My Genealogy Hound

George W. Winstead, attorney at law, of Dresden, Tenn., is a son of S. M. and Priscilla (Hearn) Winstead, who were born in North Carolina and Tennessee in 1805 and 1831, respectively. The father was a farmer, and became a resident of Weakley County, Tenn., in 1835. He was twice married, his first wife dying a few years after their marriage. He was a man of fine business qualities, and at the time of his death, in October, 1877, owned a large quantity of land. He was the father of eight children. The mother now resides upon the old homestead. Our subject, George W. Winstead, was born in Weakley County, December 28, 1857, and was academically educated in his native county, and in 1877 entered the East Tennessee Wesleyan University at Athens, now the Grant Memorial University, taking a complete course, graduating June 1, 1881. At the early age of seventeen he began teaching school, but after his graduation was elected principal of the Sharon schools, and in April, 1882, while teaching there, was elected county superintendent of schools, to fill the unexpired term of E. W. Edwards. In the fall of 1882 he was elected principal of the Dresden schools, all the while looking after the interests of the public schools. In January, 1883, he was re-elected to the office of county superintendent, and held the position until the summer of 1884, when he resigned. He was an ardent worker in building up the schools of Weakley County, and was one of its first educators. During this time he devoted his leisure hours to the study of law, and in 1883 opened a law office in Dresden, and entered upon the practice of his profession. January 1, 1884, he was admitted to practice law before the courts of Tennessee, and for the past three years has given the practice of law his entire attention. He is a young man of temperate habits, a close student, and one who applies himself closely to his profession, the results being very satisfactory. He has always been an earnest Republican in politics, and his first presidential vote was cast for James G. Blaine. In 1884 he was elector on the Blaine and Logan ticket, and canvassed the Ninth Congressional District in their behalf, his opponent being W. P. Caldwell, ex-member of Congress. Mr. Winstead is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.