# S. J. Todd > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/S._J._Todd > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/S._J._Todd.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._J._Todd > Source revision: 1350707691 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American politician (1821–1902) For the Medal of Honor recipient, see [Samuel Todd](/source/Samuel_Todd). S. J. Todd Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 17th district In office January 7, 1867 – January 4, 1869 Preceded by William A. Lawrence Succeeded by Charles G. Williams 3rd Mayor of Beloit, Wisconsin In office April 1859 – April 1860 Preceded by Anson P. Waterman Succeeded by John Bannister Personal details Born Samuel J. Todd (1821-01-19)January 19, 1821 Preble, New York, U.S. Died January 9, 1902(1902-01-09) (aged 80) Beloit, Wisconsin, U.S. Cause of death Stroke Resting place Oakwood Cemetery, Beloit, Wisconsin Party Republican Natl. Union (1865–1868) Spouse Mary E. Hazard ​ (m. 1853)​ Children Mary A. Todd (b. 1859; died 1861) Robert H. Todd (b. 1862; died 1907) Alice C. Todd (b. 1863; died 1898) Anne C. Todd (b. 1867; died 1897) Elizabeth (Eldred) (b. 1869; died 1925) Relatives Samuel Taggart (grandfather) Occupation lawyer, politician **Samuel James Todd** (January 19, 1821 – January 9, 1902) was an [American](/source/Americans) lawyer, [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) politician, and [Wisconsin](/source/Wisconsin) pioneer. He was an early settler of [Beloit, Wisconsin](/source/Beloit%2C_Wisconsin), and was the 3rd mayor of Beloit. He also represented [Rock County](/source/Rock_County%2C_Wisconsin) in the [Wisconsin Senate](/source/Wisconsin_Senate) for the [1867](/source/20th_Wisconsin_Legislature) and [1868](/source/21st_Wisconsin_Legislature) sessions. His name is often abbreviated as **S. J. Todd** in historical documents. ## Biography Todd was born on January 19, 1821, in [Preble, New York](/source/Preble%2C_New_York), his father died when he was about five years old. He studied law at [Batavia, New York](/source/Batavia%2C_New_York), and was admitted to the bar.[1] In 1850, he moved west and settled at [Beloit, Wisconsin](/source/Beloit%2C_Wisconsin)—then a small village. He formed a law partnership with John M. Keep, which continued until Keep was appointed a Wisconsin circuit court judge in 1857. Todd was one of the leading lawyers of Beloit for 30 years.[2] In 1857, Todd was one of three respected lawyers chosen by Governor [Coles Bashford](/source/Coles_Bashford) for a commission to revise and compile the statutes of Wisconsin, based on changes in the law since the previous edition. He was partnered with [David Taylor](/source/David_Taylor_(Wisconsin_judge)) and [Frederick S. Lovell](/source/Frederick_S._Lovell).[1] The revised statutes were published in 1858, and later that year Todd was elected to a one-year term as Mayor of Beloit. In 1866, Todd was elected to the [Wisconsin State Senate](/source/Wisconsin_State_Senate), representing all of Rock County in what was then the [17th State Senate district](/source/Wisconsin's_17th_State_Senate_district). He ran on the [National Union Party](/source/National_Union_Party_(United_States)) ticket, but was identified with the [Radical Republican](/source/Radical_Republicans) faction of the time. In the Senate, he served on the committee on incorporations in 1867, and served on judiciary, state affairs, and military affairs in 1868.[3] After leaving the Senate, he served as [city attorney](/source/City_attorney) of Beloit from 1870 to 1874, and was a member of the school board from 1875 through 1885.[1] He suffered a [stroke](/source/Stroke) on January 7, 1902, and died two days later at his home in Beloit.[1] ## Personal life and family Samuel Todd was the only known child of Daniel Todd and his wife Mary (*[née](/source/Birth_name#Maiden_and_married_names)* Taggart).[2] After his father's death, in 1826, his mother remarried with Daniel's younger brother John Todd and had two more children. Todd's ancestors were [Scotch-Irish Americans](/source/Scotch-Irish_Americans), but both parents were born in America. His maternal grandfather was [Samuel Taggart](/source/Samuel_Taggart), who represented Massachusetts in the [U.S. House of Representatives](/source/U.S._House_of_Representatives) for seven terms, from 1803 to 1817. He married Ms. Mary (or May) E. Hazard, of [Essex County, New York](/source/Essex_County%2C_New_York), on December 21, 1853.[1] They had five children together, though one daughter died in infancy. At the time of his death, only two of his children were still living.[2] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-obitjvil_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-obitjvil_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-obitjvil_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-obitjvil_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-obitjvil_1-4) ["Early Settler in Beloit is Dead"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79637740/sj-todd-obit-jvil-gazette/). *[Janesville Daily Gazette](/source/The_Gazette_(Janesville%2C_Wisconsin))*. January 9, 1902. p. 5. Retrieved June 15, 2021 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-fiske2_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-fiske2_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-fiske2_2-2) Brown, William Fiske (1908). [*Rock County, Wisconsin: A New History of its Cities, Villages, Towns, Citizens and Varied Interests, from the Earliest Times, up to Date*](https://archive.org/details/rockcountywiscon02brow/). C. F. Cooper & Co. pp. [740–741](https://archive.org/details/rockcountywiscon02brow/page/740/). Retrieved June 15, 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Legislative Department"](https://images.library.wisc.edu/WI/EFacs/WIBlueBks/BlueBks/WIBlueBk1868/reference/wi.wibluebk1868.i0009.pdf) (PDF). [The Legislative Manual, of the State of Wisconsin](https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1868) (Report). State of Wisconsin. 1868. p. 169. Retrieved June 15, 2021. ## External links - [Samuel J Todd](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113380575) at [Find a Grave](/source/Find_a_Grave) Wisconsin Senate Preceded by William A. Lawrence Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 17th district January 7, 1867 – January 4, 1869 Succeeded by Charles G. Williams Political offices Preceded by Anson P. Waterman Mayor of Beloit, Wisconsin April 1859 – April 1860 Succeeded by John Bannister --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [S. J. Todd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._J._Todd) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._J._Todd?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.