William James Samford was born on September 16, 1844, in Greenville, Georgia. His father was William Flewellyn Samford and his mother, Susan Lewis Dowdell Samford. In 1846, he moved with his parents to Chambers County, Alabama. He was educated in the public schools of Chambers and Auburn, Alabama. He then attended the East Alabama Male College (now Auburn University) before transferring to the University of Georgia.
Samford entered politics in 1872, serving as a city alderman and alternate elector for the Horace Greeley ticket. In 1874, he was a delegate to the state constitutional convention. In 1878, he was elected as a Democrat to the United States Congress, where he served for one term.
Though he took office as governor in December 1900, he missed the first few weeks of his gubernatorial term because he was out of the state receiving medical treatment. During this time, William D. Jelks, then President of the Alabama Senate acted as governor until December 26, 1900.
He died on June 11, 1901, after six months in office, and William D. Jelks succeeded him as governor.[3]
Personal life
Samford married Caroline Elizabeth Drake in 1865. He was a devout Methodist and a licensed preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.[4]
References
^Alabama Governors: William James Samford, Alabama Department of Archives and History
^Portraits of Conflict: A Photographic History of Alabama in the Civil War, by Ben H. Severance
^Rikard, Marlene Hunt. William J. Samford (1900-01), Encyclopedia of Alabama
^The Governors of Alabama, by John Craig Stewart, p. 147.
william, samford, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources William J Samford news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message William James Samford September 16 1844 June 11 1901 was an American attorney and politician who served as the 31st Governor of Alabama and in the United States House of Representatives William James Samford31st Governor of AlabamaIn office December 1 1900 June 11 1901LieutenantWilliam D JelksPreceded byJoseph F JohnstonSucceeded byWilliam D JelksMember of the U S House of Representatives from Alabama s 3rd districtIn office March 4 1879 March 3 1881Preceded byJeremiah N WilliamsSucceeded byWilliam C OatesPersonal detailsBornSeptember 16 1844Greenville Georgia U S DiedJune 11 1901 aged 56 Tuscaloosa AlabamaPolitical partyDemocraticSpouseCaroline Elizabeth DrakeProfessionLawyer Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and education EditWilliam James Samford was born on September 16 1844 in Greenville Georgia His father was William Flewellyn Samford and his mother Susan Lewis Dowdell Samford In 1846 he moved with his parents to Chambers County Alabama He was educated in the public schools of Chambers and Auburn Alabama He then attended the East Alabama Male College now Auburn University before transferring to the University of Georgia Career EditDuring the American Civil War Samford served in the Confederate States Army as a lieutenant in the 46th Alabama Infantry Regiment that fought in Tennessee Kentucky and Mississippi 1 He was taken prisoner in the Battle of Champion Hill in Hinds County Mississippi and spent eighteen months in captivity at Johnson s Island 2 After the Civil War Samford began farming In 1867 he was admitted to the Alabama State Bar and established a law practice in Opelika Alabama He was also an ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church South Samford entered politics in 1872 serving as a city alderman and alternate elector for the Horace Greeley ticket In 1874 he was a delegate to the state constitutional convention In 1878 he was elected as a Democrat to the United States Congress where he served for one term Though he took office as governor in December 1900 he missed the first few weeks of his gubernatorial term because he was out of the state receiving medical treatment During this time William D Jelks then President of the Alabama Senate acted as governor until December 26 1900 He died on June 11 1901 after six months in office and William D Jelks succeeded him as governor 3 Personal life EditSamford married Caroline Elizabeth Drake in 1865 He was a devout Methodist and a licensed preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church South 4 References Edit Alabama Governors William James Samford Alabama Department of Archives and History Portraits of Conflict A Photographic History of Alabama in the Civil War by Ben H Severance Rikard Marlene Hunt William J Samford 1900 01 Encyclopedia of Alabama The Governors of Alabama by John Craig Stewart p 147 External links EditUnited States Congress William J Samford id S000022 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Encyclopedia of Alabama article on SamfordParty political officesPreceded byJoseph F Johnston Democratic nominee for Governor of Alabama1900 Succeeded byWilliam D JelksU S House of RepresentativesPreceded byJeremiah N Williams Member of the U S House of Representatives from Alabama s 3rd congressional districtMarch 4 1879 March 3 1881 Succeeded byWilliam C OatesPolitical officesPreceded byJoseph F Johnston Governor of Alabama1900 1901 Succeeded byWilliam D Jelks This article about an Alabama politician is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William J Samford amp oldid 1126165627, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
