USA > Minnesota > Wright County > History of Wright County, Minnesota > Part 14
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On account of the Indian outbreak in 1862, an extra session was called by the governor. It assembled September 9 and adjourned September 29.
1863 .- The fifth state legislature assembled January 6 and adjourned March 6. The sixth district was represented in the senate by Charles A. Warner and in the house by W. G. Butler, C. F. Davis and B. G. Lee.
1864 .-- The sixth state legislature assembled January 5, and adjourned March 5. The sixth district was represented in the senate by Charles A. Warner and in the house by W. G. Butler, John S. Letford and Henry Hill.
1865 .- The seventh state legislature assembled Jannary 3 and adjourned March 3. The sixth distriet was represented in the
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senate by G. D. George and in the house by Frank A. Renz, Ilenry Hill and C. F. Davis.
1866 .- The eighth state legislature assembled January 2 and adjourned March 2. The sixth district was represented in the senate by G. D. George and in the house by Dana E. King, L. Harrington and Chauncey W. Griggs.
By the apportionment of 1886, Carver county was taken from the sixth distriet. Wright, Meeker, MeCloud, Kandiyohi and Monongalia were left in the distriet. It was to be represented by one senator and two representatives.
1867 .- The ninth state legislature assembled January 8 and adjourned March 8. The sixth district was represented in the senate by H. L. Gordon and in the house by Dana E. King and P. W. Savage.
1868 .- The tenth state legislature assembled January 7 and adjourned March 6. The sixth district was represented in the senate by HI. L. Gordon and in the house by Lewis Ilarrington and J. B. Salisbury.
1869 .- The eleventh state legislature assembled January 5 and adjourned March 5. The sixth distriet was represented in the senate by Dana E. King and in the house by W. W. Patterson and D. Pile.
1870 .- The twelfth state legislature assembled January 4 and adjourned March 4. The sixth distriet was represented in the senate by Dana E. King and in the house by B. Abbott and A. H. Reed.
1871 .- The thirteenth state legislature assembled January 8 and adjourned Mareh 3. The sixth distriet was represented in the senate by W. T. Bonniwell and in the house by W. H. Green- leaf and Andrew Railson.
By the apportionment of 1871 Wright county for the first time constituted a separate distriet. It was designated the thirty- second and was to have one senator and two representatives.
1872 .- The fourteenth state legislature assembled January 2 and adjourned March 2. The thirty-second district was repre- sented in the senate by G. A. Ruckholdt and in the house by F. X. Lafond and C. B. Jackson.
1873 .- The fifteenth state legislature assembled January 7 and adjourned March 7. The thirty-second distriet was repre- sented in the senate by G. A. Ruekholdt and in the house by J. E. Jenks and T. G. Mealey.
1874 .- The sixteenth state legislature assembled January 6 and adjourned March 6. The thirty-second distriet was repre- sented in the senate by T. G. Mealey and in the house by Nathan Warner and Valentine Eppel.
1875 .- The seventeenth state legislature assembled January 5 and adjourned March 5. The thirty-second distriet was repre-
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sented in the senate by T. G. Mealey and in the house by Nathan Warner and Valentine Eppel.
1876 .- The eighteenth state legislature assembled January 4 and adjourned March 3. The thirty-second distriet was repre- sented in the senate by J. N. Stacy and in the house by Nathan Warner and John Oakes.
1877 .- The nineteenth state legislature assembled January 2 and adjourned March 2. The thirty-second distriet was repre- sented in the senate by J. N. Stacy and in the house by A. Peter- son and Elijah J. Cutts.
1878 .- The twentieth state legislature assembled January S and adjourned March 8. The thirty-second distriet was repre- sented in the senate by T. G. Mealey and in the house by Nathan Warner and L. H. Rawson.
1879 .- The twenty-first state legislature assembled January 7 and adjourned March 7. The thirty-second distriet was repre- sented in the senate by T. G. Mealey and in the house by J. N. Stacy and Henry Moores.
1881 .- The twenty-second state legislature assembled January 4 and adjourned March 4. The thirty-second distriet was repre- sented in the senate by T. G. Mealey and in the house by E. J. Cutts and T. C. Porter.
An extra session was called for the purpose of considering the legislation at the regular session relating to the state railroad bonds, which were declared unconstitutional by the supreme court. The session commenced October 11 and closed Novem- ber 13.
By the apportionment of 1881, Wright and Sherburne counties were nnited as the thirty-third distriet. The distriet was to have one senator and three representatives. Beginning with 1881, the sessions of the legislature have been biennial. However, annual elections continued to be held until 1886.
1883 .- The twenty-third state legislature assembled January 2 and adjourned March 2. The thirty-third distriet was repre- sented in the senate by W. H. Houlton and in the house by J. Smith, T. C. Porter and H. Holmstrom.
1885 .- The twenty-fourth state legislature assembled Janu- ary 6 and adjourned March 6. The thirty-third distriet was rep- resented in the senate by W. II. Hloulton and in the house by T. C. Porter, H. Holmstrom and J. Smith.
1887 .- The twenty-fifth state legislature assembled January 4, and adjourned March 4. The thirty-third distriet was repre- sented in the senate by A. Y. Eaton, and in the house by H. Kreis, F. E. Latham and E. F. Hurd.
1889 .- The twenty-sixth state legislature assembled January 8, and adjourned April 23. The thirty-third distriet was repre-
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sented in the senate by A. Y. Eaton and in the house by Henry Kreis, John N. Haven and Il. Hohustrom.
By the apportionment of 1889, Wright and a part of Sher- burne county were constituted the thirty-eighth district with one senator and four representatives.
1891 .- The twenty-seventh state legislature assembled Janu- ary 6, and adjourned April 20. The thirty-eighth distriet was represented in the senate by A. Y. Eaton and in the house by Jolt: A. Holler, J. L. Harwiek, Henry Berning and I. C. Bull.
1893 .- The twenty-eighth state legislature assembled January 3, and adjourned April 18. The thirty-eighth distriet was repre- sented in the senate by A. Y. Eaton and in the house by II. E. Craig, S. J. Swanson, Wm. D. MeDonald and JJohn A. Holler.
1895 .- The twenty-ninth state legislature assembled January 8, and adjourned April 23. The thirty-eighth distriet was repre- sented in the senate by W. E. Culkin and in the house by HI. E. Craig, A. N. Dare. S. J. Swanson and C. C. Rice.
1897 .- The thirtieth state legislature assembled January 5, and adjourned April 21. The thirty-eighth distriet was represented in the senate by Wm. E. Culkin and in the house by A. N. Dare, J. M. Belden, G. P. Boutwell and Ole Mattson.
By the apportionment of 1897, Wright county again became a separate distriet. It was designated the forty-sixth, with one senator and two representatives.
1899 .- The thirty-first state legislature assembled January 3, and adjourned April 18. The forty-sixth district was represented in the senate by E. Y. Chilton and in the house by Frank Swanson and G. P. Boutwell.
1901 .- The thirty-second state legislature assembled January 8, and adjourned April 12. The forty-sixth district was repre- sented in the senate by E. Y. Chilton and in the house by John T. Alley and Frank Swanson.
An extra session was called for the purpose of considering the report of the tax commission ereated by the act of 1901. The extra session convened February 4, 1902, and adjourned March 11, 1902.
1903 .- The thirty-third state legislature assembled January 6, and adjourned April 12. The forty-sixth distriet was represented in the senate by George C. Carpenter and in the house by E. M. Nagel and C. J. Carlson.
1905 .- The thirty-fourth state legislature assembled January 7, and adjourned April 18. The forty-sixth district was repre- sented in the senate by J. T. Alley, and in the house by A. Hana- ford and A. J. Wood.
1907 .- The thirty-fifth state legislature assembled January 8. and adjourned April 24. The forty-sixth distriet was represented
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in the senate by Geo. C. Carpenter and in the house by E. M. Nagel and A. J. Wood.
1909 .- The thirty-sixth state legislature assembled January 5, and adjourned April 22. The forty-sixth district was represented in the senate by Geo. C. Carpenter and in the house by E. M. Nagel and C. J. Carlson.
1911 .- The thirty-seventh state legislature assembled January 6, and adjourned April 19. The forty-sixth district was repre- sented in the senate by Geo. C. Carpenter and in the house by J. F. Lee and August Hafften.
1913 .- The thirty-cighth state legislature assembled January 7 and adjourned April 24. The forty-sixth district was repre- sented in the senate by Geo. C. Carpenter and in the house by August Hafften and J. F. Lee.
At several successive sessions of the legislature prior to that of 1913 attempts had been made to secure a new apportionment. The last had been in 1897 and a great change in the population had taken place in the meantime-the northern part of the state having increased while in the southern part the gain had been slight, in some counties an actual loss having taken place. At the 1913 session, after a protracted struggle, a compromise bill was agreed upon, by which the number of senators was increased to 67 and the number of representatives to 130, although the legis- lature was already one of the largest in the United States and altogether out of proportion to the population. By this appor- tionment, Wright county became the twenty-seventh district with one senator and two representatives.
1915 .- The thirty-ninth legislature assembled January 4 and adjourned April 22. The twenty-seventh district was represented in the senate by J. T. Alley, and in the house by August IIafften and J. E. Madigan.
CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION.
Wright county has been represented in congress since Minne- sota became a state as follows: W. W. Phelps, Democrat (Good- hue county), May 12, 1858 to March 4, 1859; Cyrus Aldrich, Re- publiean (Hennepin connty), March 4, 1859 to March 4, 1863; Ignatius Donnelly, Republican (Dakota county), March 4, 1863 to March 4, 1869; Eugene M. Wilson, Democrat (Hennepin county), March 4, 1869 to March 4, 1871; John T. Averill, Rc- publican (Ramsey county), March 4, 1871 to March 4, 1875; Will- iam S. King, Republican (Hennepin county), March 4, 1875 to March 4, 1877; Jacob H. Stewart, Republican (Ramsey county), March 4, 1877 to March 4, 1879; William D. Washburn, Republi- ean (Hennepin connty), March 4, 1879 to March 4, 1883; William D. Washburn, Republican (Hennepin county), March 4, 1883 to March 4, 1885; J. B. Gilfillan, Republican, March 4, 1885 to March
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4, 1887 : Edmund Rice, Democrat, March 4, 1887 to March 4, 1889 ; S. P. Snider, Republican, March 4, 1889 to March 4, 1891 ; J. N. Castle, Democrat, March 4, 1891 to March 4, 1893; M. R. Bald- win, Demoerat (St. Louis county), March 4, 1893 to March 4, 1895 ; Charles A. Towne, Republican (St. Louis county), March 4, 1895 to March 4, 1897; Page Morris, Republican (St. Louis county), March 4, 1897 to March 4, 1903; C. B. Buekman, Repub- liean (Morrison county), March 4, 1903 to March 4, 1907 ; Charles A. Lindburgh, Republican (Morrison county), March 4, 1907 to March 4, 1911.
Until Minnesota became a state it had only one representative in congress, a territorial delegate, who was not allowed to vote. The first territorial delegate from Minnesota was Henry II. Sib- ley, who was first sent ostensibly as a delegate from the territory of Wisconsin, though living on the present site of Mendota, at the mouth of the Minnesota river. Ile sat as a territorial delegate from January 15, 1849, to March 4, 1853. He was succeeded by Henry M. Riee, who served from December 5, 1853, to March 4, 1857. W. W. Kingsbury was elected to succeed him and served from December 7, 1857, to March 3, 1859. As has been noted, the United States senate, February 23, 1857, passed an act authoriz- ing the people of Minnesota to form a constitution preparatory to their admission to the Union. In accordance with the provisions of this enabling act, a constitutional convention was held July 13, 1857. at the territorial capital. October 13, 1857, an election was held, when the constitution was adopted and a full list of state officers elected. Three congressmen were also elected at this time, George L. Becker, W. W. Phelps and J. M. Cavanaugh. But it was afterwards found that Minnesota was entitled to only two congressmen and the matter was amicably adjusted by the with- drawal of Mr. Beeker. By this election the Messrs. Phelps and Cavanaugh became the first members of congress from the state of Minnesota.
For a time the two congressmen were elected "at large," though in order to comply with constitutional requirements there was a nominal division of the state into two distriets, one being said to represent the northern district and the other the southern distriet.
By the apportionment of 1872, the state was divided into three congressional districts. Wright eounty was included in the third distriet, with Ramsey, Hennepin and various counties to the north.
The apportionment of 1881 divided the state into five districts. Wright county was in the fourth district with Washingon, Ram- sey, IIennepin, Pine Kanabee, Anoka, Chisago, Isanti and Shur- burne counties.
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The next apportionment, that of 1891, inereased the number of congressional distriets to seven. Wright county was placed in the sixth district with Aitkin, Anoka, Beltrami, Benton, Carl- ton, Cass, Cook, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasea, Lake, Mille Laes, Morrison, Pine, St. Louis, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd and Wadena counties.
In 1901 the state was divided into nine congressional districts. Wright county still remained in the sixth district. The other connties in the district were: Benton, Cass, Crow Wing, Doug- las, Hubbard, Meeker, Morrison, Sherburne, Todd, Wadena and Stearns.
The federal census of 1910 gave Minnesota an additional mem- ber of Congress, who was elected at large at the election held Nov. 4, 1912.
In 1913 the state was divided into ten districts. Wright county was placed in the tenth distriet. The rest of the territory in the district consisted of the counties of Pine, Chisago, Kanabee, Mille Lacs, Isanti and Anoka, and all of the county of Hennepin (except the town of St. Anthony), outside of the city of Minne- apolis, and the third, fourth and tenth wards of the eity of Minneapolis.
CHAPTER VIII.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
Original Counties - Dakotah County - Cass County - Sibley County-Nocollet County-Wright County Created-Naming the County-First Officers-Early Precincts-Early County Commissioners - Supervisors - Commission System Again - Doings of the Successive Boards-County Officers-County Property-Courthouse-County Farm.
Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial governor of Minnesota, arrived at St. Paul with his family May 27, 1849. June 1, 1849, he issued a proclamation deelaring the territory duly organized. June 11 a second proclamation was issued, dividing the territory into three temporary judicial distriets. The first comprised the eounty of St. Croix. The county of La Pointe and the region north and west of the Mississippi and north of the Minnesota and of a line running due west from the headwaters of the Min- nesota to the Missouri river, constituted the second. The coun- try west of the Mississippi and south of the Minnesota, formed the third distriet. Judge Goodrich was assigned to the first, Judge Meeker to the second, and Judge Cooper to the third. A eourt was ordered to be held at Stillwater on the second Mon- day, at the Falls of St. Anthony on the third, and at Mendota
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on the fourth Monday of August. Wright county was included in the second district, with Judge Meeker on the bench.
Until June 26 Governor Ramsey and family had been guests of IIon. H. H. Sibley, at Mendota. On the afternoon of that day they arrived at St. Paul in a bireb-bark canoe and became per- manent residents at the capital. On July 1 a land office was established at Stillwater, and A. Van Vorhees, after a few weeks, became the registrar.
On July 7 a proclamation was issued, dividing the territory into seven council districts, and ordering an election to be held on the first day of August, for one delegate to represent the peo- ple in the House of Representatives of the United States, for nine councillors and eighteen representatives, to constitute the Legislative Assembly of Minnesota. Wright county was included in the seventh district.
Original Counties. The first territorial legislature assembled September 3, 1849, and adjourned November 1. By an act approved October 27, 1849, the territory was divided into nine counties : Washington, Ramsey. Benton, Itasea, Wabashaw, Dakotah, Wahnahta, Mahkahto and Pembina. Only the counties of Washington, Ramsey and Benton were fully organized for all county purposes. The others were organized only for the pur- pose of the appointment of justices of the peace, constables and such other judicial and ministerial offices as might be specially provided for. They were entitled to any number of justices of the peace and constables, not exceeding six, to be appointed by the governor, their term of office was to be two years unless sooner removed by the governor, and they were made conserv- ators of the peace. The county of Dakotah, among others, was attached to Ramsey county for judicial purposes. The county of Ramsey was constituted the first judicial district and Aaron Goodrich was assigned as judge thereof. St. Paul was made the seat of justice of Ramsey county and the terms of the district court were appointed to be held there every year on the second Monday of April and the second Monday of September.
Dakotah County. Dakotah county, as "erected" by the act of October 27, 1849, included what is now Wright county. Its eastern boundary was the Mississippi, its northern boundary was a line drawn due west from the mouth of the Clearwater river, its southern boundary was a line drawn due west from a point ou the Mississippi opposite the mouth of the St. Croix, while the western boundary was the Missouri river.
The legislature of 1851. by Chapter 1 of the Revised Statutes, passed Jannary 1. divided the territory into Benton, Dakotah, Itasea, Cass, Pembina, Ramsey, Washington, Chisago and Waba- shaw counties and defines their borders.
Dakota (the final "h" having been dropped) county was
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made to consist of all that part of the territory west of the Mississippi river and lying west of the county of Wabashaw and south of a line beginning at the mouth of the Crow river and up that river and the north branch thereof to its source, and thence due west to the Missouri river. By this revision the part of what is now Wright county that lies south of the Crow river still remained in Dakota county.
Dakota county was attached, as before, to Ramsey county for judicial purposes.
Cass County. By the Revision of 1851 which left in Dakota county that part of the present Wright county that lies south of the north fork of the Crow river; that part of the present county which lies north of that stream was included in Cass county. The boundaries of Cass county are described in the act as follows: "Beginning at the mouth of the Crow river; thence up the Mississippi river to Itasca lake; thence on a direct line to Otter Tail lake; thence in a direct line to the source of the Long Prairie river ; thence south to the northern boundary line of Dakota (at the source of the north fork of the Crow river) ; thence along said line to the place of beginning. The northern boundary of Dakota county thus described was the north fork of the Crow river to its junction with the south fork, and thence to the Mississippi river. Cass county was attached to Benton county for judicial purposes. Court was to be held at or near Sauk Rapids. The northern part of what is now Wright county remained in Cass county until February 20, 1855, when Wright county was organized.
Sibley County. By act of March 5, 1853, various counties were created. Among them was Sibley county. The county was bounded as follows: Beginning at the northwest corner of Hennepin (where the forks of the Crow river join near Rock- ford), thence up the north fork of the Crow river to its second fork, thence in a direct line to the mouth of the Rush river (near the present site of Henderson, in the present Sibley eounty), thence down the Mississippi river to Hennepin county, and thence along the line of said county to the place of beginning. This includes that part of Wright county lying south of the north fork of the Crow river. To the east of Sibley lay Nicollet county, created by the same aet. It is possible that the south- western part of what is now Wright county was included in Nicollet county. The exact location of the "second fork" described in the act is rather uncertain, and at this late date it is difficult to determine just where the lawmakers intended that the dividing line between Sibley and Nicollet counties should be located. Nicollet county was fully organized. Sibley county was attached to Hennepin county for judicial purposes and was not organized until March 2, 1854.
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Wright County Created. By an aet approved February 20, 1855, the territorial legislature created a member of counties. Among them was Wright county. The boundaries were deseribed as follows: "Beginning at the northeast corner of Davis county, running thenee south on the east line of said county to the north line of Carver county ; thenee east on the north line of said county to the township line between ranges 24 and 25, west of the fifth meridian ; thence north on said line to the Crow river; thence down the center of Crow river to the Mississippi river ; thenee up the main channel of the said Mississippi river to the mouth of the Clearwater river ; thence up the middle of the said Clearwater river to the place of beginning." These lines are the present boundaries of Wright county, and have remained unchanged since that time. The deseription of the boundary, however, is now obsolete, as there is no longer a Davis county, and Carver county has been eurtailed.
As late as 1855 there were only ninety-two men in Wright county who voted for delegates to Congress. Of these Riee received 11 votes, Marshall 63 and Olmsted 18.
Naming the County. Early in 1855 a meeting was held by the citizens of Monticello to take steps to organize a new county. W. G. McCrory, S. T. Creighton and Samuel M. MeManus were appointed a committee to go to St. Paul and present the matter to the territorial legislature. The committee started on their mission, and as there was no road on the west side of the river, they went to Big Lake, in Sherburne county, and took the Bur- bank stage for St. Paul.
After getting aboard the stage, Mr. MeCrory said: "Well, gentlemen, our people failed to suggest a new name for the county last night ; now, I have in New York state a very partieu- lar politieal friend whom I would much like to see honored by naming our county after him; it is true that he is a Whig and you are both Demoerats, but I hope that at this time you will lay aside all politieal animosities and agree to name the proposed new county Seward, in honor of Hon. William H. Seward."
Ilis companions, however, would not agree to that proposition, and Mr. MeCrory proposed a second choice. He said: "There is a man in Orange county, my native county in New York, a personal friend of mine ; you would probably have no objection to naming the county after him, and thus giving him lasting fame. He is a Demoerat, not, it is true, my political friend, but a man whom I greatly respect. Ile is the Hon. Silas Wright." The other two gentlemen were willing, and thus the name of the county was chosen.
First Officers. Soon after the establishment of the county, Governor Willis A. Gorman named as county commissioners JJohn MeDonald, Sr., Archie Downie and J. D. Taylor. Monticello
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was designated as the county seat, and there the board of com- missioners held their first meeting on April 9, 1855, the first- named commissioner being chosen as chairman. John O. Haven was appointed clerk of the board and registrar of deeds; Herbert W. McCrory, sheriff ; William Creighton, district attorney ; James C. Beekman, county treasurer; Israel Record, judge of probate ; John O. Haven, county surveyor; Row Brasie, coroner; Selah Markham, Joseph Brown and Dudley P. Chase, assessors.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
As previously noted, the first meeting of county commissioners was held April 9, 1855, at Monticello. John McDonald, Sr., Archie Downie and J. D. Taylor constituted the board. Mr. McDonald was appointed chairman, and a full list of officers was chosen.
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