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D.-ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE.

[Submitted to the Society at the Forty-First annual meeting, December 14, 1893 ]

The fiscal year closing the 30th ultimo was one of marked prosperity for the Society, in most of its departments of activity. Our exhibit, and other professional interests at the World's Columbian Exposition, occupied much of the time of the corresponding secretary that would otherwise have been available for field work, so that we have little to chronicle in that direction; but unusual efforts have been made in the matter of accessions, particularly to the library, and these have been uniformly fruitful.

The Society steadily grows more useful to the public, as the years go by; and there are numerous evidences that it is growing in popular appreciation as well. It is interesting to note that during the year we have had many accessions to our ranks from among the young men of the state. This is important, as an assurance that the institution will not fail through lack of interest on the part of the generation which is gradually taking the place of the pioneers who founded the Society and have ever taken the most active part in its management. It is an assurance, if any such assurance were needed, that the State Historical Society has thoroughly implanted itself in the popular heart, and became the recognized heritage of all our citi zens, young as well as old.

DEATH OF JOSHUA J. GUPPEY.

Joshua J. Guppey, who died at his home in Portage the ninth of December, was one of our active vice presidents. Although not often in correspondence with the Society, he nevertheless took much interest in its affairs, and in the formative period of its career was a friend in need. Born at Dover, N. H., August 27, 1820, he was graduated from Dartmouth college in 1843, and three years later was admitted to the Dover bar, but at once came west, opening

his first office in Columbus. In 1849 he became probate judge of Columbia county, and in 1850-58 and 1866-81 was county judge; in 1858-61 and 1866-73 he was city superintendent of schools in Portage. In 1861, Judge Guppy was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 10th Wisconsin volunteer infantry; in 1862, he was made colonel of the 23rd regiment, and was in active service to the close of the contest, when he was breveted brigadier general "for gallant and meritorious services during the war." In 1882 he retired to private life, and from that time until his death, almost wholly devoted himself to the care of his private affairs.

DEATH OF FRANCIS PARKMAN.

In the death, at Jamaica Plains, Mass., the eighth of November last, of Dr. Francis Parkman, the Society lost one of its honorary vice-presidents, who was at the same time an earnest friend and a frequent correspondent. Born in Boston, September 16, 1823, Dr. Parkman had but recently attained his seventieth birthday. From 1842 until the happy completion of his work in 1892, he had labored with great zeal upon his historical series, France and England in North America, and achieved a literary reputation second to none in America. Parkman ranked, and will continue to rank, with the best historical writers in the English language. His theme, the struggle for the mastery of this continent, between the national giants of the eighteenth century, is not at first thought a popular one, but no one who has once read a volume of Parkman can readily stop short of the entire eleven; for to rare honesty, persistence, and clear-headedness as an investigator, he added a charming literary style which, without the faintest touch of false color or undue proportion, lends to his story all the fascination of romance. To us of the west, whose history has its roots in the French régime, Parkman must ever remain an inspiration; others may delve deeper, here and there, new sources of information may yet come to light, nevertheless Parkman laid the

broad foundation so well that it is safe to predict he will always be the chief authority for the picturesque period of French domination in the basins of the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi.

DEATH OF MAJOR MAYERS.

From the governing body of the Society we have lost an active and faithful curator, in the death of Major Charles George Mayers, of Madison, who passed from this life on the thirty first of October. Major Mayers was born in Manchester, England, the thirty-first of August, 1826, and came to Dane county in 1849, when the state of Wisconsin was in its second year. He held, in succession, the offices of state librarian, assistant superintendent of public instruction, assistant secretary of state, and city clerk and city assessor of Madison, and served in the War of Secession as a captain in the Eleventh Wisconsin volunteer infantry, being breveted major in the spring of 1865. From the earliest years of this Society he was one of its curators, and no member of the executive committee was more assiduous in attendance at meetings, or more eager to further the interests of the organization so far as lay in his power. With a genial temperament, and courtly manners, he united uncommon executive, business, and literary talents, and in the many civic bodies of which he was an active promoter, nowhere is his presence more keenly missed than in this Society.

DECEASED PIONEERS.

During the year we have noted the death of the following Wisconsin pioneers, all of whom made a more or less lasting impress upon the several communities in which they lived:'

Levi Alden, born in Claremont, N. H., July 24, 1815; died in Madison, Wis., November 23, 1893. Educated at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y. Settled in Janesville, Wis., July, 1845, and in August of the same year began the publication of the Janesville Gazette, of which he continued

1 The following obituary sketches were prepared for this report by Florence Elizabeth Baker, library assistant.-R. G. T.

as editor and proprietor for ten years; in 1856 was member of assembly; from 1858-66, clerk of Rock county circuit court; from 1867-73, printing clerk in the secretary of state's office; and from 1873–90, on the editorial staff of the Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. "Mr. Alden was a highly cultured man, a lover of good literature, and familiar with the best books," says the Madison Democrat," and he will be much missed by his many friends here and elsewhere." The notices of deceased pioneers appearing in the annual report of this committee, two years ago, were from Mr. Alden's pen.

Henry Buestrin, born in Kanim, Prussia, August 9, 1829; died in Milwaukee, February 21, 1893. Came to Milwaukee in 1839. Was a successful contractor and builder, and erected many of the largest and finest buildings in that city.

Mrs. Louisa Gagnier Cherrier, born in Prairie du Chien, Wis., in 1826; died in Prairie du Chien, February 9, 1893. Was a daughter of Rigeste Gagnier, who was murdered by Winnebago Indians, June 26, 1827. Louisa, then a child about eleven months old, was cut on the back of the head, scalped and left for dead by the Indians, but she was found and nursed back to life. Her first husband was Amable Morreaux, and her second Combe Cherrier. (See Wis. Hist. Colls., ii., pp. 160–62; v., pp. 145, 146; viii., p. 255.)

William Everett Chipman, born near Brockville, Canada, September 27, 1822; died near Burlington, Green Lake county, Wis., September 30, 1893. Came to Wisconsin in 1846. Was a state senator 1879-80. The Burlington Standard Democrat says of him: "He was prominent in matters of public interest, a true friend on whom one could always rely."

William Colladay, born in Germantown, Philadelphia, May 12, 1809; died in the town of Dunn, Dane county, Wis., September 26, 1893. Came to Wisconsin in 1844, and nine years later settled on the farm on which he died. Held various town and county offices, was member of assembly in 1856 and 1865, and of the state senate in 1871-72. Was a prominent Mason and Odd Fellow.

B. F. Cooper, born in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., September 4, 1812; died in Elba, Dodge county, Wis., May 26, 1893. Came to Wisconsin when nineteen years of age, and in 1849 settled upon the farm which was his home until his death. The Columbus Democrat speaks thus of him: "By his commendable characteristics he won for himself the honor, respect, and esteem of his fellow men."

James O. Eaton, born in Sutton, Mass., 1818; died in Lodi, Wis., February 28, 1893. Came to Lodi in 1848 and engaged in business, and "from that day to this," says the Lodi Valley News, in commenting on his death, "his has been the most prominent figure known to the inhabitants of this town or any of the neighboring towns."

Edward Elwell, born in Athens, Bradford county, Pa., August 7, 1816; died in Beaver Dam, Wis., April 27, 1893. Received his early education in his native town, and later entered the law office of his brother at Towanda, Pa. From 1847-55 practiced law at Sheboygan, Wis., and then removed to Beaver Dam. In 1857 was postmaster of Beaver Dam; in 1853 and 1867, district attorney; in 1873, county judge; for several years he served as mayor, and at the time of his death was city attorney of Beaver Dam.

August Greulich, born in Baden, Germany, August 13, 1813; died in Milwaukee, Wis., January 3, 1893. Came to Milwaukee in 1841, and spent the remainder of his life there with the exception of a few years residence in Racine. Was part owner of Der Seebote from 1851-60; from 186093 was partner in a wholesale wine and liquor firm; was a member of the assembly in 1848 and 1856, and in 1857-58 was state senator; he also held minor town and city offices.

Frederick W. Horn, born in Lienum, Brandenburg, Prussia, August 21, 1815; died in Cedarburg, Wis., January 15, 1893. Educated at the college of Graue Kloster, in Berlin, and was a lawyer by profession. Came to America in 1836; four years later to Milwaukee, and in 1847 settled in Cedarburg, Ozaukee county, Wis. In 1842, was appointed by Governor Doty justice of the peace of Washington county; was a member of the assembly in 1851, 54, 57, 59, '60, '67, '68, '71, '72 75, '82, '87, '89, and of the state senate in 1848-50, 1890-92; state commissioner of immigration, 1854– 55; county superintendent of schools, 1862-65, and for many years mayor of Cedarburg. Was editor and proprietor of the Cedarburg News, was a conspicuous democrat, and several times represented the state in the national conventions of his party. The Milwaukee Sentinel said of him: "When in his prime, Mr. Horn was one of the most distinguished in appearance of our public men, and united with good looks, ability of superior order, a cordiality of manner, and a frank and generous spirit that won the friendship of his associates without distinction of party."

Philo Romayne Hoy,born in Mansfield, Richland county, Ohio, November 3, 1816; died in Racine, Wis., December 8, 1892. At the age of twenty began the study of medicine, and in 1840 was graduated from the Ohio Medical College, of Cincinnati. Six years later he came to Racine. For four years he was fish commissioner of Wisconsin, was the naturalist of the state geological survey, and for three years the president of the Wisconsin Academy of Science, Arts and Letters. Was a member of the following societies: American Medical Association, the Entomological Association of France, a correspondent of the Philadelphia Academy of Science, and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He contributed valuable articles to the literature of his profession, and had wide reputation as a naturalist. The Racine Daily

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