Bibb County AlArchives Biographies.....Smitherman, Thomas J. February 28 1837 - after 1893
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Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 13, 2004, 12:42 pm

Author: Brant & Fuller (1893)
   THOMAS J. SMITHERMAN, a native of and a prominent attorney of Centreville,
Bibb county, was born February 28, 1837. He is a son of Joseph and Sarah
(Latham) Smitherman, the former of whom was a native of Randolph county, N. C.,
and the latter also of North Carolina. They were the parents of seven children,
five sons and two daughters, of whom two are living: Mary, widow of I. M. Hicks,
now a resident of Chilton county, Ala., and Thomas J.; the others having died.
Joseph Smitherman was reared on a farm, and immigrated from North Carolina to
Bibb county, Ala., where he lived until his death, in March, 1862. He was an
upright and honorable citizen, and having served as township trustee for twenty
years, he had a wide circle of friends. His wife died in 1815, and both he and
his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Thomas J. Smitherman
was brought up on a farm until he was sixteen years of age. He attended school
at Benson, Chilton county, Summerfield and Selma, preparing himself for his
professional work. He took a collegiate course at the Lebanon law school, in
Tennessee, graduating in 1860. Immediately afterward he located at Centreville,
and began the practice of law. In 1861 he enlisted in company B., Eleventh
Alabama infantry, under Capt. J. L. Davidson, and served as a private soldier
until 1863, when he was discharged. In the latter part of 1863 he enlisted in
company H, Capt. F. M. Goode, Alabama infantry, and served until 1864, when he
was elected lieutenant of his company. He was appointed register in chancery of
his county, came home and remained until 1865, when he was elected to the office
of superintendent of education, which position he held until 1870. He was then
elected to the legislature as representative from Bibb county. In 1876 he was
appointed to fill the unexpired term of Judge of Probate J. Gardner, who had
died. Since serving as probate judge he has given his entire attention to the
law, and is the present county solicitor. He is a member of the city council,
and has been administrator of the county for ten years. He is a member of the
Masonic fraternity. He was married June 20, 1861, to Mary E. Howard, born in
Bibb county, April 17, 1842, a daughter of George W. and Teresa (Coleman)
Howard, the latter of whom died in 1855, and the former in 1867. Mr. Smitherman
and his wife are the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters, six
of whom are now living, viz., Fannie M., Joseph F., Wiley J., Nellie, Thomas J.,
Jr., and Howard; those deceased having been named Coleman, Mary L. and Eva. Both
Mr. and Mrs. Smitherman are members of the Presbyterian church, of which Mr.
Smitherman is an elder.



Additional Comments:
from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 496

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