John Catlin
| John Catlin | |
|---|---|
.jpg) John Catlin, Governor of Wisconsin Territory | |
| Governor of Wisconsin (Acting) | |
|
In office June 23, 1848 – March 3, 1849 | |
| Preceded by |
Henry Dodge as Territorial Governor |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
October 13, 1803 Orwell, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died |
August 4, 1874 (aged 70) Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Resting place |
Mount Hope Cemetery Rochester, Monroe County, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Clarissa Bristol Catlin |
| Children | Lucia E. Catlin |
| Occupation |
School Teacher Lawyer Banker Railroad President Politician |
John Catlin (October 13, 1803 – August 4, 1874) was an American lawyer, politician, public official, and officer within the railroad industry. Catlin served as acting governor of the Wisconsin Territory from June 23, 1848, until March 3, 1849.
Early life and career
Born in Orwell, Vermont, Catlin attended school at Shoreham, Vermont's Newton Academy, and taught school for nine years. Catlin was admitted to the Vermont bar and practiced law. In 1836, he moved to Mineral Point in Wisconsin Territory, where he helped set up a bank. He was president of the Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad, which became part of the Milwaukee Road. Catlin served as a clerk of the Wisconsin Territorial Supreme Court and the Wisconsin Territorial House of Representatives. He was elected to the Wisconsin Territorial Council. He also was the first district attorney of Dane County 1839–1843.[1][2][3] Caitlin was a founder of the Wisconsin Historical Society. He was a member of the Democratic Party.
Catlin was appointed the Secretary of Wisconsin Territory by President James Polk, and served from February 24, 1846, to March 3, 1849.
Acting governor of the Territory of Wisconsin
Catlin was named acting Governor of the Wisconsin Territory following Henry Dodge's term as governor. Dodge ceased to be the governor of the Wisconsin Territory upon becoming a member of the United States Senate from Wisconsin.[4]
When the state of Wisconsin was admitted to the United States on May 29, 1848, part of the Wisconsin Territory was not included. John Catlin was acting governor of this part of the Wisconsin territory until the Minnesota Territory was organized on March 3, 1849, which included that part of the Wisconsin Territory. As acting governor, Catlin went to the present-day city of Stillwater, Minnesota, where he issued a proclamation for a special election for the delegate from the Wisconsin Territory. Henry Hastings Sibley was elected the Congressional Delegate from the Wisconsin Territory, as a result of the special election.[5][6]
Catlin was the final Governor of the Wisconsin Territory.
Death
Catlin died in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where he had retired to in 1863. Catlin is interred at Mount Hope Cemetery in New York.[7]
Personal life
John Catlin was the first Master of Madison Masonic Lodge Number 5, the first lodge to be formed in the city of Madison, Wisconsin. He became the Master of Lodge 5, January 10, 1845, and was Master for two years.[8] Catlin's portrait hangs in the Mark Twain Room of the Madison Masonic Center at 301 Wisconsin Avenue in Madison. Catlin was Wisconsin's first lawyer, and postmaster.[9] He married Clarissa Bristol on September 19, 1843, and they had one child, Lucia.
References
- ↑ Catlin, John 1803 - 1874
- ↑ History of Green County, Wisconsin, Chapter XI: Territorial, State and Congressional Representation (History of Green County, Wisconsin Together with Sketches of its Towns and Villages, Educational, Civil, Military and...)
- ↑ http://www.rockvillemama.com/dane/catlinjohn.txt
- ↑ John Catlin, WHi-27651
- ↑ History of Wisconsin - Chapter 2 - Wisconsin as a Territory
- ↑ Minnesota Guide
- ↑ "John Catlin". Find A Grave. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
- ↑ http://www.madisonmasonic.com/pastmasters.htm
- ↑ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~danecountyfamilies/chapter5.html
External links
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by George Floyd |
Secretary of Wisconsin Territory 1846–1849 |
Succeeded by Thomas McHugh as Secretary of State of Wisconsin |
