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Brunson, Benjamin Wetherill "Benj. W."

Territorial House 1849-51 (District 3)

Party when first elected:  Not Available

Counties Served:  Ramsey

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: ??/??/1823
Birth Place: Detroit, Michigan
Birth County:
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 5/??/1898
Gender: Male
Religion: Methodist
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: Benj. W.
Alternate Spelling of Last Name: Bronson
City of Residence (when first elected): Saint Paul
Occupation (when first elected): Surveyor

EDUCATION

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Military: 8th Minnesota (United States Civil War, Lieutenant); 186? to 186?

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Married (married in 1846)
Children: At least one child: (daughter, she died while he was in office)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Toensing, the Minnesota Journal of the House, 1849, his obituary, and the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1889 list his last name as Brunson. History of Minnesota and Tales of the Frontier, 1900 lists Bronson.

He was raised mainly in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. He moved to Minnesota in 1847.

He was a surveyor who laid our many Minnesota towns including St. Paul, Minnesota.

He died in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Religion provided by the fact that he was the son of a Methodist missionary.

His home is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is located at 485 Kenny Road, St. Paul.

Total Days Served: 856

SESSIONS SERVED

2nd Territorial Legislative Session (1851)

  Session Details
Body: Territorial House
District: 03
Elected: 9/2/1850
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/1/1851 to 1/6/1852
Counties Represented: Ramsey
Occupation: Surveyor
Party: Not Available
Committees:
  • Elections (Chair)
  • Internal Improvements (Chair)
  • Judiciary [He became a member of the Judiciary Committee when it was re-organized on January 29, 1851.]
  • Public Buildings

1st Territorial Legislative Session (1849)

  Session Details
Body: Territorial House
District: 03
Elected: 8/1/1849
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 9/3/1849 to 12/31/1850
Counties Represented: Ramsey
Occupation: Surveyor
Party: Not Available
Committees:
  • Engrossed Bills (Chair)
  • Enrolled Bills Joint
  • Internal Improvements (Chair)
Archive Collections
Benjamin Wetherill Brunson and Family Papers, Undated and 1850-1898 - Available in the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections.
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.