Maxwell was born on September 12, 1836, in Jackson, New York.[1] He was raised on his father's farm and attended common schools and the State Normal School. He taught school for a few years, then moved west to Wisconsin in 1860, settling in Kenosha County. He purchased a tract of unimproved land in what is now Somers, Wisconsin, and cultivated it into a productive farm.[1]
Maxwell cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and remained a Republican for the rest of his life. He was elected to eight consecutive terms as chairman of the town board of Somers, from 1874 through 1881, and then served as chairman of the town board and chairman of the Kenosha County board of supervisors in 1884.[2]
He first ran for Wisconsin State Assembly in 1875, but was defeated by Democrat Frederick Robinson.[3] He made another attempt in 1876—with higher voter turnout in a Presidential election year—and defeated Democrat Robert S. Houston.[4] He did not run again in 1877, but was elected to two subsequent terms in 1880 and 1882.[5][6] During these years, his Assembly district comprised all of Kenosha County.[2]
After leaving office, he purchased an ownership stake in the Arcadian Brown Stone Company, a brown sandstone quarry in Superior, Wisconsin.[1] He split his time between Superior and Kenosha for the rest of his life, generally spending summers in Superior and winters in Kenosha. He died in Superior on August 17, 1895. His death was sudden and unexpected, having appeared to be in good health in the days leading up to his death.[7][8]
Walter Maxwell married three times. His first wife was Anna A. Robinson, who he married at Easton, New York. They had one son, Elmer, before her death in 1874. He next married Anna A. Greenbaum (née Beach), who died just two years later, in 1878. He finally married Cornelia McLean in 1880, who survived him. Elmer A. Maxwell, from his first marriage, was his only known offspring.[1]
Electoral historyedit
Wisconsin Assembly (1875, 1876)edit
Wisconsin Assembly, Kenosha District Election, 1875[4]
^ abcdePortrait and Biographical Album of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin. Chicago: Lake City Publishing Co. 1892. pp. 549–550. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
^ abcdTimme, Ernst G., ed. (1887). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 486. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
^Bashford, R. M., ed. (1876). "Official Directory" (PDF). The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 469. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
^ abcBashford, R. M., ed. (1877). "Official Directory" (PDF). The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 464. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
^ abHeg, J. E., ed. (1881). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 513–514. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
^ abHeg, J. E., ed. (1883). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 494. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
^"Hon. W. S. Maxwell Dead". Kenosha News. August 17, 1895. p. 4. Retrieved March 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Our people were shocked and sorely grieved..." The Superior Times. August 24, 1895. p. 3. Retrieved March 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
walter, maxwell, walter, maxwell, september, 1836, august, 1895, american, farmer, businessman, republican, politician, member, wisconsin, state, senate, state, assembly, representing, kenosha, county, through, 1880s, walter, maxwellfrom, portrait, biographica. Walter S Maxwell September 12 1836 August 17 1895 was an American farmer businessman and Republican politician He was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate and State Assembly representing Kenosha County through the 1880s Walter S MaxwellFrom Portrait and Biographical Album of Racine and Kenosha Counties 1892 Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 8th districtIn office January 5 1885 January 7 1889Preceded byCharles PalmetierSucceeded byJames C ReynoldsMember of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Kenosha districtIn office January 1 1883 January 5 1885Preceded byJohn B VosburghSucceeded byAndrew PattersonIn office January 3 1881 January 2 1882Preceded byCornelius WilliamsSucceeded byJohn B VosburghIn office January 1 1877 January 7 1878Preceded byFrederick RobinsonSucceeded byWalter L DexterPersonal detailsBorn 1836 09 12 September 12 1836Jackson New York U S DiedAugust 17 1895 1895 08 17 aged 58 Superior Wisconsin U S Resting placeGreen Ridge Cemetery Kenosha WisconsinPolitical partyRepublicanSpousesAnnie M Robinson died 1874 wbr Annie A Beach m 1876 died 1878 wbr Cornelia McLean m 1880 died 1898 wbr ChildrenElmer A Maxwell b 1865 died 1951 RelativesRobert A Maxwell brother Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life and family 3 Electoral history 3 1 Wisconsin Assembly 1875 1876 3 2 Wisconsin Assembly 1880 3 3 Wisconsin Assembly 1882 3 4 Wisconsin Senate 1884 4 References 5 External linksBiography editMaxwell was born on September 12 1836 in Jackson New York 1 He was raised on his father s farm and attended common schools and the State Normal School He taught school for a few years then moved west to Wisconsin in 1860 settling in Kenosha County He purchased a tract of unimproved land in what is now Somers Wisconsin and cultivated it into a productive farm 1 Maxwell cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and remained a Republican for the rest of his life He was elected to eight consecutive terms as chairman of the town board of Somers from 1874 through 1881 and then served as chairman of the town board and chairman of the Kenosha County board of supervisors in 1884 2 He first ran for Wisconsin State Assembly in 1875 but was defeated by Democrat Frederick Robinson 3 He made another attempt in 1876 with higher voter turnout in a Presidential election year and defeated Democrat Robert S Houston 4 He did not run again in 1877 but was elected to two subsequent terms in 1880 and 1882 5 6 During these years his Assembly district comprised all of Kenosha County 2 In 1884 he was elected to a four year term in the Wisconsin State Senate representing Wisconsin s 8th State Senate district The 8th Senate district then comprised Kenosha and Walworth counties 2 He was not a candidate for re election in 1888 After leaving office he purchased an ownership stake in the Arcadian Brown Stone Company a brown sandstone quarry in Superior Wisconsin 1 He split his time between Superior and Kenosha for the rest of his life generally spending summers in Superior and winters in Kenosha He died in Superior on August 17 1895 His death was sudden and unexpected having appeared to be in good health in the days leading up to his death 7 8 Personal life and family editWalter Maxwell was one of ten children born to Alexander Maxwell and his wife Jane nee Alexander Walter s elder sister Mary married Robert Graham the 12th Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction His younger brother Robert A Maxwell was New York State Treasurer during the 1880s 1 Walter Maxwell married three times His first wife was Anna A Robinson who he married at Easton New York They had one son Elmer before her death in 1874 He next married Anna A Greenbaum nee Beach who died just two years later in 1878 He finally married Cornelia McLean in 1880 who survived him Elmer A Maxwell from his first marriage was his only known offspring 1 Electoral history editWisconsin Assembly 1875 1876 edit Wisconsin Assembly Kenosha District Election 1875 4 Party Candidate Votes General Election November 2 1875Democratic Frederick Robinson 1 202 54 00 Republican Walter S Maxwell 1 024 46 00 9 24 Plurality 178 8 00 2 49 Total votes 2 226 100 0 7 33 Democratic holdWisconsin Assembly Kenosha District Election 1876 4 Party Candidate Votes General Election November 7 1876Republican Walter S Maxwell 1 672 54 96 8 96 Democratic Robert S Houston 1 374 45 04 Plurality 302 9 93 Total votes 3 042 100 0 36 66 Republican gain from DemocraticWisconsin Assembly 1880 edit Wisconsin Assembly Kenosha District Election 1880 5 Party Candidate Votes General Election November 2 1880Republican Walter S Maxwell 1 650 53 69 5 73 Democratic John G Fleming 1 423 46 31 Plurality 227 7 39 11 45 Total votes 3 073 100 0 43 67 Republican holdWisconsin Assembly 1882 edit Wisconsin Assembly Kenosha District Election 1882 6 Party Candidate Votes General Election November 7 1882Republican Walter S Maxwell 1 385 52 38 4 81 Democratic Nicholas Spartz 1 259 47 62 Plurality 126 4 77 9 61 Total votes 2 644 100 0 23 03 Republican holdWisconsin Senate 1884 edit Wisconsin Senate 8th District Election 1884 2 Party Candidate Votes General Election November 4 1884Republican Walter S Maxwell 5 920 58 42 9 48 Democratic Andrew Kull Jr 3 620 35 72 3 63 Prohibition Cooley E Wing 593 5 85 Plurality 2 300 22 70 13 12 Total votes 10 133 100 0 83 94 Republican holdReferences edit a b c d e Portrait and Biographical Album of Racine and Kenosha Counties Wisconsin Chicago Lake City Publishing Co 1892 pp 549 550 Retrieved March 27 2022 a b c d Timme Ernst G ed 1887 Biographical Sketches PDF The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin Report State of Wisconsin p 486 Retrieved March 27 2022 Bashford R M ed 1876 Official Directory PDF The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin Report State of Wisconsin p 469 Retrieved March 27 2022 a b c Bashford R M ed 1877 Official Directory PDF The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin Report State of Wisconsin p 464 Retrieved March 27 2022 a b Heg J E ed 1881 Biographical Sketches PDF The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin Report State of Wisconsin pp 513 514 Retrieved March 27 2022 a b Heg J E ed 1883 Biographical Sketches PDF The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin Report State of Wisconsin p 494 Retrieved March 27 2022 Hon W S Maxwell Dead Kenosha News August 17 1895 p 4 Retrieved March 27 2022 via Newspapers com Our people were shocked and sorely grieved The Superior Times August 24 1895 p 3 Retrieved March 27 2022 via Newspapers com External links editWalter S Maxwell at Find a Grave Wisconsin State AssemblyPreceded byFrederick Robinson Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Kenosha districtJanuary 1 1877 January 7 1878 Succeeded byWalter L DexterPreceded byCornelius Williams Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Kenosha districtJanuary 3 1881 January 2 1882 Succeeded byJohn B VosburghPreceded byJohn B Vosburgh Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Kenosha districtJanuary 1 1883 January 5 1885 Succeeded byAndrew PattersonWisconsin SenatePreceded byCharles Palmetier Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 8th districtJanuary 5 1885 January 7 1889 Succeeded byJames C Reynolds Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Walter Maxwell amp oldid 1209055816, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
