The seventh Minnesota Territorial Legislature first convened on January 2, 1856. The 15 members of the Minnesota Territorial Council and the 38 members of the Minnesota House of Representatives were elected during the General Election of October 9, 1855.
Sessions The territorial legislature met in a regular session from January 2, 1856 to March 1, 1856. There were no special sessions of the seventh territorial legislature.
Party summary Resignations and new members are discussed in the "Membership changes" section, below.
Council Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Vacant Democratic Republican Unknown End of previous Legislature 9 0 0 9 0 Begin 9 2 4 15 0 December 31, 1856 8 14 1 January 6, 1857 6 12 3 Latest voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 6 5 4 15 0
House of Representatives Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Vacant Democratic Republican Unknown End of previous Legislature 13 1 4 18 0 Begin 18 12 9 38 0 January 7, 1856 19 11 Latest voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 18 20 0 38 0
Leadership President of the Council John B. Brisbin (D-Saint Paul)
Speaker of the House Charles Gardner (D-Mantorville)
Members Council Name District City Party Bailly, Henry G. 06 Hastings Democratic Balcombe, St. Andre Durand 09 Winona Republican Brisbin, John B. 02 Saint Paul Democratic Dooley, Samuel 06 Louisville Unknown Flandrau, Charles Eugene 10 Traverse de Sioux Democratic Freeborn, William 04 Red Wing Democratic Hanson, D. M. 11 Minneapolis Democratic Lowry, William D. 09 Rochester Unknown Ludden, John Dwight 01 Taylors Falls Democratic Rolette, Joseph 07 Pembina Democratic Rollins, John 03 Minneapolis Democratic Setzer, Henry N. 01 Stillwater Democratic Stone, Lewis 05 Royalton Unknown Thompson, Clark W. 08 Hokah Republican Tillotson, Benjamin F. 08 Richland Unknown
House of Representatives Name District City Party Bradley, James F. 11 Minneapolis Republican Buck, Cornelius F. 09 Winona Democratic Burdick, R. Carlisle 07 Pembina Democratic Cleaveland, Arba 11 Chanhassen Unknown Covel, William B. 08 Frankfort Democratic DeLaVergne, Aurelius F. 10 Le Sueur Democratic Dunbar, William Franklin 08 Caledonia Democratic Farnham, Sumner W. 03 Minneapolis Republican Galbraith, Thomas Jacob 06 Shakopee Republican Gardner, Charles 04 Mantorville Democratic Gere, William B. 08 Chatfield Democratic Gibbs, Oscar C. 06 Northfield Unknown Grant, Charles 07 Saint Joseph Democratic Hartenbower, John H. 09 Pleasant Grove Democratic Haus, Reuben 02 Saint Paul Democratic Holland, John M. 06 Shakopee Republican Hubbell, James B. 04 Mantorville Republican Hull, Samuel 08 Carimona Democratic Hunt, Thomas Benjamin 11 Chaska Democratic Ide, John C. 06 Faribault Republican Jackman, Henry A. 01 Stillwater Republican Johnson, Parsons King 03 Saint Paul Democratic Kirkman, James 09 Wabasha Unknown Knauft, Ferdinand 02 Saint Paul Unknown La Boutillier, C. W. 03 Minneapolis Republican Lott, Bushrod Washington 02 Saint Paul Democratic McLeod, George A. 10 Traverse des Sioux Democratic Murphy, M. T. 06 Mendota Unknown Nobles, William H. 02 Saint Paul Republican Norris, James S. 01 Cottage Grove Democratic Pierce, Thomas W. 11 Minneapolis Unknown Sturgis, William R. 05 Little Falls Democratic Taylor, Nathan C. D. 01 Taylors Falls Democratic Thompson, Martin G. 08 Brownsville Republican Thorndike, Francis 11 Dayton Unknown Van Vorhes, Abraham 01 Stillwater Republican Vaughan, Alanson B. 08 Lansing Republican Wilkinson, Ross 02 Saint Paul Unknown Wilson, John L. 05 Saint Cloud Democratic
Membership changes Council District Vacated by Reason for change Successor Date successorseated 11 D. M. Hanson(D) Died in office on an unknown date in 1856. Remained vacant 10 Charles Eugene Flandrau(D) Left office for unknown cause on a date uncertain. Remained vacant 03 John Rollins(D) Resigned on a date uncertain. Remained vacant
House of Representatives District Vacated by Reason for change Successor Date successorseated 08 Alanson B. Vaughn(R) Unseated on January 7, 1856, as a result of an election challenge wherein the House determined that Covel was the legitimate winner of the election. William B. Covel(D) January 7, 1856
Notes
References
Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Session Search Results (Session 0.7, Senate) Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Session Search Results (Session 0.7, House)