14th Wisconsin Legislature

The Fourteenth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 9, 1861, to April 17, 1861, in regular session. The legislature re-convened in special session from May 15, 1861, to May 27, 1861, at the request of Wisconsin Governor Alexander Randall, to approve funding for a brigade of volunteers for the American Civil War.
Senators representing odd-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first year of a two-year term. Assembly members were elected to a one-year term. Assembly members and even-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 6, 1860. Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the second year of their two-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 8, 1859.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Alexander Randall, of Waukesha County, serving the second year of his second two-year term, having won re-election in the 1859 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events

January 23, 1861: Timothy O. Howe elected United States Senator by the Wisconsin Legislature in Joint Session.
March 4, 1861: Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln as the 16th President of the United States.
April 12, 1861: South Carolina militia began bombarding Fort Sumpter in Charleston Harbor.
April 15, 1861: U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation requesting the states provide 75,000 volunteers for service in the American Civil War.
April 16, 1861: 1st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment raised in Milwaukee.
May 9, 1861: Wisconsin Governor Alexander Randall called for a special session of the Wisconsin Legislature.
July 21, 1861: First Battle of Bull Run took place in Prince William County, Virginia, one regiment of Wisconsin volunteers participated in the battle.
November 8, 1861: Louis P. Harvey elected Governor of Wisconsin.

Major legislation

First session

January 21, 1861: Joint Resolution, co-operating with friends of the Union throughout the United States,
April 11, 1861: Act to apportion the State into Senate and Assembly Districts.
April 13, 1861: Act to provide for apportioning the State into Congressional Districts,
April 13, 1861: Act to provide for the defence of the State, and to aid in enforcing the laws and maintaining the authority of the Federal Government,
April 17, 1861: Act to declare the rights and privileges of such persons as may enroll themselves into the service of the country.

Special session

May 21, 1861: Joint Resolution, authorizing the Governor to be absent from the State during the present war,
May 25, 1861: Joint Resolution, recommending to the War Department the formation of a brigade, and the appointment of Hon. Rufus King to its command,
May 25, 1861: Joint Resolution, in regard to the assassination of Col. Ellsworth,
May 25, 1861: Act to provide for the assistance of volunteers in the service of the United States Government,
May 25, 1861: Act to provide a military force for immediate service to aid in protecting and defending the Constitution and the Union,
May 25, 1861: Act to prevent rendering aid to Rebels,
May 25, 1861: Act to provide for the purchasing of Arms and Equipments for the use of the State,
May 27, 1861: Act to provide for the payment of discharged Volunteers,
May 27, 1861: Act to provide for borrowing money to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, and defend the State in time of war,

Sessions

1st Regular session: January 9, 1861 - April 17, 1861Special session: May 15, 1861 - May 27, 1861

Leaders

Senate leadership

President of the Senate: Butler G. Noble, Lieutenant Governor
President pro tempore: Alden I. Bennett

Assembly leadership

Speaker of the Assembly: Amasa Cobb

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Fourteenth Wisconsin Legislature:

District	Counties	Senator	Party	Residence
01	Sheboygan		Rep.	Greenbush
02	Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawanaw		Dem.	Kewaunee
03	Ozaukee		Dem.	Ozaukee
04	Washington		Dem.	Cedar Creek
05	Milwaukee		Dem.	Milwaukee
06	Milwaukee		Dem.	Milwaukee
07	Racine		Rep.	Racine
08	Kenosha		Rep.	Kenosha
09	Adams, Juneau, Sauk		Rep.	Necedah
10	Waukesha		Rep.	Summit
11	Dane		Rep.	Sun Prairie
12	Walworth		Rep.	East Troy
13	Lafayette		Dem.	Gratiot
14			Rep.	Watertown
15	Iowa & Richland		Rep.	Wyoming
16	Grant		Rep.	Platteville
17	Rock		Rep.	Footville
18	Rock		Rep.	Beloit
19	Manitowoc & Calumet		Rep.	Chilton
20	Fond du Lac		Rep.
21	Winnebago		Rep.	Neenah
22	Dodge		Rep.	Fox Lake
23	Jefferson		Rep.	Farmington
24	Green		Rep.	Monroe
25	Columbia		Rep.	Columbus
26	Dane		Dem.	Black Earth
27	Marathon, Portage, Waupaca, Waushara, Wood		Rep.	Waupaca
28	Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn,, Pierce, Polk,		Rep.
29	Marquette		Rep.	Montello
30	Bad Ax, Buffalo, Crawford, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Tremealeau		Rep.

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Fourteenth Wisconsin Legislature:

Employees

Senate employees

Chief Clerk: John H. Warren
* Assistant Clerk: Stephen Steele Barlow
* Engrossing Clerk: Willard Merrill
* Enrolling Clerk: Edward Colman
* Transcribing Clerk: F. H. Megdeburg
Sergeant-at-Arms: J. A. Hadley
* Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: David M. McBride
Postmaster: James Moore
* Assistant Postmaster: A. B. Finch
Doorkeeper: Phillip Carey
* Assistant Doorkeeper: Henry Case
Fireman: George Wittle
Messengers:
* Walter C. Wyman
* Albert F. Dexter
* Patrick Lanner

Assembly employees

Chief Clerk: L. H. D. Crane
* Assistant Clerk: John S. Dean
** Bookkeeper: Ephraim W. Young
* Engrossing Clerk: Joseph C. Pickard
* Enrolling Clerk: Nathaniel F. Lund
* Transcribing Clerk: Harvey Briggs
Sergeant-at-Arms: Craig B. Beese
* Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Asher Armstrong
* Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Ebenezer Sprague
Postmaster: Hiram Beckworth
* Assistant Postmaster: John N. Stone
Doorkeeper: Joel Barber
* Assistant Doorkeeper: Joshua W. Tolford
Firemen:
* William C. Lasure
* Reese Evans
* Henry N. Solbert
Messengers:
* William H. Barnes
* William Benedict
* William Bennett
* H. M. Bingham
* Charles L. Catlin
* Edwin C. Mason
* William E. Miller
* James H. Neavill
* George D. Potter
* William H. Smith