History of Wisconsin United States of America

Our on-site database does not include an historic photo for Wisconsin, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

Biographies:

Nelson Dewey, governor of Wisconsin, was born in Lebanon, Conn., Dec. 19, 1813; son of Ebenezer and Lucy (Webster) Dewey, and grandson of Bezaleel and Sybel (Metcalf) Dewey. In 1814 the family removed to Otsego county, N.Y., and in 1829 he was sent to the academy at Hamilton, N.Y., where he remained three years. He taught school for a year in Morris, N.Y., removed to Lancaster, Grant county, Wis., in 1836, and was admitted to the bar in 1838. He helped to organize the county, of which he was elected first register of deeds in 1837. He was a representative in the 1st, 2d and 3d territorial legislative assemblies, 1838-42, and a member of the council in the 4th legislative assembly, 1842-46. He served as speaker at the extra session of the second assembly in August, 1840, and as president of the council at the fourth session of the fourth assembly in January, 1846. He was elected governor of Wisconsin on its organization as a state, June 7, 1848, and was re-elected in 1850, serving until Jan. 5, 1852. He was a delegate to the several Democratic state conventions, and a Democratic elector in 1888. In 1849, upon the reorganization of the Wisconsin historical society, he was elected its president. He was a pioneer in developing the lead industries of the state. He died in Cassville, Wis., July 21, 1889.

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

William Dempster Hoard, governor of Wisconsin, was born in Stockbridge, N.Y., Oct. 10, 1836; son of William B. and Sarah Catherine (White) Hoard, grandson of Enos and Fanny (Perry) Hoard, and of Benjamin and Betsy (Sawyer) White, and a descendant on the maternal side of Capt. Jesse Sawyer, who was one of the officers of Col. Ethan Allen's Vermont regiment in the Revolutionary war. He received a common school education, removed to Wisconsin in 1857 and engaged in farming and teaching music. He served in the civil war as a private in the 4th Wisconsin infantry and in the 1st New York artillery, 1861-65. He was in the nursery business at Columbus, Wis., 1865-70; published the Jefferson County Union, at Lake Mills, Wis., 1870-73; was justice of the peace in 1871, and sergeant-at-arms of the state senate in 1872. He removed his paper to Fort Atkinson, Wis., in 1873, and began there in 1885 Hoard's Dairyman, an organ devoted to dairy interests. He was one of the organizers of the dairymen's associations of Jefferson county in 1871, and Wisconsin in 1872, and of the Wisconsin farm institutes, serving as secretary of the Wisconsin association for three years. In 1878 he was elected president of the Northwestern association. He was also elected president of the Farmer's National Congress and of the National Dairy union, and lectured on dairy and agricultural subjects extensively throughout the United States and Canada. He was governor of Wisconsin. 1889-91.

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

Biographies:

Local History and Genealogy Links: