Democrats—who had long been out of office—for some of the top state political appointments. The office of Superintendent of Public Property was particularly desirable due to its lucrative nature. Shortly after his inauguration, Governor Taylor selected Eliab B. Dean. Dean only lasted six months in office, however, as he was noted as being frequently drunk. He was asked to resign, refused, and was subsequently fired. Though his businesses were successful and earned him substantial wealth earlier in his life, he seems to have lost most of his fortune in his later years. Accounts of his life frequently refer to his alcoholism. For the last year of his life, he was incapable of caring for himself, and was tended to at the home of Henry Messerschmidt. He died at Messerschmidt's home in the town of Fitchburg, Wisconsin, on July 22, 1900. Personal life and family Dean married Sarah Fairchild on January 9, 1848. Sarah was the daughter of the influential state Democrat Jairus C. Fairchild, who would, soon after the marriage, become Wisconsin's first State Treasurer. Sarah's younger brothers, Cassius and Lucius, were also prominent Democratic politicians in the 1850s and popular Union Army colonels in the American Civil War. After the war, Lucius would run for office as a Republican, and became the 10th Governor of Wisconsin (1866–1872). Dean and Fairchild had one daughter, Ella ("Lottie"), but the girl died in childhood. They later divorced. References External links Politicians from Madison, Wisconsin Businesspeople from Madison, Wisconsin Wisconsin state court judges Democratic Party Wisconsin state senators 1819 births 1900 deaths 19th-century American politicians 19th-century American businesspeople 19th-century American judges