Joseph Vilas

Joseph Vilas
Joseph Vilas
10th Mayor of Manitowoc, Wisconsin
	In office; April 1893 – April 1895
Preceded by	Fred Schuette
Succeeded by	Thomas Torrison
Member of the Wisconsin Senate; from the 19th district
	In office; January 1, 1863 – January 1, 1865
Preceded by	George A. Jenkins
Succeeded by	George B. Reed
Personal details
Born	Joseph Vilas; March 31, 1832; Ogdensburg, New York, U.S.
Died	January 7, 1905 (aged 72); Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Resting place	Evergreen Cemetery; Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Mary Platt; (died 1901);
Relations	William Freeman Vilas (cousin)
Children	Joseph Stilwell Vilas; (b. 1858; died 1921);

Joseph Vilas (March 31, 1832 – January 7, 1905) was an American businessman and politician. He was the 10th Mayor of Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

Biography

Born in Ogdensburg, New York, Vilas went to Union College in Schenectady, New York. In 1852, he moved to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. He was involved with the mercantile, railroad, and paper manufacturing businesses. During the American Civil War, Vilas served as a draft commissioner. He served in the Wisconsin State Senate in 1863 and 1864 and was a Democrat. He also served as president of the village of Manitowoc. In 1893, he was elected mayor of Manitowoc. Vilas was president of the Board of Harbor Commissioners. In 1868, he ran for election to the United States House of Representatives and lost the election to Philetus Sawyer. Vilas died by suicide with a firearm in his home in Manitowoc. He had been in ill health for several years. He was a cousin of William Freeman Vilas.^[1]^[2]

^ 'The Columbian Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of the Representative Men of the United States,' Wisconsin Volume, D. I. Nelke-editor, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois: 1895, Biographical Sketch of Joseph Vilas, pg. 233-237
^ 'Vilas Is Suicide-The Ex-Mayor of the City of Manitowoc Tires of Fight With Disease-The Story,' Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, January 7, 1905, pg. 1