The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin

Compiled and Published Under the Direction of

J. D. Beck, Commissioner of Labor and Industrial Statistics

©1907 Democratic Printing Company, State Printer, Madison [WI]

Part I. Historical Outline of the Admission of Wisconsin to the Union.

[pp. 17-20]

(By Reuben G. Thwaites, Secretary and Superintendent of State Historical Society of Wisconsin.)
Previous to the fall of New France (1763), what is now Wisconsin was held by the French, who had several military
posts within its borders -- the chief among them, at Green Bay and Prairie du Chien, and on Lake Pepin. Upon the assumption of British control, the country northwest of the River Ohio (including the present Wisconsin) was made a part of the Province of Quebec; but by the treaty of peace consequent upon the successful issue of the Revolution (1783), the country became a part of the United States. There were, at first, claims by tide-water States to some of the land in the then Northwest, but eventually these were abandoned, and the district became national domain. By the famous Ordinance of 1787, the trans-Ohio country was erected into the Northwest Territory; the ordinance provided for the ultimate establishment from this Territory, of five States. The story of how Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois were in due course of time detached, will be found set forth in detail in the article on "The Boundaries of Wisconsin," in Wisconsin Historical Collections, Vol. XI. The country west of Lake Michigan and north of the Illinois line, became in course of time, a part of Michigan Territory.
But the great distance from Detroit, at a time when there were no railways or telegraphs, was such as to render the exercise of civil government here, almost impracticable. Hence, after much complaint and recrimination, Congress was, in 1836, induced to erect Wisconsin Territory -- the name being derived from its principal river. It is an Indian name, the exact meaning of which is unknown; popular writers are fond of telling us that it signifies "gathering of the waters," or "meeting of the waters" -- but there is no warrant for this. The earliest-known French form of the word, is "Misconsing," which gradually became crystallized into "Ouisconsin." When the English language became dominant, it was necessary to change the spelling in order to preserve the sound; it thus, at first, became "Wiskonsan," or :Wiskonsin," but finally, by official action, "Wisconsin." The "k" was, however, rather strenuously insisted on by Governor Doty and many newspaper editors, in the days of the Territory. Preliminary Agitation. -- Some of the people of Wisconsin were not long content with a Territorial government. The
Territory was only two years old, when a bill was introduced in Congress for a State government, but the attempt proved abortive. In 1841, Governor Doty, the leader in the movement, had the question put to popular vote, 92 voting for and 499 against it; in 1842, there was still another vote, -- ayes 619, nays 1,821; in 1843, a third attempt was defeated in the Territorial Council; and in 1845, still another met defeat in the House. But at last, after ten years of Territorial existence, popular sentiment had been educated to a general desire for
Statehood. Accordingly, Morgan L. Martin, of Green Bay, then the Territorial representative in Congress, gave notice in the House of Representatives (January 9, 1846), "of a motion for leave to introduce a bill to enable the people of Wisconsin to form a constitution and State government, and for the admission of such State into the Union." He followed this (January 13) by the introduction of a bill to that effect; the measure was approved by President Polk, August 10. Meanwhile, the Council and House of Wisconsin Territory had favorable voted on the proposition, and took time by
the forelock by discussing some of the principal features of the proposed State constitution. This was in January and February, 1846. On the 17th of April, the question of Statehood was passed upon by the people of the Territory, the returns this time showing 12,334 votes for, and 2,487 against. August 1, Governor Dodge issued a proclamation calling a convention for the drafting of a constitution, and apportioning 124 delegates to the various counties; these delegates were elected September 7. First Constitutional Convention. -- The convention was in session in the Territorial capitol at Madison, between
October 5 and December 16, 1846. Don A. J. Upham was president, and Lafayette Kellogg secretary. The membership was as follows: Brown -- David Agry, Henry S. Baird Calumet -- Lemuel Goodell Columbia -- Jeremiah Drake, La Fayette Hill Crawford -- Peter A. R. Brace Dane -- John Y. Smith, Abel Dunning, Benjamin Fuller, George B. Smith, Nathaniel F. Hyer, John M. Babcock Dodge -- William M. Dennis, Stoddard Judd, Hiram Barber, Benjamin Granger, Horace D. Patch, John H. Manahan Fond du Lac -- Warren Chase, Lorenzo Hazen, Moses S. Gibson (known to be living, in December, 1902) Grant -- Thomas P. Burnett, Thomas Cruson, Lorenzo Bevens, Neeley Gray, J. Allen Barber, James Gilmore, Franklin Z. Hicks, Daniel R. Burt, James R. Vineyard Green -- Davis Bowen, Noah Phelps, William C. Green, Hiram Brown Iowa -- William R. Smith, Moses M. Strong, Daniel M. Parkinson, Thomas Jenkins, William J. Madden, Ninian E. Whitesides, Joshua L. White, Thomas James, Andrew Burnside, Moses Meeker, Elihu B. Goodsell Jefferson -- Patrick Rogan, Theodore Prentiss (known to be living, in December, 1902), Aaron Rankin, Elihu L. Atwood, Samuel T. Clothier, Peter H. Turner, George Hyer La Pointe - James P. Hayes Marquette - Samuel W. Beall Manitowoc -- Evander M. Soper Milwaukee -- Don A. J. Upham, Franz Hübschmann, Wallace W. Graham, Garret Vliet, John Crawford, Asa Kinney, Garrett M. Fitzgerald, John Cooper, John H. Tweedy, James Magone, Horace Chase, Charles E. Browne Portage -- Henry C. Goodrich Racine -- Edward G. Ryan, Marshall M. Strong, Frederick S. Lovell, Elijah Steele, Stephen O. Bennett, Nathaniel Dickinson, Daniel Harkin, Chauncey Kellogg, Haynes French, Chatfield H. Parsons, Victor M. Willard, James H. Hall, James B. Carter, T. S. Stockwell (this member never took his seat) Richland -- Edward Coumbe Rock -- A. Hyatt Smith, David Noggle, Sanford P. Hammond, James Chamberlain, Joseph S. Pierce, George B. Hall, David L. Mills, John Hackett, Joseph Kinney, Jr., Israel Inman, Jr. Sauk -- William H. Clark St. Croix -- William Holcombe Sheboygan -- David Giddings Washington -- Bostwick O'Connor, Edward H. Janssen, Patrick Tolland, Charles J. Kern, Hopewell Coxe, Joel F. Wilson Waukesha -- Andrw E. Elmore (known to be living, in December, 1902), Pitts Ellis, George Reed, Elisha W. Edgerton, Rufus Parks, William R. Hesk, Barnes Babcock, Charles Burchard (seat unsuccessfully contested by Matthias J. Boyce), James M. Moore, Benjamin Hunkins (known to be living, in December, 1902), Alexander W. Randall Walworth -- Salmous Wakeley, Joseph Bowker, Charles M. Baker, John W. Boyd, William Bell, Lyman H. Seaver, Sewall Smith, Josiah Topping, William Berry, M. T. Hawes (this member never took his seat) Winnebago -- James Duane Doty The convention, as above constituted, was an able body of thoroughly representative men, of whom 42 were natives
of New York, 29 of New England, and 12 of foreign birth; 69 of them were farmers, and 26 lawyers. The oldest man was 65, and, and the youngest 23. The speeches, as recorded in the newspapers of the day, were of an exceptionally high order of excellence. The constitution which these men framed was submitted to popular vote, April 5, 1847, the result being 14,119 ayes and 20,231 nays. The contest over the document had been of an exciting nature; the defeat was owing to differences of opinion upon the article relating to the rights of married women, the article on exemptions, and those on banks, the elective judiciary, and the numerical size of the legislature. Second Constitutional Convention. -- As soon as practicable, Governor Dodge (Sept. 27, 1847) called a special
session of the legislature, which convened at Madison October 18, and made provisions for a second constitutional convention, with 69 members. Most of the members of the first convention declined re-election to the second; six were returned -- Messrs. S. W. Beall, Warren Chase, Stoddard Judd, Theodore Prentiss, Garrett M. Fitzgerald, and Frederick S. Lovell. The membership was as follows, Morgan L. Martin being president, and Thomas McHugh secretary: Brown -- Morgan L. Martin Calumet -- G. W. Feathersonhaugh Chippewa and Crawford -- Daniel G. Fenton Columbia -- James T. Lewis Dane -- Charles M. Nichols, William A. Wheeler, William H. Fox Dodge -- Stoddard Judd, Samuel W. Lyman, Charles H. Larrabee Fond du Lac -- Samuel W. Beall, Warren Chase Grant -- George W. Lakin, John H. Rountree, Alexander D. Ramsay, Orsamus Cole, William Richardson Iowa -- Stephen P. Hollenbeck, Charles Bishop, Joseph Ward Jefferson -- Theodore Prentiss (known to be living, in December, 1902), Milo Jones, Abram Vanderpool, Jonas Folts La Fayette -- Charles Dunn, Allen Warden, John O'Connor Marquette and Winnebago -- Harrison Reed Milwaukee -- Byron Kilbourn, Rufus King, Charles H. Larkin, John L. Doran, Garrett M. Fitzgerald, Mortiz Schöffler, Albert Fowler Portage -- William H. Kennedy Racine -- Theodore Secor, Samuel R. McClellan, Horace T. Sanders, Frederick S. Lovell, Stephen A. Davenport, Andrew B. Jackson, Albert G. Cole, James D. Reymert Rock -- Almerin M. Carter, Ezra A. Foot, Edward V. Whiton, Paul Crandall, Joseph Colley, Louis P. Harvey St. Croix -- George W. Brownell Sheboygan and Manitowoc -- Silas Steadman Walworth -- James Harrington, Augustus C. Kinnie, George Gale, Experience Estabrook, Hollis Latham, Ezra A. Mulford Washington -- Patrick Pantony, James Fagan, Harvey G. Turner Waukesha -- Peter D. Gifford, GEorge Seagel, Squire S. Case, Alfred S. Castleman, Emulous P. Cotton, Eleazer Root The second convention, which, on the whole, was thought to represent a more conservative element than the first, was
in session at Madison from December 15, 1847, to February 1, 1848. The nativity list shows that 25 men were born in New York State, 24 in New England, and only 7 in foreign lands. The oldest man was 65, and the youngest 25, with an average age of about 37. The members of both conventions were men of high standing in their respective communities; and later, many of them held prominent positions in the service of the nation and the State. The State Admitted. -- As soon as possible after the close of the convention, notice was given in Congress (February
21, 1848) by our representative, John H. Tweedy, of his intention to introduce another bill for the admission of Wisconsin into the Union. March 13, the people of the Territory voted on the new constitution, and it was adopted by 16,799 ayes and 6,384 nays. March 16, in a special message, President Polk submitted to Congress the Wisconsin constitution, with accompanying documents. March 20, Mr. Tweedy introduced his promised bill, which on April 13 was favorably reported from the committee on territories, read first and second times, and referred to the committee of the whole. It was made special order for May 9, and "each day thereafter until disposed of;" and on the 11th was engrossed, read a third time, and passed. The Senate at once took action; May 12, the bill was there read first and second times and referred to the committee on territories; a week later (May 19), the bill was concurred in, and ten days later (May 29) it was approved by the President. The State Begins Business. -- Wisconsin was thus admitted to the Union of the States, by Act of Congress approved
May 29, 1848. Upon the day of the general vote on the new constitution (March 13), the Territorial legislature adjourned sine die,
after making full arrangements for the new government which was to succeed it; for it was well understood what the popular verdict would be. The general election for the first State officers and the members of the first State legislature was held May 8. Upon the
7th of June, Governor Nelson Dewey and his fellow officers were sworn into office, and the legislature opened its first session. Thus the State of Wisconsin began business. Why the "Badger" State? -- In the early lead-mining days in Southwestern Wisconsin, the miners from Southern
Illinois and farther south returned home every winter and came back to the diggings in the spring, thus imitating the migrations of the fish popularly called the "sucker," in the Rock, Illinois, and other south-flowing rivers of the region. For this reason, the south- winterers were jocosely called "Suckers," and Illinois became known as "The Sucker State." On the other hand, lead-miners from the Eastern States were unable to return home every winter, and at first lived in rude dug-outs -- burrowing into the hillsides after the fashion of the badger (Taxidca americana). These men were the first permanent settlers in the mines north of the Illinois line; and thus Wisconsin, in later days, became dubbed "The Badger State." Contrary to general belief, the badger itself is not frequently found in Wisconsin.

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