John Paul (1839-1901)
Encyclopedia
John Paul was a U.S. Representative
and federal judge
from Virginia
.
Born in Scarborough, Ontario
, John Paul attended the common schools in Bowmanville, Ontario
. During the Civil War
, John Paul entered the Confederate States Army
and became a captain in the 1st Virginia Cavalry
. He studied law at the University of Virginia
and graduated in 1867. He was admitted to the bar
in 1867 and commenced practice in Harrisonburg
. He served as the Commonwealth's attorney
for Rockingham County
from 1870 to 1877. He married Katherine Seymour Green, November 19, 1874. He served in the Virginia Senate from 1877 to 1880. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1878 to the Forty-sixth Congress
.
John Paul was elected as a Readjuster Democrat
to the Forty-seventh Congress
(March 4, 1881-March 3, 1883), succeeding John T. Harris
, and served from March 4, 1883, until September 5, 1883, when he resigned to take his judicial position. Paul's congressional election was successfully contested by Charles Triplett O'Ferrall.
John Paul was nominated to become judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
by Chester A. Arthur
, filling the seat vacated by Alexander Rives
, and he served from September 5, 1883, until his death in Harrisonburg, Virginia
, November 1, 1901. Theodore Roosevelt
appointed Henry C. McDowell, Jr. to replace Judge Paul.
Judge John Paul was interred in Woodbine Cemetery.
His son, John Paul, Jr., also served as U.S. Representative
and as judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
.
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...
and federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
from 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...
.
Born in Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
, John Paul attended the common schools in Bowmanville, Ontario
Bowmanville, Ontario
Bowmanville is the largest community in the Municipality of Clarington in Durham Region, Ontario, Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario about 75 km east of Toronto and 15 km east of Oshawa along Highway 2...
. During the 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...
, John Paul entered the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
and became a captain in the 1st Virginia Cavalry
1st Virginia Cavalry
The 1st Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
. He studied law at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
and graduated in 1867. He 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 1867 and commenced practice in Harrisonburg
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia in the United States. Its population as of 2010 is 48,914, and at the 2000 census, 40,468. Harrisonburg is the county seat of Rockingham County and the core city of the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical...
. He served as the Commonwealth's attorney
Commonwealth's Attorney
Commonwealth's Attorney is the title given to the elected prosecutor of felony crimes in Kentucky and Virginia. Other states refer to similar prosecutors as District Attorney or State's Attorney....
for Rockingham County
Rockingham County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 67,725 people, 25,355 households, and 18,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 27,328 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
from 1870 to 1877. He married Katherine Seymour Green, November 19, 1874. He served in the Virginia Senate from 1877 to 1880. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1878 to the Forty-sixth Congress
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...
.
John Paul was elected as a Readjuster Democrat
Readjuster Party
The Readjuster Party was a political coalition formed in Virginia in the late 1870s during the turbulent period following the American Civil War. Readjusters aspired "to break the power of wealth and established privilege" and to promote public education, a program which attracted biracial support....
to the Forty-seventh Congress
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...
(March 4, 1881-March 3, 1883), succeeding John T. Harris
John T. Harris
John Thomas Harris was a nineteenth century politician, lawyer and judge from Virginia. He was the first cousin of John Hill....
, and served from March 4, 1883, until September 5, 1883, when he resigned to take his judicial position. Paul's congressional election was successfully contested by Charles Triplett O'Ferrall.
John Paul was nominated to become judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia is a United States district court.Appeals from the Western District of Virginia are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia (in...
by Chester A. Arthur
Chester A. Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing...
, filling the seat vacated by Alexander Rives
Alexander Rives
Alexander Rives was a Virginia lawyer, politician, and federal judge.-Family and politics:Rives was born in Nelson County, Virginia. He attended Hampden-Sydney College from 1821 to 1825 when he graduated; and the University of Virginia, graduating in 1828. He was admitted to the bar and began...
, and he served from September 5, 1883, until his death in Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia in the United States. Its population as of 2010 is 48,914, and at the 2000 census, 40,468. Harrisonburg is the county seat of Rockingham County and the core city of the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical...
, November 1, 1901. Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
appointed Henry C. McDowell, Jr. to replace Judge Paul.
Judge John Paul was interred in Woodbine Cemetery.
His son, John Paul, Jr., also served as U.S. Representative
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...
and as judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia is a United States district court.Appeals from the Western District of Virginia are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia (in...
.