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 24
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Robert King Robinson, a prominent lawyer of Madisonville, was born near Kingston. Roane Co., Tenn., October 15, 1849; son of James R. and Sarah (Smith) Robinson. The father was born in Roane County, Tenn., in 1824, and is now a resident of Loudon County, Tenn. He has held numerous offices, among them, clerk and master of Monroe County, a special commissioner of the claims commission, and postmaster at Eve Mills. He sold goods for several years after the war. His education was good and while still young taught school. He was a Mason, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Republican in politics. The mother is a native of Roane County, Tenn., born 1827. and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject is the third of nine children, seven now living. He remained at home and attended the home school until 1864, when he superintended the Eve Mills for his father for three years, after which he went to the college at Athens, Tenn., known now as the Grant Memorial College, where he finished his education in 1871. He then went to the clerk and master's office at Madi-
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sonville as deputy, and at the same time studied law under Col. T. W. Burge. He was admitted to the bar the next year by Judge E. T. Hall and Chancellor O. P. Temple. The same year he married Miss Texie Hunt, a native of Monroe County, and the daughter of Lewis Hunt. To this union have been born three children, viz: Aurie, Robert and Bertie. Mrs. Robinson is a member of the Baptist Church. After being admitted to the bar Mr. Robinson formed a partnership with Col. Burge, but two years later dissolved partnership and formed one with Z. T. Hunt. After a short time he again dissolved part- nership and formed one with S. P. Hale. In 1881 he discontinued the practice of law, and received the appointment of postoffice inspector. The next year he was in the pension department at Washington, and shortly after this was sent to Springfield, Mo., as a spe- cial examiner, and had charge of twenty-one counties. At the end of a year he resigned and engaged again in the practice of his profession. He was editor of the Clarion, a Republican paper, during the campaign of 1884. Since returning to Madisonville he formed a partnership with S. P. Hale in the farm and mill machinery business. He has been chairman of the Republican Executive Committee of Monroe County since 1872, except the years of 1876 and 1876.
Hon. William B. Stephens, a prominent lawyer and assistant attorney-general of the United States Court of Madisonville, East Tenn., was born on Island Creek, Tenth District of Monroe County, Tenn., Sept. 80, 1849; son of Henry fand Martha (Baker) Stephens, whose ancestors came from Germany, Scotland and Ireland. The father was born in Wythe County, Va., about 1812, and died at Loudon, Tenn., July 19, 1858. He was brought to Monroe County when a child, and became a prominent lawyer .. He repre- sented Monroe County twice in the Legislature. He was noted as a lawyer, a politician and a Democrat. He canvassed the State with Horace Maynard, and served with credit in the Mexican war. He received an excellent education in Franklin, N. C. Two chil- dren were the result of this union, both of whom are living, our subject being the eldest. When ten years of age he went to live with an uncle, J. H. Baker, and here he attended school, securing his education at the Texas Military Institute, and afterwards in Galves- ton, in the same State. He returned to Blount County in 1868, and taught school. He also read law under Judge Vandike, of Athens, McMinn Co., Tenn. He was admitted to the bar by Judge D. M. Key and Judge D. K. Young, and began the practice of law at Maryville, Blount Co., Tenn., where he remained until September 18, 1875, when he moved to Madisonville, Monroe County. He was chosen by the people of Monroe County to represent them in the Forty-third General Assembly, and is now assistant attorney- general in the Federal courts of East Tennessee. He is a member and elder of the C'um- berland Presbyterian Church, is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Democrat in politics. December 24, 1872, he married Elizabeth S. Miller, daughter of Henry Miller, of Maryville, Blount County, and to them were born four children: Henry H., Kate MI .. William B. and Ernest M.
Vastine Stickley, clerk and master of Monroe County, Tenn., and a resident of the Eleventh District, was born at Stickleyville, Lee Co., Va., April 30, 1856: son of Vastine and Elizabeth (Duff) Stickley. The Stickley ancestry were originally from Germany, came from there to Scotland, and from there to Virginia, where Vastine, the father. was born in 1800. He was killed in Lee County, Va., while blasting rock. When soung he followed the occupation of a blacksmith until he earned sufficient money to go into the mercantile business. He had a good education, and was a Democrat in politics. The mother was born in Lee County, Va. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, died the same year as her husband, and nine days after the birth of our subject. He was taken by his grandparents, Duff, and remained with his grandfather (his grandmother having died when he was four years of age) until he was twelve, when he went to Jonesville, Lee County, and attended school. then worked as clerk'in a store until he was eighteen years of age. He next went to Emery and Henry College, where he remained three years, and then came to Monroe County, Tenn., and engaged in the mercantile business with his brother. Worth Stickley, as partner. At the end of three years he sold his interest and purchased land in the Eleventh District of Monroe County,
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whither he moved November 16, 1881. He was appointed clerk'and master by Judge S. A. Key, to fill the place of J. E. Houston. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which he is a deacon. October 13, 1879, he married Miss Josie E. Houston, a native of Madisonville, Tenn., a member of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church, and the daughter of Joseph E. and Eliza M. C. Houston. Three children were the fruits of this union: Elizabeth Duff, Robert Houston and Eliza McCroskey.
Rev. Henry P. Waugh, a prominent minister and member of the Holston Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and now a resident of Morristown, Hamblen Co., Tenn., was born in Monroe County, Tenn., and is the son of John and Ruth (Piper) Waugh, whose ancestors came from Scotland and Ireland. The father was born and reared near Gettysburg, Penn., and moved to Blount County, Tenn., about 1804 or 1805. Ile was a successful farmer, was in the war of 1812, and a commissary under Gen. Andrew Jackson. He was one of the first magistrates in Monroe County, and held that office for many years. He had a good education, was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and an old line Whig. In the latter part of his life he moved to Ashe County, N. C., where he died in 1855, aged about seventy-seven years. His wife was born near Abingdon, Va .. about 1780, and died three miles cast of Madisonville, Tenn., in 1848. She was also a member of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject was born at Lowry Ferry (now Niles Ferry), Monroe County, Tenn., and is the youngest of nine children, five of whom are now living in Ashe County, N. C. He received his primary education in Monroe County, Tenn., and Iredell County, N. C. He engaged as a salesman in a mercantile house, and after eight or nine years was licensed as a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church South, having been converted to God in his native county in 1844, licensed at Rocky Spring, Alexander County, N. C., in 1858, and began his itinerant career in 1854, and con- tinued in the work until 1886, except the year 1863, when he was chaplain of Allen's Legion, Sixty-fourth North Carolina Regiment, Confederate States Army. He was ordained deacon and elder by Bishops Andrew and Early. Since the last conference he has been engaged in canvassing Monroe County in the interest of the great Prohibition movement that is now being agitated in the State. Ile is a Mason, and an excellent citizen, has the confidence of the people, and has been very successful in his ministry, hav- ing now traveled for thirty-two years in succession in the States of Tennessee, North Car- olina, Virginia, Alabama and Florida, and bids fair for many more years of usefulness, being now fifty-nine years of age. In 1857 he was married to Miss Barbury G. Everett, of Sullivan County, Tenn., and at the time of her death, which occurred in Buncombe County, N. C., March 24, 1862, they had three children: Rachel V., Hellen E. and Bar- bury S. Rachel V. (now the wife of John M. Boyd, of Sullivan County, ) is the only one living. December 3, 1863, he was then married to Mrs. Mary A. Proctor, the widow of Beda Proctor, and the daughter of Jacob Kindrick. She is a native of Georgia, born about 1837. To this union were born two children: Anna B. (deceased) and Henry P. It is a great source of gratification to his many friends to know that no charge of immo- rality has been brought against him. May his sun go down without a cloud!
Ewing Young White, a well-to-do farmer of the Twelfth District of Monroe County, Tenn., and the son of Thomas and Jane (Young) White, was born on the farm on which he is now residing March 1, 1830. The father was of English descent, born in Washing- ton County, Va., in 1801, and died in Monroe County, Tenn., in 1876. He moved to Tennessee, purchased property when the Hiwassee lands were sold; was a successful farmer, was justice of the peace for several years, and a Democrat in politics. The mother was born in Washington County, Tenn., in 1797, and died in'Monroe County, in the same State, in 1869. There were seven children born to this union, our subject being the fifth. He received a fair education in the East Tennessee University of Knoxville, Tenn., and at Hiwassee College, in Monroe County, Tenn. He lived and worked on the farm until 1856, when he engaged in the mercantile business as salesman at Sweet Water, Tenn. At the end of one year he went to California, where he remained until 1866, engaged in farming, mining and stock-raising. Since that time he has been a resident
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of Monroe County, Tenn., and after his father's death be purchased the old homestead. He is a justice of the peace, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Democrat in pol- itics. In 1870 he married Miss Mary L. Mayo, a native of Athens, McMinn Co., Tenn .. born in 1846, and died in Monroe County, Tenn., the year of her marriage. She was well educated, was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and the daughter of George and Mary Mayo. December 14, 1881, Mr. White married Mrs. Margaret Cunningham, widow of Alfred Cunningham, and the daughter of Armstrong and Margaret (Daniels) Morrow. She has a liberal education, and is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. To this union were born two children: Thomas and Jane.
Madison G. Wright, an enterprising merchant of Dancing Branch, in the Sixth District of Monroe County, Tenn., was born in the same county, near Mount Vernon, November 16. 1840; son of John A. and Secelia (Cook) Wright, both natives of Blount County, Teun. born in 1796 and 1800 respectively. The father was a successful farmer, a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in Monroe County July 23, 1861. His father, Thomas Wright. came from Ireland and settled in Blount County, Tenn. He was drowned in the Ten- nessee River. The mother of our subject died in Monroe County July 18, 1861. She had a good education, and was a member of the Baptist Church. By her marriage with the father of our subject she became the mother of seventeen childern, all lived to be grown, and ten are living now. There were five of this family who died between the 1st and 13th of July, 1861: The father, the mother, two sisters and a brother. Our [subject received a liberal education at Dancing Branch Academy. He was engaged in farm- ing on the home farm at the breaking out of the war, and this he continued until in April, 1863, when he enlisted in Company F, Third Tennessee Cavalry, Federal Army, and was in active service until the close of the war. He entered the army as a private. and at the end of a year was made hospital steward. He was in active service until the close of the war, and participated in many battles and skirmishes. August 20, 1868. he married Miss Frances C. Magill, a native of Catoosa County, Ga., a member of the Presbyterian Church, and the daughter of Marshall and Eliza E. Magill. Two children were born to this marriage-one died in infancy, and Cora Bell died when seven years of age. After the war our subject engaged in farming, and in connection, has followed mer- cantile pursuits at Dancing Branch since 1877. In 1879 Mr. Wright was made postmaster of that little village. Previous to this he was made tax collector of Monroe County, and held the office two years. In 1883 he was elected justice of the peace.
John S. Yearwood, the well-known and popular editor of the Monroe Democrat, was born in Monroe County, Tenn., January 12, 1850; son of Horace B. and Elizabeth E. (Scruggs) Yearwood, both natives of Tennessee, the former of Rutherford County, and the latter of Monroe County. The father was born March 13, 1822, is still living, a resident of Monroe County. The mother was born September 22, 1830. and is still living The father has been engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life, and is acknowledged to be one of Monroe County's most successful and enterprising' planters. He has all alone made the raising of blooded stock (race horses) rather a specialty. He is noted for the interest he takes in county and state fairs. and has been honored with the presidency or superintendency of these different associations for the last thirty years. He is a stanch Democrat, and at one time approached the edge of political life by allowing himself to be a candidate before the State Legislature for Secretary of State, but was unsuccessful. Our subject is one of a large family of children. He secured a liberal education in youth by attending the country schools of Monroe County, and subsequently attended the Riceville Institute, McMinn County. In the fall of 1869 he commenced reading law under Judge George Brown, of Knoxville, and obtained license to practice in the early part of 1571 After practicing his profession at Athens, Teun., he was in partnership with Hon. W. H. Bryant for four years, after which he came to Sweet Water where he continued to practice law for one year. December 27, 1876, he married Miss Mary B. Fitzgerald, of Knoxville. She was born in North Carolina, August 8, 1855, and by ber marriage became the mother of four children-one son and three daughters. After marrying. our subject made a tour of the West, visiting Kansas, Missouri, etc. He returned to Sweet
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Water in the fall of 1877, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits for four years, on the Tennessee River, Rhea County. In January, 1881, he purchased the Monroe Democrat, and since that date to the present has given his undivided attention to the interests of his paper. The paper is Democratic, and has a circulation of about 800. He received the appointment of postmaster of Sweet Water from President Cleveland, in August, 1885.
MCMINN COUNTY.
Samuel P. Blair, a member of the mercantile firm of Blair, John & Co., also a tanner at Mouse Creek, was born in Monroe County, East Tenn., April 5, 1847. He is the fourth of the six children of Thomas R. and Athamalinda (Martin) Blair, both of Irish descent and natives of Tennessee. The father was born in Monroe County in 1812. He has always been a successful tanner, and is a Republican. His wife was born in Rhea County about 1810. They were married in Knox County, are now residents of Loudon County, and are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The subject of our sketch received a common-school education in Blount County. September 1, 1868, he married Miss Mary L. Martin, who was born in Roane County October 21, 1851. Both are consistent and estecmed members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Blair, being raised a tanner, engaged in the tanning business in Morganton, Loudon County, in the fall of 1868, and carried on the business there until the spring of 1877. He then came to Mouse Creek Station, McMinn County, and purchased, from H. L. Cate, an old tan-yard, which he has greatly enlarged and improved. He has also a shoe, harness and saddle shop. In August, 1882, he was elected justice of the peace of the Fourth Civil District of McMinn County. In August, 1884, in partnership with Z. T. and A. K. John, he established a gen. eral merchandise store at the same place, which has been a success.
I. H. Bond, a prominent merchant of Calhoun, was born in Knox County, Tenn., twelve miles below Knoxville, March 10, 1828, a son of George and Eliza (Swan) Bond. He received an excellent education at Maryville, Blount Co., Tenn. After traveling extensively over the South he attended school at Clinton, Anderson Co., Tenn .. for one year. He then went to Texas, where he taught school for four years, and returned to East Tennessee one year after the outbreak of the Rebellion. He was in the employ of the Confederate Government one year, and then entered the army, greatly against his wishes. In 1864 he was taken sick in East Tennessee, and left by his company in a seemingly dying condition. After the close of the war he went to Atlanta. Ga., and for two years was engaged in the grocery business, after which he moved to Meigs County, Tenn .. and eight years later located at Calhoun. He is one of the leading and most successful mer- chants of the place. and carries a first-class stock of goods. He was appointed postmas- ter in 1890, and filled the office for six years. He is a member of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church, a Master Mason, and a Democrat. In January. 1867, he married Mattie. daughter of Madison and Matilda Jobnson, who was born in Meigs County. and died at Calhoun January 24, 1878. She secured a thorough education at Georgetown, Tenn., was a consistent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and the mother of four children: Etta, Mattie, Maggie and Leonidas. Three are living.
James M. Charles was born in Jackson County, Ala., October 19, 1824, and is the son of Oliver and J. (Bridwell) Charles. The father was of English descent. was born in Virginia, in 1777. and died in Jackson County. Ala., May 16, 1844. He moved to Northeast Tennessee when a young man, afterward to Warren County, Tenn. Charles Creek, in that county, is named for him, and he afterward moved to Jackson County, Ala. He was a farmer, had a good education, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and a Whig. The mother was of Scotch-Irish descent, was born in Virginia in 1787, and died in Polk County, Teen., in September, 1863. She had a limited education; was
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a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The subject of this sketch is the thirteenth of fourteen children. He secured & good education at home schools in youth, and lived in Jackson County, Ala., until six years after the death of his father, when he moved to Polk County, Tenn., and engaged in farming and trading stock. He then built the half-way house between Cleveland and Ducktown, kept hotel there, and in connection with it was in the mercantile business, his wife keeping store. She was the postmistress at that place, while our subject was the mail carrier. In 1862 he sold out and moved to Riceville, and engaged in farming for one year; then moved to near Athens and farmed for one year; then moved to Athens, and engaged in the mercantile business for three years, when he came to his present location. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, a Royal Arch Mason, and a Democrat. August 24, 1849. he married Eliza A. Dodson, who was born in MeMinn County, in June. 1833, and died in Polk County, February 8, 1854. She was a member of the Baptist Church before mar- riage, but afterward joined the Methodist Episcopal Church South. She was the daugh- ter of Elisha and Mary Dodson. This union resulted in three children-two of them Dow living: Oliver D. and John E. J. B. died when eighteen years of age. December 29, 1854, our subject married Caroline M. Boyd, who was born in Monroe County, Tenn., May 9, 1833. She secured a collegiate education at Madisonville Female College, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and is the daughter of Joseph and Mar- garet Boyd. This union has resulted in nine children, seven of them now living: Mag- gie J., J. A., Minnie L., W. B., F. L., Carrie J. and T. N. Those dead are Joseph E. and Emma J.
Daniel F. Clark, a well-known real estate agent of Athens, was born in Pope County, Ill., January 20, 1838, a son of Newton D. and Indiana (Field) Clark. The father was of Scotch descent, born in Madison County, Ala., in March, 1814, and died at Golconda, Ill .. January 1, 1879. The mother's ancestors were natives of Kentucky. She was born near Charlestown, Ind., March 20, 1817, and is now a resident of Athens, where she has been liv- ing since 1884. She is a sincere member of the Christian Church. The parents were married in 1836, at Golconda, Ill., where the father was for many years engaged in the mercantile business. He was a Whig, and afterward a Democrat. Our subject is one of a family of eight children. He received an excellent education at Hanover, Ind. The first five years of his business career were spent in his father's store. He was afterward engaged in the boating interests on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and was for five years captain of different steamboats. In the spring of 1866 he abandoned the river, and began the practice of law at Golconda, remaining there until 1884. In connection with his pro- fessional duties he was also claim and real estate agent. In 1884 he located on a farm near Athens, and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits until March, 1887, when he opened a real estate office in Athens. He is a stanch Democrat, and although not con nected with any church, is a believer in religion and a man of fine morals. He has been very successful in life, but had a decided financial drawback, several years ago, by en- dorsing for a friend.
P. W. Cooper, an enterprising farmer and stock raiser of the Thirteenth District, was born near his present place of residence June 17, 1840. He is the fourth of fourteen children born to Thomas and Clarissa (Cooke) Cooper. The father was of English descent, born in the District of Columbia, S. C., in 1809. He came to McMinn County with his father about 1830, bought land which he afterward sold, and again purchased property near where our subject lives. He was one of the most successful farmers in the section, and gave to each of his children a farm valued from $2,500 to $3,500. He died February 24, 1885. His wife was born in the Thirteenth District of McMinn County, in 1815, and departed this life March 20. 1885. She was a member of the Baptist Church for more than thirty years Of the large family of children, eight are now living. P. W. Cooper received his education at the schools in the vicinity, and worked on his father's farm until 1862. He then enlisted in Company A, Fifty-ninth Tennessee Infantry, Con- federate service. He was on duty fourteen months, and took part in the battle of Perry- ville, Ky., and the siege of Vicksburg. Shortly after his return home his father gave
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him 500 acres, and he began farming, to which occupation he has since given his attention. He is a member of the Baptist Church, is a Democrat and most worthy citizen. August 27, 1863, he wedded Emsly E., daughter of Noble J. and Julia Tunnell. Mrs. Cooper was born in Monroe County, Tenn., June 27, 1842, and was educated at Benton, Polk County. She is a consistent and esteomed member of the Baptist Church.
B. M. Cooper was born on Stars Elevation, McMinu Co., Tenn., September, 19, 1848. and is the son of Thomas and Clarissa (Cooke) Cooper. The father was born in South Carolina October 13, 1809, and died in McMinn County, Tenn., February 24, 1885. He came to MeMinn County, Tenn., from Kentucky with his father, where they had lived about one year. When he began for himself he had nothing, and when he died he was worth $60,000. The mother was born September 16, 1815, and died shortly after the death of ber husband. She was a member of the Baptist Church for more than thirty years. Our sub- ject is the tenth of fourteen children. Ile secured his education at the home schools, but it was cut short by the war. In October, 1864, he enlisted in Company A, Seventh Regiment Tennessee Mounted Infantry (Union service), serving until the close, and was in numerous skirmishes. At the close he began for himself on the farm, where he now lives; but after four years moved to the Fourteenth District for four years, then returned to his present place of residence. His father gave him the farm in the Fourteenth District, but he traded that for 500 acres in the Thirteenth District. The land has very nearly doubled in value. He is a Mason, and is a Republican. August 25, 1868, he married Mary C. Boyd, who was born in Polk County December 28, 1848. She was educated at Riceville and Cleveland, and is a member of the Baptist Church. She is the daughter of Erby Boyd, Sr., and Maria K. (Carroll) Boyd. This union resulted in nine children, five of them now living: Bennett A., William E., Erby, Clarissa and Thomas. Those deceased are Charles, John, James, adults, and one that died in infancy.
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