Alachua County FlArchives Biographies.....Hampton, William Wade 
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William Wade Hampton

    Colonists in Virginia, generals in the war of the Revolution, the war of
1812 and the war between the States, planters in times of peace, and statesmen
as occasion required, always influential in civic and military affairs, the
Hampton family has for over a century and a half been a powerful factor in the
unbuilding of a nation and the name is inseparably linked with American history.
Prominent in every phase of life and leaders always, the family has given to the
bar of Florida an esteemed member who has met with eminent success in the
practice of his profession. William Wade Hampton is a native of Georgia, but
removing to Florida began the practice of law at Gainesville, and for over
thirty years has made that city his home. Mr. Hampton is a descendent of Anthony
Hampton, one of the earliest settlers of Virginia in pioneer days. The family
has helped make history from the time of their landing on the American shores,
and the "Wade Hamptons" have been especially and notably prominent. Wade
Hampton, the first, was a colonel in the Revolutionary war and fought with
Marion and Sumter, rising because of his distinguished record to the rank of
Brigadier-General. He served in one of the earliest Congresses and was
presidential elector in 1801, after which he again served in Congress. HU son,
Wade Hampton, the second, who was born on a plantation, definitely located in
history as "near the Mississippi river" became Lieut, of Dragoons and was acting
Inspector General and aide to Gen. Jackson, in the war of 1812. After the
termination of hostilities he returned to South Carolina, where he succeeded in
recovering the family estates and made many improvements on their historic
plantation home.

    Two of his sisters, it may be stated, married Jno. S. Preston and Gov.
Richard Maury, respectively. Wade Hampton, the third, was born on the old family
estate, of a mother whose ancestry can be traced back over five hundred years to
one of the first primates of Ireland. He was given a splendid education,
graduating as a lawyer, but never practicing the profession, because his tastes
were for the plantation and his younger manhood was largely devoted to looking
after those interests. He was elected to the Legislature of his State, but just
at this time was fired the shot heard round the world, and he enlisted as a
private soldier. Subsequently he organized the famous "Hampton Legion" which he
commanded with distinction throughout the war. At Bull Run six hundred of his
men held Warrenton Road against the whole of Col. Keyes corps. For his gallant
services at Seven Pines he was raised to the rank of Brigadier-General of
cavalry. In twenty-three days around Lynchburg he captured over three thousand
prisoners, and much ammunition, with a loss of only seven hundred men. One of
his sons was killed in battle. After the war closed he retired to his plantation
and here lived during the period of reconstruction, fearful and long extended in
South Carolina, where affairs continued in a more or less demoralized condition
until Wade Hampton was elected governor in 1876, at the most critical period in
the history of the State. He was re-elected in 1878, but did not serve out his
second term because of his further elevation to the United States Senate, where
he rendered distinguished services for two terms until 1890. In 1893 President
Cleveland appointed him one of the commissioners on Pacific railroads, and he
held this position until displaced by President McKinley.

    William Wade Hampton is also closely related to Abner Carmichael, of North
Carolina, and to Chief Justice Bynum, of the North Carolina Supreme Court. His
immediate ancestors were among the early settlers of Georgia. He is a son of
Thomas Franklin and Macy Eliza Hampton, and was born in Dougherty county. Ga.,
Jan. 22, 1856. His father was a merchant and served for a time as Cerk of the
Superior Court of Decatur county, Ga., who after his removal to Florida in 1879,
engaged in the real estate business at Tampa. William Wade Hampton received his
education in the private schools of Bainbridge, Ga. He studied law in the office
of Hon. Jno. E. Donalson, of Bainbridge, Ga., and was admitted to the bar at
Camilla, Ga., May 23, 1876, and removed to Gainesville, Fla., in June of the
same year, and with his older brother Edwin M. Hampton he engaged in the
practice of law and was associate editor of the Gainesville Times, the first
Democratic daily newspaper published in Alachua county after the war.

    William Wade Hampton, by devoting his time and attention to land titles, has
had remarkable success in land litigation in which he has been retained in many
of the biggest cases in the State, and which specialty has constituted a large
part of his practice. Many of the land titles extend back through Spanish grants
and his thorough knowledge and extensive information has served him in good
stead. His fee in the noted Fort Brooke case amounted to about $60,000 and in
another important case last year he earned, and was cheerfully paid, a fee of
$25,000. He does an extensive business in passing upon titles and there is
rarely a large transfer of property where his advice and counsel is not sought
in one way or another.

    Mr. Hampton was married Nov. 22,1882 to Marry E. Jordan, daughter of F. W.
and C. A. Jordan, of Tallassee, Ala., and they have had six children, of whom
William Wade, Jr., Minna, Catherine M., Fred Jordan and Edwin Birkett Hampton
are living.

    Mr. Hampton is a Mason of high degree and a Sir Knight, being past commander
of the commandery of Knights Templar at Gainesville. He is a Democrat in
politics and has served his city as a member and secretary of the Board of
Public Works, of Gainesville, as chairman of the school district trustees, and
was at one time president of the Board of Trustees of the East Florida Seminary.
He is a working member of the Episcopal church and takes great interest in its
local and general affairs. He is a senior warden of his parish, and a member of
the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Forida, and a member of the Board of
Missions of the Diocese of Florida. For fifteen years he has been a member of
the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States, and for
some years one of the Trustees of the University of the South, at Sewanee, Tenn.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

FLORIDA EDITION
MAKERS OF AMERICA
AN HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WORK BY AN ABLE CORPS OF WRITERS
VOL. II.
Published under the patronage of
The Florida Historical Society, Jacksonville, Florida

ADVISORY BOARD:
HON. W. D. BLOXHAM          COL. FRANK HARRIS
HON. R. W. DAVIS            SEN. H. H. MCCREARY
HON. F. P. FLEMING          W. F. STOVALL
      C. A. CHOATE, SECRETARY
1909
A. B. CALDWELL
ATLANTA, GA.


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