David Emmons Johnston
Encyclopedia
David Emmons Johnston was a lawyer
and Democratic
politician
from West Virginia
who served as a United States Representative. Congressman Johnston was born near Pearisburg, Virginia
in Giles County
April 10, 1845. He was elected in 1888 to the 56th United States Congress
. He died July 7, 1917.
He attended the common schools. In April 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served four years in the Seventh Virginia Regiment of Infantry, Kemper’s
brigade of Pickett
’s division. He studied law and was admitted to the bar
in Giles County in 1867. He began practicing in Pearisburg, Virginia
. He moved to Mercer County, West Virginia
. in 1870. He served as prosecuting attorney from 1872 to 1876. He became a State Senator
in 1878 but resigned;. From 1880 to 1888, he was a judge on the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court
. He was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1899-March 3, 1901). His candidacy in 1900 for re-election was unsuccessful. He moved to Portland, Oregon
in 1908 and resumed the practice of law. He died in Portland on July 7, 1917 and was buried in Mount Scott Park Cemetery, which is now Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
who served as a United States Representative. Congressman Johnston was born near Pearisburg, Virginia
Pearisburg, Virginia
Pearisburg is a town in Giles County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,729 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Giles County.Pearisburg is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg–Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area....
in Giles County
Giles County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,657 people, 6,994 households, and 4,888 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 7,732 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
April 10, 1845. He was elected in 1888 to the 56th United States Congress
56th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Leadership :- Senate :* President: Garret Hobart , until November 21, 1899 , vacant thereafter.* President pro tempore: William P. Frye * Democratic Caucus Chairman: James K. Jones...
. He died July 7, 1917.
He attended the common schools. In April 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served four years in the Seventh Virginia Regiment of Infantry, Kemper’s
James L. Kemper
James Lawson Kemper was a lawyer, a Confederate general in the American Civil War, and the 37th Governor of Virginia...
brigade of Pickett
George Pickett
George Edward Pickett was a career United States Army officer who became a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
’s division. He studied law and was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in Giles County in 1867. He began practicing in Pearisburg, Virginia
Pearisburg, Virginia
Pearisburg is a town in Giles County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,729 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Giles County.Pearisburg is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg–Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. He moved to Mercer County, West Virginia
Mercer County, West Virginia
-External links:* * * * * * *...
. in 1870. He served as prosecuting attorney from 1872 to 1876. He became a State Senator
West Virginia Senate
The West Virginia Senate is the upper house of the West Virginia Legislature.There are 17 senatorial districts. Each district has two senators who serve staggered four-year terms....
in 1878 but resigned;. From 1880 to 1888, he was a judge on the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
. He was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1899-March 3, 1901). His candidacy in 1900 for re-election was unsuccessful. He moved to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
in 1908 and resumed the practice of law. He died in Portland on July 7, 1917 and was buried in Mount Scott Park Cemetery, which is now Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery.
See also
- United States Congressional Delegations from West Virginia
External links
- The Story of a Confederate Boy in the Civil War. Portland, Or.: Glass & Prudhomme Co., c1914.