History of Woolwich, (Sagadahoc County) Maine United States of America

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Wilmot W. Brookings, pioneer, was born at Woolwich, Me., Oct. 23, 1830. He was graduated at Bowdoin college in 1855. While reading law he taught in schools at Litchfield, North Anson and Wiscasset, and in May, 1857, was admitted to the bar in Portland, Me. In August, 1857, he removed to Sioux Falls, then a part of Minnesota territory. He helped to organize a county, and was appointed district-attorney. In 1859 he was elected to the upper house and by the same legislature was appointed governor of Dakota territory. In 1861 he was elected to the council for two years and then for three successive terms as a representative from Yankton county. In 1864 he was speaker of the house. In 1865 he was appointed superintendent of a United States military wagon road from Minnesota to Montana. In 1866 he was nominated as a delegate to Congress by the anti-Johnson branch of the Republican party. He was chosen member of the council from Yankton county in 1867 for two yearn; elected president of the council in 1868, and he served as district-attorney for Yank-ton county in 1867 and 1868. In 1869 President Grant appointed him associate justice of the supreme court of Dakota, and he served until 1873. From 1883 to 1885 he was a member of the state constitutional convention. In 1871 he was the prominent organizer of the Dakota Southern Railroad?the first railroad to enter Dakota?and was either president, vice-president or solicitor of the Dakota Southern, Sioux City & Pem-bina, and the Sioux City and Dakota railroads, afterward part of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul system during the ten following years. He conducted the Sioux Falls Leader from 1883 to 1885; was president of the Minnehaha Trust company and a director of the Sioux Falls national bank, national realty company, and safe deposit company.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Woolwich, (Sagadahoc County) Maine

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