John G. Pressley
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Gotea Pressley | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives | |
| In office 1858–1859 | |
| City Attorney of Suisun City, California | |
| In office 1870–1873 | |
| City Attorney of Santa Rosa, California | |
| In office 1873–1875 | |
| Judge on the Sonoma County Superior Court | |
| In office 1875–1895 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 May 1833 |
| Died | 5 July 1895 (aged 62) |
| Resting place | Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Julia C. Burckmeyer |
| Children | 12 |
| Education | The Citadel |
| Occupation | Attorney and judge |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 1861–1864 |
| Rank | |
| Commands | 25th South Carolina Infantry |
John Gotea Pressley (May 24, 1833 – July 5, 1895) was an American lawyer, judge, and Lieutenant colonel during the American Civil War. Originally from South Carolina, Pressley moved to Santa Rosa, California where he served as an influential judge on the Sonoma County Superior Court for fifteen years.
John Gotea Pressley was born May 24, 1833 in Williamsburg County, South Carolina to John Brockington Pressley (1810–1863) and Sarah Pressley (née Gotea) as the second of ten children.[1] His father's family was descended from Scottish Covenanters and his mother's from French Huguenots.[2] John B. Pressley was a successful and influential planter, and in 1848 he secured an appointment for John G. Pressley to attend The Citadel military academy in Charleston.[1] Pressley graduated with distinction from the academy in November 1851, and was known to have a character "marked by rigid truthfulness, manly self-respect, diligence in study and a conscientious observance of the stringent military rules and regulations of the institution."[1]
After graduation Pressley was taken on as an apprentice by his relative, Benjamin C. Pressley, a prominent Charleston lawyer and future South Carolina Circuit Court judge.[1] It was this relative who, in 1854, managed to obtain admission to the bar for John despite him being under the required age of 21 (the first such instance in South Carolina's history).[1] That same year Pressley moved to Kingstree and opened a law practice there.[1]
In 1854 Pressley married Julia C. Burckmeyer (1833–1907), the daughter of a prominent Charleston merchant.[1] Together they would have twelve children: Elizabeth B. Pressley (1854–1916); Margaret J. Pressley (1856–1877); Mary A. Pressley (1858–1859); John B. Pressley (1859–1859); Marcy C. Pressley (1860–1919); Cornelius B. Pressley (1862–1940); Anna L. Pressley (1865–1877); Benjamin C. Pressley (1868–1934); Hugh G. Pressley (1870–1876); William G. Pressley (1871–1952); and Lawrence A. Pressley (1872–1923).
A committed Baptist, Pressley was ordained a deacon in Charleston in 1856.[2] He was for several years a trustee of Furman University and active in national and state Baptist denominational conventions.[2]
In 1858 Pressley was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives for Kingstree as its second youngest member, and served in that role until 1859.[1]
Civil War
On December 20, 1860, Pressley was among the 170 delegates to the secession convention of South Carolina to sign the South Carolina Declaration of Secession.[3]
Shortly following the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Pressley enlisted with the 25th South Carolina Volunteers under the command of Charles Henry Simonton.[1] Initially awarded the rank of captain, Pressley was later made lieutenant colonel of the regiment.[1] Throughout the war Pressley was present in several major engagements, including at Drewry's Bluff; Cold Harbor; and Petersburg- where Pressley was wounded and would permanently lose some mobility in his arm.[1]