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1. SUBJECT:

John Paul Home.

2. LOCATION:

Park Avenue at intersection of Park Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia.

3. DATE:

About 1778.

4. OWNERS:

• Mrs. Kate S. Paul, June 28, 1878.
• Lillian Stokes Gillespie, April 1, 1905.
• William Dean and others, March 1, 1909.
• Joseph H. Carrier, December 18, 1909.
• Frank Cline, present owner, November 5, 1936.

1. DESCRIPTION:

None.

2. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

John Paul, Statesman and Jurist was born near Ottobine in Rockingham County, Virginia, June 30, 1839, the son of Peter Paul, and his wife, Maria Paul nee Whitmer.

As a young man he left college to join the army of the Confederacy in 1861 as Lieutenant of Company B, 7^th Virginia Cavalry, later becoming Captain of that company, seeing active service throughout the period of the War Between The States.

After the war he engaged in the practice of law, and became an outstanding member of the Harrisonburg bar. He was Prosecuting Attorney of Rockingham County 1871 to 1877. In 1880 he was elected to Congress and in 1883 was appointed judge of U.S. Court for the Western District of Virginia, in which capacity he served with distinction for 18 years, until his death, November 1^st, 1901. He was a fine speaker, lucid in his style and a great campaigner and adored the offices to which he was elected or appointed.

He was, however, as judge of the U.S. Court where his great abilities and brilliant attainments were fully developed and shone forth with distinction. The late Gov. O’Ferrall in his Forty Years of Public Service says of John Paul, "As prosecuting attorney, he was one of the ablest U.S. Court for eighteen years, served with honor and distinction, being marked wit ability and with an honesty and uprightness of purpose that drew plaudits from the bar of his district and stamped him as a jurist, an impartial and incorruptible judge."

In politics, judge Paul was a re-adjuster and one of the leaders in that party until it’s passing, when he became a leading republican, being as said above, elected to Congress as such in the campaign of 1880. He continued his affiliation with that party until his death in 1901, though not active in politics owing to his judicial position.

His son, John Paul, followed his father in the profession of law, being for years a member of the Harrisonburg bar, and having been a member of the State Senate of Virginia; a member of Congress from the 7^th congressional District and upon the retirement of Judge McDowell, was appointed judge of the U.S. Court for the Western District of Virginia, following his father in this position and over which court he now presides with distinction and honor.

 

John Paul Home

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