John O'Neill (Wisconsin politician)

John O'Neill (October 18, 1829 – May 12, 1914) was a Canadian American immigrant, miner, farmer, and Democratic politician. He served two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing western Lafayette County.

For others of the same name, see John O'Neill.
John O'Neill
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Lafayette 2nd district
In office
January 2, 1882 – January 5, 1885
Preceded byThomas Bainbridge
Succeeded byJoseph A. Miller
Personal details
Born(1829-10-18)October 18, 1829
Douglastown, New Brunswick
DiedMay 12, 1914(1914-05-12) (aged 84)
Seymour, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, U.S.
Cause of deathStroke
Resting placeSaint Matthews Catholic Cemetery, Shullsburg, Wisconsin
Political partyDemocratic
Spousenone
Childrennone

Biography

John O'Neill was born in Douglastown, in Miramichi, New Brunswick, in 1829. In 1845, he emigrated with his parents and siblings to Lafayette County, in the Wisconsin Territory, where they all engaged in lead mining. In 1846, the family acquired a tract of land in the town of Seymour from the federal land office.[1]

In 1852, he crossed the country with an ox team to California, where he remained for several years. Upon his return to Wisconsin in 1859, he engaged in farming and livestock raising.[1]

He was a member of the Democratic Party and was elected chairman of the Shullsburg town board in 1872 and 1873. In 1881, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly for Lafayette County's 2nd (western) Assembly district.[2] He was subsequently re-elected in 1882.[3] He did not run for a third term in 1884.

Personal life

O'Neill never married and had no children. He retired from his farm in the 1890s and went to live in the care of his brother's family. His brother, Brien, preceded him in death, but his care continued under Brien's wife and children. For the last five years of his life he was completely blind. He suffered a stroke on the morning of Tuesday, May 12, 1914, and died that afternoon. His body was interred at Saint Matthews Catholic Cemetery in Shullsburg.[1]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1881, 1882)
Wisconsin Assembly, Lafayette 2nd District Election, 1881[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 8, 1881
Democratic John O'Neill 863 61.78% +12.15%
Republican Addison A. Townsend 484 34.65% -15.73%
Prohibition Charles C. Kidder 50 3.58%
Plurality 379 27.13% +26.38%
Total votes 1,397 100.0% -37.99%
Democratic gain from Republican
Wisconsin Assembly, Lafayette 2nd District Election, 1882[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 7, 1882
Democratic John O'Neill (incumbent) 1,054 52.00% -9.78%
Republican George Proctor 928 45.78% +11.14%
Prohibition Francis Craig 45 2.22% -1.36%
Plurality 126 6.22% -20.91%
Total votes 2,027 100.0% +45.10%
Democratic hold

References
  1. "Honored Citizen At Rest". The Pick and Gad. May 21, 1914. p. 4. Retrieved October 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. Heg, J. E., ed. (1882). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 551.
  3. Heg, J. E., ed. (1883). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 495.
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