Waldo P. Johnson
Encyclopedia
Waldo Porter Johnson was a United States Senator from Missouri
, and later a member of the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War
.
Born in Bridgeport, Virginia
, he attended public and private schools, graduated from Rector College (Pruntytown, Virginia
) in 1839. He studied law and was admitted to the bar
, commencing practice in Harrison County, Virginia
in 1841. He moved to Osceola, Missouri
in 1842 and continued the practice of law, and served in the Mexican-American War as a member of the First Missouri Regiment of Mounted Volunteers. In 1847 he was a member of the Missouri House of Representatives
and was elected circuit attorney in 1848 and judge of the seventh judicial circuit in 1851. He resigned in 1852 and resumed the practice of law.
Johnson was a member of the peace convention of 1861
held in Washington, D.C.
, in an effort to devise means to prevent the impending war
; he was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate and served from March 17, 1861, to January 10, 1862, when he was expelled
from the Senate for disloyalty to the government. He served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and attained the rank of lieutenant colonel
of the Fourth Missouri Infantry, and was appointed a member of the Senate of the Confederate States to fill a vacancy.
From August 1865 to April 1866, Johnson resided in Hamilton, Canada. He returned to Osceola and resumed the practice of his profession. Johnson was president of the State constitutional convention
in 1875 and in 1885 died in Osceola. Interment was in Forest Hill Cemetery
, Kansas City, Missouri
.
Waldo Johnson was a nephew of Joseph Johnson
, a U.S. Representative and Governor of Virginia
.
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, and later a member of the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Born in Bridgeport, Virginia
Bridgeport, West Virginia
Bridgeport is a city in Harrison County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 7,306 at the 2000 census.The town of Bridgeport had its beginning in pre-Revolutionary War times. In 1764, John Simpson entered the area and gave his name to Simpson Creek. Bridgeport was chartered in 1816....
, he attended public and private schools, graduated from Rector College (Pruntytown, Virginia
Pruntytown, West Virginia
Pruntytown is an unincorporated town at the junction of the Northwestern Turnpike and U.S. Route 250 in Taylor County, West Virginia. It is the site of the Pruntytown Correctional Center, formerly known as the West Virginia Industrial School for Boys.- External links :**...
) in 1839. He studied law and was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
, commencing practice in Harrison County, Virginia
Harrison County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 68,652 people, 27,867 households, and 19,088 families residing in the county. The population density was 165 people per square mile . There were 31,112 housing units at an average density of 75 per square mile...
in 1841. He moved to 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 1842 and continued the practice of law, and served in the Mexican-American War as a member of the First Missouri Regiment of Mounted Volunteers. In 1847 he was a member of the Missouri House of Representatives
Missouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
and was elected circuit attorney in 1848 and judge of the seventh judicial circuit in 1851. He resigned in 1852 and resumed the practice of law.
Johnson was a member of the peace convention of 1861
Peace conference of 1861
The Peace Conference of 1861 was a meeting of more than 100 of the leading politicians of the antebellum United States held in Washington, D.C., in February 1861 that was meant to prevent what ultimately became the Civil War. The success of President Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party in the...
held in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, in an effort to devise means to prevent the impending war
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
; he was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate and served from March 17, 1861, to January 10, 1862, when he was expelled
Expulsion from the United States Congress
Expulsion is the most serious form of disciplinary action that can be taken against a Member of Congress. Article I, Section 5 of the United States Constitution provides that "Each House [of Congress] may determine the Rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with...
from the Senate for disloyalty to the government. He served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and attained the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
of the Fourth Missouri Infantry, and was appointed a member of the Senate of the Confederate States to fill a vacancy.
From August 1865 to April 1866, Johnson resided in Hamilton, Canada. He returned to Osceola and resumed the practice of his profession. Johnson was president of the State constitutional convention
Missouri Constitution
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of the U.S. State of Missouri. It is the supreme law formulating the law and government of Missouri, subject only to the federal Constitution. The fourth and current Missouri Constitution was adopted in 1945...
in 1875 and in 1885 died in Osceola. Interment was in Forest Hill Cemetery
Forest Hill Cemetery
Forest Hill Cemetery is located in Dane County, Madison, Wisconsin and was one of the first U.S. National Cemeteries established in Wisconsin.After the first permanent settlers arrived in Madison in the 1830s, the first non-native burials occurred on the current University of Wisconsin–Madison...
, Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
.
Waldo Johnson was a nephew of Joseph Johnson
Joseph Johnson (Virginia politician)
Joseph Johnson was a United States Representative and was the 32nd Governor of Virginia from 1852 to 1856. Born in Orange County, New York, he moved with his mother to Belvidere, New Jersey in 1791 and thence to Bridgeport, Virginia in 1801...
, a U.S. Representative and Governor of Virginia
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
.