Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 09.pdf/93

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The Green Bag.

leader and went under. He took part in the fiery debates of that session and warned the South, in able speeches, against the folly of secession. His term expired March 3, 1 86 1. Secession and civil war were then imminent. He at once was outspoken for the Union. When Sumter was fired on, he offered his services to Governor Randall. On the 17th of April, he entered in the Horicon Company, the speedy enrollment of which he hastened; but before that regiment had mustered he was selected for the place of major in the Fifth Wisconsin. In this regi ment he served with distinction in the Army of the Potomac in the Peninsula Campaign. He served in General Winfield Scott Han cock's command, who wrote to the Secretary of War commending him highly as one "eminently fitted to command troops," and recommended him for a brigadier general. He particularly distinguished him self on several occasions, especially at Lewinsville, Lee's Mills, and at the battle of Williamsburg. In the arduous campaign up the Peninsula, the Major's constitution was much broken. On the 25th of July he was commissioned colonel of the Twenty-fourth Wisconsin. He came home and recruited for that regiment in his old district — a por tion of the State where was much opposi tion to the war — and brought in men enough, it was said, for four regiments. He enlisted, as stump-speakers to plead for enlistments, old Democratic wheel-horses, like Matt H. Carpenter, Henry L. Palmer and Edward G. Ryan. He served with that regiment for one year, participating in the battles of Perryville and Chaplin Hills with great credit to himself and command. But his health was so shattered by service in the Chickahominy swamps that he was compelled to resign. He left the service with high commendations from General Rosecranz, General Philip H. Sheridan, and other commanders under whom he served. In 1864, he removed to San José, Cali fornia; thence to Salem, Oregon; thence

back to San José. He was of a roving turn, and did not remain long enough to become well rooted anywhere. He settled in Seattle, Washington Territory, and was a member of the constitutional convention, in 1879, to frame a constitution for that State. He there served on a board of trustees to locate the University of Washington. But his old army complaint rendered it necessary for him to seek a softer climate. He finally established a home in San Bernardino, Southern California, and there, in the found ing of his home and the cultivation of a variety of tropical fruits, he found pleasure. His death was tragical. Returning from a visit to San Francisco, Jan. 20, 1883, the train, making a brief stop on a summit it had just gained, being detached from the engine, started on the down grade and ran at a frightful rate of speed for some four miles and then plunged down an embank ment. Among the sixteen persons killed or burned to death was Colonel Larrabee. His work as judge on the supreme bench is found in 2d and 3d volumes of Pinney's Wisconsin Reports. People of all parties speak of his personal worth and ability. The lawyers and judges who were his con temporaries speak highly of his services on the bench. He was an interesting and able man, and possessed the qualities to speedily win and retain public confidence. ALEXANDER WOLCOTT STOW was born in Middleton, Connecticut, in 1804. Of his early life there are but few data. It is known that he received a liberal education, after which he traveled extensively in Eu rope, where he acquired tastes and preju dices that were apparent in his after life. He studied law and was admitted to the Bar and practiced for a time in Rochester, New York. He was a man of learning and culture, and, it is said, he translated from the original into English, De Tocqueville's "Democracy in America." In 1845, he came to Wisconsin, where he purchased a