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Washburn, Sr., William Drew "W.D."

House 1871 (District 5)

Party when first elected:  Republican

Counties Served:  Hennepin

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 1/14/1831
Birth Place: Livermore, Maine
Birth County: Androscoggin
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 7/29/1912
Gender: Male
Religion: Universalist
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: W.D.
City of Residence (when first elected): Minneapolis
Occupation (when first elected): Lumberman, W.D. Washburn and Company

EDUCATION

Maine Common Schools; Elementary School;
Gorham Academy, Maine; Secondary;
Farmington Academy, Maine; Secondary;
Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine; Bachelors Degree; Classical Course, 1850-1854
Studied Law; Office of Honorable John A. Peters, Bangor, Maine; Admitted to the Bar, 1857

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission: United States House of Representatives (Clerkship); 185? to 185?
U.S. Executive Branch: U.S. Surveyor General of Minnesota (Appointed by President Abraham Lincoln); 1861 to 1865 [Appointed]
School Board/Administration: Minneapolis, Minnesota (School Board Member, 2 terms); 1866 to 18??
U.S. Representative: 3rd Congressional District, Minnesota; 03/04/1879 to 03/1883 [Elected]
U.S. Representative: 4th Congressional District, Minnesota; 03/1883 to 03/03/1885 [Elected]
U.S. Senator: Minnesota; 03/04/1889 to 03/03/1895 [Elected]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Lizzie Muzzy (married on April 19, 1859)
Children: Eight children: William Drew Jr. (son), (at least 3 other sons, at least 2 daughters)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Dorilus Morrison  - Cousin
William Drew Washburn, Jr.  - Son

GENERAL NOTES

He came to St. Anthony Falls, Minnesota on May 1, 1857.

"Like all his distinguished brothers, he had a taste for politics, and like them belonged to the radical wing of the Republican party." (Atwater, Isaac. History of the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Vol. 2, 1893, p. 549)

"Mr. Washburn has always been an active Republican..." (Progressive Men of Minnesota, 1897, p. 91)

He was an unsuccessful candidate to the United States House of Representatives in 1864.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the United States Senate in 1894.

"As early as 1858 he was elected to the House of Representatives of the Minnesota Legislature, but the delegation chosen that year never took their seats, owing to a change of apportionment." (Atwater, Isaac. History of the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Vol. 2, 1893, p. 549) Progressive Men of Minnesota 1897 also states that he was elected to the Minnesota Legislature in 1858. See also the note in the Legislative Manual for the State of Minnesota 1881, p. 180. It states that due to the protracted session of 1857-58 the winter of 1858-59 meeting was unnecessary.

He died in Minneapolis, Minnesota and was buried in Lakewood Cemetery.

He was a member of the Church of the Redeemer, Universalist Church.

Religion provided by Progressive Men of Minnesota 1897.

Total Days Served: 364

SESSIONS SERVED

13th Legislative Session (1871)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 05
Elected: 11/8/1870
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/3/1871 to 1/1/1872
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Lumberman, W.D. Washburn and Company
Party: Republican Party Notes: "Like all his distinguished brothers, he had a taste for politics, and like them belonged to the radical wing of the Republican party." (Atwater, Isaac. History of the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Vol. 2, 1893, p. 549); "Mr. Washburn has always been an active Republican…" (Progressive Men of Minnesota, 1897, p. 91)
Committees:
  • Federal Relations
  • Joint Apportionment (Chair)
  • Railroads
Articles & Books About
Kelsey, Kerck. Prairie Lightning: The Rise and Fall of William Drew Washburn. Lakeville, Minnesota: Pogo Press, 2010.

Shutter, Marion Daniel. "William Drew Washburn." Progressive Men of Minnesota, Minneapolis: The Minneapolis Journal, 1897, p. 91-92.

Washburn, William Drew. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.


These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.