Richard W. Guenther

Richard Guenther was born November 30, 1845, in the city of Potsdam, in what was then the Province of Brandenburg, in the Kingdom of Prussia (now Germany).^[1] He was raised and educated in the schools of Potsdam, then attended the Royal Pharmacy, where he studied chemistry and pharmacy.^[1]

While studying at the Royal Pharmacy, Guenther planned to join the Prussian Army, but he was badly burned in a lab explosion before his final exams. After being declared unfit for service in the Prussian Army, Guenther decided to emigrate to the United States.^[2]

He initially settled in New York City, in January 1867. There he partnered with fellow pharmacist Robert Wood Johnson in establishing a plaster business, which ultimately grew into the conglomerate Johnson & Johnson.^[2] Guenther only remained in the partnership for a few months, however, determining that he would continue traveling into the west. He left for the new state of Wisconsin in the fall of 1867, settling briefly in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, before moving to the nearby city of Oshkosh, which became his home for the rest of his life.^[2]

At Oshkosh, Guenther established a drug store which quickly became one of the most prominent businesses in the young city.^[2] Guenther also quickly became involved in the local German American immigrant community and became a member of the Oshkosh Turnverein (Turners). He obtained his American citizenship in December 1873, and was elected to his first public office the next year; he was elected to the Oshkosh school commission in 1874 and was re-elected in 1875, 1876, and 1877.^[3][4] Through his growing role in local politics, Guenther also became active in the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

Guenther was first mentioned as a potential candidate for statewide office in 1875, when he was discussed as an alternative for Henry Baetz as a candidate for state treasurer of Wisconsin.^[5] At the time, both parties tried to build their statewide tickets with at least one representative of Wisconsin's large German immigrant population.

Guenther's prominence in Wisconsin's German American population continued to grow, as he became president of the Oshkosh Turnverein, and later had Oshkosh established as the state headquarters of the state turnverein organization. Guenther was widely expected to become president of the state turnverein in 1876, but was thwarted at the state convention by Democratic members.^[6]

In 1877, Guenther was again discussed as a candidate for state treasurer, as Baetz had lost the 1875 election.^[7] At the 1877 Republican state convention in September, Guenther's name was placed in nomination by James H. Foster in a highly complimentary speech. After a brief informal ballot, Guenther was nominated by acclamation.^[8] Guenther won the election with 45% of the vote, along with the entire state Republican ticket.^[4][9] Two years later, Guenther was re-elected with nearly 54% of the vote.^[10]

During his time as state treasurer, Guenther's reputation grew beyond the state of Wisconsin, and he accepted invitations from neighboring state Republican organizations to travel and campaign in those states' German American communities.^[11] During his third year in office, his name began appearing in newspaper editorials as a potential candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in Wisconsin's 6th congressional district.^[12] At the time, the 6th congressional district comprised much of the northeast quadrant of Wisconsin, including Guenther's home county, Winnebago, along with Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Outagamie, Calumet, Green Lake, Waushara, and Waupaca counties. In September 1880, Guenther responded to the talk of a congressional run, stating that he'd be willing to accept the nomination if it were offered to him.^[13]

Almost immediately after declaring his willingness to be a candidate for Congress, Democrats in the state began making an issue of Guenther's citizenship status. At the time, the law required two years to lapse between a person's declaration of their intention to become a citizen and their achieving citizenship. An Oshkosh Northwestern article reporting of Guenther's citizenship paperwork appeared to indicate that he had only declared his intention to become a citizen in April 1873, less than a year before he received his citizenship in December of that year. Guenther's allies however, asserted that the newspaper had erred, and that he had actually declared his intention to become a citizen in April 1870.^[14]

At the Republican district convention in September 1880, Guenther was nominated on the first ballot without serious opposition.^[15] In the general election, he faced the Democratic incumbent, Gabriel Bouck, who was seeking his third term in office. Guenther won the election with 52% of the vote.^[16]

He represented Wisconsin's 6th congressional district for three terms (March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1887). After redistricting, he represented Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district for one term (March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889). Overall, Guenther represented Wisconsin from the 47th through the 50th Congresses.

Guenther was appointed consul general in three different locations: in Mexico City, Mexico by President Benjamin Harrison in 1890, serving until 1893; in Frankfurt, Germany by President William McKinley in 1898, serving until 1910; and in Cape Town, South Africa by President William Howard Taft in 1910, serving until his death in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on April 5, 1913. He was interred at Riverside Cemetery in Oshkosh.

Richard Guenther was the youngest of 11 children born to Theodore and Augusta (née Lietze) Guenther. His father was a musician in Potsdam, both parents remained in Germany for their entire lives. Only one of Richard's siblings emigrated to America, his elder brother August, who died at Saint Louis, Missouri, in 1912.^[1]

Richard Guenther married Emilie Schloerb in 1870. They had four children together, though two died in childhood.^[1] Guenther was survived by his wife, his son Richard Jr., and his daughter Alice.^[2]

Guenther was a member of the Congregational church, and was active in the Knights of Honor and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows fraternal organizations.^[1]

The Richard Guenther House in Oshkosh, built in 1888, is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places.^[17]

• United States Congress. "Richard W. Guenther (id: G000516)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Richard W. Guenther at Find a Grave