at Beaver Dam, removing
from there to Ladysmith in July 1904. Was elected city attorney
of Ladysmith in April, 1905, re-elected in 1906. Was elected
to the assembly in 1906 receiving 1,853 votes against 749 votes
for Sewel Peterson (Dem.).
Clark County.
One District. Population, 1900 - 25,848.
F. M. JACKSON (Rep.) was born on a farm in Green county,
Wisconsin, and attended the district school until 1886
when he entered the high school at Brodhead. In 1889 he graduated
from the Brodhead high school and removed to Monroe in the same
county. In the fall of 1889 he entered the University of Wisconsin
from which he graduated in June 1893. Mr. Jackson was elected
principal of the Colby high school and held that position for
eight years, spending his spare time studying law. He quit teaching
school in 1901 and entered the law office of R. B. Salter in
Colby, Wisconsin. In the winter of 1902 he took a course of law
lectures in the Illinois College of Law at Chicago and passed
the state bar examination in April 1902. The same year he was
nominated and elected district attorney of Clark county and was
re-elected in 1904. In 1906 Mr. Jackson was nominated for member
of assembly for the Clark county district and was elected, receiving
2,494 votes against 624 for James Richmond (Dem.).
Columbia County.
First District. The towns of Arlington, Caledonia, Dekorra,
Port Washington, Lewiston, Lodi, New Port, Pacific and West Point,
the villages of Kilbourn City, Lodi and Poynette, and the city
of Portage. Population, 1900 - 15,117.
JOHN SCOTT (Rep.), of Dekorra, was born in Milwaukee June
1861; moved with his parents to Columbia county
where he received his education in the common schools; has
represented his town on the county board for eleven years serving
two years of that time as chairman of that body; is a farmer
and stock raiser; was elected to the assembly in 1904 and re-elected
in 1906, receiving 1,289 votes against 1,102 for T. McMahon (Dem.)
and 58 for H. Dunham (Soc. Dem.).
Columbia County.
Second District. The towns of Columbus, Courtland, Fountain
Prairie, Hampden, Leeds, Lowville, Marcellon, Otsego, Randolph,
Scott, Springdale, and Wyocena, the villages of Cambria, Pardeeville,
and Rio, the west ward of the village of Randolph, and the city
of Columbus. Population, 1900 - 16,004.
WILLIAM RUFUS TURNER (Rep.) of Columbus, Wis., was born in
the town of Fountain Prairie, Columbia county,
Wis., March 21, 1855. He received a common school education,
later graduating from the high school of the city of Columbus;
in 1878 entered into the marble and granite business and has
continued in the business since that time as traveling salesman.
From 1892 to 1895 he served the first ward of the city of Columbus
in the common council; was elected member of assembly in 1904,
and re-elected in 1906, receiving 1,605 votes against 532 for
Frank Hall (Dem.) and 4 for C. L. Spear (Soc. Dem.).
Crawford County.
One District. Population, 1900 - 17,286.
JEREMIAH O'NEIL (Dem.) was born on a farm in the town of
Utica, Crawford county, Wis., Jan. 13, 1866; was
educated in the common and graded schools of Mt. Sterling
and in the state normal school at Oshkosh, completing the elementary
course of the Normal School in June 1893. Taught school five
years in Crawford county and three years in Washington county,
being principal of the graded schools in Kewaskum from 1893 to
1896. Has been editor and publisher of The Kickapoo Chief at
Wauzeka since January 1st, 1899. Has held the office of president
of the village of Wauzeka two terms; was defeated for member
of the assembly in 1904, but was elected in 1906, receiving 1,567
votes against 1,325 for A. M. Laird (Rep.).
Dane County.
First District. The towns of Blooming Grove, Dunn, Madison
and Pleasant Springs, and the city of Madison. Population, 1900
- 24,458.
ELMORE T. ELVER (Dem.) was born March 4th, 1877, in the town
of Vermont, Dane county; came to Madison in
1889; was educated in the high school of his home city and
graduated from the University in 1898, and from the college of
law in 1901; he never held a public office until he was elected
member of the assembly in 1906, receiving 2,062 votes against
1,885 votes for Alfred Kroucke (Rep.) and 1,570 votes for Wm.
J. McKay (Ind.).
Dane County.
Second District. The towns of Albion, Bristol, Burke, Christiana,
Cottage Grove, Deerfield, Dunkirk, Medina, Sun Prairie, Westport,
Windsor, and York, the villages of Cambridge, Deerfield, DeForest,
Marshall, Sun Prairie and Waunakee, and the city of Stoughton.
Population, 1900 - 22,510.
OLE P. SORENSON (Rep.), of Marshall, Wisconsin, was born
in Denmark, May 24, 1848, and received a public
school education at that place; came to Wisconsin in 1866
and settled in Jefferson county where he resided until 1884 when
he came to Marshall, Dane county. Has always been engaged in
farming until 1905 when he retired from farm life; has served
six years as chairman of the board of supervisors of the town
of Medina, for three years as treasurer of the Medina high school
board; and at present time is supervisor for the village of Marshall.
Was nominated for member of assembly in 1906 and elected, receiving
2,037 votes against 204 for A. E. Roberts (Dem.).
Dane County.
Third District. The towns of Berry, Black Earth, Blue Mounds,
Cross Plains, Dane, Fitchburg, Mazomanie, Middleton, Montrose,
Oregon, Perry, Primrose, Roxbury, Rutland, Springdale, Springfield,
Vermont, Verona and Vienna, the villages of Black Earth, Dane,
Oregon, Mazomanie, Belleville, Brooklyn and Mount Horeb. Population,
1900 - 22,467.
THOMAS A. STEWART (Dem.) was born in the town of Verona,
Dane county, Wis., Mar. 2, 1849; received his
education in the common schools of his native town, North
Western Business College and the State University; is a farmer
and stock raiser; has held the office of chairman of his town
and member of the county board for 17 years; has held the offices
of director of the Verona township high school, president of
the Farmers Mutual Benefit Association, president of the Verona
Detective Association; was a delegate to the democratic state
convention in 1900, 1902, 1904; was elected member of the assembly
in 1906, receiving 1,805 votes against 1,578 for A. B. Thorsrud
(Rep.).
Dodge County.
First District. The towns of Ashippun, Clyman, Emmett, Herman,
Hubbard, Hustisford, Lebanon, Leroy, Lomira, Rubicon, Shields,
Theresa and Williamstown, the 5th and 6th wards of the city of
Watertown, the villages of Lomira and Theresa, the cities of
Horicon and Mayville. Population, 1900 - 23,636.
FRANK S. BAUER (Dem.) was born on a farm at Leroy, Wis.,
in 1856; settled at Knowles, Wis., in 1879, where he
resided twenty-three years, and where he was appointed the
first postmaster, holding the office for eight years; was station
agent and operator for seventeen years, during which time he
also ran a general store; is at present in the mercantile business
at Leroy; he is also engaged in farming; was elected member of
the assembly in 1904, and re-elected in 1906, receiving 2,552
votes against 1,327 votes for Jacob Steiner (Rep.).
Dodge County.
Second District. The towns of Calamas, Chester, Elba, Fox
Lake, Lowell, Oak Grove, Portland, Trenton and Westford, the
vilalges of Fox Lake, Lowell and Reeseville, the east ward of
the village of Randolph, the south ward of the city of Waupun,
and the cities of Juneau and Beaver Dam. Population, 1900 - 22,995.
JOHN F. HUGHES (Dem.) was born in the town of Lowell, Dodge
county, Wis., June 12, 1870; is at present publisher
of the "Reeseville Review" and the "Wisconsin
Druggist;" was elected member of the assembly in 1906 receiving
2,180 votes against 1,275 votes cast for Hayden Caniff (Rep.)
and 82 votes for Rich D. Jones (Pro.).
Door County.
One District. Population, 1900 - 17,583.
THOS. REYNOLDS (Rep.) was born in Ireland on the 17th of
March 1840; came to the United States in 1866; ran a
farm in the town of Burke, Dane county one year; came to
Door county in the winter of 1866 and '67; got out cord wood
and cedar posts for the Chicago market for eight years then commenced
farming which occupation he has followed since; has been a member
of the county board for eight years; attended the national schools
in Ireland; had to stop going to school early in his life being
obliged to help his father on the little farm in order to enable
him to pay the rent and taxes the privileged class in that country
imposed on him. He was elected to the assembly in 1906, receiving
1,303 votes against 676 for Charles Plinske (Ind.).
Douglas County.
First District. The 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th and 6th wards of the
city of Superior. Population, 1900 - 18,040.
ALBERT W. DURLEY (Rep.), of Superior, was born on a farm
near Hennepin in Putnam county, Illinois, on October
15, 1841 and was educated in the common and high schools
of that locality; later attended college at Wheaton, Ill., for
two years, and Yale College for two years. He served as Superintendent
of Schools of Putnam county from 1872 to 1875, and since then
has held no official position until now. He was admitted to the
practice of law by the Supreme court of Illinois [in] 1868 and
has ever since then been engaged in the practice of his profession.
He moved to Superior, Wis., in 1892 and has lived there since
that time. He has been a life-long republican; was nominated
for the assembly in 1906 without opposition, and was elected,
receiving 780 votes against 678 votes for J. S. Konkee (Dem.),
127 votes for Jacob Lundee (Soc. Dem.) and 69 votes for Wm. V.
Bolds (Pro.).
Douglas County.
Second District. The towns of Amnicon, Brule, Gordon, Hawthorne,
Highland, Maple, Nebagamon, Solon Springs, South Range, Summit
and Superior, the village of Nebagamon, and the 1st, 7th, 8th,
9th and 10th wards of the city of Superior. Population in 1900,
18,295.
RAY J. NYE (Rep.) was born in Davenport, Ia., March 21, 1871.
Attended the public schools at Minneapolis and
Milwaukee. Located in Superior in 1892 and is member of the
insurance firm of Jerrard, Lenroot & Nye. Was elected to
the county board representing the first ward of the city of Superior
in 1903, 1904, 1905 and 1906--the last three terms of which he
was chairman of the board. Was elected to the assembly in 1906,
receiving 1,369 votes against 194 votes for Frank H. Clark (Soc.
Dem.) and 94 votes for B. Swanland (Pro.).
Dunn County.
One District. Population, 1900 - 25,043.
D. C. COOLIDGE (Rep.) was born at St. Cloud, Wis., in 1871.
Completed academic education in 1891. Since death of
father in 1891 he has had charge of the Downing Mfg. Company's
saw mills, general store and farms. Finished logging in 1900
and organized state bank in 1901. Town chairman three years.
Chairman county board two years. Received unanimous votes as
a delegate to last National Convention. At present he is a member
of the board of trustees Dunn county insane asylum. Elected to
assembly in 1906 without opposition at primaries or general elected,
receiving 1,929 votes.
Eau Claire County.
First District. The town of Seymour, the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th,
5th, 6th, 8th, 9th and 10th wards of the city of Eau Claire,
and the city of Altoona. Population, 1900 - 15,790.
DAVID DOUGLAS (Dem.) was born at St. Andrews, Scotland, Aug.
21, 1845. Educated at the Madras College, St.
Andrews, and later in special subjects at King's College,
London, England. Has diplomas as civil engineer and chemist.
Was engaged in the construction and operation of gas and water
works in England. Came to this country in 1876 and has carried
on the same kind of business in different parts of the United
States and in Canada. Purchased an interest in the gas works
at Eau Claire in 1894, of which company he is now president.
He resided there from that date until now. Was elected mayor
of the city in 1899. Elected member of assembly in 1906, receiving
1,287 votes against 1,027 for Chas. McArthur (Rep.) and 71 votes
for Joseph Paul (Soc. Dem.).