12th Wisconsin Legislature

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

Assembly summary

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):

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Twelfth Wisconsin Legislature:

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