City: Gallatin
WILSON, Samuel Franklin, Jurist and Statesman; born Sumner Co., Tenn., April 8, 1845; Scotch-Irish descent; son of Samuel and Nancy (Moore) WILSON; paternal grandparents John L. and Anna (Meeks) WILSON, maternal grandparents, Zaza and Laura (Wallace) MOORE; educated in Country Schools of Sumner Co., Tenn., and at Gallatin (Tenn) Male Academy, and at private school Marshall Co., Tenn., and graduated with second honors A. M., at the University of Georgia, 1868; graduated in law Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tenn., in 1869; married Mary L. BOSTICK, Aug. 18, 1880; reared on farm and entered the Confederate States army at the age of 16, Gen BATE’s regiment Co. “I” 2d Tenn., April 1861; a regiment was mustered directly into C. S. A. early in May, 1861, for twelve months before the term of enlistment had expired the regiment re-enlisted for the war, and he was granted a furlough of sixty days and transferred to the western army; voted for Secession in camp on the banks of the Potomac, 1861, after State seceded; was in the battle of Manassas before regiment was transferred to western army; he fought in the battle of Shiloh with his furlough in his pocket; the members of regiment erected monument to those killed at Shiloh, the only Confederate monument at Shiloh Park, he delivered the oration at the ceremony attending the transfer of Shiloh to the U. S. A., which was received by Gen. Basil DUKE; he was wounded at the battle of Richmond, Ky., and Murfreesboro, Tenn., and again at Chickamauga; attended school during war for awhile at Mercer University, Penfield, Ga.; represented Sumner Co., Tenn., in Legislature, 1877; member of the State Senate in 1879; nominated by Low Tax Faction of Democratic party for Governor in 1880, was defeated; served as Special Supreme Court Judge in three terms of Supreme Court of Tenn., between 1882 and 1884, elector state at large in 1884, selected by committee in the place of Gen. J. D. C. ATKINS, who was ill; in 1886 was appointed U. S. Marshal for Middle Tenn. by Pres. CLEVELAND, which office he held until 1889; appointed member of Court of Chancery Appeals by Governor TURNEY in 1895 elected to succeed himself balance of Constitutional term of six years in 1886; re-elected for full Constitutional term eight years 1902; Legislature of 1907 changed Court of Chancery Appeals to Court of Civil Appeals, enlarged its Jurisdiction and provided for two more members; Aug. election 1910 he was re-elected member of the Court of Civil Appeals for term of eight years; member Knights of Honor, Knights of Pythias, Ladies & Knights of Honor, the Golden Cross, I. O. O. F., and was a member of the “Ku-Klux Klan;” member of Presbyterian Church.
