Wisconsin State Journal, Monday, November 13, 1916, p. 10

"'Life is a battle,--death is a victory.' - Hitchcock

JOHN A. AYLWARD

American history is crowded with stories of poor boys who made good. This is our greatest national glory. No country in the history of the world parallels our record of such biographies. Yet each story is fresh and full of inspirational power. The romance of surmounting adversity, the defiance of difficulties and the challenge of defeat is ever new and quickening. In the catalog of these stories is the record of our friend and neighbor and honored citizen, John A. Aylward, who, after finishing a full day's work on Saturday, went to his rest and quietly slept through into the abiding peace.

John Aylward was the son of poor but industrious parents. He was born in the nearby village of Black Earth in the year 1861, when the nation was torn with secession and division. His boyhood life was simple. The lives of other boys who tho born poor have made good, planted aspiration and inspiration in his boyish heart and soul and he set out to live a life that might add one more touch of aspiration to other boys who were to follow him.

His father was a cooper by trade, but when John was very young his father left this trade to become a section foreman on the Prairie du Chien division of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad. Thru that magnificent 'pull' John himself got a chance to work on the section at $1.10 a day. In this way he earned enough money to help himself thru college, supplementing his savings with various jobs while a student in Madison.

As a student he was president of his class and of his literary society. He became distinguished in the University as one of its great joint debaters. He was one of the commencement orators of his class. After graduating he followed the line of least resistance open to college graduates and became a teacher. But he was not to be long content with the line of least resistance in vocational endeavor. So in 1890, six years after he was graduated from the College of Letters and Science, we find him entering upon the practice of law equipped with a University of Wisconsin law degree.

In the 26 years in which John Aylward has been a Wisconsin barrister he has figured as counsel and attorney in some of the most important cases known to Wisconsin courts. John Aylward has been more than a private practitioner. From the start he has been intensely interested in public service. For 15 years he was city attorney and at the time of his death he was United States District Attorney.

Mr. Aylward was deeply interested in politics as a progressive Democrat. He was an active worker for the nomination of Woodrow Wilson at the Baltimore convention four years ago. He has been his party's candidate for Congrass and twice his party's candidate for governor of Wisconsin, as well as being prominently mentioned for the United States federal judgeship in Chicago.

John A. Aylward was not only one of Madison's foremost citizens, but one of Wisconsin's most prominent sons. His life has been filled with an earnest endeavor; all his work has been endowed with a magnificent enthusiasm. Tho cut short when his life was but little past meridian, he lived more fully than most men who endure thru nearly twice the number of his years.

To his bereaved family the sincerest sympathy of this community is extended in the fullest measure. Theirs is a loss others cannot share. But when a man like John A. Aylward lies down to accept his well earned rest, all who knew him must feel the loss of part of their wealth of friendship. The state itself puts upon her honor roll the name of one more son who lived to make Wisconsin's name more glorious."

Another tribute to him:

https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Newspaper/BA152

And another biography: "Wisconsin: Its Story and Biography, 1848-1913, Volume 8" p. 2361

https://books.google.com/books?id=Qp4UAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA2361&lpg=PA2361&dq=john+a+aylward+madison+wisconsin&source=bl&ots=xBBB6htVFE&sig=ACfU3U2TfD9mk3LLYYO_VtXruQ_MK6DyNQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwimvI3n0bXgAhXqct8KHfZDBCsQ6AEwCnoECAcQAQ#v=onepage&q=john%20a%20aylward%20madison%20wisconsin&f=false

Wisconsin State Journal, Monday, November 13, 1916, p. 10

"'Life is a battle,--death is a victory.' - Hitchcock

JOHN A. AYLWARD

American history is crowded with stories of poor boys who made good. This is our greatest national glory. No country in the history of the world parallels our record of such biographies. Yet each story is fresh and full of inspirational power. The romance of surmounting adversity, the defiance of difficulties and the challenge of defeat is ever new and quickening. In the catalog of these stories is the record of our friend and neighbor and honored citizen, John A. Aylward, who, after finishing a full day's work on Saturday, went to his rest and quietly slept through into the abiding peace.

John Aylward was the son of poor but industrious parents. He was born in the nearby village of Black Earth in the year 1861, when the nation was torn with secession and division. His boyhood life was simple. The lives of other boys who tho born poor have made good, planted aspiration and inspiration in his boyish heart and soul and he set out to live a life that might add one more touch of aspiration to other boys who were to follow him.

His father was a cooper by trade, but when John was very young his father left this trade to become a section foreman on the Prairie du Chien division of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad. Thru that magnificent 'pull' John himself got a chance to work on the section at $1.10 a day. In this way he earned enough money to help himself thru college, supplementing his savings with various jobs while a student in Madison.

As a student he was president of his class and of his literary society. He became distinguished in the University as one of its great joint debaters. He was one of the commencement orators of his class. After graduating he followed the line of least resistance open to college graduates and became a teacher. But he was not to be long content with the line of least resistance in vocational endeavor. So in 1890, six years after he was graduated from the College of Letters and Science, we find him entering upon the practice of law equipped with a University of Wisconsin law degree.

In the 26 years in which John Aylward has been a Wisconsin barrister he has figured as counsel and attorney in some of the most important cases known to Wisconsin courts. John Aylward has been more than a private practitioner. From the start he has been intensely interested in public service. For 15 years he was city attorney and at the time of his death he was United States District Attorney.

Mr. Aylward was deeply interested in politics as a progressive Democrat. He was an active worker for the nomination of Woodrow Wilson at the Baltimore convention four years ago. He has been his party's candidate for Congrass and twice his party's candidate for governor of Wisconsin, as well as being prominently mentioned for the United States federal judgeship in Chicago.

John A. Aylward was not only one of Madison's foremost citizens, but one of Wisconsin's most prominent sons. His life has been filled with an earnest endeavor; all his work has been endowed with a magnificent enthusiasm. Tho cut short when his life was but little past meridian, he lived more fully than most men who endure thru nearly twice the number of his years.

To his bereaved family the sincerest sympathy of this community is extended in the fullest measure. Theirs is a loss others cannot share. But when a man like John A. Aylward lies down to accept his well earned rest, all who knew him must feel the loss of part of their wealth of friendship. The state itself puts upon her honor roll the name of one more son who lived to make Wisconsin's name more glorious."

Another tribute to him:

https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Newspaper/BA152

And another biography: "Wisconsin: Its Story and Biography, 1848-1913, Volume 8" p. 2361

https://books.google.com/books?id=Qp4UAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA2361&lpg=PA2361&dq=john+a+aylward+madison+wisconsin&source=bl&ots=xBBB6htVFE&sig=ACfU3U2TfD9mk3LLYYO_VtXruQ_MK6DyNQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwimvI3n0bXgAhXqct8KHfZDBCsQ6AEwCnoECAcQAQ#v=onepage&q=john%20a%20aylward%20madison%20wisconsin&f=false