Duncan Cameron "Cam" Reed (July 2, 1815September 14, 1890) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

steamship A steamship, often referred to as a steamer, is a type of steam-powered vessel, typically ocean-faring and seaworthy, that is propelled by one or more steam engines that typically move (turn) propellers or paddlewheels. The first steamships ...

engineer and Democratic politician, and an early settler of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served two terms in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing the southern half of Milwaukee County, and was President ''pro tempore'' of the Senate for the

1851 Events January–March * January 11 – Hong Xiuquan officially begins the Taiping Rebellion. * January 15 – Christian Female College, modern-day Columbia College, receives its charter from the Missouri General Assembly. ...

and

1853 Events January–March * January 6 – Florida Governor Thomas Brown signs legislation that provides public support for the new East Florida Seminary, leading to the establishment of the University of Florida. * January 8 – Taiping Reb ...

sessions. He also briefly served as a Union Army officer in the American Civil War.

Background

Reed was born in Shelburn, Vermont, on July 2, 1815. He became a marine engineer, and had visited Milwaukee at least as early as 1834. He moved to Milwaukee permanently on July 8, 1841, arriving as chief engineer of the steamship ''City of Milwaukee'' or ''Milwaukee'' (reputedly "the fastest boat on the

lakes A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much larger ...

at that time"), which he had helped to sneak out of the harbor of Buffalo, New York, at the instigation of

Solomon Juneau Solomon Laurent Juneau, or Laurent-Salomon Juneau (August 9, 1793 – November 14, 1856) was a French Canadian fur trader, land speculator, and politician who helped found the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was born in Repentigny, Quebec, Canad ...

, part-owner thereof, who claimed that the boat was being retained in Buffalo unjustly by the other owners. He remained in the engineering trade, serving on lake steamers such as the ''C. C. Trowbridge'', the ''Andromeda'' and the ''Nucleus''. In 1851, he was one of a group (including Alexander Mitchell,

George H. Walker George H. Walker (October 22, 1811September 20, 1866) was an American trader and politician, and was one of three key founders of the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served as the 5th and 7th Mayor of Milwaukee, and represented Milwaukee in the ...

, Increase Lapham, and others) which petitioned the

State Legislature A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. Two federations literally use the term "state legislature": * The legislative branches of each of the fifty state governments of the United Sta ...

for a charter for the Milwaukee and Fond du Lac Railroad, one of the short-lived railroad companies which would eventually become part of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad system.

Public office

As of 1853, he was 37 years of age; his biographical listing showed that he was an "engineer", was born in Vermont and had lived in Wisconsin for 12 years. Reed served four years (1850-1853) as a Democratic member of the State Senate, first from the Eighteenth District, then (after a

redistricting Redistribution (re-districting in the United States and in the Philippines) is the process by which electoral districts are added, removed, or otherwise changed. Redistribution is a form of boundary delimitation that changes electoral dist ...

) from the Sixth. During the 1851 and 1853 sessions, he served as President ''pro tempore'' of the Senate. He was succeeded in the Senate by fellow Democrat Edward McGarry. He served four years as a deputy United States Marshal; and in 1858 was elected

coroner A coroner is a government or judicial official who is empowered to conduct or order an inquest into Manner of death, the manner or cause of death, and to investigate or confirm the identity of an unknown person who has been found dead within th ...

for

Milwaukee County Milwaukee County is located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. At the 2020 census, the population was 939,489, down from 947,735 in 2010. It is both the most populous and most densely populated county in Wisconsin, and the 45th most populous coun ...

Military service

In 1853 Reed was a colonel of the 1st Regiment, 1st Division of the Wisconsin Militia under Major General

Rufus King Rufus King (March 24, 1755April 29, 1827) was an American Founding Father, lawyer, politician, and diplomat. He was a delegate for Massachusetts to the Continental Congress and the Philadelphia Convention and was one of the signers of the Unit ...

. On August 21, 1862, he was commissioned a captain in the

24th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment The 24th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 24th Wisconsin was organized at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and mustered into Federal service August 15, 18 ...

(which "Cam" had helped organize) commanding Company "E"; but he was discharged in January 1863.

After the Civil War

After the war, he worked as a professional boiler

inspector Inspector, also police inspector or inspector of police, is a police rank. The rank or position varies in seniority depending on the organization that uses it. Australia In Australian police forces, the rank of inspector is generally the ne ...

, billing various state agencies for that service. He was appointed a boiler inspector for the

Steamboat A steamboat is a boat that is marine propulsion, propelled primarily by marine steam engine, steam power, typically driving propellers or Paddle steamer, paddlewheels. Steamboats sometimes use the ship prefix, prefix designation SS, S.S. or S/S ...

Inspection Service of the United States government during the Grant administration, a position he would hold until his death.

Personal life

Reed married Mary Hanes in 1837. An adopted daughter, Frances Dela Bates, died at the age of five in 1854. Mary Hanes Reed died in 1883. They had one daughter, Mary L. (Reed) McIntyre, known as "Mamie", who would survive them both. Reed was one of the founding members of the Old Settlers Club of Milwaukee and of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, as well as a state Grand Master of the Odd Fellows

fraternal order A fraternal order is a fraternity organised as an order, with traits alluding to religious, chivalric or pseudo-chivalric orders, guilds, or secret societies. Contemporary fraternal orders typically have secular purposes, including social, cult ...

. Reed Street (later renamed South Second Street) in the old Third Ward of Milwaukee was named after him; when he had first settled there at what would become the corner of Greenfield and Reed Street, it was a mere wilderness trail with but three houses upon it. He died of dropsy on September 14, 1890, after a long illness."Death of Duncan C. Reed; A Well Known Pioneer Citizen Called to His Last Rest" '' Milwaukee Journal September 15, 1890; pg. 2, col. 4 He was buried in Forest Home Cemetery.

References

External links

* , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Reed, Duncan 1815 births 1890 deaths American coroners Engineers from Wisconsin American marine engineers Politicians from Milwaukee People from Shelburne, Vermont Democratic Party Wisconsin state senators Year of death unknown Deaths from edema 19th-century American politicians