17th Wisconsin Legislature

The Seventeenth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 13, 1864, to April 4, 1864, 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 odd-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 3, 1863. 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 4, 1862.

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican James T. Lewis, of Columbia County, serving the first year of a two-year term, having won election in the 1863 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events

January 4, 1864: Inauguration of James T. Lewis as the 7th Governor of Wisconsin.
May 5–7, 1864: Battle of the Wilderness took place in Spotsylvania County and Orange County, Virginia. Four regiments of Wisconsin Volunteers participated in the battle.
May 9–21, 1864: Battle of Spotsylvania Court House took place in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Five regiments of Wisconsin Volunteers participated in the battle.
May 31June 12, 1864: Battle of Cold Harbor took place in Hanover County, Virginia. Five regiments of Wisconsin Volunteers participated in the battle.
September 2, 1864: Union Army occupied Atlanta, Georgia.
November 8, 1864: Abraham Lincoln re-elected as President of the United States.

Major legislation

February 19, 1864: Act to organize the county of Burnett, and locate the county seat thereof, 1864 Act 74
February 26, 1864: Joint Resolution relative to the extension of time for the payment of government bounties to volunteers, 1864 Joint Resolution 2
March 5, 1864: Joint Resolution relative to the vigorous prosecution of the war, the duty of congress and the people, tendering thanks to the army and navy, and suggesting the renomination of Abraham Lincoln, 1864 Joint Resolution 4
March 22, 1864: Act to incorporate "Marquette College" in the second ward of the city of Milwaukee, 1864 Act 180
April 4, 1864: Act to guard against the abuse of the elective franchise, and to preserve the purity of elections, by a registration of electors, 1864 Act 445

Party summary

Senate summary

Assembly summary

Sessions

1st Regular session: January 13, 1864 – April 4, 1864

Leaders

Senate leadership

President of the Senate: Wyman Spooner
President pro tempore: Smith S. Wilkinson

Assembly leadership

Speaker of the Assembly: William W. Field

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Seventeenth Wisconsin Legislature:

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Seventeenth Wisconsin Legislature:

Employees

Senate employees

Chief Clerk: Frank M. Stewart
Assistant Clerk: P. H. Brady
Bookkeeper: J. Spooner
Engrossing Clerk: Sineus B. Dibble
Enrolling Clerk: Thomas Marshall
Transcribing Clerk: F. O. Wisner
Sergeant-at-Arms: Nelson Williams
1st Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: H. Esperson
2nd Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: John B. Eugene
Postmaster: Henry H. Taylor
Assistant Postmaster: S. Raymond
Doorkeeper: G. M. Cary
Assistant Doorkeeper: J. P. Miller
Assistant Doorkeeper: J. H. Jones
Assistant Doorkeeper: Otis A. Albee
Assistant Doorkeeper: William P. Close
Gallery Doorkeeper: B. S. Miller
Firemen:
Barnet Wilson
William W. Baker
William Holden
Messengers:
John C. Hutchins
Albert F. Dexter
Rufus H. Roys
William C. Jones
C. C. Frey
Frank C. Freeman
Porter: John Crowley

Assembly employees

Chief Clerk: John S. Dean
Assistant Clerk: Ephraim W. Young
Bookkeeper: E. L. Fitzhugh
Engrossing Clerk: A. L. Rockwell
Enrolling Clerk: J. H. Balch
Transcribing Clerk: A. C. Byers
Sergeant-at-Arms: Alexander McDonald Thomson
1st Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: William P. Forsyth
2nd Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Lewis M. Hammond
Postmaster: N. A. Spooner
1st Assistant Postmaster: Hiram Beckwith
2nd Assistant Postmaster: Oscar Babcock
Doorkeepers:
Franklin Kelly
W. L. Abbott
W. E. Angell
C. Saran
C. E. Tanburg
William Spencer
Firemen:
Oliver Johnson
A. C. Stannard
Robert Axon
C. McCarthy
Speaker's Messenger: Adam C. Waltz
Chief Clerk's Messenger: James E. Dean
Sergeant-at-Arms' Messenger: Arthur Tilden
Messengers:
Moses Flesh
Patrick McKanna
Robert Airis
Louis Sholes
Marion M. Young
William P. Beach
Linus S. Webb
Fred Chynoweth