Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-06-21
LEGISLATURE MAY
AID EX-GOVERNOR,
WILLIAM R. TAYLOR MAY RECEIVE
A PENSION OF $25oo A YEAR
FROM THE STATE.
NOW PENNILESS AND OLD.
enst Executive to Put Railroad Requla-
ton Into Practice-Thirty Years
Ahead of Times.

MADISON, Wis, June 15.-[Spe-
GALA bill to give former Gov. Will
liam r. Taylor a pension of $500 an
hually for the remainder Of his life, has
been favOrably reported by the commit
tee on claims in both houses of the Leg
lslature and will probably go through
without contest. AT the present time,
the man who scourged the railroads in
the early seventies, as champion of the
Granger movement, just as La Fol
iette has been doing, has been living at
the Gisholt Home for the Aged, semi
charitable institution, just outside the
city limits of Madison.
Penniless and Old.
He is now penniless but is considered
in good health for the advanced age of
81 years. Relatives of the man would
probably care for him were it not for
his eccentricities. Two years ago, rather
than give up some of his old habits, he
beseached his relatives for aid to get the
required $500 to go to the home and was
assisted particularly by Attorney Il. M.
BashfOrd, a leading member Of the Mad
isOn bar, whose first wife was daughter
of Gov. Taylor. Mr.. BashfOrd was prl-
vate secretary to Gov. Taylor during the
latter's term of office. Gov. Taylor lost
his wealth through unfortunate invest
ments and speculation.
Hit the Wheat Market.
1t is said nearly all the money he could
raise since leaving the governors chair
has been lost in hitting" the wheat
market, or in taking flyers on the stock
exchange. About two years ago he sold
his old homestead in& Cottage Grove for
$780, With this money he tlirted with
the Chicago market for several days.
Then he came back to get assistance to
go to the Old Peoples Home.
The last days of the Farmer gov
crnor," as he is called in history, are as
pathetic as his first days were pitiful.
weeks old. and six years later his father,
q sea-captain, was lost in mid-ocean.
He was born without home and was
raised amid strangers, and he may
spend his last days in q home" that is
not home, but a retreat for the relics
of past generations. If, however, the
Legislature passes the bill to grant him
pension, and there is every indication
that it will, the grand old man will once
more come back to Madison to mlngle
among friends. will go to Cottage Grove
his old homestead, and will spend the
last days i'll plenty.
Swept Into Office.
Thirty odd years ago it was different
Gov. Taylor was swept into office during
Democrats and grangers fused that year
and Taylor was put at the head of the
ticket. He was the only one on the
ticket elected During his term the
famous Potter law, creating a commits
sion to regulate and fix railroad rates
was passed. not so different from the
present commission.
The agitation, it seems, was thirty
years III advance of its time. The
supreme court, in a noted opinion by
Chief Justice Ryan, sustained the val
idity of the Potter law, but the succeed
ing Legislature repealed it. Gov. Taylor
was not reelected but was succeeded by
Harrison Ludington of Milwaukee,.
Unlucky Business Venture.
After retiring from office Gov. Taylor
formed what was known as the Fort
Scott U<an) Cement company. The pro
perty was sold under the hammer of the
law and Gov. Taylor lost $4,000 on the
venture
He was interested in the cranberry
business with number OF other men
and finally lost money in the deal.
When he left the governors chair he
had q mortgage on his farm of $4,000
and never materially reduced it, until
the farm was sold. With the money he
then had on hand he paid for a little
of Madison His wife by a second mar
riage secured a position as matron in
the state home for the feeble minded
at Chippewa Falls. One son by the
second marriage, William Taylor, is liv
ing in Madison.
Gisholt Home for the Aged
The GishoIt home for the aged was
founded by the late John Johnson. head
of the big Fuller & Johnson Manufacture
ing company and of the Gisholt
Machine company. When Mr.. Johnson
dind he loft n hpnupSt providing for the
establishment of a home for the aged.
1t was bought for $4,000 and the
trustees have spent nearly $4,000 in inn
provements. If an old resident can pay
$500 he will be cared for there for the
remainder of his life. The house is
small and can accommodate only seven
or eight persons.