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Folsom, William Henry Carman "W.H.C."

Sessions Served  red ball graphic  Other Information

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Map of Taylors Falls
Taylors Falls, MN

Republican Constitutional Convention 1857 (District 1); Senate 1857-58 (District 25); Senate 1867-68 (District 2); House 1869 (District 2); Senate 1875-77 (District 28)

Party when first elected:  Republican

Counties Served:  Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Washington

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 06/22/1817 (uncertain) Date of Death: ??/??/1906 (uncertain)
Birth Place: New Brunswick Birth County:  Birth Country: Canada
Other Names: W.H.C.
Gender:  Male Religion:  Not Reported
City of Residence (when first elected):  Taylors Falls

Occupation (when first elected):  Merchant

EDUCATION

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Territorial GovernmentWisconisn Territory (Territorial Sheriff) ??/??/18?? to ??/??/18??
Judicial AdministrationStillwater, Minnesota (Helped Organize the First District Court Held in Minnesota) ??/??/18?? to ??/??/18??
Territorial Republican Constitutional Convention1st 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

Toensing lists his birth year as 1833. The Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1877 lists him as being 59 years old. The Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1875 lists him as being 57 years old. Biographical Sketches of the Officers of the State Government of Minnesota and of the 19th Minnesota State Legislature, by C.L. Hall, 1877 lists his birth year as 1817.

He came to Minnesota in 1845.

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

"He has been a Republican since the organization of that party, and in fact he helped organize it." (Biographical Sketches of the Officers of the State Government of Minnesota and of the 19th Minnesota State Legislature, by C.L. Hall, 1877, p. 15)

"He helped organize the first District Court held in Minnesota, at Stillwater." (Biographical Sketches of the Officers of the State Government of Minnesota and of the 19th Minnesota State Legislature, by C.L. Hall, 1877, p. 15)

In 1857-58, he chaired a special committee which presented the design for the first state seal of Minnesota. (Burnquist. Minnesota and Its People, Volume 1, p. 257)

Legislative Session: 19th (1877)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/2/1875 Term of Office: 1/4/1876 to 1/7/1878
District: 28 Residence: Taylors Falls
Counties Represented: Aitkin, Chisago, Kanabec, Pine
Occupation: Lumber Manufacturer/Agriculture
Party: Republican Party Notes: "He has been a Republican since the organization of that party, and in fact he helped organize it." (Biographical Sketches of the Officers of the State Government of Minnesota and of the 19th Minnesota State Legislature, by C.L. Hall, 1877, p. 15)
Committees:
Joint Taxes and Tax Laws
Roads and Bridges (Chair)
Legislative Session: 18th (1876)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/2/1875 Term of Office: 1/4/1876 to 1/7/1878
District: 28 Residence: Taylors Falls
Counties Represented: Aitkin, Chisago, Kanabec, Pine
Occupation: Manufacturer
Party: Republican Party Notes: "He has been a Republican since the organization of that party, and in fact he helped organize it." (Biographical Sketches of the Officers of the State Government of Minnesota and of the 19th Minnesota State Legislature, by C.L. Hall, 1877, p. 15)
Committees:
Engrossment (Chair)
Insane Asylum (Chair)
Roads and Bridges
Swamp or Overflowed Lands (Chair)
Legislative Session: 17th (1875)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/4/1873 Term of Office: 1/6/1874 to 1/3/1876
District: 28 Residence: Taylors Falls
Counties Represented: Aitkin, Chisago, Kanabec, Pine
Occupation: Manufacturer
Party: Republican Party Notes: "He has been a Republican since the organization of that party, and in fact he helped organize it." (Biographical Sketches of the Officers of the State Government of Minnesota and of the 19th Minnesota State Legislature, by C.L. Hall, 1877, p. 15)
Committees:
Engrossment (Chair)
Indian Affairs (Chair)
Insane Asylum
Legislative Session: 11th (1869)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/3/1868 Term of Office: 1/5/1869 to 1/3/1870
District: 02 Residence: Taylors Falls
Counties Represented: Chisago, Kanabec, Pine, Washington
Occupation: Manufacturer
Party: Republican
Committees:
Charitable Institutions (Chair)
Railroads
Ways and Means
Legislative Session: 10th (1868)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/6/1866 Term of Office: 1/8/1867 to 1/4/1869
District: 02 Residence: Taylors Falls
Counties Represented: Chisago, Kanabec, Pine, Washington
Occupation: Lumberman
Party: Republican
Committees:
Claims (Chair)
Engrossment (Chair)
Railroads and Railroad Land Grants
State Charitable Institutions
Legislative Session: 9th (1867)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/6/1866 Term of Office: 1/8/1867 to 1/4/1869
District: 02 Residence: Taylors Falls
Counties Represented: Chisago, Kanabec, Pine, Washington
Occupation: Lumberman
Party: Republican
Committees:
Charitable Institutions
Engrossment (Chair)
Joint State Railroad Bonds Special (Chair)
Railroads
Legislative Session: 1st (1857-1858)   Session Details term photo
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Body: Senate Elected: 10/13/1857 Term of Office: 12/2/1857 to 12/6/1859
District: 25 Residence: Taylors Falls
Counties Represented: Chisago, Isanti, Pine
Occupation: Merchant
Party: Republican Party Notes: His party affiliation was provided by Minnesota in Three Centuries.
Committees:
Internal Improvements
State Prison
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.

OTHER INFORMATION

Photographs
William Henry Carman Folsom of Taylors Falls, member of the First State Legislature (ca. 1858) From the Minnesota Historical Society's Visual Resources Database

Articles & Books By
Folsom, William H. C. Fifty Years in the Northwest. St. Paul, Minnesota: Pioneer Press Company, 1888.


Articles & Books About
"Hon. W.H.C. Folsom." Memoirs of the State Officers; and of the Nineteenth Legislature of Minnesota, by C.L. Hall. Minneapolis: Johnson & Smith, 1877, p. 15.




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