Isaac Stephenson

Isaac Stephenson ( born June 18, 1829 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, † March 15, 1918 in Marinette, Wisconsin ) was an American politician of the Republican Party. From 1883 to 1889 he sat for the state of Wisconsin in the U.S. House of Representatives, from 1907 to 1915 he sat in the U.S. Senate.

Lumberjack

He worked as a lumberjack in the eastern U.S., especially in Maine. In 1845 he moved to Wisconsin, where he was henceforth worked in the timber trade. In 1858 he settled permanently in Marinette, where he was able to establish itself in the timber trade, especially during the Civil War. Although Stephenson suffered heavy losses during the Peshtigo fire of 1871, he recovered quickly and was soon one of the richest lumberjack in the Great Lakes region, with real estate holdings in Marinette, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Chicago, and large acreage of pines in northern Wisconsin and Michigan.

Political career

As a Republican, Stephenson played a major role in both the local and state politics. He had numerous municipal offices, including as Town Supervisor, County Board Chairman and justice of the peace. In the years 1866 and 1868, he was then a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. In 1882 he was elected as a representative of the newly created 9th district in Congress U.S. House of Representatives. He was re-elected twice. In 1888, he did not run. 1899 was his bid unsuccessfully for a seat in the Federal Senate.

In 1900 he supported, especially financially, the. Ultimately successful application by Robert M. La Follette senior governor of Wisconsin During this time he was also attributed to the progressive wing of his party. Stephenson was elected by the " School Convention " as one of the progressive delegates to the Republican National Convention along with La Follette and William D. Connor. In 1901 he founded a still published newspaper with the Milwaukee Free Press.

In May 1907 he was sent as successor to the retiring John Coit Spooner in the U.S. Senate. In the regular Senate elections, 1908, he was able to prevail despite resistance from within the ranks and was re-elected for a full term of office. In 1914, he no longer stand for re- election. In 1909 he gave U.S. President William Howard Taft inauguration a Holstein cow named Pauline Wayne. It was the last cow that was held by a president.

Last years

Stephenson retired after his retirement from politics to his house in Marinette back. He died there in 1918. In his honor, a park, a street and a library named after him in his hometown.

His brother Samuel M. Stephenson sat for the state of Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives.