Asa H. Willie
Encyclopedia
Asa Hoxie Willie was a United States Representative representing Texas
and Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court
. During the Civil War
, he served as a major in the Confederate Army. Willie was elected as a Democrat
to one term in Congress from 1873-1875 as an at-large Member.
, on October 11, 1829. Willie attended private schools in Wilkes County, Georgia
and at the age of 16, he moved to Brenham, Texas
in 1846 and studied law in the office of his older brother, James Willie. He was admitted to the bar in 1848 and commenced practice in Brenham. He was elected district attorney of the third judicial district of Texas from 1852-1854.
where he and Alex Pope formed a law partnership. He married Bettie Johnson of Brandon, Mississippi
in 1859. With the outbreak of the Civil War, Willie was commissioned a major in the Seventh Texas Infantry of the Confederate Army on the staff of Colonel John Gregg
. Willie was captured along with most of his troops at Fort Donelson
in February, 1862. The captured men were confined at Johnson's Island
, Ohio
for nine months before the regiment was exchanged in time to take part in the Battle of Chickamauga
in September, 1863. Willie fought the rest of the battles of the Army of Tennessee
until its surrender.
and in 1866 was elected Associate Justice
of the Texas Supreme Court
but was removed by Reconstruction military authorities in 1867. After his service on the court, Willie resumed the practice of law. After Reconstruction was complete and Texans resumed their rights under the U.S. Constitution, Texas received two additional congressional representatives through apportionment
as a result of the 1870 Census. The legislature did not redraw the state's 4 congressional districts and instead allowed two members to be elected in at-large districts
. Willie was elected to Congress in 1872 and served for one term. Willie did not seek reelection in 1874 and returned to Galveston where he was elected city attorney in 1875 and 1876. In 1882, Willie was appointed Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court by Governor Oran M. Roberts
, himself a former Chief Justice of Texas. Willie served on the court until his retirement in 1888.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court
Texas Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for non-criminal matters in the state of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, is the court of last resort for criminal matters.The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices...
. During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he served as a major in the Confederate Army. Willie was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to one term in Congress from 1873-1875 as an at-large Member.
Early life
Willie was born the son of James and Caroline (Hoxie) Willie in Washington, GeorgiaWashington, Georgia
Washington is a city in Wilkes County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,295 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Wilkes County...
, on October 11, 1829. Willie attended private schools in Wilkes County, Georgia
Wilkes County, Georgia
Wilkes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 10,687. The 2007 Census estimate shows a population of 10,262. The county seat is the city of Washington. Referred to as "Washington-Wilkes", the county seat and county are commonly treated as a...
and at the age of 16, he moved to Brenham, Texas
Brenham, Texas
Brenham is a city in east-central Texas in Washington County, Texas, United States, with a population of 16,147 according to the 2009 census. It is the county seat of Washington County...
in 1846 and studied law in the office of his older brother, James Willie. He was admitted to the bar in 1848 and commenced practice in Brenham. He was elected district attorney of the third judicial district of Texas from 1852-1854.
Civil War
In 1858, Willie moved to MarshallMarshall, Texas
Marshall is a city in Harrison County in the northeastern corner of Texas. Marshall is a major cultural and educational center in East Texas and the tri-state area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Marshall was about 23,523...
where he and Alex Pope formed a law partnership. He married Bettie Johnson of Brandon, Mississippi
Brandon, Mississippi
Brandon is a city in Rankin County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 16,436 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rankin CountyBrandon is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
in 1859. With the outbreak of the Civil War, Willie was commissioned a major in the Seventh Texas Infantry of the Confederate Army on the staff of Colonel John Gregg
John Gregg
John Gregg may refer to:* John Gregg Anglican Archbishop of Armagh 1939–59* John Gregg , founder of Greggs bakery* John Gregg , Anglican Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, 1862–78...
. Willie was captured along with most of his troops at Fort Donelson
Fort Donelson
Fort Donelson was a fortress built by the Confederacy during the American Civil War to control the Cumberland River leading to the heart of Tennessee, and the heart of the Confederacy.-History:...
in February, 1862. The captured men were confined at Johnson's Island
Johnson's Island
Johnson's Island is a island in Sandusky Bay, located on the coast of Lake Erie, 3 miles from the city of Sandusky, Ohio. It was the site of a prisoner-of-war camp for Confederate officers captured during the American Civil War. Johnson's Island was the only Union prison exclusively for Southern...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
for nine months before the regiment was exchanged in time to take part in the Battle of Chickamauga
Battle of Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...
in September, 1863. Willie fought the rest of the battles of the Army of Tennessee
Army of Tennessee
The Army of Tennessee was the principal Confederate army operating between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. It was formed in late 1862 and fought until the end of the war in 1865, participating in most of the significant battles in the Western Theater...
until its surrender.
Judge and Congressman
After the Civil War, Willie moved to Galveston, TexasGalveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
and in 1866 was elected Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
of the Texas Supreme Court
Texas Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for non-criminal matters in the state of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, is the court of last resort for criminal matters.The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices...
but was removed by Reconstruction military authorities in 1867. After his service on the court, Willie resumed the practice of law. After Reconstruction was complete and Texans resumed their rights under the U.S. Constitution, Texas received two additional congressional representatives through apportionment
Apportionment
The legal term apportionment means distribution or allotment in proper shares.It is a term used in law in a variety of senses...
as a result of the 1870 Census. The legislature did not redraw the state's 4 congressional districts and instead allowed two members to be elected in at-large districts
Texas's At-large congressional district
Texas has had At-Large Congressional Seats at various times in its history. It was often the case when the state received new congressional seats as a result of reapportionment that instead of immediately redistricting the state's congressional districts, a new at-large seat would be elected by...
. Willie was elected to Congress in 1872 and served for one term. Willie did not seek reelection in 1874 and returned to Galveston where he was elected city attorney in 1875 and 1876. In 1882, Willie was appointed Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court by Governor Oran M. Roberts
Oran M. Roberts
Oran Milo Roberts , was the 17th Governor of Texas from January 21, 1879 to January 16, 1883. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Roberts County, Texas, is named after him....
, himself a former Chief Justice of Texas. Willie served on the court until his retirement in 1888.