Oliver Lamoreux Explained

Oliver Lamoreux
State:Wisconsin
State Assembly:Wisconsin
District:Portage
Term Start:January 1, 1872
Term End:January 6, 1873
Predecessor:Thomas McDill
Successor:David R. Clements
Office1:District Attorney of Portage County, Wisconsin
Term Start1:January 2, 1871
Term End1:January 6, 1873
Predecessor1:Miner Stroupe
Successor1:Miner Stroupe
Term Start2:1862
Term End2:January 1865
Predecessor2:J. W. Van Myers
Successor2:B. Brett
Birth Date:22 April 1824
Birth Place:Clockville, New York, U.S.
Death Place:Plover, Wisconsin, U.S.
Restingplace:Plover Cemetery,

Oliver Horton Lamoreux or Lamoreaux (April 22, 1824May 18, 1891) was an American lawyer, politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Portage County during the 1872 session. He was the brother of Silas W. Lamoreux, who served in the Assembly during the same session.

Background

Lamoreux was born in Clockville in Madison County, New York, on April 22, 1824. He received a common school education and became a farmer; he came to Wisconsin in 1851 and settled at Stockton in Portage County. His parents and brother joined him in Portage County in 1852, although Silas moved to Dodge County two years later.

Public office

Lamoreux served as chairman of Town of Stockton board of supervisors several times; indeed, in the first town meeting held in 1855 he was elected town chair without opposition, as well as justice of the peace.[1] He was appointed undersheriff of Portage County in 1858, and deputy U. S. marshal in 1861. Lamoreux was appointed district attorney of Portage County in 1862, and elected to the same position at the subsequent general election.

During the American Civil War he was appointed as a clerk in the War Department in 1863, appointed a special land agent in 1864, and again elected district attorney of Portage County in 1870. In 1871, he was elected to the Assembly, receiving 727 votesto 658 for Republican John Phillips (Republican incumbent Thomas McDill was not a candidate for re-election). In the same election, his brother Silas was elected as a Democrat from Dodge County. Oliver was appointed to the standing committee on town and city organization.[2]

Although his official profile listed his party affiliation as "Conservative" (the only one in either house of the legislature), he is listed in one table in the 1872 Wisconsin Blue Book as a Democrat alongside his brother.[3] Nonetheless, official Wisconsin histories list him simply as "Conservative".[4]

Neither brother was a candidate for re-election in 1872; Oliver was succeeded by Republican David R. Clements.

After the Assembly

In 1880, Lamoreux was a member of the Portage County Board of Immigration.[5] He died May 18, 1891, in Plover.

Notes and References

  1. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.RosholtPort Rosholt, Malcolm Leviatt. Our county, our story; Portage County, Wisconsin Stevens Point, Wisconsin: Portage County Board of Supervisors, 1959; p. 395
  2. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1872 Turner, A. J., ed. 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 [1872]; Madison, 1872; pp. 384, 454-455, 464, 469
  3. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1872 Turner, A. J., ed. 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 [1872]; Madison, 1872; p. 464
  4. 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. 73
  5. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1880 Warner, Hans B., ed. The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin 1880 Madison, 1880; p. 478