Andrew Jackson 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	(1832-09-24)September 24, 1832 Schuyler Falls, New York, U.S.
Died	June 10, 1905(1905-06-10) (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

Andrew Jackson Turner (September 24, 1832 – June 10, 1905) 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".

Biography

Born in Schuyler Falls, New York, he moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1855 and then settled in Portage, Wisconsin, in 1857. 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. He was elected chief clerk of the Wisconsin State Senate during the 1876, 1877, and 1878 terms. He also served as mayor of Portage, Wisconsin, and was the Wisconsin Railroad Commissioner from 1878 to 1882. 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.

Published works

• 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.