| Hon. W. F. Poston, attorney at law, was born May 12, 1849, in this county,
once Haywood. His father, William T. Poston, was born in Alabama, and is
a farmer by occupation. His mother, Sarah (Feltz) Poston, was a native
of Tennessee. Our subject was reared on a farm and worked on the same till
he was twenty-one years of age, at which time (1870) he entered the Cumberland
University at Lebanon, and returned home in the spring on 1871, where he
engaged in his profession, which he has successfully continued up to the
present time. In 1872 he was the elector of the Ninth Congressional District
on the Republican ticket, and in 1878 was elected to the State Legislature
from Haywood County. He was the author of the bill advocating the local
option of 1878. In 1880 he was re-elected by 1,100 majority, and was elected
temporary speaker to organize the House, and was appointed chairman of
the judicial committee. May 22, 1882, he resigned to accept the position
of United States District Attorney for the federal courts of West Tennessee,
which position he retained and successfully filled till the last presidential
election. In 1886 he was the candidate of his party for circuit judge,
but was defeated by Judge Swiggott, the Democracy being in the majority.
He was married, November 6, 1872, to Jennie Duffer, of Brownsville, Tennessee,
the daughter of Colonel P. G. and Susan Duffer. This union resulted in
the birth of one child � Mamie. Mr. Poston�s educational advantages were
very limited. He consequently received the greater part of his education
by dint of hard study and close application. He is a member of the I.O.O.F.,
and has represented his lodge a number of times at the grand lodge. He
is also a member of the order of G.T., and was elected Grand Worthy Chief
Templar of the State in 1878, and was sent thence to the Right Worthy Grand
Lodge of the world at New York.
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