John B. Ogden

Who was John B. Ogden?

John B. Ogden was an Arkansas judge.

John B. Ogden was the son of Col John B. Ogden and Sarah Buck. His father died in 1813 from the effects of a wound received during the War of 1812. His mother Sarah Ogden died in 1873. John B. Ogden was an only child.

At 17 years old, he began the study of law. In 1835 he married to Jane Sibley, daughter of Gen. John Sibley of New Jersey.

In 1843 he came to Van Buren, Crawford County, Arkansas where he lived the rest of his life.

In 1856, he was made a United States Commissioner of the District Court, Western District of Arkansas, which also included all of the district of the Indian Territory. He held that office until after the Civil War.

He was the judge who presided over the evidentiary hearing against Parley P. Pratt, the famous Mormon apostle, on 12 May 1857, and acquitted him. A short time after his release, Parley was murdered by Hector McLean, James Cornell and Amasa Howell in front of the Winn farm near Alma, Crawford Co, Arkansas.

In 1866 John B. Ogden was appointed Assistant United States District Attorney for the Western District of the State and held that position until 1871 or 1872.