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 90
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 90
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 90
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 90
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 90
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 90
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JOHN W. RUTH, the clever and enterprising jeweler of Shelbyville, was born Feb- ruary 27, 1839, in Shelbyville, being a son of George W. Ruth. The father was born in Granville County, N. C., in 1799. A short time before George Washington died, when on his last Southern tour, he passed by the house where George W. Ruth was born only a short time before. He stopped and lifted the infant in his arms, and then and there it was named George Washington Ruth in remembrance of the incident and of the great man. The father came to this county in 1822. He married, lived and died here, being a jeweler by occupation. He was a very prominent citizen of the county, and for many years was a magistrate. He was mayor of Shelbyville two terms, and was identified with the public interests all his life. He was a leading member of the Methodist Epis- .copal Church, and for many years was a steward. Politically he was a Democrat. His death occurred in August, 1858. His father was a soldier in the Revolution- ary war. The mother of John W. was born in Baltimore County, Md., and came to Shelbyville when quite young. She was born in 1804 and died in 1863. The ancestry of John W. were of Scotch-Irish descent, predominating in Scotch blood. The immediate subject of this sketch was reared in Shelbyville and learned his father's trade, which has been his life time business. He is also joined by his son in the business now, the name of the firm being John W. Ruth & Son. He was elected to the office of mayor of Shelbyville in 1873, and served till 1875. In 1855 he was re-elected to
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the same office, and is now the incumbent. He was married, in 1865, to Miss Fannie E. Newton, who bore him three children, viz .: Albert H., Anne C. and Weakley D. Mr. Ruth and his two oldest children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He is a Knight Templar Mason and a Knight of Honor. Politically he is a Democrat, but conservative in his views. He is a popular, genial and enterprising citizen of Shelby- ville.
JOHN W. RUTLEDGE. SR., one of Bedford County's farmers, was born January 12, 1823, in Bedford County, being a son of Jobn and Sarah Davenport Rutledge, natives of South Carolina. The parents were married in their native State and came to Bedford County in the very early settlement of the county. John W. was reared on a farm and secured but a common school education, the schools then being in an undeveloped condi- tion. He began farming for himself when grown, and at the age of twenty-seven mar- ried. He continued to farm and deal in live-stock extensively. He now owns 108 acres of land, with seventy-five acres under cultivation. He was married November 22, 1849, to Eunice M. Warner, daughter of John and Eunice ( Dixon) Warner, natives of North Car- olina. They came to Sumner County, Tenn., when small, and thence to Bedford County, where they lived and died. The father was born in 1783, and the mother in 1792; they were married November 11, 1810. The father was a sheriff of Bedford County for many years; he was a farmer by occupation. He died May 17, 1834, and the mother died October 2, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Rutledge are parents of four children, viz .: John G., who died young; Warner G .; Eunice M., the wife of Thomas L. Thompson, and John W. All the family are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and all are Democrats in politics. War - ner G. Rutledge was married December 4, 1874, to Miss Julia L. Phillips, who died Janu- ary 16, 1876, after becoming the mother of a child, Julia L., who also died July 16, 1876. He is store-keeper and gauger in the revenue service in the Middle and West Divisions of Tennessee.
RUTLEDGE & THOMPSON, dealers in a general line of groceries and provisions in Shelbyville, do a leading business in the town. The firm is composed of John W. Rutledge, Jr., and Thomas L. Thompson. John W. Rutledge, Jr., was born July 20, 1860, being a son of John W. Rutledge, Sr. He was married, December 26, 1884. to Katie Nease, the result of this union being one son, John H. Mr. Rutledge is captain of the Shelbyville Hook and Ladder Company and an enterprising young business man. Thomas L. Thompson was born August 4, 1850, to the marriage of Thomas Thompson and Tranquilla Stephens. Both parents were natives of Bedford County, the mother being of North Carolina ancestry. The father was a farmer and Thomas L. was reared on a farm. He was married, February 25, 1875, to Miss Eunice M. Rutledge, daughter of John W. Rutledge, Sr. Four children have been born to this union, viz .: Thomas L., Mary A., John W. and Hiram S. The firm of Rutledge & Thompson was established October 24, 1878. They were burned out October 22, 1885, and are now preparing to build a commodious brick building. They also deal in mules and fine horses.
ALBERT P. RYALI, M. D., son of Thomas C. and Elizabeth (Scudder) Ryall, was born March 30, 1810. His father was a native of New Jersey, born in April, 1809. Eight children were born to him. viz. : Johnston S., Albert P., Walter S., Thomas, Henry C., Elizabeth R. (deceased), Juliet S. and William (deceased). Mrs. Elizabeth Ryall died in August, 1856. She was a worthy member of the Episcopal Church. Thomas C. Ryall, our subject's father, had the advantage of a good education, and in early life began the study of law. He entered the law school at Trenton, N. J., and graduated from that in- stitution. He then began the practice of law at Freeholm, N. J., but remained there but a short time, as his health was failing. He then traveled extensively in South America, and is now living in Bedford County, and is one of its most highly respected citizens. Our subject had the advantage of a good education in Shelbyville, and in 1869 began the study of medicine. The war coming on broke into his studies, as he enlisted in the Con- federate Army in the Twenty-sixth Tennessee Regiment, and was assistant surgeon of that regiment, which position he held thirteen months.' He was then assigned surgeon in
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the hospital at Montgomery. Ala., where he remained ten months. From there he went to Columbus, Ga., in the same capacity. After the war he returned to his county, and in 1865 entered the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, graduating with honors from that institution in 1867. He then went to Augustine, Fla., and began the practice of medicine. At the end of two years he came to Bedford County, and has been prac- ticing his profession here ever since. He has an extensive practice, and is one of the progressive and leading men of the county. He now owns a finely improved farm of 400 acres, and is quite successful in a financial sense.
THOMAS C. RYALL, SR., a prominent retired citizen of Bedford County, was born April 19, 1809, in Trenton N. J., his parents being natives of New Jersey, and of English descent. He read law and at the age of twenty-one began the practice of that profession, which he continued in New Jersey for five or six years. He then, on account of his health, accepted an offer from Post Capt. David Deacon, United States Navy, who was ordered to command of the United States Frigate "Brandywine," to accompany him on a cruise three years to the Pacific Coast. In this expedition he served as captain's clerk, judge advocate on court martial and officated pro tempore as secretary to Com. Wads- worth, the commander of the squadron. On his return, in reward for his services, he was presented with a written request signed by all the officers of the squadron to the proper authorities, to procure a pursership in the naval service, but in New Jersey he met Miss Elizabeth Scudder, of Nashville, and granddaughter of Dr. John Scudder, the famous East Indian missionary. He soon came to Nashville and married her. He has ever since lived in Tennessee and followed farming until about 1880, when, on account of his age, he retired from active business life. He owns about 800 acres of land and a very fine fruit orchard. Mr. Ryall's married life was blessed in the births of nine children; six of whom are living, viz .: Johnston S., a farmer and merchant in Alabama; Dr. A. P. Ryall, a physician, of this county; Walter, growing oranges in Florida; Thomas C., mer- chandise broker, of Shelbyville: Henry C., lumberman, of Shelbyville; and Juliet, wife of Brom R. Whitthorne, cashier of the National Bank of Shelbyville. Mrs. Ryall departed this life August 13, 1857. Politically, Mr. Rydall was a Whig, but is now a Democrat. He is now one of the prominent and highly respected citizens of the county.
THOMAS C. RYALL, JR., son of Thomas C. Ryall, Sr., was born October 5, 1843, in Bedford County: He was reared on a farm. At the age of sixteen he enlisted in the Forty-first Tennessee Regiment in the late war. He was in the service about three years. making his escape from Camp Morton prison, Indianapolis, Ind. He then returned home and remained for three or four years. He then lived in Alabama for about three years, engaged in farming and merchandising. He then returned to Shelbyville, where he has been engaged in merchandising and the brokerage business. His main line of brokerage is in tobacco. He was married, January 11, 1881, to Miss Mattie Baldwin, of Canton. Miss., the fruit of this union being one daughter-Ellie. Politically he is a Democrat, and, as are the other members of the family, he is highly respected for his enterprise.
REV. G. C. SANDUSKY was born January 25, 1834, in Wayne County, Ky., being one of a family of ten children born to the union of Jacob Sandusky and Elizabeth Bur- nett, natives of Kentucky, where they now live. Our subject was reared on a farm. At the age of twenty-four he immigrated to Tennessee and followed farming till the war. He then raised Company HI of the Third Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, and was in the service nearly throughout the war. After the battle of Stone River he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of his regiment. Upon returning from the war he had lost his property and his health. He then began the study of dentistry, and has practiced that profession ever since. In 1870 he located at Shelbyville, and has lived here ever since, and does a thriving business in his profession. He was married, September 7, 1856, to Miss Ellen T. Rogers, a native of Meigs County, Tenn. Eight children have blessed this union, all of whom are living: John A., a dentist in Southern, France; Mary E., wife of W. S. Tipton, editor of the Cleveland Herald, Cleveland, Tenn .; Annie, wife of Walter Craigmiles. a hardware merchant of Chattanooga; Dick, a clothing merchant of Shelbyville; Frederick
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R., clerk in a dry goods store; Fannie, Cecil and Nellie. Dr. Sandusky and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and he has pastoral charge of a congregation near Shelbyville. He is a Royal Arch Mason. He is a member of the Democratic party, having been a Whig before the war. As a citizen he is enterprising. and commands the respect of his fellow citizens.
REV. WILLIAM M. SHAW, one of Bedford County's old and prominent citizens. was born July 5, 1806, in Orange County, N. C., and immigrated to Bedford County' Tenn., in the year 1816. He was the son of John and Elizabeth (Scott) Shaw, natives, respectively, of South Carolina and Maryland. The father was born November 8, 1771, and died November 4, 1845. The mother was born in the year 1778 and died February 26. 1842. Our subject was reared on a farm and engaged in the farming interest till the year 1853, at which time he joined the Methodist Conference South, but was licensed to preach as a local preacher previous to this in the year 1845. In 1827 he wedded Mahala Wilson, of this county. She was born January 9, 1809. This marriage resulted in the birth of nine children only six of whom are living: John W., William S., Alexander M., Ambrose D., Ann E. and Mary L. In 1849 Rev. Shaw was ordained deacon at Shelby- ville by Bishop Capers and retained this position until October, 1853. at which time he was ordained elder at Franklin, Tenn .. by the same bishop. October. 1854, he joined the conference and has been a traveling minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church South up to the present date. Mrs. Shaw died July 31, 1885; she was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Up to the time of the late war Rev. Shaw was an old-line Whig, but since that time he has been a Democrat.
WILLIAM S. SHAW is a native of Bedford County. Tenn .. and a son of William M. and Mahala ( Wilson) Shaw, natives of North Carolina. Our subject was born May 26. 1834, and was reared on a farm, and received limited educational advantages. At the age of twenty-two he began farming for himself, continuing until 1862, when he entered the Confederate Army. Company G, Forty-fourth Tennessee Infantry, but served only a short time. He resumed farming, and December 16, 1858, was married to Nancy Clark, who was born September 1, 1839. and who died March 27, 1864, leaving one child-Martha H. September 12, 1867, our subject took for his second wife Julia Haskins. Mrs. Shaw died October 7, 1871, and for his third wife Mr. Shaw took Susan O. Steen, December 1, 1872. She was born March 26, 1852, and became the mother of three children: John Rufus, William Marvin and Edward Driskill. Mr. Shaw is a Democrat, and prides himself on never having been sued or in a lawsuit.
WILLIAM J. SHOFNER was born in Lincoln County. Tenn., May 3, 1819, and is a son of Christopher and Elizabeth (Jenning) Shofner, who died in 1826 and in 1845, respectively. To them were born four daughters and four sous, three of whom are yet living. Our sub- ject resided with his widowed mother on a farm until her death, and about four years later located on his farm of 480 acres. He has been very successful in his business vent- ures, and has given his five married sons a good farm each. In 1846 he married Rhoda Boone, who was born May 19, 1828. She and husband became the parents of the follow- ing family: Jeptha B., born in 1847: James B., born in 1849; Christopher H., born in 1851; George F., born in 1854; William H., born in 1856; Albert. born in 1859, and died in 1861: Elizabeth M., born in 1861; Daniel W., born in 1864. and Newton M., born in 1865, and died in 1871. Mrs. Shofner's parents were William and Sallie (Howard) Boone. The father was born in Kentucky, and is a distant relative of Daniel Boone. Her mother was born in 1803 and died in 1843. Her father then married Margaret Moore. He died in 1854 and the stepmother in 1873.
MONROE SHOFNER was born in Tennessee September 16. 1533, son of Austin and Rebecca (Cook) Shofner, natives of North Carolina, born August 10, 1801, and April 21. 1798, respectively. The father was brought to Tennessee in 1807, and in 1818 married our subject's mother and became the father of eight children: Plummer W., Mitchell D. (killed in the battle of Chickamauga). Henderson, Catherine (deceased), John (deceased), Martin (deceased), Monroe, Purline and Isom (deceased). Our subject's father was reared on a farm
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BEDFORD COUNTY.
and followed farming and stock trading, accumulating considerable wealth. He operated a distillery for about six years, and was well known throughout the county as a dealer in fine horses. He died October 18, 1852. and his wife October 10. 1875. Monroe spent the life of a farmer's boy and is now residing on the farm settled by his grandfather, Martin Shofner, which consists of 200 acres. In 1863 he entered the Confederate service, and re- maincd one year. He followed pedagoging sixteen years, but discontinued that in 1878. Mr. Shofner takes much interest in laudable public enterprises, and gives them his sup- port and patronage. He believes in Republican principles and he is a devout supporter of temperance, and has on divers occasions delivered temperance lectures.
BENJAMIN FORSYTH SMALLING was born in what was Bedford County but now is part of Marshall County, Tenn., November 24. 1825. He is the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Bostic) Smalling, and i- of German lineage. His father was born in Sullivan County, Tenn., about 1800, and his mother was born in Wilkes County, N. C. about the same year. They were married in early life and from this union were born three chil- dren. Our subject was reared on the farm and received a practical education in the com. mon schools. Farming has been his chief occupation, although he has spent some time in trading. saw-milling, etc. During the civil war he was commissioned enrolling officer of his district and afterward as an officer of the commissary department in the Confed- erate Army, where he remained during the war. While he participated in no battles he was often exposed to the dangers incident to war. October 5, 1847, he was married to Miss Ann F. Morton, who was born in Hardeman County, Tenn., January 13, 1830. To this mion were born nine children, six of whom are living: these are Forsyth, James M., Constantine W., Benjamin, Mary C. and Elizabeth B. Mr. Smalling has a farm of 100 acres of fine land which he manages in a profitable way. He is a Democrat and he and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Our subject's grandfa- ther, Col. Benjamin Forsyth, was a commanding officer in the war of 1812, and was killed in a skirmish near Lake Champlain. He wore a sword at the time of his death which he
had captured from a British officer. He made the remark when putting the sword on that he would " fight them with their own weapons." He was killed soon after this oc- curence. The sword was labeled with its full history by Gen. Scott and sent to the widow of Col. Forsyth and may be seen at this time at the home of James M. Smalling, four miles cast of Nashville, Tenn., on the Lebanon Pike.
GEORGE SMITH was born December 12, 1831, in Bedford County, Tenn .. son of John E. and Nancy (Mayfield) Smith, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. The father was born in 1801 or 1802 and died about 1840. He was a successful farmer. The mother was born about 1806. Our subject was the second of five children born to his parents. He was reared on the farm and remained there until he was eighteen years of age. He then attended school at Chapel Hill. Tenn .. and continued there about fifteen months, after which he returned home and engaged in farming as well as in stock and negro trading up to the time of the late war. He enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1861 in Col. Starnes Cavalry Company B. He remained with this company about two years and was then transferred to the Forty-fourth Tennessee Infantry, Company G. He was wounded at the battle of Murfreesboro which disabled him from active service about tif- teen months. He again returned to service and remained throughout the entire war. Previous to the war, in 1852, he was married to Martha Rainey, a native of this county. born August 29, 1832. This union has resulted in the birth of eight children: Nancy A., Emmet, Andrew J., John M., Sallie C., Mattie G , Robert E. and Emma. Our subject has been quite successful and has accumulated the greater part of his property since the late war. He and wife are members in good standing in the Missionary Baptist Church.
JOHN. A. SMITH, farmer, was born in Bedford County, Tenn., October 27, 1855, son of Jasper N. and Sarah E. (Carrothers) Smith, and of English extraction. The father was born in Bedford County, Tenn., November 7, 1828, and the mother was born in the same county December, 1839. Our subject is first of eleven children born to this worthy couple. He was reared on the farm and received a fair education in the common schools.
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October 4, 1882, Miss Mattie Chambers, of Bedford County, Tenn., became his wife. She was born December 25, 1863, and by this union with Mr. Smith became the mother of two children: Jasper E. and Anna M. The Smith family originally came from North Caro- lina, and were among the very earliest settlers of the State of Tennessee. Our subject is a Democrat in politics and a member of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
W. B. SNELL was born February 2, 1850, in Bedford County, Tenn. He is a son of J. C. Snell, who was born in 1817, and is a native of the county. The mother's name was Sarah H. Snell. Our subject was reared on a farm, and worked on the same with his father until he was twenty-five years of age, at which time he began farming for himself, and has continued successfully up to the present date. He was married, October 29, 1874, to Virginia C. Carlyle, of Bedford County, and daughter of James and Elizabeth Carlyle. They have two children: Jasper B. and Thomas Kelly. In his political views Mr. Snell favors the Democratic party and gives it his support on all occasions. He takes an active interest in all enterprises pertaining to the public good, and is a man who commands the respect of all.
W. T. SOLOMON was born in Lincoln County, Tenn., May 18, 1855. His father, W. C. Solomon, was born in 1818, in North Carolina, and came to Tennessee when quite small. About 1853 he wedded Sallie C. Tarver, born in Columbus, Ga., in 1824. The father died in 1880. At the age of sixteen our subject became a clerk in the merchandise business for J. C. Fisher, of Fayetteville. Two years later he engaged in the grain and produce business at the same place, the style of the firm being Bryson & Solomon. Two years later Mr Solomon began work for Anderson, Green & Co., of Nashville, as travel- ing salesmen, and has successfully continued up to the present date. Sue B. Thompson became his wife October 23. 1879. She is a daughter of Newcomb Thompson, and the mother of two children: Alice Cary and William Tarver. Our subject is a man of influ- ence in the community in which he resides, and received a good education in his boyhood days. He and wife are church members, and he is a member of the K. of P. and the Dem- ocratic party.
RICHARD HENRY STEM, EsQ., was born Feburary, 11, 1822 in North Carolina, Granville County. He immigrated to the State of Missouri in the fall of 1843. where he remained about fifteen months. He then came to Tennessee, and settled a mile and a half east of Unionville. He was the son of Jacob and Mary (Primrose) Stem. The fa- ther was born about 1763 and died about 1828. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and moved to North Carolina in his juvenile days, where he lived until the time of his death. The inother was born about 1788 and died about 1865: she was a native of North Carolina. In July, 1839, our subject wedded Sallie Garrett, of North Carolina, who was born Febru- ary, 1822. On his arrival in Tennessee Mr. Stem engaged in agricultural pursuits and about ten years later engaged in the cattle trading business in connection with farming. He was elected magistrate of the Tenth District in this county a number of years ago, and has served every term since. He was elected as chairman of the county court in 1874 and served in that capacity four years, and was also associate justice two years prior to this election. He is now officiating justice of peace. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, professing faith about 1856. Mrs. Stem is also a member of the same church. Our subject is a Master Mason and is also a Chapter member. He is a Democrat in politics and since his childhood days has traveled over these different States: Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Ken- tucky, Illinois and Missouri.
FELIX TURRENTINE is a Tennesseean, born May 12. 1811, son of James Turrentine, who was born in Virginia in 1773. The father came to Tennessee in 1807. His wife, Eleanor Neily, was born in North Carolina. Our subject has always been a farmer. May 12, 1542. he married Martha Aun Orr, who was born January 26, 1822. To them were born seven children, all of whom are dead except David A. and Eleanor F. Mrs. Turrentine died February 1, 1882. Mr. Turrentine was an old-line Whig, but since the war has been a
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Democrat. His son, David A. Turrentine, was born February 14, 1847. Up to June. 1880. he was a farmer. Since that time he has been engaged in the merchandise business at Ilall's Mills. February 24, 1875, he married Mollie F. Shearin, who was born October 21, 1851. To them were born four children: Alice R., Sallie . A., Lucy J. and Felix. Mr. Turrentine has been prosperous in his business enterprises. He is a Democrat, and was elected to the office of constable in 1878, and served about ten months. He has also been a delegate to the Democratic Convention from his State several times. William H. Stephens, partner in the merchandise business with David A. Turrentine, was born in Bedford County, Tenn., February 24, 1840. He was reared on a farm, and when twenty- one years of age entered the Confederate Army, enlisting in Company G. Forty-fourth Tennessee Infantry, and participated in the battles of Shiloh. Murfreesboro. Chickamauga. and others. He served throughout the war and was not wounded. After his return he engaged in farming and has followed that occupation to the present time. In connection with this he has been in the merchandise business since 1880. In February. 1886, he was married to Martha Ray, born February 8, 1838. They are the parents of Robert H., Etta, Thomas and Pearlie Lee. Mr. Stephens and Mr. Turrentine are doing a good business in the mercantile line. Mr. Stephens is a very firm Democrat in politics.
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