City: McMinnville
WHITSON, William Vance, lawyer; born Bedford Co., Tenn., Aug. 5, 1846; son of George Newton and Caroline I. (Smartt) WHITSON; father’s occupation, farmer; paternal grandparents George and Priscilla (Vance) WHITSON; maternal grandparents Francis and Margaret (Davidson) SMARTT; educated at Yorkville Academy, Gibson Co., Tenn.; in early life worked on a farm; enlisted in the Confederate army at Newbern, Tenn., Dec., 1862; served as private throughout the war; was captured in May, 1863, and remained in prison at Camp Douglass, Chicago, Ill., until the close of the war; Democrat; married three times, first Jennie CHADWICK, Nov. 8, 1871, second Rebecca MORFORD, Oct. 15, 1875, third Carrie HANCOCK, Aug. 22, 1893; elected attorney-general Aug. 5, 1886; served eight years in Sixth Judicial Circuit of Tennessee; elected to State Senate Nov., 1898; member of Presbyterian church, U.S.A.
