| Notes |
- [ColyerV2.FTW]
Subject moved with parents to Franklin County, c.1828; after leaving father?s farm
From the Procedings of the Bar Association of Tennessee.
REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON OBITUARIES
AND MEMORIALS,?
I-Ion. Foster V. Brown, President: The Special Committee
appointed to draft memorials of the members who have died
since the former meeting, to be inserted in the published pro-ccedings
of the Tennessee Bar Association, beg leave to submit
the following :
ARTHUR ST, CLAIR COLYAR. ?
Col. Arthur St. Clair Colyar was born in a dwelling sit-uated on the banks of the historic Nolachucky River, in Washington County, seven miles west of Jonesboro, June 23, 1818, and died at Nashville, December 13, 1907. His long life, therefore, extended over a period of more than 89 years. During this lapse of time, beginning almost with the infancy of the country, what a kaleidescope of change passed before his discerning eyes !
When he was about nine years old his father, Alexander
Colyar, removed to Hillsboro in what is now Franklin County, -and,
as the father was a farmer, Arthur began industrial life
as a plow boy, and received only such education as could be
had in a pioneer country. -At the age of ?22 he entered the office of Col. Micah Taul, of Winchester, as a law student. In 1846 he obtained his license and formed a partnership with W. P. Hickerson, at Winchester. Here he soon made a reputation which encouraged him to venture into wider fields ; he removed in a few years to Winchester, and formed a partnership with
his kinsman, A. S. Marks, who was afterwards Governor, and
with John Frizzell, who afterward became a prominent man.
Col. Colyar?s public spirit led -him into active politics, State and National. He was a member of the? national convention in 1860, which nominated Bell and Everett for President and
Vice-President respectively, on ?the Whig ticket, and made an active canvass in favor of the ticket in the hope of saving the Union. He opposed secession, but at the parting of the ways .
he cast his destiny with the South. He was elected to the Confederate Congress, in which he served with ?the same zealand energy that always characterized the man. After the Civil \Var he settled at Nashville and practiced law, at one time in partnership with Henry S. Foote, and at other times alone, or in association with various other attorneys. *
A fen- years after the close of the war he came connected as stockholder, director and president, of the Tennessee Coal and Railroad Railroad Company.
afterward the Tennessee Coal, Iron &
Railroad Company. He was not especially gifted as a
business man, but by his efforts he saved the company from wreck, and so inspired the financial world with his confidence in the industry that it was placed on .he way to a success that has finally brought it to a very high place among the industries of the country. About this time he was very aggressive
in his fight against a ring rule in the city of Nashville, which resulted in the city being placed in the hands of a receiver and in its complete relief from its distressing condition.
In 1881 he took charge-of the American, a leading paper throughdut the State.
His last important work was of a historic and ?literary
character, and in this, as a fitting climax to his laborious and zealous life, he left behind him the fruit of years of painstaking labor.
Nothing that he ever did was perhaps more pleasing and gratifying to him than his authorship of the "Life and Times of Andrew Jackson", which is truly a monument to his industry in his old age.
Col. Colyar was always prominent as a lawver especially
as an advocate, being eloquent, strong in debate, and forceful in pursuit of what was right. He was a participant in many of the most important suits in both State and Federal Courts.
Among other important cases, he represented the State in the
United States Supreme Court in the boundary line case between Virginia and Tennessee, which he won in 1893.
One of Col. Colyar?s most pronounced characteristics was his strong and enthusiastic interest in everything pertaining to public well-being and moral welfare. He was in deep sympathy with everything tending to the material prosperity of the country, and the intellectual, moral and religions culture of society, and was found among the active promoters of schools, colleges and churches, and was an ardent advocate of the establishment and construction of railroads,manufactories, mines and commercial and financial enterprises. He was an uncompromising? friend of law and order, sobriety and
purity -in individuals and government. He was a total abstainer and was the author of the Four Mile Law, one of the:
most unique and successful bits of legislation that the country has known. His courage was almost unlimited. Like all positive
characters he occasionally fell into mistakes of judgment,
and was sometimes criticised even when he was in the right.
As might be expected of such an one, he sacrificed himself, so far as public office was concerned, and died a poor man, being in active practice almost to the end of his days. The objects and purposes of the Bar Association fell naturally in line with
Col. - Colyar?s instincts and principles, for whatever organization
tended or purposed to cultivate right dealing, right thinking and professional ethics could not fail to meet with his warm and enthusiastic sympathy and support To the end of his life these things were his guilding stars.
[Collierj.ftw]
Arthur St. Clair Colyar came from a poor family which eventually moved to Franklin co., Tennessee. He was self-educated and studied law. He maintained a law office in Nashville but did not live in that city until 1866. (His son, John B. Colyar, wrote A Boy's Opinion of General Lee). A Whig, he became a Constitutional Unionist and opposed immediate secession. In 1863, he risked his life by defending Tennessee Unionists who had been unlawfully arrested. He was elected to the second House in May, 1864. He served on the Ways and Means Committee, generally supported the administration, and favored extending the tax-in-kind. He was a staunch opponent of any special priveliges for Southern corporations. Along with John B. Baldwin of Virginia, he tried to pressure Congress into negotiations with the North even before the Hampton Roads meeting. After the war, Colyar became an important Democratic party leader but lost the race for governor in 1878. Colyar was an active lawyer who wrote for the Confederate Veteran. He also reorganized the Tennessee Coal and Railroad Company and became its president. He was considered a conservative because of his 1867 appeal to allow the freedman the vote. From 1881 to 1884, he edited the Nashville American. He also wrote the Life and Times of Andrew Jackson. He died in Nashville December 13, 1907.
from Biographical Dictionary of the Confederacy
Jon L. Wakelyn
Westport, CT 1977
Arthur St. Clair Colyar came from a poor family which eventually moved to Franklin, Tennessee. He was self-educated and studied law. He maintained a law office in Nashville but did not live in that city until 1866. (His son, John B. Colyar, wrote A Boy's Opinion of General Lee). A Whig, he became a Constitutional Unionist and opposed immediate secession. In 1863, he risked his life by defending Tennessee Unionists who had been unlawfully arrested. He was elected to the second House in May, 1864. He served on the Ways and Means Committee, generally supported the administration, and favored extending the tax-in-kind. He was a staunch opponent of any special priveliges for Southern corporations. Along with John B. Baldwin of Virginia, he tried to pressure Congress into negotiations with the North even before the Hampton Roads meeting. After the war, Colyar became an important Democratic party leader but lost the race for governor in 1878. Colyar was an active lawyer who wrote for the Confederate Veteran. He also reorganized the Tennessee Coal and Railroad Company and became its president. He was considered a conservative because of his 1867 appeal to allow the freedman the vote. From 1881 to 1884, he edited the Nashville American. He also wrote the Life and Times of Andrew Jackson. He died in Nashville December 13, 1907.
from Biographical Dictionary of the Confederacy by Jon L. Wakelyn, Westport, CT 1977
He moved with parents to Franklin County, c.1828; after leaving father?s farm
From the Procedings of the Bar Association of Tennessee.
REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON OBITUARIES AND MEMORIALS,?
Hon. Foster V. Brown, President: The Special Committee appointed to draft memorials of the members who have died since the former meet.ing, to be inserted in the published proceedings of the Tennessee Bar Association, beg leave to submit the following :
ARTHUR ST, CLAIR COLYAR.
Col. Arthur St. Clair Colyar was born in a dwelling situated on the banks of the historic Nolachucky River, in Washington County, seven miles west of Jonesboro, June 23, 1815, and died at Nashville, December 13, 1907. His long life, therefore, extended over a period of more than 89 years. During this lapse of time, beginning almost with the infancy of the country, what a kaleidescope of change passed before his discerning eyes !
When he was about nine years old his father, Alexander
Colyar, ?removed to Hillsboro in what is now Franklin County, -and,
as the father was a farmer, Arthur began industrial life
as a plow boy, and received onlysuch education as could be
had in a pioneer country. -At the age of ?22 he entered the office
of Col. Micah Taul, of Winchester, as a law student. In 1846
he obtained his license and formed a partnership with W. P.
Hickerson, at Winchester. Here he soon made a reputation
which encouraged him to venture into wider fields ; he removed
in a few years to Winchester, and formed a partnership with
his kinsman, A. S. Marks, who was afterwards Governor, and
with John Frizzell, who afterward became a prominent man.
Col. Colyar?s public spirit led -him into active politics, State
and National. He was a member of the? national convention
in 1860, which nominated Bell and Everett for President and
Vice-President respectively, on ?the Whig ticket, and made an
active canvass in favor of the ticket in the hope of saving the
Union. He opposed secession, but at the parting of the ways .
he cast his destiny with the South. He was elected to the Confederate Congress, in which he served with ?the same zealand energy that always characterized the man. After the Civil \Var he settled at Nashville and practiced law, at one time in partnership with Henry S. Foote, and at other times
alone, or in association with various other attorneys. *
A fen- years after the close of the war he came connected
as stockholder, director and president, of the Tennessee Coal
and Railroad Railroad Company.
afterward the Tennessee Coal, Iron &
Railroad Company. He was not especially gifted as a
business man, but by his efforts he saved the company from wreck, and so inspired the financial world with his confidence
in the industry that it was placed on .he way to a success that has finally brought it to a very high place among the industries of the country. About this time he was very aggressive
in his fight against a ring rule in the city of Nashville, which
resulted in the city being placed in the hands of a receiver and
in its complete relief from its distressing condition.
In 1881 he took charge-of the American, a leading paper throughdut the State.
His last important work was of a historic and ?literary
character, and in this, as a fitting climax to his laborious and
zealous life, he left behind him the fruit of years of painstaking labor.
Nothing that he ever did was perhaps more pleasing and gratifying to him than his authorship of the "Life and Times of Andrew Jackson", which is truly a monument to his industry in his old age.
Col. Colyar was always prominent as a lawyer especially
as an advocate, being eloquent, strong in debate, and forceful
in pursuit of what was right. He was a participant in many of
the most important suits in both State and Federal Courts.
Among other important cases, he represented the State in the
United States Supreme Court in the boundary line case between
Virginia and Tennessee, which he won in 1893.
One of Col. Colyar?s most pronounced characteristics was his strong
and enthusiastic interest in everything pertaining
to public well-being and moral welfare. He was in deep sympathy with everything tending to the material prosperity of the country, and the intellectual, moral and religions culture
of society, and was found among the active promoters of schools, colleges and churches, and was an ardent advocate of the establishment and construction of railroads,manufactories, mines and commercial and financial enterprises. He was an uncompromising? friend of law and order, sobriety and
purity -in individuals and government. He was a total abstainer
and was the author of the Four Mile Law, one of the:
most unique and successful bits of legislation that the country
has known. His courage was almost unlimited. Like all posi-tive
characters he occasionally fell into mistakes of judgment,
and was sometimes criticised even when he was in the right.
As might be expected of such an one, he sacrificed himself, so
far as public office was concerned, and died a poor man, being
in active practice almost to the end of his days. The objects
and purposes of the Bar Association fell naturally in line with
Col. - Colyar?s instincts and principles, for whatever organization
tended or purposed to cultivate right dealing, right thinking
and professional ethics could not fail to meet with his
warm and enthusiastic sympathy and support To the end of
his life these things were his guilding stars.
[Colyer.FTW]
Subject moved with parents to Franklin County, c.1828; after leaving father?s farm
Mr. A.S Colyar book entitled "Life and Times of Andrew Jackson" on page 27, Vol I, says that he was the great-grandson of Samuel Sherill.
- Concerning the lawyer who schooled Arthur St. Clair Colyar to become a lawyer in Winchester TN, Col Micah Taul:
Micah Taul (May 14, 1785 - May 27, 1850) was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky, grandfather of Taul Bradford.
Born in Bladensburg, Maryland, Taul moved to Kentucky with his parents in 1787. He attended private school. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1801 and commenced practice in Monticello, Kentucky. He served as clerk of Wayne County Courts in 1801. He served as a colonel of Wayne County Volunteers in the War of 1812.
Taul was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Fourteenth U.S. Congress (March 4, 1815-March 3, 1817). He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1816. He resumed the practice of law. He moved to Winchester, Tennessee, in 1826 and continued the practice of law. He moved to Mardisville, Alabama, in 1846 and engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death there on May 27, 1850. He was interred on his plantation at Mardisville.
It if of interest to note that Mr. Taul started in Monticello Ky so near the place and time that Col Arthur St. Clair Colyar's uncle, John Colyer was settling very close on the banks of the Cumberland River in current Somerset Ky. Did Micah Taul know John Colyer in Somerset before moving to Winchester TN and schooling John Colyer's nephew ?
- According to : Notable men of Tennessee: Personal and genealogical, with portratis, Volume 1
edited by John Allison page 64,
He was a prominent member of the Nashville Methodist Episcopal Church.
- Sewanee Tennessee History: facebook page 09/25/17:
Arthur St. Clair "A.S." Colyar was a lawyer and a resident of Winchester, Tennessee. He was also the son-in-law of Dr. Wallace Estill. He helped secure Sewanee as the site for the University of the South. He became the owner of the Sewanee Mining Company after the Civil War. There was a stipulation made by the Mining Company that if the school was not opened within 10 years, the Sewanee Mining Company's land would be forfeited back to the Mining Company. Arthur wrote in a letter that "The ten years had almost elapsed and the title to the property would revert if the school was not opened. Major George R. Fairbanks of Florida had located here in the meantime, and build the famous log house known as "Rebel's Rest". A few days before the ten years elapsed, he assembled a few mountain boys and formally opened this school, and thereby held the title of the property." Arthur sent his letter to the University of the South in 1907 for their 50th year celebration of the laying of the cornerstone. It was also known as the the Semi-Centennial Celebration of the University of the South.
- During years of Arthur Colyar's time organizing and working with Tenneessee Coal Iron and Railroad, he recruited a fellow member of the confederate congress in the post war period to be President of TCI. This was a fellow named James Cartwright Warner. This Mr. Warner had moved to Nashville pennyless from Chattanooga as a result of the Civil War devastation. After working at TCI he continued on in mining interests and became quite wealthy. Mr. Warner had a son named Percy Warner, who continued in his father's steps as a mine and Iron works venturer and at his death, his children donated 1000 acres in Nashville to form Percy Warner park and Edwin Warner Park. (Source TN state library archives : Warner-Cartwright-Phillips Genealogical collection 1791-2016)
TN state archives WHITE, MARGARET (WARNER) (1889-1981)
PAPERS, CA. 1777-1962 in discussing James Cartwright Warner lays out:
1868-1875 Became Secretary and later General Manager of the Tennessee Coal and Railroad Company of which Arthur St. Clair Colyar was president. Iron industry made large advances under his management, new furnaces were
built and other bought. The Chattanooga and Sewanee furnace at Cowan and those at Ensley, Alabama, were built and also the Southern States Coal, Iron, and Land Company; the Pratt Mines; the Alice Furnace; the DeBardelaben Coal and Iron Company; and the Cahaba Coal Company
1876-1885 President of the Tennessee Manufacturing Company. He continued throughout this period to increase the number if iron furnaces and other businesses
1882-1885 President of the Tennessee Coal, Iron, and Railroad Company. Directors
were Nat Baxter, Jr., Samuel J. Keath, John P. White, John P. Williams,A.S. Colyar, Thomas Steger, and George A. Washington
- https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/arthur-st-clair-colyar/
Arthur S. Colyar, attorney, political leader, newspaper editor, and industrialist, was born in Jonesborough, one of thirteen children of Alexander and Katherine Sevier Sherrill Colyar. Colyar received his education in the Washington County common schools, and in 1828 he moved with his parents to Franklin County. He was first employed as a teacher and later read law before his admission to the bar at Winchester in 1846. Politically, Colyar supported the Whigs in a traditionally Democratic stronghold. By 1860 he owned approximately thirty slaves and was a member of the Constitutional Union Party. Colyar opposed secession until Tennessee joined the Confederacy in 1861.
In October 1861, while campaigning for a seat in the First Confederate Congress, Colyar contracted pneumonia. He recuperated and practiced law in Winchester until 1863. One anecdote holds that he defended a Unionist unlawfully jailed by Confederate authorities at the risk of his own life. He left Winchester soon after the abortive Confederate General Assembly met there, following the Tullahoma offensive by General W. S. Rosecrans in June 1863.
In November 1863 Colyar was elected to the Confederate Congress and served from May 1864 until March 18, 1865. Although he supported direct taxation, the agricultural tax-in-kind, and taxes on corporate profits, he opposed economic controls, a stance he repudiated after the war. He opposed the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus. Colyar recognized the wisdom of opening peace talks and refused to support a motion to banish Senator Henry S. Foote for undertaking peace negotiations in early 1865.
At the end of the war Colyar received a quick presidential pardon in September 1865. Thereafter, he lived in Nashville, where he returned to his law practice, engaged in state politics, and became involved in a variety of political and industrial matters. On three occasions Colyar ran unsuccessfully for governor on an independent ticket: in 1870 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the gubernatorial nomination of the Conservatives and Democrats; in 1871 he allied with the Reunion and Reform Association; and in 1872 abandoned that organization and ran as an independent before retiring from the election in favor of John C. Brown. In 1876 he was one of the organizers of the Greenback Party, a delegate to that party's national convention, and an unsuccessful candidate for the general assembly. He was elected as an independent to represent Davidson County for the first and extra sessions of the 1877 legislature. In 1878 he ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
His political activities always were associated with his diverse business interests in industry, mining, and commerce. Colyar's interest in coal mining and the iron furnace industry began in 1858, when he purchased the Old Sewanee Mining Company, which became the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company after the war, and later developed into Tennessee Coal, Iron, and Railway Company, one of the region's most important firms. Colyar sold ownership interest in 1881, but his interest in the company remained substantial. In 1882 he joined with Joseph B. Killebrew and others to organize the Rockdale Company and the Rock City Real Estate Company to acquire and develop mineral rights in Maury County. He also had interests in Rising Fawn Furnace, the Chattanooga Furnace, and Soddy coal mines. In 1881 he purchased controlling ownership of the Nashville American, which he edited and published until 1884.
A New South proponent, Colyar encouraged industrial development through the promotion of northern capital, agricultural diversification, and foreign immigration. As vice-president of Tennessee Coal, Iron, and Railway Company, he avidly supported the state program of convict leasing, which supplied convict labor to replace free miners. In 1885 the Nashville Banner exposed Colyar's involvement in the convict lease system. A legislative investigation and a libel suit resulted. Colyar successfully thwarted an early penal reform movement and escaped censure.
Colyar's interests were varied. He was involved in the building of the University of the South at Sewanee in the postwar years. In 1904 he published the two-volume Life and Times of Andrew Jackson. At an unknown date Colyar married Agnes Erskine Estill of Winchester; they were the parents of eleven children. Two years after the 1886 death of his first wife, Colyar married Mrs. Mary McGuire of Louisville, Kentucky. Colyar died in Nashville in 1907 and is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery.
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1818 - 1907
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