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.

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 Edward Vernon Whiton (June 2, 1805April 12, 1859) was an Americans, American lawyer, jurist, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was the first elected Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court (3rd overall), serving on the Supreme Court from its creating ...

, Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, died in office. * April 19, 1859:

Luther S. Dixon Luther Swift Dixon (June 17, 1825 – December 6, 1891) was an American lawyer and judge, and was the 4th Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Early life and career Dixon was born in Milton, Vermont, the son of Luther and Sarah (Seege ...

was appointed Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. * November 8, 1859: Alexander Randall was re-elected as

Governor of Wisconsin The governor of Wisconsin is the head of government of Wisconsin and the commander-in-chief of the state's army and air forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Wiscons ...

Major legislation

Party summary

Senate summary

Assembly summary

Sessions

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

Leaders

Senate leadership

* President of the Senate:

Erasmus D. Campbell Erasmus Daniel Campbell (January 11, 1811 – April 16, 1873) was an American Democratic politician who served as the 6th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, and 2nd Mayor of La Crosse, Wisconsin. In historical sources, he was sometimes referr ...

Lieutenant Governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...

* President pro tempore:

Denison Worthington Denison Worthington (March 4, 1806 – April 23, 1880) was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate. His first name is sometimes spelled "Dennison" in historical documents. Biography Worthington was born on M ...

Assembly leadership

* Speaker of the Assembly:

William P. Lyon William Penn Lyon (October 28, 1822 – April 4, 1913) was an American lawyer, politician, and judge who served as the 7th Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the 12th Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly. He also served as a Unio ...

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Twelfth Wisconsin Legislature (30): WI Senate Partisan Map 1859

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Twelfth Wisconsin Legislature: WI Assembly Partisan Map 1859

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

{{Wisconsin legislatures 1859 in Wisconsin Wisconsin Wisconsin legislative sessions