John Allen Wakefield (February 11, 1797 – June 18, 1873) was an American historian, politician, soldier, physician, and lawyer.

[1] Born in Pendleton, South Carolina, Wakefield moved with his family to Tennessee, Kentucky, and then to Illinois, where they settled.

During the War of 1812, Wakefield served in the Illinois militia as a scout.

In 1832, Wakefield took part in the Black Hawk War and wrote a book discussing the war, especially the Bad Axe massacre,[2] near present-day Victory, Wisconsin.

[3] Wakefield moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1849, where he owned the Tremont House and became the first justice of the peace.