Moses M. Strong
Encyclopedia
Moses M. Strong was an American lawyer, politician, and businessman.
Strong was born in Vermont
in 1810, the son of Moses Strong, a Vermont lawyer and judge. The younger Strong received a legal education, and practiced law in Rutland, Vermont.
Stone moved to Mineral Point, Wisconsin
in 1836, where he was appointed deputy land surveyor. When in Wisconsin, he secured an investment of $33,000 for land speculation from three New Hampshire
financiers: Senator Henry Hubbard
, Horace Hall
, and George Olcott. By the end of 1837, Strong had acquired thousands of acres of land throughout the state: forty lots in the future Madison, Wisconsin
; land in Dane County
on the Wisconsin River
which he called "St. Lawrence"; and land in the village of Arena
. But when the Panic of 1837
hit, it became impossible to resell any of the land at a profit, and the investors for the most part lost their money.
In February 1837, James Duane Doty
hired Strong to survey Madison and stake out the land for the Wisconsin State Capitol
.
In June 1838, Strong was selected Attorney of the Territory of Wisconsin, and in December was appointed "fiscal agent" for the territory. Some time thereafter, he was selected U.S. Attorney for the District of Wisconsin. In 1841, Strong was elected to the Council of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Wisconsin, representing Iowa County
. He was reelected every year until 1846. His fellow councilmen elected him President of the Council in 1845.
In 1846, Strong was selected to represent Iowa County in the first convention to draft a constitution for the future state of Wisconsin. (This draft was rejected by the people in 1847.) Strong was selected as the Democratic nominee for the election of a Wisconsin delegate
to Congress. He was defeated by John Hubbard Tweedy
in the general election, 9,648 to 10,670.
Once Wisconsin became a state in 1848, Strong was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly
in 1850, where he served as Speaker of the House.
In the 1850s, Strong assisted Byron Kilbourn
in his efforts to promote the proposed La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad. Although Strong lived in Mineral Point, Kilbourn arranged to have him elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly
in 1857 as a representative for Milwaukee County so that Strong could help convince the state legislature to help out the effort. In the end, Stong became very involved in efforts to bribe legislators. When elected officials attempted to investigate in 1858, Strong refused to testify before legislative committees, and spent six days in jail. The Wisconsin Supreme Court
, in In re Falvey, 7 Wis. 630 (1858). rejected his argument that legislative committees do not have the power to issue subpoenas.
In the 1870s, Strong wrote a history of the Wisconsin Territory
entitled History of the Territory of Wisconsin from 1836 to 1848. He convinced the state legislature to publish the work in 1885.
In 1878, Strong helped to organize the State Bar Association of Wisconsin, and was elected its first president. He served in that role until 1893.
Strong died in Mineral Point in 1894. The Wisconsin Magazine of History in 1955 judged that "An independent attitude coupled with a love of gambling, excessive drinking, and a limited business ability combined to keep Strong from reaching his goals."
Strong was born in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
in 1810, the son of Moses Strong, a Vermont lawyer and judge. The younger Strong received a legal education, and practiced law in Rutland, Vermont.
Stone moved to Mineral Point, Wisconsin
Mineral Point, Wisconsin
Mineral Point is a city in Iowa County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,617 at the 2000 census. In 2008 the city's population had taken a decline and is currently only 2,462, but still the second most populous community in Iowa County...
in 1836, where he was appointed deputy land surveyor. When in Wisconsin, he secured an investment of $33,000 for land speculation from three New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
financiers: Senator Henry Hubbard
Henry Hubbard
Henry Hubbard was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1829 to 1835, a Senator from New Hampshire during 1835 to 1841, and the Governor of New Hampshire from 1842 to 1844.-Early life:...
, Horace Hall
Horace Hall
Philippe Henri de Girard patented in France spinning frames for both the dry and wet spinning of flax. His inventions were also patented in England in 1815, in the name of Horace Hall.Little is known about Horace Hall, it is a possible pseudonym...
, and George Olcott. By the end of 1837, Strong had acquired thousands of acres of land throughout the state: forty lots in the future Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
; land in Dane County
Dane County, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 426,526 people, 173,484 households, and 100,794 families residing in the county. The population density was 355 people per square mile . There were 180,398 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile...
on the Wisconsin River
Wisconsin River
-External links:* * * , Wisconsin Historical Society* * * *...
which he called "St. Lawrence"; and land in the village of Arena
Arena, Wisconsin
Arena is a village in Iowa County, Wisconsin, USA. The population was 685 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Arena. It is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Arena is located at ....
. But when the Panic of 1837
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was a financial crisis or market correction in the United States built on a speculative fever. The end of the Second Bank of the United States had produced a period of runaway inflation, but on May 10, 1837 in New York City, every bank began to accept payment only in specie ,...
hit, it became impossible to resell any of the land at a profit, and the investors for the most part lost their money.
In February 1837, James Duane Doty
James Duane Doty
James Duane Doty was a land speculator and politician in the United States who played a large role in the development of Wisconsin and Utah Territory.-Legal career:...
hired Strong to survey Madison and stake out the land for the Wisconsin State Capitol
Wisconsin State Capitol
The Wisconsin State Capitol, in Madison, Wisconsin, houses both chambers of the Wisconsin legislature along with the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Office of the Governor. Completed during 1917, the building is the fifth to serve as the Wisconsin capitol since the first territorial legislature...
.
In June 1838, Strong was selected Attorney of the Territory of Wisconsin, and in December was appointed "fiscal agent" for the territory. Some time thereafter, he was selected U.S. Attorney for the District of Wisconsin. In 1841, Strong was elected to the Council of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Wisconsin, representing Iowa County
Iowa County, Wisconsin
Iowa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 22,780. Its county seat and largest city is Dodgeville.Iowa County is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
. He was reelected every year until 1846. His fellow councilmen elected him President of the Council in 1845.
In 1846, Strong was selected to represent Iowa County in the first convention to draft a constitution for the future state of Wisconsin. (This draft was rejected by the people in 1847.) Strong was selected as the Democratic nominee for the election of a Wisconsin delegate
Delegate (United States Congress)
A delegate to Congress is a non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives who is elected from a U.S. territory and from Washington, D.C. to a two-year term. While unable to vote in the full House, a non-voting delegate may vote in a House committee of which the delegate is a member...
to Congress. He was defeated by John Hubbard Tweedy
John Hubbard Tweedy
John Hubbard Tweedy was a delegate to the United States Congress from Wisconsin Territory from September 1847 to June 1848 being elected from the Whig Party.-Career:Tweedy was born in Danbury, Connecticut...
in the general election, 9,648 to 10,670.
Once Wisconsin became a state in 1848, Strong was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
in 1850, where he served as Speaker of the House.
In the 1850s, Strong assisted Byron Kilbourn
Byron Kilbourn
Byron Kilbourn was an American surveyor, railroad executive, and politician who was an important figure in the founding of Milwaukee, Wisconsin....
in his efforts to promote the proposed La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad. Although Strong lived in Mineral Point, Kilbourn arranged to have him elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
in 1857 as a representative for Milwaukee County so that Strong could help convince the state legislature to help out the effort. In the end, Stong became very involved in efforts to bribe legislators. When elected officials attempted to investigate in 1858, Strong refused to testify before legislative committees, and spent six days in jail. The Wisconsin Supreme Court
Wisconsin Supreme Court
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in the state of Wisconsin. The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over original actions, appeals from lower courts, and regulation or administration of the practice of law in Wisconsin.-Location:...
, in In re Falvey, 7 Wis. 630 (1858). rejected his argument that legislative committees do not have the power to issue subpoenas.
In the 1870s, Strong wrote a history of the Wisconsin Territory
Wisconsin Territory
The Territory of Wisconsin was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 3, 1836, until May 29, 1848, when an eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Wisconsin...
entitled History of the Territory of Wisconsin from 1836 to 1848. He convinced the state legislature to publish the work in 1885.
In 1878, Strong helped to organize the State Bar Association of Wisconsin, and was elected its first president. He served in that role until 1893.
Strong died in Mineral Point in 1894. The Wisconsin Magazine of History in 1955 judged that "An independent attitude coupled with a love of gambling, excessive drinking, and a limited business ability combined to keep Strong from reaching his goals."