Benjamin F. Johns
Benjamin Franklin Johns (March 9, 1830 - December 31, 1907) was an American Democratic politician and lawyer. He was the Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1880 to 1882.
Benjamin F. Johns | |
---|---|
38th Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives | |
Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from | |
In office January 1880 – January 1882 | |
Preceded by | W. A. Percy |
Succeeded by | W. H. H. Tison |
Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the Amite County district | |
In office January 1880 – January 1882 | |
In office 1876–1877 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Amite County, Mississippi | March 9, 1830
Died | December 31, 1907 77) Gloster, Mississippi | (aged
Political party | Democratic |
Early life and career
Benjamin Franklin Johns was born in Amite County, Mississippi, on March 9, 1830.[1][2] He was the eldest of the six surviving children of William F. Johns (1802-1882) and Rachel (Courtney) Johns (1807-1883).[1] Johns attended the common schools of Amite County before attending the Western Military Institute for two years.[1] He became a teacher for two years and then read law and was admitted to the bar in 1855.[1] He then began practicing law in Liberty, Mississippi.[1] When the American Civil War began in 1861, Johns joined the Confederate States Army and left Amite County with the position of Captain of the Second Company of Amite County.[3] He was re-assigned to the Tennessee Army, during which time he was eventually promoted to the rank of colonel.[3]
Political career
In 1866, Johns was elected to the office of probate judge.[1] In 1875, Johns was elected to represent Amite County in the Mississippi House of Representatives and served in the 1876 and 1877 sessions.[4][1] Johns was re-elected to the House in 1879 for the 1880-1882 term.[1][2][4] During this term, Johns was elected to be the House's Speaker.[2][4] In 1887, Johns moved his law practice to Gloster, Mississippi.[1]
Johns died suddenly on December 31, 1907, in Gloster, Mississippi.[3]
References
- Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi: Embracing an Authentic and Comprehensive Account of the Chief Events in the History of the State and a Record of the Lives of Many of the Most Worthy and Illustrious Families and Individuals. Goodspeed. 1891. p. 1023.
- "1880 House · Mississippi State University Libraries". msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
- "Col. B. F. Johns". The Vicksburg Herald. 1908-01-03. p. 2. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
- Lowry, Robert; McCardle, William H. (1891). A History of Mississippi: From the Discovery of the Great River by Hernando DeSoto, Including the Earliest Settlement Made by the French Under Iberville, to the Death of Jefferson Davis. R.H. Henry & Company. p. 442. ISBN 978-0-7884-4821-8.