Theodore Rodolf (October 17, 1814February 12, 1892) was a

Swiss American Swiss Americans are Americans of Swiss descent. Swiss emigration to America predates the formation of the United States, notably in connection with the persecution of Anabaptism during the Swiss Reformation and the formation of the Amish commun ...

immigrant, Democratic politician, and

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

pioneer. He was the 10th and 12th mayor of

La Crosse, Wisconsin La Crosse is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of La Crosse County. Positioned alongside the Mississippi River, La Crosse is the largest city on Wisconsin's western border. La Crosse's population as of the 2020 census w ...

, and represented La Crosse for two terms in the

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. Representatives are elected for two-year terms, ...

Biography

Rodolf was born on October 17, 1814, in

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

. He graduated from the University of Zurich before moving to Lafayette County, Wisconsin, in 1834. He died in La Crosse on February 12, 1892 after an illness lasting more than a year. His brother,

Charles Rodolf Charles Rodolf was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate. Biography Rodolf was born in Zurzach, Switzerland, in 1818. He moved to New Orleans, Louisiana in 1833 and to Wiota, Wisconsin in 1834. His brother, T ...

, was a member of the Assembly and of the Wisconsin State Senate.

Career

While living in

Mineral Point, Wisconsin Mineral Point is a city in Iowa County, Wisconsin, Iowa County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,581 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. The city is located within the Mineral Point (town), Wisconsin, Town of Mineral Point ...

, he served as Village President in 1851 and 1852. He was appointed Receiver of Public Moneys at

La Crosse La Crosse is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, La Crosse County. Positioned alongside the Mississippi River, La Crosse is the largest city on Wisconsin's western border. La Crosse's populat ...

by President

Franklin Pierce Franklin Pierce (November 23, 1804October 8, 1869) was the 14th president of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857. He was a northern Democrat who believed that the abolitionist movement was a fundamental threat to the nation's unity ...

in 1853, and served in that role until 1861. Rodolf was elected to the Assembly running on the

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

ticket in 1867. The next year, rather than running for re-election, he was a candidate for the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...

from

Wisconsin's 6th congressional district Wisconsin's 6th congressional district is a congressional district of the United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply th ...

. He lost to incumbent

Cadwallader C. Washburn Cadwallader Colden Washburn (April 22, 1818May 14, 1882) was an American businessman, politician, and soldier who founded a mill that later became General Mills. A member of the Washburn family of Maine, he was a U.S. Congressman and governor o ...

, but went on to win back his seat in the Assembly in the 1869 election. During the same time, he was elected mayor of La Crosse in the 1868 and 1870 Spring elections.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Rodolf, Theodore Swiss emigrants to the United States People from Lafayette County, Wisconsin People from Mineral Point, Wisconsin Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly Mayors of La Crosse, Wisconsin University of Zurich alumni 1814 births 1892 deaths People from La Crosse, Wisconsin 19th-century American politicians