| >BOSWELL, Clarence A., former county judge of Polk County, has been busily
engaged in a successful practice of law and many public interests at
Bartow for nearly thirty years. His partner in the law is Solon G. Wilson. They formed a partnership in 1898, and it is the oldest law firm in this section of the state. Mr. Boswell was born in Lee County, Alabama, October 12, 1869, son of William M.. and Achsah E. (SCOTT) Boswell. His father was born in Montgomery County, Alabama, son of Dr. Thomas C. Boswell, a native of Alabama and for many years a practicing physician in Montgomery County. The Boswell's are of an old English family. William M. Boswell was a teacher for many years, and for thirty years was a druggist and also a local Methodist preacher. In 1886 he moved with his family to Florida, locating at Lakeland, and was one of the earliest business men of that town. He located here when there were only three store buildings. He did much to build up a sound educational policy for the new town, and served as a member of the board of both the town and county schools. He died at the age of seventy-two. His wife Achsah was born in Lee County, Alabama, of English and Scotch ancestry. She died at Lakeland at the age of thirty-seven. William M. Boswell and wife reared four of five children, three daughters and two sons. Clarence A. Boswell, oldest of the children, was about seventeen years old when he accompanied his parents to Florida. He has attended high school in Alabama, and continued his education at Lakeland. He studied law with the firm of Tucker and Tucker at Lakeland, and also took a course in law from Sprague Correspondence School of Law. He was admitted to the bar in 1897, and since December, 1896, his home has been at Bartow. He was elected and served as mayor of Lakeland from 1894 to 1896. He was a county judge of Polk County from 1897 to 1905, and since the latter year has been in private practice at Bartow. However, for eight years he served as city attorney of Bartow. Mr. Boswell has one of the finest and most complete law libraries south of Jacksonville, and owns probably the best private library in the state. On September 22, 1897, he married Miss Sue H. HOOD, of Bartow, a native of South Carolina. Their oldest child, Louis Tiffin, died at the age of two years, They have three living children: 1.- Clarence A., Jr., a student of law at the University of Virginia; 2. -Martha, born in 1909. 3.- Frances, born in 1912. Mr. Boswell has held all the chairs in the Masonic Lodge, some of the offices in the Royal Arch Chapter, and has filled all the offices in the Knights of Pythias Lodge and several times has been a representative to Grand Lodge. He is active in the success of the democratic party, and has been chairman of the executive committee for six years. He is member of the Board of Trade, and for twenty-five years has been a steward of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. |
| > Obituary of Judge Clarence A. Boswell - Thursday, August 14 ( special ), 1941, Evening Ledger. Bartow- Polk County, Florida. - Clarence A. Boswell, Sr., 71, One of the oldest lawyers in South Florida in point of service, died at 11:30 this morning at his home on South Broadway. Judge Boswell was born in 1870 in Lee County, Alabama and moved to Florida with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William M. Boswell in 1886. He was educated in Alabama and Lakeland schools and in 1897 began the practice of law. The following year he went into partnership with Solon G. Wilson of Bartow in what has been reguarded as one of the oldest law practices in the state. For several years he served as Mayor of Lakeland and it was during his administration, that Oaks were planted in Munn Park. He became County Judge in 1897 and served 2 terms. For 12 years. Judge Boswell was Chairman of the County Democratic Executive Committee and served as secretary of the Organization until reciently, he was also a member of the State Democratic Committee. At the time of his death, Judge Boswell was County Probation officer. He was a member of County and State Bar Associations, Elks, Knights of Pythias and Masons. Survivors are: his widow; 3 daughters, Mrs. Lanier Upshaw of Lakeland, Mrs. J.W.Hunter of Pierce and Mrs. Alton MvNair of Haines City.; a son Clarence A. Boswell, Jr. at present attorney for the County School Board, a position held for many years by the deceased. Funeral arrangements by Whidden ( incomplete at this time ) Sources: Lakeland Evening Telegraph - Various historical pages. ( note, his bio states he was born in 1869 ) |