Jackson County IA Archives Biographies.....Dawson, Albert Foster 1872 - 1949
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ken Wright wright@prestontel.com August 8, 2010, 7:10 pm

Source: Maquoketa Public Library
Author: Grace Holihan

Albert F. Dawson 
Written by Grace Holihan, Librarian, Jackson County Historical Society 

Albert F. Dawson 
Born January 26, 1872, died March, 1949. 
1905-U.S. Representative-Republican 
1907-U.S. Representative-Republican 
1909-U.S. Representative-Republican 

Albert F. Dawson was born in Spragueville, Iowa on January 26, 1872, the son 
of Thomas and Allia (Foster) Dawson. His father was born in England and his 
mother in Jackson County. His mother died April 4, 1873, before he was a year 
old. His grandparents, Major and Mrs. Foster raised him. He was educated in 
the public schools and was graduated from Preston High School in 1888. In 
order to obtain money for tuition he worked two years as a clerk in a general 
store and entered the University of Wisconsin in 1890. He was only able to 
attend the University one year, but was fortunate enough to secure work with 
the Preston Advance and became editor and manager at the age of nineteen. He 
continued publication of the Advance until 1902 when he moved to Clinton where 
he worked on the Clinton Daily Age and later became city editor of the Clinton 
Herald. His political career began in 1895 as secretary to the Hon. George M. 
Curtis and later secretary to Senator Wm. B. Allison. 

Albert Dawson became well known as a public speaker and his reputation for 
public service won him the unanimous nomination for Congress in 1904 by the 
Republican convention of the second Iowa district. He won over M. J. Wade by 
186 votes. In 1906 he was reelected and won by over 1400 votes and in 1908 he 
won by more than 1900 votes. During his service as representative he worked on 
many bills of importance, but is remembered for establishing rural free 
delivery in every county. His efforts led to a new post office in Muscatine 
and the improvement of other post offices. He established a biological station 
at Fairport to perpetuate the pearl button industry by maintaining a supply of 
fresh-water mussels through artificial propagation. 



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