Rensselaer Morse Lewis (November 9, 1820 – December 16, 1888) was an American merchant from
Fond du Lac,
Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
who served a single one-year term in 1873 as a
Liberal Reform Party member of the
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin.
Representatives are elected for two-year terms, ...
from
Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin
Fond du Lac County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 104,154. Its county seat is Fond du Lac. The county was created in the Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and later organized in 1844. Fond du La ...
.
Early life
Lewis was born November 9, 1820 in
Morrisville,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
, the son of Conway Lewis and Adelia (
née
A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...
Curtis) Lewis. He received an
academic
An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary education, secondary or tertiary education, tertiary higher education, higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membershi ...
education and became a
grain merchant
The grain trade refers to the local and international trade in cereals and other food grains such as wheat, barley, maize, and rice. Grain is an important trade item because it is easily stored and transported with limited spoilage, unlike other ...
and wholesaler.
Career
In 1853, he came to Wisconsin, settling in Fond du Lac. He was listed as a produce dealer in 1867. From 1867 to 1869 he served as
postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office, responsible for all postal activities in a specific post office. When a postmaster is responsible for an entire mail distribution organization (usually sponsored by a national government), ...
of that city. He declared bankruptcy in 1868 and his home burned down in 1872.
Legislative service
In 1872, he was elected to serve in the
26th Wisconsin Legislature representing the 2nd Fond du Lac County Assembly district (consisting of the
City of Fond du Lac itself, and the
Towns
A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world.
Origin and use
The word "town" shares an ori ...
of
Fond du Lac,
Lamartine
Alphonse Marie Louis de Prat de Lamartine (; 21 October 179028 February 1869), was a French author, poet, and statesman who was instrumental in the foundation of the Second Republic and the continuation of the Tricolore as the flag of France. ...
and
Oakfield)
as a candidate of the newly formed Reform Party, with 1,754 votes to 1,725 for
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
incumbent
The incumbent is the current holder of an official, office or position, usually in relation to an election. In an election for president, the incumbent is the person holding or acting in the office of president before the election, whether seek ...
Elihu Colman. Lewis was assigned to the
standing committee
A committee or commission is a body of one or more persons subordinate to a deliberative assembly. A committee is not itself considered to be a form of assembly. Usually, the assembly sends matters into a committee as a way to explore them more ...
s on
ways and means, and on
engrossed bill
In the United States Congress, an enrolled bill is the final copy of a bill or joint resolution which has passed both houses of Congress in identical form.
In the United States, enrolled bills are engrossed—prepared in a formally printed copy ...
s.
Turner, A. J., ed. ''The legislative manual of the state of Wisconsin: comprising the constitution of the United States and of the state of Wisconsin, Jefferson's manual, forms and laws for the regulation of business; also, lists and tables for reference, etc.'' Twelfth Annual Edition. Madison: Atwood and Culver, Printers and Stereotypers, 1873; p. 444, 465, 466
/ref>
He was not a candidate for re-election in 1873, and was succeeded by Democrat
Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to:
Politics
*A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people.
*A member of a Democratic Party:
**Democratic Party (United States) (D)
**Democratic ...
Thomas Weeks
Thomas S. Weeks (December 16, 1833 – February 5, 1910) was an American politician and gunsmith.
Weeks was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1874 as a Democrat. Weeks was born on December 16, 1833, in Monroe, New York. He settled in F ...
(the Reform Party had no candidate in the 1873 race).
Personal life
On July 30, 1845, he was married to Helen Maria Williams (b. 1826). In 1859, his wife had her leg broken in a train accident aboard the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad
The Chicago and North Western was a Class I railroad in the Midwestern United States. It was also known as the "North Western". The railroad operated more than of track at the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states befor ...
.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Rensselaer Morse
1820 births
1888 deaths
Wisconsin postmasters
Businesspeople from Wisconsin
Members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Politicians from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
People from Morrisville, New York
Wisconsin Reformers (19th century)
19th-century American politicians
19th-century American businesspeople