William Henry Dakin (August 8, 1816August 20, 1892) 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 ...

farmer, politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He served in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Green Lake County during the 1875 session. He was the first settler in the town of

Brooklyn, Green Lake County, Wisconsin Brooklyn is a town in Green Lake County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,904 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Pleasant Point and Sherwood Forest are located in the town. History At its settlement, the town wa ...

Biography

William H. Dakin was born in Dutchess County, New York, in August 1816. He attended public and private schools and finished his education at the Poughkeepsie Academy. When he was 17 years old, he went to live with his brother-in-law, and then sailed to South America, visiting several countries. He returned to New York and resided there until 1843, when he left for the Wisconsin Territory. He purchased land in the area that would become Green Lake County, at the time it was still part of Marquette County. After making some additional travel to gather livestock and provisions, he set to work clearing and sowing his farm. Over the subsequent years, he purchased a great deal of additional land in Green Lake County, some of which he dealt off in parcels to new settlers, but Dakin retained over 3000 acres for his own use for a number of years. He served as a member of the county commission (predecessor to the county board of supervisors) and was treasurer of Marquette County before Green Lake County was created. He also served as chairman of the town board of Brooklyn for several years. During his term as town chairman, the town was involved in a protracted legal dispute with the Sheboygan and Fond du Lac Railroad. Through Dakin's work on the settlement, the county saved about $13,000. He was originally a supporter of the

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, but became a Republican after the American Civil War. He was elected on the Republican ticket to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1874, and served in the 1875 session. He was not a candidate for re-election in 1875.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1874)

, colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;", General Election, November 3, 1874

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Dakin, William H. 1816 births 1892 deaths People from Poughkeepsie, New York People from Green Lake County, Wisconsin Farmers from Wisconsin Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly 19th-century American legislators 19th-century Wisconsin politicians