Raphael Widen

Raphael Widen
Member of the Illinois Senate
from the Randolph County district
In office
1824 (1824)  1828 (1828)
Preceded bySamuel Crozier
Succeeded bySamuel Crawford
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the Randolph County district
In office
1820 (1820)  1824 (1824)
Personal details
Bornunknown
Sweden
Died1833
Kaskaskia, Illinois
ProfessionJustice of the peace
Signature

Raphael Widen (died 1833) was an Illinois pioneer and politician. He is thought to have been the first Swedish-American to reside in what would become the state of Illinois. He was first recorded in the state in 1814, when he was appointed a justice of the peace. Widen served four years in the Illinois House of Representatives and four years in the Illinois Senate.