HOUSE, 22nd General Assembly, 1837-39; representing Montgomery County; Whig. Born in Charles County, MD, Apr 15, 1786; son of William and Sarah (Hamil) Poston. Attended elementary schools in Maryland. Married Mar 13, 1808, to Nancy L. Nelson, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Bell) Nelson, of Montgomery and Stewart Counties; their thirteen children were: William, Robert Nelson, John Hamil, Jr., Alexander Hamilton, Richard, Elizabeth, Nelson, William King, George Nelson, Adeline Nelson, Catherine Louisa, Hugh Nelson, Hugh Hamil, Benjamin Franklin. Came to Tennessee in 1806 and opened store at Clarksville, Montgomery County. Acquired considerable wealth, including much land; engaged in planting; president Clarksville Branch, Bank of Tennessee. An incorporator of Red River Bridge Co., 1819; one of founders of Clarksville Marine Fire Insurance and Life and Trust Co, 1839. Elected alderman for town of Clarksville, 1819; mayor 1830; postmaster, 1836; member board of trustees of Male Academy; a trustee of the Female Academy; an incorporator of Clarksville Academy, 1825. Member Methodist Episcopal church; sold an acre and gave an acre for site of Trinity Episcopal Church, Clarksville. Died at his home, “Poston’s Springs Hill,” Clarksville, Oct 2, 1848; place of burial not indicated. Son-in-law of Robert Nelson, sometime member TN General Assembly.
 

Sources: Information supplied by Mrs. Oscar Beach, Clarksville; Titus, Picturesque Clarksville, pp 273-74; Clarksville Gazette, Jan 15, 1820; Beach, Along the Warioto, pp 69, 71, 108, 128, 129, 144, 153, 159.

Biographies submitted by Jill Hastings-Johnson, Montgomery County Archivist