Surnames: Field, Mason, Phillips
Regions: Madison and Oneida Co., NY - Dane Co., WI
Source: Wisconsin Its Story and Biography; Vol 5; Pages 1073-1076
Holding prestige as one of the able and resourceful members of the bar of the city of Chicago, Mr. Vroman there shows his abiding interest in his native state by retaining active membership in the Wisconsin Society, and prior to his removal to the great western metropolis he had gained secure prestige in his professional work in Wisconsin, as one of the leading members of the bar of the city of Green Bay, whence he removed to Chicago in 1900. He is a representative of one of the staunch pioneer families of Wisconsin, with whose history the name of Vroman has been worthily identified since the early territorial epoch, and thus there is all consistency in according to him specific recognition in this publication.
Mr. Vroman was born on a pioneer farmstead in Fitchburg township, Dane county, Wisconsin, about seven miles distant from Madison, the beautiful capital city of the state, and the date of his nativity was October 5, 1846. He is a son of William and Harriet (Field) Vroman, the former a native of Madison County, New York, where he was born in the year 1818. The father continued his residence in Wisconsin from the pioneer days until his death, in 1886, and his widow now resides at Madison, this state, at the venerable age of eighty-nine years (1913), one of the noble women who have witnessed the development and up-building of the Badger Commonwealth and one who has the affectionate regard of all who have come within the benignant compass of her influence. She was born in Durhamville, Oneida County, New York in 1824 where her parents were early settlers. Of the two children of William and Harriet (Field) Vroman, the elder is one who initiates this review, and .Josephine is the wife of Edward C. Mason, of Madison, Wisconsin.
William Vroman was reared and educated in his native state and first came to the territory of Wisconsin in the '30s. On account of the disturbed conditions incidental to the Black Hawk Indian War, he returned to New York state, where he remained until after his marriage. In 1843 he came with his wife to Wisconsin and they established their home on an embroyonic farm near Madison in Fitchburg Township, Dane county.
He was one of the early settlers of that township, where he bravely set himself to the herculean task of reclaiming a farm from the wilderness and where he also developed a prosperous enterprise in building houses for other pioneers. He was also one of the first contractors to engage in building operations in Madison, the capital of the state. He continued to reside on his farm until 1860, when he was elected treasurer of Dane county, with official headquarters in Madison, the county seat, in which place he established the family home in 1862. He gave a careful and effective administration of the fiscal affairs of the county and continued to serve as treasurer for four ears. He established himself in the lumber business in the little capital city with various branch yards at other points in the state, and in their field of enterprise he built up a prosperous business, to which he continued to devote his attention until the late 70's, after which he lived virtually retired until his death--an honored and influential citizen of the county in which he was a sterling pioneer. Mr. Vroman was a man of distinct individuality and well fortified opinions and was an active and influential factor in political affairs in his county. He originally gave his allegiance to the Whig party but was a staunch supporter of the cause of the Republican party from its inception until the close of his life. Though not forally identified with any religious body he was a regular attendant and liberal supporter of the Congregational church. of which his widow has been a devoted member for many years.
Charles E. Vroman gained his initial experience in connection with the environment and operations of the pioneer farm on which be was born, and his early educational advantages were those afforded in the district schools of the locality and period. He was enabled to continue his studies in the University of Wisconsin, in which he was a member of the class of 1868, PH. B., and he admirably fortified himself for his chosen profession by a course in the Albany Law College, at Albany. New York, in which he was graduated in 1869, and from which he received his well earned degree of Bachelor of Laws. He forthwith returned to Wisconsin and was admitted to its bar, and his first practical work in his profession was performed in connection with the office of the late Hon. William F. Vilas, of Madison, long one of the most distinguished lawyers and influential citizens of the state. After being thus associated with Senator Vilas for a few months Mr. Vroman became deputy clerk of the circuit court for that county, and of this office he continued the incumbent until the spring of 1870, when he removed to Green Bay, Wisconsin, the judicial center of Brown county, where he established himself in the active practice of his profession and became associated with Linneus Sale, under the firm name of Vroman & Sale. Through ability, discrimination, close application and integrity of purpose Mr. Vroman soon gained a prominent position at the bar of that section of the state and for a period of more than a quarter of a century was numbered among the leading lawyers of Green Bay, with a representative clientage and with a business that involved his appearance in connection with much important litigation. In 1890, with matured powers and the distinctive precedence given by success, he formed another professional alliance, under the title of Green, Vroman, Fairchild, North & Parker, and of this representative law firm he continued a member for a decade, at the expiration of which on the 1st of May, 1900, he withdrew from partnership to establish his home in Chicago, in which great metropolis he has found a broad and inviting field for his professional endeavors and in which he has achieved definite success and prestige. Upon removing to Chicago he became a member of the law firm of Flower, Vroman & Musgrave, and on the 15th of November, 1900, he was made assistant general solicitor for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, with headquarters in Chicago. To the duties of this important position he gave the major part of his time and attention until April 1, 1910, when he resumed the general practice of his profession, in partnership with his son William P., and Fayette S. Munro, and under the firm name of Vroman, Munro & Vroman. This effective alliance continued until the death of William P. Vroman in 1911, and since that time the large and representative law business has been continued under the title of Vroman & Munro.
In politics Mr. Vroman has ever been a stalwart advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party and while a resident of his native state he was influential in public affairs. He served several terms as city attorney of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and was for several years the incumbent of the office of district attorney of Brown County. At Green Bay he still maintains his affiliation with Washington Lodge, No. 23, Free & Accepted Masons, and Green Bay Chapter of Royal Arch Masons. At Madison, the capital of the state, he is a member of the University Club and he is actively identified with the Wisconsin State Historical Society, as well as the American Historical Association. He takes a deep interest in and is a valued member of the Wisconsin Society of Chicago, and in his home city is identified also with the Union League Club, the University Club. and the City Club.
At the home of the bride's parents, in Sun Prairie, Dane County, Wisconsin, on the 11th of May, 1871, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Vroman to Miss Emma R. Phillips. who was born and reared in that county and who likewise is a representative of a pioneer family of Wisconsin. Of the three children of Mr. and Mrs. Vroman the first, a daughter, died in infancy. William P., who died in 1911, at the age of thirty-two years, was at the time associated with his father in the practice of law, as previously noted, and his career was cut short in the very prime of his strong and noble manhood, and to the severe grief of a host of devoted friends and admirers. He was graduated in the law department of the University of Wisconsin as a member of the class of 1901, and had gained secure vantage ground in his chosen profession when his death occurred, this being the severest of blows to his devoted parents. John C., the surviving son, completed his technical education in the University of Wisconsin and is now successfully engaged in the work of his profession of civil and mechanical engineer, with headquarters in Chicago, where he still remains at the parental home.
See Also: Harriet Field
