Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-06-21
THE I'LL Err A Id
"The Pioneer Legislators. !"
The following letter was read at
the old settlers meeting, in Darling

bOu
Mineral Point: Wis. June 4, 1877.
Messrs Peter Parkinson jr., A. A. Townsend
and II. z. Van 0sdell, COMMITTEE
The March term Of The Circuit Court, TO
Iowa county was adjourned to the first Tues
day of June, and the second day of the tern
will be the day upon which the annual meet
ing Of the Old Settlers Society of LAFAYETTE
county will be held.
NY engagements in court that day, will pre-
vent my attending the meeting. | regret th
very much. and if present should cheerfulll
have complied with your request, to respond
TO the toast "The Pioneer Legislators" As
cannot be present take the liberty ofsendine
you some statements in relation TO the Legs
lative assemblies of the territory.
Under the organic act of the territory passed
1885, the legislative assembly was composed
of council Of thirteen members, elected for
four years, and house OF representatives o.
twenty-six members, elected for two years
and the Governor was required to apportioT
the first legislature among the several c0un'
ties In conformity with this requirement
Gov. Dodge made the following apportionment
To Brown County members of council, and
8 members of house of representatives.
Crawford County,n members of council, and
members of house of representatives.
lOHd OOuhbI, Va olib
members of hosse Representatives.
Milwaukee County, 2 members Of council
and members Of house Of representatives.
Dubuque County, 8 members of council, and
members of house Of representatives.
DesMoins County, members of council, and
members of house of representatives.
The FIRST legislative assembly convened at
Belmont, on the 25th day of October, 1886
aud adjourned on the 9th of December
session Of 46 days
The names Of the members from the cas-
side of the Mississippi River, were Henry s.
Baird, and Jshn r. Arndt, of Brown county;
Ebenezer Brigham, John b. Terry, and Jas
r. Vineyard, of Iowa county; and Alanson
Sweet, and Gilbert Knapp, of Milwaukee coun'
ty, members OF the Council. The members
Of the House Of Representatives were; from
Brown county, Ebenezer Childs, Albert G.
Ellis, and Alex j. Irwin-thc seat of Mr.. Ir
win was successfully contested by George Nc
Williams from Crawford county, James b
Dallam; from Iowa county, VIM Boyles, Jas
+. Cox, Thomas Mcknight, Daniel NJ. Psrkin-
son, Thomas Stanley and George F. Smith
from Milwaukee county, Madison w. Cornwall
Chas. Durkee and William B. Sheldon.
The second session of the first Legislative
Assembly was held at Burlington, in DesMoins
Der 1897, and continued as days. There were
a few changes in the members composing the
assembly at this session. Henry S. Baird had
resigned and Joseph Dickinson received a
certificate Of election as his SUCCESSOR. His
election was however contested by Alex j.
Irwin who was admitted to the seat. Albert
G.. Ellis resigned his seat in the House of Rep
resentatives and Charles G. Sholes was elect
cd his successor
Thee were no changesin the delegates
from Iowa or DesMoins counties.
In Dubuque county II. L, Camp had died, and
Alexander w. McGregor was elected as his
successor, but he resigned during the session.
A short session of the first Legislative As
sembly OF only two weeks was held at Bur
lington commencing on the It'll Of June 1888.
James Collins had been elected member
from Iowa county, ia place of George L. Smith
resigned, both OF whom resided at White Oak
Springs. Lucius III. Langworthy was elected
in place of A. w. McGregor. With these two
exceptions there were no changes in the COM
position Of either house at this session.
The act to organize the Territory of Iowa
was passed June 81, 1888 and it provided that
the terms OF the members of the Wisconsin
Legislature should expire on the Sd day OF
July, aad that All entirely new organization
should take place, upon new opportionment
by the Governor.
Thus the existenee sf .he first Legislative
Assembly was promaturely terminated. OF
the members of the Council, its first president,
Henry 3 Baird was unquestionably the most
distinguished. The other members Of the
Council. were highly respectable and enjoyed
the confidence Of their fellow citizens, but
meme of them were afterwards elected to the
legislature except Ebenezer Brigham and Jas
X Vineyard, the last of whom attained an un-
enyiable notoristy in consequence of the trag'
Sdy il which in February 1912, q. G. 2. Arndl
Il member of the Council from Brown couaty
was suddenly and fatally shot by Vineyard, OF
the floor of the Coupcil Chamber
of the members of the House of Represent.
tstives, Charles Durkee was elected a member
of Congress and United States Senator ant
WAS Governor of Utah, and Messrs E. Childs
A. G. Filler, d. NJ Parkinson and James Col
Inns were reported reelected, to represen
their fellow citizens in the Territorial anC
State Legislatures, while all the members bore
high character for virtue and intelligence
The most important measure of the fra
Legislative Assembly were the permanent 10
cation of the seat of government, and the di
vision of the territory into counties. Thes
measures were perfected in manner whcl
gave general satisfaction to large majority o
the people.
In 1888 a new era in territorial legislation
began, growing out of the division of the ter
ritory and limiting its jurisdiction to that por
ton east of the Mississippi. A new apportion
ment was made. Out of the old county o
Icwa, the counties Of Dane, Green, Grant am
Iowa had been formed, embracing three legis
latiyc districts instead OF one, to which fiv
members ofthe Council and ten OF the Hous
al. IL.
tho first Legislative Assembly This era con
tinued for ten years, until the State govern
ment was organized, during which there wer
two appointments of both houses; one i
1912 aud one in 1916, and one in lS4S O
House of Representatives.
The election in Iowa county in 1888 wa
for two members of the Council, elected 70
four years. and five members of the Hous
elected for two years. James Collins an,
Levi Sterling were elected members of tn
Council, and Russell Baldwin, Henry M Bill
linss, JOHN w. Blackstone, Charles Braeken
and Thomas Jenkins, were elected to- tn
House. The persons thus elected, all serve
their inll terms for which they were elected
except Levi Sterling who resigned in 1871
when Moses NJ Strong was elected to serv
for the one year which remained of Mr. Ster
linSs unexpired term. Mr.. Collins was clectc,
Trcslucnt OF the Councl In 1897, lS4O ani
1871, and Mr.. Blackstone Speaker Of th
House in 1888.
10 1910 the representation Of Iowa count,
in the House was reduced from five to four
and Francis j. Dunn, Ephriam +. Ogden
Daaiel VI. Parkinson and David Nswlaud
wcte elected for two years, all of whom
served the fun term except Mr.. Dunn, who re
signed during his first year. and in lS4l, Thoma
Jenkins was elected in his stead, and servec
the unexpired portion of his term Davit
Newland, who had formerly been a membe
of Congress, from North Carolina, and nov
resided near Centerville, on the Blue River
was elected Speaker at both of the sessions
during the tsrm for which he was elected
BY the apportionment made in 1912 the rep
reSenta,ion Of iowa county was reduced to on
member Of the Council and the members o
the lIouse-Moses NJ. Strong was elected 4
the Council for four years. He served tn
full term, and was elected President of tn
Council in 1912 and lS45. At the sam
time VIM. S. HsmiltoH, Robert H. Long
and NJ oses Meeker were elected members o
the House for tive years. Messrs Long an
keeker- served the full term for which the.