Volume 1: 1836-1843 and 1861-1864

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I returned from the War of 1812 on the [blank] Feby 1814, recd a deputation of the Shffs from William Bradshaw the Shff on the 14th day of Feby 1814 & was deputy continued until Oct 1819 at which time I was elected principle Shf of Maury County

Oct 1st 1819 Election Oct 1819. Edward W. Dale Esqr was my apponant. He had been Justice of the Court & Chareman of the same , Mair of the Corperation & president of the Bank & Cashier of the bank, a Merchant & an host of connections & friends, Election by the Magistrate, I was elected a little over two to one. This Election layed the ground floors of a powerful party operation which was continued with unabated fury ever afterwards agt me

Shffs Election Oct 2nd 1821 Election John Matthews Esqr a verry worthy Citizen & Neighbour & had always been my devoted friend had been a member of the County Court & elected Chareman and Corum Court for many years. he was exceedingly poplar as a Member of Court & he was influenced to run by my enemies he had a verry numerous connection the Scotts, Hannahs, Davises & a host of others he did not get many votes for Shff as he was influenced to run by my enemies. Not one third of the votes was for him.

Shffs Election Oct 3rd 1823) Election Col William Hunter, he was Col of the Regt fresh

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from the battle fields (Floriday War) horse killed under him the largest connection in the County the Stockards, Craigs, Hunters 9 Justices of the peace signed a covenant & agreement to vote for him for shff & he agreed to divide the prophets & the office amongst the Court if elected. On the day of the election the Magistrates ^{Many of them} disented from there agreement & when the votes were counted out contrary to all expictations he did not get quite one third of the Votes poled; this verry decided Victory for me & my numerous friends that stood up to me beyond all calculation

Shffs Elections Oct 4th 1825} Election The former Election was so decisive in my favour it drove off all oposition agt me the people held elections in all the Capts Companys & elected ^{me} over all oposition & no candidate came out agt me - at the election. Elected without opposition

Oct 5th 1827} Pleasant Nelson Esqr was enduced to run for shff agt me he had been amongst my warmest & influential friends & suported me always heretofore. I had procured the appointment of Deputy Clerk of the County Court under J B Porter Clk ^{for him} which he held for a number of years up to this time he was considered verry popular had been transacting business with the Magistrates for many years he got the influence of the old Clerk & his numerous friends all the different districts held

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elections by the people instructing the Magistrates how to vote. he did not get quite one third of the votes at the election this was a verry great Victory again for me and my friends some of my old friends having left me in consequence of my Deputy B.W.Harden being axecerary in the killing of J N Porter & Wm W Williamson, which I had no hand in & could not help.

Oct 6th 1829} Election Majr William A Johnson an officer in the 51st Regt a Constable, had been a Justice of the peace for many years had 500 connections, all the Pillows Johnsons Gingers Kenemores many others veray influencial, him & his connections had all been my warm supporters & intiment friends. This election was again conducted by all the Voters in all the distract Johnson was beaten a little over 3 to 1 by the Magistrates who voted the wish of there districts

Oct [s]3[/s] 7th 1831} Election Col Caleb Thomas, Col 27 Regt had long been my deputy shff & was at this time he was induced to become a candidate in consequence of the interest I took in the trial the State vs J Porter my brother ^{for the killing Toney} but before the day of Election he declined & I had no oposition on the day of Election

Shff Elections 8th Election} Oct 1833} John Gordon Esqr a member of the County Court one of his brothers a ^{Powhattan} Constable the other [u]Bo[/u]len a member of the

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Legislature he conducted himself through the canvass verry fair & gentlemanly he was beaten, about three to one. Powhatten was verry much disappointed & angry abot it

9 Election 1835} Powhatten Gordon was electionearing for the office until about the day of Election he declined saying that he Court would not elect any one else but Porter & that he would give him a race before the people next Spring as the new constitution had placed that election before the people. I was elected without oposition.

10th Election} March 1836} Powhatten Gordon entered the Canvass a short time after the last election in November as he had declared he would do. he made appointments in all the districts and was making speeches with out oposition through the County. My wife being on her death bed all Winer & died the 7th Feby & I had determined to not rin in consequence of the situation of my little family, but Col Gordons Speeches was charging me in a way when I learned what he was saying I was compelled to follow him & answer him he not only charged me with things ^{in my absence} that was not true but implicated many of my friends with me - We had after I entered the canvass (only two weeks) a verry exciting times until the election he was beaten, Over 2 to 1

12th Election} March 1838} I had no opponent the vote was by the people in all the districts I got a full vote of my old friends altho I had no

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oposition Elected without oposition

13th Election} March 1840} Col Robt M Cooper, Allen J. Noles Col Ferrel G Hunter & Simon Johnson (and many others talked) of yet to come it being the last time I would be elagable to run under the New Constitution the campane commenced 1 Feby 1 1840 Col Cooper placed his whole clames upon party ground he being a Polk democrat was verry abusive agt me in every ^way too k a verry ungentlemanly course in denouncing me both politically & oficially & some times when he dare he aluded to my private character the letter he was forced to abandon in short order Allen Noles was & had been a Whig & Constable & evidently was using his influence to divide the Whig party with me conducted himself verry genteely through the Campain the hi a whole intention was to elect Cooper & Cooper to make him deputy.

Col T. G. Hunter started out by trying to breake me down upon party grounds had no thaught of being elected but wanted to be Deputy under Cooper he abused me verry much, at Benton he got knocked down which he aught to have expected A general row took place & some right pretty fighting insued My friends got the better of it Some 18 of my friends was indited at the next Court was all fined with costs I paid it all off at the time they were fined. Col Hunter quit the chase the next day after the battle royal at Benton and stayed at home afterwards