Lemuel
Jackson Standifer
From: HISTORY OF ALABAMA AND DICTIONARY OF ALABAMA BIOGRAPHY; Vol. IV; p. 1612.
Lemuel Jackson Standifer was a lawyer, probate judge and US Commissioner. Cherokee County History; Cherokee County Officials, p. 247. "Judge Lemuel J. Standifer, lawyer and probate judge for 12 years, United States Commissioner, was born in 1805 in Tennessee. He died in Gadsden (Etowah Co). He was the son of William H. and Mary (Hogue) Standifer of Georgia, who moved to Cherokee County in 1834, said to have been the second white family in that community (Gaylesville). Judge Standifer attended the local school and studied and practiced law in Rome. He returned to Alabama in the later 1850's and was elected probate judge in 1858. He served in the Confederate States Army for a few months. He was probate judge until 1868. (Lists children.) Walter S. Standifer, born 1856, in Cherokee County, entered the furniture business in Gadsden, was appointed postmaster of Gadsden in 1891. William Henderson Standifer, born 1850, was mayor of Gadsden three times, during which the city water works was built and street improvements were made."
Gadsden Times, Dec. 19, 1949.
Back in September, 1870, Judge Lemuel J. Standifer, head of one of the most
important and influential families of this city, was nominated a candidate for
Congress from the Fifth Alabama District by the Republican party. His background
is an interesting one. He was born in Tennessee and came to Alabama while a mere
boy, settling in Cherokee County. At Centre, he read law and was admitted to
practice at Rome, GA. He practiced there a short while and came back to Alabama.
When the Civil War broke out he entered the Confederate Army, serving for a
short while or until he was discharged for disability. When he joined the army
he was probate judge of Cherokee County. After he was discharged he came back to
his judgeship and served, all told, about twelve years. He moved to Gadsden in
1868 and practiced law until 1874 when he retired. He served as United States
Commissioner and as government land agent for some time. Judge Standifer's wife
was Miss Sarah F. Underwood, daughter of one of the most distinguished men of
Georgia. They had eight children, among who were Mrs. John H. Disque, Mrs. W. W.
Stevenson, Mrs. John L. Daughdrill, Mrs. Ada Hudgins, Wm. H., Walter S. and John
Standifer, all of Gadsden. The family home was on North Sixth Street, a fine
colonial house atop a hill overlooking Tuscaloosa Avenue and Sycamore Flats.
From: Memorial
Record of Alabama, pub. Brant & Fuller, WI, 1893; p.1021
LEMUEL J. STANDIFER was born in Tennessee, and came in his
youth to the state of Alabama, where he received his education and afterward
read law. In course of time he was admitted to the bar at Rome, Ga., in
which state he practiced his profession for some time. Mr. Standifer
belongs to a well known George family, who removed from that state into
Tennessee, and took up their residence in Bledsoe county. From this county
Mr. Standifer's father moved to Cherokee county, Ala., in an early day, and died
there in 1860, at an advanced age. Mr. Standifer's mother was a Miss
Hogue, who was mother of seven sons and three daughters. She died in 1882,
when eighty-years old. Lemuel J. Standifer, after practicing his
profession for a short time in Georgia, and marrying at Cold Springs, returned
to Alabama, and until 1860, was a farmer. In that year he became a
candidate for the office of probate judge, was elected and filled the office a
short time. He then entered the army, was in active service, on behalf of
the southern cause, for a time, when, on account of physical disability, he was
discharged. He then came back to his home and resumed his judicial duties,
which he continued to discharge until 1868. From that time until 1874 he
practiced law, and when sixty-nine years old was appointed United States
commissioner, located at Gadsden. In this capacity he served several
years. Mr. Standifer's wife was a Miss Sarah F. Underwood, who was born in
December 1850, and of their marriage were born eight children, viz: Leoni, wife
of John L. Daughrill; William H.; L. V., widow of C. H. Harrison, deceased;
Augusta ., wife of John H. Disque; Walter S.; Florence, wife of W. W. Stevenson;
John H., and Ada. The Standifer family are strict Presbyterians, liberal,
progressive, and highly esteemed.
