The First Wisconsin Legislature convened from June 5, 1848, to August 21, 1848, in regular session. Members of the Assembly and Senate were elected after an election on February 1, 1848, that ratified the proposed state constitution.
Wisconsin's first governor, Democrat Nelson Dewey, of Grant County, was sworn in on the 3rd day of this legislative term. He was the only governor of Wisconsin during this legislative term.
Major events
May 8, 1848: Nelson Dewey elected Governor of Wisconsin. May 29, 1848: Wisconsin was admitted to the Union as the 30th State. June 7, 1848: Inauguration of Nelson Dewey as the first Governor of Wisconsin. June 8, 1848: The Wisconsin Legislature, in joint session, elected Henry Dodge and Isaac P. Walker as United States Senators. November 7, 1848: Zachary Taylor elected President of the United States. Wisconsin's electoral votes went to his opponent, Lewis Cass.
Major legislation
June 21, 1848: Joint resolution relative to free territory, 1848 Joint Resolutions p.285 June 21, 1848: Act concerning the Attorney General, 1848 Acts pp.10-11 June 29, 1848: Act to prescribe the duties of the State Treasurer, 1848 Acts pp.13-15 June 29, 1848: Act to divide the State of Wisconsin into Congressional Districts, 1848 Acts pp.15-16 June 29, 1848: Act to provide for the election of Judges and for the classification and organization of the Judiciary of the State of Wisconsin, 1848 Acts pp.19-24 July 26, 1848: Act to establish the University of Wisconsin, 1848 Acts pp.37-40 July 29, 1848: Act to Exempt a Homestead from forced sale, 1848 Acts pp.40-41 August 8, 1848: Act to incorporate the City of Racine in the county of Racine, 1848 Acts pp.80-100 August 12, 1848: Act prescribing the powers and duties of the Secretary of State, 1848 Acts pp.115-120 August 16, 1848: Act to provide for the Election and define the duties of State Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1848 Acts pp.127-129 August 21, 1848: Act to provide for holding general and special Elections, the time when, the manner of holding the same, and the qualifications, disabilities, and privileges of electors, 1848 Acts pp.191-207 August 21, 1848: Act in relation to Public Schools, 1848 Acts pp.226-247
Party summary
Senate summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Democratic Free Soil Whig Vacant 1st Session 16 0 3 19 0 Final voting share 84% 0% 16% Beginning of the next Legislature 14 1 4 19 0
Assembly summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Democratic Free Soil Whig Vacant 1st Session 49 0 17 66 0 Final voting share 74% 0% 26% Beginning of the next Legislature 35 14 17 66 0
Sessions 1st Regular session: June 4, 1848August 21, 1848
Leaders
Senate leadership President of the Senate: John E. Holmes, Lieutenant Governor
Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Ninian E. Whiteside
Members
Members of the Senate Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the First Wisconsin Legislature (19):
District Counties Senator Party Residence 01 Brown, Calumet, Manitowoc, Sheboygan Dem. Sheboygan 02 Columbia, Marquette, Portage, Sauk Whig Fort Winnebago 03 Crawford, Chippewa, , Dem. Prairie du Chien 04 Fond du Lac, Winnebago Dem. Ceresco 05 Iowa, Richland Dem. Highland 06 Grant Whig Platteville 07 Lafayette Dem. Benton 08 Green Dem. Monroe 09 Dane Dem. Madison 10 Dodge Dem. Watertown 11 Washington Dem. Cedarburg 12 Jefferson Dem. Watertown 13 Waukesha Dem. Prairieville 14 Walworth Dem. Geneva 15 Rock Whig Milton 16 Racine (Southern half) Dem. Racine 17 Racine (Northern half) Dem. Racine 18 Milwaukee (Southern half) Dem. Milwaukee 19 Milwaukee (Northern half) Dem. Milwaukee
Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the First Wisconsin Legislature (66):
SenateDistrict Counties Representative Party Residence 01 Brown Dem. Green Bay Calumet Dem. Stockbridge 02 Columbia Whig Randolph 03 Crawford & Chippewa Dem. Mount Sterling 09 Dane 1 Dem. Cottage Grove 2 Whig Blue Mounds 3 Dem. Stoughton 10 Dodge 1 Dem. Beaver Dam 2 Dem. Juneau 3 Dem. Lebanon 4 Whig Lowell 5 Whig Fox Lake 04 Fond du Lac 1 Whig Fond du Lac 2 Whig Rosendale 06 Grant 1 Whig Jamestown 2 Whig Platteville 3 Whig Potosi 4 Dem. Lancaster 08 Green Dem. Monticello 05 Iowa & Richland 1 Dem. Mineral Point 2 Dem. Dodgeville 12 Jefferson 1 Dem. Watertown 2 Dem. Palmyra 3 Dem. Jefferson 03 & Dem. Dem. 07 Lafayette 1 Dem. Belmont 2 Dem. Gratiot 01 Manitowoc Dem. Manitowoc 02 Marquette Whig Markesan 19 Milwaukee 1 Dem. Milwaukee 2 Dem. Milwaukee 18 3 Whig Milwaukee 4 Dem. Milwaukee 5 Dem. Milwaukee 6 Dem. Milwaukee 19 7 Dem. Wauwatosa 02 Portage Dem. Stevens Point 17 Racine 1 Dem. Racine 2 Dem. Caledonia 3 Whig Rochester 16 4 Dem. Racine 5 Dem. Bristol 15 Rock 1 Dem. Emerald Grove 2 Whig Beloit 3 Whig Union 4 Dem. Johnstown 5 Dem. Beloit 02 Sauk Dem. Baraboo 01 Sheboygan 1 Dem. Sheboygan 2 Dem. Sheboygan Falls 14 Walworth 1 Dem. East Troy 2 Whig Whitewater 3 Dem. Geneva 4 Dem. Darien 5 Whig Delavan 11 Washington 1 Dem. Port Washington 2 Dem. Grafton 3 Dem. Mequon 4 Dem. Cedar Creek 5 Whig Barton 13 Waukesha 1 Dem. Brookfield 2 Dem. Delafield 3 Dem. Pewaukee 4 Dem. New Berlin 5 Dem. Mukwonago 04 Winnebago Whig Waukau
Employees Enrolling Clerk: Aaron V. Fryer
Senate employees Chief Clerk: Henry G. Abbey Writer: R. L. Ream Writer: Henry Lines Writer: E. P. Lockhart Sergeant-at-Arms: Lyman H. Seaver Chaplain: H. W. Reed
Assembly employees Chief Clerk: Daniel Noble Johnson Chief Clerk pro tem: L. F. Kellogg Assistant Clerk: T. A. B. Boyd Writer: Ira W. Bird Writer: James Murdock Messenger: Henry Starks Doorkeeper: Samuel Parkhurst Sergeant-at-Arms: John Mullanphy Chaplain: John Penman Chaplain: Charles Lord
References
External links Wisconsin Legislature website Acts of the 1848 Wisconsin Legislature