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John Catlin (politician)

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John Catlin
John Catlin, Governor of Wisconsin Territory
Acting Governor of Wisconsin Territory
In office
June 23, 1848 – March 3, 1849
Preceded byHenry Dodge
Succeeded byAlexander Ramsey (Minnesota Territory)
6th Secretary of Wisconsin Territory
In office
February 24, 1846 – March 3, 1849
Appointed byJames K. Polk
GovernorHenry Dodge
Preceded byGeorge R. C. Floyd
Succeeded byPosition Abolished
Member of the Council of the Wisconsin Territory for Dane, Dodge, Green, Jefferson, and Sauk Counties
In office
January 6, 1845 – February 3, 1846
Preceded byLucius Israel Barber
Succeeded byPosition Abolished
Personal details
Born(1803-10-13)October 13, 1803
Orwell, Vermont, U.S.
DiedAugust 4, 1874(1874-08-04) (aged 70)
Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S.
Resting placeMount Hope Cemetery, Rochester, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic Party
SpouseClarissa Bristol Catlin
ChildrenLucia E. Catlin
OccupationSchool Teacher
Lawyer
Banker
Railroad President
Politician

John Catlin (October 13, 1803 – August 4, 1874) was an American lawyer, politician, railroad executive, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was the last secretary of the Wisconsin Territory and briefly served as acting governor of the territory after the creation of the state of Wisconsin but before the Minnesota Territory was formally organized from the remnant, between June 23, 1848, and March 3, 1849. He was also a founding member of the Wisconsin Historical Society. Earlier in his career, he was the first district attorney for Dane County, Wisconsin, and served in the legislature of the Wisconsin Territory during the 4th Wisconsin Territorial Assembly.

Early life and career

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Born in Orwell, Vermont,[1] Catlin attended school at Shoreham, Vermont's Newton Academy, and taught school for nine years.[1] Catlin was admitted to the Vermont bar and practiced law. In 1836, he moved to Mineral Point in Wisconsin Territory, where he helped set up a bank. He became the postmaster of Madison in 1837.[1] 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.[1] He was elected to the Wisconsin Territorial Council. He also was the first district attorney of Dane County 1839–1843.[2][3][4] Catlin 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

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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.[5]

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.[6] 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.[1][7][8]

Catlin was the last Governor of the Wisconsin Territory.

Personal life

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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.[9] Catlin's portrait hangs in the Mark Twain Room of the Madison Masonic Center at 301 Wisconsin Avenue in Madison. Catlin was Wisconsin's first postmaster.[10][page needed] He married Clarissa Bristol on September 19, 1843, and they had one child, Lucia.

Death

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Catlin died, on August 4, 1874, in Elizabeth, New Jersey,[1] where he had retired to in 1863.[11][12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Death of Hon. John Catlin". Wisconsin State Journal. August 7, 1874. p. 1. Retrieved April 9, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ "Catlin, John 1803 - 1874". wisconsinhistory.org.
  3. ^ History of Green County, Wisconsin. Springfield, Ill.: Union Publishing, 1884, pp. 277-280.
  4. ^ History of Dane County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1880, pp. 519-521.
  5. ^ "John Catlin - Photograph - Wisconsin Historical Society". wisconsinhistory.org. 1 December 2003.
  6. ^ "Catlin, John, 1803-1874". Wisconsing Historical Society. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  7. ^ History of Green County, Wisconsin. Springfield, Ill.: Union Publishing, 1884, p. 41.
  8. ^ "Minnesota Guide". feri.org.
  9. ^ "Past Worshipful Masters of Lodge #5". Archived from the original on July 15, 2009. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
  10. ^ Reuben Gold Thwaites. The Story of Madison. 1900.
  11. ^ "Death of Hon. John Catlin". Semi Weekly Wisconsin, August 12, 1874, p. 2.
  12. ^ "Hon. John Catlin." The New York Times, August 6, 1874, p. 4.
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Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of Wisconsin Territory
February 24, 1846 – March 3, 1849 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Wisconsin Territory (acting)
June 23, 1848 – March 3, 1849 		Succeeded by
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