Tillman Davis Johnson

Who was Tillman Davis Johnson?

Tillman Davis Johnson was a United States federal judge.

Born in Rutherford County, Tennessee, Johnson attended Cumberland University and read law to enter the bar. He was a teacher in Tennessee from 1880 to 1885, and was principal of the Government Indian School in Fort Bennett, South Dakota from 1886 to 1887, and of the Government Indian School in Fort Hall, Idaho from 1888 to 1889. He was in private practice in Ogden, Utah from 1889 to 1915. He was a member of the Utah House of Representatives from 1898 to 1899.

On November 2, 1915, Johnson received a recess appointment from Woodrow Wilson to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Utah vacated by John A. Marshall. Formally nominated on January 7, 1916, Johnson was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 18, 1916, and received his commission the same day. He assumed senior status on May 28, 1949, serving in that capacity until his death, in 1953, in Ogden.