Gabriel Bouck

Early years

He was born of Dutch ancestry, in Fultonham, Schoharie County, New York the son of William C. Bouck and Catherine Lawyer and was the fourth of eight children. Bouck lived at Bouck's Island. His siblings were James Madison; Joseph William, born on October 27, 1809; Christian, born on May 14, 1818; Charles, born on September 9, 1829; Catherine, born on July 11, 1820, married Erskine Danforth; Caroline, married Dr. Volney Danforth; and Anna, born on December 29, 1814, married Lyman Sanford.

His father, William C. Bouck, was elected Governor of New York in 1842 and his uncle, Joseph Bouck, was elected to the House of Representatives from the state of New York serving in the 22nd United States Congress from 1831 to 1833.

Gabriel Bouck was prepared for college at the Schoharie and Albany Academies. He graduated from Union College, Schenectady, New York with Phi Beta Kappa honors and membership in The Kappa Alpha Society, in the class of 1847 and studied law in the offices of Daniel S. Dickson at Binghamton, New York. Bouck moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1848 he was admitted to the bar. In 1849, he moved to Oshkosh, Winnebago County, Wisconsin to practice law. The 1860 Census listed him as a resident of Oshkosh’s third ward.

Military service

Gabriel served in the Union Army during the Civil War raising Company E, 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment in Oshkosh in April 1861 and serving at the rank of captain. This unit was a part of the famous Iron Brigade attached to the Army of the Potomac.

He resigned command to accept a commission as Colonel of the 18th Wisconsin Infantry on April 29, 1862, succeeding Colonel James S. Alban following Alban's death at the Battle of Shiloh. It was with some reluctance that Bouck accepted this assignment when it was offered by Governmor Alexander Randall and was strongly encouraged to do so by fellow Wisconsin officer Edward S. Bragg. Bouck saw action with the 18th Wisconsin at the Siege of Corinth and Second Battle of Corinth (MS), Battle of Jackson (MS), Battle of Champion Hill (MS), Battle of Vicksburg (MS), and Battle of Missionary Ridge (TN). He resigned from service on January 4, 1864 and returned to Oshkosh.

Following the war he stayed active military endeavors, founding two Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) posts. He also formed the 2nd Company of the Wisconsin National Guard on March 25, 1876, serving as its captain.

Political career

Bouck was an active and loyal member of the Democratic Party being elected as Attorney General of Wisconsin serving from 1858 to 1860; he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1860 and 1874, serving the last year as speaker. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1868 and 1872. Bouck was defeated in his first run for the United States Congress in 1874, but in 1876 was elected to the United States House of Representatives to the 45th United States Congress representing Wisconsin's 6th congressional district receiving 20,623 votes to his Republican opponent, Alanson M. Kimball's 17,847. He was reelected to the 46th Congress as well. His greatest political ambition was to be elected Governor of Wisconsin, the same office held by his father in the state of New York. He was defeated for reelection to the 47th Congress in 1880 by Republican Richard Guenther.

Death

He resumed his law practice in Oshkosh and for many years was head of Bouck & Hilton Attorneys at Law. After four months of being confined to his room at the Athearn Hotel in Oshkosh, he died there on Sunday morning at 2:45 a.m., February 21, 1904. According to his obituary, death was the result of general debility due to old age. He was 76 years old. His funeral was held at the Masonic Temple of Oshkosh Lodge No. 27. and he is buried in Oshkosh.