Richard W. Hubbell facts for kids

Richard Walter Hubbell (born November 8, 1840 – died April 5, 1910) was an American lawyer, politician, and judge. He served in the Wisconsin State Assembly, which is like the state's law-making group. He represented Oconto County in 1872 and 1873. He was also a county judge and a district attorney. During the American Civil War, he was an officer in the Union Army. His father, Levi Hubbell, was a famous judge in Wisconsin.

Growing Up and Going to School

Richard Hubbell was born in Ithaca, New York. When he was four years old, in 1844, his family moved to Wisconsin Territory and settled in Milwaukee. His father was a well-known lawyer and judge. This helped Richard and his brothers get a good education.

In 1853, Richard went to a special school to get ready for college. From 1854 to 1858, he studied at the University of Wisconsin. He earned his first degree there. Richard did very well at the university. He was one of the first members of a student group called the Hesperia literary society. His good friend, William Freeman Vilas, was also in this group. Richard later earned a master's degree in 1861. In 1862, he became a lawyer.

Serving in the Civil War

In 1862, during the second year of the American Civil War, many of Richard's college friends joined the Union Army. His friend, William F. Vilas, was helping to gather soldiers for a group called the 23rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Richard wanted to join, but it was too late to sign up for that group.

Instead, he joined a different group, the 24th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. He started as a sergeant in Company I. He only served a few months with this group. But he fought in a big battle called the Battle of Perryville.

In the winter of 1862–1863, Richard became a first lieutenant in the 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery Regiment. He served with Battery B of this group. They were stationed at forts in Kentucky and Tennessee for the rest of the war. In July 1864, he was promoted to captain of his battery. Then, in September 1864, he became a major in the regiment. He finished his service in June 1865.

Working as a Lawyer and Politician

After the war, Richard Hubbell moved to Oconto, Wisconsin. He started his own law practice there. He became active in the Republican Party of Wisconsin. In 1867, he first ran for the Wisconsin State Assembly. He did not win that election.

However, he was later elected to the Assembly two times in a row. He served in 1872 and 1873. At the same time, he was also elected to be the county judge for Oconto County. He held this job for eight years, from 1870 to 1878. In 1877, instead of running for judge again, he ran for and was elected district attorney. He served in that role for two years.

In 1890, Hubbell moved to Wautoma, Wisconsin, without his family. He continued to work as a lawyer there. He passed away at his home in Wautoma in 1910 after being sick for a while.

Family Life and Hobbies

Richard Hubbell was one of at least four children of Levi Hubbell. His father was a well-known lawyer and judge in Wisconsin. Levi Hubbell was the first state official in Wisconsin to face a special hearing by the state legislature. He was not found guilty and later worked for the United States government in Wisconsin.

Richard's grandfather, Abijah Hubbell, fought in the American Revolutionary War. The Hubbell family came from England. Their ancestor, Richard Hubbell, moved to America around 1650.

Richard W. Hubbell married Emily Snover in 1871. They had at least six children, but one of them died when they were a baby.

Besides his work as a lawyer, Richard loved literature. He wrote his own poems and stories. For many years, he wrote for and edited the Wisconsin Alumni Magazine. Near the end of his life, he published some of his poems in the magazine.

He also enjoyed fishing. He even wrote a small book about fly fishing called Hints on Fly Fishing.