William M. Dennis

William Miller Dennis I (January 18, 1810  July 18, 1882) was an American businessman, Democratic politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He served in the first session of the Wisconsin State Senate and later served in the State Assembly, representing Dodge County. He was also the 2nd bank comptroller of Wisconsin, and was the 7th and 10th mayor of Watertown, Wisconsin.

William M. Dennis
2nd Bank Comptroller of Wisconsin
In office
January 2, 1854  January 4, 1858
GovernorWilliam A. Barstow
Arthur MacArthur Sr.
Coles Bashford
Preceded byJames S. Baker
Succeeded byJoel C. Squires
7th & 10th Mayor of Watertown, Wisconsin
In office
April 1866  April 1867
Preceded byRobert Howell
Succeeded byHenry Mulberger
In office
April 1862  April 1863
Preceded byMyron B. Williams
Succeeded byJoseph Lindon
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 10th district
In office
June 5, 1848  January 7, 1850
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byJames Giddings
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Dodge 3rd district
In office
January 3, 1853  January 2, 1854
Preceded byMaximilian Averbeck
Succeeded byFrancis McCormick
Personal details
Born(1810-01-18)January 18, 1810
Newport County, Rhode Island, U.S.
DiedJuly 18, 1882(1882-07-18) (aged 72)
Watertown, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeWhiteside Church Cemetery, Cambridge, New York
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
  • 1st wife
  • Catherine Elizabeth Coughlin
Children
  • with 1st wife
  • Mary Elizabeth (McMahon)
  • (b. 1843; died 1907)
  • with Catherine Coughlin
  • Samuel Jarvis Dennis
  • (b. 1857; died 1932)
  • Edward M. Dennis
  • (b. 1860; died 1927)
  • William Miller Dennis II
  • (b. 1866; died 1918)
  • (Mrs. John Duffy)
  • (died after 1882)

Biography

William M. Dennis was born in Newport County, Rhode Island, in January 1810. At a young age, he moved to Troy, New York. He subsequently moved to the Wisconsin Territory in 1837.[1]

He was one of the earliest settlers in what is now Watertown, Wisconsin, and remained there for the rest of his life. Shortly after his arrival, he was named as the first postmaster in that town.

Politically, Dennis associated with the Democratic Party, which was dominant in the state during these year. He was elected to the last session of the 4th Wisconsin Territorial Assembly, serving in the Territory's House of Representatives in 1846. That same year, he was elected as a delegate for Dodge County to Wisconsin's first constitutional convention.[1][2] The constitutional document produced by this convention was ultimately rejected by voters, but a subsequent effort secured Wisconsin statehood in 1848. That February, Dennis was elected from Dodge County to represent them in the first session of the Wisconsin State Senate.[3]

In 1852, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Dodge County's 3rd Assembly district in the 6th Wisconsin Legislature. His district comprised the southeast corner of the County.[4] That Fall, he was the Democratic nominee for the statewide elected position of state bank comptroller.[5] He was the first person elected to this office (the previous holder was appointed by the Governor). He was re-elected in 1855.[6]

Subsequently, Dennis became president of the Wisconsin National Bank and was elected to two non-consecutive terms as mayor of Watertown, in 1862 and 1866. His association with bad railway bonds significantly damaged his reputation and he never held elected office again after his second mayoral term.[2] After retiring from the bank, he made significant profitable investments in the region of Watertown, Dakota Territory, which he left to his sons.[1]

He died at his home in Watertown, in September 1882.[2] His death was sudden and occurred after a period of apparent good health.[1]

Personal life and family

William M. Dennis was married twice. He had at least one daughter with his first wife. After his first wife's death, he married Catherine Elizabeth Coughlin and had at least four more children. He was survived by his second wife and five children.[1]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Bank Comptroller (1853, 1855)

Wisconsin Bank Comptroller Election, 1853[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 4, 1853
Democratic William M. Dennis 30,750 55.58%
Whig Benjamin F. Pixley 24,363 44.04%
Free Soil E. A. Howland 211 0.38%
Plurality 6,387 11.54%
Total votes 55,324 100.0%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Bank Comptroller Election, 1855[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 6, 1855
Democratic William M. Dennis (incumbent) 38,625 52.07% -3.52%
Republican Francis H. West 35,561 47.93%
Plurality 3,064 4.13% -7.41%
Total votes 74,186 100.0% +34.09%
Democratic hold

References

  1. "Death of Hon. Wm. M. Dennis". The Watertown News. July 19, 1882. p. 7. Retrieved April 7, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  2. Quaife, Milo Milton (1919). The Convention of 1846. Wisconsin Historical Society. p. 768. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  3. Tenney, Horace A. (1880). Memorial Record of the Fathers of Wisconsin. David Atwood. pp. 69–70. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  4. "Members and Officers of the Senate" (PDF). Manual for the Use of the Assembly of the State of Wisconsin for the Year 1853 (Report). State of Wisconsin. 1853. p. 85. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  5. "The Official Canvass". Wisconsin State Journal. December 10, 1853. p. 2. Retrieved April 7, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  6. "The Official Canvass". Daily Free Democrat. December 19, 1855. p. 2. Retrieved April 7, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
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