Henry Casson

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Henry Casson
Henry Casson standing on steps.jpg
20th Sergeant at Arms of the United States House of Representatives
In office
December 4, 1899 –April 4, 1911
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service Wisconsin National Guard
Rank Colonel

Henry Casson (December 13, 1843 –September 25, 1912) was an American newspaper publisher and public administrator. He was the 20th Sergeant at Arms of the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1899 through 1911, and was the 15th Secretary of State of Wisconsin (1895–1899). [1]

Contents

Biography

Born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, as a child, he moved with his family to Illinois, where he received a common school education. He moved to Wisconsin in 1873, settling at Viroqua, in Vernon County. He became the owner of the Vernon County Censor in 1875, and was printer, publisher, and editor of the paper until 1885. [2]

That year, he was employed by Governor Jeremiah McLain Rusk as the Governor's private secretary. Rusk also appointed him a colonel in the Wisconsin National Guard as aide-de-camp and military secretary, and he was often referred to as "Colonel Casson" for the remainder of his life. [3] When Governor Rusk left office, Casson continued to work as private secretary to the new governor, William D. Hoard, ultimately serving from 1885 to 1891. [2]

In 1891, he was summoned to Washington, D.C., to serve Governor Rusk again in his new role as United States Secretary of Agriculture. Casson worked for Rusk until his death, and was appointed Chief Clerk of the United States Department of Agriculture. After Rusk's death, Casson went to work as private secretary to freshman congressman Joseph W. Babcock, until August 1894. [2] [4]

That fall, Casson was the Republican nominee for Secretary of State of Wisconsin, and defeated incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Thomas J. Cunningham. He was subsequently reelected in 1896, serving from 1895 through 1899. [2] [5] He did not seek a third term in 1898.

With a Republican returning to the White House in 1899, Casson sought a new federal appointment from President William McKinley. [4] First, pursuing appointment as Chief of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and then Director for the 1900 United States census. Receiving neither office, he was temporarily installed as federal post office inspector for rural delivery. [4]

During the first fall recess of the 56th Congress, Casson's legion of friends and political allies, including the entire Wisconsin congressional delegation, lobbied for his selection as Sergeant at Arms of the United States House of Representatives. [6] In December of that year, their efforts were rewarded when the majority Republican caucus elected Casson to that office. He would continue to serve as Sergeant-at-Arms under the Republican majority for the next eleven years until Democrats regained the majority in 1911. He officially stood down from the role on April 4, 1911. [7]

Personal life

Casson's father was also named Henry Casson, and in his younger years he was referred to as Henry Casson, Jr. Later, however, he was referred to as Henry Casson, Sr., after his own son was born and also named Henry Casson. His son became a prominent lawyer in Madison, and held several local offices, but died of pneumonia at age 52. [8] Casson was said to have been a very close friend of Governor Jeremiah McLain Rusk, who he served for several years.

Casson died on September 25, 1912, at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, after surgery for Appendicitis and stomach ulcer. [7] At the time of his death, his wife and son were still alive. [7] He was interred at Madison's historic Forest Hill Cemetery.

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References

  1. ↑ "Casson, Henry". United States House of Representatives History Art & Archives. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Casson, Henry (ed.). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). p. 657. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Executive Appointments". Wisconsin State Journal . May 1, 1885. p. 4. Retrieved June 24, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 "Secures Fat Office". Wisconsin State Journal . December 29, 1899. p. 3. Retrieved June 24, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Anderson, William J.; Anderson, William A., eds. (1929). "State Government" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1929 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 144. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Congressional Speculations". Green Bay Press-Gazette . November 25, 1899. p. 2. Retrieved June 24, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 3 "Colonel Henry Casson is Dead at Madison". Green Bay Press-Gazette . September 28, 1912. p. 1. Retrieved June 24, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Long Illness Proves Fatal to Attorney". Wisconsin State Journal . November 22, 1929. p. 1. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Robert Wallace Jackson
 Republican nominee for Secretary of State of Wisconsin
1894, 1896		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of State of Wisconsin
1895 –1899		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Benjamin F. Russell
 Sergeant at Arms of the United States House of Representatives
1899–1911		Succeeded by
Uriah Stokes Jackson
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