John J. De Haven

Who was John J. De Haven?

John Jefferson De Haven was a U.S. Representative from California.

Born in St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, De Haven moved to California in 1853 with his parents, who settled in Humboldt County. He attended the common schools. He became a printer, and pursued that vocation for four years. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar of the district court in Humboldt in 1866 and commenced practice at Eureka.

De Haven was elected district attorney of Humboldt County in 1867. He served as member of the California State Assembly in 1869. He served in the California State Senate 1871-1875. He was appointed city attorney of Eureka in 1878, and served two years. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1882 to the Forty-eighth Congress.

De Haven was elected judge of the superior court of Humboldt County in 1884.

De Haven was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-first Congress and served from March 4, 1889, until October 1, 1890, when he resigned.

De Haven was elected associate justice of the California Supreme Court to fill an unexpired term of four years.