Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-04-03

many close tceS mere ana Wnen she re-
turned after many years absence she
resolved to surprise her old friends
with a call She invited one such to
go with hei in making the rounds OF
the others. At one home in particular
she was surprised to find what
changes time had wrought.
The lady of the house did not seem
like the friend of old; in fact, could
hardly remember Mrs. Colby herself
and was quite hazy about mutual old
intimacieS On the homeward trip
Mrs. Colby was doubly surprised to
learn that the supposed old friend on
whom she had called was really mis-
tress 10. ,, that the real old friend
had been dead half dozen years.
Now" said her companion, II am
willing to go with you, but I dislike
tne idea Of calling on the dead"
Baby of Assembly.
John T. Baker Of Alma Center, who
represents the Jackson county dis
trict, claims the distinction of being
the baby Of the legislature. He is a
little over p years old. At the open
the seventh Milwaukee, district was
written up as the youngest member,
but on investigation it developed that
he was about six months older than
Mr.. Baker Mr.. Cain is a recent grad
uate Of the university, while Mr.. Ba
ker is still student. being in the law
department. He was graduated from
the academic department of the uni
yersity in 1900.
While q student Mr.. Baker has Oc-
casonally filed a pulpit in the coun
try surrounding Madison. but says he
intends to follow the law. In the legis-
lature Mr.. Baker has been identified
with a number of important measures.
The Introduction of the district option
bill, practically the old Thayer bill, in
the assembly was assigned to Mr.. Ba
ker, who will be heard from when it
comes up. Mr.. Baker also introduced
the bill recommended by many judges,
to require contests in all suits for di
vOrce.
WalwOrth'S Strong Man.
Assemblyman Edward H. Sprague
Oh NdlWUl III tVuttIy CiJuSo inc uAo-
tinction OF being OF exactly the same
age as the state Of Wisconsin. He
was born in a picturesque hollow in
Grant county, Wisconsin. where the
Rattlesnake creek empties into Grant
river, June IS, 1913, the very day OF
the admission Of Wisconsin into the
union OF states. Mr.. Sprague is racy
Of badger soil, large IN body and mind.
rugged, strong, simple. fearless. He
received his early education in print
tive log schOOl-houSe, where school
was taught but three months year.
When the boy was but six years old
his father died, leaving a widow with
five children 10 support. Edward had
to early strike out for himself. For
some years he worked OF farm, then
at the age OF IS he went west" go
ing to Minnesota, the DakOtas Mon
tana and British America, spending
the time teaming, hunting, trapping,
AMI trading with the Indians. Re
turning he entered the Platteville nor
NAL school. just then opened, and
graduated In two years with the first
class Then for a year he was prin
cipal of an academy in Kansas City.
Principal of Several Schools.
Next for two years he was principal
of the schools at Augusta. Eau Claire
county, one year at StOckbridge, Calu-
met county, and four years at Elllhorn,
WalwOrth county, where he now lives.
He had decided upon the law, and in
1877 entered the university law school,
graduating year later and settling
down to practice at ElllhOrn. He has
been highly successful, and besides
his legal and other business conducts
a 200-acre stock and dairy farm. He
has held numerous local offices, and
stands exceedingly high in his com
munity.
He belongs to the half-breed wing
of the Republican party, and achieved
distinction by wrestling old rOck-ribbed
Walworth from the ranks of the stall
warts, feat which was thought inn
possible. Sprague is one of the big
guns of the assembly, deep and logical
in debate, man who commands the
closest attention when he speaks, and
whose words carry great weight.
A. o. BARTON.