WI BIO - Dane Co - BASHFORD, Robert McKee
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893. Vol I, pp 221-226

Robert McKee BASHFORD, the son of Samuel Morris and Mary Ann BASHFORD, was 
born at Fayette, Lafayette County, WI, 31 Dec 1845. Samuel Morris BASHFORD 
was born in NY City, and at 12 years of age his father, who was there engaged 
in commercial pursuits, having died suddenly, leaving his affairs unsettled, 
went to live with Dr. MORRIS, a near relative, by whom he was educated, and 
with whom he studied and practiced medicine for a time. The practice of 
medicine being distasteful to him, soon after reaching his majority he 
removed to the West and settled in Grant County, WI, in Jul 1835. Having 
there buried his first wife, he was on 27 Jun 1843, united in marriage to 
Mrs. Mary Ann PARKINSON, whose first husband, William Carroll PARKINSON, had 
died a few years before. After removing to the West he never practiced 
medicine as a profession, but in the new and sparsely settled country, when 
no other physician could be had, he was frequently called upon to attend the 
sick, which he did cheerfully and free of charge. He had also become 
identified with the Methodist Church as a regularly [p 222] ordained Deacon 
and Local Preacher, which, together with his pursuits as a farmer, made him a 
most useful citizen in the community. While holding religious services in 
Willow Springs [Lafayette County], WI, a few miles from his home, on 16 Jun 
1850, he was stricken with apoplexy and died, aged 36 years.

The mother of our subject was a native of KY, the daughter of Robert McKEE, 
and in childhood removed with her parents to Edwardsville [Madison County], 
IL. There she was first married, when but 18 years old, and soon after with 
her husband, who was not much older, removed to the Territory of WI, 
traveling overland with teams, and settled in Fayette, Lafayette County, then 
known as Parkinson's settlement, in the spring of 1839, upon the same tract 
of land where she has ever since continued to live. After the death of her 
second husband she married, in 1852, William P. TROUSDALE, with whom she 
lived until his death in 1890. She bore nine children, seven of whom reached 
majority and six of whom still survive. She has done her part with other 
noble pioneer women toward the upbuilding of a great State in the wilderness 
of the Northwest.

Robert M. BASHFORD spent his boyhood on the farm, attending public and 
private schools portions of each year, until the fall of 1863, when he 
entered the preparatory department of the State University, and graduated in 
the course of ancient classics in Jun 1870. During his college course he was 
obliged to teach to supply the means of his own education, as two other 
brothers were attending the university during parts of the same period. 
Before his graduation he had taught as principal of the schools at Linden 
[Iowa County], Poynette [Columbia County] and Darlington [Lafayette County], 
WI, and had received flattering offers to continue in that work.

He had, however, decided to practice law, and in the fall of 1870 entered the 
law school of the State University, and at the same time the law office of 
Smith & Lamb, then one of the leading firms in the State, located at Madison, 
Dane County, WI. He graduated in the law course in 1871, and was then 
prevailed upon to enter into copartnership with Messrs. John B. and A. C. 
PARKINSON and George RAYMER, for the purchase of the Madison Daily and Weekly 
"Democrat." He continued as one of the editors and proprietors of the paper 
from Apr 1871 to Apr 1876, during which time new presses and material were 
purchased; the paper was enlarged and the daily edition changed from an 
evening to a morning paper, and it was placed upon a solid foundation as the 
leading Democratic newspaper in the State. Mr. BASHFORD was always liberal 
and progressive in his views upon political subjects and courageous in the 
expression of his convictions. For this reason he frequently encountered the 
opposition of the Bourbon element of his party. In 1871 he favored the 
nomination of Hon. James R. DOOTLITTLE for Governor by the Democratic State 
Convention, although Mr. DOOTLITTLE had but recently separated from his 
Republican associations in the U. S. Senate. The nomination was made, though 
bitterly opposed by the old line Democrats, and Mr. BASHFORD served as 
Secretary of the Democratic State Central Committee. He here received his 
first lessons in practical politics, and from a leader of large experience, 
who was thoroughly skilled in all the honorable methods of party warfare. 
Mr. DOOLITTLE had served 12 years in the U. S. Senate during the period of 
the war and reconstruction, and as the confidential friend of Abraham LINCOLN 
during his presidency. He had a knowledge of public men and a [p 223] 
familiarity with public affairs during this period that gave his words the 
weight of history. He was then in the full maturity of his powers, a man of 
fine presence and great gifts as an orator, and he made the canvass of WI in 
1871 with the expectation, if successful, of being the standard bearer of the 
Democracy and liberal Republicans for President in 1872. He was defeated, 
and was content to preside over the National Convention at Baltimore, which 
indorsed Horace GREELEY as such candidate.

The nomination of Horace GREELEY by the Liberal Republicans at Cincinnati, in 
1872, was a disappointment to the friends of the movement, but Mr. BASHFORD 
considered it to be the true course for the Democracy to indorse his 
candidacy. His associates on the paper were absent at the time, but he took 
the responsibility for committing the paper to their support. This was in 
advance of the Democratic National Convention which assembled in July, and 
many of the leading Democrats of the State were outspoken in their opposition 
to the endorsement of the Liberal candidates. The delegates chosen from WI, 
however, were unanimously in favor of endorsement, as were the delegates from 
most of the States, thus vindicating the wisdom of the political course of 
the "Democrat."

Mr. BASHFORD was equally active in the campaign of 1873 in WI, and was 
influential in bringing about a union between the granger or reform element 
in politics and the Democratic party, which resulted in the nomination and 
election of the ticket headed by Hon. William R. TAYLOR, of Dane County, for 
Governor. The "granger" legislation followed, which was more radical than 
either party honestly desired, then a contest in the courts to test the 
validity of these enactments, and the ultimate triumph of the State 
establishing the rights of the Legislature to control railway corporations 
of its own creation, or carrying on business by its authority. The State 
campaign of 1875 was a memorable one for its bitterness and personalities, 
but the Democratic Reform State ticket was re-elected, with the exception of 
Governor TAYLOR, who was defeated by a few hundred votes through the special 
efforts of the railway corporations and the treachery of party associates in 
one part of the State. During the supremacy of his party in the State, Mr. 
BASHFORD, as editor of its leading newspaper, exerted his influence to secure 
the fulfillment of every pledge made to the people and to enforce efficiency 
and economy in every department of the Government.

While connected with the "Democrat," in addition to his other duties, Mr. 
BASHFORD reported one house of the legislature. He also compiled the 
Legislative Manual for 1875, 1876, 1877, and 1878, by appointment of Hon. 
Peter DOYLE, Secretary of State, and made the Blue Book a standard for works 
of this character. In this manner he acquired great familiarity with 
legislative proceedings and with the details of public affairs in connection 
with the State departments and State institutions. Mr. BASHFORD was also 
connected with the publication of the Revised Statutes of WI for 1878.

In 1876 Mr. BASHFORD disposed of his interest in the Madison "Democrat" to 
engage in the practice of law, and became a member of the law firm of Gill, 
Bashford & Spilde. He has since applied himself diligently to the practice 
of his profession. In 1882 he became a member of the firm of Tenney, 
Bashford & Tenney, which for the ensuing three years did an extensive 
business in commercial [p 224] law throughout WI and adjoining states. In 
1885 Mr. BASHFORD opened an office with Mr. TENNEY, under the same firm name, 
in the city of Chicago, where he was especially engaged in commercial law and 
corporation cases. This firm enjoyed a large practice, but Mr. BASHFORD did 
not feel physically able to endure the continual pressure and daily drudgery 
of the court room, and in 1889 severed his connection with the firm in 
Chicago and returned to Madison to resume the practice of his profession 
among his old friends and clients. He then formed a copartnership with Hon. 
James L. O'CONNOR, the present Attorney General, which still continues under 
the firm name of Bashford, O'Connor & Polleys, the latter having more 
recently become a member of the firm. Mr. BASHFORD's professional 
engagements have called him before the different courts of WI and IL, and 
occasionally before the courts of IA, NE, MI, and MN, and he has thereby 
become widely known as a lawyer throughout the Northwest. He has the 
reputation of being a thorough, all-around lawyer, of understanding legal 
remedies and how to apply them promptly and efficiently in any given case. 
To him the law as a science, when applied to human affairs, commands right 
motives, proper methods and just ends. He has been connected with many 
leading cases in the courts of IL and WI during the last 10 years, but has 
won his widest distinction as a lawyer in the prosecution of the suits 
against the former State Treasurers of WI to recover interest paid by the 
banks upon the deposit of public funds. He was employed as special counsel 
in those suits by Governor PECK, and in connection with Attorney General 
O'CONNOR and Senator VILAS, prosecuted them to a successful conclusion in the 
Circuit and Supreme Courts of the State. By reason of the large amounts 
involved and the prominence of the ex-treasurers and their bondsmen, and 
their party affiliations, these cases attracted great attention throughout 
the country. The ground to be covered by the suits to recover the interest 
money was, in a measure, untrodden, and the details of their management 
required accurate legal knowledge and great skill and diligence in the 
application of summary measures to accomplish the highest results; and it is 
much to the credit of the counsel for the State that they never lost a single 
point in any proceeding from the beginning to the end of the protracted and 
difficult litigation.

Mr. BASHFORD has always taken a lively interest in city affairs, and has 
rendered valuable services to the people in official station. In 1881 he was 
elected City Attorney of Madison, and was enabled by carefully written 
opinion to defeat a proposition before the Common Council to give a franchise 
to a private corporation to construct water works for the city. The Council, 
acting upon his advice, refused to grant the franchise, and adopted a 
resolution prepared by him, creating a committee to secure necessary 
legislation to enable the city to build, own, and control its own water 
works. Mr. BASHFORD served on the committee and prepared the amendment to 
the charter that was adopted. In the ensuing year a committee was appointed 
by the Common Council to provide means and plans to proceed with the 
construction of a complete system of water works and to carry such plans into 
execution. As City Attorney he was a member of this committee, prepared all 
the contracts and aided in directing their enforcement. The construction of 
water works necessitated the building of sewers, and Mr. BASHFORD, as City 
Attorney, served on [p 225] like committees to secure legislation and to 
award contracts and supervise the construction of the works. He served as 
City Attorney from 1881 to 1886, when he resigned, having seen, during the 
period for which he served, the water works and sewers constructed and put 
into successful operation. He also served as a member of the Board of Water 
Commissioners and as a member of the Board of Education for a period, until 
he resigned from each place.

In the spring of 1890 Mr. BASHFORD was elected Mayor of the city, and was 
called upon to administer affairs under rather embarrassing conditions. The 
finances were not sufficient to defray current expenses for the ensuing year, 
and a the first meeting of the Common Council a resolution was adopted 
appointing a committee, of which the Mayor was named Chairman, to investigate 
the charges of corruption upon the part of two of the Aldermen and the Chief 
of the Fire Department, in connection with the purchase of hose for the city, 
during the preceding term. The investigation resulted in the expulsion of 
the two Aldermen and the removal of the Chief of the Fire Department. This 
was a most unpleasant task for the new Mayor, as the delinquent officers had 
for a long time enjoyed the confidence of the people, and two of them had 
been his personal and political friends, and every influence was brought to 
bear to prevent rigorous punishment. But Mayor BASHFORD gook the ground in 
his report that "in dealing with malfeasance in office there can be no 
compromise; no halfway measures can remove the evil and root out corruption 
entrenched in high places." The Common Council stood as a unit in his 
support, as did also the press and people of the city, regardless of party.

The "Wisconsin State Journal" of 27 May 1890, in referring to the subject, 
said: "It is unfortunate that the necessity arose for the expulsion from 
office of two Madison Aldermen and the removal from his position of the Chief 
of the Fire Department, but all good citizens will unite in commending the 
Mayor and Common Council for the vigor with which they have performed their 
work and for the unwavering labors along the line of public duty. While deep 
regret must be felt that those clothed with official trust have betrayed the 
confidence reposed in them by the public, no one can be justified for any 
reason in winking at corruption on the part of our public officials, no 
matter how well or how long they have served the municipality. Boodling has 
become far too common a crime. It cannot be dealt with too severely, and, as 
Mayor BASHFORD has said, 'there can be no compromise with it.' Boodling is a 
double crime, for with the criminal act of taking money in payment for a 
corrupt deed goes the gross abuse of trust confided to the faithless official 
by a public which only sought to honor him."

The Madison "Democrat" of 28 May 1890, said: "The Mayor and Common Council 
had a most difficult, unpleasant and thankless duty thrust upon them in the 
investigation of the 'boodle cases.' They have performed that duty 
faithfully in excellent spirit and temper. Despite some exasperating 
incidents, they have fully, patiently and impartially heard the cases and 
come to their conclusion; and they have acted fearlessly and according to 
their honest judgment. They deserve the thanks of all our citizens. They 
have set an example which should encourage all friends of clean, honest, pure 
administration. They have made odious that sort of treachery to public duty 
that sells out the public interest for private gain. They [p 226] have given 
a bright example for other municipalities to follow."

Northwithstanding the condition of the finances of the city, Mayor BASHFORD 
was enabled, by disposing of certain city lots, to purchase a stone quarry 
for the city and a steam road roller, and thus provide the means for the 
successful prosecution of street work. The necessary legislation was secured 
to enable the city to issue bonds for building street crossings, when the 
remainder of the work was paid for by special assessments and a thorough 
system of street improvements was thus inaugurated. Work for the ensuing 
year was laid out and ordered, and adequate funds were provided and left in 
the treasury for its successful prosecution. The fact that Mr. BASHFORD was, 
in a measure at least, instrumental in the building of the water works and 
sewers, and in providing a stone quarry and steam road roller, and in 
inaugurating a proper system for street improvement, indicates the character 
and purpose of his service for the public. He has always aimed at permanent 
results, and has not sought to attain temporary advantages by the sacrifice 
of higher but more remote ends.

While devoting his attention assiduously to the practice of law, Mr. BASHFORD 
could not avoid participating more or less in public affairs of a political 
character. He has always had decided convictions and was every ready to 
labor for the success of his party. He has served on the city, county, and 
State central committees from time to time; has been a delegate to the city, 
county, an State conventions, and in 1884 was chosen a delegate to the 
National Democratic Convention at Chicago. It was a singular fact that he 
and his colleagues and their alternates in that convention were all natives 
of the district which they represented.

Mr. BASHFORD, in 1892, was elected to the State Senate from the district 
embracing the city of Madison and the larger portion of Dane County, for a 
term of four years. He entered upon the discharge of the duties of the 
office 11 Jan 1893, and was immediately appointed upon important committees 
of that body. He has introduced and advocated measures for the advancement 
of the educational and material interests of the State. In his first message 
to the Common Council, Mr. BASHFORD stated the rule which he always aims to 
follow, that "the public welfare is the only safe guide for official conduct."

Mr. BASHFORD was first married on 27 Nov 1873, to Miss Florence E. TAYLOR, 
the daughter of Hon. William R. TAYLOR, of Cottage Grove, Dane County, WI, 
then Governor-elect. She was born in that town and was in her 19th year, and 
a member of the senior class of the State University, with which she 
graduated in Jun 1874. She departed this life on 16 Aug 1886, having been 
for some years prior to her death a confirmed invalid. A daughter, Florence, 
survives. On 07 Feb 1889 Mr. BASHFORD was united in marriage to Miss Sarah 
Amelia FULLER, of Madison, WI, the youngest daughter of Morris E. FULLER, 
Esq., one of the leading business men and best known citizens of WI. Their 
home, celebrated for its hospitality, is the center of a large circle of 
friends who here always find a cordial welcome and congenial associations.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly