John Allen Wakefield facts for kids
John Allen Wakefield (born February 11, 1797 – died June 18, 1873) was an amazing American who did many things! He was a historian, a politician, a soldier, a doctor, and a lawyer.
John was born in Pendleton, South Carolina. His family moved around a lot, living in Tennessee, Kentucky, and finally settling in Illinois.
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John Allen Wakefield: A Man of Many Talents
Growing Up and Learning
During the War of 1812, John served as a scout in the Illinois militia. A scout is like a guide or a spy who gathers information. After the war, he studied medicine and became a doctor. Then, he decided to study law and became a lawyer, meaning he could help people with legal problems.
John also became a politician. He served in the Illinois House of Representatives, which means he helped make laws for the state of Illinois.
A Soldier and Writer
In 1832, John Wakefield joined the Black Hawk War. This was a conflict between the United States and Native American tribes. After the war, he wrote a book about it. His book talked a lot about the Bad Axe massacre, which happened near a place called Victory, Wisconsin today.
Moving West and New Roles
In 1849, John Wakefield moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota. There, he owned a hotel called the Tremont House. He also became the first justice of the peace in Saint Paul. A justice of the peace is a local official who can handle small legal matters, like minor court cases or performing marriages.
Later Years in Kansas
After living in Iowa for a while, John Wakefield moved to Lawrence, Kansas. He became involved in the events known as Bleeding Kansas. This was a difficult time when people fought over whether Kansas should allow slavery or not.
In 1864, John served again as a lawmaker, this time in the Kansas House of Representatives. He passed away in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1873.
