Adelbert Delos Thorp

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Adelbert D. Thorp
County Treasurer of Door County, Wisconsin
In office
January 7, 1895 – January 4, 1897
Preceded byLyman D. Mowry
Succeeded byJoseph G. Dalemont
Sheriff of Door County, Wisconsin
In office
January 2, 1893 – January 7, 1895
Preceded byArnold Wagener
Succeeded byClem Killman
In office
November 1887 – January 7, 1889
Appointed byJeremiah McLain Rusk
Preceded byThomas Scott
Succeeded byJohn Keogh
Sergeant-at-Arms of the Wisconsin Senate
In office
January 10, 1883 – January 14, 1885
Preceded byA. T. Glaze
Succeeded byHubert Wolcott
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Door district
In office
January 2, 1882 – January 1, 1883
Preceded byEdward S. Minor
Succeeded byChristopher Leonhardt
County Clerk of Door County, Wisconsin
In office
January 1, 1877 – January 3, 1881
Preceded byCharles A. Masse
Succeeded byGeorge Nelson
Personal details
Born(1844-04-15)April 15, 1844
Oswego, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 10, 1919(1919-02-10) (aged 74)
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeBayside Cemetery, Sturgeon Bay
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Ellen Augusta Durkee
(m. 1869; died 1893)
Children
  • Adelbert D. "Bert" Thorp
  • (b. 1869; died 1937)
  • Guy Carlton Thorp
  • (b. 1877; died 1878)
  • Gail Edith (Bell)
  • (b. 1880; died 1965)
  • Edna Thorp
OccupationFarmer, fishing
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Volunteers
Union Army
Years of service1861–1865
Rank1st Sergeant, USV
Unit
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Adelbert Delos Thorp (April 15, 1844 – February 10, 1919) was an American farmer, fisherman, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Door County in the 1882 session, and later served as sergeant-at-arms of the Wisconsin Senate. In historical documents, his first name is sometimes given as "Albert", and his middle name is sometimes spelled "Deloss".

Biography[edit]

Adelbert D. Thorp was born in Oswego, New York on April 15, 1844. He came to the Wisconsin Territory with his family as a child in 1846, and settled at Rubicon, in Dodge County, where he was raised and educated. They moved to Monroe County, Wisconsin, in 1860.[1]

At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Thorp volunteered for service with the Union Army. He was enrolled as a private in Company A of the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. He served nearly two years with the regiment before being discharged in March 1863 due to disability.[2] He re-enlisted in the Fall of 1864 and was assigned to Company K of the 43rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, where he was promoted to first sergeant. He mustered out with the 43rd Wisconsin Infantry in June 1865.[3]

After the war, Thorp returned to Monroe County, where he was married in 1869. In 1871, he moved to Egg Harbor, in Door County, where he remained for most of the rest of his life. At Egg Harbor, Thorp became involved in the fishing business and was elected town chairman, serving two one-year terms. He was then elected county clerk in 1876 and re-elected in 1878.

In 1881, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly, running on the Republican Party ticket. He served in the 35th Wisconsin Legislature and was a member of the committee on incorporations.[1] He did not run for re-election in 1882. However, at the start of the 1883 session of the Legislature, the Wisconsin Senate elected him to serve as their sergeant-at-arms.[4] He continued as an employee of the Senate in the 1885 session, working as proofreader.[5]

In 1887, Thorp was appointed sheriff of Door County by Governor Jeremiah McLain Rusk, following the death of the incumbent, Thomas Scott.[6] Thorp served the remainder of Scott's term, and was later elected to another term in 1892. In 1894, he ran instead for county treasurer and served one term in that office.[7]

In 1897, Thorp was appointed special agent for the United States General Land Office in Spokane, Washington. He served there for eight years before retiring due to poor health.[8]

Thorp died in February 1919 at the home of his daughter in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, after a long illness.[9][8]

Personal life and family[edit]

Thorp married Ellen Augusta Durkee in on March 2, 1869, at Tomah, Wisconsin. They had at least four children together before her death in 1893.[8]

Electoral history[edit]

Wisconsin Assembly (1881)[edit]

Wisconsin Assembly, Door District Election, 1881[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 8, 1881
Republican Adelbert D. Thorp 655 52.40% -4.05%
Independent Henry Reynolds 595 47.60%
Plurality 60 4.80% -11.08%
Total votes 1,250 100.0% -40.76%
Republican hold

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Heg, J. E., ed. (1882). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 545. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  2. ^ "Third Regiment Infantry". Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861–1865. Vol. 1. Office of the Adjutant General of Wisconsin. 1886. p. 96. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  3. ^ "Forty-Third Regiment Infantry". Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861–1865. Vol. 2. Office of the Adjutant General of Wisconsin. 1886. p. 742. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  4. ^ Heg, J. E., ed. (1883). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 483. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  5. ^ Heg, James E., ed. (1885). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 29. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  6. ^ "Brief Notes". Green Bay Press-Gazette. November 15, 1887. p. 3. Retrieved March 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Casson, Henry, ed. (1895). "The Judiciary, United States Government, State Government, Miscellaneous State Societies, Etc." (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 631. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c "Another Pioneer Gone". Door County Advocate. February 14, 1919.
  9. ^ "Prominent Citizen Dies". Green Bay Press-Gazette. February 13, 1919. p. 12. Retrieved March 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Door district
January 2, 1882 – January 1, 1883
Succeeded by
Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by
A. T. Glaze
Sergeant-at-Arms of the Wisconsin Senate
January 10, 1883 – January 14, 1885
Succeeded by
Hubert Wolcott
Political offices
Preceded by County Clerk of Door County, Wisconsin
January 1, 1877 – January 3, 1881
Succeeded by
George Nelson
Preceded by
Lyman D. Mowry
County Treasurer of Door County, Wisconsin
January 7, 1895 – January 4, 1897
Succeeded by
Joseph G. Dalemont
Legal offices
Preceded by
Arnold Wagener
Sheriff of Door County, Wisconsin
January 2, 1893 – January 7, 1895
Succeeded by
Clem Killman