City: Paris
PORTER, James Davis, attorney-at-law; born Dec. 7, 1828; son of Thomas Kennedy and Geraldine (Horton) PORTER; father physician; paternal grandparents William and Hanna (Kennedy) PORTER; maternal grandparents Josiah and Nancy (White) HORTON; educated at Paris, Tenn., graduated from Univ. of Nashville, A. B., 1846; LL.D. conferred 1880; married Susana DUNLOP, 1851; admitted to bar in 1852; was first president of Hermitage Club, Nashville, Tenn.; member Tenn Legislature 1859-60; member Constitutional Convention, 1870; Adjt-Gen. Cheatham’s Div. and Corps, C. S. A.; Asst. Secy. Of State during first administration of Cleveland; U. S. Minister to Republic of Chili during Cleveland’s 2nd administration; was for ten years President of Peabody College and Chancellor Univ. of Nashville, having resigned from both institutions in 1910; was largely instrumental in establishing Peabody College in 1875, having secured large appropriations for its endowment; was elected judge of the 12th Circuit of Tenn., for a term of eight years; resigned after serving three and a half years; elected Governor of Tenn. in 1874, re-elected in 1876; President Chattanooga R. R. Co. in 1879; re-elected for four succeeding years; he now lives in retirement at his early home.
Source: Who’s Who in Tennessee: A Biographical Reference Book of Notable Tennesseans of To-Day. Memphis: Paul & Douglas Co, 1911.
