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 byWilliam E. Smith
Preceded byDana C. Lamb
Succeeded byNils P. Haugen
Chief Clerk of the Wisconsin Senate
In office
January 3, 1876 – February 7, 1878
Preceded byFred A. Dennett
Succeeded byCharles E. Bross
17th Mayor of Portage, Wisconsin
In office
April 1881 – April 1884
Preceded byJosiah D. Arnold
Succeeded byJames B. Taylor
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Columbia 1st district
In office
January 4, 1869 – January 3, 1870
Preceded byAlanson Holly
Succeeded byJonas Narracong
In office
January 1, 1866 – January 7, 1867
Preceded byLevi W. Barden
Succeeded byW. Scott Schermerhorn
In office
January 5, 1863 – January 2, 1865
Preceded byJonathan Bowman
Succeeded byLevi W. Barden
Personal details
Born(1832-09-24)September 24, 1832
Schuyler Falls, New York, U.S.
DiedJune 10, 1905(1905-06-10) (aged 72)
Portage, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeSilver Lake Cemetery, Portage, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Mary Olivia Hanford
(m. 1860⁠–⁠1905)
ChildrenFrederick Jackson Turner
OccupationJournalist, politician, civic leader, business operator
Signature

Biography

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Born 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

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  • 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

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  1. ^ Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Vol. 57. Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1906, p. 141.
  2. ^ 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.  
  3. ^ 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.  
  4. ^ 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.
Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Columbia 1st district
January 5, 1863 – January 2, 1865
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Columbia 1st district
January 1, 1866 – January 7, 1867
Succeeded by
W. Scott Schermerhorn
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Columbia 1st district
January 4, 1869 – January 3, 1870
Succeeded by
Jonas Narracong
Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Chief Clerk of the Wisconsin Senate
January 3, 1876 – February 7, 1878
Succeeded by
Charles E. Bross
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Portage, Wisconsin
April 1881 – April 1884
Succeeded by
James B. Taylor
Government offices
Preceded by
Dana C. Lamb
Wisconsin Railroad Commissioner
February 15, 1878 – February 15, 1882
Succeeded by