William A. Prentiss

William Augustus Prentiss (March 24, 1799 – November 10, 1892) was an American merchant, Republican politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He played an important role in creating the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was the 10th mayor of that city. He also served in the Vermont House of Representatives, the 2nd Wisconsin Territorial Assembly, and the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Early life William A. Prentiss was born in Northfield, Massachusetts, where his father was a prominent physician. Prentiss received a common school and academic education, and went to work in mercantile pursuits. He spent a year with his brother, John Holmes Prentiss, in Cooperstown, New York, then spent five years employed by Pomeroy, Prior & Brown, of Northfield, Massachusetts. In 1822, he went to live with his other brother, Samuel Prentiss, in Montpelier, Vermont, where he began his own mercantile business. After two years, he moved to Jericho, Vermont, where he prospered for more than a decade.

While living in Jericho, Prentiss became active in politics, serving as a justice of the peace, overseer of the poor, and chairman of the board of selectmen (town board). In 1829, he was elected as Jericho's member of the Vermont House of Representatives.

Wisconsin pioneer In June 1836, Prentiss came west to the Wisconsin Territory. He settled at Milwaukee when it was still just three small villages. He quickly formed a partnership with Lemuel W. Weeks to operate a general merchandise store in the Juneautown area. The following year, Prentiss was appointed justice of the peace for Milwaukee County—at that time, Milwaukee County comprised all of what is now Milwaukee, Jefferson, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha counties, as well as most of what's now Dodge County. He remained a justice of the peace for the next 11 years.

Also in 1837, he was elected to the board of county commissioners, which was the county government in that era, and served three years as chairman of the county board. That same year, he was elected to the board of trustees of the village of "Milwaukee on the east side" (Juneautown). In 1838, he was elected to the Council (upper house) of the Wisconsin Territory government. He served through all of the 2nd Wisconsin Territorial Assembly (November 1838 through November 1840), and was president of the council at the special session held in the fall of 1840.

The Democratic administration after him let by Herman L. Page, was very hostile toward him, and lying in their attempts to prove him bad.

He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1866 and 1867. He represented Milwaukee County's 7th Assembly district in the 1867 and 1868 sessions. His district comprised what was then the seventh ward of Milwaukee, the Lower East Side.

Personal life and family William A. Prentiss was the sixth of nine children born to Dr. Samuel Prentiss and his wife Lucretia ( Holmes).

He was said to be a tall and stout man, with a large head, light brown hair and blue eyes. His voice was strong and powerful; he spoke slow and distinct, with a heavy accent. He walked slow and was never in a hurry.