The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-05-21
One of Ashland's Best Loved
Citizens
W. NJ. Tomkins, for Thirty
five Years a Resident of
Ashland.

Saturday evening. Mr.. Tomkins
was well known in this city where
he was respected and loved. The
| Ashland Press has the following to
say of his life.
Thirtv-fve years ago, there cam e
to the then village of Ashland, a
young attorney, fresh from the state
university of Wisconsin where he
had studied two years, the son of a
Methodist minister, an Engllshman
bv birth, and after his admission to
the bar two years later, he COM
menced the practice of ais profess
sion. This young man, W. M. Tom
kins, was destined to become one of
the soundest lawyers in Wisconsin,
a man eminently qualified to grace
any walk in life, an honorable man
and an honor to great profession.
Born in England in 1915. he was
brought to America by his parents
FIVE years after his BIRTH, the family
locating at Shuilsburg, Wisconsin,
where the elder Tomkins Was as
signed to charge as a minister in
the Methodist church. He received
an academic education at Point Bluff
finished his scholastic studies at the
state university, and then entered
upon his real life work at Ashland
He was elected by the people success
sively to the Office OF county superin-
tendent of schools, district attorney,
county clerk and county treasurer
In addition to these offices, he was
the practically unanimous choice of
the Ashland County Bar for circuit
judge six years ago, but was defeat
at the polls by J. K. Parish. He
was never an Office seeker, however,
but gave his energies to the practice
of the law. For the past ten years
and more he has been recognized as
an authority, especially on tax and
land matters, in fact, in this line at
least, it is doubtful if he had any su-
perior in the state. The last case
of any magnitude that be had in
charge, was that of Moses White VS..
| Campbell, ct al. in which three
quarters of a million dollars was in
volved. He argued the case before
the supreme court of the United
States last fall, represen ting the
Chippewa Indians. in an endeavor
to handle their own funds, which
are now in the custody and control
of the government. He attend the
opening session OF the circuit court
the latter part of March, but has
done little business since, excepting
to close up his own private business
affairs.
1t was great shock to Mr.. Tom
kins' friends, to learn early in April,
| that he was afflicted with cancer of
the stomach. Examinations by both
DR.. Dodd and DR.. Rinehdrt disclosed
the fact. and their diagnosis was
confirmed by specialists in the Twin
Cities and from Chicago. An oper-
alton was deemed inadvisable.
With certain death staring him in
the face. Mr.. Tomkirs displayed a
fortitude that surprise. his friends.
He talked calmly of his approaching
death, aud up to the day preceding
his death, he visited with old friends
and gave minute attention to bust
ness affairs, which ne wished attend
&c to before the end
! Mr.. Tomkins was most genial
and lovable man. He was perhaps
the best all around speaker in Ash
land. In this respect. he resembled
the late DR.. Ellis. He could deliver
an address on any subject, at mo-
ment's notice, and always talked in
terestingly. Never attempting ora
tory. his addresses both before iur-
les and before the public on general
topics, were brief, right to the point
and brim full OF cold logic. He was
wise counselor, but never attempt
ed to sway jurles by the force of elo-
quence relying upon the law, and
the final dictum of the supreme
court. He was the third master OF
the Masonic lodge of this city, serv-
ing as the head of the order two
years, 1923. He was also mem
Der of the other Masonic bodies, in.
Guiding the Chapter and the Com
mandery. the Eastern Star and was
a Bind degree consistory Mason and
Shriner. He was a member of the
Knights of Pythias, and of the Eks.
Mr.. Tomkins was consistent and
active worker in the Presbyterian