Eleazer Root

Eleazer Root
1st Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin
In office
January 1, 1849 – January 5, 1852
GovernorNelson Dewey
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byAzel P. Ladd
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the MarquetteWaushara district
In office
January 5, 1852 – January 1, 1853
Preceded byCharles Waldo
Succeeded byEdwin B. Kelsey
and Ezra Wheeler
Personal details
Born(1802-03-06)March 6, 1802
DiedJuly 25, 1887(1887-07-25) (aged 85)
Resting placeEvergreen Cemetery
St. Augustine, Florida
PartyWhig
Spouses
  • Harriet Dayton
  • Laura
Children
  • Cornelia Fanning (Ingraham)
  • (b. 1831; died 1898)
  • Mary Marvin Root
  • (b. 1836; died 1929)
  • George W. Root
  • (b. 1840; died 1863)
  • Anna Locke (Durlin)
  • (b. 1844; died 1933)
EducationWilliams College
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Eleazer Root (March 6, 1802 – July 25, 1887) was an American educator and Episcopalian priest from New York, who moved to Wisconsin as a young man and spent much of his career and adult life there. He served a term in the Wisconsin Assembly and was appointed as the first Superintendent of Public Instruction. Because of his health, in his last years he moved to St. Augustine, Florida, serving as rector of Trinity Parish from 1874 to 1884. Root is considered as one of the founding fathers of Wisconsin and was also instrumental in organizing the University of Wisconsin as a member of the first board of regents.