If you’ve spent time in Madison, you know the Vilas name.
You’ve visited Henry Vilas Zoo, played soccer at Vilas Park, or driven down Vilas Avenue. You may live in the Vilas Neighborhood. On campus, you may work or study in Vilas Hall. Perhaps you’ve traveled north to Vilas County. Walk through Forest Hill Cemetery, and you might notice the Vilas family plot, marked by a formidable granite obelisk.
On Saturday, I set out to capture some photographs of that landmark. While waiting for my camera to complete this 900-frame time-lapse, I did a little googling. And a lot of learning.
The part of the Vilas legacy I know best is the zoo, which was donated by William and Anna Vilas in memory of their son, Henry.
In 1904, the City of Madison received 50 acres of land from William and Anna Vilas under the conditions that it be used “for the uses and purposes of a public park and pleasure ground.” The park was named in honor of their son, Henry, who died at a young age from complications related to diabetes. The family stipulated that the park always be admission free. In 1911, 28 acres of the park were partitioned into an animal exhibit, now known as the Vilas Zoo.
But that is just the tip of the obelisk, as they say.
William Freeman Vilas was born in Vermont but moved to Wisconsin as a child. He earned his undergraduate, graduate, and law degrees from the University of Wisconsin. His legal career was cut short by the Civil War.
When the country needed men for active service in the time of the civil war, Mr. Vilas, a young man barely 21 years old, just entering the practice of law in Madison, closed his office and with the vigor and enthusiasm of youth soon raised a company and was ready for service. After camping at Camp Randall, he left for the South as captain of Company A in the 23rd Wisconsin Regiment…was soon promoted to Major and in less than a month after that to…Lieutenant Colonel.
He led the 23rd at Vicksburg, where you will find a bronze likeness of the man today. After the war, he returned to Madison, where he taught Law at UW. He became a leader in the Democratic Party, and joined Pres. Grover Cleveland’s cabinet as Postmaster General. In 1888, Vilas was appointed Secretary of the Interior. When Cleveland lost his reelection bid, Vilas returned to his UW post, then resumed his political career in 1891 when he was elected to the U.S. Senate. Vilas retired from politics in 1897.
The Colonel served on the UW Board of Regents from 1881 to 1885, and from 1898 to 1905, continuing his lifelong connection to the campus.
“The deep affection which Vilas had for the university…was made known to the world” after his death. Making allowances for his wife and daughter, Vilas left the bulk of his $1.9-million estate to the University. At his memorial service, UW leaders praised his generosity and extolled his independence.
He believed the regents were placed in the positions they occupied to administer the trust imposed upon them to the best of their judgment and ability. Therefore, whenever a subject was up for consideration, were it great or small, the sole consideration with him was, is this for the best interest of the university, and for higher education in the state? If his conclusion was in the affirmative, it had his support. What members of the legislature might say, what individuals of the state might think, it did not even occur to him to ask or to care. These outside opinions based upon imperfect knowledge of the facts were to him as if non-existent. Colonel Vilas’s course clearly proved that courage, when combined with judgment, is wisdom. – University of Wisconsin President Charles R. Van Hise
He was a tower of strength to the conscientious teacher and investigator; an adviser of rare insight to the student; a vigilant guardian of its financial resources; a profound believer in its future and a staunch supporter of its logical development in the halls of legislation. As I contemplate the relation that Colonel Vilas bore to the university I am deeply impressed with the retroactive effect which grew out of that relation. Both came together in their youth; both fostered and nourished each other; both became great in human estimation and usefulness, a great school and a great man welded in affectionate regard for each other to the final glory and advancement of a great commonwealth. – Regent President William D. Hoard
Some legacies fade with time. Others grow.
In 2015-16, more than $12 million in proceeds from the Vilas family trust will support faculty positions, student scholarships, and other programs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
That legacy, like the obelisk, casts a long shadow.
