USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 126
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Mr. Samma'e treated his ward as though he were a son, and the fer hundred dollars jest him by his mother were ' judi :iously expoaled for his bon fit.
Young Grinstead early a quired the rudiments of an ed. mention as well as a desire for general reading. When about fourteen yeat- of age he was placed by his guardan at Fredericksburg, with the intention of having bim learn the jeweler's trade. Owing to ill health, however, he was shortly afterwards returned to the farm, where he rem aned until offered a desirable clerk-tap. Sometimes clocking, sometimes at school, young Grinstead passed the time till his majority.
Arriving at age, Mr. Grinstead determined to gratify a
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BIOGRAPHIES.
Female College, at Xenia, Ohio. The early religious in- structions of his mother were never forgotten, and in 1846 he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church near Monticello, Ill. At the close of his year of teaching in Xenia, in accordance with his own convictions of duty, he was licensed to preach, and recommended to the Cincinnati Annual Conference, which he entered in September, 1854. His first appointment was New Carlisle, the next year Jamestown ; the third appointment was two years on New Burlington charge, then two years on the Raysville circuit. At the next Conference, 1860, he was appointed principal of the New Carlisle Academy. This position he retained two years, doing considerable preaching, and part of the second year he was in charge of the circuit.
In 1862 he was appointed to York Street Church, Cin- cinnati, remaining two years, then to Carr Street, in con- nection with the Ladies' Home Mission, where he continued three years. In 1867 the work among the freedinen was attracting the attention of the church, and energetic efforts were made to establish schools for them, as well as to preach the gospel to them. Among the churches that took active part in this work was the Methodist Episcopal, which had organized the Freedmen's Aid Society, and had schools already established in the South. When the call was made Mr. Braden offered himself, and was transferred from the Cincinnati to the Tennessee Conference, and stationed at Clark Chapel, Nashville, and also appointed principal of the freedmen's school, which was taken under the local super- vision of a board of trustees, who had secured from the State a charter for the school, under the name of the Central Tennessee College. He was elected president of the school. At the close of the school year he resigned his position and accepted the principalship of the city school, which was held in the same building,-viz., the "Gun Factory,"- the college being removed to its present location on Maple Street. At the close of the school year he was re-elected president of the college, and at once entered upon his duties. He has continued to hold this position to the present time, 1880. Under his administration the school has steadily advanced from a primary school, in which the spelling-book and primer where the principal text-books, to the college, with its full course of study. This advancement has taken years of toil and patient labor, and Mr. Braden has had the gratification of seeing some who entered the school as students in the lowest classes pass through the entire course, and graduate in the classical course with credit to themselves and the college.
The great demand for teachers made it necessary that special care should be taken to provide them, and the nor- mal department of the college was early organized. This was followed by the academic, the preparatory, the theo- logical, the collegiate, and, in 1876, the Meharry Medical Department, so named from Rev. Samuel Meharry, who, with his brothers Hugh, Jesse, and Alexander, contributed liberally to establish and bring it into successful operation. The law department has been recently organized. The Ten- nessee Conference elected him a delegate to the General Conference of 1872, and also 1876.
In 1873 the Iowa Wesleyan University gave him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. From 1870 to 1873 he was
secretary of the State Teachers' Association, and in this position aided in developing the public opinion in favor of a more efficient system of free public schools. In addition to his duties in the college he was presiding elder on the Nash- ville District from 1872 to 1876, and at the same time mem- ber of the general committee from the Seventh Episcopal District of the Board of Church Extension. As president of the college he has maintained his position under peculiar difficulties, securing the respect and confidence of his asso- ciates and the esteem of the thousands of students who have been connected with the college. As a preacher he is above mediocrity, always practical, having but little taste for mere speculation when presenting the practical duty of men to obey the gospel and secure its benefits. As a writer for the weekly press his articles are always readable.
In 1856 he married Miss Collier, of Hillsdale, N. Y., a cul- tured lady of sterling Christian character, who has shared the vicissitudes of the itinerant's life and the ostracism visited on all who engage in elevating the freedmen, with cheerfulness, and has made their home a delightful retreat. Two of their children died in infancy, leaving the oldest, a daughter, who is now engaged with her father in the college as teacher of music.
DR. A. P. GRINSTEAD.
Dr. A. P. Grinstead was born in King and Queen Co., Va., on the 5th of May, 1815. His parents were of Eng- lish descent, yet his paternal grandfather was a valiant soldier under Washington.
Early in life Thomas Grinstead wedded Frances Skilton, and to this couple were born three children,-Elizabeth Ann, who married Joseph H. Skilton ; Bathurst J. Grin- stead, who died at fifteen years of age ; and A. P. Grin- stead, the subject of this sketch. The greatest misfortune of his life occurred at his birth, for within the same hour that he became a living soul his mother's heart was stilled in death.
A maiden sister of his mother undertook the rearing of the little orphan, but within a brief time she, too, was laid away in the family burying-ground. He was then received into the family of his mother's brother. This uncle, how- ever, did not long survive his sisters, yet the orphan babe was retained by his aunt until he had reached his eleventh year, when he was taken to Essex County to reside with his guardian, James Sample.
Mr. Sample treated his ward as though he were a son, and the few hundred dollars left him by his mother were judiciously expended for his benefit.
Young Grinstead early acquired the rudiments of an ed- ucation as well as a desire for general reading. When about fourteen years of age, he was placed by his guardian at Fredericksburg, with the intention of having him learn the jeweler's trade. Owing to ill health, however, he was shortly afterwards returned to the farm, where he remained until offered a desirable clerkship. Sometimes clerking, sometimes at school, young Grinstead passed the time till his majority.
Arriving at age, Mr. Grinstead determined to gratify a
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HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.
long-felt desire (common among youth) of seeing more of the world. Accordingly, we find him at twenty-two in charge of a rural school in Haywood Co., W. Tenn. While here he began the study of medicine in connection with his general reading. Within a few years we learn of him at San Antonio, Texas, applying himself with diligence and success to the study of the Spanish language with the view of becoming a commercial interpreter along the Mex- ican border.
At twenty-five he began to have a longing for a com- panion, one with whom he could share the pleasures and the ills of life,-a counselor, a wife. As if by impulse, he returned to Tennessee to supply his heart's deficiency. Arriving in Haywood County, the scene of his former labors, he was warmly greeted by his old acquaintances. He found the community quite ablaze with political excite- ment concerning the election of the chief magistrate of the Union. He entered the delegation from his county to Nashville, and while there realized his heart's fondest wish, for in January following he was joined in wedlock to Sarah S. Shumate, of Davidson County.
Pretty soon after this important step Mr. Grinstead took the oath of allegiance to the United States government, settled down on a farm a few miles south of Nashville, and is now residing within the immediate vicinity of the first location.
Amid many embarrassments Mr. Grinstead persevered in the study of medicine, and in 1847 took a regular course of lectures at Louisville, Ky. His farm interests in the mean while were managed by his wife. In 1853, Mr. Grin- stead had conferred upon him all the privileges and immuni- ties of the medical profession by diploma froin the Nashville University.
For nearly thirty years Dr. Grinstead has enjoyed a large and successful practice in the thriving community in which he resides, and is universally esteemed by his neighbors as an efficient physician and a kind, worthy Christian gentle- man.
ARIS BROWN.
Aris Brown was born in the county of King's and Queen's, Va., Aug. 6, 1802, and was left an orphan at the age of four years. Ile emigrated to Davidson Co., Tenn., in 1826, and engaged in carpentry, which he followed for three years. March 1, 1827, he was married to Emily, third daughter of David and Elizabeth (Powel) Cartwright. David Cart- wright was the son of Robert Cartwright, one of the early pioneer settlers, coming to Davidson County with Robertson and settling with his family at what is now Nashville. He brought with him fruit-trees of apple and pear, which he set out, and which would undoubtedly have thriven had the Indians allowed them to remain ; but in a spirit of wanton- ness and hostility characteristic of the aborigines found in that portion of our country, they pulled them up as often as he set them out, until, to save them from being an utter loss, he carried them to Kentucky, whither he removed with his family shortly after, remaining two years, at the
expiration of which time he returned to Tennessee, bring- ing with him some of the identical trees he had carried to Kentucky with him, setting them out again, this time within a few miles of the present city of Nashville, where they grew unmolested and bore an abundance of fruit to him and his posterity. One of these trees is said to be still standing on the Gallatin turnpike, near, or in, the old Cart- wright burial-ground.
The children of Aris and Emily Brown were John Da- vid, deceased ; Albert H., deceased ; Edward Fox, deceased; Dr. Joseph W., deceased; Mary E., the wife of Dr. T. B. Raines, of Murray Co., Tenn .; Aris Brown, Jr., Charles F., Martin N., James K. P., deceased; Samuel W., John Davis, Archie F., Emma A., wife of 'Squire John S. C. Davidson.
Aris Brown filled the various offices of constable, deputy sheriff, and deputy United States marshal, being in public life in some capacity for more than a quarter of a century. He was director of the Bank of Tennessee, of the Nash- ville and Chattanooga Railroad, and also of the State prison. In 1834 he removed to the farm in the Twelfth District which was his home until his death, Dec. 4, 1877, and where his family still reside.
Mr. Brown was a gentleman of remarkable energy, tem- perate in his habits. During the latter part of his life he was active in the interests of the church of which he was a consistent member,-the Methodist Episcopal Church South,-and contributed liberally to its support. The min- isters of God always found a hearty welcome and cordial hospitality at his home. In politics he was always a Dem- ocrut of the Jeffersonian school, and took an active interest in the politics of the country, both State and National.
WILLIAM A. HAMILTON.
William A. Hamilton, son of Andrew and Sarah A. Hamilton, was born April 27, 1851, in Nashville, Tenn. His father was a merchant, cotton and commission broker, and steamboat proprietor combined for more than thirty years in the city of Nashville.
Of course his father's position and wealth secured to William all the advantages of an educational kind to be had. His first school-days were spent in Nashville at the public schools; at the age of nine his parents removed to the country, and he was sent to Professor E. L. Crocker's school at White's Creek Springs, where he remained about six years, going from there to Bethel College, Russelville, Ky., where he remained four years, but from which insti- tution he was prevented graduating by a severe attack of typhoid fever. In the fall of 1875 he entered the Medical Department of Vanderbilt University, graduating with the degree of M.D. three years later, and at once began the practice of his profession in District Twenty-three, of Davidson County.
May 13, 1872, he was married to Mary F., youngest daughter of Isaac and Sarah Darrow, of Nashville, formerly of Cheatham County. Their children are Thomas A. (deccased), Musette Jane, William Andrew, Jr., and John.
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T. H. JONES.
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BIOGRAPHIES.
T. H. JONES.
The subject of this sketch (Thompson H. Jones) was born in Logan Co., Ky., near Russellsville, on the 4th day of May, 1844. His grandfather Jones (father's side) came from Wales to the United States, and settled in North Carolina, on the Roanoke, in the present county of Halifax. He took an active part in the Revolutionary war, was in numerous conflicts with the British, and was with the American army at the surrender of the British forces at Yorktown. At the conclusion of the Revolutionary war he came West, following the tide which was flowing after Sevier and Robertson, and settled on Station Camp Creek, in Sumner Co., Tenn., where, in 1800, Jesse C. Jones, the father of T. H., was born. Grandfather Jones reared a large family of boys, several of whom took an active part in the Creek war with the Indians, and were also at the battle of New Orleans under Gen. Jackson.
Grandfather John Williams, on the mother's side, was of Scotch-Irish descent, and came to America from Scot- land, settled in North Carolina, came West to the Watauga settlement, was captain of a company in the Revolutionary war, was in the battle of King's Mountain, and afterwards came to Tennessce shortly after Robertson, settled on Mans- ker's Creek, in Sumner Co., Tenn., was in several engage- ments personally with the Indians. His sons also served in the Creek war against the Indians, and at New Orleans under Gen. Jackson. The mother of this subject, Caroline H. Jones, was born in 1802. Both families. afterwards moved to Southern Kentucky and settled in Logan County, where the father and mother of this subject were married. They both died in March, 1864, within a weck of each other, aged respectively sixty-two and sixty-four years.
Of a family of seven brothers and sisters there remains one sister, Mrs. Susan S. Long, now residing at Mallory's Station, in Williamson County, near Franklin, Tenn., and one brother, John W. Jones, in Montgomery County, near Clarksville, Tenn. When T. H. Jones was about five years of age, his father and mother removed to the lower part of Logan County, near the village of Keesburg, Ky., and about three miles from the Tennessee line. Here, varied with work on the farm, he was sent to the village school and obtained a fair English education ; he was afterwards seut to Bethel College at Russellsville, Ky., to be given the advantage of a thorough collegiate course, but, the civil war coming on in 1861, he enlisted in the Southern army with the first company from Southern Kentucky, being then six- teen years of age. His company tendered its services to the Confederacy, were accepted by President Jefferson Davis, went at once to Richmond, Va., and into barracks at Camp Windsor, thence to Manassas, Bull Run, Cen- treville, Drane's Mill, Mason's Hill (in sight of the Long Bridge and Washington City). His company was "K," in the First Kentucky Infantry, Col. Tom Taylor com- manding. His company was on the Peninsula, at York- town, in Virginia, under Gen. Magruder, when Mcclellan first made his move towards Richmond, a short time after which the company, being twelve months' troops, were dis- banded, and he, coming back to Kentucky with a number of others, joined Gen. John H. Morgan's Kentucky cav-
alry, and was with him in all his subsequent operations, in- cluding the celebrated raid into Indiana and Ohio, from which the subject of this sketch made his escape by swim- ming the Ohio River with a small number of companions. He with the scattered remainder of Morgan's men served under Gen. Bedford Forrest at the battle of Chickamauga and in subsequent operations, until brigaded with the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry (Col. H. P. C. Breckenridge) and other Kentucky regiments, under command of Gen. John S. (Cerro Gordo) Williams, of Kentucky, and with this bri- gade helped to cover the retreat of Gen. Joseph E. John- ston's army along the railroad, from Tunnel Hill and Dalton to Atlanta, Ga. This brigade was scouting and fighting almost every day for more than two months. After the capture of Gen. Stoneman, at Macon, Mr. Jones came into Tennessee with Gen. Hood when he made his attack on Nashville, and on the 24th of March, 1865, after Hood's retreat, was captured while on a scout in the enemy's lines, and imprisoned until the war closed, in May. Throughout the whole war Mr. Jones bore the reputation of a good sol- dier, always cheerful and ready for duty, and to his credit be it said that he was then and has always been strictly temperate in his habits, never having used tobacco in any form, and never at any time having tasted strong drink as a beverage, or been the least under its influence in any way. This may to some extent account for the excellent health which he now enjoys, and the promise of the long life before him. After the close of the war he returned to college at Russelville to finish his course of study. In 1866 -67 he came to Nashville and commenced the manufacture and sale of agricultural implements and farming machinery.
Notwithstanding the almost insurmountable difficulties which presented themselves on account of the changed and uncertain condition of labor, the indomitable energy and perseverance of the man soon made itself felt, and in a remarkably short space of time he had established the largest trade in his line of business of any house south of the Ohio River. Being a public-spirited man in the true sense of the word, he not only labored to build up his own business, spending thousands of dollars in advertising and traveling for his house, in trying to build manufactories and develop the material resources and advantages of his city and State, but he was always ready to aid most liberally with his money and time any movement for the public good and general welfare. Mr. Jones may justly be re- garded as the pioneer since the war of his line of business in the city of Nashville, and as having done more by pro- gressive efforts to open the market of the South and con- centrate the trade on Nashville than any other one man in it. He was a prominent member of the Board of Trade, and was more than once called upon to preside at its sessions. As president of the Mechanics' and Manufacturers' Associa- tion of Nashville, was one of the prime movers of the first exposition held in Nashville, and vice-president of the first board of managers, and one of the most energetic promoters of its success. As a business man Mr. Jones is affable, polite, and kind to every one, and has a business acquaint- ance as extensive and favorable among the farmers, planters, and business men of Kentucky, Tennessee, and the South, perhaps, as any other man south of the Ohio River. He
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is full of "grit" and " grip," and his ultimate success must be in proportion to the energy and determination displayed by the man against all the odds and reverses of fortune. In politics Mr. Jones is and always has been a staunch Democrat, as was his father before him. Mr. Jones has been a consistent, active, and faithful member of the Bap- tist Church for more than twenty years, and is regarded with the highest esteem and good will by the members of his church. He is an active Sunday-school worker, and has spent his time and money freely in the cause and for his church.
Among his intimate acquaintances and friends he is noted for his generosity and charity. The poor and needy never go away from his door empty-handed when he has the means to relieve their distress.
Mr. Jones is a member of several benevolent organiza- tions, including the Masons, Odd-Fellows, and Knights of Pythias. He, in company with one other, organized the first lodge of Knights of Pythias in Nashville (Myrtle, No. 3), and was himself one of the first members of that order in the city.
T. H. Jones was married on the 17th day of June, 1869, to Miss Emma McElderry, of Talladega Co., Ala., whose father, Col. Thomas McElderry, was one of the wealthiest and most influential planters in that portion of the State, and who was one of the pioneer settlers of Talladega County, having purchased his lands direct from the Indians, and, a prominent Indian chief having died, was buried on Col. McElderry's place, and his grave is still cared for by Col. McElderry, who is now eighty-five years of age.
This marriage was blessed with three children, all boys, -John Hardin, the oldest, now about ten years of age; Harry Sidney, the second boy, about five years of age; and William Albert, the youngest, about twenty-one months of age,-all living, and promising, healthy children. T. H. Jones now resides with his family at 611 Boscobel Street, East Nashville, Tenn.
CAPT. DAVID HUGHES.
David Hughes, Sr., was born in Virginia, about 1764. His father was a stock-trader, and had a large family of children, among them Capt. David Hughes. After the usual experiences of childhood and youth, he married Miss Elizabeth Frazier and emigrated to St. Louis, thence to various places, and finally located in Nashville, engaging in trafficking and trading. He worked with diligence and economy, having but small means, until his steady industry was rewarded by the accumulation of property. His re- maining years were spent in Nashville. Of his seven children, but three-Matilda (Mrs. Thomas Harmon, of St. Louis, Mo.), David, and James (both now of Nashville)- survive. His death occurred in 1823 or '24, at about his fortieth year. He was much respected by his circle of friends.
Capt. David Hughes was born in 1825, on Cherry Street, in Nashville, in a house standing on the site of Capt. William Stockell's residence. His mother was left a widow in his infancy, but, being a practical woman of energy, she
carried on the drayage and transfer business left by her husband with fair success. Her sons aided her obediently, and in his early years Capt. Hughes was frequently seen driving a dray and hauling water in the streets. This con- tinued until about his fifteenth year, when he chanced to give a horse an unlucky blow which killed it and changed the whole subsequent course of his life. He went at once to his mother, told her he never could get along with horses, and must go and learn some trade. True to his word, he commenced at once to learn river-engineering on the steamer " Bolivar," running on the Cumberland River. He continued in this business for about three years, when, by diligence, care, and economy, he had acquired a small capital, and purchased a small steamer, the "Coaster." With himself as captain, he commenced at once making trips on the Lower Cumberland from Nashville to its mouth.
This investment was a profitable one, and after a year's time he built the steamer " Moneda" and put her on the samme route. He sold her to Capt. James Miller after one year. He ran her one season and sunk her. Capt. Hughes rebought her, raised and refitted her, and ran her about two years.
After selling the " Moneda" to Capt. Miller, Capt. Hughes bought the " Day," selling her after one season. He then purchased the steamer " Cumberland," soon tore her up, and built the steamer " Umpire," at the mouth of Marrow-bone Creek. This boat he continued to command until 1861. She then was pressed into the United States service for a time, and afterwards was sunk at the wharf at Nashville. Capt. Hughes was owner of three " Umpires," the last in connection with his brother.
After building the " Umpire," he built at the same place the " Hartsville," and took her into the Illinois River, where in seven weeks' time he states that he realized over forty thousand dollars. Returning to Nashville, Capt. Hughes navigated the Cumberland River, until he formed a part- nership with his brother and Capt. Calvin G. Cabler, and purchased the " John A. Fisher," lying at the foot of Har- peth Shoals. This was a speculative purchase, as it was expected that the Federal soldiers would burn her. The new company obtained the boat in safety, however. In 1862, Capt. Hughes went to Louisville and built the " Mat- tie Cabler" for the new firm, and until 1876 was promi- nently identified with the navigation of the Cumberland. supporting everything tending to that end with a strong will, and was always one of the first to aid, financially and otherwise, anything that would aid Nashville's interests in this direction. He has owned too many boats to name, bas been connected with such shrewd men as Capt. Cabler and James L. Hughes, and has always found his advice and counsel sought for, listened to, and hecded.
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