Territorial Council 1849-51 (District 6); Territorial House 1856 (District 5); Democratic Constitutional Convention 1857 (District 5)
Party when first elected: Not Available
Counties Served:
Benton, Cass, Mahkahto (defunct), Morrison, Pembina (defunct), Stearns, Todd, Wahnahta (defunct), Wright
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
4/14/1817
Birth Place:
, Upper Canada
Birth County:
Birth Country:
Canada
Date of Death:
4/6/1901
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
| Alternate Spelling of Last Name: Sturges |
City of Residence (when first elected):
Elk River
Occupation (when first elected):
None Listed
EDUCATION
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Territorial Democratic Constitutional Convention:
5th Council District, Minnesota Territory;
07/13/1857 to 08/29/1857
[Elected]
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Dorothy Kidder (she died); Rosanna Steel (married April 12, 1852; died May 21, 1898)
Children:
Ten children: Jennette, Jane, and John K. (with Dorothy); Ann, Amos, Arthur Jay, Kate, Neljie, J.S. and Will R. (with Rosanna)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
Toensing, the Minnesota Journal of the House, 1856, The History of Minnesota: from the French Explorations to the Present Time, 1873, and the Minnesota Journal of the Council, 1849 list his last name as Sturgis. Minnesota in Three Centuries lists Sturges. The Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1889 lists both Sturgis and Sturges.
In the 1849 election, "Councilor William R. Sturges, of the Sixth District, was elected by his constituents to both the Council and the House, and his election was so certified and proclaimed by the Governor. He resigned the office of Representative and at a special election Allan Morrison was chosen in his stead." (Holcombe. Minnesota in Three Centuries, Volume 2, p. 438)
He died in Florida, but was buried at Sturgis, Michigan.