Charles K. Ladd "The Star Courier" - Kewanee, IL.

Taken from a newspaper article from "The Star Courier" - Kewanee, IL.

Monday, March 13, 1961, page five, by editor Chris R. Ketridge

Charles K. Ladd

“A brilliant Kewanee Democratic lawyer who shunned political office or patronage, who declined the vice presidential nomination in 1896 and was a campaign stand-in for William Jennings Bryan, a three-time loser for the presidency - that was Atty. Charles K. Ladd of Kewanee.

Bearing a strong resemblance to the "Great Commonor" in features and general appearance, Ladd, one of Kewanee's greatest lawyers more than half a century ago, was a personal friend of Bryan. They were both outstanding Democrats in their day and there was an amazing parallel in their lives which attracted national attention in Bryan's unsuccessful quest for the presidency.

Charles K. Ladd was born February 26, 1839, in Wilmot, New Hampshire, and his history was in measure shaped by the influences of his youthful days in the granite hills of that state. His parents were John T. Ladd, a stone cutter, and Lydia (Pervier) Ladd. In 1855, they came to Illinois settling at Indian Hill, a small place near Mineral. In 1858, they came to Kewanee.

Ladd attended Lombard College, Galesburg, and was a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. He entered the practice of law with Judge C.C. Wilson. He was one of the eminent lawyers, not only of Kewanee, but of the state and had rare ability as an orator and public speaker. For many years he was attorney for the Western Tube Co. (Walworth Co.) and other important interests and corporations in Kewanee.

Ladd was widely known for his political labors in behalf of the Democratic Party. His words and voice carried weight, not only in local but in state and national counsels.

In the political campaign of 1892, he delivered many addresses and following the election of Grover Cleveland was offered the United States District Attorneyship of northern Illinois. He had no desire, however, for public preferment and, declining the offer, recommended that his friend, Sherwood Dixon, of Dixon, be appointed. When Carter Harrison first became mayor of Chicago, he offered Mr. Ladd the position of Corporation Counsel, but this, too, was declined.

Ladd first formed the acquaintance of William Jennings Bryan at Springfield in 1894 and there was a close friendship that continued until Ladd's death at 69 in 1908. Mr. Ladd was often entertained in the home of Bryan at Lincoln, NE and Bryan was a guest in Ladd's home when he visited Kewanee.

It was during the campaign of 1896 that Bryan, on his special train, became fatigued and asked Ladd to speak for him. At every station where the train stopped were crowds waiting to get a glimpse of the prominent Nebraskan. Appearing on the rear train platform with Mrs. Bryan, Ladd made a number of speeches and was cheered as the "man from Nebraska."

Ladd was chairman of the Democratic state convention at Springfield in 1896. In the 1896 campaign he traveled throughout the East and Middle West delivering speeches, more than any other speaker in that campaign. A special train was at his disposal the greater part of the time. Bryan lost the election in 1896 to William McKinley, Republican, 271 to 176 electoral votes.

Ladd generally agreed with Bryan's political views but took strong exception to his views on government ownership. It was during the Democratic convention in 1896 that Ladd made the speech that quieted disorder and he defeated David B. Hill for temporary chairman. At that convention Ladd declined the vice presidency nomination.

In Kewanee, Charles K. Ladd was held in the highest regard. Although he shrank from public office he served for one term as alderman and later city attorney. Many of the city ordinances were prepared by Ladd. He was frequently recognized as the "father" of the Kewanee Public Library and his interest therein prompted the movement which culminated in the erection of the present library building at First and Tremont streets. Ladd's private library contained 4,800 volumes, the largest to be found in the central states.

In February 1870, Mr. Ladd married Miss Isabelle Shelton and to them were born two children, Grace Lillian and Ernest Charles. Charles K. Ladd was an uncle of Frank P. Ladd, now residing at 202 N. Vine St., Kewanee, IL.

Ladd's creed, which found exemplification in his life, was that of Thomas Paine: "Loving mercy, doing justice and endeavoring to make his fellow creatures happy."

The last days of Mr. Ladd's life were spent in a new home at Chestnut and Division streets. He died May 28, 1908, at the age of 69.

William Jennings Bryan was 65 when he died in 1925. Born at Salem, Ill., he was a graduate of the Illinois College and Union College of Law in Chicago, in 1883. In 1887, he went to Lincoln, Neb. where he won national attention in the presidential campaign in 1888. In 1894, he was defeated for the U. S. Senate in a campaign restricted to the silver question.

In 1896, Bryan was sent as a delegate to the Democratic national convention at Chicago and there easily captured control of the convention, wrote the party platform and delivered his famous “Cross of Gold” speech, containing a passage, “You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.” He lost this, his first of three attempts for the presidency, to William McKinley.

In 1900, he was again defeated by McKinley, 292 to 155 electoral votes. After the 1900 election, Bryan published and edited at Lincoln, Neb., a weekly political journal, The Commoner. His third try for the presidency in 1908 resulted in defeat by William H. Taft. Republican, 321 to 162 electoral votes.

Bryan’s last public appearance was in 1925 at the trial of J. T. Scopes, a school teacher in Dayton, Tenn., arrested on a charge of violating the state law prohibiting teaching in public schools theories that deny divine creation of man as taught in the Bible. Bryan went to Dayton to assist the prosecution.

Widespread interest was manifested in the case, which in the hands of Bryan and Clarence Darrow, chief defense counsel, assumed the form of a contest between fundamentalism and modernism. Scopes was found guilty, though Bryan was prevented, through the tactics of Darrow, from delivering the elaborate speech which he had prepared in refutation of Darwin’s theories. Bryan died at Dayton, Tenn., July 26, 1925.”

Submitted by Bonny LADD-SULLIVAN Jan 20, 2001

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