Atterson Walden Rucker (April 3, 1847 – July 19, 1924) was an American lawyer, mining executive, and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Colorado from 1909 to 1913. He had previously served in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War.

Atterson W. Rucker
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Colorado's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1909 – March 3, 1913
Preceded byRobert W. Bonynge
Succeeded byGeorge J. Kindel
Personal details
Born
Atterson Walden Rucker

(1847-04-03)April 3, 1847
Harrodsburg, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedJuly 19, 1924(1924-07-19) (aged 77)
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Resting placeLittleton Cemetery
Littleton, Colorado
Political partyDemocratic
OccupationLawyer
Military service
Allegiance Confederate States
Branch/service Confederate States Army
RankPrivate
Unit 16th Missouri Infantry[1]
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Biography

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Born in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, Rucker moved in early youth with his parents to Missouri. He attended the common schools. He served four years in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1868 and commenced practice in Lexington, Missouri, the following year.[citation needed]

He moved to Baxter Springs, Kansas, in 1873 and resumed the practice of law. He moved to Leadville, Colorado, in 1879 and continued the practice of his profession. He was also interested in mining. He served as judge of the court of records of Lake County in 1881 and 1882. He moved to Aspen, Colorado, in 1885 and became largely interested in the development of mining projects.[2][3]

Congress and retirement

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Rucker was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-first and Sixty-second Congresses (March 4, 1909 – March 3, 1913). He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1912.[4]

He returned to Colorado and settled in Denver, where he resumed his career in the mining business.

Death and burial

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He died near Mount Morrison, Colorado, on July 19, 1924. He was interred in the Littleton Cemetery, Littleton, Colorado.[2]

Electoral history

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1908 United States House of Representatives elections, Colorado's 1st district
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Atterson W. Rucker 60,643 49.87%
Republican Robert W. Bonynge (incumbent) 57,597 47.37%
Socialist S.S. Greear 3,356 2.76%
Majority 3,046 2.50%
Total votes 121,596 100%
Democratic gain from Republican
1910 United States House of Representatives elections, Colorado's 1st district
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Atterson W. Rucker (incumbent) 40,458 40.77%
Republican James C. Burger 37,966 38.26%
Prohibition George John Kindel 17,144 17.28%
Socialist John W. Martin 3,661 3.69%
Majority 2,492 2.51%
Total votes 99,229 100%
Democratic hold
1914 United States House of Representatives elections, Colorado's 1st district[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Benjamin C. Hilliard 26,169 40.56%
Republican Horace F. Phelps 21,569 33.43%
Progressive Archibald A. Lee 8,729 13.53%
Independent Atterson W. Rucker 5,445 8.44%
Socialist Benjamin Blumenberg 2,612 4.05%
Majority 4,600 7.13%
Total votes 64,524 100%
Democratic hold

References

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  1. ^ "Soldier Details". National Park Service. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Rucker, Atterson Walden". United States Congress. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  3. ^ "RUCKER, Atterson Walden | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  4. ^ "Atterson Rucker, former Representative for Colorado's 1st Congressional District". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  5. ^ "CO - District 01 - History". Our Campaigns. Archived from the original on July 15, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2021.

Sources

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  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Colorado's 1st congressional district

1909-1913
Succeeded by