The 8th Minnesota Territorial Legislature first convened on January 7, 1857. The 15 members of the Minnesota Territorial Council were elected during the General Election of October 9, 1855, and the 38 members of the Minnesota House of Representatives were elected during the General Election of October 14, 1856. The 8th territorial legislature was the final territorial legislature held before the Territory of Minnesota was dissolved and Minnesota was admitted as a state.
Sessions The territorial legislature met in a regular session from January 7, 1857 to March 7, 1857. A special session was convened from April 27, 1857 to May 25, 1857 to consider various matters which had not been acted upon during the regular session, including numerous incorporations, as well as to provide for the payment of the expenses of the constitutional convention which convened to draft the Constitution of the State of Minnesota roughly two weeks after the special session adjourned.
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 6 2 4 12 3 Begin 6 5 4 15 0 Latest voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 20 17 0 37 0
House of Representatives Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Vacant Democratic Republican Unknown End of previous Legislature 19 11 9 38 0 Begin 18 20 0 38 0 January 22, 1857 19 39 March 7, 1857 19 38 1April 27, 1857 20 39 0 Latest voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 43 37 0 80 0
Leadership President of the Council John B. Brisbin (D-Saint Paul)
Speaker of the House Joseph W. Furber (R-Cottage Grove)
Members Council Name District City Party Bailly, Henry G. 06 Hastings Democratic Balcombe, St. Andre Durand 09 Winona Republican Bassett, Joel B. 11 Minneapolis Republican Brisbin, John B. 02 Saint Paul Democratic Dooley, Samuel 06 Louisville Unknown Freeborn, William 04 Red Wing Democratic Humphrey, Philander P. 10 OshawaPhilander P. Humphrey, Minnesota Legislators Past and Present Republican Lowry, William D. 09 Rochester Unknown Ludden, John Dwight 01 Taylors Falls Democratic Rolette, Joseph 07 Pembina Democratic Setzer, Henry N. 01 Stillwater Democratic Stone, Lewis 05 Royalton Unknown Thompson, Clark W. 08 Hokah Republican Tillotson, Benjamin F. 08 Richland Unknown Wales, William W. 03 Saint Anthony Republican
House of Representatives Name District City Party Abbe, Samuel B. 05 Saint Paul Democratic Adams, Charles Powell 06 Hastings Democratic Baasen, Francis 10 New Ulm Democratic Barrows, Eli B. 09 Pleasant Grove Democratic Berry, John McDonogh 08 Faribault Republican Black, Mahlon 01 Stillwater Democratic Branch, William 02 Saint Paul Republican Brown, Joseph Renshaw 10 Henderson Democratic Brown, Luther M. 06 Shakopee Republican Case, Dana F. 08 Houston Republican Chamblin, Allen T. 02 Saint Paul Democratic Chase, Jonathan N. 03 Saint Anthony Republican Costello, William 02 Saint Paul Democratic Foster, Alonzo P. 09 Plainview Republican Furber, Joseph Warren 01 Cottage Grove Republican Gere, William B. 08 Chatfield Democratic Grant, Charles 07 Saint Joseph Democratic Greeley, Elam 01 Stillwater Democratic Hayden, Wentworth 11 Champlin Republican Hechtman, Henry 03 Minneapolis Republican Howell, Warren J. 08 Canton Republican Jewett, Charles 06 Warsaw Republican Keith, Asa 11 Richfield Republican King, Ephraim L. 09 Winona Republican Kingsbury, William W. 05 Endion Democratic McVey, John J. 06 Marshan Democratic Murray, William Pitt 02 Saint Paul Democratic Noble, Morgan L. 06 Unknown Republican Payne, Nelson 04 Unknown Democratic Plumer, John P. 11 Brooklyn Republican Ramsey, Justus Cornelius 02 Saint Paul Republican Smith, Delano T. 11 Minneapolis Republican Stannard, Lucius K. 01 Taylors Falls Republican Sweeney, William Wilson 04 Red Wing Democratic Thomas, Ozro A. 10 Clinton Falls Republican Thompson, Martin G. 08 Brownsville Republican Troll, John M. 11 Chaska Republican Whitlock, Friend J. 06 Belle Plaine Democratic Wilkie, John B. 07 Pembina Democratic Wilson, John L. 05 Saint Cloud Democratic
Membership changes House of Representatives District Vacated by Reason for change Successor Date successorseated 06 Morgan Noble(R) Resigned on a date uncertain. Charles Jewett(R) April 27, 1857
Notes
References
Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Session Search Results (Session 0.8, Senate) Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Session Search Results (Session 0.8, House)