Benjamin Fontaine

Benjamin F. Fontaine (February 27, 1837 – January 9, 1910) was a Belgian American hardware merchant and politician. He served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1880 and 1881, representing northeast Brown County.^[1]

Benjamin Fontaine
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Brown 1st district
In office January 5, 1880 – January 2, 1882
Preceded by	David M. Kelly
Succeeded by	John M. Hogan
Personal details
Born	(1837-02-27)February 27, 1837 Pietrebais, Province of Brabant, Belgium
Died	January 9, 1910(1910-01-09) (aged 72) Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place	Fort Howard Memorial Park, Green Bay
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Desiree Fontaine
Children	4

Biography

Fontaine was born in 1837 in Belgium, and was educated to the standards of the time.^[2] He moved to the Town of Green Bay in 1855 and later moved to the town of Scott, where he lived from 1860 to 1864 and was town chairman in 1863.^[3] From there, he moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1865 and started a hardware business in 1870, which he maintained until 1907.^[3]

He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly from Brown County's 1st Assembly district for the 1880 session and was re-elected for the 1881 term.^[2] Fontaine was one of the first Belgian-American immigrants to northeastern Wisconsin to serve in the Assembly; others included Joseph Wery, Constant Martin, John B. Eugene and Grégoire Dupont.^[1] Immediately following his time in the Assembly, Fontaine served two terms on the Green Bay City Council.^[3] In 1892, Fontaine was a founding member of the Belgian Republicans Club in Green Bay.^[4]

Fontaine was married and had four children. He died on January 9, 1910, and was buried at Fort Howard Cemetery.^[3]