1848 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

Last updated

1848 Wisconsin gubernatorial election
May 8, 1848 1849  
  Nelson Dewey (cropped).jpg John Hubbard Tweedy (cropped).jpg
Nominee Nelson Dewey John H. Tweedy
Party Democratic Whig
Popular vote19,53814,449
Percentage55.62%41.14%

1848 Wisconsin gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Dewey:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Tweedy:     50–60%

Elected Governor

Nelson Dewey
Democratic

The 1848 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on May 8, 1848. This was the election for the first Governor of Wisconsin, which became a U.S. state that year, as it was held concurrent with a public referendum to ratify the Constitution of Wisconsin.

Contents

Democrat Nelson Dewey, of Grant County, won the election with nearly 56% of the vote. Dewey defeated Whig Party candidate John Hubbard Tweedy, of Milwaukee. [1] This is one of only three gubernatorial elections in which Walworth County has voted for a Democrat; it would not do so again until 1920.

Democratic Party

Nelson Dewey was a prominent lawyer and real-estate investor in Grant County, Wisconsin. He did extensive business with the lead-mining industry, which was a major component of the economy of the Wisconsin Territory. He had been a member of nearly every session of the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature, first as a member of the Territorial Assembly, from 1838 to 1842, then as a member of the Territorial Council from 1842 to 1846. He served as Speaker of the Territorial Assembly in 1840, and President of the Territorial Council in 1846. [2]

Dewey was chosen as a compromise candidate at the Democratic Party Convention after delegates became deadlocked between the lead-mining region's preferred candidate, Hiram Barber, and the eastern region's preferred candidate, Morgan Lewis Martin. [3]

Other candidates

Whig Party

John Hubbard Tweedy was, at the time of the 1848 election, the non-voting representative of the Wisconsin Territory to the United States House of Representatives for the 30th Congress. He had been a delegate to Wisconsin's first constitutional convention, and had served in the Wisconsin Territorial Assembly during the second session of the third legislature (Winter of 1841-1842). [2]

Independent candidate

Charles Durkee was a merchant, and one of the founders of Southport (now Kenosha, Wisconsin). He was a member of the Wisconsin Territorial Assembly for the first legislature (1836 to 1838). [2]

General election

Results

1848 Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Nelson Dewey 19,538 55.62%
Whig John H. Tweedy 14,44941.14%
Independent Charles Durkee 1,1343.23%
Scattering40.01
Majority5,08914.49%
Total votes35,125 100.00%
Democratic win (new seat)

Results by county

County [4] Nelson Dewey
Democratic
John H. Tweedy
Whig
Charles Durkee
Independent
Scattering
Write-in
MarginTotal votes cast
# %# %# %# %# %
Brown 31169.4213730.5800.0000.00%17438.84448
Calumet 11363.136636.8700.0000.00%4726.26179
Columbia 32844.3841155.6200.0000.00%-83-11.23739
Crawford [lower-alpha 1] 27071.6210728.3800.0000.00%16343.24377
Dane 1,09858.9475140.31130.7010.05%34718.631,863
Dodge 1,11659.5570637.67522.7700.00%41021.881,874
Fond du Lac 62249.0551040.2213610.7300.00%1128.831,268
Grant 1,19944.921,46754.9630.1100.00%-268-10.042,669
Green 48153.4440645.11131.4400.00%758.33900
Iowa [lower-alpha 2] 84753.2074546.8000.0000.00%1026.411,592
Jefferson 1,15754.8189341.1900.0000.00%36917.612,095
Lafayette 1,23258.8186341.1900.0000.00%36917.612,095
Marquette 23045.0125850.49234.5000.00%-28-5.48511
Milwaukee 2,20163.171,19434.27892.5500.00%1,00728.903,484
Portage 16051.1215348.8800.0000.00%72.24313
Racine 1,76554.901,20937.602387.4030.09%55617.293,215
Rock 1,39448.041,47550.83331.1400.00%-81-2.792,902
Sauk 18752.9715744.4892.5500.00%308.50353
Sheboygan 55457.7738440.04212.1900.00%17017.73959
Walworth 1,47849.121,35645.061755.8200.00%1224.053,009
Washington 1,59885.8726314.1300.0000.00%1,33571.741,861
Waukesha 1,19749.8193839.0326811.1500.00%25910.782,403
Total19,53855.62%14,44941.14%1,1343.23%40.01%5,08914.49%35,125

Notes

  1. Includes Chippewa, La Pointe, and St. Croix counties
  2. Includes Richland County

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin Territory</span> Territory of the US between 1836-1848

The Territory of Wisconsin was an organized and incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 3, 1836, until May 29, 1848, when an eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Wisconsin. Belmont was initially chosen as the capital of the territory. In 1837, the territorial legislature met in Burlington, just north of the Skunk River on the Mississippi, which became part of the Iowa Territory in 1838. In that year, 1838, the territorial capital of Wisconsin was moved to Madison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nelson Dewey</span> American pioneer, first Governor of Wisconsin

Nelson Webster Dewey was an American lawyer, land speculator, politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was the first Governor of Wisconsin, and also served in the Wisconsin Senate and served several years in the Wisconsin Territory government before Wisconsin achieved statehood. He was also particularly important in the development of Cassville, Wisconsin, which he had at one time hoped to make the state capitol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Duane Doty</span> American politician (1799–1865)

James Duane Doty was a land speculator and politician in the United States who played an important role in the development of Wisconsin and Utah Territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morgan Lewis Martin</span> 19th century American politician

Morgan Lewis Martin was a delegate to the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin Territory during the 29th United States Congress (1845–1847). He also served as a member of the Wisconsin State Senate and Wisconsin State Assembly, and served as a county judge in Brown County, Wisconsin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Hubbard Tweedy</span> Politician in Wisconsin Territory and state

John Hubbard Tweedy was a delegate to the United States Congress from Wisconsin Territory from March 1847 to May 1848 being elected from the Whig Party. He was also the Whig Party nominee in first Wisconsin gubernatorial election, where he lost to Nelson Dewey.

The Constitution of the State of Wisconsin is the governing document of the U.S. State of Wisconsin. It establishes the structure and function of state government, describes the state boundaries, and declares the rights of state citizens. The Wisconsin Constitution was written at a constitutional convention held in Madison, Wisconsin, in December 1847 and approved by the citizens of Wisconsin Territory in a referendum held in March 1848. Wisconsin was admitted to the United States on May 29, 1848. Although it has been amended over a hundred times, the original constitution ratified in 1848 is still in use. This makes the Wisconsin Constitution the oldest U.S. state constitution outside New England; only Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont use older constitutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hiram Barber</span> 19th century American lawyer and Democratic politician, Member of the Wisconsin Assembly

Hiram Barber was an American pioneer, politician, and businessman in Dodge County, Wisconsin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moses M. Strong</span> American lawyer and politician (1810–1894)

Moses McCure Strong was an American lawyer, politician, businessman, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was one of the framers of the Constitution of Wisconsin, a member of the territorial legislature, and United States Attorney for the Wisconsin Territory under President Martin Van Buren. After Wisconsin achieved statehood, he was Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly during the 3rd Wisconsin Legislature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Rudolph Smith</span> 19th-century American politician and pioneer (1787–1868)

William Rudolph Smith was an American lawyer, politician, pioneer, and historian from Pennsylvania who served as the 5th Attorney General of Wisconsin, the first President of the Wisconsin Historical Society, and the first Adjutant General of Wisconsin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Botkin</span> 19th century Wisconsin politician

Alexander Botkin was an American lawyer, politician, and pioneer settler of Dane County, Wisconsin. He served one term each as a member of the Wisconsin Senate and Wisconsin State Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Minton Baker</span> 19th century American lawyer and politician

Charles Minton Baker was an American lawyer and politician. He served several years on the Council of the Legislative Assembly of the Wisconsin Territory and was a delegate to Wisconsin's first constitutional convention in 1846. After Wisconsin became a state, he briefly served as a Wisconsin circuit court judge. His son, Robert Hall Baker, became a prominent businessman and Republican politician in Racine, Wisconsin.

Daniel Morgan Parkinson was a farmer, hotelier, state militia officer, and holder of various offices in frontier Wisconsin, including in the legislature.

Benjamin Hunkins was an American politician who had a role in shaping the Wisconsin constitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Noggle</span> 19th century American judge and politician

David Noggle was an American politician, lawyer, and jurist. He was chief justice of the Supreme Courtof the Idaho Territory from 1869 to 1874, appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant. Earlier, he served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and a Wisconsin circuit court judge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1849 Wisconsin gubernatorial election</span>

The 1849 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1849. Democrat Nelson Dewey won the election with 52% of the vote, winning his second term as Governor of Wisconsin. Dewey defeated Whig Party candidate Alexander L. Collins and Free Soil Party candidate Warren Chase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1857 Wisconsin gubernatorial election</span>

The 1857 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1857. After incumbent Governor Coles Bashford declined to seek re-election, Republican Party candidate Alexander Randall narrowly defeated Democratic candidate James B. Cross by a margin of just 118 votes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander L. Collins</span> American pioneer, first Governor of Wisconsin

Alexander Lynn Collins was an American lawyer, judge, and politician. He was an important leader of the Whig Party in the early years of Wisconsin, serving as party chairman, nominee for United States Congress, for United States Senate, and for Governor of Wisconsin. He also served as a Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge and a member of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents. In historical documents, his middle name is sometimes spelled "Linn" and he is sometimes referred to as "A. L. Collins."

The Fourth Legislative Assembly of the Wisconsin Territory convened from December 5, 1842, to April 17, 1843, from December 4, 1843, to January 31, 1844, from January 6, 1845, to February 24, 1845, and from January 5, 1846, to February 3, 1846, in regular session.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th Wisconsin Territorial Assembly</span> Legislative term of the Wisconsin Territory

The Fifth Legislative Assembly of the Wisconsin Territory convened from January 4, 1847, to February 11, 1847, and from February 7, 1848, to March 13, 1848, in regular session. The Assembly also convened in special session from October 18, 1847, to October 27, 1847, to organize a second constitutional convention after the failure to adopt the first Wisconsin Constitution.

Thomas Shanley was a pioneer settler from Lancaster, Wisconsin who served as a member of the 1st Wisconsin Territorial Legislature.

References

  1. Joint Committee on Legislative Organization, Wisconsin Legislature (2015). Wisconsin Blue Book 2015–2016. Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Department of Administration. pp. 699–701. ISBN   978-0-9752820-7-6.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Heg, J.E., ed. (1882). "Annals of the legislature". The Blue Book of the state of Wisconsin, 1882 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 161–171, 175–176. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  3. Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1960). "Wisconsin's former governors, 1848-1959". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1960 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 73. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  4. 1 2 Wisconsin State Assembly. "Appendix "A"". Journal of the Assembly of the First Legislature of the State of Wisconsin, Held at Madison June 5th, A.D. 1848. Madison, Wisconsin.