Allen R. Bushnell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Allen R. Bushnell
From Soldiers and Citizens' Album of Biographical Record (1888)
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 3rd district
In office March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893
Preceded by	Robert M. La Follette, Sr.
Succeeded by	Joseph W. Babcock
United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin
In office April 1886 – April 1890
President	Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison
Preceded by	H. M. Lewis
Succeeded by	Samuel A. Harper
1st Mayor of Lancaster, Wisconsin
In office April 1878 – April 1879
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	George Clementson
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Grant 2nd district
In office January 1, 1872 – January 6, 1873
Preceded by	Henry B. Coons
Succeeded by	William H. Clise
District Attorney of Grant County, Wisconsin
In office Summer 1864 – January 2, 1865
Appointed by	James T. Lewis
Preceded by	Joseph Trotter Mills
Succeeded by	George Cochrane Hazelton
In office January 7, 1861 – August 1861
Preceded by	Joseph Trotter Mills
Succeeded by	Joseph Trotter Mills
Personal details
Born	(1833-07-18)July 18, 1833 Hartford, Ohio, U.S.
Died	March 29, 1909(1909-03-29) (aged 75) Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Cause of death	Pneumonia
Resting place	Hillside Cemetery, Lancaster, Wisconsin
Political party	Democratic Republican (before 1876)
Spouses	Laura F. Burr ​ (died 1873)​ Mary P. Sherman ​ (m. 1875)​
Children	with Laura Burr Mabel (Kerr) (b. 1869; died 1936) Curtis Bushnell (b. 1870; died 1870) Fay Chase Bushnell (b. 1872; died 1872) with Mary Sherman Edward Bushnell (b. 1876; died 1877) Floyd H. Bushnell (b. 1883; died 1896) Alfred H. Bushnell (died after 1909)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1861–1863
Rank	Captain, USV
Unit	7th Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War Northern Virginia campaign First Battle of Rappahannock Station Second Battle of Bull Run Fredericksburg campaign Battle of Fredericksburg Mud March

Allen Ralph Bushnell (July 18, 1833 – March 29, 1909) was an American lawyer and politician from Wisconsin. He was a member of the Democratic Party and served in the U.S. House of Representatives. He also fought as an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was part of the famous Iron Brigade.

Early Life and Law Career

Allen Bushnell was born in Hartford, Ohio, in 1833. He went to public schools there. He also attended Oberlin and Hiram colleges. He studied to become a lawyer.

In 1854, he moved to Grant County, Wisconsin. He continued his law studies in Platteville. To pay for his studies, he worked as a teacher. In December 1857, he became a lawyer in Lancaster, Wisconsin. He then opened his own law office in Platteville.

In 1860, he was elected as the district attorney for Grant County. This meant he was the chief prosecutor for the county. He started this job in January 1861.

Serving in the Civil War

Bushnell's time as district attorney was short. The American Civil War began, and he decided to join the army. He resigned from his job to volunteer for the Union Army.

He joined a group of soldiers called the Platteville Guards. This group later became Company C of the 7th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. When the regiment officially joined the army, Bushnell became a first lieutenant.

His regiment, the 7th Wisconsin Infantry, became part of a famous group called the Iron Brigade. This brigade was known for its bravery in battle. Bushnell became a captain in Company C. He fought in important battles like the Second Battle of Bull Run and the Battle of Fredericksburg.

In 1863, he left the army because of a medical issue. He went back to Ohio to recover.

Political Career in Wisconsin

In 1864, Bushnell returned to Wisconsin and started practicing law again. He moved his office to Lancaster. The governor of Wisconsin, James T. Lewis, appointed him to finish a term as Grant County's district attorney.

Bushnell became interested in politics again. In 1871, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly. This is like the state's House of Representatives. He worked on important committees there.

In 1878, Lancaster became a city. Bushnell was chosen as its very first mayor.

Switching Political Parties

Even though he had been a Republican, Bushnell supported a Democrat for president in 1876. He was unhappy with how the Republican party was spending money after the war. After this, he officially joined the Democratic Party.

When Democrat Grover Cleveland became president in 1885, he appointed Bushnell as the United States Attorney for Western Wisconsin. He held this important legal job until 1890.

Serving in Congress

In 1890, Bushnell ran for the United States House of Representatives. He won the election, beating the Republican candidate, Robert M. La Follette, Sr.. He moved to Madison, Wisconsin, in 1891.

In Congress, Bushnell supported an idea called "silver-backed currency." This meant that money would be backed by both gold and silver. His most important work was supporting a change to the U.S. Constitution. This change would allow people to directly elect their U.S. senators. At the time, state legislatures chose senators. His idea passed the House of Representatives but failed in the Senate. This change eventually became the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution about 20 years later.

In 1891, the areas for congressional districts were redrawn. This put Bushnell in the same district as another Democrat. His party chose the other person to run in the 1892 election. Bushnell left Congress in March 1893.

Later Years

After leaving Congress, Bushnell went back to practicing law in Madison. He also worked for a life insurance company.

He ran for office one last time in 1906, trying to become a judge on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. However, he did not win that election.

Allen Bushnell passed away on March 29, 1909, in Madison. He was buried in Hillside Cemetery in Lancaster.

Family Life

Allen Bushnell was the son of Dr. George W. Bushnell and Sarah Bates. He was married twice. His first wife was Laura F. Burr. They had three children together, but only one daughter, Mabel, lived to adulthood. Laura passed away in 1873.

In 1875, he married Mary P. Sherman, who was a cousin of his first wife. They had at least three more children. Only one son, Alfred, lived past childhood.

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  Allen R. Bushnell