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 35
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James G. Thomison, M. D., a prominent practicing physician of Darwin, Rhea Co., Tenn .. was born near his present place of residence, October 20, 1853, and is the son of W. P. and Nancy (Smith) Thomison. The father was born in Roanoke County, Va., in 1812. and died in Rhea County, Tenn., October, 1883. He moved from Virginia to Rhea County, about 1832; he was a tiller of the soil, began with nothing, and before the war had accumulated considerable property, which he invested in Confederate bonds. These proving worthless, he was nearly ruined, but he succeeded in keeping on the farm, and educated his children. He was elected trustee of Rhea County, in 1860, and was a Demo- crat in politics. The mother was born to Roanoke County, Va., in 1817, and died in Rhea County, Tenn., in March, 1833. She was well educated, and was a member of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church. Seven of their eight children are now living. Our subject remained on the farm, and assisted his father until twenty-one years of age, after which he taught school, and read medicine for two years under Dr. J. W. Gillespie, first at Washington, and then attended lectures and graduated at the medical department of the Vanderbilt University, at Nashville, in 1876, and then returned to Washington, Rhea Co., Tenn., and practiced medicine there until 1883. Since that time he has been located at Darwin, Rhea County, and by energy and attention has secured a large and lucrative practice. He is a Democrat in politics, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. July 26, 1882, he married Miss Della Dar- win, the daughter of Peyton Darwin. She was born in Arkansas, May 10, 1864, and died at Washington, January 5, 1883. She was well educated, and was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
J. C. Wasson, M. D., a successful practitioner of Rhea Springs, Rhea Co., Tenn., was born near his present place of residence, September 20, 1836, and is the son of Edward E. and Sarah (Chapman) Wasson. The ancestors of the Wasson family were originally from France. The father was born in Rhea County, Tenn., in 1804, and died in Meigs County about 1859. When young he was engaged as salesman in the mercantile business at Pinhook Landing. He afterward beld the office of justice of the peace, register, and
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trustee in Rhea County. In his latter days he cultivated the soil. He was a member of the Baptist Church, and a Democrat in politics. He was the son of John Wasson, a native of North Carolina, who died at au advanced age, in 1850. The mother of our sub- ject was born in Kentucky about 1819, and died in Meigs County in 1874. She was a consistent member of the Christian Church, and the daughter of Jeremiah Chapman, a native of South Carolina, who moved to Kentucky, and from there.to Meigs County, Tenn., where he died. Our subject is the eldest of nine children, three now living. He received his education at Rhea Springs and Hiwassee College. He then began the study of medicine. After a short time he purchased a farm in Monroe County, and after living on it for some time, sold out and purchased a part of the old homestead in Rhea County, but after one year, sold out again and purchased the Rhea Springs property, which had also originally belonged to his father. September 2, 1855, he married Martha Abernathy a native of Blount County, Tenn., born in 1838, and the daughter of Rev. B. Abernathy. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and by her marriage became the mother of a large family of intelligent children. In the spring of 1861 our subject enlisted in Capt. Caywood's Company, in the Forty-third Tennessee Regiment Infantry (Confederate States Army), commanded by Col. J. W. Gillespie, as a private, but was soon made sutler of the regiment, which position he held until just before the fall of Vicks- burg. After the war he returned and engaged in merchandising at Rhea Springs, which business he followed until 1875, when he again took up his medical studies, attended lectures in 1879, and graduated at the Vanderbilt University of Nashville in 1880, and has practiced his profession ever since. He was appointed general surgeon of the during its construction, and in 1886 he was appointed by the United States as examining surgeon. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, is a Mason, has held four offices in the Grand Chapter, and is a Democrat.
BLEDSOE COUNTY.
James A. Tulloss, one of Bledsoe County's most wealthy and influential citizens, and a resident of Pikeville, Tenn., was born in Virginia, April 26, 1809, and is a son of Joshua and Ursula (Allen) Tulloss. At the age of eighteen our subject came to Tennessee, and settled in Bledsoe County, and has lived in and within two miles of Pikeville ever since. Mr. Tulloss has been a singularly successful man. When he came to Bledsoe County he had $1.75, his finances being in a very low state. To-day his estate is valued at 850,000. He has made his money by farming, selling goods and trading in live stock, hogs, cattle and horses, and was a successful planter before the war. In 1837 he began merchandising in Pikeville, and, in 1845, he was able to buy land, and from this date he was engaged in farming and selling goods. The same year, he married Miss Martha A. Loyd, a native of Bledsoe County, born April 24, 1824, and died January 9, 1849. Our subject is a stanch Democrat, and Martin Van Buren was the first president he ever voted for. He is not a member of any church, but is a firm believer in the Bible, and has always been a man of good moral character.
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ROANE COUNTY.
Col. D. G. Bowers, a farmer in the Sixth District, was born in 1826 in Orange County, N. C., and when a child was brought by his parents to Roane County, where he has since resided. He began life for himself when of age, and engaged in farming which he has since followed. He enlisted in 1862 in Company A, Fifth Tennessee Infantry, and `was elected captain of his company upon its organization, in which capacity he served about two years, when he was commissioned colonel of his regiment on account of his ability and efficiency as an officer. He was mustered out of service April 20, 1865. He was married in 1848 to Miss Eliza Bowman, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Mor- gan) Bowman. Mr. and Mrs. Bowman were born and raised in Virginia, and came to Ten- nessee at a very early day. Mr. Bowman was a son of John Bowman, & Revolutionary soldier. To Mr. and Mrs. Bowers eight children have been born: Mary E., (now Mrs. Evans), Sarah E. (deceased), John W., Rufus S., James J., Thomas L., Samuel B., and David (deceased). Mrs. Bowers is a member of the Baptist Church; Mr. Bowers is Repub- lican in politics, and cast his first presidential vote for Gen. Taylor. He is the fifth of six children of Benjamin and Mary (Cloud) Bowers. Mr. and Mrs. Bowers were natives of North Carolina, and immigrated to Roane County, Tenn., about 1827, where they died. The father was a son of Green Bowers, who also was a native of North Carolina, and came to Roane County about 1824, and about 1854 moved to Missouri where he died. He was sheriff of Orange County, N. C. for seven years. Mr. Bowers was of English descent.
Thomas B. Byrd, an extensive farmer, now residing on a part of the old homestead, in the Seventeenth District, owns, also, two other farms in the county, one of 230 acres. and the other of 130 acres. His grandfather, Jesse Byrd, located on the site of Kingston about 1795, the first ferryman at what was Byrd's Ferry, now Sevier's Ferry. In 180S he abandoned the ferry, and located five miles above Kingston, south of the Tennessee. He was one of the first justices after Roane County was organized, and constructed some of the first houses erected in Kingston, some still standing. He died in 1847, and his wife a few years before, both at advanced ages. Joseph Byrd, the father, was the eldest of two sons and four daughters. In youth he served in the Indian war under Gen. Jackson, and at his majority married Ann Pride. He was a farmer who occasionally boated from Kingston to Huntsville, Ala., and was considerably interested in the slave trade. He served eight years as sheriff of Roane County, and was also many years a justice. At the removal of the Cherokees, in 1836, he formed a company, and was afterward colonel of the regiment. He died in 1858, and his widow in 1885. He had nine sons and three daughters. Our subject, three brothers and two sisters, are living. Five brothers were in the Union service, one as colonel and one as quartermaster. There were also two in the Confederate service, one as colonel. Our subject was born in 1825, and has always lived in Roane County. To his wife, Savanna E. (Margrave), have been born three sons and five daughters, one of each sex being deceased. The family are Methodists, and he is Chaplain of the F. & A. M. lodge.
L. W. Carter, farmer, was born in 1849, in Washington County, Tenn., and when twenty-four moved to Roane County, where he has since lived. He has acquired his education since maturity by reading and study, and began for himself when of age, as a day laborer. In 1876 he married Mary, a daughter of Alexander and Amanda (Hembree) Suddath. Their children are Cora L .. Maggie A., Edgar, Maud, and an infant (deceased). She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. Carter is a Republican, and first voted for Grant. He is a Mason. After his marriage he purchased a farm, and be now owns a fine farm of 175 acres in Blue Spring Valley, the most of which property is the result of his own efforts at adding to some property he received from his wife. He has had several positions of trust, such as the administration of estates, school commis-
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sionership, etc. He is the second of ten children of Abraham and Catherine (Clouse) Carter, the former of whom was born in North Carolina, and came with his parents to Greene County in his youth. It was in Washington County where the father married. He was a justice, and a worthy and able Baptist minister. In the Third North Carolina Infantry, under Col. Kirk, he was an orderly sergeant. The mother was a daughter of William and Lizzie (Laudermilk) Clouse, the former of whom was a soldier in the war of 1812, under Gen. Jackson, and one of the earliest pioneers in Washington County.
J. F. Cormany, circuit court clerk, was born in Virginia in 1857, and as an infant was brought to Roane County, where he was reared on a farm. When seventeen he became a clerk with S. J. D'Armond for five years. Then after a year as clerk for Childers & Martin he began merchandising at Pickle's Landing, in the firm Pickle & Cormany, after- ward succeeded by D'Armond & Company, our subject being a member of the company. In May, 1882, onr subject entered the race for the office he now fills, being re-elected in August, 1886, without opposition. In 1879 he married Huldah E. Harmon, a native of this county. She died in August, 1883, leaving one daughter, Oma. He then married Alice Cox, of Lenoir's Station. Their only child is Maud. Both are church members, and he is a member of the F. & A. M. faternity. His parents, Aaron and Eliza (Blansett) are engaged in farming, and also custom milling in this county. They lived in Vhginia, their native State, before coming here in 1858. Our subject is the eldest of eight surviv. ing children, four others being deceased.
Maj. H. Crumbliss, a prominent and influential citizen of Kingston, Tenn., was born in Roane County, said State, on the 21st of November, 1834, and raised on the farm of his parents; he is next to the youngest of a family of eight children, five of whom are deceased. His father, James Crumbliss, was a native of Ireland, immigrated to this county while quite young, and married Anna Goddard, with whom he lived until November, 1839, when he died, leaving H. Crumbliss less than five years old, who was raised by, and remained with, his mother till her death, which occurred in 1858, after which he went to the West. where he spent three years in Missouri and Texas. In March, 1861, he returned to the home of his childhood, and in August, same year, in company with others of his native county, he crossed the Cumberland Mountains to Camp Dick Robinson, Ky., where he enlisted as a private soldier in Company E, First Regiment Infantry Volunteers, com- manded by Col. R. H. Byrd; he was appointed orderly sergeant of said company, and on the 15th of March was promoted to adjutant of the regiment, which position he held to the end of the war. He was one of 1,500 that made the famous Sanders raid to Knoxville, Tenn., in the month of June, 1863, and acted as adjutant-general to Gen. Sanders while on that raid. and the last time his regiment ever marched in battle line it marched. under the command of H. Crumbliss (the other field officers being absent). On the 29th of November, 1864, he was mustered out, and honorably discharged from the service of the United States by the secretary of war. At the close of the war he returned to Kingston, where he still remains. Since the war he has served his county two years as sheriff. three years as tax collector, and twelve years as clerk and master of the chancery court. On the 3d of April, 1867, he was married to Nellie Griffin, of Somerset, Ky .. and of six sons and two daughters born to them, one son is deceased. He has a beautiful home in Kingston, a valuable farm on the Tennessee River and some iron ore lands, which engrosses the most of his attention, and at present he is Worshipful Master of Union Lodge No. 38, F. & A. M., Kingston, Tenn.
S. J. D'Armond, a prominent merchant, one of Kingston's oldest citizens, was born in 1816, in Louisiana, and came to Roane County in 1837. He began farming the next year, and was so engaged until 1853, when, in December, he came to Kingston and embarked in the mercantile trade, which he has since continued. In November, 1835. he married G. B. D'Armond, by whom he had one son and three daughters: Thomas H., of Louisiana, and Matilda J. (now Mrs. Christian), living in Johnson City. Tenn .. and two daughters deceased. His wife died in 1859, and he afterward married Margaret A. Yost, a native of Virginia, but reared in Kingston. They have two sons and a daughter: James G., M. E. and S. J., all of Kingston. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church.
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
The D'Armond family is of French origin, and the grandfather and one or two cousine were pioneers of Knox County, which they left about 1790 or 1795. and after a few years in Mississippi, moved to Louisiana, where they died. Thomas F., the father, who was born in Mississippi in 1795, went to Louisiana with his parents, and there his death occurred. He lived in Roane County a year, about twelve months after our subject located here. Julia A. (White), the mother, was living in Louisiana at the time of their marriage. Of two sons and two daughters reared in the family, our subject and bis brother, in Louisiana. are the only survivors.
W. M. Ellis, an old and prominent farmer of Roane County, was born at the mouth of Pond Creek, in that part now in Loudon County, May 4, 1818. His father, Francis Ellis, was born in South Carolina, where he married Sarah Breedlove, and, about 1815, located where our subject was born, and the next year after the latter's birth, he pur- chased and moved upon the farm where our subject lives, but living on the opposite side of the river. He was a most successful farmer. Stoves, however, were a rare commodity in his household. He died October 21, 1830, and bis wife, surviving him many years. died at the age of one hundred. Our subject is the third son and fifth child, and remained at home until his marriage, except two years during the removal of the Cherokee Indians. March 26, 1839, he married Lucy Bowlin, a native of Roane County. After his father's death our subject purchased the portion of the estate lying south of the Tennessee River. containing 400 acres. and has made this his residence ever since. Three sons of ten sons, and three daughters are deceased. The two eldest sons, William and John, enlisted in the Second Confederate Tennessee Cavalry, the former being killed in February, 1862, the other serving until the close. The family are members of the Methodist Church.
S. E. Franklin, editor of the Roane County Republican, was born at Chillicothe, Ohio. in 1853, was reared and educated there, and in youth learned surveying and engineering. He was employed as surveyor on several railroads in the North, and at Nashville and Knoxville, Tenn., under Maj. Crawford, until the summer of 1886, when he succeeded the Roane County Publishing Company in editing his paper. William B. Franklin, the father, was a native of Georgetown, D. C., and spent the most of his life in Virginia. He moved from Georgetown to Ohio in 1832, and there married a Miss Scott, by whom seven children were reared to maturity. The mother of these children died about 1838 or 1840, and he then married Elizabeth Lee Bell, a descendant of Robert Lee. By this marriage our subject, two brothers and two sisters were reared, four of them still living. The deceased brother, James T., was an Episcopal minister, and died at Erie, Penn., in 1861. He had been pastor there a year or two before his death. The death of subject's father occurred in 1879. One brother of our subject was an aide on Gen. Thomas' staff at the battle of Murfreesboro or Stone River.
I. A. Hill, manager of the mines at Ironton, was born in Roane County in 1845. and reared on a farm in this county. In August, 1861, he enlisted in the First Tennessee Fed- eral Infantry, and served three years. After the war he followed farming until about 1878. when he became interested in mining. The firm of Hill & Kindrick was formed in 1884, and now possesses two tracts aggregating 265 acres at Ironton Mines, and also forty acres of mineral rights, employing about fifty men. In addition to these mines they operate three others, all near the Tennessee River, in which they employ about 100 men. These four mines annually produce about 31,000 tons, which is furnished to cities, the Chattanooga Iron Company's furnaces, and the Dayton furnace. In 1870 he marriedl Margaret A. Kindrick, to whom have been born three sons and three daughters. Mr. Kindrick lives in Chattanooga, attending to the boating and sales, while Mr. Hill manages the mines. His parents, Barney and Nancy (Millican) Hill, natives of Bread- ley County, after marriage moved to Roane County, where they reared five children, all living. Our subject was a child when the father died, and the mother's death occurred in 1877.
J. C. Hinds, a farmer and butcher at Rockwood, was born in 1837 in Roane County. When sixteen years old he began life independently, and in 1855 went to California, where, for the first four years, he worked on & stock ranch. He after-
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ROANE COUNTY.
ward combined butchering and stock-raising, and in 1866 returned to Tennessee, where he has since resided. In December, 1867, he married Ruth Caroline, a daughter of L. J. Hinds, a native of Rogne County. Their children are William C., Rilla C., Nora I., Samuel B., Martha E., Katie K. and Ella M. The eldest daughter and her parents are members of the Christian Church. In politics Mr. Hinds is Conservative, and first voted for Lincoln. He is the third of four children of John and Sarah A. (Hickey) Hinds, the former born and reared in Roane County, and the latter born in Knox County, but a resident of this county since childhood. The father, an excellent farmer, was captured and held as prisouer at Chattanooga for three months during the late war. The grandfather, Sylvanus Hinds, and a brother were the pioneers in honor of whom Hinds Valley received its name, and the former was a soldier of the Creek Indian war and of that of 1812. Our subject began as a poor man, but now owns 100 acres one mile east of Rockwood, and also deals extensively in stock.
H. B. Hinds, an enterprising farmer, was born in 1852 in Roane County, where he has since resided. He received a good common-school education, and was thrown upon his own resources at thirteen, and has ever since been engaged in farming. He has a fine 200-acre home farm. In 1878 he married Susan, a daughter of Christie and Martha Millard. Their children were Maggie (deceased) and Pearl. His second wife. to whom he was married in 1887, was Mrs. Mattie Baker, daughter of Thomas and Eliza Snodgrass. He is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Grant. He is the eldest of two children-a son and daughter-of George W. and Elizabeth (Robbs) Hinds, both natives of Roane County, where the latter still survives her husband. In 1861 the father enlisted and served until November, 1862, when he died in Indianapolis. He was of Irish origin, and a son of Joseph and Susan (Hawkins) Hinds, natives of North Carolina, and after their marriage residents of Knox County, and finally of Roane County.
J. D. Hembree, a farmer, was born June 16, 1840, in Roane County, where he now resides. He received a good academical education. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confeder- ate Army, Company I, Twenty-sixth Tennessee Infantry; in 1862 was transferred to the Sixteenth Battalion of Cavalry. In 1868 he commenced farming. April 23, 1868, he mar- ried D. C. Staples, and has five children by her: John B., Elmira C., Mary C., Anna D. and Robert L. Mrs. Hembree died July 5, 1871, and November 18, 1872, our subject mar- ried Mary J. Dail, whose children are Dixie J. and Joel D. The mother died June 14. 1883, and April 23, 1886, Mr. Hembree married Lucy E. Dail. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, he being a strict member and steward of the same church, and trustee of three different churches. He now owns 800 acres of land, 350 of which are in a high state of cultivation, mostly all in grass. He has always been a Democrat; he is a Prohibitionist. His father, Col. Joel Hembree, was born in Spartanburg, S. C., March 25, 1793; when nine years old he came to Roane County. Tenn., and in 1812 enlisted in the war: in 1836 he was a colonel; he served three terms in the Legislature and twice in the State Senate; was a strong Democrat. He died December 23, 1868, in the Christian faith.
T. A. Kindrick, a farmer, was born February 17, 1845, in Roane County. He received a good academical education, and when twenty-five years of age began for himself. In 1868 he went to Missouri, and worked in a fruit-tree nursery for fourteen months, and then returned to Roane County, his present home. December 25, 1877, he married Mol- lie, daughter of William and Margaret (MePherson) Foust, natives of Roane County, the former of whom served as sheriff of Rhea County for several years. and was a soldier dur- ing the entire late war. Our subject's children are Samuel McK., Ira E. and Mary M. His wife is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church; in politics he is a Democrat, first voting for Seymour. He is the eighth of the eleven children, seven sons and four daugh- ters, of Samuel and Mary (Rector) Kindrick, the former born in Upper East Tennessee, and since his childhood a resident of Roane County, and the latter a native of Roane County, and deceased in 1886, aged seventy-seven years. The grandfather, Samuel Kin- drick, Sr., was a native of Virginia, of Dutch descent, and one of the earliest pioneers of
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
Roane County. The father, beginning as a poor man, now owns 800 acres. Our subject owns a fine farm of 196 acres on the Tennessee River, nine miles west of Kingston.
Hugh Martin, of Childers & Martin, merchants, was born in Knox County, in 1836, the youngest of nine children (five sons and four daughters, three of the former and two of the latter still living) of Samuel and Julia (Reese) Martin. The father was born in Ire- land, and came across the water in his youth, locating in Jefferson County and finally in Kingston. Here he followed merchandising, and supplied the garrison during the war of 1812. In 1830 he left Kingston and went to Campbell's Station, Knox County, where he was engaged in mercantile trade about fifteen years. Agriculture then occupied his attention until his death, in 1856, three years after the death of his wife. Our subject came to Kingston, in 1853, to attend school, but soon embarked in the mercantile trade in the firm J. B. & H. Martin. This firm continued until 1864, when the brother withdrew. and our subject conducted the business during and after the war, until the present firm was formed in 1870. May 1, 1871, he married Sarah E. Center, a native of Roane County. By this alliance two sons and four daughters have been reared. The family are Presby- terians, and he is a Mason, and has been treasurer of Union Lodge, No. 38.
Capt. W. E. McElwee, attorney, ore miner and farmer, was born in 1837, in Roane County, where he has since lived. He received a good common-school education, and was thrown upon his own resources when eighteen years old. He began poor, and what he is now worth was accumulated by his own industry and good management. He first worked in a foundry for three years, then worked at cabinet work two years, then enlisted in Com- pany I, Twenty-sixth Tenneseee Infantry (Confederate States Army) in July 1861, as a pri- vate. In December, 1861, he was elected second lieutenant, and, immediately after the battle of Murfreesboro, was promoted to the captaincy of his company for his bravery and efficiency as an officer, and was placed on a committee to examine and determine upon the competency of officers, in which capacity he served until after the battle of Chicka- manga, when he was placed in command of an engineer corps, and assigned to duty as corps engineer of Hood's corps, which position he held until the close of the war. He was surrendered at Greensboro, N. C., with Gen. Johnston's army. He then came home and worked as a mechanic two years, when he acted as civil engineer for "The Roane Iron Company," for the following six years, when he engaged in mining iron ore, which, in connection with farming, he has since followed. He was married, in 1868, to Miss Martha R. Brown, a daughter of William F. Brown, of Roane County. Three children were born to this union: Franklin, and two that died in infancy. Mrs. McElwee died in 1872. Mr. McElwee is a Democrat in politics, but cast his first presidential ballot for Bell and Everett. He is the youngest of four children of William and Lucinda (Eblen) McElwee. The father was born and raised in Roane County, near Loudon County, and the mother was born in Loudon County, Va., and when seven years old was brought to Tennessee. William McElwee was the first white child known to have been born in Roane County. He was one of sixteen children of James McElwee, a native of Charlotte, N. C., and immi- grated to Tennessce when Daniel Boone came west the second time. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and served in Sevier's regiment during the battle at King's Mountain. William McElwee was of Scotch-Irish, and Mrs. McElwee of German descent. James McElwee married on the Watauga River, in Virginia, and was among the first settlers at Knoxville. He first settled five miles below Knoxville, and was the first man to go to the rescue when the Cavett family was massacred. He served in all the expeditions made against the Indians during the frontier time of East Tennessee, and died in Roane County. William McElwee served under Gen. Jackson in his Indian campaigns. and also served in the war of 1812. W. E. McElwee participated in forty-two battles dur- ing the late war, and was wounded three different times.
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