William Terry (Congressional Biographical Directory)

TERRY, William, a Representative from Virginia; born in Amherst County, Va., August 14, 1824; attended an “old field school” in Amherst County; was graduated from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville in 1848; taught school; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1851 and commenced practice in Wytheville, Va.; engaged in newspaper work; served in the Confederate Army as a lieutenant in the Fourth Regiment, Virginia Infantry; promoted to major in 1862, colonel in February 1864, and commissioned brigadier general May 20, 1864; resumed the practice of law in Wytheville; elected as a Democrat to the Forty-second Congress (March 4, 1871-March 3, 1873); unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1872; elected to the Forty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1875-March 3, 1877); unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1876; delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1880; resumed the practice of law; drowned while trying to ford Reed Creek, near Wytheville, Va., September 5, 1888; interment in East End Cemetery, Wytheville, Va.