Andrew Jackson Turner (September 24, 1832 – June 10, 1905)[1] was an American politician, newspaper editor, and businessman. He served 4 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing western Columbia County, and was the 2nd Wisconsin Railroad Commissioner. He also served as the 17th mayor of Portage, Wisconsin (1881–1884), and was chief clerk of the Wisconsin Senate for the 1876 and 1877 terms. In contemporaneous documents, his name was almost always abbreviated as A. J. Turner. He also sometimes went by the nickname "Jack Turner".
A. J. Turner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 2nd Wisconsin Railroad Commissioner | |
| In office February 15, 1878 – February 15, 1882 | |
| Appointed by | William E. Smith |
| Preceded by | Dana C. Lamb |
| Succeeded by | Nils P. Haugen |
| Chief Clerk of the Wisconsin Senate | |
| In office January 3, 1876 – February 7, 1878 | |
| Preceded by | Fred A. Dennett |
| Succeeded by | Charles E. Bross |
| 17th Mayor of Portage, Wisconsin | |
| In office April 1881 – April 1884 | |
| Preceded by | Josiah D. Arnold |
| Succeeded by | James B. Taylor |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Columbia 1st district | |
| In office January 4, 1869 – January 3, 1870 | |
| Preceded by | Alanson Holly |
| Succeeded by | Jonas Narracong |
| In office January 1, 1866 – January 7, 1867 | |
| Preceded by | Levi W. Barden |
| Succeeded by | W. Scott Schermerhorn |
| In office January 5, 1863 – January 2, 1865 | |
| Preceded by | Jonathan Bowman |
| Succeeded by | Levi W. Barden |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 24, 1832 Schuyler Falls, New York, U.S. |
| Died | June 10, 1905 (aged 72) Portage, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Resting place | Silver Lake Cemetery, Portage, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Mary Olivia Hanford
(m. 1860–1905) |
| Children | Frederick Jackson Turner |
| Occupation | Journalist, politician, civic leader, business operator |
| Signature |  |
Biography
editBorn in Schuyler Falls, New York, he moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1855 and then settled in Portage, Wisconsin, in 1857.[2][3] He was co-editor of the Portage City Record, which later merged with the Portage Wisconsin State Register. Turner served in the Wisconsin State Assembly as a Republican from 1863 to 1864, and again from 1866 to 1869.[3] He was elected chief clerk of the Wisconsin State Senate during the 1876, 1877, and 1878 terms.[3] He also served as mayor of Portage, Wisconsin, and was the Wisconsin Railroad Commissioner from 1878 to 1882.[3] He wrote pamphlets and articles about the history of Portage and the Republican Party. His son was the educator Frederick Jackson Turner. Turner died in Portage, Wisconsin.[2][3][4]
Published works
edit- Turner, A. J., ed. (1872). The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin.
- Turner, A. J., ed. (1873). The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin.
- Turner, A. J., ed. (1874). The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin.
References
edit- ^ Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Vol. 57. Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1906, p. 141.
- ^ a b "Death of Hon. A. J. Turner". Portage Daily Register. Portage, WI. June 12, 1905. p. 3. Retrieved September 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e "A. J. Turner Suddenly Called, Portage Loses Good Friend". Portage Daily Democrat. Portage, WI. June 12, 1905. p. 3. Retrieved September 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Berthrong, Donald J. (Winter 1954–55). "Andrew Jackson Turner: 'work horse' of the Republican party". Wisconsin Magazine of History. 38 (2). Wisconsin Historical Society: 77–86. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
