30 Facts About Satterlee Clark

Satterlee Clark was an American attorney, Democratic politician, and Wisconsin pioneer.

Satterlee Clark served ten years in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing eastern Dodge County, and served two years in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Satterlee Clark wrote a historical essay of his memories of Fort Winnebago and the Black Hawk War in pre-statehood Wisconsin.

Major Satterlee Clark married Frances Whitcroft, the daughter of a Maryland politician, Burton Whitcroft.

The family moved to Utica, New York, in the 1820s, and at age 10 the younger Satterlee Clark attended the Utica Free Academy.

The new fort would shortly become known as Fort Winnebago, and soon after its establishment, President Andrew Jackson appointed the 14-year-old Satterlee Clark to serve as sutler for the new outpost.

Satterlee Clark remained there as sutler clerk for most of the remainder of the 1830s and early 1840s, though Henry Merrill was appointed official sutler for the base in 1835.

Pauquette was well-known throughout the territory as an agent for the American Fur Company, and, through his relationships, Satterlee Clark learned the languages and became well-acquainted and well-regarded among the Native American tribes of the region.

Satterlee Clark was credited for averting a likely massacre with his swift action.

Satterlee Clark returned along the same route, and arrived back at Fort Winnebago before the army.

Satterlee Clark was one of several young men selected to operate as scouts for the army, along with his friend Peter Pauquette.

Satterlee Clark's effort failed, likely due to the work of Clark and Peter Pauquette convincing many of the Winnebago to refuse the offer.

Satterlee Clark became prominent in the Democratic Party of the Wisconsin Territory and was selected as a delegate to the Democratic Party's Territorial Convention in 1838 which nominated James Duane Doty for delegate to Congress.

Satterlee Clark studied law while working at Fort Winnebago, and, in 1843 was admitted to the bar.

Satterlee Clark resigned his sutler duties shortly thereafter and moved to eastern Marquette County.

Satterlee Clark was the Democratic candidate for the 2nd State Senate district in 1849, but was defeated by the Whig candidate George DeGraw Moore.

Satterlee Clark attempted to regain his Assembly seat in 1850, but lost again, this time to Whig candidate Charles Waldo.

At the time of his death, in 1881, it was noted that Satterlee Clark had attended every Democratic State Convention from the establishment of the state until his death.

Satterlee Clark was chosen as a Democratic presidential elector for the 1852 United States presidential election, and ended up on the winning slate, casting his vote for Franklin Pierce.

Satterlee Clark became an increasingly infamous figure in the politics of the state in the bellicose arguments in the run-up to the American Civil War.

Satterlee Clark ran as the Democratic candidate for the 33rd State Senate district, and won election to the 15th Wisconsin Legislature.

Satterlee Clark was then elected to one final term in the Assembly in the 1873 session.

Satterlee Clark was known to be a friend of notable Democrats William A Barstow and Charles H Larrabee as well as Republicans Alexander Randall and Matthew H Carpenter.

Satterlee Clark became employed by the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St Paul Railroad Company as a car detective, hired to track down and return cars from the company's train system which had been diverted onto other lines.

Satterlee Clark died almost immediately, the cause of death was a stroke.

Major Satterlee Clark was dismissed from service in 1824, and was considered a debtor to the government due to poor bookkeeping as paymaster in Utica.

Major Satterlee Clark ultimately received a favorable judgement from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, restoring some of the pay which had been withheld from him.

Satterlee Clark was one of five children born to Major Clark and Frances Whitcroft.

Satterlee Clark's younger brother, Temple Clark, was a Union Army officer with the 5th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment and rose to the rank of colonel as an adjutant on the staff of General William Rosecrans.

Satterlee Clark's grandfather was Isaac Satterlee Clark, an American militia officer in the American Revolutionary War who rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.