JOHN DAVID WEEDEN

COL. JOHN DAVID WEEDEN, a leading attorney of Florence, and a leading citizen of Lauderdale county, was born at Huntsville, Ala., July 27, 1840. He is a son of William and Jane (Urquhart) Weeden, the former of whom was a Virginian, came to Alabama, about 1823, and located at Huntsville. He was an extensive planter, owning and operating plantation in Marengo, Sumter and Madison counties, but residing in Huntsville. He died in 1850. His wife was a native of Augusta, Ga., and a daughter of David Urquhart, a native of Scotland. She died in 1885. Col. Weeden was reared in Huntsville, and was educated at the university of Alabama, graduating from that institution in 1859. After leaving college, he read law under Chancellor Keyes, at Montgomery, and in 1860, was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of the state. Returning to Huntsville, he engaged in the practice of law until the breaking out of the war, and early in the spring of 1861 he entered the Confederate service, as second lieutenant of the Ninth Alabama infantry. He remained with this regiment until January, 1862, when he was ordered to Nashville, Tenn., and was then made adjutant of the forty-ninth Alabama infantry. A few days after the battle of Shiloh, he was promoted to be major of the regiment, and subsequently, during the summer of 1863, he was still farther promoted to be lieutenant-colonel of his regiment, and commanded it until the second day's battle of Nashville, December 16, 1864, when he was wounded, taken prisoner, and taken to Johnson's island, and was there held prisoner until August 1, 1865. After the war, Col. Weeden returned to Huntsville, and there resumed the practice of law. He was made a trustee of the university of Alabama. In 1882, and in 1885, was elected by the trustees, professor of the law department of the university, and held the position three years, resigning in 1888. He then resumed general practice in Florence, where he has since resided. In 1892, Col. Weeden, at the solicitation of his friends, became a candidate for the position of state senator, from the counties of Lauderdale and Limestone, and was defeated in the primaries, receiving, however, a handsome vote, and carrying the city of Florence by over 200 majority. In 1890, Col. Weeden was recommended by the bar of Lauderdale county, and by the attorneys that practiced in her courts, for the appointment of judge of the district court having jurisdiction in the counties of Lauderdale and Colbert; but notwithstanding the earnest and enthusiastic support accorded his candidacy he failed to receive the appointment. He is a director in the Sweet Water Land company, and is its attorney. He was married in September, 1870, to the daughter of ex-Gov. Robert M. Patton, of Alabama, and of this marriage have been born four children. [Memorial Record of Alabama. Vol. II. Brant & Fuller. Madison, Wis., 1893. pp. 372-373]