Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-01-12
PROMINENT PEOPLE.

PROMINENT PEOPLE.
JAMES A. TAWNEY of Minnesota
whose name is being mentioned in con
nection with the speakership of the Six
tieth Congress in the event of the retire
ment of Mr.. Cannon, was born in Adams
county. Pennsylvania, January 3, 1855.
He lived in Pennsylvania for twenty
two years, Il considerable part of the
time in the town of PunXsutawney
He was a blacksmith by trade, but his
fame i'll those early days rested chiefly
upon the fact that he was the leader of
the PunXsutawney band. In 1887 Mr..
Tawney found his way to Winona,
MINI. where he took up his trade as
blacksmith and determined to become a
master mechanic. He had studied in
common schools and in night schools. and
developed Il decided liking for the law.
He pursued the study of law and was
admitted to the bar in 1882. Mr.. Taw-
ney was elected member of the Fifty
third Congress. The late Thomas b.
Reed was attracted TO TIL somewhat
raw western statesman, and encouraged
him in his congressional work. Mr..
Tawney's devotion to his duties in the
House. his aggressive nature and his
popularity among his colleagues earned
him consideration and prominence very
early in his congressional life and aided
in his successive reelection as the rephe-
sentative of the First Minnesota district.
BLANCHE WALSH, the well known
American actress, was born in New
York city. January 4. 1873. Her birth
place was at SO Mott street. now the
heart of Chinatown. Her father was
one of the old-time political leaders and
when no pno6a la Of fbn
TombS Miss Walsh with the rest of the
family Went to live in the famous prison.
Here She continued TO reside until she
made her professional debut in 1888.
Her first appearance was in a small
part in the popular old meodrama Isl
IBERIA" at the Windsor theater. But at
the age of rs Miss Walsh was playing
Olivia to Marie Wainwrights Viola in
Twelfth Night" In Miss Wainwright's
support, three years later, she also enact
ed the role of Queen Elizabeth in Amy
Robsart." Her portrayal of this char
acter attracted the attention of Charles
Frohman and lie engaged the young
actress for a prominent part in Bronson
Towards "ArStocracy." In this play
she won her first notable success. Since
that time she has made several decided
successes on the stage. For several
seasons she added to her fame by star
ring i'll the SardOu plays first presented
in America by Fanny Davenport But
it was in Tolstoi's Resurrection" pre-
scented three years ago, that Miss Walsh
achieved her greatest success.
RI. REV. JOHN STANLEY. Roman
Catholic bishop of Fargo, \. D., was
So years old Jan. and numerous mes
sa ges of congratulation We're received at
the bishops house. Bishop STANLEY is
native of New York state. but lived
40 - e g., -,
He was ordained to the priesthood in
1874 and has been bishop of Fargo since
1880.
JOHN COLT SPOONER, United
States senator from Wisconsin, was born
at Lawrenceburg Ind. January 6, 1913
When he was lad of 16 his father re-
moved to Madison. WIS. and young
Spooner entered the state university.
whence he was graduated in 1864. He
took up arms for his country and fought
as private i'll the ranks of the Fiftieth
Wisconsin Volunteers. At the close of
the service he was brevetted a major
but has never used the title.
At the close of the war he became the
military. and private secretary of Gov.
Lucius Fairchild of Wisconsin. He was
admitted TO the bar in 1867. and served
as assistant attorney general until 1870,
when he removed to Hudson Wis.
"hOiS nc pldtlI'Vu Jaw loI lOuIteeH
years. lie was member of the Legisla-
ture in 1872.
In 1885 he was elected to the United
States Senate, to succeed Senator An
gus Cameron. In 1889 the Wisconsin
Legislature was Democratic and Sena-
tor Spooner was retired by William T.
Villas. Democrat. In 1892 he received
the Republican nomination for governor.
bHt ,''"S defeated ut the polls In 1897
he was again elected To the Senate, to
succeed Senator Villas and in 1908 he
was reelected.
DAVID S. BISPHAM. the famous
baritone was born in Philadelphia, Jan
uary >, 1857 He was educated at Hav-
erford college, and for number of years
was an amateur singer before taking To
the operate stage. He studied music
and the popular teacher. Shakespeare, i'll
London. For many years he was en-
gagged in business and it was not until
chance or good fortune enabled him
trather later in life than most singers
to give his entire attention to art. that
he became a professional. London,
city to which Bispham is largely in
debted for his success. first heard him on
the concert platform. in oratorio and as
a ballad singer. Later he secured an
opening as an operate singer i'll La Ba-
soche" at the Royal English Opera
house. Since 1891 he has been the prin-
cipal baritone ut the Royal Opera, CO.
vent Garden. During several seasons in
vorite by his representations of Frederick
Won Tebramsend. Alberich, Iago, Beck
messer and Wotan.