William Hickman Clopton

As printed in 1898

WILLIAM HICKMAN CLOPTON, United States District Attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, is a native of Alabama, and was born near Huntsville, August 24, 1847. His father, Dr. James Alexander Clopton, was a noted physician and surgeon of the South, and his father was a soldier of the War of 1812. His mother was Miss Mary Penney. The family was well-to-do and of social standing, and the son was given a good education, and when ten years of age was sent to Hoffey's Boarding School, situated in northern Alabama. The academic courses were begun at LaGrange Military Institute, of LaGrange, Alabama, which he entered as a cadet in the fall of 1860. From there he went to the Southern University, at Greensborough, Alabama.

But the disturbance and stress of the great war between the States were constantly becoming more pronounced. The armies of the North were continually pushing southward, and Alabama had need of every one of her sons. Thus it was that the student, though but a boy of sixteen, enlisted as a soldier under the Stars and Bars. He went directly from the college to the Confederate Army, enlisting as a private in the escort of General Daniel Adams.

In October, 1865, he entered the University of Virginia. In July, 1868, he graduated from the law department of the noted University, standing high among his fellows.

The war had wrought a stupendous change in the South. She lay back exhausted by the struggle to which she had sacrificed the flower of her manhood. The young collegian's family had suffered with the others, and as he must need make his own way in life, he was convinced that Alabama and the South then offered small opportunity to the young man of energy and ambition, and accordingly determined to seek his fortune to the westward. He reached St. Louis within a few weeks after his graduation from the University of Virginia and was admitted to the bar in that city in October, 1868. Since that date he has been a member of the St. Louis Bar and has pursued his calling with a constantly rising reputation. As a lawyer he is undoubtedly able and gifted, and as a man, is conscientious and strictly honorable. There has been little of the pyrotechnic or the sensational in his career as a lawyer, but he is noted rather for his solid attainments and the depth of his legal learning. There is nothing superficial about him, but much that is genuine and worthy. He is an original and a profound thinker, is an eloquent speaker, and the sincerity of his purpose is stamped on his every action. He is of warm and rather sanguine temperament, but nevertheless, his friendships are sincere and lasting. He is kindly and courteous, genial and sociable, and is a gentleman of culture and aesthetic tastes. He is modest withal and the appointment as United States District Attorney which came to him in 1894, was an unsolicited testimonial of appreciation of his worth. He accepted the office and has discharged its duties with rare tact and splendid ability. Prior to this appointment he had an excellent civil practice, much of this business consisting of land and insurance cases.

Mr. Clopton's wife was Miss Belle Bryan, daughter of Dr. John Gano Bryan, an eminent physician of St. Louis. They were married January 29, 1873, and Mrs. Clopton died November 9, 1893. She was a lady of exceptional culture and refinement. Three children were born to the union, of whom Malvern B. (21), is now a student at the University of Virginia; William H., Junior (17), is a cadet at Missouri Military Academy at Mexico, and Emily (11), is a student at Sacred Heart Convent at Maryville, Missouri.

As printed in The history of the bench and bar of Missouri : With reminiscences of the prominent lawyers of the past, and a record of the law's leaders of the present (1898). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.