William J. Samford
 |
William James Samford | |
|---|---|
| File:William-J-Samford.jpg | |
| 31st Governor of Alabama | |
| In office December 1, 1900 – June 11, 1901 | |
| Lieutenant | William D. Jelks |
| Preceded by | Joseph F. Johnston |
| Succeeded by | William D. Jelks |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 16, 1844 Greeneville, Meriwether County, Georgia |
| Died | June 11, 1901 (aged 56) Tuscaloosa, Alabama |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Caroline Elizabeth Drake |
| Profession | Lawyer |
William James Samford (September 16, 1844 – June 11, 1901) 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.
External links
- United States Congress. "William J. Samford (id: S000022)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Encyclopedia of Albama article on Samford
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