Hiram J. Springfield

      Hon. H. J. Springfield, farmer, was born September 15, 1841, in Murray County, Ga., and is the youngest of six children born to Solomon Langston and Catherine (Bradley) Springfield, both natives of Greenville County, S. C. The father was born August 15, 1807, and was of English descent. He was a soldier in the Indian war, and assisted in their removal from Georgia. He died March 23, 1842. He was one of the best school teachers of his day and excelled in penmanship. He had the reputation of being the most courageous and muscular man of the State. The mother was born September 15, 1809, and is still living, making her home with her son. Our subject received his education in the common schools of Georgia and in St. Clair County, Ala. He has also a good business education. He lived eighteen years in St. Clair County, Ala., and then moved to Chattanooga, after which he went to Chickamauga station and then to Tyner, where he engaged in merchandising eight years, the style of the firm being H. J. Springfield & Bro. He was elected sheriff of Hamilton County in 1878, after which his brother took entire control of the business, and in 1880 they sold the entire stock. Our subject was twice elected to the office of sheriff by the people, and, in 1882, after being out of office thirty days, was elected by the county court to fill a vacancy caused by murder. While sheriff he was one of the bravest and most courageous officers ever in Hamilton County. He filled the unexpired term of the sheriff who was murdered by the Taylor brothers, desperadoes, and played a very important part in apprehension and execution of Andy Taylor. He captured John Taylor in the northeastern part of Tennessee, and lodged him in the jail at Chattanooga. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention in Alabama, in 1867, which effected the reconstruction of and restoration to the Union of Alabama, Georgia and Florida. He was appointed by the State superintendent of registration as a member and chairman of the board of registration in his district.   He also represented his district in the State Legislature of Alabama in 1868-69; was appointed United States marshal by Gen. Grant in 1870, but declined the appointment because of his having previously decided to move to Tennessee. December 24, 1861, he married Miss Mary C. Masteller, of St. Clair, Ala., who died in 1864. They had one child, James Henry (deceased). He married his second wife, Miss Joicey L. Simpson, in 1866, and she died the same year. In 1869 he married Miss Mary E. Franklin, of St. Clair County, Ala., and five children have blessed this last union: Willard J., Charles, Almera, Walter M. and Edgar C. Mr. and Mrs. Springfield are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a Master Mason. He enlisted in the spring of 1863 in the Federal Army and served as captain. He has been a life-long Republican, casting his first presidential vote for Gen. Grant.
Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887