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William S. Cantrell, State's attorney for Franklin County, was born in that county February 6, 1851, the son of Tilmon B. and Euphemia D. (Newman) Cantrell, natives of Tennessee and Illinois respectively, whose biography see elsewhere. Our subject was educated at the State University, Bloomington, Ind., after his attendance at common schools. In 1869 he began the study of law, in Benton, reading with Youngblood & Barr, and later attended Judge Duff's law school, at Shawneetown. Since 1873, when he was admitted, he has been in continuous and successful practice ever since. He is a Democrat, and was master in chancery court from 1873 to 1879. In 1884 he was elected to his present office, which he most efficiently fills. March 2, 1882, he married Mary J., daughter of Hon. Charles Burnett, of Shawneetown, and who is a native of Illinois. Their children are Charles A. and Mary A. Since April, 1882, he has been a Mason, and in the following October was appointed on the appeals
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and grievance committee of the State Grand Lodge. He is a charter member of Benton Lodge, No. 2000, K. of H., and was Supreme Representative to the Supreme Lodge of the United states, which met in 1883, in Galveston, Tex. He is also a member of Charity Lodge, No. 288, I. 0. 0. F., and is at present Worshipful Master of Benton Lodge, No. 64, A. F. & A. M.