I. D. BEASLEY
attorney and lawmaker, born at Riddleton, Tenn., Dec. 15, 1895, son of James Ellis and Marietta (Martin) Beasley; paternal grandparents William and Mary (Huggins) Beasley; maternal grandparents William and Sallie (Duke) Martin; educated in public schools of Riddleton, Tenn., David Lipscomb College, 1915 and Cumberland University, LL.B, 1925; a member of the Christian Church and a Democrat; member American Legion, Charles E. Price Post, Carthage, Tenn.; served 12 months in France during the World War having enlisted with the Emory Unit from Atlanta, Ga.; first elected to the House of Representatives of Tennessee in 1923, also served in this house in 1935; served in the state senate in 1929 and 1937; always held membership in important committees in each lawmaking body; a member of the Masons; and his grandfather Martin served in the Confederacy during the War between the States.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
JUDGE JAMES CLINTON BEASLEY
County Judge of Smith County; born of Scotch-Irish descent in Smith County, Sept. 22, 1898. Educated in the public schools of Smith County; Cumberland Univ.; LL.B. degree 1922; David Lipscomb College. Member of the Church of Christ, American Legion; Democrat; Mason; Shriner; Appointed to the office of County Judge of Smith County in 1930 by the Hon. H. H. Horton, Governor; in that year was elected for a term of 4 years; again elected in 1934 for a term of eight years; has filled the office of Judge with credit and distinction to himself and the people who have so honored him; he has enjoyed a large practice in the law. His father James Ellis Beasley was a merchant; his mother, before her marriage, was Mary Etta Martin. Married May 12, 1928 to Catherine Sanders. He is a brother to I. D. Beasley whose biography appears above.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
CORDELL HULL
Lawyer; statesman; born Overton Co. (now Pickett Co.) Tenn., Oct. 2, 1871; son of William and Elizabeth (Riley) Hull; father's occupation, farmer. Educated in schools of Ohio; and Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tenn., graduating from the latter June, 1891. In early life engaged in farming and lumber business. Member K. of P.; Democrat. Formerly a representative in the Lower House, Tenn. Legislature; former Judge of the 5th Judicial Court; former member of Congress from the 4th congressional District of Tenn.; soldier Co. H, 4th Regiment Tenn. Vol. Infantry during Spanish-American War with rank of captain. Defeated for reelection to Congress in the Republican landslide of 1924, but was again elected to his former seat as Congressman from the 4th Congressional Dist. in the following election, serving until his election to the United States Senate in 1930. Served in the Senate until his appointment as Secretary of State in 1933, in the cabinet of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Judge Hull during his services in the Congress of the U. S. attracted World-wide attention mainly through his knowledge of tariff and tax matters; is now regarded as perhaps the leading authority on these questions in the entire universe. Since he has become ranking member in the cabinet of the U. S., he has had occasion to deal with many problems affecting policies in various countries of the world; has proved his ability as a statesman on a thousand fields. Is prominently mentioned as the Democratic candidate for the presidency of the United States in 1940.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
GEN. NAT BAXTER KEY
Born of a farm in Smith County of English parentage; son of George M. and Valrie (Haynie) Key; paternal grandparents Logan D. and Millie (Stovall) Key; maternal grandparents Edward and Mary Haynie. Educated in the public schools of Smith County; Univ. of Tenn.; Vanderbilt Univ.; LL.B. degree 1922. Democrat; member of the Baptist Church, American Legion, K. of P., M.W.A., Pho Delta Phi. Married May 3, 1933 to Ollie Ott. Appointed district attorney-general of the fifth Judicial Circuit on May 14, 1937 by the Hon. Gordon Browning, Gov. Prior to this appointment, he was assistant District attorney-general of the same Judicial Circuit for five years, before which time he was engaged in the general practice of law for ten years. Regarded by his associates as an outstanding lawyer and by defense attorneys in his destrict as a relentless prosecutor. He is the father of two children Baxter, Jr. and Norma Lois.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
MAYOR JOHN H. LIGON
Clerk and Master, Attorney, and Mayor of Carthage. Attended the public schools of Smith County; C.M.A.; Cumberland University; LL.B. degree 1926. Member of Baptist Church, Sigma Delta Kappa Fraternity; Democrat; Mason. Father, L. A. Ligon; mother, Miriam Hewlett; paternal grandparents John H. and Jane (Alexander) Ligon; maternal grandparents F. K. Hewlett and Mary Ann (Wright) Hewlett; married Edith Morrow, June 11, 1932. Clerk and Master of the chancery court of Smith County; has been elected three times to the office of Mayor of Carthage. At the time of his first election, he was the youngest mayor in Tennessee. Has a large law practice in Smith and adjoining counties, is regarded as one of the most outstanding lawyers of the Upper Cumberland Section.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
JAMES LEMUEL SMOTHERMAN
Minister; born in Rutherford County, Tenn., on Feb. 24, 1867; Dutch-English descent; son of Rev. Isham G. and Charity (Hester) Smotherman. Educated in the common schools of Tennessee. Worked as a farm boy in his early life; joined the Tennessee Annual Conference of the M. E. Church South October 6, 1886, was an itinerant pastor until October 1906 at which time he entered into Evangelistic work; married Lula McCarver Sept. 25, 1889. Has retired from active ministerial work, but fills pulpits over a wide area of the Upper Cumberland Section; during his career he has conducted two thousand funerals and has officiated at more than one thousand marriages; is the father of eight children. Is the author of several publications notably, "Van Perkins Proverbs." His contributions to various papers are widely read and well received.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
WILLIAM HUBERT TURNER
lawyer and state official, son of W. A. and Martha (Fisher) Turner; born at Temperance Hall, Tenn., August 15, 1890; maternal grandparents Thomas J. and Rachel (Plunket) Fisher; attended public schools of Smith County, Branham and Hughes, Spring Hill, Tenn., Vanderbilt University and Cumberland University, LL.B. 1916; married Annie Lee Myer, Sept. 18, 1919; appointed Railroad and Public Utilities Commissioner for Middle Tennessee in October 1933 by Gov. Hill McAlister and was elected by the people in the General election in 1934 for a four year unexpired term; has been mayor of Carthage and member of the Smith County Board of Education. He is a member of the Kappa Sigma College Fraternity and a Democrat. His hobbies are football and raising and training of bird dogs.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
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