Charles Mulberger: Watertown, Wisconsin mayor, state senator, lawyer and businessman

Charles Mulberger (November 1, 1873 – November 17, 1931) was an American politician, businessman, and lawyer from Watertown, Wisconsin.

Background

Born in Watertown on November 1, 1873, son of Henry Mulberger Sr. and Mathilda Wolf Mulberger, attended the local public schools and Watertown High School. He graduated from University of Wisconsin Law School in 1894. He was the manager of Global Milling Company for twenty years.

Public office

He served four years on Watertown's Common Council, and four as president of the city fire and police commission, and was mayor of Watertown from 1915 to 1921, a title previously held by his father (Henry Mulberger, Sr.) and two of his brothers, Henry Jr. and Arthur (whom he succeeded). In 1914, Mulberger was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate from Wisconsin's 33rd State Senate district (Jefferson and Waukesha counties) as a Democrat, with 5,890 votes, to 5,157 for Republican Frank Foote, 61 for Prohibitionist J. A. McKenzie, and 28 for Socialist Gus. Voight. (Republican incumbent George E. Hoyt was not a candidate.) He was assigned to the standing committee on corporations.[1] He was re-elected in 1918, with 5,294 votes to 1,014 for Socialist George Neu. He moved to the committee on state affairs, and to the committee on committees.[2] He gained statewide attention as the author of the 1919 "Mulberger Act", which provided for enforcement of the Prohibition Amendment, but legalized the sale of near beer with up to 2.75% alcohol content (the latter provision was eventually defeated in court).[3] In 1922, he was defeated by Republican John C. Schumann, who drew 10,865 votes to Mulberger's 3,794.[4]

Mulberger ran once more for mayor of Watertown, but came in third in a tight three-way race, with 1271 votes to 1461 for J. E. McAdams and 1406 for A. H. Hartwig.[5] In 1928, he was the Democratic nominee for Wisconsin Secretary of State, losing to incumbent Republican Theodore Dammann, who drew 627,244 votes to 232,797 for Mulberger, 36,734 for Socialist Leo Krzycki, 6,517 for Prohibitionist W. C. Pickering, and 1,510 for Peter Ordanoff of the Workers' Party.[6]

Later years

Mulberger continued to live in the family home at 311 S. Washington Street (now part of the South Washington Street Historic District.[7] He had suffered a severe stroke in 1927,[8] but continued in the occasional practice of law.[9] He died November 16, 1931, of apoplexy, leaving a widow not named in his obituaries.[10]

Notes

  1. ^ The Wisconsin Blue Book 1915 Madison: Democrat Printing Co., State Printer, 1915; pp. 247, 474, 500
  2. ^ Hunter, Paul F., ed. The Wisconsin Blue Book 1919 Madison: Democrat Printing Co., State Printer, 1919; pp. 446, 472
  3. ^ "Stroke Fatal To Author Of Measure To Bring Back Beer", Sheboygan Press November 16, 1931; p. 21, col. 1 via Newspapers.com
  4. ^ The Wisconsin Blue Book 1923 Madison: State of Wisconsin, 1923; p. 577
  5. ^ "M'Adams Wins, Watertown", Sheboygan Press April 2, 1924; p. 4, col. 2
  6. ^ Anderson, William J.; Anderson, William A., ed. The Wisconsin Blue Book 1929 Madison: Democrat Printing Company, State Printer, 1929; p. 819
  7. ^ "PROPERTY RECORD: 311 S WASHINGTON ST.: Architecture and History Inventory", Wisconsin Historical Society accessed 2-11-2022
  8. ^ "Former State Sen. Mulberger Is Near Death", The Capital Times December 14, 1927; p. 13, col. 5
  9. ^ "Drys Seize Three Watertown Men", Wisconsin State Journal June 16, 1931; p. 9, col. 3
  10. ^ "JOINT RESOLUTIONS No. 4, 1931: Relating to the public service and death of Charles Mulberger" Laws of Wisconsin 1931-1932 Madison: Wisconsin Legislative Bureau, 1933; pg. 117-118
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