WI BIO - Lafayette Co - ORTON, Philo A.

1st Biography of Philo A. ORTON

Commemorative Biographical Record of Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and 
Lafayette, Wisconsin, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and 
Representative Citizens, and of Many of the Early Settled Families. Chicago: 
Beers, 1901, pp 166-167

Hon. Philo A. ORTON, of Darlington, Lafayette County [Wisconsin], was born 24 
March 1837 at Hamilton [Madison County], New York, which was also the 
birthplace of his father, [also named] Philo A. ORTON. The ORTONs come from 
old English stock, being descended from Thomas ORTON, who settled at Windsor 
[Hartford County], Connecticut in 1640. In 1800 Judge [Philo A.] ORTON's 
grandfather removed from Tyringham [Berkshire County], Massachusetts, to 
Hamilton [Madison County], New York, which remained the ORTON home until 
1850, when his father [Philo A. ORTON] migrated with his family to Wisconsin 
and settled at Beloit [Rock County, WI]. In 1855 the family removed to 
Darlington [Lafayette County, Wisconsin], where the subject of this biography 
[also named Philo A. ORTON] has since resided. His mother, whose maiden name 
was Nancy COLLINS, was born at Burlington [Chittenden County], Vermont. The 
father [Philo A. ORTON] died at the home of Judge [Philo A.] ORTON on 12 July 
1872, and the mother [Nancy (COLLINS) ORTON] at the same place a number of 
years later. The father of our subject was distinguished for his high 
integrity and sterling character. Their sons are all living, except Captain 
Thomas ORTON, of the Third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, who feel at the 
siege of Atlanta on 25 July 1864; and Lyman O. ORTON, who died at Mishawaka 
[St. Joseph County], Indiana, in 1899.

In 1851-1852 our subject [Philo A. ORTON] attended Beloit College [at Beloit, 
Rock County, Wisconsin], and in 1857 was a student at Madison (now Colgate) 
University, in his native town of Hamilton [Madison County], New York. It 
was his intention to follow the occupation of a civil engineer, and his 
college course was adapted to that end, but the panic of 1857 completely 
paralyzed all efforts at railroad construction, in which he had expected to 
find employment. Therefore he gave up his original plans and turned his 
attention to law, beginning its study in the office of James R. ROSE, at 
Darlington [Lafayette County, Wisconsin]. He [Philo A. ORTON] was admitted 
to the Bar in 1859, and has since continuously practiced law at that place, 
for more than thirty years being the senior member of the firm of Orton & 
Osborn, one of the oldest firms in the State. Judge ORTON, early in his 
professional career, gained an enviable reputation as a strong and 
conscientious lawyer, and so great was his success that before he had reached 
his thirtieth year he was regarded as occupying the front rank among 
Southwestern Wisconsin lawyers, a division of the Bar second to none in the 
State, and including at that time such bright minds as those of STRONG, DUNN, 
MILLS, COTHREN, CRAWFORD, and others of equal note. The uniform success 
which has attended Judge ORTON has always been merited, being the fruit of 
thorough preparation and untiring effort. He delights in work, and never 
feels better than when fully occupied, and under a strain which weaker 
physical or mental natures could not endure.

The essential honor and integrity of Judge ORTON's dealings with fellow 
attorneys, with clients, and with all with whom he comes into contact, has 
been a prime factor in securing for him his high professional reputation, and 
has contributed to the result equally with his superiority of mind. Before a 
jury Judge ORTON is strong and eminently logical, presenting his arguments 
methodically, passing rationally from premise to conclusion, and often not 
only with convincing weight but with moving eloquence. Fluent in speech and 
correct in language, his extensive reading is frequently shown in excellent 
illustration. Before the court he is certain of respectful and attentive 
hearing, to which his legal attainments and his recognition of the true 
function of an attorney entitle him.

In 1862 to 1863 Judge ORTON was prosecuting attorney for Lafayette County, 
and from 1870 to 1874 he filled the office of County Judge. During the 
Rebellion he was a war Democrat, [p 167] and remained in Democratic councils 
until 1880, being candidate for Attorney General on the Democratic ticket in 
1861; was Independent candidate for Circuit Judge in 1870; and the Democratic 
candidate for Representative in Congress in 1876; though he had a flattering 
vote, his personal popularity could not overcome the Republican vote, and he 
was defeated. He has always taken an interest in the cause of good 
government. In 1880 he voted for GARFIELD for President, and since that time 
has acted with the Republican party. In 1898 he accepted the nomination for 
the Assembly branch of the Legislature, and was elected by a huge plurality 
over James H. CLARK, the Democratic nominee.

In 1874 our subject obtained a controlling interest in the Lafayette County 
Bank, which he held until 1882, when he organized the First National Bank of 
Darlington, of which he has always been president, being also president of 
the Benton State Bank, at Benton [Lafayette County], Wisconsin. He is a 
charter member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, Colgate University; is 
a Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge, Darlington Chapter, and Mineral Point 
Commandery, and for several years was master of the Darlington lodge; he was 
deputy grand master of the Grand Lodge of the State for two years.

Judge [Philo A.] ORTON was married 27 January 1862 to Sarah M. OSBORN, 
daughter of Captain S. W. OSBORN [see also the combined Lafayette County, 
Wisconsin, biographies of Sylvester W. & Charles Francis OSBORN], of 
Darlington [Lafayette County], and two children have been born to them: 
Susanne, a graduate of Rockford [Winnebago County, Illinois] College and of 
the Women's Methodist College, of Chicago [Cook County, Illinois]; and Robert 
E., now assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Darlington.

2nd Biography of Philo A. ORTON

History of Lafayette County, WI. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, pp 724-725

Philo A. ORTON, attorney at law and banker, Town of Darlington, is a son of 
Philo A. ORTON, Sr., and Nancy C., nee COLLINS; he was born in Hamilton, 
Madison County, New York, 24 March 1837; the ORTON family, of which he is a 
member, were among the early settlers of New England, Thomas ORTON, the 
pioneer, coming from England in 1640, and settling in Connecticut; he [Thomas 
ORTON] married Mary PRATT, of Windsor [Hartford County], Connecticut, and 
they [Thomas and Mary PRATT ORTON] both died at Farmington [Hartford County], 
Connecticut; [p 725] the father of Mr. ORTON [Philo A., Sr.], in 1839, moved 
with his family to Easton [Fairfield County, CT], only a few miles from 
Hamilton, where he [Philo A. ORTON] died 12 July 1872; his widow is still 
living with her son, in that place [Easton]. Our subject spent a year in the 
preparatory department of Beloit College [Beloit, Rock County, Wisconsin], 
giving special attention to the study of mathematics, and branches of the 
physical sciences, supplementing those studies with a year's attendance at 
Madison University, New York, there fitting himself for a civil engineer; 
this was during the years 1856 and 1857, a period ending in great financial 
depression, when railroad building came to a halt, and many of the older 
engineers were thrown out of employment. On this account, and also by reason 
of the fact that he had a partiality for the law, he, in the spring of 1858, 
commenced legal studies, and was admitted to the Bar at Shullsburg, then the 
county seat of La Fayette County [Wisconsin], in 1859; he has practiced in 
Darlington [Lafayette County] since that date, and has been quite successful, 
both professionally and financially, and occupies a leading position in the 
profession. In 1874 he engaged in the banking business, establishing a 
private bank, the firm being P. A. Orton & Company, which was succeeded by 
the present firm of Orton, Otis & Company, of which firm he is the senior 
member. His high standing as an attorney may be inferred from the fact that 
in 1861 he was the candidate, on the Democratic ticket, for Attorney General 
of the State; he was Prosecuting Attorney for LaFayette County in 1863 and 
1864, and held the office of County Judge from 1870 to 1874; he was a 
candidate for Circuit Judge in 1870, and for member of Congress, in 1876, but 
the judicial and Congressional districts being strong Republican, he was 
defeated; Judge ORTON always acted with the Democratic party, until 1880. 
Early in the Presidential campaign of that year, he publicly announced that 
he would support the Republican nominees, and during the campaign worked hard 
for their election.

He [Philo A. ORTON] was united in marriage 27 January 1862 to Miss Sarah A. 
OSBORN, daughter of Captain Sylvester W. OSBORN [see also the combined 
Lafayette County, WI, biographies of Sylvester W. and Charles Francis 
OSBORN], an old and honored resident of Darlington [Lafayette County, WI]; 
they [Philo A. and Sarah A. (OSBORN) ORTON] have two children, Susan and 
Robert Eugene.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly