John Paul Sr. (judge)

John Paul Sr.
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
In office September 5, 1883 – November 1, 1901
Appointed by	Chester Arthur
Preceded by	Alexander Rives
Succeeded by	Henry C. McDowell Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 7th district
In office March 4, 1881 – September 5, 1883
Preceded by	John T. Harris
Succeeded by	Charles Triplett O'Ferrall
Member of the Virginia Senate from Rockingham County
In office 1878–1881
Preceded by	District established
Succeeded by	Joseph B. Webb
Personal details
Born	(1839-06-30)June 30, 1839 Ottobine, Virginia
Died	November 1, 1901(1901-11-01) (aged 62) Harrisonburg, Virginia
Political party	Readjuster (after 1881)
Other political affiliations	Democrat (before 1880) Republican (1880–1881)
Alma mater	University of Virginia
Occupation	Attorney
Military service
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Service/branch	Confederate Army
Rank	captain
Unit	1st Virginia Cavalry
Battles/wars	American Civil War

John Paul (June 30, 1839 – November 1, 1901) was a U.S. Representative and federal judge from Virginia.

Biography

Born June 30, 1839 in Rockinghan County, Va. at Ottobine, John Paul attended the local schools. 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.

Electoral history

• 1880; Paul was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 49.3% of the vote, defeating Democrat Henry C. Allen and Republican William C. Moseley.
• 1882; Paul was re-elected with 50.2% of the vote, defeating Democrat Charles T. O'Ferrall and Republican James W. Cochran.

Sources

• United States Congress. "John Paul Sr. (id: P000144)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. 

• John Paul Sr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.