Profile of Hon. Adelbert E. Bleekman

Submitted by Arlene Goodwin

Source: "Biographical History of La Crosse, Monroe and Juneau Counties, Wisconsin," Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892; pp. 153-54.

Hon. Adelbert E. Bleekman, of the law firm of Bleekman & Bloomingdale, La Crosse, was born in Salisbury, Herkimer county, New York, March 26, 1846. On the paternal side he is of Holland ancestry, and on the maternal side he is of German extraction. His great-grandfather Daniel Bleekman, a Hollander, located near Stratford, Connecticut, prior to the Revolutionary war, and belonged to the community of colonists. He was one of the party who erected a liberty pole, and protected it from the British ax by forging nails and driving them into the pole.

He was a soldier all through the Revolutionary war, and was with Ethan Allen when he demanded the surrender of Ticonderoga "in the name of Jehovah and the Continental Congress." Ebenezer Bleekman, a son of Daniel, and grandfather of our subject, served in the war of 1812, and participated in the historic battle of Sackett's Harbor.

Warren Bleekman, the father of Adelbert E., was born in Stratford, Fulton county, New York, December 14, 1816, and died at La Fayette, Ohio, September 2, 1865. His wife Amanda Jacobs, was born in Salisbury, New York, February 22, 1826, and died at the same place as her husband, March 7, 1857. Three children were born to them: Adelbert E., Herbert E. and Ernest L. After the death of Mrs. Bleekman, Mr. B. married again, and had one child, Mary A.

In 1850 the family removed to Ohio, where our subject attended schools of various grades until his enlistment in the army, which occurred February 24, 1864, being assigned to Company A, Second Ohio Cavalry. The company was organized at Akron. From the time of his enlistment until he received a disabling injury, he participated in all of the engagement of his regiment; took part in the Wilderness campaign, being with the Ninth Army Corps on the right during the terrible fighting of May 5, 1864. He was in the engagement of Spottsylvania, Hanover Courthouse, Ashland Station and Malvern Hill; he was with the Wilson raiding party, which destroyed the Danville and Weldon Railroad. He received a severe injury to his leg, and was sent to City Point Hospital, and thence to Washington, where he obtained a furlough, remaining at home forty-five days during the presidential campaign of 1864. He was mustered out of service June 30, 1865. Returning home he again entered school; he was a student at the academy at Little Falls, New York, and afterward at Albert College, Belleville, Ontario. In March, 1869, he located at Tomah, Wisconsin, and taught school two years, meanwhile devoting his leisure hours to the study of law. In September, 1870, he was admitted to practice, and in July of the following year he opened an office for the practice of his profession in Tomah. He was elected to the Assembly of Wisconsin in the fall of 1872, and in the following year he was chosen to represent his party in the State Senate. At the close of the senatorial term he removed to Sparta, where he continued in the practice of his profession until 1886, the date of his removal to La Crosse. In 1876 he was elected District Attorney of Monroe county, in which position he served one term. Since locating in La Crosse Mr. Bleekman had devoted himself assiduously to this professional work, and has declined any honors not connected with his legal interest. A close student, with ample facilities for self-improvement, a fine professional library, a highly developed literary taste, and a fluent speaker, it is not strange that he soon received recognition as a trial lawyer among the most able and successful attorneys in the city. He is closely devoted to his profession, and makes that paramount to all other considerations. A large and increasing practice is the legitimate outgrowth of close attention to business in all its details.

Mr. Bleekman has been twice married. His first wife, Eliza, daughter of Timothy and Tirzah Farnham, of Belleville, Ontario, died in April, 1875, leaving one child, William E. August 24, 1876, Mr. B. was married to Alice, daughter of Harvey and Maria (Whiton) Bush, of Tomah, Wisconsin. Three children have blessed this union: Katie (deceased), Adelbert E. and Ruth. Mr. B. is a Republican in politics and socially is a member of the G. A. R., I. O. O. F & A. F. & A. M.

Contributor Arlene Goodwin isn't related to Mr. Bleekman. She found an old copy of this book and is typing up profiles of former New York State residents profiled in it and contributing them to county sites!

Back to Town of Salisbury Page

Back to Herkimer/Montgomery Counties NYGenWeb

Back to New York State GenWeb