John W. Okey

John Waterman Okey (January 3, 1827 – July 25, 1885) was a judge and legal author in the U.S. State of Ohio who was an Ohio Supreme Court Judge 1878–1885. He was a member of the Democratic Party

John Waterman Okey
Associate Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court
In office February 9, 1878 – July 25, 1885
Preceded by	John Welch
Succeeded by	Gibson Atherton
Personal details
Born	January 3, 1827 Woodsfield, Ohio
Died	July 25, 1885 (aged 58) Columbus, Ohio
Resting place	Spring Grove Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Mary J. Bloor
Children	four

Okey was born in Monroe County, Ohio near Woodsfield. He attended the Monroe Academy. He studied law at Woodsfield, and became Probate Judge and Judge of Common Pleas.[1]

In 1865, Okey moved to Cincinnati, and with Judge Gholson he wrote Gholson and Okey's Digest of Ohio Reports. He also authored Okey and Miller's Municipal Law with S. A. Miller.[1]

In 1877, Okey defeated Republican William Wartenbee Johnson for election to the Ohio Supreme Court.[2] In 1882, he defeated John H. Doyle for re-election.[3] He died July 25, 1885.[4] He was buried at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio.[5]

Okey was married to Mary J. Bloor in Woodsfield in 1849. They raised two sons and two daughters.[5]

See also

• List of justices of the Ohio Supreme Court

Notes

1. Howe 1891 : 530–533
2. Smith 1898 : 379
3. Smith 1898 : 460
4. Gilkey 1901 : 476
5. "John Waterman Okey". The Supreme Court of Ohio and The Ohio Judicial System.

References

• Howe, Henry (1891). Historical Collections of Ohio, The Ohio Centennial Edition. 2. The State of Ohio.
• Smith, Joseph P, ed. (1898). History of the Republican Party in Ohio. I. Chicago: the Lewis Publishing Company.
• Gilkey, Elliott Howard, ed. (1901). The Ohio Hundred Year Book: a Handbook of the Public Men and Public Institutions of Ohio ... State of Ohio.