Gibson Atherton
Encyclopedia
Gibson Atherton was a U.S. Representative
from Ohio
.
Born near Newark, Ohio
, Atherton attended Denison University
, Granville, Ohio
, and graduated from Miami University
, Oxford, Ohio
, in 1853. He served as Principal of the local academy at Osceola, Missouri
, in 1853 and 1854.
Later he studied law, and was admitted to the bar
in 1855 and commenced practice in Newark, Ohio
where he also served as president of the board of education of Newark for fifteen years.
Atherton was elected prosecuting attorney of Licking County
in 1857 and reelected in 1859 and 1861. While serving as mayor of Newark 1860-1864, he was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for the State senate in 1863. He ran for judge of the court of common pleas in 1866, but was unsuccessful.
Other local and national political service included time as member of the city council of Newark for two years and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention at St. Louis in 1876.
Atherton was elected as a Democrat
to the Forty-sixth
and Forty-seventh
Congresses (March 4, 1879-March 3, 1883), but afterwards chose not to seek renomination. Atherton was appointed to the Ohio Supreme Court by Governor Hoadly
August 20, 1885 to fill a vacancy created by the death of John W. Okey
. He lost election for the remaining two years of Okey's term that autumn to his Republican opponent, and resigned December 16 of that year.
After retiring from the bench, he resumed the practice of law until his death in Newark, Ohio
, November 10, 1887. He was interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Atherton married Margaret A. E. Kumler in Butler, Ohio
on November 18, 1856. They had four children.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Born near Newark, Ohio
Newark, Ohio
In addition, the remains of a road leading south from the Octagon have been documented and explored. It was first surveyed in the 19th century, when its walls were more apparent. Called the Great Hopewell Road, it may extend to the Hopewell complex at Chillicothe, Ohio...
, Atherton attended Denison University
Denison University
Denison University is private, coeducational, and residential college of liberal arts and sciences founded in 1831. It is located in Granville, Ohio, United States, approximately 30 miles east of Columbus, the state capital...
, Granville, Ohio
Granville, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,167 people, 1,309 households, and 888 families residing in the village. The population density was 790.4 people per square mile . There were 1,384 housing units at an average density of 345.4 per square mile...
, and graduated from Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
, Oxford, Ohio
Oxford, Ohio
Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States, in the southwestern portion of the state. It lies in Oxford Township, originally called the College Township. The population was 21,943 at the 2000 census. This college town was founded as a home for Miami University. Oxford...
, in 1853. He served as Principal of the local academy at Osceola, Missouri
Osceola, Missouri
Osceola is a city in St. Clair County, Missouri, United States. The population was 835 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of St. Clair County.-History:...
, in 1853 and 1854.
Later he studied law, and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1855 and commenced practice in Newark, Ohio
Newark, Ohio
In addition, the remains of a road leading south from the Octagon have been documented and explored. It was first surveyed in the 19th century, when its walls were more apparent. Called the Great Hopewell Road, it may extend to the Hopewell complex at Chillicothe, Ohio...
where he also served as president of the board of education of Newark for fifteen years.
Atherton was elected prosecuting attorney of Licking County
Licking County, Ohio
Licking County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 166,492. Its county seat is Newark and is named for the salt licks that were in the area....
in 1857 and reelected in 1859 and 1861. While serving as mayor of Newark 1860-1864, he was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for the State senate in 1863. He ran for judge of the court of common pleas in 1866, but was unsuccessful.
Other local and national political service included time as member of the city council of Newark for two years and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention at St. Louis in 1876.
Atherton was elected as a Democrat
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...
to the Forty-sixth
46th United States Congress
The Forty-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1879 to March 4, 1881, during the last two years of...
and Forty-seventh
47th United States Congress
The Forty-seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1881 to March 4, 1883, during the administration...
Congresses (March 4, 1879-March 3, 1883), but afterwards chose not to seek renomination. Atherton was appointed to the Ohio Supreme Court by Governor Hoadly
George Hoadly
George Hoadly was a Democratic politician. He served as the 36th Governor of Ohio.Hoadly was born in New Haven, Connecticut, on July 31, 1826...
August 20, 1885 to fill a vacancy created by the death of John W. Okey
John W. Okey
John Waterman Okey was a Democratic judge and legal author in the U.S. State of Ohio who was an Ohio Supreme Court Judge 1878-1885....
. He lost election for the remaining two years of Okey's term that autumn to his Republican opponent, and resigned December 16 of that year.
After retiring from the bench, he resumed the practice of law until his death in Newark, Ohio
Newark, Ohio
In addition, the remains of a road leading south from the Octagon have been documented and explored. It was first surveyed in the 19th century, when its walls were more apparent. Called the Great Hopewell Road, it may extend to the Hopewell complex at Chillicothe, Ohio...
, November 10, 1887. He was interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Atherton married Margaret A. E. Kumler in Butler, Ohio
Butler, Ohio
Butler is a village in Richland County in the U.S. state of Ohio. It is part of the Mansfield, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 921 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
on November 18, 1856. They had four children.
Source
- Gibson Atherton at Find-A-Grave