James G. Johnson

James Granville Johnson Jr. was a Democratic Party|Democratic] lawyer who was Mayor of Springfield, Ohio, and a justice of the Ohio Supreme Court.

Biography

Johnson was born December 3, 1855, in Springfield, Ohio, to James Granville Johnson Sr. and Catherine Eby Johnson. He was educated at public schools, and graduated from Wittenberg College in 1876. He read law at a local office, and was the first court stenographer of Clark County. He graduated from Cincinnati Law School, and was Admission to [the bar in the United States|admitted to the bar] in 1880.
From 1880 to 1897, Johnson practiced law in Springfield with a local judge. Johnson ran as a Democrat for Ohio [House of Representatives] in 1881, Clark County prosecuting attorney and District Court judge in 1886, losing each time in Republican Party|Republican] leaning Clark County. Johnson married Blanche Oberchain, December 4, 1888. They raised three children.
He was Mayor of Springfield, Ohio, from 1893 to 1894.
In 1910, Johnson ran for the Ohio Supreme Court. He won, and assumed his seat January 1, 1911. In 1916, he received a doctor of laws from Wittenberg University, and won re-election in November. In 1922, Johnson sought the Democratic nomination for Ohio Governor. He resigned from the court August 3, 1922, to campaign. He lost the primary election to A. Victor Donahey.
After the election, Johnson returned to Springfield, and resumed his law practice. In 1930, he retired after suffering a breakdown.
Johnson died after a long illness October 24, 1936, in Springfield, Ohio. A Lutheran pastor conducted the funeral services before burial in Ferncliff Cemetery.