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{{Short description|19th century American politician}}
⚫
'''Charles C. P. Arndt''' (October 31, 1811 – February 11, 1842) was an American [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig]] legislator from [[Pennsylvania]] and [[Wisconsin Territory]].
{{Infobox officeholder
⚫
|name = Charles C. P. Arndt
|image = Charles C. P. Arndt.jpg
|caption = Portrait by Thomas D. Bowring, DePere, Wisconsin
|office = Member of the Council of the [[Wisconsin Territory]] for [[Brown County, Wisconsin|Brown]], {{nowrap|[[Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin|Fond du Lac]]}}, [[Manitowoc County, Wisconsin|Manitowoc]], [[Portage County, Wisconsin|Portage]], & [[Sheboygan County, Wisconsin|Sheboygan]] counties
| term_start = December 2, 1839
| term_end = February 11, 1842
| alongside = [[Morgan Lewis Martin]]
| predecessor = [[Alexander J. Irwin]]
| successor = Morgan Lewis Martin
|party = [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig]]<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84600486/whig-convention-brown-co/ |title= The Voice of Brown County |newspaper= [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|Milwaukee Sentinel]] |date= June 29, 1841 |page= 2 |accessdate= September 2, 2021 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>
|birth_name = Charles Cotesworth Pinckney Arndt
|birth_date = October 31, 1811
|birth_place = [[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
|death_date = {{Death date and age|1842|02|11|1811|10|31}}
|death_place = [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], [[Wisconsin Territory]], U.S.
|death_cause = [[Homicide]], by {{nowrap|[[James Russell Vineyard|James R. Vineyard]]}}
|restingplace = [[Woodlawn Cemetery (Green Bay, Wisconsin)|Woodlawn Cemetery]], {{nowrap|[[Green Bay, Wisconsin]]}}
|spouse = {{marriage|Catharine Ann Marsh|1835|1842}}
|children = {{unbulleted list
| Margaret Elizabeth (Field)
| {{sup|(b. 1836)}}
| Joseph Manning Marsh Arndt
| {{sup|(b. 1838; died 1904)}}
| Imogene Cotton Arndt
| {{sup|(b. 1840)}}
}}
|alma_mater = [[Rutgers University|Rutgers College]]
|profession = lawyer, legislator
|father = [[John Penn Arndt]]
}}
⚫
'''Charles Cotesworth Pinckney Arndt''' (October 31, 1811{{spaced ndash}}February 11, 1842) was an [[Americans|American]] lawyer, [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig]] politician, and [[Wisconsin]] pioneer. While serving as a member of the Council of the [[Wisconsin Territory]], he was shot and killed by fellow councillor, [[James Russell Vineyard]].


== Early life and education ==
Born in [[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania]], he came with his parents to [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]], [[Michigan Territory]]. Arndt graduated from [[Rutgers University|Rutgers College]], studied law in [[Easton, Pennsylvania]] and was admitted to the bar. In 1836, Arndt moved back to Green Bay and was admitted to the bar in Michigan Territory. Arndt was elected to the Wisconsin Territorial Council from Green Bay. On February 11, 1842, after a heated discussion with [[James Russell Vineyard]], Arndt was shot to death in the council room. Vineyard was later tried for the murder and was acquitted on grounds of [[Right of self-defense|self-defense]].<ref>{{cite news|title=A Wisconsin Tragedy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1936922/charles_c_p_arndt_18111842/|newspaper=The Weekly Wisconsin|date=February 13, 1886|page=8|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = March 7, 2015 }} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>'Wisconsin's Saddest Tragedy,' M.M. Qualife, Wisconsin Historical Society: 1922, vol 15, no. 5, pg. 264-283</ref><ref>[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=21&search_term=arndt Charles Arndt, Wisconsin Historical Society]</ref>
Charles Arndt was born in [[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania]], the fifth child of [[John Penn Arndt]] and his wife Elizabeth (''{{nee}}'' Carpenter). Charles moved with his parents to the [[Michigan Territory]] in 1822, first settling at [[Mackinac Island, Michigan|Mackinac Island]], and then continuing west in 1824 to [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]], in the territory that would later become [[Wisconsin]].<ref name="arndts">{{cite book|url= https://archive.org/details/cu31924051327512/ |title= The Story of the Arndts; the Life, Antecedents and Descendants of Bernhard Arndt who emigrated to Pennsylvania in the Year 1731 |publisher= Christopher Sower Company |location= [[Philadelphia]] |year= 1922 |last= Arndt |first= John Stover |pages= [https://archive.org/details/cu31924051327512/page/n271/ 235&ndash;240] |accessdate= September 2, 2021 }}</ref> He graduated from [[Rutgers University|Rutgers College]] in 1832, and went on to study law under [[Joel Jones (mayor)|Joel Jones]] at [[Easton, Pennsylvania]], for the next three years.<ref name="arndts"/> He was admitted to the bar in 1835, and the following year moved back to Green Bay, where he was admitted to practice law in the Michigan Territory.<ref name="arndts"/>


== In the legislature ==
In 1842, British author [[Charles Dickens]] wrote about the tragedy in his book ''[[American Notes]]''.<ref>[http://www.online-literature.com/dickens/americannotes/18/ "American Notes," Charles Dickens, 1842]</ref>
Arndt was a close friend of Wisconsin Territory Governor [[James Duane Doty]].<ref name="arndts"/> He became affiliated with the [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig Party]] and was elected to the Council (upper legislative house) of the [[Wisconsin Territory]] in the Fall 1839 election, representing the vast northeastern district. He served in the [[2nd Wisconsin Territorial Assembly|2nd]] and [[3rd Wisconsin Territorial Assembly|3rd]] legislative assemblies. His father had previously served on the Council during the [[1st Wisconsin Territorial Assembly|1st Legislative Assembly]].


==Notes==
== Death ==
{{reflist}}


On February 11, 1842, Arndt was involved in a heated debate on the floor of the Council chamber with [[James Russell Vineyard]], of Grant County.<ref name="arndts"/> Arndt was giving passionate support to Enos S. Baker, Governor Doty's nominee to serve as sheriff of Grant County. Vineyard, who was also considered a candidate for the sheriff's office, was staunchly opposed to the confirmation of Baker.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84615607/council-feb-5-1842/ |title= Legislature of Wisconsin |newspaper= Wisconsin Express |date= February 12, 1842 |page= 1 |accessdate= September 2, 2021 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] }} {{Open access}}</ref>
==External links==

⚫
*{{Find a Grave|70867882|Charles C. P. Arndt}}
During the debate, Arndt produced a number of testimonials from Grant County voters attesting to the quality of Baker's character, which Vineyard declared to be false.<ref name="tragedy">{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1936922/charles-c-p-arndt-1811-1842/ |title= A Wisconsin Tragedy |newspaper= The Weekly Wisconsin |date= February 13, 1886 |page= 8 |accessdate= September 2, 2021 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref> Arndt and Vineyard exchanged heated words. A few minutes later, the session was adjourned. Arndt approached Vineyard and asked him directly if he had imputed that his remarks had been false. Vineyard confirmed, and Arndt struck him in the head. Vineyard pulled out a revolver and fired one shot into Arndt's chest. He died in less than five minutes.<ref name="tragedy"/>

Vineyard was almost immediately indicted, but was acquitted on grounds of [[Right of self-defense|self-defense]] at his trial in October 1843.<ref name="tragedy"/><ref>'Wisconsin's Saddest Tragedy,' M.M. Qualife, Wisconsin Historical Society: 1922, vol 15, no. 5, pp. 264–283</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS4961 |title= Arndt, Charles C. P., died 1842 |website= [[Wisconsin Historical Society]] |date= 8 August 2017 |accessdate= September 2, 2021 }}</ref> Vineyard attempted to submit his resignation to the Council on February 14, 1842, but his resignation was rejected, and the Council instead voted 10&ndash;1 in favor of expelling him.<ref name="tragedy"/>

[[Charles Dickens]] (who had been doing a [[lecture tour]] of the United States at the time of the incident) described the attack as an example of the violent depravity of American culture in his ''[[American Notes for General Circulation]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dickens |first1=Charles |title=American Notes for General Circulation |year=1842 |volume=2 |publisher=Chapman and Hall |location=London |pages=268–270 |edition=3rd}}</ref>

==Personal life and family==
Arndt was a descendant of Bernhard Arndt, an early settler of the [[Province of Pennsylvania]].<ref name="arndts"/>

He married Catharine Ann Marsh on May 5, 1835. They had one son and two daughters.<ref name="arndts"/>

==See also==
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* [[List of assassinated American politicians]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Arndt, Charles C.P.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arndt, Charles C.P.}}
[[Category:Politicians from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Politicians from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:People from Green Bay, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Politicians from Green Bay, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Assassinated American politicians]]
[[Category:Assassinated American politicians]]
[[Category:Rutgers University alumni]]
[[Category:Rutgers University alumni]]
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[[Category:Wisconsin Whigs]]
[[Category:Wisconsin Whigs]]
[[Category:Members of the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature]]
[[Category:Members of the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature]]
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[[Category:19th-century American politicians]]
[[Category:1811 births]]
[[Category:1811 births]]
[[Category:1842 deaths]]
[[Category:1842 deaths]]
[[Category:People murdered in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:People murdered in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:19th-century American lawyers]]

[[Category:Politicians assassinated in the 1840s]]

[[Category:Burials at Woodlawn Cemetery (Green Bay, Wisconsin)]]
{{Pennsylvania-politician-stub}}
{{Wisconsin-politician-stub}}

Latest revision as of 08:30, 25 November 2024

Charles C. P. Arndt
Portrait by Thomas D. Bowring, DePere, Wisconsin
Member of the Council of the Wisconsin Territory for Brown, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Portage, & Sheboygan counties
In office
December 2, 1839 – February 11, 1842
Serving with Morgan Lewis Martin
Preceded byAlexander J. Irwin
Succeeded byMorgan Lewis Martin
Personal details
Born
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney Arndt

October 31, 1811
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedFebruary 11, 1842(1842-02-11) (aged 30)
Madison, Wisconsin Territory, U.S.
Cause of deathHomicide, by James R. Vineyard
Resting placeWoodlawn Cemetery, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Political partyWhig[1]
Spouse
Catharine Ann Marsh
​
​
(m. 1835⁠–⁠1842)​
Children
  • Margaret Elizabeth (Field)
  • (b. 1836)
  • Joseph Manning Marsh Arndt
  • (b. 1838; died 1904)
  • Imogene Cotton Arndt
  • (b. 1840)
Parent
Alma materRutgers College
Professionlawyer, legislator

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney Arndt (October 31, 1811 – February 11, 1842) was an American lawyer, Whig politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. While serving as a member of the Council of the Wisconsin Territory, he was shot and killed by fellow councillor, James Russell Vineyard.

Early life and education

[edit]

Charles Arndt was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, the fifth child of John Penn Arndt and his wife Elizabeth (née Carpenter). Charles moved with his parents to the Michigan Territory in 1822, first settling at Mackinac Island, and then continuing west in 1824 to Green Bay, in the territory that would later become Wisconsin.[2] He graduated from Rutgers College in 1832, and went on to study law under Joel Jones at Easton, Pennsylvania, for the next three years.[2] He was admitted to the bar in 1835, and the following year moved back to Green Bay, where he was admitted to practice law in the Michigan Territory.[2]

In the legislature

[edit]

Arndt was a close friend of Wisconsin Territory Governor James Duane Doty.[2] He became affiliated with the Whig Party and was elected to the Council (upper legislative house) of the Wisconsin Territory in the Fall 1839 election, representing the vast northeastern district. He served in the 2nd and 3rd legislative assemblies. His father had previously served on the Council during the 1st Legislative Assembly.

Death

[edit]

On February 11, 1842, Arndt was involved in a heated debate on the floor of the Council chamber with James Russell Vineyard, of Grant County.[2] Arndt was giving passionate support to Enos S. Baker, Governor Doty's nominee to serve as sheriff of Grant County. Vineyard, who was also considered a candidate for the sheriff's office, was staunchly opposed to the confirmation of Baker.[3]

During the debate, Arndt produced a number of testimonials from Grant County voters attesting to the quality of Baker's character, which Vineyard declared to be false.[4] Arndt and Vineyard exchanged heated words. A few minutes later, the session was adjourned. Arndt approached Vineyard and asked him directly if he had imputed that his remarks had been false. Vineyard confirmed, and Arndt struck him in the head. Vineyard pulled out a revolver and fired one shot into Arndt's chest. He died in less than five minutes.[4]

Vineyard was almost immediately indicted, but was acquitted on grounds of self-defense at his trial in October 1843.[4][5][6] Vineyard attempted to submit his resignation to the Council on February 14, 1842, but his resignation was rejected, and the Council instead voted 10–1 in favor of expelling him.[4]

Charles Dickens (who had been doing a lecture tour of the United States at the time of the incident) described the attack as an example of the violent depravity of American culture in his American Notes for General Circulation.[7]

Personal life and family

[edit]

Arndt was a descendant of Bernhard Arndt, an early settler of the Province of Pennsylvania.[2]

He married Catharine Ann Marsh on May 5, 1835. They had one son and two daughters.[2]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Voice of Brown County". Milwaukee Sentinel. June 29, 1841. p. 2. Retrieved September 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Arndt, John Stover (1922). The Story of the Arndts; the Life, Antecedents and Descendants of Bernhard Arndt who emigrated to Pennsylvania in the Year 1731. Philadelphia: Christopher Sower Company. pp. 235–240. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  3. ^ "Legislature of Wisconsin". Wisconsin Express. February 12, 1842. p. 1. Retrieved September 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ a b c d "A Wisconsin Tragedy". The Weekly Wisconsin. February 13, 1886. p. 8. Retrieved September 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ 'Wisconsin's Saddest Tragedy,' M.M. Qualife, Wisconsin Historical Society: 1922, vol 15, no. 5, pp. 264–283
  6. ^ "Arndt, Charles C. P., died 1842". Wisconsin Historical Society. 8 August 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  7. ^ Dickens, Charles (1842). American Notes for General Circulation. Vol. 2 (3rd ed.). London: Chapman and Hall. pp. 268–270.
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