Wedge, Albert Clark "A.C."
House 1870-71 (District 16); Senate 1879-81 (District 5)
Party when first elected: Republican
Counties Served:
Freeborn, Steele, Waseca
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
8/18/1834
Birth Place:
Denmark, New York
Birth County:
Lewis
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
10/23/1911
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Presbyterian
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
A.C.
City of Residence (when first elected):
Albert Lea
Occupation (when first elected):
Physician
EDUCATION
Wisconsin Common Schools; Elementary School;
Ripon College, Wisconsin; Attended College; 1854-
Cleveland Medical College, Ohio; Medical Degree; February 1857
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
State Governor Staff:
Minnesota Governor William Merriam's Office (Military Staff);
18?? to 18??
Municipal Board/Commission:
Albert Lea, Minnesota (Township Board of Supervisors; Chair, First One);
1858 to 1???
[Elected]
Military:
3rd Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry (United States Civil War; Battle of Murfreesboro, Capture of Vicksburg; Assistant Surgeon, Surgeon, Medical Director);
05/1862 to 09/1865
U.S. Executive Branch:
United States Examining Surgeon for Pensions;
09/1865 to 1???
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota State Medical Examining Board (4 years; President, 1 of the 4 years);
188? to 188?
[Appointed]
U.S. Executive Branch:
United States Internal Revenue (Collector, Appointed by President James Garfield; Also Served Under President Arthur After Garfield Died);
1881 to 1882
[Appointed]
Municipal Mayor:
Albert Lea, Minnesota;
05/12/1885 to 1???
State Governor Staff:
Minnesota Governor Knute Nelson's Office (Assistant Surgeon General);
189? to 189?
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Betsy Blackmer (also listed as Betsey or Bessie; Blackmer or Blackmore) (married on October 23, 1858)
Children:
One child: Maime M. (adopted daughter)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
He moved to Pendleton, Indiana in 1847. He moved to Wedge Prairie, Wisconsin in 1851 to live with his uncle after his father died. He came to Albert Lea, Minnesota in 1857.
"He has always been a Republican in politics..." ("Dr. Wedge, Leading Citizen of Freeborn County for a Generation." Freeborn County Tracer, January/February 2002, p. 6)
He became President of the Minnesota State Medical Society in 1875.
He was buried in Graceland Cemetery in Albert Lea, Minnesota.
Birth date, party when elected, education, other government service, family data, death date, and burial place provided by his great great grandson and the Freeborn County Times, June 23, 1905, p. 5.
Religion provided by his great great grandson and the Freeborn County Times, June 23, 1905, p. 5.
Body: Senate
District: 05
Elected: 11/2/1880
Residence: Albert Lea
Term of Office: 1/4/1881 to 10/11/1881
(unfinished term)
Counties Represented:
Freeborn
Occupation: Physician
Party:
Republican
Party Notes: "He has always been a Republican in politics..." ("Dr. Wedge, Leading Citizen of Freeborn County for a Generation." Freeborn County Tracer, January/February 2002, p. 6)
Committees:
-
Education
-
Insane Asylum
-
Joint University and University Lands
-
State Prison (Chair)
Reason for unfinished term:
Appointed to other office
Session Notes:
He resigned from the Minnesota Senate in 1881 when he was appointed by President James Garfield as a Collector of Internal Revenue. His term end date is uncertain since we do not know the actual date of his resignation. We know it was in 1881. The date listed is the first day of the Extra Session, since we know he didn't serve in it.
Body: Senate
District: 05
Elected: 11/5/1878
Residence: Albert Lea
Term of Office: 1/7/1879 to 1/3/1881
Counties Represented:
Freeborn
Occupation: Physician
Party:
Republican
Party Notes: "He has always been a Republican in politics..." ("Dr. Wedge, Leading Citizen of Freeborn County for a Generation." Freeborn County Tracer, January/February 2002, p. 6)
Committees:
-
Education
-
Insane Asylum
-
Railroads
-
State Prison
-
State Prison Investigation Special (Chair)
Elected: 11/8/1870
Residence: Albert Lea
Term of Office: 1/3/1871 to 1/1/1872
Counties Represented:
Freeborn, Steele, Waseca
Occupation: Physician
Party:
Republican
Party Notes: "He has always been a Republican in politics..." ("Dr. Wedge, Leading Citizen of Freeborn County for a Generation." Freeborn County Tracer, January/February 2002, p. 6); His party affiliation was confirmed by his great great grandson.
Committees:
-
Joint Apportionment
-
Railroads (Chair)
-
State Library
-
Ways and Means
Elected: 11/2/1869
Residence: Albert Lea
Term of Office: 1/4/1870 to 1/2/1871
Counties Represented:
Freeborn, Steele, Waseca
Occupation: Physician
Party:
Republican
Party Notes: "He has always been a Republican in politics..." ("Dr. Wedge, Leading Citizen of Freeborn County for a Generation." Freeborn County Tracer, January/February 2002, p. 6); His party affiliation was confirmed by his great great grandson.
Committees:
-
Claims
-
Railroads (Chair)
-
Ways and Means
Articles & Books About
"Dr. Wedge, Leading Citizen of Freeborn County for a Generation." Freeborn County Tracer, January/February 2002, p. 5-6.
Atkinson, William B. "Albert C. Wedge." Physicians and Surgeons of the United States,
March 1878, p. 569.
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.