Alaskans celebrate 155th birthday of judge and frontiersman James Wickersham
September 3, 2012
JUNEAU, Alaska: Late last month the state of Alaska celebrated Wickersham Day in honor of the former Judge James A. Wickersham. August twenty-fourth marks the 155th birthday of Judge Wickersham who served as a United States district judge in Alaska (Territory of Alaska) from 1900 to 1908.[1]
Appointed by President William McKinley in 1900, Wickersham would go on to make Alaskan history. Today he is known as the judge who presided over his circuit by way of snow-shoe, sled dog and steamboat. He was the first documented man to attempt a climb up Denali (Mt. McKinley) and served seven terms as Alaska’s delegate to Congress.[2]
While in congress, Wickersham pushed through the Second Organic Act in 1912 that provided the Territory of Alaska with an elected legislature. In 1916 he introduced the first Alaska Statehood Bill to congress. He was also responsible for introducing legislature that established the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines, which would later become the University of Alaska.[2]
Wickersham passed away on October 24, 1939.[2]
Footnotes
| |||||
