Biographies:  LaFayette M. STURDEVANT, Eau Claire, Eau Claire Co., WI 

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LaFayette M. Sturdevant, attorney-at-law, Eau Claire, Wis., was born in 
Warren county, Pennsylvania, September 17, 1856.  His parents, Hiram N. 
and Sarah A. (Reed) Sturdevant, were both natives of the Keystone state 
and of Holland Dutch descent.  In 1865 they came to Wisconsin and settled 
in Clark county, where the father purchased a 120-acre tract of land, to 
which he subsequently added 80 more acres, all of which he cleared and 
improved with substantial buildings and the land brought to a good state 
of cultivation.  Here he made his home until his death in 1888 at the age 
of sixty-seven years.  He reared a family of six children as follows:  
LaFayette M., Mary, wife of Amenzo Verbeck; James E., Arthur H., Fred F., 
and Almeda.

LaFayette M. was reared on the farm from the age of nine years, and grew 
to manhood in Clark county, receiving his education in the public schools, 
and taught school five terms in that county.  At the age of 20, in 1876, 
he began the study of law in the office of his cousin, J. R. Sturdevant, 
at Neillsville, Wis., and was admitted to the bar in 1878, when he at once 
began the practice of his profession with L. A. Doolittle under the firm 
name of Doolittle & Sturdevant.  At the end of two years, in 1880, he 
severed his connection with Mr. Doolittle and entered into partnership 
with J. R. Sturdevant, forming the well-known firm of Sturdevant & 
Sturdevant, which arrangement continued for eight years, when the 
partnership was dissolved, and from 1888 to 1903 Mr. Sturdevant practiced 
alone in Neillsville.  In the latter year he was elected attorney general 
of the state, and re-elected in 1905.  Finishing his second term in 1908, 
he became attorney for Governor Davidson, at Madison, holding that position 
until August, 1910, when he located at Eau Claire, where he has since been 
in active and successful practice of his profession as a member of the firm 
of Sturdevant & Farr.

Mr. Sturdevant has been twice married; his first wife was Minetta, daughter 
of Orson and Euretta (Hastings) Bacon, of Neillsville, Wis., by whom he had 
three children, viz.:  Clarence L., Hugh H., and Viola E.  The present Mrs. 
Sturdevant was Mary E. Williams, daughter of Peter Williams, of Camp Point, 
Ill.

In politics Mr. Sturdevant is a republican, and as such represented Clark 
county in the legislature for two terms and served the same county two terms 
as district attorney.  He is a member of the Unitarian Church, Modern 
Woodsmen of America and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.        

--Taken from "The History of Eau Claire County, 1914, Past & Present",
page 288.