History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 121

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1013

USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 121

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In September, 1866, he matriculated as a student of Washington College, Lexington, Va., which was then under the presidency of Gen. Robert E. Lee. While there he boarded in the family of Rev. W. M. McElwee, a Pres- byterian divine. In the beginning of the session of 1867, having many boarders, he offered to give a handsome Bible to that boarder who should be most punctual in attending family prayers during the nine months' session. William H. won the prize, which was presented to him in June, 1868. During the fall of 1867 he became a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, Chapter E.

In June, 1868, he returned to Murfreesboro' in such a precarious condition of health his parents forbade his return to college the next session.

In the following fall there was a grand agricultural and mechanical fair at Murfreesboro', one of the features of which was a tournament to decide the champion equestrian- ship of Middle Tennessee. The first prize was a silver set valued at fifty dollars, and the second an elegant silver tête- à-tête set valued at a little less. The day for the contest arrived. There were fully five thousand people in attend- ance. The joust was to take place inside the circular am- phitheatre. There were nine rings up. Victory was to belong to that knight who carried off the greatest number of rings in a given number of rides at full speed. Twenty- five knights from ail parts of the State, gorgeously attired and armed with the famous lance of chivalry, entered the arena as contestants. Among the number was William H., whose sobriquet was " Knight of the Grecian Bend." After the contest was over, the judges reported that two of the knights had ticd for the first prize, each having taken off the same number of rings and the greatest number. These knights were - - of Sumner County, who was the champion of many similar contests, and William H. When they entered the arena for the final struggle there was the utmost enthusiasm. The excitement was so intense and the sympathy with William H. so extensive (his com- petitor having received several prizes theretofore and being from another county) that he became nervous and lost the first prize. He won the second, however, which was pre- sented with great ceremony by the judges.

In June, 1869, his health having been thoroughly re- stored, William H. re-entered Washington College and took the summer course. He joined the Phoenix Literary So- ciety, was elected its orator for the annual celebration, and delivered an oration, in the presence of Gen. Lee and a large audience, in the college chapel on the 6th day of Sep- tember, 1869.

At the close of the session in June, 1870, the degree of " Distinguished Undergraduate" was conferred upon him, and he left Washington College finally.

Upon his return home he was shown the following letter to his father from Gen. Lcc :

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BIOGRAPHIES.

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= w mafrative, pathos, ..... ' :.... E used together with wondrous poetic tact. It is a great favorite of mine. I suppose I have read it a dozen

active business career unfil 1877. He was a ovu v.

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BIOGRAPHIES.

" WASHINGTON COLLEGE, LEXINGTON, VA., June 28, 1870. " F. W. WASHINGTON, Esq., Murfreesboro', Tenn.

" DEAR SIR,-I have the pleasure of communicating to you the action of the faculty of Washington College com- mending your son William H. Washington for his distin- guished industry and success in his studies during the late session. With best wishes for his future welfare,

" I am, respectfully,

"R. E. LEE, " President."

In September, 1870, he entered the senior class of Union University, and graduated in June, 1871.

In July the annual convention of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, composed of delegates from all parts of the South, assembled in Nashville, Tenn. William H. at- tended as a delegate; and entered the contest for the gold medal offered for the best oration delivered before the convention. He won the medal by the unanimous de- cision of the three judges selected by the convention to award it.

In January, 1872, having chosen the law as his profes- sion, he became a student of the Lebanon Law School. While there he joined the Philomathian Literary Society, and was elected one of the four debaters to contest, in a public debate, for the gold medal to be awarded to the best debater. On the evening of the 10th of May the debate took place. The judges were the Hon. Player Martin, Hon. William G. Brien, and Hon. R. McPhail Smith, all of the Nashville bar. The question was : " Resolved, That the right of suffrage should be extended to women." William H. had the affirmative, and was beaten. Hon. R. McPhail Smith decided for him, and Messrs. Player Martin and Wil- liam G. Brien for one of his competitors. A few days after the debate he received a handsome edition of " Ten- nyson's Poems," accompanied by the following letter from Hon. R. McPhail Smith, one of the most scholarly and accomplished members of the Nashville Bar :

" Do me the favor to accept the little volume which I send . . . and to read closely and carefully the poem of 'The Princess,' where you will find treated with wisdom steeped in ethereal hues the general subject of which the question of your recent discussion is a branch. I present it as a slight tribute to the talent displayed in your argu- ment of Friday night, to which my judgment would un- hesitatingly have awarded the prize of the contest. I am familiar with the topic of discussion from having looked into the literature of it, and also having heard it discussed by the women themselves, and I was therefore prepared to appreciate the neatness of your succinct presentation of the points involved, as well as the judgment with which you refrained from lugging in anything irrelevant to the special issue in controversy. Without in any wise disparaging the highly creditable efforts of your competitors, I pronounced you with emphasis to have been ' primus inter pares.' . . . I think you will agree with me that 'The Princess' is an exquisite combination of subtle thought, rich condensation of expression, artistic narrative, pathos, and fairy-like purity, -all fused together with wondrous poetic tact. It is a great favorite of mine. I suppose I have read it a dozen

times. It will amply repay, and indeed it requires for full appreciation of its manifold felicities, repeated perusal.

" In conclusion, I feel impelled to compliment the man- liness and good taste with which you bore the bitterness of defeat."

In September, William H. entered the senior class of the Law Department of the University of Michigan, Ann Ar- bor, Mich., and graduated with the degree of " Bachelor of Laws" on the 27th day of March, 1873. On the 10th day of April he commenced the practice of the law in the city of Murfreesboro', Tenn.

In the year 1878 he embarked in the canvass for the office of attorney-general for the Nashville District, com- posed of the counties of Davidson and Rutherford. There were soon eight competitors in the field, seven in Davidson and one in Rutherford. His competitor from Rutherford proposed to submit to the licensed lawyers of Rutherford County the question as to which should continue in the race from that county. The proposition was cordially ac- cepted, and the bar assembled in mass convention in response to the invitation. After organizing by electing Hon. Ed- win HI. Ewing chairman, a ballot was taken, which resulted in the selection of William H. by a vote of twenty-seven to five for his competitor.

Near the close of an arduous canvass, and about a month before the day of the election, the Republicans having threatened to put a candidate in the field, the Democracy of both counties called a joint convention, which assembled in Nashville, and nominated William H. Washington for the office of attorney-general. On the first day of August, 1878, he was elected attorney-general of the Nashville District for the term of eight years from the first day of September thereafter.

ANDREW E. BURR.

The subject of this sketch is descended from the cele- brated Burr family, of Fairfield Co., Conn., noted for its long line of eminent and honored men, among whom was the brilliant jurist and statesman Aaron Burr, Vice-Presi- dent of the United States.

The genealogy of this family in America dates back to the landing of Winthrop's fleet in 1630, when Jehu Burr, the first of his race in this country, landed and settled at Roxbury, Mass. He subsequently became one of the pio- neers of Springfield, Mass., and later of Fairfield Co., Conn.

Andrew Eliot Burr was born in the city of New York Aug. 27, 1833. He came to Nashville in 1869, and has since been engaged in receiving, compressing, and forward- ing all the cotton coming to and going from the city of Nashville under contracts from the Louisville and Nash- ville and the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad Compa- nies. About one hundred thousand dollars are invested in the business in Nashville, and eighty hands are employed. Mr. Burr, in connection with his brother, John T. Burr, also conducts a like interest in the city of Memphis.

Mr. Burr's father, Jonathan S. Burr, removed from Fair- field Co., Conn., to New York in 1825, and pursued an active business career until 1877. He was a son of Ger-

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'shom Burr, who, father and mother dying in infancy, was reared by Thaddeus Burr, of Fairfield. Thaddeus Burr early espoused the colonial cause during the Revolution, and was an active and influential citizen. He was an inti- mate friend of John Hancock, and it was at his residence that Hancock was married to Dorothy Quincey. The notice reads as follows :

"Sept., 1775, on the 28th ult., was married at the seat of Thaddeus Burr, Esq., by the Rev. Andrew Eliot, the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., Pres't of the Continental Con- gress, to Miss Dorothy Quincey, daughter of Edmund Quincey, Esq., of Boston."

Hancock was on his return from presiding over the Continental Congress at Philadelphia.

LITTLE

ISAAC PAUL.

Isaac Paul was in several respects a remarkable man. He was born in Montgomery Co., Ky., March 10, 1806. He was apprenticed to Mr. Austin, a brick-mason, and. came to Nashville when he was a youth. Having served his time he began business for himself, and for years enjoyed prosperity as brick-mason and builder. He formed a copartnership with James M. Murrell. The two, having great energy and unlimited credit, did an extensive and profitable business and acquired large property. In the mean time Mr. Paul rose to position in society, acquired reputation, and had the confidence of the people. He served as member of the City Council, was mayor of South Nashville while it was a separate corporation, a member of the Board of Education, and for many years an acting jus- tice of the peace and member of the County Court.

In early life he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a devoted and consistent Christian till death. He was a pioneer Sunday-school worker, superintending a large and flourishing Sunday-school most of his life, first in a warehouse, next in a log cabin, then in a school-house, and finally in a church.

College Hill, Elysian Grove, Mulberry Street, and Eln Street Churches all shared the benefit of his arduous labors.

Mr. Paul was a man of large liberality ; he had a hand in every good work. In promoting the interests of Nash- ville in schools, in church-building, in aiding young men, in contributions to the poor, in relieving the needy, in every public and benevolent enterprise, Mr. Paul was among the foremost.

His moral character was above reproach, and his closing hours marked by peace and complete Christian triumph.

Mr. Paul was twice married,-first to Miss Nance, most estimable lady, belonging to an old and respectable family of Davidson County ; secondly, to a Miss Menifee, an excellent Christian lady, who survives him. His gen- erosity led him to indorse for many who imposed upon his kind nature. This finally exhausted his large estate, lear- ing him with but a meagre income. In the days of his adversity he maintained his purity of character, and died lamented Oct. 21, 1876. He left his children the savor of a good name.

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BIOGRAPHIES.

Oy J. MCMURRAY.

: gray is of Scotch-Irish descent. Its Porto this country and settled in Ken 14 1785 he married Miss Kin- - an Irishman, and mother of Welch - emigrated to Tennessee, and settled 1 c 'T on the old Lebanon road, on the 1. the Gin, to im heirs, where he was chung in the year 1792.

and son married Levicy Morton, and had i. r .- five sens and three daughters. The oldest ! J. .. . e Jam, father of the subject of this sketch. 11. w .. barn and seared in the Sixth Civil District of Da- .... . . . a. s. on the farm now owned by the Rov. W. A. tot ce a where he received a fair common-school educa-

In !- 36 he married Mary J. Still, who re-ided jest ros the line, in W Hiam-on County, where he after- ward- perchased a farm and spent the remainder of his life a farming and school-teaching. He died at the age of switry seven years, leaving a wife and seven children, of " Som four are living and three are deceased : Sallie A., 3: 4 in 1863 ; Samme! J., who was sergeant-major in the Twenty-fourth Tennessee Volunteers, was killed at the turtle of franklin, Tenn ; the third is our subject, William J ; Lucy Ellen now married ; John II., a successful drug- Aist in Edgefield ; and Thomas M., a physi ian at Nolens- ville, Williamson Co.

The mother of this family was born near Danville, Pitt- sylvania Co., Va., emigrated at the age of nine months with her parents to the farm in Williamson County, where .1. was brought up, married, and reared her family. until 1871, when she broke up housekeeping, and has since lived with her son, William J. She is also of hish de cent.

William J. MeMurray was born S .pt. 22, 18 12, bring the same month and same day of the month on which his father Was twor .. His father being a teacher, he was placed at " tad early, but at the age of nine years his father ding it ". leed, by becoming surety and by other debts, so that ali the property he left was one har bed and fifty acres of land. I'mon this William performed important services, sustain- i. a widowed mother and younger brothers and sisters up ., the breaking out of the civil war.

Pas this time he was eighteen years of age. He joined a . sprog raised by Col. Jed A Bade, -the " Zolfoother This company was mastered into service May :- ), and went toto camp of instructions at Camp " as". ... near the Kentucky hue. it was afterwards or- good will do Twent th Tennessee Regiment, of which tein was posted colonel, and was pamet in fren. j .. . was beste. Oor young friend parti para in all a towin of Alon Zo Photter's campaign in East Tentes sand bag N marky in lool 02.

[. .... ..... Ford, in 18th, he was promoted to up a . re megoral. The first time he was ander W. : * in East Kentucky. In that engage- Who xivan veteran by the name of John si te McMurray, and had been under

fire inty times. M. Meny . watch him

and not let him run it he showed any

After the battle at Mel Springs. Corp.

clerted second sergeant ty los compa .. , and .. several months as orderis » Rant.

The brigade was put under the carroand of Col. Stat- han, conel of the Fifteenth Mississippi Regiment, n. wchod to the brittle field of Shiloh, and was in that eventled engage- ment of 6th and 7th of April, 1862, as a part of Gen. John C. P- Aibridge', division, which was held in reserve until late in the day About the o'clock on the 6th it was ordered forward.

The Twentieth Tennessee engaged the Tw .. Ifth Illinois, when a severe struggle of an hour esged During this time the Forty-fifth Tennessee Volunteers, who were next to the Twentieth Regiment on their Is, became confused and fired a number of volleys iato the left companies of the . Twentieth. At this juncture the right wing of the Twen tieth Regiment was flanked by t' Federals, and was forced back somme fifty yards, but was rallied by that bravest of brave commanders ( Col. Battle; and carried back to the front again. WLHl .. the struggle was going on in the midst, of a dense smoke M. Murray had naded bis gno and placed the butt between his fort, leaning forward on his piece, with the bayonet one inch from the right side of his head, when a mini-bali struck and beut it about half double, stunning M.Murray considerably. When the fight had been going on for one hour a charge was ordered by Gen. Breakemidge, and was executed handsomely. The Fed- erals broke, and where thew lines were formed they lay three deep at one place. They ran for half a mile before they rallied. In the stampede MeMurray captured a first lieutenant, and while taking him to the rear came across his prison q's cantab., who had been killed. The prisoner said he must get some paper, og of his captain's prebet, Me Murray told la he cred unt, but the prisoner said he would and started towards the da captain. Mewirr. ; cached his lafield of saj patted down . tilos will he pave ap the undertaking. He had the best of r : . .. " and his captive were there in the bushes a ..

armed him he suspected he wanted to orm ',

captain. He then took the lieutenant and e of this. until Prentiss' bi ade was captured, aber four welch P'a. He then put him in with the other prismets.

The victors lay in the Federal came dat night, calmusted and worn out, and next morning, whos day broke duy found that the troops they had headed so nichts the day previous had been reinforces by thirty the isand fresh troops under tien. Buell; and the next day the battle was a kind of " hide and seek tight" und late in the evening, when the Configrates withdrew to Corinth, and Gon. Breckenridge covered the retreat and day wear the henle- field three or four days. The Zelliedfor Guaras just in the cable canteen men killed and work led out of sixty-

After the battle of Shiloh the Confederat simy was organized, and young W. Murray elected second hey of his company, and made a hue reputation as order. He served in this capacity until near . close of the war, when he was promoted to first lieutenant.

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BIOGRAPHIES.

WILLIAM J. McMURRAY.

William J. McMurray is of Scotch-Irish descent. His great-grandfather came to this country and settled in Ken- tucky at an early time. In 1785 he married Miss Kin- kade, whose father was an Irishman, and mother of Welsh descent. In 1790 they emigrated to Tennessee, and settled six miles from Nashville on the old Lebanon road, on the farm now owned by the Gen. Gillem heirs, where he was killed by the Indians in the year 1792.

Samuel, the second son, married Levicy Morton, and had eight children,-five sons and three daughters. The oldest of these was John, father of the subject of this sketch. He was born and reared in the Sixth Civil District of Da- vidson County, on the farm now owned by the Rev. W. A. Whitsett, where he received a fair common-school educa- tion.

In 1836 he married Mary J. Still, who resided just across the line, in Williamson County, where he after- wards purchased a farm and spent the remainder of his life in farming and school-teaching. He died at the age of thirty-seven years, leaving a wife and seven children, of whom four are living and three are deceased : Sallie A., died in 1863 ; Samuel J., who was sergeant-major in the Twenty-fourth Tennessee Volunteers, was killed at the battle of Franklin, Tenn ; the third is our subject, William J. ; Lucy Ellen, now married; John H., a successful drug- gist in Edgefield; and Thomas M., a physician at Nolens- ville, Williamson Co.

The mother of this family was born near Danville, Pitt- sylvania Co., Va., emigrated at the age of nine months with her parents to the farm in Williamson County, where she was brought up, married, and reared her family, until 1871, when she broke up housekeeping, and has since lived with her son, William J. She is also of Irish de- scent.

William J. McMurray was born Sept. 22, 1842, being the same month and same day of the month on which his father was born. His father being a teacher, he was placed at school early, but at the age of nine years his father died involved, by becoming surety and by other debts, so that all the property he left was one hundred and fifty acres of land. Upon this William performed important services, sustain- ing a widowed mother and younger brothers and sisters up to the breaking out of the civil war.

At this time he was eighteen years of age. He joined a company raised by Col. Joel A. Battle,-the " Zollicoffer Guards." This company was mustered into service May 17, 1861, and went into camp of instructions at Cump Trousdale, near the Kentucky line. It was afterwards or- ganized with the Twentieth Tennessee Regiment, of which its captain was elected colonel, and was placed in Gen. Zollicoffer's brigade. Our young friend participated in all the battles of Gen. Zollicoffer's campaign in East Tennes- see and East Kentucky in 1861-62.

At Cumberland Ford, in 1861, he was promoted from the ranks to first corporal. The first time he was under . fire was at Wild Cat, in East Kentucky. In that engage- ment was an old Mexican veteran by the name of John Smith, who was next to MeMurray, and had been under

fire many times. McMurray asked Smith to watch him and not let him run if he showed any disposition to do so.

After the battle at Mill Springs, Corp. McMurray was elected . second sergeant by his company, and served for several months as orderly sergeant.

The brigade was put under the command of Col. Stat- ham, colonel of the Fifteenth Mississippi Regiment, marched to the battle-field of Shiloh, and was in that eventful engage- ment of 6th and 7th of April, 1862, as a part of Gen. John C. Breckinridge's division, which was held in reserve until late in the day. About one o'clock on the 6th it was ordered forward.

The Twentieth Tennessee engaged the Twelfth Illinois, when a severe struggle of an hour ensued. During this time the Forty-fifth Tennessee Volunteers, who were next to the Twentieth Regiment on their left, became confused and fired a number of volleys into the left companies of the Twentieth. At this juncture the right wing of the Twen- tieth Regiment was flanked by the Federals, and was forced back some fifty yards, but was rallied by that bravest of brave commanders (Col. Battle) and carried back to the front again. While the struggle was going on in the midst of a dense smoke McMurray had loaded his gun and placed the butt between his feet, leaning forward on his piece, with the bayonet one inch from the right side of his head, when a minie-ball struck and bent it about half double, stunning McMurray considerably. When the fight had been going on for one hour a charge was ordered by Gen. Breckenridge, and was executed handsomely. The Fed- erals broke, and where their lines were formed they lay three deep at one place. They ran for half a mile before they rallied. In the stampede McMurray captured a first lieutenant, and while taking him to the rear came across his prisoner's captain, who had been killed. The prisoner said he must get some papers out of his captain's pocket; Mc- Murray told him he could not, but the prisoner said he would, and started towards the dead captain. McMurray cocked his Enfield rifle and pulled down on him, and he gave up the undertaking. He had the best of reasons. He and his captive were there in the bushes alone ; having dis- armed him, he suspected he wanted to arm himself from the captain. He then took the lieutenant and guarded him until Prentiss' brigade was captured, about four o'clock P.M. He then put him in with the other prisoners.

The victors lay in the Federal camp that night, exhausted and worn out, and next morning, when day broke, they found that the troops they had handled so nicely the day previous had been reinforced by thirty thousand fresh troops under Gen. Buell; and the next day the battle was a kind of " hide-and-seek fight" until late in the evening, when the Confederates withdrew to Corinth, and Gen. Breckenridge covered the retreat and lay near the battle- field three or four days. The Zollicoffer Guards lost in the battle nineteen men killed and wounded out of sixty- four.

After the battle of Shiloh the Confederate army was re- organized, and young McMurray elected second lieutenant of his company, and made a fine reputation as a drilled officer. He served in this capacity until near the close of the war, when he was promoted to first lieutenant.

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HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

His regiment next went to Vicksburg, and during the first siege of that city, while quartering in a warehouse near the bank of the river, the enemy threw a huge shell that burst over the building, and a fifty-pound fragment came crushing through the roof and fell between Capt. Guthrie and Lieut. McMurray, who were lying on the same blanket.

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History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 121

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1013

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1013