1st Minnesota Legislature

1857 legislative session February 2026 January 2025 First Minnesota Legislature File:1stMNstatecapitol-1860.jpg 200px Minnesota Legislature United States Minnesota 1857 12 02 1859 12 07 8th Minnesota Territorial Legislature 2nd Minnesota Legislature www.leg.state.mn.us/ Minnesota State Senate 1stMNSenate.svg 37 State Senators Democratic Party Lieutenant Governor William Holcombe President Richard G. Murphy Minnesota House of Representatives 1stMNHouse.svg 80 State Representatives Democratic Party Speaker John S. Watrous,George Bradley The 1st Minnesota Legislature first convened on December 2, 1857. The 37 members of the Minnesota Senate and the 80 members of the Minnesota House of Representatives were elected during the General Election of October 13, 1857. Although the Constitution of the State of Minnesota, which had been adopted by the voters at the 1857 general election, was not ratified by the United States Senate until May 11, 1858, this was the first legislature of the State of Minnesota to convene in conformity with the state constitution. Sessions The legislature met in a regular session from December 2, 1857 to August 12, 1858, with a recess between March 25, 1858 and June 2, 1858. There were no special sessions; however, the regular session continued for 254 days, which still ranks the longest duration of any Minnesota Legislature. Due to the protracted length of the 1857-58 session, it was determined that an 1858-59 meeting of the legislature was unnecessary, and the 2nd Minnesota Legislature did not convene until December 1859.http://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/histleg/sessions.aspx Sessions of the Minnesota State Legislature and the Minnesota Territorial Legislature, 1849-present. Minnesota Legislative Reference Library 12 November 2016 Party summary Resignations and new members are discussed in the "Membership changes" section, below. Senate PartyNews, Notes, and Varieties Vermont Phœnix Brattleboro, Vt. 2 26 December 1857 http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn98060050/1857-12-26/ed-1/seq-2.pdf 20 November 2016 (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Vacant Democratic Independent Republican Unknown End of previous Legislature 6 0 5 4 15 0 Begin 20 0 17 0 37 0 Latest voting share 20 37 0 0 37 0 17 37 0 0 37 0 Beginning of the next Legislature 13 1 23 0 37 0 House of Representatives Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Vacant Democratic Republican End of previous Legislature 19 20 39 0 Begin 43 37 80 0 January 12, 1858 44 36 Latest voting share 44 80 0 36 80 0 Beginning of the next Legislature 22 58 80 0 Leadership Senate Lieutenant GovernorWilliam Holcombe, the first Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota, did not assume office until June 3, 1858. Until that date, Richard G. Murphy served as the President of the Minnesota Senate.https://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail?ID=14084 Murphy, Richard G. Legislators Past & Present Minnesota Legislative Reference Library 12 November 2016 "ltgov" "nb" Since June 3, 1858 William Holcombe (D-Stillwater)http://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/histleg/spres.aspx President and President Pro Tempore of the Minnesota Senate, 1849-present Minnesota Legislative Reference Library 12 November 2016 President of the Senate Until June 3, 1858 Richard G. Murphy (D-Shakopee) House of Representatives Speaker of the House Until March 12, 1858 John S. Watrous (D-Clifton)http://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/histleg/speakers.aspx Speakers of the Minnesota House of Representatives, 1849-present Minnesota Legislative Reference Library 12 November 2016John S. Watrous' profile in Minnesota Legislators Past & Present lists his party affiliation as "Not Available,"https://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail?id=12004 Watrous, John S. Legislators Past & Present Minnesota Legislative Reference Library 20 November 2016 while the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library's official list of speakers of the Minnesota House of Representatives lists "R?" The latter can be presumed to be an educated guess made on the assumption that the Minnesota Legislature was Republican- and Conservative-dominated roughly from statehood until the 1930s; however, the Democrats held substantive majorities in both houses during the 1st Legislature, which fact would tend to indicate that Watrous was more likely a Democrat. Watrous was also given a civil service appointment by the Buchanan Administration at the height of the patronage era—he would not have likely been appointed to such a post if he were not a Democrat. Additionally, Watrous was elected from a district which elected a Democrat to the State Senate, at a time when votes were most often cast by straight ticket in Minnesota, and his election as Speaker appears to have been a party-line vote, in which he was supported by Democrats while the Republicans voted for James Beach Wakefield.https://books.google.com/books?id=lRYtAQAAMAAJ Journal of the House of Representatives During the First Session of the Legislature of the State of Minnesota; Begun and Held at St. Paul, on Wednesday, the 2d Day of December, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-Seven Earle S. Goodrich, State Printer 20 November 2016 "watrousparty" "nb" Since March 12, 1858 George Bradley (D-Belle Plaine)George Bradley's profile in Minnesota Legislators Past & Present lists his party affiliation as "Not Available," while the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library's official list of speakers of the Minnesota House of Representatives lists "R?" The latter can be presumed to be an educated guess made on the assumption that the Minnesota Legislature was Republican- and Conservative-dominated roughly from statehood until the 1930s; however, the Democrats held substantive majorities in both houses during the 1st Legislature, which fact would tend to indicate that Bradley was more likely a Democrat. Bradley was also given a civil service appointment by the Buchanan Administration at the height of the patronage era—he would not have likely been appointed to such a post if he were not a Democrat. Additionally, Bradley tended to vote with the Democrats on party-line votes. "bradleyparty" "nb" Speaker Pro TemporeJohn S. Watrous was initially elected Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, but on December 22, 1857 took a leave of absence in order to attend to private business.https://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail?ID=12004 Watrous, John S. Legislators Past & Present Minnesota Legislative Reference Library 12 November 2016 On the same day, George Bradley was named Speaker Pro Tempore and began to serve in Watrous' stead.https://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail?ID=11346 Bradley, George "Geo." Legislators Past & Present Minnesota Legislative Reference Library 12 November 2016 However, Watrous' absence endured far longer than the House felt was appropriate, and on March 12, 1858 the Speaker's chair was declared vacant and Bradley was elected to serve as Speaker in his own right. "speakerprotem" "nb" December 22, 1857 to March 12, 1858 George Bradley (D-Belle Plaine) Members Senate Name District City Party Adams, Samuel Emery 19 Monticello Democratic Bailly, Henry G. 03 Hastings Democratic Banfill, John 24 Manomin DemocraticMinnesota Legislators Past & Present does not list party affiliation information for Senators Banfill, Carlton, Cowan, Dunwell, Hodges, Hull, Mixer, Moreland, Murphy, Ridpath, Skinner, and Somers. However, the record from the Journal of the Senate During the First Session of the Legislature of the State of Minnesota shows in testimony given in an election challenge that Banfill was on the Democratic ticket. Additionally, the record in the Journal shows Hodges, Ridpath, and Somers voting with the Republicans on party-line votes at a sufficient frequency to warrant a presumption that they were likely Republicans themselves. As it is known that the Senate, in the first legislature, consisted of 20 Democrats and 17 Republicans, it can then be presumed that the remainder of the aforementioned Senators were most likely Democrats. "sen_rep_dem" "nb" Bates, Ersatus N. 04 Minneapolis Republican Beman, Samuel S. 11 Saratoga Republican Carlton, Reuben B. 26 Fond du Lac Democratic Cave, Charles S. 02 Saint Paul Democratic Chase, Jonathan N. 23 Saint Anthony Republican Cook, Michael 05 Faribault Republican Cowan, Thomas 17 Traverse des Sioux Democratic Day, James C. 10 La Crescent Democratic Dunwell, Dennis William Chauncey 03 West Saint Paul Democratic Folsom, William Henry Carman 25 Taylors Falls Republican Hall, William Sprigg 02 Saint Paul Democratic Hodges, Emerson 08 Marion Republican Hudson, Aaron C. 06 Florence Republican Hull, Samuel 09 Carimona Democratic Jones, John R. 09 Chatfield Democratic Lindsley, Charles H. 08 Rochester Republican McKune, Lewis L. 15 Morristown Republican Mixer, Elijah T. 18 Henderson Democratic Moreland, Basil 16 Mankato Democratic Murphy, Richard G. 07 Shakopee Democratic Northup, Anson 21 Swan River Democratic Norton, Daniel Sheldon 11 Winona Republican Phelps, Boyd 13 Elkhorn Republican Reiner, Joel K. 01 Stillwater Republican Richardson, Reuben M. 20 Sauk Rapids Democratic Ridpath, James 12 Tepeeota Republican Rolette, Joseph 22 Pembina Democratic Skinner, George E. 05 Faribault Democratic Smith, Delano T. 04 Minneapolis Republican Somers, Edward W. 13 Ashland Republican Streeter, Oscar W. 10 Unknown Democratic Hewitt L. Thomas 01 Afton Republican Van Etten, Isaac 02 Saint Paul Democratic Watson, George 14 Sumner Republican House of Representatives Name District City Party Atkinson, James B. 20 Forest City Democratic Bacon, Samuel P. 13 Le Roy Democratic Balcombe, St. Andre Durand 11 Winona Republican Bartlett, Amander H. 14 Shell Rock Republican Bearce, Edwin M. 11 Winona Republican Bevans, Henry L. 06 Red Wing Republican Bradley, George 07 Belle Plaine Democratic Bray, Ebenezer 19 Carver Democratic Burgess, Sylvanus 08 Quincy Republican Butters, Reuben 16 Kasota Democratic Campbell, George W. 01 Point Douglas Republican Carpenter, Joseph B. 20 Princeton Democratic Chase, John N. 22 Saint Vincent Democratic Chowen, William Streeter 04 Minnetonka Republican Crosby, John W. 02 Saint Paul Democratic Cruttenden, Joel D. 21 Crow Wing Democratic Cummings, Michael 18 Kelso Democratic Davern, William Q. 02 Saint Paul Democratic DeCow, Isaac 09 Fillmore Democratic Dow, James C. 03 Hastings Democratic Dunham, William N. 14 Unknown Republican Eames, Theodore J. 09 Canton Democratic Fladeland, T. J. 09 Rushford Democratic Foster, Major J. 09 Forestville Democratic Frost, James C. 24 Anoka Democratic Gaskill, James R.M. 01 Marine Republican Gibson, Reuben B. 04 Bloomington Republican Graham, James M. 09 Canton Democratic Grover, Manley 11 Saint Charles Republican Hanson, Hans 06 Red Wing Republican Hawkins, Lewis R. 07 Spring Lake Democratic Heyd, Ernst 19 Scandia Republican Hinkley, James B. 04 Dayton Republican Johnson, S. R. 11 Richmond Republican Johnson, Smith 15 Medford Republican Keith, George H. 04 Minneapolis, Minnesota Republican Kibler, Henry 09 Forestville Democratic Kinghorn, David 07 Eagle Creek Democratic Kingsley, George B. 14 Blue Earth Democratic LeBlond, J. B. 10 Brownsville Democratic Leonard, George L. 15 Unknown Republican Libbey, Charles W. 06 Roscoe Republican Locke, James 03 West Saint Paul Democratic Lord, Samuel 08 Marion Republican Lyle, Robert 13 Lyle Republican Mackintire, Edmund 10 Yucatan Democratic Masters, Robert C. 03 Waterford Democratic McGrorty, William B. 02 Saint Paul Democratic Murphy, M. T. 03 Mendota Democratic O'Neal, Robert 03 Eagan Democratic Otis, George Lamartine 02 Saint Paul Democratic Parker, John H. 05 Faribault Republican Peckham, Joseph 06 Cannon Falls Republican Pettie, George C. 15 Aurora Republican Pierce, Ephraim 17 Saint Peter Democratic Poehler, Henry 18 Henderson Democratic Powers, E. Allen 08 Oronoco Republican Randall, John G. 25 Chengwatana Republican Rauch, Charles 02 Saint Paul Democratic Rehfeld, Frederick 17 New Ulm Democratic Rutan, A. J. 16 Le Sueur Democratic Scofield, John L. 05 Northfield Democratic Seeley, Ira O. 12 Mazeppa Republican Sheetz, Hiram M. 15 Unknown Republican Simpson, Robert 01 Stillwater Republican Starkey, James 02 Saint Paul Democratic Stevens, John Harrington 18 Glencoe Democratic Talbot, Josiah H. 19 Clearwater Republican Tattersall, William K. 08 High Forest Republican Tefft, Nathaniel S. 12 Minneiska Republican Thompson, Matthew 16 South Bend Republican Thompson, Thomas A. 12 Plainview Republican Townsend, William H. 23 Saint Anthony Republican Tuttle, Albert 17 Milford Democratic Vertress, Warren 05 Cannon City Democratic Wakefield, James Beach 14 Blue Earth Republican Walker, L. C. 23 Saint Anthony Republican Watrous, John S. 26 Clifton Democratic Way, George O. 13 Claremont Democratic Willson, Daniel F. 10 Unknown Democratic Young, John L. 20 Unknown Democratic Membership changes House of Representatives District Vacated by Reason for change Successor Date successorseated 14 William N. Dunham(R) Although Dunham was initially seated, the seat was contested by Kingsley on the grounds of issues regarding the validity of votes cast in a single precinct. On January 12, 1858 the House determined that Kingsley was entitled to the seat.https://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail?ID=12630 Dunham, William N. "W.M." Legislators Past & Present Minnesota Legislative Reference Library 12 November 2016 George B. Kingsley(D) January 12, 1858https://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail?ID=12166 Kingsley, George B. Legislators Past & Present Minnesota Legislative Reference Library 12 November 2016 Notes References Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Session Search Results (Session 1, Senate) Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Session Search Results (Session 1, House) First Minnesota Legislature Eighth Minnesota Territorial Legislature Second Minnesota Legislature 1857—1858 01st Category:1857 establishments in Minnesota Territory Category:1857 U.S. legislative sessions