WILLIAM M. FOGO was identified with the progress of Richland county for a full half century, his realm of activity being in that division of civic employment known as the newspaper field. He was an Ohioan by birth, the place of his nativity being Columbiana county, and the date June 18, 1841. His early youth was spent in his native county and state, but when he had reached the age of eleven years his parents migrated to Wisconsin, and he participated in the trials and adventures incident to the journey. The trip was made mostly by water, going down the Ohio river to Cairo, and thence by the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers to what is now the town of Orion in Richland county, and the journey was made from there to Fancy Creek with ox teams. Mr. Fogo thus began a pioneer life at a tender age, but he lived to see the county grow from its wild, undeveloped condition to its present state of productive development. He received as liberal an education as the common schools of his native state and the then new county of Richland afforded, and in addition to a faithful attendance upon these institutions of learning he remained at home and assisted his parents upon the farm until he was eighteen years of age. When but a boy he had taken a fancy to the printer's trade, and in 1859 he entered the office of the Richland County Democrat, of which W. P. Furey was at that time editor, and began work as an apprentice. He continued thus employed until the tocsin of war had sounded a call to arms, and then exchanged the peaceful "stick" for the belligerent musket and marched forth to meet his country's foes in mortal combat. On Dec. 10, 1861, he enlisted in Company F of the Second Wisconsin cavalry, and served one year, when he was discharged on account of ill health, the exact date of his discharge being Dec. 21, 1862. During this term of service he officiated as bugler of his company, taking part in the battle of Cotton Plant and serving through the summer of 1862 in Arkansas, where the malarial climate seriously affected his health. After his discharge he returned home, where he remained until Aug. 30, 1864, when, his health in a measure having been regained, he enlisted as a private in Company B of the Forty-second Wisconsin infantry. A short time afterward, on Sept. 15, 1864, he was promoted to sergeant-major of the regiment and served in that capacity until he was mustered out on June 20, 1865, the war having ended and the Union having been restored. During its term of service the regiment was stationed in southern Illinois and at other points, quelling the secession proclivities of some districts by military surveillance when necessary. His love for newspaper work being as great as before, soon after his return home Mr. Fogo became one of the proprietors of the Richland County Observer and continued as one of its publishers for about one year, when he severed his connection with the publication and, going to Calumet county, he established the Calumet Reflector and conducted that periodical for one year. He then went to Cresco, Iowa, and soon afterward purchased an interest in the Howard County Times, with which publication he was connected until 1873. In the above named year he disposed of his interest in the Iowa paper and returned to Richland Center, where he bought an interest in the Richland County Republican and conducted the paper in partnership with J. H. Waggoner. Various changes in the ownership and management of the paper took place in the succeeding years, which are given in detail in one of the general chapters of this volume, but through them all Mr. Fogo, remained at the helm, and for a period of eighteen years prior to his death was the sole proprietor. He was an able editor, a pungent writer, and under his supervision the Republican and Observer became one of the leading county papers of the state. In addition to his newspaper work he found time to devote to other interests of a public nature, and during his career held many offices of trust and responsibility. He served as book-keeper and assistant clerk in the Wisconsin assembly and was clerk of the committee on war claims at Washington during one year of President Harrison's administration. In 1896 he was elected a member of the assembly from Richland county and was re-elected in 1898, serving two terms in that position with honor to himself and profit to his constituency. For a number of years he was secretary of the Richland County Agricultural Society, and he also served as secretary of the Old Settlers' Association. Mr. Fogo was married in 1866 to Miss Amelia St. John, and to this union there were born two children: Emma C., who is the wife of Ralph Thurber, the present executive clerk to Gov. James O. Davidson; and Stephen W., who is the editor of the Republican Observer. Mr. Fogo died at his home in Richland Center on July 31, 1903, mourned by a host of friends who cherish his memory with the highest regard.

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Private Co F 2nd Wis Cav
Sergeant Major Co B and Field & Staff 42th Wis Inf
Civil War Veteran

Married 16 Sep 1866 in New London, Huron Co., Ohio.