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M. L
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
L
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02497 9871
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/notablemenoftenn00alli
NOTABLE MEN -
OF 3
TENNESSEE
PERSONAL AND GENEALOGICAL WITH PORTRAITS
JUDGE JOHN ALLISON, Editor
V.1 VOLUME I
ATLANTA, GA .. SOUTHERN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION 1905
E 4882 . 03
1601144
INDEX, VOLUME I
A PAGE
Akin, J. H
148
Allen, T. E. 135
Anderson, M. W.
281
Andrews, Garnett 279
Armstrong, J. V. 47
B
Bachman. J. W. 273
Baker, W. G. 55
Baptist, N. W 272
Bate, Wm. B. .30
Baxter, Jere. 43
Beall, F. M. M 170
Brene, J. C .. 238
Benefield, C. C. 317
Bennett, 'R. A.
123
Blackmore, J. W 236
Blodau, G. A 75
Blount, Wm. 57
1
Bostick, W. E. 162
Bright, J. S. 206
Bright. R. L.
191
Prown, Jno. C. 101
Brown. Neil S. 107
Brownlow, W. G 276
Brownlow, W. P 283
Buchanan, J. P 285
Burns, Michael
Burt, F. H. 331
C
Cain, Jno. S. 194
Campbell, M. R 244
Campbell, W. B 82
Cannon, Newton 75
Capshaw, R. B 205
Carter, M. B. 150
Cassell, R. B. 030
Cates, Chas. T 2.24
Cheney, H. J. 56
PAGE
Chisholm, A. J 305
Clagett, Horatio 263
Cliffe, D. B. 121
Clift, M. H. 180
Cockrill, B. F .. Jr 120
Cole, W. R .. 50
Collier, A. D. 223
Colyar, A. S. 64
Conatzer, O. C 301
Cook, HI. H. 176
Cooper, J. W 311
Cowan, Geo. I 138
Cowan, J. B. 165
Cowart, John 270
Cox. N. N 127
Craig, E. B.
Cullum, W. E 257
D
Dabney, Chas. W 212
Dibrell, James 254
Dibrell, J. L. 200
Dibrell, W. L. 248
Dillin, J. W 118
Doolittle, W. E 252
Drake, E. L.
167
E
Eastman, Roger
103
Erwin, Samuel.
194
F
Feist. J. H 110
Figuers, H. P 172
Fisk, F. H. 94
Fitzpatrick, M. C.
103
Flowers, J. C 208
Folk, R. E. 46
Foster, O. H.
Frazier, J. B.
35
:
INDEX
PAGE
Frazier, S. J
144
King, T. F
52
King, W. B. 261
Lance. T. J 255
Lansden, D. L 203
Lattin. J. T 1.45
Lenelian. Walter 96
Lipscomb, T. E 168
Loftin, G. A 199
Luton, J. J. .280
Luton, J. T 282
Lyon, A. A.
85
Mc
MacGowan, J. E 215
McConnico, R. T 120
MeCutcheon, J. N 200
McGavock, Winder 132
McGhee. C. M. 234
McGuire, C. B.
Mclaughlin, James 51
McMillin, Benton 43
McMinn. Joseph. 63
McMurray, W. J 40
MeNutt, J. F.
323
McTeer, W. A.
241
Maddin, T. L. 104
Malone, T. H
Marks, A. S. 60
Moon. J. A.
143
Morton. J. W 33
Muriree, J. B. 209
Myers, J. C.
203
Mynders, S. A
45
N
Neil, M. M.
227
O
Overall, J. W
53
P
Padgett, Hazel
183
Padgett. L. P
161
Parkes. J. L.
192
Kilvington, J. V
62
Patterson, T. E
183
--------
Fry, Henry P. 274
Fussell, J. H 177
G
Gaines, J. W. 136
Gardner, W. H. 335
Garrett. Wm. R. 137
Gaut, J. M.
66
Gentry, W. M
140
Gibson, H. R. 134
Gilbreath, S. G. 186
Goff, T. E. 303
Gordon, R. J. 130
Gordon, W. O. 153
Grigsby. A. H
267
Grisard, J. W 207
H
Hale. J. C. 207
Hale, W. J. 28.
Hamby. L. V 313
Handman, G A 269
Ilarrison, J. S.
292
Harwood. S. N 112
Hawkins, Akvin 92
Hays, W. P
195
Head, J. M
71
Heard, B. A 208
Hill, J. M.
232
Hill, S. E. 237
Hite, J. A. D 111
Hixson, Samuel 192
Howard, G. A
226
Howard, R. H 193
Hutchings, R. I
265
J
Jackson, Andrew 17
Jarvis, Eliphalet. 254
Johnson, Andrew
89
Jones, E. H 211
Jones, J. C.
93
Jones, R. L
188
K
Kannard, W. T .258
Killebrew, J. B. 196
PAGE
INDEX
PAGE
Pentecost. J. W. 114
Phillips, G. W 119
Pitts, Jno. A .. 60
R
Race. J. II 189
Richardson, J. D 131
Roane, A.chibald. 61
Robertson. F. R 124
Robertson. James 21
Robertson. N. G. 288
Romine, W. B
156
Rule. William 216
Russell. F. C. 125
S
Sanders, H. 113
Sanford. E. J 221
Savage. J. H
196
Shackelford. J. R
117
Shellito. J. A
327
Shepherd. Lewi- 201
Shields. A. I 181
Shields, J. K.
Shields. J. T
217
Shiflett, R. . 303
Shipp. J. F 19%
Shivers. J. M.
284
Simpson. S. R
Sims. P. D ..
314
Smallman. M. D
315
Smartt. J. P. 316
Smith :. H. V. B. 309
Smith, L. D. 320
Smith. W. A. 158
Smith, W. G.
240
Snodgrass, C. F
325
Story. W. F.
Straab, Jno. J 97
Sullins, Davil 319
Summers, L. E ,299
T
Taylor. S. L. 261
Terrill, J. W
324
Thomas. J. F.
Thomas, J. W 247
54
Thomison, J. B 320
Thompson, J. H 65
Thruston, G. P
Tillman, A. M 87
Timmons, E. . 1 174
Titcomb, J. . 1. 155
Tittsworth, W. F 256
Trousdale. William 108
Tubb. J. R .. 251
Turner, C. M 271
Turney. Peter
115
Utley, H. A
Washington. W. 106
W'atson, F. W 332
Wcich, G. N 307
Wilder. J. T.
Wiley, J. F. 185
Williams. A. S. 55
Wilson, B. F .. Jr 206
Wilson, E. B. 110
Wilson, E. F 243
Wilson. S. F. 72
Wilson. S. T 230
Wilson, T. J. 243
Wright. M. L 236
Y
Yeargan, S. B
.200
PACE
INDEX, VOLUME II
A PAGE
PAGE
Alsup, J. H 172
Carroll, W. H., Jr. .221
Andrews, T. B. 164
Carroll, William .. 82
Applewhite, James 195
Carruthers, A. B 203
Arnold, A. A
190
Carter, M. E. 150
Ashford, W. S 219
Austin, J. A. 219
B
Bailey, J. E 155
Banks, Lem. 133
Bell, John. 22
Bennett, E. T
184
Cochran, J. F
279
Berry, B. F.
125
Coffin, H. E. 198
Collins. J. j. 201
Cook. C. S .. 261
Black, W. T
271
Coors, G. A. 269
Cordes, V. A. 232
Cornatzer, J. N 166
Brooks, J. N.
322
Craft, Henry, Sr 60
62
Buchanan. A. S. 128
Buchanan, J. W 120
Back, R. M .210
Buckingham, M. S. 129
Bullington, R. E. 171
Burnett, J. B. 296
C
Cabell, J. B. 162
Caldwell, A. S. 84
Caldwell, T. B.
137
Canada, L. T. M 130
Canale, D. 216
Carlock, L. H 305
Carnes, S. T. 39
Carr, H. M. 290
Carroll, E. B. .221
Carroll, W. F 91
Carroll, W. H 100
Darnell, R. J. 250
Davant, A. R. 169
Davenport, F. P 267
Davis, F. W 256
Davis, T. L. 236
De Haven, D. W 110
De Marcus, A. L 307
Dickson, A. F. 111
Dies, Thomas 248
Douglass, E. M 222
Duke, J. G. 226
315
Causey, E. B
259
Chighizola, G. L
239
Clapp, J. W.
208
Cleary. W. F
201
Bickford, W. . 212
Biggs, J. T 151
Bond, W. T. 251
Brinkley, H. L. 79
Bruce, H. T. 277
Craft, Henry, Jr
Crawford, W. J. 82
Creson, R. F. 272
Crowther, C. E
312
Crumley. J. W 325
Cunningham, J. T 282
D
Caruthers, Stoddert. 117
Cary, Hundson 73
Cass, H. M.
INDEX
PAGE
Durham, J. W 118
Dutro, L. W 37
F
Early, W. C. 200
Ewing, Caruthers 107
F
Falls, J. N 113
Fargason, J. T 78
Faxon, F. W 215
Fentress, Francis
103
Finlay, L. W
9.4
Fisher, F. N. 175
Fitzhugh, G. T 127
Forrest, N. B. 23
Forsyth, J. T 188
Frank, Godfrey.
178
Friedel, P. R.
200
G
Gailor, T. F. 66
Galloway, C. B. 57
Galloway, J. S. 98
Gaston, John.
197
Gates, J. W.
108
Gavin, M.
152
Gentry, J. P 153
Gilchrist. M. M. 232
Gilliland, F. M
275
Givan, G. C. G.
.293
Glass. P. T.
105
Glover, C. M.
Goodbar, J. M. 191
Goodman, Walter
235
Goodwin, J. A.
157
Goodwyn, R. D.
230
Gordon, Geo. W 51
Gracey, Matt. 280
Graves, W. F. 202
Guinee, T. C.
177
Gunther, M. H 246
Guthrie, F. M.
116
Gwynne, A. D
179
H
Hamilton, O. M 184
Handly, J. L. 297
PAGE
Harris, R. W 208
Harris, Z. T. 211
Heiskell, C. W 64
Henderson, B. R
89
Henderson, P. L. 317
Henderson, R. G 266
Henderson, W. B 108
Henning, D. M 274
Herman, M. B 278
Hicks, H. D 304
Hodges. Horry 285
Holt, W. E. 186
Hunter, Edward 258
Hunter, F. B 214
Hunt, C. P.
185
Hutchens, H. E
273
Ingram, N. T
257
Irby, H. C.
146
J
James, Geo. R
207
Jeffreys. James
183
Jenkins, G. W.
213
Johnson. H. P
56
Johnson, John
233
Jones. F. G.
85
Jones, Heber.
101
Jones, J. T. 13€
Jones, Kennedy
130
308 · Jordan, R. D. 121
K
Kavanaugh, L. T
163
Kennedy, W. M. 252
Keyes, J. W.
187
Kierolf, S. E.
143
Knight, W. C.
227
Krauss, William
231
L
LaCroix, William
249
LaFollette, H. M
310
Latham, T. J.
45
Lee, James.
Lehman, I ..
57
Hannab, H. H
115
LeMaster, E. B
217
-
INDEX
PAGE
Lilly, Owen 72
Lowenstein, E. 114
Mc
McCall. J. E. 145
McDavitt, J. C. 244
McDowell, J. H. 93
McFarland, L. B 106
McHenry, E. B.
245
McIntyre, P.
158
Mckellar, R. L
139
M
Macrae, G. W 148
Mallory, W. B 43
Malone, J. H.
63
Manogue, John
75
Martin, J. W
223
Mason, Jno. J 92
Matthews, R. L 206
Metcalf, C. W 97
Michie, W. T. 267
Milburn, W. E. F 333
Miller, Ernest. 175
Millican, W. F 299
Minor, J. L. 262
Montgomery, J. M.
295
Myers, D. E.
126
N
Neely, H. M. 35
Nowland, E. W. B 218
0
O'Haver, G. T 109
Oliver, J. N. 189
Omberg, J. A 132
Overton, John
134
Owen, W. A.
329
Owens, W. A. 313
P
Passmore, W. H 241
Patterson, Josiah 26
Peck, O. M. 253
Percy, W. A 112
Perkins, N. C. 268
Person, G. W.
224
PAGE
Peters, I. F 193
Pierce, R. A 111
Polk, H. C .. 190
Polk, James . K
17
Porter. Jas. D. 87
Poston, F. P.
124
Purviance, J. W
283
R
Radert. A. E. 302
Raine, C. H. 229
Randolph, W. M 53
Read. S. P.
90
Rees, David. 303
Roberts C. P. 144
Roberts, W. D
69
Russe, W. H.
199
S
Samelson, I. 204
Sanford, W. B 270
Sargent, B G.
165
Schulte, C. W
147
Scott, L. M. 314
Sevier, John. 19
Shea, Daniel. 204
Sims, T. W.
158
Sinclair, A. G. 138
Sites, A.
205
Slack, E. M
328
Smith, E. J.
234
Smith, Frank
276
Smith, Jeremiah
323
Smith, J. H.
243
Smith, W. M
76
Staples, J. W
288
Steen, J. M 123
Stewart, C. M 131
Stewart, W. R.
263
Strickland, P. H.
160
T
Talbot, L. E 165
Tansil, E. E 167
Taylor, A. A 326
Taylor, A. R
104
Taylor, G. H
247
INDEX
PAGE
W PAGE
Taylor, J. M. 168
Walsh, A.
264
Taylor, J. W
319
Walsh, J. T.
174
Taylor, R. L.
331
Walton, A. W. 253
Taylor, W. F.
176
Warinner, H. C.
58
Taylor, W. W. 265
Warner, E. T., Jr 320
Thomas, W. G. 161
Warren, J. S .. 150
Thompson, A. N
255
Washington, J. E.
170
Thompson, A. P
300
Webb, W. R
292
Thompson, J. W
25-1
Webber, E. F
177
Thrasher, P. H
281
White, John.
228
Tillman, J. D.
334
Wilkes, J. S.
291
Tisdale, Lew.
233
Williams, J. J
86
Trezevant, M. B
70
Williford, A. J
286
Trimble, Frank 225
Williford, H. L
154
Tripp, J. H.
287
Willingham, J. T
240
True, H. O.
237
Wood, W. H ..
213
Woodson, R. P
220
Wright, E. E. 63
218
Underwood, W. A. 242
Y
Yancey, T. B
173
Voorhees, E. K
V
167
Turner, J. W
155
U
Wynne, H. R.
Young. J. P
33
NOTABLE MEN OF TENNESSEE
PERSONAL AND GENEALOGICAL WITH PORTRAITS
VOLUME I
ANDREW JACKSON, soldier, lawyer and statesman, familiarly known throughout the civilized world as "Old Hickory," was prominently identified with the early history of Tennessee, and also with the history and progress of the American Republic. He was born in what was known as the Waxhaw settlement, near the boundary line between North and South Carolina. Considerable discussion has been in- dulged in as to which state was really his birthplace, and. though a majority of his biographers have fixed it as being in North Carolina, Jackson himself twice publicly announced that he was born in South Carolina. One of these occasions was in the proclamation to the "Nullifiers," in 1832, and in his last will and testament he calls South Carolina his "native state." A similar difference of opinion exists regarding the dwelling place of his ancestry. Some confidently state that his an- cestors for several generations lived near the town of Carrick Fergus, on the north coast of Ireland, while others say his father was a Scotchman by birth, who came to America in 1765. and died a few years after his arrival in this country. Andrew was the youngest of three sons born to Andrew and Elizabeth (Hutchinson) Jackson. The death of his father left the family on a half-cleared farin. in the Waxhaw district. with no slaves to aid in its cultivation. The support of the family, therefore, devolved upon the two older sons, and as soon as Andrew was old enough to be of any assistance he
I-2
18
NOTABLE MEN OF TENNESSEE
was made to bear his part. But it was the rugged life of the frontier that developed in him those sturdy traits of character that in after years became so widely known and added to his fame. His education was of the most limited character, being confined to reading, writing and the simplest calculations in arithmetic. Much of his education was acquired under the teachings of his mother, who also sent him to schools kept by clergymen, in the hope that he would some day enter the ministry. But Andrew would rather fight than preach. In boyhood he was fonder of athletic sports than books, and if those sports contained an element of personal danger they be- came all the more attractive. He has been described as a wild. impetuous, reckless boy, with great moral and physical cour- age, and a will-power that at times descended almost to ob- stinacy. When the battle of Lexington was fought he was eight years old. His two brothers entered the Colonial army and the eldest lost his life at Stono Ferry. In 1778 Andrew. though but thirteen years old, entered the service, and fought with his remaining brother, Robert, under General Sumter, until the close of the war. Toward the close of the war he and his brother were captured. The British commander ordered Andrew to brush his boots, but the high-spirited lad refused. The officer struck him twice with his sword, wound- ing him upon the arm and also on the head. Robert, who spoke up in defense of his brother, was knocked down. The two boys were then put in prison at Camden, S. C., where they saw the defeat of General Greene at Hobkirk Hill. Throughi the influence of their mother the young prisoners were ex- changed. Robert soon afterward died of small-pox, at the Waxhaw home, and Andrew was sick for several months. As soon as he had sufficiently recovered, his mother left home to nurse American soldiers in prison at Charleston, and there died in 1781. Andrew was now left alone in the world. broken in health and practically penniless. His courage did not desert him, however, and he went to work to learn the trade of saddler, but soon afterward found employment as a school teacher in the Waxhaw district. After the independence of the country was established, he went to Salisbury. N. C ..
19
NOTABLE MEN OF TENNESSEE
and entered the office of Spruce McCay, as a law student. Notwithstanding the fact that he frequently deserted his studies to attend a horse race, or some other such sport, he was admitted to the bar before he was twenty years of age. . Jackson first appears in what is now the State of Tennessee. on May 12, 1788. at Jonesboro, on which day he was formally admitted by order of court to practice law. The same year he was appointed public prosecutor in that section. His duties in connection with this appointment were rather arduous, requiring him to ride on horseback about 1,000 miles each year through a country infested by troublesome Indians. In 1790 began the romance of Jackson's life. He engaged rooms with a Mrs. Donelson, whose husband, John Done !- son, had come from North Carolina some years before and settled near Nashville, where he died. Their daughter Rachel, who has been described as a bright, vivacious girl, married Capt. Lewis Robards, of Kentucky. Her husband seems to have been of a rather moody disposition and jealous to an inordinate degree. For a time they lived with Captain Ro- bards' mother, but Rachel finally returned to her mother's home to escape the persecutions of her husband. About this time Jackson became a boarder at the Donelson home. He found in Mrs. Robards a congenial companion, because of her lively disposition, though their relations were recognized as being correct in every respect. Nevertheless, her husband became in- censed, went before the Kentucky legislature and applied for the passage of an act granting him a divorce, charging his wife with undue familiarity with the young prosecutor. The bill was passed and Jackson, supposing it to be a complete de- cree of divorce, went with Mrs. Robards to Natchez, in 1791. and was there married. It was not until two years later that the couple learned that the act of the legislature was not a complete decree, and they were remarried after a full divorce had been obtained by Captain Robards. Several times in sub- sequent years this marriage cast a shadow over Jackson's life. being used as a weapon by his political opponents. Mr. Jack- son made his first appearance in the political arena as a dele- gate to the convention to formulate the first Tennessee con-
.
20
NOTABLE MEN OF TENNESSEE
stitution, and was a member of the committee to draft that document. When the state was admitted, in 1796, he was elected the first representative to Congress, and took his seat in December of that year. He soon became identified with Jefferson and his co-laborers in opposition to some of the acts of Washington's administration, and particularly to the policy of Alexander Hamilton. His first speech in Congress was in favor of remuneration for services against the Indians. Some of his opponents accused him of a selfish motive, as he had been engaged in warfare with the Indians during the early settlement of Tennessee, and with such prowess that he had won from the savages the complimentary appellations of "Sharp Knife" and "Pointed Arrow." But nothing was farther from Jackson's mind than the intention to profit per- sonally by the passage of such a measure. In fact, his notions of economy were so rigid that he opposed an appropriation to furnish the president's residence, "except in the plainest manner." In 1797 he was elected to the United States sen- ate, but he felt out of place in that body, senatorial courtesy seeming to him tedious and ridiculous. He therefore resigned in April. 1798, and was soon after elected to a judgeship in the Tennessee superior court of law and equity at a salary of $600 a year. This position he held until 1804. when he resigned to settle up his private affairs, which had been seriously affected by a Philadelphia failure in 1798. He sold his estate at "Hunter's Hill," together with some 25,000 acres of land in other parts of the state. and paid off his debts. He then retired with his slaves to a log-house, afterward known as "The Hermitage," about eleven miles from Nashville, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. About this time he was visited by Aaron Burr, who enlisted his co-operation in a pro- posed war with Spain. A ball was given in Burr's honor. Jackson introducing him to the guests. and a little later he supplied Burr with boats and provisions to begin the conquest of the Southwest. But soon afterward his suspicions were aroused that Burr was not acting in good faith. and he wrote to Governor Claiborne and President Jefferson, giving his opinions of the movement. He remained Burr's personal
21
NOTABLE MEN OF TENNESSEE
friend, however, and although a witness against him in the trial was zealous in his defense. Jackson continued to live at the Hermitage until the declaration of war against Great Britain, in 1812. He was at that time the commander of 2,500 men of the state militia, whose services he tendered, in con- nection with his own, to the government. In October the governor of Tennessee was asked to send a force of 1,500 men to the assistance of General Wilkinson, who was in command at New Orleans. Two thousand infantry and cavalry were assembled at Nashville, under the command of Jackson. The former were sent down the river in boats, while the latter made their way overland. The two forces united at Natchez, where they remained until in March, when they received orders from Washington to disband. Jackson refused to obey the order, as it meant the dismissal of his men 500 miles from their homes, without pay, provisions or transportation, and he marched them back in a body to Nashville, where they were formally disbanded on May 22, 1813. His action was finally approved by the government and the men paid for their time. The war with the mother country had aroused the Indians to hostilities, emissaries of England going among them, with all . sorts of fair promises, to enlist their aid against the United States. The massacre at Fort Mimms, Aug. 30, 1813, aroused the whole State of Tennessee, and General Jackson, as com- mander-in-chief of the militia, issued a call for volunteers. In September he sent Colonel Coffee with 500 men against the Creeks, and a month later followed with a still larger force. On November 9th, was fought the battle of Talladega. in which the Creeks were defeated, leaving nearly 300 of their number dead on the field. The warfare was kept up until the following spring, when the Indians received another crush- ing defeat on the Tallapoosa river, which ended the trouble. Immediately after this engagement Jackson started for New Orleans, which was now the objective point of the British in the South. He arrived at New Orleans on December 2d, and at once set about putting the city in a state of defense. His forces consisted of about 6,000 men, six gunboats, two armed vessels and a few regulars in the forts. Many of the men
22
NOTABLE MEN OF TENNESSEE
were inexperienced in war, and some of the Kentuckians were without arms, as the vessel carrying their guns had been de- layed on the river. With this force he had to do battle against a fleet of fifty ships, the pride of the British navy, manned by 20,000 veterans under the command of Sir Edward Pakenhan. After preliminary engagements the battle of New Orleans was fought on Sunday, Jan. 8, 1815, some weeks after the treaty at Ghent had been made. The assault was made by the British early in the morning, hoping to take the Americans. at a dis- advantage, but Jackson was not that kind of a commander. He was always ready for a fight. So fierce was the fire of the Americans that in twenty-five minutes the British were com- pletely routed, General Pakenham being among the killed. Within two hours every British gun was silenced and the assailants driven from the field. The English lost in killed, wounded and prisoners, about 2,600 men, while Jackson lost but eight killed and thirteen wounded. This affair made him a hero, and for many years the Eighth of January was cele- brated with almost as much enthusiasm as the Fourth of July. Jackson's name was now frequently mentioned in connection with the presidency. In November, 1817, his military skill was again called into requisition to suppress an uprising of the Seminoles in Florida. Here he found the Indians abetted by the Spanish authorities, and he invaded Spanish territory and seized a garrison of that province. Although he was cen- sured for his action, President Monroe sustained him, and when Florida was, soon after, ceded to the United States, appointed him governor of the new territory. But the duties of the position were uncongenial, and after a few weeks in office he resigned and returned to the Hermitage. In 1823 he was again elected to the United States senate, and at the same time the legislature nominated him for the presidency. He received the nomination of the Democratic party, in 1824, and received ninety-nine electoral votes to eighty-four for Adams. forty-one for Crawford, and thirty-seven for Clay. The elec- tion was thrown into the house of representatives, where Clay's strength went to Adams, and Jackson was defeated. Four years later he was again the nominee of his party, and this time
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received 178 electoral votes to Adams' 83. His administra- tions, for he was re-elected in 1832, have passed into history
as the acts of one of the most honest and courageous men who ever occupied the presidential chair. His veto of the bill re- chartering the United States bank, his suppression of the "Nul- lifiers" in South Carolina, the liquidation of the national debt
and similar acts have made his administration celebrated in his-
tory, while the introduction of the theory that "to the victors belong the spoils" and the "kitchen cabinet" has made it one of the most picturesque. If he lacked the education and polish of those who had preceded him in the high office of president. the deficiency was more than offset by his high courage, his inflexible honesty of purpose and his unflinching patriotism.
were, or had been, his best friends. While serving as supreme or fancied insults, frequently embroiled him with men who His combativeness, the readiness with which he resented real
judge of Tennessee, he was the patron of Thomas H. Benton. when the latter was admitted to the bar in ISII, at Nashville.
General Coffee and two of their friends on the other. In this between Benton and his brother on one side and Jackson. Two years later a general figlit occurred at an inn in Nashville,
affair Jackson was shot and Benton pitched headlong down- stairs. The friendship between Jackson and Benton was re-
stored, however, and they remained warm personal and polit-
ical friends for the remainder of their lives. While practic- ing law, he fought a duel with an opposing counsel, and about the time that Tennessee was admitted he threatened to shoot Governor Sevier on sight, because the latter made some re- mark in reference to Mrs. Robards' divorce and marriage with: . Jackson. Some time after this, Charles Dickinson happened to use some objectionable language regarding Jackson's mar- riage to Mrs. Robards. A challenge followed, and in the duel which resulted Jackson had a rib broken and Dickinson was killed. Several stories have been circulated as to how he re- ceived the sobriquet of "Old Hickory." Of the two most prob- able, one is that during the war with the. Creeks in 1813, when provisions ran short. he set his men an example of feeding on hickory nuts. The other is that when he was ordered to
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NOTABLE MEN OF TENNESSEE
join General Wilkinson at New Orleans, but only reached Natchez, his courage and endurance so inspired his men that they gave him the name, to signify that he was as tough as hickory wood. Upon retiring from the presidency, General Jackson published a farewell address, took up his residence at the Hermitage and died there on June 8, 1845. His wife died on Dec. 22, 1828, after his election to the presidency, but be- fore he was inducted into office. Her death was the greatest blow of his life. To some of his friends who called shortly after her death he said: "What are the world and its honors to me since she is taken from me?" They sleep side by side, not far from the old dwelling, their remains covered by a massive monument of Tennessee limestone, but his memory will endure for centuries.
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