John D. Alderson
Encyclopedia
John D. Alderson was a lawyer
and Democratic
politician
from West Virginia
who served as a United States Representative from West Virginia
. He was born at Nicholas Court House (now Summersville), West Virginia on November 29, 1854. He was a member of the 51st
, 52nd
, and 53rd United States Congress
es. He died December 5, 1910.
He served as sergeant at arms of the West Virginia Senate
from 1871 to 1873.
He worked as a doorkeeper in 1872 and 1873. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar
in 1876 and entered practice at Nicholas County Court House. He was appointed prosecuting attorney for the counties of Nicholas and Webster in 1876. He was subsequently elected prosecuting attorney for these counties and then re-elected in 1880 and 1884, serving until January 1, 1889. He also served as clerk of the State Senate from 1883 to 1887. He was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-first, Fifty-second, and Fifty-third Congresses (March 4, 1889-March 3, 1895).
His candidacy for re-election in 1894 was unsuccessful. Afterward, he returned to his law the practice in Nicholas County. He served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
s in 1900 and 1908. He died in Richwood, West Virginia
in Nicholas County December 5, 1910 and was buried in a private burial ground at Summersville, West Virginia
.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
who served as a United States Representative from West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. He was born at Nicholas Court House (now Summersville), West Virginia on November 29, 1854. He was a member of the 51st
51st United States Congress
The Fifty-first United States Congress, referred to by some critics as the Billion Dollar Congress, was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
, 52nd
52nd United States Congress
The Fifty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
, and 53rd United States Congress
53rd United States Congress
The Fifty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1893 to March 4, 1895, during the fifth and sixth...
es. He died December 5, 1910.
He served as sergeant at arms of the West Virginia Senate
West Virginia Senate
The West Virginia Senate is the upper house of the West Virginia Legislature.There are 17 senatorial districts. Each district has two senators who serve staggered four-year terms....
from 1871 to 1873.
He worked as a doorkeeper in 1872 and 1873. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1876 and entered practice at Nicholas County Court House. He was appointed prosecuting attorney for the counties of Nicholas and Webster in 1876. He was subsequently elected prosecuting attorney for these counties and then re-elected in 1880 and 1884, serving until January 1, 1889. He also served as clerk of the State Senate from 1883 to 1887. He was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-first, Fifty-second, and Fifty-third Congresses (March 4, 1889-March 3, 1895).
His candidacy for re-election in 1894 was unsuccessful. Afterward, he returned to his law the practice in Nicholas County. He served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
s in 1900 and 1908. He died in Richwood, West Virginia
Richwood, West Virginia
Richwood is a city in Nicholas County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,477 at the 2000 census. A former coal and lumber boom town, the city's population once flirted with 10,000 but the closure of many underground coal mines caused many of Richwood's residents to leave the state...
in Nicholas County December 5, 1910 and was buried in a private burial ground at Summersville, West Virginia
Summersville, West Virginia
Summersville is a town in Nicholas County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 3,194 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Nicholas County.-Geography:...
.
See also
- United States Congressional Delegations from West Virginia