William C. Folkes (June 8, 1845 – May 15, 1890) [1] [2] [3] was a justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court from 1886 until his death in 1890. [3]
Early life, education, and military service
Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, [2] [3] to parents of English descent, he was sixteen years old and a school-boy when the American Civil War broke out. He quickly enlisted in the Confederate States Army, [1] [2] [3] joining Moorman's Battery, enrolled at Lynchburg, and took part in the First Battle of Bull Run. He was severely wounded in that engagement. [2] After his recovery, he rejoined the army. He lost a leg in the bloody charge at the Battle of Malvern Hill. [1] [2] Notwithstanding this disability, he continued in active service until the close of the war. [2]
After the war, he again took up his collegiate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in a short while. He then entered the law department of the University of Virginia, receiving his degree in 1866. [2]
Legal and judicial career
In 1866, Folkes moved to Memphis, Tennessee, to practice law, [1] [2] and "soon commanded a large practice". [2] He partnered with Judge Archibald Wright in the firm of Wright & Folkes, and continued to practice until 1886, when the Memphis Bar presented his name as a candidate for the state supreme court, [2] to which he was then elected. [1] [3]
On the court, he wrote many opinions in the areas of corporate law and of commercial paper. [2] He had a reputation for being dedicated to his work, as the loss of his leg during the war impeded him from engaging in more physical activities. [2]
Personal life and death
Shortly after moving to Memphis, Folkes married Mary Wright, daughter of Judge Archibald Wright. [1] [2]
Folkes died at his apartment in the Gayoso Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 46, following an illness of several weeks. [1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g " Judge William C. Folkes", Memphis Daily Commercial (May 18, 1890), p. 2.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Albert D. Marks, "The Supreme Court of Tennessee", Part IV, Horace Williams Fuller, ed., The Green Bag, Volume 5 (1893), p. 280-81.
- ^ a b c d e Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society. "Justices".
William C. Folkes (June 8, 1845 – May 15, 1890) [1] [2] [3] was a justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court from 1886 until his death in 1890. [3]
Early life, education, and military service
Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, [2] [3] to parents of English descent, he was sixteen years old and a school-boy when the American Civil War broke out. He quickly enlisted in the Confederate States Army, [1] [2] [3] joining Moorman's Battery, enrolled at Lynchburg, and took part in the First Battle of Bull Run. He was severely wounded in that engagement. [2] After his recovery, he rejoined the army. He lost a leg in the bloody charge at the Battle of Malvern Hill. [1] [2] Notwithstanding this disability, he continued in active service until the close of the war. [2]
After the war, he again took up his collegiate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in a short while. He then entered the law department of the University of Virginia, receiving his degree in 1866. [2]
Legal and judicial career
In 1866, Folkes moved to Memphis, Tennessee, to practice law, [1] [2] and "soon commanded a large practice". [2] He partnered with Judge Archibald Wright in the firm of Wright & Folkes, and continued to practice until 1886, when the Memphis Bar presented his name as a candidate for the state supreme court, [2] to which he was then elected. [1] [3]
On the court, he wrote many opinions in the areas of corporate law and of commercial paper. [2] He had a reputation for being dedicated to his work, as the loss of his leg during the war impeded him from engaging in more physical activities. [2]
Personal life and death
Shortly after moving to Memphis, Folkes married Mary Wright, daughter of Judge Archibald Wright. [1] [2]
Folkes died at his apartment in the Gayoso Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 46, following an illness of several weeks. [1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g " Judge William C. Folkes", Memphis Daily Commercial (May 18, 1890), p. 2.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Albert D. Marks, "The Supreme Court of Tennessee", Part IV, Horace Williams Fuller, ed., The Green Bag, Volume 5 (1893), p. 280-81.
- ^ a b c d e Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society. "Justices".