USA > Tennessee > Fentress County > History of Fentress County, Tennessee > Part 8
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He is a democrat. A member of Lodge No. 614, F. & A. M., and Crossville Lodge No. 316, I. O. O. F. He is also a member of the M. E. Church, South.
CHARLEY M. HALL.
Parents: Luke Hall, Talitha J. (Atkinson) Hall.
Grandparents : David and Sarah Hall and Louis and Rachel Atkinson.
Great-grandfather: Luke Hall.
The Halls came from North Carolina, and the Atkinsons from Virginia, and are of English and French descent.
C. M. Hall was educated at A. B. Wright Institute, and at American Temperance University. Has taught school, and is now a member of the County High School Board of Fentress County. He has been married twice, first to Laura M. Laven- der, 1894, second to Lottie Brown in 1908. He is a licensed minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a Mason and an Odd Fellow.
LUKE HALL, SR.
Luke Hall, the great-grandfather of C. M. Hall, was a man of great strength and courage, and a typical pioneer.
While living in Virginia, it is related of him that a man hearing of this rugged man, came some distance to the home of Hall, which was in Westmoreland County, Virginia, this being the same county in which George Washington was born. He
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told Hall that he had heard that he was a great fighter, and that he had come to try him. Of course Hall agreed. They walked out and rolled up their sleeves and began the test in the good old fashioned way. In a very short time Hall had whipped his adversary as usual, and after pouring water for each other to remove the blood, they parted friendly, both fully satisfied.
In those days "fist and skull" fighting was considered honor- able, and was often indulged in for the amusement of specta- tors at gatherings. No unfairness was allowed, and it was regarded cowardly to use any weapon except the fist in settling personal differences.
MISS ADDIE TAYLOR. 1893.
Parents : P. A. and Armilda (Young) Taylor.
Grandparents : Joe C. Taylor and Mahala (Ward) Taylor, and W. D. and Nancy (Beaty) Young.
Her ancestors on both sides have been prominently identified with Fentress County ever since it was organized.
She was educated in the public schools, and the county high school, and has taught successfully for several years. Mt. Pleasant, Shirley and Allardt are among the places she has taught.
She is a professed Christian but not a member of any church. Her grandfather J. C. Taylor was a Methodist minister. Her mother's people are Baptist.
The Taylor family in Fentress County are related to Robert L. Taylor, the famous Tennessean.
MISS BERTHA WILLIAMS.
Miss Williams is the daughter of F. A. Williams, Circuit Court Clerk of Fentress County, 1908-1912; was educated in the public schools of the county and the county high school.
She began teaching in 1911 at Delk School, and has taught every year since.
She is a member of the Methodist Church.
Her father F. Asbury Williams is a prosperous farmer on Wolf River, and is an active worker in the Methodist Church.
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He is a prominent republican leader, and deservedly popular among the people, having made an efficient clerk.
MISS MARY ROYSDEN.
Parents : Abe Roysden and Martelia (Pogue) Roysden.
Grandparents : Abe Roysden and Mary Roysden ; Sol Pogue and Eliza (Grooms) Pogue.
Great-grandparents: John Grooms and Elizabeth (Apple) Grooms.
Miss Roysden is a native of Fentress County, the Pogues and Roysdens having come to this county and settled in the Wolf River region many years ago.
Her grandfather Abe Roysden was a teacher and a minister of the gospel in Virginia. He was of English and Irish descent. Her great-grandmother Elizabeth Apple was full blooded Dutch, and probably migrated from Pennsylvania to Virginia. The Pogues also originally came from Holland.
Miss Roysden was educated in the public schools of Fentress County and the county high school. She has taught for the past seven years at Pogue's, Roysden, Albertson, Clarkrange, Mt. Helen and Armathwaite.
She is a member of Rebekah Lodge, I. O. O. F.
W. ROSCOE BEATY. 1889.
Parents : Clemons Beaty.
Grandparents: Joshua Bowden and Polly Ann (Stephens) Bowden; David Beaty and Jane (Smith) Beaty.
Great-grandparent: David Beaty.
He attended the public schools and the county high school. Has taught successfully for three years. He is also a farmer. His family are of English and Irish descent, and a part of their family history is that they are related to John Smith, the lead- ing character in the Jamestown, Virginia, colony.
MARION D. CLAIBORNE.
M. D. Claiborne is a native of Fentress County, and a son of Stephen Claiborne; a grandson of Dr. R. T. Claiborne, a re- cruiting officer in the Union Army in the Civil War, whose
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father, Leonard Claiborne, a college graduate, came from Vir- ginia about 1830. He was of English descent. M. D. Clai- borne's mother-Sarah Hayes Claiborne-was of French an- cestry and a descendent of the French Acadians, who were taken from Nova Scotia and scattered among the English colo- nies in America, her ancestors having been brought to Louis- iana. Her father was a native of Louisiana, and moved with his family to near Little Rock, Ark., and from there they came to Tennessee about 1867 and settled near Little Crab. Marion's mother was at this time about twelve or thirteen years old.
M. D. received his education from the public schools and the county high school. He has been teaching since 1908.
He is a republican and a member of the Methodist Church.
LEON CLAIBORNE.
Leon Claiborne is a brother of M. D. Claiborne, q. v .; was born in Fentress County, January 28, 1891; attended the public schools and the county high school; began teaching at the age of nineteen, and has taught four years.
He is a progressive republican. He is a member of the Bap- tist Church, and was licensed to preach in 1911.
JOE D. WARD.
J. D. Ward is a native of Fentress County and resides in the twelfth district.
Parents: James and Mary J. (Crabtree) Ward.
Grandparents: George and Lydia Ward; Isaac and Sarah Crabtree.
Attended A. B. Wright Institute, and became a teacher in 1907. Among the places he has taught are Tinch, Hood, Bar- ger and Mt. Gilead. Has served as Secretary of the Republi- can County Executive Committee.
Became a member of the Methodist Church in 1910; is an active church and Sunday School worker. Has served as Stew- ard, Trustee, Lay Delegate, etc., for his Church. Was County Chairman of the Sunday School Association for Fentress County, 1910.
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HISTORY OF FENTRESS COUNTY, TENNESSEE,
THOMAS D. FLETCHER. 1880.
Parents: Jacob M. Fletcher and Martha Jane (Shilling) Fletcher. Thomas Fletcher, his great-great-grandfather, came from England to Virginia and died there. His father, Jacob M., came to Fentress County in 1865, and married Martha Jane Shilling of a pioneer Fentress County family. Thomas D. was born near Armathwaite, 1880. He attended the high school at Rugby and the Fentress County high school at Jamestown. He is a graduate of the Mountain City Business College of Chattanooga. He was awarded a gold medal for speed and accuracy on typewriter by this college. He is also a graduate of the Chattanooga College of Law, LL.B., class of 1913.
He taught eight terms in Fentress, four in Scott County. Kept books at Rugby and at Oneida. Served on the Finance Committee of Fentress County, 1911. Is now a lawyer and stenographer in Chattanooga.
He is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, Encampment and Rebekah, and also a member of the Knights of Pythias.
For many years he has been a cripple, and his success has been due entirely to his energy and determination to succeed. His perseverance and victory over the most adverse circum- stances should furnish inspiration to other boys in Fentress County with more favorable opportunities.
WILLIAM PERRY LITTLE. 1871.
Parents : Vastine and Julia P. Little.
Grandparents : John and Elizabeth Little, and Robert S. and Amanda Little. The Windles and Littles were pioneer settlers in Overton County. Robert S. Windle was a leading lawyer at the Livingston bar for a number of years. He also practiced at Jamestown.
W. P. Little was born near Monroe in Overton County, where he resided until about fifteen years ago, when he came to Clarkrange in this county and began teaching there. He was soon elected County Superintendent of Fentress County and is now serving his sixth term. He received most of his education at Alpine Institute.
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He is a great-great-grandson of John Sevier, and his great- grandmother, who was a daughter of John Sevier, is buried in Monroe, the old county seat of Overton County, when Fen- tress was a part of Overton. The Seviers entered several thou- sand acres of land in what is now Overton, Pickett and Clay counties.
Mr. Little is a 32° Scottish Rite Mason.
Married Pauline Peters, a daughter of W. H. Peters, Ex- Trustee of Fentress County, 1896. He is a democrat. Resides on his farm at Clarkrange.
VIRGIL H. PILE. 1870.
Parents : S. H. and Ermine (Miller) Pile.
Grandparents: Wm. Pile and Mary (Williams) Pile; Amp. Miller and
His ancestors were early settlers in the Wolf River region. His father was a well known and a well to do business man of the county. V. H. attended Hiawassee College and received a diploma from the business department. He has followed farm- ing and stock raising all his life, and owns a fine farm on Wolf River and raises all kinds of live stock.
He was elected by the county court of the county to the office of County Trustee to succeed W. S. Smith 1911, and in August, 1912, was elected by a good majority over the nominee of the Republican primary, and was again re-elected in 1914 over one of the most popular men personally in the county.
He is a splendid collector, and is one trustee that has pub- lished regular reports of the county's financial condition. His business methods have endeared him to the people of the county and they feel safe with their money in his hands, hence his re-election in 1914 by an increased majority. He is the only democrat to hold the office of trustee since 1884, when Oliver P. Cooper was elected.
He was married to Nannie Williams, a daughter of E. J. and Susan Williams, in 1899.
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HISTORY OF FENTRESS COUNTY, TENNESSEE,
ISAAC D. ALBERTSON.
Parents: John Albertson and Ruth (Dillon) Albertson.
Grandparents: Early Albertson and Elizabeth (Coulson) Albertson.
Early Albertson came from North Carolina and settled near what is now Gunter (P. O.) in Pickett County. His son John moved from there to Morgan County, and then back to James- town in 1827. There were only four other families living in what is now Jamestown at that time. They were John Conatser, Jesse Wood, John M. Clemons and possibly Marcia Millsaps and her husband Hiram Millsaps.
John Albertson lived in a log house located about where Frogge's store now stands, on west side of square. Albertson had to move out to allow court to be held. He made the molds for making the brick used in building the first courthouse. I. D. Albertson attended the famous Mt. Cumberland Academy in Poplar Cove and became a teacher. He followed farming and teaching. He was elected County Trustee in 1886. He was elected Circuit Court Clerk in 1888 and served eight years.
He was married to Ollie E. Jones of Kentucky in 1861. He died in 1900. He left a widow and four children, all married.
A. J. Albertson, a teacher, and Ben Albertson, an architect of Chattanooga, are his sons.
JOHN ALBERTSON, JR. 1827.
John Albertson, Jr., was a brother of I. D. Albertson, q. v. Came to Jamestown with his father when a few weeks old. The children of John M. Clemons, the brothers and sisters of "Mark Twain," were his playmates. He was fond of telling the story of Orion Clemons crying like his heart would break over a cup of milk he spilled upon the floor.
The first brick courthouse in Fentress County was built of brick made from moulds prepared by his father, John Albert- son, Sr. The second courthouse, 1860, was built of brick from moulds he made himself.
He was a good citizen, was a farmer and blacksmith, Lived near Boatland and died there in 1903.
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DANIEL VOILES. 1858.
He is the son of William Voiles who was a farmer and school teacher, who came from East Tennessee and settled in the old tenth district about sixty years ago. His mother, Elizabeth (Goddard) Voiles, was a native of Ohio. Daniel was born in the old twelfth district. During the war the family lived in the Poplar Cove. He was married to Lyda Hopkins, of Kentucky, in 1880. He was elected as a member of the first County Board of Education in Fentress, and was twice re- elected. While a member of the board he identified himself with every move for school improvement that was made by the board. Before the expiration of his third term he resigned to accept the position of Superintendent of the Poor. He has also served as Poor House Commissioner, and was constable in Tenth District for about ten years.
DAVID HUTCHINSON RANKIN.
D. H. Rankin was born in Kentucky in 1859. His parents were Thomas Rankin and Hannah (Shearer) Rankin; grand- parents, Robert Rankin and Barbara (Hutchinson) Rankin; Daniel Shearer.
The Rankin family came from Scotland to America in the days of sail ships, and settled in Kentucky. The Hutchinsons also came from Scotland, the Shearers came from Germany.
D. H. Rankin came from Kentucky to Fentress County in 1880 and engaged in the mercantile and the milling business on Wolf River, and remained there for eight years, during which time he married Ermine Huff, a daughter of Alvin C. Huff of Pall Mall. In 1888 he moved to Jamestown and continued the mercantile business. At present he is also interested in the milling business.
MRS. MARTHA ELLEN (SMITH) MCDONALD. 1818.
Parents : Philip Smith (1769-1865) and Emily (Atkinson) Smith.
Grandparents : Owen Atkinson and Agnes (Goad) Atkinson, George Smith and Rebecca (Bowen) Smith.
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Mrs. McDonald's mother came to Kentucky from West Vir- ginia, then called New Virginia, at the age of twelve, her grand- father and grandmother George and Rebecca Smith having been killed the year before by the Indians. Rebecca Smith came from Ireland the year that Tennessee was settled (1769).
The famous preacher, "Raccoon" John Smith, who was asso- ciated with Alexander Campbell in the early history of the Campbellite Church, was an uncle of Mrs. McDonald.
Mrs. McDonald was born in Kentucky and came to Tennessee with her parents when she was eight years old and settled on Wolf River. She was married to William B. McDonald in 1839. He was of a pioneer Overton County family, his father having crossed the ocean when a boy and settled near old Monroe in Overton County. W. B. was a soldier in the Florida War in 1837; he was a double cousin of Judge A. O. W. Totten. He died in 1863.
Mrs. McDonald had ten brothers and two sisters, all of whom are dead. She has made four trips to the West to visit her sons in Nebraska. One of these trips was made at the age of 74, one at 86 and another at 90. She has eight sons. Mrs. Ben Moody, of Forbus, and Mrs. Lute Smith, at Jamestown, are her daughters.
She never attended a free school, but attended subscription schools. There were no free schools until long after she was married.
She has a wonderful memory and is well informed. She saw the Indians as they were being removed to lands west of the Mississippi. She remembers the Indian squaws as they passed by with their papooses strapped to their backs. She was then living near Albany, Kentucky.
REV. JEREMIAH M. STEWART. 1844.
Was born in Jackson County, Ala., and came to Blount County, Tennessee, in 1894. His grandfather Stewart came from Ireland and settled in Franklin County, in what is known as Stewart's Cove, and was there killed by the Indians during the Revolutionary War. Was licensed to preach in 1866. Did work as an evangelist in North Alabama for ten years. For
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the past two years he has been pastor of the Jamestown Mis- sion of M. E. Church, South, having twelve churches in his charge.
Was a Union soldier during the war and served in First Regiment, Alabama Cavalry.
GEORGE W. CONATSER. 1840.
Parents : Philip and Peggy (Cooper) Conatser. Conatser's were of German descent, and the Cooper's Scotch-Irish.
His grandfather, John Palser Conatser, came to Watauga with Maj. Anderson, a great-grandfather of Judge C. E. Snod- grass, when Bean's cabin was the only house in the great Mis- sissippi Valley. He moved from Watauga to Wayne County, Kentucky, and Philip Conatser moved from there, here, soon after Fentress County was organized. John Palser worked for General Greene about the time of the Revolution. He was a soldier at the battle of King's Mountain. The powder horn he used at this battle was presented to William McKinley while he was president of the United States, by G. W. Conatser. Mckinley wrote him a nice letter, expressing his appreciation of the gift, and claimed he prized it more than anything else he had received, on account of its association with the great and decisive battle.
G. W. Conatser, or Uncle Hickory, as he is familiarly called, has served as Justice of the Peace, Sheriff eight years and as Deputy U. S. Marshal four years. In politics he is a repub- lican. He is one of the best known men in the county, and knows everybody. He is a plain, old-fashioned citizen, and popular, and wields a wide influence among his friends. He owns a large farm in the Poplar Cove and lives upon it. A coal mine has been operated upon it for some years to supply local trade.
He was with Sherman in his march to the sea. Served in Company D, Second East Tennessee Infantry, joining in 1861, and was discharged November 6, 1865, at Knoxville.
DAN DAVIS.
Dan Davis, a farmer and slave trader before the war, was a citizen of the Poplar Grove until his death several years ago.
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It is said that Mr. Davis lost a large amount of money at the breaking out of the war on account of his investments in the slave trade.
He was a distant cousin of President Jeff Davis and a rela- tive of Hon. John M. Davis, of Wartburg. His father, Walter Davis, was a pioneer settler in Morgan County, and Wartburg was named for him.
WARREN E. TAYLOR. 1877.
Parents : James C. Taylor and Sybil C. (Northrup) Taylor. Grandparents: Pleasant and Martha (Hamlet) Taylor; Niram Northrup and Mary Ett. (Buttoff) Northrup.
W. E. Taylor's grandparents came from North Carolina and were among the early settlers in the county. Pleasant Taylor lived for a long time on the Jamestown and Crossville road, three miles south of Jamestown. His home furnished many a weary traveler a comfortable stopping place. This road was much more traveled then than now. Many a drove of hogs, sheep and cattle have been driven by this place on their way to a southern market, before the railroads, and before the war.
He has been a farmer and contractor. For the past two years he has been Sheriff of Fentress County. He was re- elected August, 1914, by a majority of over 300, showing the estimation of the people of his record as Sheriff.
He is a member of the Masons and an Odd Fellow. He married Miss Dora Westfeldt, a native of Germany, in 1898. She came across the ocean to this country when she was three years old. Their daughter, Miss Ethel, received a teacher's certificate at the age of thirteen.
JAMES RAYMOND HOGUE. 1861.
Parents : Solomon and Caroline (Choate) Hogue.
Grandparents: Milburn and Rachel (Young) Hogue.
Great-grandparents: Anderson and Elizabeth Hogue; Dr. Thomas Choate
Great-grandparents, Anderson and Elizabeth Hogue, came from Virginia and settled at the foot of the mountain above the John Albertson farm near Boatland.
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Attended schools taught by Anderson Hogue, Jr., A. J. Mace and G. W. Reagan. Followed farming and logging on the East Fork until about ten years ago, when he went West; is now farming near Colbert, Bryan County, Oklahoma.
His father, Solomon Hogue, was for several years a Justice of the Peace in the First District. He was killed in 1886, a saw-log rolling over him, where he was assisting in rolling logs into the East Fork River for rafting.
James Hogue was constable of first district one term. He was married in 1886 to Mary Jane Bowden, a daughter of W. B. Bowden, q. v.
David E. Hogue and A. M. Hogue are also sons of Solomon Hogue. They now live in Texas.
JAMES S. ROYSDEN. 1888.
J. S. Roysden is a brother of Mary Roysden, q. v. Was born near Pall Mall, 1888. Attended common schools and Cherry University. Taught several years in the north end of the county and two years in Kentucky. Taught at Davidson, 1913. Is a republican. Member F. & A. M., Lodge No. 281.
MCPHERSON BUCK. 1873.
Parents : Claiborne P. and Sarah J. (Wilson) Buck. Grandparents : - - Buck and Ruhana (Angel) Buck.
Born on Wolf River. Attended the common schools of Pick- ett and Fentress counties. Has taught at Fairview, Back Creek, Bucks, Broad-door, Dry Creek, Stockton and Grimsley, in Fentress, and at Gunter in Pickett County. He is a member of the Baptist Church, a Mason and an Odd Fellow.
JOE MULLINIX. 1872.
Son of John W. and Amanda (Choate) Mullinix.
Grandson of Nathan and Margret Mullinix and Thomas and Polly Choate. Attended Alpine Institute, and began teaching over twenty years ago, and has taught nearly every school in the first and sixth districts, and some in others.
Went to California in 1905 and remained one year ; returned to Fentress County and married Nora Beaty in 1907.
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He is a member of the Methodist Church. His father, John Mullinix, is an active worker in the M. E. Church, and for many years a class leader at the old chapel near Boatland, where he now resides. John Mullinix is a farmer and a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity.
Joe is now farming. He owns the I. D. Albertson farm near mouth of Poplar Cove Creek, where he lives.
W. D. MULLINIX.
Parents : Isham and Vina (Boswell) Mullinix.
Grandparents: William Mullinix and Boswell, his grandfather, who died on West Fork in Overton County many years ago.
He has followed farming and teaching, and for the past eighteen years he has been in the mercantile business.
He has held the offices of Justice of the Peace twelve years, constable and County Court Clerk eight years.
He was married in 1873 to Abagail Wood, who died in 1874. Married Mary Albertson in 1875; she died in 1881. In 1901 he married Amanda Shipworth, a great-great-granddaughter of Gov. John Sevier.
The Mullinixes came from North Carolina and settled in the Poplar Cove about 1835. Isham was a brother of Thannie Mullinix, q. v.
STEPHEN EDMUND FROGGE. 1865.
S. E. Frogge is a brother of C. C. Frogge, q. v., and was born on Wolf River. Educated in the common schools of the county.
He has followed farming, and for six years was a traveling salesman. For the past eighteen years he has been in the gen- eral merchandise business. Has at present a large store at Jamestown, and is in business with his brother-in-law W. E. Mullinix at Pall Mall, having a large stock of general mer- chandise at this place.
He was a member of County Board of Education for three years. Belongs to M. E. Church, and is an Odd Fellow and a Mason. He is a democrat.
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Married in 1894 to Ella Pile, a daughter of Erasmus Pile, a prosperous merchant and farmer at Pall Mall.
His father, John W. Frogge, was Trustee of Fentress County for six years, and was a Justice of the Peace for years. He was also an attorney at the Jamestown bar.
EDMUND JASPER WRIGHT. 1865.
Parents : Joshua Foster Wright and Zibbie Angelina (Price) Wright.
Grandparents: Wilson L. Wright-died in 1895-and Han- nah (Boswell) Wright; John Price and Sarah (Wright) Price, a sister of A. B. Wright and no relation to J. F. Wright.
Great-great-grandfather: Joshua F. Wright, who died soon after the Civil War.
Jasper, as E. J. is familiarly called, was born in the Poplar Cove in Fentress County. He was educated at Hiawassie Col- lege, Alpine Institute, and Grant University. He taught school for seven years. Bought live stock in Fentress and all the adjoining counties for a number of years, shipping them to northern markets. He now owns a fine farm and is interested in farming and stock raising. He also operates a general mer- chandise business at Jamestown.
He has served as Deputy Sheriff, and was Assistant County Superintendent for four years, and in 1885 held one of the first, if not the first, county institute for teachers ever held in the county.
He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1899, County Judge in 1901, and served until 1911, when he resigned. During his term as Judge the tax rate was lowered materially, it being $2.20 at the opening of his term. County claims increased in value more than 20 per cent before his term expired, notwith- standing the fact that the courthouse was burned and had to be rebuilt, and many of the county records had to be supplied.
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