- CHARLES L. HUBBS. In American communities, more than in
those of any other country in the
- world, the sentiments, the hopes, the aspirations and the
progress of the people find their reflex in the daily or weekly
journalism which represents them. Americans are pre-eminently
a newspaper-reading people, and no sooner does a community reach
to the proportions of a village than there appears some adventurous
editor ready to champion its cause, to exult over its fortunes,
to proclaim its interest, and to demand redress for its injuries.
This is eminently true of Charles L. HUBBS,the able editor and
proprietor of the Lake Mills Leader. Mr. HUBBS was born in Cuylerville,
Livingston County, N.Y., January 24, 1851, a son of Alexander
and Elizabeth A. (STONE) HUBBS, who were also born in the Empire
State. The father was a contractor in the year 1855 in company
with his family he removed to Wisconsin and settled in Beloit,
in which city both parents passed from life, in 1859, leaving
three children: Norma A., George S. and Charles L. The paternal
grandfather of the subject of this sketch was of English descent
and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. At the time of his
parents' death, Charles L. HUBBS was but eight years old, and
for some time thereafter he made his home with one of his elder
brothers, and attended the public schools of Beloit. He continued
his education in the State University, and in 1873 came to Lake
Mills to accept a position as principal of the schools here,
having previously taught several terms while working his way
in the university. After filling the position of principal of
the school here for one year, he was a traveling salesman for
two years, and at the expiration of that time was again made
principal of the Lake Mills schools, and continued to fill this
position with marked ability until December, 1879, at which time
he resigned to enter upon his duties as county superintendent
of schools, to which he had been elected in November of that
year, on the Republican ticket.
- In 1881 he was honored by a re-election, the second term
being for three years on account of the
- biennial amendment made by the Legislature extending all
State and county terms of office, consequently Mr. HUBBS filled
this position for five years, and during this time he labored
faithfully, intelligently and with good results to raise the
standard of schools in Jefferson County. He is the only Republican
that has ever been elected to that office in Jefferson County
since its early history, but he proved an able official and did
much to advance the cause in this section. In August 1882, while
still superintendent, he purchased the newspaper plant at Lake
Mills, then known as the Lake Mills Spike, which was established
in November 1878, by A. G. BERNARD, who owned and operated the
same until succeeded by Mr. HUBBS. In October 1882, the name
was changed to the Lake Mills Leader, and the paper has been
successfully and ably conducted by Mr. HUBBS ever since. At
the time he purchased the paper outfit it was a small sheet,
but he has since enlarged it from a five-column to an eight-column
folio, and its circulation has greatly increased. He has added
a new type, presses, has fitted up his plant in first-class style,
and has done a paying newspaper and job printing business.
The plant is operated by steam power, and his paper ranks among
the leading and influential journals in the section of the State,
being a worthy representative of progressive, clean and reputable
journalism. It is distinguished for the complete way in which
it presents the news, and it is especially notable for the completeness
and excellence of its local features, and it is also distinguished
for the emphatic way in which it speaks its opinions of abuses
in the management of local affairs. Mr. HUBBS has done much
for the advancement of the interests of Lake Mills, and has taken
particular interest in educational affairs and has held the office
of president of the school board continuously since 1886.
- February 14, 1891, he was commissioned by President Harrison
as postmaster of Lake Mills, a
- position he still continues to fill with credit and to the
satisfaction of all concerned. He is a wide-awake man of affairs,
and in 1887 engaged in the sale of coal and later purchased the
elevator at the depot and engaged in the grain and feed business.
In April 1893, he consolidated these interests with the lumber
business of E. L. MILLS, and the combined interests have been
carried on most successfully under the firm name of HUBBS &
MILLS, their annual sales amounting to about $50,000. Mr. HUBBS
was married December 24, 1879, to Miss Mary A. GANTT, a native
of Cottage Grove, Dane County, Wis., and daughter of Frank and
Clarissa (CAMPBELL) GANTT, who were natives respectively of Vermont
and Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. HUBBS are the parents of four children:
Frank, who died October 27, 1893, at the age of eleven years;
Beulah; Clarence and Lucile. Mrs. HUBBS was reared in her native
county and received a liberal education in Whitewater Normal
school and the Wisconsin University, and for a number of years
was a successful teacher in the schools of the State. She and
her husband are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
socially he is a member of the I.O.O.F.
-
- Taken from "Memorial and Genealogical Record of Dodge
and Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin" (c)1894, pp. 465-467.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|