The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1895-01-17
ALL KENOSHA'S BOYS.
PROMINENT CHICAGO MEN WHO
HAIL FROM HERE.
KENOsHA HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI
Men who Have Made a Mark in the
World to the Credit of
Their Old Home
and School.
HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI
Especial Correspondence


supplying of some of the highest off
Gals and many excellent men to Chi
cago and Cook county. Every ward
in this city contains one or more men
who came from Wisconsin and have al
ready experienced the pangs or joys of
official life, and might perhaps be in
duced to undergo the ordeal again. If
these veterans were to get together and
organize q marching club, they would
make creditable appearance on par
AIDE on Decoration or any other day.
They all appear to be doing well; some
Of them are rich or full Of honors, or
both. Some are in contented official
retirement; some would be willing to
try office once more
1t is a noteworthy fact that certain
counties in a state become widely
known us the birthplace or origin Of
the inspiration and ambition which
fired the youth and impelled the ener-
gies of the manhood of many Of their
sons who located elsewhere to eXpend
their energies. Kenosha county, with
reference to Chicago, is one Of the Wis
consin counties that come within this
cOterie. 1t has been the home OF place
of origin Of some notable and successful
professional and business men, the sons
of several of whom are now in Chicago.
KenOsha county is not the largest in
area or population in Wisconsin, by
any means, yet it is conspicuous in the
sense | indicate. The memory of it's
sons, now in Chicago, runs back to
that county and clings to it as the ever
green ivy entwines about and clings to
a sacred pile or cherished monument.
(This is figure of speech y
During the predominence of James
Buchanan and the Fugitive slave law
there lived there such sterling and
worthy men as the Durkees, Judge
Hale, VIM. H. Smith, r. Deming,
Dana, Wheeler, Col. Michael Frank,
recently deceased), C. l.. Sholes, E..
w. Evans, Crosit, the Bullens, Aliens,
u. G.. Simmons, Judges Petit and
Webster, j. M. Stryker, Eliel F. Fran
els, John Benedict, J. W. Mccoy, and
others whose names | do not now re-
call, who were prominent during those
times and were free and proud to ac-
knowledge their practice of what they
considered their f" God given right to
aid the slave, escaping from bondage,
on his way to q land where he could
enjoy freedom. Kenosha was settled
largely by New Englanders, who were
early imbued with such principles. The
sons and descendants Of some Of those
men are in Chicago to-day, as stated,
and are proud of their ancestry. Those
men in their time formed a sort of civic
family such as was not known else
wherein Wisconsin-there was a pc
culiar unity among it's citizens. They
were men with courage to face opposi-
ton and endure contempt, if need be;
Intelligence to shape a policy, energy
and ability to urge it's claims.
1t is seldom that a young man who
rises to more than ordinary Importance
and remains in the place where be was
born, in the rural districts. AS soon as
he begins to feel his strength he seeks
another field, generally the city,-u
ing the change as quick transition
into larger life; many of those in Ke-
nosha came to Chicago.
A few weeks ago the alumni and
former students of the Kenosha high
school had a reunion here and the sec
retary Of the association, James 4.
Petit, located 173 men and women
who had been pupils of that famous
school there, and most OF them gradu-
ates. 1t was creditable showing and
happy reunion, which indicated much
as to the merits of their alma mater.
am informed by a noted educator.
mentioned below, that the Kenosha
high school, established in 1915, was
the first free high school established in
this country outside of New England.
He says it was the first free school of
like grade to succeed the New England
academy, which was private and
charged tuition fee. | am unable to
say this is not a fact nor can | confirm
it. If Col. M. Frank was living he
could tell. He was the father of the
free schools of Wisconsin. He COM
menced to agitate the subject in 1843,
and the fruition came in 1916, when
this high school was established, which
succeeded L. P. Harvey's academy. I
propose to make brief mention of some
noteworthy men in Chicago from Ke-
nOsha. First of
Hon. Thomas A. Moran
He came from Bristol, Kenosha coun-
ty, where he lived on his father's-Pat-
rick Moran farm, until nineteen years
of age. He attended school in the