Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-01-10
R. N. BASHFORD
Is NAMED FOR
SUPREME JUDGE
GOV. DAVIDSON NAMES MADISON
LAWYER AS SUCCESSOR TO
CASSODAY.
UNTIL ELECTION IN SPRING.
Executive Yields to Strong Pressure
Brought by Dane County Bar Head
ed by Col w. F. Villas.
TEAnTKN
UNTIL ELECTION IN SPRING.
NEW JUDGE A LEADING ATTORNEY

MADISON. Wis, Jan. Al Special J.
GOV Davidson today appointed Robert
NJ Bashford Of Madison as associate
Justice Of the supreme court to succeed
de late Chief Justice }. B. Cassoday.
The appointment is until a successor
can BE- elected and qualified, which
means that Mr. Basbford will have to
stand for election in April for the uneX-
pircd term Of two years. The salary IS
$4,000 Il year.
MADISON is PLEASED.
The appointment of Mr.. Bashford met
With great satisfaction IN Addison,
whore his fellow members Of the bar
made a strong campaign in his behalf.
-.actically all Of the lawyers OF Mad1-
soa signed his petition which was writ
trn by former Senator w. +. Villas
Mr. Bashford has for years been one
# tie leading attorneys Of this part OF
lie state.
BASHF0RD BORN IN STATE.
r. NJ Bashford was born in La Fay
e. county, Wis, December 81 1S45.
e receirC a common school education
AID later attended the university. where
10 was graduated from the college Of
liberal art4 IN 1870 and from the law
school III 1871. While pursuing his law
studies lie obtained a practical knowl-
edge of it in the Offices of the firm of
Smith & Lamb. lie did not enter into
rs profession for some years after be
]. graduated. lie then formed a part
Hrrship with j. h. and G.. A. Parker
and George Raymer for the purchase of
the Madison Democrat, which occupied
his attention for five years.
TAYLOR'S PRIVATE SECRETARY.
lie was private secretary to Gov. Will
liam X. Taylor During a number of
years Mr.. BashfOrd compiled the legis-
iatlye manual for the years, 1879, 10.
- and IS, and was engaged i'll the pub
hcation Of the revised statutes Of Wis
consn in '7S.
In 1876 he gave up this work and en-
tered upon the practice of law, as Il
member Of the firm of Glide, Bashford
x Spride, which partnership continued
until 1880. In 1881 he became a Nom
Der Of the law firm of Kenncy, Bashford
& Kenney and this partnership lasted
until 1880. Mr.. Bashford then formed
q partnership with ]. l.. O'C0uner, la,"I
number OF years. He is now thu
senior member of the law firm Of Bash
ford, Aylcward g. Spenscley.
In 1890 Mr.. Bashford became mayor
Of the city of Madison on the Democratic
ticket
I'm NO1ABLE LlI1GA1lON.
Mr.. Bashford was employed as spe-
cial counsel for Secretary of State Hon
ser in the suit brought in the summer
Of 1904 by S. A. Cook and others to de-
tcrIninc the regularity of the Madison
ticket nominated by the Republican con
ycntion Of that year, and with his assoc
ciatcs succeeded in obtaining in the SUI
prcme court Il decision in favor Of the
ticket headed by La Toilette.
In 1906 he was employed as special
counsel for the state in the suit brought
in the supreme court to test the valid
ity of the Inheritance tax law, which
was ultimately sustained by the high
est tribunal.
PROFESSOR IN UNIVERSITY.
Mr. Bashford has been for many years
professor of law in the University of
Wisconsin. lie was married November
27, 1873, to Miss Florence e. Taylor
daughter of former Gov. Taylor She
died August l6, 1886, leaving one daugh-
ter, Florence who was married to I. s.
Spenseley, junior member of the law
firm, in 1891 On February Z 1889.
Mr.. Bashford married Miss Sarah A.
Fuller. daughter of one of MadiSOns
leading business men, NJ. +. Fuller.
Two of Mr.. Bashford's brothers, John
WelScy and James Whitford. and hall
brother. Samuel W. Trousdale, were
also graduated from the university.
John w. Bashford, a brother. died in
1905. james W., another brother, has
long been Il prominent man in the Meth
odist church and is now Il bishop.
OTHER CANDIDATES FOR POST.
Among the other candidates who were
mentioned for the appointment were
Judge A. j. Ninje of Superior. +. G.
Iigbee of La Crosse, l.. *. Luse of SUI
perior and George Green of Green Bay.
Judge Tarrant of Milwaukee was also
mentioned for the place.