hope that we shall be enabled to remove our collections thither, about two years hence,- possibly to hold our forty-sixth annual meeting within its walls.

In summarizing material gains, however, we cannot forget that the Society has, through death, sustained important losses in its official roll. Lucius Fairchild, Elisha Burdick, and Alexander H. Main were for so many years present at our councils, and conspicuously helpful in our work, that their removal must long be felt as a serious deprivation.

LUCIUS FAIRCHILD,

one of the vice presidents of the Society, was born in Franklin Mills (now Kent), Portage County, Ohio, December 27, 1831, and passed from life at Madison, Wis., May 23, 1896. He was but fifteen years of age, when, in 1846, he removed with his parents to Madison; and was a student at Carroll College, in Waukesha, when (1849) the discovery of gold in California led him, with parental consent, to join an overland caravan bound to that land of promise. Starting out from Madison in March, it was late in autumn before the expedition reached Sacramento, after a toilsome and dangerous march across the plains. Upon this notable journey, young Fairchild had his first glimpse of warfare, for, being threatened by a band of Apache Indians, the Wisconsin party boldly held the savages as hostages for the future good behavior of their fellows. After six years of experience in mining and in political life upon the gold coast, but with small advance in fortune, Fairchild returned to his Wisconsin home in 1857. At the fall election of 1858, he was elected, on the Democratic ticket, clerk of the circuit court of Dane county, and after holding office two years, was admitted to the bar in the autumn of 1860. He was first lieutenant of the Governor's Guard, the local militia company, when, in the spring of 1861, came President Lincoln's call to arms. At a meeting of the company held for consideration of the crisis, Lieutenant Fairchild was the first to offer his personal services, and the result of the meeting was that the company offered itself to Governor Randall. The tender was accepted; four days after Sumter fell, came enlistment for ninety days; three days

later, Fairchild, declining a lieutenant-colonelcy, was commissioned as captain of Co. K., First Wisconsin Regiment. After some time spent in instruction, at the Milwaukee camp, the regiment left June 9 for the seat of war, and took part, the second of July, in the skirmish at Falling Waters. The ninth of August, Fairchild was commissioned major of the Second Wisconsin; eleven days later, its lieutenant-colonel. Then ensued numerous engagements; for, in October, the regiment became part of the famous Iron Brigade, which was always selected for heavy work at the front. For distinguished services. at the second battle of Bull Run (July, 1862), he was awarded the colonelcy of his regiment, the commission dating from August 30, 1862. Colonel Fairchild's war record, from the second Bull Run to Gettysburg, is that of the Iron Brigade, than which there is none more stirring, in all the history of the war of Secession; Turner's Pass, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Heathville, Chancellorsville, followed in regular course, and in the official reports of all these engagements the name of the colonel of the Second Wisconsin was conspicuously mentioned. At Gettysburg (July, 1863), he lost his left arm; and, although loth to do so, was obliged to retire from the service, being brevetted brigadier general.

Arrived home, his fellow-citizens of Wisconsin promptly elected him secretary of state (November, 1863). In 1865, he was chosen governor, and in that capacity served the people with distinguished ability during three successive terms of two years each. In December, 1872, he was appointed United States consul at Liverpool, and became throughout England one of the best-known and most popular Americans who ever served in our diplomatic service; in 1878, he was promoted to be consul-general at Paris; and from March, 1880, until December, 1881, officiated as our minister at the court of Madrid at the latter date resigning only because of his desire to peacefully spend the rest of his days among his fellow-citizens of Wisconsin, whom he loved so well.

But great honors were not at an end for General Fairchild. His heart ever beating in warm sympathy with his comrades of the war, they in turn recognized him as one of the best and

noblest in their ranks, and insisted on choosing him to high stations in the patriotic orders which perpetuate the memories of the great struggle. From 1884 to 1886, he served as commander of the commandery of Wisconsin, Grand Army of the Republic; in 1886, he was commander-in-chief of the Grand Army, and in the course of his term visited nearly every state of the Union, fraternizing with his brethren, and helping to strengthen the organization, everywhere being received with marked consideration. In 1893, having already been at the head of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, in Wisconsin, he was chosen commander-in-chief of that body, and again did much through personal visitation to extend the ranks and work of the order.

Of civil offices at home, from 1882 until his death, he filled many; at one time, he was a member of a national board of commissioners to treat with the tribes in Indian Territory; he served long and earnestly as chairman of the board of visitors of the State University; he was president of the committee of one hundred, to inaugurate the movement for the Wisconsin semi-centennial celebration; and, near and dear to us, he was of late years a vice-president of this Society. For thirty years he had been a faithful and efficient worker in its behalf, both at home and abroad; throughout the legislative session of 1895, he labored early and late, as few men could labor, to secure for this Society a fitting and a lasting home; and when at last his efforts and those of his colleagues were successful, he was to the end an active member of the construction commission "I only wish to live long enough to see this great institution safely housed in the new building," being his parting words within our present walls, only a few weeks before his death.

At a meeting of this committee, held June 25, 1896, the following resolution was unanimously adopted by rising vote:

Resolved, That in the removal by death of General Lucius Fairchild, one of the vice-presidents of the Society, the executive committee recognize the loss of one who, for nearly forty years past, in private as well as in public life, has been among the most energetic and useful friends enlisted in the cause of this institution; his cordial manner, wise counsels and high sense of duty, have ever been an inspiration at the meetings of the committee, and his absence therefrom will long be keenly missed.

Resolved, That the secretary be instructed to communicate to the be

reaved family of our late associate the heartfelt condolence of this committee, and to spread these resolutions upon the minutes of the present meeting.

ELISHA BURDICK,

who had served since January 7, 1886, as the recording secretary of the Society, died at his home in Madison, July 18, 1896. He was born at Brookfield, Madison County, N. Y., in December, 1821. Coming to Wisconsin in 1842, he settled in Madison two years later, as clerk of the Territorial court. In 1854, he became actively interested, with the late Gen. George P. Delaplaine, in real-estate interests in and around Madison, and continued in that line of business until his death. He was for a quarter of a century a prominent and efficient member of the city school board. His connection with the Society was of long standing; and, although the especial duties of his official position were but nominal, he was almost invariably present at the meetings of the Society and the committee, and, by his high sense of fairness and long business experience, was always regarded as a valuable counsellor. He had a strong personality, a cheery manner, and was deservedly popular with his colleagues on the committee.

ALEXANDER HAMILTON MAIN,

who served from January 1, 1869, to January 6, 1887, as treasurer of the Society, and for many years as one of its curators, died in Madison, January 10, 1896. He was born in Plainfield, Otsego County, N. Y., June 22, 1824. Becoming a general store-keeper in Alleghany County, he was, in 1855, elected to the legislature of his native state. The following year, he removed to Madison, Wis., where he resided until his death, with the exception of two years spent at Sun Prairie (1860-62), where he was cashier of the local bank. In 1862, he opened an insurance agency, becoming in time general state agent of several companies, president of the Wisconsin Board of Underwriters, and in the ranks of his calling, prominent throughout the Northwest. For over a quarter of a century, he was the trusted financial manager of the Baptist church in Madison; and his eighteen years of faithful service as treasurer of this

Society won for him the esteem and gratitude of this body. Mr. Main was a man of considerable mental capacity, was implicitly trusted by the corporations of which he was the fiscal agent, and being a man of charming disposition, was among the most welcome of those who have sat in our councils.

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.1

Dr. Martin Neal Barber, born in Medina, N. Y., in March, 1820; died in Watertown, Wis., January 6, 1896. Early in life he settled at La Porte, Ind., where he studied medicine under Dr. Teagarden. During 1845-48 he practiced in Racine; then came to Watertown, where he spent the rest of his life. He was one of the best known and most successful physicians in Wisconsin.

James J. Blaisdell, born in Canaan, N. H., February 8, 1827; died in Kenosha, Wis., October 10, 1896. He studied at Dartmouth College, 1842-46; taught in Montreal one year; studied law with his father three years, and theology at Andover Seminary during 1849-52; and was pastor of the Third Presbyterian church of Cincinnati during 1852-59. He came to Wisconsin in 1859, as professor of English rhetoric and literature at Beloit College; but was, in 1865, transferred, at his own request, to the department of mental and moral philosophy, occupying this chair to the time of his death. He was active in many benevolent and church societies, and held therein many positions of honor. During the war of secession he was chaplain of the Fortieth Wisconsin Infantry. He was, at the time of his death, president of the Children's Home Society and of the Wisconsin Home Missionary Society. He was considered one of the most prominent educators in the State, in collegiate branches.

Mrs. Mary Eugenia Chapman, daugh of James and Olive (Thompson) Pease, born at Hinsdale, Mass., December 27, 1811; died in Madison, Wis., February 17, 1896. She married, June 1, 1837, Dr. Chandler B. Chapman, and they settled at Bristol, Ohio. Fifty years ago they came to Madison. They joined Christ Presbyterian church in January, 1852; and Mrs. Chapman was, for many years, its oldest living member. She lived with her only son, Gen. C. P. Chapman.

Charles A. Eldredge, born in Bridgeport, Vt., in 1820; died in Fond du Lac, Wis., October 26, 1896. He was admitted to the bar, and commenced the practice of law in 1847. He came to Wisconsin in 1848, and settled in Fond du Lac. During 1854-58 he was State senator; during 1862-74,

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