Joseph Chambers McKibbin (May 14, 1824 – July 1, 1896) was an American lawyer,

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

veteran, and

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

Democratic politician who served one term in the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

from 1857 to 1859.

Early life and career

McKibbin was born 1824 in

Chambersburg, Pennsylvania Chambersburg is a borough in and the county seat of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, Franklin County, in the South Central Pennsylvania, South Central region of Pennsylvania, United States. It is in the Cumberland Valley, which is part of the Gre ...

. One of his brothers was David B. McKibbin. He received a common-school education then attended Princeton College 1840–1842. He moved to California in 1849 during the

California Gold Rush The California gold rush (1848–1855) began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The news of gold brought approximately 300,000 people to California from the rest of the U ...

, settling in Sierra County. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1852, practicing in Downieville.

Political career

McKibbin was a member of the

California State Senate The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature (the lower house being the California State Assembly). The state senate convenes, along with the state assembly, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. ...

in 1852 and 1853, then elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

to the 35th Congress, and served from 1857 to 1859. He lost his bid for re-election in 1858.

Civil War

During the

McKibbin enlisted in the Union Army in 1861 and was one of the first six Cavalry officers appointed by President

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...

. He served as a colonel and aide-de-camp on the staffs of Major General

Henry W. Halleck Henry Wager Halleck (January 16, 1815 – January 9, 1872) was a senior United States Army officer, scholar, and lawyer. A noted expert in military studies, he was known by a nickname that became derogatory: "Old Brains". He was an important part ...

and Major General George H. Thomas.

Later career and death

After the Civil War, McKibbon settled in

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

, as a general contractor. He purchased the property at Marshall Hall, Maryland, in 1883. McKibbin died on July 1, 1896, in Marshall Hall, Maryland, and is buried in

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the United States National Cemetery System, one of two maintained by the United States Army. More than 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington County, Virginia. ...

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:McKibbin, Joseph C. 1824 births 1896 deaths Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from California Democratic Party California state senators People from Downieville, California People from Charles County, Maryland People from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania People of the California Gold Rush People of California in the American Civil War California lawyers Burials at Arlington National Cemetery Union army colonels Princeton University alumni 19th-century American lawyers Military personnel from Pennsylvania 19th-century members of the California State Legislature 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives