Reinhard Schlichting Explained

Reinhard Schlichting
Office:Mayor of Chilton, Wisconsin
Term Start:April 1887
Term End:April 1889
Predecessor:Theodore Kersten
Successor:L. D. Dorschel
State1:Wisconsin
State Senate1:Wisconsin
District1:22nd
Term Start1:January 5, 1874
Term End1:January 3, 1876
Predecessor1:George Kreiss
Successor1:James Ryan
Office2:District Attorney of Calumet County, Wisconsin
Term Start2:January 7, 1867
Term End2:January 4, 1869
Predecessor2:George Baldwin
Successor2:John McMullen
Party:Democratic
Birth Date:23 May 1835
Birth Place:Oldenburg,
Death Place:Chilton, Wisconsin, U.S.
Restingplace:Hillside Cemetery,
Relatives:Bernard Schlichting (brother)
Occupation:Hotelier, manufacturer, brewer
Allegiance:United States
Branch:United States Volunteers
Union Army
Rank:Captain, USV
Serviceyears:1861 - 1865
Battles:American Civil War

Reinhart Frederick George Schlichting (May 23, 1835July 6, 1897) was a German American immigrant, businessman, and Democratic politician. He served two years in the Wisconsin State Senate representing Calumet County and southern Outagamie County. During the American Civil War, he served as a Union Army officer.

Biography

Born in the Oldenburg, in what is now northwest Germany, Schlichting was educated in the Oldenburg city schools until age 12, when he emigrated with his parents to the United States.[1] They immediately settled at Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, and Reinhard labored to assist his father in clearing land and establishing a homestead.

During the American Civil War, Schlichting served in the 9th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment and in the 45th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. After the war, in 1865, he moved to Chilton, Wisconsin, where he purchased a hotel and operated it for the next six years. After selling his hotel, he operated a hub-and-spoke manufacturing business, and then purchased and ran a drug store in Chilton.[1]

He became a leading citizen in Chilton and was elected to several local offices. He was chairman of the town board and served on the school board. In the Fall election of 1866 he was elected district attorney of Calumet County.[1] In 1873 he won election to the Wisconsin State Senate running on the Reform Party ticket, and served in the 1874 and 1875 sessions.[1] In 1887, he was elected mayor of Chilton, and was re-elected without opposition in 1888.[2] [3]

For the last decade of his life, he was employed as the manager of the Calumet County operations of the Pabst Brewing Company. He died of sudden heart failure in his bed at Chilton, Wisconsin.[4]

Notes and References

  1. The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin . 1874 . State of Wisconsin . Turner . A. J. . Andrew Jackson Turner . https://images.library.wisc.edu/WI/EFacs/WIBlueBks/BlueBks/WIBlueBk1874/reference/wi.wibluebk1874.i0023.pdf . Official Directory . 452 . January 1, 2022 .
  2. News: Election Returns . . April 7, 1887 . 4 . January 1, 2022 . .
  3. News: Election Day . . April 4, 1888 . 1 . January 1, 2022 . .
  4. News: Death of a Veteran . The Centralia Enterprise and Tribune . July 10, 1897. 20. January 1, 2022. .