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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01794 0286
A History
OF
Tennessee and Tennesseans
The Leaders and Representative Men in Commerce, Industry and Modern Activities
BY
WILL T. HALE
Author of "The Backward Trail: Stories of the Indians and Tennessee Pioneers," "Great Southerners," "Marriage and Divorce, and Land Laws of Tennessee," "True Stories of James- town, Va.", "An Autumn Lane and Other Poems" and "Folk-Tales of the Southern Hill People,"
AND
DIXON L. MERRITT
VOLUME V
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY (Not Inc. ) CHICAGO AND NEW YORK 1913
1
1
1277103
ABabilsons.
Tennessee and Tennesseans
SAMUEL BENNETT WILSON. In the financial system which so facili- tates the operations even of local trade, Cross Plains included among its capable bank officials, the genial young cashier, Samuel B. Wilson. His is a Tennessee family, identified with the interests of this state for sev- eral generations. Through his mother, Mr. Wilson is a descendant of the Bennett line, of early Tennessee settlement, his grandfather, Bur- rell Bennett, having been a prosperous farmer and slave-owner. His daughter, Elizabeth (1849-1899), born in Sequatchie, Tennessee, was united in marriage with William H. Wilson (1847-1897) and shared his fortunes during their half-century of life together. William Wilson was a school teacher and farmer. At one time he was was possessed of abundant property and money, but his was the fate of the too kindly man who signs security papers for the unreliable, for in that way he sacrificed his means, very shortly before his death. He is remembered as a man of particular intelligence and generous character. A Democrat in politics, he took a lively interest in local affairs of a public nature. He was active and honored in the organizations of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and was an esteemed member of the Cumberland Pres- byterian church, as his wife was of the Baptist. William and Elizabeth Wilson were the parents of five children, all of whom are yet living. Of these the youngest was named Samuel B., and he it is whose life forms the special subject of this sketch.
Born in Sequatchie county, Tennessee, on the important date of July 4, in 1880, Samuel B. Wilson followed the usual experiences of a well- to-do farmer's son in the rural schools, with additional advantages from the school systems of Knoxville and Chattanooga.
His education completed, as a young man Mr. Wilson first occupied himself with farming occupations. Subsequently he accepted employ- ment in a mercantile establishment. From that he passed to a position as assistant cashier in the bank at Whitwell, Tennessee. There he re- mained for two and one-half years. In 1907 he came to Cross Plains, Tennessee, where he assisted other public-spirited and enterprising citi-
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zens in organizing a similar commercial institution. He was made first cashier of this bank at Cross Plains, which has a capital of $20,000, a surplus of $2,000 and an average deposit of $55,000. Mr. Wilson is a director and stockholder of the bank. .
Other ยท financial interests of Samuel B. Wilson include his farm of 300 acres, a part of the original homestead of his grandfather, Bennett, Besides a share with his brother-in-law, in a mercantile business near Chattanooga. Mr. Wilson is a wide-awake man about town and is hon- ored in the fraternal circles of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South.
LAWRENCE A. WARD. A well-to-do and leading business man of Obion, as a man who has in more than one line given worthy public service, and as a member of organizations that tend toward the better- ment of humanity, L. A. Ward is one whose life is of interest to his- torian and reader. Of his forty odd years in the lumber industry more than a score have been spent in the city of Obion.
Greenwood, Indiana, was the place of L. A. Ward's birth and Jan- uary 21, 1853, was his natal day. His parents were James and Martha Ward, the father a native of Xenia, Ohio, and the mother one of Indi- ana's daughters. They removed from the Hoosier state to Tennessee, where the boyhood of L. A. Ward was spent and where he has lived his subsequent life of usefulness. He early became interested in saw- mills and lumber, entering this line of business when only sixteen years of age-in 1869.
The year 1887 was a doubly important one in the life of Mr. Ward, for it was marked both by his marriage and by his initial residence in Obion. On March 24, of the year mentioned, Miss Joe Thornton, of Weakley county, Tennessee, joined her life's fortunes with his. In the years that have followed, their home has been gladdened by the coming of three children. Cosler, the first born, and Miles Thornton the youngest, have passed from this life. Owen Stanley, the second son, was born February 21, 1893.
Mr. Ward and his family are connected with the Church of the Disciples, or Christian church, of which they are substantially helpful members. The fraternal society of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons is honored by his affiliation with the local lodge. His politics is that of almost every other son of "the solid south" and he has cheerfully and ably performed such public duties as have devolved upon him. For the past fifteen years he has served as an alderman of Obion and has also been an efficient member of the Obion school board.
The property of Mr. Ward includes about seven hundred acres of land, of which a tract of one hundred acres is devoted to the produc-
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tion of rice. His lumber business is of course the most significant feature of his property. His mill and yard cover a space of three acres in Obion. He employs ten men throughout the entire year and at busy times often has as large a force as thirty. In his plant the lumber manufactures include everything required for the building of a house, with the single exception of blinds. His business is of prime importance to Obion and the adjacent vicinity and he is personally a gentleman whose worth and influence are held in high esteem by his fellow-citizens of the community.
JAMES Q. SHIRES. One of the most attractive establishments in Obion is the jewelry establishment of J. Q. Shires. One of the finest stores in the city, it occupies three hundred and seventy-five feet of floor space and is filled with heavy and expansive glass cases contain- ing every variety of jewelry. This stock is of the best and most modern workmanship and draws many customers. This business has been lo- cated in Obion since 1905.
Its proprietor, J. Q. Shires, is a native of Obion county, where his parents, Thomas and Lissie Shires, resided for many years. Thomas Shires was a mechanic, whose ability has been inherited by his son in a more highly developed form. The two children of the family were J. Q. Shires, the special subject of this review, and W. T. Shires, his younger brother. The date of birth of the former was the year 1885.
J. Q. Shires grew to manhood in his parental home and in its vicin- ity received his opportunities for mental development. His mechanical genius was early evident and all his life's experiences have been turned to practical account. He had scarcely attained the years of his majority when he established his present business, which has been suc- cessful from the beginning.
After several years of prosperous business life Mr. Shires was united to his life's companion, who was well known in her girlhood days as Miss Maple Grissom. The Shires-Grissom nuptials were cele- brated in 1912 and the young pair occupy an enviable place in their wide circle of friends. They are faithful and valued members of the Church of the Disciples of this place.
Mr. Shires is a man of intelligent interests in all lines. He is not, however, one who seeks conspicuous places in the limelight of life, pre- ferring to devote his time and attention to his home, his church and his business. His large experience in his line, his natural gifts for grasp . ing and executing the most intricate and complex pieces of workman ship-these are elements of his vocational life which guarantee his suc- cess in the work he has chosen.
VIRGIL J. JERNIGAN, M. D. The need of high regard is not the least of the world's tribute to that most helpful of all professions-that of
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the conscientious physician. And when, to his qualities as physician are added those of the practical Christian, such a man's usefulness is infinitely multiplied. One member of this profession, who has won both sincere appreciation and pecuniary success and who still con- tinues to rise in the ranks of his fellows, is V. J. Jernigan, the well- known physician of Obion.
For five generations his family have resided in Tennessee. The doctor's paternal grandfather was Elisha Jernigan, who married Miss Stone. Robertson county, Tennessee, was the home of E. T. Jernigan and L. M. Jernigan, his wife. They were both natives of the state, E. T. Jernigan being a planter of considerable property. He was largely engaged in the production of tobacco and handled it also in a com- mercial way. He and his wife were the parents of six children, of whom the eldest was V. J. Jernigan, the subject of this biographical account. He was born in Robertson county in 1868.
V. J. Jernigan received his early training, both in books and in the practical things of life, in his native county. When he was four- teen years of age, Union City, in Obion county, became his home. Here his education was continued in the public schools of the place. When that period of his intellectual development was concluded, he entered Webb Brothers' Academy, at Bellbuckle, and later passed to the McTyre Institute at Mckenzie.
Thus, well equipped with the general knowledge, which is ever valuable, the young man, V. J. Jernigan, entered temporarily the pro- fession of teaching. In this useful occupation he continued for three years and at the end of that time made arrangements for beginning his preparation for the medical profession.
He matriculated at Vanderbilt University and entered upon the prescribed courses in the college of medicine in 1897, which is one of the strongest departments of that great institution. He was grad- uated in 1900, receiving his degree of doctor of medicine.
Doctor Jernigan chose the city of Obion as the field for his practice. Here he has built up a most desirable practice and has endeared him- self in many ways to his numerous patrons. He is thoroughly inter- ested in every branch of his science and is constantly increasing his breadth of knowledge. In 1906 he went to New York City, where he took a post-graduate course in the Polyclinic College of Physicians. In 1908 he returned to his alma mater, Vanderbilt University, for further post-graduate research. In the year 1912 he took yet more advanced and specialized work in the University of Chicago. The doctor fully realizes the almost infinite possibilities of present day medicine and it is not too much to say that truly great ones will be reached by him.
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Doctor Jernigan is an important member of the county, state and tri-state medical associations. He is one of Obion's officers on the board of health and is medical examiner for several insurance com- panies. He finds time for fraternal and church associations. Of the former, he is a member of the orders of Knights of Pythias and Wood- men of the World. His religious affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal church.
The doctor's attractive home is presided over by Mrs. Anna White Jernigan, his wife, to whom he was united in 1895, in Union City. Doctor and Mrs. Jernigan are the parents of two sons and one daughter. The family is one that ranks high in the social life of Obion and one whose friends are legion. Doctor Jernigan is, notwithstanding his busy life and his many interests, a very close student of both books and men and is intellectually broad as well as professionally conscientious and scientifically purposive.
JOHN W. BENNETT. Among the merchants of Obion county prob- ably none is more widely or more favorably known than the subject of this review, who has been engaged in business in the city of Troy for a period of forty years. His parents, Wm. H. and Temperance (Jack- son) Bennett, were both natives of North Carolina and were married after coming to Tennessee. In 1840 he came to Tennessee and settled in Decatur county, but after a residence of about twelve or thirteen years there they removed to Obion county in 1853, and here W. H. Bennett purchased a farm and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred on May 22, 1896. He owned about five hundred acres at the time of his death. He and his wife were the parents of twelve children, ten sons and two daughters, ten of whom are now living, the sons being either farmers or merchants. The family is therefore well known throughout the county, where its mem- bers have wielded considerable influence upon the industries and political destinies of the county and state.
John W. Bennett was born April 1, 1851, in Decatur county, Ten- nessee, and came to Obion with parents when about three years old, where his entire life has been passed. He was educated in the local schools, and while still in his boyhood became interested in mercantile pursuits, with which he has ever since been associated. Beginning business for himself with a small stock of goods, he has gradually added to it until at the present time he has one of the best assortments and one of the best equipped mercantile establishments in the city of Troy. His store building is thirty by one hundred feet and two stories in height. It is considered one of the best brick buildings in Troy. Pass- ing from the outside to the interior of the building the visitor is at once impressed with the well selected and carefully arranged stock of
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general merchandise, including a full line of general hardware and groceries. Here Mr. Bennett is "monarch of all he surveys." He has been in the business for so long a time that he knows just where every- thing is, so that his customers are sure of prompt attention and cour- teous treatment at all times. By assiduous attention to the needs of his trade and care in the selection of goods to meet the demand, he has built up a lucrative and permanent business. It is intended as no disparagement to the other retail dealers of Troy to say that he stands at the head, and it might be said that he is the Nestor of the mercan- tile business of the city.
Mr. Bennett, notwithstanding the demands of his personal affairs and his constantly growing trade, has found time to devote to the public welfare in an official capacity. He has served as a member of the town board, and is always a willing and intelligent helper of any and every movement for the improvement of Troy and the welfare of her people. ITis long residence there has rendered him familiar with conditions, and he is usually one of the first men to be consulted when any proposition for the advancement of Troy's material interests comes up for consideration, thus marking him as a man of public spirit and progressive ideas.
In 1874 Mr. Bennett married Miss Amanda Oliver, daughter of William Oliver, and to this union have been born two children-John O. and Clara. The son is now the manager of the Troy Flour Mills and is one of the promising young business men of the city. The daughter married G. R. McDade, of Troy.
CALVIN E. UPCHURCH, D. D. S. While medicine-and especially surgery-has made rapid strides in the ranks of science and has marked the successful physician as a most significant figure in modern civiliza- tion, no less remarkable achievements have been made in dental surgery. The restoration of health and the prolonging of life are often made possible through the preservation of teeth or the substitution of arti- ficial ones.
The only dental surgeon of Obion is Dr. C. E. Upchurch, who has practiced here since 1904 and who enjoys a very wide patronage. Its extent and its constant growth are among the numerous evidences of the doctor's superior skill and wide knowledge of all phases of his science. By education and training he is well fitted to stand at the head of his profession.
Doctor Upchurch is of Alabama birth, that state being also the place of nativity of both his parents, Calvin and Sarah (Childers) Upchurch. Of the four children born in this home the fourth in order of birth was he whose name forms the caption of this sketch. He was born in 1877. In his native home he was reared and educated liberally.
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After the preliminary years of general education he entered Vander- bilt University in Nashville, where in the college of dental surgery he pursued thorough courses and was graduated in 1904 with the degree of doctor of dental surgery. He then located in his present home and field of professional practice-the town of Obion.
In 1907 Doctor Upchurch was united in marriage to Miss Sadie Howell, of Obion, Tennessee. Mrs. Upchurch is a daughter of John W. Howell, who is a well-known citizen of this place. Doctor and Mrs. Upchurch are the parents of one child, a little daughter named Lulu Janette.
The church affiliation of Doctor Upchurch and his family is with the Baptist congregation of this place. For some years the doctor has served this church in the capacity of clerk, the duties of which office he ably performs. He is a man who has established wide friendly relations and is popular in various organizations, including the fra- ternal societies of Knights of Pythias and Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. The former body honors him with the status of past chan- cellor.
The business office and operating rooms of Doctor Upchurch are located at the corner of Broadway and Main street. They are finely finished rooms, elaborately furnished and thoroughly equipped with the best and most up-to-date apparatus for his work.
GORDON B. BAIRD. In the rapidly developing history of the modern era there is perhaps no one influence comparable to that of the press. Through this ubiquitous medium fleets each day's momentous news and the psychology of nations is carried round the world. The great metropolitan press, with its complex network of intellectual machinery, connecting myriad points on the globe, does its great work of dissemi- nating universal information of importance to the world. No less valuable, in its less pretentious way, is the local press of county or town, which keeps in mental touch the citizens of county seat and remotest farm. A worthy exponent of our newspaper systems is Editor Gordon B. Baird, who conducts the Obion County Enterprise.
Mr. Baird is an energetic representative of the younger generation of the men who are doing things. He is a son of James M. and Rebecca (Smith) Baird, a former native of middle Tennessee and later of west Tennessee. They lived in Carroll county during their earlier married years and it was during their residence there that their third child, a son, whom they named Gordon, was born, on January 12, 1888.
Gordon Baird had excellent advantages from the first. His father was an attorney, who had acquired an enviable prestige for legal acumen in his native county. While Gordon Baird was yet a child the father died and his mother removed to Fulton, Kentucky, where the
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son's education was completed. In 1909 he returned to his native state, which has been the scene of Gordon Baird's vocational success. In 1909 he established himself in Obion, where he entered upon his present work as editor and publisher of the Enterprise. In 1910 he won as his life's closest companion Miss Anna Lee Pascall, well known in Fulton, Kentucky, as the daughter of T. T. Pascall. Mr. and Mrs. Baird have a small daughter, named Mary Gordon Baird.
Mr. Baird's most enthusiastic attention, as well as his choicest gifts, are devoted to his editorial work. The Obion County Enterprise is a six-column sheet, well constructed and finished, with editing of a par- ticularly breezy and effective quality. Its circulation is one that will average well with that of any paper in the county. Mr. Baird also does the job printing for Obion and its vicinity, being in every way thoroughly well equipped for such responsible work. He is a Demo- crat in his political affiliation.
GEORGE A. DAVIDSON. Notwithstanding the fact that great fortunes are sometimes made in speculation and by manipulation of the markets, it is undeniable that there is no line of honest effort which offers greater or more certain returns than intelligent and painstaking cultivation of the soil. In recent years, by scientific methods and careful manage- ment introduced among the best agriculturists of the country, it has been demonstrated that the fertility of the soil can be preserved and even increased, and that agriculture as an occupation can be made more profitable by what is known as intensive farming. By this method, the number of acres is not so much a factor as the amount produced upon a single acre. The man who cultivates eighty acres of wheat and harvests fifteen bushels to the acre does much more work and receives far less for his labor than the man who cultivates forty acres and harvests thirty bushels to the acre.
George A. Davidson is one of those progressive individuals who, profiting by experience, and past mistakes, are constantly endeavoring to increase the yield from their farms. He owns nine hundred and fifty acres in Obion county, Tennessee, and another farm of two hundred and twenty acres, on which he raises cotton, corn and wheat. Of his Obion county farm two hundred and fifty acres are under cultivation. Here he has been experimenting with rice culture, and on twenty-five acres he has raised one thousand bushels. This has convinced him that rice can be grown with profit in Tennessee, and he is preparing to increase the acreage devoted to rice culture to at least one hundred and twenty-five acres, the remainder of the land under cultivation to be devoted to the customary crops of this section of the state. He does not believe in "luck" as a factor in making farming a profitable occu- pation, but relies upon his industry and its thoughtful application.
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Every plan on his farm is thoroughly worked out, and then, when it is matured, it is carefully executed. If it fails to accomplish what is expected of it, another plan is tried. He never makes the same mis- take twice. By this course he has come to be known as one of the most progressive and successful farmers of west Tennessee.
Mr. Davidson was born in Obion county, January 7, 1861, and has lived there all his life so far. He was educated in the common schools and grew to manhood on his father's farm. He is the fourth of six children born to Josephus C. and Arabelle (Inman) Davidson, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Mississippi. His grandparents, George and Mary Davidson, were natives of North Caro- lina, but joined the tide of emigration from that state in early days and settled in Davidson county, Tennessee, not far from the city of Nashville.
On December 9, 1896, Mr. Davidson married Miss Anna E. Richardson, daughter of Dr. Elbridge G. and Josephine (Terrell) Rich- ardson, and to this union have been born four children-Earl, Lena and Lara (twins), and Robert J. Mrs. Davidson's father was a native of Brewersville, Tennessee, and during the Civil war he served with dis- tinction as captain in a Missouri artillery regiment. After the war he became a prominent physician of Obion, where he enjoyed a lucrative practice and had many friends. He married Josephine Terrell in 1860, and of the six children born to them Mrs. Davidson is the only one now living. Mr. Davidson is a Democrat, but never aspired to office. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. of Glass, Obion county (Palestine Lodge, No. 296). He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South.
BRICE P. MOFFATT. It seems to be a well-established fact, and one which has frequently been commented upon in the columns of the popular press, that during the last few years the young men of the country are annually coming to occupy positions of greater prominence and responsibility in the business world. As a rule these young men are both progressive and aggressive. Many of them have fitted them- selves for their work by taking special courses in the leading educa- tional institutions of the country, where they have become well grounded in the fundamental knowledge of the profession or occupation they have selected for their life's work. When they leave school and begin to apply the theories they have learned they are not slow to discard the obsolete methods of the past and conduct their business according to those of more modern times.
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