89th Delaware General Assembly

The 89th Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1st and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 5, 1897, which was two weeks before the beginning of the first administrative year of Governor Ebe W. Tunnell.

Governor Ebe W. Tunnell
89th General Assembly
In office January 5, 1897 – January 3, 1899
Preceded by	88th Assembly
Succeeded by	90th Assembly

Currently the distribution of the Senate Assembly seats was made to three senators for each of the three counties. Likewise the current distribution of the House Assembly seats was made to seven representatives for each of the three counties. The actual population changes of the county did not directly affect the number of senators or representatives at this time.

In the 89th Delaware General Assembly session both chambers had a Democratic majority. It was the last Constitution directed by the 1831 Delaware Constitution.

Leadership

Senate

• Hezekiah Harrington, Kent County, Democratic

House of Representatives

• Emory B. Riggin, Sussex County, Democratic

Members

Senate

Senators were normally elected by the public for a four-year term; although many were selected to fill the remainder of a vacant position.

New Castle County Samuel Alrichs Robert J. Hanby John C. Pyle

Kent County John W. Fennimore Hezekiah Harrington Samuel K. Meredith

Sussex County John M.C. Moore William T. Moore George F. Pierce

House of Representative

Representatives were elected by the public for a two-year term.

New Castle County Woodard W. Cheairs Charles G. Dempsey Donald K. Donaldson John F. Eliason William B. McCoy Robert McCullough James B. Taylor

Kent County Charles M. Adams William R. Davis Benjamin A. Hazell Joseph H. Hopkins Leander L. Hopkins James A. Martin Robert H. Wilson

Sussex County Elisha C. Dukes Thomas Johnson Emory B. Riggin Matt F. Short Asbury Smith John C. Thompson Isaac N. Whitney

References

• Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books. ISBN 1-892142-23-6.
• Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark, Delaware: Roger A. Martin.

Places with more information

• Delaware Historical Society; website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; [phone]
• University of Delaware; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; [phone]