9th Wisconsin Legislature
The Ninth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 9, 1856, to March 31, 1856, in regular session, and re-convened from September 3, 1856, to October 14, 1856.
Senators representing even-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first year of a two-year term. Assemblymembers were elected to a one-year term. Assemblymembers and even-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 6, 1855. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the second year of their two-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 7, 1854.
Major events
- January 7, 1856: Resulting from a dispute over the 1855 gubernatorial election, both Coles Bashford and William A. Barstow were sworn in as Governor of Wisconsin in separate ceremonies.
- January 15, 1856: Assemblymember William Brunquest, representing Oconto, Outagamie, and Waupaca County, resigned his seat after it was demonstrated that he had actually lost his election to Louis Bostedo.
- March 21, 1856: William A. Barstow officially withdrew his claim to the Governorship, leaving Lieutenant Governor Arthur MacArthur as Acting Governor.
- March 24, 1856: The Wisconsin Supreme Court issued its decision in the case Atty. Gen. ex rel. Bashford v. Barstow, ruling that Coles Bashford had won the 1855 gubernatorial election.
- March 25, 1856: Coles Bashford was sworn in as the 5th Governor of Wisconsin. Arthur MacArthur returned to his previous office as Lieutenant Governor.
- November 4, 1856: James Buchanan elected 15th President of the United States.
Major legislation
- March 20, 1856: Act to annex a part of the county of Dodge to the county of Jefferson,
- March 22, 1856: Joint Resolution in relation to Islands in the Mississippi river,
- March 28, 1856: Act to define the boundaries of the county of Winnebago,
- March 29, 1856: Act to divide the county of Portage and erect the county of Wood,
- March 31, 1856: Joint Resolution of the Senate and Assembly of the State of Wisconsin to the United States, in relation to the removal of the Stockbridge Indians,
- March 31, 1856: Act to set apart and incorporate the county of Burnette,
- September 16, 1856: Joint Resolution in relation to the Stockbridge and Munsee Indians,
- September 30, 1856: Act to apportion and district anew the Members of the Senate and Assembly of the State of Wisconsin, . Expanded the Wisconsin Senate to 30 members, and the Assembly to 97.
- October 6, 1856: Act to organize the county of Eau Claire,
- October 14, 1856: Act to regulate the boundaries of La Crosse, Jackson and Monroe Counties,
Party summary
Senate
Assembly
Sessions
- 1st Regular session: January 9, 1856 - March 31, 1856
- 2nd Regular session: September 3, 1856 - October 14, 1856
Leaders
Senate
- President of the Senate: Arthur MacArthur, Sr., Lieutenant Governor
- President pro tempore: Louis P. Harvey
Assembly
- Speaker of the Assembly: William Hull
Members
Senate
Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Ninth Wisconsin Legislature:| District | Counties | Senator | Party |
| 1 | Calumet, Manitowoc, Sheboygan | David Taylor | Republican |
| 2 | Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Marathon, Oconto, Outagamie, Portage, Waupaca | Perry H. Smith | Democrat |
| 3 | Ozaukee | Bolivar G. Gill | Democrat |
| 4 | Washington | Baruch Schleisinger Weil | Democrat |
| 5 | Northern Milwaukee | Jackson Hadley | Democrat |
| 6 | Southern Milwaukee | Edward O'Neill | Democrat |
| 7 | Racine | Charles Clement | Republican |
| 8 | Kenosha | Christopher Latham Sholes | Republican |
| 9 | Northern Waukesha | Denison Worthington | Republican |
| 10 | Southern Waukesha | Edward Gernon | Democrat |
| 11 | Dane | Hiram H. Giles | Republican |
| 12 | Walworth | Jesse C. Mills | Republican |
| 13 | Lafayette | Charles Dunn | Democrat |
| 14 | Jefferson | S. W. Barnes | Democrat |
| 15 | Iowa, Richland | Amasa Cobb | Republican |
| 16 | Grant | J. Allen Barber | Republican |
| 17 | Western Rock | James Sutherland | Republican |
| 18 | Eastern Rock | Louis P. Harvey | Republican |
| 19 | Bad Ax, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Jackson, La Crosse, La Pointe, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix | William J. Gibson | Democrat |
| 20 | Fond du Lac | Edward Pier | Republican |
| 21 | Winnebago | John Fitzgerald | Democrat |
| 22 | Dodge | Solomon L. Rose | Democrat |
| 23 | Adams, Marquette, Sauk, Waushara | Edwin B. Kelsey | Democrat |
| 24 | Green | George E. Dexter | Republican |
| 25 | Columbia | John Q. Adams | Republican |
Assembly
Members of the Assembly for the Ninth Wisconsin Legislature:Employees
Senate
- Chief Clerk: Byron Paine
- Sergeant-at-Arms: Joseph Baker
Assembly
- Chief Clerk: James Armstrong
- Sergeant-at-Arms: Egbert Moseley