Answer. I asked him what was the amount of the capital stock of the company? He replied, ten million dollars. I told him to say to Byron Kilbourn, that if he would multiply the capital stock of the company by the number of leaves in the Capitol Park, and give me that amount in money, and then have himself, Kilbourn, Moses Strong, and Mitchell blacked, and give me a clear title to them as servants for life, I would take the matter under consideration. I was strongly solicited several different times during the pendency of said bill before the Legislature by the Hon. Wm. Chappell, then a member of the Assembly, to support the bill; and on one occasion he stated to me, that if the said bill passed, he, Chappell, would make $20,000 by it, or out of it, and that he wanted to see me do the same. I asked him how I could make it? He replied that my position as a senator would command that sum from the La Crosse Company, or words to that effect. He did not pretend to be authorized by any one to make any proposition, but did give me to understand that there was an arrangement to the effect, that those senators who came into it should receive that amount.

Question.-Did you, while a member of such Legislature, or at any time afterwards, receive or accept, either directly or indirectly, or did any person receive or accept for you, from any person or corporation, any stock, bonds, money, or other valuable things in consideration, or as a reward for your official vote, or your official or personal influence in favor or against any such measure or measures, or as a gratuity, gift, or present? If so, state when, and from whom.

Answer.-I did not at any time.

Question. Did you have, during such session, or have you since had any conversation with any, and what members of that Legislature, relative to accepting or receiving, or having accepted or received, or having been procured, or expecting to receive any bonds, stock, money, or other thing in consideration for voting, or using their influence in procuring, or opposing the passage of any measure or bill relating to the disposition of lands granted to this State to aid in the construction of railroads? If so, state with whom such conversation occurred, and what was the substance of it?

Answer was in the affirmative with bill of particulars.

This testimony certainly entitles him to the sobriquet "Honest Cobb."

Cobb was speaker of the Assembly in 1861 when the war broke out, and as soon as the session closed he began enlisting men, and speaking through southwestern Wisconsin in favor of volunteering. It is said that he urged an early adjournment of the Legislature for the purpose of recruiting, and that his example and enthusiasm had much to do with Wisconsin's prompt response to the call for troops. May 28, 1861, he was commissioned by the governor, colonel of the Fifth Wisconsin, sworn into the United States service July 12, 1861. The Fifth Wisconsin Infantry drilled at Camp Randall, Madison, throughout the summer of 1861, and in September was forwarded to Washing

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ton, where the regiment soon became part of Hancock's brigade. Its colonel was acting commander of the brigade at the battle of Antietam and during other lesser actions. December 25, 1862, Colonel Cobb, having been elected to Congress from the third Wisconsin district, resigned his command. He entered Congress in January, 1863; during the recess in 1864 Cobb returned to Wisconsin and actively engaged in recruiting another regiment. Of this, the Forty-third Wisconsin, he was commissioned colonel August 10, 1864, sworn into United States service September 29, 1864. During the autumn of 1864 he was in the field, returning to Congress for the session beginning in December. March 13, 1865, he was assigned to the command of the Third Brigade, first district of Middle Tennessee, which he held until June 17, being mustered out June 24, 1865. This record of his military service is combined from the Wisconsin roster and Heitman's register. It is evident that he did hold two positions under the government from August 10, 1864, to June 24, 1865-Congressman and military officer.

HISTORICAL NOTES

ADDITIONS TO HISTORICAL SOCIETY

During the three months' period ending October 10, 1921, there were fourteen additions to the membership roll of the State Historical Society. Five of these enrolled as life members, as follows: Walter D. Corrigan, Milwaukee; Claude Hamilton, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Dr. Ludvig Hektoen, Chicago; Mrs. William S. Hills, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Henry D. Laughlin, Ashland.

Nine persons became annual members of the Society: Edgar G. Doudna, Wisconsin Rapids; P. P. Graven, Menomonie; Elmer S. Hall, Madison; Walter B. Kellogg, Superior; Judge Jeremiah O'Neil, Prairie du Chien; J. W. Pryor, Barneveld; Mrs. Mae Ella Rogers, Crandon; Rev. E. Benjamin Schlueter, Markesan; Edward H. Smith, Madison.

KENSINGTON RUNESTONE

A volume, in French, of the miscellaneous historical papers of Benjamin Sulte has been published by G. Ducharme, Montreal. The special interest of the volume to readers of this magazine, is a paper entitled "Au Mississippi en 1362," which is a discussion of the Kensington runestone, about which several papers have been published in this magazine. The reviewer of the volume for the Canadian Historical Review, volume 2, number 3, says that the article on the runestone "is mainly remarkable because it appears therein that Dr. Sulte is now convinced of the authenticity of the runestone, and believes that the Norsemen actually penetrated to the headwaters of the Mississippi by way of Hudson Bay in the middle of the fourteenth century."

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Professor John B. Parkinson ("Memories of Early Wisconsin and the Gold Mines") himself discourses interestingly of his early life. His later career, for more than half a century, has been identified with the University of Wisconsin in the several capacities of student, professor, vice-president, and vice-president emeritus.

Joseph Schafer ("Documenting Local History") is superintendent of the State Historical Society.

W. A. Titus ("Historic Spots in Wisconsin: VIII. St. Nazianz, A Unique Religious Colony") continues, in this issue, his interesting series of local historical studies.

The author of "A Treasure Quest" prefers to remain anonymous.