US Congressman. One of twelve children of William and Mary (McMillan) Abbott, Joe was born near Decatur, Alabama, on January 15, 1840. He moved with his family to Freestone County, Texas at the age of thirteen. After attending private school, Joe left home to study law with Franklin L. Yoakum in 1859. The Civil War interrupted his studies, and he joined Company B, Twelfth Texas Cavalry. As a 1st Lieutenant, he fought in a half dozen battles before being wounded. After several months of medical treatment and rest, he rejoined his unit and remained in active duty until 1865. He was admitted to the bar in 1866. He began his legal practice in Springfield, Limestone County, Texas. He later moved to Hillsboro, Texas where he continued his legal career. Abbott was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1869 and served one term in the Eleventh Legislature. His lifelong interest in politics and loyalty to the Democratic party resulted in his selection as head of the Democratic Executive Committee of Hill County. His legal skills and work for the party were rewarded in February 1879, when Governor Oran M. Roberts appointed Joe judge of the Twenty-eighth Judicial District (Hill, Johnson, and Bosque counties). In November 1880 voters elected him to this position for a term of four years. In 1886 there was an effort to place his name in nomination for a vacancy on the Texas Supreme Court. It failed, but a few months later Joe was elected to the United States Congress. The Texas lawyer represented District Twenty (Ellis, Hill, Kaufman, and Navarro counties) from 1887 to 1897. He retired from political life in 1898 and returned to Hillsboro, where he continued his legal career. He died at his home.
US Congressman. One of twelve children of William and Mary (McMillan) Abbott, Joe was born near Decatur, Alabama, on January 15, 1840. He moved with his family to Freestone County, Texas at the age of thirteen. After attending private school, Joe left home to study law with Franklin L. Yoakum in 1859. The Civil War interrupted his studies, and he joined Company B, Twelfth Texas Cavalry. As a 1st Lieutenant, he fought in a half dozen battles before being wounded. After several months of medical treatment and rest, he rejoined his unit and remained in active duty until 1865. He was admitted to the bar in 1866. He began his legal practice in Springfield, Limestone County, Texas. He later moved to Hillsboro, Texas where he continued his legal career. Abbott was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1869 and served one term in the Eleventh Legislature. His lifelong interest in politics and loyalty to the Democratic party resulted in his selection as head of the Democratic Executive Committee of Hill County. His legal skills and work for the party were rewarded in February 1879, when Governor Oran M. Roberts appointed Joe judge of the Twenty-eighth Judicial District (Hill, Johnson, and Bosque counties). In November 1880 voters elected him to this position for a term of four years. In 1886 there was an effort to place his name in nomination for a vacancy on the Texas Supreme Court. It failed, but a few months later Joe was elected to the United States Congress. The Texas lawyer represented District Twenty (Ellis, Hill, Kaufman, and Navarro counties) from 1887 to 1897. He retired from political life in 1898 and returned to Hillsboro, where he continued his legal career. He died at his home.
Bio by: Shock
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