Robert McKee Bashford

ROBERT McKEE BASHFORD, A. M., LL. B., Professor of the Law of Private Corporations and Commercial Law. Born at Fayette, La Fayette County, Wisconsin, December 31, 1845.

Fitted at the preparatory department of U. W., entering its academic department in the ancient classical course in 1864. Owing to his teaching during part of the course, he did not graduate until 1870. The following year he also graduated from the Law School. He was a member of Athenae, and presided at the first public joint debate with Hesperia in 1868. He also represented her in the joint debate of 1869, and again in the joint oratorical exhibition of the two societies in 1870. In 1874, Mr. Bashford received the degree of A. M. From 1871-76 he was one of the editors and proprietors of the Madison daily and weekly Democrat. He then engaged in the practice of law at Madison, which has since been his home, with the exception of three years (1886-89) wh n he resided and practiced in Chicago. From 1881-86 Mr. Bashford was city attorney of Madison, and served as a member of the committee for the construction of the Madison water-works. I n 1884 he was elected a member of the U. W. law faculty, a position which he resigned upon hi s removal to Chicago. He was re-elected to his present position in 1893. From 1890-91 he was mayor of Madison; 1893-95, State senator from Dane County. During his term in the senate he was instrumental in securing large appropriations for the University, especially for the purchase of Camp Randall, for the Horticultural Building, and for the Historical Library Building. Mr. Bashford has been a member of the school board and of the water works commission; a member of the executive committee for Wisconsin of the American Bar Association; a member of the U. W. Athletic Association and of its executive committee; also one of the curators of th e State Historical Society of Wisconsin. He compiled the Wisconsin Legislative Manual for the years 1875-78. He has published in pamphlet form a History of Early Banking in Wisconsin. 

On November 27, 1873, he married Miss Florence E. Taylor (U. W., '74), who died on August 16, 1886, leaving a daughter, now Mrs. Florence Bashford Spensley. On February 7, 1889, he was again married to Miss Sarah Amelia Fuller.

From History of Dane County, Wisconsin, publ. by Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1880, page 951-952

ROBERT McKEE BASHFORD, the son of Samuel Morris and Mary Ann BASHFORD, was born at Fayette, La Fayette Co., Wis., Dec. 31, 1845; his father, a native of New York, settled in Grant Co., in July 1835. Having there buried his first wife, he was, on June 27, 1843, united in marriage to Mrs. Mary Ann PARKINSON, whose first husband, Wm. Carroll PARKINSON, had died a few years previous; she was the daughter of Robert McKEE, of Edwardsville, Ill., and was born in Kentucky; with her first husband she had removed to Wisconsin in the spring of 1839, and settled in the town of Fayette, on the farm where she has since continued to reside; she is now living with her third husband, Wm. P. TROUSDALE, Samuel M. B. having died June 16, 1850.
The first visit of R. M. BASHFORD to Dane Co. was in 1860, to attend the commencement exercises of the State University; three years later he entered the preparatory department of the University, and graduated in the classical course in June 1870, having during that time, taught a number of terms; at the fall term of the same year, he entered the law department of the University, and graduated in June 1871, and was then admitted to practice in the Supreme Court and other courts of the State; during the time he was in the law school, he was also a student in the office of Smith & Lamb. In April 1871, he became connected with the Madison Dailey and Weekly Democrat as one of its editors and proprietors, and continued his connection with the paper until April 1876, when he disposed of his interest therein to engage in the practice of his chosen profession; in June 1876, he formed a law partnership with Col. Charles R. GILL, who had served for two terms as Attorney General of the State, and has since been engaged in the practice of law.
Mr. B. compiled the "Legislative Manual of Wisconsin" for the years 1875, 1876, 1877 and 1878, and was engaged in the publication of the revision of the Statutes of 1878.
On Nov. 27, 1873, Robert M. BASHFORD was married to Florence E. TAYLOR, the daughter of Hon. Wm. R. TAYLOR, of Cottage Grove, Dane Co., Wis.; she is a native of the county, and was born at Cottage Grove, June 16, 1854; she graduated at the State University in June 1874, having been a member of the Senior Class at the time of her marriage. One child is the result of this union - Florence Madeline, born Sept. 4, 1875.
Robert M. was the oldest of four brothers who graduated from the classical course in the State University- John Wesley BASHFORD, of the Class of '71; James Whitford BASHFORD, of the Class of '73, and Samuel Whitney TROUSDALE, of the Class of '77 - three of whom, after graduation, were for a time connected with the instructional force of the University; John W. graduated also from the law department of the University in 1874, and at once engaged in the practice of law at Hudson, St. Croix Co., Wis., where he still resides, having in 1875, been united in marriage to Miss Alice WELCH, of Arlington, Columbia Co., Wis., a former student of the University. James W. pursued a course of study in the Boston University in theology, philosophy, and oratory, and, having graduated in all these departments, joined the New England Conference of the M. E. Church, and was appointed to a pastorate in the city of Boston. He married, in 1878, Jennie FIELD, a daughter of Hon. W. W. FIELD, a native of Grant Co., Wis., and a graduate of the State University, Class of 1874. Samuel W. TROUSDALE also pursued a theological course at the Boston University and entered the Methodist ministry.
Robert M. BASHFORD has served several years as a member of the Board of Trustees of the state Historical Society; he has always taken an active part in the meetings of the Alumni Association of the State University, and at the June meeting, 1880, was elected President of the Association.

Robert McKee Bashford was born in Lafayette County, Wisconsin, on December 31, 1845, growing up on the family farm. He graduated from University of Wisconsin with a degree in ancient classical studies in 1870 and earned a law degree in 1871 and a master's degree in 1874.
In 1871, Robert and two others purchased The Democrat, a Madison newspaper. In his capacity as editor, Bashford influenced the successful gubernatorial campaigns of James R. Doolittle and William R. Taylor. After leaving the paper, Bashford joined a Madison law firm and served as city attorney from 1881 to 1886. In 1886, he moved to Chicago to practice commercial and corporate law. The firm was successful in Chicago, but Bashford disliked the daily strain and returned to Madison. In 1890, he was elected mayor of Madison and successfully assisted the state attorney general in prosecuting former state treasurers for the return of interest they had collected on the deposit of public funds. The state recovered nearly a half-million dollars. From 1893 to 1897, Bashford was a state senator and for seven years, taught at the University of Wisconsin Law School. Bashford enjoyed teaching, giving them the best of himself and his spirit and the love of the law entered into many of his lectures. Bashford was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in January 1908, upon the death of Chief Justice John B. Cassoday, but six months later, lost in a special election to John Barnes but went on in resuming his law practice. Bashford died January 29, 1911, in Madison. John A. Aylward spoke at Robert's memorial service, giving many insights into Robert's life and career. [Source: WI Court System]

The Bemidji Daily Pioneer - Jan 31 1911 - Wisconsin Jurist Dead. Madison, Wis., Jan. 31.Former Supreme Court Justice Robert M. Bashford, sixty-five years old, is dead after a six months' illness

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 22 2017, 4:11:40 UTC