Johnson N. Camden
Johnson N. Camden | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Collins Settlement, Lewis County, Virginia (now West Virginia), U.S. |
| Died | April 25, 1908 (aged 80) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, politician |
| Known for | Oil industry, banking, railroads, United States Senator from West Virginia |
Johnson Newlon Camden (March 6, 1828 – April 25, 1908) was a distinguished figure in the realms of oil, industry, banking, railroads, and politics, with his fortune estimated at $25 million upon his passing. Despite unsuccessful attempts to become governor of West Virginia, he represented the state as a United States Senator for two separate terms.
Early and family life
Camden was born in 1828 in Collins Settlement, located in Lewis County, Virginia (present-day West Virginia). He was the son of Col. John Scrivener Camden (1798–1862) and Nancy Newlon. His grandfather, Rev. Henry Benjamin Camden, emancipated his slaves in Maryland in 1804 before moving westward to what later became Harrison County, West Virginia. Among his siblings were Dr. Thomas Bland Camden and Lt. Col. Edwin Duncan Camden, who served in the 25th Virginia Infantry. Their uncle, Judge Gideon D. Camden, resigned from his judicial office at the start of the Civil War and subsequently served as a state senator in West Virginia.
Camden received his education in Sutton and began an apprenticeship at age 14 under his uncle Gideon, who was then assistant county clerk in Weston. In 1846, he secured an appointment as a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point while his father held a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. Camden departed West Point in 1848 to pursue legal studies locally.
On June 22, 1858, he married Anne Thompson (1834–1918) from Wheeling, daughter of esteemed attorney and congressman George W. Thompson. The couple had two children who survived to adulthood: Johnson N. Camden Jr. (1865–1942) and Annie Camden Spilman (1862–1958); their son George died during infancy.
Law and politics
After gaining admission to the Virginia bar, Camden commenced practicing law in Sutton, Braxton County, in 1851. That same year, he was appointed prosecuting attorney for Braxton County and won election as prosecuting attorney for Nicholas County in 1852.
In 1858, Camden relocated to Parkersburg along the Ohio River and began acquiring land holdings. The following year he moved to Burning Springs where the oil boom of 1860 significantly increased his wealth. He broadened his ventures into oil refining and coal mining, eventually selling part of these interests for $100,000. Together with his brother-in-law John S. McKinley, they sold their oil holdings for $410,000 in 1866 and reinvested across multiple sectors. His company, Camden Consolidated Oil Company, was later absorbed by Standard Oil. Additionally, he merged several small railroads to improve coal transportation logistics.
A supporter of the Union during the Civil War, Camden did not enlist in military service. His brother Edwin Duncan Camden served as lieutenant colonel of the 25th Virginia Infantry and was subsequently among those known as the Immortal 600.
In 1862, Camden became president of the newly established First National Bank of Parkersburg. He ran unsuccessfully as a Democratic candidate for Governor of West Virginia in both 1868 and 1872. The state legislature elected him as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate where he served from 1881 until 1887. After returning briefly to legal practice, he rejoined the Senate from 1893 to 1895 following the death of Senator John E. Kenna before retiring from public office. During his Senate tenure, Camden chaired the Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expense and was a member of the Committee on Railroads. He maintained active involvement in business and community affairs thereafter.
Death and legacy
Camden passed away in Baltimore, Maryland while en route back to Weston, West Virginia following a family visit. His son, Johnson N. Camden Jr., represented Kentucky as a U.S. Senator during the 63rd Congress.
Between 1903 and 1904, Camden developed the Union Trust & Deposit Co./Union Trust National Bank building located in Parkersburg, which earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Additionally, he maintained business ventures in lumber and hospitality within Lanes Bottom, West Virginia—an area now known as Camden-on-Gauley.
External links
- The West Virginia & Regional History Center at West Virginia University preserves Johnson N. Camden’s archival materials in collections A&M 7, A&M 339, and A&M 1228