New-York tribune., 1908-08-28

William Freeman Villas, who filed the offices of
Postmaster General, Secretary of the Interior and
United States Senator n native of Vermont
but long a resident Of Wisconsin. He was born on
July Q. 1870 at Chelsea. Orange County Vt to
which state his grandfather had migrated from
Connecticut and settled a large farm the
top of Sterling Mountain The father Of Senator
Villas secured liberal education. largely by his
efforts. and became a lawyer and public
man. In ISL ne removed to Madison. Wis, TO Sc
educational advantI tIges for his sons. five of
whom were graduated at the State University
there, William f took his degree in 1858. He pur
sued the study of law at the Albany Law School,
where he was graduated in 1860 and admitted to
the bar this state lie returned to Wisconsin.
where. after admission to the bar, he began prac-
tlsing In July 1852. he recruited Company OF
the I'D Wisconsin Volunteers. and with it
a captain Kentucky. and thence to Memphis
He took part in the siege Of Vicksburg in which
he the acting colonel of his regiment. In 1865
he resigned his commission and returned home
to resume his profession and aid his father in
important litigation. He soon had a large and lu
crative practice In 1878 he made of the
revisers of the general statutes of Wisconsin and
he was appointed to edit new edition of the re-
ports of the State Supreme Court. of which twenty
volumes appeared with his notes and those of his
partner 5. f. Bryant In 1888. when the law
department of the University of Wisconsin was
established he made professor of law, and
lectured regularly for seventeen years From 1880
TO 1885 and from 1897 to 1905 he was regent of
the state University. He was also trustee OF the
Soldiers Orphans Home
From the year he cast his first vote Colonel Villas
took an active part Democratic politics, and was
a freouent delegate state conventions. He was
a delegate TO the national conventions in 1876, 1880
and 1884 and AT the last named was the permanent
chairman and as such chairman OF the COM
n1ittee of notification the candidates Cleveland
and Hendricks. He member OF the national
committee from 1876 1886. In 1884 he was elected
to the Wisconsin Legislature. When President
Cleveland made up his first Cabinet he invited
Colonel Villas to accept the office of Postmaster
General which he did, taking office on March
1855 In January. 1883, when Secretary Lamar
had been made Supreme Court justice, Eostnas-
,ar General Villas succeeded him as Secretary OF
tho Interior serving until March s. 1889 At the end
of tho administration he resumed his law practice
but took an active part in the state campaign OF
,soo yrben the Democrats secured control Oh the
orista+nra for the first time in thirty-ve years,
80 sert him TO the Senate for the term from 1881
.. 1907 In the campaign OF 1896 he could not ac-
cent the views of Mr.. Bryan, and joined the Nd
.,o,,al (pold standardl Democratic party ana was
tair,,ap OF In, committee on resolutions at the
Ina,apanoIis convention Senator Villas was mem
- ~ tho commission which built the State HIS
.or,cal library 1S97-l903. in Madison, ana OF ihe
,,r,tseion 70 build the new Wisconsin, Captoi
- ,oos He was n member Of the Society or
~. Amy, of the Tennessee. AT the banquet OF thls
,iyation In Chicago. in 1879. Colonel Was made
,o,oh,a sneech in responding to toast In honor
= r,.,oroI Grant He belonged to the MILWAUKEE,
~, 90 ,,i,yaukee and the Reform Club. of this
L. 1874; be was married to Miss Anna M
Eox NJ Oregon Wis. They had four chlidreh-