John W. Okey

Who was John W. Okey?

John Waterman Okey was a Democratic judge and legal author in the U.S. State of Ohio who was an Ohio Supreme Court Judge 1878-1885.

John Waterman Okey was born in Monroe County, Ohio near Woodsfield. His only education was at the Monroe Academy. He studied law at Woodsfield, and became Probate Judge and Judge of Common Pleas.

In 1865, Okey moved to Cincinnati, and with Judge Gholson he wrote Gholson and Okey's Digest of Ohio Reports. He also authored Okey and Miller's Municipal Law with S. A. Miller.

In 1877, Okey defeated Republican William Wartenbee Johnson for election to the Ohio Supreme Court. In 1882, he defeated John H. Doyle for re-election. He died July 25, 1885. He was buried at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Okey was married to Mary J. Bloor in Woodsfield in 1849. They raised two sons and two daughters.