William Miller Dennis I (January 18, 1810 – July 18, 1882) was an American businessman, Democratic politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He served in the first session of the Wisconsin State Senate and later served in the State Assembly, representing Dodge County. He was also the 2nd bank comptroller of Wisconsin, and was the 7th and 10th mayor of Watertown, Wisconsin.
William M. Dennis | |
|---|---|
| 2nd Bank Comptroller of Wisconsin | |
| In office January 2, 1854 – January 4, 1858 | |
| Governor | William A. Barstow Arthur MacArthur Sr. Coles Bashford |
| Preceded by | James S. Baker |
| Succeeded by | Joel C. Squires |
| 7th & 10th Mayor of Watertown, Wisconsin | |
| In office April 1866 – April 1867 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Howell |
| Succeeded by | Henry Mulberger |
| In office April 1862 – April 1863 | |
| Preceded by | Myron B. Williams |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Lindon |
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 10th district | |
| In office June 5, 1848 – January 7, 1850 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | James Giddings |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Dodge 3rd district | |
| In office January 3, 1853 – January 2, 1854 | |
| Preceded by | Maximilian Averbeck |
| Succeeded by | Francis McCormick |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 18, 1810 Newport County, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Died | July 18, 1882 (aged 72) Watertown, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Resting place | Whiteside Church Cemetery, Cambridge, New York |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
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| Children |
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Biography
editWilliam M. Dennis was born in Newport County, Rhode Island, in January 1810. At a young age, he moved to Troy, New York. He subsequently moved to the Wisconsin Territory in 1837.[1]
He was one of the earliest settlers in what is now Watertown, Wisconsin, and remained there for the rest of his life. Shortly after his arrival, he was named as the first postmaster in that town.
Politically, Dennis associated with the Democratic Party, which was dominant in the state during these year. He was elected to the last session of the 4th Wisconsin Territorial Assembly, serving in the Territory's House of Representatives in 1846. That same year, he was elected as a delegate for Dodge County to Wisconsin's first constitutional convention.[1][2] The constitutional document produced by this convention was ultimately rejected by voters, but a subsequent effort secured Wisconsin statehood in 1848. That February, Dennis was elected from Dodge County to represent them in the first session of the Wisconsin State Senate.[3]
In 1852, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Dodge County's 3rd Assembly district in the 6th Wisconsin Legislature. His district comprised the southeast corner of the county.[4] That Fall, he was the Democratic nominee for the statewide elected position of state bank comptroller.[5] He was the first person elected to this office (the previous holder was appointed by the Governor). He was re-elected in 1855.[6]
Subsequently, Dennis became president of the Wisconsin National Bank and was elected to two non-consecutive terms as mayor of Watertown, in 1862 and 1866. His association with bad railway bonds significantly damaged his reputation and he never held elected office again after his second mayoral term.[2] After retiring from the bank, he made significant profitable investments in the region of Watertown, Dakota Territory, which he left to his sons.[1]
He died at his home in Watertown, in September 1882.[2] His death was sudden and occurred after a period of apparent good health.[1]
Personal life and family
editWilliam M. Dennis was married twice. He had at least one daughter with his first wife. After his first wife's death, he married Catherine Elizabeth Coughlin and had at least four more children. He was survived by his second wife and five children.[1]
Electoral history
editWisconsin Bank Comptroller (1853, 1855)
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 4, 1853 | |||||
| Democratic | William M. Dennis | 30,750 | 55.58% | ||
| Whig | Benjamin F. Pixley | 24,363 | 44.04% | ||
| Free Soil | E. A. Howland | 211 | 0.38% | ||
| Plurality | 6,387 | 11.54% | |||
| Total votes | 55,324 | 100.0% | |||
| Democratic hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 6, 1855 | |||||
| Democratic | William M. Dennis (incumbent) | 38,625 | 52.07% | −3.52% | |
| Republican | Francis H. West | 35,561 | 47.93% | ||
| Plurality | 3,064 | 4.13% | -7.41% | ||
| Total votes | 74,186 | 100.0% | +34.09% | ||
| Democratic hold | |||||
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Death of Hon. Wm. M. Dennis". The Watertown News. July 19, 1882. p. 7. Retrieved April 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c Quaife, Milo Milton (1919). The Convention of 1846. Wisconsin Historical Society. p. 768. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ Tenney, Horace A. (1880). Memorial Record of the Fathers of Wisconsin. David Atwood. pp. 69–70. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ "Members and Officers of the Senate" (PDF). Manual for the Use of the Assembly of the State of Wisconsin for the Year 1853 (Report). State of Wisconsin. 1853. p. 85. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ a b "The Official Canvass". Wisconsin State Journal. December 10, 1853. p. 2. Retrieved April 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "The Official Canvass". Daily Free Democrat. December 19, 1855. p. 2. Retrieved April 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.