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    Watson, George

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    Republican Constitutional Convention 1857 (District 4); Senate 1857-60 (District 14); Senate 1861 (District 16)

    Party when first elected:  Republican

    Counties Served:  Faribault, Freeborn, Steele, Waseca

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: ??/??/1821 (uncertain)
    Birth Place: Ohio
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 1/2/1888 (uncertain)
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Sumner
    Occupation (when first elected): Physician

    EDUCATION

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Territorial Republican Constitutional Convention: 4th Council District, Minnesota Territory; 07/13/1857 to 08/29/1857

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Married
    Children:
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    His party affiliation when first elected was provided by Minnesota in Three Centuries.

    He came to Minnesota in 1856.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 1497

    SESSIONS SERVED

    3rd Legislative Session (1861)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 16
    Elected: 11/6/1860
    Residence: Sumner
    Term of Office: 1/8/1861 to 1/6/1862 (unfinished term)
    Counties Represented: Freeborn, Steele, Waseca
    Occupation: Physician
    Party: Not Available
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Manufactures
    • Public Lands
    • Towns and Counties (Chair)
    Reason for unfinished term: Resigned
    Session Notes: His term end date is uncertain since we don't know his actual resignation date. A note in the St. Paul Pioneer and Democrat, January 7, 1862 confirmed that he resigned. The date listed is the day before the first day of the 1862 session. He was listed in the 1861 Senate Journal through the end of the 1861 session.

    2nd Legislative Session (1859-1860)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 14
    Elected: 10/11/1859
    Residence: Sumner
    Term of Office: 12/7/1859 to 1/7/1861
    Counties Represented: Faribault, Freeborn
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Not Available
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Manufactures (Chair)
    • State Library

    1st Legislative Session (1857-1858)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 14
    Elected: 10/13/1857
    Residence: Sumner
    Term of Office: 12/2/1857 to 12/6/1859
    Counties Represented: Faribault, Freeborn
    Occupation: Physician
    Party: Republican Party Notes: His party affiliation was provided by Minnesota in Three Centuries.
    Committees:
    • Elections
    • Incorporations
    Session Notes: He was sworn in on December 7, 1857 and subscribed to the oath of office on December 8, 1857. An 1858-59 session was not held due to the protracted session of 1857-58. (Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1872, p. 66) Thus, even though the first session was adjourned on August 12, 1858; the term end date for it is listed as the day before the second legislative session's start date.
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Photographs
    George Watson of Sumner, member of the First State Legislature (ca. 1858) From the Minnesota Historical Society's Visual Resources Database


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