Joseph McCormick (Ohio)
Encyclopedia
Joseph McCormick was a Democratic lawyer in the U. S. State of Ohio
who participated in the second State Constitutional Convention and was Ohio Attorney General
for a few months 1851-1852.
, the only child of Adam McCormick and his wife Margaret Ellison. He lived as a child in Cincinnati and West Union
. He may have attended Marietta College
of Ohio. In 1831 and 1832, he was in Pine Grove Furnace, Ohio as a storekeeper. He studied law under Nelson Barrere
and was admitted to the bar
in 1835. He located in Portsmouth
for a few months, and then in Cincinnati until 1838.
In 1838, McCormick became Prosecuting Attorney of Adams County
. Again in 1843, first by appointment, and then by election, was again prosecutor until 1845. On May 20, 1840, he was married to Elizabeth Smith, sister of Judge John M. Smith of West Union. They had two sons and one daughter, but only Adam Ellison, born 1843, survived to adulthood.
Joseph McCormick was an alcoholic, and, when his father died in 1849, he left a large estate. He left a life estate to Joseph, with the remainder to the two grandchildren then alive. He directed the trustee of the estate to turn over the entire estate to Joseph should he reform his drinking habit. The estate was held in trust until Joseph's death, when it was turned over to his son.
McCormick was elected from Adams County to the second Ohio Constitutional Convention in 1850. On May 5, 1851, he was appointed by Governor Reuben Wood
as the second Ohio Attorney General
, to replace Henry Stanbery
, whose term had expired. He served about seven months, until George E. Pugh
, who was elected under the new constitution, assumed the office.
In about 1857, McCormick went to California
, where he died in 1879. His wife and son remained in Manchester
from 1857 until her death in 1872.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
who participated in the second State Constitutional Convention and was Ohio Attorney General
Ohio Attorney General
The Ohio Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Ohio in the United States. The office is filled by general election, held every four years. The Ohio Attorney General is Mike DeWine.-History:...
for a few months 1851-1852.
Biography
Joseph McCormick was born in 1814 in Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, the only child of Adam McCormick and his wife Margaret Ellison. He lived as a child in Cincinnati and West Union
West Union, Ohio
West Union is a village in Adams County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,903 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Adams County....
. He may have attended Marietta College
Marietta College
Marietta College is a co-educational private college in Marietta, Ohio, USA, which was the first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory. The school offers 42 majors along with a large number of minors, all of which are grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation...
of Ohio. In 1831 and 1832, he was in Pine Grove Furnace, Ohio as a storekeeper. He studied law under Nelson Barrere
Nelson Barrere
Nelson Barrere was a U.S. Representative from Ohio, uncle of Granville Barrere.Born in New Market, near Hillsboro, Ohio, Barrere attended the common schools, and Hillsboro High School in 1827....
and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1835. He located in Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Ohio
Portsmouth is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Scioto County. The municipality is located on the northern banks of the Ohio River and east of the Scioto River in Southern Ohio. The population was 20,226 at the 2010 census.-Foundation:...
for a few months, and then in Cincinnati until 1838.
In 1838, McCormick became Prosecuting Attorney of Adams County
Adams County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,330 people, 10,501 households, and 7,613 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 11,822 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
. Again in 1843, first by appointment, and then by election, was again prosecutor until 1845. On May 20, 1840, he was married to Elizabeth Smith, sister of Judge John M. Smith of West Union. They had two sons and one daughter, but only Adam Ellison, born 1843, survived to adulthood.
Joseph McCormick was an alcoholic, and, when his father died in 1849, he left a large estate. He left a life estate to Joseph, with the remainder to the two grandchildren then alive. He directed the trustee of the estate to turn over the entire estate to Joseph should he reform his drinking habit. The estate was held in trust until Joseph's death, when it was turned over to his son.
McCormick was elected from Adams County to the second Ohio Constitutional Convention in 1850. On May 5, 1851, he was appointed by Governor Reuben Wood
Reuben Wood
Reuben Wood was a Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Ohio. He served as the 21st Governor of Ohio.Wood was born near Middletown, Rutland County, Vermont. While living with an uncle in Canada, he was conscripted into the Canadian Army at the outset of the War of 1812, but escaped across...
as the second Ohio Attorney General
Ohio Attorney General
The Ohio Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Ohio in the United States. The office is filled by general election, held every four years. The Ohio Attorney General is Mike DeWine.-History:...
, to replace Henry Stanbery
Henry Stanbery
Henry Stanbery was an American lawyer and Presidential Cabinet member.Born in New York, he was the son of Jonas Stanbery, a physician. The family moved to Zanesville, Ohio in 1814. Henry Stanbery graduated from Washington College in Washington, Pennsylvania and studied law...
, whose term had expired. He served about seven months, until George E. Pugh
George E. Pugh
George Ellis Pugh was a Democratic politician from Ohio. He served in the U.S. Senate.Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Pugh attended Miami University. He began practicing law in 1843, later serving as a Captain in the 4th Ohio Regiment in the Mexican-American War...
, who was elected under the new constitution, assumed the office.
In about 1857, McCormick went to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where he died in 1879. His wife and son remained in Manchester
Manchester, Ohio
Manchester is a village in Adams County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 2,043....
from 1857 until her death in 1872.