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. he died of a heart attack on June 7, 1892 at age 45

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.