4th Wisconsin Legislature
{{Short description|Wisconsin legislative term for 1851}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox legislative term
| name = 4th Wisconsin Legislature
| image = Wisconsin State Capitol 1855.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Wisconsin State Capitol, 1855
| body = Wisconsin Legislature
| meeting_place = {{nowrap|Wisconsin State Capitol}}
| election = {{nowrap|November 5, 1850}}
| term_start = {{nowrap|January 6, 1851}}
| term_end = {{nowrap|January 5, 1852}}
| before = 3rd
| after = 5th
| website =
| chamber1 = Senate
| membership1 = 19
| control1 = Democratic
| chamber1_leader1_type = {{nowrap|Senate President}}
| chamber1_leader1 = Samuel Beall
| chamber1_leader2_type = {{nowrap|President pro tempore}}
| chamber1_leader2 = Duncan Reed
| chamber2 = Assembly
| membership2 = 66
| control2 = Democratic
| chamber2_leader1_type = {{nowrap|Assembly Speaker}}
| chamber2_leader1 = Frederick W. Horn
| chamber2_leader2_type =
| chamber2_leader2 =
| session1_start = {{nowrap|January 8, 1851}}
| session1_end = {{nowrap|March 17, 1851}}
}}
The Fourth Wisconsin Legislature convened in regular session from January 8, 1851, to March 17, 1851. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and served 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 on November 5, 1850. 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 6, 1849.{{cite report|url= http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1881 |title= The Blue Book of the state of Wisconsin 1881|pages=182–183 |chapter= Annals of the legislature|publisher= State of Wisconsin}}
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Democrat Nelson Dewey, of Grant County, serving the second year of his second two-year term, having won re-election in the 1849 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.
Major events
- January 20, 1851: Henry Dodge re-elected United States Senator by the Wisconsin Legislature in joint session.{{cite report|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89096033113 |title= Journal of the Senate of Wisconsin |year= 1851 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislature |chapter= Monday, Jan. 20, 1851 |pages= 58-60 |access-date= March 1, 2025 |via= HathiTrust }}
- November 4, 1851: Leonard J. Farwell elected Governor of Wisconsin.
Major legislation
- January 22, 1851: Joint resolution in relation to the Honorable Isaac P. Walker, [http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/1851/related/joint_resolutions/1.pdf 1851 Joint Resolution 1]
- February 1, 1851: Act to incorporate the Fire Department of the City of Milwaukee, [http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/1851/related/acts/26.pdf 1851 Act 26]
- February 4, 1851: Act providing for the election of a Chief Justice, [http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/1851/related/acts/39.pdf 1851 Act 39]
- February 6, 1851: Act to set apart and incorporate the County of Oconto, [http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/1851/related/acts/44.pdf 1851 Act 44]
- February 11, 1851: Act to set apart and incorporate Door County, [http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/1851/related/acts/66.pdf 1851 Act 66]
- February 15, 1851: Act to set apart and incorporate the County of Waushara, [http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/1851/related/acts/77.pdf 1851 Act 77]
- February 17, 1851: Act to incorporate the County of Waupaca, [http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/1851/related/acts/78.pdf 1851 Act 78]
- February 17, 1851: Act to divide the county of Brown and create the county of Outagamie, [http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/1851/related/acts/83.pdf 1851 Act 83]
- March 10, 1851: Act to prevent the killing of deer in certain months of the year, [http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/1851/related/acts/171.pdf 1851 Act 171]
- March 11, 1851: Act to change the name of the town of "Pike" in Kenosha county to "Somers," [http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/1851/related/acts/211.pdf 1851 Act 211]
Party summary
=Senate summary=
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center" |
| style="vertical-align:bottom;"
! rowspan=3 | ! colspan=3 | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
! rowspan=3 | Total ! |
| style="height:5px"
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" | | style="background-color:{{party color|Free Soil Party (United States)}}" | | style="background-color:{{party color|Whig Party (United States)}}" | | style="background:black;" | |
| Democratic
! Whig ! Vacant |
|---|
| style="font-size:80%;" | End of previous Legislature
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | 13 | 2 | 4 ! 19 | 0 |
| colspan=6 | |
| style="font-size:80%;" | 1st Session
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | 14 | 2 | 3 ! 19 | 0 |
| colspan=6 | |
| Final voting share
! {{party shading/Democratic}} | 73.68% ! 10.53% ! 15.79% ! colspan=2 | |
| colspan=6 | |
| style="font-size:80%;" | Beginning of the next Legislature
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | 12 | 1 | 6 ! 19 | 0 |
=Assembly summary=
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center" |
| style="vertical-align:bottom;"
! rowspan=3 | ! colspan=3 | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
! rowspan=3 | Total ! |
| style="height:5px"
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" | | style="background-color:{{party color|Free Soil Party (United States)}}" | | style="background-color:{{party color|Whig Party (United States)}}" | | style="background:black;" | |
| Democratic
! Whig ! Vacant |
|---|
| style="font-size:80%;" | End of previous Legislature
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | 43 | 8 | 15 ! 66 | 0 |
| colspan=6 | |
| style="font-size:80%;" | 1st Session
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | 49 | 7 | 10 ! 66 | 0 |
| colspan=6 | |
| Final voting share
! {{party shading/Democratic}} | 74.24% ! 10.61% ! 15.15% ! colspan=2 | |
| colspan=6 | |
| style="font-size:80%;" | Beginning of the next Legislature
| 29 | 6 | {{party shading/Whig}} |31 ! 66 | 0 |
Sessions
- 1st Regular session: January 8, 1851–March 17, 1851
Leaders
=Senate leadership=
- President of the Senate: Samuel Beall, Lieutenant Governor
- President pro tempore: Duncan Reed
=Assembly leadership=
- Speaker of the Assembly: Frederick W. Horn
Members
=Members of the Senate=
Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Fourth Wisconsin Legislature:
File:WI Senate Partisan Map 1851.svg
| class="wikitable sortable"
! District ! Counties ! Senator ! Party ! Residence |
| 01
| Brown, Calumet, Manitowoc, Sheboygan | {{sortname|Theodore|Conkey}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Appleton |
| 02
| Columbia, Marathon, Marquette, Portage, Sauk, Waushara | {{sortname|G. DeGraw|Moore|George DeGraw Moore}} | {{Party shading/Whig}} |Whig | {{nowrap|Prairie du Sac}} |
| 03
| Crawford, Chippewa, St. Croix, La Pointe | {{sortname|Hiram A.|Wright}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | {{nowrap|Prairie du Chien}} |
| 04
| {{sortname|John A.|Eastman}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | {{nowrap|Fond du Lac}} |
| 05
| {{sortname|Levi|Sterling}} | {{Party shading/Whig}} |Whig | {{nowrap|Mineral Point}} |
| 06
| Grant | {{sortname|John H.|Rountree}} | {{Party shading/Whig}} |Whig |
| 07
| {{sortname|Samuel G.|Bugh}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| 08
| Green | {{sortname|William|Rittenhouse|William Rittenhouse (politician)}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Monroe |
| 09
| Dane | {{sortname|Eliab B.|Dean Jr.}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Madison |
| 10
| Dodge | {{sortname|James|Giddings}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Chester |
| 11
| {{sortname|Harvey G.|Turner}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Ozaukee |
| 12
| {{sortname|Peter H.|Turner}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Palmyra |
| 13
| Waukesha | {{sortname|George|Hyer}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Waukesha |
| 14
| Walworth | {{sortname|George|Gale|George Gale (Wisconsin politician)}} | {{Party shading/Free Soil}} |Free Soil | Elkhorn |
| 15
| Rock | {{sortname|Andrew|Palmer|Andrew Palmer (politician)}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| 16
| Kenosha | {{sortname|Orson S.|Head}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Kenosha |
| 17
| Racine | {{sortname|Stephen O.|Bennett}} | {{Party shading/Free Soil}} |Free Soil | Racine |
| 18
| Milwaukee (Southern Half) | {{sortname|Duncan|Reed}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| 19
| Milwaukee (Northern Half) | {{sortname|Francis|Huebschmann}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
=Members of the Assembly=
Members of the Assembly for the Fourth Wisconsin Legislature:
File:WI Assembly Partisan Map 1851.svg
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Senate ! County ! District ! Representative ! Party ! Residence |
| rowspan="2" | 01
| colspan="2" | Brown | {{sortname|John F.|Lessey|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| colspan="2" | Calumet
| {{sortname|William H.|Dick}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| 02
| colspan="2" | Columbia | {{sortname|William T.|Bradley|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Leeds |
| 03
| colspan="2" | Crawford & Chippewa | {{sortname|William T.|Price}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| rowspan="3" | 09
| rowspan="3" | Dane | 1 | {{sortname|Abram A.|Boyce|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Lodi |
| 2
| {{sortname|Augustus A.|Bird}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Madison |
| 3
| {{sortname|Gabriel|Bjornson|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Perry |
| rowspan="5" | 10
| rowspan="5" | Dodge{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84089669/1850-election-dodge-county/ |title= Dodge County |newspaper= The Weekly Wisconsin |date= November 20, 1850 |page= 2 |accessdate= August 24, 2021 |via =Newspapers.com }} | 1 | {{sortname|John|Muzzy|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Mayville |
| 2
| {{sortname|Asa W.|French|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Herman |
| 3
| {{sortname|Charles B.|Whitton|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Ashippun |
| 4
| {{sortname|John|Lowth}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Lowell |
| 5
| {{sortname|William E.|Smith|dab=politician}} | {{Party shading/Whig}} |Whig | Fox Lake |
| rowspan="2" | 04
| rowspan="2" | Fond du Lac | 1 | {{sortname|Charles L.|Julius|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Calumet |
| 2
| {{sortname|Morris S.|Barnett}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Eldorado |
| rowspan="4" | 06
| rowspan="4" | Grant{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84089850/1850-election-grant-county/ |title= In this county ... |newspaper= Grant County Herald |date= November 14, 1850 |page= 1 |accessdate= August 24, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }} | 1 | {{sortname|James B.|Johnson|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Fairplay |
| 2
| {{sortname|John N.|Jones|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| 3
| {{sortname|William R.|Biddlecome|William Biddlecome}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Potosi |
| 4
| {{sortname|Robert M.|Briggs|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Beetown |
| 08
| colspan="2" | Green | {{sortname|Julius|Hulburt}} | {{Party shading/Whig}} |Whig | Albany |
| rowspan="2" | 05
| rowspan="2" | Iowa & Richland | 1 | {{sortname|Charles|Rodolf}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Highland |
| 2
| {{sortname|Richard J.|Tregaskis|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| rowspan="3" | 12
| rowspan="3" | Jefferson{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84090171/1850-election-jefferson-county/ |title= Vote of Jefferson County |newspaper= Democratic State Register |date= November 18, 1850 |page= 2 |accessdate= August 24, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }} | 1 | {{sortname|Patrick|Rogan|Patrick Rogan (Wisconsin politician)}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| 2
| {{sortname|Samuel T.|Clothier|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| 3
| {{sortname|Alonzo|Wing|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| rowspan="2" | 16
| rowspan="2" | Kenosha{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84089323/1850-election-returns/ |title= Election Returns |newspaper= The Weekly Wisconsin |date= November 13, 1850 |page= 2 |accessdate= August 24, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com }} | 1 | {{sortname|Henry|Johnson|Henry Johnson (Kenosha politician)}} | {{Party shading/Whig}} |Whig | Somers |
| 2
| {{sortname|Obed|Hale}} | {{Party shading/Free Soil}} |Free Soil | Kenosha |
| 03
| colspan="2" | La Pointe & St Croix | {{sortname|John O.|Henning|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Hudson |
| rowspan="2" | 07
| rowspan="2" | Lafayette | 1 | {{sortname|Nathan|Olmsted}} | {{Party shading/Whig}} |Whig | Cottage Inn |
| 2
| {{sortname|Samuel|Cole|Samuel Cole (Wisconsin pioneer)}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Gratiot |
| 01
| colspan="2" | Manitowoc | {{sortname|G. C. Oscar|Malmros|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| rowspan="2" | 02
| colspan="2" | Marathon & Portage | {{sortname|Thomas J.|Morman|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| colspan="2" | Marquette & Waushara
| {{sortname|Charles|Waldo}} | {{Party shading/Whig}} |Whig | Kingston |
| rowspan="2" | 19
| rowspan="7" | Milwaukee | 1 | {{sortname|William K.|Wilson}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| 2
| {{sortname|Charles E.|Jenkins}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| rowspan="4" | 18
| 3 | {{sortname|John L.|Doran}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| 4
| {{sortname|George H.|Walker}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| 5
| {{sortname|Patrick|Carney|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| 6
| {{sortname|Enoch|Chase}} | {{Party shading/Whig}} |Whig |
| 19
| 7 | {{sortname|Tobias G.|Osborne|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| rowspan="3" | 17
| rowspan="3" | Racine | 1 | {{sortname|William L.|Utley}} | {{Party shading/Free Soil}} |Free Soil | Racine |
| 2
| {{sortname|Peter|Van Vliet}} | {{Party shading/Free Soil}} |Free Soil |
| 3
| {{sortname|James|Tinker}} | {{Party shading/Free Soil}} |Free Soil | Dover |
| rowspan="5" | 15
| rowspan="5" | Rock | 1 | {{sortname|William F.|Tompkins|William F. Tompkins (Wisconsin politician)}} | {{Party shading/Whig}} |Whig |
| 2
| {{sortname|John|Bannister|John Bannister (Wisconsin politician)}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Beloit |
| 3
| {{sortname|John D.|Seaver}} | {{Party shading/Whig}} |Whig |
| 4
| {{sortname|Edward|Vincent|Edward Vincent (Wisconsin politician)}} | {{Party shading/Whig}} |Whig | Milton |
| 5
| {{sortname|Joseph|Kinney Jr.}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Lima |
| 02
| colspan="2" | Sauk | {{sortname|Nathaniel|Perkins|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| rowspan="2" | 01
| rowspan="2" | Sheboygan | 1 | {{sortname|Albert D.|La Due|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| 2
| {{sortname|John D.|Murphy|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| rowspan="5" | 14
| rowspan="5" | Walworth{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84091605/1850-election-walworth-county/ |title= Walworth Co. |newspaper= Milwaukee Daily Sentinel |date= November 13, 1850 |page=2 |accessdate= August 24, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }} | 1 | {{sortname|Adam E.|Ray}} | {{Party shading/Free Soil}} |Free Soil | Troy |
| 2
| {{sortname|Henry C.|Hemingway}} | {{Party shading/Whig}} |Whig | Richmond |
| 3
| {{sortname|Experience|Estabrook}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| 4
| {{sortname|Elijah|Easton}} | {{Party shading/Free Soil}} |Free Soil | Walworth |
| 5
| {{sortname|Wyman|Spooner}} | {{Party shading/Free Soil}} |Free Soil | Elkhorn |
| rowspan="5" | 11
| rowspan="5" | Washington{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84090894/1850-election-washington-county/ |title= Washington County Election |newspaper= The Weekly Wisconsin |date= November 20, 1850 |page= 3 |accessdate= August 24, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }} | 1 | {{sortname|Harvey|Moore|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Ozaukee |
| 2
| {{sortname|Frederick W.|Horn}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| 3
| {{sortname|Frederick|Stock|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Mequon |
| 4
| {{sortname|John C.|Toll|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| 5
| {{sortname|Francis|Everley Jr.|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| rowspan="5" | 13
| rowspan="5" | Waukesha{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83059421/democratic-nominations-waukesha/ |title= Democratic Nominations |newspaper= Waukesha Democrat |date= October 29, 1850 |page = 2 |accessdate= August 8, 2021 }} | 1 | {{sortname|Aaron V.|Groot|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| 2
| {{sortname|Peter D.|Gifford}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| 3
| {{sortname|Hosea|Fuller Jr.|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Pewaukee |
| 4
| {{sortname|William A.|Cone|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. |
| 5
| {{sortname|John C.|Snover|nolink=1}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Dem. | Eagle |
| 04
| colspan="2" | Winnebago | {{sortname|Edward|Eastman}} | {{Party shading/Free Soil}} |Free Soil | Oshkosh |
Employees
=Senate employees=
- Chief Clerk: William Hull
- Sergeant-at-Arms: Enias D. Masters
=Assembly employees=
- Chief Clerk: Alexander T. Gray
- Sergeant-at-Arms: Charles S. Kingsbury
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Wisconsin legislatures}}