George W. Lakin

George W. Lakin (March 29, 1816 – 1884) was an American schoolteacher and lawyer, originally from Maine, who became a pioneer leader of Wisconsin.

Background

A contemporary biography states that Lakin was born in Harrison, in Cumberland County, Maine, on the 29th day of March, 1816 although many published sources show his birth year as 1817.[1] He attended public schools until about 14 years old, then went to Bridgton Academy in North Bridgton, Maine, then to the Maine Wesleyan Seminary in Readfield, from which he graduated in June, 1887. He had tutored or taught school during his five years at Maine Wesleyan; afterwards he took a succession of teaching posts in various small Maine towns, all the while "reading law" as was the custom of the time.

In the fall of 1839 he went west, eventually ending up teaching school in the Cook Settlement of southeastern St. Francois County, Missouri to raise funds for study. He moved to Ste. Genevieve, Missouri and studied under former Congressman John Scott, and in summer of 1841 was admitted to the Missouri bar. He then moved to Wisconsin, eventually settling in Platteville, where he would practice law until 1854.[2]

Public office

Lakin was a Whig delegate from Grant County to Wisconsin's second constitutional convention before statehood,[3] then served as a Whig member of the first Wisconsin State Senate from 1848-1849;[4] and as a United States District Attorney from 1850-1853.[5]

After public office

He moved to Milwaukee in 1854, and derived a significant proportion of his business from the lawyers in the western part of Wisconsin and in the Galena, Illinois and Dubuque, Iowa regions who had contended with him in the past.

In January 1855, Lakin was one of the defense attorneys involved in the defense of John Ryecraft (one of the people who helped free runaway slave Joshua Glover), arguing that the defendant, in freeing a slave, acted in accord with the higher law.[6]

Personal life

Lakin was a Freemason, and served as secretary of the December 1843 Masonic convention which led to the creation of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin.[7] On June 2, 1847, he married Statira C. Clark, "late of Danville, Me." in Potosi. They had three children, Fannie, Mildred and Charles.[8]

References

  1. ↑ For example: Gara, Larry, ed. "A Glimpse of the Galena Lead Region in 1846" Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society Spring 1957 (Vol. 50, #1); p. 89
  2. ↑ Gregory, John, Civil engineer. "George W. Lakin" in A new and vastly improved edition, of the Industrial resources of Wisconsin, containing numerous new subjects, not in the first edition, such as a sketch of the natural history of the state, brief sketches of its altered condition at different periods and the causes leading thereto : a new theory of the origin of our American lakes, and numerous discussions on the various natural phenomena observable in the states : also, the biography of leading men ... Milwaukee: Milwaukee News Co., printers, 1872; pp. 183-191
  3. ↑ Stark, Jack. The Wisconsin State Constitution: A Reference Guide Westport, Connecticut:Greenwood Publishing, 1997; p. 5
  4. ↑ Turner, A. J., ed. The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin; Comprising Jefferson's Manual, Rules, Forms and Laws for the Regulation of Business; Also, Lists and Tables for Reference Madison, 1872; pp. 60, 198, 199, 200
  5. ↑ Bicentennial Celebration of the United States Attorneys 1789-1989 United States Department of Justice; Washington: 1989; p. 214
  6. ↑ Baker, H. Robert. The Rescue of Joshua Glover: A Fugitive Slave, the Constitution and the Coming of the Civil War Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Press, 2006; p. 97
  7. ↑ "Chapter 15. History of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin" Wisconsin Masonic Handbook online edition (revised 12/14/2004); pp. 132-133
  8. ↑ Green, Dr. Samuel Abbott, M.D. Lakin Families of Groton, Mass. & Maine. Groton, Massachusetts: Groton Historical Series, Relating to the History of the Town of Groton, Mass., 1893; vol. III, p. 93
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