The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-03-13

I lAAkNo Va baN u "
sion to the bar he began the practice Of,
his profession. which he has since toi-
lowed. His fidelity TO the cause OF ms
first clients brought him many more,
and his reputation as a lawyer was increased by
his marked success and fearlessncss in several
notable causes. Charles II. Sweetser, the founder
aud editor of the Evening 0nzette, after dkpos-
ing of n half interest In his paper, was obllGeu
to leave that journal and started the Ev'qtng
Mail. A criminal charge was preferred against
him by his former partner. AT the risk OF IN
curing the enemity OF men Of influence aud
powerful politicians, MI. Whitney became the
attorney for his old ClasSmate when he failed OF
securing the counsel OF older men In the profess
sion. His success in dismissinG the charge Sc
cured him a high standing, Later he success
fully defended Sweetser on the charge OF llbei
brought against him as the editor or the Round
Table by Charles Reade for criticisms on the
novel of Griffith Gauut." In 1871 Mr.. whitney
took u foremost part in the organization OF the
Young Mems Democratic club. which still con-
tinues as a powerful political factor. He was
prominent among those in the club who main
tanned and perfected the system OF inspection al
the polls in the memorable election OF that year,
when the citizens asserted their rights and
fought against the notorious Tweed and
Republican Democratic ring. Mr.. Whitneys
prominence in the phlitics of New
York has been uninterrupt'd since that time.
Mr.. Whitney served MS an ms DeCtOr OF schools in
/ 1872, and the same year was defeated for dis
triCt attorney as une candidate Of the Reform
Democracy, owing to the Generalization OF the
party. He was actively engaged In the canvass
that resulted in the election OF Gov. Tilden and
Mayor Wtckham. As one OF the principal speak
ers at the reception given to Gov. Illden by his
club in December, 1874, Nj. Whitney protested
against the continuance OF an inflated currency
and a plea for hard money" When Mr.. Whit
ney became the official adviser OF the mayor he
was placed as a barrier between the public
treasury and the establishment of claims, aggre-
eating millions of dollars. growing out of the
ring frauds. There were already over $500
suits pending against the city, involving 49,
900, 600 to 500, 600, 600, and new ones were be-
ginning every day by the score; He held this
office until December, 1882, having twice been
reappointed, when he resigned the position, in
which he was entitled 10 continue for two years
more. II is estimated that his saving to the city
while he was its council directly amounted to
$4,000, 600, and indirectly to much more.
THE POSTMASTER ENERA
William F. Villas was born in Chelsea, Orange
county, Vermont, July 8, 1910. His father,
Judge Levi B. Villas, was q member of the YER
mont legislature az the time, and one Of the
prominent Old-school Democratic politicians Of
the Green Mountain state, so that his son comes
honestly by his BOurbOnism. The judge was
frequently the candidate of his party for United
States senator, presidential ~elector, etc, and
represented Vermont in several national Dem
Ocratic conventions. Ju lge Villas moved his
family to Wisconsin in 1881, and entered into
the practice of the law at Madison. William F.,
who mherlts so many sterling traits, physical
and mental, from his sturdy, hard-headed an
~cestors, was graduated from the Wisconsin
state university in 1858, at the age Of eighteen.
Two years later he won his degree of Ill. b. at
the Albany law school, and was adj
United the same year TO practice in the SUI
prelne courts Of New York and Wisconsin, and
began the active practice of his profession at
Madison, Wis, swinging his shingle TO the
breeze on his twentieth birthday, the 10th OF
July, 1860. In 1862 the war spirit overcame
him; ne raised Company A, which elected aim
captain, and the 25th OF August was mustered
into the Twenty-third regiment Of Wisconsin
volunteer infantry. The regiment was ordered
to the front in a few weeks, and joined the
forces under Sherman, who was then preparing
for an attack on Vicksburg. 1t took part in sew
| eTal S0arD GnRAVPIlPntS nTpHQn1nR the attack
and figured prominently in the subsequent siege
of the city. The 25th of February following
Villas was appointed major of his regiment, and
the 23d of March it's lieutenant colonel. From
June D to Aug. % he was in command of the
regiment, owing to the i'll health of Col. Guppey.
This period included the last month of the siege
and nearly two months after the surrender. The
10Th of August, 1868, Col Villas resigned his po-
sltlon, having been in the service but one year,
nearly all Of which time, however, was spent in
active campaigning. On returning from the war
Col. Villas resumed the practice of his profession
In Madison, in which he has been remarkably
successful throughout. The Sd of January,
1856, he was married to Miss Anna Matilda,
daughter of DR.. William ii. Fox of the village Of
Oregon, Wis, one CT the pioneer physicians Of
Dane county, and a gentleman OF much wealth
Col. and Mrs. Villas have three children now ltv-
ing-Cordelia. who will be eighteen years of age
the 3lst OF May next: Henry, born May %,
1877: and Mary Esther, born Oct. 10, 1878.
They have lost one son, Levi b., born in 1869.
Miss Cordelia, familiarly known as Nellie, I" is a
beautiful, bright, well-educated, vfvacions young
lady, who is aireday exceedingly popular in So
cial circles at Madison. She is well calculated in
time to really shine in Washington society life.
MIS-. Villas herself is a lady OF charming DISPOSE
ton, elegant manners and fine educatton; as a
hostess she has few equals in Wisconsin. In adj
dttion to his large and lucrative law practice,
Col. Villas fills and has filed several positions OF
public trust. He is one Of the professors Of law
in the Wisconsin state university law school,
being a regular lecturer on practice, pisadings
and evidence. He was for some years trustee Of
The Wisconsin State Soldiers Orphan asylum
aud secretary of the board. He was one of the
three leading a~ttornegs appointed to revise the
statutes of Wisconsin, in 1873. and personally
superintendent the publication Of the revision.
lie IL one OF the most active members or the
Wisconsin board of state university regents.
Col4Vilas was one OF the delegates from Wiscon-
sin to the Democratic national convention at
Chicago, and of1ciated as president OF the con-
vent1on, being prominently mentioned himself
for q place on the ticket. He afterward made the
speeches of notification to Cleveland and Hem
bricks. He Is now member from Madison in the
lower house Of the Wisconsin legisiature-the
first elective Office he ever held-andi s the leader
OF the Democratic side OF the house. The colone
was recently Endorsed by his Democratic fellow
members for a position in the cabinet. Col Villas
y conceded by all TO be the leader Of the strong
Madison bar, and IL one OF the most able and
| eloquent advocates IN Wisconsin His national
reputation as an orator began with his famous
eni0gy Of Grant at the Chicago banquet. Col.
Villas Is worth from $500, 900 to $4,000 most
OF 1t acquired from his practice, and the rest in
herited from his father, who left a goodly for
tune. The colonel Is the state solicitor in Wis
eonsin for the Chicago a. Northwestern railway,
and is associated In the law with his younger
brother, Edward p. His brother Charles III. is
q Chicago physician. His brother Levi NJ is a
prominent attorney at Eau Claire. Wis, who is
now being talked OF IN connection with The sue
cession to- Associate Justice Taylor on the state
| supreme bench.
THE ArroRxrv r.
Augustus H Garland was born Ia Upton
county, Tenn, June IL, 1882. His parents rs-
moved to the State OF Arkansas the following
year and settled in the bottom lands OF the Red
river valley. At a suitable age young Garland
was sent TO Eardst0wn, KY, to he educated in
in the Southwest His academic studies were
pursued in the Catholic colleges OF st. Mary aud
Sc. Joseph. During the latter part oils residence
In B2rdstown he read law. and attended the trial
OF causes In the court room whenever he had the