teacher, politician, b. Germany. He moved to Wisconsin in 1840, settling at Mequon. A Democrat, he was a delegate to the unsuccessful state constitutional convention of 1846 and also held minor political offices. In 1851 he was elected Wisconsin state treasurer and held this office for two terms (Jan. 1852-Jan. 1856). During his second term in office, Janssen became implicated in the public-land frauds and corruption of Governor W. A. Barstow's (q.v.) administration; although subsequent investigation cleared Janssen of personal responsibility, the scandal ended his political career. He had moved to Cedarburg in 1854, and there he spent the remainder of his life. He built a gristmill, taught school, and in 1874 was elected superintendent of schools for Ozaukee County. He held this office until his death. A. M. Thomson, Political Hist. of Wis. (Milwaukee, 1900); M. M. Quaife, ed., Convention of 1846 (Madison, 1919); West Bend Democrat, Apr. 10, 1877; WPA MS.Learn More
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[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]
