Syver Ellefson Brimi (1856-1936)

From the Weekly Wisconsin, October 11, 1890.

   Joining a short list of Norwegian-born political figures featured here, Syver Ellefson Brimi etched his name into Wisconsin history books in 1887 when he introduced legislation that would protect birds in his state, the first bill of its kind to be presented in the Wisconsin legislature. In addition to his one term in the house of representatives Brimi was an unsuccessful candidate for state railroad commissioner and in 1888 served as a Republican presidential elector. Born in Lom, Norway on December 27, 1853, Syver Ellefson Brimi is recorded as having "an excellent education in his native land" prior to immigrating to the United States in 1869.

  Now in the Land of Opportunity alone, Brimi is mentioned as residing in Illinois for fourteen months, his places of residence given as both Chicago and Naperville. Around 187o he removed to Eau Clair, Wisconsin, and after resettling there furthered his education under the tutelage of Prof. Thomas F. Frawley. After becoming proficient in English, Brimi took work in the Northwestern Lumber Company, where he was a bookkeeper, and married in Eau Claire in September 1875 to Lena Larson, to who he was wed until her death in 1896. The couple had nine children: Carl Linne, Louie (1877-1883), Freddie, Marie, Anna (died in infancy in 1886), Anna (died in infancy in 1888), Ella, Louis, and Freda.

  After several years with the Northwestern Lumber Co. Brimi formed a partnership with Christian Larson, dealing in men's clothing, hats, caps, boots, and shoes. Their firm continued until at least 1881, and by 1884 was employed as a clothier in Eau Clair. In that profession Brimi achieved prominence and in November of that year received "the largest stock of seal skin caps ever brought to the city." Later, Brimi would be a partner in the firms of Brimi and Demorest, Brimi and Shervey, the Edsvold Clark and Co, and Jacob Bye and Co. Brimi also entered into publishing in the 1880s, being president of the Arbeideren Publishing Co., which published a newspaper.

  Brimi began his political career at the local level, being elected to the Eau Claire North Side school board, and in 1882-83 served on the city council. In 1886 he received the Republican nomination for the Wisconsin state assembly, and in November defeated Democrat George Daniels by a vote of 2,263 to 1,784. Taking his seat in January 1887, Brimi was named to the committees on Banks and Banking, Insurance, Lumber and Manufactures, and Lumber and Mining.

  Early in his term Brimi achieved lasting distinction when he introduced a piece of legislation that would protect birds in Wisconsin. The first bill of its kind to be introduced in the assembly, Brimi's bill would fine persons between $5 and $100 if they shot, trapped, or netted various state birds for "millinery purposes." Further particulars of his term saw Brimi introduce articles of incorporation for the city of Altoona, Wisconsin, and towards the end of his term was voted a Republican presidential elector in 1888, casting his ballot for the Harrison and Morton ticket.

  Following his assembly term, Brimi was a partner in the firm of Brimi and Demorest, "the Leading Clothier" in Eau Claire. In 1890 he was urged again to seek political office, and that summer was boomed for secretary of state in columns featured in the Eau Claire Press and the Portage Daily Democrat. By the end of July, Brimi's name was no longer considered for that post but was instead bolstered for state railroad commissioner. In August 1890 he was officially nominated at the state republican convention, being acknowledged as:

"A skillful and practical correspondent, a thoroughly self made man of affairs, well skilled in all that goes to make up a useful and valuable citizen."

From the Waukesha Daily Freeman, July 28, 1890.

  When the votes were tallied after the general election it was Syver Brimi who lost out, polling 124,140 votes to winning Democrat Thomas Thompson's total of 158,293. Tragedy struck Brimi in March 1896 when his wife of twenty years, Lena, took her own life while under mental duress. Despite this tragic loss, Brimi persevered and later remarried in 1910 Ellen Hanson (1868-1945), who survived him.

  Following his time in politics, Brimi continued with his clothing business and in 1901 took work as a traveling salesman with the Kahn Bros. clothing firm of Chicago. Around 1919 Brimi settled in Ashland, Wisconsin, where he spent the rest of his life, and died in that city on July 12, 1936, aged 80. He was survived by his wife and children and was interred at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Eau Claire.