USA > Tennessee > History of Tennessee from the earliest time to the present : together with an historical and a biographical sketch of from twenty-five to thirty counties of east Tennessee, V.3 > Part 23
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William N. Magill, the present county court clerk of Monroe County, Tenn .. was born in Dancing Branch, Monroe Co., Tenn., January 23, 1857, and is the son of James F. and Margaret (Johnston) Magill. Our subject is the fourth child born to his parents. He remained at home until seventeen years of age, after which he went to Union Springs, Ala., and engaged as salesman in the mercantile business for an uncle, William M. Stickley, of that place. He remained there until 1877 when he returned and went to school in Madisonville, Monroe County. He afterward engaged as salesman in the establishment of Maj. Joseph A. Peck, at Madisonville, for one year. He then took a partnership, and has since continued interested in that business. March 30, 1SS0, he mar- ried Miss Sadie H. Peck, a native of Jalapa, Monroe Co., Teun., born July 3, 1863, and the daughter of Joseph A. Peck. She has an excellent education, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In August, 1886, Mr. Magill was elected, to the office he now holds, by the Democratic party, defeating D. E. Harris. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and is an enterprising man, and supports and advocates the cause of religion.
T. P. Milligan, a prominent farmer of the Fourteenth District of Monroe County, Tenn., was born in Ball Play Creek, in the Sixteenth District of Monroe County, July 29, 1847, and is the son of William and Nancy (Harrisou) Milligan. The father was born in North Carolina, July 4, 1817, was of Irish descent, and is still living, being a resident of the Sixteenth District. He has been a farmer and school teacher, is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and a Republican in politics. In the spring of 1864 he enlisted in Company D, Third Tennessee Mounted Infantry (Federal Army), as a private, was soon made captain, and was in active service until the close of the war. The mother of our subject was born in Monroc County, in 1822, and is also liv- ing. Her ancestors came from Germany. Of their seven children, all living, our sub- ject is the third. He received a liberal education at Cedar Bluff Academy and at Hiwas- see College, and worked on the farm until the spring of 1864, when he enlisted in his father's company, and was in service until the close of the war, guarding the railroad from Knoxville to Loudon. At the age of twenty-one he left the parental roof and en- gaged in the mercantile business at Belltown, in the Fourteenth District, for fifteen years. During that time he purchased the property on which he is now living, and is a very active and enterprising man. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a Republican in politics. May 14, 1878, he married Mary J. Henderson, a native of Mon- roe County, Tenn., the daughter of B. P. Henderson, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of their five children, four are now living, viz: Charles U., Lula E., Lella J. and Mary. Della M. was a twin of Lella J., and is now deceased.
John Calvin Montgomery, a prominent citizen of Madisonville, Monroe Co., Tenn., was born in the Third District of Monroe County, June 5, 1823, and is the son of James and Dorcas (Miller) Montgomery. The father was born near Statesville, N.C., in January,
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1791, and died in Monroe County, Tenn., in Jannary, 1881. His father came from Washing- ton County, Tenn., when James was quite young, and from there to Blount County, and later to Monroe County. He was a cabinet-maker, and also followed agricultural pur- suits for some time. He was the first man to start a wool carding factory in the county. He had a good education, was a member of the Presbyterian Church for sixty years, and was a thorough theological student, having spent a great deal of money to procure books of that nature. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, a Democrat in politics, and was magistrate for many years. He was the son of William Montgomery, who moved to North Carolina from Pennsylvania, and then to Washington County, Tenn., where he died. The mother of our subject was born in Blount County, Tenn., in 1801, and died in Sweet Water, Tenn., in 1869. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and by her marriage became the mother of nine children, seven now living. Our subject is the fourth child born to his parents. He attended Fork Creek Academy, and subsequently attended Tusculum College, in Greene County, Tenn. After completing his education he engaged in mercantile pursuits as a salesman, but soon went into business for himself. He purchased a horse and wagon, and sold goods from the wagon for about a year, after which he engaged in the wool carding business for about six years. On July 10, 1848, he married Miss Martha Blair, a native of Monroe County, Tenn., the daughter of William and Mahala Blair, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. In 1850 he purchased a farm in the Ninth District, where he remained until 1865. He then went to Loudon County, and in the fall of the same year moved to Madisonville, Monroe County, and was engaged by the different merchants as salesman. In 1870 he was elected magistrate, and in 1872 was elected chairman of the county court, holding this office for nine consecutive years. When he took the office the county warrants were discounted twenty per cent, and when he turned over the office to his successor they were at par. In 1881 he entered the store of J. A. Peck as salesman, and in 1882 he took a partnership, and continued until the spring of 1887. He is now engaged in settling up the business of the late firm of Magill, Montgomery & Co. His religious views are strictly Presbyterian. He is an ardent Mason, and has stood at the head of, and conducted the affairs of, Tellico Lodge, in the town of Madisonville, Tenn., for twenty years; and so intent was he in having the business con- ducted according to the strict rules of the order that he has absented himself from the regular meeting of the lodge only four times during this long period.
Robert A. McCallie, a well-to-do farmer of Monroe County, Tenn., was born in the Third District of that county May 12, 1846, and is a son of Samuel and Margaret E. (McReynolds) McCallie, both of Scotch-Irish descent, and natives of Sevier County, East Tennessee. Samuel's father, Alexander McCallie, was born in Pennsylvania, May 2, 1781. He came to Blount County, Tenn., at an early date, and married Miss Esther B. McCros- key on November 10, 1803. He subsequently moved to Sevier County, where he died October 9, 1851. His wife died August 31, 1868. His father, John McCallie, was born in the Lowlands of Scotland, January 8, 1454, came to America in 1775, landing at Philadelphia, and located in York County, in that State, where he married Nancy Bur- ney. After living in York County a few years he came to Blount County, Tenn., and died here March 21, 1831. His father, Alexander McCallie, lived and died in the Lowlands of Scotland. The father of our subject was born November 15, 1815, and died in Nash- ville, July 18, 1870. The mother was born January 18. 1816, and died March 10, 1874. They were married in Monroe County, Tenn., about 1839, and spent fourteen years of their married life on Fork Creek, and then settled permanently in Madisonville. He kept a public inn, but was also engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he had followed. in connection with the tanner's trade, before coming to Madisonville. He was a Democrat, and of the Presbyterian faith. The mother was a member of the Cumberland Presbyter- ian Church. Our subject was the second of two children. He received a liberal educa- tion in the country schools, and subsequently attended school at Morristown, Hamblen County. He began life as a farmer, and after the death of his father took charge of the home place and continued the hotel. On April 30, 1874, he married Miss Sarah T. Simpson, a native of Monroe County, born June 18, 1854. To them were born four sous and two
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daughters-one daughter deceased. The same year of his marriage he purchased and settled upon a farm on Fork Creek in the Fifth Civil District, but subsequently exchanged places with his brother-in-law, and settled upon his present farm, in 1880, where he has followed farming. Mr. MeCallie is a Democrat in politics, and he and his wife are mem- bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Rev. Solon MeCroskey, a well known and popular preacher of the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church, and a resident of the Third Civil District of Monroe County, is a native of that county, born January 11, 1830, a son of Samuel and Sarah (Tucker) McCroskey, both natives of Tennessee and of Scotch-Irish and German descent, respectively. The father was a native of Sevier County, born July 24, 1782, and died in Monroe County, September 28, 1848. The mother was born in Jefferson County, November 1, 1808, and died in Monroe County, August 8, 1841. They were married in Monroe County, July 1. 1828, and spent all their married life on Fork Creek Valley, in that county. The father was a farmer, a Democrat in politics, and a prominent member of the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church. For twenty years before his death he was an elder in that church. The mother was a member of the same, and a truly pious woman. The father was mar- ried three times: First, to Miss Mary McCollum, of Blount County, Tenn., November, 12, 1816. She died December 26, 1817, leaving a daughter. July 4, 1822, he married Miss Elizabeth C. Grant, of Monroe County. She died August 23, 1824, leaving two children, a son and a daughter: the son died while still quite young. The third marriage was with our subjeet's mother, and of their family of six children, our subject is the eldest. He received a fair education in his youth, and attended Hiwassee College before his marriage. At about the age of twelve he embraced religion, but never entered the ministry until thirty-one years of age. He had thought of nothing but farming up to the time he was twenty-nine years of age, when he became convinced that he was called upon to preach the Gospel. He determined to secure a better education, and in the early part of 1860 he, with his wife and five children, moved to Ewing and Jefferson College, Blount County, where he attended school about two years. He then returned to Monroe County, settled on his farm, and since that time has administered to the spiritual wants of his fellow-men, being constantly in the work for the last fifteen years, and has served congregations in Monroe, Blount and McMinn Counties. The following are some of the important charges he has served as pastor: The Madisonville congregation for the last twelve or fifteen years of hi- twenty-two years of ministry; Rockville, Monroe Co., since 1869, except one year. He organized Rockville Church, and at the same time gave half of his time to the Sweetwater congregation for three years. About ten years ago he organized a church in Blount County, near Maryville, and has been a preacher for this congregation ever since, except three years. He is now pastor of the following churches: Madisonville, Rockville, Mon- roe County, Holston Church, Blount County, and Springfield, also in Blount County. Our subject has been married twice, the first time, October 24, 1849, to Miss Nancy J. Mayo, daughter of the late Rev. B. HI. Mayo, of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She was born in Monroe County, July 17, 1828, and died in the same county, November 27, 1874. November 16, 1875, Mr. McCroskey married Miss Sibby E. Eagleton, of Blount County, Tenn .. born June 7, 1841. He became the father of eight children by his first marriage, three of whom are dead, and four by his second marriage, one son being deceased. His first wife was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. and his second wife is a member of the same church. Our subject is independent in politics, is a strong Prohibitionist, and is working for the party. He has a son, John A. MeCroskey, in Greene County, Mo., who is also laboring in the ministry.
Henry M. McCroskey, a prominent citizen, merchant and planter of Monroe County. is a native of East Tennessee; born at his present location March 3, 1840: son of John and Priscilla (McCray) MeCroskey, both of Irish descent and natives of East Tennessee, the father of Sevier and the mother of Washington County. The former was born March 11, 1788, and died in Monroe County November 10, 1866. The mother was born December 28. 1808, and died in Monroe County November 23, 1879. They were married in Wash - ington County in 1836 and after vard located in Monroe County, where our subject is now
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living, and here they passed the remainder of their days. The father was among the first settlers of Monroe County and at the organization of the county (in 1820) he was elected high sheriff, an office he held ton consecutive years. He afterward gave his attention to farming, in which he was quite successful. He was a stanch Democrat and for about forty years was an elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which the mother was also a member. Our subject secured a good education in his youth and completed it at Hiwassee College. His fist industrial employment was in agricultural pursuits on his father's plantation, and this has been his chief calling ever since. At about the age of twenty-two, in 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Sixty-second Tennessee Regiment of Infan- try (Confederate Army). He went from East Tennessee to Mississippi, and was under Pem- berton at the surrender of Vicksburg. He was paroled and subsequently exchanged when he entered the service in the East Tennessee and West Virginia department, and served the remainder of the war. Our subject returned home in the summer of 1865. He served in different departments; at first in the medical department as hospital steward and was afterward placed on detached duty in the ordinance department. His father died in 1866 and the old homestead has been in our subject's charge ever since. October 28. 1873, he married Miss Mary E. Pearce, a native of Chester County, Penn., born December 17, 1851. To them were born three daughters and three sons, one son being deceased. Our subject is a decided Democrat, and he and his wife are worthy members of the Cumberland Presby. terian Church. In 1812, a year previous to his marriage, our subject made a tour to Col- orado, and spent six weeks in the Rocky Mountains in order to regain his health. In 1879 he, in partnership with A. H. Gallaher, established a general merchandise store at Glen- loch. He is now engaged in the raising of Jersey cattle.
Thomas E. H. McCroskey, a prominent lawyer of Madisonville, Monroe Co., Tenn., was born in the same county, on Fork Creek, July 13, 1843, and is the son of John and Priscilla (McCray) McCroskey, of Scotch and Irish descent respectively. The father was born in Sevier County, Tenn., March 17, 1788, and died in Mouroe County November 19, 1866. He moved to Morganton, Blount Co., Tenn., at an early date, and was engaged in the mercantile business. When the lands of the Hiwassee Purchase were sold, he bought land in Monroe County and moved to it. In 1820, when the county of Monroe was organ- ized, he was elected high sheriff and held this office for ten consecutive years; then turned his attention exclusively to agricultural pursuits. He was a member and elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for many years. He had a good education, was a Dem- ocrat in politics and his sympathies were with the South in the late war. He was the son of John McCroskey, a native of Virginia, who settled in Sevier County during the time of Sevier and Robertson. He was a corporal in the Revolutionary war and was at the battle of King's Mountain. The mother of our subject was born in Washington County, Tenn .. December 28, 1808, and died in Monroe County, Tenn., November 23, 1879. She was also a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Her father was a native of Washing- ton County, Tenn., and the McCrays were among the first settlers of East Tennessee. Her marriage with the father of our subject occurred in 1836, and the result was the birth of eight children, our subject being the fifth. He lived on the farm and received his educa. tion in Hiwassee College. After the war he studied aud graduated at the Lebanon Law School. Immediately after graduating he located at Kingston, Roane County, where he remained two years, then moved to Madisonville, Monroe County, where he secured a large and lucrative practice. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. June 11, 1872, he mar- ried Miss F. Pauline Barratt, a native of Abbeville, S. C., a daughter of John J. and Eliza- beth C. Barratt, and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Her father was killed at Sharpsburg while fighting for the Confederacy. To our subject and wife were born six children-five now living: John B., Thomas E., Henry, Blanche HI. and Mary E. Pauline died when an infant. Mr. McCroskey is a good citizen and is very much inter- ested in the development of the minerals of Monroe County.
John McGhee, a prominent citizen of Monroe County, Tenn., was born on the farm where he is now residing, November 13, 1851, the son of Barclay and Mary K. (Henley)
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McGhee. The father was born on the McGhee farm in Monroe County, Tenn., in 1820, and died at Chattanooga, Tenn .. in 1855, while on a business trip to that place. He was the youngest of three children and, upon the death of his father, received one-third of the MeGhee farm which, under his control, increased in value on account of the great improvements made by him. He had a good education, was a Whig in politics, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and, like his father John McGhee, was a magistrate. The latter was a native of Blount County, Tenn., was born at Maryville and died on the McGhee farm in 1851. The mother of our subject was of English descent and a descend- ant of the first governor of Virginia. She was born at Chota, an Indian settlement on the banks of the Little Tennessee River in 1829, and now lives near where our subject resides. After Barclay McGhee's death she married William Parker, who is also deceased. She was the daughter of Arthur II. Henley, a man of wealth and noted for his generosity. He was a native of Virginia, and died at Chota, Tenn. He was one of the first settlers of Monroe County. The mother is well educated and is a member of the Episcopal Church. Our subject was the fourth of six children, four now living. He received a liberal education at Hainesville, Ga., and at Hiwassee College in Monroe County. When twenty-two years of age his property was given him from the McGhee estate. This consisted of a very rich tract of land. border. ing on the Little Tennessee River. Mr. McGhee is at present engaged in raising and dealing in fine stock and in farming. He is a stanch Democrat, and though not a member of any church is a believer in the teachings of the Bible, and is truly a religious man. December 17, 1873, he married Miss Addie Harrison, daughter of Dr. James Harrison, and a graduate of the Female. College at Huntsville, Ala. This union resulted in the birth of an interesting family of children.
Donald A. Mckenzie, farmer of the Eleventh District of Monroe County, Tenn., was born in Blount County in the same State, December 29, 1925, the son of John L. and Mary (Grigsby) Mckenzie. Donald Mckenzie, the grandfather of our subject, came from the Highlands of Scotland a few years before the American Revolutionary war, and settled in Maryland. He was a soldier in that war and received a wound in one of the the battles. He afterward moved to Blount County. Tenn. The father of our subject was born in Blount County, Tenn., in January, 1800, and died in Monroe County in 1839. He was a successful farmer, a magistrate for several years, a mem. ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Democrat in politics. The Grigsby family are also of Scotch descent. The mother of our subject was born in Sevier County, Tenn., in 1803, and died in Monroe County in 1862. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Our subject was the third of nine children-three now living. He received the rudiments of a common education at home schools, and this he has improved by general reading, observation, etc. Ile was only fourteen when his father died, but continued on the home farm, provided for his mother, educated the younger children, and has also raised a son of his sister's. When the estate was divided among the heirs he purchased the others' shares and has since been very successful. December 17. 1856, he married Miss Sarah J. Blair, a native of Roane County, Tenn., born in March, 1836. the daughter of Josiah and Jane Blair, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Of the eight children born to this union five are now living: Braxton B., Frank C., Elizabeth, Joseph B. and Martha A. Those deceased are John L., Mahala C. and Mary J. During the late war Mr. Mckenzie was made captain of the militia.
Joseph A. Peck, an enterprising merchant of Madisonville, Monroe Co., Tenn .. was born in Tellico Plains, Monroe Co., Tenn., August 5. 1832, and is the son of Jacob E. and Jane (Waggoner) Peck. The ancestors of the Peck family came originally from Eng- land and settled in Virginia. The father of our subject was born in Botetourt County, Va., in 1794, and died in Monroe County, Tenn., in August, 1871. He came to Tellico Plains in 1827, where he passed the remainder of his days. He was a successful farmer, was a soldier in the war of 1812, being orderly sergeant, and was a member of the Pres- byterian Church. He was the son of Joseph A. Peck, who lived and died in Virginia. The mother of our subject was born in Botetourt County, Va., in 1796, and died in Monroe
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County, Tenn., in January, 1870. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and to her marriage were born eleven children, eight pow living. Our subject was the ninth child and received his education at Hiwassee College, after which he engaged in mer- chandising at Jalapa, Mouroe Co., Tenn., where he remained fifteen years. In 1858 he married Miss Minerva Torbet, a native of Monroe County, born in March, 1833, and the daughter of Andrew W. and Nancy Torbet. She died at Jalapa in 1866. Of the six chil- dren born to this union three are now living, viz .: Nancy J., Sarah H. and Loies I. Those deceased are James, Andrew B. and Minerva A. In 1870 Mr. Peck married P. A. MeCroskey, a native of Monroe County, Tenn., born in September, 1838, the daughter of John and Priscilla McCroskey, and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. To this union four children have been born, all living: Mary F., John F., Nellie M. and Jodie A. In 1872 Mr. Peck moved to Madisonville, where he has since remained. He carries a stock of goods valued at $5,000, and sells from $10,000 to $20,000 yearly. He is a member and an elder in the Presbyterian Church, is a Mason and a Democrat. In 1861 he organized a company, and was made captain, but the company was not accepted on account of being twelve months' men instead of three years' men. This was in the Con- federate service. Our subject is an enterprising citizen and is known by the name of Maj. Joseph A. Peck.
James E. Roberts, the well known liveryman of Sweet Water, is a native of East Tennessee, born at Madisonville. Monroe County, October 6, 1830, son of Dr. John W. and Elizabeth P. (Chester) Roberts, both natives of Washington County. Tenn., and of Scotch-Irish descent. The father was born about 1805, and died in Monroe County, in May, 1849. The mother was born about 1806, and died in Bartow County, Ga., in 1877. They were married in their native county in 1825, and about two years later came to Monroe County, and settled in Madisonville. The father was a very successful physician, and gave twenty five years of his life to the practice of medicine. The Robertses were a prominent family in East Tennessee, as were also the Chester family. The father of our subject was a stanch Democrat. James E. is one of twelve children. He secured a good education at Madisonville, and from the age of fifteen to that of twenty he was engaged in farming. In 1850 he went to California, and was successful in mining interests and in the hotel business. He was there eleven years, and all the time sent means to his mother and younger brothers. When the war broke out between the States he returned to Monroe County, and remained with his mother and brothers and sisters during that exciting period. December 27 he married Miss Hester J. Maxwell. a native of Wash - ington County, Tenn., born May 9, 1847, and to them were born four children. In 186; our subject went to Cartersville, Ga., and was engaged in the family grocery business for about three years, after which he was in the livery business, and was also engaged in trading in live stock (horses and mules) for six years. In 1876 he returned to his farm in Monroe County, and carried on agricultural pursuits in connection with the live stock trade, nine years. In 1886 he came to Sweetwater, and since then has been engaged in the livery business. He is a Democrat in politics, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
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