Allen Alexander Bradford

Allen Alexander Bradford (July 23, 1815 – March 12, 1888) was an American attorney, judge, and politician from Colorado. A Republican, he served as Associate Judge of the United States District Court for Colorado Territory from 1862 to 1865 and Territorial Delegate from Colorado Territory from 1865 to 1867 and 1869 to 1871.
A native of Friendship, Maine, Bradford taught school while studying law, attained admission to the bar and practiced. He served as clerk of the circuit court of Atchison County, Missouri from 1845 to 1851, then moved to Iowa, where he was judge of the sixth judicial district from 1852 to 1855. He then moved to Nebraska Territory, where he served as a member of the territorial house of representatives from 1856 to 1858. In 1860, he moved to Colorado Territory, where he was appointed judge of the territory's federal court by President Abraham Lincoln on June 6, 1862.
Bradford was elected territorial delegate in 1864 and served in the 39th Congress, March 4, 1865 to March 3, 1867. After his term, he resumed the practice of law in Pueblo, Colorado. In 1868, he was again elected as territorial delegate, and he served in the 41st Congress, (March 4, 1869 to March 3, 1871. After leaving Congress, Bradford practiced law in Pueblo. He died in Pueblo on March 12, 1888. He was buried at City Cemetery in Pueblo.
Early life
Allen A. Bradford was born in Friendship, Maine on July 23, 1815, a son of Cornelius Bradford and Hannah (Gay) Bradford. He was raised on his family's farm, attended the local schools, and was a student at several academies in the Camden, Maine area. After completing his education, he taught school while studying law in the Thomaston, Maine office of Jonathan Cilley.
In 1841, Bradford moved to Atchison County, Missouri, where he continued to teach school and study law. He attained admission to the bar in 1845 and practiced in Atchison County. From 1845 to 1850, Bradford served as clerk of the Missouri Circuit Court for Atchison County. In 1850, he made a California Gold Rush trip to the West Coast, but decided not to remain, and he returned to Missouri in 1851. Later that year he moved to Sidney, Iowa, where he continued to practice law. From 1852 to 1855, he served as judge of Iowa's 6th District Court.
Continued career
In 1855, Bradford moved to Nebraska City, Nebraska Territory, where he continued practicing law. He was soon elected to the territorial legislature, and he served in the second, third, and fourth sessions, 1856, 1857, and 1858. In 1860, he moved to Central City, Colorado Territory, where he resumed practicing law. In 1862, he was appointed to the territory's United States court, and he moved to Pueblo. Bradford remained on the bench until 1865, when he resigned to take his seat in Congress.
In 1864, Bradford was elected as Colorado's territorial delegate to the United States House of Representatives, and he served one term, March 4, 1865 to March 3, 1867. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1866 and resumed practicing law in Pueblo. In 1868, he was again elected to Congress, and he served as Colorado's delegate from March 4, 1869 to March 3, 1871. After completing his second term, Bradford returned to Pueblo to practice law. From 1871 to 1881, he served as county attorney of Pueblo County.
Bradford died in Pueblo on March 13, 1888. He was buried at City Cemetery in Pueblo.
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1815 births
1888 deaths
Delegates to the United States House of Representatives from Colorado Territory
Iowa state court judges
Missouri state court judges
People from Knox County, Maine
Colorado lawyers
Colorado Republicans
Members of the Nebraska Territorial Legislature
19th-century American politicians
19th-century American judges
19th-century American lawyers