Joseph Kerr (1804 – January 22, 1855) was an American farmer, Whig politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He represented Columbia County in the Wisconsin State Assembly during the 1st and 2nd legislatures (1848, 1849).[1]
Joseph Kerr | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Columbia district | |
| In office June 5, 1848 – January 7, 1850 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Hugh McFarlane |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1804 Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | January 22, 1855 (aged 50–51) Randolph, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Resting place | Friesland Cemetery, Friesland, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Whig |
| Spouse | Lydia H. Langdon (died 1884) |
| Children |
|
Background and election to the Assembly
editHe was born in Ohio shortly after the state's admission to the Union, and arrived in Columbia County in the fall of 1846.[2] When Wisconsin achieved statehood, he was elected to the Assembly's Columbia County seat as a Whig, and was re-elected in the fall of 1848 for the following year. When in April 1849 Randolph was organized as a Town, he was the (unsuccessful) Whig candidate for chairman of the town board.[3] He was succeeded in the Assembly seat for 1850 by Hugh McFarlane of Portage.
After the Assembly
editIn November 1851 he was a founding member, and was elected First Vice-president, of the Columbia County Agricultural Society.[3] He remained active therein, and in November 1853 was elected President of the Society.[4]
He died January 22, 1855, in Randolph.[5][6] At the time of his death he had been for years Chairman of the Town of Randolph Board of Supervisors, and thrice been elected Chairman of the Columbia County Board; and was a Director of the La Crosse & Milwaukee Railroad Company. He was married, and was or had been a parent.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Members of the Wisconsin Legislature 1848–1999 State of Wisconsin Legislative Bureau. Information Bulletin 99-1, September 1999. p. 70 Archived 2006-12-09 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "List of Members of the Assembly of the State of Wisconsin". Wisconsin Express. January 30, 1849. Retrieved August 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c The History of Columbia County, Wisconsin, Containing an Account of Its Settlement, Growth, Development and Resources. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1880; pp. 458, 529, 845, 851
- ^ Milwaukee Free Democrat November 15, 1853; p. 2, col. 2
- ^ "Joseph Kerr". Daily Free Democrat. Milwaukee, WI. January 31, 1855. p. 3. Retrieved October 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Death of Joseph Kerr". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, WI. February 5, 1855. p. 2. Retrieved October 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
