William Wartenbee Johnson
Encyclopedia
William Wartenbee Johnson (August 26 1826–March 2, 1887) was a Republican politician in the U.S. State
of Ohio
who was an Ohio Supreme Court Judge 1880–1886.
near Chandlersville
, August 26 or August 17, 1826. He was the third son of Solomon Johnson, originally from Connecticut
, and Elizabeth Wartenbee, a Virginia
native. He attended neighborhood schools, and graduated from and later taught at Muskingum College
in New Concord
. In 1849, he began study of law at the office of Charles Cleveland Convers
, then Speaker of the Ohio Senate
, and later on the Ohio Supreme Court. In 1852, he was admitted to the bar, and began practice at Ironton, Ohio
.
In 1858, Johnson was elected Judge of the Common Pleas, and served until 1866. In 1868, he was re-elected, but resigned in 1872 due to ill health. In 1874, he was the Republican nominee for Supreme Court Judge, but lost to Democrat George Rex
. In 1876, Governor Hayes
appointed him a member of the first Supreme Court Commission, serving until 1879. In 1876, he was also appointed a trustee of Ohio University
.
In 1879, Johnson was again nominated by the Republicans for Supreme Court Judge, and defeated incumbent Democrat William J. Gilmore
. Johnson was re-elected in 1884, but resigned November 9, 1886 due to ill health. He died March 2, 1887.
On October, 26, 1854, Johnson married Ella Blocksom, daughter of judge William Blocksom of Zanesville
. They had two children, one of whom survived. Johnson was a Royal Arch Mason
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
who was an Ohio Supreme Court Judge 1880–1886.
Biography
Johnson was born in Muskingum County, OhioMuskingum County, Ohio
Muskingum County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 86,074. Its county seat is Zanesville...
near Chandlersville
Chandlersville, Ohio
Chandlersville is an unincorporated community in western Salt Creek Township, Muskingum County, Ohio, United States. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 43727. It lies along State Route 146 at its intersection with State Routes 284 and 313.-References:...
, August 26 or August 17, 1826. He was the third son of Solomon Johnson, originally from Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, and Elizabeth Wartenbee, a Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
native. He attended neighborhood schools, and graduated from and later taught at Muskingum College
Muskingum College
Muskingum University is a private four-year comprehensive college with a strong liberal arts tradition located in New Concord, Ohio, approximately sixty miles east of the state capital of Columbus. Founded in 1837, Muskingum University is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church , although since the...
in New Concord
New Concord, Ohio
New Concord is a village in Muskingum County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,651 at the 2000 census. New Concord is the home of Muskingum University and is served by a branch of the Muskingum County Library System.-Geography:...
. In 1849, he began study of law at the office of Charles Cleveland Convers
Charles Cleveland Convers
Charles Cleveland Convers was a Republican politician in the U.S. State of Ohio who was Speaker of the Ohio Senate for two years and a judge on the Ohio Supreme Court for a short time.-Biography:...
, then Speaker of the Ohio Senate
Ohio Senate
The Ohio State Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body for the U.S. state of Ohio. There are 33 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Columbus. The President of the Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Tom...
, and later on the Ohio Supreme Court. In 1852, he was admitted to the bar, and began practice at Ironton, Ohio
Ironton, Ohio
Ironton is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Lawrence County. The municipality is located in southern Ohio along the Ohio River. The population was 11,211 at the 2000 census. Ironton is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the...
.
In 1858, Johnson was elected Judge of the Common Pleas, and served until 1866. In 1868, he was re-elected, but resigned in 1872 due to ill health. In 1874, he was the Republican nominee for Supreme Court Judge, but lost to Democrat George Rex
George Rex
George Rex was a British-born entrepreneur, who spent most of his adult life in the Cape Colony, South Africa. He founded the town of Knysna in the Western Cape and played a key role in its development...
. In 1876, Governor Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th President of the United States . As president, he oversaw the end of Reconstruction and the United States' entry into the Second Industrial Revolution...
appointed him a member of the first Supreme Court Commission, serving until 1879. In 1876, he was also appointed a trustee of Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
.
In 1879, Johnson was again nominated by the Republicans for Supreme Court Judge, and defeated incumbent Democrat William J. Gilmore
William J. Gilmore
William James Gilmore was a Democratic jurist in the U.S. State of Ohio who was an Ohio Supreme Court Judge during 1875-1880....
. Johnson was re-elected in 1884, but resigned November 9, 1886 due to ill health. He died March 2, 1887.
On October, 26, 1854, Johnson married Ella Blocksom, daughter of judge William Blocksom of Zanesville
Zanesville, Ohio
Zanesville is a city in and the county seat of Muskingum County, Ohio, United States. The population was 25,586 at the 2000 census.Zanesville was named after Ebenezer Zane, who had constructed Zane's Trace, a pioneer road through present-day Ohio...
. They had two children, one of whom survived. Johnson was a Royal Arch Mason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
.