J. B. Johnson (Florida politician)

John B. Johnson (October 15, 1868 – June 26, 1940), more commonly referred to as J. B. Johnson, was an American attorney and politician who served as the 22nd Florida Attorney General.[1]

This article is about the Florida politician. For other uses, see John Johnson.
J. B. Johnson
Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
In office
June 4, 1927 – ?
Appointed byJohn W. Martin
23rd Florida Attorney General
In office
December 4, 1925 – June 4, 1927
GovernorJohn W. Martin
Preceded byRivers Buford
Succeeded byFred Henry Davis
List of Presidents of the Florida Senate
In office
1917–1917
Preceded byCary A. Hardee
Succeeded byCary A. Hardee
Personal details
Born(1868-10-15)October 15, 1868
Live Oak, Florida
DiedJune 26, 1940(1940-06-26) (aged 71)
Live Oak, Florida
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Mary Wagner
​
​
(m. 1902; died 1923)​
OccupationAttorney
Military service
Allegiance United States of America
Branch/service Florida Army National Guard
Years of service1898
Rank First Sergeant
Unit1st Florida Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsSpanish–American War

Early life and military service

Johnson was born in Live Oak, Florida on October 15, 1868. On April 23, 1898, Johnson enlisted in the United States Army during the Spanish–American War. He served as a first sergeant in Company L of the 1st Florida Infantry.[2] His regiment did not see any combat, remaining in Tampa, Florida, and later Huntsville, Alabama, for the majority of the war. Johnson was mustered out of the Army on December 3, 1898.[3]

Educated in local schools, Johnson was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1903, and began a private practice in Live Oak.[4]

Political career

In 1907, Johnson, a Democrat, was elected as the mayor of Live Oak. He was simultaneously elected to the Florida Senate, representing District 27, which encompassed Suwanee County.[5] While in the senate, Johnson opposed legislature regulating child labor, and, as a fervent Methodist, he was a supporter of women's suffrage.[6]

In 1913, Johnson was appointed for a one year term as the President pro tempore of the Florida Senate by Senate President Ion L. Farris, and later in 1917, he would become the President of the Florida Senate, serving for only that year. Johnson did not seek reelection to either the senate or the mayoral office in 1922, opting to return to private practice.[4][7]

In 1925, Johnson was appointed as the 23rd Florida Attorney General by newly elected Governor John W. Martin, succeeding Rivers Buford, who Martin had appointed to the Florida Supreme Court. Johnson served as the Florida Attorney General until Martin appointed him as the judge of the Second Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.[8]

Personal life and death

Johnson died in Live Oak on June 26, 1940. He is buried in the Live Oak Cemetery.[9] Johnson was married to Mary Wagner on 1902. They were married until her death in 1923 and had two children with her: Wagner B. and John Paul.

Johnson was a member of the Freemasons.[7]

References
  1. "Florida Attorney General - Florida Attorneys General (1845 - )". myfloridalegal.com. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
  2. "1st Florida Roster". www.spanamwar.com. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
  3. "1st Florida". www.spanamwar.com. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
  4. "Press Release - The Florida Senate". www.flsenate.gov. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
  5. "Journal - Florida Senate". ufdc.ufl.edu. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
  6. Atkins, Emily Howard (1957). "The 1913 Campaign for Child Labor in Florida". The Florida Historical Quarterly. 35 (3): 233–240. ISSN 0015-4113. JSTOR 30139770.
  7. "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Johnson, J." politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
  8. Florida, State Library and Archives of. "Florida Governors". Florida Memory. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
  9. "John B Johnson". Find a Grave. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
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