Oliver Lamoreux

Oliver Horton Lamoreux (April 22, 1824- May 18, 1891) was an American farmer from Plover, Wisconsin who served in various local public offices and for one term was a "Conservative" member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from Portage County. He was the brother of Silas W. Lamoreux.

Background

Lamoreux was born in Clockville in Madison County, New York on April 22, 1824. He received a common school education and became a farmer; he came to Wisconsin in 1851 and settled at Stockton in Portage County. His parents and brother joined him in Portage County in 1852, although Silas moved to Dodge County two years later.

Public office

Lamoreux served as chairman of Town of Stockton board of supervisors several times; indeed, in the first town meeting held in 1855 he was elected town chair without opposition, as well as justice of the peace.[1] He was appointed undersheriff of Portage County in 1858, and deputy U. S. marshal in 1861. Lamoreux was appointed district attorney of Portage County in 1862 (although there is nothing in the record to indicate that he was an attorney [unlike his brother]), and elected to the same position at the subsequent general election.

During the American Civil War he was appointed as a clerk in the War Department in 1863, appointed a special land agent in 1864, and again elected district attorney of Portage County in 1870. In 1871, he was elected to the Assembly, receiving 727 votes to 658 for Republican John Phillips (Republican incumbent Thomas McDill was not a candidate for re-election). In the same election, his brother Silas was elected as a Democrat from Dodge County. Oliver was appointed to the standing committee on town and city organization.[2]

Although his official profile listed his party affiliation as "Conservative" (the only one in either house of the legislature), he is listed in one table in the 1872 Wisconsin Blue Book as a Democrat alongside his brother.[3] Nonetheless, official Wisconsin histories list him simply as "Conservative".[4]

Neither brother was a candidate for re-election in 1872; Oliver was succeeded by Republican David R. Clements.

After the Assembly

In 1880, Lamoreux was a member of the Portage County Board of Immigration.[5] He died May 18, 1891 in Plover.

References

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