HOUSE, 30th General Assembly, 1853-55; representing Montgomery County; Whig. Born near Franklin, Williamson County, Jan 9, 1827; Christian name of father not found; mother was Margaret S. Warren before marriage. Attended academy at Franklin; Transylvania University, Lexington, KY; graduated in law from Cumberland University, Lebanon, Wilson County, 1850; admitted to bar. Married Jan 7, 1851 to Julia Franklin Beech of Clarksville, Montgomery County, daughter of L. B. and _____ [sic]  (Crenshaw) Beech; one child, Mattie, who died in infancy. Began practice of law at Franklin, but after one year moved to Clarksville to continue practice. An incorporator of Clarksville Building Assn, 1856; a trustee of Tennessee Orphan Society, 1867; an incorporator, 1869, of Greenwood Cemetery Co., Clarksville. Presidential elector, 1860, on Constitutional Union Party ticket, supporting John Bell and Edward Everett; nominee, 1861, of Southern Rights Union Party for delegate to states' secession convention; elected but did not serve since calling of convention was voted down by people of state; member of Provisional Congress of Confederate States; delegate to Democratic National Convention, 1868; represented counties of Montgomery, Davidson, and Robertson in state's Constitutional Convention of 1870; elected as a Democrat to US House of Representatives of 44th and three succeeding Congresses, serving from Mar 4, 1875 to Mar 3, 1883; was not candidate for reelection in 1882. In Confederate army; served on staff of Gen George Maney; took part in battles of Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and frequent engagements during North Georgia campaign until New Hope Church was reached; called in spring of 1864 by War Office at Richmond to report for duty as judge advocate with rank of Capt of cavalry. Member Methodist Episcopal Church and frequent lay representative to its conferences. Died at home in Clarksville June 28, 1904; buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

Sources: Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, June 28, 1904; Nashville Banner, June 28, 1904; Nashville American, June 29, 1904; Biographical Directory of the American Congress; Titus, Picturesque Clarksville, 257; Montgomery County Tombstone Records; Beach, Along the Warioto, 131, 138, 140, 175, 230, 232.
 

Biographies submitted by Jill Hastings-Johnson, Montgomery County Archivist