Josiah Given
From
the Annals of Iowa, Vol 8)
Josiah Given was born in Murrysville, Westmoreland Co., PA. Aug 31,
1828. He died in
Clendenning Given
and they were from
family moved to Holmes Co.,
Mexican War, becoming a member of Comp G, 4th Ohio Infantry and before
the close of that conflict he was made a corporal. At the conclusion
of
the war, he returned to
of his older brother Judge William Given and his partner J.R. Bancroft, at
bar in Stark Co.,
was elected prosecuting attorney of Holmes Co., serving in that capacity
for 2 terms. In 1865 he removed to and opened office in Coshocton,
and very soon
secured a satisfactory practice. While attending court in that county, news came
of
the firing on
trial in which he was engaged, he left the courtroom and did not return
until the
end
of the Civil War. He immediately raised a company known as "K"
24th
Volunteer Inf., and was commissioned its Captain. The summer of 1861 was spent
with his company in the mountains of
He participated in 22 battles during the Civil War, for part of the
time commanded the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Div., of the 14th Army Corp., and retired a Brig. Gen. After the fall of
of rheumatism contracted in the service. He was the first to offer
his services to Gen Shaw at the breaking out of the late war with
first commander of Crocker Post and the Commander of the Iowa Dept. of
G.A.R. in the year 1886. Few men have such an army record as had Judge Given; and he was never happier than when attending Grand
Army meetings of
Old Soldier reunions. His affection and love for "his boys"
was extremely touching. At the close of the war he was almost immediately
elected Postmaster of the House Of Representatives of
the 39th Congress, largely
thru the instrumentality of James A. Garfield, then a member of the house.
Shortly after that he came to
Attorney of the district of which Polk Co. was a part; and in 1876 was
elected to the State Legislature from Polk Co. serving in the committees of
Judiciary, Appropriations, Compensation of Public Offices, City and
Towns, and Judicial Districts.
Before
election to the District Attorneyship he was
appointed by General, then President Grant, Deputy Revenue
Commissioner, resigning that position when elected to the attorneyship. In 1880 he was elected Circuit Judge of
Polk Co. district then District Judge in 1886 and served in that capacity until
appointed the Supreme Court bench by Gov Lanabu in
Feb 1889, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Judge
Reed. He was twice elected a Supreme Court Judge and Thrice served as
Chief Justice, assuming that position upon his appointment by the Governor.
Upon his retirement from the Supreme bench he was appointed to fill avacancy upon the district bench of his county.
Judge
Given was married at
Few
men have had greater personal popularity than Judge Given. He had that
sweetness of disposition, that kindness of heart, and that sympathy for and
thoughtfulness of others which endeared him to all. A quickness of
comprehension and an almost intuitional divination of the very right in
controversy, made him an exceptionally strong trial judge; and when promoted to
the supreme bench he brought to it years of experience both at the bar and at
the bench making him a valuable member of that body. He never betrayed a
friend or a trust and his ideals were of the highest. No one ever
challenged either his character or his motives. Distinguished
as a soldier, eminent as a justice, and conspicuously honorable and just in his
private life. Judge Given's service both to the state and nation were inestimable value.
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COLONEL JOSIAH GIVEN:--General Johnson
desires to express to you his high appreciation of the gallantry exhibited by
the noble troops of your regiment in the night engagement of the 27th
inst. The admirable spirit displayed by the regiment on that occasion is,
above all things, desirable and commendable. Soldiers animated by such
courage, and fortitude are capable of the highest achievements.
[Signed,] E.T. Wells, A.A.
The regiment, still under Colonel Given's
command, was engaged in the performance of the most perilous and arduous duties
at Kenesaw mountain, Chattahoochie
River, Peach Tree Creek, and in front of Atlanta. At the battle of
Jonesboro, Colonel Given led the regiment in three distinct charges, on the
afternoon of September 1, and shared in the general complimentary notice to all
those engaged in that part of the fight, as follows:
HEADQUARTERS DIVISION FOURTEENTH ARMY
CORPS.
Circular--"The general commanding
the division congratulates officers
and enlisted men of the Second and Third
brigades on the success of
their splendid assault on the enemy,
September 1, 1864. They charged a
strongly entrenched double line. passing over swamps and through
thickets under a murderous fire of
musketry, dragged the enemy out of
his works at some points, and drove them
out at others. The troops
opposed to them were most celebrated for
obstinate fighting of any
division of the rebel army. The
conduct of all was gratifying to our
commanding general, and the day should be
remembered and celebrated by
every soldier engaged in battle.
"By order of
Brigadier General W.P. Carlin.
"(Signed) G.W. Smith, A.A.G."
The
returning to Coshocton, assisted this
county so well in its management of its
draft quota that it had them filled with
little or no trouble. Colonel
Given is now a citizen of
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Graciously donated by
Paul Ingels
