(15 Jan. 1846-12 April 1934), lumberman, businessman. (E. L. Urquhart, usually known as “E.L.” and “Eli” in Medford) Born in the 7th Concession of Kenyon Township, GC. Parents: James Urquhart, who was born in GC, and his wife Margaret Leonard, who was born at Moneymore in County Londonderry, Ireland, and whose father was Capt. Elias Leonard of the British Navy. Elias L. Urquhart attended primary school at MacGillivrays Bridge, the family having moved to Charlottenburgh Township. At the age of about 19 (probably in 1865, and therefore at about the end of the Civil War), he went to the United States. In the 1870s Urquhart, who had earlier worked at lumbering in Michigan, was “employed in logging, estimating and surveying” in the Wisconsin lumber industry. In 1880 he settled at Medford, Taylor County, Wisc., and in that town he operated a sawmill and maintained other lumbering interests till 1890, after which he concentrated on real estate and insurance. Urquhart was sheriff of Taylor County for two years, 1880 and 1881. By 1904 he had served for 15 years on the county board of supervisors, having been its chairman during much of that time, and he was a member of the board as late as 1932. He was postmaster of Medford for 4 years, 1890-1894, and was mayor of Medford in 1904. Also, for many years he was on the town board of education. A Republican, and active locally in his party, he was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, 1909, 1911 and 1913. He was marrried on 23 June 1874 to Catherine Deveraux or Devereux (1854-22 Jan. 1931), who was born in County Mayo, Ireland. (ten children) Her family had emigrated to Canada, and then to Wisconsin, where she met Urquhart. E. L. Urquhart died at his home in Medford. Mason. He was a Protestant, but his wife’s obituary identifies her as a Roman Catholic.
Star News (Medford, Wisc.,) 19 April 1934 (portrait) * biog. in Commemorative Biographical Record of the Upper Lake Region (Chicago, 1905) 127-128 (QF) * Wisconsin Blue Book 1913 p. 685: biog. & portrait * gravestone of his parents, Fraser, Gravestones, I, 122 * Arthur J. Latton, Reminiscences and Anecdotes of Early Taylor County (1947), various refs. * obituary of wife, Star News 29 Jan. 1931