... he tapped Ramsey to become the first territorial governor of Minnesota, a post Ramsey held from 1849 to 1853. His interest in government prompted him to study law, and in 1839 he was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar. Ramsey is credited with being the first Union governor to commit troops during the American Civil War. Later, he becomes a U.S. senator and secretary of war, and will live into the 20th century, a symbol of… Named for Alexander Ramsey, the first Minnesota territorial governor It is the smallest county in Minnesota in terms of area, but the most densely populated. He served as Minnesota's Territorial Librarian from February 1851 to 1853. Alexander Ramsey was elected from Pennsylvania as a Whig to the U.S. House of Representatives and served in the 28th and 29th congresses from March 4, 1843 to March 4, 1847. Henry Hastings Sibley- fur trader, politician, and territorial representative in Washington DC. ... and on the 19th President Zachary Taylor appointed Alexander Ramsey of Pennsylvania the first territorial governor. Records of territorial governor Alexander Ramsey, 1849-1853.. [Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey was elected from Pennsylvania as a Whig to the U.S. House of Representatives and served in the 28th and 29th congresses from March 4, 1843, to March 3, 1847. 1848. He participated in local politics as a young man and followed closely the events at the statehouse in Harrisburg. He stated, “the Sioux Indians of Minnesota must be exterminated or driven forever beyond the borders of the state.” At the war’s end, more than 300 Dakota were tried and convicted of war crimes. Alexander Ramsey was the first territorial governor of Minnesota and the second governor after it gained its statehood. He represented Minnesota for twelve years. An allocation from the State Trial Court Improvement and Modernization Fund (IMF) helps defray some cost for court participants. Ramsey retired from politics in 1886. Our reporters are only able to do their work thanks to support at all levels. My parents retired to the town of Milford in northeastern Pennsylvania to a house that I now own. Alexander Ramsey, who served as both the first governor of the Minnesota Territory and the second governor of the state, was born in Pennsylvania in 1815. In 1863, Congress passed laws removing the Dakota and Ho-Chunk (none of whom had fought in the war) from Minnesota. He read law with Hamilton Alricks, and attended Reed's law School in Carlisle (now Pennsylvania State Dickinson Law) in 1839. Among the throng of dignitaries was Minnesota’s first territorial governor, Alexander Ramsey, to officially lay the cornerstone for the people’s house - the grandest building in the state and one of the finest statehouse buildings in the country. Quote from that site: "He served as the first Territorial Governor of Minnesota June 1, 1849 to May 15, 1853" He rose within the political ranks of Pennsylvania before coming to Minnesota in 1849 with his wife, Anna, and the first of their three children. The couple had three children, two of whom died in … [5], Ramsey first studied carpentry at Lafayette College but left during his third year. Henry Hastings was a good fur trader. Ramsey was of Scottish and German ancestry. He was the first Minnesota Territorial Governor. [12] The act made it illegal for polygamists to vote or hold office. Deeply respected for many years as a founder of the state, he has become controversial for his role in removing the area's Indigenous residents from their homelands. In 1858 Sibley was elected as the first governor of the state, and is one of just four Minnesota Democrats to win a gubernatorial election with a Democrat in the White House. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial governor, also served as state governor several years later. Named for Alexander Ramsey, the first Minnesota territorial governor It is the smallest county in Minnesota in terms of area, but the most densely populated. He was re-elected in 1869 and held the office until March 3, 1875, serving in the 38th, 39th, 40th, 41st, 42nd, and 43rd congresses. Explore the unexpected at the Alexander Ramsey House, a Victorian-era home filled with thousands of original family items and furnishings.See the interior of this 1872 decorative arts masterpiece in a new guided tour on Saturdays during the summer. For more information on this topic, check out the original entry on MNopedia. Explore the unexpected at the Alexander Ramsey House, a Victorian-era home filled with thousands of original family items and furnishings. Alexander Ramsey was elected from Pennsylvania as a Whig to the U.S. House of Representatives and served in the 28th and 29th congresses from March 4, 1843 to March 4, 1847. In 1845, he married Anna Jenks, whose father was a Congressman from Pennsylvania. He happened to be in Washington, D.C., when fighting broke out. Date MN became a state. Their two sons, Alexander and William, died in childhood, but their daughter, Marion, survived into adulthood. He served as the first Territorial Governor of Minnesota from June 1, 1849, to May 15, 1853, as a member of the Whig Party. A number of counties, towns, parks, and schools are named after Ramsey, including: He was the namesake of the Liberty Ship SS Alexander Ramsey launched in 1942. Ramsey became secretary of war for President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1879. Ramsey served in this role from 1849 – 1853, before being elected Mayor of St. Paul. You can also learn about all our free newsletter options. Delegation- one or more persons chosen to "[10] In 1863, in response to continued raids on civilian settlers, he authorized bounty payments on Dakota scalps.[11]. He served as the first Territorial Governor of Minnesota from June 1, 1849 to May 15, 1853 as a member of the Whig Party. He was the first Minnesota Territorial Governor.. Forty people have been governor of Minnesota, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Born in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, on September 8, 1815,[1] Alexander was the eldest of five children of Thomas Ramsey and Elizabeth Kelker (also Kölliker or Köllker). Alexander Ramsey was Minnesota’s first territorial governor (1849–1853), second state governor (1860–1863), and a US senator (1864–1875). The home was built by Alexander Ramsey, Minnesota's first territorial governor. Ramsey was of Scottish and German ancestry. Democrat Henry H. Sibley defeated him in the state’s first gubernatorial election in 1858. Senator, having been elected to that post in 1863 as a Republican. Born: September 8, 1815 In 1855, he became the mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota. 1848. The first Territorial Governor for Minnesota was Alexander Ramsey, who lived in Mendota, Dakota County in 1849. He resigned the governorship to become a U.S. Wallace B. Alexander Ramsey, who served as both the first governor of the Minnesota Territory and the second governor of the state, was born in Pennsylvania in 1815. Prior to his appointment, he was the deputy postmaster of St. Paul and the personal secretary of Alexander Ramsey, first Territorial Governor of Minnesota. June 1, 1849 “As the first territorial governor and second governor of the state, Alexander Ramsey presides over the early days of Minnesota politics. Ramsey was elected the second Governor of Minnesota after statehood and served from January 2, 1860, to July 10, 1863. First Territorial Governor: Alexander Ramsey (also second State Governor) First State Governor: Henry Sibley in 1858. The Alexander Ramsey Historic Site occupies a parcel of land that was owned by Alexander Ramsey, Minnesota’s first territorial governor, and his heirs between 1850 and 1964. He served as the first Territorial Governor of Minnesotafrom June 1, 1849, to May 15, 1853, as a member of the Whig Party. It was listed on … Grades K-12 Discover what life was like for Governor Alexander Ramsey and his family. The Mississippi River forms a municipal boundary on part of the city's west, southwest and southeast sides. His early education was attained in the common schools of his native state, and later at Lafayette College in Easton. Alexander Ramsey was elected from Pennsylvania as a Whig to the U.S. House of Representatives and served in the 28th and 29th congresses from March 4, 1843 to March 3, 1847. He is notable for his involvement in the Dakota War of 1862, being the first governor to lend troops for the Civil War effort and becoming the Secretary of War under President Hayes. Ramsey was elected from Pennsylvania as a Whig to the U.S. House of Representatives and served in the 28th and 29th congresses from March 4, 1843 to March 3, 1847. These statements came in response to attacks by the Dakota on American settlements, resulting in the death of not less than 800 civilian men, women and children and the displacement of thousands more. "Senator Ramsey" redirects here. Alexander Ramsey was born September 8, 1815, at Hummelstown, Pennsylvania. Ramsey was very involved with the US military during his political career. The home was built by Alexander Ramsey, Minnesota's first … In 1863, Ramsey was elected to the US Senate. 88). He was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1839. He served as the first Territorial Governor of Minnesotafrom June 1, 1849, to May 15, 1853, as a member of the Whig Party. Ramsey served as Secretary of War from 1879 to 1881, under President Rutherford B. Ramsey joined the Whig party and became a rising star in Pennsylvania politics. Ramsey was accused of fraud and not exonerated until 1854—the year after a new territorial governor was appointed. He served as the first Territorial Governor of Minnesota June 1, 1849 to May 15, 1853 as a member of the Whig Party. Posts about Alexander Ramsey written by PrayThroughHistory. Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, Casey Family Programs, Active Voice the MacArthur Foundation, and the Stuart Foundation. He was a delegate to the Whig national convention in 1840 and in 1843 began the first of two terms in the US House of Representatives. Two years later he was a government representative at the signing of the Treaty of Traverse de Sioux, a treaty that reduced the size of the Dakota homelands by 24 million acres. Alexander Ramsey, ca. Governor Alexander Ramsey makes Minnesota the first state to pledge its militia to the Union: 11/05/1861: 11/05/1861: Republican governors Andrew of Massachusetts and Ramsey of Minnesota easily re-elected: 04/15/1865: 04/15/1865: Vice-President Andrew Johnson takes the oath as seventeenth President of the United States Second State Governor January 2, 1860 - July 10, 1863. He served as a Whig and Republican over a variety of offices between the 1840s and the 1880s. The Supreme Court upheld the federal law that denied polygamists the right to vote. Ramsey next secured the Republican gubernatorial nomination and was elected governor by a popular vote on November 8, 1859. 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