USA > Tennessee > A history of Tennessee and Tennesseans, the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume V > Part 23
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large farm and has since built a fine home, and is living what is con- sidered by wise people the happiest life of the times, that is, that of a farmer who is well enough educated to enjoy interests outside of his farm, and is prosperous enough to have the comforts and luxuries ordinarily denied to the farmer. His farm contains four hundred and thirty acres and is one of the best kept up farms in the community.
Dr. Curd is a member of the Baptist church, and votes the Demo- cratic ticket as a rule, though he prefers to vote independently when occasion demands. During his professional life he was a member of the county medical association and he also served for eight years as school commissioner.
In 1873 Dr. Curd was married to Ella W. Winter, a daughter of Dr. A. J. Winter, who was a physician in Wilson county for a number of years. Mrs. Curd died in 1887, five children being born of the marriage. Of these, three are living: Elmer, who is a merchant in Wilson county ; Edgar, who lives with his father, and May, who married Orvie Hassey, of Davidson county, Tennessee. In 1889 Dr. Curd married Mary Cook, a daughter of Dr. L. M. N. Cook, who was also a physician and had practiced in Wilson county for years. Dr. and Mrs. Curd are the parents of one child, Helen, who is at school in Murfreesboro. Mrs. Curd is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The doctor has never had very much time to spend in fraternal affairs, his member- ship in the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons being his sole allegiance of this kind.
MILTON II. WELLS, M. D. The medical fraternity of Wilson county has one of its ablest members in Dr. Milton H. Wells, of Watertown, where he is city physician, and where during his practice and residence he has taken an active part in public affairs, and has gained the thorough esteem of his professional associates and all classes of citizens.
The Wells family, to which he belongs, was first settled in Overton county, and its name has been associated with local history of that vicinity for upwards of a century. Milton H. Wells was born in Over- ton county August 11, 1863, a son of Mitchell and Minerva (Matthews) Wells. The paternal grandparents were named Stephen and Nancy (West) Wells. The former was a native of North Carolina, whence he came to Tennessee at an early day. The latter was born in Overton county, and belonged to an early family settled there. The grandfather died in 1875 after a long and successful career.
Both Mr. Wells and wife were natives of Overton county, where the father was born in 1831 and died in 1882, and the mother was born in 1833 and died in 1901. Mr. Wells was an expert machinist. He had studied medicine for a time, but decided not to follow that profession, chiefly on account of ill health. During the war he entered the service of the Confederacy and held the rank of lieutenant for one year, until
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his honorable discharge. He was for a number of years a justice of the peace, and took considerable interest in Democratie politics, although he never held any other office outside of the one just mentioned. HIe was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, while his wife was a Baptist.
Milton H. Wells attended for a time the Oak Hill Institute in Over- ton county, and after his early school days he identified himself with several lines of business in this part of the state. Finally, on determin- . ing to enter the medical profession, he became a student in the medical department of the University of Nashville, where he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1901. He began practice in Overton county, where he remained until 1911, at which time he came to Wilson county and located near Watertown. For a number of years Dr. Wells taught school, and it was from the savings of this occupation that later he attended medical school and fitted himself for practice. He is city health officer of Watertown, is insurance examiner for two companies, and is the owner of a good farm in Overton county and has other investments. Though he has had to work for all that he has obtained, and has deserved all his good profits, he acquired many evidences of esteem and success, and is one of the best known men in the town.
In 1891 Dr. Wells married Miss Amelia Thomas, of Overton county, a daughter of J. C. Thomas, who was one of the successful farmers of that county. Mrs. Wells is a member of the Christian church, while his church is the Cumberland Presbyterian. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen of America, and in the former order has passed all the chairs and has served as district deputy ; he is also a member of Comer Lodge, F. & A. M. He has membership in the Wilson County Medical Society, the Upper Cumberland Medical Society, the Tennessee Medical Society, and the Southern Medical Association, while in politics he is a good Democrat.
WILLIS M. LITCHFORD. The cashier of the City and State Bank at Watertown is one of the younger generation of a family which has been identified with Tennessee for the greater part of a century. He is a prospering young business man with growing influence, and his talents, which were first turned to educational work, have found a very attrac- tive field in business and finance. Willis M. Litchford was born in Smith county, Tennessee, August 30, 1889. His parents were Britt T. and Laura (Thomas) Litchford. The family was originally from Virginia, and were located in Tennessee early in the last century. Both the parents were natives of Smith county, the father born in 1862 and the mother in 1858. The father has long been a successful farmer, and his estate in Smith county is estimated to be worth $40,000, and he is also interested in the Citizens' Bank of Watertown, one of its directors,
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and an influential man in both civic and business affairs. There are five living children in the family, Willis M. being the oldest. The others are as follows: Mary, Frank, Thomas and Julian, all of whom reside at home. The mother is a member of the Methodist church, while the father is a Mason and in politics a Democrat. The paternal grand- father was David Litchford, who was born in Davidson county, Ten- nessee, where he became a very prosperous citizen, and at the time of his death was said to be worth about $75,000. During the Civil war he had served as a Confederate soldier under General Forrest, and while following that gallant cavalryman was captured and saw many hardships of military life. The maternal grandfather was named Frank Thomas, who was born in Tennessee, in which state he spent most of his life, and he was a soldier, both of the Mexican and the Civil wars, being on the Union side in the latter. While a successful man in business, he was perhaps more prominent in politics. He was one of the leading Republicans of his time, and was chairman of the Republican state committee several times, and also served in the office of the United States marshal for the middle Tennessee district.
Willis M. Litchford received his education at Watertown, and as a schoolboy showed unusual brilliance in his studies, so that he graduated with first honors from the high school in 1910. He then took examinations as a school teacher and was given a life certificate on account of his passing the best examination in this state. He was a member of the County Historical Association, and has always been interested in local affairs. For fifteen months he was engaged in teaching school and then in 1912 assisted in the organization of the Citizens' State Bank at Watertown. This bank has already shown an unusual record of pros- perity, and with its capital of $20,000 and its average deposits of $10,000, has afforded an excellent service to the business and financial community and patronage which it represents.
Mr. Litchford is cashier, and also one of the directors of this bank. In 1912, he was married to Miss Prudie Armstrong, a daughter of Lucius Armstrong. Her father is a farmer in Wilson county. Mrs. Litchford is a member of the Presbyterian church, while Mr. Litchford is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and in politics is a Democrat.
ROBERT H. BAKER, M. D. A family which has been resident in Ten- nessee for more than a century is represented by Dr. Baker of Water- town, in Wilson county. Its members have been farmers, business and professional men and soldiers; have helped create wealth and prosperity, and have always been men of "honest and good report." It is one of the families which preeminently deserve mention in the annals of Tennessee.
Dr. Robert H. Baker was born in Davidson county, Tennessee, June 1, 1847, a son of William D. and Mary (Fuqua) Baker. The paternal
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grandparents were James and Annie (Saunders) Baker, who came from North Carolina to Tennessee, and were married in Stewart county, this state, in 1811. The paternal grandmother attained the great age of ninety-eight years. The grandfather bought a large quantity of land near Nashville in 1811, and during the remainder of his career was known as one of the large land proprietors and successful men of the vicinity. He was also owner of many slaves.
William D. Baker, the father, was born in 1812, in this state, and died in 1890. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Fuqua, was born in Davidson county, this state, in 1811, and died in 1893. Her father, Peter Fuqua, came to Tennessee from Virginia, being a minister of the Missionary Baptist church. With his ability as a minister, he also united executive talent in business, and was considered a wealthy man at the time of his death. William D. Baker became a successful farmer, and also entered actively into the political life of his county. For a num- ber of years he was tax collector of Davidson county, and then for twenty- four years served as a magistrate in the same county. His resignation from the latter office was due to ill health. There were eight children in his family, and two of them are living at present, one being the doctor ; the other, W. T. Baker, was for eight years judge of the city court of Nashville. The sons, James F., W. T., Frank M. and R. H., were all soldiers in the Civil war; Frank was killed in battle in 1864, while under the command of General John H. Morgan. The father was a Union man, though all four of his sons gave service to the Confederacy. The parents were both members of the Christian church, and the father was a Demo- crat in politics.
Dr. Robert H. Baker, who has for forty years been one of the leading physicians of Wilson county, received his educational training in the University of Nashville, where he was graduated in the literary depart- ment in 1868, and was graduated in medicine in 1873. He began prac- tice in the same year and some years later, during 1880 and 1881, took a post-graduate course in medicine in Cincinnati. He has always been a physician who has endeavored to keep pace with the developments of his time and has striven with marked success to render his services efficient and valuable at all times to his large circle of patients.
In November, 1875, Dr. Baker married Mary Waters, whose father, Hon. Wilson L. Waters of Watertown, at one time member of the Ten- nessee legislature, was one of the ablest business men of this locality, and both for his wealth and his influence in other ways, was widely known in this part of Tennessee. By reason of his industry and pro- gressive activities and his eagerness to advance the interests of his com- munity and state, he was selected by the officials and a large concourse of people to cast the first shovelful of dirt in the construction of the Ten- nessee Central Railroad, which work began at Watertown, named in his honor. The six children of Dr. and Mrs. Baker are as follows; Vol. V-13
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Charles W., of Nashville; Laura, wife of T. L. Hale, a dentist at Water- town; Mary, at home; Ellen Waters, at home; Robert H., Jr., at home; and Mildred, also at home. The family are members of the Christian church.
Dr. Baker was very young at the beginning of the Civil war, but as his sympathies were with the Confederacy, and as his brothers were already in rank, in 1863 he enlisted and saw active service in a number of engagements and hard campaigns. He was escort for General Pettus for some time and was twice captured, but each time made his escape. An Independent Democrat, Dr. Baker was nominated on the Inde- pendent Democratic ticket for the state legislature, but was defeated by a small majority. He is a member of the county and state medical societies and of the American Medical Association.
WALTER MALONE, the youngest of a family of twelve children, is a son of Dr. Franklin Jefferson Malone and Mary Louise (Hardin), his wife. He was born February 10, 1866, in De Soto county, Mississippi, about thirteen miles southeast of Memphis, Tennessee.
His father, a surgeon in the Mexican war, and a member of the Mis- sissippi Constitutional Convention in 1868, died January 24, 1873. The death of his father in his son's childhood, deprived him of many early advantages, but he managed to receive those which a country school offered.
From the age of six to sixteen he made his daily trips of three miles, across the state line, into Tennessee to the little schoolhouse. This brought him in close contact with nature. When the school session was over, he worked on the farm, and here found form for the products which were stored in his mind. His first attempt to record them in verse was at the age of twelve; but these youthful effusions his, perhaps, over-critical judgment consigned to destruction.
Between the ages of thirteen and fourteen, he was encouraged by the publication of several of his poems in the Louisville Courier-Journal. So, at the age of sixteen, he began writing verse in earnest, and, in 1882, gave out his first volume, "Claribel and Other Poems," to the public. This was a book of three hundred pages, savoring of rural life, and giving promise of poetic genius. This book was greatly admired and highly commended by many; but in later years its author must have regarded it with disapproval, for he sought to destroy every copy he could find.
In 1883 he entered the preparatory department of the University of Mississippi at Oxford. Though he had read much, he had never devoted himself assiduously to elementary text books. His life had been one of freedom in nature's realm, and hence it was with difficulty that he entered upon collegiate work. Mathematics was to him especially dis- tasteful. However, his last years at college were eminently noteworthy.
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He won laurels in two oratorical contests, and served three years on the editorial staff of the college magazine-the last year as editor in chief.
In 1885, at the age of nineteen, he published another volume, "The Outcast and Other Poems," a book of three hundred pages. This book elicited favorable comment from such poets as Edmund Clarence Sted- man, Oliver Wendell Holmes and others; but this volume, too, the author later sought to suppress. Whittier said of it, "The book gives promise, but it is not what it would be were the author ten years older. Why, at that age I could not make a respectable rhyme." However, despite Mr. Malone's efforts to destroy them, these early volumes are still being read and enjoyed. Some of their poems, altered and recast, are found in his later works. The author's objection to his early works is that they were given out at a time when he did not know the way of the world.
In 1887 he graduated and was admitted to the bar several years later. Making Memphis his home, he formed a co-partnership with his brother, James H. Malone, afterward mayor of Memphis. Realizing that the law is a jealous mistress, he now devoted himself assiduously to it, and his pen was idle until the year 1892, when his best work began. "Narcissus and Other Poems" appeared, attracting widespread atten- tion. Two years later came "Songs of Dusk and Dawn." This volume contained many new poems, together with some of the best of his pre- ceding volume. It was generally commended as a work of high art, and Col. M. W. Connolly of Memphis, in one of his inimitable editorials, paid its author a high tribute.
In 1896 followed "Songs of December and June," a little volume of twenty lyrics, and "The Coming of the King," a year later, a collection of eight short stories. This book received high praise from the press, and from writers like Thomas Bailey Aldrich, Charles Dudley Warner, Edgar Fawcett, and others.
In 1897 Mr. Malone retired from the practice of law and went to New York City, where he engaged in literary pursuits, contributing to leading magazines and weeklies. Several years later he returned to Memphis, and resumed the practice of law.
In 1900 he published "Songs of North and South," a volume con- taining the garnered work of the three preceding years. This excellent volume brought him to the notice of Israel Zangwill, Alfred Austin, and the British and Scotch reviews.
In 1904 his book entitled "Poems" came out. This was a complete edition of all his poems, many of them re-written and revised. In 1906 appeared his latest book, "Songs of East and West," a volume of twenty-seven poems containing word pictures of travels in California, Florida, Mexico, Cuba and Europe.
His most widely quoted poem, "Opportunity," first appeared in Munsey's Magazine in March, 1905. This poem has received many re- prints in all English-speaking countries. It has been framed by lovers
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of art, and may be seen not only on the walls of the homes, but in many public places. It is generally believed that this poem was written in response to the pessimistic "Opportunity" of Senator John J. Ingalls; but this is not the fact, although the poem is uplifting and presents a phase of the subject diametrically opposed to the view of that author. It is light and cheer to the despondent, comfort to the bereaved and a helping hand to the downtrodden.
In 1905, on petition of practically all the members of the Memphis bar, Mr. Malone was appointed judge of the second division of the cir- cuit court of Shelby county, Tennessee, by Governor John I. Cox, and, by election, has held the office ever since, for he is exceedingly popular in politics and has many friends. As a jurist he has attained marked eminence, for he has a phenomenal knowledge of law and is a man of wonderful versatility.
In his writings there is no tinge of commercialism, for he is an advocate of true art. The utilitarian idea has never entered his mind. He has fought his way to fame against popular fads and capricious fashions. While all of his work has been in a serious vein, Judge Malone is not austere or exclusive. He has his sunny moments, and is genial, cheerful and often generous to a fault. He has taken the language of the flowers, the birds and the trees and made it popular. In him they speak to you their varied language, and you hear their voices and are made glad.
Besides his poems and short stories, he has written three plays : "Poe and Chopin," a mystical and subjective study; "The Valley of the Shadow," a drama based on the yellow fever scourge of 1878 in Memphis. This is a sociological study, advancing a bold plea for the women of the underworld-one of whom is its heroine. "Sam Davis" is a war drama, replete with the spirit of loyalty and patriotism.
With Judge. Malone's patient waiting have come appreciation and success. His fame is made, though he is still working on his epic, "De Soto," which he began in January, 1908, and will complete this year. This bold effort is being produced in the measure of "Paradise Lost," and will contain about eighteen thousand lines. It recounts the adventures of that intrepid cavalier in the early days of the Americas, adorning his history with many bright flowers of fiction. Some of its lyric interludes have been published in Scribner's Magazine, Munsey's Magazine, The Smart Set, and other leading magazines. Judge Malone has said that this story was a conception of his early youth, the dream of his young manhood, and now, in his maturer years, he will give it out as a finished product of masterful effort and genius.
Many of Judge Malone's best poems have been published in com- pilations of southern literature. An excellent selection is found in "The Library of Southern Literature," which also contains the best written account of his life from the virile pen of Col. M. W. Con-
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molly, himself a poet and newspaper writer of renown, and the present editor of the News-Scimitar of Memphis. There is also a short but choice collection of his poems found in "Southern Writers," by W. P. Trent, published in 1905.
With the completion of "De Soto" Judge Malone has said that he will be ready to die, but he is not yet an old man by any means, and it is to be hoped that his pen will continue active for many years to come.
EDWARD BUSHROD STAHLMAN is one of the men whom Ameriean business has rewarded with high position and influence. He began life a poor boy, working not only for his own support but for his family. He went into railroading and learned that complex industry from the ground up, becoming an impersonation of efficiency in the management of both men and practical things. He attained one of the high executive positions on a great railroad, and was one of the big men of the South in transportation circles until his retirement some fifteen years ago. Mr. Stahlman is a Tennesseean by virtue of his many years' residence in Nashville, and is now perhaps best known as publisher of the Nashville Daily Banner.
He was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, September 2, 1844, a son of Frederick and Christiane (Lange) Stahlman. His father was an educator and principal of the schools at Leuso, Germany, where the son received his elementary education. The family came to America and located in Virginia in 1855. The father's death soon afterward left the widow with seven young children, and Edward was called into practical service to help support the home.
His career in the railway service began in an humble capacity dur- ing the construction of the Parkersburg branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He was a hard worker and had the personality of a real leader, so that he was soon placed in charge of responsible duties. In 1863, at the age of nineteen, he came to Tennessee to enter the service of the Louisville & Nashville, and in 1865 located at Nashville, which city has been his home for the greater part of half a century. Here he was cashier of the Southern Express Company for several years. In 1871 he became freight contracting agent at Nashville for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, and in 1875 was appointed general agent at Nash- ville. He was made general freight agent in 1878 and traffic manager in 1880. Resigning in 1881, he became vice president of the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad, a position which he resigned to accept the same office with the Louisville & Nashville, with which road he remained until 1890. After spending about a year in Europe with his family, he became commissioner of the Southern Railway & Steamship Association, with headquarters at Atlanta, Georgia, and continued actively in the transportation service until October, 1895.
At Nashville Mr. Stahlman has been one of the citizens to whom
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credit is due for the modern era of growth and commercial enterprise. One of the features of the modern business district is the Stahlman office building, and his energy and capital have gone into many other enterprises that have promoted the prosperity of the city. Mr. Stahlman is both the owner and publisher of the Nashville Daily Banner.
THOMAS POLK EWING. Not only is Thomas Polk Ewing a young man of eminence in Montgomery county, but he is one who has been known from infancy in this community, which was his birthplace. It has been his privilege to serve his district in a prominent political capacity, doing great credit to the family reputation. The Ewings came out of Ken- tucky to Missouri. Thompson Ewing, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Kentucky, whence he removed to Missouri. His name is well known indeed in the Cumberland Presbyterian church, in which he was conspicuous as founder. The major part of his life was spent in Missouri, which was the birthplace of his son, Finis Ewing (1838-1906). The latter was given a good education, and came, at the age of twenty, to the state of Tennessee, where he established himself in Montgomery county. He was twice married, first to Miss Delnia Barker, who bore him one child, but soon afterward passed from earthly life. This child, a daughter named Ella, lived to maturity and is well known as Mrs. T. C. Nimms, of Nashville. Finis Ewing later was united to Miss Frances Douglas Polk, a daughter of Irving and Eliza- beth Polk, who were Robertson county farmers. Frances Polk Ewing was born in 1850 and is still living. She and her husband became the parents of seven children, six of whom are yet living. The eldest, Charles Bowman Ewing, lives at Nashville; Finis, the second child and son, is a citizen of Memphis; Bessie is deceased; Maude is Mrs. Leslie Smith and resides at this place; Thomas Polk Ewing, as the special subject of this review, receives detailed account below; Robert Lee Ewing lives at Memphis; and Polly Douglas Ewing became Mrs. B. A .. Martin of near Clarksville.
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