Gysbert Van Steenwyk Sr.

Gysbert Van Steenwyk, Sr., (birth name: Gijsbert; January 30, 1814 – April 13, 1902) was a Dutch American immigrant, banker, and Republican politician from La Crosse, Wisconsin.[1] He was the 4th Bank Comptroller of Wisconsin and served in the Wisconsin State Senate and State Assembly.

Gysbert Van Steenwyk Sr.
Portrait from Biographical History of La Crosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, Wisconsin (1894)
4th Bank Comptroller of Wisconsin
In office
January 2, 1860 – January 6, 1862
GovernorAlexander Randall
Preceded byJoel C. Squires
Succeeded byWilliam H. Ramsey
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 31st district
In office
January 6, 1879 – January 3, 1881
Preceded byMerrick Wing
Succeeded byMerrick Wing
15th Mayor of La Crosse, Wisconsin
In office
April 1873 – April 1874
Preceded byJames I. Lyndes
Succeeded byGilbert M. Woodward
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Columbia 1st district
In office
January 3, 1859 – January 2, 1860
Preceded byAlvin Alden
Succeeded byHenry B. Munn
Personal details
Born(1814-01-30)January 30, 1814
Utrecht, Netherlands
DiedApril 13, 1902(1902-04-13) (aged 88)
Resting placeOak Grove Cemetery, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMariette Nichols 1847-1930
Military service
AllegianceNetherlands
United States
Branch/service
RankBrig. General, Wis.

Background

Van Steenwyk was the son of Arnoud van Steenwijk and Neeltje van Vliet and was born in Utrecht, the Netherlands.[2] He served as a volunteer in the Royal Netherlands Army in 1830 and 1831, and as a commissioned officer of the National Guards from 1833 to 1849. Van Steenwyk graduated from the University of Utrecht in 1836, where he studied philosophy and classical literature.[2]

In the United States

He came to the United States in May 1849, and settled in Milwaukee until 1851, when he moved to Newport, Sauk County, where he resided until 1858; then removed to Kilbourn City in Columbia County.

Public office

Van Steenwyk was appointed consul of the Netherlands for Wisconsin in 1849, and additionally for Michigan and Minnesota in 1850 (he resigned as consul in 1859). He was appointed commissioner of immigration for Wisconsin in New York City by Governor of Wisconsin Leonard J. Farwell from 1852 to 1853. He was appointed as a brigadier general of the Wisconsin State Militia in 1857.[3][4]

Van Steenwyk, at that time was working as a land and insurance agent and living in Kilbourn City (now called Wisconsin Dells), was elected as a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1858[5] for the 1st Columbia County Assembly district (the Towns of Dekorah, West Point, Newport, Lewiston, Portage, Caledonia, Lodi and Pacific) succeeding Democrat Alvin Alden. He was appointed to the standing committees on education and school and university lands; and on railroads.,[6] then was elected state Bank Comptroller for 1860–61, unseating incumbent Democrat Joel Squires. He was succeeded in the Assembly by Democrat Henry B. Munn.[7] He was succeeded as Comptroller by Democrat William H. Ramsey.

After serving as comptroller

In January 1862, he moved to La Crosse, where he worked as a banker. From 1873 to 1874, Van Steenwyk served as mayor of La Crosse.[2][8] He was elected senator from the Wisconsin Senate, District 31 (La Crosse County) for 1879–80,[2][9] receiving 1,849 votes to 747 for Greenback Edward Cronan and 729 for Democrat W. A. Anderson (Republican incumbent Merrick Wing was not a candidate for re-election). He was assigned to the committees on insurance, banks and banking; and on enrolled bills, chairing the latter.[10] He was not a candidate for re-election and was succeeded by Merrick Wing.

References
  1. "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Vann to Vanvranken".
  2. "Well-Known Banker Dead". Appleton Evening Crescent. Appleton, WI. April 14, 1902. p. 1. Retrieved November 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  3. Magazine of Western History, 1888, pp. 304–309.
  4. Andrew J. Aikens & Lewis A. Proctor (Eds.), Men of progress. Wisconsin. A selected list of biographical sketches and portraits of the leaders in business, professional and official life. Together with short notes on the history and character of Wisconsin.. Milwaukee: Evening Wisconsin Co., 1897, pp. 337-339.
  5. State of Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Members of the Wisconsin Legislature 1848–1999 Archived 2017-05-10 at the Wayback Machine". Information Bulletin 99-1 (September 1999), p. 117.
  6. Crane, L. H. D., ed. A manual of customs, precedents, and forms, in use in the Assembly of the state of Wisconsin: together with the rules, the apportionment, and other lists and tables for reference, with indices Madison: James Ross, State Printer, 1859; pp. 10, 19,58
  7. Crane, L. H. D., ed. A manual of customs, precedents, and forms, in use in the Assembly of Wisconsin: together with the rules, the apportionment, and other lists and tables for reference, with indices Second Annual Edition. Madison: James Ross, State Printer, 1860; pp. 33, 40
  8. La Crosse Public Library Archives, "Mss G.
  9. State of Wisconsin Legislative Bureau. "Members of the Wisconsin Legislature 1848–1999 Archived 2017-05-10 at the Wayback Machine. Information Bulletin 99-1 (September 1999), p. 19.
  10. Hans B. Warner (Ed.), The blue book of the state of Wisconsin, for 1879. Madison: David Atwood, State Printer, 1879; pp. 197, 251, 486, 510, 516.
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