William L. Utley
William L. Utley | |
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| 3rd & 7th Adjutant General of Wisconsin | |
| In office April 25, 1861 – January 7, 1862 | |
| Appointed by | Alexander Randall |
| Preceded by | James A. Swain |
| Succeeded by | Augustus Gaylord |
| In office April 1, 1852 – April 1, 1854 | |
| Appointed by | Leonard J. Farwell |
| Preceded by | William A. Barstow |
| Succeeded by | John McManman |
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 7th district | |
| In office January 9, 1861 – January 4, 1863 | |
| Preceded by | Nicholas D. Fratt |
| Succeeded by | Timothy D. Morris |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Racine 1st district | |
| In office January 8, 1851 – January 12, 1853 | |
| Preceded by | Horace N. Chapman |
| Succeeded by | Horace T. Sanders |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 10, 1814 Monson, Massachusetts, US |
| Died | March 4, 1887 (aged 72) Racine, Wisconsin, US |
| Resting place | Mound Cemetery, Racine |
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| Nickname | "The Abolition Colonel" |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Volunteers Union Army |
| Years of service | 1862–1864 |
| Rank | Colonel, USV |
| Commands | |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
William Lawrence Utley Sr. (July 10, 1814 – March 4, 1887) was an American portrait artist, hotel keeper, politician, newspaper editor, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was the 3rd and 7th adjutant general of Wisconsin, and served as a Union Army colonel through most of the American Civil War. One of the major Union Army mustering grounds in Wisconsin was named "Camp Utley", for him.
He also served in the Wisconsin Senate (1861 & 1862) and state Assembly (1851 & 1852), representing Racine County. Initially affiliated with the Democratic Party, he became a member of the Free Soil Party over the issue of slavery in 1848. He then joined the Republican Party when that party was organized in 1854, then later joined the Greenback Party in 1878, running as a Greenback candidate for U.S. House in 1882 and governor in 1884.