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The Supreme Court of Tennessee.

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resolution looking to the formation of a new Judge Nelson died, Aug. 24, 1873, of State. In August following, an election was cholera, then epidemic at Knoxville, the held in East Tennessee districts for Congress place of his residence. men, and Mr. Nelson was returned from the Robert McFarland was born on the banks First District. The members so elected were of the French Broad, in Jefferson County, admitted to Congress. He continued an Tenn., April 15, 1832. He was of Scotchactive Union man until the war was at an Irish descent, — the same sturdy stock that end. After peace was restored, he had in has furnished to the Southwest a very large his heart none of the bitterness that charac part of its great men. He was named for his

grandfather, a Revo terized the men whom lutionary officer, who the chance of war had particularly distin put over the conquered guished himself at the people of his State. battle of King's Moun It meant a certain loss tain; and for his father, of the political pres a gallant officer of the tige his eminent ser vices in behalf of the War of 1812. His father died when he Union had won for was twelve years old, him; but he took a leavinghis family poor. bold stand against the But the thrift of the oppressive measures that were proposed mother and persever ance of the son en and carried into effect. abled him to procure Because of his high character and ability, a good English educa tion at Tusculum Col he proved to be of greater service to the lege, near Greeneville. unfortunate people of He read law with this State than any Judge Barton, and was other one man. When admitted to the bar at the attempt was made Greeneville in 1856. to remove President He made no great Johnson by impeach reputation as a prac ROBERT MCFARLAND. ment, his sentiments titioner, though those were in accord with who knew him well those of the President, and Mr. Nelson un easily discerned that this modest man had dertook his defence, along with the other dis in him the making of the great judge he tinguished counsel retained by the President. afterward proved to be. On the commence The services of Mr. Nelson to the people ment of the hostilities of the Civil War, the of his State were recognized by his elec sentiment of a majority of the citizens of his tion to the Supreme Bench of the State in section of the State was in favor of the Union; 1870. but the convictions of Judge McFarland were Judicial work did not prove congenial to with the Confederate cause, and he enlisted him. His mind was not of that cast. He was in the army of his State. He became major an advocate rather than a judge. The work of the Thirty-first Tennessee Regiment. proving irksome, he resigned in December, He served through the campaigns in Ken 1871, after little more than a year's service. tucky and East Tennessee, and was captured He was succeeded by Robert McFarland. at Vicksburg. On exchange, his regiment