15th Wisconsin Legislature

Last updated
15th Wisconsin Legislature
14th 16th
Overview
Legislative body Wisconsin Legislature
Meeting place Wisconsin State Capitol
TermJanuary 6, 1862 January 5, 1863
ElectionNovember 5, 1861
Senate
Members33
Senate President
President pro tempore
Party control Republican
Assembly
Members100
Assembly Speaker Joseph W. Beardsley (UD)
Party control Republican
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.

Contents

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

Special session

Party summary

Senate summary

Senate Partisan composition
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Democratic: 11 seats
National Union: 2 seats
Republican: 20 seats WI Senate 1862.svg
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 8020300
1st Session11220330
after May 8, 1862 [note 1] 101312
after June 1, 1862 [note 2] 11321
Final voting share
Beginning of the next Legislature 14118330

Assembly summary

Assembly Partisan composition
Democratic: 45 seats
National Union: 11 seats
Republican: 44 seats WI Assembly 1862.svg
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 26071970
Start of 1st Session [note 3] 431145991
after January 10 [note 4] 4444
after January 16 [note 5] 451000
after August 11 [note 6] 10991
Final voting share
Beginning of the next Legislature 442541000

Sessions

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 WI Senate Partisan Map 1862.svg
Senate partisan representation
  Democratic: 11 seats
  Union: 2 seats
  Republican: 20 seats
DistrictCountiesSenatorPartyResidence
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 WI Assembly Partisan Map 1862.svg
Assembly partisan representation
  Democratic: 45 seats
  Union: 11 seats
  Republican: 44 seats
Senate
District
CountyDistrictRepresentativePartyResidence
09 Adams George H. HallRep. Dell Prairie
28 Ashland, Burnett, Dallas, Douglas, La Pointe , Polk George R. StuntzRep. 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. BarnesUnion Rep. Eau Claire
Clark & Jackson Carl C. Pope Rep. Black River Falls
25 Columbia 1 Jonathan Bowman Rep. Newport
2William DutcherUnion 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
4Nicholas M. MattsRep. Verona
5 Edmund Jüssen Rep. Madison
18 Dodge 1Quartus H. BarronRep. Fox Lake
2John F. McCollumDem. Trenton
3Harvey C. GriffinDem. Oak Grove
33 4Jacob G. MayerDem. LeRoy
5David D. HoppcockDem. Rubicon
22 Door, Oconto, Shawano Ezra B. StevensRep. Sturgeon Bay
20 Fond du Lac 1Charles F. HammondRep. Ripon
2 W. W. Hatcher Dem. Waupun
3Campbell McLeanRep. Fond du Lac
4 John Boyd Dem. Calumet
5Henry C. HamiltonDem. Waucousta
16 Grant 1 William Brandon Rep. Smeltzer's Grove
2Allen TaylorRep. Dickeyville
3 Joseph T. Mills Rep. Lancaster
4 William W. Field Rep. Fennimore
5Samuel NewickRep. Beetown
24 Green 1Calvin D. W. LeonardRep. Dayton
2 Harvey T. Moore Union Dem. Spring Grove
29 Green Lake Archibald Nichols Rep. Markesan
15 Iowa 1Alexander Campbell(until Jan. 10)Rep. Ridgeway
Robert Wilson(from Jan. 10)Dem.
2John H. VivianRep. Mineral Point
23 Jefferson 1Peter RoganDem. Watertown
2 Walter S. Greene Union Dem. Milford
3 William W. Reed Rep. Jefferson
4John B. CrosbyRep. Palmyra
09 Juneau D. R. W. WilliamsRep. Werner
08 Kenosha Reuben L. BassettUnion Dem. Wilmot
02 Kewaunee George W. ElliottDem. Ahnapee
31 La Crosse Thomas B. Stoddard Union Rep. La Crosse
13 Lafayette 1Charles B. JenningsDem. Benton
2James WadsworthDem. Darlington
19 Manitowoc 1Samuel RounsevilleInd. Rep. Meeme
2James CahillDem. Franklin
3Elijah K. RandDem. Manitowoc
27 Marathon & Wood Charles Hoeflinger Dem. Wausau
29 Marquette Horatio S. ThomasDem. Briggsville
05 Milwaukee 1 Henry L. Palmer Dem. Milwaukee
2 George Abert Dem. Milwaukee
06 3George K. GregoryDem. Milwaukee
4 Jacob V. V. Platto Dem. Milwaukee
5 John M. Stowell Dem. Milwaukee
05 6Adam FingerDem. Milwaukee
7Henry KirchhoffDem.Ten Mile House
06 8 Perley J. Shumway Dem. Wauwatosa
9L. SemmannDem. Oak Creek
31 Monroe --Vacant--(until Jan. 16)
Joseph M. Morrow(from Jan. 16)Ind. Dem. Sparta
22 Outagamie Milo ColesDem.Borina
03 Ozaukee John A. SchletzDem. 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
2Thomas ButlerDem. Mount Pleasant
3James CattonDem. Burlington
30 Richland Leroy D. GageDem. Richland
17 Rock 1Nathan B. HowardRep. Magnolia
2Ephraim PalmerRep. Edgerton
3Samuel MillerRep. Shopiere
4John BannisterUnion Rep. Beloit
5Allen C. BatesRep. Janesville
6Orrin GuernseyRep. Janesville
14 Sauk 1J. Stephens TrippDem. Sauk City
2 Argalus W. Starks Union Dem. Baraboo
01 Sheboygan 1Godfrey StammDem. Sheboygan
2 John E. Thomas Dem. Sheboygan Falls
3 Samuel D. Hubbard (until Aug. 11)Union Scott
--Vacant--(from Aug. 11)
4Benjamin DockstaderRep. 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 1Thomas BarryDem. Erin
2Michael MaloyDem. Richfield
3Robert SalterDem. Newburg
10 Waukesha 1 George W. Brown Dem. Brookfield Center
2Samuel ThompsonRep. Hartland
3Peter D. GiffordDem. North Prairie
4William A. VanderpoolDem. Vernon
27 Waupaca Chester D. CombsRep.North Royalton
09 Waushara William C. Webb Ind. Rep. Wautoma
21 Winnebago 1William E. HansonRep. Oshkosh
2Michael HoganDem. Menasha
3 David R. Bean Rep. Waukau

Employees

Senate employees

Assembly employees

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 WI Senate Districts 1862.png
after redistricting
before redistricting WI Senate Districts 1861.png
before redistricting
Dist.14th Legislature15th Legislature
1Sheboygan CountySheboygan County
2Brown, Outagamie, Door, Kewaunee, Oconto, Shawano countiesBrown, Kewaunee counties
3Ozaukee CountyOzaukee County
4Washington CountyWashington County
5Northern Milwaukee CountyNorthern Milwaukee County
6Southern Milwaukee CountySouthern Milwaukee County
7Racine CountyRacine County
8Kenosha CountyKenosha County
9Adams, Juneau, Sauk countiesAdams, Juneau, Waushara counties
10Waukesha CountyWaukesha County
11Eastern Dane CountyEastern Dane County
12Walworth CountyWalworth County
13Lafayette CountyLafayette County
14Northern Jefferson CountySauk County
15Iowa, Richland countiesIowa County
16Grant CountyGrant County
17Western Rock CountyRock County
18Eastern Rock CountyWestern Dodge County
19Manitowoc, Calumet countiesManitowoc, Calumet counties
20Fond du Lac CountyFond du Lac County
21Winnebago CountyWinnebago County
22Dodge CountyDoor, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawanaw counties
23Southern Jefferson CountyJefferson County
24Green CountyGreen County
25Columbia CountyColumbia County
26Western Dane CountyWestern Dane County
27Marathon, Portage, Waupaca, Waushara, Wood countiesMarathon, Portage, Waupaca, Wood counties
28Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, La Pointe, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix countiesAshland, Burnett, Dallas, Douglas, La Pointe, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix counties
29Marquette CountyMarquette County
30Bad Ax, Buffalo, Crawford, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Tremealeau countiesBad Ax, Crawford, Richland counties
31Did not exist in 14th LegislatureLa Crosse, Monroe counties
32Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Trempealeau counties
33Eastern 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

CountyDistricts in 14th LegislatureDistricts in 15th Legislature
AdamsShared with Juneau1 District
AshlandShared with Burnett, Douglas, La Pointe, Polk, St. CroixShared with Burnett, Dallas, Douglas, La Pointe, Polk
Bad AxShared with Crawford2 Districts
Brown1 District1 District
BuffaloShared with Jackson, TrempealeauShared with Pepin, Trempealeau
BurnettShared with Ashland, Douglas, La Pointe, Polk, St. CroixShared with Ashland, Dallas, Douglas, La Pointe, Polk
Calumet1 District1 District
ChippewaShared with Clark, Dunn, PierceShared with Dunn, Eau Claire
ClarkShared with Chippewa, Dunn, PierceShared with Jackson
Columbia3 Districts3 Districts
CrawfordShared with Bad AxShared with Bad Ax
DallasDid not existShared with Ashland, Burnett, Douglas, La Pointe, Polk
Dane6 Districts5 Districts
Dodge6 Districts5 Districts
DoorShared with Kewaunee, Oconto, ShawanoShared with Oconto, Shawano
DouglasShared with Ashland, Burnett, La Pointe, Polk, St. CroixShared with Ashland, Burnett, Dallas, La Pointe, Polk
DunnShared with Chippewa, Clark, PierceShared with Chippewa, Eau Claire
Eau ClaireDid not existShared with Chippewa, Dunn
Fond du Lac5 Districts5 Districts
Grant5 Districts5 Districts
Green2 Districts2 Districts
Green Lake1 District1 District
Iowa2 Districts2 Districts
JacksonShared with Buffalo, TrempealeauShared with Clark
Jefferson5 Districts4 Districts
JuneauShared with Adams1 District
Kenosha2 Districts1 District
KewauneeShared with Door, Oconto, Shawano1 District
La CrosseShared with Monroe1 District
La PointeShared with Ashland, Burnett, Douglas, Polk, St. CroixShared with Ashland, Burnett, Dallas, Douglas, Polk
Lafayette3 Districts2 Districts
Manitowoc2 Districts3 Districts
MarathonShared with Portage, WoodShared with Wood
Marquette2 Districts1 District
Milwaukee9 Districts9 Districts
MonroeShared with La Crosse1 District
OcontoShared with Door, Kewaunee, ShawanoShared with Door, Shawano
Outagamie1 District1 District
Ozaukee2 Districts1 District
PepinShared with Chippewa, Clark, DunnShared with Buffalo, Trempealeau
PierceShared with Chippewa, Clark, DunnShared with St. Croix
PolkShared with Ashland, Burnett, Douglas, La Pointe, St. CroixShared with Ashland, Burnett, Dallas, Douglas, La Pointe
PortageShared with Marathon, Wood1 District
Racine4 Districts3 Districts
Richland1 District1 District
Rock5 Districts6 Districts
Sauk2 Districts2 Districts
ShawanoShared with Door, Kewaunee, OcontoShared with Door, Oconto
Sheboygan3 Districts4 Districts
St. CroixShared with Ashland, Burnett, Douglas, La Pointe, PolkShared with Pierce
TrempealeauShared with Buffalo, JacksonShared with Buffalo, Pepin
Walworth4 Districts4 Districts
Washington3 Districts3 Districts
Waukesha4 Districts4 Districts
Waupaca1 District1 District
Waushara1 District1 District
Winnebago3 Districts3 Districts
WoodShared with Marathon, PortageShared 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.

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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.