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]
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.
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
^"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.
^"Annals of the legislature". The Blue Book of the state of Wisconsin 1881 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 191–192.
External linksedit
December 15, 2023
wisconsin, legislature, ninth, wisconsin, legislature, convened, from, january, 1856, march, 1856, regular, session, convened, from, september, 1856, october, 1856, 10th, wisconsin, state, capitol, 1855overviewlegislative, bodywisconsin, legislaturemeeting, pl. 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 9th Wisconsin Legislature 8th 10th Wisconsin State Capitol 1855OverviewLegislative bodyWisconsin LegislatureMeeting placeWisconsin State CapitolTermJanuary 7 1856 January 5 1857ElectionNovember 6 1855SenateMembers25Senate PresidentArthur MacArthur Sr D President pro temporeLouis P Harvey R Party controlRepublicanAssemblyMembers82Assembly SpeakerWilliam Hull D Party controlDemocraticSessions1stJanuary 9 1856 March 31 18562ndSeptember 3 1856 October 14 1856This 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 Contents 1 Major events 2 Major legislation 3 Party summary 3 1 Senate summary 3 2 Assembly summary 4 Sessions 5 Leaders 5 1 Senate leadership 5 2 Assembly leadership 6 Members 6 1 Members of the Senate 6 2 Members of the Assembly 7 Employees 7 1 Senate employees 7 2 Assembly employees 8 References 9 External linksMajor events editJanuary 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 editMarch 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 145Party summary editSenate summary edit nbsp Senate partisan composition Democratic 12 seats Republican 13 seatsParty Shading indicates majority caucus TotalDemocratic Ind Republican VacantEnd of previous Legislature 13 1 11 25 01st Session 12 0 13 25 0Final voting share 48 0 52 Beginning of the next Legislature 11 0 19 30 0Assembly summary edit nbsp Assembly partisan composition Democratic 47 seats Independent 1 seat Republican 34 seatsParty Shading indicates majority caucus TotalDemocratic Ind Republican VacantEnd of previous Legislature 34 4 44 82 0start of 1st Session 45 1 36 82 0January 15 46 1 35 82 0Final voting share 56 1 1 22 42 68 Beginning of the next Legislature 34 0 63 97 0Sessions edit1st Regular session January 9 1856 March 31 1856 2nd Regular session September 3 1856 October 14 1856Leaders editSenate leadership edit President of the Senate Arthur MacArthur Sr Lieutenant Governor President pro tempore Louis P HarveyAssembly leadership edit Speaker of the Assembly William HullMembers editMembers of the Senate edit Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Ninth Wisconsin Legislature nbsp Senate partisan representation Democratic 12 seats Republican 13 seatsDistrict Counties Senator Party Residence01 Calumet Manitowoc Sheboygan David Taylor Rep Sheboygan02 Brown Door Kewaunee Marathon Oconto Outagamie Portage Waupaca Perry H Smith Dem Appleton03 Ozaukee Bolivar G Gill Dem Grafton04 Washington Baruch S Weil Dem Schleisingerville05 Milwaukee Northern Half Jackson Hadley Dem Milwaukee06 Milwaukee Southern Half Edward O Neill Dem Milwaukee07 Racine Charles Clement Rep Racine08 Kenosha C Latham Sholes Rep Kenosha09 Waukesha Northern Half Denison Worthington Rep Summit10 Waukesha Southern Half Edward Gernon Dem Genesee11 Dane Hiram H Giles Rep Stoughton12 Walworth Jesse C Mills Rep Elkhorn13 Lafayette Charles Dunn Dem Cottage Inn14 Jefferson S W Barnes Dem Waterloo15 Iowa amp Richland Amasa Cobb Rep Mineral Point16 Grant J Allen Barber Rep Lancaster17 Rock Western Part James Sutherland Rep Janesville18 Rock Eastern Part Louis P Harvey Rep Shopiere19 Bad Ax Buffalo Chippewa Clark Crawford Jackson La Crosse La Pointe Pierce Polk St Croix William J Gibson Dem Black River Falls20 Fond du Lac Edward Pier Rep Fond du Lac21 Winnebago John Fitzgerald Dem Oshkosh22 Dodge S L Rose Dem Beaver Dam23 Adams Marquette Sauk Waushara Edwin B Kelsey Dem Montello24 Green George E Dexter Rep Monroe25 Columbia John Q Adams Rep Fall RiverMembers of the Assembly edit Members of the Assembly for the Ninth Wisconsin Legislature nbsp Assembly partisan representation Democratic 47 seats Independent 1 seat Republican 34 seatsSenateDistrict County District Representative Party Residence23 Adams Sauk David K Noyes Rep Baraboo19 Bad Ax Crawford Andrew Briggs Dem Bad Ax02 Brown Door amp Kewaunee John Day Dem Green Bay19 Buffalo Chippewa amp La Crosse Dugald D Cameron Rep La Crosse01 Calumet James Cramond Dem Manchester25 Columbia 1 Moses M Davis Rep Portage2 Oliver C Howe Rep Lowville11 Dane 1 Charles R Head Rep Albion2 Augustus A Huntington Dem York3 William M Colladay Rep Dunn4 George P Thompson Dem Cross Plains5 Augustus A Bird Dem Madison22 Dodge 1 Benjamin F Barney Dem Williamstown2 Daniel Fletcher Dem Hustisford3 Lawrence Connor Dem Emmet4 Fred H Ehinger Dem Clyman5 Charles Burchard Rep Beaver Dam6 Henry Butterfield Rep Waupun20 Fond du Lac 1 George W Parker Rep Metomen2 Peter Johnson Dem Ashford3 Isaac Brown Dem Fond du Lac4 Joseph Wagner Dem Marshfield16 Grant 1 Allen Taylor Rep Hazel Green2 William Hull Dem Potosi3 James T Brown Rep Clifton4 Joseph T Mills Rep Lancaster5 Horace Catlin Dem Cassville24 Green Martin Flood Rep Brooklyn15 Iowa 1 Ephraim Knowlton Dem Highland2 Richard M Smith Dem Mineral Point14 Jefferson 1 William Chappell Dem Watertown2 Henry C Drake Rep Milford3 David L Morrison Dem Koskonong4 William W Woodman Dem Farmington5 Darius Reed Rep Sullivan08 Kenosha 1 Henry Johnson Rep Kenosha2 Franklin Newell Rep Paris13 Lafayette 1 Matthew Murphy Dem Benton2 Hamilton H Gray Dem Shullsburg3 James H Knowlton Rep Darlington19 La Pointe Pierce Polk amp St Croix Almon D Gray Dem Hudson01 Manitowoc Charles H Walker Dem Manitowoc02 Marathon Portage Joseph Wood Rep Grand Rapids23 Marquette Waushara 1 William F Chipman Rep Warren2 Horatio S Thomas Dem Moundville05 Milwaukee 1 Joshua Starks Dem Milwaukee2 Augustus Greulich Dem Milwaukee06 3 William A Hawkins Rep Milwaukee4 George Hahn Dem Milwaukee5 John Mitchell Dem Milwaukee6 Andrew McCormick Dem Milwaukee7 Peter Lavies Dem Greenfield05 8 Henry Crawford Dem Wauwatosa9 John Tobin Dem Granville02 Oconto Outagamie Waupaca William Brunquest until Jan 15 Rep WaupacaLouis Bostedo from Jan 15 Dem Weyauwega03 Ozaukee 1 Charles Beger Dem Port Washington2 William Vogenitz Dem Cedarburg07 Racine 1 Thomas Falvey Dem Racine2 Eliphalet Cram Dem Racine3 John T Palmer Dem Norway4 Patrick G Cheves Rep Waterford15 Richland Robert Aken Ind Richland18 Rock 1 Horatio J Murray Rep Turtle2 John Child Rep Lima17 3 Levi Alden Rep Janesville4 John M Evans Rep Union01 Sheboygan 1 William Whippermann Dem Mosel2 Reed C Brazelton Rep Scott12 Walworth 1 James Lauderdale Rep La Grange2 Robert T Seymour Rep Lafayette3 John F Potter Rep East Troy4 Asa W Farr Dem Geneva5 Salmon Thomas Rep Darien6 William D Chapin Rep Bloomfield04 Washington 1 Thomas Hayes Dem Richfield2 John Sell Dem Addison09 Waukesha 1 Jeremiah Noon Rep Merton2 James Weaver Dem Lisbon10 3 John James Dem Eagle4 Charles S Hawley Rep Waukesha21 Winnebago 1 Lucius B Townsend Rep Nepeuskun2 John Anunson Dem WinchesterEmployees editSenate employees edit Chief Clerk Byron Paine Sergeant at Arms Joseph BakerAssembly employees edit Chief Clerk James Armstrong Sergeant at Arms Egbert MoseleyReferences edit The Corruptionists Who are They Wisconsin State Journal October 30 1858 p 2 Retrieved February 17 2023 via Newspapers com 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 Annals of the legislature The Blue Book of the state of Wisconsin 1881 Report State of Wisconsin pp 191 192 External links edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 9th Wisconsin Legislature amp oldid 1172676110, wikipedia, 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