My Genealogy Hound

Judge William C. Langford, attorney, El Dorado, Ark. Judge Langford is one of those men, too few in number, who fully recognize the truth so often urged by the sages of the law, that, of all the men, the reading and thoughts of a lawyer should be the most extended. Systematic reading gives a more comprehensive grasp to the mind, variety and richness to thought, and a clearer perception of the motive of men and the principles of things, indeed, of the very spirit of laws. This he has found very essential in the prosecution of his professional practice. Judge Langford was born in Alabama, September 3, 1826, and is the son of Jarvis and Mary (Christie) Langford. The father was born January 25, 1778, and in 1801 went to Georgia with his parents, where he followed farming and millwrighting for many years. He was married three times, and his third wife was the Judge’s mother. He became the father of three children by his previous marriages, all daughters, and by his third marriage ten children were born — eight sons and two daughters. In 1841 the father moved to Arkansas, landed at Scarsboro Landing, Union County, settled on a farm, and later engaged in merchandising, being the third merchant in that place. He built up a large business, but withdrew in 1850, and the business was continued by his two sons, James R. and Joseph Jackson. This firm continued as Langford Bros, until 1861, when Jackson died, and the other brother continued until 1885, when he also died, leaving four children well off. The father of our subject died March 20, 1859, at the age of eighty-two years. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, was with Gen. Floyd in Georgia, and his wife drew a pension until her death, which occurred in 1882, at the age of eighty-five years. The paternal grandfather, Frank Langford, was a native of Maryland, and was an Irishman. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and served, probably, through the entire time. He died in Georgia at the age of ninety four years. The maternal grandfather, Jeremiah Christie, was also in the Revolution and served principally with Gens. Green and Morgan. He was at the battle of Guilford Court House and Eutaw, and was mustered out of service in South Carolina, where he remained and married. After his wife’s death he commenced preaching in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and became one of the prominent characters in that locality. He lived to a ripe old age and died highly respected. Judge William C. Langford passed his boyhood and youth on the farm, and practically had no advantages for an education. He came with his parents to Arkansas in 1841, and so limited had been his education that he could scarcely read at that time. While his father conducted the store, the responsibility of looking after everything fell upon our subject’s shoulders, and after his day’s work was done he would study at night by the light of pine knots in the fireplace. After learning to read, he began the study of history and geography, later mathematics, and still later, Latin. From this beginning he has been a student ever since. In 1854 he was elected justice, and though a Whig in politics and this a strong Democratic county, he held this office for six years. During the campaign of 1860 he made a canvass of the county for the ticket of Bell and Everett. In the same year he was elected county judge on the Whig ticket, being one of that party to secure office. For a number of years previous to this he had been studying Blackstone and other works on law, and in 1860 he was licensed to practice in that profession, securing this principally for the transaction of his own business. Judge Langford was married, in 1851, to Miss Martha Witherington, a native of Alabama. She died in July, 1862, and left four children: Ida (wife of H. W. Goodwin, of El Dorado), William H. (resides at Pine Bluff), John (editor of the Sentiment at El Dorado), and James A. (in Pine Bluff). At the outbreak of the Civil War the Judge enlisted, and on the organization of the company was elected captain. This, Company F, Nineteenth Arkansas Regiment Infantry, left El Dorado in March, 1862, went to Corinth, and at the reorganization of the regiment was discharged and returned home. In 1863 he re-enlisted and was appointed commissary of what was called Col. Slemmon’s brigade, and. held this position until the war closed. He served in the Trans-Mississippi Department, was with Gen. Price in his Missouri raid, and was in Texas at the surrender. He immediately returned to El Dorado and began the practice of law, and in connection with this he carried on agricultural pursuits. In 1866 he married his present wife, who was formerly Miss Martha A. Chandler, a daughter of William Chandler, one of the pioneers of Arkansas from Alabama. Mr. Chandler was a native of Georgia, and became a prominent and well known citizen of Union County. His death occurred in 1863. In 1873 Judge Langford was appointed prosecuting attorney of the Thirteenth District, served one term, and in 1882 was elected to the General Assembly, and re-elected in 1884. While in the Legislature he introduced the bill creating this judicial district, and many others of a local nature, many amendments which were of importance and benefit, and never missed a roll call. He has served as mayor of El Dorado, and many years as school director, and takes an active interest in educational matters. The Judge has resided in Arkansas since 1841, has been in nearly every county in the State, in most of which he has attended court, and has never carried a pistol. He owns two good farms of 581 acres, and the portions that are not cleared are covered with good timber. His home place, consisting of twenty-four acres in the corporation limits of El Dorado, was purchased by the Judge in 1872, with the present fine residence. He has been a Free Mason for thirty-nine years, and is one of the oldest in the county. He was master of Charapagnolle Lodge No. 68 for eight years in succession, and of El Dorado Lodge No. 13 for seven years. He was also high priest of the Chapter No. 35 for six years, and district deputy grand master of the State for four years in the Fifth District. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and is superintendent of the Sunday-school, having filled that position for some time. The Judge is one of the leading and progressive citizens of Union County, standing first in public estimation, in influence, in knowledge of men and affairs, in experience, in judgment and discrimination. He is a leader in all things.