Louis Bostedo Explained

Louis Bostedo (1798 - 1878) was an American businessman from Weyauwega, Wisconsin who spent a single term in 1856 as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from a district which encompassed the sparsely populated Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano and Waupaca counties.^[1]

He was born in New Jersey and was a partner in a mill and dam. Bostedo came to Waupaca County in 1851, being one of the first settlers of Weyauwega.^[2] In 1855 he was a member of the Waupaca County Board of Supervisors from Weyauwega. He was the first village president of Waupaca.^[3]

Legislative election and service

The seat was initially awarded to one William Brunquest, whom Bostedo successfully challenged,^[4] with both claimants admitting that Bostedo had received the majority of the vote.^[5]

He was a Democrat, succeeded fellow Democrat Perry H. Smith, and was succeeded by Democrat Benjamin F. Phillips.

After the Assembly

Bostedo remained on the county board; was a founder and president of the Old Settlers' Society of Waupaca County when that body organized in 1872, retaining the office until his death in 1878.

He was reported as a newly elected vice-president of the Ripon and Wolf River Rail Road Company in 1858.^[6] That railroad had been chartered by the legislature during his term of office.^[7]

Notes and References

1. http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/pubs/ib/99ib1.pdf "Members of the Wisconsin Legislature 1848 - 1999 State of Wisconsin Legislative Bureau. Information Bulletin 99-1, September 1999. p. 30
2. F.A.M. "The Upper Wolf, Wis.; Waupaca and Weyauwega:Weyauwega:Pioneer Days" Semi-Weekly Wisconsin p. 1, col. 6
3. 'Weyauwega,' Kim J. Helter, Mary Werth, and Janis Dahlke, Arcada Publishing: 2013, Biographical Sketch of Louis Bostedo, pg. 19
4. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1871 The legislative manual of the state of Wisconsin; comprising Jefferson's manual, rules, forms and laws for the regulation of business; also, lists and tables for reference Tenth Annual Edition Madison: Atwood and Culver, State Printers, Journal Block, 1871; p. 196
5. January 15, 1856 Journal of the Assembly of Wisconsin, Annual Session, A.D. 1856. Madison: Calkins & Proudfit, Printers, 1856; pp. 60-62
6. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WFBerlinDir1858 Smith, Du Moulin and Co., comp. The Berlin city directory. Containing the names of the citizens, a business directory, an accurately compiled street and avenue directory, a state and city record and an appendix of much useful information Berlin, Wisconsin: J. S. Wright, Bookseller and Stationer, 1858; Appendix. Horicon, Waupun, Berlin and Ripon; p. 7
7. "An Act to incorporate the Ripon and Wolf River Railroad" Private and Local Laws Passed by the Legislature of Wisconsin, in the Year Eighteen-Hundred and Fifty-Six Madison: Calkins & Proudfit, Printers, 1856; p. 862-70