Ben C. Eastman | |
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| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromWisconsin's2nd district | |
| In office March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1855 | |
| Preceded by | Orsamus Cole |
| Succeeded by | Cadwallader C. Washburn |
| Member of theBoard of Supervisors ofGrant County, Wisconsin | |
| In office January 1, 1849 – January 1, 1850 | |
| Secretary of the Council of theWisconsin Territory | |
| In office December 4, 1843 – January 19, 1846 | |
| Preceded by | John P. Sheldon |
| Succeeded by | William Rudolph Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1812-10-24)October 24, 1812 |
| Died | February 2, 1856(1856-02-02) (aged 43) Platteville, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Resting place | Forest Hill Cemetery,Madison, Wisconsin |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | None |
| Parents |
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| Relatives |
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| Profession | Lawyer |
Ben C. Eastman (October 24, 1812 – February 2, 1856) was an American lawyer,Democratic politician, andWisconsin pioneer. He served two terms in theU.S. House of Representatives, representingWisconsin's 2nd congressional district from 1851 to 1855.[1] He previously served as secretary of the Council of the Wisconsin Territory during the4th Wisconsin Territorial Assembly.
Ben Eastman was born in the town ofStrong, Maine, in what was then theDistrict of Maine (part ofMassachusetts). He attendedpublic schools and received an academic education. He studied law under Judge William Emmons, ofHallowell, Maine, then later studied under Judge Hall of New York. He traveled west to theWisconsin Territory in 1838, settling initially inGreen Bay. In Green Bay, he was admitted to the bar and began practicing law in partnership withMorgan Lewis Martin.[2]
After a year, he moved south toGrant County, settling in the town ofPlatteville, which remained his home for the rest of his life.[2][3] At the second session of the4th Wisconsin Territorial Assembly, Eastman was selected to serve as secretary of the Territorial Council (the upper legislative chamber), and was retained for the third and fourth sessions. He resigned about mid-way through the 4th session, on January 19, 1846. In 1847, he was a Democratic nominee for county commissioner, but the Whig Party carried nearly every office in Grant County that year. In 1848, Eastman commissioned a survey and plat on a section of land he owned in the town ofWingville, establishing the settlement ofMontfort.[3]
The first session of theWisconsin circuit court in Grant County was held in October 1848, and Eastman was among ten lawyers admitted to practice before that court. In 1849, he was elected chairman of the Platteville town board, which made himex officio a member of the county Board of Supervisors.[3]
In 1850, Eastman ran for Congress on theDemocratic ticket in what was thenWisconsin's 2nd congressional district. The 2nd district then comprised the entire western half of the state of Wisconsin. He defeated the incumbent Whig Party congressman,Orsamus Cole, and went on to serve in the32nd Congress. He was re-elected in 1852, but declined to run for a third term in 1854. He returned to Platteville and resumed the practice of law.
He died in Platteville on February 2, 1856,[4] after an illness of several weeks,[5] He was interred inForest Hill Cemetery inMadison, Wisconsin.
Ben Eastman was one of twelve children born toSamuel Eastman and his wife Jane (née Hitchcock). Samuel Eastman was a successful merchant in Maine and a state senator. The Eastman family were descended from Roger Eastman, who was born inWales and emigrated to theMassachusetts Bay Colony in 1638 aboard a ship named theConfidence.[6]
Several of Ben's brothers also ultimately settled in Wisconsin and made careers there.
Ben Eastman married Charlotte Sophia Sewall ofHallowell, Maine, in 1841. They had no children.[2]
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromWisconsin's 2nd congressional district March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1855 | Succeeded by |
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