Enoch Chase


Enoch Chase was an American physician, farmer and businessman in the 19th century. He served as a Whig member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and later as a Democratic member of the Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate.

Early life

Chase was born in Derby, Vermont and attended the school of medicine at Bowdoin College before graduating from Dartmouth College as a Doctor of Medicine in 1831. After living for a time in Coldwater, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois, he moved to Wisconsin in 1835, settling in Milwaukee County, as a farmer and a manufacturer of brick and glassware.

Political career

Chase served in various political positions in Wisconsin. He was a member of the Assembly three times, from 1849-1851 and in 1853 as a Whig and in 1870 as a Democrat. During his first term he was the Whig candidate for Speaker of the House but was defeated by Moses M. Strong. He represented Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1882–1884. Chase, originally a Whig, ran as an independent in 1853 against Democrat Edward McGarry and later was himself elected as a Democrat. Chase died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 23, 1892.