Increase Allen Lapham (1811-1875), self-taught naturalist, and scientist of lasting influence, arrived at frontier Milwaukee in July 1836, when he was 25. One of thirteen children of a New York Quaker family, he worked on canals in New York, Kentucky, and Ohio, where he met Byron Kilbourn.

Lapham was primarily known as a writer, naturalist, and topographer. A careful draftsman, Lapham produced many maps of Wisconsin, its districts, and cities. He published two state geology maps and an isothermal map that showed the influence of Lakes Superior and Michigan on inland weather. His most popular state map appeared for many years in Wisconsin’s Legislative Manual, precursor to the Blue Book.