Untitled
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 332
HON. JAMES H. CABANIS, who served as mayor of Platteville, Grant county, in 1900, was born in Springfield, Ill., Dec. 25, 1838, a son of George E. and Mary A. (LANTERMAN) CABANIS, who were the parents of two children: Jasper N. and James H., of whom more will soon be said.
George E. CABANIS was born in Kentucky in 1817, and when a young man located in Springfield, Ill., where he married Miss LANTERMAN, and where he followed his trade of carpenter until 1845 - working in his earlier days on a boat for Abraham Lincoln. In the year last named he brought his family to Smelser township, Grant county, Wis., where he passed away in 1892, and where his widow still resides.
Jasper N. CABANIS, alluded to above, was born in Springfield, Ill., in 1836, was brought to Smelser when about nine years old, was here educated in the Platteville Academy, and here grew to manhood. Not long after the Civil war broke out he enlisted, in the 25th Wis. V.I., and died while in the service, leaving his widow, who had borne the maiden name of Hannah RICHARDS, with one son, Leon, who now resides at Storm Lake, Iowa.
James H. CABINIS, who was but seven years old when brought to Smelser, was also educated in the old academy of the town, and for six or seven years thereafter taught in the public schools of the county. In 1867 he married Miss Ada H. HANEY, a native of Grant county, and a member of one of the old pioneer families of Wisconsin. After marriage Mr. CABANIS settled in Georgetown village, where he was engaged in mercantile trade for over thirty years, and he also owned a large farm near by, which he cultivated to a considerable extent. In 1895, he came to Platteville, and engaged in the gents' furnishing trade and in tailoring, succeeding beyond his expectations in this line.
In 1898 Mr. CABANIS, who had become very popular both as a tradesman and as a politician, was elected mayor of Platteville on the Republican ticket by a large majority, having qualified himself for this important and responsible office by having previously filled several offices of trust and honor in Grant county, such as member of the town board of Georgetown and representative from his district in the State Legislature, in 1881 and 1882. As the mayor of Platteville he exhibited great executive ability, and filled his seat with grace and dignity.
To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. CABANIS have been born four children, in the following order: Mary, a graduate in music from Evanston Conservatory, Ill., and now the wife of Simon CLARK, of Grant county, and the mother of three children, Florence, and the twins, Donald and Harold; Frank, who is vice-president of the Big Patch Zinc and Lead Co., of Grant county, and is manager of the mines; Harry, a bookkeeper for his father; and Jennie F., a student at the State Normal school in Platteville.
Mr. and Mrs. CABANIS have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for more than thirty years, and still take an active part and interest in its work. Fraternally Mr. CABANIS is a Mason. He has been one of the most successful of business men, and, with Mr. REED as his partner, owns the largest tailoring and gents' furnishing store in the city of Platteville.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck