15th Wisconsin Legislature
←14th 16th→
Overview
Legislative bodyWisconsin Legislature
Meeting placeWisconsin State Capitol
TermJanuary 6, 1862 – January 5, 1863
ElectionNovember 5, 1861
Senate
Members33
Senate President
President pro tempore
Party controlRepublican
Assembly
Members100
Assembly SpeakerJoseph W. Beardsley (UD)
Party controlRepublican
Sessions
1st (A)January 8, 1862 – April 7, 1862
1st (B)June 3, 1862 – June 17, 1862
SpecialSeptember 10, 1862 – September 26, 1862

The Fifteenth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 8, 1862, to April 7, 1862, in regular session, and re-convened from June 3, 1862, through June 17, 1862. The legislature further convened in a special session from September 10, 1862, through September 26, 1862.

This was the first legislative session after the expansion and redistricting of the Senate and Assembly according to an act of the previous session. The Senate grew from 30 to 33 seats; the Assembly grew from 97 to 100 seats.

Senators representing even-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first year of a two-year term. Assembly members were elected to a one-year term. Assembly members and odd-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 8, 1861. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the second year of their two-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 6, 1860, or were elected in the 1861 election for a newly created district and were serving a one-year term.[1]

Major events

Major legislation

First session

  • February 17, 1862: Joint Resolutions relative to amending the constitution in regard to the governor's salary, 1862 Joint Resolution 6. Proposed an amendment to the Constitution of Wisconsin to increase the salary of the governor from $1,250 to $2,500 per year. The amendment was rejected by voters in the November general election.
  • March 22, 1862: Act to change the name of Bad Ax County to that of Vernon, 1862 Act 137

Special session

  • September 25, 1862: Act to empower towns, cities, incorporated villages and counties to raise money for the payment of bounties to volunteers, 1862 Special Session Act 13

Party summary

Senate summary

Senate Partisan composition
  Democratic: 11 seats
  National Union: 2 seats
  Republican: 20 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Democratic Union Republican Vacant
End of previous Legislature 8 0 20 30 0
1st Session 11 2 20 33 0
after May 8, 1862[note 1] 10 1 31 2
after June 1, 1862[note 2] 11 32 1
Final voting share 34.38% 65.63%
Beginning of the next Legislature 14 1 18 33 0

Assembly summary

Assembly Partisan composition
  Democratic: 45 seats
  National Union: 11 seats
  Republican: 44 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Democratic Union Republican Vacant
End of previous Legislature 26 0 71 97 0
Start of 1st Session[note 3] 43 11 45 99 1
after January 10[note 4] 44 44
after January 16[note 5] 45 100 0
after August 11[note 6] 10 99 1
Final voting share 45.45% 54.55%
Beginning of the next Legislature 44 2 54 100 0

Sessions

  • 1st Regular session: January 8, 1862 – April 7, 1862; June 3, 1862 – June 17, 1862
  • Special session: September 10, 1862 – September 26, 1862

Leaders

Senate leadership

Assembly leadership

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Fifteenth Wisconsin Legislature:[2]

Senate partisan representation
  Democratic: 11 seats
  Union: 2 seats
  Republican: 20 seats
District Counties Senator Party Residence
01 Sheboygan Luther H. Cary Rep. Greenbush
02 Brown & Kewaunee Edward Hicks Dem. Green Bay
03 Ozaukee Hugh Cunning Dem. Ozaukee
04 Washington Frederick O. Thorpe Dem. West Bend
05 Milwaukee (Northern Part) Charles Quentin (until May 8) Dem. Milwaukee
Francis Huebschmann (after June 1) Dem. Milwaukee
06 Milwaukee (Southern Part) Edward Keogh Dem. Milwaukee
07 Racine William L. Utley Rep. Racine
08 Kenosha Herman S. Thorp Rep. Cypress
09 Adams, Juneau, Waushara John T. Kingston Rep. Necedah
10 Waukesha George C. Pratt Dem. Waukesha
11 Dane (Eastern Part) Samuel C. Bean Rep. Sun Prairie
12 Walworth Wyman Spooner Rep. Elkhorn
13 Lafayette Samuel Cole Dem. Gratiot
14 Sauk Smith S. Wilkinson Rep. Prairie du Sac
15 Iowa Lemuel W. Joiner Rep. Wyoming
16 Grant Milas K. Young Rep. Glen Haven
17 Rock Ezra A. Foot Rep. Footville
18 Dodge (Western Part) Joel Rich Dem. Juneau
19 Manitowoc & Calumet George A. Jenkins Rep. Charlestown
20 Fond du Lac George W. Mitchell Dem. Ripon
21 Winnebago Samuel M. Hay Rep. Oshkosh
22 Door, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawanaw Thomas R. Hudd Dem. Appleton
23 Jefferson Edwin Montgomery Rep. Farmington
24 Green Edmund A. West Rep. Monroe
25 Columbia Gerry W. Hazelton Rep. Columbus
26 Dane (Western Part) Benjamin F. Hopkins Rep. Madison
27 Marathon, Portage, Waupaca, Wood Edward L. Browne Rep. Waupaca
28 Ashland, Burnett, Dallas, Douglas, La Pointe, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix Herman L. Humphrey Union Hudson
29 Marquette, Green Lake Charles S. Kelsey Rep. Montello
30 Bad Ax, Crawford, Richland Norman S. Cate (until May) Union De Soto
Vacant from May 1862
31 La Crosse, Monroe Edwin Flint Rep. La Crosse
32 Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Trempealeau M. D. Bartlett Rep. Durand
33 Dodge (Eastern Part) Satterlee Clark Dem. Horicon

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Fifteenth Wisconsin Legislature:[3]

Assembly partisan representation
  Democratic: 45 seats
  Union: 11 seats
  Republican: 44 seats
Senate
District		 County District Representative Party Residence
09 Adams George H. Hall Rep. Dell Prairie
28 Ashland, Burnett, Dallas, Douglas, La Pointe, Polk George R. Stuntz Rep. Superior
30 Bad Ax 1 Ole C. Johnson Rep. Breckenridge
2 Jeremiah M. Rusk Rep. Viroqua
02 Brown Frederick S. Ellis Dem. Green Bay
32 Buffalo, Pepin, Trempealeau Orlando Brown Rep. Gilmanton
19 Calumet William F. Watrous Dem. Charleston
32 Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire Horace W. Barnes Union Rep. Eau Claire
Clark & Jackson Carl C. Pope Rep. Black River Falls
25 Columbia 1 Jonathan Bowman Rep. Newport
2 William Dutcher Union Dem. Columbus
3 Robert B. Sanderson Rep. Cambria
30 Crawford Ormsby B. Thomas Union Dem. Prairie du Chien
11 Dane 1 Benjamin F. Adams Rep. Door Creek
2 Willard H. Chandler Rep. Windsor
26 3 Alden S. Sanborn Dem. Mazomanie
4 Nicholas M. Matts Rep. Verona
5 Edmund Jüssen Rep. Madison
18 Dodge 1 Quartus H. Barron Rep. Fox Lake
2 John F. McCollum Dem. Trenton
3 Harvey C. Griffin Dem. Oak Grove
33 4 Jacob G. Mayer Dem. LeRoy
5 David D. Hoppcock Dem. Rubicon
22 Door, Oconto, Shawano Ezra B. Stevens Rep. Sturgeon Bay
20 Fond du Lac 1 Charles F. Hammond Rep. Ripon
2 W. W. Hatcher Dem. Waupun
3 Campbell McLean Rep. Fond du Lac
4 John Boyd Dem. Calumet
5 Henry C. Hamilton Dem. Waucousta
16 Grant 1 William Brandon Rep. Smeltzer's Grove
2 Allen Taylor Rep. Dickeyville
3 Joseph T. Mills Rep. Lancaster
4 William W. Field Rep. Fennimore
5 Samuel Newick Rep. Beetown
24 Green 1 Calvin D. W. Leonard Rep. Dayton
2 Harvey T. Moore Union Dem. Spring Grove
29 Green Lake Archibald Nichols Rep. Markesan
15 Iowa 1 Alexander Campbell (until Jan. 10) Rep. Ridgeway
Robert Wilson (from Jan. 10) Dem.
2 John H. Vivian Rep. Mineral Point
23 Jefferson 1 Peter Rogan Dem. Watertown
2 Walter S. Greene Union Dem. Milford
3 William W. Reed Rep. Jefferson
4 John B. Crosby Rep. Palmyra
09 Juneau D. R. W. Williams Rep. Werner
08 Kenosha Reuben L. Bassett Union Dem. Wilmot
02 Kewaunee George W. Elliott Dem. Ahnapee
31 La Crosse Thomas B. Stoddard Union Rep. La Crosse
13 Lafayette 1 Charles B. Jennings Dem. Benton
2 James Wadsworth Dem. Darlington
19 Manitowoc 1 Samuel Rounseville Ind. Rep. Meeme
2 James Cahill Dem. Franklin
3 Elijah K. Rand Dem. Manitowoc
27 Marathon & Wood Charles Hoeflinger Dem. Wausau
29 Marquette Horatio S. Thomas Dem. Briggsville
05 Milwaukee 1 Henry L. Palmer Dem. Milwaukee
2 George Abert Dem. Milwaukee
06 3 George K. Gregory Dem. Milwaukee
4 Jacob V. V. Platto Dem. Milwaukee
5 John M. Stowell Dem. Milwaukee
05 6 Adam Finger Dem. Milwaukee
7 Henry Kirchhoff Dem. Ten Mile House
06 8 Perley J. Shumway Dem. Wauwatosa
9 L. Semmann Dem. Oak Creek
31 Monroe --Vacant-- (until Jan. 16)
Joseph M. Morrow (from Jan. 16) Ind. Dem. Sparta
22 Outagamie Milo Coles Dem. Borina
03 Ozaukee John A. Schletz Dem. Grafton
28 Pierce & St. Croix Joseph W. Beardsley Union Dem. Prescott
27 Portage Alexander S. McDill Rep. Plover
07 Racine 1 Calvin H. Upham Rep. Racine
2 Thomas Butler Dem. Mount Pleasant
3 James Catton Dem. Burlington
30 Richland Leroy D. Gage Dem. Richland
17 Rock 1 Nathan B. Howard Rep. Magnolia
2 Ephraim Palmer Rep. Edgerton
3 Samuel Miller Rep. Shopiere
4 John Bannister Union Rep. Beloit
5 Allen C. Bates Rep. Janesville
6 Orrin Guernsey Rep. Janesville
14 Sauk 1 J. Stephens Tripp Dem. Sauk City
2 Argalus W. Starks Union Dem. Baraboo
01 Sheboygan 1 Godfrey Stamm Dem. Sheboygan
2 John E. Thomas Dem. Sheboygan Falls
3 Samuel D. Hubbard (until Aug. 11) Union Scott
--Vacant-- (from Aug. 11)
4 Benjamin Dockstader Rep. Plymouth
12 Walworth 1 Fayette P. Arnold Rep. South Grove
2 Sylvester Hanson Rep. La Grange
3 Hilton W. Boyce Ind. Rep. Geneva
4 Hollis Latham Dem. Elkhorn
04 Washington 1 Thomas Barry Dem. Erin
2 Michael Maloy Dem. Richfield
3 Robert Salter Dem. Newburg
10 Waukesha 1 George W. Brown Dem. Brookfield Center
2 Samuel Thompson Rep. Hartland
3 Peter D. Gifford Dem. North Prairie
4 William A. Vanderpool Dem. Vernon
27 Waupaca Chester D. Combs Rep. North Royalton
09 Waushara William C. Webb Ind. Rep. Wautoma
21 Winnebago 1 William E. Hanson Rep. Oshkosh
2 Michael Hogan Dem. Menasha
3 David R. Bean Rep. Waukau

Employees

Senate employees

  • Chief Clerk: John H. Warren[2]
    • Assistant Clerk: Erasmus D. Campbell
    • Engrossing Clerk: T. Wilson Caster
    • Enrolling Clerk: J. M. Randall
    • Transcribing Clerk: F. W. Stewart
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: Bloom U. Caswell
    • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: James L. Wilder
  • Postmaster: H. W. Browne
    • Assistant Postmaster: D. H. Pulcifer
  • Doorkeeper: William C. Lesure
    • Assistant Doorkeeper: Julius C. Chandler
  • Firemen:
    • C. H. Beyler
    • John Crowley
  • Messengers:
    • Fred Sholes
    • Albert F. Dexter
    • William L. Abbott

Assembly employees

  • Chief Clerk: John S. Dean[3]
    • Assistant Clerk: Ephraim W. Young
      • Bookkeeper: Sylvester Foord, Jr.
    • Engrossing Clerk: Herbert A. Lewis
    • Enrolling Clerk: Daniel Brisbois
    • Transcribing Clerk: Henry F. Pelton
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: A. A. Huntingdon
    • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Jas. G. Alden
    • 2nd Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: J. W. Overbaugh
  • Postmaster: A. A. Bennett
    • Assistant Postmaster: N. F. Pierce
    • 2nd Assistant Postmaster: William P. Bowman
  • Doorkeeper: J. I. Ellis
    • Assistant Doorkeeper: Frederik Huchting
    • Assistant Doorkeeper: E. T. Kearney
  • Firemen:
    • Reese Evans
    • E. C. Cavenaugh
    • Barnet Wilson
  • Messengers:
    • E. C. Mason
    • Jno. N. Ford
    • E. D. Strong
    • Albert W. Carpenter
    • Fred. VanBergen
    • William Booth
    • Samuel Myers
    • Hugh Spencer
    • Rufus H. Roys
    • George D. Potter
    • Linus S. Webb

Changes from the 14th Legislature

New districts for the 15th Legislature were defined in 1861 Wisconsin Act 216, passed into law in the 14th Wisconsin Legislature.

Senate redistricting

Summary of changes

  • 17 senate districts were left unchanged.
  • The Dane County district boundaries were slightly redrawn (11, 26).
  • Dodge County went from having one senator to two (18, 33).
  • Jefferson County went from two senators to one (23).
  • Rock County went from two senators to one (17).
  • Sauk County became its own senate district (14), after previously having been in a shared district with Adams and Juneau counties.
  • Iowa County became its own senate district (15), after previously having been in a shared district with Richland county.
  • Waushara County was moved from the 27th district to the 9th.
  • The multi-county northeastern district was divided into two (2, 22).
  • The multi-county western region of the state went from two senators to four (28, 30, 31, 32).

Senate districts

after redistricting
before redistricting
Dist. 14th Legislature 15th Legislature
1 Sheboygan County Sheboygan County
2 Brown, Outagamie, Door, Kewaunee, Oconto, Shawano counties Brown, Kewaunee counties
3 Ozaukee County Ozaukee County
4 Washington County Washington County
5 Northern Milwaukee County Northern Milwaukee County
6 Southern Milwaukee County Southern Milwaukee County
7 Racine County Racine County
8 Kenosha County Kenosha County
9 Adams, Juneau, Sauk counties Adams, Juneau, Waushara counties
10 Waukesha County Waukesha County
11 Eastern Dane County Eastern Dane County
12 Walworth County Walworth County
13 Lafayette County Lafayette County
14 Northern Jefferson County Sauk County
15 Iowa, Richland counties Iowa County
16 Grant County Grant County
17 Western Rock County Rock County
18 Eastern Rock County Western Dodge County
19 Manitowoc, Calumet counties Manitowoc, Calumet counties
20 Fond du Lac County Fond du Lac County
21 Winnebago County Winnebago County
22 Dodge County Door, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawanaw counties
23 Southern Jefferson County Jefferson County
24 Green County Green County
25 Columbia County Columbia County
26 Western Dane County Western Dane County
27 Marathon, Portage, Waupaca, Waushara, Wood counties Marathon, Portage, Waupaca, Wood counties
28 Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, La Pointe, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix counties Ashland, Burnett, Dallas, Douglas, La Pointe, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix counties
29 Marquette County Marquette County
30 Bad Ax, Buffalo, Crawford, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Tremealeau counties Bad Ax, Crawford, Richland counties
31 Did not exist in 14th Legislature La Crosse, Monroe counties
32 Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Trempealeau counties
33 Eastern Dodge County

Assembly redistricting

Summary of changes

  • Adams and Juneau counties became separate assembly districts, after previously having been in a shared district.
  • Bad Ax County became 2 assembly districts, after previously having been in a shared district with Crawford County.
  • Dane County went from having 6 districts to 5.
  • Dodge County went from having 6 districts to 5.
  • Jefferson County went from having 5 districts to 4.
  • Kenosha County went from having 2 districts to 1.
  • Kewaunee County became its own assembly district, after previously having been in a shared district with Door, Oconto, and Shawano counties.
  • La Crosse and Monroe counties became separate assembly districts, after previously having been in a shared district.
  • Lafayette County went from having 3 districts to 2.
  • Manitowoc County went from having 2 districts to 3.
  • Marquette County went from having 2 districts to 1.
  • Ozaukee County went from having 2 districts to 1.
  • Portage County became its own assembly district, after previously having been in a shared district with Marathon and Wood counties.
  • Racine County went from having 4 districts to 3.
  • Rock County went from having 5 districts to 6.
  • Sheboygan County went from having 3 districts to 4.

Assembly districts

County Districts in 14th Legislature Districts in 15th Legislature
Adams Shared with Juneau 1 District
Ashland Shared with Burnett, Douglas, La Pointe, Polk, St. Croix Shared with Burnett, Dallas, Douglas, La Pointe, Polk
Bad Ax Shared with Crawford 2 Districts
Brown 1 District 1 District
Buffalo Shared with Jackson, Trempealeau Shared with Pepin, Trempealeau
Burnett Shared with Ashland, Douglas, La Pointe, Polk, St. Croix Shared with Ashland, Dallas, Douglas, La Pointe, Polk
Calumet 1 District 1 District
Chippewa Shared with Clark, Dunn, Pierce Shared with Dunn, Eau Claire
Clark Shared with Chippewa, Dunn, Pierce Shared with Jackson
Columbia 3 Districts 3 Districts
Crawford Shared with Bad Ax Shared with Bad Ax
Dallas Did not exist Shared with Ashland, Burnett, Douglas, La Pointe, Polk
Dane 6 Districts 5 Districts
Dodge 6 Districts 5 Districts
Door Shared with Kewaunee, Oconto, Shawano Shared with Oconto, Shawano
Douglas Shared with Ashland, Burnett, La Pointe, Polk, St. Croix Shared with Ashland, Burnett, Dallas, La Pointe, Polk
Dunn Shared with Chippewa, Clark, Pierce Shared with Chippewa, Eau Claire
Eau Claire Did not exist Shared with Chippewa, Dunn
Fond du Lac 5 Districts 5 Districts
Grant 5 Districts 5 Districts
Green 2 Districts 2 Districts
Green Lake 1 District 1 District
Iowa 2 Districts 2 Districts
Jackson Shared with Buffalo, Trempealeau Shared with Clark
Jefferson 5 Districts 4 Districts
Juneau Shared with Adams 1 District
Kenosha 2 Districts 1 District
Kewaunee Shared with Door, Oconto, Shawano 1 District
La Crosse Shared with Monroe 1 District
La Pointe Shared with Ashland, Burnett, Douglas, Polk, St. Croix Shared with Ashland, Burnett, Dallas, Douglas, Polk
Lafayette 3 Districts 2 Districts
Manitowoc 2 Districts 3 Districts
Marathon Shared with Portage, Wood Shared with Wood
Marquette 2 Districts 1 District
Milwaukee 9 Districts 9 Districts
Monroe Shared with La Crosse 1 District
Oconto Shared with Door, Kewaunee, Shawano Shared with Door, Shawano
Outagamie 1 District 1 District
Ozaukee 2 Districts 1 District
Pepin Shared with Chippewa, Clark, Dunn Shared with Buffalo, Trempealeau
Pierce Shared with Chippewa, Clark, Dunn Shared with St. Croix
Polk Shared with Ashland, Burnett, Douglas, La Pointe, St. Croix Shared with Ashland, Burnett, Dallas, Douglas, La Pointe
Portage Shared with Marathon, Wood 1 District
Racine 4 Districts 3 Districts
Richland 1 District 1 District
Rock 5 Districts 6 Districts
Sauk 2 Districts 2 Districts
Shawano Shared with Door, Kewaunee, Oconto Shared with Door, Oconto
Sheboygan 3 Districts 4 Districts
St. Croix Shared with Ashland, Burnett, Douglas, La Pointe, Polk Shared with Pierce
Trempealeau Shared with Buffalo, Jackson Shared with Buffalo, Pepin
Walworth 4 Districts 4 Districts
Washington 3 Districts 3 Districts
Waukesha 4 Districts 4 Districts
Waupaca 1 District 1 District
Waushara 1 District 1 District
Winnebago 3 Districts 3 Districts
Wood Shared with Marathon, Portage Shared with Marathon

Notes

  1. ↑ Charles Quentin (District 5) died in office. Norman S. Cate (District 30) resigned.
  2. ↑ Francis Huebschmann (District 5) was elected to replace Charles Quentin.
  3. ↑ Simeon D. Powers (Monroe County) was elected in the 1861 general election but died December 15, 1861.
  4. ↑ Robert Wilson replaced Alexander Campbell (Iowa 1st district) due to successful election challenge.
  5. ↑ Joseph M. Morrow replaced Simeon D. Powers (deceased; Monroe County).
  6. ↑ Samuel D. Hubbard (Sheboygan 3rd district) resigned.

References

  1. ↑ "Annals of the legislature". The Blue Book of the state of Wisconsin 1882 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 201–202. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Statistical list of the Senate of 1862". The legislative manual of the state of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. 1862. pp. 72–73. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Statistical list of the Assembly of 1862". The legislative manual of the state of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. 1862. pp. 83–86. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.