Williamson Simpson Oldham

Williamson Simpson Oldham Sr. (June 19, 1813 – May 8, 1868) was an American politician who served in Arkansas state government, and as a Confederate States Senator from Texas from 1862 to 1865.

Williamson Simpson Oldham, Sr.
Confederate States Senator
from Texas
In office
February 18, 1862 – March 18, 1865
Preceded byNew constituency
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Deputy from Texas
to the Provisional Congress
of the Confederate States
In office
February 4, 1861 – February 17, 1862
Preceded byNew constituency
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Personal details
Born(1813-06-19)June 19, 1813
Franklin County, Tennessee
DiedMay 8, 1868(1868-05-08) (aged 54)
Houston, Texas
Resting placeMasonic Cemetery,
Eagle Lake, Texas
Political partyDemocratic

Biography

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Born in Franklin County, Tennessee, Oldham settled at Fayetteville, Arkansas, in 1835, was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1838 and 1842. He was elected as a justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court in 1842. In 1848 he resigned to run for Congress, but was defeated, thereafter moving to Austin, Texas.[1] He represented Texas in the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1862, and was a senator in both the First and Second Confederate States congresses from 1862 to 1865. Oldham died on May 8, 1868.[2]

Legacy

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Oldham County, Texas (established 1881), is named after him.

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In Harry Turtledove's 1994 alternative history novel, Guns of the South, a "Congressman Oldham" from Texas is mentioned as sponsoring a bill to re-enslave freedmen in a victorious Confederacy. Since the setting was the time of the 2nd Confederate States Congress, it is likely that Turtledove was referring to Senator Oldham.

References

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  1. ^ Fay Hempstead, Historical Review of Arkansas (1911), p. 452.
  2. ^ Williamson Simpson Oldham. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
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