The Fourth Wisconsin Legislature convened in regular session from January 8, 1851, to March 17, 1851. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and served 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 on November 5, 1850. Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the second year of their two-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 6, 1849.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Democrat Nelson Dewey, of Grant County, serving the second year of his second two-year term, having won re-election in the 1849 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.
Major events
January 20, 1851: Henry Dodge re-elected United States Senator by the Wisconsin Legislature in joint session. November 4, 1851: Leonard J. Farwell elected Governor of Wisconsin.
Major legislation
January 22, 1851: Joint resolution in relation to the Honorable Isaac P. Walker, 1851 Joint Resolution 1 February 1, 1851: Act to incorporate the Fire Department of the City of Milwaukee, 1851 Act 26 February 4, 1851: Act providing for the election of a Chief Justice, 1851 Act 39 February 6, 1851: Act to set apart and incorporate the County of Oconto, 1851 Act 44 February 11, 1851: Act to set apart and incorporate Door County, 1851 Act 66 February 15, 1851: Act to set apart and incorporate the County of Waushara, 1851 Act 77 February 17, 1851: Act to incorporate the County of Waupaca, 1851 Act 78 February 17, 1851: Act to divide the county of Brown and create the county of Outagamie, 1851 Act 83 March 10, 1851: Act to prevent the killing of deer in certain months of the year, 1851 Act 171 March 11, 1851: Act to change the name of the town of "Pike" in Kenosha county to "Somers," 1851 Act 211
Party summary
Senate summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Democratic Free Soil Whig Vacant End of previous Legislature 13 2 4 19 0 1st Session 14 2 3 19 0 Final voting share 73.68% 10.53% 15.79% Beginning of the next Legislature 12 1 6 19 0
Assembly summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Democratic Free Soil Whig Vacant End of previous Legislature 43 8 15 66 0 1st Session 49 7 10 66 0 Final voting share 74.24% 10.61% 15.15% Beginning of the next Legislature 29 631 66 0
Sessions 1st Regular session: January 8, 1851–March 17, 1851
Leaders
Senate leadership President of the Senate: Samuel Beall, Lieutenant Governor President pro tempore: Duncan Reed
Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Frederick W. Horn
Members
Members of the Senate Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Fourth Wisconsin Legislature:
District Counties Senator Party Residence 01 Brown, Calumet, Manitowoc, Sheboygan Dem. Appleton 02 Columbia, Marathon, Marquette, Portage, Sauk, Waushara Whig 03 Crawford, Chippewa, St. Croix, La Pointe Dem. 04 Fond du Lac, Winnebago Dem. 05 Iowa, Richland Whig 06 Grant Whig Platteville 07 Lafayette Dem. Shullsburg 08 Green Dem. Monroe 09 Dane Dem. Madison 10 Dodge Dem. Chester 11 Washington Dem. Ozaukee 12 Jefferson Dem. Palmyra 13 Waukesha Dem. Waukesha 14 Walworth Free Soil Elkhorn 15 Rock Dem. Janesville 16 Kenosha Dem. Kenosha 17 Racine Free Soil Racine 18 Milwaukee (Southern Half) Dem. Milwaukee 19 Milwaukee (Northern Half) Dem. Milwaukee
Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Fourth Wisconsin Legislature:
SenateDistrict County District Representative Party Residence 01 Brown Dem. Green Bay Calumet Dem. Brothertown 02 Columbia Dem. Leeds 03 Crawford & Chippewa Dem. Black River Falls 09 Dane 1 Dem. Lodi 2 Dem. Madison 3 Dem. Perry 10 Dodge 1 Dem. Mayville 2 Dem. Herman 3 Dem. Ashippun 4 Dem. Lowell 5 Whig Fox Lake 04 Fond du Lac 1 Dem. Calumet 2 Dem. Eldorado 06 Grant 1 Dem. Fairplay 2 Dem. Platteville 3 Dem. Potosi 4 Whig Beetown 08 Green Whig Albany 05 Iowa & Richland 1 Dem. Mineral Point 2 Dem. Highland 12 Jefferson 1 Dem. Watertown 2 Dem. Cold Spring 3 Dem. Jefferson 16 Kenosha 1 Whig Somers 2 Free Soil Kenosha 03 La Pointe & St Croix Dem. Hudson 07 Lafayette 1 Whig Cottage Inn 2 Dem. Gratiot 01 Manitowoc Dem. Manitowoc 02 Marathon & Portage Dem. Stevens Point Marquette & Waushara Whig Kingston 19 Milwaukee 1 Dem. Milwaukee 2 Dem. Milwaukee 18 3 Dem. Milwaukee 4 Dem. Milwaukee 5 Dem. Milwaukee 6 Whig Milwaukee 19 7 Dem. Milwaukee 17 Racine 1 Free Soil Racine 2 Free Soil Caledonia 3 Free Soil Dover 15 Rock 1 Whig Janesville 2 Dem. Beloit 3 Whig Cooksville 4 Whig Milton 5 Dem. Lima 02 Sauk Dem. Sauk City 01 Sheboygan 1 Dem. Sheboygan 2 Dem. Sheboygan Falls 14 Walworth 1 Free Soil Troy 2 Whig Richmond 3 Dem. Whitewater 4 Free Soil Walworth 5 Free Soil Elkhorn 11 Washington 1 Dem. Ozaukee 2 Dem. Cedarburg 3 Dem. Mequon 4 Dem. Cedar Creek 5 Dem. West Bend 13 Waukesha 1 Dem. Brookfield 2 Dem. North Prairie 3 Dem. Pewaukee 4 Dem. New Berlin 5 Dem. Eagle 04 Winnebago Free Soil Oshkosh
Employees
Senate employees Chief Clerk: William Hull Sergeant-at-Arms: Enias D. Masters
Assembly employees Chief Clerk: Alexander T. Gray Sergeant-at-Arms: Charles S. Kingsbury
References
External links