Tennessee General Assembly Polk

Adams, James E. (1882-?)

HOUSE, 62nd General Assembly, 1921-23; representing Bradley and Polk Counties; SENATE, 66th General Assembly, 1929-31; representing Loudon, Knox, Monroe, and Polk Counties; Republican. Born September 21, 1882 at Cherokee, Swain County, North Carolina; son of Johnson K. and Sarah J. (Dewees) Adams. Attended common schools; received LL. B. from Cumberland University, Lebanon, Wilson County; admitted to the bar and established practice at Copperhill, Polk County. He was twice married; dates and place of neither marriage given. His first wife was Bessie McCoy, by whom he had four children: Nell, Dell, Thomas R., and Anna Lee; by his second wife, two children: Colien and Margaret Adams. Attorney; legal counsel for First National Bank, Copperhill; city attorney of Copperhill; 1930 census enumerator of Polk County. Chairman, Polk County Republican Executive Committee, 1930-39. Member Baptist Church; American, Tennessee, and Polk County bar associations, being elected president of the latter in 1939. Member F. and A. M.; J. O. V .A .M.; charter member Kiwanis Club. Deceased, date not given.

Biggs, Broughton Euclid (1904-1947)

HOUSE, 73rd General Assembly, 1943-45; representing Bradley and Polk Counties; Democrat. Born October 24, 1904, at Benton, Polk County; son of Burch E. and Della (Lillard) Biggs. Attended public schools; Wesleyan College, Athens, McMinn County; East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Washington County. After leaving schools worked for several years with the L. & N. Railroad. Deputy Fire Marshall, Tennessee Department of Labor, 1934-35; also worked as a state investigator in the Insurance Department. Married on April 15, 1933, to Louise Elizabeth Higgins; daughter of Jake and Jessie (Henry) Higgins; three children: Joanne Elizabeth, Thomas Henry, and Mary Temple Biggs. Sheriff of Polk County, 1936-42; chief sergeant-at-arms of State Senate, 1945. Member of Baptist Church; Brotherhood of Railway Engineers; charter member, Zone chairman, and president of Lions Club. Died at Chattanooga, Hamilton County, on August 8, 1947; buried in Benton City Cemetery, Polk County. Great-grandson of William M. Biggs, sometime member Tennessee General Assembly.

Biggs, William M. (1797-1878)

HOUSE, 28th General Assembly, 1849-51; representing McMinn, Monroe, and Polk Counties; political affiliation not indicated. Born July 23, 1797, in Greene County, son of John and Isabella Biggs. Pioneer settler an farmer; trustee of Ocoee Academy at its organization. Married on February 3, 1820, to Margaret M. Temple, daughter of Homer and Jane (Moore) Temple. Children: Allen C., Nancy L. (Biggs) Hughes, Thomas T., James M., Jane I. (Biggs) McClary, Minerva M. (Biggs) Paul, and Harriet Elizabeth (Biggs) Boyd. Clerk of circuit court, Polk County, 184-44. Died in Polk County on November 18, 1878; buried in Benton Town Cemetery, Polk County. Great-grandfather of Broughton E. Biggs, sometime member Tennessee General Assembly.

Browder, Simeon E. (1813-1899)

HOUSE, 44th General Assembly, 1885-87; representing Bradley and Polk Counties; Republican. Born in that section of Roane County which became Loudon County on January 24, 1813; son of Joseph and Nancy Browder. Occupation: farmer; owned a large farm on the Conasuaga River; correspondent for Brownlow's Republican Whig; was known as the richest resident of Polk County. He was three times married and had thirteen children. He married (1st), on October 14, 1842, to Nancy H. Walker; one son: Joseph Browder. She died in Polk County on November 8, 1846, and he was married in Polk County November 16, 1847, to Orpha A. Lewis; ten children: John F., Laura, Viana M., Charles A., Thomas A. Simeon E., Jr., Mary E., George S., Julia M., and Florence Browder. The second Mrs. Browder died in Polk County on August 19, 1868; and he was married (3rd), on August 30, 1871, to Mrs. Harriett (Shamblin) McClary, daughter of John and Elizabeth Shamblin, and widow of A. P. McClary; there were two children of this marriage: Alice S. and Cora S. Browder. Mr. Browder died in 1889, exact date, place of burial, not given.

Campbell, Charles Lester (c. 1896-?)

HOUSE, 71st General Assembly, 1939-41; representing Bradley and Polk Counties; Democrat. Born c. 1896 in Murray County, Georgia; son of Charles Campbell. His family removed to Polk County shortly after his birth; his father was sheriff of Polk County, 1898-1902. Extent of schooling undetermined. Occupation: Gulf Oil distributor. Campbell Cave Lake, in the Copper Basin, is named for him and his brother. The maiden name of his wife, Cleo, and the date and place of their marriage not given. Children: Elizabeth (Mrs. Ralph Painter), Jane (Mrs. William H. Bredford), and Mary (Mrs. Jesse Barkley). Trustee of Polk County, 1932-38; chief deputy sheriff, 1936-42; circuit court clerk, 1942-48; member of quarterly court; member State Game and Fish Commission, 1955-61. Member of Baptist Church, being Sunday School Superintendent and president of a class. Member F. & A.M.; charter member and past president of Benton Lions Club. In 1966 he removed to Knoxville to make his home.

Copeland, Flint Decosta (c. 1872-1940)

HOUSE, 66th General Assembly, 1929-31; representing Bradley and Polk Counties; Republican. Born C. 1872 at Ocoee, Polk County; son of Dr. Warren J. and Onie (MClary) Pendergrass Copeland. Extent of schooling undetermined; occupation: farmer and merchant. Married to Maggie Fetzer, daughter of George W. Fetzer; children: Mrs. Thomas J. Hicks, Mrs. Jack E. Roddy, Warren J., II, Frank G., and Flint D. Copeland, Jr. Trustee of Polk County 1912-16, and deputy trustee, 1932; secretary, Polk County Republican Executive Committee; chairman, Polk County Congressional Committee, 1920. Member Baptist Church; 32nd degree Mason, F. &A.M., Conasauga Lodge #396. Died at Copperhill, Polk County, October 16, 1940; buried in Cookson Creek Cemetery. Son of Dr. Warren J. Copeland, brother of R. Meigs Copeland, grandson of Robert W. McClary, sometime members Tennessee General Assembly.

Copeland, Return Meigs (1868-1941)

HOUSE, 51st General Assembly, 1899-1901; representing Loudon, Monroe, and Polk Counties, Republican. Born at Petzerton, Polk County, in 1868; son of Dr. Warren J. and Onie (McClary) Pendergrass Copeland. Attended common schools; graduated in 1888 from Carson-Newman College, Mossy Creek (now Jefferson City), Jefferson County; read law, admitted to the bar, and began practice at Benton, Polk County, following employment as a civil engineer with the A.K.&N. Railroad. Married in Chattanooga, Hamilton County, on September 8, 1908, to Gladys Summers, daughter of Dr. Joseph W. Summers, of Davidson, North Carolina. Children: R. Meigs, Jr., Helen (Mrs. Axel Hyttinen), Stanley R., and Ralph Copeland. Polk County Attorney, 1894-99; presidential elector, 1912, on the progressive ticket of Theodore Roosevelt; mayor of Benton. Member of Baptist Church; Mason; Shriner. He removed to Oklahoma about 1932 and died in Oklahoma City in 1941; exact date of death and place of burial not given. son of Dr. Warren J. Copeland, brother of Flint D. Copeland, and grandson of Robert M. McClary, sometime members Tennessee General Assembly.

Copeland, Warren Jones 91835-1916)

HOUSE, 34th (Reconstruction) General Assembly, 1st Session, 1865; resigned and replaced by James Parks. Dr. Warren, a Republican, represented Meigs, McMinn, and Polk Counties. Born December 27, 1835, near Athens, McMinn County; son of John and Juda (Chapman) Copeland. Attended common schools of Benton and Zion Hill, Polk County; Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Taught school in early life; practiced medicine in 3rd civil district of Polk County for 56 years. Married on February 24, 1863, to Onie (McClary) Pendergrass, daughter of Robert W. and Mary McClary. Ten children: Alice, Onie (Copeland) Fouts, R. Meigs, J. Velpair, Flint D., George, P. J., J. Agnew, Clara, and Boivim Copeland. Superintendent of Public Institution, Polk County for two years. Member Missionary Baptist Church; Master Mason; Knight of Honor. In civil war: enlisted in 1861 and served as surgeon with the 5th Tennessee, C. S. A. Died near Benton, Polk County, March 17, 1916; buried in Cookson Creek Cemetery, Cleveland, Bradley County. Father of Flint D. Copeland, of R. Meigs Copeland; and son-in -law of Robert M. McClary, sometime members Tennessee General Assembly.