Jed Johnson (Oklahoma politician)

Jed Joseph Johnson (July 31, 1888 – May 8, 1963) was a United States Representative from Oklahoma and a Judge of the United States Customs Court.

For his son, who also was a politician and a United States Representative, see Jed Johnson Jr.

Jed Johnson
Johnson as an Oklahoma State Senator, 1921
Judge of the United States Customs Court
In office June 25, 1947 – May 8, 1963
Appointed by	Harry S. Truman
Preceded by	William John Keefe
Succeeded by	James Lopez Watson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 6th district
In office March 4, 1927 – January 3, 1947
Preceded by	Elmer Thomas
Succeeded by	Toby Morris
Personal details
Born	Jed Joseph Johnson (1888-07-31)July 31, 1888 Ellis County, Texas
Died	May 8, 1963(1963-05-08) (aged 74) New York City, New York
Resting place	Rose Hill Cemetery Chickasha, Oklahoma 35°1′54″N 97°56′45″W
Citizenship	United States
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Beatrice Luginbyhl
Children	4
Mother	Evalyn Carlin
Father	Lafayette D. Johnson
Residence	Chickasha, Oklahoma
Education	University of Oklahoma College of Law (LL.B.)
Occupation	soldier, newspaper editor, politician, judge
Profession	attorney

Education and career

Born on July 31, 1888, on a farm near Waxahachie, Ellis County, Texas, Johnson attended the public schools in Texas and Oklahoma and then received a Bachelor of Laws in 1915 from the University of Oklahoma College of Law with postgraduate work at University of Clermont at Clermont-Ferrand, France. He was admitted to the bar in 1918 and entered private practice in Walters, Oklahoma. He served in the United States Army as a private from 1918 to 1919 in World War I in Company L of the 36th Division. He returned to private practice in Chickasha, Oklahoma from 1919 to 1927.[1][2] He was a newspaper editor in Cotton County, Oklahoma from 1920 to 1922.[3] He was a member of the Oklahoma Senate from 1920 to 1927. He served as a delegate to the annual peace conference of the Interparliamentary Union at Paris, France, in 1927 and 1937, and at Geneva, Switzerland, in 1929, and was Chairman of the Speakers' Bureau for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He was a United States Representative from Oklahoma from 1927 to 1947.[1][2]

Congressional service

Johnson was elected as a Democrat to the 70th United States Congress and to the nine succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1927 to January 3, 1947. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1946.[1]

Federal judicial service

Johnson was nominated to the United States Customs Court by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 29, 1945. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 3, 1945. However, he declined the appointment.[2]

Johnson was nominated by President Harry S. Truman on April 7, 1947, to a seat on the United States Customs Court vacated by Judge William John Keefe. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 23, 1947, and received his commission on June 25, 1947. Johnson was initially appointed as a Judge under Article I, but the court was raised to Article III status by operation of law on July 14, 1956, and Johnson thereafter served as an Article III Judge. His service terminated on May 8, 1963, due to his death.[2]

Death, honor and family

Johnson died in a New York City, New York hospital on May 8, 1963.[2] Johnson was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Chickasha.[1] Jed Johnson Lake in the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge is named in honor of Johnson.[3] His son Jed Johnson Jr. served one term in Congress.[1]

References

1. "Jed Johnson". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
2. Jed Joseph Johnson at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
3. Hanneman, Carolyn G. [https:// www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=JO010 "Johnson, Jed Joseph (1888-1963)"] Check |url= value (help). Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved February 17, 2013.

Sources

• Jed Joseph Johnson at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• "Jed Johnson". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

External links

• Jed J. Johnson Collection at the Carl Albert Center
• "Jed Joseph Johnson". U.S. Congressman. Find a Grave. October 5, 2005. Retrieved February 17, 2013.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Elmer Thomas	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 6th congressional district 1927–1947	Succeeded by Toby Morris
Preceded by William John Keefe	Judge of the United States Customs Court 1947–1963	Succeeded by James Lopez Watson