Wisconsin

a State of the Union, was the last State to be formed from the ‘‘Old Northwest.” It was early explored by Nicolet, La Salle and French traders, who made the first settlement at Green Bay in 1639. In 1763 the treaty of Paris gave the territory to the English, under whose jurisdiction it remained until 1796, when it was ceded to the United States. In 1836 it was formed into a separate territory, and included besides its present area the present territory of Iowa and Minnesota and parts of the Dakotas. May 29, 1948, the State was finally admitted into the Union. The State was Democratic in national pol i tics until 1856, when it was carried by the Republicans as at every subsequent Presidential election until 1892. In 1872 the Graham liquor law was pa ed requiring a license for the sale of liquor and a bond for payment of any damages from its sale. In 1874 the Potter law fixed the railroad rates for pa engers and freight. In 1890 the Democrats elected the Governor, and in 1892 the Presidential electors. The present Constitution dates from 1848. The population of the State in 1850 was 305,391; in 1890, 1,686,880. 394