Bio: Carl C. Pope (1834 - 1911)

Transcriber:  Stan
Email:  stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Phillips, O'Hearn, Jessie, Jessil, Jacobson, Jesser, Jones, Le Claire, LeClaire, Hitchcock, Folsom, Gowling, Frink

----Sources: 1881 History of Northern Wisconsin; Census Reports; Marriage, Birth & Death Records

HON. CARL C. POPE, Black River Falls. Was born at Washington, Orange Co., Vt., July 22, 1834. After receiving an academic education, he entered the law office of Hon. J. P. Kidder, at West Randolph, Vermont, in March, 1854, where he remained till January, 1856, when he was admitted to the Bar. He passed an extra examination in the law, and was highly complimented by the examining committee for his proficiency. In the Spring of 1856, he left Vermont, and came to Black River Falls, Wisconsin, where he has since resided. Soon after his settlement in the West, he began to take a leading part in political matters, as well as in professional life. Being a forcible and eloquent speaker, he soon rose to public notice and popularity. In the Fall of 1857, he was elected District Attorney of Jackson County, and commenced his duties as such, Jan. I. 1858, and held the office by re-election until Jan. 1, 1862. He also held the same office by election, from Jan. 1, 1876, to Jan. 1, 1878. It is the greatest compliment that can be paid to the accuracy of Mr. Pope as a lawyer, to mention the fact that of all the indictments or informations he drew, none were held insufficient by the courts. He was elected to the Assembly in the Fall of 1861, and held that office till Jan. I, 1864, and was elected to the Senate for the term commencing Jan. 1, 1864. Then four years of legislative duties, preceding the pendency of the civil war, and the influence of Mr. Pope was always on the side of the Union, and against its foes. At the head of the Committee on Federal Relations of the Assembly in 1863, and Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1865, he wielded a powerful influence in behalf of the cause of the Union. In 1864, he was a member of the National Republican Convention that nominated Lincoln and Johnson, and after their nomination, took a prominent and active part upon the stump to promote their election. In the Fall of 1876, he was again elected to the Assembly, and re-elected in the Fall of 1877. In the Assembly of 1877, he was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and the next year a member of that committee, but not chairman, as the Republican party was in the minority in the Assembly.

A leading Democratic paper, at the conclusion of the session of 1878, spoke of Mr. Pope in the following complimentary terms "The ablest and most industrious member of the last Assembly, or the last two for that matter, is Hon. Carl C. Pope, of Jackson County, and this May be said without disparagement to numbers of other very able members who have left enviable records. If there is anything lacking in his character as a legislator, it would take a very observing critic to point it out. From first to last, in appearance, in ability, in oratory and in parliamentary knowledge, he is deserving being pointed to as an ideal. Added to these qualities, he displays an untiring industry and a thorough honesty in the performance of his legislative duties, that makes him invincible on the floor, and a host in the committee room. His seat in the Assembly has become an honored one."

Mr. Pope also held the office of County Judge of Jackson County, by appointment, about six months, and was elected to that office and served about six months of his term, and resigned the office. He is also a member of Black River Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 74, and of Black River Chapter, No. 41, of R. A. M.. and of Ft. Winnebago Commandery of Knights Templar, at Portage City. He was for many years master of Black River Lodge, and was the first High Priest of Black River Chapter, and filled these responsible positions to the entire satisfaction of the members of these bodies. He has ever been one of the most extensive and critical readers. His familiarity with the ancient classical writings is proverbial. He has also been an attentive and constant reader of Shakespeare, Milton and Dante, and many poets of less celebrity and he has not overlooked in his reading, the sacred pages of the Bible. There is hardly a passage of importance in the New Testament that he cannot repeat from memory; and the more important parts of Shakespeare and Milton are as familiar to him as household words. He possesses a vigorous constitution, an active temperament and retentive memory. And he is emphatically a self-made man. Until the commencement of the civil war, he was a member of the Democratic party, but upon the commencement of that war, he became a firm supporter of the administration, in its effects to crush the rebellion, and maintain the integrity of the Republic. In this course he became estranged from the Democracy, and has ever since been a zealous member of the Republican party. As a lawyer he ranks high in his profession, and as an advocate is not excelled in the State of Wisconsin. Laborious in his preparation, and consummate in his skill in the execution of his plans "amid the dust and heat" of forensic battle, he is a formidable antagonist. Respectful to the court, and honorable and obliging to the members of the Bar, he is universally respected among the members of his own chosen profession. And like every true lawyer, he has rendered a great deal of gratuitous services for the poor and oppressed. And such services have not been rendered grudgingly, but with the same zeal as though he was working for a large fee. He is now forty-six years of age, and in the full vigor of manhood.

*Carl C. Pope died 1911 and is buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Black River Falls, Wisconsin.  He wife, Ellen M. Hitchcock Pope (1840 - 1929) is also buried in the same plot as well as Ralph C. (1857 - 1905) and Mary G. (1872 - 1915).

1870 Federal Census, Albion, Jackson, Wisconsin, United States, pg. 51

Carl C Pope, white, male
Occupation: Lawyer

Estate: $3,500; Personal: $2,500


Household Members
Carl C Pope M 36y Vermont
Ellen M Pope F 30y New York
Eugene Pope F 9y Wisconsin
Ralph C Pope M 3y Wisconsin

1880 Federal Census, Albion, Jackson, Wisconsin, United States, pg. 287

Carl C. Pope, married American male
occupation : Attorney
father's birthplace : Vermont, United States
mother's birthplace : Vermont, United States

Household Members
self Carl C. Pope M 45 Vermont, United States
wife Ellen M. Pope F 40 New York, United States
daughter Eugenia M. Pope F 19 Wisconsin, United States
son Ralph C. Pope M 13 Wisconsin, United States
other Minnie Larson F 19 Norway

1900 Federal Census, ED 44 Black River Falls city Ward 1-4, Jackson, Wisconsin, United States, pg. 3, family 63

Carl C Pope, white, married male
father's birthplace: Vermont
mother's birthplace: Vermont
years married: 40 (1860)

Household Members
head Carl C Pope M 66 (Jul 1834 Vermont)
wife Ellen Pope F 60 (May 1840 New York), 2 children, 1 living, both parents b. NY

Wisconsin Marriage Records

Edgar A. Leclaire
bride's name: Eugenia M. Pope
marriage date: 26 Sep 1883
marriage place: Jefferson, Wisconsin
groom's father's name: Alegory Le Claire
groom's mother's name: Jenette Folsom
bride's father's name: Carl C. Pope
bride's mother's name: Ellen M. Hitchcock

Ralph Carl Pope
groom's birthplace: Black River Falls, Wis.
bride's name: Mary Anna Gowling
bride's birthplace: Port Huron, Mich.
marriage date: 03 Jun 1896
marriage place: Superior, Douglas, Wisconsin
groom's father's name: Carl C. Pope
groom's mother's name: Ellen M. Hitchcock
bride's father's name: William Gowling
bride's mother's name: Rhoda Frink
groom's race: White
groom's previous wife's name:
bride's race: White

Wisconsin Death Records

Ralph C. Pope
gender: Male
burial place: Black River Falls, Jackson, Wisconsin
death date: 15 Mar 1905
death place: Black River Falls, Jackson, Wisconsin
age: 38
birth date: 16 Mar 1867
birthplace: Wisconsin
occupation: Sawyer
race: White
marital status: Married
spouse's name: Mary G. Pope
father's name: Carl C. Pope
father's birthplace: USA
mother's name: Ellen M. Pope
mother's birthplace: Usa

Eugenia Mineley Le Clair
gender: Female
burial place: B. R. Falls, B. R. Falls, Wis.
death date: 16 Nov 1885
death place: Black River Falls, Jackson, Wisconsin
age: 24
birth date: 20 Jul 1861
birthplace: B. R. Falls, Wis.
occupation: Housewife
race: White
marital status: Married
spouse's name: Edgar A. Le Clair
father's name: Carl C. Pope
mother's name: Elen M. Pope

 

 


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