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 82
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 82
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 82
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 82
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 82
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 82
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D. M. ALFORD, publisher of the Bedford County Times, was born November 30, 1861, and is the son of A. J. and Margaret (Russell) Alford, both of whom are natives of Lincoln County, Tenn., though now living in Shelbyville, Tenn. Our subject is a prac- tical printer, and as such has filled responsible positions on the Fayetteville Express, Shel- byville Gazette, Chattanooga Times and Murfreesboro News. In February, 1886, he en- gaged with William Russell in the publication of the Bedford County of Times, which paper he is publisher, and has succeeded in building up a good newspaper.
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JOHN H. ALLEN, superintendent of public instruction of Bedford County, was born November 19, 1848, son of William and Elizabeth (Ray) Allen .. The parents were born in 1824 and 1927, respectively. The ancestors of our subject emigrated from Smith County, Tenn., to Illinois, and after remaining there some time moved to Bedford County, where our subject was born. William Allen was a tiller of the soil and the father of five children-four of whom were reared to maturity. These are Isaac S., Sarah, James E. and Jolin H. The father was a pious member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and a respected citizen of the county in which he lived. His death, which occurred in 1874, was universally regretted by all who knew him. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Allen has been living with the subject of this sketch. She is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Our subject, at the age of nineteen, left the farm and, having had the advantage of a good English education, chose school-teaching as his profession. He has given the best of satisfaction where he has taught, and is considered quite a success as an educator. In 1885 he was elected superintendent of public schools of Bedford County, and by his energy and untiring zeal has done much to further the advancement of the schools of the county. November 10, 1881, he married Miss Susan E. Hobbs, and two children have blessed this union: Lora V. and Ewitt P. Mr. Allen is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of which he has been a steward for cight or ten years.
A. E. ATKINSON was born in Marshall County, Tenn., January 23, 1817. His father, John Atkinson, was born in Virginia about 1774, and first married a Miss Duan. who bore him seven children. His second wife was Nancy McClaren, and our subject is the fourth of their eight children. John Atkinson came to Tennessee about 1800, and was one of the first pioneers of the country, and was elected magistrate soon after his arrival. There being no other magistrate in the county, he was obliged to swear himself into office. and held the position until his death in 1829, with the exception of one year, when he was a member of the State Legislature. He also served as chairman of the county court sev- eral terms. Our subject has been a school-teacher for thirty-five or thirty-six years. teaching twelve months in the year a portion of the time. He also farmed, and June 5. 1838, he wedded Elizabeth C. Stem, and the following children are the result of their union: F. M., Mary A. (Mrs. A. S. Turrentine), Christina C. (Mrs. W. H. Clark), W. E. and J. R. Mrs. Atkinson died November 2. 1867, a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Atkinson married his second wife, Jane Edwards, April 6, 1870. Mr. Atkinson has a fair education, which he has obtained mainly through his own exer- tions. Up to the date of the late war he was an old-line Whig. Since that time he has been a Democrat.
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JOHN A. BARRETT, farmer and stock raiser, was born July 11, 1843, son of Leroy W. and Lucy B. (Knight) Barrett. The father was born in Bedford County March 29. 1SIS, and has been a merchant and farmer all his life. March 11, 1841, he was united in marriage, and is the father of three children, all dead with the exception of our subject. The mother was born March 20, 1824, and had been a worthy member of the Christian Church for a period of thirty years. She died March 22, 1875. The father, Leroy W. Barrett, is living at the present time in Rome, Ga., and after the death of his first wife married Mrs. Mary Dolby, a native of Wheeling, Va. He is engaged in the mercantile busi- ness. Our subject was born in Bedford County, was given a fair education in the town of Shelbyville, and at the age of eighteen enlisted in the Confederate Army in the Forty-first Tennessee, Infantry, Regiment. He was in the battles of Vicksburg, Port Hudson, Ray- mond, Jackson, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain. Missionary Ridge, and numerous other important battles. After the war he came back to this county, and February 21, 1865. was married to Miss Jane B. Holt, of this county. This union resulted in the birth of three children: James L., Eugene A. and Charlie. Mr. Barrett has been quite suc- cessful in business, and owns 650 acres of fine land. He is considered one of the leading farmers of the county.
A. P. (DOCK) BAXTER, a native of Tennessee, was born September 1, 1844, son of
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James M. and Sarah R. (Grant) Baxter, both natives of Tennessee. Our subject's mater- nal grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1812, and for services rendered received a pen- sion for a number of years prior to his death. Our subject remained with his parents on the farm until he was twenty-one, and received a limited education on account of the late civil war, which broke into his schooling. He has followed agricultural pursuits in which he has been moderately successful, the principal part of his life. August 26, 1866, he was united in marriage to Lucinda C. Stephenson, of this county, and to this union were born four children: William G., Effie, Mollie and Joseph C. He and family are leading mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Republican in politics.
WALTER S. BEARDEN, a prominent attorney of Shelbyville, was born in Lincoln County, Tenn., January 10, 1843, being one of two children (twins) born to the marriage of Dr. B. F. Bearden and Susan M. Blake. The father was a native of South Carolina, but lived and died in Lincoln County, Tenn. He was a man of great learning and breadth, and was eminent in the profession of medicine. He died in 1870 and five years afterward the mother died. He received a good early education and at the age of fifteen began teach- ing as an assistant in an academy. He entered the Emory and Henry College of Virginia and was in that school when the war broke out. He then enlisted in Company E. Forty- first Tennessee as second lieutenant, and remained in the service throughout the war. He was elected second lieutenant of the company upon its second organization, and com- manded the company the last year of the war. He received three wounds, one of which was serious. Returning from the service he began the study of law, and in 1866 began the practice of his profession in Shelbyville, where he has made himself a leading member of the bar. He has never aspired to political honor till this year (1886), when he was an- nounced as candidate for chancellor of his district. He was married, February 17, 1874, to Maggie C. Whiteside, daughter of Col. T. C. Whiteside. He has a family of four chil- dren by this marriage. Politically. he was reared a Whig, but is now a Democrat. Him- self and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a Knight Templar Mason and at one time was the youngest High Priest in Royal Arch Masonry of the State. As a citizen he is well known and highly respected.
ROBERT B. BIGHAM, farmer and trader, was born in Rutherford County, Teun., July 4, 1828, son of Elihu H. and Mary (Lisenby) Bigham, and of Irish descent. The father of our subject was born in North Carolina in 1799, and his mother in Anson County, N. C., in 1805. They were married in Rutherford County, Tenn., about 1823. and became the parents of five children, of whom our subject is the third. The Bigham family were among the early settlers of Tennessee, having come to the State when the father of our subject was a small boy and settled in Rutherford County, Tenn. Elihu H. Bigham died on the old homestead in 1873, and the mother, who is eighty-one years old. is still living and enjoying good health and an unusual amount of activity for a person of her age. Our subject received a fair education in the common schools and remained with his parents until he reached his majority. Since then he has followed the business of farming. During the civil war he enlisted in the Confederate Army and was assigned a position in the commissary department under Maj .- Gen. James F. Cummings, where he served throughout the war. Our subject has been married twice, the first time, January 21, 1851, to Miss Mary J. Hoover, who was boru October 6, 1833, and who is the daughter of William Hoover. To this union were born five children: William L., Granville HI. Samuel B., Robert L. and Sallie A.' Mr. Bigham was married the last time, February 15, 1883, to Miss Sue F. Burks, of Bedford County, Tenn., born April 13, 1853. To this han- ion was born one son. Roy B. Mr. Bigham is a Democrat, a Mason, and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. The grandfather of our subject, Samuel Bigham, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He participated in the battle of Camden, under command of Gen. Gates, where the American forces were totally defeated. There is a $2 bill of the old Continental issue still in possession of the family and in a good state of preservation, which he received from the government in payment for services in that war.
WILLIAM BLACKBURN, a well-to-do citizen of this county, was born in Tennes-
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see May 30, 1831. His parents, Robert and Lucy (Ferguson) Blackburn, were born in the Old Dominion February 5, 1796, and June 25, 1799, and died December 28, 1874. and September 6, 1865, respectively. They were married in 1818, and to their union were born five daughters and two sons. Three of the children are yet living. Our subject has spent the greater part of his life on a farm and has followed farming from early boyhood. In 1859 his marriage to Mary M. Sutton was celebrated. She was born in Tennessee De- cember 1, 1840, and is the daughter of John and Jane (Marr) Sutton. Mr. and Mrs. Black- burn have four children born to their union, as follows: Lucy J., born March 4, 1860: Eliz- abeth, born December 20, 1861: John, born June 13, 1864, died May 5, 1883; and Martha, born November 28, 1866. Our subject's farm consists of 2:0 acres of good land. He deals quite extensively in tobacco, and although he began life a poor boy, he has accumulated considerable property. He has been a member of the Baptist Church for twenty years and his wife for over thirty years. In politics Mr. Blackburn is neutral.
JOHN N. BLACKWELL is a son of James Blackwell. and both are native Tennes- seeans. The former was born October 5, 1828. The mother's maiden name was Delilia Darnall: she was a native of Illinois. John N. has farmed for himself since attaining his twenty-first year. He is a self-made man, and has accumulated a comfortable competen- cy by his unaided efforts. In 1853 he was united in marriage to Miss Martha Wood, a na- tive of Bedford County, and daughter of W. M. and E. Wood. This union resulted in cleven children. The following are those who are living: William N., John A .. Thomas J., Samantha A. (Mrs. C. A. Shaw), Samuel J. and Charley D. Mr. Blackwell is an honest and respected citizen. He has never been before a court of justice or was in a law-suit in his Hfe. He was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in Company G, Thirty-second Regi- ment Tennessee Infantry, in 1862. He was captured at Tullahoma in 1864 and took the oath of allegiance and gave bond for his appearance. He is, politically, a Democrat.
BENJAMIN W. BLANTON. a leading merchant of Wartrace, was born November 22, 1835, in Rutherford County, Tenn. He is the fifth of ten children born to Benjamin and Martha (Farmer) Blanton, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Tennessee, and both of English descent. In 1818 the father of our subject immigrated to Rutherford County, Tenn .. and partly on his farm was fought the battle of Murfreesboro. During the battle his dwelling-house and other buildings were used as a hospital for the Federal Army, and the farm was completely devastated. In 1865 he sold this farm and moved to Unionville. Bedford County, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1885. The mother of our subject died in 1869. Our subject was educated at Asbury Academy, near Murfrees- boro, and at the high school in the latter place. He remained with his parents until reaching his majority, and then followed railroad bridge building until 1873, when he went into the mercantile business at Wartrace, where he still remains. He carries a large stock of goods and does a very successful business. In 1871 he married Miss F. E. Bray, of Lincoln County. Tenn., and the fruits of this union were three children: Lula, Annie and Robert Lee. Mr. Blanton is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows' fraternities, and, with the exception of three years prior to the present year, he held the office of mayor of Wartrace ever since 1873. He is now president of the Wartrace Male and Fe- male Institute. also of the Wartrace Hollywood Cemetery, and a member of the board of education, of Wartrace. He is secretary of the Democratic Executive Committee, of Bedford County, and he and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
EUGENE BLAKEMORE. the genial postmaster of Shelbyville, was born July 23. 1852, at Lewisburg, Tenn., being a son of George F. Blakemore, a native of Lincoln County, Tenn. The father read medicine in his native county, and commenced the prac- tice of his profession at Flat Creek, Bedford County. He afterward practiced in Shelby- ville for a time, and then removed to Lewisburg. He then again returned to Shelbyville, where he died in 1874. The mother of Eugene was Cassie E. Winston, a native of Mar- shall County. The father was married three times; his last wife is now living in Tulla- homa. Tenn. Eugene was reared in Shelbyville, and had the advantages of the schools here. He married at the age of twenty, and engaged in farming near Shelbyville for four
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years. He then removed to Shelbyville, and for two years ran a dray line; he then farmed another year, and then bought and ran a grist-mill at Shelbyville for six months. After this he engaged in the livery and mule-trading business for three years, doing the leading livery business of the place. He sold out that business in 1884, and has since been farming and trading. He was appointed postmaster March 29, 1886, and has filled the office with efficiency. He was married, in 1872, to Miss Ludie P. Newton, a daughter of James S. Newton, deceased, a farmer of this county. Two children have been born to this union, viz .: Frank N. and Eugene W. Mr. Blakemore and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He is a Democrat in politics, and is one of the en- terprising and respected citizens of the county.
COL. GEORGE W. BOUNDS was born in Scott County, Va., September 25, 1818. His parents and grandparents were natives of the same State, and his maternal grand- father was a Revolutionary soldier. Our subject learned the saddler's trade, serving an apprenticeship from thirteen to twenty years of age. He then worked at his trade in Estillville a short time, and came to Tennessee in order to vote for Gen. Harrison, as the right of suffrage was extended only to those who were householders or freeholders in their native State. He worked at his trade about six years, and then joined Col. Has- kell's regiment, and served in the Mexican war as orderly sergeant and then as second lieu- tenant, participating in many of its bloodiest battles. He was mustered out of service, but at the call for more troops he again joined. and was elected lieutenant colonel of the Fifth Tennessee Regiment, which was independent, George B. McClellan being colonel. During a short time while the latter was sick our subject acted as colonel in his place. He was discharged at Memphis in July, 1848. At the breaking out of the civil war he was not in sympathy with the Southern cause, and, although he was forced to join a company of militia, he was. honorably discharged at the reorganization of the army. He then held aloof from the army as far as it was in his power to do, it being wholly against his will or desire to take up arms against the Goverment. Since the war he has voted the Repub- lican ticket exclusively. He was married, November 18, 1853, to Mary A. Pope. Their union has resulted in six children: James C., born September 23, 1854, and died March 23, 1876; Bettie, born April 30, 1856, wife of Thomas Joyce; John, born November 14. 1857; Fannie, born June 21, 1859; Ann, born July 3. 1860, and died April 23, 1878, and June, born July 6, 1863, and died July 13, 1863. Our subject has been a successful man throughout life, and was considered a brave and faithful officer and soldier in the Mexican war. He is a substantial citizen of Bedford County and a man of influence.
F. M. BOWLING, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Bowling, was born eight miles east of Murfreesboro, Rutherford Co., Tenn., September 23, 1847. He resided with his parents near Bradyville, in the same county, till ten years old, then removed with them near Murfreesboro, where they are (1886) living. The first twenty years of our subject's life were spent upon the farm, devoting his leisure time to study, and caring for his disabled father and four brothers and one sister. In January, 1868, he entered Union University at Murfreesboro, Tenn., and remained there until June 12. 1873, receiving the degree of A. M. Previous to this he had chosen teaching as his profession, and in August, 1873, he took charge of a large school at Leeville, Tenn., and after successfully conducting it to its close he accepted a position with Prof. J. E. Nowlin in the Masonic Institute, Harts- ville, Tenn., and afterward became a partner with him in the school. While in this school, August 26, 1874, he wedded Miss Susan E. Sanders, daughter of Jesse B. and Mary A. Sanders, who resided near Murfreesboro. To them were born three children: Her- bert Manly, born July 9, 1875; Edna Frank, born June 29, 1877, and Mary Myrtle, born May 23, 1882. Mr. Bowling and Prof. Nowlin dissolved partnership by mutual consent, and in January, 1876, he took charge of Unionville High School, where he is now (1886) liv- ing. He has been principal of the school ever since, with the exception of the spring term of 1881, when he was associated with Prof. B. F. Hooker, as joint-principal of Milan College, Milan, Tenn. He has devoted himself earnestly and faithfully to the cause of education, and has taken part in many educational enterprises in the hope of clevating
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BEDFORD COUNTY. 1131
· his chosen profession, and has been called upon to fill prominent positions in different ed- ucational institutions in the county. He follows no text-book in particular, but selects the best methods from different books. He joined the Missionary Baptist Church in the fall of 1865, and takes a deep interest in Sunday-school work, and is now superintendent of the Unionville Sunday-school, which has an average attendance of ninety-five. He is also a strong supporter of temperance.
JOHN A. BRAMBLETT was born August 13, 1813, in Georgia. His father. John Bramblett, was a native of South Carolina, and of Irish descent. He immigrated to Georgia when young, and there married Miss Jennie Couch, a native of Georgia. To this union were born twelve children, our subject being the ninth. About 1832 John Bramblett moved from Georgia to this State, locating in this county, near Wartrace. He was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1861. The mother died in the same year. Our subject was educated in the country schools of Bedford County, and on reaching his majority was married to Miss L. C. Culley, a native of this county. To them were born these children: William E. (deceased), Mary J .. Elizabeth F., James M., Newton A .. George D. (deceased), Ada B. (deceased), Walter T. and Idella. Mr. Bramblett is a farmer by occupation, and has 255 acres in District No. 2. In 1863 he was conscripted by the Con- federate Government and held as a soldier six months against his will. He then left them and returned home inside the Federal lines. He was a strong Union man during the war, and fully believed and still believes that the best friends of the South were those who ad- hered to the union of the States. He is a Republican in politics, and he and wife are members of the Primitive Baptist Church.
JAMES P. BROWN is one of the family of children who were born to the marriage of William Brown and Jane G. Goodrum. The father was born in North Carolina in 1803, and about 1824 came to Shelbyville where he lived and died. He was a trader in , live-stock, lands, etc., and became a well-to-do and prominent citizen of the county. He. died in 1880. The mother was born in South Carolina in 1809, and died in 1882. The subject of this sketch was born July 30, 1833, in Bedford County. He was educated in Shelbyville, and remained with his parents until the war. He then enlisted in Company B, Forty-first Tennessee, and was in the service throughout the war. Returning from the war be engaged in the pursuit of farming, in which he continued very successfully till 1875. From 1868 to 1871 he lived in Texas, returning from there to Bedford County. In 1874 he went to Columbus, Miss., and engaged there in the brick-making and contracting business, and he yet continues that business here. In October, 1885, he opened his cloth- ing trade, and carries a stock of about $S.000. He was married. in 1881, to Miss Kate Goodrum, a native of Forsyth. Ga. Two children have been born to this union. viz .: Paul M. and Annie L. Mr. Brown and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Politically he is a firm Democrat. He has never aspired to office, but is a worthy and respected citizen of the county.
MRS. MARY A. (CLARY) BROWN was born September 14, 1816, in North Caro- lina, daughter of William and Nancy (Wright) Clary, both natives of North Carolina. Our subject is the elder of two children born to her parents. May 23, 1834, she married J. R. Brown, a native of East Tennessee, born May j10. 1811. He was a tailor by trade, and worked at this profession about twelve years. He was married in Madison County, Ala., and while in that State was engaged in these different occupations: tailoring, mer- chandising and farming. In 1850 he immigrated to Tennessee, and engaged in the mer- chandise business at Unionville, and continued there several years. He then engaged in the saw-mill business, but at the same time continuing his farming interests, and was en- gaged in the latter business at the time of his death, which occurred January 22. 1875. He. was an exemplary member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. To our subject and hus- band were born thirteen children, seven of whom are dead. Those living are Nancy J., William C., Lucinda C., James P., Thomas D. and Joseph E. Our subject is a woman of considerable influence in this section. Her son, Thomas D., is living with her, superin- tending the farm. He is a local minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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JAMES B. BROWN is a son of Henry Brown, a native of Wake County, N. C. The father received a limited education, and came to Tennessee in 1833, locating in Bedford County where he engaged in farming. He was married in 1830 to Miss Sarah K. Alston, whose ancestors were from North Carolina. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born the fol- lowing family of children: Aley A., Comer N., S. L., L. S., J. J., A. S., J. B., Lucy F. and G. A. and one who died in infancy. Mr. Brown died at his residence near Shelbyville in 1815. He was a member of the order of Sons of Temperance, and he and his wife, who died in 1873, were members of the Missionary Baptist Church. James B .. our subject, was born May 1, 1848, and spent his boyhood days on a farm. He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point when but eighteen years of age, and remained there about one year. He finished his education at the Union University at Murfreesboro, Tenn., after which he served an apprenticeship at photography, and followed that oc- cupation three years. He then turned his attention to farming and horticulture, and his farm is known as the "Home Nursery Farm." He was married December 15, 1875, to Sarah J. Hix, daughter of John C. and Emily Hix, and by her is the father of five chil- dren: Cora E., Abbie P., Maud M., Alice E. and Lula S., who is deceased. Mr. Brown is a member of the Masonic and K. of H. fraternities, and of the Missionary Baptist Church.
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