21st Wisconsin Legislature

Wisconsin legislative term for 1868

21st Wisconsin Legislature

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Wisconsin State Capitol, 1863

Overview
Legislative body| Wisconsin Legislature
Meeting place| Wisconsin State Capitol
Term| January 6, 1868 – January 4, 1869
Election| November 5, 1867
Senate
Members| 33
Senate President| Wyman Spooner (R)
President pro tempore| Newton Littlejohn (R)
Party control| Republican
Assembly
Members| 100
Assembly Speaker| Alexander M. Thomson (R)
Party control| Republican
Sessions
| 1st| January 8, 1868 – March 6, 1868

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The Twenty-First Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 8, 1868, to March 6, 1868, in regular session.

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 even-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 5, 1867. 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, 1866.[1]

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Lucius Fairchild, of Dane County, serving the first year of his second two-year term, having won re-election in the 1867 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

## Major events

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* February 24, 1868: The United States House of Representatives voted to impeach U.S. President Andrew Johnson for violating the Tenure of Office Act.
* April 29, 1868: General William Tecumseh Sherman brokered the Treaty of Fort Laramie between the United States and the Plains Indians.
* May 26, 1868: In the United States Senate, the impeachment trial of U.S. President Andrew Johnson ended with a verdict of "not guilty".
* July 9, 1868: Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified by the required three-fourths of U.S. states.
* July 27, 1868: The U.S. Expatriation Act of 1868 was enacted.
* August 11, 1868: U.S. Representative Thaddeus Stevens, a leader of the Radical Republican faction, died at Washington, D.C.
* October 10, 1868: An uprising in Cuba initiated Ten Years' War for Cuban independence from the Spanish Empire.
* October 28, 1868: Thomas Edison applied for his first patent, the electric vote recorder.
* November 3, 1868: Ulysses S. Grant elected 18th President of the United States.
* December 25, 1868: U.S. President Andrew Johnson granted an unconditional pardon to all American Civil War rebels.

## Major legislation

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* January 22, 1868: Joint Resolution declaring it to be the duty of the general government to protect American citizens in the enjoyment of all their rights as such while sojourning in foreign countries, 1868 Joint Resolution 1, endorsing the proposed federal Expatriation Act of 1868.
* February 6, 1868: An Act to punish frauds upon insurance companies, 1868 Act 14.
* February 19, 1868: An Act to abolish the office of bank comptroller, and transfer his duties to the state treasurer, 1868 Act 28.
* February 22, 1868: Joint Resolution defining the duty of the nation towards its native and adopted citizens, 1868 Joint Resolution 8, also relating to the proposed federal Expatriation Act of 1868.
* February 29, 1868: An Act to legalize dissections, 1868 Act 53.
* March 4, 1868: An Act to provide for the completion of the state capitol, 1868 Act 93.
* March 5, 1868: An Act to accept a grant of lands made to the state of Wisconsin by act of congress, to aid in the construction of the Sturgeon Bay and Lake Michigan ship canal and harbor, in the county of Door, to connect the waters of Green Bay with Lake Michigan, and to provide for the construction of the same, 1868 Act 105.
* March 6, 1868: Joint Resolution instructing senators and representatives in congress to preserve the equilibrium between the coordinate branches of government, 1868 Joint Resolution 23.
* March 6, 1868: An Act to authorize the state treasurer to close up the circulation of certain banks, and for other purposes, 1868 Act 144.
* March 6, 1868: An Act to transfer the war fund to the general fund and discontinue the war fund, 1868 Act 148.
* March 6, 1868: An Act to provide for establishing town libraries in this state, 1868 Act 174.

## Party summary

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### Senate summary

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Senate partisan composition

Democratic: 15 seats

Republican: 18 seats

| Party

(Shading indicates majority caucus)

| Total  |

|
|
|

|  |  |
Democratic | Union | Republican | Vacant
End of previous Legislature | 11  | 20  | 0  | 31  | 2
1st Session  | 15  | 0  | 18  | 33  | 0
Final voting share  | 45.45%  |  | 54.55%  |
Beginning of the next Legislature | 14  | 0  | 19  | 33  | 0

### Assembly summary

[edit]

Assembly partisan composition

Democratic: 41 seats

Republican: 59 seats

| Party

(Shading indicates majority caucus)

| Total  |

|
|
|

|  |  |
Democratic | Union | Republican | Vacant
End of previous Legislature | 26  | 74  | 0  | 100  | 0
Start of 1st Session  | 41  | 0  | 59  | 100  | 0
Final voting share  | 41%  |  | 59%  |
Beginning of the next Legislature | 32  | 0  | 68  | 100  | 0

## Sessions

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* 1st Regular session: January 8, 1868 – March 6, 1868

## Leaders

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### Senate leadership

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* President of the Senate: Wyman Spooner (R)
* President pro tempore: Newton Littlejohn (R)

### Assembly leadership

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* Speaker of the Assembly: Alexander M. Thomson (R)

## Members

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### Members of the Senate

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Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Twenty-First Wisconsin Legislature:[2]

Senate partisan representation

Democratic: 15 seats

Republican: 18 seats

Dist.  | Counties  | Senator  | Residence  | Party

|
|
|
|

01 | Sheboygan | Robert H. Hotchkiss | Plymouth | Dem.
02 | Brown, Door, Kewaunee | William J. Abrams | Green Bay | Dem.
03 | Ozaukee | Lyman Morgan | Ozaukee | Dem.
04 | Washington | Adam Schantz | Addison | Dem.
05 | Milwaukee (Northern Half)  | Henry L. Palmer | Milwaukee | Dem.
06 | Milwaukee (Southern Half)  | Charles H. Larkin | Milwaukee | Dem.
07 | Racine | Henry Stevens | Caledonia | Rep.
08 | Kenosha | Anthony Van Wyck | Kenosha | Rep.
09 | Adams, Juneau, Monroe | DeWitt C. Wilson | Sparta | Rep.
10 | Waukesha | Curtis Mann | Oconomowoc | Dem.
11 | Dane (Eastern Part)  | Clement Warner | Windsor | Rep.
12 | Walworth | Newton Littlejohn | Whitewater | Rep.
13 | Lafayette | James H. Earnest | Shullsburg | Dem.
14 | Sauk | Stephen S. Barlow | Delton | Rep.
15 | Iowa | Joel Whitman | Dodgeville | Rep.
16 | Grant | George C. Hazelton | Boscobel | Rep.
17 | Rock | Samuel J. Todd | Beloit | Rep.
18 | Dodge (Western Part)  | Henry W. Lander | Beaver Dam | Dem.
19 | Manitowoc | George B. Reed | Manitowoc | Dem.
20 | Fond du Lac | Edward S. Bragg | Fond du Lac | Dem.
21 | Winnebago | William G. Ritch | Oshkosh | Rep.
22 | Calumet, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano | William Young | Medina | Dem.
23 | Jefferson | Gerrit T. Thorn | Jefferson | Dem.
24 | Green | Henry Adams | Monticello | Rep.
25 | Columbia | Robert B. Sanderson | Poynette | Rep.
26 | Dane (Western Part)  | Carl Habich | Madison | Dem.
27 | Marathon, Portage, Waupaca, Wood | Edward L. Browne | Waupaca | Rep.
28 | Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Dallas, Douglas, Pierce, St. Croix | William J. Copp | Prescott | Rep.
29 | Green Lake, Marquette, Waushara | Henry G. Webb | Wautoma | Rep.
30 | Crawford, Richland | William Ketcham | Richland Center | Rep.
31 | La Crosse, Vernon | Justin W. Ranney | West Salem | Rep.
32 | Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Trempealeau | Alfred W. Newman | Trempealeau | Rep.
33 | Dodge (Eastern Part)  | Satterlee Clark | Horicon | Dem.

### Members of the Assembly

[edit]

Members of the Assembly for the Twenty-First Wisconsin Legislature:[2]

Assembly partisan representation

Democratic: 41 seats

Republican: 59 seats

Senate
District  | County  | District  | Representative  | Party  | Residence

|
|
|
|
|

09 | Adams | William J. Kershaw | Rep.  | Big Spring
28 | Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Dallas, Douglas, Polk | Henry D. Barron | Rep.  | St. Croix Falls
02 | Brown | 1  | John B. Eugene | Rep.  | Green Bay
2  | David Cooper Ayres | Rep.  | Fort Howard
32 | Buffalo | Conrad Moser Jr. | Rep.  | Alma
22 | Calumet | Casper H. M. Petersen | Dem.  | New Holstein
32 | Chippewa & Dunn | Samuel W. Hunt | Rep.  | Menomonie
Clark & Jackson | James O'Neill | Rep.  | Neillsville
25 | Columbia | 1  | Alanson Holly | Rep.  | Kilbourn City
2  | Ira Ford | Rep.  | Columbus
3  | David C. Davies | Rep.  | Portage
30 | Crawford | James Fisher | Dem.  | Eastman
11 | Dane | 1  | Nelson Williams | Rep.  | Stoughton
2  | Knute Nelson | Rep.  | Cambridge
26 | 3  | Frank Gault | Dem.  | Mendota
4  | Gunnuf Tollefson | Rep.  | Mount Vernon
5  | Levi B. Vilas | Dem.  | Madison
18 | Dodge | 1  | Lawrence Connor | Dem.  | Fox Lake
2  | Lewis M. Benson | Dem.  | Lowell
33 | 3  | Charles E. Goodwin | Dem.  | Mayville
4  | George W. Colomy | Dem.  | Alderley
02 | Door & Kewaunee | Moses Kilgore | Dem.  | Baileys Harbor
32 | Eau Claire & Pepin | Horace W. Barnes | Rep.  | Eau Claire
20 | Fond du Lac | 1  | Henry C. Bottum | Rep.  | West Rosendale
2  | Rollin C. Kelley | Rep.  | Brandon
3  | David B. Conger | Rep.  | Fond du Lac
4  | Seth A. Chase | Rep.  | Fond du Lac
5  | Nicholas Klotz | Dem.  | Eden
6  | Joseph Wagner | Dem.  | Moria
16 | Grant | 1  | Hanmer Robbins | Rep.  | Platteville
2  | James H. Neaville | Dem.  | Potosi
3  | Jeremiah Dodge | Rep.  | Lancaster
4  | Matthew Birchard | Rep.  | Fennimore
5  | Nathaniel W. Kendall | Rep.  | Wyalusing
24 | Green | 1  | Albert H. Pierce | Rep.  | Monticello
2  | Jacob Mason | Rep.  | Monroe
29 | Green Lake | Ira Manley Jr. | Rep.  | Markesan
15 | Iowa | 1  | Goodwin Lowry | Dem.  | Helena
2  | Jefferson Rewey | Rep.  | Mifflin
23 | Jefferson | 1  | Henry S. Howell | Dem.  | Watertown
2  | Charles P. Goodrich | Rep.  | Christiana
3  | Jonas Folts | Dem.  | Bark River
4  | Franz G. L. Struve | Rep.  | Helenville
09 | Juneau | John O'Rourke | Dem.  | Kildare
08 | Kenosha | Jacob B. Shibley | Rep.  | Bassett
31 | La Crosse | 1  | Theodore Rodolf | Dem.  | La Crosse
2  | Nathan P. Waller | Rep.  | West Salem
13 | Lafayette | 1  | Charles Pole | Dem.  | Shullsburg
2  | Samuel Cole | Rep.  | Gratiot
19 | Manitowoc | 1  | John H. Bohne | Dem.  | Meeme
2  | Richard Donovan | Dem.  | Manitowoc
3  | David Smoke | Dem.  | Manitowoc
27 | Marathon & Wood | Willis C. Silverthorn | Dem.  | Wausau
29 | Marquette | Francis Russell | Dem.  | Westfield
05 | Milwaukee | 1  | Patrick Drew | Dem.  | Milwaukee
2  | George Abert | Dem.  | Milwaukee
06 | 3  | James McGrath | Dem.  | Milwaukee
4  | James M. Reynolds | Dem.  | Milwaukee
5  | John Fellenz | Dem.  | Milwaukee
05 | 6  | Daniel H. Richards | Dem.  | Milwaukee
7  | William A. Prentiss | Rep.  | Milwaukee
8  | Henry C. Runkel | Dem.  | Milwaukee
06 | 9  | Patrick Walsh | Dem.  | Hales Corners
10  | John Sullivan | Dem.  | Ten Mile House
09 | Monroe | Charles A. Hunt | Rep.  | Melvina
22 | Oconto & Shawano | Isaac Stephenson | Rep.  | Marinette
22 | Outagamie | Thomas R. Hudd | Dem.  | Appleton
03 | Ozaukee | Frederick W. Horn | Dem.  | Cedarburg
28 | Pierce | Eleazor Holt | Rep.  | Maiden Rock
27 | Portage | Benjamin Burr | Dem.  | Stevens Point
07 | Racine | 1  | Charles E. Dyer | Rep.  | Racine
2  | Hiram L. Gilmore | Rep.  | North Cape
30 | Richland | Warren C. S. Barron | Rep.  | Loyd
17 | Rock | 1  | Burr Sprague | Rep.  | Orfordville
2  | William C. Whitford | Rep.  | Milton
3  | Almerin M. Carter | Rep.  | Johnstown
4  | Charles H. Parker | Rep.  | Beloit
5  | Alexander M. Thomson | Rep.  | Janesville
14 | Sauk | 1  | James I. Waterbury | Rep.  | Prairie du Sac
2  | John Gillespie | Rep.  | Dellona
01 | Sheboygan | 1  | Joseph Wedig | Dem.  | Sheboygan
2  | John A. Smith | Dem.  | Glenbeulah
3  | George S. Graves | Rep.  | Sheboygan Falls
28 | St. Croix | Marcus Fulton | Rep.  | Hudson
32 | Trempealeau | John Nicholls | Rep.  | Trempealeau
31 | Vernon | 1  | Henry Chase | Rep.  | Chaseburg
2  | Daniel B. Priest | Rep.  | Viroqua
12 | Walworth | 1  | Joseph F. Lyon | Rep.  | Darien
2  | John A. Smith | Rep.  | Geneva
3  | George A. Ray | Rep.  | La Grange
04 | Washington | 1  | George H. Kleffler | Dem.  | West Bend
2  | Densmore W. Maxon | Dem.  | Cedar Creek
10 | Waukesha | 1  | Silas Barber | Dem.  | Waukesha
2  | William Thompson | Rep.  | Oconomowoc
3  | Adam Muehl | Dem.  | St. Martin
27 | Waupaca | Jarvis W. Carter | Rep.  | New London
29 | Waushara | Edgar Sears | Rep.  | Pine River
21 | Winnebago | 1  | Luther Buxton | Rep.  | Oshkosh
2  | George W. Trask | Rep.  | Winneconne
3  | Milo C. Bushnell | Rep.  | Omro

## Employees

[edit]

### Senate employees

[edit]

* Chief Clerk: L. B. Hills[2]
* Assistant Clerk: John S. Wilson
* Bookkeeper: A. W. Wilson
* Engrossing Clerk: W. L. Abbott
* Engrossing Clerk: Joseph Copp
* Transcribing Clerk: David Schreiner
* Sergeant-at-Arms: W. H. Hamilton
* Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: S. M. Bond
* Sergeant-at-Arms' Porter: Thomas Goss
* Postmaster: Frank Leland
* Assistant Postmaster: J. S. Cavert
* Doorkeeper: Franklin Kelly
* Assistant Doorkeeper: W. G. McEwen
* Assistant Doorkeeper: Walter Cook
* Assistant Doorkeeper: Henry Taylor
* Assistant Doorkeeper: Thornton Thompson
* Fireman: Francis Downs
* Messengers:
* Robert B. McCord
* William Keyes
* Charlton Turner

### Assembly employees

[edit]

* Chief Clerk: Ephraim W. Young[2]
* Assistant Clerk: William M. Newcomb
* Bookkeeper: O. A. Southmayd
* Engrossing Clerk: Fred Dennett
* Enrolling Clerk: William A. Prentiss Jr.
* Transcribing Clerk: William H. Holt
* Sergeant-at-Arms: Charles L. Harris
* Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Alex Stevens
* Postmaster: Luther Poland
* Assistant Postmaster: D. B. Crandall
* Doorkeepers:
* Henry Collins
* Frank Fletcher
* Thomas Healy
* Firemen:
* Nahum Bangs
* John Flood
* Porter: Edwin Glenn
* Speaker's Messenger: Frank Thompson
* Chief Clerk's Messenger: John J. Norton
* Messengers:
* Thomas A. Robbins
* T. W. Sutliff
* William H. Denison
* Charlie J. Johnson
* James Burke
* C. E. Conger

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Heg, J. E., ed. (1882). "Annals of the Legislature" (PDF). The Blue Book of the state of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 217–219. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
2. ^ a b c d "Legislative Department" (PDF). The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. 1868. pp. 167–168, 171–174. Retrieved November 4, 2021.

## External links

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