Thomas P. Winchester was born in Sumner county, Tennessee, September 13, 1850, at Cragfont, the palatial seat of his grandfather, General Winchester, of historic fame, who was the friend and bosom companion of General Jackson. Hon. George W. Winchester, his father, was a lawyer, polished orator and gentleman, universally esteemed. The civil war closed all the schools in middle Tennessee, and interrupted the young man’s education during the period it lasted, and to this another great added — financial distress and wrecked fortunes was the universal inheritance of the southern people in the memorable decade succeeding the civil war. This threw the young man entirely on his own resources for an education, and he went to work resolutely to overcome the obstacles in his way, and in doing so displayed a moral heroism worthy of success.

On the borders of his grandfather’s estate was located Rural Academy, an institution loved and famous in its day for imparting ripe scholarship. (The author was educated at Wirt College, only four miles distant from this famous academy, and was a frequent visitor at that seat of learning for several years.) To this institution young Winchester resorted after the war, and taught the junior classes, to pay his way through the senior department, and thus acquired a good education in the English branches. His father, shortly after the war terminated, moved to Memphis, Tennessee, and thither the son resorted, and read law one year under his father, preparatory to entry at a law school. In 1871, 72 he attended the law department of the University of Virginia, and in the fall of 1872 was, at Memphis, admitted to the bar, where he practiced his profession continuously until June, 1880, when he moved to Fort Smith. He is a pronounced and fearless leader in the temperance cause, and fearlessly proclaims his sentiments on all subjects of public interest ; is equally zealous and efficient in Sabbath-school and church polity, being an active steward in the Methodist church. He is a good lawyer, safe adviser, warm and open-hearted friend, and fearless enemy.