John Paul (June 30, 1839 – November 1, 1901) was a
United States representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
from
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
and a
United States district judge
The United States district courts are the trial courts of the United States federal judiciary, U.S. federal judiciary. There is one district court for each United States federal judicial district, federal judicial district, which each cover o ...
of the
.
Education and career
Born on June 30, 1839, near
Ottobine,
Rockingham County,
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
,
Paul attended the common schools and
Roanoke College
Roanoke College is a private liberal arts college in Salem, Virginia. It has approximately 2,000 students who represent approximately 40 states and 30 countries. The college offers 35 majors, 57 minors and concentrations, and pre-professional pr ...
in
Salem, Virginia.
He received a
Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws ( la, Legum Baccalaureus; LL.B.) is an undergraduate law degree in the United Kingdom and most common law jurisdictions. Bachelor of Laws is also the name of the law degree awarded by universities in the People's Republic of Chi ...
in 1867 from the
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law (Virginia Law or UVA Law) is the law school of the University of Virginia, a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as part of his "academical v ...
.
He served in the
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...
during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
from 1861 to 1865, attaining the rank of captain in the First Virginia Cavalry.
He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in
Harrisonburg, Virginia from 1867 to 1877.
He was commonwealth attorney for Rockingham County from 1870 to 1877.
He was a member of the
Senate of Virginia
The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the lieutenant governor of Virg ...
from Rockingham County from 1877 to 1880.
Military service
During the
Civil War
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
, John Paul entered the
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...
as a private in the Salem Artillery on May 1, 1861 along with his brother Paul (1846–1937), but by month's end, both had transferred to the
1st Virginia Cavalry
The 1st Virginia Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia.
Organization
The 1st Virginia Cavalry com ...
where their brother Peter Paul Jr. (1842–1906) had enlisted. John Paul was wounded at
Catlett's Station on August 22, 1862, returned to action and was promoted to 3rd lieutenant, then was wounded again and captured during the
Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse on May 7, 1864 and imprisoned at
Fort Delaware
Fort Delaware is a former harbor defense facility, designed by chief engineer Joseph Gilbert Totten and located on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River.Dobbs, Kelli W., et al. During the American Civil War, the Union used Fort Delaware as a ...
. He was released on June 16, 1865, and may have been promoted
captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
.
Congressional service
Paul was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1878 to the
46th United States Congress
The 46th 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 ...
.
He was elected as a
Readjuster from
Virginia's 7th congressional district
Virginia's 7th congressional district is a United States congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The district is currently represented by Democrat Abigail Spanberger, first elected in 2018.
2016 redistricting
The Virginia ...
to the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...
of the
47th United States Congress
The 47th 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, ...
, serving from March 4, 1881, to March 3, 1883.
He presented credentials as a member-elect to the
48th United States Congress
The 48th 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, 1883, ...
and served from March 4, 1883, until September 5, 1883, when he resigned, having been appointed to a federal judicial post.
The election subsequently was successfully contested by
United States Representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
Charles Triplett O'Ferrall
Charles Triplett "Trip" O'Ferrall (October 21, 1840 – September 22, 1905) was a Virginian politician who served as a U.S. Representative from 1883 to 1894 and as the 42nd Governor of Virginia from 1894 to 1898.
Early and family life
Charles O ...
.
Federal judicial service
Paul was nominated by President
Chester A. Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur (October 5, 1829 – November 18, 1886) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 21st president of the United States from 1881 to 1885. He previously served as the 20th vice president under President James ...
on February 27, 1883, to a seat on the
vacated by Judge
Alexander Rives
Alexander Rives (June 17, 1806 – September 17, 1885) was a Virginia attorney, politician and plantation owner. He served in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly, as a justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia and as a United States dis ...
.
He was confirmed by the
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...
on March 3, 1883, and received his commission the same day.
His service terminated on November 1, 1901, due to his death in Harrisonburg.
He was interred in Woodbine Cemetery in Harrisonburg.
Family
Paul was the father of
John Paul Jr. also a
United States representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
from Virginia and a
United States district judge
The United States district courts are the trial courts of the United States federal judiciary, U.S. federal judiciary. There is one district court for each United States federal judicial district, federal judicial district, which each cover o ...
of the
.
Legacy
Paul dedicated a new courthouse in Harrisonburg in 1896, and delivered a carefully prepared historical address concerning the local bar. Paul donated part of the family's farm in
Ottobine, Virginia
Ottobine is a small unincorporated community located on State Route 257 near Harrisonburg, in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. It consists of spread out communities, a convenience gas/grocery store, and many farms. This area is partly ...
to become the
Paul State Forest.
Electoral history
*1880; Paul was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 49.3% of the vote, defeating Democrat
Henry C. Allen (Virginia) and Republican
William C. Moseley.
*1882; Paul appeared re-elected with 50.2% of the vote, defeating Democrat
Charles T. O'Ferrall
Charles Triplett "Trip" O'Ferrall (October 21, 1840 – September 22, 1905) was a Virginia lawyer, judge and politician who fought as a cavalry officer in the Confederate States Army, then served as a United States House of Representatives, U.S. ...
(who was later declared the winner) and Republican
James W. Cochran.
References
Sources
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paul, John
1839 births
1901 deaths
Confederate States Army officers
Members of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia
County and city Commonwealth's Attorneys in Virginia
Judges of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
University of Virginia School of Law alumni
Virginia state senators
Readjuster Party members of the United States House of Representatives
Readjuster Party politicians
United States federal judges appointed by Chester A. Arthur
19th-century American judges
People from Clarington
People of Virginia in the American Civil War
19th-century American politicians