37th Wisconsin Legislature

37th Wisconsin Legislature
←36th 38th→
Wisconsin State Capitol, 1887
Overview
Legislative bodyWisconsin Legislature
Meeting placeWisconsin State Capitol
TermJanuary 5, 1885 – January 3, 1887
ElectionNovember 4, 1884
Senate
Members33
Senate PresidentSam S. Fifield (R)
President pro temporeEdward S. Minor (R)
Party controlRepublican
Assembly
Members100
Assembly SpeakerHiram O. Fairchild (R)
Party controlRepublican
Sessions
1stJanuary 14, 1885 – April 13, 1885

The Thirty-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 14, 1885, to April 13, 1885, in regular session.[1]

Senators representing even-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first two years of a four-year term. Assembly members were elected to a two-year term. Assembly members and even-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 4, 1884. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of a four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 7, 1882.[1]

Major events

Major legislation

  • March 9, 1885: An Act relating to fire escapes, and amendatory of section 4575a, of the revised statutes, 1885 Act 50. Required easy-to-access metallic or fire-proof fire escape ladders for buildings taller than three floors.
  • March 23, 1885: An Act to regulate the practice of dentistry, and to establish a state board of dental examiners, 1885 Act 129.
  • Joint Resolution to amend section 1, article 10, of the constitution, relating to education, 1885 Joint Resolution 34. Proposed an amendment to the Constitution of Wisconsin to clarify the wording of the section defining the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin and other education-supervision officers. The proposed amendment would also remove the maximum compensation limit for the Superintendent, which had been set at $1200 per year.

Party summary

Senate summary

Senate partisan composition
  Democratic: 13 seats
  Republican: 20 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Dem. Lab. Ind. Rep. Vacant
End of previous Legislature 15 0 0 17 32 1
1st Session 13 0 0 20 33 0
From Mar. 8, 1886 12 32 1
Final voting share 39.39% 60.61%
Beginning of the next Legislature 6 1 1 25 33 0

Assembly summary

Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 39 seats
  Republican: 61 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Dem. Gbk. Lab. Ind. Rep. Vacant
End of previous Legislature 53 1 2 1 43 100 0
Start of 1st Session 39 0 0 0 61 100 0
From Mar. 9, 1885[note 1] 38 99 1
From Mar. 25, 1885[note 2] 39 100 0
Final voting share 39% 61%
Beginning of the next Legislature 34 0 5 4 57 100 0

Sessions

  • 1st Regular session: January 14, 1885 – April 13, 1885

Leaders

Senate leadership

Assembly leadership

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Thirty-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature:[2]

Senate partisan representation
  Democratic: 10 seats
  Republican: 23 seats
Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party
01 Door, Florence, Kewaunee, Langlade, Marinette, & Oconto Edward S. Minor Sturgeon Bay Rep.
02 Brown Thomas R. Hudd Green Bay Dem.
03 Racine Charles Jonas Racine Dem.
04 Crawford & Vernon Joseph W. Hoyt Chaseburg Rep.
05 Milwaukee (Northern Part) Jedd P. C. Cottrill Milwaukee Dem.
06 Milwaukee (Southern Part) Julius Wechselberg Milwaukee Rep.
07 Milwaukee (Central Part) William S. Stanley Milwaukee Rep.
08 Kenosha & Walworth Walter Maxwell Somers Rep.
09 Green Lake, Portage, & Waushara James F. Wiley Hancock Rep.
10 Waukesha John Lins Eagle Rep.
11 Ashland, Clark, Lincoln, Price, Taylor, & Wood Merritt C. Ring Neillsville Rep.
12 Green & Lafayette James Waddington Argyle Rep.
13 Dodge Benjamin F. Sherman Beaver Dam Dem.
14 Juneau & Sauk David B. Hulburt Loganville Rep.
15 Manitowoc John Carey Meeme Dem.
16 Grant Edward I. Kidd Millville Rep.
17 Rock Simon Lord Edgerton Rep.
18 Fond du Lac (Western Part) James F. Ware Fond du Lac Rep.
19 Winnebago Thomas Wall Oshkosh Dem.
20 Sheboygan & Eastern Fond du Lac Ignatius Klotz Eden Dem.
21 Marathon, Shawano, & Waupaca John Ringle Wausau Dem.
22 Calumet & Outagamie William Kennedy Appleton Dem.
23 Jefferson William W. Reed Jefferson Dem.
24 Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Polk, St. Croix, & Washburn Joel F. Nason St. Croix Falls Rep.
25 Eau Claire, Pepin, & Pierce Hans Warner Ellsworth Rep.
26 Dane James Conklin Madison Dem.
27 Adams, Columbia & Marquette William T. Parry Portage Rep.
28 Iowa & Richland Norman L. James Richland Center Rep.
29 Buffalo & Trempealeau Noah D. Comstock Arcadia Rep.
30 Chippewa & Dunn George C. Ginty Chippewa Falls Rep.
31 La Crosse Donald A. McDonald La Crosse Dem.
32 Jackson & Monroe Charles K. Erwin Tomah Rep.
33 Ozaukee & Washington Edward R. Blake Port Washington Dem.

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Thirty-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature:[2]

Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 39 seats
  Republican: 61 seats
Senate
District 		County Dist. Representative Party Residence
27 Adams & Marquette James W. Perkins Rep. New Chester
11 Ashland, Lincoln, Price, & Taylor John K. Parish Rep. Medford
24 Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, & Douglas Charles S. Taylor Rep. Barron
02 Brown 1 Enos W. Persons Dem. De Pere
2 Albert L. Gray Dem. Fort Howard
29 Buffalo Samuel D. Hubbard Rep. Mondovi
22 Calumet & Outagamie 1 Leopold Hammel Dem. Appleton
2 William F. Cirkel Dem. Seymour
3 William LaMure Dem. Kaukauna
4 Leopold Strasser Dem. Stockbridge
30 Chippewa Henry J. Goddard Rep. Chippewa Falls
11 Clark James O'Neill Rep. Neillsville
27 Columbia 1 Ferdinand Schulze Rep. Portage
2 Martin C. Hobart Rep. Fall River
04 Crawford Thomas Curley Dem. Bell Center
26 Dane 1 William F. Vilas (until March 9, 1885) Dem. Madison
Michael J. Cantwell (from March 25, 1885) Dem. Madison
2 Charles E. Buell Rep. Sun Prairie
3 Henry C. Adams Rep. Madison
4 Christopher J. Rollis Rep. Oregon
5 Edward E. Fitzgibbon Dem. Westport
13 Dodge 1 Felix Lynch Dem. Elba
2 John Leslie Rep. Juneau
3 Andrew Bachhuber Dem. Lomira
4 August Schoenwetter Dem. Lowell
01 Door John Fetzer Dem. Forestville
30 Dunn John M. Oddie Rep. Tiffany
25 Eau Claire Thomas E. Williams Rep. Eau Claire
01 Florence & Marinette Hiram O. Fairchild Rep. Marinette
18 Fond du Lac 1 Chester Hazen Rep. Springvale
2 Samuel B. Stanchfield Rep. Fond du Lac
20 3 Andrew Schmidlkofer Dem. Marshfield
16 Grant 1 James V. Hollman Rep. Platteville
2 William J. McCoy Dem. Lancaster
3 Rufus M. Day Rep. Mount Hope
12 Green 1 Daniel H. Morgan Rep. Albany
2 Frederick W. Byers Rep. Monroe
09 Green Lake Lorentus J. Brayton Rep. Marquette
28 Iowa 1 George G. Cox Rep. Mineral Point
2 Jesse B. Huse Rep. Mifflin
32 Jackson Thomas B. Mills Rep. Millston
23 Jefferson 1 Carl R. Feld Dem. Watertown
2 Samuel A. Craig Dem. Fort Atkinson
14 Juneau Edmund Hart Rep. Elroy
08 Kenosha Andrew Patterson Rep. Salem
01 Kewaunee Joseph E. Darbellay Dem. Kewaunee
31 La Crosse Charles Linse Rep. Shelby
12 Lafayette 1 John Mason Rep. Wiota
2 Charles Priestley Dem. Shullsburg
01 Langlade & Oconto William H. Young Rep. Oconto
15 Manitowoc 1 Joseph Miller Dem. Maple Grove
2 John Robinson Dem. Kossuth
3 Charles E. Estabrook Rep. Manitowoc
21 Marathon Sebastian Kronenwetter Dem. Mosinee
05 Milwaukee 1 Hugh Ryan Dem. Milwaukee
07 2 George Poppert Dem. Milwaukee
3 Michael P. Walsh Dem. Milwaukee
4 Robert W. Pierce Rep. Milwaukee
06 5 Daniel Hooker Dem. Milwaukee
05 6 John Lagrand Rep. Milwaukee
07 7 Jacob E. Friend Rep. Milwaukee
06 8 Frank Haderer Dem. Milwaukee
05 9 Gottfried Inden Dem. Milwaukee
10 Charles Elkert Rep. Milwaukee
11 Frederick G. Isenring Rep. Whitefish Bay
06 12 James Lemont Rep. Bay View
32 Monroe 1 William H. Blyton Rep. Sparta
2 Levi Wallace Rep. Sheldon
33 Ozaukee John J. Race Dem. Fredonia
25 Pepin Vivus W. Dorwin Rep. Durand
Pierce Jesse B. Thayer Rep. River Falls
24 Polk Frank Nye Rep. Clear Lake
09 Portage Albert W. Sanborn Rep. Stevens Point
03 Racine 1 Louis C. Klein Rep. Racine
2 Adam Apple Dem. Norway
28 Richland Charles G. Thomas Rep. Buena Vista
17 Rock 1 John Smiley Rep. Plymouth
2 Pliny Norcross Rep. Janesville
3 James C. Bartholf Rep. Milton
14 Sauk 1 Evan W. Evans Dem. Spring Green
2 Alfred F. Lawton Rep. Winfield
21 Shawano Marion Wescott Rep. Shawano
20 Sheboygan 1 Tarrett C. Sharp Dem. Elkhart Lake
2 John E. Dennis Jr. Dem. Greenbush
3 Henry Walvoord Rep. Holland
24 St. Croix Thomas Porter Rep. New Richmond
29 Trempealeau Andrew H. Lewis Rep. Hale
04 Vernon 1 Philip Bouffleur Rep. Jefferson
2 Samuel Sloggy Rep. Whitestown
08 Walworth 1 John B. Johnson Rep. Darien
2 James C. Reynolds Rep. Lake Geneva
33 Washington 1 James Kenealy Dem. Erin
2 Frederick C. Schuler Dem. Farmington
10 Waukesha John Stephens Rep. Waukesha
21 Waupaca 1 Andrew G. Nelson Rep. Waupaca
2 Ambrose S. McDonald Rep. Marion
09 Waushara Samuel R. Clark Rep. Bloomfield
19 Winnebago 1 Andrew Haben Dem. Oshkosh
2 Charles B. Clark Rep. Neenah
3 Frank Challoner Rep. Omro
11 Wood Thomas E. Nash Dem. Centralia

Committees

Senate committees

  • Senate Committee on Agriculture
  • Senate Committee on Assessment and Collection of Taxes
  • Senate Committee on Education
  • Senate Committee on Enrolled Bills
  • Senate Committee on Engrossed Bills
  • Senate Committee on Federal Relations
  • Senate Committee on Finance, Banks, and Insurance
  • Senate Committee on Incorporations
  • Senate Committee on the Judiciary
  • Senate Committee on Legislative Expenditures
  • Senate Committee on Manufactures and Commerce
  • Senate Committee on Military Affairs
  • Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections
  • Senate Committee on Public Lands
  • Senate Committee on Railroads
  • Senate Committee on Roads and Bridges
  • Senate Committee on State Affairs
  • Senate Committee on Town and County Organizations

Assembly committees

  • Assembly Committee on Agriculture – Chester Hazen, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Assessment and Collection of Taxes – C. E. Estabrook, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Bills on their Third Reading – John K. Parish, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Cities – J. E. Friend, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Education – C. E. Buell, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Engrossed Bills – Samuel B. Stanchfield, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Enrolled Bills – R. W. Pierce, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Federal Relations – A. W. Sanborn, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Incorporations – Marion Wescott, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Insurance, Banks, and Banking – W. H. Blyton, chair
  • Assembly Committee on the Judiciary – Pliny Norcross, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Legislative Expenditures – S. D. Hubbard, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Lumber and Manufactures – Thomas B. Mills, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Medical Societies – J. C. Reynolds, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Militia – F. W. Byers, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Privileges and Elections – Charles G. Thomas, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Public Improvements – M. C. Hobart, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Railroads – H. J. Goddard, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Roads and Bridges – George G. Cox, chair
  • Assembly Committee on State Lands – S. R. Clark, chair
  • Assembly Committee on State Affairs – L. J. Brayton, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Town and County Organization – William H. Young, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Ways and Means – Thomas Porter, chair

Joint committees

  • Joint Committee on Charitable and Penal Institutions
  • Joint Committee on Claims
  • Joint Committee on Printing

Employees

Senate employees

  • Chief Clerk: Charles E. Bross[2]
    • Assistant Clerk: Fred W. Coon
    • Bookkeeper: J. H. Whitney
    • Engrossing Clerk: J. M. Hayden
    • Enrolling Clerk: E. S. Hotchkiss
    • Transcribing Clerk: F. J. Turner
    • Proofreader: Adelbert D. Thorp
    • Clerk for the Judiciary Committee: Willard W. D. Turner
    • Clerk for the Committee on Enrolled Bills: John O. Newgard
    • Clerk for the Committee on Engrossed Bills: John O. Newgard
    • Clerk for the Committee on Claims: John O. Newgard
    • Document Clerk: J. J. Marshall
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: Hubert Wolcott
    • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: T. J. George
  • Postmaster: J. F. McKenzie
    • Assistant Postmaster: George A. Ludington
  • Gallery Attendant: Michael Bransfield
  • Document Room Attendant: Frank Partridge
  • Doorkeepers:
    • John C. Frisvold
    • Frederick H. Johnson
    • Alvah Eaton
    • William Crank
  • Porter: O. J. Wiley
  • Night Watch: H. Worthington
  • Janitor: Daniel Corbett
  • Messengers:
    • W. M. Smith
    • Ben Smith
    • Lemuel Parry
    • Elliot B. Davis
    • Ferdinand Werner
    • Adolph Glenz
    • Willis Melville
    • Werner Pressentine
    • Guy Paine

Assembly employees

  • Chief Clerk: Edwin Coe[2]
    • 1st Assistant Clerk: John W. DeGroff
      • 2nd Assistant Clerk: Theodore W. Goldin
    • Bookkeeper: J. T. Huntington
    • Engrossing Clerk: Egbert Wyman
    • Enrolling Clerk: L. J. Burlingame
    • Transcribing Clerk: Ellis C. Oliver
    • Proofreader: D. P. Beach
    • Clerk for the Judiciary Committee: Frank D. Jackson
    • Clerk for the Committee on Enrolled Bills: Robert W. Pierce Jr.
    • Clerk for the Committee on Engrossed Bills: Warren Meiklejohn
    • Document Clerk: H. G. Brown
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: John M. Ewing
  • Postmaster: J. H. Young
    • Assistant Postmaster: Frank M. Durkee
  • Doorkeepers:
    • W. A. Mayhew
    • G. W. Dart
    • A. A. Curtis
    • Fred Dewey
  • Fireman: W. J. Bendixon
  • Gallery Attendants:
    • Goetlieb Schuebbert
    • W. Muntz
  • Committee Room Attendant: L. B. Kinney
  • Document Room Attendant: John H. Pulcifer
  • Porter: James Nolan
  • Policeman: Ed. Dempey
  • Flagman: F. O. Janzen
  • Night Watch: Michael J. Wallrich
  • Wash Room Attendant: Bertie Oftelie
  • Messengers:
    • James Howley
    • Willie Gillett
    • Willie Baker
    • Herman Schulze
    • Eugene Wescott
    • Charles McGee
    • Eddie Sherman
    • Willie Robson
    • Clifford Best
    • Willie Smith
    • Lewis Adams

Notes

  1. ^ Democrat William Freeman Vilas (Dane County 1st district) resigned March 9, 1885, to accept appointment as United States Postmaster General.
  2. ^ Democrat Michael J. Cantwell (Dane County 1st district) replaced William Freeman Vilas.

References

  1. ^ a b Barish, Lawrence S.; Lemanski, Lynn, eds. (2011). "Statistics: History" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 2011–2012 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 709, 714, 717, 719. ISBN 978-0-9752820-1-4. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Heg, James E., ed. (1885). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 416–453. Retrieved March 9, 2022.