SENATE, 42nd and 43rd General Assemblies, 1881-85; representing Montgomery, Robertson, and Stewart counties in 42nd; Montgomery and Stewart in 43rd; Democrat. Born in Henderson County Feb 4, 1838; son of Cole Spencer and Martha Ann (Foster) Daniel. Attended schools of Henderson County; completed schooling, 1859, at Stewart College, later Southwestern Presbyterian University, Clarksville, Montgomery; studied law and admitted to bar, 1860. Married Jan 31, 1867, to Margaret Minor de Graffenried, of Williamson County, daughter of Matthew Fontaine and Margaret Smith (McLemore) de Graffenried; their twelve children were – Fontaine de Graffenried, Mary Prichett, Margaret McLemore, Susan Belle, William Madison, Jr., Thomas Maney, Robert Henry, Bessie Lou, John Spencer, Annie Minor, Quarles, and Polk Johnson. Began practice of law at Clarksville and continued until retirement in 1908, except for years of Civil War; president Clarksville and Princeton R.R.; engaged in farming and stock raising, growing fine Jersey cattle; owned considerable real property in Clarksville. In confederate army; enlisted as Pvt., Co. A, 14th TN Inf., detailed to signal corps, June 1, 1862; transferred, Nov 26, 1864, to Co. E, 13th Va. Cav., serving in Army of Northern Virginia until surrender at Appomattox. Member First Presbyterian Church, Clarksville. Died at Clarksville Sep 7, 1921; buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

Sources:  Information supplied by granddaughter, Mrs. W. M. Daniel, Jr., Clarksville; Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, Apr 30, 1912; Jan 18, 1919; Mar 8, 1923; Titus, Picturesque Clarksville, 311; Beach, Along the Warioto, 138; Moore and Foster, Tennessee, the Volunteer State, III, 310-11; Goodspeed, History of Montgomery County, 1023; Montgomery County Tombstone Records, 56; Microcopy TN Confederate Service Records, roll 174.
 

Biographies submitted by Jill Hastings-Johnson, Montgomery County Archivist