William James Samford, governor of Alabama, was born in Greenville, Meriwether county, Ga., Sept. 16, 1844; son of William Flewellen and Susan (Dodwell) Samford; grandson of Thomas and Jane (Burleson) Samford and of Louis J. and Elizabeth (Farley) Dodwell. The Dowdells are Virginians of Irish descent; and Elizabeth Farley was the daughter of Arthur and Ann (Tinsley) Farley of Powhatan county, Va. He attended the common schools of Greenville, the East Alabama Male college at Auburn and the University of Georgia, but did not graduate. He enlisted in the 46th Alabama regiment, Confederate States army, in 1862; was promoted lieutenant, and served throughout the war. He was admitted to the bar and began practice in 1867 at Opelika, Ala., where he continued to reside until his death. He was married, Oct. 31, 1865, to Caroline Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. John H. and Mary (Williams) Drake, natives of North Carolina, but residents of Alabama. He was a member of the state constitutional convention of Alabama in 1875; was a Democratic presidential elector in 1872 and 1876; a representative in the 46th congress, 1879–81; a representative in the state legislature, 1882; and state senator, 1884–86 and 1892, serving as president of the senate in 1886. He was governor of Alabama, 1900–01. He became a member of the Historical Society of Alabama, Jan. 2, 1899. While in attendance on the annual meeting of the board of trustees of the University of Alabama, of which board he was the official head, he died in Tuscaloosa, Ala., June 11, 1901.

The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans 1904

Copyright © Christine Walters All Rights Reserved