Daily globe., 1879-02-12
MINNESOTA House.
RAMBLES AMONG THE REPRESENTA-.
TIYES OF THE ELEGISLATURE.
Some Pecnliarities of the Present Body
Ihe Oldest and tho Youngest-The Po-
litica1 PredilectiOns-Sketches of a Portion
of the Body.

In this branch Of the legislature nearly one
halr are old members, having served in some
one or moro of the sessions. Two.thirds of the
Senate members have had previous legislative
experience. 1t will be seen there are enough
old members to constitute good balance
wheel to the legislative machinery.
Minnesota owes New York State a vote of
| thanks. More Of her immigrant population
are natives of that State than of any other State
OF country. Over one-fourth of these
members (twenty-eight) were born
within her borders. AS far back a.,
we have the record that has been about the
! ratlo OF both branches, and the fact will applv
no doubt, to the entire State Norway comes
next, l2; Germany, 10; Ireland, s;
o6;n nGimons, ID .; NJ Indiana, s; Pennsylvania,
setts and Sweden, each; Wisconsin. New
| Jersey, Virginia, New Hampshire, Connecticut
and Canada each q; Michigan, Illinois Enc.
| lano, Scotland, Prussia, Luxemburg and Bo-
hemla, l each. Of occupations, the farmers
number more than all the others, IS; mer-
| chants, Ia; lawyers, 13; physicians 4; builders.
dealers in agricultural Implements, real estate
| dealers, lumbermen and masons 2 each The
| only banker in the House is the
Hon. Z. D.. Knlss. of Lu Verne, Rock county.
! Inc other nine members have each a different
| euP"oioA' cusC an even hundred OF them are
married men; one is wjdower and the other
hve are old enough to marry but have neglected
that important duty. Hon. James Smith, Jr,
Is the senior member; he is in his 63d year
Hon. Joseph Oppenheim is the junior mem
ber-26 the 18th of last August. The youngest
lawyer wy M is 80 Hon. d. T. Chamberlain, of Hastings
rs the 18th of last June. Hon. Dick Jones
looms above them all in physical stature, vet
ne is as active as hundreds of little fellows we
know. The Hon. s. G.. Comstock walks off
with the most mileage. His district extends
up to the forty-ninth parallel The Republi-
cans number sixty-three; Democrats thirty
six; Greenbackers four, two are independents
and one is Prohibitionist.
Hon. j. S. AbeIl,
Waseca, Waseca county, was born in Constan-
tla' oswego county, New York, July %, 1884.
When he was seven years of age his father died.
and ne was taken in charge by his grandfather
ON the paternal side, where he resided up to
the time ne was 10 years old, when he began
to to look out ior himself. He managed to work
his way into the district school, and in
that way picked up the rudiments and laid the
foundation of q knowledge that in after years
served hlm to good purpose. Soon after he
was 10 ne did duty on the Erie canal four sea-
sons. October %, 1856, he landed at Winona,
looked around for a few months, then went out
10 Waseca county, purchased an interest in
tarm Tar and haS ass since added to it, until now he
mas half section Of land, with
good improvements. He cultivates
! ABOUT l4O acres. In past years he
devoted a portion of his time to school teach
ing, having educated himself up to that stan
dard. August, 1859, he was married to Miss
Hannah Harshman, in Winona county. Her
parents reside in Waneka, Dunn county, Wis.
H5ls his earthly possessions when he arrived in
| Wlnona, all summed up, amounted to lust a
pocket knife and five dollar gold piece; but
true grit and the prolific soil Of Minnesota car
RED him through, and here he is, making laws
Tor almost SUI, 900 people. He is the only Pro-
hibltion member in the House elected on that
tleket' although he is a Democrat in a regular
way. Mr.. Abel is worthy member of the T.
| y. y: F.; has been N. G. of his lodge and G. P.
| Of his cncampment.