John Catlin

John Catlin
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	(1803-10-13)October 13, 1803 Orwell, Vermont, U.S.
Died	August 4, 1874(1874-08-04) (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, Wisconsin, 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 was Wisconsin's first lawyer, and postmaster.^[9] He married Clarissa Bristol on September 19, 1843, and they had one child, Lucia.

References

External links

• "The Birth of Minnesota," William Lass, Minnesota Historical Society, Summer 1997

Governors of Wisconsin Territory (1836–1848) Dodge Doty Tallmadge Dodge Catlin (acting) State (since 1848) Dewey Farwell Barstow MacArthur Bashford Randall Harvey Salomon Lewis Fairchild Washburn Taylor Ludington Smith Rusk Hoard Peck Upham Scofield R. La Follette Davidson McGovern Philipp Blaine Zimmerman Kohler Sr. P. La Follette Schmedeman P. La Follette Heil (Loomis) * Goodland Rennebohm Kohler Jr. Thomson Nelson Reynolds Knowles Lucey Schreiber Dreyfus Earl Thompson McCallum Doyle Walker (*) elected but died before taking office