Johnson Newlon Camden | |
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| United States Senator fromWest Virginia | |
| In office March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1887 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Hereford |
| Succeeded by | Charles J. Faulkner |
| In office January 25, 1893 – March 3, 1895 | |
| Preceded by | John E. Kenna |
| Succeeded by | Stephen B. Elkins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Johnson Newlon Camden (1828-03-06)March 6, 1828 Lewis County, Virginia, US (now West Virginia) |
| Died | April 25, 1908(1908-04-25) (aged 80) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Anna Gaither Thompson |
| Children | Johnson N. Camden Jr. George Camden Annie Camden Spilman |
Johnson Newlon Camden (March 6, 1828 – April 25, 1908) was a prominent oilman, industrialist, banker, railroad tycoon, and politician who was estimated to be worth $25 million at the time of his unexpected death.[1] Although both of his attempts to become governor of the new state ofWest Virginia failed, he did becomeUnited States Senator, representing West Virginia on two occasions.
Born in 1828 in Collins Settlement, the county seat ofLewis County, Virginia (now West Virginia), to Col. John Scrivener Camden (1798–1862)[2] and his wife, the former Nancy Newlon, Johnson Newlon Camden was the grandson of Rev. Henry Benjamin Camden, who freed his slaves in Maryland in 1804 and moved west to what becameHarrison County, West Virginia during theAmerican Civil War. Johnson Camden's siblings included Dr. Thomas Bland Camden, CSA Lt. Col. Edwin Duncan Camden (1840–1922) of the 25th Virginia Infantry, William D. Camden (1842–1878), Amanda McKinley, Lorenzo Dow Camden (1844–1910) and John Scrivener Camden Jr. (1851–1923). Their uncle, JudgeGideon D. Camden of Harrison County, resigned his judicial position as the Civil War began and declined to become a delegate to theConfederate Congress and later became a West Virginia state senator.
Johnson N. Camden attended school inSutton and at age 14 apprenticed with his uncle Gideon, who was then an assistant county clerk inWeston.[3] In 1846, Johnson Camden won an appointment as acadet at theUnited States Military Academy at West Point while his father represented Braxton, Lewis and Gilmer counties in theVirginia House of Delegates for a single term (1845–46). The younger Camden left West Point in 1848, to read law in his home state.
On June 22, 1858, inWheeling, Johnson N. Camden married Anne Thompson (1834–1918), daughter of prominent lawyerGeorge W. Thompson, who had become a U.S. congressman and was then a prominent local judge. They would have childrenJohnson N. Camden Jr. (1865–1942) and Annie Camden Spilman (1862–1958), but their son George died as an infant.
Camden was admitted to the Virginiabar and began his practice inSutton, theBraxton County seat, in 1851. Although his father continued to live in Lewis County, Johnson's brothers Edwin, William and Lorenzo had moved to Braxton County. Young Johnson N. Camden was appointed the same year as Braxton County'sprosecuting attorney. In 1852 he won election as prosecuting attorney forNicholas County.
In 1858, Camden moved toParkersburg, on theOhio River. There he began investing in land. The following year, he moved toBurning Springs, site of an oil boom in 1860 which made him rich. Camden became involved in oil refining and coal mining and sold part of his interest for $100,000. He went into business with his brother-in-law John S. McKinley; they sold their oil interests for $410,000 in 1866, and invested the proceeds in several new industries. Camden Consolidated Oil Company was ultimately acquired byStandard Oil.[4] Camden also consolidated several small railroads, which helped transport great quantities of coal.[5]
Camden sympathized with the Union and did not serve in either army during theAmerican Civil War, although CSA GeneralStonewall Jackson had been raised nearby.[6] His younger brother Edwin Duncan Camden became lieutenant colonel of the25th Virginia Infantry, and after his capture became one of theImmortal 600 (hostages used by the Union as human shields in South Carolina as a retaliation for Confederate treatment of Union prisoners of war).
Camden became president of the First National Bank of Parkersburg at its organization in 1862, and was an unsuccessfulDemocratic candidate forGovernor of West Virginia in 1868 and again in 1872. The legislature elected him as aDemocrat to the U.S. Senate, where he served one term, from March 4, 1881, to March 4, 1887. He then resumed the practice of law at Parkersburg. Upon the death in office of U.S. SenatorJohn E. Kenna, Camden was again elected by the legislature and served the remainder of that term, from January 25, 1893, to March 3, 1895, then retired from elective politics. While in the Senate, Camden was chairman of the Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expense (Fifty-third Congress) and a member of the Committee on Railroads (Fifty-third Congress). He continued his former business and civic pursuits.
Camden died inBaltimore, Maryland, en route back toWeston, West Virginia, after visiting family.[7] His son,Johnson N. Camden Jr., was a U.S. Senator fromKentucky in the 63rd Congress.
In 1903–04, Camden built theUnion Trust & Deposit Co./Union Trust National Bank at Parkersburg.[8] It was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1982.[9] Camden also owned lumber and hotel interests in Lanes Bottom, West Virginia (now known asCamden-on-Gauley).[10]
| Party political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of West Virginia 1868 | Succeeded by John J. Jacob |
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of West Virginia 1872 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 1) from West Virginia March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1887 Served alongside:Henry G. Davis,John E. Kenna | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 2) from West Virginia January 25, 1893 – March 3, 1895 Served alongside:Charles J. Faulkner | Succeeded by |
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| Class 2 | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
