Joseph Conn Guild was born in Stewart (now Houston) County December 14, 1802. In 1810 his father removed with his father to Sumner County and settled near the headwaters of Bledsoe's Creek, where both he and his wife died a few years later, leaving two sons, the elder of which, James Guild, became a notes physician in Tuscaloosa, Ala. And the subject of this sketch, who in 1821 began the study of law in the office of Foster & Brown, in Nashville. IN 1822 he began the practice of law in Gallatin. In 1836 he enlisted for the Seminole war, and was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment, of which William Trousdale was Colonel, and served with signal gallantry. IN 1852 he was elected Chancellor for the Seventh division and served until the breaking out of the Civil War. Soon after the close of the war he removed to Nashville, where, in 1870, he was elected Judge of the Law Court, serving until 1877. In 1878 he published his "Old Times in Tennessee," an octavo volume replete with interest. He served three terms in the State House of Representative and one term in the State Senate. He died in Nashville on January 8, 1883.

On December 19, 1826, Judge Guild married Catherine Blackmore, a daughter of Major George D. Blackmore, a pioneer of Sumner County. They had five children: George B. Guild, a lawyer, who now resides on Woodland street, Nashville: Bettie, who married Colonel Baxter Smith, one of Nashville's most prominent lawyers; Florence, who married Captain T. L. Dodd; Kitty, who married John M. McKee. The second son was Walter J. Guild.

An interesting story about a house owned by Joseph Conn Guild can be found on the Interesting Sumner Tidbits link, called Controversy Surronds Judge's Home.