VOLUME 42 NUMBER 3 SPRING, 1959 ••r^ w. Wearing his stove-pipe hat, dressed in his decent suit and Lincolnesquely heshawled, John Masters saw nothing incongruous in sitting for his portrait in a homemade cart drawn by a lowly donkey. The result, taken ON THE COVER about 1860 by an unknown photographer in Jefferson, Wisconsin, is an oddly moving study of pioneer character and simple human dignity. The WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY is published by the State Historical Society of Wis­ consin, 816 State Street, Madison 6, Wisconsin. Distributed to members as part of their dues (Annual Membership, $5.00; Contributing, $10; Business and Professional, $25; Life, $100; Sustaining, $100 or more annually; Patron, $1,000 or more annually). Yearly subscription, $5.00; single numbers, $1.25. As of July 1, 1955, introductory offer for NEW members: annual dues $1.00; such new members may subscribe to the Magazine for an additional $4.00. Com­ munications should be addressed to the editor. The Society does not assume responsibility for statements made by contributors. Second-class postage paid at Madison, Wisconsin. Copyright 1959 by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Paid for in part by the Maria L. and Simeon Mills Editorial Fund and by the George B. Burrows Fund. PERMISSION: Wisconsin newspapers may reprint any article appearing in the Wisconsin Magazine of History provided the story carries the following credit line: Reprinted from the State Historical Society's Wisconsin Magazine of History for [insert the season and year which appear on the Magazine]. COVER PICTURE: From the original albumen print donated by Mrs. Florence Blodgett to the Society's Iconographic Collections. VOLUME 42 NUMBER 3 PUBLISHED BY THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF V/ISCONSIN • SPRING, 1959 Editor: WILLIAM CONVERSE HAYCOOD CONTENTS Lenioot. La Follette, and the Campaign of 1906. .PADRAIC M. KEX'KEDY 163 Pierce County in 1860 LAWRENCE H. LARSEN 175 (Copperheads and Copperheadism in Wisconsin: Democratic Opposition to the Lincoln Administration FRANIC L. KI,EVIENT 182 rhe Historical Significance of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates D. E. FEHRENBACHER 193 James H. Stout and the Menomonie 200 Schools ANN M. KEPPEI, AND JAMES I. CLARK 211 My Seventy-five Years: Part I, 1866-191 I LuTiE E. STEARNS 221 Forgotten Villages: The Village of fnch KATHERINE HADDEN FEATURES: Contributors to This Issue 162 Sincerely Yours 219 Circuit Kider 189 Readers' Choice 224 Accessions 2.38 Conttibutots To This Issue . KATUERINK HAUUEM (Mrs. R. .1.), consin Free Library Commission, became its first was born in Wisconsin, th(; descend­ secretary, and as head of the Traveling Library De­ ^«!te. ant of a pioneer family. Largely partment spent eighteen years touring the state help­ educated at home under the tutelage ing to organize public libraries and setting up r- of her father, a teacher, she, too, library stations. After 1914 Miss Stearns took to the * entered the teaching profession and lecture platform, wrote a newspaper column, cam­ paigned for woman suffrage and international peace, and continued active in the Wisconsin Federation of r •uM taught in a series of rural schools in Women's Clubs which she had helped to organize. , #« Pane and Columbia Counties. An During the final, lingering illness which culminated eleven-year residence in Florida gave in her death on Christmas Day, 1943, she dictated her the leisure to develop her interest in writing and her autobiography to Miss Beryl E. Whitney of painting, and to her self-confessed astonishment, her Kenosha. first entry in a 1-lural Art Show in Madison was bought by the College of Agriculture for its perma­ nent collection of rural art. She has also contributed FRANK L. KLEMENT, professor of his­ articles and stories to various publications, and her tory at Marquette University, began poems have appeared in several anthologies. During his pedagogic career as a teacher in the period of World War II, Mrs. Hadden served as rural, graded, and high schools of the librarian of the Poynette Public Library. the state. A native of Leopolis, Wis­ consin, he received his B.E. degree LAWRENCE H. LARSEN, born in Ra­ at Wisconsin State College, Stevens cine. Wisconsin, has also lived in Point, and his Ph.M. and Ph.D. de­ such diverse place as Ottumvva, Iowa, grees from the University of Wiscon­ anil Atlanta, Georgia. Graduating sin. Before joining the Marquette faculty in 194H a I nun Lawrence College in 1953, he he taught history at Lake Forest (College and Eau spent the following year teaching Claire State College. He is an active member of the high school and coaching basketball Milwaukee Civil War Round Table and the Lincoln # MM in Hurdsfield, North Dakota. Since Fellow.ship of Wisconsin, of which he is the current then, with the exception of last year president. He is also a member of the Wisconsin when he was an instructor in history at the Extension Civil War Centennial Commission and chauman of Centers at Racine and Kenosha, he has been a its Education Committee. In addition to having graduate student at the University of Wisconsni contributed numerous articles to professional maga­ where he is currently a teaching assistant in the de­ zines, Mr. Klement is at work on a book dealing partment of history. with Midwestern Copperheadism. P^DRAic M. KENNEDY, a native New Yorker, was born in 1933 and at­ D. E. FEHRENBACHER, associate pro­ tended the Portsmouth Priory fessor of history at Stanford Uni­ School in Rhode Island. His college versity, is the author of Chicago education, begun at (Columbia Uni­ Giant; The Story of Long John versity in 1952, was interrupted by Wentworth, which was published by a two-year stint in the Army during the American History Research Cen­ \shich time he was stationed in ter in 1957 and won the Pacific Vienna and Frankfurt. A fluency in Coast Branch Award of the Ameri­ the German language, acquired in the course of bis can Historical Association for the same year. A native of Sterling, Illinois, Mr. Fehren­ military career, enabled him to serve as an interpreter bacher was graduated from Cornell College in Iowa, and refugee receptionist for the National Council of saw service in World War H, then took his master's (Churches in New York while completing his A.B. and doctor's degrees in history at the University of degree. Following his graduation from Columbia in Chicago. Prior to joining the faculty at Stanford he 1958, Mr. Kennedy came to the University of Wis- taught at Roosevelt University and at Coe College. (•onsin as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow. His wife, a former film critic for the National Board of Review, is taking courses at the University in comparative literature while her husband pursues his studies for ANN M. KEPPEL and JAMES I. (^EARK, joint authors the Ph.D. in American history. of "James H. Stout and the Menomonie Schools" in this issue, are both Wisconsin born, she in Mindoro, he in Omro. Both hold the master's degree in history LuTiE EUGENIA STEARNS attained na­ from the University of Wisconsin and both are com­ tional prominence in each of the pleting work on the doctorate in education at the several careers she forged for her­ same institution. Mr. Clark, now a social studies self during her lifetime. Born in editor for the Row Peterson and Company of Evans- Massachusetts, she was brought to ton, Illinois, was formerly high school supervisor of Milwaukee by her family at the age the Society's School Services, editor of 30th Star, of five, attended the public schools, and author of the Chronicles of Wisconsin. For more graduated from the old Milwaukee detailed biographical information, see the Winter, Normal in 1886, and for two years 1957-1958 number of the Magazine. Miss Keppel, of taught school before entering library work, the field whom a biographical sketch appeared in the Spring, in which she is probably best known. In 1895 she 1958, issue, is now assistant professor of education at aided in framing the bill which established the Wis- the University of Vermont in Burlington. 162 Lenroot, La Follette, and the Campaign of 1906 by Padraic M. Kennedy :-M W^5 '^^g^ AT NOON ON New Year's Day, 1906, Lieu- STi, ^ -'-*- tenant Governor James 0. Davidson was inaugurated to complete Robert M. La Fol- lette's unexpired third term as governor of Socier>'s Iconographii ( niii,ii(Mis Wisconsin. At a simple ceremony in Madison, Governor James 0. Davidson fin bowler), with Senator-elect La Follette presented his heir to unidentified friends, circa 1907. Chief Justice John B. Cassoday, who admin­ istered the oath of office. As second-in-command. Lieutenant (Gover­ Later that afternoon, several hundred dis­ nor Jim Davidson was the obvious candidate. tinguished citizens and state officials thronged He had often held the reins of state when the executive chambers to pay their respects La Follette was off on the Chautauqua circuit, to the new governor and to say farewell to and, moreover, would automatically serve the the old. It was a festive gathering. The cham­ remaining year of the governor's term when bers were gaily decorated with cut flowers, he left for Washington. Custom and seniority, ferns, and American flags. Guests milled about, if nothing else, made him the leading con­ exchanging pleasantries and seasonal greet­ tender for the Republican nomination for the ings. The Norwegian-born Davidson, tall and following year. The fifty-two-year-old David­ pordy with grand sweeping black moustachios, son had won four successive campaigns for and the striking, tousle-haired La Follette cut state-wide office, twice serving as state treasur­ handsome figures in their dress clothes as they er and twice, having run at La FoUette's insist­ cordially shook hands with the callers, "who ence, as lieutenant governor.