National Republican., 1886-08-01

Jonn c. Spooner was born at Lawrence
burg, Indiana, in 1913. lie removed with
his father to Madison, Wisconsin, in 1859.
After graduating at the Wisconsin University
he entered the Union service as q private,
but he was aiterward appointed captain of
company A, tiftieth regiment, and at the
close of his military term was brevetted
major. He was military and private secre-
tary of Governor Fairchild; was admitted
to the bar in 1867; served as assistant at
torney-general from 1867 to 1870, when he
removed to Hudson, the county seat of st.
CrOiX county, where he has since resided.
He became general solicitor of the West
Wisconsin Railroad Company in 1879, of the
North Wisconsin in 1873, and when the
interests of the two were united in 1880, TO
form the Chicago, st. Paul, Minneapolis, and
Omaha Railway Company, he was general
solicitor for the consolidated corporation,
which position he resigned in May, 1884; !;
but during this connection he carried large
general practice.
With the land grant litigations, which
have had local and legal importance in Wis
consn, Mr. Spooner has had prominent pro-
fessional connection. 1t was in the cele-
brated case of Hartman as. Schulenberg a
M., involving the claim of the State to the
grant of 1856, that he won n decision in the
Supreme Court of the United States that
established the law for all future legislation
and determined the force, extent, and dura-
ton of these grants.
BY his conspicuous participation in this
and many other notable legal contests he
years ago arrived at q professional distinc-
| ton such as few men have acquired, and
/ when q Senator was to be chosen the Re
publicanS of Wisconsin naturally and with
out hesitation turned to him as their choice,
and he took his seat on the 4th of March,
| 1885.
Prior to this event Mr.. Spooner's career
had been distinguished by the results that
follow devotion to public, private, and pro-
fessional obligations, when fortified by the
essential qualities of integrity and ability.
In the proceedings of the protracted ses-
sion just closed he has, by force of circum-
| stances, although q new Senator, taken a
conspicuous part. Beinga native of Indiana,
it was appropriate that he should participate
in the eulogistic oratory called forth by the
death of Nice-Presdent Hendricks On this
occasion his address was listened to with
deep attention, and at its conclusion the
oldest and the ablest Senators were fluent
and feryent in their congratulations, while
the press of the country, with unanimous
voice, accorded him all the distinction that
the most ambitious orator might covet.
His speech on the EGmunds' resolution,
expressing the sense of the Senate on the re-
| luSli VI lllC ny blltNllOli
of the President, to furnish papers relating
to certain removals from office, was an argu-
ment that attested his familiarity with the
constitutional guides, and his knowledge OF
the subject viewed in all its.lcgal lights II
won for him wide commendation as law
yer and debater and added another Contri-
button TO his fame in the distinguished
career in which he had so successfully EN-.
barked.
His discussion of the Interstate Com.
merce bill established his comprehensive
knowledge of subject that has had con.
spicuous place in Congress during the past
fifteen years, and his participation in general
debates has demonstrated that he has been
equal TO the demand that has been made
upon him rs Senator from State that has
cause TO be satisfied with the progress he
has made during his initiatory test.
His term Of service will expire on the Sd
of March, 1891,