Joseph T. Johnson

Who was Joseph T. Johnson?

Joseph Travis Johnson was a United States Representative and federal judge from South Carolina. He was born in Brewerton, South Carolina. He attended the common schools and was graduated from Erskine College, Due West, South Carolina in 1879. He received an LL.B. from Vanderbilt University in 1883. He taught school for several years. Later, he studied law and he was admitted to the bar in 1883. He practiced law in Laurens, South Carolina and later in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Johnson was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-seventh and to the seven succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1901, until April 19, 1915, when he resigned. After leaving Congress, he received a recess appointment from Woodrow Wilson on November 9, 1915 to a new seat. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 24, 1916, and received his commission the same day. He served as a Federal judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of South Carolina from 1915 until his death in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1919. He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery.