to deal with the San Francisco Vigilantes. During that year's American Party convention, Johnson lost the party's nomination for the governorship to George W. Bowie. Bowie would be defeated by Lecompton Democrat John Weller. Shortly after, the American Party ceased to be a major political force in California and elsewhere throughout the United States, and were absorbed by the Republican Party and sections of the Democratic Party. Nevada Frustrated by his tenure in the California governorship and anxious for a new political start, Johnson relocated to western Utah Territory, which became Nevada Territory in March 1861. In 1863, Johnson was elected as a delegate to Nevada's first Constitutional Convention. Following its failed ratification vote, a second Constitutional Convention was called and he again became a delegate to, and this time was elected President of the Convention. Nevada's electorate ratified this second attempt, and Nevada was admitted as a U.S. state on October 31, 1864. In 1867, Nevada governor Henry G. Blasdel appointed Johnson to the Nevada Supreme Court. He served until 1871. After leaving the high court, Johnson contracted a severe case of sunstroke and died in Salt Lake City on August 31, 1872. References External links J. Neely Johnson biography at the California State Library J. Neely Johnson Daguerreotype image from the California State Library Guide to the John Neely Johnson Papers at The Bancroft Library JNJ Obituary, Sacramento Daily Union, 1872. 1825 births 1872 deaths 19th-century American judges 19th-century American lawyers 19th-century American politicians Governors of California Members of the California State Assembly Justices of the Nevada Supreme Court Lawyers from Sacramento, California People from Gibson County, Indiana California Know Nothings Know-Nothing state governors of the United States Politicians from Sacramento, California California Democrats California Whigs