Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-01-03

Personal sketches Of the Members
OF the Eortietn GeaerRl Assembly
Of Tennessee.

Personal sketches Of the Memberi
OF the F0rttetn GeaerRl Assembly
Of Tennessee.
CHARLES BRYsos slSoSroN (DEM y
Representative Of Teton county, is 4
native of the county be represents, hav
ing been born there in 1889, and is, con
sequsntly, about thirty.seven years o.
age. He was the youngest of FIVE broth
ers, sll of whom were soldiers Of the
Lost Cause and three Of whom fell
victims to the casualties Of war, and
one other, being wounded twice, died
soor after the return Of peace. leaving
hin the only survivor OF the five from
the desolation of war. His father, Viii
liam S~imonton, was one Of the Jioneers
of Upton county, having removed there
from Fairfield district, s. C., in 1929.
He was of Scoth.Irish descent, and was a
member Of the Associate Reformed Pres
byterian church, and the subject of this
sketch is also connected with the same
denomination. His father died when
he was but . child, but he Was put to
school by his uncle, John Simonton, a
planter of Fairfield district, S. c., and
in 1859 graduated at Erskine College in
that State. On the occasion Of his
graduation he was chosen by his society
to represent it in the contest between
the literary societies Of the college, and
acquitted himself with high credit. He
began life as school teacher, taking his
first school at Portersville Academy, in
his native county. as the ~successor Of A.
j. Kellar, now of the Avalanche, where
he continued successfully until 1870, ex.
cept during the interruption occssioned
by the war.
He was one of the first to respond to
the call to arms and aided in raising the
frat company organized in his county,
which was mustered service as Company
@, Ninth Tennessee regiment, infantry,
and served in Cheatham's afterwards
Mauey's) brigade, throughout the war.
This company was composed Of the best
citizens Of the county, and in its organi-
cation he was elected Second Lieuten.
ant; and in the reorganization ct Coz
NTH was elected Captain, with but n
vote against him 10 the entire company,
then numbering near its full quota OF
LOG men. At Perryvills, in 1862, be was
severely wounded and permanently dis
ablel from further service during the
war.
In 1870 he offered himself as a candi.
date for Circuit Court Clerk Of his
county, and was elected by a large
majority over his opponent, a popular
and distinguished citizen whs had held
the office for sixteen years. In 1874 be
was again a candidate and re elected,
nearly doubling the aggregate vote Of bis
three opponents. This Office being one
Of handsome pay, he has voluntarily
surrendered to serve his people in his
present capacity Of Representative. In
1874 he was admitted to the practice Of
law, and though impeded with official
duties and restrictions, assumed and
maintained a prominent position at the
bar. In January, 1875, he was induced
TO accept the editorial control and man
sgerent Of the Upton Record, which
position be filed for one year with
ability and credit. His editorials dur.
ing hat period we're marked for lerseuess,
cleefness Of style and vigor OF thought,
and we-e frequently aud extensively
copied. He was nominated BY the Dem
ocretic Convention Of his county on the
fifth ballot, bis opponents being G. W.
Wyune and j. Fl. Mcdonald, both Of
them intelligent and highly respected
citizens, and members Of the Grange.
Before the people be was opposed by
three independents, Geo. B, Egglestcn,
Zach Taylor and ]. P. Sturdevant. The
former Of these was intensely bitter, il
not ill.tempere1, 10 his canvass; and
when a collision Seemed inevitable, Mr..
sinonten, BY his coolne,s and tact, to-
vsriably triumphed. His majority over
his higtet opponent was III votes.
While editor Of the Upton Record
he favored the repeal Of the con,
Ventional intsreat law, and his views
are doubtless unchanged. He is for the
lowest rate Of taxation eonsisten. with
the public interest - faVors a compro.
mise Of The State debt ou q basis which
will recognize both the obligations and
The rights alike Of the State and her
creditors.
The vote Of Upton county, at the
Presidential election, was: For Presi.
dent, Tilden, l449; Hayes. 1874. For
GoTeTsor, Porter Dem J 1884; Thomas,
1882. For Congressman Ninth dis.
trici), Caldwell DEM, I41l; Folk
(Rep.), 953.