Term: Suydam, John Voorhees 1810 - 1885

Definition: teacher, surveyor, co-founder of Wisconsin's first newspaper, b. near Auburn, N.Y. He was educated in the common schools, worked in the office of an Episcopal newspaper at Auburn, and in 1830 moved to Green Bay to teach in the Indian mission school conducted by the Rev. Richard F. Cadle (q.v.). In 1833 he secured a Ramage press and type from Detroit and on Dec. 11, in partnership with A. G. Ellis (q.v.), published the first issue of the Green Bay Intelligencer. The project was short-lived and the versatile Suydam turned to other occupations. He surveyed the site of Madison for James Duane Doty (q.v.) in Oct., 1836, and in later years worked in land offices, ran a saddlery shop, and a bookbindery. He held city offices in Green Bay, published maps, and from 1870 until his death was Brown County surveyor. Green Bay Daily State Gazette, Nov. 21, 1885; Proc. Wis. Editorial Assoc., 1857-1859 (1859), pp. 13- 19; Colls. State Hist. Soc. Wis., 6 (1872).