History of Columbia, (Maury County) Tennessee United States of America

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Biographies:

Alfred Osborn Pope Nicholson, senator, was born in Williamson county, Tenn., Aug. 31, 1801. He was graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1827; studied medicine, but relinquished it for law; was admitted to the bar in 1831, and practised at Columbia, Tenn. He edited the Western Mercury at Columbia, 1832-35; was a representative in the state legislature 1833-39; succeeded Felix Grundy, deceased, as U.S. senator by appointment, serving in the 26th and 27th congresses, 1841-43; was editor of the Nashville Union, 1844-46; chancellor of the middle division of the state, 1845-51; president of the Bank of Tennessee, 1846-47; member of the Nashville convention of 1850; of the Democratic national convention of 1852, and in 1853 refused a cabinet position. He was printer of the U.S. house of representatives, 1853-55, and of the U.S. senate, 1855-57. He was a member of the Democratic national convention, 1852, and edited the Washington Union, 1853-56. He was elected to the U.S. senate for a full term in 1857 and served until March 3, 1861. He was at Columbia, Tenn., during the war, and was twice arrested and imprisoned by the Federal authorities. He was a member of the convention to revise the constitution of the state of Tennessee in 1870, and was chief justice of the supreme court of Tennessee, 1870-76. He is the author of: Compilation of Laws of Tennessee; Nicholson Letter (1848). He died at Columbia, Tenn., March 23, 1876.

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

Henry Cooper, senator, was born in Columbia, Tenn., Aug. 22, 1827. He was graduated at West Tennessee college in 1847; was admitted to the bar in 1849, and was elected to the state legislature from Shelbyville in 1853 and in 1857. He was judge of the 7th judicial circuit of Tennessee, 1862-66, and principal of the law school at Lebanon, Tenn., in 1866-67. He then removed to Nashville and was elected to the state senate in 1869. In 1870 he was elected U.S. senator, serving from March 4, 1871, to March 3, 1877. He was killed in Mexico, Feb. 4. 1884.

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