Capt. C. S. Douglass, A.B., A.M., superintendent of public instruction of Sumner County, was born in that county in 1839, and is the son of Col. Young N. and Benetta (Rawlings) Douglass. The father was of Scotch-Irish descent. At an early date three brothers, natives of Scotland, immigrated to the United States; one settled in Middle Tennessee; one in Virginia and one in North Carolina, Stephen A. Douglas being of the northern branch; James Douglass, our subject's grandfather, being of the North Carolina stock. He was born in North Carolina in 1762, and when quite young came to Sumner County, where he married in 1777. He died in 1851, aged eighty-nine. Col. Young N. Douglass was born in Sumner County in 1805 and followed the occupation of a farmer. He married in 1834, and afterward located in Gallatin and began merchandising. He afterward engaged in farming, and was very successful in this occupation. He died in 1865. He was captain of one of the first military companies organized in the county. He was afterward known as Col. Douglass. His wife, Benetta (Rawlings) Douglass, was a native of Sumner County, born in 1813, and the daughter of Dr. Benjamin Rawlings, who was a pioneer physician of Middle Tennessee. Mrs. Douglass died in 1849. Mr. Douglass was twice married, his second wife being D. Killebrew, nee Green. There were six children born to the first union, our subject being the third. He received his rudimentary education in the schools of his native county, and his collegiate education at Center College, Danville, Ky., graduating from that institution in 1860, from which he received the degree of A.B. In 1884 the same institution conferred upon him the degree of A.M. After completing his schooling he commenced the study of law. About this time hostilities between the North and South commenced and he entered the army. He organized Company H, Thirtieth Regiment Tennessee Infantry, and was at once commissioned as adjutant, with title as first lieutenant. At the battle of Fort Donelson he was captured, taken to Camp Chase, and from there to Johnson's Island, being retained seven months. He was then released, and at the reorganization of the army joined Company H, Thirtieth Regiment Tennessee Infantry of Robertson County, and was elected captain. He was afterward appointed as adjutant-general, and served in this capacity the remainder of the war. He participated in all the principal battles and many severe skirmishes, being in eighteen regular pitched battles. He was wounded in the left arm and had a horse shot from under him at Jonesboro. He was a brave and skillful officer and did much hard fighting. July 23, 1865, he married Miss Susan Graham, a native of Sumner County, Tenn., born in 1845, and the daughter of Dr. Alexander Graham. To them were born two children: Ada and St. Clair. In 1871 Capt. Douglass, in conjunction with Prof. C. W. Callender, organized the Sumner High School in Hendersonville at a cost of $2,100. At the end of two years, Prof. Callender was elected superintendent of public instruction, and our subject assumed the principalship of the school, holding this position seven years, and also filled an unexpired term in the male school in Gallatin. In 1880 he was elected to his present position by the county court. In 1884 and 1885 he was principal of the normal school in Gallatin. He is a member of the Teachers' State Association of Tennessee, and in 1883 he was president of the association. He was vice-president of the same at one time, and is now a member of the executive committee. He is a Democrat in politics, and in 1878 ran for the Legislature, but was defeated by sixteen votes. He was Worshipful Master of the Masonic fraternity, a member of the K. of P., and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He has been superintendent of the Sunday school for fifteen years. He is a prominent and influential citizen, and one of the leading educators of the time.