©2002
(Thursday, December 15, 1910)
High Court In Morning
Beloved Judge Dies Without Warning-His Heart Failed Him
Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 7. Judge William Dwight Beard, associate justice of the Tennessee supreme court and former chief justice, dropped dead in his bathroom at the Hermitage Hotel this morning at 9:40 o'clock. Attending physicians pronounced death due to organic heart failure. Death was instantaneous. He and his wife had just breakfasted in the hotel café. Returning to their room on the fourth floor, Judge Beard went into the bathroom to brush his teeth before joining his associates at the capitol. This morning's task he never finished. His heart failed him. Dropping to the floor he died before medical aid could be had. Mrs. Beard was in the sleeping apartment with only a door separating. Hearing the thud she passed into the bathroom and found the judge doubled up in a heap on the floor. He was breathing his last. Drs. J. Earle Collier and J. R. Shackleford were hurriedly summoned. He was dead before they reached him. A brief examination showed that his heart had failed him. The news of his death was a great shock to Judge Beard's friends and relatives in the city. His associates on the bench express much heartfelt grief. They had just convened at the capitol for the day's session. Judge Beard's chair, just to the immediate right of Chief Justice Shields, was the only vacant seat. The case of Ramsey against the State was called and the attorney had arisen to address the court when the message was delivered to Chief Justice Shields. As a tribute of respect court was immediately adjourned until Monday morning, Dec. 12. The other members of the court, Chief Justice Shields, Associate Justices M. M. Neil, D. L. Lansden and Grafton Green will accompany the body to Memphis. Judge Beard and his wife came to Nashville from Knoxville Monday morning. The court had been in session there for several weeks. They secured apartments in the new Hermitage Hotel for the winter, where Judge Beard could be near the capitol during the cold season. For the past two days he was always found in his place at the sessions of the court. He was feeling unusually well at this season. While walking down town Monday afternoon with one of his associates he remarked that his health was much improved and that he was feeling better and heartier than he had for some time. At a fruit stand they purchased some apples. Judge Beard enjoyed them very much. So coming to Nashville only two days ago, active and healthy, his sudden death is a greater shock. Judge Beard was born at Princeton, Ky., seventy-three years ago. As lawyer and jurist he was well known in Tennessee. He was the son of Dr. Richard Beard, formerly of Lebanon. His father was a noted Cumberland Presbyterian divine and prominent educator. In 1860 Judge Beard was married to Miss Amelia Henderson. In 1862 he enlisted in the Civil War and was assigned to duty on the staff of Gen. A. P. Stewart. He later served in Jackson's brigade of Shelby's division. In 1864 he was wounded in the battle of Westport, Tex. Joining Gen. Price's army, he was made a major and a few months later, June, 1865, he surrendered at Houston, Tex. Judge Beard graduated in law at Cumberland University. He took up practice of his profession in Memphis. He remained in that city until 1890, when he was appointed to the supreme bench to succeed Judge Fowlkes, who died in office. At the end of a few months' service he retired to the practice of law in Memphis. In 1891 he was appointed chancellor by Gov. Buchanan. Judge Beard began his career as associate justice of the Supreme Court sixteen years ago. In 1894 he was chosen the first time from the Wesyern Grand Division of the State. In 1902 he was re-elected and made chief justice. For eight years he served in this capacity with credit to himself and associates. Re elected for a third term in August, 1910, but growing old, he retired in favor of Judge John K. Shields. Judge Beard is survived by a wife and two sons, R. Henderson Beard of Memphis and Lee Beard of Knoxville. Lee will arrive in Nashville tonight to accompany the body to Memphis. R. Henderson is expected in from Memphis also. He is also survived by two brothers, Edward E. Beard, of Lebanon, Capt. Richard Beard of Murfreesboro, and one sister, Mrs. Margaret Cannon, of Murfreesboro. His nephew, William E. Beard, is State news editor of the Nashville Banner. Judge Beard's funeral and burial took place in Memphis Friday.
(Thursday, December 22, 1910)
Mrs. John Williams
The death of Mrs. John Williams occurred Friday night at her home near Bethpage after an illness of several months. The burial took place at Mt. Vernon Sunday with funeral services by Rev. Mr. Baggett of the Methodist Church. The deceased was a daughter of the late W. C. McAdams. She is survived by her husband and also by her aged mother, Mrs. Nancy McAdams, now ninety-two years old.
(Thursday, December 22, 1910)
Mrs. Joe Dawson
The following account of the death of Mrs. Joe Dawson, who formerly lived here, will be read with regret by her many Sumner County friends: Franklin, Ky., Dec. 12. - The remains of Mrs. Eugenia Edwards Dawson, a prominent Osteopath of Lebanon, who died in that place Saturday morning after a six-days' illness from spinal meningitis, reached Franklin yesterday afternoon and were interred in the family lot in Green Lawn Cemetery. Mrs. Dawson was forty-six years of age and the oldest daughter of the late Dr. C. H. Edwards of Franklin. She was the widow of Joe Dawson, who proceeded her to the grave two years ago. Mrs. Dawson was reared in Franklin and was one of the most highly respected and universally beloved women that ever made this place her home.
(Thursday, December 22, 1910)
Barn Burns, Two Dead
Father and Son Perish-Former Leaves Wife and Eleven Children
Franklin, Ky., Dec. 17. -While Dock Carter and his eldest son, Loving, were endeavoring to extinguish a fire in a barn on the farm of Charles Jackson, two miles east of Hickory Flats in this county at 8 o'clock last night, the building collapsed and father and son were killed. Dock Carter is survived by a wife and eleven small children. He was a tenant on Mr. Jackson's farm. The barn and contents were destroyed. The former was valued at $900 and was insured for $600, the latter consisted of $400 worth of tobacco, $300 worth of corn and three mules worth $500.
Genealogist's Companion to Research in Sumner County, Tennessee