Box 2, Folder 4: Lapham Miscellaneous Biographies

THE WISCONSIN TIMES VOLUME XXXIII DELAVAN, WISCONSIN, MAY 18, 1912 NUMBER FOURTEEN

[black and white illustration] Pediment of the West Wing of the New State Capitol of Wisconsin-Madison

Biographical Sketch of Increase A. Lapham [illustration] 1811-1875 By Julia A. Lapham [illustration] Oconomowoc Wisconsin From the Wisconsin Arbor and Bird Day Annual

[left column] INCREASE ALLEN LAPHAM was born March 7, 1811, at Palmyra, Wayne county, New York. His father was a contractor on the Erie canal and his brother Darius was assistant engineer. He began his work carrying the rod for his brother at Lockport. He also assisted in building a road down the ragged decline upon the Canadian side of the Niagara river.

At Lockport his curiosity was aroused by the strange stones he found and he was not satisfied until he learned they wre the remains of animals, but the greater question, how they came there remained unanswered.

Plans of the locks at Lockport, drawn by young Lapham, found ready purchasers among the visitors from all parts of the country, who came to see this wonderful feat of engineering.

His father's work as a contractor on several of these important highways of the olden time, the canals, necessitated one of two things, long and frequent absences from home or constant movings of the family to the new field of work. Being true to the meaning of his name, Lapham, a "lover of home," the latter seemed the better plan. But this constant change prevented any regular attendance at school and this boy had only an occasional day at school.

In 1826 the Louisville and Portland canal was being constructed around the Falls of the Ohio and the family moved to Louisville. At this place Lapham began his collection of shells and plants and added to the collection of fossils and minerals begun at Lockport. Some of these botanical specimens are now in his herbarium at the University of Wisconsin. Many of the shells and fossils were burned in Science Hall in 1884.

[center column] For a short time, while at Louisville, Lapham had the opportunity of attending school on days when there was no work on the canal. He attended the Jefferson Seminary of which Mann Butler, the historian, was principal.

We find a number of times in his diary-

"It rained today. No work on the canal. Did not go to school on account of high water."

Until we understand the situation we are inclined to wonder at this. Rain would hardly keep a boy from school if he was anxious to go.

The home was at Shippingsport, two miles from Louisville and sixty or more feet above the ordinary level of the Ohio river, but after some of the heavy rains, the water came up to the door step and a raft or boat was necessary if one wished to leave the house. Even the lighter rains made much of the road impassable.

When young Lapham did go to school he improved every moment of his time. Nothing escaped him. He noticed every bird, every flower, every odd looking stone and often stopped to turn over an old rotten log in search for new shells.

He varied his route to and from school, sometimes following the river bank, sometimes going far back through the woods and swamps, only occasionally following the main traveled road.

One of the boy's duties was to go for the cow and one entry reads-"Went to the woods after the cow. Saw ducks, pigeons, woodpeckers and many birds I did not know; came across and old rotten log under which I found several shells, but did not find the cow!"

[right column] One of his note books contains daily observations on the weather which he could only record as warm or cold, foggy, or clear, windy or rainyas he had no instruments. For a short time he had the use of a thermometer and his daily table was published in the Louisville Focus.

A frequent entry in his diary is, "Sunday. Went to church this morning," usually followed by an account of a trip up or down the river, across to the Indiana caves or to some island in the river, with his father or brothers or with victor Audubon or some of the engineers on the canal.

While in Louisville he wrote a paper which attracted much attention in the scientific world. It was published in Silliman's American Journal of Science and in it attention was first called to the occurrence of petroleum in limestone rocks. A map drawn by him accompanied the paper. He was only sixteen at the time.

Many interesting events are described in Lapham's diaries, among them a barbecue attended by all the canal men with banners flying, an old time 4th of July when the cannon was only fired twenty-four times, the presidential election which required three days at that time and a Christmas day fox hunt on Grand Island with "seven experienced hunting dogs," but they found no fox.

In 1830 young Lapham went to Ohio as asistant [assistant] engineer on the Ohio canal and that state became the object of his interest. He, with his brother, made a study of those puzzles to the early geologist, the boulders, and together wrote a paper on the subject which was published in Silliman's Journal of Science.

Page Two The WISCONSIN TIMES May 18, 1912

[left column] Mr. Lapham remained in Ohio until he came to Milwaukee in 1836.

The Quarterly of the Ohio Archeological and Historical Society for January, 1909, published some of his notes and letters written during his stay in Ohio. They contain much of general as well as scientific interest.

While at work on the Ohio canal Lapham was under Byron Kilbourn, one of the founders of Milwaukee[.] This association developed into a warm friendship which lasted through life and was the direct cause of his coming to Milwaukee, where Mr. Kilbourn had located to take charge of the Rock River Canal.

In connection with his work as assistant engineer of this canal Lapham had the opportunity to begin the study of his new home. He soon noticed that the peculiar elevation they so frequently found were artificial and intended to represent some animal or bird. He published his discovery and it proved of greatest interest to antiquarians all over the country.

His later work on this subject is an authority this day--and is the only record of many mounds that have since been destroyed.

In 1849 Mr. Lapham was one of a committee of three to draft a constitution for the society which is now the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. He was an earnest worker for this organization during its early years of struggle. Letters and papers preserved show that he spared no pains to interest people in all parts of our counttry in this work. For twenty-six years he was an officer, first as corresponding secretary, then as vice-president and as president from 1862 to 1873, when he declined re-election. He was once more elected a vice-president and held that office until his death.

Mr. Lapham's sympathy was excited for the unfortunate, the deaf and dumb, the blind and the insane. Possibly his attention was drawn especially to the subject from seeing daily near his home, a deaf and dumb boy, a blind man who sometimes visited him, and a deaf and dumb man with whom he exchanged meteorological observations. This sympathy led him to write the following letter:

Milwaukee, March 15, 1843. Moses M. Strong Pres. of Council W. T.

Dear Sir: Believing it to be the right of those unfortunate persons, who are excluded from our public schools, to participate equally with others in the public funds and donations of land for the support of schools, I hope no apology is necessary for directing to you the enclosed draft of "Resolutions asking an appropriation of land by Congress for the purpose of establishing within the Territory of Wisconsin institutions for the instruction of the deaf and dumb and blind and an asylum for the insane" and asking you to bring the same to the attention of the Honorable body over which you preside. Very Respectfully. I. A. Lapham

These resolutions were passed, but no action was taken.

In regard to this work Warren Robinson of Delavan said in the WISCONSIN TIMES, a bi-weekly published at the Wisconsin School for the Deaf, Dec. 23rd, 1897: "Mr. Lapham was the first person in Wisconsin to attempt the establishment of a school for the deaf in the Territory, for it was in 1843, five years before Wisconsin was admitted into the Union as a state. Besides being great in science he was a man of benevolent dispositon, keen observation and a deep recognition of the right of those to whom nature or circumstance had some boon denied."

In 1860 Amherst College conferred on Mr. Lapham the degree of Doctor of Laws.

[black and white illustration; framed; with caption] [Increase A. Lapham LL. D. The first person in Wisconsin to attempt the establishment of a school for the deaf in the Territory]

[center column] In 1867 when the Legislature of Wisconsin passed an act relating to the growth of forest trees Dr. Laphman was appointed chairman of a committee "to ascertain and report upon the injurious effects of clearing land of forests and the duty of the State in relation to the matter." He presented an exhaustive report, which was characterized by his constant concern for the welfare of all classes of citizens. He demonstrated the effects of forest trees; how they tempered winds, protected the earth, purified the air, enriched the soil, modified the climate, and their value in relation to cheap houses, cheap fuel, cheap bread, chea motive power in a state like ours, possessing no large deposits of mineral fuel. Perhaps we do not realize the infuence of this work, in preventing the universal vandalism of the early settlers of the West.

In 1839 Dr. Lapham began his long series of meteorological observations in Milwaukee and they were published in the advertiser, the first Milwaukee paper.

In 1842 he published a list of disasters on the lakes, caused by storms, which he considered unnecessary if not criminal.

In 1850 his memorial to the Legislature of Wisconsin asking that an appropriation be made for the purpose of establishing a system of meteorological observations throughout the state was introduced and referred to a committee. Nothing was done, although the committee made a favorable report. The memorial explains how every one would be more or less benefited by the knowledge so gained. "If the life of a single individual engaged in commerce on the lakes or if one steamboat or sail vessel can be saved by this means the State might be considered to be amply remunerated for the expense."

Dr. Lapham did not give up but worked steadily on for many years, until finally as a result of

[right column] his efforts Gen. Halbert E. Paine representative in Congress from the Milwaukee district introduced a bill Dec. 16, 1869, to "authorize the Secretary of War to provide for taking meteorological observations at the military stations in the interior of the continent and for giving notice on the Northern Lakes and the Atlantic Sea Board of the approach and force of storms." This bill became a law February 9th, 1870. From it has grown the present U. S. Weather Bureau.

Dr. Lapham was appointed assistant to the Chief Signal Officer, was stationed at Chicago and sent out the first prediction on the 8th of November, 1879.

Prof. S. S. Sherman in this Memorial Sketch of Dr. Lapham, says:

"It will add to the interest with which every citizen of Milwaukee reads the weather reports in his morning paper, to recall the thoughtful face and modest mien of that neighbor and friend, to whose patient, persistent, unselfish labors, not only our merchant marine, but "you and I and all of us" are so much indebted. He is the guardian genius of our lake commerce, and on that crimson flag which so often flutters in the rising breeze, the herald of the coming storm, should be inscribed--Lapham.

[illustration]

Douglas Tilden, the deaf sculptor, is working to prepare twelve bronze panels for the McElory Memorial fountain which is to be placed in Lakesides, and which, when finished, will be one of the most elaborate and beautiful creations of its kind in the country.--Utah Eagle.

[illustration]

Gallaudet college has a band of seven pieces. Heretofore the Fanwood, N. Y. school enjoyed the distinction of being the only school in the country with a band composed of deaf students. The Gallaudet band was organized by and ex-Fanwood boy.--Kansas Star.

Report of the Council.

Since the last Report of the Council on February 11, 1874, the Academy has lost by death three of its most active members: Hon. I. A. Lapham, LL. D., of Milwaukee, late Chief Geologist of Wisconsin, Prof. Peter Engelman of Milwaukee, and Hon. John Y. Smith of Madison, the latter noted for his sound views and able writings in Political Economy.

A short account of the life and character of Dr. Laphman, by E. R. Leland, Esq., of Eau Claire, also one by P. R. Hoy, M. D. President elect of the Academy will be found at the end of this volume.

A sketch of Prof. Peter Engelmann, by Mr. Leland will also be found in the same place.

An account of the life of Hon. John Y. Smith, will be found in the Wisconsin State Historical Society's Report for 1876.

17---W A S

IN MEMORIAM.

PROF. PETER ENGELMANN.

BY E. R. LELAND, ESQ., OF EAU CLAIRE.

Peter Engelmann was born on the 24th of January, 1823, and on the 17th of May, 1874, he died, before he had completed his fifty-second year. The object of this memoir is to give a slight sketch of this existence which was so suddenly cut short at the moment of bearing its best fruit.

It is due to his memory that I should disclaim my fitness for this task, which was only undertaken upon the assurance that else it would remain undone. Without other qualification than the admiration and respect resulting from a rather limited acquaintance--with but meagre details of his life at my command, I shall attempt no adequate biographical sketch, but simply try to declare what the man was.

His birthplace was the village of Argenthal, in Rhenish-Prussia. Hi parents were farmers, as were his elder brothers, and of him they desired to make a farmer also; but in farm life he felt little interest even in boyhood, while, as soon as he could read, he was hungry for books, and eager in his search of knowledge. But social lines are drawn with rigor in Germany, and distinctions of caste observed almost as scrupuously as they are in India, and it was only through the intervention of a fortunate circumstance that he was enabled to escape from the irksome pursuit of the plow and follow his natural bent for learning. The Protestant clergyman of the village, and the superintendent, interested in the boy, on account of his rapid progress under inferior instruction, pursuaded his parents to send him to a better school. To this they finally consented, in the hope to see their son gain the pulpit-- than which they had for him no higher ambition--and he was sent to the "Hochere Buergerschule" at Simmern. He went there from his ninth to his fifteenth year, walking a distance of four miles each way every day. When he reached home after his four-mile walk he had his "chores" to do, and then to get his lessons. But he had energy and dilligence enough to overcome these disadvantages, and he received the highest certificates as to his proficiency.

At this time he had no other aim than to gratify the pious ambition of his parents; but this was not to remain the case very long. In 1838 he was--thanks to the aid of his teachers at Simmer, of whom he always spoke with tenderness and gratitude --fitted to be received in the secunda of the gymnasium, at Kreuznach. It was while here, although all his surroundings were calculated to impress his mind with

PROF. PETER ENGELMANN. 259

religious faith, that he felt constrained to give up the plan of becoming a pastor; the critical bias of his intellect constantly prompting him to question theologians and demand explanation of the contradictions in their teachings, until finally the old mystic creed of his fathers, lost every title of its influence and authority, and he ceased then, and forever after, to be swayed by its absurd hopes or childish fears.

After studying at Kreuznach for the four years necessary to go through the Secunda and Prima, he passed a successful examination in 1842. The study of history and the natural sciences only served to strengthen his convictions, and, ever frank and outspoken, he found himself in antagonism to his bound-to-be-pious teachers. They could not, however, help giving him in his certificate the most excellent notes in regard to diligence, progress, moral character and good nature. The theologian, inserted the admonition that "he must not forget that nature and her laws are not higher than their Creator."

He went away to the Universities. Of his life there I know little. He joined a secret revolutionary society; but neither revolutionary zeal nor the temptations of student life diverted him from his work. There is evidence that his course was marked by the same good conduct and steadfast industry; for there, as at Kreuznach he was the object of high praise. The certificate given him at Berlin where he studied three years, after one year at Heidelberg, contains twenty notes from various professors, among them Encke, Poggendorf, Dove, Ehrenberg, and Dirichlet, all unanimous in commendation.

On leaving the University there were two courses open to him. One was to choose Astronomy as his calling, which he had studied theoretically and practically under Encke, but this he had not the means to pursue without aid, and he would not as he wrote in his journal "beg protection." The other was to become a teacher at some gymnasium. He decided to apply for a State teacher's examination and passed successfully, though he looked forward to it with apprehension, several of his freinds having failed but a short time previously. The theologian among the examiners, to whom he frankly confessed his unbelief, while giving him credit for his knowledge, decided that "he could not teach religion because he did not accept the bible as the sourch of truth. Royal commissioners in Prussia are very anxious to see that the youth are not misled by unbelieving teachers. Fortunately the result depended, not upon the theologian, Mr, Teressen, but mainly upon Schellbach, Rose, and Ehrenberg, and so he was granted the "facultus docenti."

He then went to the Kreuznach Gymnasium, where he taught for a year and a half with marked success. Here again his frankness stood in the way of his preferment --his outspoken declarations for republicanism preventing him from being regularly installed as a teacher.

When in February 1848 the revolution broke out in France, he hailed it with enthusiasm, and with all the fervent zeal and energy of his nature agitated for the republican idea among the people of Kreuznach. Jointly with some friends he founded a Turn-verein (gymnastic society) and a Buergen-vereub (citizens' society) and wrought a radical change in the public opinion. He was given to understand that if he would "hush" he should have a desirable situation, and the Chief Director of Education of the Rhenish Provinces summoned him to an interview and advised him to desist. His answer was an increased revolutionary activity. With a few