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William Sugars McLemore

Male 1830 - 1908  (78 years)


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  • Name William Sugars McLemore  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Born 1 Feb 1830  Thompson Station, Williamson County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Gender Male 
    Died 7 Aug 1908  Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 5
    Buried Rest Haven Cemetery, Franklin, Williamson County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Notes 
    • The biography below is courtesy of Mark Freeman. It includes excerpts from a Biographical sketch in Goodspeed's Tennessee History, Williamson County, pages 996 and 997.

      "At seventeen years of age he entered 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 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 . . . " Transylvania University records show William S. McLemore in the 1847-1848 academic index as a member of the Adelphi Society (a literary society). William S. McLemore, Esq. is listed as a candidate for Attorney General for the district composed of Williamson, Davidson, and Sumner counties.

      Editor of the Western Weekly Review newspaper in Franklin in 1861. From the Williamson County Circuit Court Minute Books Vol. 15: Monday 15, July 1861 court met according to adjourment. Present the Hon. Nathaniel Baxter, Judge. The Attorney Gen. of this Judicial District being absent, the court appoints William S. McLemore, Attorney General pro tem who appears in court and accepts of said appointment and having taken an oath to support the Constitution of the Confederate States of America and the Constitution of Tennessee and the oath of an Attorney General entered on the duties of his appointment.

      A detailed account of Company F is provided in "The Williamson County Cavalry" by Michael Cotten, 1994. According to Thenie's diary he had 3 horses shot from under him during the war. One was at Thompson Station when he was shot through the canteen. John Rucker has the canteen with the bullet entry and exit holes. William S. McLemore was elected 1st Lieutenant of the Williamson County Cavalry shortly after the formation of the unit at Carnton, near Franklin, on 28 Sep 1861. He eventually commanded the 4th Tennessee Cavalry, and ended the war in command of a brigade. The 4th Tennessee fought under Forrest, and in all the major engagements of the Army of Tennessee. W.S. was in temporary command of the regiment as a Captain during the capture of Streight's raiders in Apr - May of 1863, COL Starnes being absent due to illness. He assumed command of the regiment 1 Jul 1863 after COL Starnes was killed at Tullahoma. Col. W.S. McLemore commanded a brigade of cavalry in President Davis's escort when they were captured at Washington Georgia 9 May 1865. The regimental colors of the 4th Tennessee were cut into pieces and divided among the couriers and staff of Colonel McLemore. "Dibrell's Old Flag was not Surrendered" by C.L. Nolen published in the "Confederate Veteran". Goodspeed's (con't): In 1865 he returned home and immediately began the practice of law, which he continued until 1972 when he was elected criminal judge. In 1878 he was elected circuit judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

      The autobiography of Albert Sydney McLemore, USMC as well as Thenie's diary give accounts of the election and as W.S. as judge. W.S. McLemore's gavel and certificate as judge are in the Rucker law office on the square in Murfreesboro. In the settlement of a suit by G.A. Pope against John Dabney McLemore et al John Dabney McLemore is represented by the firm of McLemore, Bond, and Wallace. They request a fee of $300 for the suit. It was submitted 22 Apr 1869. Burke Bond is the step son of Barbara McLemore, W.S. McLemore's sister.

      From: Historical Sketch of Maury County Tennessee Read at the Centennial Celebration at Columbia July 4, 1876. Columbia: Excelsior Printing Office 1876. Reprinted 1967 Maury Co. p. 74 "In 1872, a Criminal Court was established in the counties of Williamson, Maury, Giles and Marshall, when the Hon. William S. McLemore, of Williamson was elected Judge of said court, which office he holds at this time."

      From: Century Review of Maury County 1805-1905 page 16&17 "Circuit Court . . . Wm. S. McLemore, 72 (1872), for six years as special judge for criminal cases" Trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Franklin. On the board of advisors for the Tennessee Female College in Franklin, 1885-1886. See Thenie's diary for a copy of his speech at her commencement. From a letter from Aunt Dorothy to Albert S. McLemore, a copy which Harriet Hough provided me: "I must tell you my favourite story about my grandfather: one day a Nashville girl came out to visit and he was delegated to drive her around and show her the countryside. He became fed up with her hoity-toity airs and citified questions and, when she pointed to some negro women hoeing cotton and asked what they were doing, he replied "oh, they're just hoers" - maybe the Scottish McLemores were lairds or thanes, but William Sugars was an earthy man!

      The Whartons were intellectuals, which helps the family tree - and the Dabneys were aristocracy - but I don't know just where they fit in." THE MAURY PRESS VOLUME II NO.I WEDNESDAY JANUARY 9,1861 NEWSPAPER CHANGE--DR.S.P.HILDRETH has retired from the editorial management of the Franklin Review,succeeded by W.S.McLEMORE,Esq. MR.BALCH,one of the publishers also retired. THE MAURY PRESS VOLUME II NO.2 THURSDAY JANUARY 24,1861 WE HAD THE PLEASURE--on Sunday last,of a visit from W.S.McLEMORE,Esq.,editor of the Franklin Review. More About William Sugars McLemore CSA: Burial: 09 Aug 1908, Rest Haven Cemetery, Franklin, Williamson County, Tennessee55,56 Cause of Death: Paralysis Record Change: 01 Mar 2005

      (Courtesy of Mark Freeman)
    • (Research):

      Census Information:

      1870 Federal Census
      Tennessee, Williamson County, 9th Civil District, Post Office Franklin
      Enumerated 7 June 1870 by Joel A. Anderson
      Page 13, stamped 131
      77-82
      McLemore, Wm. 40 M W Lawyer $5000 $1500 Tenn
      McLemore, Annie L 34 F W Keeping House Ala
      McLemore, Annie 11 F W Tenn
      McLemore, Bethenia 3 F W Tenn
      McLemore, Albert S 1 m W Tenn
      Grey, Susan 14 F B Domestic Servant

      1880 Federal Census

      Household:

      Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
      W.S. MCLEMORE Self M Male W 50 TN Judge Of State Circuit Court TN TN
      Annie MCLEMORE Wife M Female W 44 AL Keeping House VA AL
      Annie Lou MCLEMORE Dau S Female W 21 TN At Home TN AL
      Bethenia MCLEMORE Dau S Female W 13 TN At School TN AL
      Albert MCLEMORE Son S Male W 11 TN At Home TN AL
      Whorton MCLEMORE Son S Male W 9 TN At Home TN AL
      Lizzie MCLEMORE Dau S Female W 1 TN TN AL
      Source Information: Census Place District 9, Williamson, Tennessee
      Family History Library Film 1255286 NA Film Number T9-1286
      Page Number 126A
    Person ID I25558  Strong Family Tree
    Last Modified 28 Feb 2021 

    Father Atkins Jefferson McLemore,   b. 9 Mar 1801, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 30 May 1849, Thompson Station, Williamson County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 48 years) 
    Mother Bethenia Smith Dabney,   b. 25 Apr 1803, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Jul 1857, Thompson Station, Williamson County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 54 years) 
    Married 7 Sep 1821  Williamson County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    • Marriages of Williamson County, Tennessee 1804 - 1850, complied by Edythe Rucker Whitley, page 133:
      "McLemore, Atkins J. to Bethenia Dabney, Sept. 7, 1821 BM: J. N. Charten.

      (Courtesy of Jane A. "Xan" Alexander)

      In the book "Sketch of the Dabneys of Virginia : with some of their family records" (Chicago: S. D. Childs, 1888, 206 pages), it is noted on p. 180, Record No. 120 supplied by Dr. William Wall Dabney, that "Atkins Jefferson McLemore and Bethinia Dabney, ninth child of John Dabney and Margaret Smith (were married)."

      (Courtesy of Melba Gene McLemore)
    Family ID F8493  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Annie Louise Wharton,   b. 8 Mar 1836, Alabama Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Apr 1907, Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 71 years) 
    Married 15 May 1856  Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 6
    • Marriage Notes for William McLemore and Annie Wharton: From Thenie's diary: "When Mama was a young pretty city girl (Nashville) she came visiting to Spring Hill and Papa's two sisters Margaret and Thenie McLemore came to call on her. They invited her out to their country home to a party and it was there Papa met and fell in love with her. He was not living there then but was a young lawyer in Franklin. Living only 8 miles from Thompson Station he was at home on a visit. I do not know how long they were engaged but they were married on Demonbreun Street in Nashville at her home on May 15, 1856, and came at once to live in Franklin."

      Williamson County Historical Society journal 32, 2001, page 43, in a letter from Andrew B. Ewing to his son Hugh date 12 Apr 1859: "I have been very busy in my profession for several days - Billy McLemore's wife blessed him with Twin-daughters a few days since, which is the fourth woman I have attended with twins this spring - a very unusual number indeed even for a whole years business." (Courtesy of Mark Freeman)


      (Courtesy of Mark Freeman)
    Children 
     1. Carrie McLemore,   b. 28 Jun 1857, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Apr 1858, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 0 years)
     2. Annie Louise McLemore,   b. 5 Apr 1859, Franklin, Williamson County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Aug 1938, Mufreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 79 years)
     3. Alice McLemore,   b. 5 Apr 1859, Franklin, Williamson County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Jun 1859, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 0 years)
     4. Willie Dickson McLemore,   b. 26 Apr 1862, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 May 1863, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 1 years)
     5. Bethenia "Thenie" Dabney McLemore,   b. 1 Apr 1867, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 Sep 1918, Weatherford, Parker County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 51 years)
     6. Col. Albert Sydney McLemore,   b. 23 May 1869, Mufreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Jul 1921, Vallejo, Solano County, California Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 52 years)
     7. William Wharton McLemore,   b. 1 May 1871, Franklin County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Aug 1915, Woodbury, Cannon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 44 years)
     8. Lizzie Minor McLemore,   b. 18 Feb 1879, Williamson, Franklin County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Jul 1963, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 84 years)
    Last Modified 27 Feb 2016 
    Family ID F8496  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 1 Feb 1830 - Thompson Station, Williamson County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 15 May 1856 - Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 7 Aug 1908 - Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Sources 
    1. [S321] Freeman, Mark (mwfgenealogy@verizon.net) "Mostly Southern" http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=markfreeman ; Ver. 2008-09-19 17:51:13.

    2. [S207] 1870 United States Federal Census [Ancestry.com database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2003., (United States. Ninth Census of the United States, 1870. Washington, D.C. National Archives and Records Administration. M593, RG29, 1,761 rolls. Minnesota. Minnesota Census Schedules for 1870. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. T132, RG29, 13 rolls. This database is an index to individuals enumerated in the 1870 United States Federal Census, the Ninth Census of the United States. Census takers recorded many details including each person's name, age at last birthday, sex, color; birthplace, occupation, and more. No relationships were shown between members of a household. Additionally, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1870 Federal Census.), Tennessee, Williamson County, 9th Civil District, Post Office Franklin Enumerated 7 June 1870 by Joel A. Anderson Page 13, stamped 131 77-82 (Reliability: 3).

    3. [S308] 1880 United States Federal Census [Ancestry.com database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005., (1880 U.S. Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ? Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. All use is subject to the limited use license and other terms and conditions applicable to this site. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1880. T9, 1,454 rolls. This database is an index to 50 million individuals enumerated in the 1880 United States Federal Census. Census takers recorded many details including each person's name, address, occupation, relationship to the head of household, race, sex, age at last birthday, marital status, place of birth, parents? place of birth. Additionally, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1880 Federal Census.), Source Information: Census Place District 9, Williamson, Tennessee Family History Library Film 1255286 NA Film Number T9-1286 Page Number 126A (Reliability: 3).

    4. [S144] 1850 United States Federal Census [Ancestry.com database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005, (Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Seventh Census of the United States, 1850. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1850. M432, 1,009 rolls. This database is an index to individuals enumerated in the 1850 United States Federal Census, the Seventh Census of the United States. Census takers recorded many details including each person's name, age as of the census day, sex, color; birthplace, occupation of males over age fifteen, and more. No relationships were shown between members of a household. Additionally, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1850 Federal Census.), Tennessee, Williamson County, ED 11 9th September 1850 D. Cameron Stamped 264 331-331 (Reliability: 3).

    5. [S873] Find A Grave [database online]; http://www.findagrave.com/, (Thousands of contributors submit new listings, updates, corrections, photographs and virtual flowers every hour to the FIND A GRAVE website. When it comes to administrating, building and maintaining the site, Find A Grave is largely operated by its founder, Jim Tipton.), # 6903896 (Reliability: 3).

    6. [S873] Find A Grave [database online]; http://www.findagrave.com/, (Thousands of contributors submit new listings, updates, corrections, photographs and virtual flowers every hour to the FIND A GRAVE website. When it comes to administrating, building and maintaining the site, Find A Grave is largely operated by its founder, Jim Tipton.), # 6903926 (Reliability: 3).