Gysbert Van Steenwyk Sr.

Gysbert Van Steenwyk (January 30, 1814 – April 13, 1902) was an American banker and Republican politician from La Crosse, Wisconsin.[1]

Background

Born Gijsbert van Steenwijk as the son of Arnoud van Steenwijk and Neeltje van Vliet in Utrecht, the Netherlands, Van Steenwyk received an academic education. He served as a volunteer in the Royal Netherlands Army in 1830-31, and as a commissioned officer of the National Guards from 1833 to 1849. Van Steenwyk graduated from the University of Utrecht, graduating with a degree in philosophy and classical literature in 1836.

In the United States

He came to the United States in May 1849, and settled in Milwaukee until 1851, when he moved to Newport, Sauk County, where he resided until 1858; then removed to Kilbourn City in Columbia County.

Public office

Van Steenwyk was appointed consul of the Netherlands for Wisconsin in 1849, and additionally for Michigan and Minnesota in 1850 (he would resign as consul in 1859). He was appointed Commissioner of Immigration for Wisconsin in New York City by Governor of Wisconsin Leonard J. Farwell from 1852 to 1853. He was appointed as a Brigadier General of the Wisconsin State Militia in 1857.[2][3]

Van Steenwyk, at that time was working as a land and insurance agent and living in Kilbourn City (now called Wisconsin Dells), was elected as a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1858[4] for the 1st Columbia County Assembly district (the Towns of Dekorah, West Point, Newport, Lewiston, Portage, Caledonia, Lodi and Pacific) succeeding Democrat Alvin Alden. He was appointed to the standing committees on education and school and university lands; and on railroads.,[5] then was elected state Bank Comptroller for 1860-61, unseating incumbent Democrat Joel Squires. He was succeeded in the Assembly by Democrat Henry B. Munn.[6] He was succeeded as Comptroller by Democrat William H. Ramsey.

After serving as Comptroller

In January 1862, he moved to La Crosse, where he worked as a banker. From 1873 to 1874, Van Steenwyk served as Mayor of La Crosse.[7] He was elected senator from the Wisconsin Senate, District 31 (La Crosse County) for 1879-80,[8] receiving 1,849 votes to 747 for Greenback Edward Cronan and 729 for Democrat W. A. Anderson (Republican incumbent Merrick Wing was not a candidate for re-election). He was assigned to the committees on insurance, banks and banking; and on enrolled bills, chairing the latter.[9] He was not a candidate for re-election and was succeeded by Merrick Wing.

Notes
  1. http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/vann-vanvorhis.html
  2. Magazine of Western History, 1888, pp. 304-309.
  3. Andrew J. Aikens & Lewis A. Proctor (Eds.), Men of progress. Wisconsin. A selected list of biographical sketches and portraits of the leaders in business, professional and official life. Together with short notes on the history and character of Wisconsin.. Milwaukee: Evening Wisconsin Co., 1897, pp. 337-339.
  4. State of Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Members of the Wisconsin Legislature 1848–1999". Information Bulletin 99-1 (September 1999), p. 117.
  5. Crane, L. H. D., ed. A manual of customs, precedents, and forms, in use in the Assembly of the state of Wisconsin: together with the rules, the apportionment, and other lists and tables for reference, with indices Madison: James Ross, State Printer, 1859; pp. 10, 19,58
  6. Crane, L. H. D., ed. A manual of customs, precedents, and forms, in use in the Assembly of Wisconsin: together with the rules, the apportionment, and other lists and tables for reference, with indices Second Annual Edition. Madison: James Ross, State Printer, 1860; pp. 33, 40
  7. La Crosse Public Library Archives, "Mss G.
  8. State of Wisconsin Legislative Bureau. "Members of the Wisconsin Legislature 1848–1999. Information Bulletin 99-1 (September 1999), p. 19.
  9. Hans B. Warner (Ed.), The blue book of the state of Wisconsin, for 1879. Madison: David Atwood, State Printer, 1879; pp. 197, 251, 486, 510, 516.
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