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4th Wisconsin Territorial Assembly

{{short description|Legislative term of the Wisconsin Territory}}

{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox legislative term

| name = 4th Wisconsin Territorial Assembly

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| body = Legislative Assembly of the Wisconsin Territory

| meeting_place = Madison, Wisconsin Territory

| election = {{unbulleted list

| {{nowrap|September 26, 1842}}

| {{nowrap|September 25, 1843}}

| {{nowrap|September 23, 1844}}

| {{nowrap|September 22, 1845}}

}}

| term_start = {{nowrap|November 7, 1842}}

| term_end = {{nowrap|January 4, 1847}}

| before = 3rd

| after = 5th

| website =

| chamber1 = Council

| membership1 = 13

| control1 = Democratic

| chamber1_leader1_type = President

| chamber1_leader1 = {{unbulleted list

| Moses M. Strong (D)

| {{sup|(1st & 3rd sessions)}}

| Marshall Strong (D)

| {{sup|(2nd session)}}

| Nelson Dewey (D)

| {{sup|(4th session)}}

}}

| chamber2 = House of Representatives

| membership2 = 26

| control2 = Democratic

| chamber2_leader1_type = Speaker

| chamber2_leader1 = {{unbulleted list

| Albert G. Ellis (D)

| {{sup|(1st session)}}

| George H. Walker (D)

| {{sup|(2nd & 3rd sessions)}}

| Mason C. Darling (D)

| {{sup|(4th session)}}

}}

| chamber2_leader2_type =

| chamber2_leader2 =

| session1_start = {{nowrap|December 5, 1842}}

| session1_end = {{nowrap|April 17, 1843}}

| session2_start = {{nowrap|December 4, 1843}}

| session2_end = {{nowrap|January 31, 1844}}

| session3_start = {{nowrap|January 6, 1845}}

| session3_end = {{nowrap|February 24, 1845}}

| session4_start = {{nowrap|January 5, 1846}}

| session4_end = {{nowrap|February 3, 1846}}

}}

The Fourth Legislative Assembly of the Wisconsin Territory convened from {{nowrap|December 5, 1842}}, to {{nowrap|April 17, 1843}}, from {{nowrap|December 4, 1843}}, to {{nowrap|January 31, 1844}}, from {{nowrap|January 6, 1845}}, to {{nowrap|February 24, 1845}}, and from {{nowrap|January 5, 1846}}, to {{nowrap|February 3, 1846}}, in regular session.{{cite report|url= http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1882 |title= The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin |publisher= State of Wisconsin |year= 1882 |editor-last= Heg |editor-first= J. E. |chapter-url= https://images.library.wisc.edu/WI/EFacs/WIBlueBks/BlueBks/WIBlueBk1882/reference/wi.wibluebk1882.i0011.pdf |chapter= Annals of the Legislature |pages= 168–171 |accessdate= August 30, 2021 }}{{cite book|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.a0001787886 |title= Laws of Wisconsin Territory passed by the Fourth Legislative Assembly |publisher= Wisconsin Territory |year= 1843 |location= Madison, Wisconsin |accessdate= August 30, 2021 }}{{cite book|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.a0001787894 |title= Laws of Wiskonsan Territory passed by the Fourth Legislative Assembly |publisher= Wisconsin Territory |year= 1844 |location= Madison, Wisconsin |accessdate= August 30, 2021 }}{{cite book|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.a0001787894&view=1up&seq=123 |title= Laws of Wisconsin Territory passed by the Fourth Legislative Assembly |publisher= Wisconsin Territory |year= 1845 |location= Madison, Wisconsin |accessdate= August 30, 2021 }}{{cite book|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.a0001787894&view=1up&seq=273 |title= Laws of Wisconsin Territory passed by the Fourth Legislative Assembly |publisher= Wisconsin Territory |year= 1846 |location= Madison, Wisconsin |accessdate= August 30, 2021 }}

The first session of this Legislative Assembly was effected by a dispute with the Governor over whether or not the session was legally sanctioned by Congress. The session was adjourned twice, and finally came back into session on the governor's request in March 1843, when they finished their business. This Legislative Assembly was also unusually long, spanning four general elections (1843, 1844, 1845, & 1846).

Major events

Major legislation

  • March 23, 1843: An Act fixing the time of holding the annual sessions of the Legislative Assembly, and for other purposes.
  • April 10, 1843: An Act to repeal an act incorporating the State Bank of Wisconsin.
  • April 17, 1843: An Act to abolish certain offices therein named. Abolished the offices of "district attorney" which were previously multi-county officials. County governments were instead empowered by this act to each appoint a prosecuting attorney.
  • April 17, 1843: An Act to provide for completing a new roof upon the capitol, and for other purposes.
  • April 17, 1843: An Act concerning removals from office. Required the Governor to make written notification when removing a person from office. The act was originally vetoed by the Governor, but the veto was overridden by the Assembly.
  • January 24, 1844: An Act prescribing the time of holding the annual session of the Legislative Assembly. Set the start of the legislative session as the first Monday of January.
  • January 26, 1844: An Act to submit to the people of Wisconsin the question of the expediency of forming a state government.
  • January 30, 1845: Resolution to declare the name of the Territory, "Wisconsin."
  • January 31, 1846: An Act in relation to the formation of a State Government in Wisconsin.{{rp|5–12}}

Sessions

  • 1st session: December 5, 1842{{spaced ndash}}April 17, 1843
  • 2nd session: December 4, 1843{{spaced ndash}}January 31, 1844
  • 3rd session: January 6, 1845{{spaced ndash}}February 24, 1845
  • 4th session: January 5, 1846{{spaced ndash}}February 3, 1846

Leadership

=Council President=

=Speaker of the House of Representatives=

Members

=Members of the Council=

class="wikitable sortable"

! rowspan="2" | Counties

! rowspan="2" | Councillor

! colspan="4" | Session(s)

! rowspan="2" | Party

1st

! 2nd

! 3rd

! 4th

rowspan="2" | Brown, Calumet, {{nowrap|Fond du Lac}}, Manitowoc, Marquette, Portage, Sheboygan & Winnebago

| {{nowrap|{{sortname|Morgan L.|Martin|Morgan Lewis Martin}}}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Randall|Wilcox}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

rowspan="2" | Crawford, Chippewa, La Pointe, & {{nowrap|St. Croix}}

| {{nowrap|{{sortname|Theophilus|La Chappelle|nolink=1}}}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Wiram|Knowlton}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Independent (US)}} | Ind.

rowspan="2" | Dane, Dodge, Green, Jefferson, & Sauk

| {{sortname|Lucius I.|Barber|Lucius Israel Barber}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

{{sortname|John|Catlin|John Catlin (politician)}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

rowspan="2" | Grant

| {{sortname|John H.|Rountree}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

{{sortname|Nelson|Dewey}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

Iowa

| {{sortname|Moses M.|Strong}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

rowspan="7" | Milwaukee & Washington

| {{sortname|Hans|Crocker}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Lemuel|White|nolink=1}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|David|Newland}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Adam E.|Ray}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

|

{{sortname|James|Kneeland}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Jacob H.|Kimball|nolink=1}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

{{sortname|Curtis|Reed|Curtis Reed (politician)}}

|

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

rowspan="4" | Racine

| {{sortname|Consider|Heath|nolink=1 }}

| {{nowrap|{{Aye}}Did not take his seat until March 6, 1843}}

|

|

|

{{sortname|Peter D.|Hugunin|nolink=1 }}

| {{nowrap|{{Aye}}}}

|

|

|

|

{{sortname|Michael|Frank}}

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Marshall|Strong}}

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

rowspan="2" | Rock & Walworth

| {{sortname|Charles M.|Baker|Charles Minton Baker}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Edward V.|Whiton}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

=Members of the House of Representatives=

Members of the House of Representatives for the Fourth Wisconsin Territorial Assembly:{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84439861/1843-election-summary/ |title= Official Statement |newspaper= Milwaukie Commercial Herald |date= October 13, 1843 |page= 3 |accessdate= August 30, 2021 |via= Newspapers.com }}

class="wikitable sortable"

! rowspan="2" | Counties

! rowspan="2" | Representative

! colspan="4" | Session(s)

! rowspan="2" | Party

1st

! 2nd

! 3rd

! 4th

rowspan="6" | Brown, Calumet, {{nowrap|Fond du Lac}}, Manitowoc, Marquette, Portage, Sheboygan & Winnebago

| {{sortname|Albert G.|Ellis|Albert Gallatin Ellis}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Mason C.|Darling}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|David|Agry}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Abraham|Brawley|nolink=1}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|William|Fowler|William Fowler (Brothertown Indian)}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

|

{{sortname|Elisha|Morrow|nolink=1}}

|

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

rowspan="2" | Crawford, Chippewa, {{nowrap|La Pointe}}, & {{nowrap|St. Croix}}

| {{sortname|John H.|Manahan|nolink=1}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|James|Fisher|James Fisher (Wisconsin politician)}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

rowspan="8" | Dane, Dodge, Green, Jefferson, & Sauk

| {{sortname|Isaac H.|Palmer|nolink=1}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

{{sortname|Lyman|Crossman|nolink=1}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Robert|Masters|Robert Masters (Wisconsin pioneer)}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Charles S.|Bristol|nolink=1}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

|

{{sortname|Noah|Phelps|Noah Phelps (Wisconsin politician)}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{nowrap|{{sortname|George H.|Slaughter|nolink=1}}}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Mark R.|Clapp}}

|

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

{{sortname|William M.|Dennis}}

|

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

rowspan="6" | Grant

| {{sortname|Franklin Z.|Hicks|nolink=1}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

{{sortname|Alonzo|Platt|nolink=1}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

{{sortname|Glendower M.|Price|nolink=1}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

{{sortname|Thomas P.|Burnett}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

{{sortname|Thomas|Cruson}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

{{sortname|Armstead C.|Brown}}

|

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

rowspan="9" | Iowa

| {{sortname|Robert M.|Long}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Moses|Meeker|nolink=1}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|William S.|Hamilton}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

|

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

{{sortname|George|Messersmith|nolink=1}}

|

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

{{sortname|James|Collins|James Collins (Wisconsin and California politician)}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

{{sortname|Robert C.|Hoard|Robert C. Hoard}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

{{sortname|Solomon|Oliver|nolink=1}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

|

{{sortname|Henry M.|Billings}}

|

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Charles|Pole|nolink=1}}

|

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

rowspan="16" | Milwaukee & Washington

| {{sortname|Andrew E.|Elmore|nolink=1}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

{{sortname|Benjamin|Hunkins}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Thomas H.|Olin|nolink=1}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Jonathan|Parsons|nolink=1}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Jared|Thompson|nolink=1}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

{{sortname|George H.|Walker}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Charles E.|Brown|nolink=1}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

|

{{sortname|Pitts|Ellis}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Byron|Kilbourn}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Benjamin H.|Mooers}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|William|Shew|William Shew (farmer-legislator)}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Samuel H.|Barstow|nolink=1}}

|

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

{{sortname|John|Crawford|John Crawford (Wisconsin politician)}}

|

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|James|Magone|nolink=1}}

|

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

{{sortname|Luther|Parker}}

|

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|William H.|Thomas|William H. Thomas (Wisconsin politician)}}

|

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

rowspan="10" | Racine

| {{sortname|Philander|Judson|nolink=1}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

|

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

{{sortname|John T.|Trowbridge|John Todd Trowbridge}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Peter|Van Vliet}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Levi|Grant}}

|

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Ezra|Birchard|nolink=1}}

|

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Robert|McClellan|nolink=1}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

|

{{sortname|Orson|Sheldon|nolink=1}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

{{sortname|Albert G.|Northway|nolink=1}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

|

{{sortname|Andrew B.|Jackson}}

|

|

|

| {{Aye}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Julius|Wooster|nolink=1}}

|

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

rowspan="12" | Rock & Walworth

| {{sortname|John|Hopkins|nolink=1}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

{{sortname|James|Tripp|nolink=1}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

{{sortname|John M.|Capron|nolink=1}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

{{sortname|William A.|Bartlett|nolink=1}}

| {{Aye}}

| {{Aye}}

|

|

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

{{sortname|Stephen|Field|nolink=1}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

|

{{sortname|Jesse C.|Mills|nolink=1}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

{{sortname|Salmon|Thomas|nolink=1}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

{{sortname|Jesse|Moore|nolink=1}}

|

|

| {{Aye}}

|

| {{Party shading/Whig}} | Whig

{{sortname|Ira|Jones|nolink=1}}

|

|

|

| {{Aye}}Only represented Rock County.

|

{{sortname|Caleb|Crosswell|nolink=1}}

|

|

|

| {{nowrap|{{Aye}}Only represented Walworth County.}}

|

{{sortname|Warren|Earl|nolink=1}}

|

|

|

| {{nowrap|{{Aye}}}}

|

{{sortname|Gaylord|Graves}}

|

|

|

| {{nowrap|{{Aye}}}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem.

Employees

=Council employees=

  • Secretary:
  • John V. Ingersol, 1st session, resigned March 31, 1843
  • John P. Sheldon, 1st session, following Ingersol's resignation
  • Ben C. Eastman, 2nd, 3rd & 4th sessions, resigned Jan. 19, 1846
  • William Rudolph Smith, 4th session, following Eastman's resignation
  • Sergeant-at-Arms:
  • Charles C. Brown, 1st session
  • G. C. S. Vail, 2nd session
  • Charles H. Larkin, 3rd session
  • Joseph Brisbois, 4th session

=House employees=

  • Chief Clerk:
  • John Catlin, 1st & 2nd sessions
  • La Fayette Kellogg, 3rd & 4th sessions
  • Sergeant-at-Arms:
  • William S. Anderson, 1st session
  • J. W. Trowbridge, 2nd session
  • Chauncey Davis, 3rd session
  • David Bonham, 4th session

Notes

{{reflist|group="note"}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [https://legis.wisconsin.gov/ Wisconsin Legislature website]

{{Wisconsin legislatures}}

Category:1842 in Wisconsin Territory

Category:1843 in Wisconsin Territory

Category:1844 in Wisconsin Territory

Category:1845 in Wisconsin Territory

Category:1846 in Wisconsin Territory

Category:1840s in Wisconsin

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Category:Wisconsin legislative sessions