34th Wisconsin Legislature

The Thirty-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 12, 1881, to April 4, 1881, in regular session.

34th Wisconsin Legislature
33rd 35th
Wisconsin State Capitol, 1863
Overview
Legislative bodyWisconsin Legislature
Meeting placeWisconsin State Capitol
TermJanuary 3, 1881 January 2, 1882
ElectionNovember 2, 1880
Senate
Members33
Senate PresidentJames M. Bingham (R)
President pro temporeThomas B. Scott (R)
Party controlRepublican
Assembly
Members100
Assembly SpeakerIra B. Bradford (R)
Party controlRepublican
Sessions
1stJanuary 12, 1881 April 4, 1881

This was the first legislative session after the 1880 United States census, andas prescribed by the Wisconsin Constitutionthis legislature attempted to pass a redistricting law. For the first time, the Legislature failed in this task due to a technical problem with the proposed legislationthey forgot to include the town of Ridgeway, in Iowa County. The Governor vetoed the legislation due to this technical fault. Since the Legislature had already adjourned for the year, it was considered too late to complete redistricting before the 1881 election.[1]

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 2, 1880. 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, 1879.[2]

Major events

Major legislation

  • March 19, 1881: An Act to provide for more light on various subjects, 1881 Act 110. Directed the governor to implement electric lighting in the Wisconsin capitol building.
  • April 2, 1881: An Act relating to state officers and making the railroad commissioner and commissioner of insurance elective, as other state officers, and prescribing their duties and salary, and amendatory of sections one hundred and twenty-eight and one thousand nine hundred and sixty-seven of the revised statutes, and to repeal section one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two of the revised statutes, and amendatory of section six of chapter two hundred and forty of the laws of 1880, 1881 Act 300. Converted the offices of insurance commissioner and railroad commissioner to statewide elected offices, rather than gubernatorial appointees.
  • Joint Resolution amending sections number four, five, eleven and twenty-one, article four of the constitution of the state of Wisconsin, 1881 Joint Resolution 7. This was the required second legislative resolution supporting the amendment to change the length of legislative terms. The amendment was ratified by voters in the November 1881 general election.
  • Joint Resolution proposing amendments to section four of article six, section twelve of article seven, and section one of article thirteen of the constitution of the state of Wisconsin, so as to provide for biennial general elections, 1881 Joint Resolution 16. Proposed changes to the state constitution to bring all terms for county officers into uniformity, with elections taking place in even-numbered years. This was the first legislative approval for this amendment, a second legislative approval was passed in 1882, and the amendment was ratified by the voters in the November 1882 general election.

Party summary

Senate summary

Senate partisan composition
  Democratic: 9 seats
  Republican: 24 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem. Rep. Vacant
End of previous Legislature 8 25 33 0
1st Session 9 24 33 0
Final voting share 27.27% 72.73%
Beginning of the next Legislature 10 23 33 0

Assembly summary

Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 21 seats
  Republican: 79 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem. Gbk. Ind. Rep. Vacant
End of previous Legislature 28 2 0 70 100 0
1st Session 21 0 0 79 100 0
Final voting share 21% 79%
Beginning of the next Legislature 34 0 2 64 100 0

Sessions

  • 1st Regular session: January 12, 1881  April 4, 1881

Leaders

Senate leadership

Assembly leadership

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Thirty-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature:[4]

Senate partisan representation
  Democratic: 9 seats
  Republican: 24 seats
Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party
01 Door, Kewaunee, Langlade, Marinette, Oconto, & Shawano William A. Ellis Peshtigo Rep.
02 Brown David M. Kelly Green Bay Rep.
03 Racine Albert L. Phillips Racine Rep.
04 Crawford & Vernon Ormsby B. Thomas Prairie du Chien Rep.
05 Milwaukee (Northern Part) Isaac W. Van Schaick Milwaukee Rep.
06 Milwaukee (Southern Part) George H. Paul Milwaukee Dem.
07 Milwaukee (Central Part) Edward B. Simpson Milwaukee Rep.
08 Kenosha & Walworth Joseph V. Quarles Kenosha Rep.
09 Green Lake, Marquette, & Waushara James F. Wiley Hancock Rep.
10 Waukesha Richard Weaver Lisbon Dem.
11 Chippewa, Clark, Lincoln, Price, Taylor, & Wood Thomas B. Scott Grand Rapids Rep.
12 Green & Lafayette John W. Blackstone Shullsburg Rep.
13 Dodge Arthur K. Delaney Mayville Dem.
14 Juneau & Sauk Edwin E. Woodman Baraboo Rep.
15 Manitowoc Joseph Rankin Manitowoc Dem.
16 Grant George W. Ryland Lancaster Rep.
17 Rock Hamilton Richardson Janesville Rep.
18 Fond du Lac (Western Part) George E. Sutherland Ripon Rep.
19 Winnebago Joseph B. Hamilton Neenah Rep.
20 Sheboygan & Eastern Fond du Lac Patrick H. Smith Plymouth Dem.
21 Marathon, Portage, & Waupaca Charles F. Crosby Wausau Rep.
22 Calumet & Outagamie Benjamin F. Carter Harrison Dem.
23 Jefferson Frederick Kusel Watertown Dem.
24 Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Polk, & St. Croix Sam S. Fifield Ashland Rep.
25 Dane (Eastern Part) George B. Burrows Madison Rep.
26 Dane (Western Part) Matthew Anderson Cross Plains Dem.
27 Adams & Columbia Gilbert E. McKeeby Lodi Rep.
28 Iowa & Richland Joseph McGrew Richland Rep.
29 Buffalo, Pepin, & Trempealeau Augustus F. Finkelnburg Fountain City Rep.
30 Dunn, Eau Claire, & Pierce Michael Griffin Eau Claire Rep.
31 La Crosse Merrick Wing La Crosse Rep.
32 Jackson & Monroe William T. Price Black River Falls Rep.
33 Ozaukee & Washington George F. Hunt West Bend Dem.

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Thirty-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature:[4]

Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 21 seats
  Republican: 79 seats
Senate
District
County Dist. Representative Party Residence
27 Adams Solon Pierce Rep. Friendship
24 Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, & Polk George D. McDill Rep. Osceola
02 Brown 1 Benjamin Fontaine Rep. Green Bay
2 James Rasmussen Rep. Fort Howard
3 Maurice B. Brennan Dem. Morrison
29 Buffalo & Pepin 1 Richard R. Kempter Rep. Alma
2 George Tarrant Sr. Rep. Durand
22 Calumet Casper Petersen Dem. New Holstein
11 Chippewa & Price James A. Taylor Dem. Chippewa Falls
Clark, Lincoln, Taylor & Wood Myron H. McCord Rep. Jenny
27 Columbia 1 William T. Parry Rep. Portage
2 Evan W. Lloyd Rep. Cambria
04 Crawford Atley Peterson Rep. Soldiers Grove
26 Dane 1 Samuel J. Coldwell Dem. Mazomanie
25 2 Louis K. Luse Rep. Stoughton
3 Henry B. Howe Rep. Cottage Grove
13 Dodge 1 John Steele Dem. Ashippun
2 William Liscow Dem. Iron Ridge
3 George Jess Rep. Waupun
4 Edward C. McFetridge Rep. Beaver Dam
01 Door Edward S. Minor Rep. Fish Creek
30 Dunn George H. Chamberlin Rep. Rock Creek
Eau Claire Ira B. Bradford Rep. Augusta
18 Fond du Lac 1 James E. Gee Dem. Brandon
2 Benjamin H. Bettis Rep. Waupun
3 John F. Ware Rep. Fond du Lac
20 4 Fred Konz Dem. Marshfield
16 Grant 1 James Cabanis Rep. Smelser
2 Henry S. Keene Rep. Lancaster
3 Edward I. Kidd Rep. Millville
12 Green 1 Cyrus Troy Rep. Monticello
2 Burr Sprague Rep. Brodhead
09 Green Lake William Paddock Rep. Markesan
28 Iowa 1 Melancthon J. Briggs Dem. Dodgeville
2 Jefferson Rewey Rep. Mifflin
32 Jackson Alvin S. Trow Rep. Merrillan
23 Jefferson 1 Humphrey E. Humphrey Dem. Ixonia
2 John D. Bullock Rep. Johnson Creek
3 Samuel A. Craig Dem. Fort Atkinson
14 Juneau 1 Thaddeus K. Dunn Rep. Wonewoc
2 John T. Kingston Rep. Necedah
08 Kenosha Walter Maxwell Rep. Somers
01 Kewaunee Joseph E. Darbellay Dem. Kewaunee
31 La Crosse John Bradley Rep. Bangor
11 Lafayette 1 Albert O. Chamberlain Rep. Darlington
2 Thomas Bainbridge Rep. Benton
15 Manitowoc 1 Thomas Gleeson Dem. Rockland
2 Ira P. Smith Dem. Mishicot
3 Charles E. Estabrook Rep. Manitowoc
21 Marathon John Ringle Dem. Wausau
09 Marquette C. F. Roskie Ind.R. Montello
05 Milwaukee 1 Ashbel K. Shepard Rep. Milwaukee
07 2 Otto Laverrenz Rep. Milwaukee
3 Edward Keogh Dem. Milwaukee
4 Eschines P. Matthews Rep. Milwaukee
06 5 Thomas M. Corbett Rep. Milwaukee
05 6 Henry Herzer Rep. Milwaukee
07 7 William S. Stanley Rep. Milwaukee
06 8 Theodor O. Hartmann Rep. Milwaukee
05 9 Luther F. Gilson Rep. Milwaukee
10 William Pierron Rep. Milwaukee
06 11 David J. Price Rep. Bay View
32 Monroe 1 William J. Austin Rep. Leon
2 John O'Brien Rep. Wilton
01 Langlade, Marinette, Oconto & Shawano Ernst Funke Rep. Oconto
22 Outagamie 1 Henry Clay Sloan Dem. Appleton
2 James McMurdo Rep. Hortonville
33 Ozaukee Charles G. Meyer Ind.D. Port Washington
30 Pierce Franklin L. Gilson Rep. Ellsworth
21 Portage James E. Rogers Rep. Stevens Point
03 Racine 1 Norton J. Field Rep. Racine
2 Sidney A. Sage Rep. Western Union Junction
28 Richland 1 Birney M. Jarvis Rep. Cazenovia
2 John H. Case Rep. Eagle
17 Rock 1 Martin V. Pratt Rep. Evansville
2 Franklin S. Lawrence Rep. Janesville
3 James Menzies Rep. Harmony
14 Sauk 1 Ephraim Blakeslee Rep. Ironton
2 Thomas Gillespie Rep. Delton
20 Sheboygan 1 August Selsemeyer Dem. Howards Grove
2 Maurice D. Fuller Rep. Plymouth
3 Roswell H. Tripp Rep. Lima
24 St. Croix Merton W. Herrick Rep. Hudson
29 Trempealeau Peder Ekern Rep. Pigeon Falls
04 Vernon 1 Torger Juve Rep. Utica
2 Allen Rusk Rep. Liberty
08 Walworth 1 William Meadows Rep. Lyons
2 Dwight B. Barnes Rep. Delavan
3 Lindsey J. Smith Rep. Troy
33 Washington 1 John F. Schwalbach Dem. Germantown
2 Joseph W. Holehouse Dem. Barton
10 Waukesha 1 John Lins Rep. Eagle
2 John E. Seabold Rep. Menomonee Falls
21 Waupaca 1 Sewall A. Phillips Rep. Royalton
2 Charles A. Davis Rep. Bear Creek
09 Waushara Charles W. Moors Rep. Hancock
19 Winnebago 1 William Wall Rep. Oshkosh
2 Selden M. Bronson Rep. Menasha
3 George H. Buckstaff Rep. Oshkosh
4 Thomas J. Bowles Rep. Utica

Employees

Senate employees

  • Chief Clerk: Charles E. Bross[4]
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: W. W. Baker
    • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Charles A. Langridge
  • Postmaster: J. L. Thwing
    • Assistant Postmaster: L. E. Spencer
  • Gallery Attendant: J. J. Marshall
  • Doorkeepers:
    • F. O. Janzen
    • M. Quinn
    • F. R. Sebenthal
    • D. J. F. Murphy
  • Porter: O. L. Wright
  • Night Watch: A. J. Marsh
  • Janitor: Ole Stephenson
  • President's Messenger: Ralph Irish
  • Chief Clerk's Messenger: J. G. Hyland
  • Messengers:
    • Perry Carrell
    • William Burnett
    • John L. Bohm
    • Charles Bucey
    • Albert Fontaine
    • George Kinney

Assembly employees

  • Chief Clerk: John E. Eldred[4]
    • 1st Assistant Clerk: J. F. A. Williams
      • 2nd Assistant Clerk: Peter Philippi
    • Bookkeeper: J. T. Huntington
    • Engrossing Clerk: P. H. Swift
    • Enrolling Clerk: George E. Weatherby
    • Transcribing Clerk: Francis Stirn
    • Proof Reader: Fred W. Coon
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: George W. Church
    • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: J. B. Perry
  • Postmaster: W. W. Sturtevant
    • Assistant Postmaster: George Slingsby
  • Doorkeepers:
    • R. N. Potter
    • Charles Rediske
    • W. L. Peterson
    • Darwin C. Pavey
  • Gallery Attendant: L. T. Stohland
  • Night Watch: Lonis J. Neiman
  • Wash Room Attendant: Frank Lynch
  • Messengers:
    • Eddie Cavanaugh
    • Thomas Gillespie
    • Thomas Wilkinson
    • William A. Price
    • Hugh Edwards
    • James Daley
    • Fred Moll
    • Hayes Selden
    • Louis E. Bainbridge
    • Thomas Bullock
    • R. G. Thomas
    • Frederick G. Isenring

References

  1. "Apportionment". Wisconsin State Journal. April 4, 1881. p. 1. Retrieved March 2, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  2. Heg, J. E., ed. (1882). "Annals of the Legislature" (PDF). The Blue Book of the state of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 250–252. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  3. "By the Governor A Proclamation". Wisconsin State Journal. December 14, 1881. p. 4. Retrieved March 2, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  4. Heg, J. E., ed. (1881). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 491–537. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
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