Charles Durkee

Charles Durkee
United States Senator from Wisconsin
In office March 4, 1855 – March 4, 1861
Preceded by	Isaac Walker
Succeeded by	Timothy Howe
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 1st district
In office March 4, 1849 – March 4, 1853
Succeeded by	Daniel Wells, Jr.
Personal details
Born	December 10, 1805(1805-12-10) Royalton, Vermont
Died	January 14, 1870(1870-01-14) (aged 64) Omaha, Nebraska
Nationality	American
Political party	Free-soiler, later Republican

Charles Durkee (December 10, 1805 – January 14, 1870) was an American politician and a Congressman and Senator from Wisconsin.

Early life

Durkee was born in Royalton, Vermont. He became a merchant and moved to Wisconsin in 1836. There he became involved in agriculture and lumbering, and was a founder of the town of Southport (later Kenosha, Wisconsin).

Career

He entered politics, serving two terms in the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature. He became a member of the Free Soil Party and was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1848 as part of Wisconsin's first full congressional delegation. He served in the House for two terms, until 1853. In 1854, he switched to the newly formed Republican Party and was elected to the United States Senate by the Wisconsin State Legislature. He served for one term, from 1855 to 1861. In 1865 he became governor of the Utah Territory, and served in that position until 1869 when he resigned because of ill health. He died in Omaha, Nebraska while returning home.

Tributes

A street in the city of Appleton, Wisconsin is named for him.

An elementary school in Kenosha, Wisconsin bore his name for many years. It was demolished in 2008.

Created the Durkee Spices

Nailed the Golden Spike in Promontory, Utah on May 10, 1869, connecting the Union Pacific tracks to the Central Pacific Railroad.

External links

• Charles Durkee at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by William P. Lynde	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 1st congressional district March 4, 1849 – March 4, 1853	Succeeded by Daniel Wells, Jr.
United States Senate
Preceded by Isaac P. Walker	United States Senator (Class 3) from Wisconsin 1855–1861 Served alongside: Henry Dodge, James R. Doolittle	Succeeded by Timothy O. Howe
Political offices
Preceded by James Duane Doty	Governor of Utah Territory 1865–1869	Succeeded by John Shaffer