John Warfield JOHNSTON, Congress, VA (1818-1889)

JOHNSTON John Warfield , a Senator from Virginia; born in Panicello, near Abingdon, Va., September 9, 1818; attended Abingdon Academy, South Carolina College at Columbia, and the law department of the University of Virginia at Charlottesville; admitted to the bar in 1839 and commenced practice in Tazewell, Tazewell County, Va.; Commonwealth attorney for Tazewell County 1844-1846; State senator 1846-1848; during the Civil War, held the position of Confederate States Receiver; judge of the circuit court of Virginia 1866-1870; upon the readmission of the State of Virginia to representation was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate and served from January 26, 1870, to March 3, 1871; reelected on March 15, 1871, for the term beginning March 4, 1871; reelected in 1877 and served from March 15, 1871, until March 3, 1883; unsuccessful candidate for reelection; chairman, Committee on Revolutionary Claims (Forty-fifth and Forty-seventh Congresses), Committee on Agriculture (Forty-sixth Congress); resumed the practice of his profession; died in Richmond, Va., February 27, 1889; interment in St. Mary's Cemetery, Wytheville, Va.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present