Herman O. Kent
Encyclopedia
Herman O. Kent was a farmhand, typesetter and trade union
activist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
who served two terms as a Socialist
member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
representing Milwaukee County's 9th Assembly district (the 9th and 10th wards
of the City of Milwaukee).
on April 19, 1884. He came to the town of Ashippun
in Dodge County, Wisconsin
with his parents, when one month old, living there on a farm until 1898, and attending local public schools and St. John's German-language parochial school
. He then mnoved to Monterey
in Waukesha County
where
he continued school and worked on a farm until 1901, when he entered his printing trade apprenticeship at the Wisconsin Free Press in Oconomowoc
. After completing apprenticeship, he worked for several newspapers in Wisconsin. He went to Milwaukee in 1906, joining International Typographical Union
Local 23 and continuing
in his trade, eventually becoming a linotype operator
for the Milwaukee Leader
. He was active in the trade union movement and became a member of the Social Democratic party
in 1908.
, who was running for the state senate
). Kent lost to Democrat
William Walsh
, who earned 1,209 votes against 1,035 for Kent, 459 for Republican
Eugene Herman, and 31 for Prohibitionist
Frank F. Wolfe. In 1914, with Walsh not running, Kent won the seat, with 915 votes to 674 for Democrat Anton Schloege and 548 for Republican Anthony Rausch, Jr. He was assigned to the standing committees on education
and statutory revision.
Kent won re-election in 1916 with a vote of 1136, against 812 for Republican candidate A. F. Geisinger and 485 for prior opponent Rausch (now running as a Democrat). He transferred to the committee on labor.
He did not run for re-election in 1918, and was succeeded by fellow Socialist Julius Kiesner
.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
activist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
who served two terms as a Socialist
Socialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
member of 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....
representing Milwaukee County's 9th Assembly district (the 9th and 10th wards
Wards of the United States
In the United States, a ward is an optional division of a city or town, especially an electoral district, for administrative and representative purposes...
of the City of Milwaukee).
Background
Kent was born in GermanyGerman Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
on April 19, 1884. He came to the town of Ashippun
Ashippun, Wisconsin
Ashippun is a town in Dodge County, Wisconsin, United States. The census-designated place of Ashippun and unincorporated communities of Alderley and Old Ashippun are located in the town. The population was 2,308 at the 2000 census...
in Dodge County, Wisconsin
Dodge County, Wisconsin
Dodge County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 88,759. Its county seat is Juneau.-Geography:According to the U.S...
with his parents, when one month old, living there on a farm until 1898, and attending local public schools and St. John's German-language parochial school
Parochial school
A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.-United Kingdom:...
. He then mnoved to Monterey
Monterey, Wisconsin
Monterey is an unincorporated community located in the town of Oconomowoc, in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. Monterey is located near Wisconsin Highway 67 north of the city of Oconomowoc....
in Waukesha County
Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Waukesha County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2008, the population was 380,629. Its county seat is Waukesha.-History:The part of Wisconsin that Waukesha County now occupies was a part of Michigan when Milwaukee County was organized in September 1834. On July 4, 1836, the...
where
he continued school and worked on a farm until 1901, when he entered his printing trade apprenticeship at the Wisconsin Free Press in Oconomowoc
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
Oconomowoc is a city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The name was derived from Coo-no-mo-wauk, the Potawatomi term for "waterfall." The population was 12,382 at the 2000 census. The city is partially adjacent to the Town of Oconomowoc and near the Village of Oconomowoc...
. After completing apprenticeship, he worked for several newspapers in Wisconsin. He went to Milwaukee in 1906, joining International Typographical Union
International Typographical Union
The International Typographical Union was a labor union founded on May 3, 1852 in the United States as the National Typographical Union. In its 1869 convention in Albany, New York, the union—having organized members in Canada—changed its name to the International Typographical Union...
Local 23 and continuing
in his trade, eventually becoming a linotype operator
Linotype machine
The Linotype typesetting machine is a "line casting" machine used in printing. The name of the machine comes from the fact that it produces an entire line of metal type at once, hence a line-o'-type, a significant improvement over manual typesetting....
for the Milwaukee Leader
Milwaukee Leader
The Milwaukee Leader was a socialist daily newspaper established in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in December 1911 by Socialist Party chief Victor L. Berger...
. He was active in the trade union movement and became a member of the Social Democratic party
Socialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
in 1908.
Legislature
In 1912, Kent ran for the Assembly seat held by Socialist Edmund J. BernerEdmund J. Berner
Edmund J. Berner was a trade union activist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin who served four terms as a Socialist member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.- Background :...
, who was running for the state senate
Wisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly...
). Kent lost to Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
William Walsh
William E. Walsh (Wisconsin)
William E. Walsh was a tailor from Milwaukee, Wisconsin who served one term as a Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.- Background :...
, who earned 1,209 votes against 1,035 for Kent, 459 for Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Eugene Herman, and 31 for Prohibitionist
Prohibition Party
The Prohibition Party is a political party in the United States best known for its historic opposition to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages. It is the oldest existing third party in the US. The party was an integral part of the temperance movement...
Frank F. Wolfe. In 1914, with Walsh not running, Kent won the seat, with 915 votes to 674 for Democrat Anton Schloege and 548 for Republican Anthony Rausch, Jr. He was assigned to the standing committees on education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and statutory revision.
Kent won re-election in 1916 with a vote of 1136, against 812 for Republican candidate A. F. Geisinger and 485 for prior opponent Rausch (now running as a Democrat). He transferred to the committee on labor.
He did not run for re-election in 1918, and was succeeded by fellow Socialist Julius Kiesner
Julius Kiesner
Julius Kiesner was an American tire vulcanizer from Milwaukee who served five terms as a Socialist member of the Wisconsin State Assembly representing Milwaukee's 9th Assembly district ....
.