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    Ford, John A.

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    Territorial House 1851 (District 1)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic

    Counties Served:  Wabasha, Washington

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: ??/??/1811
    Birth Place: , New York
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: ??/??/1895
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Woodbury
    Occupation (when first elected): Merchant, First One in Washington County

    EDUCATION

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

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

    GENERAL NOTES

    His party affiliation was taken from The History of Minnesota: from the French Explorations to the Present Time, 1873. In there it states that on October 20, 1849 the first Minnesota Democratic Party convention was held. He was listed as one of the Vice-Presidents.

    He came to what would become Chicago, Illinois in 1834, with his father. He moved to Red Rock, Washington County, Minnesota in 1841. Red Rock Township became Woodbury Township in 1858.

    He and six other members of the House resigned in protest over the 1851 apportionment bill. They argued the census count was incorrect. For more information on the resignations, see Minnesota in Three Centuries, Vol. 2, p. 456 and the links in the Other Information section below.

    Total Days Served: 88

    SESSIONS SERVED

    2nd Territorial Legislative Session (1851)

      Session Details
    Body: Territorial House
    District: 01
    Elected: 9/2/1850
    Residence: Woodbury
    Term of Office: 1/1/1851 to 3/29/1851 (unfinished term)
    Counties Represented: Wabasha, Washington
    Occupation: Merchant, First One in Washington County
    Party: Democratic Party Notes: His party affiliation was taken from The History of Minnesota: from the French Explorations to the Present Time, 1873. In there it states that on October 20, 1849 the first Minnesota Democratic Party convention was held. He was listed as one of the Vice-Presidents.
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Manufactures
    • Claims
    • Territorial Affairs
    Reason for unfinished term: Resigned
    Session Notes: He and six other members of the House resigned in protest over the 1851 apportionment bill. They argued the census count was incorrect. For more information on the resignations, see Minnesota in Three Centuries, Vol. 2, p. 456 and the links in the Other Information section below.

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    Neill, Edward D. Section on the 1851 Apportionment Bill. The History of Minnesota: from the Earliest French Explorations to the Present Time, Philadelphia, J. B. Lippincott and Co., 1873, p. 548-549.

    Resignation of Seven Territorial House Members Over the Apportionment Bill. Minnesota Journal of the Territorial House of Representatives, March 29, 1851, p. 191.


    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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