Peter Polin

Peter Polin
Personal details
Born(1832-03-25)March 25, 1832
Zillis, Switzerland
DiedNovember 7, 1870(1870-11-07) (aged 38)
Alma, Wisconsin, U.S.
Cause of deathStroke
Resting placeAlma Cemetery, Alma, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMagdalena Liesch
Children
  • Joshua
  • Anna Marie (Miley)
  • (b. 1863; died 1958)
Known forPosthumously elected to the Wisconsin Assembly
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Volunteers
Union Army
Years of service1861
Rank1st Lieutenant, USV
Unit6th Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Peter Polin (March 25, 1832 – November 7, 1870) was a Swiss American immigrant, merchant, and Republican politician. He died the day before his election to the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Biography

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Born in Zillis, Switzerland, Polin emigrated to the United States and settled in Dubuque, Iowa, and then moved to Alma, Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in 1857. Polin was a merchant. He served as postmaster of Alma, Wisconsin, and as Buffalo County Treasurer from 1862 to 1864. Polin was a Republican. In the Wisconsin General Election of November 8, 1870, Polin ran for the Wisconsin State Assembly against John Burt. However, on November 7, 1870, the day before election day, Polin died suddenly. However, most voters were not aware of his death and elected Polin to the Wisconsin Assembly[1] with 444 votes to 370 for John Burt (Democrat) and 50 votes for Augustus F. Finkelnburg (Republican). Because there was no choice for the Wisconsin Assembly seat, Wisconsin Acting Governor Thaddeus Pound ordered a special election for December 31, 1870.[2] In the December 31, 1870, Wisconsin Assembly special election Ahaz F. Allen (Republican) won the Wisconsin Assembly seat with 529 votes to 431 votes for James Burt (Democrat) and 172 votes for James L. Hallock (Independent).[3][4][5]

References

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  1. ^ "Hon. Peter Polin". Freeborn County Standard. November 24, 1870. p. 2. Retrieved December 1, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ "The Special Election". The Daily Milwaukee News. December 22, 1870. p. 4. Retrieved December 1, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ Wisconsin Blue Book 1871, Biographical Sketch of Peter Polin, p. 372
  4. ^ Hon. Peter Polin, Freeborn County Standard (Minnesota), November 24, 1870, p. 2.
  5. ^ Members of the Wisconsin State Legislature 1848-1999
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