USA > Tennessee > A history of Tennessee and Tennesseans, the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities, Volume V > Part 30
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born February 14, 1849, in Arkansas, and is a son of Dr. James H. and Lucy (McClure) Merriwether.
Dr. Charles Merriwether, the paternal grandfather, was born in Virginia, and as a young man entered upon a medical career, the rest of his life being spent in practice in Kentucky and Tennessee. He was the first of the family to come to this state, where he secured the present farm of Charles N. Merriwether on a government grant, and here his death occurred, as did that of his wife, Mary (Walton) Merriwether. Among their children was James H. Merriwether, who was born in 1814, in Montgomery county, Tennessee, and who inherited the inclination of his father and followed in his footsteps as a physician. He was edu- cated in the University of Virginia and the University of Pennsylvania, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine from both institutions, fol- lowing which he practiced for the greater part of his life in Tennessee and Arkansas, but on his retirement went to Todd county, Kentucky. He was married in Montgomery county, Tennessee, to Lucy McClure, who was born at Clarksville, Tennessee, in 1822, daughter of James McClure, a native of the Keystone state, who emigrated to Tennessee at an early date. Dr. and Mrs. Merriwether had a family of eight children, of whom six are living: Lizzie, who married A. M. Barker; Charles N .; John H. and William D., of Todd county, Kentucky; Hunter McClure, of Clarks- ville, Tennessee; and Gilmer, who lives in Kansas City, Missouri.
Charles Nicholas Merriwether received his early education in the pub- lic schools, following which he attended Washington and Lee University, and at one time was a student under Gen. Robert E. Lee. On receiving his degree of Bachelor of Sciences, Mr. Merriwether took up civil engineer- ing and mining engineering at Birmingham, Alabama, in the manufac- ture of iron, but two years later made removal to Montgomery county, Tennessee. At this time he is the owner of the old family homestead of 600 acres, located in District No. 6. near Trenton, Kentucky. Mr. Merri- wether raises diversified erops, and has been uniformly successful in his operations, owing to industry, intelligence and well-directed efforts. He believes in the use of modern machinery and up-to-date methods and takes pride in getting the best possible results from his land. Politically, Mr. Merriwether is a Democrat, but public life has not appealed to him, his achievements along agricultural lines satisfying his ambitions. With Mrs. Merriwether, he attends the Christian church, and all movements tending to advance religion, education and morality receive their co-operation and support.
In 1873 Mr. Merriwether was married to Miss Kittie Tutweiler, daughter of Prof. Henry Tutweiler, of the University of Alabama, and six children have been born to this union, namely: Lucy, who married H. L. Patterson, of Montgomery county, Tennessee; Robert Tutweiler, living in Kansas City. Missouri; Henry Tutweiler, of Mobile, Alabama ;
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Lennie, of Montgomery county ; and Nicholas Hunter and Peola Ash, who live at home with their parents.
JAMES CLAIBOURNE HOBBS. For three generations the charm of the fields has held this nature loving family, into which was born in Hum- phreys county, near the mouth of the Buffalo river, James Claibourne Hobbs, on the 8th day of February, 1866. He was the third child of his parents, Jesse P. and Mary Louise (Darden) Hobbs, and is the only one of the three now living. Sorrow touched these parents heavily in the early death of three of their four children, and both died young in years,-the father when James C. was three years of age and the wid- owed mother about three years later.
Jesse Hobbs was born in Hickman county in 1836 and was the son of Claibourne Hobbs, himself the son of John Hobbs, the great-grand- father of the subject. John Hobbs came to Tennessee from his native state, Virginia, in an early day, and located in Hickman county, where he devoted himself to farming life. There his son Claibourne grew to young manhood and married Rose White, rearing a large family. This son came to Humphreys county in young manhood and settled on Duck river, and there, like his father, devoted himself to farm life. He owned a pleasant farm and was the owner of a quantity of slaves. His son, Jesse P. Hobbs, came to Humphreys county as a young man and here married and settled down. He continued to be associated with his father in the farm work until he reached his majority, when he bought land of his own and began in an independent way. With the outbreak of the war he joined the Confederate forces, and served through the war with the rank of lieutenant. He was severely wounded in action at Fort Donelson, and was not sufficiently recovered to return to the ser- vice before the close of the war. He went to his home in Humphreys county when quiet was once more restored, but the young man never regained his strength and died in 1869. His widow survived him for ten years. She was a member of the Baptist church.
James Claibourne Hobbs was educated at Dickson College and Cum- berland University at Lebanon, taking his A. B. and A. M. degrees from Dickson and his LL. B. from Cumberland in 1897. In the same year he was admitted to the bar in Erin. He began practice with Herman Dun- bar, who opened a branch office in Nashville, and it was the expectation of Mr. Hobbs to join his partner in that city, but the death of Mr. Dunbar after an association of about two years changed his plan in that respect, and he has since continued in practice in Erin alone, with the exception of a period of five years when he was the business associate of Mr. J. E. Kennard.
Mr. Hobbs has been active in politics and has deported himself in a manner highly creditable to him in his community with regard to his political service. He was chairman of the congressional committee for
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six years, and was elected to the state senate in 1899 on the Democratic. ticket, serving in that body on the rural bills committee and on the com- mittee on ways and means. He has shown in a convincing manner that he knows good laws from poor ones, and that he knows something of what laws are wanting and how best to frame them for the ultimate good of the people.
Mr. Hobbs is associated with a number of fraternal organizations, among them the Knights of Pythias, in which he has membership in Emerald Lodge No. 58, and the Order of Ben Hur, in which he is a mem- ber of Erin Lodge.
In 1890 Mr. Hobbs married Miss Nettie Helen McCauley, the daugh- ter of G. H. McCauley, of Erin. Eight children have been born to these parents : Helen ; J. Moody ; Alice; Flora Louise; Mary Gustava; Sarah Gertrude; Doris and Floy.
Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs are members of the Presbyterian church of Erin. and have reared their family in that faith. They are among the most highly esteemed citizens of Erin, where they are popular in the best social activities of the town, and where their circle of friends is not smaller than that of their acquaintances.
DOUGLAS K. COPPEDGE. Vocations of a scholarly sort have been those chosen by the successive representatives of the family line to which Douglas K. Coppedge belongs. The clerk of the Stewart county court has been known throughout his lifetime in this region, as were also both his parents. His paternal grandfather, Alexander Humphreys Cop- pedge, came in an early period from the adjacent commonwealth of North Carolina to the Volunteer state, where he promptly determined upon a location in the promising section of Stewart county. He married Miss Emmeline Elliot, who was also a North Carolinan by birth and youthful residence. Alexander Humphreys followed a profession which in those days was one of far greater difficulty and far less remuneration than now, -- that of school-teaching. This work he pursued in Stewart county, where he spent the greater part of his life. There his children were born and educated. They were eleven in number, the youngest being Charles Coppedge, now well known in Stewart county, both in his own person and as the father of the subject of this sketch. Charles Coppedge's birth- place was in District No. 6 of this county and the date of his birth was March 16, 1845. He was but an infant when his father died, and he early developed manly traits and an interest in those pursuits involving a con- siderable degree of brain work. His first self-supporting endeavors were carried on in the capacity of a bookkeeper for the Woods Tatemen Iron Company. With this establishment he continued until the interruptions of the Civil war interfered with their activities. When the war closed and the company was re-established, he resumed work in the furnaces. In 1878 he accepted the office of trustee of Stewart county and continued
*
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therein until 1884. In 1882 he became connected with Walter Brothers, a Dover mercantile house, and remained thus associated until 1890. Since 1896 he has been devoting his time and attention to the affairs of his farm property near Dover. Mrs. Charles Coppedge, who in girlhood was Miss Frances Josephine King, was also a native of Stewart county, her birthplace being in District No. 5 and the date of her birth March 9, 1852. Her marriage to Charles Coppedge took place on November 17, 1870. Their children were six in number : Ruby, Terese (now deceased), Douglas, Erle, Grace and Harold.
Douglas K. Coppedge, third in order of birth and. the eldest son of his parents, was born near Dover, in Stewart county, on March 29, 1882. He gathered his knowledge of books from the public schools of his native community and at a comparatively early age sought a field for independent efforts. His first vocational venture was in the mer- cantile line, in the capacity of salesman in a general merchandise store at Bear Springs.
The satisfactions of agricultural existence for a time appealed to Mr. Coppedge, who in 1901 entered upon the farming occupation, continuing it for nine years. In 1910 he was honored by election to the office of clerk of the court of Stewart county, a position for which he is well quali- fied. This office he still holds, performing its duties successfully and ably. He is still interested in farming to a considerable degree.
Mr. Coppedge's domestic life was established on June 28, 1911, at which time he won as his life's companion Miss Rose Thomason, a daugh- ter of the late Edwin Thomason of Davidson county. They are cosily situated at their home in Dover and are active in church and social inter- ests of the place. Mr. Coppedge, like his parents, has always been connected with the Methodist church South. Mrs. Coppedge is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church.
Douglas Coppedge and his father are both members of the fraternal order of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, in Phoenix Lodge No. 270, of Dover. The Modern Woodmen of America, Big Rock Camp, also claim the membership of D. K. Coppedge. Both he and Charles Cop- pedge are loyal Democrats of the characteristically southern type.
COL. CARY F. SPENCE. A representative citizen of the city of Knox- ville and one who has had distinctive influence in connection with busi- ness and civic activities in this beautiful and thriving industrial center, Colonel Spence is now serving in the office of postmaster and is known as one of the most loyal and progressive citizens of this section of the state, where he is widely known and commands secure place in popular confidence and esteem.
Cary F. Spence was born at Knoxville, Tennessee, on the 21st of January, 1869, in the house wherein he now resides, and is one of the five children of his parents, who were Dr. John Fletcher and Elizabeth
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(Cary) Spence. His father was chancellor of the American University of Harriman, Tennessee, and chancellor of Grant University of Athens, Tennessee. He was one of the best known and most highly esteemed men in the state. He was long identified with educational work, and was manifestly deserving of the high place that he held.
At the inception of the Civil war he tendered his services in defense of the Union, and he became captain of a company in the Forty-second Ohio Artillery, with which command he participated in many of the important conflicts between the North and the South. With the close of the war he established his home in Tennessee, where he continued to reside until his death.
Col. Cary Fletcher Spence is indebted to the public schools of Knox- ville for his early educational discipline, the same having been supple- mented by an effective course in Grant University, in which he was gradu- ated in the year 1890. In the same year he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. During his college career the young man attained a national prominence in athletics as a track runner, winning the one hundred yard and the two hundred and twenty yard dashes at the meet of the Amateur Athletic Union in Philadelphia in 1892. He later became a member of the Columbia Athletic Association of Washington, and in 1893, while representing that association at the World's Fair in Chicago, won the distinction of finishing second in the two hundred and twenty yard dash.
In 1891, just following his graduation from Grant University, better known today as the University of Chattanooga, of which his father was then president, Colonel Spence entered business for the first time as a clerk for the Knoxville Building & Loan Company, leaving them a little later to associate himself with the Greer Machinery Company, with which he was prominently connected in the capacity of vice-president. He remained there for four years, withdrawing in 1898 to volunteer his. services as a soldier in the Spanish-American war, and was appointed first lieutenant and regimental adjutant in the Sixth United States Volunteer Infantry, receiving his appointment from President McKin- ley, and in the following year, 1899, was promoted to the rank of cap- tain in Porto Rico. He has been a continuous member of the national guard of the state for thirteen years, and is the highest ranking officer in that body today, bearing the rank of colonel. Following his return to Knoxville in 1899, Colonel Spence became president of the Spence Trunk & Leather Company, a firm that has since become one of the substantial and prosperous concerns of the city, with a growing busi- ness of both a wholesale and retail order, and is president of the Island Home Park Company, which owns and has improved the beautiful resort park that gives title to the corporation and which in itself constitutes one of the noteworthy attractions of the Knoxville district.
In his political activities Colonel Spence has been an enthusiastic
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supporter of the cause of the Republican party, and has been an active and effective worker in its ranks. On February 1, 1911, he was appointed postmaster of Knoxville, and in this important position he has given an . excellent and popular administration, in which he has affected many improvements in the service and brought the same up to a standard especially high, as compared with that of other cities of the same com- parative population and commercial importance. Colonel Spence is dis- tinctively progressive and public spirited in hs civic attitude and takes a lively interest in all that touches the welfare and advancement of his native city, where his circle of friends is coincident with that of his acquaintances. He is one of the more active members of the Knoxville Board of Trade and in 1909 and 1910 served as its president, and is now first vice-president of the Board of Commerce of Knoxville, Tennessee.
His military record has already been touched upon briefly, and it is unnecessary to enter into further detail concerning the same, but it may be mentioned that he is president of the Tennessee Sons of the Ameri- can Revolution; is a member of the military order of the Loyal Legion, as he is also of the Military Order of Foreign Wars and the Spanish- American War Veterans' Association. Fraternally Colonel Spence is affiliated with the Knoxville lodge of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and is a member of the Cumberland, Cherokee, Country and Ap- palachian Clubs, All these are representative clubs of Knoxville, and in addition to his membership in them Colonel Spence is a member of the Army and Navy Club of New York City.
Colonel Spence was married to Miss Nan Crook of Baltimore, in which city she was born and reared. She is the daughter of George W. Crook, a representative citizen of that city. Two children have come to the Spence family : Eleanor E. and Shirley C.
DR. F. A. MARTIN. The five years of Dr. Martin's medical practice in Cumberland City have been such as to demonstrate his thorough knowledge of his science and the high quality of his professional judg- ment. His family is one of those that are best known in Stewart county, although Dickson county was the location in which the Martins first settled. The first of these to locate in Tennessee was Jerry Martin (grandfather of the subject of this review), who came to this state from North Carolina. He was prominent for a number of years as a county official in Dickson county. His son, E. P. Martin, was born in that locality, and there he received his somewhat limited education. He gave willing service to the cause of the South during the Civil war, in which he served with the rank of lieutenant, under General Forrest. When peace had returned to the land, E. P. Martin removed to Big Rock, where lie engaged in mercantile and milling business, an occupation which he still continues, with an excellent degree of success. He is a Democrat in
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politics and a Baptist in church affiliation. Mrs. E. P. Martin is a native of Montgomery county, where in her girlhood she was known as Miss Irene Reynolds. Of the eight children who have been born to them the seventh in line was F. A. Martin. The place of his nativity was Big Rock, in Stewart county, and the date of his birth was February 9, 1880.
The general education of F. A. Martin was completed in Cumberland City Academy. He had chosen the University of Tennessee as his pro- fessional alma mater and went to Nashville in order to enter that insti- tution. He completed his medical course in 1907 and after taking his degree, he settled in that same year in Cumberland City, where he at once began practice. Success has attended his efforts and his patronage is steadily increasing. He is interested in all events and in all periodi- cals that further the science of medicine. He is a member of the Mont- gomery County Medical Society and of the Tennessee State Medical Society.
Dr. Martin is a man of sturdy Democratie views. His fraternal interests are with the organizations of the Masonic order, his member- ship in that society being in Charity Lodge No. 307.
On July 11, 1911, Dr. Martin and Miss Blanche Robinson were united in marriage. Mrs. Martin is a daughter of the late Robert Robin- son, the L. & N. conductor whose life was sacrificed in the railroad wreck on that line. Dr. and Mrs. Martin are among Cumberland City's most highly regarded and popular citizens.
A. S. PROSSER. One of the ablest lawyers of the Knoxville bar was the late A. S. Prosser, a soldier of the Union army during the Civil war, mustered out in Tennessee, and taking up his residence at Knoxville soon afterwards. For many years, until his death, he was one of the leading attorneys, enjoyed a large private practice, was esteemed for his unfalter- ing observance of the best ethics of the profession and for his solid integ- rity in all the relations of life.
A. S. Prosser was a Pennsylvanian by birth, born in that state Decem- ber 4. 1838. He was the third in a family of four sons, whose parents were David and Rachael (Williams) Prosser, both of whom were born in Wales, were married there, and came to America in 1832, locating first near Harrisburg, and subsequently at Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The mother died in 1842, and the father subsequently married Mariah Ken- ton. a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and she became the mother of eight children. David Prosser, the father, had the distinc- tion of being the first man to open a coal bed in western Pennsylvania. He lived a long and useful life, and his death occurred in 1884.
The late Mr. Prosser spent the first fifteen years of his life on a farm, and most of his early education was obtained in the public schools of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He subsequently moved out to the state of Illinois, where he was occupied up to the breaking out of the Civil war.
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Then on April 19, 1861, only a few days after the firing on Fort Sumter, he enlisted in the Tenth Illinois Infantry, and was in service with the commissary department until 1864. At that date he was transferred to the Second Tennessee Cavalry of the Union army as first lieutenant. Lieutenant Prosser was mustered out on July 9, 1865, at Nashville, and remained in that city until February, 1866. At that date he located in Knoxville and entered the law firm of Maynard & Washburn, one of the old and distinguished law firms of the city. He was subsequently admitted a member of the firm and the title changed to Washburn & Prosser, a combination which continued until January, 1870, after which date Mr. Prosser was engaged in practice alone until the time of his death, which occurred June 16, 1894. Mr. Prosser in 1869 served as attor- ney general pro tempore for the state of Tennessee.
In 1875 Mr. Prosser married Lizzie Brown, daughter of Judge George Brown, a native of Monroe county, Tennessee. One child was born to their marriage, Brown Prosser, who is now well known in the business circles of Knoxville as a merchandise broker, with his offices in the Hen- son building. Mrs. Prosser and son reside on Rutledge Pike.
JOHN W. ANDES. Many years have passed over the head of the Hon. John W. Andes, of Knoxville, Tennessee, but he is still the same sturdy, clear headed man that he was in the days when he was helping to defend the Stars and Stripes against the onrush of the Confederate forces. He is now a notary public and a claim and pension attorney of Knoxville, and is widely known in the city. The experience of many years of wise living have shown him the way into the hearts of men and the respect and affection which is accorded him comes from the personal friendship and warm admiration of those with whom he comes in contact. A southerner by birth, when the war broke out he had the necessary courage to stand by his convictions and fight against the breaking up of the Union, and this has been typical of his whole life.
The Hon. John W. Andes was born in Tennessee, on the 28th of May, 1838, one of the three children of his parents, who were John and Lettie (Murphy) Andes. His father was a Virginian by birth and followed the occupation of a farmer throughout his life. John W. Andes received from the public schools of the state what in those days was considered an education but which in reality consisted principally of learning to read and write. Turning to the only occupation which was open to a young southerner in those days unless he chose to become a professional man, John Andes became a farmer. He continued this until the Civil war broke out and then enlisted in Company K of the Second Tennessee Cavalry as lieutenant in his company and served throughout the war, being discharged from the service on the 6th of July, 1865.
He left the army to take up his old life again and turned to the only occupation which he had followed. He was successful as a farmer and Vol. V-17
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for many years continued in this occupation. In 1901, however, he gave up the farm and came to Knoxville to live. Previous to this, in 1890, he had been appointed pension agent by the commissioner of pensions and has served in this capacity since that time. His office is located in the Sedgwick block and in addition to being notary public and claim and pension attorney, he also is engaged in taking acknowledgments and in handling deeds and similar interests.
Mr. Andes is a member of the Republican party and has served his party faithfully and well. He was elected a member of the state legis- lature in 1889 and served through 1889 and 1890. In his fraternal relations he is identified with Masonic Lodge No. 144 of Knoxville, Ten- nessee. He also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and to Ed Maynard Post No. 14. He and his family are all attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church.
On the 27th of June, 1867, Mr. Andes was married to Miss Sarah C. French of Knox county, Tennessee, a daughter of Michael French. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Andes, namely: James A .; Addie E., wife of W. L. Murphy ; Ulysses S., now in Philippine Islands, at Manila, at the head of normal school at that place; and Belle, Frank A., Ethel, Ernest W., and John W., all of Knoxville, Tennessee.
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