William J. Alston
Encyclopedia
William Jeffreys Alston (December 31, 1800 – June 10, 1876) was an American
attorney, politician, and planter from Alabama
. Originally a Whig
and later a Democrat
, he served several terms as a county judge, multiple terms as an Alabama senator and representative, and one term as a United States Representative.
in what is now Elbert County, Georgia
to Nathaniel Alston and Mary Grey Jeffreys Alston. His parents moved soon after his birth to Abbeville District, South Carolina
, where he was taught by Moses Waddel
. He and his parents moved to Alabama in 1818, eventually settling at McKinley
in Marengo County
. He began reading law
in 1821 and attended the Litchfield Law School
in 1824. Following the completion of his education, he moved to Linden
and established a law practice there. He went on to serve as judge of the Marengo County Court for several years.
from 1836 to 1837. He served in the Alabama Senate
from 1839 to 1842. He returned to the Alabama House in 1843. He served at the national level when elected as a Whig to the Thirty-first Congress
, holding office from March 4, 1849 to March 3, 1851. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1850 and resumed the practice of his profession. Now running as a Democrat, Alston again became a member of the Alabama House from 1855 to 1857.
, where he owned a large plantation
. He died there in 1876 and was buried in Magnolia Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney, politician, and planter from Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. Originally a Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
and later a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he served several terms as a county judge, multiple terms as an Alabama senator and representative, and one term as a United States Representative.
Early life
William J. Alston was born near PetersburgPetersburg, Georgia
The dead town of Petersburg, Georgia was an upriver market located in Wilkes County, Georgia County. Named after Petersburg, Virginia, it was founded by Dionysius Oliver in 1786 to serve the rapidly growing Broad River Valley region of Georgia , and enjoyed connection via pole boat with Augusta,...
in what is now Elbert County, Georgia
Elbert County, Georgia
Elbert County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was established on December 10, 1790 and was named for Samuel Elbert. As of 2000, the population was 20,511. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 20,525...
to Nathaniel Alston and Mary Grey Jeffreys Alston. His parents moved soon after his birth to Abbeville District, South Carolina
Abbeville County, South Carolina
Abbeville County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2010, its population was 25,147. Its county seat is Abbeville. It is the first county in the United States alphabetically.-History:...
, where he was taught by Moses Waddel
Moses Waddel
Moses Waddel was an American educator and minister in antebellum Georgia and South Carolina. Famous as a teacher during his life, Moses Waddel was author of the bestselling book Memoirs of the Life of Miss Caroline Elizabeth Smelt.- Life and work:Born in 1770 in Rowan County, North Carolina,...
. He and his parents moved to Alabama in 1818, eventually settling at McKinley
McKinley, Alabama
McKinley is an unincorporated community in Marengo County, Alabama, United States. McKinley had a post office at one time, but it no longer exists. Although a thriving community in its earliest years, it has since dwindled into obscurity.-History:...
in Marengo County
Marengo County, Alabama
Marengo County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is named in honor of a battlefield near Turin, Italy, where the French defeated the Austrians on June 14, 1800. As of 2010 the population was 21,027...
. He began reading law
Reading law
Reading law is the method by which persons in common law countries, particularly the United States, entered the legal profession before the advent of law schools. This usage specifically refers to a means of entering the profession . A small number of U.S...
in 1821 and attended the Litchfield Law School
Litchfield Law School
The Litchfield Law School of Litchfield, Connecticut, was the first formal school offering training for the legal profession in the United States. It was established in 1784 by Tapping Reeve, who would later became the Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court...
in 1824. Following the completion of his education, he moved to Linden
Linden, Alabama
Linden is a city in and the county seat of Marengo County, Alabama, United States.. The population was 2,424 at the 2000 census.-History:Originally known as the Town of Marengo, it was changed to Hohenlinden in 1823 to honor the county's earliest European settlers, French Bonapartist refugees to...
and established a law practice there. He went on to serve as judge of the Marengo County Court for several years.
Political career
Alston was elected a member of the Alabama House of RepresentativesAlabama House of Representatives
The Alabama House of Representatives is the lower house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The House is composed of 105 members representing an equal amount of districts, with each constituency containing at least 42,380 citizens. There are no term...
from 1836 to 1837. He served in the Alabama Senate
Alabama Senate
The Alabama State Senate is the upper house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The body is composed of 35 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state, with each district containing at least 127,140 citizens...
from 1839 to 1842. He returned to the Alabama House in 1843. He served at the national level when elected as a Whig to the Thirty-first Congress
31st United States Congress
The Thirty-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1849 to March 3, 1851, during the last 17 months...
, holding office from March 4, 1849 to March 3, 1851. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1850 and resumed the practice of his profession. Now running as a Democrat, Alston again became a member of the Alabama House from 1855 to 1857.
Personal life
William J. Alston was married four times and had a total of ten children. The first marriage was to Martha Cade in 1824. They had seven children together, with Martha dying in 1846. He then married Harriet Harwell in 1847, with whom he had one son. His third marriage was to a widow, Mrs. Caroline Cheney. Alston's fourth marriage was to another widow, Mrs. Mary Glover Shields Lowry, in 1867. They had two sons together. After serving his last term in the Alabama House he retired from public life and moved to MagnoliaMagnolia, Alabama
Magnolia is an unincorporated community in Marengo County, Alabama, United States.-Geography:Magnolia is located at and has an elevation of ....
, where he owned a large plantation
Plantations in the American South
Plantations were an important aspect of the history of the American South, particularly the antebellum .-Planter :The owner of a plantation was called a planter...
. He died there in 1876 and was buried in Magnolia Cemetery.