Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-07-05
TIE NOMINEE MAKES 4 SPEECH.

As soon as this ballot was declared
formal and Minors nomination made
unanimous, committee was appointed
to bring in the nominee. Mr.. Minor
soon made his appearance and made a
brief but earnest speech in which he
assured the convention of his gratitude
and that the interests of the Fox River
valley would be as dear to him as those
Of his own county. The financial ques-
ton, he declared, was the paramount
one in the country TODAY. He an
nounced that he was a bimetalist, but
was in favor of the free and unlimited
coinage of silver. He was projections
ist and believed in a protective tariff
that would protect-nothing less. He
thought the Grand Army button, which
a four years service entitled him to
wear, was more eloquent on the subject
than any words of his could be.
MIR. REID CALLED FOR.
There was a call for Reid as soon as
Minor sat down and after the band gave
"a selection the defeated candidate,
smiling as kindly as if he had been
successful, took the floor. His was the
speech of the day. He began by telling
a story. A Wisconsin editor whose wit,
ability and integrity were greatly
admired in his day, was about to die,
he said. His bed was surrounded by
old political and newspaper friends.
Whenit was apparent that the heart
had nearly ceased to beat one of the
watchers put his hand under the bed
clothes and felt of the patients feet
Then, turning to the others, he said in
a whisper: "Boys, he's almost gone,
his feet are cold" The sick man heard
and his sense of humor asserting itself
he reused himself and said family:
"Have you ever heard Of anyone dying
with warm feet? The friends looked at
one another in a surprised manner,
and one Of them finally admitted for all
that they never had. "Oh," said the
dying man, with a groan, ''but your
ignorance of history is deplorable. How
was it with the martvrs?" II leave
you," said Mr.. Reid, "to make the
application of that story to my case"
From this Mr.. Reid went on to speak
earnestly of the political situation and
what the country, the state and the
Eighth congressional district especially,
hoped for from a change in congress.
He feelingly thanked the many friends
who had stood by him Loyalty and
promised the convention in closing that
the Fox River valley would roll up the
biggest Republican vote in its history
and that Outagamie county would give
the nominee a Republican majority this
fall.
The convention adjourned after
electing the following Congressional
committee: Henry Overlook, Jr., of
Door, chairman; J. n. McCunn, of
Brown; George Grimmer, of Kewaunee; {;
G. n. Peterson, of Portage; F. R.
Dittmer, of Outagamie; w. D. Connor,
Of Wood; F. S. Baldwin, of Waupaca
A SKETCH OF TIE NOMINEE.
Edward S. Minor was born in Jeffer-
son county, New York, a little more
than fifty years ago. When he was five
years Of age his parents moved to
Milwaukee, and, after a residence of
nine years in that city and county
again moved to Skeboygan county,
where they settled on a farm some four
miles west of Sheboygan Falls. Here
the family remained until 1857, when
they went to Door county, where Mr.
Minor has since resided. His early
education was such as was afforded by
the common schools and academies of
that time. Mr.. Minor for years followed
the lakes, serving in various capacities,
and he is at present a licensed master
Of steam vessels.
At the outbreak Of the rebellion in
1861 he enlisted as member of Com
pany G, Second Wisconsin cavalry, and
served four years as a private and non
commissioned officer, being mustered
out in 1865 as a first lieutenant of his
regiment. Mr.. Minor began his mercan-
tile career by opening a general store
in Door Co. in 1869, dealing largely with
fishermen and vessels plying on the
upper lakes. Fire finally destroyed
what was then the largest hardware
store in Door county, and finding no
building available for the continuation
of the business he withdrew and be-
came the superintendent of the Sturgeon
Bay & Lake Michigan Ship Canal and
Harbor company. For seven years he
held this position, and only retired
when the canal passed into the hands
Of the general government. At the
p1esent time he is the proprietor of q
large stone quarry near the city of
Sturgeon Bay, owning also tug and
several scows for delivering the product
to all points on Green Bay and Lake
Michigan.
Mr.. Minor first entered activity into
politce in 1877, at which time he was
nominated for assemblyman and elected
by handsome majority. Three times
he was elected to the assembly, each
time by increased majorities. He was
elected to the senate in 1882, the district
at that time being made up Of the
counties of Door, Florence, Kewaunee,
Langlade, Marinette and Oconto. He
served in that body in 1883, and 1885,
being chosen president pro tenn. in the
latter session. He had held no Office
since 1885, except that of mayor of the
cjtv of StI1rppOD Raw fO which rOSitiOD