Franklin L. Gilson

Franklin Leander Gilson (October 22, 1846 – June 7, 1892) was an American politician and jurist. He was the 32nd Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly, and for the last two years of his life, he was judge of the Milwaukee Superior Court. Earlier in his career, he served as district attorney for Pierce County for six years.

The Honorable Franklin L. Gilson
Judge of the Milwaukee Superior Court Branch 1
In office 1890 – June 14, 1892
Appointed by	William D. Hoard
Preceded by	George H. Noyes
Succeeded by	John C. Ludwig
32nd Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly
In office January 11, 1882 – January 10, 1883
Preceded by	Ira B. Bradford
Succeeded by	Earl Finch
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Pierce district
In office January 3, 1881 – January 1, 1883
Preceded by	Nils P. Haugen
Succeeded by	John Day Putnam
District Attorney for Pierce County
In office January 1, 1875 – January 3, 1881
Preceded by	Edward H. Ives
Succeeded by	F. A. Ross
Personal details
Born	Franklin Leander Gilson (1846-10-22)October 22, 1846 Middlefield, Ohio
Died	June 7, 1892(1892-06-07) (aged 45) Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Cause of death	Heart attack
Resting place	Forest Home Cemetery Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Political party	Republican
Mother	Sylvia Lavina (Frisby) Gilson
Father	Willard H. Gilson
Profession	lawyer, judge

Biography

Born in Middlefield, Ohio, Gilson studied at Hiram College and Oberlin College, but did not graduate. In 1870, he moved to West Bend, Wisconsin, in Washington County, and studied law with his uncle Leander F. Frisby. In 1872, Gilson was admitted to the State Bar of Wisconsin and practiced law in Ellsworth, Wisconsin, in far west Pierce County.

Gilson served as district attorney of Pierce County, Wisconsin, from 1875 to 1881. A member of the Republican Party, Gilson was a delegate for Wisconsin to the 1880 Republican National Convention. That same year, he was elected to represent Pierce County in the Wisconsin Assembly. He was re-elected in 1881, and in the 1882 session, he was chosen by his caucus as Speaker of the Assembly.

In 1883, Gilson moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to practice law with his uncle Leander Frisby. In 1890, Gilson was appointed judge of Milwaukee Superior Court serving until his death in 1892.[1][2]

Notes

1. 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1882,' Biographical Sketch of Franklin L. Gilson, pg. 557
2. 'Report of the Annual Proceedings of the State Bar Association of Wisconsin February 2–3, 1901, Taylor and Gleason Book and Job Printers, Madison, Wisconsin: 1898, Biographical Sketch of Franklin L. Gilson, pg. 266-271

External links

• Franklin L. Gilson at Find a Grave

Political offices
Preceded by Ira B. Bradford	Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly 1882 – 1883	Succeeded by Earl Finch
Legal offices
Preceded by Edward H. Ives	District Attorney for Pierce County, Wisconsin 1875 – 1881	Succeeded by F. A. Ross
Preceded by George H. Noyes	Judge of the Milwaukee Superior Court Branch 1 1890 – 1892	Succeeded by John C. Ludwig