Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1917-08-23
MADISON FOLK
VISIT GOV. HOARD
AND CASWELL
Visitors Find Former Executive in
Failing HeaIth---Mr. Caswell Is
Well and Active

Philip L. Spooner, Major F. W. Oak
Hey Professor Rasmus B. Anderson
and 0. D. Brandenburg of Madison
motored to FIT. Atkinson few days
ago to pay their respects to ex-Gov-
ernor w. d. Hoard, who is in failing
health and much of the me confined
| to his bed In that condition they
| found him, but alert of mind and
cheerful Governor Hoard is thin and
gaunt. He always was regarded as
possessing much resemblance to Abra-
ham Lincoln physically as well as in
the role of reconteur. Now the veri-
similitude is yet more marked The
old Hoard humor remains unlessened.
| The eye wrinkles in the same old
merry way the laugh is scarcely less
, hearty than in other days.
"I'm glad you've come" said the gov
! ernor, reaching up pallid hand to
! each visitor, "and / hope you'll come
again when they take me UP yonder,"
and he looked out the window sig
nifcantly. No fear there! No false
philosophy!
"How old are you-every one?" he
| asked; and he seemed much inter-
| ester as each detailed his age. you're
about the last of the old set" he re-
, marked to Major Oakley with Keyes
gone and Moak of Watertown; and
! you-why you're mere kid" he OBJ
served to the youngest of the party.
| I'm nearly 81" he went on, "and
worn out everywhere
| HIS legs, however, are his special
source of weakness, and he walks out
to his automobile with great difficulty
for a gentle ride now and then. A
nurse is his constant attendant.
Eyes; even my sight is failing he
continued, "but | read a little with
the aid of magnifying glass"
| Books were all about him, as if in
deed he had converted his library into
a bed room A high window long hor
!. izontally, let in the daylight abundant
ly an electric light of generous power
was pendent close above his pillow
"My wife and t. he said, during a
rambling conversation, shave Lived to-
! gether nearly sixty years. and she is
here too-says she's not going to take
any chances of another woman coming
into this house" and the governor
smiled genially.
/ "Been up to my printing Officer" he
! asked. well, I'm rather proud of
+, that"
| The party visited it later, and found
: in fact a very complete and handsome
J office, with rugs on the floors and a
large force of workers, both clerical
and mechan cal Here is printed
| Hoard's Dairyman, among the most
famous trade publications Of the
world also The Jefferson County
Union, weekly secular journal.
Governor Hoard exhibited much
spirit in his denunciation of the
traitors" in congress and out, and
expressed the conviction that swift
mil tary justice was urgently needed
/ to clarity the situation. He expati-
ated with enthusiasm upon the rich
ness and prosperity of the neighbor-
hood, telling of the blooded cattle
many carloads year-that are
sh 'pped from Fort Atkinson over
| ALL the country and which bring
in money a7plenty; also Of the heavy
manufacturing industries Of the C ty
with all of which he himself has
had much to do, for most Of which he
is primarily to be given all credit.
!: Another notable character Of Ft. At
kirson is l.. B. Caswell longtime
congressman He was born in 1927
nine years before Governor Hoard,
and at 80 is pract cling law with as
| siduity-at his Office every day; But
never in all my life SO wanted to be
! on farm" said he. However I've
cultivated a five-acre garden this sum-
mer and done every bit Of the work
myself"
| Mr.. Caswell might be fifteen years
younger for all his appearance indi-
Gates. Not a sense is dimmed, and he
walks about the town with step far
| from senile. H son is head of an i'm
portant bank, in which he is largely
interested, and his office is upstairs.
Mr.. CasweH was in congress for up
ward of two decades, beginning in the
mid-7O's. About the time he first went
to washington Hayes was president.
Blaine was a towering figure in those
days and other famous characters
were in congress. Professor Anderson
VOC ro,7,indnd of thn time long ago.
when he was a teacher in Albion col
lege and Mr. Caswell was a trustee;
and the two gossiped with mutual in
terest over Albion affairs. During
i Caswell's long congressional tenure
his district was altered to such an ex-
tent that, one time or another, he rep.
resented about all the counties in
southeastern Wisconsin, from Dane
and Rock to Racine and Kenosha. For
some years his district was composed
of Sank, Columbia Jefferson and Dane