Albert Orin Wakefield

WAKEFIELD, REDERICH, ELWARD

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/3/2015 at 00:39:47

Northwestern Iowa
Its History and Traditions
1804 – 1926

A lawyer of widely recognized ability, a jurist of the highest type and a man of integrity and honor, Albert Orin Wakefield, Judge of the fourth judicial district of Iowa, has made a definite impress on the history of his section of the state, of which he is one of her distinguished native sons. Iowa has been dignified by his life and achievement and he stands as a worthy member of a striking group of public men whose influence in the civic and social life as well as in professional circles of the state has been of almost beneficent order. Judge Wakefield was born in Sioux City on the 16th of May, 1875, and is a son of Judge George Washington Wakefield, who was for twenty years on the bench, two years on the circuit court and eighteen years on the district court bench. His death occurred March 10, 1905.

Albert Orin Wakefield attended the public schools of his native city, graduating from high school as the valedictorian of his class in 1893. He then entered Lombard College, at Galesburg, Illinois, where he took a four year’s course in two years, graduating in 1895, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then entered the law school of Iowa State University, and was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1897. Returning to Sioux City, he engaged in the practice of his profession in association with the firm of Marsh & Henderson until 1899, after which he practiced independently for the ensuing two years, in 1901 forming a law partnership with Edmund Pendleton, under the firm name of Pendleton & Wakefield, which continued to the time of his appointment to the district bench, on July 18, 1922. In July, 1906, he was appointed United States commissioner for the northern district of Iowa by Judge Henry T. Reed and rendered effective and able service in that official capacity to the time of his elevation to the bench.

On November 5, 1903, Judge Wakefield was united in marriage to Miss Elinor Josephine Rederich, who was born and reared in Sioux City, a daughter of Dr. A.J. and Alice (Elward) Rederich. Her father was for forty years one of Sioux City’s leading dentists but is now retired from active life. Judge and Mrs. Wakefield have three children; Alice Kate, who was graduated from the Iowa State University with the degree of A.B. and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa; George Rederich, who is a student in the Central High School; and Elinor Alberta, who is in the Junior high school. The Judge is a member of the Phi Delta Theta, a college fraternity, and Phi Delta Phi, a law fraternity. In Masonic circles he is widely known as a member of Landmark Lodge, No. 103, A.F. and A.M.; Sioux City Chapter, No. 26, R.A. M.; Zadok Council, No. 24, R. and S.M..; Rose Croix Chapter, No. 4000, O.E.S., to which Mrs. Wakefield also belongs; and Mizpah Shrine, No. 13, Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem. He is president of the Sioux City Masonic Building Company, and belongs to the National Masonic Research Society, to the Sioux City Chamber of Commerce, the Academy of Science, the Sioux City Kiwanis Club and the Sioux City Boat Club. In Judge Wakefield are found united many of the rare qualities which go to make up the successful lawyer and jurist. He possesses the acumen of the judicial temperament, and it is a matter of general knowledge among the members of the bar that no labor is too great, however onerous, no application too exacting, however severe, if necessary to the complete understanding and correct determination of a question. Not only in the judiciary has Judge Wakefield been accorded evidence of popular confidence and regard, but also in other directions, and he fills a large place in the general life and activities of the community.