History of Wisconsin United States of America

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Peter Victor Deuster, representative, was born in Aix la Chapelle, Rhenish Prussia, Germany, Feb. 13, 1831. He immigrated to America in 1847, and located in Milwaukee, Wis., where be learned the trade of printer. He became editor of the Milwaukee Sentinel in 1856; was a member of the state assembly, 1863; a state senator, 1870-71; a Democratic representative in the 46th, 47th and 48th congresses, 1879-85, and was defeated for the 49th congress. He was subsequently editor and one of the proprietors of the Seebote, a Democratic daily and semi-weekly newspaper published at Milwaukee in the German language.

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

Lucius Fairchild, governor of Wisconsin, was born at Franklin Mills, now Kent, Ohio, Dec. 27, 1831; son of Jairus Cassius and Sally (Blair) Fairchild; grandson of Sueton and Lucy (Hubble) Fairchild and a descendant of Oliver and Sarah (Turner) Fairchild. He attended the public schools in Cleveland, and the Twinsburg (Ohio) academy, removed to Madison, Wis., in 1846, and continued his education at Carroll college, Waukesha, Wis., 1847-49. He joined a caravan organized at Madison and with the party crossed the plains to California in 1849 and after engaging in mining, merchandising and farming with no great success, he returned to Madison in 1857. He was clerk of the circuit court of Dane county, 1859-60, and in the fall of 1860 was admitted to the bar. He joined a volunteer militia company known as the "governor's guard" in March, 1858, and by March, 1861, he had attained the rank of 1st lieutenant of the company. On April 17, 1861, the organization was accepted as company K, 1st Wisconsin volunteers, enlisted for three months' service with Fairchild as captain, he declining the position of lieutenant-colonel. In June, 1861, the regiment was assigned to General Patterson's command at Hagerstown and on July 2, 1861, they took part in the skirmish at Falling Waters, Va., against the "Stonewall brigade" of Jackson. They were mustered out of service at Harper's Ferry, July 31, 1861, and on Aug. 5, 1861, Captain Fairchild was promoted to the rank of captain in the regular army and assigned to the 16th U.S. infantry. Preferring the volunteer service he was commissioned major by Governor Randall and assigned to the 2d Wisconsin infantry, Aug. 9, 1861, and lieutenant-colonel, Aug. 20, 1861, joining the regiment in September after' receiving leave of absence from his post in the regular army. He took part in the movements leading to the second battle of Bull Run. In an engagement the 2d and 7th Wisconsin consolidated were commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Fairchild, Colonel O'Connor having fallen, mortally wounded. He was promoted colonel Sept. 8, 1862, with rank from Aug. 30, 1862. He stormed and carried Turner's Gap, South Mountain, Sept. 14, 1862, and pursued the enemy through Boonsborogh to Antietam creek, where on the 17th, although sick, he was lifted to his horse and led his regiment in "the bloodiest day that America ever saw" and where the brigade in which the 2d Wisconsin fought gained the title "Iron Brigade of the West." He also participated in the battle of Fredericksburg on Dec. 13, 1862, and his great skill there displayed was mentioned in the report of General Meredith. He commanded the expedition to Heathsville, Va., in January, 1863, which secured valuable stores and important information besides destroying several blockade runners on the river. At Chancellorsville he rendered important service in defending the pontoneers in the construction of the bridge over which the Federal troops carried the heights and during the battle he served on the staff of General Wadsworth. At Gettysburg he was severely wounded during the famous Pickett's charge; his arm was amputated and he was subsequently taken prisoner and paroled. He was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers Oct. 20, 1863, and was mustered out of the service, Nov. 2, 1863. He was secretary of state of Wisconsin. 1864-65; governor of Wisconsin, 1866-72; president of the National soldiers' and sailors' convention, 1868; U.S. consul at Liverpool, England, 1873-78; U.S. consul-general at Paris, France. 1878-80, and U.S. minister and envoy plenipotentiary to Spain, 1880-81. He resigned his ministry in March, 1881, but remained at his post till relieved by Hannibal Hamlin in December, 1881. He was department commander, G.A.R., 1886; commander-in-chief of the organization in 1887; commander of the Wisconsin commandery of the military order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, 1890-93 and commander-in-chief, 1893-94. He was a member of the board of commissioners to negotiate a purchase of lands from the Indian nation; a member of the board of visitors of the University of Wisconsin and a promoter and officer of various state and national military homes and beneficent organizations. He was married in April, 1864, to Frances Bull of Washington, D.C. He died in Madison, Wis., May 23, 1896.

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

John James Jenkins, representative, born in Weymouth, England, Aug. 20, 1843. He received a common-school education, and removed to Wisconsin with his parents in 1852, residing first at Barbadoo, and after 1870 at Chippewa Falls, where he practised law. He served in the 6th Wisconsin volunteers during the civil war, 1861-65; was clerk of the Sauk county circuit court, 1867-70; a member of the assembly, 1872; county judge of Chippewa county, 1872-76; city attorney of Chippewa Falls five terms; U.S. attorney for Wyoming Territory, by appointment of President Grant, 1876-80, and a Republican representative from the tenth Wisconsin district in the 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th and 58th congresses, 1895-1905.

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

James Taylor Lewis, governor of Wisconsin, was born in Clarendon, N.Y., Oct. 30, 1819; son of Shubael and Eleanor (Robertson) Lewis, and grandson of Samuel Lewis, a resident of Brimfield, Mass. He removed to Wisconsin Territory, where he was admitted to the bar of the United States district court in 1845, and settled in practice at Columbus, Columbia county. He was married in 1846 to Orlanda M., daughter of David Sturges, of Clarendon, N.Y. He was district attorney, county judge, a member of the second constitutional convention of 1847-48, and on the organization of the state government in 1948, he was admitted to practice in the supreme court of the state. He was a member of the state assembly, 1852; aerate senator, 1853; a member of the court of impeachment, 1853; lieutenant-governor of Wisconsin from Jan. 2, 1854, to Jan. 7, 1856; secretary of state, 1862-64, and governor from Jan. 4, 1864, to Jan. 1, 1866. As a war governor he aided in recruiting troops and was actively engaged in caring for the sick and wounded soldiers. He obtained a special order from the surgeon-general of the United States for the transfer of all the sick and wounded soldiers from Wisconsin to hospitals within the state, which he established. He also founded a soldiers' home and provided for soldiers' families. He refused a renomination as governor in 1865, a diplomatic office tendered by President Lincoln, the office of commissioner of internal revenue in 1866, the Republican nomination for representative in congress in 1866, the positions of railroad commissioner and regent of the University of Wisconsin from the governor of Wisconsin, and other public offices. He devoted a portion of his annual income to the building and support of educational institutions, and also to public charities. He received the degree of LL.D. from Lawrence university, Wisconsin, in 1864. He visited Europe during the Franco-Prussian war and subsequently made a journey around the world, visiting nearly every country of the globe.

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

History of Wisconsin

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