Adelbert Delos Thorp Explained

Adelbert D. Thorp
Office:County Treasurer of Door County, Wisconsin
Term Start:January 7, 1895
Term End:January 4, 1897
Predecessor:Lyman D. Mowry
Successor:Joseph G. Dalemont
Office1:Sheriff of Door County, Wisconsin
Term Start1:January 2, 1893
Term End1:January 7, 1895
Predecessor1:Arnold Wagener
Successor1:Clem Killman
Appointer2:Jeremiah McLain Rusk
Term Start2:November 1887
Term End2:January 7, 1889
Predecessor2:Thomas Scott
Successor2:John Keogh
Office3:Sergeant-at-Arms of the Wisconsin Senate
Term Start3:January 10, 1883
Term End3:January 14, 1885
Predecessor3:A. T. Glaze
Successor3:Hubert Wolcott
State4:Wisconsin
State Assembly4:Wisconsin
District4:Door
Term Start4:January 2, 1882
Term End4:January 1, 1883
Predecessor4:Edward S. Minor
Successor4:Christopher Leonhardt
Office5:County Clerk of Door County, Wisconsin
Term Start5:January 1, 1877
Term End5:January 3, 1881
Predecessor5:Charles A. Masse
Successor5:George Nelson
Party:Republican
Birth Date:15 April 1844
Birth Place:Oswego, New York, U.S.
Death Place:Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
Restingplace:Bayside Cemetery,
Occupation:Farmer, fishing
Allegiance:United States
Branch:United States Volunteers
Union Army
Rank:1st Sergeant, USV
Serviceyears:1861 - 1865
Battles:American Civil War

Adelbert Delos Thorp (April 15, 1844February 10, 1919) was an American farmer, fisherman, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Door County in the 1882 session, and later served as sergeant-at-arms of the Wisconsin Senate. In historical documents, his first name is sometimes given as "Albert", and his middle name is sometimes spelled "Deloss".

Biography

Adelbert D. Thorp was born in Oswego, New York on April 15, 1844. He came to the Wisconsin Territory with his family as a child in 1846, and settled at Rubicon, in Dodge County, where he was raised and educated. They moved to Monroe County, Wisconsin, in 1860.[1]

At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Thorp volunteered for service with the Union Army. He was enrolled as a private in Company A of the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. He served nearly two years with the regiment before being discharged in March 1863 due to disability.[2] He re-enlisted in the Fall of 1864 and was assigned to Company K of the 43rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, where he was promoted to first sergeant. He mustered out with the 43rd Wisconsin Infantry in June 1865.[3]

After the war, Thorp returned to Monroe County, where he was married in 1869. In 1871, he moved to Egg Harbor, in Door County, where he remained for most of the rest of his life. At Egg Harbor, Thorp became involved in the fishing business and was elected town chairman, serving two one-year terms. He was then elected county clerk in 1876 and re-elected in 1878.

In 1881, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly, running on the Republican Party ticket. He served in the 35th Wisconsin Legislature and was a member of the committee on incorporations.[1] He did not run for re-election in 1882. However, at the start of the 1883 session of the Legislature, the Wisconsin Senate elected him to serve as their sergeant-at-arms.[4] He continued as an employee of the Senate in the 1885 session, working as proofreader.[5]

In 1887, Thorp was appointed sheriff of Door County by Governor Jeremiah McLain Rusk, following the death of the incumbent, Thomas Scott.[6] Thorp served the remainder of Scott's term, and was later elected to another term in 1892. In 1894, he ran instead for county treasurer and served one term in that office.[7]

In 1897, Thorp was appointed special agent for the United States General Land Office in Spokane, Washington. He served there for eight years before retiring due to poor health.[8]

Thorp died in February 1919 at the home of his daughter in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, after a long illness.[9] [8]

Personal life and family

Thorp married Ellen Augusta Durkee in on March 2, 1869, at Tomah, Wisconsin. They had at least four children together before her death in 1893.[8]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1881)

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 8, 1881

Notes and References

  1. The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin . 1882 . State of Wisconsin . Heg . J. E. . https://images.library.wisc.edu/WI/EFacs/WIBlueBks/BlueBks/WIBlueBk1882/reference/wi.wibluebk1882.i0022.pdf . Biographical Sketches . 545 . March 11, 2022 .
  2. Book: Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861 - 1865 . 1 . 1886 . Office of the Adjutant General of Wisconsin . Third Regiment Infantry . 96 . March 11, 2022 .
  3. Book: Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861 - 1865 . 2 . 1886 . Office of the Adjutant General of Wisconsin . Forty-Third Regiment Infantry . 742 . March 11, 2022 .
  4. The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin . 1883 . State of Wisconsin . Heg . J. E. . https://images.library.wisc.edu/WI/EFacs/WIBlueBks/BlueBks/WIBlueBk1883/reference/wi.wibluebk1883.i0021.pdf . Biographical Sketches . 483 . March 11, 2022 .
  5. The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin . 1885 . State of Wisconsin . Heg . James E. . https://images.library.wisc.edu/WI/EFacs/WIBlueBks/BlueBks/WIBlueBk1885/reference/wi.wibluebk1885.i0017.pdf . Biographical Sketches . 29 . March 11, 2022 .
  6. News: Brief Notes . . November 15, 1887 . 3 . March 11, 2022 . .
  7. The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin . 1895 . State of Wisconsin . Casson . Henry . https://images.library.wisc.edu/WI/EFacs/WIBlueBks/BlueBks/WIBlueBk1895/reference/wi.wibluebk1895.i0015.pdf . The Judiciary, United States Government, State Government, Miscellaneous State Societies, Etc. . 631 . March 11, 2022 .
  8. News: Another Pioneer Gone . Door County Advocate . February 14, 1919 .
  9. News: Prominent Citizen Dies . . February 13, 1919 . 12 . March 11, 2022 . .