Felix Zollicoffer Wilson (1866–1950) was an American Democratic politician. He served as the

Mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...

from 1921 to 1922.

Early life

Wilson was born in

Davidson County, Tennessee Davidson County is a county in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is located in the heart of Middle Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 715,884, making it the 2nd most populous county in Tennessee. Its county seat is Nashville, ...

on December 27, 1866. His father was James Hazzard Wilson and his mother was the daughter of Confederate General

Felix Zollicoffer Felix Kirk Zollicoffer (May 19, 1812 – January 19, 1862) was an American newspaperman, slave owner, politician, and soldier. A three-term US Representative from Tennessee, an officer in the United States Army, and a Confederate brigadier g ...

. Wilson was educated at the Howard School and Goodman's Business College in Nashville.

Career

Wilson began his career as a grocer at the age of 14. Wilson served on the Nashville City Council in 1902 and in 1943. He became County Register in 1945. He was the trustee of Davidson County from 1914 to 1917. Wilson was elected as Mayor of Nashville by the city council, after the council had voted to suspend Mayor William Gupton. He was seen as a reformer, and supported women's rights.Kriste Lindenmeyer (ed.), ''Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Lives: Women in American History'', Rowman & Littlefield, 2000, p. 21

/ref> However, he was voted out of office by the city council in November 1922. Wilson became magistrate from the First Civil District in 1930. He elected as the county register for Davidson county in 1945.

Personal life and death

Wilson was married to Mary Pendergast in 1888. They had two sons, James P. Wilson and Mizell Wilson, and three daughters. Wilson resided at 1900 West End Avenue in Nashville. He was a member of the

Knights of Pythias The Knights of Pythias is a Fraternal and service organizations, fraternal organization and secret society founded in Washington, D.C., on . The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an Act of Co ...

and the Order of Red Men. He was a council commander of the

Woodmen of the World WoodmenLife (officially Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society) is a not-for-profit fraternal benefit society founded in 1890, based in Omaha, Nebraska, United States, that operates a large privately held insurance company for its members. ...

. Wilson died on February 12, 1950. His funeral was held at the Christ Church Cathedral, and he was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery.

References

1866 births 1950 deaths 20th-century mayors of places in Tennessee Politicians from Anderson, South Carolina Tennessee Democrats Mayors of Nashville, Tennessee {{Tennessee-mayor-stub