William J. Samford
Encyclopedia
William James Samford was an American
Democratic politician
who was the 31st Governor of Alabama
from 1900 to 1901.
Samford was born in Greenville, Georgia
to William Flewellyn Samford and 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
. During the American Civil War
he fought against the United States government. He was captured in 1863 and held as a prisoner of war for 18 months.
He married Caroline Elizabeth Drake in 1865 and took up farming. In 1867 he was admitted to the bar. He set up a law practice in Opelika, Alabama
. He was also a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He entered politicis in 1872 serving as a city alderman and alternate elector for the Horace Greeley
ticket, although he thought the democrats had erred in supporting Greeley. In 1874 he was a delegate to the state constitutional convention.
In 1878 Samford was elected as a democrat to the U.S. Congress where he served one term.
He missed the first few weeks of his term because he was out of the state seeking medical treatment, so William D. Jelks
acted as governor from December 1 to December 26, 1900. He died in office on June 11, 1901, and Jelks again assumed the role of governor. A complete biography of Governor Samford is available in the Samford University
library ("The Life and Times of William J. Samford") and Auburn University
library. It also includes a complete family history from 1600 until 1970, and Mr. Samford's time in U.S. Congress and as a Civil War prisoner.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who was the 31st Governor of 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...
from 1900 to 1901.
Samford was born in Greenville, Georgia
Greenville, Georgia
Greenville is a city in Meriwether County, Georgia, United States. The population was 946 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Meriwether County. southwest of Atlanta...
to William Flewellyn Samford and Susan Lewis Dowdell Samford. In 1846 he moved with his parents to Chambers County, Alabama
Chambers County, Alabama
Chambers County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Henry H. Chambers, who served as a United States Senator from Alabama. As of 2010 the population was 34,215. Its county seat is Lafayette...
. He was educated in the public schools of Chambers and Auburn, Alabama. He then attended the East Alabama Male College (now Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
) before transferring to the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
he fought against the United States government. He was captured in 1863 and held as a prisoner of war for 18 months.
He married Caroline Elizabeth Drake in 1865 and took up farming. In 1867 he was admitted to the bar. He set up a law practice in Opelika, Alabama
Opelika, Alabama
Opelika is a city in and the county seat of Lee County in the east central part of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area. According to 2010 Census, the population of Opelika was 26,477...
. He was also a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He entered politicis in 1872 serving as a city alderman and alternate elector for the Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley was an American newspaper editor, a founder of the Liberal Republican Party, a reformer, a politician, and an outspoken opponent of slavery...
ticket, although he thought the democrats had erred in supporting Greeley. In 1874 he was a delegate to the state constitutional convention.
In 1878 Samford was elected as a democrat to the U.S. Congress where he served one term.
He missed the first few weeks of his term because he was out of the state seeking medical treatment, so William D. Jelks
William D. Jelks
William Dorsey Jelks was an American Democratic politician who was the 32nd Governor of Alabama from 1901 to 1907. He also served as acting governor between 1 December and 26 December 1900 when governor William J...
acted as governor from December 1 to December 26, 1900. He died in office on June 11, 1901, and Jelks again assumed the role of governor. A complete biography of Governor Samford is available in the Samford University
Samford University
Samford University, founded as Howard College is a private, coeducational, Alabama Baptist Convention-affiliated university located in Homewood, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It includes the , Cumberland School of Law, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Brock School of Business, Ida V....
library ("The Life and Times of William J. Samford") and Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
library. It also includes a complete family history from 1600 until 1970, and Mr. Samford's time in U.S. Congress and as a Civil War prisoner.