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    Williston, William C. "W.C."

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1873-74 (District 16); Senate 1876-77 (District 16)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic

    Counties Served:  Goodhue

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 6/22/1830
    Birth Place: Cheraw, South Carolina
    Birth County: Chesterfield
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 6/22/1909
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Episcopalian
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: W.C.
    City of Residence (when first elected): Red Wing
    Occupation (when first elected): Lawyer

    EDUCATION

    Ohio Common Schools; At Least Elementary School; Log School House
    Studied Law; With Riddle and Thasher, Chardon, Ohio; Admitted to the Bar, 1854 or 1855

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Municipal Attorney: Red Wing, Minnesota (City Attorney, a number of years); 18?? to 18??
    Municipal Attorney: Rushford, Minnesota (City Attorney, a number of years); 18?? to 18??
    School Board/Administration: Red Wing, Minnesota (Clerk of the City Schools, 17 years); 18?? to 1???
    Military: Army, 7th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company G (Indian Expeditions, Captain); 08/1862 to 10/07/1863
    Judge: 1st Judicial District, Minnesota (Appointed by Gov. Merriam; first elected in 1892); 1891 to 06/22/1909 [Appointed]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Mary E. Canfield (married in 1854)
    Children: Four children: William F.C., and Eugene (died in infancy), (sons); Julia W., and Annie C. (daughters)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He moved to Chardon, Geauga County, Ohio in 1834. He came to Red Wing, Minnesota in 1857.

    "Politically he is a Democrat." (Biographical Sketches of the Officers of the State Government of Minnesota and of the 19th Minnesota State Legislature, by C.L. Hall, 1877, p. 22) The Fifteenth Legislature of Minnesota, 1873, p. 40 also lists him as a Democrat.

    According to the History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, 1909, he was the municipal attorney for Red Wing, Minnesota for "several terms at various times." According to The Fifteenth Legislature of Minnesota: Biographical Sketches, St. Paul: Press Printing Company, 1873, he was the municipal attorney for Rushford, Minnesota for "a number of years."

    Religion provided by History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, 1909; and Biographical Sketches of the Officers of the State Government of Minnesota and of the 19th Minnesota State Legislature, by C.L. Hall, 1877.

    Total Days Served: 1463

    SESSIONS SERVED

    19th Legislative Session (1877)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 16
    Elected: 11/2/1875
    Residence: Red Wing
    Term of Office: 1/4/1876 to 1/7/1878
    Counties Represented: Goodhue
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Democratic Party Notes: "Politically he is a Democrat." (Biographical Sketches of the Officers of the State Government of Minnesota and of the 19th Minnesota State Legislature, by C.L. Hall, 1877, p. 22)
    Committees:
    • Joint Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Judiciary
    • State Prison
    • Towns and Counties

    18th Legislative Session (1876)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 16
    Elected: 11/2/1875
    Residence: Red Wing
    Term of Office: 1/4/1876 to 1/7/1878
    Counties Represented: Goodhue
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Democratic Party Notes: "Politically he is a Democrat." (Biographical Sketches of the Officers of the State Government of Minnesota and of the 19th Minnesota State Legislature, by C.L. Hall, 1877, p. 22)
    Committees:
    • Joint Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Judiciary
    • State Prison
    • Towns and Counties

    16th Legislative Session (1874)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 16
    Elected: 11/4/1873
    Residence: Red Wing
    Term of Office: 1/6/1874 to 1/4/1875
    Counties Represented: Goodhue
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Not Available
    Committees:
    • Insurance (Chair)
    • Joint Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Judiciary
    • Railroads

    15th Legislative Session (1873)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 16
    Elected: 11/5/1872
    Residence: Red Wing
    Term of Office: 1/7/1873 to 1/5/1874
    Counties Represented: Goodhue
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Democratic Party Notes: His party affiliation was provided by The Fifteenth Legislature of Minnesota, 1873, p. 40.
    Committees:
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    • Soldiers Orphans

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    "Hon. William C. Williston." History of Goodhue County, Minnesota. Chicago: H.C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., 1909, p. 88.

    "Williston, W.C." The Fifteenth Legislature of Minnesota. St. Paul: Press Printing Company, 1873, p. 40.

    "Hon. W.C. Williston." Memoirs of the State Officers; and of the Nineteenth Legislature of Minnesota, by C.L. Hall. Minneapolis: Johnson & Smith, p. 22.


    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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