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    Wilson, Horace B. "H.B."

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1877 (District 16); Senate 1879-82 (District 16)

    Party when first elected:  Republican

    Counties Served:  Goodhue

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 3/30/1821 (uncertain)
    Birth Place: Bingham, Maine
    Birth County: Somerset
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 1/31/1908
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Methodist
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: H.B.
    City of Residence (when first elected): Red Wing
    Occupation (when first elected): Civil Engineer

    EDUCATION

    Maine District Schools; At Least Elementary School;
    Wesleyan Seminary, Kent Hills, Maine; College Graduate; Summer 1841
    Asbury University, Indiana; Honorary Masters degree; Master of Arts, July 1858
    Studied Law; Indiana, Admitted to the Bar (Never Practiced Law)

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Municipal Council/Aldermen: Red Wing, Minnesota (City Council Member, 1 year); 18?? to 18??
    School Board/Administration: New Albany, Indiana (Superintendent of Schools); 184? to 1850
    Municipal Government: New Albany, Indiana (City Civil Engineer); 1850 to 1856 [Elected]
    Military: 6th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company F/16th Army Corp (Indian War, United States Civil War, Birch Coolie, Camp Release, Hanging of the Sioux in Mankato, Missouri River March, Mobile, and Battle of Wood Lake, Received a Severe Shoulder Wound, Captain); 01/1862 to 1865
    School Board/Administration: Goodhue County, Minnesota (Superintendent of Schools); 1866 to 1870 [Elected]
    State Agency: Minnesota State Superintendent of Public Instruction; 1870 to 1??? [Appointed]
    Board of Regents: University of Minnesota (Ex officio as Superintendent of Public Instruction); 08/01/1870 to 04/1875

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Mary Jane Chandler (married in 1844; she died on February 2, 1888); Widower; Flora M. Sargent (remarried in 1892, after he left office)
    Children: Four children: Frank M., and Oliver (sons); Alice, and Mattie (daughters)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    Frank M. Wilson  - Son

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was of English ancestry.

    He was a member of the Republican Party. (History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, 1909, p. 1060; LRL leadership list) He was "a Republican as old as the party." (Biographical Sketches of the Officers of the State Government of Minnesota and the 19th Minnesota State Legislature by C.L. Hall, 1877, p. 54)

    He moved to Cincinnati, Ohio after college; then lived in Lawrenceberg, Indiana for 2 years.

    "In 1844 he removed to New Albany, Ind., and organized the first graded public school system in that city." (History of Goodhue County, Minnesota. Chicago: H.C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., 1909, p. 1059.)

    He came to Red Wing, Minnesota in 1858.

    He was disabled by a severe shoulder wound received at the Battle of Wood Lake.

    He was a member of the Masonic Order and a high priest of LaGrange Royal Arch Chapter.

    Religion provided by Biographical Sketches of the Officers of the State Government of Minnesota and the 19th Minnesota State Legislature by C.L. Hall, 1877.

    Total Days Served: 1827

    SESSIONS SERVED

    22nd Legislative Session (1881-1882)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 16
    Elected: 11/5/1878
    Residence: Red Wing
    Term of Office: 1/7/1879 to 1/1/1883
    Counties Represented: Goodhue
    Occupation: Civil Engineer
    Party: Republican
    Committees:
    • Education (Chair)
    • Geological and Natural History Survey of the State
    • Joint University and University Lands
    • Military Affairs
    • Retrenchment and Reform
    Leadership Position: President Pro Tempore

    21st Legislative Session (1879-1880)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 16
    Elected: 11/5/1878
    Residence: Red Wing
    Term of Office: 1/7/1879 to 1/1/1883
    Counties Represented: Goodhue
    Occupation: Civil Engineer
    Party: Not Available
    Committees:
    • Education (Chair)
    • Engrossment (Chair)
    • Geological and Natural History Survey of the State (Chair)
    • Military Affairs

    19th Legislative Session (1877)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 16
    Elected: 11/7/1876
    Residence: Red Wing
    Term of Office: 1/2/1877 to 1/7/1878
    Counties Represented: Goodhue
    Occupation: Civil Engineer
    Party: Republican Party Notes: He was "a Republican as old as the party." (Biographical Sketches of the Officers of the State Government of Minnesota and the 19th Minnesota State Legislature by C.L. Hall, 1877, p. 54)
    Committees:
    • Education (Chair)
    • State Library

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    "Prof. H.B. Wilson." History of Goodhue County, Minnesota. Chicago: H.C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., 1909, p. 1059.

    "Hon. H.B. Wilson." Memoirs of the State Officers; and of the Nineteenth Legislature of Minnesota, by C.L. Hall. Minneapolis: Johnson & Smith, p. 54.


    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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