History of Montgomery, (Montgomery County) Alabama United States of America

David Clopton, representative, was born in Putnam county, Va., Sept. 29, 1820; son of Dr. Alford and ??? (Kendrick) Clopton. He was graduated at Randolph-Macon college, and was admitted to the bar in 1841. In 1844 he removed to Tuskegee, Ala., and was a representative from that state in the 36th congress, 1859-61. He retired from the house Jan. 21, 1861, volunteered as a private in the 12th Alabama infantry and served until the close of 1861. He was president of the board of trustees of East Alabama college. He was a representative in the 1st and 2nd Confederate congresses, 1862-65; and on Oct. 30, 1884, was appointed judge of the supreme court of Alabama. He was married twice: his first wife was a sister of the Hon. R. F. Ligon of Macon, Ga., and his second wife was Mrs. Chambers of Columbus, Ga. One of his daughters was married to Clifford A. Lanier, the author. He died at Montgomery, Ala., Feb. 5, 1892.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

George Goldthwaite, senator, was born in Boston, Mass., Dec. 10, 1809; brother of Judge Henry Goldthwaite of the Alabama supreme court. He attended school in Boston and in 1822 entered the U.S. military academy. In 1824 he left the academy and two years later removed to Montgomery, Ala., where he read law with his brother and was admitted to the bar in 1827. He was a circuit judge, 1843-52; was a judge of the supreme court of Alabama, 1852-56; and was then appointed chief justice of the state supreme court, resigning at the end of thirteen days' service. In 1861 he was made adjutant-general of Alabama, and in 1868 was again elected a circuit judge but was disqualified for service by an act of congress. He served as a U.S. senator, 1871-77, after which he retired from public life. He died at Montgomery, Ala., March 18, 1879.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Burwell Boykin Lewis, educator, was born in Montgomery, Ala., July 7, 1838. His father, a distinguished physician, died when he was a child, and his mother, a daughter of the Hon. Eli Shortridge, judge of the circuit court of Alabama, removed to Montevallo, Shelby county. He was graduated at the University of Alabama in 1857, studied law in the office of his uncle, GeorgeD. Shortridge, and was admitted to the bar in 1859. He served in the Confederate army, 1861-65, rising to the rank of captain in the 2d Alabama cavalry. He resumed the practice of law in Montevallo; was a representative in the general assembly, 1870-72; removed to Tuscaloosa and was a representative in the 44th congress, 1875-77. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the University of Alabama in 1879. He was elected to the 46th congress in 1878, serving 1879-80. He resigned in 1880 to accept the presidency and professorship of constitutional and international law in the University of Alabama as successor to Gen. Josiah Gorgas, resigned, and he served from July, 1880, up to the time of his death, at Tuscaloosa, Ala., Oct. 11, 1885.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Nicholas Hamner Cobbs, first P.E. bishop of Alabama and 43rd in succession in the American episcopate, was born in Bedford county, Va., Feb. 5, 1796; son of John Lewis and Susan (Hamner) Cobbs. He was ordained to the diaconate of the Protestant Episcopal church in 1824 and to the priesthood in 1825. He officiated for fifteen years in Bedford county, also serving as chaplain of the University of Virginia. In 1839 he became rector of St. Paul's church, Petersburg, Va., and in 1843 accepted the charge of St. Paul's church, Cincinnati, Ohio. He was elected the first bishop of Alabama and was consecrated at Philadelphia, Oct. 20, 1844. He attended the General convention as deputy from Virginia, from 1828 to 1841. He received the degree of D.D. from Geneva college in 1842. His sermon on "The Doubting Christian Encouraged" was several times reprinted. He died at Montgomery, Ala., Jan. 11, 1861.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Montgomery, (Montgomery County) Alabama

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