Holcombe, William
Democratic Constitutional Convention 1857 (District 1)
Party when first elected: Democratic
Counties Served:
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
7/22/1804
Birth Place:
Lambertville, New Jersey
Birth County:
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
9/5/1870
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Stillwater
Occupation (when first elected):
None Listed
EDUCATION
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Territorial Democratic Constitutional Convention:
1st Council District, Minnesota Territory;
07/13/1857 to 08/29/1857
[Elected]
State Lieutenant Governor:
Minnesota;
05/24/1858 to 01/02/1860
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Martha Wilson (married in 1826); Henrietta King Clendenin (married in 1847)
Children:
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
His term as Lieutenant Governor didn't expire until a few weeks after the 2nd Minnesota State Legislative Session began. So although the Republican Party had a majority in the Minnesota Senate, William Holcombe, a Democrat, presided over them until January 2, 1860 when the state officials were sworn in. Some of his rulings so frustrated the Republican majority that they asked the House to impeach him. The House responded that they had no right to interfere with the workings of the Senate and suggested they change their rules. The issue was resolved when Republican Ignatius Donnelly was finally sworn in as Lieutenant Governor. (Sanborn, Gen. John B. "The Work of the Second Legislature, 1859-60." Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul: the Society, 1905, Vol. 10, Part 2, p. 623)