1st Nevada Territorial Legislature explained

First Nevada Territorial Legislature
Meeting Place:Carson City
Election:August 31, 1861
After:2nd Nevada Territorial Legislature
Chamber1:Council
Membership1:10
Chamber1 Leader1 Type:President
Chamber1 Leader1:J. L. Van Bokkelen
Chamber2:House of Representatives
Membership2:15
Chamber2 Leader1 Type:Speaker
Chamber2 Leader1:Miles N. Mitchell

The first Nevada Territorial Legislature first convened on October 1, 1861. It consisted of the Council with ten seats and the House of Representatives with fifteen seats.

Background

The Territory of Nevada was created on March 2, 1861 out of the western part of Utah Territory. On July 24, Governor James W. Nye ordered elections for the territorial legislature and a census to determine the districts. The elections were held on August 31.[1]

Session

One regular session was held between October 1 and November 29, 1861.[2] The meeting place was the top floor of Warm Springs Hotel just outside Carson City, that was owned by Abraham Curry.[1] [2] Laws that were passed included ones creating the original nine counties, determining the county seats, and ratifying Governor Nye's decision to select Carson City as the capital of the territory.[2] A total of 107 pieces of legislation were passed.[1]

Members

[3]

Council

NameDistrictResidence
J. W. Pugh1Aurora
Ira M. Luther2Genoa
William Morris Stewart3Carson City
John W. Grier4Silver City
Thomas Hannah5Gold Hill
A. W. Pray6Virginia City
J. L. Van Bokkelen6Virginia City
Solomon Geller7Washoe Valley
[Empty]8N/A
Isaac Roop9Honey Lake

House of Representatives

NameDistrictResidence
William E. Teall1Aurora
Samual Youngs1Aurora
James McLean2Genoa
William P. Harrington, jr.3Carson City
John D. Winters3Carson City
William L. Card4Silver City
R. M. Ford4Dayton
John H. Mills5Gold Hill
Mark H. Bryan6Virginia City
Ephraim Durham6Virginia City
Miles N. Mitchell6Virginia City
Edward C. Ing7Truckee Meadows
James H. Sturtevant7Washoe Valley
William J. Osborn8Buckland's
John C. Wright9Honey Lake Valley

Notes and References

  1. Book: Bowers, Michael W. . 2013 . The Sagebrush State: Nevada's History, Government, and Politics . Reno . . 15 and 16 . 978-0-87417-923-1 . 4th .
  2. Book: Green, Michael S. . 2015 . Nevada: A History of the Silver State . Reno . University of Nevada Press . 86 . 978-0-87417-973-6 .
  3. Book: . Research Division of the Legislative Counsel Bureau . Political History of Nevada . . Carson City . 2016 . 300 . PDF . 12th .