XLVIth Congress, 1879-81. Seventh District. -Herman L. Humphrey. Fifth District.-Joseph Rankin. James R. Doolittle, Jan. 23, 1857; Timothy O. Howe, Jan. 23, 1861; James R. Doolittle, Jan. 22, 1863; Timothy O. Howe, Jan. 24, 1867; Matthew H. Carpenter, Jan. 26, 1869; Timothy O. Howe, Jan. 21, 1873; Angus Cameron, Feb. 3, 1875; Matthew H. Carpenter, Jan. 22, 1879; Philetus Sawyer, Jan. 26, 1881; Angus Cameron, March 10, 1881. The constitution vested the judicial power of the State in a supreme court, circuit court, courts of probate, and justices of the peace, giving the Legislature power to vest such jurisdiction as should be deemed necessary in municipal courts. Judges were not to be elected at any State or county election, nor within thirty days before or after one. The State was divided into five judicial circuits, Edward V. Whiton being chosen judge at the election on the first Monday in August, 1848, of the first circuit, composed of the counties of Racine, Walworth, Rock and Green as then constituted; Levi Hubbell, of the second, composed of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Jefferson and Dane; Charles H. Larrabee, of the third, composed of Washington, Dodge, Columbia, Marquette, The first Legislature in joint convention, on the 7th of June 1848, canvassed, in accord-Sauk and Portage, as then formed; Alexander ance with the constitution, the votes given on the 8th of May, for the State officers, and the two representatives in Congress. On the same day the State officers were sworn into office. The next day Gov. Dewey delivered his first message to the Legislature. The first important business of the first State Legislature was the election of two United States senators; Henry Dodge and Isaac P. Walker, both democrats, were elected. The latter drew the short term; so that his office expired on the 4th day of March, 1849, at the end of the thirteenth Congress; as Dodge drew the long term, his office expired on the 4th day of March, 1851, at the end of thirty-first Congress. Both were elected, June 8, 1848. Their successors, with the date of their elections, were as follows: Isaac P. Walker, Jan. 17, 1849; Henry Dodge, Jan. 20, 1851; Charles Durkee, Feb. 1, 1855; W. Stow, of the fourth, composed of Brown, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Winnebago and Calumet; and Mortimer M. Jackson, of the fifth, composed of the counties of Iowa, LaFayette, Grant, Crawford and St Croix, as then organized; the county of Richland being attached to Iowa county; the county of Chippewa to the county of Crawford; and the county of La Pointe to the county of St. Croix, for judicial purposes. In 1850, a sixth circuit was formed. By an act, which took effect in 1854, a seventh circuit was formed. On the 1st day of January, 1855, an eighth and ninth circuit was formed. In the same year was also formed a tenth circuit. An eleventh circuit was formed in 1864. By an act which took effect the 1st day of January, 1871, the twelfth circuit was formed. In 1876 a thirteenth circuit was "constituted and re-organ ized." At the present time John M. Wentworth is judge of the first circuit, which is composed of the counties of Walworth, Racine, and Kenosha; Charles A. Hamilton of the second, which includes Milwaukee county; David J. Pulling of the third, composed of Calumet, Green Lake and Winnebago; Norman S. Gilson of the fourth, composed of Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Kewaunee and Fond du Lac; George Clementson of the fifth, composed of Grant, Iowa, La Fayette, Richland and Crawford; Alfred W. Newman of the sixth, composed of Clark, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau and Vernon; Charles M. Webb of the seventh, composed of Portage, Marathon, Waupaca, Wood, Waushara, Lincoln, Price, and Taylor; Egbert B. Bundy of the eighth, composed of Buffalo, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix; Alva Stewart of the ninth, composed of Adams, Columbia, Dane, Juneau, Sauk, M rquette; George H. Myres, of the tenth, composed of Florence, Langiade, Outagamie, and Shawano; Solon C. Clough of the eleventh, composed of Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, Polk, and Washburn; John R. Bennett of the twelfth, composed of Rock, | Green, and Jefferson; A. Scott Sloan, of the thirteenth, composed of Dodge, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha; Samuel D. Hastings of the fourteenth, composed of Brown, Door, Mainette and Oconto. The first Legislature provided for the re-election of judges of the circuit courts on the first Monday of August, 1848. By the same act it was provided that the first term of the supreme court should be held in Madison, on the second Monday of January, 1849, and thereafter at the same place and on the same day, yearly; afterward changed so as as to hold a January and June term in each year. Under the constitution, the circuit judges were also judges of the supreme court. One of their own number under an act of June 29, 1848, was to be, by themselves, elected chief justice. Under this arrangement, the following were the justices of the supreme court, at the times indicated: Alex. W. Stow, C. J., fourth, district, Aug. 28, 1848, to Jan. 1, 1851; Edward V. Whiton, A. J., first circuit, Aug. 28, 1848, to June 1, 1858; Levi Hubbell, A. J., elected chief justice, June 18, 1851, second circuit, Aug. 28, 1848, to June 1, 1853; Charles H. Larrabee, A. J., third circuit, Aug. 28, 1848, to Jnne 1, 1853; Mortimer M. Jackson, A. J., fifth circuit, Aug. 28, 1848, to June 1, 1853; Timothy O. Howe, A. J., fourth circuit, Jan. 1, 1851, to June 1, 1853; Wiram Knowlton, A. J.,sixth circuit, organized by the Legislature in 1850, Aug. 6, 1850, to June 1, 1853. In 1853, the supreme court was separately organized, the chief justice and associate justices being voted for as such. The following persons have constituted that court during the terms indicated, since its separate organization: Edward V. Whiton, C. J., June 1, 1853, to April 12, 1859; Luther S. Dixon, C. J., April 20, 1859, to June 17 1874; Edward G. Ryan, C. J., June 17, 1874, to Oct. 19, 1880; Orsamus Cole, C. J., Nov. 11, 1880, (in office); Samuel Crawford, A. J., June 1, 1853, to June 19, 1855; Abraham D. Smith, A. J., June 1, 1853, to June 21, 1859; Orsamus Cole, A. J., June 19, 1855, to Nov. 11, 1880; Byron Paine, A. J., June 21, 1859, to Nov. 15, 1864; Jason Downer, A. J., Nov. 15, 1864, to Sept. 11, 1867; Byron Paine, A. J., Sept. 11, 1867, to Jan. 13, 1871; William P. Lyon, A. J., Jan. 20, 1870, (in office); David Taylor, A. J., April 18, 1878, (in office); Harlow S. Orton, A. J., April 18, 1878, (in office); John B. Cassoday, A. J., Nov. 11, 1880, (in office). The act of Congress entitled "An act to ena ble the people of Wisconsin territory to form a constitution and State government, and for the admission of such State into the Union," approved Aug.6, 1846, provided for one United States judicial district to be called the district of Wisconsin. It was also provided that a district court should be held therein by one judge who should reside in the district and be called a district judge. The court was to hold two Jan. 1, 1849, to Jan. 5, 1852; Azel P. Ladd, from Jan. 5, 1852, to Jan. 2, 1854; Hiram A. Wright, from Jan. 5, 1854, to May 29, 1855; terms a year in the capital, Madison. This was afterward changed so that one term only was held at the seat of the State government, while the other was to be held at Milwaukee. Special | A. Constantine Barry, from June 26, 1855, to terms could be held at either of these places. On the 12th day of June, 1848, Andrew G. Miller was appointed by the President district judge. By the act of Congress of July 15, 1862, a circuit court of the United States was created to be held in Wisconsin. The district judge was given power to hold the circuit court in Wisconsin in company with the circuit judge and circuit justice, or either of them, or alone in their absence. Wisconsin now composes a portion of the seventh judicial circuit of the United States, Thomas Drummond being circuit judge. He resides at Chicago. The circuit justice is one of judges of the United States supreme court. Two terms of the circuit court are held each year at Milwaukee and one term in Madison. In 1870 the State was divided into two districts, the eastern and western. In the western district, one term of the United States district court each year was to be held at Madison and one at La Crosse; in the eastern district, two terms were to be held at Milwaukee and one at Oshkosh. On the 9th day of July, 1870, James C. Hopkins was appointed judge of the western district, Andrew G. Miller remaining judge of the eastern district. The latter resigned to take effect Jan. 1, 1874, and James H. Howe was appointed to fill the vacancy; but Judge Howe soon resigned, and Charles E. Dyer, on the 10th of February, 1875, appointed in his place. He is still in office. Judge Hopkins, of the western district, died Sept. 4, 1877; when, on the 13th of October following, Romanzo Bunn was appointed his successor, and now fills that office. An act was passed by the first Legislature providing for the election and defining the duties of a State superintendent of public instruction. The persons holding that office, with the term of each, are as follows: Eleazer Root, from Jan. 4, 1858; Lyman C. Draper, from Jan. 4, 1858, to Jan. 2, 1860; Josiah L. Pickard, from Jan. 2, 1860, to Sept. 30, 1864; John G. McMynn, from Oct. 1, 1864, to Jan. 6, 1868; Alexander J. Craig, from Jan. 6, 1868, to Jan. 3, 1870; Samuel Fallows, from Jan. 6, 1870, to Jan. 4, 1874; Edward Searing, from Jan. 4, 1874, to Jan 7, 1878; William C. Whitford, from Jan. 7, 1878, to Jan. 2, 1882; Robert Graham, from Jan. 2, 1882, (now in office.) By the same Legislature, a State University was established. The school system of Wisconsin embraces graded schools, to be found in all the cities and larger villages, the district schools, organized in the smaller villages and in the country generally, besides the University of Wisconsin, (located at Madison, the capital of the State). The university has three departments: the college of letters, the college of arts, and the college of law. It was founded upon a grant of seventy-two sections of land made by Congress to the territory of Wisconsin. That act required the secretary of the treasury to set apart and reserve from sale, out of any public lands within the territory of Wisconsin, "a quantity of land, not exceeding two entire townships, for the support of a university within the said territory and for no other use or purpose whatsoever; to be located in tracts of land not. less than an entire section corresponding with any of the legal divisions into which the public lands are authorized to be surveyed." The territorial Legislature, at its session in 1838, passed a law incorporating the "University of the Territory of Wisconsin," locating the same at or near Madison. In 1841 a commissioner was appointed to select the lands donated to the State for the maintenance of the university, who performed the duty assigned to him in a most acceptable manner. Section 6 of article X of the State constitution provides that "pro vision shall be made by law for the establish- to the time of its re-organization, the University ment of a State University at or near the seat of government. The proceeds of all lands that have been or may hereafter be granted by the United States to the State, for the support of a University shall be and remain a perpetual fund, to be called the 'University fund,' the interest of which shall be appropriated to the support of the State University." Immediately upon the organization of the State government an act was passed incorporating the State University, and a board of regents appointed, who at once organized the institution. had not received one dollar from the State or from any municipal corporation. In pursuance of a law passed in 1866, Dane county issued bonds to the amount of $40,000 for the purchase of about 200 acres of land contiguous to the University grounds for an experimental farm, and for the erection of suitable buildings thereon. The next winter the Legislature passed a law which appropriated annually for ten years. to the income of the University Fund, $7,308.76, that being the interest upon the sum illegally taken from the fund by the law of 1862 to pay for the erection of buildings. The University was formally opened by the public inauguration of a chancellor, Jan. 16, In 1870 the Legislature appropriated $50,000 1850. The preparatory department of the Uni- for the erection of a female college, which is versity was opened Feb. 5, 1849, with twenty the first contribution made outright to the uppupils. In 1849 the regents purchased nearly building of any institution of learning in this 200 acres of land, comprising what is known as State. In order to comply with the law grantthe "University Addition to the City of Madi- ing lands for the support of agricultural colleges, son," and the old "University Grounds." In the University was compelled to make large 1851 the north dormitory was completed, and outlays in fitting up laboratories and purchasthe first college classes formed. In 1854 the ing the apparatus necessary for instruction and south dormitory was erected. Owing to the practical advancement in the arts immediately fact that the lands comprising the original grant connected with the industrial interests of the had produced a fund wholly inadequate to the State, a burden which the Legislature very gensupport of the university, in 1854 a further erously shared by making a further annual apgrant of seventy-two sections of land was made propriation in 1872 of $10,000 to the income of by Congress to the State for that purpose. In the University Fund. The increased facilities 1866 the University was completely re-organized, offered by improvements in the old and by the so as to meet the requirements of a law of Con- erection of a new college building proved gress passed in 1862, providing for the endow- wholly inadequate to meet the growing wants ment of agricultural colleges. That act granted of the institution. In its report for 1874, the to the several States a quantity of land equal to board of visitors said: "A hall of natural sci30,000 acres for each senator and representa- ences is just now the one desideratum of the Unitive in Congress, by the apportionment under versity. It can never do the work it ought to do, the census of 1860. The objects of that grant the work the State expects it to do, without are fully set forth in sections four and five of some speedily increased facilities." The Legsaid act. The lands received by Wisconsin islature promptly responded to this demand, under said act of Congress, and conferred upon and at its next session appropriated $80,000 for the State University for the support of an agri- the erection of a building for scientific purcultural college, amounted to 240,000 acres, poses. In order to permanently provide for demaking a total of 322,160 acres of land donated ficiencies in the University Fund income, and to to this State by the general government for the establish the institution upon a firm and endurendowment and support of this institution. Uping foundation, the Legislature of 1876 enacted "That there shall be levied and collected for the year 1876 and annually thereafter, a State tax of one-tenth of one mill for each dollar of the assessed valuation of the taxable property of this State, and the amount so levied and collected is hereby appropriated to the University Fund income, to be used as a part thereof." This is in lieu of all other appropriations for the benefit of this fund, and all tuition fees for students in the regular classes are abolished by this act. The fourth section of the act of 1876, to permanently provide for deficiencies in the University Fund income, is as follows: "From and out of the receipts of said tax, the sum of$3,000 annually shall be set apart for astronomical work and for instruction in astronomy, to be expended under the direction of the regents of the University of Wisconsin, as soon as a complete and well equipped observatory shall be given the University, on its own grounds without cost to the State: Provided, that such observatory shall be completed within three years from the passage of this act." The astronomical observatory whose construction was provided for by this act, was erected by the wise liberality of ex-Gov. Washburn. It is a beautiful stone building, finely situated and well fitted for its work. Its length is eighty feet, its breadth forty-two feet, and its height fortyeight feet. Over the door to the rotunda is a marble tablet bearing this inscription: "Erected and furnished, A. D. 1878, by the munificence of Cadwallader C. Washburn, and by him presented to the University of Wisconsin; a tribute to general science. In recognition of this gift, this tablet is inserted by the regents of the University." The telescope has a sixteen inch object-glass. The size is a most desirable one for the great mass of astronomical work. In 1881 a students' observatory was erected and a wing was added to the east side of the Washburn observatory. In the fall of 1848 there was a Presidential election. There were then three organized political parties in the State-whig, democrat First District- David P. Maples 1852. Elected November 2. At Large-Montgomery M. Cothren. Satterlee Clark. First District-Philo White. 1856. Elected November 4. At Large-Edward D. Holton. James H. Knowlton. First District-Gregor Mencel. 1860. Elected November 6. At Large-Walter D. McIndoe. Bradford Rixford. 1864. Elected November 8. At Large-William W. Field Henry L. Blood. First District-George C. Northrop. 1868. Elected November 3, At Large-Stephen S. Barlow, Henry D. Barron, |