Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-03-26
FORMER SENATOR
STEPHENSON DEAD
PIONEER ZIMMERMAN sUccuMRs
TO BRIEF ILLNESS AT
AGE OF SO YEARS.
LEAVES $4O,OOO,OOO ESTATE
Took important Part in Development
of Wisconsin and Michigan for
Past Fifty Years - Noted
for His Generosity.

Marinette-Isaac Stephenson, former
congressman and United States sena.
tor and one of the richest men in
| Wisconsin, died at his home here. He
had been sick about a week as the re-
suit of a general breakdown due to
his age, nearly SO. He was estimated
to be worth S40,O00,OO0.
Senator Stephenson, while in Wash
mgton, was the oldest as well as one
of the wealthiest members of the up
per house of congress. Also he ranked
as one of the greatest producing lum-
bermen in the nation.
The principal scene of his opera
tons was in northern Michigan, that
section owing large part of it's de-
velopment in the numbering and min
ing industries to his efforts His prop
critics still are among the largest hold
1ngs in the state, and his various in
dustries employ thousands of men.
Born in New York on June %. 1929.
he spent his early youth on his faith
er's farm and in working in the lum-
Der woods. He practically had no
schooling. At 16 he left home and
went to Milwaukee. He found en-
ployment with the Wells Lumber COM
pany and was associated with Daniel
Wells Jr. for many years. In 1857 he
became an operator of lumber camps
In his own interest.
His early political career included
two terms in the Wisconsin legislature
and three terms in congress.
In May, 1907, he was appointed to
fill the unexpired term of Senator John
G. Spooner, resigned, and was elected
to succeed himself, in 1909. 1t was in
connection with this election that the
Wisconsin legislature, after a lengthy
investigation of the senator's cam.
paign, filed charges with the United
States senate. and asked an investi-
cation into the election, alleging that
money had been used to unduly infiu-
ence votes. The investigating commit
zee went into the matter exhaustively.
and while they showed that Mr.. Ste
phenson spent more than $4,000 to
be elected, no undue influence of graft
was shown and he was retained in his
seat by vote of the senate, 40 to "a.
He retired from the senate in 1915 at
the expiration Of his term.
Senator Stephenson always remain
ed a plain, nassuming man. His
greatest pleasure each year was to
gather togetheF a number of friends
who enjoyed the outdoor life and
rough it" at az old lumber camp on
his properties hbove Escanaba, Mich.
Senator Stephenson owned the b.
nita, one of the finest steam yachts
in the great aHes. He seldom found
time to enjoy tie craft, but he found
great pleasure in lending it to old
friends, soldierP associations, lodges,
and similar org aniZations of his towns
people.
He was alwtys open-handed with
Marinette, and scattered about the
city various buildings, parks, and 9TH
er memorials.
Isaac Stephenson published q book
of memoirs in 1915, which he called |
"Recollections | Long Life" The |
book details The authors own early |
experiences in New Brunswick, his
trip to Wisconsin, and early expert |
ences in the forth woods and also |
gives some INTERESTING personal rem
of plitics in which many |
men figure whoare still prominent po-
litically to-day
Mr.. Stephenson also philosophises
and declares that the high cost of Nv-
ing at the tims he wrote 1915) was
not the result bf high prices, but the
demand for lu2lries and novelties.
He says thai since he has been 20
years old he has found four or five
hours sleep a lay sufficient.