Thomas J. Word

Thomas J. Word
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi's at-large district
In office May 29, 1838 – March 3, 1839
Preceded by	John Francis Hamtramck Claiborne
Succeeded by	Albert G. Brown
Member of the North Carolina House of Commons
In office 1832
Personal details
Born	Thomas Jefferson Word (1805-02-06)February 6, 1805 Surry County, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	May 25, 1890(1890-05-25) (aged 85)
Political party	Whig
Profession	Politician, lawyer

Thomas Jefferson Word (February 6, 1805 – May 25, 1890)[1] was a U.S. Representative from Mississippi.

Born in Surry County, North Carolina, Word studied law, passed his bar exam, and established a private practice. He served as member of the North Carolina House of Commons in 1832. He later moved to Mississippi and settled in Pontotoc, where he became active in state and local politics.

Word successfully contested the election of Samuel J. Gholson to the 25th Congress, and the election was set aside by the House of Representatives. Word was subsequently elected as a Whig to fill the vacancy caused by this action (May 29, 1838 – March 3, 1839). He was not reelected and retired from national politics to resume his legal practice.

In 1854, he moved to Anderson County, Texas.

He was a great-great-granduncle of writer William Faulkner.^[citation needed]

References

• United States Congress. "Thomas J. Word (id: W000742)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

Notes

1. Several biographies of his nephew, William Falkner, mention that Jeff Word was born around 1809. For example, see Joel Williamson's William Faulkner and Southern History p. 38.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by John Francis Hamtramck Claiborne	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi's at-large congressional district May 29, 1838 – March 3, 1839	Succeeded by Albert G. Brown