The Twelfth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 12, 1859, to March 21, 1859, in regular session.

Senators representing odd-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first year of a two-year term. Assembly members were elected to a one-year term. Assembly members and even-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 2, 1858. 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 3, 1857.

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Alexander Randall, of Waukesha County, serving the second year of a two-year term, having won election in the 1857 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events March 7, 1859: The United States Supreme Court ruled on the case of Ableman v. Booth, vacating the Wisconsin Supreme Court decision which had attempted to nullify enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 in Wisconsin. April 12, 1859: Edward V. Whiton, Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, died in office. April 19, 1859: Luther S. Dixon was appointed Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. November 8, 1859: Alexander Randall was re-elected as Governor of Wisconsin.

Major legislation

Party summary

Senate summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Democratic Ind. Republican Vacant End of previous Legislature 12 0 18 30 0 1st Session 14 016 30 0 From Oct. 1Democrat Lion Silverman (District 3) resigned October 1, 1859, to run for State Treasurer. 13 29 1 Final voting share 47% 0%53% Beginning of the next Legislature 11 019 30 0

Assembly summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Democratic Ind. Republican Vacant End of previous Legislature 44 053 97 0 Start of 1st Session 41154 961 after January 17 4055 after January 20 41 97 0 Final voting share 43% 0%57% Beginning of the next Legislature 37 1 59 97 0

Sessions 1st Regular session: January 12, 1859 – March 21, 1859

Leaders

Senate leadership President of the Senate: Erasmus D. Campbell, Lieutenant Governor President pro tempore: Denison Worthington

Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: William P. Lyon

Members

Members of the Senate Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Twelfth Wisconsin Legislature (30):

District Counties Senator Party Residence 01 Sheboygan Dem. Plymouth 02 Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawanaw Dem. Green Bay 03 Ozaukee Dem. Ozaukee 04 Washington Dem. Cedar Creek 05 Milwaukee Rep. Milwaukee 06 Milwaukee Dem. Milwaukee 07 Racine Dem. Racine 08 Kenosha Rep. Wilmot 09 Adams, Juneau, Sauk Rep. Delton 10 Waukesha Rep. Summit 11 Dane Dem. Cottage Grove 12 Walworth Rep. Geneva 13 Lafayette Dem. Shullsburg 14 Jefferson and Dodge Dem. Watertown 15 Iowa, Richland Dem. Orion 16 Grant Rep. Platteville 17 Rock Rep. Janesville 18 Rock Rep. Beloit 19 Manitowoc, Calumet Dem. Manitowoc 20 Fond du Lac Rep. 21 Winnebago Rep. Oshkosh 22 Dodge Rep. Fox Lake 23 Jefferson Rep. Jefferson 24 Green Rep. Albany 25 Columbia Rep. Portage 26 Dane Dem. Madison 27 Marathon, Portage, Waupaca, Waushara, Wood Rep. Stanton 28 Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, , , Pierce, Polk, Dem. Osceola Mills 29 Marquette Rep. Marquette 30 Bad Ax, Buffalo, Crawford, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Tremealeau Dem. La Crosse

Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Twelfth Wisconsin Legislature:

SenateDistrict County District Representative Party Residence 09 Adams & Juneau Rep. Mauston 28 Ashland, Burnett, Douglas, , Polk, & Rep. Hudson Dem. Superior 30 Bad Ax & Crawford Rep. Towerville 02 Brown Dem. De Pere 30 Buffalo, Jackson, Trempealeau Rep. Fountain City 19 Calumet Dem. Chilton 28 Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, & Pierce Richard Dewhurst Rep. Neillsville 25 Columbia 1 Rep. Kilbourn City 2 Rep. Columbus 3 Rep. Cambria 11 Dane 1 Rep. Stoughton 2 Dem. Burke 3 Dem. Fitchburg 26 4 Dem. Roxbury 5 Dem. Madison 6 Dem. Madison 22 Dodge 1 Dem. Mayville 2 Dem. LeRoy 3 Rep. Hustisford 4 Rep. Waupun 5 Rep. Burnett 6 Dem. Lowell 02 Door, Kewaunee, Oconto, Shawano Dem. Ahnapee 20 Fond du Lac 1 Rep. Ripon 2 Rep. Ladoga 3 Rep. Fond du Lac4 Dem. Murone 5 Rep. Waucousta 16 Grant 1 Dem. Hazel Green 2 Dem. Potosi 3 Rep. Platteville 4 Rep. Fennimore 5 Rep. Glen Haven 24 Green 1 Rep. Monticello 2 Rep. Monroe 15 Iowa 1 Dem. Arena 2 Rep. Mineral Point 23 Jefferson 1 Rep. Palmyra 2 Rep. Oakland 14 3 Rep. Watertown 4 Dem. Watertown 5 Rep. Waterloo 08 Kenosha 1 Rep. Kenosha 2 Rep. Wheatland 30 La Crosse & Monroe Rep. La Crosse 13 Lafayette 1 Dem. Benton 2 Dem. Fayette 3 Dem. Shullsburg 19 Manitowoc 1 Rep. Two Rivers 2 Dem. Manitowoc 27 Marathon, Portage, & Wood Dem. Stevens Point 29 Marquette & Green Lake 1 Rep. Green Lake 2 Rep. Oxford 05 Milwaukee 1 Rep. Milwaukee 2 Dem. Milwaukee 06 3 Ind. Milwaukee 4 Rep. Milwaukee 5 Rep. Milwaukee 05 6 Dem. Milwaukee 7 Dem. Milwaukee 06 8 Dem. Milwaukee 9 Dem. Milwaukee 02 Outagamie Dem. Appleton 03 Ozaukee 1 Dem. Ozaukee 2 Dem. Cedarburg 07 Racine 1 Rep. Racine 2 Rep. Caledonia 3 Rep. Yorkville 4 Dem. Rochester 15 Richland Rep. Lone Rock 18 Rock 1 Rep. Beloit 2 Rep. Milton 17 3 Rep. Janesville 4 Rep. Cooksville 5 Rep. Beloit 09 Sauk 1 Rep. Humboldt 2 Rep. Reedsburg 01 Sheboygan 1 Rep. Sheboygan 2 Dem. Sheboygan Falls 3 Dem. Sheboygan Falls 12 Walworth 1 Rep. Springfield 2 Rep. Delavan 3 Rep. Whitewater 4 Rep. Troy 04 Washington 1 Dem. Hartford 2 Dem. West Bend 3 Dem. Staatsville 10 Waukesha 1 Rep. Summit 2 Dem. Merton 3 Dem. Mukwonago 4 Dem. Waukesha 5 Rep. Mukwonago 27 Waupaca Dem. Crystal Lake Waushara Rep. Coloma 21 Winnebago 1 Dem. Oshkosh 2 Dem. Winneconne 3 Rep. Omro

Employees

Senate employees Chief Clerk: Hiram Bowen Assistant Clerk: C. M. Cook Engrossing Clerk: A. M. Thomson Enrolling Clerk: C. T. Overton Transcribing Clerk: G. M. O'Brien Sergeant-at-Arms: Asa Kinney Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Jacob Low Postmaster: E. G. Garner Post Messenger: Garrit Mahony Doorkeeper: D. C. Shelden Messengers: William W. Worthington Dwight Allen

Assembly employees Chief Clerk: L. H. D. Crane Assistant Clerk: John S. Dean Engrossing Clerk: George Burnside Enrolling Clerk: George W. Stoner Transcribing Clerk: Oliver Gibbs, Jr. Sergeant-at-Arms: Emanuel Munk Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Joseph Gates Postmaster: Sewall W. Smith Assistant Postmaster: Cyrus Fertig Doorkeeper: G. W. Munderloh Assistant Doorkeeper: William Adams Firemen: F. Brown N. L. Andrews Messengers: Cyrus Lanyon John Ford W. Howard Aldrich (12-year-old son of Assembly member William Aldrich) Edward Livingston Samuel Fernandez

References

Notes

External links