Eleazer Root

Eleazer Root (March 6, 1802 – July 25, 1887) was an American educator and Episcopalian priest from New York, who moved to Wisconsin as a young man and spent much of his career and adult life there. He served a term in the Wisconsin Assembly and was appointed as the first Superintendent of Public Instruction.[1][2] Because of his health, in his last years he moved to St. Augustine, Florida, serving as rector of Trinity Parish from 1874 to 1884. Root is considered as one of the founding fathers of Wisconsin and was also instrumental in organizing the University of Wisconsin as a member of the first board of regents.[3]

Eleazer Root
1st Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin
In office
January 1, 1849 – January 5, 1852
GovernorNelson Dewey
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byAzel P. Ladd
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Marquette–Waushara district
In office
January 5, 1852 – January 1, 1853
Preceded byCharles Waldo
Succeeded byEdwin B. Kelsey
and Ezra Wheeler
Personal details
Born(1802-03-06)March 6, 1802
Canaan, New York
DiedJuly 25, 1887(1887-07-25) (aged 85)
St. Augustine, Florida
Resting placeEvergreen Cemetery
St. Augustine, Florida
Political partyWhig
Spouse(s)
  • Harriet Dayton
  • Laura
Children
  • Cornelia Fanning (Ingraham)
  • (b. 1831; died 1898)
  • Mary Marvin Root
  • (b. 1836; died 1929)
  • George W. Root
  • (b. 1840; died 1863)
  • Anna Locke (Durlin)
  • (b. 1844; died 1933)
EducationWilliams College

Early life and education

Born in Canaan, New York, Root graduated from Williams College. He was admitted to the New York bar. After moving briefly to Virginia, Root moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin Territory, where he helped found the present Carroll University.[4] Root took Holy Orders in the Episcopal Church and was ordained to the priesthood.

In 1847, Root served in the second Wisconsin Constitutional Convention[4] and helped write the education article of the present Wisconsin Constitution. From 1849 until 1852, Root was appointed and served as the first Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin. Root was a member of the Whig Party.

In 1852, Root was elected and served a term in the Wisconsin State Assembly. He also served as superintendent of schools in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. He then moved to Texas and taught languages in Guadalupe County, Texas, until he returned to Wisconsin after the start of the American Civil War.

For a time, Root lived in St. Louis, Missouri. Because of his health, he moved to St. Augustine, Florida, where he served as rector of Trinity Parish from 1874 to 1884.[5][6] He died in Jacksonville, Florida.[4]

Notes
  1. "Biographical notice of eleazer root, d. d." Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  2. The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Rossiter Johnson and John Howard Brown: The Biographical Society: 1904.
  3. Memorial Record of the Fathers of Wisconsin: Containing Sketches of the Lives and Career of the Members of the Constitutional Conventions of 1846 and 1847-8. With a History of Early Settlement in Wisconsin
  4. "Wisconsin Folks: Eleazer Root". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. August 4, 1887. p. 2. Retrieved February 13, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "The Rev. Eleazar Root Dead". The New York Times. August 5, 1887.
  6. "Root, Eleazer 1802 - 1887". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
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