Adelbert Delos Thorp

Adelbert D. Thorp
County Treasurer of Door County, Wisconsin
In office January 7, 1895 – January 4, 1897
Preceded by	Lyman D. Mowry
Succeeded by	Joseph G. Dalemont
Sheriff of Door County, Wisconsin
In office January 2, 1893 – January 7, 1895
Preceded by	Arnold Wagener
Succeeded by	Clem Killman
In office November 1887 – January 7, 1889
Appointed by	Jeremiah McLain Rusk
Preceded by	Thomas Scott
Succeeded by	John Keogh
Sergeant-at-Arms of the Wisconsin Senate
In office January 10, 1883 – January 14, 1885
Preceded by	A. T. Glaze
Succeeded by	Hubert Wolcott
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Door district
In office January 2, 1882 – January 1, 1883
Preceded by	Edward S. Minor
Succeeded by	Christopher Leonhardt
County Clerk of Door County, Wisconsin
In office January 1, 1877 – January 3, 1881
Preceded by	Charles A. Masse
Succeeded by	George Nelson
Personal details
Born	(1844-04-15)April 15, 1844 Oswego, New York, U.S.
Died	February 10, 1919(1919-02-10) (aged 74) Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place	Bayside Cemetery, Sturgeon Bay
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Ellen Augusta Durkee ​ ​ (m. 1869; died 1893)​
Children	Adelbert D. "Bert" Thorp (b. 1869; died 1937) Guy Carlton Thorp (b. 1877; died 1878) Gail Edith (Bell) (b. 1880; died 1965) Edna Thorp
Occupation	Farmer, fishing
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Volunteers Union Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	1st Sergeant, USV
Unit	3rd Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry 43rd Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Adelbert Delos Thorp (April 15, 1844 – February 10, 1919) was an American farmer, fisherman, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Door County in the 1882 session, and later served as sergeant-at-arms of the Wisconsin Senate. In historical documents, his first name is sometimes given as "Albert", and his middle name is sometimes spelled "Deloss".

Biography

Adelbert D. Thorp was born in Oswego, New York on April 15, 1844. He came to the Wisconsin Territory with his family as a child in 1846, and settled at Rubicon, in Dodge County, where he was raised and educated. They moved to Monroe County, Wisconsin, in 1860.

At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Thorp volunteered for service with the Union Army. He was enrolled as a private in Company A of the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. He served nearly two years with the regiment before being discharged in March 1863 due to disability. He re-enlisted in the Fall of 1864 and was assigned to Company K of the 43rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, where he was promoted to first sergeant. He mustered out with the 43rd Wisconsin Infantry in June 1865.

After the war, Thorp returned to Monroe County, where he was married in 1869. In 1871, he moved to Egg Harbor, in Door County, where he remained for most of the rest of his life. At Egg Harbor, Thorp became involved in the fishing business and was elected town chairman, serving two one-year terms. He was then elected county clerk in 1876 and re-elected in 1878.

In 1881, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly, running on the Republican Party ticket. He served in the 35th Wisconsin Legislature and was a member of the committee on incorporations. He did not run for re-election in 1882. However, at the start of the 1883 session of the Legislature, the Wisconsin Senate elected him to serve as their sergeant-at-arms. He continued as an employee of the Senate in the 1885 session, working as proofreader.

In 1887, Thorp was appointed sheriff of Door County by Governor Jeremiah McLain Rusk, following the death of the incumbent, Thomas Scott. Thorp served the remainder of Scott's term, and was later elected to another term in 1892. In 1894, he ran instead for county treasurer and served one term in that office.

In 1897, Thorp was appointed special agent for the United States General Land Office in Spokane, Washington. He served there for eight years before retiring due to poor health.

Thorp died in February 1919 at the home of his daughter in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, after a long illness.

Personal life and family

Thorp married Ellen Augusta Durkee in on March 2, 1869, at Tomah, Wisconsin. They had at least four children together before her death in 1893.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1881)

Wisconsin Assembly, Door District Election, 1881

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
General Election, November 8, 1881
	Republican	Adelbert D. Thorp	655	52.40%	−4.05%
	Independent	Henry Reynolds	595	47.60%
Plurality			60	4.80%	-11.08%
Total votes			1,250	100.0%	-40.76%
	Republican hold