John Paul, Sr.

John Paul (June 30, 1839 – November 1, 1901) was a United States representative from Virginia and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia.

Early life and education

Born on June 30, 1839, near Ottobine, Rockingham County, Virginia, to the former Maria Whitmer and her farmer husband, Peter Paul. His ancestors had fled religious persecution in France and traveled to Germany, and his grandfather Jacob Paul emigrated across the Atlantic Ocean in 1775, when he was just seventeen, then enlisted in the Revolutionary Army and served as a drummer boy at the Battle of Bunker Hill and later as a soldier with the rank of private. After the conflict, he emigrated to Rockingham County, where his wife gave birth to Peter Paul, this boy's father. His maternal ancestors, the Whitmers, were among the German emigrants who settled in the Shenandoah Valley in the late 18th century.

Early career Admitted to the bar, Paul began a private legal practice in Harrisonburg, the Rockingham County seat. In his second year, he successfully ran to become commonwealth's attorney (prosecutor), and won re-election until 1877, when Paul instead ran for legislative office. Paul also campaigned for the party's gubernatorial candidate, former CSA General Mahone, who did not win, but later became a U.S. Senator in part through Paul's advocacy in the state senate. Paul's father, Peter Paul, drowned in the Dry River on November 27, 1878, four days before the brother of his some-time rival, Sen. John F. Lewis, drowned in the South Shenandoah River. Col. (later Gov.) Charles T. O'Ferrall, who practiced law in Rockingham County before his political career, called Paul "one of the ablest prosecuting attorneys I have ever known".

Congressional service

Between his Virginia senate victories, Paul ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1878, however, he failed to defeat unpopular incumbent congressman John T. Harris, who again served in the 46th United States Congress, in part because several other Readjusters also ran for the same seat. Although Paul outpolled fellow Readjusters Riddleberger, Henry C. Allen of Shenandoah County and Moffett months before the election, Rev. John E. Massey withdrew late in the campaign and Gen. John Echols of Staunton withdrew in the final days. However, this led to formal organization of the Readjuster party, and two years later Paul defeated Judge Henry C. Allen (who ran as a Democrat). He thus represented Virginia's 7th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives during the 47th United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1881, to March 3, 1883. His son John Paul Jr. became a Virginia state senator, United States representative, and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia. Paul donated part of the family's farm in Ottobine, Virginia to become the Paul State Forest.

Electoral history

1880; Paul was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 49.3% of the vote, defeating Democrat Henry C. Allen (Virginia) and Republican William C. Moseley. 1882; Paul appeared re-elected with 50.2% of the vote, defeating Democrat Charles T. O'Ferrall (who was later declared the winner) and Republican James W. Cochran.