My Genealogy Hound

William W. Mansfield, the subject of this sketch is a native of Kentucky. After receiving a common-school education he studied law in the office of Judge Loving, at Bowling Green, in that State, and was admitted to the bar there in 1852. Early in the following year he came to Arkansas, and located at Ozark, which has ever since been his home. He was among the first school-teachers of the village, and while thus engaged served also for a short time as justice of the peace, having been appointed to fill a vacancy in that office. While thus occupied he pursued his studies and gave attention to the small legal business which was occasionally entrusted to him. After two or three years his law business increased, and he was enabled to relinquish other employments. In 1856 he was chosen to represent Franklin County in the General Assembly, and served in that body to the satisfaction of his constituents. Two years later he was an unsuccessful candidate for the office of prosecuting attorney. He was a delegate to the convention of 1861, which passed an ordinance of secession, and was a member of the convention of 1874, which framed the present constitution of the State. At the first election held under the new constitution he was elected judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, and occupied that position until near the close of his term, in 1878, when he resigned, and resumed the practice of the law. In 1882 his name was submitted to the Democratic State Convention of that year as a candidate for Congressman for the State at large. He was defeated by Hon. C. R. Breckinridge. Under an act of the Legislature he was appointed by Gov. Berry, in 1883, to digest the statutes of the State, and compiled the work published in 1884, and usually referred to as “Mansfield’s Digest.” After completing his labors as digester he again returned to the practice of his profession, in which he continued until October, 1887, when he was appointed reporter of the supreme court. The latter office he occupies at this date (1888). In the year 1859 Judge Mansfield was united in marriage to Miss Sallie H. Shores, a native of Franklin County. She and her husband are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Their present family consists of four sons and two daughters.