William Pitt Lynde

19th century American politician, member of Congress, 12th Mayor of Milwaukee

William Pitt Lynde (December 16, 1817December 18, 1885) was an American lawyer, U. S. congressman, and Wisconsin pioneer. He represented Milwaukee and southeast Wisconsin in the 30th, 44th, and 45th congresses, and served as the 12th mayor of Milwaukee. Prior to Wisconsin statehood, he also served as United States attorney and attorney general of the Wisconsin Territory. Some of his descendants are still influential in Wisconsin business, philanthropy, and politics.

Lynde was born in Sherburne, New York, in December 1817. His father was a successful merchant and politician, which allowed William excellent education opportunities. He attended Cortland Academy in preparation for college, and then attended Colgate University. He finished his collegiate studies at Yale University, in 1838, and was chosen as valedictorian speaker at his commencement. After graduating from Yale, he went on to attend New York University School of Law, but after one year he transferred to Harvard Law School. At Harvard, he studied under Joseph Story and Simon Greenleaf. He graduated in 1841, and that May, was admitted to the bar in New York. But Charles and Watts both died just a few months later, in August 1841, in the destruction of the Erie steamboat. Lynde was elected to the Milwaukee City Council in 1850, and was elected mayor of Milwaukee in 1860. Throughout the American Civil War, Lynde paid the $300 draft deferment fee for a large number of recent German immigrants, and earned vast popularity and support from Milwaukee's German community.

In 1874, the Democratic Party in Wisconsin was in the midst of a coalition with liberal republicans and grangers, known as the Reform Party. At the Reform Party nominating convention for Wisconsin's 4th congressional district, Samuel Rindskopf, a liquor dealer and an officer in the state liquor dealers' association, won the Reform Party nomination. The liquor association was advocating strongly and spending significantly to try to repeal or modify the hated Graham Liquor Law, which had placed limits on alcohol sales in Wisconsin. Throughout the summer, papers took note of the odd bedfellows in Rindskopf's camp, which included past temperance advocates. It later became known that Rindskopf had spent a reported $20,000 (about $520,000 adjusted for inflation to 2022) to buy support from journalists and convention delegates. The corruption of the nominating process and the apparently poor character of the nominees led to a crisis in the party membership, with party members openly saying they would support the Republican, Harrison Ludington, rather than Rindskopf. The final straw came when journalists began to question whether Rindskopf met the citizenship requirements to run for Congress. Finally, a collection of leading Democrats apparently compelled Rindskopf to abandon the race, just two weeks before the election. The outgoing congressman Alexander Mitchell, and other prominent Democrats called on Lynde to step in as the Democratic nominee, and he was unanimously ratified by the district caucus in a special session held on October 20, 1874. After the bitter nominating process, many newspapers were dismissive of Lynde's chances against Ludington, who was then mayor of Milwaukee and quite popular. But Lynde managed to rally sufficient support and prevailed with 55% of the general election vote. Lynde ultimately stood down, and Deuster took the nomination at the September convention.

Lynde remained active in the Democratic Party after leaving Congress, but was wary of new populist movements within the party associated with the rising labor and greenback movements. He remained active in his law firm until his death. He died suddenly on December 18, 1885, at his home in Milwaukee. He had been sick for a year, but was not thought to be in critical condition. He was interred in Milwaukee's historic Forest Home Cemetery. His wife died in 1897 and was also interred there.

William Pitt Lynde was the second of four sons born to Tilly Lynde and his wife, Elizabeth ( Warner). Tilly Lynde was a prosperous merchant in Sherburne, New York, and served several years in the New York State Senate and New York State Assembly. Tilly's brother, Charles W. Lynde, also prospered in business in Sherburne and served in the New York Senate. William Pitt Lynde married Mary Elizabeth Blanchard, of Truxton, New York, on May 25, 1841. Mary Blanchard Lynde became a famous philanthropist and social reform advocate, and was the first woman ever appointed to an office of the Wisconsin state government. She was appointed to the Wisconsin State Board of Charities and Reform by Governor Lucius Fairchild when that organization was first authorized in 1871. William and Mary Lynde had at least seven children, though one died in infancy. There also seems to have been a pattern of mental illness in the family, as their eldest son spent the last months of his life in a mental institution and their youngest son died by suicide. Their eldest child, Mary Elizabeth "Lillie", married John Fletcher Harper, son of Joseph Wesley Harper, who was one of the Harper brothers who founded Harper & Brothers Publishing Company, one of the predecessors of HarperCollins. John F. Harper died in 1865, and Mary subsequently married Colgate Baker, a prosperous merchant. Mary used her wealth to open a school for women in San Francisco, California. Baker was one of America's largest tea importers in the 1880s, and the Bakers traveled frequently to Japan for business. Mary died during one such trip in 1890. Colgate Baker was also heavily invested in silver mines and was financially ruined by the Sherman Silver Purchase Act and the subsequent collapse in the value of silver. Their second child, Clara, married Henry Bradley. This marriage produced Lynde Bradley and Harry Lynde Bradley, who became two of the most important businessmen and philanthropists in Milwaukee's history, forming the Allen Bradley Company and the Bradley Foundation. Harry Lynde Bradley's daughter Jane Bradley Pettit and granddaughter Lynde Bradley Uihlein have also played significant roles in Wisconsin's philanthropic history. Their third child, Fanny, died in infancy. Their fourth child, Eliza, married John Tweedy Crocker, the son of Hans Crocker, another mayor of Milwaukee and an important figure in the development of the city. John and Eliza moved to Chicago, where he worked for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. Two of their daughters, Ruth and Gertrude, became prominent activists in the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage. Their fifth child, William Jr., graduated from Yale and began a business career, but struggled with mental illness. He was committed to the Northern Asylum in 1886 and died there in March 1887, at age 35. Their sixth child, Tilly, served on the Milwaukee city council, but lost most of his inheritance in stock speculation and gambling. After losing his fortune, he served as a deputy tax collector. He lived the longest of any of Lynde's sons, reaching the age of 55. Their seventh child, Azariel Blanchard Lynde, studied law in his father's office, but ultimately decided to become a doctor. He graduated from Rush Medical College in 1883, but only worked as a practicing physician for a few years before taking a leave of absence. He traveled for several years before coming to Duluth, Minnesota, where he committed suicide by slashing his own throat in August 1889. He was rumored to be a habitual user of opium.