William T. PRICE

1824 - 1886  (62 years)

• Name	William T. PRICE
  Birth	17 Jun 1824	Barre Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, USA   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Burial	Dec 1886	Black River Falls, Jackson County, Wisconsin, USA   [1]
  Death	6 Dec 1886	Black River Falls, Jackson County, Wisconsin, USA   [1]
  Notes	William T. Price From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia William Thompson Price (June 17, 1824 – December 6, 1886) was a U.S. Representative from Wisconsin, father of Hugh H. Price. Born in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, Price attended the common schools. He was a clerk in a store in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, and also studied law. He moved to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, in 1845, and in the following autumn moved to Black River Falls, Wisconsin. He engaged in lumbering and agricultrual pursuits. Deputy sheriff of Crawford County in 1849. He served as member of the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1851 and again in 1882. He was admitted to the bar in 1852 and engaged in the practice of law. In 1854 moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin, and operated a stage line between La Crosse and Black River Falls. He moved to Black River Falls and continued the practice of law until 1857. He served as judge of Jackson County in 1854 and 1859. Under sheriff of Crawford County in 1855. County treasurer in 1856 and 1857. He served in the Wisconsin State Senate in 1857, 1870, and 1878– 1881, and was president of the Senate in 1879. He served as collector of internal revenue 1863– 1865. Price was elected as a Republican to the Forty-eighth and Forty-ninth Congresses and served from March 4, 1883, until his death at Black River Falls, Wisconsin, December 6, 1886. He was interred in Riverside Cemetery. HONORABLE WILLIAM THOMPSON PRICE was born in Barre Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1824, and died at his home in Black River Falls, Wisconsin, December 6, 1886. Perhaps no man has been more prominently identified with the early and later history of the State of Wisconsin than he. His opportunities for acquiring an education in early life were extremely limited. His father, William Price, was a farmer by occupation, arid at one time Sheriff of Huntingdon County. He is said to have been a man of large and powerful body, possessing an indomitable will and great force of character. William T. Price was a man much smaller physically, but inherited the will power and integrity of character which had been his father's. His early life was spent on a farm, and he was for a time employed as clerk in a store in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. While he was thus occupied he spent his evenings in reading law books, and began fitting himself for the career of later years. In the spring of 1845 he emigrated to the growing West, going first to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, whero he intended to work into the law business. But not being fully satisfied with the prospect there, he came to Black River Falls the following autumn. The story that has come down in regard to his worldly possessions is that he owned an axe and twenty-five cents in money. Here he entered upon a path that led to the front rank of the business men of the county, and in fact of the State. It would be impossible within the limits of this article to give in detail an account of the business interests with which he was connected, but the following facts are taken from a biography of Judge Price, and will give the reader an idca of what he accoinplished, and his business capacity. Soon after his arrival at the Falls he went into the pine woods, six miles north of the present site of Neillsville, and in company with two other men got out 700,000, feet of logs during the following winter, This success doubtless determined the cbaracter of the business in which he was engaged for many years, and on which be spent sufficient energy to have wrecked an ordinary man, In the summer of 1846 he accepted the position of book keeper and general manager of the business of Jacob Spaulding. In the winter of 1848-49 he was logging with Amos Elliott in Clark County; he continued logging with fair success until 1853, when be formed a partnership with F. M. Rublee, of La Crosse, Mr. Price having entire charge of the business; this firm existed about two years, and in 1852 purchased and platted the northwestern part of Black River Falls. In 1854 he removed his family to La Crosse and there opened a livery stable and established a stage line between that place and Black River Fails. in 1854 he returned to tile Falls and formed a law partnership with C. R Johnson; it was the first law firm on Black River, and continued to exist until 1859, Judge Price retiring. He kept the La Crosse stage line in operation for a number of years. He also embarked in the mercan tile business on a large scale, with C. S. Crossett as a partner. The panic of 1857 found their business unsettled, and being unable to meet their paper they failed. After disposing of all their assets, they were still $25,000 in debt. Mr. Price returned to the logging business with renewed energy, but without capital, and within seven years had every dollar of the indebtedness paid, with ten per cent. interest. His creditors made him a present of a $300 gold watch and chain in token of their appreciation of his honesty in paying them what could not have been collected by law. In 1860, in company with D. J. Spaulding, be engaged in operating the Albion flour and lumber mills of this city. In 1864 be purchased the stage line from St. Paul to Sparta, but soon disposed of a portion of it. He enlarged this business, and conducted it successfully. In 1871 he purchased a farm in the township of Hixton, and added to this from time to time until he had 3,000 acres in one body. He also owned much other valuable real estate, and during the latter years of his life his logging interests were more extensive. He averaged 60,000,000 feet of logs ann ually, involving the employment of 750 men. He is said to have been one of the most extensive single operators in the United States, and was the largest in the State of Wisconsin. He began taking an active part in politics in 1850. In 1851 he was elected to the Assembly as a Democrat, but on the organization of the Republican party he joined that body. In 1853-'54 be was Judge of Jackson County; he was a member of the State Senate in 1858, 1870, 1878, 1879, 1880, and 1881. He was Collector of internal revenue from 1863 to 1865; for many years he was President of the Jackson County Bank. In 1882 be was elected to the Forty eighth Congress, from the Eighth Congressional District; was re-elected in 1884 to the Forty ninth, and in 1888, to the Fiftieth, He was attentive to the duties of every position he held, and discharged them with great ability and energy. He was a clearheaded business man, and possessed unusual power as a speaker. He was generous-hearted, stanch and true to his friends, and always ready to defend himself against his enemies. His death caused sincere and deep regret throughout the State and country. His death occurred before he entered upon his duties as a member of the Fiftieth Congress. He was one of the brightest men the State of Wisconsin has had; he labored constantly in the interests of law and order and morality. As a business man his ambition was satisfied with only the largest operations, which he conducted conscientiously and equitably. In his political career he was a reformer whose positions could never be misunderstood. In Congress he occupied the position of a leader, and always commanded attention when he spoke on any question. Judge Price was united in marriage July 10, 1851, to Miss Julia Campbell, of Grant County, Wisconsin, a most estimable woman, who with her twochildren: Hugh H. and Margaret, resides in the home erected by the father and husband a few years ago. FROM: Biographical History of Clark and Jackson Counties Wisconsin Lewis Publishing Company. Chiago, 1891. [2, 3]
  Person ID	I22226	Ellingboe
  Last Modified	17 May 2012

  
  

• Headstones

  Inscription of Spaulding - Price Memorial - William and Julia Price

  
  

• Sources

  [S131] Gravestone. [S366] Wikipedia, (http://no.wikipedia.org), accessed 17 May 2012) (Reliability: 3). [S435] Biographical History of Clark and Jackson Counties, (1891).