Courts of Marshall County

Judge Edmund Dillahunty, of Columbia, sat upon the bench from 1836 to 1852. He was a man of fine personal appearance, benevolent in demeanor and of high moral character. His court was a "temple of moral training," and dignified decorum was required at his bar. He was a fine lawyer and an excellent judge. "His charges to the juries were always sermons," and aside from his official duties he often gave the people of Lewisburg lectures on morality and religion.
Judge Dillahunty was succeeded by William P. Martin, also of Columbia, who served until 1860, and was re-elected to another term in 1870, serving until 1877, when age compelled him to give his seat to John Y Wright, who held courts until the expiration of Martin's term in 1878.

Judge Martin was a man of great ability, both as a judge and a lawyer. From 1860 to 1865 court was held by special judges.

John C. Walker came to the bench in 1865, and was succeeded by Hillary Ward, who served from 1866 until 1868, and he by A. M. Hughes from 1868 to 1870.

In 1871 the increased business of the court demanded a special criminal court, of which T. M. Jones was the first judge.

In 1872 W. S. McLemore was elected criminal judge, and held until that court was abolished in 1878. He was then elected to fill the judicial term now closing.

The attorney-generals have been as follows:

James H Thomas, 1836
Nathaniel Baxter, 1842
Lunsford M. Bramblett, 1847
A. M. Hughes, 1848,
Nathan Adams, 1854
James L. Scudder,
J. J. Noah
A. C. Hickey, from 1865 to 1868,
Noble Smithson, 1868
J. H. Fussell, 1870 to 1886

The chancery court was established in 1836 with Lunsford M. Bramblett as chancellor. He was succeeded in 1844 by Terry H. Cahall, who served until 1851, when L. D. Frierson came to the bench, continuing until 1866, and was succeeded by David Campbell Then John P. Steele was chancellor until 1868, and after his term John C. Walker sat upon the bench for two years. In 1870 W. S. Flemming was elected, and was re-elected in 1878 to serve the term closing in 1886.

At the first circuit court were present Samuel Frierson, Erwin J. Frierson, William P. Martin, William T. Ross and W. H. Wisener, all of whom were licensed to practice as attorneys and counsellors at law. Before the war these courts were regularly visited by almost all the prominent lawyers of this part of the State. James K. Polk was a familiar figure at this bar, and it is claimed that he was in Lewisburg attending a lawsuit when the news of his nomination as a candidate for the presidency reached him.

Robert G. Paine, W. P. Davis & Son, Gideon B. Black and _____ Powell were able resident attorneys before the war. Since the war R. K. Kercheval, John F. Moore and Thomas F. Lewis were successful members of this bar.

At present the following are attorneys at law in Lewisburg:

Richard Warner, who was a member of the constitutional convention of 1870, a member of the Legislature in 1878 and a member of Congress in 1880-84.

Col. J. H. Lewis; W. N. Cowden, who served a part of one term in the Legislature, and was then made clerk of the supreme court.

James J. Murray; A. N. Miller, assistant United States district attorney.

E. M. Miller - C. T. Swanson
J. L. Marshall - P. C. Smithson
C. A. Armstrong - H. K. Moss
L. A. Thompson - W. W. Walker

 Marshall County | AHGP Tennessee

Source: History of Tennessee, Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1886