Bennett U. Strong (April 28, 1819 – February 1, 1906) was an American businessman, Republican politician, and the first settler at Spring Green, Wisconsin. He served two years in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing Sauk County.

Bennett U. Strong
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 14th district
In office
January 3, 1870 – January 1, 1872
Preceded byStephen Steele Barlow
Succeeded byJohn B. Quimby
Personal details
Born(1819-04-28)April 28, 1819
Woodbury, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedFebruary 1, 1906(1906-02-01) (aged 86)
Los Angeles County, California, U.S.
Resting placeHollywood Forever Cemetery, Los Angeles, California
Political party
Spouse
Mary Hawkins Green
(m. 1847; died 1906)
ChildrenElla, Willie

Biography

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Bennett Strong was born in Woodbury, Connecticut, in 1819.[1] He was raised and educated there and came to Wisconsin in 1853, settling at Janesville. In 1857, he relocated to the town of Spring Green in Sauk County, where he was the first settler at what would become the village of Spring Green.[1] He owned a farm and operated a hotel there, and represented Spring Green for seven years on the Sauk County board of supervisors. He also served as justice of the peace.[2]

In 1869, he was elected on the Republican Party ticket to the Wisconsin State Senate, representing all of Sauk County. In the Legislature, he served on the committees on incorporations, on legislative expenditures, and on military affairs. He did not run for re-election in 1871.[1]

Later in life, Strong became affiliated with the Prohibition Party,[3] and, in 1890, he was nominated for Wisconsin State Assembly on the Prohibition ticket in Sauk County's 1st Assembly district. He came in third in the general election, behind Democrat Thomas William English and Republican William F. Conger.[4]

Sometime after 1892, Strong and his wife moved to Los Angeles County, California, where he died in 1906.[5]

Electoral history

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Wisconsin Senate (1869)

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Wisconsin Senate, 14th District Election, 1869[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 2, 1869
Republican Bennett U. Strong 1,833 71.77%
Democratic Thomas T. English 721 28.23%
Plurality 1,112 43.54%
Total votes 2,554 100.0%
Republican hold

Wisconsin Assembly (1890)

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Wisconsin Assembly, Sauk 1st District Election, 1890[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 4, 1890
Democratic Thomas William English 1,163 49.07%
Republican William F. Conger 1,048 44.22%
Prohibition Bennett U. Strong 159 6.71%
Plurality 115 4.85%
Total votes 2,370 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Official Directory" (PDF). The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. 1871. p. 367. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  2. ^ The History of Sauk County, Wisconsin. Western Historical Company. 1880. pp. 810–811. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  3. ^ "Tower Hill Barbecue". Wisconsin State Journal. August 10, 1892. p. 3. Retrieved May 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b Cunningham, Thomas J., ed. (1891). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 601. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  5. ^ "B. U. Strong". Portage Daily Democrat. February 19, 1906. p. 3. Retrieved November 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 14th district
January 3, 1870 – January 1, 1872
Succeeded by