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 32
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Maj. George C. Dodge, a prominent attorney of Spring City, Rhea Co., Tenn., and the son of George C. and Luey (Burton) Dodge, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, November 20, 1845. He was educated at the public schools of Cleveland, Ohio, and at the Western Reserve College at Hudson, Ohio. About this time the war broke out, and at the age of sixteen he enlisted in Company D, Forty-first Ohio Infantry. He went in as orderly sergeant and came out as captain, with the rank of brevet major. He was attached to the army of the Cumberland, and was at all the battles from Shiloh to Nashville, and at Chickamauga received a wound. He was the youngest commissioned officer in the State of Ohio. In December, 1868, he led to the altar Miss Laura J. Gedge, daughter of W. H. Gedge, president at that time of the Kentucky Central Railroad. This union resulted in the birth of two children, one son and one daughter. In 1876 our subject was admitted to the bar and began practicing that year in Cleveland, where he remained until September 19, 1881, when he came to his present location and continued the practice of his profession. Maj. Dodge was secretary of the board of education, and was one of the members of the board.
Abner W. Frazier, an influential citizen of Rhea County, and resident of Daytou. was born in Rhea County, Tenn., October 21, 1821. His parents, Beriah and Barbara (Gibbs) Frazier, were of Scotch-Irish and German descent respectively. The father was a native North Carolinian, born May 4, 1776, and died in Rhea County October 25, 185S. The mother was born April 18, 1789, in Knox County, Tenn., and died in Rhea County July 8, 1806. They were married in Knox County, Tenn., May 1, 1806, and lived in that county until 1818, at which time they came to Rhea County, and settled eight miles cast of Dayton, on the Tennessee River, where they passed the remainder of their days. They were among the first settlers of Rhea County, immigrating there several years before the Indians left. The father, before he came to Rbea County, was engaged in the service of the United States, concerning the Indians on the Tennessee River. Our subject's father was a farmer and a prominent citizen of Rhea County. He held the office of justice of the peace for several years. The Frazier family is largely connected in Tennessee. Judge Frazier, of Davidson County, was first cousin to the subject of this sketch. Abner W. Frazier was one of a large family of children. He secured a good academic education, and assisted his father on the plantation, remaining there until the death of his parents. In 1867 he purchased and settled on a farm, giving his attention exclusively to agricultural pursuits up to 1883. at which time he sold out and moved to Dayton, and retired to private life. September 2, 1858, he married Miss Mary J. Craighead, a native of Alabama, born in Jackson County October 8, 1829. This union resulted in the birth of one son and one daughter; the latter. Mary B., was born October 21, 1861, and died September 8, 1886. She had married M. G. McDonald October 8, 1984, and left a son, Carl, who was born August 14. 1886. B. A. Frazier, son of our subject, was born November 21, 1859, and is the well-known and popu- lar editor of the Dayton News-Gazette. A. W. Frazier is a Democrat, and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church; his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. His grandfather, Samuel Frazier, was born in 1749 beyond the waters. He came to America at an early day, and fought for independence. and took part in the battle of Guilford Court House. North Carolina. The grandmother, Rebecca (Julian) Frazier, was born March 17, 1:49. She was a French Huguenot, and settled in South Carolina with her ancestors.
Creed M. Fulton, A. B., president of the Dayton Masonic College, Dayton, Tenn .. was born at Summerfield, Grayson Co., Va., February 24, 1862. He is of an ancestral line no less distinguished for its intellectual acumen than exceptional merits. His father Capt. Samuel M. Fulton, the youngest of a family of twelve children, acquired at his own expense a substantial business education, and is notorious in his State (Virginia) for his enthusiasm in public affairs and for his political wisdom and ability. Miss Mary C. Ried, of Campbell County, Va., became his wife about 1854. At the close of the late civil war
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he was high sheriff of his county, and continued in said office for ten consecutive years, when, against the voice and free-will of his people, he resigned. In 1877 be was elected to the State Legislature, which position he held to the satisfaction of his constituents. This office he held for two years, and became thoroughly established throughout his State as one of the leaders of the Re-adjusting Party. In 1880 he was strongly urged by the people of his senatorial district for the Senate, but, being in very poor health for the first time in his life, was forced to refuse. In 1881 his congressional district called for him to bear their standard, but again illness prohibited it. He is a Democrat in politics, and was born of a family noted for their picty, all being members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. His eldest brother, Creed, was a man of devout character, and inestimable worth as a Christian minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He was endowed with extraordinary powers of intellect, and wherever he went, Creed Fulton was ever after- ward known. His course was per aspera ad astra. As an orator no man of his church. stood forth his peer. In the approach of the storms of his age, he was always to be found above the clouds. He soared among the eagles, and dwelt in higher climes. At Madison- ville, Monroe County, he formed an academy, and under the influence of one of his gifted educational speeches, Hiwassee College was erected. He continued his labors among the mountains of southwest Virginia, with that peculiarity of character which has ever made him magnetic. Hle laid the corner-stone for Emory and Henry College, and later died in his mountain home. The remainder of the family, while they have not figured so conspic- uously in church and State affairs, are enjoying the abundance of successfully spent lives. They are of Irish, Scotch and French lineage. Our subject is a young man of unquestion- able morals, undoubted integrity and unrelenting energy. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and a Democrat in politics. He was educated at Hiwassee College, Monroe County, Tenn., graduating in May, 1885. In June of the following month he was elected to the position he now holds. Under his able management the institution has gained great prominence. He was first chosen for one year, but before the year expired he was re-employed for a term of four years. On the 17th of June, 1886, Miss Emma V., daughter of Rev. Dr. John and Lucretia Walsh, became his wife. Her father was a man of great literary attainments. He was educated at Dickenson College, Carlisle, Penn., studied theology and dentistry, and ranks among the most successful. As a minister he has few equals and fewer superiors. He is a Republican, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has held the office of United States collector of the Ninth District for six years. Suffering severely from bronchial affection he has been forced to confine himself to a quiet life. He married Miss Lucretia Grittinger, daughter of Adam and Eliza Grittinger, who were of German descent, and members of the Lutheran Church. To our subject and wife was born April 26, 1837, one son, who bears the given name of his father and the maiden name of his mother, Creed Walsh. Mrs. Fulton was educated at Christiansburg, Va., in the Montgomery Female College.
W. C. Gardenhire, of Dayton, Tenn., was born in Roane County, May 14, 1838, son of George W. and Polly (Bottom) Gardenhire, both natives of Roane County, Tenn., and both of Scotch descent. The father was born in 1796, and is now living in Rhea County. The mother was born in 1806, and died in Hamilton County, near Chattanooga. They were married in Roane County, and subsequently moved to Hamilton County. The father was a farmer, a slave trader before the war, and a Democrat in politics. IF.
C. Gardenhire, received a liberal education, and began life as a salesman, which business he followed two years. He then established a mercantile business of his own at Harrison, and on a boat on the Tennessee River, which he continued up to the breaking out of the late war, when he served three years in the Confederate Army. In 1866 he went to Cal- ifornia, and was engaged in the mining stock business in that State up to 1869, at which time he made a voyage to the South Sea Islands, visiting the Fijians and the Sandwichers, Australians and a number of others. Hle returned to California in 1871, bringing with him four native Fijians, and after exhibiting them in Woodward Garden. San Francisco, for some time at $150 a day, he sold them to P. T. Barnum for $20,000. He returned to Tennessee the same year on a visit, and in the spring of 1872 he went back to California,
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and was engaged in the mining stock business up to 1878. In the meantime (1876) he went to Arizona, and located the town of Safford, Graham County. In the early part of 1877 he went to New York City, and was one of the charter members of the American Mining and Stock Exchange. About this time Mr. Gardenhire was suffering with Bright's disease, and he spent several months in visiting the most celebrated springs in the United States, with no improved symptoms. In 1879 he started on a voyage around the world. He visited England, India, Africa, etc., and came into port at San Fran cisco, Cal, in the spring of 1881. April 3, of the same year, he married Miss Julia Wiseman, a native of Los Angeles, Cal., born May 21, 1858, daughter of William C. and Annie R. Wiseman of California. Hle afterward went to Arkansas and tested the virtue of the Eureka Spring. In 1884 he had a survey made, and located the town of Dayton, and subsequently built a fine residence there, and was cured of Bright's disease by drinking the water of Dayton Spring. He has been very active in the erection of build- ings, and in improving the town. He has been instrumental in erecting six brick stores, opera house, brick livery stable, stone bank (called Dayton City Bank), and numerous other dwellings. Our subject is a Democrat in politics, and a man well-known and well respected by all who know him. After returning from the South Sea Islands, he wrote a history of Fiji and the Fijians, which had a good sale.
Col. William T. Gass. a prominent citizen of the Fourth District of Rhea County, Tenn., was born in Jefferson County, in the same State, September 5, 1821, and is the son of Andrew and Mary P. (Collins) Gass. Samuel Gass, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Ireland, and was one of the first settlers of Jefferson County, Tenn. His son, the father of our subject, was born and died in that county, at the age of sixty-five. He was a blacksmith by trade, but gave that up for the ministry, and passed the latter part of his days in administering to the spiritual wants of his fellow men. He was a member of the Holston Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and was a student, all his life. He was a Mason, and a Whig. He was in the war of 1812. was in the battle of the Horse Shoe, and at New Orleans. The mother was born in Botetourt County, Va., and died when about sixty years of age (in 1840) in Jefferson County, Tenn. She was also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. To them were born five children, the youngest being our subject. He secured a limited education, and engaged in farming until nineteen years of age. He was then engaged as salesman at Dandridge, Jefferson Co., Tenn., for four years. July 24, 1844, he married Mrs. Ann Moyer, widow of Jacob Moyer, and the daughter of Rev. John Condley. It is thought that she was born in Grainger County, Tenn., and died at the age of sixty (in 1870). She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1872 be married Mrs. Ada K. Spears, widow of Gen. James G. Spears, deceased, who was in the Federal service. Her next marriage was with our subject, a Confederate captain. She was born in Washing- ton, Va., and is the daughter of William L. Brown. At the end of four years at Dan- dridge our subject moved to Rhea County, Tenn., and settled on the land upon which he is now living. He has kept adding until he now owns not less than 8,000 acres. He is now engaged extensively in mining iron and coal. He is also engaged in milling, and owns a third interest in the Clear Creek grist and saw mill and carding factory. Before the war he had studied law, had been admitted to the bar, and was engaged in the practice of his profession at the time of the breaking out of the late war. He then organized a company of cavalry, was made captain, and served with credit in the Confederate servic .. for two years. Afterward he went with the Forty-third Tennessee Infantry, commanded by Col. Gillespie, until the surrender. In the fall of 1880, he was elected by the people of James, Meigs, Cumberland and Rhea Counties to represent them in the Legislature. which he did with satisfaction to his constituents and credit to himself. After the war he again began the practice of his profession, which he continued until within a short time ago. During the mustering of the militia he was made colonel. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Democrat in politics.
Robert N. Gillespie, a citizen of Dayton, was born at Washington, Rhea County, May 28, 1816, a son of Robert N. and Hannah (Lenty) Gillespie, both Datives of East
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Tennessee, the father of Greene County, and the mother of Rhea County. The father was born February 14. 1807, and died at Washington, Rhea County, in July, 1865. The mother was born in 1814, and died near Washington, about 1871. They were married in Rhea County, about 1826, settled at Washington, and here they passed the balance of their days. The father was a merchant, and this business he followed over forty years at Washington. He was a Democrat, and he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject is the sixth of nine children, eight of whom are still living. He received a liberal education in his youth, which was continued at Washington, and com- pleted at Washington and Lee University, Virginia, when that institution was presided over by Gen. Lee. After completing his education he commenced the mercantile busi- ness (1867) in partnership with H. A. Crawford, at Washington, and continued about five years. He afterward settled on a farm near that town. He has been twice married. the first time, December 31, 1867. to Miss Emma P. Frazier, daughter of Dr. Gibbs and Mi- nerva F. Frazier. This lady died in 1875, at the age of twenty-eight. May 21, 1878, he married Miss Lillie Wilshire, of Chattanooga. To his first marriage, two children were born, both sons, and to the last union, three children, one son and two daughters, were born. In 1837 he came to Dayton, previous to which he had lived at Darwin, and his chil- dren had the advantages of the excellent schools at that place. He is now engaged in building some important business houses in Dayton. He is a Democrat in politics, and & member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Messrs. Webb M. Thomas & Charles F. Gilmore, the well-known and popular edi- tors of the Dayton Weekly Leader, are both natives of Ohio. Webster Thomas, the father of the senior editor of the Leader, is a native of Ross County, Ohio, and was born December 13, 1824. in the little village of Londonderry. He served nearly two years in the Mexican war, being mustered out of service, at its close, in 1848. In 1852 he married Miss Susan E. Howell, also a native of Ross County, born April 17, 1831, in the town of Adelphi. For over thirteen years after marriage they resided at Oxford, Ohio, where the subject of this sketch was born, October 7. 1861. A few months before our subject's birth, however, Mr. Thomas had, with thousands of others, enlisted his services in behalf of the Union, that was so seriously threatened by the secession of the Southern States. He went out as second lieutenant, and over three years later was mustered out of service as bre- vet-major, after his health had been much impaired by the hardship and exposure incident to a soldier's life. In the fall of 1865, he removed with his family to Circleville, and five years later moved to Adelphi, Ohio, the birthplace of his wife. Here he entered the newspaper business in the fall of 1879, in connection with his eldest son, they buying ont the Adelphi Border Nurs, which had been established a few months previously. In the fall of 1881 they sold out the paper and removed with the rest of the family to Somerset. Ky., where for three years the Somerset Republican was published, under the firm name of W. Thomas & Sons. Webb M. Thomas being the junior member of the firm. In the fall of 1884 he withdrew from the firm, for the year following working in Cincinnati and elsewhere, and in October, 1885, established the Dayton Weekly Leader, in connection with his present partner. The following fall, 1886, his parents sold their property in Somerset. and are now also residents of Dayton. Charles F. Gilmore was born September 8, 1861. in Meigs County, Ohio, the son of Welcome Arnold and Mary Ann (Persons) Gilmore, both natives of Meigs County, Ohio. The mother died when our subject was but five years of age, leaving him to the care of his elder sisters, upon whom the household duties devolved. In 1870 his father married Angeline M. Barrett. The former is of Scotch- Irish descent, his ancestors having emigrated from Ireland in the early history of the country, and settled in Pennsylvania. In his youthful days the father followed steam- boating, ou the Ohio River, and in later years worked at the cooper trade. until March. 1885, when his residence and effects were destroyed by fire. In August, of that year, he moved to Dayton, where he now resides, aged sixty-one. The subject of this sketch left home at the age of fourteen years, living about two years with his step-grandmother, dur- ing which time he attended the seminary, eight months, at Chiester, Ohio, and received a certificate to teach. These eight months was his schooling beyond the country school-
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house. In 1879 he went to Chillicothe, Ohio, working a few months grading on a rail- road, and as a farm hand. During the winter of 1879-80, he entered the office of the Scioto Gazette, as a printer's apprentice, where he served over three years in all depart- ments of the trade. When the Chillicothe Leader was established, he served one year as foreman of the press and job departments. His health failed, and he went to East Liver- pool, Ohio, where he learned the insurance business, and then started a branch agency at Martin's Ferry, Ohio. His health still remaining poor, he soon left for the South, stop- ping at Somerset, Ky. Here he fell in with Mr. Thomas, his present partner, and after working there for a few months, on May 26, 1885, accepted the foremanship of the Day- ton (Tenn.) Gazette, on which he did his first editorial work. The Leader was first estab- lished as an Independent Labor paper (though the editors made no secret of the fact that they were Republicans), as it was thought it would thus be of "the greatest good to the greatest number;" but subsequent events changed this belief, and in July, 1886, it came squarely out on the Republican side, the publishers at the same time doing what had probably never been done before, under similar circumstances -- offering to refund the subscription of all patrons who were dissatisfied with the change. It did good serv- ice for the party in the August and November elections, and for the first time in its history, Rhea County, went Republican at the election. From the date of its first issue The Leader has been a success, financially as well as otherwise, something that can be said of but few country papers. The chief reason for this probably lies in the fact that the proprietors are both experienced printers and newspaper men, having a personal knowledge of every branch of the business. The Leader, in consequence, is gotten up in a first-class style, in every respect (there is probably not a neater paper in the State of Tennessee), and the people are generally willing to pay for a first-class article when they see it. The present circulation of the paper is between 600 and 700, on a cash basis, which is equivalent to about 1,000 on the ordinary credit plan of most country newspapers.
Andrew P. Haggard, A. M., a legal practitioner of Dayton, and a native of Georgia, was born in Murray County, in that State, August 21, 1862. He is a son of Pleasant A. and Elizabeth (Callahan) Haggard, both natives of Tennessee; the father of Sevier County, and the mother of Overton County. The father was born about 1827, is still liv- ing, and is a resident of Murray County, Ga. The mother was born about 1829, and died in Murray County Ga., June 12, 1872. They were married in Overton County, Tenn., and afterward settled in Murray County, Ga .. The father has been a successful farmer all his life. is a Republican, and a worthy member of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which his wife was also a member. Our subject is one of a large family of children. He enjoyed excellent educational advantages, and graduated from the Sumach Seminary, Georgia, April 20. 1883, an institution of learning that he entered in the fall of 1879. He subsequently received a diploma from the National Normal University, Lebanon, Ohio. both classical and commercial, and took his first course of law at the same institution. He afterward completed his profession in Georgia under the solicitor-general, A. T. Hackett. After practicing his profession a short time in Georgia, in September, 1885, he came to Dayton, Tenn., and since that time has been one of that State's able attorneys. October 27, 1895, he married Miss Rena Clark, a native of Ringgold, Ga., born May 24, 1869. and to them was born, January 30, 1887, one child, a daughter, named [Georgia. Our subject is a Democrat in politics, and he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Hugh B. Heiskell, a well-known farmer of the First District, Rhea County, was born in Monroe County, Tenn., November 20, 1831. He is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth McBride) Heiskell. The father was born in Virginia. Seven years he was an apprentice to the tanner's trade. He began life very poor. but became worth about $15.000. He was an eller and devout member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for many years. He was an ardent Whig and stauch Union man. He died at Sweet Water, Monroe County. The mother was a daugher of Maj. McBride. She was born in Greene County. She was an earnest member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and mother of seven
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children, five of whom are living. Our subject is the fourth. He received an excellent education at Tusculum College. Shortly afterward he superintended the work on the East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad. He then went to Carroll County. Va. and was superintendent of the copper mines, remaining there five years. His father then pur- chased and presented him the farm upon which he now resides. For several years his attention was given exclusively to farming and stock raising. He later added a tannery. Fifteen years he has been justice of the peace. He has several times been president of the Tennessee Valley Agricultural & Mechanical Association. He has ever been an energetic, enterprising man, and worthy citizen. While a resident of Virginia be married Rhoda, daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Early) Farmer. Ton children have been born to this union, all living: Florence, Wade, Frank, Ada, John, Hugh B., Kate, Frederick, Willie and Rich- mond. Mr. and Mrs. Heiskell are active and respected members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
J. C. Hinch, a respected citizen of the Fourth Civil District of Rhea County, Tenn .. was born in Bledsoe County, in the same State, April 6, 1834, and is the son of John and Anna (Parham) Hinch. The father of our subject was born in Adair County, Ky., and died in Cumberland County, Tenn., July 25, 1862, and was over fifty-seven years of age at the time of his death. He was a successful farmer, was a Whig in politics. and, although commencing poor, had accumulated considerable property. The mother was born in Georgia, and at the time of her death, which occurred March 1, 1859, was fifty- eight years of age. Seven of their eight children are now living. Our subject worked on the farm and attended school until twenty-one years of age, when he engaged in the stock trade, farming, etc. September 11, 1859, he married Miss Martha C. Parham, a native of Cumberland County, Tenn., born March 6, 1845, and died January 9, 1885, being over thirty-nine years of age. She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Parham, and was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. To them were born ten children, eight now living: John H., Emily B., Anna J., Isaac C., Gather E., Elizabeth, James V. and Frank W. Those deceased are Mary A. and Martha C. In'1877, having by industry and good management secured ample means, Mr. Hinch purchased some mineral lands in Roane County, and moved there in 1885. He leased his mines and moved to Spring City, his present location, for the purpose of educating his children. He owns land and property in Bledsoe County, and also owns mineral lands in Bradley, Cumberland and Morgan Counties. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Republican in politics.
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