Ira S. Haseltine Explained

Ira S. Haseltine
Office1:Member of the United States House of Representatives
Term Start1:March 4, 1881
Term End1:March 3, 1883
Predecessor1:James Richard Waddill
Successor1:John Cosgrove
Constituency1:Missouri's 6th congressional district
Office2:Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Term Start2:1867
Term End2:1868
Predecessor2:Henry L. Eaton
Successor2:Warren C. S. Barron
Constituency2:30th district (Richland County)
Birth Date:13 July 1821
Birth Place:Andover, Vermont, U.S.
Death Place:Springfield, Missouri, U.S.
Resting Place:Hazelwood Cemetery, Springfield, Missouri, U.S.
Party:Republican
Otherparty:Greenback
Spouse:Augusta Thomas (m. 1842)
Children:9
Occupation:Attorney
Farmer

Ira Sherwin Haseltine (July 13, 1821 – January 13, 1899) was a farmer and lawyer who was active in Wisconsin and Missouri. As a member of the Greenback Party, he represented Missouri's 6th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1881 to March 3, 1883.

Biography

Haseltine was born in Andover, Vermont on July 13, 1821, a son of Orien Haseltine and Rachel (Burton) Haseltine.[1] [2] He was raised and educated in Andover and in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, and taught school in Natchez, Mississippi for three years.[1] He moved to what is now Richland Center, Wisconsin in 1842; Haseltine was one of the founders of the city in 1851, and was credited with both planning its layout and selecting its name.[1] Haseltine studied law in Milwaukee with Don A. J. Upham; he was admitted to the bar in 1842 and practiced in Richland Center.[1] Active in politics as a Republican, Haseltine was a delegate to the party's 1854 state convention and to the 1860 Republican National Convention.[1] In 1866, he won election to the Wisconsin State Assembly, and he served one term, 1867 to 1868.[1]

In 1870, Haseltine moved to a farm near Springfield, Missouri, where his sons and he started Haseltine orchards, a successful apple-growing operation.[1] In the 1870s, Haseltine became an adherent of the Greenback Party, which opposed corporate monopolies and efforts to return to the pre-American Civil War gold standard.[1] In 1880, he was a successful Greenback candidate for the U.S. House, and he served one term, March 4, 1881 to March 3, 1883.[1] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1882 and resumed his farming activities in Springfield.[1]

Haseltine died in Springfield on January 13, 1899.[1] He was buried in Hazelwood Cemetery in Springfield.[1]

Family

In 1846, Haseltine married Augusta Thomas (1828–1902).[2] They were the parents of nine children who lived to adulthood, five sons and four daughters.[3]

Legacy

A large portion of Haseltine's Springfield apple growing operation has been preserved as The Haseltine Orchards Historic Area.[4] Haseltine's home has been preserved as the Haseltine Estate, and is operated as a privately owned wedding venue.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Joint Committee On Printing, U.S. Congress . 1971 . Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1971 . Washington, DC . U.S. Government Printing Office . 1096 . Google Books.
  2. Book: De Bolt, Mary M. . 1925 . Lineage Book of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution . LXXX . Washington, D.C. . Judd & Detweiler . 329 . Google Books.
  3. News: May 20, 1902 . Passed to Higher Life: Mrs. Augusta Haseltine . . Springfield, MO . 2 . Newspapers.com.
  4. Web site: Preservation Corner: The Haseltine Orchards Historic Area . Flanders . Robert . 1996 . OzarksWatch . Springfield-Greene County Library . Springfield, MO . December 19, 2023.
  5. Web site: Haseltine Estate Wedding Venue . Haseltine Estate.com . Haseltine Estate . Springfield, MO . December 19, 2023.