Alfred A. Jackson
Surnames: Dennison, Dyer, Johnson, Lawton, Little,
Nelson, Norton, Paton, Sleeper, Sloan, Stevens
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 56-57
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ALFRED A. JACKSON. For over forty-five years Mr. JACKSON has been a resident of Janesville, Rock County, and for more than forty years a member of the Wisconsin Bar. He comes of Scotch-Irish stock, some of his ancestors having come to New England before the middle of the seventeenth century.
Daniel JACKSON, his grandfather, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was commissioned an officer in the Seventh Company of the Thirteenth Regiment of the Connecticut Militia on May 16, 1794. He removed late in life to central New York, and died at Rome, Oneida County, that State, at an advanced age. His son Truman, father of Alfred A., was born in Bethlehem, Conn., in 1800. At the age of twenty-three he, too, removed to Oneida County, N.Y., where he purchased a farm on which he resided until his death, in 1871. He married Polly, daughter of Joseph and Mary (DENNISON) LAWTON. MR. LAWTON was also a Connecticut farmer who had moved to central New York, and who toward the close of his life removed to Dane County, Wis., to pass his last years with his sons living there. He died in his eighty-fifth year. To Mr. and Mrs. Truman JACKSON were born six children, four of whom are yet living. Of these, Alfred A. is the eldest, the others being Nancy A., wife of Absalom NELSON, of Lebanon, Mo.; Homer T., a physician in Verona, N.Y.; and Jane E., of Buffalo, New York.
Alfred A. JACKSON was born Aug. 8, 1831, in the town of Verona, Oneida Co., N.Y. After passing through the public schools he entered the academy at Rome, N.Y., but failing eyesight compelled him to forego the completion of his course. For some time he remained at home upon the farm, until he found himself able to take a position in a store. In April, 1855, his eyesight having been restored, he started for the West, and has since made Janesville his home. There he began the study of law in the office of SLOAN and PATTON on the 21st of April, 1855, and completed his course in the office of SLEEPER and NORTON. In April, 1856, he was admitted to the Bar, and since that time he has been continuously engaged in the practice of his profession. In politics he has been an ardent Republican since the organization of that party. He has not aspired to leadership, although he served for a year as supervisor, which position he resigned; represented the Third ward in the city council for two years; and during 1868 held the office of mayor. For eight years he was one of the trustees of the State School for the Blind, and for four years was president of the Board. He has also been honored in his profession. Since the formation of the State Bar Association he has served on its executive committee, and is at present chairman of its committee on publication. He was also the first president of the Rock County Bar Association, and filled that office several years. In February, 1868, he was admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court. He takes a deep interest in all matters pertaining to the domain of American history, and is a member of the Historical Society of Wisconsin, and of the American Historical Society. In 1872 Beloit College conferred upon him the degree of M.A. While kindly and genial in temperament, and heartily enjoying the companionship of his friends, his busy life has left him little leisure to devote to the many calls which membership in numerous societies would have made upon his time. He is, however, a member of Wisconsin Lodge, No. 14, I.O.O.F., and of the Royal Arcanum. He is also an elder in the Presbyterian Church.
In August, 1859, Mr. JACKSON was married to Miss Anna E. DYER, a daughter of Burton H. and Rebecca Johnson DYER. Mrs. JACKSON died in 1867. Three children were born to this marriage, Frank D., Bertha A. and William A. (1) Frank D. was graduated from Beloit College and from the Law School of Yale University. For two years he was his fathers partner in Janesville, but having a desire to enter the ministry, he left the office to study at Chicago Theological Seminary; he is now pastor of the Congregational Church at Wabaunsee, Kans.
In October, 1895, he married Miss Martha P. LITTLE. Two children have been born to them, Bertha L. and Howard L. (2) Bertha A. was graduated from Rockford College, and after spending one winter at Washington and one in the south returned to Rockford to accept a position as teacher in the History Department. Failing health obliged her to resign, and she died at her home Feb. 14, 1893. (3) William A. JACKSON, the younger son, is an alumnus of the State University at Madison, having studied in both the Academic and Law Departments. Since his graduation, in 1891, he has been in partnership with his father, and is now (1901) serving his fourth term as District Attorney. In November, 1897, he was married to Miss Mary Emeline STEVENS.
On Sept. 7, 1870, Mr. JACKSON married Rebecca W., daughter of Luther H. and Caroline JOHNSON. Their daughter, Fanny Rebecca, is also a graduate of Rockford College.