Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1922-11-02
Old WEIGH Album Containing
Many Names Famous In
Wisconsin History
BY O. D. eRANDENRURe


On April 20 last, she left an autograph
album of no little political signifi-
canoe. Her husgand, Col. d. z. WEIGH,
who died two years before, was an
assemblyman in 1874-75 and a senator
from 1868, and this souvenir con-
tains the signatures Of many Of his
official contemporaries Of that inter
esting period
The first is that of most sincere
ly, your friend and obedient servant,
William e. Smith," then governor of
Wisconsin and previously state treas
urer The date is January 20, 1879.
Governor Smith was precise, little, al
most dappeT, with close cropped grey
beard, and of much dignity. His Madi-
son home was the present clubhouse
of the Knights Of Columbus on East
Wilson street, the state not buying an
executive residence until during the
succeeding incumbency Of Governor
J. NJ. Rusk.
Hans B. Warner, secretary of state
forty years ago, who later narrowly
failed of gubernatorial nomination,
signed merely as yours truly" while
Richard Guenther of Oshkosh
state treasurer and afterward a con-
gresham from a district in which he
was a nonresident, was very truly
yours" and George RaymeT, editor of
the Madison Democrat and legisla-
tive reporter, scriptically shouted sic
semper tyrannus!" Mr. Raymer, a
character of sterling quality, was al
terward a university regent in COM
mon with such superior citizens as w.
d. Hoard, l., S. Hanks and the late
Judge r. D. Marshall He died within
the year past. Here, too, are the sig
natures Of Senator John G. SpoOneT
George B. Smith, among the ablest of
Madison attorneys, who died I'D that
very year Of 1879; and often was in
BarabOo; Senator George II. Paul Of
Milwaukee who afterWard became a
university regent and, it was said per.
haps humorously, made motion "to
abolish psychology" to him seemingly
a new and mystifying branch of know
ledge; Senator J. w Van Schafck, la
ter a cream city congressman; Sena
tor Matthew Anderson Of Pine Bluff
Dane county a protection democrat
of the Sam Randall school, whose
daughter married John Anderson, an
engineer, and resided at BaTaboC IS
years ago; Thomas B. Scott a sena-
torial bon vivant; e. G McFetridge
senator from Beaver Dam and after
ward state treasurer, who refunded q
quarter million dollars Interest he mao
collected on deposits Of state funds
inrocently following unbrOken prac-
tice of the past; ]. E. Treat, senator
from Monroe; J. NJ Bingham, lieut.
governor, and long-baarded, as also
was George W. Ryland, another lieut.
cnant- governor Of that period: PTofes
GOT w. Q Whitford Of Milton College
then state superintendent; and Thorn
as A. DysUn If Lacrosse, senator ana
also circuit court reporter well know
ii Barabo@.
&c. B. Burrows" big and bold as the
historic signature Of John Hancock
lrecalls a Madisonian who many years
after his senatorial term became
speaker OF the assembly and who, uy
/. ing. left a beautiful park north Of the
RULER wFsods, to the capital city gTd {
quarter million dollars to the State
Historical Society. On tire following
gage f. w Keyes' yet bc5der chiTog
raphy occurs, and Forward" TOO
These two Madisoniaps were across
lthe-street neighbors and the closest o.
friends. Reyes WIS the greatest boss
IYVisconsiR republicans ever had prlcl
to the daring absolutism of LaFollette
once nearly reached the United State:
senatorshIp. He was Abraham Lin
coins postmaster in Madison anu a
various tirues alderman, mayor, mum
cTpal Judge and university regent.
Senator William T. Price Of Blacl
River Falls, a regular party man, wrote
you will consider yourself reprimaD d
ed for non-attendance on the Join
convention" a rather pointed allusior
10 The republican holt that led TO An
gus Camerons election to the United
States senate and the defeat of Mat
II. Carpenter, one OF the ablest sena
ators Wisconsin ever had at Washing
ton. Col. WEIGH was conspicuous II
this sensational coup. Price was al
early radical among temperance advo
Gates, hewed tobacco with unctiouI
relish and his Oratory was so avalan
chan as TO be the despair of stenogTa
phers. He wore boots to the day Of nj
death and always a frock coat o
broadcloth. He retired from the STATE