15th Wisconsin Legislature
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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 Redistricting in the United States is the process of drawing electoral district boundaries. For the United States House of Representatives, and state legislatures, redistricting occurs after each ten-year census. The U.S. Constitution in Art ...
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. The
governor of Wisconsin The governor of Wisconsin is the head of government of Wisconsin and the commander-in-chief of the state's Wisconsin Army National Guard, army and Wisconsin Air National Guard, air forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the ...
during the first regular session of this legislative term was Republican Louis P. Harvey, of Rock County, who was serving the first year of a two-year term, having won election in the
1861 Wisconsin gubernatorial election The 1861 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1861. Republican Party candidate Louis P. Harvey won the election with 54% of the vote, defeating Democratic candidate Benjamin Ferguson. This was the first Wisconsin gubern ...
. Harvey died in an accident on April 19, 1862, after visiting Wisconsin Union Army volunteers at the site of the
Battle of Shiloh The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the American Civil War fought on April 6–7, 1862. The fighting took place in southwestern Tennessee, which was part of the war's Western Theater of the ...
, in Tennessee. At that time, the lieutenant governor, Republican Edward Salomon, of
Manitowoc County Manitowoc County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 81,359. Its county seat is Manitowoc. The county was created in 1836 prior to Wisconsin's statehood and organized in 1848. Manitowoc Co ...
, then ascended to become governor for the remainder of this legislative term.


Major events

* January 6, 1862: Inauguration of
Louis P. Harvey Louis Powell Harvey (July 22, 1820 – April 19, 1862) was an American politician and the seventh governor of Wisconsin. He was the first Wisconsin Governor to die in office. Early life Harvey was born in East Haddam, Connecticut, and moved wi ...
as the 7th
Governor of Wisconsin The governor of Wisconsin is the head of government of Wisconsin and the commander-in-chief of the state's Wisconsin Army National Guard, army and Wisconsin Air National Guard, air forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the ...
. * January 10, 1862: Assemblymember Alexander Campbell of Iowa County resigned his seat after it was demonstrated that he had actually lost his election to Robert Wilson. * January 16, 1862: Joseph M. Morrow sworn in to replace the deceased Simon D. Powers as assemblymember for the Monroe County district * April 6–7, 1862:
Battle of Shiloh The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the American Civil War fought on April 6–7, 1862. The fighting took place in southwestern Tennessee, which was part of the war's Western Theater of the ...
took place in
Hardin County, Tennessee Hardin County is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 26,831. The county seat is Savannah, Tennessee, Savannah. Hardin County is located no ...
. Three regiments of Wisconsin Volunteers participated in the battle. Former Wisconsin state senator James S. Alban was killed, and former state senator Benjamin Allen was wounded. * April 19, 1862: Wisconsin Governor Louis P. Harvey died in an accident near
Savannah, Tennessee Savannah is a city in and the county seat of Hardin County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 7,213 at the 2020 census. Savannah is located along the east side of the Tennessee River. Savannah hosted the National Association of Interco ...
. Lieutenant Governor Edward Salomon became the 8th
Governor of Wisconsin The governor of Wisconsin is the head of government of Wisconsin and the commander-in-chief of the state's Wisconsin Army National Guard, army and Wisconsin Air National Guard, air forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the ...
. * May 1, 1862: Union forces occupied New Orleans after Confederate forces evacuated the city. * May 8, 1862: State senator Charles Quentin died. * September 1, 1862: Dr. Francis Huebschmann was sworn in to replace the deceased Charles Quentin as senator for the
5th district District 5, 5 District or 5th District may refer to: Europe * District 5 (Zürich) * District 5, Düsseldorf * V District, Turku * Districts of Malta#District 5, District 5, an electoral district of Malta * Districts of Malta#District 5 2, Distric ...
. * September 17, 1862:
Battle of Antietam The Battle of Antietam ( ), also called the Battle of Sharpsburg, particularly in the Southern United States, took place during the American Civil War on September 17, 1862, between Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virgi ...
took place near
Sharpsburg, Maryland Sharpsburg is a town in Washington County, Maryland. The town is approximately south of Hagerstown. Its population was 560 at the 2020 census. During the American Civil War, the Battle of Antietam, referred to as the Battle of Sharpsburg by th ...
. Five regiments of Wisconsin Volunteers participated in the battle. * September 22, 1862:
U.S. President The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...
Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...
issued the
Emancipation Proclamation The Emancipation Proclamation, officially Proclamation 95, was a presidential proclamation and executive order issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War. The Proclamation had the eff ...
. * October 8, 1862:
Battle of Perryville The Battle of Perryville, also known as the Battle of Chaplin Hills, was fought on October 8, 1862, in the Chaplin Hills west of Perryville, Kentucky, as the culmination of the Confederate Heartland Offensive (Kentucky Campaign) during the Ame ...
took place near
Perryville, Kentucky Perryville () is a home rule-class city along the Chaplin River in western Boyle County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 751 at the time of the 2010 U.S. Census. It is part of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area. H ...
.


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 The Constitution of the State of Wisconsin is the governing document of the U.S. State of Wisconsin. It establishes the structure and function of state government, describes the state boundaries, and declares the rights of state citizens. The ...
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


Assembly summary


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

* President of the Senate: Edward Salomon,
Lieutenant Governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...
(until April 19, 1862) * President pro tempore: Frederick O. Thorpe (until September 10, 1862) **
Gerry Whiting Hazelton Gerry Whiting Hazelton (February 24, 1829 – September 29, 1920) was an American lawyer and Republican politician. He represented Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district in the 42nd and 43rd Congresses. He also served nine years as United ...
(from September 10, 1862)


Assembly leadership

* Speaker of the Assembly: Joseph W. Beardsley


Members


Members of the Senate

Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Fifteenth Wisconsin Legislature:


Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Fifteenth Wisconsin Legislature:


Employees


Senate employees

* Chief Clerk:
John H. Warren John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second Ep ...
** 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 ** 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 i
1861 Wisconsin Act 216
passed into law in the
14th Wisconsin Legislature The Fourteenth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 9, 1861, to April 17, 1861, in regular session. The legislature re-convened in special session from May 15, 1861, to May 27, 1861, at the request of Governor of Wisconsin, Wisconsin G ...
.


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


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


Notes


References


External links

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