Rensselaer Morse Lewis

Rensselaer Morse Lewis (November 9, 1820 – December 16, 1888) was an American merchant from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin who served a single one-year term in 1873 as a Liberal Reform Party member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin.[1]

Background

Lewis was born November 9, 1820 in Morrisville, New York. He received an academic education and became a grain merchant and wholesaler. In 1853 he came to Wisconsin, settling in Fond du Lac. He was listed as a produce dealer in 1867.[2] From 1867 to 1869 he served as postmaster of that city. He declared bankruptcy in 1868[3] and his home burned down in 1872.[4]

Legislative service

In 1872, he was elected to the 2nd Fond du Lac County Assembly district (consisting of the City of Fond du Lac itself, and the Towns of Fond du Lac, Lamartine and Oakfield as a candidate of the newly formed Reform Party, with 1,754 votes to 1,725 for Republican incumbent Elihu Colman. Lewis was assigned to the standing committees on ways and means, and on engrossed bills.[5]

He was not a candidate for re-election in 1874, and was succeeded by Democrat Thomas Weeks (the Reform Party had no candidate in the 1873 race).

References

  1. ↑ "Members of the Wisconsin Legislature 1848–1999 State of Wisconsin Legislative Bureau. Information Bulletin 99-1, September 1999. p. 76
  2. ↑ "Business and Firms". Semi-Weekly Wisconsin. March 23, 1867. p. 1. Retrieved September 25, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Legal Notices: Rensselaer M. Lewis". The Daily Milwaukee News. December 9, 1868. p. 7. Retrieved September 25, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "State News: Fond du Lac County". Green Bay Weekly Gazette. May 25, 1872. p. 7. Retrieved September 26, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Turner, A. J., ed. The legislative manual of the state of Wisconsin: comprising the constitution of the United States and of the state of Wisconsin, Jefferson's manual, forms and laws for the regulation of business; also, lists and tables for reference, etc. Twelfth Annual Edition. Madison: Atwood and Culver, Printers and Stereotypers, 1873; p. 444, 465, 466


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