USA > Tennessee > A history of Tennessee and Tennesseans, the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume V > Part 14
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Among these we note Charles Andrew Derryberry, who is person- ally responsible for the present School of Business in Jackson, the first institution of its kind ever organized in this place. Of its originator and head, not only professional data, but also genealogical and bio- graphical information of a personal kind will be of interest.
In Uptonville, Madison county, Tennessee, Charles A. Derryberry was born on May 9, 1870. His parents were William Jordan Derry- berry and Narcissa Weathers Derryberry. On the parental farm which was his birthplace and his father's lifetime residence, Charles Derry- berry spent his juvenile days, attending the rural schools of his vicin- ity. From these he passed to the high schools of Hayward county. On completing this period of his education, he entered professional life, deferring special and more advanced courses until a later time.
The schools of Madison county were the first field for Mr. Derry- berry's activities as a teacher. After his service in that region, he fol- lowed the same line of work in Henry county. Having thus served his own state for a goodly term of years, he then accepted positions in Vol. V-8
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the high schools of Graves county, Kentucky. Altogether his period of public school teaching continued until 1901.
In the year mentioned Mr. Derryberry became a student in the Southwestern Baptist University in Jackson, where he carried full courses for two years. At the end of that time he was tendered, in recognition of his proficiency and his pedagogical acumen, the position of principal of the Stenographic Department in this same institution. In 1905 the university authorities deemed it best to confine the college curricula to classical, literary and scientific lines, leaving the commer- cial training to independent outside enterprises. This gave Professor Derryberry an excellent opportunity to further define his own work along individual lines. 1
He therefore established the Jackson School of Business in that same year of 1905. This was the first school of business ever estab- lished in the city of Jackson. It has flourished in gratifying degree and still continues its important work, with Mr. Derryberry as its head.
Professor Derryberry has become identified with many of the promi- nent movements of Jackson. He has numerous fraternal associations, including the following: The Free and Accepted Masons, Lodge 45; the Knights of Pythias, Lancelot Lodge 13, of which he is a past chan- cellor ; and the Woodmen of the World, in Lodge 469. He is an intel- ligent political thinker, adhering to the main doctrines of the Demo- cratic party. The religious connections of the Derryberry family are with the Baptist church.
The home of Charles Andrew Derryberry was established in 1892, on which date he was united in marriage to Miss Pearl Birge Graves, of Grundy Center, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Derryberry are the parents of two children, named Voris Graves and Flo. S. Derryberry. The family is one of both intellectual and social importance in Jackson.
JAMES DALE McMURRY. Among the younger attorneys of Trous- dale county, Tennessee, the subject of this review occupies a command- ing position. He is a lawyer to the manor born, his father, John S. McMurry, having been a prominent and successful attorney of Harts- ville for nearly half a century. John S. McMurry was born in Trousdale county in 1843, and continued to reside in that county all his life. He married Miss Caroline Duncan Mclain, daughter of Dr. Jesse McLain, a native of Tennessee, where he practiced medicine for many years and died in the city of Nashville at the age of eighty years. John S. Mc- Murry read law with Judge Andrew McLain, his wife's uncle, and in 1865 was admitted to the bar. From that time until his death on April 23, 1909, he practiced his profession in Hartsville, a fine example of the old school lawyer, courteous and dignified, but persistent and ener- getic in protecting the interests of his clients. He enjoyed a lucrative practice, but through his liberality gave away a large portion of his
Finley malervis
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income, and never accumulated much of an estate. He was a Demo- crat in his politics and was an active participant in political campaigns in behalf of that party. In 1905 he was elected to the state senate and served one term in that body, where he made a record of which his constituents might justly feel proud. His fraternal relations were with the Masonic fraternity. His father, Charles McMurry, was born in Tennessee while that state was a part of North Carolina and lived there all his life as a farmer. He was also a justice of the peace for many years and was an influential citizen. Caroline Duncan McMurry was born in Maury county, Tennessee, in 1855, and died in December, 1900. She and her husband were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are now living. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, a faithful wife and a devoted and loving mother.
James Dale McMurry, the third child of the family, was born in Trousdale county, Tennessee, April 13, 1873. In his boyhood he attended the public schools and in 1897 was graduated at the Harts- ville Masonic Institute. He then entered his father's law office as a student and prosecuted his studies with such assiduity that in November, 1898, he was admitted to the bar. Immediately upon his admission he began practice in Hartsville, where he has built up a large clientage, his practice extending to all the state and Federal courts. The thorough training he received under the preceptorship of his father, together with his subsequent study and experience, gave him all the essential qualifica- tions of the successful lawyer-one who commands alike the respect of the bench, bar and general public. Like his father, he is a Democrat, and has served as county attorney.
On January 1, 1899, Mr. McMurray married Miss Laura Puryear, daughter of William L. Puryear, a native of Trousdale county, where he was a wealthy and successful farmer. To this union have been born four children-three sons and a daughter. John P. and Jesse S. are attend- ing school, and Cecil P. and Elizabeth are at home. Mrs. McMurry is a Baptist in her religious faith, and her husbnd is a member of the Presbyterian church.
FINLEY MARBOROUGH DORRIS is a fine representative of the active and substantial citizens of Nashville. He is a partner of George A. Karsch and is one of the leading undertakers in the city, and being thoroughly skilled in all branches of his profession, his services are much sought in this community.
A son of Rev. William G. and Elzira (Ruth) Dorris, he was born in Clarksville, Tennessee, February 15, 1863. The family in 1865 moved to Sumner county, Tennessee, where Finley M. Dorris was educated, principally under the tutelage of Prof. C. B. Tate, a noted educator of Virginia. In 1880, at the age of seventeen years, he entered the employ- ment of his uncle, William R. Cornelius, an undertaker of Nashville,
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and during the twenty-two years that he was associated with him he became familiar with the details of all branches of the profession. In 1902 Mr. Dorris engaged in business in Nashville on his own account, continuing alone until 1907 when he formed a partnership with George A. Karsch. In 1911 these gentlemen, who have met with eminent success in their work, erected their present establishment, which is considered by many as being the most beautiful and well adapted of its kind any- where to be found.
Mr. Dorris is a member of various fraternal and social organizations. He belongs to the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, in which he has taken the 32nd degree, and is also a Shriner. For twenty-nine years he has been a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is also a member of the Country Club and the local Board of Trade; a member of McKendree Church, and has been an official in the Methodist church for more than twenty-five years. In 1912 he was asked to become a candidate for member of the County Court, and out of the sixty odd candidates he led the field without having a card printed or asking a man for his vote.
Mr. Dorris was married January 7, 1885, to Miss Mattie Carter, (who was born at Greenhill, Tennessee,) a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Stevenson) Carter, natives of this state. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dorris: Finley Carter and Frances Elizabeth, who is now one of the young schoolgirl set. On March 13, 1912, Carter Dorris married Miss Margaret Barnett of Pikeville, Tennessee, a daughter of Dr. James and Gertrude (Rankin) Barnett. To them one child has been born : Margaret Dorris.
The Dorris Family-In tracing the origin of the Dorris family, we find that the name "Dorris" is a Greek name. It was first spelled Doris, and we have been able to trace it back to the Greek city of Doris. In this city the first Doric column was built, and was built by one of the Doris family. It was first called the Doris column, and afterwards changed to the Doric column. We also find that Hellenus gave the name of Hellenes to the Greeks, and that he had three sons. The second son was Dorus. The country that Dorus inherited was named by him "Doris," and from this country came the family name "Dorris." (Hol- lins' Ancient History.)
In the Roman Army under Julius Caesar fought a Greek general by name of General Josef Dorris. After the conquest of Great Britain he was awarded by Caesar the county of Downs, Ireland, for meritorious service rendered. This was about the years 54 and 55 B. C. (Caesar's Commentaries.)
Josef Dorris, a lineal descendant of Gen. Josef Dorris, and a native of the County of Downs, Ireland, had nine sons, seven of which emigrated to America in the early part of 1700, locating first near Baltimore, Mary- land. After a short period, William, Isaac and John went to Amhurst
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county, Virginia, and located. While here William married, and a son from this marriage by name of Josef Dorris migrated to Mecklenburg, North Carolina, and became a noted Baptist minister. He married Cyn- thia Irwin, and from this union there were two sons, John Irwin and Thomas. After her death, he married Mary Williams and by her had ten sons and three daughters, among whom were: George P., Stephen, Isaac, William, Rolland, etc. Several of these sons were with General Francis Marion, who led the North Carolina forces in the Revolutionary war, and made efficient soldiers.
William and Isaac married two sisters by name of Frost from Frost- burg, Maryland. The Frost family being a prominent family, the town was named for their father, who owned a body of land on which was discovered one of the first coal mines in America.
William, Isaac, and their half brother, John Irwin, came South pros- pecting, and while on the trip they met with Peter Demombreun; together with him they came on his keelboat down the Holston river to the Tennessee river and down the Tennessee river on to the village of Nashville. Peter Demombreun afterwards located in Nashville, and William, Isaac and John went to Fort Hamilton, now known as Tyree Springs. After locating at Fort Hamilton, William and Isaac went back for their families in Maryland, returning by wagon to Fort Hamilton, where they secured land and settled. Later on came their brothers- Stephen, who became the chaplain in General Jackson's army at New Orleans; George P., who went to St. Louis, and Roland, who located in Sumner county.
John Irwin married Elizabeth Menees near Springfield, Tennessee, and had one son and two daughters: The son, Dr. William Dawson Dorris of Nashville, a noted physician in his day, and one of the first to advocate the germ theory when the cholera was so bad in Nashville in 1869.
William Dorris married Katherine Frost, and from this union there were two sons and six daughters: Samuel Frost, Betsy, Rebecca, Kate, William D., Tobitha, Drusilla and Levina. Samuel Frost, Betsy, Rebecca and Kate were born in Baltimore, Maryland, before the family moved and located at Fort Hamilton. After locating at that place William D., Tobitha, Drusilla and Levina were born. Samuel Frost married Susanna . Pitt of Cottontown, Tennessee. Betsy Dorris married John Hudson. Rebecca married Samuel Hendricks. Kate married Drew Edwards. William D. married and went to Illinois to live; his wife's name is unknown to the writer. Tobitha married John P. Hendricks. Drusilla married James Hendricks. Levina married Pleasant Mays.
After Samuel Frost Dorris and Susanna Pitt married they moved near Fountain Head, Tennessee, on Stroughters branch, and here made their home for many years. From this union there were eight sons and four daughters: Henry, William Gibbs, Jeremiah, James, Isaac G.,
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Daniel W., Benjamin F., George B., Katherine, Zilpha, Susan and Mar- tha. Katherine Dorris married Richard Shaffer. Zilpha married John Calvin Shivers. Susan married Robert Ruth. Martha married William R. Cornelius.
Samuel Frost Dorris, father of these children was born in Baltimore, Maryland, November 20, 1787, and died at Nashville, Tennessee, October 16, 1878. Susanna Pitt, mother of these children, was born in Cotton- town, Tennessee, April 23, 1794, and died at Nashville August 24, 1870. Samuel Frost Dorris, while living at Fountain Head, Tennessee, was engaged in transporting goods by teams from Nashville, which was the distributing point for all merchandise for miles around, including nearly the whole of Tennessee and Southern Kentucky into the interior. Nash- ville was then a small hamlet with scant promise of its present size and prosperity. Mr. Shelby owned the land lying on the East Side of the river, which is now known as "East Nashville." Mr. Dorris had a fine saddle horse which Mr. Shelby was so anxious to possess that he offered to exchange all of that large tract of land for the animal. In those days there was no sale for the land, and as Mr. Dorris had use for the horse he refused to trade. Mr. Dorris in 1825 removed from Fountain Head, Tennessee, to Nashville, where he spent his closing days, dying at the venerable age of ninety-one years, and was laid to rest in the old City Cemetery beside his wife, Susanna Pitt.
The true "Dorris" type is light hair, blue eyes, fair complexion, a mechanical turn of mind, very active and of quiet disposition.
In tracing the history of the Dorris family from its early beginning the writer was not able to find or learn of any one by the name of Dorris with but one exception who ever possessed any great amount of wealth. They all seem to be content with living quiet and peaceful lives.
Rev. William Gibbs Dorris, son of Samuel Frost and Susanna Pitt Dorris, and father of Finley M. Dorris, was born near Fountain Head, Tennessee, on Stroughters branch, May 6, 1815. In 1825 the family moved to Nashville by wagons, coming over the Nashville and Gallatin dirt road, there being no pikes in those days. Arriving at the Cumber- land river on the East Side, they had to cross in flat boats. The family located on North Front street, just below the site of the old Methodist Publishing House. He relates that General LaFayette had just made his visit to Nashville by boat up the Cumberland river.
After moving to Nashville he went to school for a short period, after which he for a time served as apprentice to a tailor. In 1832 he went to Jackson, Tennessee, engaging in the tinner's business with his brother, Henry, and from there he went to Bolivar, Tennessee, and while in Bolivar he relates the witnessing of the scene of the falling of the stars, which was in 1833. After two years spent at Jackson and Bolivar, Tennessee, he went to Huntsville, Alabama, and engaged in cattle trad- ing. He did not follow this occupation very long, as it did not suit him,
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but secured a position in the jewelry house of Thomas Cain. While working for him, in the year 1834, he married his daughter, Charlotte, and from this union they had two children : Thomas and Sarah. Shortly after his marriage he and his brother-in-law, James Cain, went into the dry goods business at Decatur, Alabama. They were very successful in their business venture, but they concluded to speculate in cotton, which broke them up.
William G. Dorris had now joined the Masons, and a brother Mason and chum of his, Charlie Lane, went into the dry goods business with him, and he was again very successful. They continued this business until the death of his wife, which occurred in 1846. Charlie Lane often told him he had no business behind a counter selling goods, and often suggested to him that he would make a good preacher. Neither of these young men were members of the church at that time, but a few years later they both joined the Methodist church, and both made good and useful preachers. Charlie Lane joined the Texas Conference and W. G. Dorris the Tennessee Conference in October, 1849, which at that time comprised the whole of Middle Tennessee and North Alabama. The Conference sent him to his first charge as a Junior Preacher to the Lime Stone Circuit, Alabama. Two years later, in October, 1851, he was sent to his first station at Shelbyville, Tennessee. While here he met Miss Elzira Ruth, daughter of George W. Ruth, a jeweler, whom he married on October 27, 1853. From this union were born twelve children, three dying in infancy and nine coming to maturity: William Murphy, who married Fanny Oden of Rutherford county, Tennessee; George Benja- min, who died in infancy; Florence Eugenia, who never married ; Blanche Gibson, who married Charles W. Bedford of Bourbon county, Kentucky; Charles Westley, who died in infancy; Finley Marborough, who married Mattie Carter of Nashville, Tennessee; Henry Beaumont, who married Nettie Comfort of Warren county, Kentucky; Virgie Abston, who died at the age of twenty-three; Martha Summers, who married Lindsley Bender of Sumner county, Tennessee; Annie Ruth, who married Maudaut Patterson of Robertson county, Tennessee ; Birdie Frazier, who died in infancy; Robert Pane, known as Bishop, who mar- ried Kate Stroude of Wilson county.
In October, 1855, William G. Dorris was sent to Murfreesboro, Ten- nessee, and in 1857 to McKendree Church. He also served the churches of Columbia, Tennessee, Andrew Charge, which is now known as Elm Street, and Hobson's Chapel. About this time he bought out the Eclipse Foundry and made Eclipse stoves, and had his warehouse at 56 Broad Street. For a while he had as a partner a man by name of "Kitch," but he soon bought him out and ran it alone until the Civil war came on and forced him to give it up. In October, 1861, he was sent to Clarksville, Tennessee, remaining there during the Civil war. In 1865 he was sent to Columbia, Tennessee. The country at that time was in a torn up con-
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dition and he found it impossible to secure a home for his family, so he decided to buy a farm, which he did in Sumner county, near Saunders- ville, moving his family on it the latter part of October, 1865. From here on he served various charges until 1880, when D. C. Kelly, the Station Pastor at Gallatin, Tennessee, concluded to make the race for prohibition governor and W. G. Dorris was sent there to fill out his unex- pired term. In October, 1880, he was sent as presiding elder to the Lebanon District, and in October, 1882, was sent as presiding elder to the Murfreesboro District for four years, which concluded his work as an active member of the Conference, and he was placed on the super- annuated list and retired to his farm, where he lived until his death, which occurred on April 8, 1900.
Of the many things that were written and spoken of him, the follow- ing written by his life long friend, Dr. J. D. Barbee, expresses more fully from every viewpoint the power, the character and the esteem in which he was held by those with whom he came in contact :
"William G. Dorris was born in Kentucky, May 6, 1815, and died at his home near Nashville, Tennessee, April 8, 1900. In his early man- hood he was a model for the artist, being tall and symmetrically propor- tioned, and withal possessing a strikingly handsome face. To a digni- fied mien he added an easy, graceful carriage, and a stranger passing him on the street would involuntarily turn for a second look and men- tally inquire : 'Who is it?' A full, round, sonorous voice, with tender, persuasive tone, and his benignant eye ever impressed those with whom he conversed that he was a man of loving heart and kind spirit. In character he was integrity personified. I would at any time have been willing to subscribe an unqualified endorsement of him in this regard, and that was the general estimate. An incident in his carly life illus- trates his reputation with those who knew him well. He and another young man had formed a copartnership to enter into the dry goods busi- ness at Decatur, Alabama, and young Dorris had gone to Philadelphia to purchase the first stock of goods for the firm. There he met a friend who was retiring from business at Huntsville, Alabama, who introduced him to a wholesale house, saying: 'Sell this man all the goods he wants.' This endorsement was never dishonored, of course, and it is a noteworthy fact that after years of successful business the two young partners became each an itinerant Methodist preacher, one of them finally dying a member of the Texas Conference, and the other, at an advanced age, fall- ing asleep in Jesus, a superannuated member of the Tennessee Confer- ence.
"William G. Dorris never enjoyed the advantages of thorough college training, but he was nevertheless an educated man. His mind was dis- ciplined to think, and that is education. He was a self-made man, as- every man is who is made at all or amounts to anything worth the men- tion. It is application, not genius, which makes the difference between
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inen intellectually. This good man applied himself and learned from all sources. He gathered great store from books and had the gift of absorbing much from persons with whom he associated; and even in his old age he conversed and preached out of the fullness of his mind to the delight and edification of his hearers. A wealth of incidents, anecdotes, and facts of life made him a charming fireside companion and a pecu- liarly interesting public speaker.
"Common sense and intelligent judgment were conspicuous qualities of his mind ; hence it was not possible for him even to have bordered on fanaticism, or to have viewed any object so intensely as to have seen it exclusively or disproportionately to other objects with which it stood related; therefore he always acted with sound wisdom and discretion. Hence he was a safe counselor, and one could scarcely have gone wrong in following his advice. He was an exemplification of the proverb: 'Moderation is the daughter of wisdom and the mother of power.'.
"Justice and Charity blended in his judgment of others, and he beheld the scales in equipoise even when weighing an enemy. With a judicial mind and a warm, sympathetic heart, none had cause for appre- hension in his hands. As a friend he was sincere, true and courageous ; in nothing was his individuality more distinctly and intensely marked. He was not the friend of the sunshine who 'when winter comes is flown.' Though all men might forsake his friend, he stood by him unmoved and immovable.
"As a Christian he was simple and sincere, and being very modest, he professed little but exemplified much. Like the sun which does not fire a cannon to announce his rising but simply shines, so he reflected Christ in his life, and every one took knowledge of him that he had been with Jesus. He illustrated Paul's definition of the gospel, 'It is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth ;' and his high- est claim was that he was a sinner saved by grace. He who claims more is self-righteous and puffed up, and is sure to behave himself unseemly.
"As a preacher he was perspicuous and strong, instructive and edifying, therefore eminently useful. Having joined the Tennessee Con- ference in October, 1849, he preached his semicentennial sermon to his brethren of that body in session at Columbia, Tennessee, in October, 1899. It was a memorable discourse, reminiscential and spiritual and sounded like the trumpet blast of a superannuated captain urging his younger brethren on to the battle from which he was retiring to receive his crown, for the crowning day was at hand. During the half century of his itinerant career he filled all grades of appointments, from the humblest to the highest, and ever acquitted himself like a man; and at the great age of eighty-five years he peacefully fell asleep in Jesus."
A copy of his semi-centennial sermon, preached to the members of the Tennessee Annual Conference (in session October, 1899), at Colum-
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