Henry Putnam
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 17th district
In office
January 7, 1895 – January 2, 1899
Preceded byRichard Burdge
Succeeded byHarry C. Martin
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office
January 2, 1893 – January 7, 1895
Preceded byDistrict established
Succeeded byNathaniel B. Treat
ConstituencyGreen district
In office
January 5, 1891 – January 2, 1893
Preceded byPhilip Allen
Succeeded byDistrict abolished
ConstituencyGreen–Lafayette 2nd district
Personal details
Born(1846-01-17)January 17, 1846
Newark, Ohio
DiedJuly 7, 1913(1913-07-07) (aged 67)
Brodhead, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Frances Sutherland
​
(died 1895)​
Children
  • Essie Putnam
  • (b. 1872; died 1873)
OccupationFarmer, banker
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Volunteers
Union Army
Years of service1863–1865
RankCorporal, USV
Unit1st Reg. Wis. Vol. Cavalry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Henry Clay Putnam (January 17, 1846 – July 7, 1913) was an American businessman, Republican politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He served four years each in the Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly, representing Green County. During the American Civil War, he was enlisted in the Union Army.

Early life

Putnam was born in Newark, Ohio, in 1846. He moved to Wisconsin with his parents in 1849, settling in Decatur in Green County. He was educated in the common schools in Green County until age 16, when he enlisted in the Union Army.[1]

Civil War service

Putnam enlisted in the Summer of 1863 and was enrolled as a private in Company B of the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment. He was subsequently promoted to corporal.[2] He joined the regiment near Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the midst of the Chattanooga campaign. With the regiment, he went on to participate in the Battle of Mossy Creek, the Battle of Dandridge, Sherman's Atlanta Campaign, and Wilson's Raid in Alabama and Georgia.[3]

Postbellum career

Putnam mustered out with his regiment in July 1865. After returning to Wisconsin, he worked as a traveling salesman for nine years, then worked in the lumber business and operated a farm. In the 1890s he became involved with the Green County Bank of Brodhead as vice president.[1]

Politically, Putnam associated with the Republican Party. He was elected president of the Village of Brodhead, Wisconsin, in 1883 and 1884 and was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1890 and 1892.[1] In 1894, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate, representing the 17th Senate district for four years.[1] He was not a candidate for re-election in 1898.

He died at his home in Brodhead, Wisconsin, in 1913.[4]

Personal life and family

Putnam was active for the remainder of his life in the Wisconsin chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic. He married Frances Sutherland, but their only child died in infancy.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1890, 1892)

Wisconsin Assembly, Green–Lafayette 2nd District Election, 1890[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 4, 1890
Republican Henry C. Putnam 1,299 47.05% -1.43%
Democratic Rinaldo R. Fleek 1,217 44.08% +4.48%
Prohibition J. C. Murdock 151 5.47% -1.44%
Labor James F. Grinnell 94 3.40% -1.62%
Plurality 82 2.97% -5.91%
Total votes 2,761 100.0% -17.43%
Republican hold
Wisconsin Assembly, Green District Election, 1892[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 8, 1892
Republican Henry C. Putnam 2,226 44.04%
Democratic Gilbert T. Hodge 2,061 40.77%
Populist Frank H. Smock 411 8.13%
Prohibition William Smiley 357 7.06%
Plurality 165 3.26%
Total votes 5,055 100.0%
Republican win (new seat)

Wisconsin Senate (1894)

Wisconsin Senate, 17th District Election, 1894[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 6, 1894
Republican Henry C. Putnam 7,129 61.40% +8.31%
Democratic Edward Drotning 3,214 27.68% -13.40%
Prohibition F. R. Derrick 741 6.38% +0.56%
Populist E. P. Hassinger 526 4.53%
Plurality 3,915 33.72% +21.71%
Total votes 11,610 100.0% +42.30%
Republican hold

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Casson, Henry, ed. (1897). "Biographical" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 664. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  2. ^ "First Regiment Cavalry". Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861–1865. Office of the Adjutant General of Wisconsin. 1886. p. 10. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  3. ^ Quiner, Edwin B. (1866). "Regimental History–First Cavalry". The Military History of Wisconsin. Clarke & Co. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  4. ^ "Death Sends Summons for H. Clay Putnam". Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter. July 7, 1913. p. 1. Retrieved November 15, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ Cunningham, Thomas J., ed. (1891). "Biographical" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 592. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  6. ^ Cunningham, Thomas J., ed. (1893). "Biographical" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 641–642. Retrieved January 21, 2022.

External links

Wisconsin State Assembly Preceded byPhilip Allen Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Green–Lafayette 2nd district January 5, 1891 – January 2, 1893 District abolished District established Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Green district January 2, 1893 – January 7, 1895 Succeeded byNathaniel B. Treat Wisconsin Senate Preceded byRichard Burdge Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 17th district January 7, 1895 – January 2, 1899 Succeeded byHarry C. Martin
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