USA > Tennessee > Bedford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 75
USA > Tennessee > Marshall County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 75
USA > Tennessee > Wilson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 75
USA > Tennessee > Maury County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 75
USA > Tennessee > Williamson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 75
USA > Tennessee > Rutherford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc, Vol.2 > Part 75
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M. W. COWEN, M. D., farmer, was born in Wilson County Tenn., March 7, 1828, and is one of seven children born to James and Nancy (Walker) Cowen. The father was born in Wilson County Tenn., in 1800, and was living in that county at the time of his marriage and followed the occupation of a farmer during his entire existence. He died in his na- tive county August, 1838. The mother was born in Wilson County in 1806, and died in that county in 1847. Our subject passed his early life in assisting on the farm and attend- ing the schools of the county. Later he graduated from the medical department of the University of New York. Having received his first course of lectures from the University of Louisville, Ky. In 1851 he was married to Adeline, daughter of B. and M. F. Hill. Mrs. Cowen was born in Wilson County Tenn., October 12, 1828, and by her union with Dr. Cowen became the mother of an interesting family of six children: Julius E., James B., George W .. Matthew W., Albert B. and John W. In 1847 Mr. Cowen came in posses- sion of sixty-six acres of land and in 1851 he bought 150 acres more, in Wilson County and began farming for himself. He has added from time to time and is at present the owner of over 400 acres of land, all lying in the Fourth District, where he is at present living and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is a Democrat, a member of the Christian Church, and a successful practitioner of this county.
J. P. COX, undertaker, of Lebanon. Tenn., was born August 15, 1834, in Wilson County, son of Andrew and Sarah A. (Palmer) Cox, born in Virginia and Tennessee, in 1800 and 1804, respectively. The father came to Tennessee when ten years old with his parents, and became a prosperous farmer of Wilson County. He died in 1856 and the mother in 1876. After her husband's death she married W. A. Robinson. Our subject was educated in the common schools and in 1856 married Maria Freeman, daughter of Josiah Freeman. She was born November 4, 1837. Mr. Cox was operating a carriage factory at the break-
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ing out of the war, and in November. 1861, enlisted in the Fourth Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry, and participated in many of the principal battles of the war. He was captured at Lebanon in 1864 and was kept a prisoner at Nashville until the fall of Richmond. In 1865 he lost his wife, and April 16, 1871, he married Jackie Maud Wright, daughter of James Wright, who was born in 1815. She was born December 19, 1854, in Arkansas. They have four children: Edgar E .. Beulah M .. W. Andrew and Fannie O. In 1869 Mr. Cox engaged in photography, traveling in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky. In March, 1882, he engaged in his present business. He is a Democrat and in 1875 he was elected city marshal, holding the office eight years. He is a Knight of Pythias and his wife be- longs to the Christian Church.
W. T. CRAGWALL. farmer, was born in Wilson County, Tenn., August 21, 1847, and is one of nine children born to William J. and Ellen B. (Harris) Cragwall. The father was of English extraction, a native of Virginia, born April 21. 1807. He came to Tenn- essee in 1835 and bought about 100 acres of land and began tilling the soil. He is at present living in Wilson County, and is still engaged in farming. The mother was born in Hanover County, Va., March 2, 1811, and died in Wilson County, Tenn., July 15, 1861. Our subject passed his youthful days in assisting on the farm and in getting a fair education in the schools of the county and at White Creek Spring in Davidson County, Tenn. In 1875 he married Sally Welkisen, a native of Wilson County, Tenn., born March 4, 1853, and is the daughter of Isaac J. and Elizabeth J. Welkisen. To Mr. and Mrs. Cragwall were born four children: Albert O., Tepuple O., James W. and Willie C. In 1873 our subject bought 231 acres of land in the Fifth District where he is at present liv- ing. He is a Democrat in politics and a worthy member of the Christian Church.
JAMES A. CURD is a native of Prince Edward's County. Va., born in September, 1809, and is one of twelve children of John and Elizabeth (Lumpkin) Curd. The father was a Virginian by birth, born in 1761, and came to Wilson County, Tenn .. in 1818, where he settled and became the possessor of 800 acres of land. He died in 1821. The mother was born in 1775 in Virginia, and died in Wilson County, Tenn., in 1835. James A. Curd was united in marriage to Susan Everett. November 18, 1833. She was born in Wilson County. July 4. 1809, and is a daughter of John Everett. After his marriage Mr. Curd began to till the soil for himself. and by his energy and industry accumulated about 600 acres of good land, where he and wife now live. To them were born the following children: John, Eliza and Emma. Mr. Curd is a prominent farmer of the county, and favors and supports Dem- ocratic principles. He and Mrs. Curd are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
J. N. CURD, M. D., of Mount Juliet, Tenn., was born in Wilson County, Tenn .. in 1834, and is a son of William and Susan (Davis) Curd, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Tennessee. The father came to Tennessee at an early period and during his lifetime he followed the occupation of farming, owning at the time of his death, in 1842, about .420 acres of land. After her husband's death the mother, who was born in 1814, resid- ed on the home place with her children and added 200 acres to their already extensive farın. She died in June, 1870. Our subject received his early education in the schools of his native county and in addition attended the Union University of Murfreesboro, Tenn., for one year. At the age of twenty-five he began studying medicine under A. J. Winter. In 1860 he attended the medical department of the Nashville University, remaining until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in Hardy Brett's company of the Forty- fifth Regular Tennessee Infantry, and served in the capacity of hospital steward and as- sistant surgeon. He was in many of the principal battles of the war and numerous skir- mishes He returned home May 20, 1865, and resumed his practice. In 1866 he returned to the University of Nashville, from which he graduated as an M. D. in March, 1867. He has a thorough knowledge of his profession and has met with good success. Owing to ill health he has farmed principally for the last eleven years and is the possessor of 469 acres of land. In May, 1869, he wedded Ella Winter, daughter of Dr. A. J. Winter. She was born in 1849 and became the mother of five children: Gela, William E., Elmer, Edgar and May. Dr. Curd is a Democrat and was formerly a Whig, casting his first presiden-
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tial vote for Gen. Scott. He is a member of the Baptist Church and his wife of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church South. The Doctor is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a Master Mason.
W. P. DAVIS was born in Wilson County, Tenn., August 19, 1833, and is one of seven children of I. F. and Sarah E. (Curd) Davis. The father was a native of Virginia, born in 1800. He was brought to Tennessee when only four years old, and afterward be- came a prosperous farmer and stock raiser, owning 1,500 acres of land at his death JJanu- ary 20, 1880. The mother was a native of the same State as her husband, born Novem- ber 10, 1802, and is yet living in Wilson County with her son. R. T. Davis. Our subject was educated in the common schools and the Union University at Murfreesboro. Tenn. October 25, 1855, he was married to Margaret Elizabeth (Lindsey) Davis, born in 1834, and daughter of Lewis Lindsey. Mr. Davis was a soldier in the late war and served as quar- termaster until its close, He returned home and farmed one year, and then went to Colun- bus, Ga., and was engaged in the livery business for six years. He then returned to Wil- son County, where he manages his farm of 425 acres. He and wife have five children: S. E., Mattie A., Ella B., James L. and A. T. Mr. Davis is a Democrat, and he and family are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
R. T. DAVIS may be mentioned as a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Wilson County. Tenn .; was born April 18, 1843, and is one of five children of I. F. and Sarah (Curd) Davis. (For parent's history see sketch of W. P. Davis.) R. T. Davis was reared to manhood on a farm in the Second District of Wilson County, Tenn., and there re- ceived his education. In 1867 he became a tiller of the soil on his own responsibility. and vu ille 14th day of July, 1870, the nuptials of his marriage with Alice Reynolds was cele- brated. She was born in Cumberland County, Va., July 25. 1844, and is a daughter of Obadiah Reynolds. She died October 5, 1875, and Mr. Davis took for his second wife Miss Rachel J. Winter, who was born January 10, 1854, in Wilson County, Tenn., daugh- ter of Dr. Winter. To Mr. and Mrs. Davis were born these children: Ovie W., Alice R. and Nora E. Our subject is the owner of about 650 acres of fertile land, and is doing well tuancially. He is a Democrat, and is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
I. J. DODSON, merchant, of Lebanon, Tenn., was born July 3, 1853, in Wilson County, Tenn., and is one of four children of Isaac J. and Levina (Edwards) Dodson. The father was born in Davidson County, but was a resident of Wilson County at the time of his marriage. He was twice married and the father of eight children. He died in 1853. His widow married S. T. Nix, with whom she lived until her death in 1883. Our subject was left without a father at the age of one month. His education was obtained in Lawrence College, De Kalb County, Tenn., and Cumberland University, Lebanon. November 17, 1874, he married Sallie Cox, daughter of T. J. Cox. She was born Sep- tember 8, 1857, and is the mother of five children: Tommie, Sallie L., Maggie, Harry and Isaac J. From 1871 to 1873 Mr. Dodson was salesman for Fondill & Bennett, grocers, of Lebanon, and he then engaged in the business on his own responsibility. A year later he sold out, and he and his father-in-law formed a partnership in the hardware business, the firm being known as Dodson & Cox. Later they disposed of their stock, and Mr. Dodson purchased 400 acres of land and began tilling the soil. In 1879 lie sold out and returned to Lebanon, and with John W. Price started a hardware store. and later became connected with J. T. McClain in business, and the firm was later known as McClain Bros. & Co. They have about $30,000 stock, and are doing an extensive business. Mr. Dodson is a man of fine business capacity. and in politics is a Democrat. He is a member of the K. of P. and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church South. His wife is a Baptist.
G. T. DODSON, an enterprising farmer of the Twenty-fourth District, was born Jan- uary 29, 1835, in Wilson County, Tenn., and is one of six children born to I. J. and Octa- via (Ballard) Dodson. The father was born in 1808 in Tennessee, and. wa- of Scotch-Irish extraction. He was married in 1829, and in 1850 moved to Wilson County and tilled the soil until his death, which occurred August 5, 1853. The mother was born in 1813, in Wil-
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
son County, and was the daughter of George Ballard. Her death occurred in 1842. The subject of this sketch was reared in the Twenty-fourth District. and received the rudiments of his education in the country schools and subsequently attended college three terms. He soon purchased 180 acres of land in the Eleventh District, and May 12, 1857, he wedded Sarah J. Edwards, daughter of James Edwards. Mrs. Dodson died October 5, 1871, and April 7, 1881, he was married to Maggie A. Eatherly. Mr. Dodson is the father of two children: Stonewall Jackson, born May 21, 1866 (who has received a thorough English education, and will take a collegiate course, and will then study law), and Kate, who was born September 13, 1883. In 1861 our subject volunteered in the Confederate service, and was elected captain of the Forty-fourth Tennessee (under Col. J. S. Fulton). He was in the battles of Shiloh and Murfreesboro, received a gun-shot wound, and was captured and taken to Fort Delaware, where he remained for six months, when he was exchanged at Petersburg. Va. He came back, enlisted again, was at Richmond, Petersburg and Knoxville, and was with Lee at Appomattox Court House at the time of the surrender. He then returned home and engaged in farming and stock raising. He is a Democrat in politics and a good man.
WILLIAM W. DONNELL. clerk of the Circuit Courts of Wilson County, Tenn., was born October 25, 1850, and is one of twelve children born to Robert P. and Cleopatra (Hearn) Donnell. The father was of Scotch-Irish descent, born in Virginia, and came to Tennessee in his youth. He was a farmer and owned about 200 acres of land. He was one of the early settlers of the county, and died in March, 1862. The mother was born in North Carolina and after the death of her husband made her home with our subject. She died in 1876. When William W. was but twelve years old his father died. His cider brother being in the army the burden of supporting the family fell upon William. He has only attended school about fifteen months, but in spite of this disadvantage he has a good, practical business education, acquired through > tudy and early contact with busi- ness life. He early began speculating in stock, and when eighteen years of age hired out as a clerk in the general merchandise store of C. C. Hancock, and remained with him seven years. In 1870 he purchased Mr. Hancock's entire stock, and same year the building in which he did business caught fire, and was consumed with the entire contents. He and Marshall Young opened a similar store, but in 1881 disposed of the stock. A year later Mr. Donnell was elected to his present office by the Democratic party for a term of four years, and is now filling the duties of that office very efficiently.
G. L. DRIFOOS, groceryman, of Lebanon, was born August 14, 1849, in Nashville, and is one of twelve children of L. and Eliza (Harsh) Drifoos. The father was born in Switzerland in 1806 and at the age of seventeen years came to the United States and be- gan his life as a pack peddler. He was economical and persevering and in a few years had accumulated sufficient means to enable him to establish a dry goods store, which he did in Harrisburg, Penn. After his marriage, in 1838, he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1843 came to Lebanon, Tenn., where he has been in the mercantile business nearly ever since. Since 1870 he has lived a retired life. The mother was of German descent, born in Harrisburg, Penn., in 1820. Our subject was educated in Cumberland University and Franklin College, Nashville. When about seventeen years of age he engaged in business with his father but in 1870 began farming on 326 acres of land belonging to his father. In 1883 he purchased his brother Harry's grocery store, which he manages in connection with his farming. January 19, 1871, he married Laura Smith, born in 1850. They have. seven children: Leopold. Frank. Alice, Harry, Mary N., Carrie and Annie Laura. Mr. Drifoos is a Democratic Prohibitionist and is a Good Templar and a member of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
JOHN EATHERLY, farmer and stock raiser, was born February 3. 1821, in Wilson County, Tenn., and is a son of Warren and Peggie (Robertson) Eatherly, both natives of North Carolina. The father was born in 1780, followed agricultural pursnits, and was married in 1805. He was quite well off in this world's goods, owning over 200 acres of
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land besides a good many slaves. His death occurred in 1854. The mother was born in 1780 and died in 1866. She was the daughter of Hugh Robertson. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on the farm and attended the country schools, where he received a practical education. December 23, 1843, he wedded Margaret J. Wilson, a native of Wilson County, Tenn., born February 18, 1824. and the daughter of John R. Wilson. To our subject and wife were born eleven children: Nancy C., John W., Margaret. Ann Eliza, T. Hugh, Martha E., Wilson R., Lem R .. Charles H., Andrew and Mary F. Mr. Eatherly is the present owner of nearly 300 acres of good land well stocked. He was elected constable of the Second District from 1848 to 1851, which office he filled in a satis- factory manner. He was also elected magistrate and holds that office at the present time. During the late war he was one of the boys in gray and was appointed quartermaster under Gov. Harris.
DR. J. C. ESKEW, physician and surgeon, was born in 1840 in Wilson County, and is the son of Dr. Andrew and Matilda (McFarland) Eskew. The father was born March 16, 1811. in North Carolina, and was a physician and surgeon by profession. His father, Ben- jamin Eskew, was one of the pioneer settlers of Wilson County, and assisted in formning one of the first settlements in the district. Andrew Eskew was married in 1840, and after studying medicine for some time he took a course of lectures in the Transylvania College at Lexington, Ky. About the time of his marriage he entered upon his practice, which he continued until his death, which occurred May 6, 1854. The mother was born August 16. 1818, and died November 27, 1854. Our subject was reared at home, and received his literary education in the county schools and at Mount Vernon Academy. At the age of sixteen he began teaching and met with good success. At the age of nineteen he com- menced the study of medicine under John Logue. where he remained for one year, after which he entered the medical department of the University of Nashville, from which institution he graduated in 1865. In 1861 he enlisted in Company H, Forty-fifth Regi- ment Tennessee Infantry. He was appointed surgeon in his regiment. and afterward commissioned as hospital steward. He was in the battles of Shiloh, Chickamauga, Mis- sionary Ridge, Jonesboro, Atlanta, Murfreesboro, Franklin and others. He returned home in May, 1865, and began practicing medicine. November, 1865, he bought 112 acres in the Twenty-second District, a part of the old homestead, where he has since lived. November, 1867, he wedded Martha (Rogers) Carver, born in Wilson County in 1845, and to them were born five children: Alice A., James O., Andrew O., Viola G. and Lula B. Mrs. Eskew had one child, Jonas, by her first husband. Dr. Eskew is one of the leading surgeons of Wilson County, and bears an unsullied reputation. He and wife are members of the Christian Church.
J. M. FAKES, senior member of the boot and shoe store of Fakes, Taylor & Co., and senior member of the firm of Fakes & Co., dealers in coal and lumber. was born June 21, 1844, in Wilson County, Tenn., and is a son of W. C. and Elizabeth (Moser) Fakes. The father was of Scotch-Irish descent, born in 1816, a fariner by occupation, and was married in 1834. The mother was of Scotch-German descent, born in 1818 in Wilson County, and she and her husband are yet living. Our subject received a com- mon education, and began doing for himself at the age of twelve. He clerked for some .time in Lebanon, and at the breaking out of the war joined the Confederate Army in May, 1861, in Company K, Eighteenth Regiment Tennessee Volunteer Infantry. He was cap- tured at Fort Donelson and taken to Camp Butler, Ill. Three months later he made his escape and joined Morgan's command. He afterward joined his own command, and later was one of Hawkins' scouts. He was again captured and taken to Fort Delaware. June 11, 1867, he wedded Rosa A. Gugenheim, born in Nashville in 1848. They have five children: Sally, Mark, Daisy, Gertrude and Clarence. He has been engaged in busi- ness in Lebanon for twenty-one years. He is a member of the Masonic, K. of H. and K of P. fraternities. He and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
COL. O. G. FINLEY was born in Kentucky in 1787, and came to Tennessee when a young man, locating in Lebanon in 1807. He was a son of Samuel Finley, who was born
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
in the north of Ireland and was of Scotch descent. At what date he came to the United States is not known. He was married to Mary Gains, of Kentucky or Virginia. Col. O. G. Finley wedded Mary Lewis Johnson, of Sumner County, Tenn., in 1811, daughter- of Jesse Johnson, of North Carolina, who was a Revolutionary soldier. His wife, Mary Lewis, was also born in North Carolina, and they came to Tennessee, locating in Sumner County at an early period. Col. O. G. Finley's wife died in 1830, leaving the following children: Jesse J., William M., John B. (deceased), Foster G., Sarah A. and Mary (de- ceased). Col. Finley served in the Creek war, and was a member of the State Senate about 1812 or 1813, when Knoxville was the capital of the State. He was a leather manu- facturer, and retired to his farm near Lebanon in 1830. He was a man of strong char- acter, reared in Kentucky when it was a frontier State. He received a limited early edu- cation, but owing to his fondness for books and thirst for knowledge he became a finely educated man, and was pronounced by the Rev. Dr. Lindsly, president of the Nashville University, one of the best-read historians in the State. As the epitaph on his tombstone indicates, he was "an honest man." Jesse J., his eldest son, was born in Wilson County, Tenn., November 18, 1812, and received an academic education. He was captain of mounted volunteers in the Seminole war, and afterward studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1838. He located in Arkansas in 1840, and was elected to the State Senate in 1841. He removed to Memphis, Tenn., in 1842, and began practicing law. He was elect- ed mayor of Memphis in 1845, but a year later removed to Florida and was there elected to the State Senate in 1850, and was appointed candidate for presidential elector on the Whig ticket in 1852. He became judge of the Western Judicial Circuit of Florida in 1853, and was elected to the same two terms without opposition. In 1861 he was elected judge of the Confederate States Court, but resigned in 1862 and enlisted as a private in the Confederate Army, and arose to the rank of captain, colonel and brigadier-general. In 1871 he located in Jacksonville, Fla., and in 1874 was elected to the United States Con- gress, and re-elected in 1876, but declined to be a candidate in 1878. He was again elect- ed in 1880, but is now practicing law in Ocala, Fla. He has four children: Lucius, George, Charles A. and Maggie. William M., second son of O. G. Finley, was born in Lebanon, Tenn., October 11, 1816; received an academic education, and in 1836 volun- teered and served as private in the Seminole war. He returned home in 1837 and began studying medicine, and in the following fall entered the Cincinnati College of Medicine, but in 1838 removed to Transylvania University at Lexington, Ky., where the title of M. D. was conferred upon him in 1839. He traveled over the "Lone Star State, " but in 1840 located in Arkansas. In 1842 he was elected to the lower house of the State Legis- lature. In 1843 be removed to Clarksville, Tenn., where he practiced his profession thirty years. In 1871, owing to impaired hearing, he gave up his profession and pur- chased and located on the old homestead. He was last married to Mrs. V. C. (Corad) Boyd. They have two children: Virgie Lee and Jessie C. John B., third son of O. G. Finley, was born in Lebanon in 1820. He received a practical education, and early evinced a fondness for military tactics. He possessed a splendid physique, and at the commencement of the late civil war was made captain of a corps of men from Ar- kansas, where he then resided. Owing to disease he was compelled to resign his eom- mand, and, after several painful operations, died at Searcy, Ark., in 1868. He had taken the degree of doctor of medicine, and ranked high in the community where he practiced. Foster G., fourth son of O. G. Finley, was born in Lebanon in 1822, and received a fair English education. He was reared on his father's farm, and immigrated to Arkansas in 1843. He soon after returned to Wilson County, Tenn., where he now resides, and is noted for his generous hospitality and kindness of heart.
FOSTER G. FINLEY may be mentioned as one of the oldest citizens and farmers of Wilson County, Tenn. He was born March 22, 1822, and is one of eight children of O. G. and Mary L. (Johnson) Finley. (See Dr. Finley's sketch.) Foster was educated in the Campbell Academy at Lebanon, and in 1842 married Mary Buckner, who died the same year. In June, 1845, he wedded Almira Taylor, born October 10, 1820, daughter of Isaac
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and Margaret Taylor. To Mr. and Mrs. Finley were born this family: Isaac, Mary (wife of Louis Peyton), Maggie (widow of Gus Lampton), William, Charles and Obadiah. Isaac has an orange farm in Florida, and William is in Alabama practicing medicine. Mr. Fin- ley spent five years in Arkansas and some time in Florida, but the greater part of his life has been spent in Tennessee. In 1884 he purchased 50 acres of land in the Ninth District where he yet resides. He has devoted his life to the tilling of the soil, with the exception of three years' residence in Nashville, where he was in the grocery business a short time and then clerked on a steamer on the river. Mrs. Finley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
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