Walter S. Greene

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Walter S. Greene
Portrait from The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin (1879)
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 23rd district
In office
January 3, 1887 – November 15, 1891
Preceded byWilliam W. Reed
Succeeded byAlbert Solliday
In office
January 6, 1873 – January 4, 1875
Preceded byWilliam W. Woodman
Succeeded byWilliam W. Reed
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Jefferson 2nd district
In office
January 6, 1862 – January 5, 1863
Preceded byHorace B. Willard
Succeeded byNathan S. Greene
Personal details
Born(1834-03-23)March 23, 1834
Salisbury, Herkimer County, New York, U.S.
DiedNovember 15, 1891(1891-11-15) (aged 57)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Cause of deathStomach cancer
Resting placeEvergreen Cemetery, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
  • Ella C. Potter
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1861; died 1863)​
  • Jennette Guile
    ​
    (m. 1866⁠–⁠1891)​
Children
  • Isabella P. Greene
  • (b. 1862; died 1917)
Parent

Walter S. Greene (May 28, 1834 – November 15, 1891) was an American businessman, Democratic politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He served six years in the Wisconsin State Senate and one year in the State Assembly, representing Jefferson County.

Biography[edit]

Walter Greene was born in Salisbury, in Herkimer County, New York, March 23, 1834.[1] He came west with his family in 1846, settling at the town of Milford, in the Wisconsin Territory.[2] He attended collegiate courses at the University of Wisconsin and Beloit College and worked as a merchant for several years at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. He subsequently returned to Milford and worked with his father in a milling and manufacturing firm known as "Greene & Son".[1][3]

While residing at Milford, he served on the town board for several years, served as Jefferson County treasurer, and was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly for the 1862 session. He was succeeded in office in 1863 by his father, Nathan S. Greene.[2] He was subsequently elected to the Wisconsin State Senate from Jefferson County's Senate district in 1872.[4]

In May 1883, he moved to Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, and was elected to another term in the Wisconsin Senate in 1886. The next year, he was elected mayor of Fort Atkinson.[1] He was re-elected in 1890,[1] but was stricken with stomach cancer shortly after the start of the new term. He was ill for several months before dying at St. Mary's hospital in Milwaukee in November 1891.[5][6]

Personal life and family[edit]

Walter Greene's father Nathan S. Greene also served in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Walter's younger brother William served as an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War.[2]

Walter Greene married twice. His first wife, Ella Porter, was the daughter of General James Potter, of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, and was a great granddaughter of American Revolutionary War major general James Potter.[7] They had one daughter together.

Walter Greene was survived by his second wife, Jennette Guile, and his daughter Isabella "Belle".[3]

Electoral history[edit]

Wisconsin Senate (1872)[edit]

Wisconsin Senate, 23rd District Election, 1872[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 5, 1872
Democratic Walter S. Greene 3,983 60.76% +3.67%
Republican Luther A. Cole 2,572 39.24%
Plurality 1,411 21.53% +7.34%
Total votes 6,555 100.0% +34.19%
Democratic hold

Wisconsin Senate (1886, 1890)[edit]

Wisconsin Senate, 23rd District Election, 1886[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 2, 1886
Democratic Walter S. Greene 3,601 56.93% +1.58%
Republican James W. Ostrander 2,464 38.96% +2.18%
Prohibition George W. Jenkins 260 4.11% -3.76%
Plurality 1,137 17.98% -0.61%
Total votes 6,325 100.0% +19.09%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Senate, 23rd District Election, 1890[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 4, 1890
Democratic Walter S. Greene (incumbent) 3,983 60.76% +3.83%
Republican Jesse Stone 2,572 39.24% +0.28%
Prohibition S. Faville 319 4.64% +0.53%
Plurality 1,411 21.53% +3.55%
Total votes 6,874 100.0% +8.68%
Democratic hold

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Cunningham, Thomas J., ed. (1891). "Biographical" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 582. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Western Historical Company. 1879. pp. 726. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Death of Senator Walter S. Greene". The Watertown News. November 18, 1891. p. 5. Retrieved November 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b "Official Directory" (PDF). The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. 1873. p. 437. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  5. ^ "Death of a Senator". Wisconsin State Journal. November 16, 1891. p. 4. Retrieved November 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ 'Proceedings of the Annual meeting of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.' Wisconsin Historical Society: 1892, Biographical Sketch of Walter S. Greene, pg. 20-21
  7. ^ "Green". Wisconsin State Journal. April 24, 1863. p. 1. Retrieved November 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Timme, Ernst G., ed. (1887). "Official Directory" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 489. Retrieved November 19, 2021.

External links[edit]

Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Jefferson 2nd district
January 6, 1862 – January 5, 1863 		Succeeded by
Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 23rd district
January 6, 1873 – January 4, 1875 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 23rd district
January 3, 1887 – November 15, 1891 		Succeeded by
William W. Reed
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