William Tripp
Encyclopedia
William Tripp was an American politician, lawyer, soldier, and surveyor.
Tripp's father, also named William Tripp, was a farmer and minister. He married Lucy Tebbets on January 3, 1814, and William Tripp was their second child. After attending the Maine Wesleyan Seminary, he studied law and was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-one. A Democrat
, he served in the Maine House of Representatives in 1841 and the Maine Senate in 1848-9, becoming Senate President in 1849.
In 1852 he left Maine and settled in Dubuque
, Iowa
, where he practiced law. In 1857 he moved to Sioux City
, Iowa. At the beginning of the Civil War he became the commander of Company B of the 1st Dakota Cavalry
, serving under General Alfred Sully
on the frontier. After the war he was appointed Surveyor General for the Dakota Territory under President Andrew Johnson
. He later practiced law in Yankton
in the Dakota Territory with his younger half-brother Bartlett Tripp
, later a judge and diplomat. The first meeting of the Upper House of the Territorial Legislature, in March of 1862, occurred at William Tripp's house in Yankton.
Tripp's father, also named William Tripp, was a farmer and minister. He married Lucy Tebbets on January 3, 1814, and William Tripp was their second child. After attending the Maine Wesleyan Seminary, he studied law and was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-one. A 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...
, he served in the Maine House of Representatives in 1841 and the Maine Senate in 1848-9, becoming Senate President in 1849.
In 1852 he left Maine and settled in Dubuque
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, where he practiced law. In 1857 he moved to Sioux City
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
, Iowa. At the beginning of the Civil War he became the commander of Company B of the 1st Dakota Cavalry
1st Dakota Cavalry
The 1st Dakota Cavalry was a Union battalion of two companies raised in the Dakota Territory during the American Civil War. They were used for service along the frontier, primarily to protect the settlers during the Sioux Uprising of 1862.-Company A:...
, serving under General Alfred Sully
Alfred Sully
Alfred Sully , was a military officer during the American Civil War and during the Indian Wars on the frontier. He was also a noted painter.-Biography:...
on the frontier. After the war he was appointed Surveyor General for the Dakota Territory under President Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
. He later practiced law in Yankton
Yankton, South Dakota
Yankton is a city in, and the county seat of, Yankton County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 14,454 at the 2010 census. Yankton was the original capital of Dakota Territory. It is named for the Yankton tribe of Nakota Native Americans...
in the Dakota Territory with his younger half-brother Bartlett Tripp
Bartlett Tripp
Bartlett Tripp was an American lawyer, judge, and diplomat.-Early life and education:...
, later a judge and diplomat. The first meeting of the Upper House of the Territorial Legislature, in March of 1862, occurred at William Tripp's house in Yankton.