Judge Turley was the second to leave the court. He was succeeded by A. W. O. Totten.
Judge Totten was born in Middle Tennessee; but his father removed with him when a youth to Gibson County, West Tenn. He studied law and commenced the practice at Trenton, the county-seat. After making a name for himself at the Trenton Bar, he removed to Jackson, that being the place of meeting of the Supreme and Federal Courts for the Western Division of the State. On the resignation of Judge Turley as Supreme Judge in 1850, he was first appointed and then elected to take his place. He was on the bench until 1855, when he resigned, being succeeded by Judge Wm. R. Harris.
Judge Totten was not a man of preeminent ability, but he filled the measure of judicial duty. He was deliberate in the formation of his opinions, diligent in research, attached to established precedent, and could not be swayed from his conscientious convictions. He died in 1867.
On the resignation of Judge Totten, he was succeeded by Judge Harris of Memphis.
William R. Harris was born on Sept. 26, 1803, in Montgomery County, N. C. At an early age he emigrated to Tennessee with his father, who settled on Duck River in Bedford County, afterwards removing to Franklin County. His father was a poor man, and the son was forced to work to help maintain the family. His education was such as could be had in the academy at Winchester in the intervals between the making of crops. Even after he came of age and was appointed a deputy-sheriff of Franklin County, he applied himself at night, and kept up with his class in Carrick Academy. In 1825 he began to read law under Isaac Cook, Esq., at Lawrenceburg, being admitted to practice in 1827. He opened an office in Paris, Henry County, West Tenn., which had been thrown open to occupation only a short while before, on the extinguishment of the Indian title. Its rich alluvial lands caused a great inflow of population, and unexampled prosperity resulted. Its citizenship was of the highest order. Judge Harris was one of the founders of such a community. He rapidly acquired an extensive and lucrative practice. In December, 1836, when only thirty-three years old, and after practising his profession only nine years, he was appointed by Governor Cannon to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge John W. Cook, as judge of the Ninth Circuit. He was afterward elected to the position by the Legislature, and served until 1845. On his retirement he resumed the practice, removing to Memphis in 1851. On the death of Judge Turley, he was appointed his successor as judge of the Common Law and Chancery Court, and was afterward elected to the place. On the resignation of Judge Totten as Supreme Judge in August, 1855. Gov. Andrew Johnson appointed Judge Harris as his successor. On Dec. 1, 1855, he was elected by the people for the full constitutional term; but his term was destined to be cut short. On Jan. 13, 1858, he was killed by the explosion of the boilers of the Mississippi River steamboat "Pennsylvania," bound from New Orleans to Memphis.
Judge Harris came of an eminently strongminded family. One brother was a minister of the Methodist Church, and one of the ablest preachers of the denomination. Another brother, Isham G. Harris, was war-Governor of Tennessee, and has represented his State for three terms in the United States Senate.
Judge Harris had paid particular attention to the common law, going back of its rules in order to learn their origin. He was very familiar with the adjudications and statute laws of his own State. As to matters of practice he had no equal. His untimely end cut short what would have been a most brilliant judicial career.
On the death of Judge Harris the melancholy duty of appointing his successor fell to his brother, Isham G., then Governor of
