David Giddings

David R. Giddings (July 24, 1806 – October 26, 1900) was an American surveyor, civil engineer, and Wisconsin pioneer. He served in the 2nd Wisconsin Territorial Assembly, representing the northeast quadrant of the Wisconsin Territory, and was a delegate to the first Wisconsin constitutional convention. He was responsible for the initial surveys of dozens of Wisconsin towns in Brown, Dodge, Kenosha, Racine, Sheboygan, and Winnebago counties.

Early life

David Giddings was born in Ipswich, Massachusetts. He received a liberal education in Ipswich and studied civil engineering. At age 19, he started work as a merchant in the city. He sold liquor for some time, but after seeing the effect of alcohol on his customers, he discontinued the sale.

Pioneer years and surveying career In the Spring of 1835, he determined to move to the west. He sold out his merchandise stock and traveled over land to Buffalo, then took a ship to Chicago. Initially, he planned to go south to Peoria, but instead teamed with a carpenter to rig a makeshift skiff and sail north on Lake Michigan to Milwaukee. A storm forced them to go ashore early at Waukegan, and they subsequently walked to the site of Racine, Wisconsin, towing their skiff. After a brief stop with the sole inhabitant at Racine, they continued north to the Milwaukee River and finally met Solomon Juneau residing there.

Politically, Giddings began as a member of the Whig Party and moved into the new Republican Party when it was organized in 1854. He was a candidate for Wisconsin State Senate in 1856, running on the Republican ticket, but was not successful. He was then a candidate for Wisconsin State Assembly in 1859, but lost to another Republican, Oran Rogers, in a three-way contest.

When the Greenback Party was organized in the 1870s, Giddings became a member of that party. and for lieutenant governor of Wisconsin in 1881.

Later years In 1863, he purchased a large farm in the town of Empire, Wisconsin, in Fond du Lac County—previously known as the "Macy farm". Giddings initially gave the farm to his son, Harvard, to manage, but made it his own permanent residence in 1874.

Personal life and family David Giddings was a son of Joshua Giddings of Ipswich, Massachusetts. Joshua Giddings was a third cousin of Joshua Reed Giddings.

David Giddings married Dorothy Trowbridge on June 7, 1842, in Sheboygan County. Dorothy Trowbridge was also a pioneer settler of Sheboygan County; she was born in Worcester County, Massachusetts, and emigrated to Wisconsin with her parents in the 1830s. David and Dorothy Giddings had three children, Harvard, Clara, and George. Clara died at age 22, but the sons survived their parents. Harvard Giddings (sometimes erroneously referred to as "Howard") took over the family estate in Sheboygan Falls.

Electoral history Wisconsin Assembly (1859)

U.S. House of Representatives (1878)

Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor (1881)