16th Wisconsin Legislature

The Sixteenth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 14, 1863, to April 2, 1863, in regular session.

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 4, 1862. 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 5, 1861.

Major events

 * January 1, 1863: U.S. President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation went into effect.
 * April 30–May 8, 1863: Battle of Chancellorsville took place in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Six regiments of Wisconsin Volunteers participated in the battle.
 * May 18–July 4, 1863: Siege of Vicksburg took place in Warren County, Mississippi. Seventeen regiments of Wisconsin Volunteers participated in the siege.
 * July 1–3, 1863: Battle of Gettysburg took place near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Six regiments of Wisconsin Volunteers participated in the battle. Future-Governor of Wisconsin Lucius Fairchild and future State Treasurer Henry Baetz were wounded.
 * November 3, 1863: James T. Lewis elected Governor of Wisconsin.

Major legislation

 * March 13, 1863: Joint Resolution recommending Colonels J. C. Starkweather and Geo. E. Bryant to promotion, 1863 Joint Resolution 2
 * March 25, 1863: Joint Resolution relative to adopting state flag, 1863 Joint Resolution 4
 * March 26, 1863: Act to provide for continuing the work on the state capitol, 1863 Act 107
 * March 28, 1863: Act to authorize the borrowing of money to repel invasion, suppress insurrection and defend the state in time of war, 1863 Act 157
 * April 1, 1863: Act authorizing the governor to take care of the sick and wounded soldiers of the Wisconsin volunteers, and appropriating money out of the treasury for that purpose, 1863 Act 196
 * April 1, 1863: Act to provide for compensating parties whose property may be injured or destroyed in consequence of mobs or riots, 1863 Act 211
 * April 1, 1863: Act to provide for the enrollment of persons liable to perform military duty, and the organization of the state militia for active service, 1863 Act 242
 * April 2, 1863: Act to provide for the relief of families of persons who may die in the military service of the United States or of the state of Wisconsin, 1863 Act 264

Sessions

 * 1st Regular session: January 14, 1863 – April 2, 1863

Senate leadership

 * President of the Senate: Vacant
 * President pro tempore: Wyman Spooner

Assembly leadership

 * Speaker of the Assembly: J. Allen Barber

Members of the Senate
Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Sixteenth Wisconsin Legislature:

Members of the Assembly
Members of the Assembly for the Sixteenth Wisconsin Legislature:

Senate employees

 * Chief Clerk: Frank M. Stewart
 * Assistant Clerk: J. M. Randall
 * Engrossing Clerk: G. W. Campbell
 * Enrolling Clerk: George W. Stoner
 * Transcribing Clerk: J. J. Tschudy
 * Sergeant-at-Arms: Luther Basford
 * Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: James L. Wilder
 * Postmaster: James L. Hosford
 * Assistant Postmaster: John Van t'Woud
 * Doorkeeper: B. S. Miller
 * Assistant Doorkeeper: Francis Mika
 * Assistant Doorkeeper: Samuel Bachman
 * Assistant Doorkeeper: Paul Halverson
 * Firemen:
 * Alex Stilwell
 * John Crowley
 * Messengers:
 * J. E. Brown
 * John Hutchins
 * Albert F. Dexter
 * Frank Kellogg
 * Porter: George E. Albee

Assembly employees

 * Chief Clerk: John S. Dean
 * Assistant Clerk: Ephraim W. Young
 * Bookkeeper: Merrick P. Wing
 * Engrossing Clerk: Herbert A. Lewis
 * Enrolling Clerk: S. Canning Fisher
 * Transcribing Clerk: Henry C. Hadley
 * Sergeant-at-Arms: A. M. Thomson
 * 1st Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: C. D. Lon
 * 2nd Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: D. S. Hawley
 * Postmaster: M. B. Patchin
 * 1st Assistant Postmaster: John B. Eugene
 * 2nd Assistant Postmaster: Oscar Babcock
 * Doorkeeper: Franklin Kelly
 * Assistant Doorkeeper: A. J. Fuller
 * Assistant Doorkeeper: P. P. Davis
 * Assistant Doorkeeper: William C. Lesure
 * Firemen:
 * H. H. Hayward
 * Philip Carey
 * Iver Knudsen
 * Messengers:
 * Adam Waltz
 * James E. Dean
 * Richard L. Hayward
 * Edgar C. McLaughlin
 * Patrick W. Lannen
 * William H. Miller
 * Louis Sholes
 * George D. Potter
 * Mark W. Bailey