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Alexander Stuart McDill (March 18, 1822 – November 12, 1875) was an American medical doctor, Republican politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He served one term in the United States House of Representatives, representing northern Wisconsin. He also served three years in the Wisconsin Legislature and was Superintendent of the State Hospital for the Insane, where he implemented important reforms in the state hospital system.[1]

Early life

Alexander Stuart McDill was born on March 18, 1822, near Meadville, Pennsylvania,[2] the eighth of nine children born to Irish American immigrants James and Mary (née Brawley) McDill.[3] He attended Allegheny College and graduated from Cleveland Medical College in 1848. He returned to Crawford County, Pennsylvania, and practiced medicine there until 1856, when he moved to Plover, Wisconsin, at the urging of his elder brother, Thomas, who had become well-established in the new state.[4]

He quickly established himself as a leading physician in central Wisconsin, residing at the village of "McDill", named for his brother Thomas. He was also successful in pioneer mercantile interests, partnering with his brother on a general store, sawmill, and lumber business.[5]

Public office career

He entered politics with the Republican Party in the midst of the American Civil War.[4] He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1861, and was then elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 1862. In 1864, he had the honor of being chosen as a presidential elector for Abraham Lincoln's re-election.

While serving in the Legislature, he was appointed to the commission for the State Hospital for the Insane near Madison, and was intensely involved in that organization. In 1868, he was named superintendent of the hospital.[4] He instituted reforms at the hospital to end abusive treatment, coordinating with the state courts, and he lobbied the state Legislature to reform the State Board of Charities into the State Board of Charities and Reform—the prior organization was solely tasked with managing the financial concerns of the state hospitals; the new entity was also tasked with ensuring that the hospitals were well-run.[4]

In 1872, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives in the newly created 8th congressional district—then comprising nearly all of the northern half of the state. He served in the Forty-third Congress (March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875). He ran for re-election in 1874, but fell just 2 votes short of his Democratic opponent, George W. Cate. McDill initially declared his intention to challenge the results, but later withdrew his challenge and retired from politics.[6][4]

On his return from Washington, D.C., he was reappointed to his position as superintendent of the state hospital.[4] However, just a few months later, on November 12, 1875, he died of pneumonia near Madison.[4][2] He was interred at Madison's historic Forest Hill Cemetery.[2]

Family and legacy

Alexander Stuart McDill was a son of James McDill, an Irish American immigrant who served in the Pennsylvania Militia during the War of 1812.[3] Alexander McDill's older brother, Thomas McDill, served as a quartermaster for the Union Army in the American Civil War, and later served four terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly. His nephew, George Davis McDill, served in the Iron Brigade of the Army of the Potomac and served three terms in the State Assembly.[3]

Alexander McDill married Eliza Jane Rich of Woolrich, Pennsylvania, on July 31, 1849. They had two children.

McDill Pond, McDill Elementary School, and a section of the bike/walk trail, the Green Circle, among other things in the Plover/Stevens Point area, have been named for Alexander McDill.

Electoral history

U.S. House of Representatives (1872, 1874)

Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District Election, 1872[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 5, 1872
Republican Alexander S. McDill 10,711 59.67%
Democratic William Carson 7,238 40.33%
Plurality 3,473 19.35%
Total votes 17,949 100.0%
Republican win (new seat)
Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District Election, 1874[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 3, 1874
Democratic George W. Cate 9,446 50.01% -9.68%
Republican Alexander S. McDill (incumbent) 9,444 49.99%
Plurality 2 0.01% -19.34%
Total votes 18,890 100.0% +5.24%
Democratic gain from Republican

References

  1. ^ "McDill, Alexander Stuart 1822 - 1875". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "McDill, Alexander Stuart". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
  3. ^ a b c d Woods, Robert McDill (1940). McDills in America : a history of the descendants of John McDill and Janet Leslie of County Antrin, Ireland. Edwards Brothers Inc. p. 122–123. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Kelly, Howard A.; Burrage, Walter L. (1920). American Medical Biographies. The Norman, Remington Company. pp. 736. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  5. ^ A Standard history of Portage County, Wisconsin. Vol. 2. Lewis Publishing Company. 1919. p. 376. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Official Directory" (PDF). The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. 1876. p. 448. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  7. ^ Turner, A. J., ed. (1874). "Official Directory" (PDF). The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 445. Retrieved December 12, 2021.

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Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by
Orestes Garrison
(Marathon–Portage–Wood)
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Portage district
January 6, 1862 – January 5, 1863
Succeeded by
Enoch Webster
Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 27th district
January 5, 1863 – January 2, 1865
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
New district established Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 8th congressional district
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875
Succeeded by