The Eighth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 10, 1855, to April 2, 1855, in regular session.

This was the first Wisconsin legislature seated after the establishment of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

Senators representing odd-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 odd-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 7, 1854. 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 8, 1853.

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Democrat William A. Barstow, of Waukesha County, serving the second year of a two-year term, having won election in the 1853 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events

February 1, 1855: Charles Durkee elected United States Senator by the Wisconsin Legislature in joint session. November 6, 1855: In the 1855 Wisconsin gubernatorial election, incumbent William A. Barstow was initially declared the winner. The election results were contested and eventually Coles Bashford, the Republican candidate, prevailed and became the next Governor of Wisconsin.

Major legislation

March 8, 1855: Act to provide for the division of the County of Adams, and to submit the question to a Vote of the people, 1855 Act 28. The referendum passed and resulted in the creation of Juneau County from the western half of Adams County. March 23, 1855: Act relative to the rights of married women, 1855 Act 49. Granted married women the rights to own property and conduct business in circumstances where the husband had been negligent or otherwise irresponsible.

Party summary

Senate summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. F.S. Whig Ind. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 22 0 3 0 0 25 0 1st Session 13 0 0 1 11 25 0 Final voting share 52% 0% 0% 4% 44% Beginning of the next Legislature 12 0 0 0 13 25 0

Assembly summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. F.S. Whig Ind. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature51 4 27 0 0 82 0 1st Session 34 0 0 4 44 82 0 Final voting share 41.46% 0.0% 0.0% 4.88% 53.66% Beginning of the next Legislature 46 0 0 1 35 82 0

Sessions 1st Regular session: January 10, 1855 – April 2, 1855

Leaders

Senate leadership President of the Senate: James T. Lewis, Lieutenant Governor President pro tempore: Eleazer Wakeley

Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Charles C. Sholes

Members

Members of the Senate Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Eighth Wisconsin Legislature (25):

District Counties Senator Party Residence 01 Calumet, Manitowoc, Sheboygan Rep. Sheboygan 02 Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Marathon, Oconto, Outagamie, Portage, Waupaca Dem. Green Bay 03 Ozaukee Dem. Grafton 04 Washington Ind. Jackson 05 Milwaukee (Northern Half) Dem. Milwaukee 06 Milwaukee (Southern Half) Dem. Milwaukee 07 Racine Rep. Racine 08 Kenosha Rep. Salem 09 Waukesha (Northern Half) Rep. Summit 10 Waukesha (Southern Half) Dem. Denoon 11 Dane Rep. Stoughton 12 Walworth Dem. Whitewater 13 Lafayette Dem. Cottage Inn 14 Jefferson Dem. Jefferson 15 Iowa, Richland Rep. Mineral Point 16 Grant Dem. Lancaster 17 Rock (Western Half) Rep. Janesville 18 Rock (Eastern Half) Rep. Shopiere 19 Bad Ax, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Jackson, La Crosse, La Pointe, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix Dem. Black River Falls 20 Fond du Lac Dem. Fond du Lac 21 Winnebago Rep. Oshkosh 22 Dodge Dem. Mayville 23 Adams, Marquette, Sauk, Waushara Dem. Montello 24 Green Rep. Monroe 25 Columbia Rep. Fall River

Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Eighth Wisconsin Legislature (82):

SenateDistrict County District Representative Party Residence 23 Adams & Sauk Rep. Baraboo 19 Bad Ax & Crawford Dem. 02Brown, Door, Kewaunee Ind. 19Buffalo, Chippewa, La Crosse Dem. 01Calumet Rep. Charlestown 25Columbia 1 Dem. Randolph 2 Rep. Columbus 11 Dane 1 Rep. Stoughton 2 Dem. Cottage Grove 3 Rep. Verona 4 Dem. Cross Plains 5 Dem. Madison 22 Dodge 1 Dem. Theresa 2 Dem. Horicon 3 Ind. Lebanon 4 Dem. Shields 5 Dem. Beaver Dam 6 Rep. Burnett 20 Fond du Lac 1 Rep. Metomen 2 Rep. Byron 3 Dem. 4 Dem. Calumet 16 Grant 1 Rep. Hazel Green 2 Dem. Potosi 3 Rep. Beetown 4 Rep. Platteville 5 Rep. Fennimore 24 Green Rep. Dayton 15Iowa 1 Rep. Highland 2 Rep. Mineral Point 14 Jefferson 1 Dem. Watertown 2 Rep. Lake Mills 3 Dem. Jefferson 4 Dem. Ixonia 5 Rep. Hebron 08Kenosha 1 Rep. Kenosha 2 Rep. Bristol 13 Lafayette 1 Dem. New Diggings 2 Rep. Shullsburg 3 Dem. Cottage Inn 19 La Pointe, Pierce, Polk, & Rep. Prescott 01 Manitowoc Rep. Manitowoc 02 Marathon & Portage Rep. Wausau 23 Marquette & Waushara 1 Rep. Tichora 2 Dem. Packwaukee 05 Milwaukee 1 Dem. Milwaukee 2 Dem. Milwaukee 06 3 Dem. Milwaukee 4 Rep. Milwaukee 5 Ind. Milwaukee 6 Dem. Oak Creek 7 Dem. Greenfield 05 8 Rep. Wauwatosa 9 Dem. Milwaukee 02 Oconto, Outagamie, & Waupaca Dem. Appleton 03Ozaukee 1 Dem. Ozaukee 2 Dem. Mequon River 07Racine 1 Dem. Racine 2 Rep. Racine 3 Rep. Yorkville 4 Dem. Burlington 15 Richland Dem. Richmond 18 Rock 1 Rep. Beloit 2 Rep. Milton 17 3 Rep. Janesville 4 Rep. Magnolia 01 Sheboygan 1 Rep. Sheboygan 2 Rep. Greenbush 12 Walworth 1 Rep. Whitewater 2 Rep. Troy 3 Rep. Spring Prairie 4 Rep. Elkhorn 5 Rep. Delavan 6 Rep. Linn 04Washington 1 Dem. Erin 2 Rep. Barton 09Waukesha 1 Rep. Delafield 2 Dem. Pewaukee 10 3 Dem. Mukwonago 4 Ind. Waukesha 21Winnebago 1 Rep. Oshkosh 2 Rep. Neenah

Employees

Senate employees Chief Clerk: Samuel G. Bugh Sergeant-at-Arms: William H. Gleason

Assembly employees Chief Clerk: David Atwood Sergeant-at-Arms: William Blake

References

External links