USA > Tennessee > A history of Tennessee and Tennesseans, the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume V > Part 27
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When he reached Danville, Tennessee, he made a sojourn at that place, where he taught school for a few terms. Incidentally he met a student physician from Nashville, with whom he arranged to buy the latter's outfit of medical supplies. Thus equipped, Dr. Baylor began his practice as a young doctor of medicine. Danville was the field of his initial practice.
Dr. Baylor married Miss Martha Edmonia Edwards, of near Elkton, Todd county, Kentucky. Their home had been blessed with four children and the medical career of the doctor was well under way after six years of residence in Danville. He then in 1884, removed to Stewart, Tennes- see, where for eighteen years he was in active general practice, largely among the rural residents. At the end of that period he purchased a property near Tennessee Ridge, on which he lived for one year. In 1900 he removed to Erin, Tennessee, where he is still actively at work in pro- fessional duties. He is the owner of a small farm, in which he is recrea- tively as well as financially interested. He holds the responsible position of health officer of Houston county. The doctor's sympathies are Demo- cratic, but his more mature theories are conservatively and sanely so- cialistic.
Dr. Baylor's life is enriched by its present useful activity; by its wealth of significant memories; and by the mutual interest of his four sons, all of whom are living worthy lives. Robert A. Baylor is at Winni- peg, Canada ; Willard Hudson Baylor is a painter in Erin, Tennessee ; Everett Ralston Baylor is a bookkeeper in a wholesale grocery at Nash- ville ; and Lloyd Ellingwood is at home with his parents.
SCOTT PRESTON FITZHUGH. The list of Dover's promising barris- ters would be far from complete without the name of Scott Preston Fitz- hugh, one of the youngest but also one of the most talented members of the bar in this community of Tennessee. The Volunteer State has known well and estimably four generations of the Fitzhugh family. The founder in this commonwealth of the Tennessee line of this origin-
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ally Scotch family was James Fitzhugh (the great-grandfather of S. P. Fitzhugh), who was a native of Virginia. With his wife he settled in Stewart county, on a rural property near Dover. Here he followed farming and reared his children. His son, James Y. Fitzhugh (the grandfather of our subject) became a planter to some extent and com- bined with his agricultural industry considerable ministerial service in the Free-Will Baptist church. He married and of the eleven children who were born to him the eighth was Pinckney Preston Fitzhugh (the father of Attorney Fitzhugh). Successful, like his father, in the acqui- sition of much real estate, P. P. Fitzhugh became a planter and a dealer in both lumber and real estate. His business is very extensive and he is also from time to time the incumbent of important political office ; in the last two sessions of the state legislature in Tennessee he was honored by representing Stewart county in that body of lawmakers. He is active in the religious interests of the Southern Methodist church, as is also Mrs. P. P. Fitzhugh. He is also prominent in the Dover lodge of the Knights of Pythias and in the Dover lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Both he and his wife (who was formerly Miss Missouri Whitford, and a daughter of Willis Whitford of Stewart county), are natives of this county, the husband's date of birth having been September 22, 1853, and the wife's February 14, 1856. It was in the same community that they were married in 1874. Their eight children are now located as follows: Effie, Mrs. R. L. Lancaster, in Stew- art county ; Ellie, Mrs. W. A. Taylor, in Houston county; Ettie, Mrs. George Sikes, in Stewart county; Martha, Mrs. Joel Carney, in Stewart county ; Maggie, Mrs. Nelson Sikes, in Stewart county; Scott P., the subject of this genealogical and biographical review, in Dover, Tennes- see; Genie Fitzhugh, in this county; and Comer Fitzhugh, in the state of Colorado.
The seventh in order of birth and the eldest son of his parents was Scott Preston Fitzhugh, who was born on the paternal property near Dover, in Stewart county, on December 15, 1888. His education was pursued in successive public and private schools at Dover, Big Rock, Cumberland City and Dickson. This general equipment of an intellec- tual sort he made the background for the definitely purposive research in various branches of legal lore, which he studied at Cumberland Uni- versity, located at Lebanon, Tennessee. Mr. Fitzhugh's law course was completed in 1910 and he was in that same year admitted to the bar of Tennessee.
Such was Mr. Fitzhugh's standing in his native community that he found Stewart an advantageous location in which to begin his practice. In 1910 he formed a partnership with Porter Dunlap, with whom he still continues sharing offices and possessional interests. Aside from his legal business, Mr. Fitzhugh is a stockholder in the People's Bank and Trust Company of Dover. His political allegiance is of course Vol. V -- 15
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given to the party which his father and grandfather have so loyally represented-that of the Democrats.
Social and fraternal connections appeal to the genial nature of Scott Preston Fitzhugh, who is a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, at Dover Camp; of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Dover lodge; of the Order of the Eastern Star, at Dover; and to the Kappa Sigma collegiate fraternity, in the Theta chapter at Lebanon University.
In the same year in which his professional career began, Mr. Fitz- hugh won as his bride Miss Gertie Riggin, of Lesbin, Stewart county. Mrs. Fitzhugh is a daughter of A. W. Riggin, of that place. Both she and her husband are exemplary members of the Methodist church South, in Dover. Their home is an attractive one and both are social favorites in the community.
HERBERT EWING LARKINS, M. D. One of the old and honored fami- lies of Dickson county, Tennessee, members of which have been promi- nent in military and civic life, in business, agriculture and the pro- fessions, is that bearing the name of Larkins, which was founded here prior to the year 1800. A worthy representative is found in Herbert Ewing Larkins, M. D., of Charlotte, whose rapid advance in the fields of medicine and surgery is gaining him a recognized place among the leaders of his profession in this part of the state. Dr. Larkins is a native of Charlotte, born July 25, 1878, a son of Joseph Henry and Elizabeth (Corlen) Larkins.
Hugh Larkins, the founder of the family in this country, emigrated from Ireland during Colonial times, enlisted in General Washington's army, and fought valiantly during the War of the Revolution, and some time after the close of that struggle made his way to Tennessee, here founding the family in Dickson county. Among his children was Joseph Larkins, who became the father of Clark Larkins, the latter being the grandfather of Dr. Larkins. Joseph Henry Larkins was born in 1843, in Dickson county, and grew to manhood on the large planta- tion of his father, who was an extensive slave-holder. At the outbreak of the Civil war, although but a lad, he enlisted in the Forty-ninth Regi- ment, Tennessee Infantry, in a company organized by Captain Green. Subsequently he served in General Johnson's army, seeing much hard service, and at Bentonville, North Carolina, was severely wounded. On completing a valiant service, he returned to his farm in Dickson county, where he continued to follow the occupation of agriculturist until his death, in November, 1905. In his early life Mr. Larkins studied to enter the ministry of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, but after a short time gave his attention to other pursuits, and in the latter years of his life was affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church South. In political matters he was a Democrat, but was never desirous of holding
.
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public office. Mr. Larkins married Elizabeth Corlen, who was born in Dickson county in 1843, and they had a family of nine children, as fol- lows: Susan Blake, who married John Loggins; Fostina, who became the wife of Van E. Elazer; Zanie; Eula Frances, who married T. M. Overton; Melbia, who married Miner Elazer; S. F., living in Dickson; Dr. Herbert Ewing; and Wellington and Virgie, living at home.
Herbert Ewing Larkins received his early education in the public schools of Charlotte, following which he became a student in Durkin College, there receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In 1909 he was graduated from the University of Nashville with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and since that time has been engaged in practice at Charlotte. His abilities here were soon recognized and as the generous and sympathetic nature behind the skill of hand and professional judg- ment became appreciated his practice continued to rapidly increase. At this time he is known as one of the leading practitioners of the younger generation, and as such holds a deservedly high place in the respect of his professional colleagues and of the public at large. Dr. Larkins is inclined to favor the Democratic party, but reserves the right to vote independently, regardless of party lines, and the duties of his large practice have precluded any thought of entering the public arena in search of preferment.
On June 29, 1910, Mr. Larkins was married to Miss Eva Corlen, daughter of J. K. and Betty Corlen, of Charlotte, and this union has been blessed by the birth of one son: Wilmer Holland, born February 13, 1912.
RICHARD H. PHILLIPS. Especially fortunate in the quality of her journalism, Waverly is the home of the Humphreys County Democrat, organized and conducted by Richard H. Phillips. He is a native of Humphreys county, where he has hosts of friends.
In family origin, Mr. Phillips is of combined Missouri and Tennessee parentage. His father, James Phillips (1837-1881) was born in Mis- souri, where he lived until 1861. Coming at that time to Tennessee, he discontinued his occupation of blacksmith and wagon-maker while serv- ing in the Confederate army. Enlisting in Forrest's Cavalry under Captain Randall, in Hickman county, he served through the war. Given a furlough in 1863 he was apprehended on his way back to his regi- ment and was taken prisoner near the Hickman county line. He made a desperate fight for his liberty, receiving no less than seven wounds in the encounter, and was taken to Camp Chase, where for nearly two years he lay in prison, before his exchange was accomplished. Those. long, horrible months were not without seriously detrimental effect upon his physical constitution. Much broken in health, he returned to Ten- nessee, where he resumed his place among his family and friends. He had been married in Humphreys county in 1863 to Miss Sarah Plant
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(born in Stewart county in 1840), and as years passed they became the parents of six children. With this family he presently removed, in 1875, to Hickman county, Kentucky, where he continued to work at his trade during the remainder of his life. He is remembered as a Democrat of decided opinions. He was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Clinton, Kentucky, and of the Methodist Episcopal church. Of the latter his wife, Sarah Plant Phillips was also a member. She survived him for a number of years and in the course of that time remarried, becoming Mrs. Thomas A. Wiggin. Her earthly life closed in 1909, but Mr. Wiggin is still living, a resident of Humphreys county.
Fifth of the children born to James and Sarah Phillips was the son whom they named Richard H., and whose career forms the chief subject- matter of this biographical review. His birth occurred on June 16, 1870, in Humphreys county, Tennessee. His education was pursued. at Clin- ton College, Kentucky, and was supplemented by his very familiar acquaintance with the type-case, which early attracted his interest. He was, indeed, but thirteen years of age when his apprenticeship as a printer began. He learned this work with one W. A. Jones, a French- Canadian printer who was at that time engaged on the Times-Journal of Waring, Tennessee-a news sheet that is now no longer published.
After this early apprenticeship, Mr. Phillips next followed the inter- esting and developing fortunes of a journeyman printer. For fifteen years he was thus engaged at various places. In June, 1910, he came to Waverly, purchased a new printing-plant and organized a weekly paper which he named the Humphreys County Democrat. This sheet, which is of course an organ of the good old Southern party, has proved to be very successful, having both a wide circulation and a good advertising patronage. Mr. Phillips is to be congratulated on the good results of the venture.
In all political affairs of the city, county and state, as well as in great national affairs, Editor Phillips is actively interested. Social fraterni- ties also claim a due share of his attention, including him as a member in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Waverly lodge No. 104; and in the Knights of Pythias of Huntington (Tennessee) lodge No. 63. He is connected with the Presbyterian church of Waverly, that congre- gation also being the church home of Mrs. Phillips.
As Miss Della Blair Plant, of Humphreys county, Mrs. Phillips was very well and popularly known before her marriage. Her parents, J. H. and Mary E. Plant, represent one of the oldest of the families in this locality. Mr. Plant is a Confederate veteran and a man of prominence in the community. The year 1900 was the date at which Miss Plant became Mrs. R. H. Phillips. She and Mr. Phillips have welcomed four little daughters into their home. The eldest, Mary Lou, met a death all too tragic at the age of seven, when on January 26, 1908, her baby life was forever stilled by an explosion of blasting powder. Her sisters,
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Ella Mae, Mattie Gould and Virginia, live to fill their parents' home with flower-like charm and with budding promises of the future. The editor and his family form a valued acquisition to the business, political and social interests of Waverly.
JOSEPH LARRY BYRN, M. D. The patronymic "Byrn" indicates with singular clearness the origin of the family of that name, and the house of Byrn was first established in America by Larry Byrn, the great- grandfather of the subject of this brief review, who came from Ireland and settled in Tennessee, homesteading a piece of land at the head waters of Yellow Creek. Here the pioneer, then in, his young manhood, established a little grist mill, and one day he started to the mill with a load of corn. He was never seen again. The most thorough search was made throughout the country, but the miller was gone, his disappearance being as complete as if the "earth had opened and swallowed him," to quote the proverbial statement. Indians frequented that section of the country in those days, and it was always supposed that he had been attacked by a hostile band and made away with, but beyond conjecturing as to his possible fate, nothing was ever known. He left a young son, Larry, who grew to manhood in Dickson county, and there passed his early life as a farmer and saddler. He served in the Mexican war, and after returning home, retired and led a quiet, peaceful life until death claimed him.
S. M. Byrn, the son of Larry Byrn II., was born, reared, educated and married in Dickson county, and there passed the greater part of his life. He was a farmer, merchant and stock trader, and led a busy life, his home and the center of his business activities being at Fowler Landing, in Humphreys county, to which county he moved in about 1857. He was a prominent and well-to-do man, and at the outbreak of the Civil war he formed a company of light artillery, but not having an acquaintance with military tactics, Captain Lannie was placed in charge of the company, Mr. Byrn being first lieutenant. He served with valor until the battle of Fort Donelson, when he fell before the enemy's. fire, his military career ending there. He was a Democrat, and a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was ordained to preach in about 1860, but never occupied the pulpit regularly, although he had in previous years supplied whenever his services were in demand. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was born in 1830, and was still a young man when he died in battle. He married Sarah Rogers, born in Dickson county in 1831, their marriage taking place there in 1848. Four children were born to them, Dr. Joseph Larry Byrn being the eldest of that number, and but one other besides himself being alive today- Mollie, the widow of P. J. Davis.
Dr. Byrn was educated in the public schools of his native community and under the instruction of Dr. E. E. Larkins, at Charlotte. Following
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that he engaged in the timber business for some two years, after which he opened a store at Beggarville, which he conducted for six years. He then entered a medical school at Cincinnati, the Eclectic Medical Col- lege, and in 1886 took his degree of Doctor of Medicine. He began the practice of his profession at Beggarsville, Humphrey county, in the same year, and here he continued until 1895, when he went to Union City, there continuing in practice until 1897. He then came back to Humphrey county and settled on a farm near Plant, and here he is engaged in farming and in practicing his profession, dividing his atten- tion between the two occupations. He has a fine place of one hundred and sixty acres which he keeps up in a most admirable manner, and is as prominent as a successful farmer as he is in his medical capacity.
In 1872 Dr. Byrn was united in marriage with Miss Annie Bone, the daughter of John Bone, of Beggarsville, and they have seven children : Eddye Lee, of Hickman, Kentucky; Nancy Cornelia, married John Warren, of Humphrey county; Carrie Willie, of Camden, Tennessee; William Joseph, of Hickman, Kentucky; Fannie, the wife of Roscoe White; Stella, married John Fowler and lives in Camden, Tennessee; and Thomas A., who is at home.
Dr. Byrn is an Independent Democrat, and fraternally he is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, affiliating with Denver Lodge No. 606, and the Encampment at Waverly. He is a good citizen, a devoted family man, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of all who share in his acquaintance in the county which he has been identified with for so many years.
JOHN J. JONES. A stranger invariably forms his estimate of the enterprise and prosperity of a community from its buildings. If sub- stantial and of tasteful and appropriate design it betokens a thrifty and progressive order of citizenship. The contractor, builder and architect is therefore a very important factor in influencing and shaping the material advancement of a community, for his tastes, knowledge and judgment are largely relied upon by those who have need of his ser- vices. It is this line of endeavor to which John J. Jones, of Union City, Tennessee, has directed his attention throughout his business career. By nearly twenty years of experience as a carpenter and twelve years of successful activity as a contractor he became well qualified to take a place among the leading contractors of Union City upon his location there in 1910, and this he has done. In the two intervening years since then he has been more than kept busy, for in 1911 sixteen houses were erected under his direction and thus far in 1912 the number has reached eleven, two of them being large store buildings. His work extends to Hickman, Mayville and Fulton, Kentucky, and he averages ten workmen in his employ. Mr. Jones is not only a skilled mechanic but he also understands the work of the architect and usually draws up his own
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plans. The whole period of his independent activity has been given to this line of work.
John J. Jones was born in 1875 at Mayfield, Kentucky, where he grew up, received his education and learned his trade. He is the youngest of six children that came to his parents, H. R. Jones and Sarah Adcock Jones, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. In 1886 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Jones and Miss Lulu M. Ryckman and to their union have been born three children, viz. : John R., James E. and Mary Agnes. In church membership both Mr. and Mrs. Jones are identified with the Baptist denomination, and fraternally Mr. Jones is a member of the Woodmen of the World. They are most estimable young people and well worthy of the high respect and esteem accorded them by their associates. Fair dealing and integrity of purpose are evidently the principles adopted by Mr. Jones in his business transactions and by his character and the success he has attained he well merits recognition among the representative men of Union City.
HERMAN DEITZEL, JR. Scientific agriculture is no longer a high- sounding phrase, and farming, formerly an occupation in which the surplus sons of the old-time large families engaged as their natural and only means of livelihood, has been brought to the front as one of the professions and one that demands careful preparation and that returns sure and generous compensation. Each year witnesses remark- able progress along this line and to understand this aroused and con- tinued interest, the work carried on by the progressive and enterprising agriculturists must be considered. Among the farmers of this class found in Obion county, none have achieved better results than Herman Deitzel, Jr., whose valuable property of 380 acres of land, situated near Union City, has been brought up to the highest state of cultivation. Mr. Deitzel, although still a young man, has risen to a high place in his chosen calling, and his career has been marked by steady advancement and constant industry since early youth. He was born in Union City, Tennessee, in 1883, and is a son of Herman and Josephine (Cloys) Deitzel. His father, a native of Germany, emigrated to the United States in 1869, and in the following year came to Tennessee, where he spent the rest of his life in various pursuits, principally the hardware busi- ness, and became a successful man. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, of whom seven are still living, and Herman is the second in order of birth.
Herman Deitzel, Jr., was reared and educated in his native city, and what time he could spare from his studies he spent in working in his father's store, thus demonstrating an industrious spirit at the age of ten years. Ambitious and thrifty, he carefully saved his earnings, hav- ing decided to become a farmer, and on reaching his majority he invested his capital in a tract of land near Union City. He at once engaged in
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agricultural pursuits, and as the years have passed he lias added to his land from time to time, now having 380 acres in the highest productive state. Mr. Deitzel has not devoted his entire time to general farming, as stock raising and dairying have also held a part of his attention. His crops consist of corn, wheat, oats, clover, timothy and alfalfa, and in 1912 he devoted twenty acres to tomatoes. In his fine herd of Jerseys are to be found some of the best cattle in the state, and these animals always bring top-notch prices in the markets. His dairy herd consists of thirteen animals, and he also carries about twenty-five head of young stock, from which to draw and also to supply the home market. His breed of hogs are of a strain of superior quality, and well adapted for speedy growth and quick returns. Models of neatness, Mr. Deit- zel's farm buildings are in a first-class sanitary condition, are well ven- tilated and lighted with electricity, while his residence is modern in architecture and equipped with up-to-date conveniences. Modern machinery is used throughout the premises, and the entire property gives eloquent evidence of the presence of ability, thrift and good man- agement. Some there are who regard the tiller of the soil as one whose vocation is deserving of but little consideration. There can be no more erroneous idea. To the farms must the nation look for its sustenance, and to those agriculturists of Mr. Deitzel's class it owes a debt of grat- itude. Also from the farm have come some of the most public-spirited of any community's citizens, ready to support movements calculated to advance their localities and giving their time and means in the cause of education and morality. Mr. Deitzel belongs to this class, and has so conducted himself that he has the entire respect of his neighbors and fellow-citizens.
On October 12, 1909, Mr. Deitzel was married to Miss Ella Harris. daughter of Anselmo Harris, of Obion county.
BASCOM C. BATTS. Among the successful and prominent devotees of the great basic industry of agriculture Bascom C. Batts holds prestige as an agriculturist who is self made. He has ever been on the alert to forward all measures and enterprises projected for the good of the general welfare and he has served his community in various official posi- tions of important trust and responsibility. He has served as magistrate of Guthrie, Kentucky, for the past fourteen years, and for one term was judge of Todd county, Kentucky. He is the owner of a finely improved farm of two hundred and seventy-five acres, the same being located some miles distant from Guthrie.
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