USA > Wisconsin > Rock County > The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc. > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142
WAR OF SECESSION - LEWIS' ADMINISTRATION.
The military officers for 1864 were besides the governor (who was commander-in-chief) Brigadier General Augustus Gaylord, adjutant general; Colonel S. Nye Gibbs, assistant adju- tant general; Brigadier General Nathaniel F. Lund, quartermaster and commissary general, and chief of ordnance; Brigadier General E. B. Wolcott, surgeon general; and Colonel Frank H. Firmin, military secretary. The legislature met at Madison on the 13th of January, 1864. "In response to the call of the General Government," said the governor, in his message to that body, " Wisconsin had sent to the field on the first day of November last, exclusive of three months' men, thirty - four regiments of infantry, three regiments and one company of cavalry, twelve batteries of light artillery, three batteries of heavy artillery, and one company of sharp- shooters, making an aggregate of forty-one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five men."
Quite a number of laws were passed at this session of the legislature relative to military matters : three were acts to authorize towns, cities and villages to raise money by tax for the payment of bounties to volunteers; one revised, amended and consolidated all laws relative to extra pay to Wisconsin soldiers in the service of the United States; one provided for the proper reception by the State, of Wisconsin volunteers returning from the field of service; another repealed the law relative to allotment commissioners. One was passed authorizing the gov- ernor to purchase flags for regiments or batteries whose flags were lost or destroyed in the service: another was passed amending the law suspending the sale of lands mortgaged to the State or held by volunteers, so as to apply to drafted men; another provided for levying a State tax of $200,000 for the support of families of volunteers. A law was passed authorizing the governor to take care of the sick and wounded soldiers of Wisconsin, and appropriated ten thousand dollars for that purpose. Two other acts authorized the borrowing of money for repel- ling invasion, suppressing insurrection, and defending the State in time of war. One act pro- hibited the taking of fees for procuring volunteers' extra bounty ; another one defined the resi- dence of certain soldiers from this State in the service of the United States, who had received
87
WISCONSIN AS A STATE.
local bounties from towns other than their proper places of residence.
At the commencement of 1864, there were recruiting in the State the Thirty-fifth regiment of infantry and the Thirteenth battery. The latter was mustered in on the 29th of December, 1863, and left the State for New Orleans on the 28th of January, 1864. In February, authority was given by the war department to organize the Thirty-sixth regiment of infantry. On the 27th of that month, the mustering in of the Thirty-fifth was completed at "Camp Washburn" -Colonel Henry Orff-the regiment, one thousand and sixty-six strong, leaving the State on the 18th of April, 1864, for Alexandria, Louisiana. The other regiments, recruited and mustered into the service of the United States during the year 1864, were: the Thirty-sixth-Colonel Frank A. Haskell; the Thirty-seventh-Colonel Sam Harriman ; the Thirty-eighth-Colonel James Bintliff ; the Thirty - ninth - Colonel Edwin L. Buttrick; the Fortieth - Colonel W. Augustus Ray; the Forty-first - Lieutenant Colonel George B. Goodwin ; the Forty-second- Colonel Ezra T. Sprague ; the Forty-third-Colonel Amasa Cobb.
The regiments mustered into the service of the United States during the year 1865 were: the Forty-fourth-Colonel George C. Symes ; the Forty-fifth-Colonel Henry F. Belitz; Forty- sixth-Colonel Frederick S. Lovell ; Forty-seventh-Colonel George C. Ginty ; Forty-eighth- Colonel Uri B. Pearsall; Forty-ninth-Colonel. Samuel Fallows; Fiftieth-Colonel John G. Clark ; Fifty-first-Colonel Leonard Martin; Fifty-second-Lieutenant Colonel Hiram J. Lewis ; and Fifty-third-Lieutenant Colonel Robert T. Pugh.
All of the fifty-three regiments of infantry raised in Wisconsin during the war, sooner or later moved to the South and were engaged there in one way or other, in aiding to suppress the rebellion. Twelve of these regiments were assigned to duty in the eastern division, which con- stituted the territory on both sides of the Potomac and upon the seaboard from Baltimore to Savannah. These twelve regiments were: the First (three months), Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Nineteenth, Twenty-sixth, Thirty-sixth, Thirty-seventh, and Thirty-eighth. Ten regiments were assigned to the central division, including Kentucky, Tennessee, Northern Alabama, and Georgia. These ten were: the Tenth, Twenty-first, Twenty-second, Twenty- fourth, Thirtieth, Forty-third, Forty-fourth, Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth, and Forty-seventh. Added to these was the First (re-organized). Thirty-one regiments were ordered to the western division, embracing the country west and northwest of the central division. These were: the Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Eighteenth, Twentieth, Twenty-third, Twenty-fifth, Twenty-seventh, Twenty-eighth, Twenty-ninth, Thirty-first, Thirty-second, Thirty-third, Thirty-fourth, Thirty-fifth, Thirty-ninth, Fortieth, Forty-first, Forty- second, Forty-eighth, Forty-ninth, Fiftieth, Fifty-first, Fifty-second, and Fifty-third .. During the war several transfers were made from one district to another. There were taken from the eastern division, the Third and Twenty-sixth, and sent to the central division; also the Fourth, which was sent to the department of the gulf. The Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seven- teenth, Eighteenth, Twenty-fifth, Thirtieth, Thirty-first and Thirty-second were transferred from the western to the central department.
The four regiments of cavelry were assigned to the western division - the First regiment being afterward transferred to the central division. Of the thirteen batteries of light artillery, the Second, Fourth, and Eleventh, were assigned to the eastern division; the First and Third, to the central division ; the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Twelfth, and Thirteenth, to the western division. During the war, the First was transferred to the western division; while the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, Tenth, and Twelfth, were transferred to the central division. Of the twelve batteries of the First regiment of heavy artillery - "A," "E," "F," "G," "H," "I," "K," "L," and "M," were assigned to duty in the eastern division ; "B" and "C," to the central
88
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
division; and "D," to the western division. Company "G," First regiment Berdan's sharp- shooters, was assigned to the eastern division.
The military officers of the State for 1865 were the same as the previous year, except that Brigadier General Lund resigned his position as quartermaster general, James M. Lynch being appointed in his place. The legislature of this year met in Madison on the 11th of January. "To the calls of the Government for troops," said Governor Lewis, in his message, "no State has responded with greater alacrity than has Wisconsin. She has sent to the field, since the commencement of the war, forty-four regiments of infantry, four regiments and one company of cavalry, one regiment of heavy artillery, thirteen batteries of light artillery, and one company of sharpshooters, making an aggregate (exclusive of hundred day men) of seventy-five thousand one hundred and thirty-three men."
Several military laws were passed at this session : one authorizing cities, towns, and villages to pay bounties to volunteers; another, incorporating the Wisconsin Soldiers' Home; two others, amending the act relative "to the commencement and prosecution of civil actions against persons in the military service of the country." One was passed authorizing the payment of salaries, clerk hire, and expenses, of the offices of the adjutant general and quartermaster general from the war fund; another, amending the act authorizing commissioned officers to take acknowledg- ment of deeds, affidavits and depositions; another, amending the act extending the right of suffrage to soldiers in the field. One act provides for correcting and completing the records of the adjutant general's office, relative to the military history of the individual members of the several military organizations of this State; another fixes the salary of the adjutant general and the quartermaster general, and their clerks and assistants; another prohibits volunteer or sub- stitute brokerage. One act was passed supplementary and explanatory of a previous one of the same session, authorizing towns, cities, or villages, to raise money to pay bounties to volunteers; another, amending a law of 1864, relating to the relief of soldiers' families; and another, pro- viding for the establishment of State agencies for the relief and care of sick, wounded, and disabled Wisconsin soldiers. There was an act also passed, authorizing the borrowing of money for a period not exceeding seven months, to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, and defend the State in time of war,-the amount not to exceed $850,000.
On the 13th of April, 1865, orders were received to discontinue recruiting in Wisconsin, and to discharge all drafted men who had not been mustered in. About the first of May, orders were issued for the muster out of all organizations whose term of service would expire on or before the first of the ensuing October. As a consequence, many Wisconsin soldiers were soon on their way home. State military officers devoted their time to the reception of returning regiments, to their payment by the United States, and to settling with those who were entitled to extra pay from the State. Finally, their employment ceased - the last soldier was mustered out -the War of the Rebellion was at an end. Wisconsin had furnished to the federal army during the conflict over ninety thousand men, a considerable number more than the several requisitions of the General Government called for. Nearly eleven thousand of these were killed or died of wounds received in battle, or fell victims to diseases contracted in the military service, to say nothing of those who died after their discharge, and whose deaths do not appear upon the mili- tary records. Nearly twelve million dollars were expended by the State authorities, and the people of the several counties and towns throughout the State, in their efforts to sustain the National Government.
Wisconsin feels, as well she may, proud of her record made in defense of national existence. Shoulder to shoulder with the other loyal States of the Union, she stood-always ranking among the foremost. From her workshops, her farms, her extensive pineries, she poured forth stalwart
89
WISCONSIN AS A STATE.
men, to fill up the organizations which she sent to the field. The blood of these brave men drenched almost every battle-field from Pennsylvania to the Rio Grande, from Missouri to Georgia. To chronicle the deeds and exploits -the heroic achievements-the noble enthusiasm -of the various regiments and military organizations sent by her to do battle against the hydra- headed monster secession - would be a lengthy but pleasant task; but these stirring annals belong to the history of our whole country. Therein will be told the story which, to the latest time in the existence of this republic, will be read with wonder and astonishment. But an out- line of the action of the State authorities and their labors, and of the origin of the various military organizations, in Wisconsin, to aid in the suppression of the rebellion, must needs contain a reference to other helps employed-mostly incidental, in many cases wholly charitable, but none the less effective : the sanitary operations of the State during the rebellion.
Foremost among the sanitary operations of Wisconsin during the war of the rebellion was the organization of the surgeon general's department - to the end that the troops sent to the ' field from the State should have a complete and adequate supply of medicine and instruments as well as an efficient medical staff. In 1861, Governor Randall introduced the practice of appoint- ing agents to travel with the regiments to the field, who were to take charge of the sick. The practice was not continued by Governor Harvey. On the 17th of June, 1862, an act of the legislature became a law authorizing the governor to take care of the sick and wounded soldiers of Wisconsin, and appropriated twenty thousand dollars for that purpose. Under this law several expeditions were sent out of the State to look after the unfortunate sons who were suffering from disease or wounds. Soldiers' aid societies were formed throughout the State soon after the opening scenes of the rebellion. When temporary sanitary operations were no longer a necessity in Wisconsin, there followed two military benevolent institutions intended to be of a permanent character : the Soldiers' Home at Milwaukee, and the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Madison. The latter, however, has been discontinued. The former, started as a State institu- tion, is now wholly under the direction and support of the General Government.
Whether in the promptitude of her responses to the calls made on her by the General Govern- ment, in the courage or constancy of her soldiery in the field, or in the wisdom and efficiency with which her civil administration was conducted during the trying period covered by the war of the rebellion, Wisconsin proved herself the peer of any loyal State.
-
TABULAR STATEMENT.
We publish on the following pages the report of the Adjutant General at the close of the war, but before all the Wisconsin organizations had been mustered out. It shows that 85,000 brave men were ready to forsake home, friends and the comforts of peaceful avocations, and offer their lives in defense of their country's honor. Twenty-two out of every hundred either died, were killed or wounded. Thirteen out of every hundred found a soldier's grave, while only 60 per cent of them marched home at the end of the war. Monuments may crumble, cities fall into decay, the tooth of time leave its impress on all the works of man, but the memory of the gallant deeds of the army of the Union in the great war of the rebellion, in which the sons of Wisconsin bore so conspicuous a part, will live in the minds of men so long as time and civilized governments endure.
Table showing total number of Volunteers originally in the several organizations from the State, and numerical strength at the close of war.
GAIN BY RECRUITS.
GAIN BY DRAFT.
LOSSES DURING THE SERVICE.
ORGANIZATION.
Original
1863.
1864.
1865.
1863.
1864.
1865.
Veteran Re-
Enlistments.
Total.
Death.
Missing.
Desertion.
Transfer.
Discharge.
Muster- Out.
First Infantry, three months.
810
810
3
5
76
719
First Infantry, three years ...
945
75
66
407
15
1508
235
57
47
298
871
Second Infantry, three years ..
1051
57
80
290
179
110
237
2156
247
5
51
98
945
810
Fifth Infantry, three years ...
1058
210
684
25
50
25
204
2256
285
4
105
88
405
1424
Sixth Infantry, three years ..
1108
58
171
18
79
411
61
237
2143
821
7
79
75
513
1148
Seventh Infantry, three years ..
1029
74
843
12
189
67
218
1932
891
6
44
106
478
912
Eighth Infantry, three years ..
973
52
286
62
16
3
301
1643
255
B
60
41
320
964
*Ninth Infantry, three years ..
870
109
180
43
1
219
1422
175
25
7
191
739 455
Eleventh Infantry, three years.
1029
268
24
62
147
368
1965
348
25
9
319
1264
Twelfth Infantry, three years .....
1045
84
314
22
177
24
1
519 2186
294
26
64
336
1466
"Thirteenth Infantry, three years.
970
169
212
83
83
72
392
1931
183
8
6
321
797
Fourteenth Infantry, three years.
970
60
489
41
85
200
115
272
2182
287
13
97
28
407
1355 320
Fifteenth Infantry, three years ..
801
20
76
1
1
7
906
267
22
46
47
204
1252
Seventeenth Infantry, three years ..
941
77
298
10
186
213
1964
221
5
157
32
448
1101
Eighteenth Infantry, three years ...
962
61
103
84
28
200
71
178
1637
220
78
208
23
265
848
Nineteenth Infantry, three years.
978
26
156
5
54
1484
136
. 46
152
845
805
227
41
115
222
524
1171
288
40
99
261
483
1505
226
45
31
196
1006
Twenty-third Infantry, three years ...
1
118
4
1117
289
J
6
124
416
Twenty-fourth Infantry, three years ...
1003
70
4
6
95
13
1444
422
20
65
165
772
1002
2
1
1089
254
31
125
232
447
865
24
68
3
17
82
1187
231
31
81
221
578
961
2
114
1
1089
296
39
103
184
467
906
69
220
23
1
1219
69
52
46
340
712
Thirty-first Infantry, three years ...
1078
2
52
33
167
710
993
6
370
5
100
1474
275
58
27
189
925
1066
4
22
. 37
170
637
961
1066
14
8
1088
256
29
11
990
9
15
1014
296
21
88
214
708
25
76
64
135
136
1144
211
29
29
195
680
918
8
104
7
1082
108
55
21
208
640
780
780
No Report.
780
776
776
13
578
130
1
1008
57
18
149
188
646
Forty-third Infantry, one year .... 867
38
8
913
70
40
1
89
768
Forty-fourth Infantry, one year ...
877
235
2
1114
57
48
121
92
796
859'
142
/1001
261.
8|
86
801
802
1
78
1266
261
6
51
134
466
848
Third Infantry, three years ...
979
70
284
20 72
85
13
1034
219
21
23
316
Sixteenth Infantry, three years ..
1066
70
547
12
88
155
19
248
2200
363
46
115
88
386
Twentieth Infantry, three years .. Twenty-first Infantry, three years .... 1002
990
12
120
6
1
2
152
15
1009
139
4
180
223
1077
173
71
138
289
406
1018
20
282
236
1196
246
4
56
57
248
585
961
2
125
11
878
8
188
4
892
164
8
2
961
20
283
186
472
Thirty-second Infantry, three years ... Thirty-third Infantry, three years .. Thirty-fourth Infantry, nine months ... *Thirty-fifth Infantry, three years ... Thirty-sixth Infantry, three years ..... Thirty-seventh Inf., one, two & three, Thirty-eighth Inf., one, two & three ... Thirty-ninth Inf., one hundred days ... Fortieth Infantry, one hundred days ..
Forty-first Inf., one hundred days ...
578
6
2
570
Forty-second Infantry, one year ... ... 877
Forty-fifth Infantry, one year ....
06
1129
Twenty-second Infantry, three years,
994
281
10
84
Twenty-fifth Infantry, three years ... Twenty-sixth Infantry, three years .... Twenty-seventh Infantry, three years Twenty-eighth Infantry, three years ... Twenty-ninth Infantry, three years .. Thirtieth Infantry, three years ..
2
287
270
Tenth Infantry, three years .....
916
.
768
177|2 ........ 445
114
196
71
Strength.
Gain by Substitutes.
Forty-sixth Infantry, cuo your ..... ....
914
83.
Forty-seventh Infantry, one year ..
927
Forty-eighth Infantry, one year ....
828
.
178
775
Forty-ninth Infantry, one year ...
986
16
1002
48
6
..
Fiftieth Infantry, one year .....
942
16
8
87
34
714
Fifty-first Infantry, one year ..
841
2
6
42
16
41
406
Fifty-second Infantry, one year ..
880
9
889
8
14
0
47
815
First Army Corps, Infantry ....
1124
295
597
164
83
202
76
1
885
2510
271
5
108
88
557 1641
Third Cavalry, three years ..
1186
324
608
80
18
857
2523
215
126
34
418
1691
Fourth Cavalry, three years ..
1047
82
810
140
16
260
2305
850
28|
74
2
474
+754
Milwaukee .....
83
1
... 58
42
2
84
808
221 .. ..
7
14
48
212
First Battery Light Artillery ...
158
5
35
2
48
243
12
6
30
188
Third Battery Light Artillery ....
170
85
82
1
88
48
294
24
1
15
1
82
171
Fourth Battery Light Artillery.
151
1
64
1
79
804
24
1
5
61
218
Sixth Battery Light Artillery.
157
18
64
1
2
34
276
29
5
9
86
197
Seventh Battery Light Artillery
158
40
50
1
8
92
844
29
9
1
68 237
Eighth Battery Light Artillery.
161
2
90
10|
829
25
1
13
14
58
228
Ninth Battery Light Artillery ..
155
4
53
6
296
6
6
1
56
227 91
Tenth Battery Light Artillery ....
47
89
80
2
279
24
4
2
17
92
Twelfth Battery Light Artillery ..
99
86
121
2
8
81
842
80
1
2
81
105
128
Thirteenth Battery Light Artillery ..
156
22
10
188
14
1
25
8
39
106
Heavy Artillery.
129
103
80
20
361
12,
37
4
22
286
Battery B, Heavy Artillery ..
149
80
6
185
7
17
40
105
Battery C, Heavy Artillery ..
146
11
11
3
171
8
1
31
124
Battery D, Heavy Artillery ..
146
12
71
280
39
9
67
110
Battery E, Heavy Artillery ..
151
153
2
1
150
Battery F, Heavy Artillery ..
4
156
1
10
144
Battery H, Heavy Artillery ..
151
8
154;
10
144
Battery I, Heavy Artillery ..
150
18
163
1
10
152
Battery K, Heavy Artillery ..
148
9
157
3
10
144
Battery L, Heavy Artillery ..
152
8
155
6
145
Battery M, Heavy Artillery ...
152
2
154
3
105
43
87
9
194
84|
8
4
43
58
47
Gibbons' Brigade Band ..
13
1
.....
..
38
do
U. S. Colored Troops ....
171
46
21
5
1
244
do
Army and Navy ...
546
168
Out of State.
14
5
....
394
6868
16868
Unassigned
61]
12
97
537
5217
1798
1325
15784
91379
10868
258
3362
2961
16193
54052
Total.
56792
8361; 11245
2752
2361
5961
Remaining in service Nov. 1, 1865.
November 1, 1865.
t October 1, 1865.
# Drafted men who paid commutation ; volunteers, substituted and drafted men, mustered out before assignment; musters in the field reported by the War Department, without stating organization.
¿ To the number of 615 remaining in the service, November 1, 1865, should be added 145 transferred from the Twentieth and Twenty -third Regimenta.
91
...
25
25
25
Battery A, Heavy Artillery ..
151
2
153
1
146
Battery G, Heavy Artillery ..
152
10
145
Sharp Shooters, ..
15
No Report.
15 88
Blunt's Brigade Band ...
32
714
do
88
52
do
87
1
1
6
89
184
8
20
4
33
270
26
3
60
177
Fifth Battery Light Artilley ....
155
5
212
18
Second Cavalry, three years ....
1127
187
630
198
22
215
No Report.
67|
684|
1444
61 2602
8661.
.
8
81| 29
28
87 812
4
882
9
67
86 *.. ........
958 848 511
28
141
127 *........
486
25
Fifty-third Infantry, one year
9
98
No Report.
98
155
17
Second Battery Light Artillery.
60
66
78
11
60
Eleventh Battery Light Artillery
16
1
5
2
1
29
18
41| 854*
947 985
84
First Cavalry, three years ..
4685
1
1
92
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
TENTH ADMINISTRATION .- LUCIUS FAIRCHILD, GOVERNOR-1866-1867.
The inauguration of the newly elected State officers took place on Monday, January 1, 1866. The legislature, in its nineteenth regular session, convened on the tenth. H. D. Barron was elected speaker of the assembly. The " Union " and " Republican " members were in a majority in both branches of the legislature. "Our first duty," said Governor Fairchild in his message, "is to give thanks to Almighty God for all His mercies during the year that is past." " The people of no nation on earth," he continued, " have greater cause to be thankful than have our people. The enemies of the country have been overthrown in battle. The war has settled finally great questions at issue between ourselves." Among the joint resolutions passed at this session was one submitting the question of a constitutional convention to frame a new constitution for the State, to the people. The legislature adjourned on the twelfth of April, having been in session ninety-three days. At the general election in November of this year, there were elected to the Fortieth congress : H. E. Paine, from the first district; B. F. Hopkins, from the second; Amasa Cobb, from the third; C. A. Eldredge, from the fourth; Philetus 'Sawyer, from the fifth, and C. C. Washburn, from the sixth district. All were republicans except Eldredge, who was elected as a democrat. The proposition for a constitutional conven- tion was voted upon by the people at this election, but was defeated.
The twentieth session of 'the legislature commenced on the ninth of January, 1867. Angus Cameron was elected speaker of the assembly. The legislature was strongly " Repub- lican-Union." The message of Governor Fairchild was read by him in person, on the tenth. On the twenty-third, the two houses, in joint convention, elected Timothy O. Howe United States senator for the term of six years, commencing on the fourth of March next ensuing. This legislature passed an act submitting to the people at the next Fall election an amendment to section twenty-one of article four of the constitution of the State, providing for paying a salary of three hundred and fifty dollars to each member of the legislature, instead of a per diem allowance, as previously given. A sine die adjournment took place on the eleventh of April, after a service of ninety-three days.
To provide for the more efficient collection of license fees due the State, an act, approved 'on the day of adjournment, authorized the governor to appoint an agent of the treasury, to superintend and enforce the collection of fees due for licenses fixed by law. This law is still in force, the agent holding his office at the pleasure of the executive of the State.
On the 27th of March, Chief Justice Dixon resigned his office, but was immediately appointed by the governor to the same position. At the election in April following, associate Justice Cole was re-elected, without opposition, for six years from the first Monday in January following. On the 16th of August, Associate Justice Downer having resigned, Byron Paine was appointed by the governor in his place.
The republican State ticket, in the Fall, was elected over the democratic-resulting in the choice of Lucius Fairchild for governor; Wyman Spooner, for lieutenant governor; Thomas S. Allen, Jr., secretary of state; William E. Smith, for state treasurer; Charles R. Gill, for attorney general ; A. J. Craig, for superintendent of public instruction ; Jeremiah M. Rusk, for bank comptroller, and Henry Cordier, for state prison commissioner. Except Craig, all these officers were the former incumbents. The amendment to section 21 of article 4 of the constitution of the State, giving the members a salary instead of a per diem allowance, was adopted at this election. As it now stands, each member of the legislature receives, for his services, three hundred and fifty dollars per annum, and ten cents for every mile he travels in going to and returning from the place of the meetings of the legislature. on the most
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.