From History of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin - 1881, Volume 1, Page 632-633

COLONEL ELIAS A. CALKINS.  In the town of Royalton, Niagara County, N.Y., in the year 1828, Elias A. CALKINS was born.  At the age of 15 years he removed to Milwaukee with his parents, and very soon afterwards commenced to learn the bookbinder's trade in the pioneer book establishment of Hale & Chapman.  While thus engaged his spare time was employed in storing his mind with information, which, in after years, was invaluable to him in his profession as a journalist.  He did his first newspaper work for Sherman M. BOOTH, on the Wisconsin Free Democrat, occupying the position of local editor of the daily from the date of its establishment in the Fall of 1850, until May, 1851.  His department of the paper never lacked spice and interest.  After retiring from the Free Democrat, he was appointed local editor of the Commercial Advertiser, published by Cary & Rounds (the late Dr. Bushnell B. CARY and Sterling P. ROUNDS, now of Chicago).  He filled this position with marked ability until December, 1852.  The name of the paper was changed, while Azel P. LADD, Superintendent of Public Instruction, remaining until January, 1854, when Beriah BROWN, who was then publishing the Madison Argus and Democrat, seeing in the young man rare journalistic ability, appointed him assistant editor of his paper.  He had not been on the paper long when Mr. BROWN felt free to leave him in full charge for weeks at a time, and upon returning was in the habit of telling his intimate friends that "young CALKINS could run my paper better than I can!"  In 1855, Colonel CALKINS and Gen. James K. PROUDFIT, now of Topeka, Kansas, became publishers of the Argus and Democrat, and continued in charge until 1857, in which year PROUDIFT retired and was succeeded by George WEBB.  CALKINS & WEBB published it until 1859, when the firm became CALKINS & Co., and remained so until 1861, when Colonel CALKINS decided to enter the army.  He was offered a commission as colonel, but declined, and was appointed Major of the Third Wisconsin Cavalry, of which the late Governor Barstow was Colonel.  The new major was active and untiring in the work of organizing and getting the regiment ready for service.  In 1863, he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel, and served until March, 1865, participating in the campaigns of the Southwest.  He was a brave and popular officer, highly esteemed by the entire regiment and by his superiors.  At the close of the war, he was editor of the Madison Capital, subsequently changed to the Union, the late George HYER being his partner.  He remained editor of this paper until 1867.  In 1866, President Johnson appointed him Collector of Internal Revenue for the Second District of Wisconsin.  He held the office until March, 1867, when the Senate rejected the nomination.  Removing to St. Paul, he became one of the editors of the Pioneer, and remained there until 1870, when he returned to Milwaukee and became one of the editors of the Milwaukee News.  His connection with the News terminated in 1876.  In December, 1878, in company with C. C. BOWSFIELD, he started the Milwaukee Sunday Telegraph.  The following July, he sold an interest to J. A. WATROUS, and in October, 1879, CALKINS and WATROUS bought the interest of Mr. BOWSFIELD, the firm becoming CALKINS & WATROUS.  Colonel CALKINS's last newspaper venture has proved one of his best, the Sunday Telegraph having been a success from the start, and has always ranked as one of the most popular weeklies Wisconsin ever had.  Colonel CALKINS is a life-long Democrat, but for several years has not taken an active part in politics.  As an editor, he has no superiors in the West, and but very few equals.  Everything he writes has a point to it, and he never writes anything that proves uninteresting.  There is not an editor in the State who is so familiar with its interests, who knows so many men, understands public sentiment so well, nor one who has more personal friends.  Genial, kindly, always good company, there are very few men who are not always glad to meet Colonel CALKINS.

Submitted by Carol