He was born at the Brockenbrough House in Tappahannock, Virginia to Confederate veteran and lawyer Joseph William Chinn and his wife, the former Gabriella Brockenbrough. His grandfather and great-grandfather had both served in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly and his paternal grandfather Joseph Chinn was twice elected to the U.S. Congress, but this Joseph Chinn only continued his family's lawyerly tradition. Judge Chinn was raised at his family home, Wilna, in Richmond County, Virginia south of Warsaw, Virginia. He attended Colonel Council’s School in King and Queen County, Virginia and, after teaching for several years in Louisiana and South Carolina, decided to study law. He entered the University of Virginia Law School and after legal studies in 1889 and 1890, was admitted to the bar in 1890.
Careeredit
Like many in his family, Chinn began a private legal practice, initially near home in Warsaw. However, after one year, he won election as Commonwealth’s Attorney for Richmond County, then continued to win re-election and so served as the county's prosecutor for twenty-four years.
Chinn resigned in 1915 to accept the position of judge of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Virginia.[2] The Special Court of Appeals was formed in 1924 and, in 1925, Judge Chinn became a member of that court. He remained on that court until it was dissolved three years later. He also served as Commissioner of Fisheries in 1930–1931.
A lifelong Democrat, Chinn also served for many years on the vestry of St. Johns Episcopal Church in Warsaw, where he served would be buried. He also served on the board of directors of the first bank in Warsaw, the Mumford Bank,[2] and on the board of the Northern Neck Telephone and Telegraph. Chinn was also the first president and a director of the Northern Neck State Bank in Warsaw, and served as school superintendent for Richmond County,[2] as well as on the board of directors at University of Virginia.
Personal lifeedit
Judge Chinn married Sarah Fairfax Douglas at St. Johns Episcopal Church in Warsaw on December 14, 1899. They had five children, Betty Landon (April 22, 1903), Joseph William (June 4, 1904), Sarah Fairfax (September 30, 1905), Austin Brockenbrough (May 8, 1908) and Mary Douglas (October 1, 1910).
Death and legacyedit
Judge Chinn died in Battle Creek, Michigan, where he had gone for treatment for his emphysema, on August 16, 1936. He is buried in Warsaw in the churchyard of St. Johns Episcopal Church.
Referencesedit
^Kneebone and Bearrs, Dictionary of Virginia Biography (Richmond, VA 1998) Vol. 3, p. 219
^ abcdBarber, Francene and David Jett, Brenda Harhai, Richmond County Museum. 'Warsaw'. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2010. ISBN978-0-7385-6776-1. Retrieved March 2, 2013. p. 65.
^"Joseph Chinn, December 3, 1931-August 16, 1936". 2 May 2014.
December 15, 2023
joseph, chinn, this, article, about, virginia, supreme, court, justice, virginia, congressman, joseph, chinn, february, 1866, august, 1936, virginia, lawyer, judge, judge, commonwealth, attorney, richmond, countyin, office, 1891, 1915judge, virginia, 12th, jud. This article is about the Virginia Supreme Court justice For the Virginia congressman see Joseph Chinn Joseph W Chinn February 13 1866 August 16 1936 was a Virginia lawyer and judge 1 Judge Joseph W ChinnCommonwealth s Attorney of Richmond CountyIn office 1891 1915Judge of Virginia s 12th Judicial CircuitIn office 1915 1924Judge of Virginia s Special Court of AppealsIn office 1924 1927Justice Virginia Supreme CourtMember of the U S House of Representatives from s 10th districtIn office December 3 1931 August 16 1936Preceded byRobert R PrentisSucceeded byClaude V SpratleyPersonal detailsBorn 1866 02 13 February 13 1866Tappahannock Essex County VirginiaDiedAugust 16 1936 1936 08 16 aged 70 Battle Creek MichiganResting placeSt John s Episcopal Church Warsaw Richmond County VirginiaPolitical partyDemocraticSpouseSarah Fairfax DouglasRelativesJoseph Chinn grandfather Professionlawyer judge Contents 1 Early and family life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Death and legacy 5 ReferencesEarly and family life editHe was born at the Brockenbrough House in Tappahannock Virginia to Confederate veteran and lawyer Joseph William Chinn and his wife the former Gabriella Brockenbrough His grandfather and great grandfather had both served in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly and his paternal grandfather Joseph Chinn was twice elected to the U S Congress but this Joseph Chinn only continued his family s lawyerly tradition Judge Chinn was raised at his family home Wilna in Richmond County Virginia south of Warsaw Virginia He attended Colonel Council s School in King and Queen County Virginia and after teaching for several years in Louisiana and South Carolina decided to study law He entered the University of Virginia Law School and after legal studies in 1889 and 1890 was admitted to the bar in 1890 Career editLike many in his family Chinn began a private legal practice initially near home in Warsaw However after one year he won election as Commonwealth s Attorney for Richmond County then continued to win re election and so served as the county s prosecutor for twenty four years Chinn resigned in 1915 to accept the position of judge of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Virginia 2 The Special Court of Appeals was formed in 1924 and in 1925 Judge Chinn became a member of that court He remained on that court until it was dissolved three years later He also served as Commissioner of Fisheries in 1930 1931 Governor John Garland Pollard appointed Judge Chinn to the remainder of the term of Justice Robert R Prentis so on December 3 1931 he joined the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia 2 The Virginia General Assembly elected him to a full 12 year term on February 2 1934 but he died in office 3 A lifelong Democrat Chinn also served for many years on the vestry of St Johns Episcopal Church in Warsaw where he served would be buried He also served on the board of directors of the first bank in Warsaw the Mumford Bank 2 and on the board of the Northern Neck Telephone and Telegraph Chinn was also the first president and a director of the Northern Neck State Bank in Warsaw and served as school superintendent for Richmond County 2 as well as on the board of directors at University of Virginia Personal life editJudge Chinn married Sarah Fairfax Douglas at St Johns Episcopal Church in Warsaw on December 14 1899 They had five children Betty Landon April 22 1903 Joseph William June 4 1904 Sarah Fairfax September 30 1905 Austin Brockenbrough May 8 1908 and Mary Douglas October 1 1910 Death and legacy editJudge Chinn died in Battle Creek Michigan where he had gone for treatment for his emphysema on August 16 1936 He is buried in Warsaw in the churchyard of St Johns Episcopal Church References edit Kneebone and Bearrs Dictionary of Virginia Biography Richmond VA 1998 Vol 3 p 219 a b c d Barber Francene and David Jett Brenda Harhai Richmond County Museum Warsaw Charleston SC Arcadia Publishing 2010 ISBN 978 0 7385 6776 1 Retrieved March 2 2013 p 65 Joseph Chinn December 3 1931 August 16 1936 2 May 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joseph W Chinn amp oldid 1102581154, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
