Politics: O'Konski, Johns, Stebbins, Wattawa, Decker and Duvall

Kewaunee County is often regarded by its residents as a county too small to have much political sway, so it is often a surprise to many that the county's two U.S. Congressmen had a significant impact even though one barely got his feet wet. County voters felt they'd have the chance to elect one of their own as governor, but it didn't happen. Voters were able to support a popular local candidate for lieutenant governor, but he wasn't elected either.


United States Congressman Joshua Johns was not born in Kewaunee County, but the county can claim him. His pacifist tendencies at the outset of World War ll put him at the era's political forefront. Forty years earlier Republican DeWayne Stebbins was a candidate for governor but bowed out of the race in deference to his friend Robert - Fighting Bob - LaFollette.  Big Steb, as he was called, came to the county as a youngster before the Civil War and, with the exception of military and government service, he never left. LaFollette joined 3,000 others at Stebbins' funeral a few years later.                   

On April 3, 1892, Eli Duvall wrote a letter to the New Era discussing Kewaunee's John Wattawa whose prominence was rising in Wisconsin political circles. Wattawa was one of two Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor at a time when newspaper accounts were carrying articles about his abuse of some nationality groups. In his letter, Duvall attested to his personal knowledge of statements that Wattawa denied. Duvall wrote that following the spring election 3 or 4 years earlier, when Wattawa's candidates had been defeated, he "heard him, publicly and earnestly on the street, denounce the Germans as the d---d Dutch-----" for having voted against his candidates. Duvall said at least two others heard Wattawa and offered their names. Duvall continued saying that he had taken the occasion that day to charge Mr. Wattawa to his face and that Wattawa did not deny using the derogatory language.


Edward Decker led the Kewaunee County delegation to Wattawa's headquarters at Milwaukee's Plankinton Hotel. Several hundred county citizens traveled with the Gem City Brass Band aboard the steamer Barry, though Decker traveled by train. Decker, who was thought to be a wealthy man, was a Democratic candidate for Wisconsin's 9th District.* Managers of the Wisconsin convention at the Davidson Theater had banned any pictures of presidential candidates Grover Cleveland or William Jennings Bryan. Both men were Democrats but led other factions of the party.

Joshua Johns was born in small town Eagle, Wisconsin. He was a Yale educated attorney who married Ahnapee-born Esther Newman. Her father Sam Newman was the man who originated what came to be called Plumbers Woodwork, a leader in the manufacture of toilet seats. Johns associated himself with the company and, for awhile, lived in Algoma. Esther memorialized her family by the donation of what today is known as Newman Park.


Johns was a Congressman at the beginning of World War ll. He became nationally known following a radio address from New York. The address with its pacifist leanings gave rise to what appeared to have been a mail campaign when mass produced postcards, objecting to his views, came from throughout the U.S. Johns' Congressional career was short as he served from 1939 to 1943 when he was defeated in a reelection attempt.

For 30 years, from 1943 to 1973, Kewaunee's Congressman Alvin O'Konski represented Northeast Wisconsin in the House of Representatives. An American of Polish descent, O'Konski was awarded "Palonia Restuticia," Free Poland's highest medal. O'Konski left his mark on the country. So did his cousin, Stan "The Man" Musial.

DeWayne Stebbins' ca. 1900 photo was taken from An-An-api-sebe: Where is the River?; John Wattawa's photo was found in The Sentinel, Tuesday Morning, September 2, 1902; the pickets at Joshua Johns' home was found in Algoma Record Herald, August 26, 1939; Alvin O'Konski's picture was found at www.findagrave.

Thomas Konop was another Kewaunee County Congressman. Born in the Town of Franklin in 1879, he was admitted to the Bar in 1904 and began practice in Kewaunee County, serving as District Attorney from 1905-1911. He moved to Green Bay where he practiced law and served in Congress from March 1911 to March 1917 when he was defeated for reelection.