J. B. Johnson (Florida politician)

This article is about the Florida politician. For other uses, see John Johnson.

J. B. Johnson
Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
In office June 4, 1927 – ?
Appointed by	John W. Martin
23rd Florida Attorney General
In office December 4, 1925 – June 4, 1927
Governor	John W. Martin
Preceded by	Rivers Buford
Succeeded by	Fred Henry Davis
President of the Florida Senate
In office 1917–1917
Preceded by	Cary A. Hardee
Succeeded by	Cary A. Hardee
Personal details
Born	(1868-10-15)October 15, 1868 Live Oak, Florida
Died	June 26, 1940(1940-06-26) (aged 71) Live Oak, Florida
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Mary Wagner ​ ​ (m. 1902; died 1923)​
Occupation	Attorney
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch/service	Florida Army National Guard
Years of service	1898
Rank	First Sergeant
Unit	1st Florida Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars	Spanish–American War

John B. Johnson (October 15, 1868 – June 26, 1940), more commonly referred to as J. B. Johnson, was an American attorney and politician who served as the 22nd Florida Attorney General.

Early life and military service

Johnson was born in Live Oak, Florida, on October 15, 1868. On April 23, 1898, Johnson enlisted in the United States Army during the Spanish–American War. He served as a first sergeant in Company L of the 1st Florida Infantry. His regiment did not see any combat, remaining in Tampa, Florida, and later Huntsville, Alabama, for the majority of the war. Johnson was mustered out of the Army on December 3, 1898.

Educated in local schools, Johnson was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1903, and began a private practice in Live Oak.

Political career

In 1907, Johnson, a Democrat, was elected as the mayor of Live Oak. He was simultaneously elected to the Florida Senate, representing District 27, which encompassed Suwanee County. While in the senate, Johnson opposed legislature regulating child labor, and, as a fervent Methodist, he was a supporter of women's suffrage.

In 1913, Johnson was appointed for a one-year term as the President pro tempore of the Florida Senate by Senate President Ion L. Farris, and later in 1917, he would become the President of the Florida Senate, serving for only that year. Johnson did not seek reelection to either the senate or the mayoral office in 1922, opting to return to private practice.

In 1925, Johnson was appointed as the 23rd Florida Attorney General by newly elected Governor John W. Martin, succeeding Rivers Buford, who Martin had appointed to the Florida Supreme Court. Johnson served as the Florida Attorney General until Martin appointed him as the judge of the Second Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.

Personal life and death

Johnson died in Live Oak on June 26, 1940. He is buried in the Live Oak Cemetery. Johnson was married to Mary Wagner on 1902. They were married until her death in 1923 and had two children with her: Wagner B. and John Paul.

Johnson was a member of the Freemasons.