My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM S. McLEMORE, circuit judge, was born ten miles south of Franklin, in Williamson County, February 1, 1830, son of A. J. and Bethenia S. (Dabney) McLemore, and is of Scotch-Irish extraction. The father of our subject was born in this county in 1801, and died here in 1849. The mother was born in 1803 and died in 1857. Of thirteen children born, our subject was the fifth child and second son. He was reared on the farm and received his education in the common schools of the neighborhood in which he lived. At seventeen years of age he entered the Transylvania University at Lexington, Ky., and in 1849 he entered Lebanon Law School, where he graduated in 1851. In the same year he began to practice in Franklin, and in 1856 he was elected county court clerk, and held this office until 1860, when he declined re-election and resumed the practice of law. In 1861 he enlisted in Company F, Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, Confederate States Army, and was promoted to first lieutenant, then captain, major, and in 1863 was commissioned colonel. The last six months he was colonel, commanding a brigade of cavalry, and was a brave and gallant soldier. In 1865 he returned home and immediately began the practice of law, which he continued until 1872 when he was elected criminal judge, the circuit then being composed of Williamson, Maury, Marshall and Giles Counties. He held this office six years and in 1878 was elected circuit judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit; his present term expires in August, 1886. He has made a splendid record as judge, and as a lawyer has been quite successful. May 15, 1856, he wedded Miss Anna S. Wharton, daughter of Dr. W. H. Wharton, of Nashville. To Judge McLemore and wife were born five children: Annie L., Bethenia, Albert S., William W. and Lizzie M. He was formerly a Whig but since the war has been a thorough Democrat. He is a Mason and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mrs. McLemore is a member of the Christian Church.