9th Wisconsin Legislature

Wisconsin legislative term for 1856

9th Wisconsin Legislature

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Wisconsin State Capitol, 1855

Overview
Legislative body| Wisconsin Legislature
Meeting place| Wisconsin State Capitol
Term| January 7, 1856 – January 5, 1857
Election| November 6, 1855
Senate
Members| 25
Senate President| Arthur MacArthur Sr. (D)
President pro tempore| Louis P. Harvey (R)
Party control| Republican
Assembly
Members| 82
Assembly Speaker| William Hull (D)
Party control| Democratic
Sessions
| 1st| January 9, 1856 – March 31, 1856

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2nd| September 3, 1856 – October 14, 1856

The Ninth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 9, 1856, to March 31, 1856, in regular session, and re-convened from September 3, 1856, to October 14, 1856.

This was a pivotal legislative session in the fall of the Democratic Party in Wisconsin and the rise of the new Republican Party--the Republicans would dominate the state government for most of the next 100 years. The start of the session saw the dispute over the 1855 Wisconsin gubernatorial election, in which the Democratic incumbent governor, William A. Barstow, was forced to resign from office three months into this term after the Wisconsin Supreme Court threw out a number of apparently fraudulent votes.

Before he left office however, Barstow was involved in an extensive railroad bribery scandal, which ultimately also implicated his Republican challenger, Coles Bashford, and a huge portion of the members of the 9th Wisconsin Legislature. The scheme saw railroad promoters, led by Milwaukee mayor Byron Kilbourn, bribing legislators and other state officials with railroad company bonds and stock in exchange for securing land grants for the La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad route. An 1858 investigation found $900,000 worth of bribes had been paid (nearly $33,000,000 adjusted for inflation), averaging $10,000 per official. Although legislators from both parties received the corrupt bonds, Democrats ultimately took the bulk of the blame.[1][2]

Senators representing even-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first year of a two-year term. Assemblymembers were elected to a one-year term. Assemblymembers and even-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 6, 1855. 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 7, 1854.[3]

## Major events

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* January 7, 1856: Resulting from a dispute over the 1855 gubernatorial election, both Coles Bashford and William A. Barstow were sworn in as Governor of Wisconsin in separate ceremonies.
* January 15, 1856: Assemblymember William Brunquest, representing Oconto, Outagamie, and Waupaca counties, resigned his seat after it was demonstrated that he had actually lost his election to Louis Bostedo.
* March 21, 1856: Barstow officially withdrew his claim to the Governorship, leaving Lieutenant Governor Arthur MacArthur Sr. as governor.
* March 24, 1856: The Wisconsin Supreme Court issued its decision in the case Atty. Gen. ex rel. Bashford v. Barstow, ruling that Bashford had won the 1855 gubernatorial election.
* March 25, 1856: Bashford was sworn in as the 5th Governor of Wisconsin. MacArthur returned to his previous office as Lieutenant Governor.
* November 4, 1856: James Buchanan was elected 15th president of the United States.

## Major legislation

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* March 20, 1856: Act to annex a part of the county of Dodge to the county of Jefferson, 1856 Act 27
* March 22, 1856: Joint Resolution in relation to Islands in the Mississippi river, 1856 Joint Resolution 2
* March 28, 1856: Act to define the boundaries of the county of Winnebago, 1856 Act 45
* March 29, 1856: Act to divide the county of Portage and erect the county of Wood, 1856 Act 54
* March 31, 1856: Joint Resolution of the Senate and Assembly of the State of Wisconsin to the United States, in relation to the removal of the Stockbridge Indians, 1856 Joint Resolution 4
* March 31, 1856: Act to set apart and incorporate the county of Burnette, 1856 Act 94
* September 16, 1856: Joint Resolution in relation to the Stockbridge and Munsee Indians, 1856 Joint Resolution 5
* September 30, 1856: Act to apportion and district anew the Members of the Senate and Assembly of the State of Wisconsin, 1856 Act 109. Expanded the Wisconsin Senate to 30 members, and the Assembly to 97.
* October 6, 1856: Act to organize the county of Eau Claire, 1856 Act 114
* October 14, 1856: Act to regulate the boundaries of La Crosse, Jackson and Monroe Counties, 1856 Act 145

## Party summary

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### Senate summary

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Senate partisan composition

Democratic: 12 seats

Republican: 13 seats

| Party

(Shading indicates majority caucus)

| Total  |

|
|
|

|  |  |
Democratic | Ind. | Republican | Vacant
End of previous Legislature | 13  | 1  | 11  | 25  | 0
1st Session  | 12  | 0  | 13  | 25  | 0
Final voting share  | 48%  | 0%  | 52%  |
Beginning of the next Legislature | 11  | 0  | 19  | 30  | 0

### Assembly summary

[edit]

Assembly partisan composition

Democratic: 47 seats

Independent: 1 seat

Republican: 34 seats

| Party

(Shading indicates majority caucus)

| Total  |

|
|
|

|  |  |
Democratic | Ind. | Republican | Vacant
End of previous Legislature | 34  | 4  | 44  | 82  | 0
start of 1st Session  | 45  | 1  | 36  | 82  | 0
January 15  | 46  | 1  | 35  | 82  | 0
Final voting share  | 56.1%  | 1.22%  | 42.68%  |
Beginning of the next Legislature | 34  | 0  | 63  | 97  | 0

## Sessions

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* 1st Regular session: January 9, 1856 - March 31, 1856
* 2nd Regular session: September 3, 1856 - October 14, 1856

## Leaders

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### Senate leadership

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* President of the Senate: Arthur MacArthur Sr., Lieutenant Governor
* President pro tempore: Louis P. Harvey

### Assembly leadership

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* Speaker of the Assembly: William Hull

## Members

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### Members of the Senate

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Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Ninth Wisconsin Legislature:

Senate partisan representation

Democratic: 12 seats

Republican: 13 seats

District  | Counties  | Senator  | Party  | Residence

|
|
|
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01 | Calumet, Manitowoc, Sheboygan | David Taylor | Rep.  | Sheboygan
02 | Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Marathon, Oconto, Outagamie, Portage, Waupaca | Perry H. Smith | Dem.  | Appleton
03 | Ozaukee | Bolivar G. Gill | Dem.  | Grafton
04 | Washington | Baruch S. Weil | Dem.  | Schleisingerville
05 | Milwaukee (Northern Half) | Jackson Hadley | Dem.  | Milwaukee
06 | Milwaukee (Southern Half) | Edward O'Neill | Dem.  | Milwaukee
07 | Racine | Charles Clement | Rep.  | Racine
08 | Kenosha | C. Latham Sholes | Rep.  | Kenosha
09 | Waukesha (Northern Half) | Denison Worthington | Rep.  | Summit
10 | Waukesha (Southern Half) | Edward Gernon | Dem.  | Genesee
11 | Dane | Hiram H. Giles | Rep.  | Stoughton
12 | Walworth | Jesse C. Mills | Rep.  | Elkhorn
13 | Lafayette | Charles Dunn | Dem.  | Cottage Inn
14 | Jefferson | S. W. Barnes | Dem.  | Waterloo
15 | Iowa & Richland | Amasa Cobb | Rep.  | Mineral Point
16 | Grant | J. Allen Barber | Rep.  | Lancaster
17 | Rock (Western Part) | James Sutherland | Rep.  | Janesville
18 | Rock (Eastern Part) | Louis P. Harvey | Rep.  | Shopiere
19 | Bad Ax, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Jackson, La Crosse, La Pointe, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix | William J. Gibson | Dem.  | Black River Falls
20 | Fond du Lac | Edward Pier | Rep.  | Fond du Lac
21 | Winnebago | John Fitzgerald | Dem.  | Oshkosh
22 | Dodge | S. L. Rose | Dem.  | Beaver Dam
23 | Adams, Marquette, Sauk, Waushara | Edwin B. Kelsey | Dem.  | Montello
24 | Green | George E. Dexter | Rep.  | Monroe
25 | Columbia | John Q. Adams | Rep.  | Fall River

### Members of the Assembly

[edit]

Members of the Assembly for the Ninth Wisconsin Legislature:

Assembly partisan representation

Democratic: 47 seats

Independent: 1 seat

Republican: 34 seats

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

|
|
|
|
|

23 | Adams, Sauk | David K. Noyes | Rep.  | Baraboo
19 | Bad Ax, Crawford | Andrew Briggs | Dem.  | Bad Ax
02 | Brown, Door, & Kewaunee | John Day | Dem.  | Green Bay
19 | Buffalo, Chippewa, & La Crosse | Dugald D. Cameron | Rep.  | La Crosse
01 | Calumet | James Cramond | Dem.  | Manchester
25 | Columbia | 1  | Moses M. Davis | Rep.  | Portage
2  | Oliver C. Howe | Rep.  | Lowville
11 | Dane | 1  | Charles R. Head | Rep.  | Albion
2  | Augustus A. Huntington | Dem.  | York
3  | William M. Colladay | Rep.  | Dunn
4  | George P. Thompson | Dem.  | Cross Plains
5  | Augustus A. Bird | Dem.  | Madison
22 | Dodge | 1  | Benjamin F. Barney | Dem.  | Williamstown
2  | Daniel Fletcher | Dem.  | Hustisford
3  | Lawrence Connor | Dem.  | Emmet
4  | Fred H. Ehinger | Dem.  | Clyman
5  | Charles Burchard | Rep.  | Beaver Dam
6  | Henry Butterfield | Rep.  | Waupun
20 | Fond du Lac | 1  | George W. Parker | Rep.  | Metomen
2  | Peter Johnson | Dem.  | Ashford
3  | Isaac Brown | Dem.  | Fond du Lac
4  | Joseph Wagner | Dem.  | Marshfield
16 | Grant | 1  | Allen Taylor | Rep.  | Hazel Green
2  | William Hull | Dem.  | Potosi
3  | James T. Brown | Rep.  | Clifton
4  | Joseph T. Mills | Rep.  | Lancaster
5  | Horace Catlin | Dem.  | Cassville
24 | Green | Martin Flood | Rep.  | Brooklyn
15 | Iowa | 1  | Ephraim Knowlton | Dem.  | Highland
2  | Richard M. Smith | Dem.  | Mineral Point
14 | Jefferson | 1  | William Chappell | Dem.  | Watertown
2  | Henry C. Drake | Rep.  | Milford
3  | David L. Morrison | Dem.  | Koskonong
4  | William W. Woodman | Dem.  | Farmington
5  | Darius Reed | Rep.  | Sullivan
08 | Kenosha | 1  | Henry Johnson | Rep.  | Kenosha
2  | Franklin Newell | Rep.  | Paris
13 | Lafayette | 1  | Matthew Murphy | Dem.  | Benton
2  | Hamilton H. Gray | Dem.  | Shullsburg
3  | James H. Knowlton | Rep.  | Darlington
19 | La Pointe, Pierce, Polk, & St. Croix | Almon D. Gray | Dem.  | Hudson
01 | Manitowoc | Charles H. Walker | Dem.  | Manitowoc
02 | Marathon, Portage | Joseph Wood | Rep.  | Grand Rapids
23 | Marquette, Waushara | 1  | William F. Chipman | Rep.  | Warren
2  | Horatio S. Thomas | Dem.  | Moundville
05 | Milwaukee | 1  | Joshua Starks | Dem.  | Milwaukee
2  | Augustus Greulich | Dem.  | Milwaukee
06 | 3  | William A. Hawkins | Rep.  | Milwaukee
4  | George Hahn | Dem.  | Milwaukee
5  | John Mitchell | Dem.  | Milwaukee
6  | Andrew McCormick | Dem.  | Milwaukee
7  | Peter Lavies | Dem.  | Greenfield
05 | 8  | Henry Crawford | Dem.  | Wauwatosa
9  | John Tobin | Dem.  | Granville
02 | Oconto, Outagamie, Waupaca | William Brunquest (until Jan. 15) | Rep.  | Waupaca
Louis Bostedo (from Jan. 15) | Dem.  | Weyauwega
03 | Ozaukee | 1  | Charles Beger | Dem.  | Port Washington
2  | William Vogenitz | Dem.  | Cedarburg
07 | Racine | 1  | Thomas Falvey | Dem.  | Racine
2  | Eliphalet Cram | Dem.  | Racine
3  | John T. Palmer | Dem.  | Norway
4  | Patrick G. Cheves | Rep.  | Waterford
15 | Richland | Robert Aken | Ind.  | Richland
18 | Rock | 1  | Horatio J. Murray | Rep.  | Turtle
2  | John Child | Rep.  | Lima
17 | 3  | Levi Alden | Rep.  | Janesville
4  | John M. Evans | Rep.  | Union
01 | Sheboygan | 1  | William Whippermann | Dem.  | Mosel
2  | Reed C. Brazelton | Rep.  | Scott
12 | Walworth | 1  | James Lauderdale | Rep.  | La Grange
2  | Robert T. Seymour | Rep.  | Lafayette
3  | John F. Potter | Rep.  | East Troy
4  | Asa W. Farr | Dem.  | Geneva
5  | Salmon Thomas | Rep.  | Darien
6  | William D. Chapin | Rep.  | Bloomfield
04 | Washington | 1  | Thomas Hayes | Dem.  | Richfield
2  | John Sell | Dem.  | Addison
09 | Waukesha | 1  | Jeremiah Noon | Rep.  | Merton
2  | James Weaver | Dem.  | Lisbon
10 | 3  | John James | Dem.  | Eagle
4  | Charles S. Hawley | Rep.  | Waukesha
21 | Winnebago | 1  | Lucius B. Townsend | Rep.  | Nepeuskun
2  | John Anunson | Dem.  | Winchester

## Employees

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### Senate employees

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* Chief Clerk: Byron Paine
* Sergeant-at-Arms: Joseph Baker

### Assembly employees

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* Chief Clerk: James Armstrong
* Sergeant-at-Arms: Egbert Moseley

## References

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1. ^ "The Corruptionists
Who are They!". Wisconsin State Journal. October 30, 1858. p. 2. Retrieved February 17, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
2. ^ "Report of the Land Grant Investigation-Startling Disclosures-nearly the whole Legislature of 1856 bought up". Vernon County Cencsor. May 26, 1858. p. 2. Retrieved February 19, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
3. ^ "Annals of the legislature". The Blue Book of the state of Wisconsin 1881 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 191–192.

## External links

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