Henry C. Waite(bottom left) and other members of the legislature, ca. 1883. Photo by Charles A. Zimmerman.

Abram M. Fridley, ca. 1878. Photo by Charles A. Zimmerman.

Official portrait of Governor Horace Austin, 1873. Artist: Carl Gutherz.

Governor, Lt. Governor, Senate of the State of Minnesota, 1870. Photo by Alexander St. Clair.

Governor William Marshall and members of the House of Representatives, 1868. Photo by Joel Emmons Whitney.

Governor William Marshall and members of the House of Representatives, 1867. Photo by Alexander St. Clair.

Governor William Marshall and members of the Minnesota House of Representatives, 1866. Photo by Joel Emmons Whitney.

Anson R. Hayden, ca. 1862.

Morton Wilkinson was one of Minnesota's first US Senators, and was a member of the original Territorial Legislature. Wilkinson successfully lobbied President Lincoln to appoint Thompson to the Northern Superintendency because of his support during his Senate race. Wilkinson eventually retired to Thompson's railroad town of Wells.