Joseph F. Johnston
Encyclopedia
Joseph Forney Johnston (March 23, 1843–August 8, 1913) was an American
Democratic politician
and businessman who was the 30th Governor of Alabama
from 1896 to 1900. He later served in the U.S. Senate
from August 6, 1907 to his death on August 8, 1913. During his time as a senator, he served as a chairman of the Committee to Establish a University of the United States.
Born in Lincoln County, North Carolina
, on March 23, 1843, Johnston attended the rural public schools in North Carolina during his youth. Johnston moved to Talladega, Alabama
at the age of seventeen, and attended a military academy
. At the outbreak of the Civil War
, Johnston enlisted as a private in the Confederate States Army
. Johnston served through the duration of the war, receiving wounds at Chickamauga
, Spotsylvania
, New Market
, and Petersburg. By war's end, he attained the rank of captain.
After returning from the war, Johnston studied law under William H. Forney
and was admitted to the bar. He practiced law in Selma, Alabama
, eventually moving to Birmingham
to become president of the Alabama National Bank. In 1887, Johnston became president of the Sloss Iron & Steel company, an industry thriving in Alabama at the time.
Johnston first entered the political arena in 1890, when he ran for Alabama Governor, but lost to William C. Oates
. In 1896, he again ran for Governor and succeeded, serving two consecutive two-year terms as Governor of Alabama. Johnston's achievements during his tenure as governor include tax reform, creation of the Alabama Department of Insurance, and the establishment of a State Mine Inspector.
Johnston decided not to seek another term as Governor in 1900, and instead challenged John Tyler Morgan
in that year's Senate election. Morgan defeated Johnston, and in 1902, Johnston sought a third term as Governor against incumbent William D. Jelks
. The revelation of several scandals involving Sloss Iron & Steel, as well as misconduct in the prison system hurt Johnston and he would ultimately lose the election.
Johnston did attain political office again, however, by being elected to complete Senator Edmund Pettus
's term after Pettus had died in office in 1907. Johnston was re-elected in 1909, and served in the Senate until his death from pneumonia in 1913.
Johnston was married to Theresa Virginia Hooper of South Carolina. They had three sons: William Hooper, Edward Douglas, and Forney. He is buried in Birmingham's Elmwood Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and businessman who was the 30th Governor of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
from 1896 to 1900. He later served in the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from August 6, 1907 to his death on August 8, 1913. During his time as a senator, he served as a chairman of the Committee to Establish a University of the United States.
Born in Lincoln County, North Carolina
Lincoln County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 71,498 people, 24,041 households, and 18,174 families residing in the county. The population density was 214 people per square mile . There were 25,717 housing units at an average density of 86 per square mile...
, on March 23, 1843, Johnston attended the rural public schools in North Carolina during his youth. Johnston moved to Talladega, Alabama
Talladega, Alabama
Talladega is a city in Talladega County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 15,143. The city is the county seat of Talladega County. Talladega is approximately 50 miles east of Birmingham, Alabama....
at the age of seventeen, and attended a military academy
Military academy
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...
. At the outbreak of 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...
, Johnston enlisted as a private in 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...
. Johnston served through the duration of the war, receiving wounds at Chickamauga
Battle of Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...
, Spotsylvania
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, sometimes simply referred to as the Battle of Spotsylvania , was the second major battle in Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Overland Campaign of the American Civil War. Following the bloody but inconclusive Battle of the Wilderness, Grant's army disengaged...
, New Market
Battle of New Market
The Battle of New Market was a battle fought on May 15, 1864, in Virginia during Valley Campaigns of 1864 in the American Civil War. Cadets from the Virginia Military Institute fought alongside the Confederate Army and forced Union General Franz Sigel and his army out of the Shenandoah...
, and Petersburg. By war's end, he attained the rank of captain.
After returning from the war, Johnston studied law under William H. Forney
William H. Forney
William Henry Forney was a U.S. Representative from Alabama. He was the grandson of Peter Forney and nephew of Daniel Munroe Forney and the brother of John Horace Forney.-Biography:...
and was admitted to the bar. He practiced law in Selma, Alabama
Selma, Alabama
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
, eventually moving to Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
to become president of the Alabama National Bank. In 1887, Johnston became president of the Sloss Iron & Steel company, an industry thriving in Alabama at the time.
Johnston first entered the political arena in 1890, when he ran for Alabama Governor, but lost to William C. Oates
William C. Oates
William Calvin Oates was a Confederate colonel during the American Civil War, the 29th Governor of Alabama from 1894 to 1896, and a brigadier general in the U.S. Army during the Spanish–American War....
. In 1896, he again ran for Governor and succeeded, serving two consecutive two-year terms as Governor of Alabama. Johnston's achievements during his tenure as governor include tax reform, creation of the Alabama Department of Insurance, and the establishment of a State Mine Inspector.
Johnston decided not to seek another term as Governor in 1900, and instead challenged John Tyler Morgan
John Tyler Morgan
John Tyler Morgan was a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, and a six-term U.S. senator from the state of Alabama after the war. He was a strong supporter of states rights and racial segregation through the Reconstruction era. He was an expansionist, arguing for...
in that year's Senate election. Morgan defeated Johnston, and in 1902, Johnston sought a third term as Governor against incumbent William D. Jelks
William D. Jelks
William Dorsey Jelks was an American Democratic politician who was the 32nd Governor of Alabama from 1901 to 1907. He also served as acting governor between 1 December and 26 December 1900 when governor William J...
. The revelation of several scandals involving Sloss Iron & Steel, as well as misconduct in the prison system hurt Johnston and he would ultimately lose the election.
Johnston did attain political office again, however, by being elected to complete Senator Edmund Pettus
Edmund Pettus
Edmund Winston Pettus , was an American lawyer, soldier, and legislator. He served as a Confederate general during the American Civil War, during which he was captured three times, as well as a U.S...
's term after Pettus had died in office in 1907. Johnston was re-elected in 1909, and served in the Senate until his death from pneumonia in 1913.
Johnston was married to Theresa Virginia Hooper of South Carolina. They had three sons: William Hooper, Edward Douglas, and Forney. He is buried in Birmingham's Elmwood Cemetery
Elmwood Cemetery (Birmingham, Alabama)
Elmwood Cemetery is a cemetery established in 1900 in Birmingham, Alabama northwest of Homewood by a group of fraternal organizations. It was renamed in 1906 and gradually eclipsed Oak Hill Cemetery as the most prominent burial place in the city...
.