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 43
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R. A. McFerrin, M. D., was born in Greene County, Tenn., May 8, 1849. He is the son of Samuel D. and Catherine (Drake) McFerrin. The father was a native of Tennessee, and was of Scotch descent. The mother was a native of Virginia, and was of English and Ger- man descent. Her father was a relative of the family of Sir Francis Drake. Ten children, seven sons and three daughters, were born to these parents. Our subject is the eighth of these children and the fifth son. Ile was reared on a farm and was educated in the Tusculum College. Prior to his collegiate work, he had taught for some five years in Greene and Hawkins Counties, and after the finishing of his scholastic work he taught for two years in the same counties, and then completed a course of medical lectures, received his degree at the hands of the faculty. consisting of Dr. J. F. Broyles, Dr. Mathew Doak, Dr. S. Smith and Dr. G. Taylor. At first he practiced for a short time at St. Clair, Hawkins County, then for more than a year at Rogersville Junction; then he located at Oliver Springs, Anderson County, where he has ever since been practicing, with the exception of about two years, during which time he was in Georgia for the health of his family. While in Georgia he was proprietor of the St. James Hotel, at Cartersville. Ga. In 1881 he was united in marriage with Mrs. Lillie L. Hannah, nee Lillie L. Gerding, daughter of George F. Gerding. One daughter has blessed the marriage ; Bernice. born July 11, 1883. Our subject commenced the pursuits of his life without capital. He is a successful self-made man. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and is an ardent worker in the Democratic party. He is the owner of nearly 100 acres of farming land in the Seventh District, Anderson County, and also a house and lot in Oliver Springs. He- is also the owner of about 3,600 acres of coal land in Morgan County.
Dr. J. M. McFerrin, a practicing physician at Coal Creek, was born October 15, 1853, the son of S. D. and Catherine H. (Drake) McFerrin. The parents were Virginians, and came to Tennessee in childhood. Our subject is the seventh son of a family of seven sons and three daughters, and was reared on the home farin, and besides ordinary advan- tages, he attended Tusculum College in Greene County. He chose the medical profession, and when twenty years of age began the study of medicine under R. E. F. Brazleton, M. D., of New Market, Tenn. Eighteen months elapsed, and his health failed, and he quit sedentary life and practiced medicine for the railroad contractors of the Cincinnati South- ern. Later he located at Whitesburg, Hamblen County, and practiced for nearly five years, and then moved to Coal Creek, his present home. February 14, 1884, he married Min- nie Coffman, of Russellville, Hamblen County. Their children are Alma, Beatrice and Edith. Our subject is a self-made man, and successful. He is United States pension examiner for Anderson, Scott, Morgan and Campbell Counties. For ten years he has been an earnest Democratic worker, and is a Master Mason.
R. K. Medaris, M. D .. was born in Clinton, Anderson Co., Tenn., December 30. 1856, and is the son of Robert N. and Mary (Simpson) Medaris. The father was born in Bradley County, Tenn., April 12, 1824. After a short stay in North Carolina, he returned to Tennessee and engaged in farming near Clinton, where he has ever since resided. The mother was born in Campbell County, Tenn., December 5, 1833. She removed, with her father, to North Carolina, where she remained until her marriage. She is a member of the Baptist Church. Our subject was reared in Clinton and the vicinity. He attended the schools of that place. finishing at the University of Tennessee in 1878. The following year he began the study of medicine under Dr. Joel Smith, of Coal Creek, Tenn., and began the practice of medicine in May, 1883, when he was appointed
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William Coraz
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prison physician to the branch penitentiary at Coal Creek. Over-study brought on nerv- ous exhaustion, compelling him to resign his position and move to his father's farm. He spent the two following years trying to recuperate his failing health. In this he was so far successful as to be able to resume his favorite profession, and moved to Clinton in 1885, and has since been one of its leading physicians. He was married August 4. 1878, to I. T. Hoskins, daughter of Geo. P. Hoskins, of Dutch Valley, Tenn. His wife was born July 11. 1859, and is a member of the Baptist Church. Four children, two boys and two girls, are the sunbeams of their home.
S. L. Moore, a substantial fariner of Anderson County, was born December 30, 1538, the son of Samuel and Lourania (Duncan) Moore. The father was born in Rutherford County, N. C., in 1798, and came to Tennessee about 1813, settling in Anderson County, where he engaged in farming. He served as trustee of the county, and died in 1877. The mother was born in Wahington County, Tenn., February 4, 1807, and died August 26, 1857. Our subject was reared on the farm, and attended the neighboring schools and Union Academy, at Clinton. He has always followed farming, and now owns a beautiful farm of 350 acres, two miles from Clinton, on the river. He has served as magistrate, and was chairman of the county court for three years. In 1860 he married Marie J. Longmire of Anderson County, who was born in 1840, and is the daughter of R. M. Longmire, (deceased). Three of the thirteen children born to them are deceased. Both our subject and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
W. II. Moore, a practicing physician in Anderson County, Tenn., was born in Stokes County, N. C., August 5, 1849. He is the son of Calvin Jones Moore and Mary Margaret (Keyes). The father is a native of Salem, N. C., and is an honorary graduate of Vander bilt University, at Nashville; the mother is a native of Johnson County, Tenn. Our subject finished a common school education at Morristown, Tenn., and, in 1813, began the study of medicine under the instruction of his father. In 1874 and 1875, he attended medical lectures in the Louisville Medical College. He began his practice at his pies- ent location in April, 1875. In November, 1875, he was united in marriage with Miss Eleanora Weaver, daughter of James Weaver, of North Carolina. Two sons and one daughter have blessed the marriage; their names are John Calvin, James Bruce, Margaret and Elizabeth. Our subject has never had the avdantages of capital to assist him in his pursuits, but he has been an energetic and enterprising man, and has been successful , in his undertakings. He is a self-made man, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, a Master Mason, and a firm Democrat.
G. W. Moore, sheriff of Anderson County, Tenn., and a citizen of the Third District, was born in that county November 17, 1860, the son of D. T. and Elizabeth (Weaver) Moore, both natives of Tennessee. The father was born in;1840, the son of Austin Moore, a native of Virginia. The father was a farmer, and enlisted August 7, 1861, in Company C, Second Federal Tennessee Infantry. He enlisted as private, was promoted sergeant September 28, 1861, was made second lieutenant, and July 15, 1862, received the rank of first lieutenant. He was captured at Rogersville November 6, 1863, and imprisoned at Libby Prison, then at Macon, Ga., Charleston and other places, and in 1865 was ex- changed. After the war he returned to this county and resumed farming. He served as trustee of Anderson County, and died in 1870. The mother was born in 1842, the daughter of Benjamin Weaver. She is a Baptist while, he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject was reared on the farm, and attended public schools. He served as deputy sheriff during 1885-86, and in August, 1886, was elected sheriff of Anderson County, his present position, the youngest of the county officers, and probably the youngest in the State. November 12, 1885. he married Mary Wallace, who was born in 1864 in Anderson County, the daughter of L. Wallace. She is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. One child has been born to them.
Isaac W. Norcross is senior member of the firm of Norcross & Thomas, saw mill and lumber dealers, of Clinton, Tenn., and was born in Charleston, Me., January 2, 1822, and is the son of Jesse and Nancy (Goban) Norcross. The father was born in Maine, of English parents. He was a millwright and a Baptist minister. The mother was also a native of Maine, and was the daughter of a Frenchman who was sent to America from Mar-
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seilles to obtain an English education. He attended the New England schools and for a number of years taught school in Mainc. She died in 1824, when our subject was but two years of age. Our subject was reared in Bangor, Me., and was educated m the schools of that city. Early in life he engaged in the lumber business, and has fol- lowed the same through life in New England, Canada, Kentucky, and Tennessee, meet- ing with success. He came to Tennessee in 1884, and established his present business. He was married in Boston, Mass., in 1845, to C. T. Nash, who was born about 1827, and is the daughter of Nathaniel Nash, of Addison, Me. To this union four boys have been born, three of whom are living, two of whom-I. W., Jr., and Frank G .--- are engaged in the lum- ber business in Scott County, Tenn.
R. G. W. Owen (deceased) was born in North Carolina, in 1813. He went to Tennes- see when a boy, and located in Carter County, where he remained until 1840, when he removed to Clinton, and seven years later to his late farm, one mile southwest from Clinton. He was the son of Richard and Martha (Wilhoit) Owen, the father an English- man by birth, who came to America and settled in North Carolina when but fifteen years of age; the mother being a native of North Carolina. In 1841 our subject married Cath- erine Lones, who was born in 1828 in Knox County, the daughter of Henry Lones, a pioneer of that county. Their children are Martha, now Mrs. D. H. Gallaher: Mary. now Mrs. A. M. Hardin, of California; Sallie deceased wife of G. W. Doughty, of Texas: Amanda, now Mrs. W. H. Whitson, of Clinton; Josephine deceased wife of J. D. Bennett; Margaret, wife of H. B. Bowling, and William L., now living on the homestead with his mother, and managing the farm. He was married in December, 1884, to Onie Young, daughter of Rev. J. H. Young, of Anderson County. They have one child, James Richard, born November 25, 1885. Our subject died in September, 1858. Most of the family are Baptists.
Daniel Pemberton, farmer, was born in Sevier County, Tenn., September 25, 1833. He is the son of North Carolina parents. He was raised on a farm, and received a com- mon-school education. Early in life he farmed. In 1857 he married Miss Martha Markim. born December 28, 1842, daughter of Andy Markim. She was born in Kentucky. To the marriage of our subject have been born five sons and five daughters, one of the latter being deceased: Mary E., Martha N., Tennessee Belle (dead), James E., William G., David Sher- man, Alice, Charles M., Birdie A. and John Edward. Our subject commenced in the world without capital, and by energy and perseverance he has climbed to the height of success, and has succeeded in becoming the owner of nearly 500 acres of land in District No. 5, Anderson County, Tenn. He is a close tiller of the soil and raiser of stock. He was farming in Anderson County when the war broke out, but his zealous and patriotic spirit prompted him, and true to his country, he enlisted as private in Company C, Second Tennessee Mounted Infantry. He was in several hard fought battles, as Murfreesboro Fishing Creek and Cumberland Gap. He received an honorable discharge at the close of the war, and returned to his family in Anderson County. With them and on the farm he now owns he has toiled since the war. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and is a good Christian man. He is an honest and ardent Republican, believing his politics right, and his character is without reproach.
L. Jones Price, M. D., was born in Schuylkill County, Penn., April 12, 1856, the son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Jones) Price, natives of Wales. They came to America when children, were married in Pennsylvania, March 24, 1834, and of their six sons and six daughters our subject is the youngest. The father was born November 30, 1811, in Istelyfera Cwm Tuorch, and died June 21, 1857, in Schuylkill County, Penn., The mother was born October 17, 1816, in Blanavon, Morganwgshire, and died in Knoxville, Tenn., April 10, 1885. Our subject's early life was spent in his native county on the farm, and in the coal regions. He graduated with first honors in the grammar school at Cattasaugua, Penn., in 1870, at the age of fourteen. Then for one year he clerked there in a drug store, and ou June 17, 1871, he moved to Knoxville, Tenn., with his mother. Here he was employed for a short time in the rolling mills, and later became a clerk in the store of the Knoxville Iron Company, at Knoxville and Coal Creek. In 1815 he attended a term at the
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University of East Tennessee, at Knoxville, and then returned and clerked in his old place for another year. A beneficiary scholarship to the Hospital College of Medicine, Louis- ville, Ky., received from Horace Maynard, enabled him to attend and graduate from that institution with second honors, in 1877; and in 1877-78 he practiced at Coal Creek, and then removed to St. Clair, Penn., and practiced there for one year., and then received a position as resident physician in Dr. Walker's Hygiene Sanitarium, at Wernersville, Penn. He left there two years later, and visited Knoxville, Tenn., and Texas, and in January, 1882, located at Coal Creek, where he has since continued practice. On May 29, 1879. he married Ella Caldwell, of Knoxville, daughter of John E. Caldwell. Their two daughters are Levena, born February 18, 1880; and Florence, born September 23, 1983. Our subject has been United States pension examiner for this county. He is a Republican, and a friend of labor Ile is a Master Mason, Odd Fellow, and belongs to the Knights of Honor. is a member of the Welsh Congregational Church, at Knoxville; - a stockholder in the Knoxville Furniture Company. He is a self-made man, and has acquired professional ability and wealth under disadvantages.
John A. Rowe, a young farmer of the Fifth District, was born in Carter County, Tenn., July 25, 1862, the son of John E. and Mary (Boren) Rowe, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Tennessee. Our subject grew up on the farm, attended the district school, and farmed until 1879, when he became a guard in the county prison. After three years of this kind of service he became first shipping clerk for the Coal Creek Mining Company, and afterward bookkeeper in the company's store at Coal Creek. Since March, 1886, however, he has been at his present home, farming and lumbering with marked success. On November 12, 1885, he married Mary J., a daughter of Grandison and Jane Queener, natives of Tennessee. She was born September 16, 1861. Our subject owns over 400 acres on the Knoxville & Ohio Railroad, and began life with no capital whatever, proving him to be an able business man. He is a Democrat.
Rufus Rutherford, proprietor of the Clinton Livery Stables, and a leading citizen of Clinton, was born at Andersonville, Tenn., January 12, 1856, the son of Calaway and Martha J. (Gibbs) Rutherford. The father was born near Andersonville in 1830, and was the son of Isaac Rutherford, a native of Tennessee. The father was a farmer, and died in October, 1856, when our subject was but nine months old. The mother was born at Andersonville, the daughter of Howard Gibbs, who was a native of Tennessee. She is & Methodist, and a resident of Clinton. Our subject was reared in Andersonville, and edu- cated in the common schools. He engaged in farming in 18.9, and then went to Texas and remained two years, then returned to Andersonville, resuming farming two miles north of there. He removed to Clinton in 1877, thence to Texas for two years, then back to the farm, two miles north of Andersonville, and two years later moved to that city and engaged as clerk for Henry Clear, Jr. In 1885 he removed to Clinton, and engaged in the livery business, and now has the only stables in the place. December 29, 1886, he mar- ried Emma Leake, of Knoxville, who was born December 25, 1861, the daughter of John R. Leake, of Sevier County, Tenn, The wife is a member of the Baptist Church.
F. P. Rutherford, merchant, was born in Anderson County July 8, 185S, the son of Mark and Paulina (Gibbs) Rutherford, both natives of Anderson County and of English origin. Our subject is the eldest of three brothers. having no sisters. He received an academical education at Andersonville, and was reared on the farm, working with his father until he became of age, when he began clerking for Henry Clear, a merchant of Andersonville. Later on, he became one of the firm of John E. Chapman & Co .. of Andersonville, and still later a traveling salesman for Chapman, White, Lyons & Co., of Knoxville. In 1885 he became a member of the firm of F. P. Rutherford & Bros., in merchandising at Andersonville. The firm is now Rutherford Bros. In 1886 he marriedl Mattie A. Wallace. a daughter of John Wallace, a farmer of Anderson County. Their only son is Roswell C. Our subject is a young merchant of energy, who has succeeded in establishing an extensive business from a poor beginning. He is a Master Mason. and an active worker in the Democratic ranks.
C. J. Sawyer is one of the leading members of the Anderson County bar, and a prom-
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inent citizen of Clinton, He is a native of Orange County, N. Y., having been born at Middletown, November 18, 1810. He is the son of C. G. and Harriet (Smith) Sawyer. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1796, and died April 2, 1874, after a long lite of honor and usefulness. The mother was a native of Orange County, N. Y .. and died when our subject was but two years of age. Our subject was reared in Middletown. where he received his early education, and finished at Marion, Ind., in the college of which his brother was president. He began the study of law at Middletown, and entered the Albany (N. Y.) Law College, from which he graduated. The next three years he spent in traveling, chiefly in California. He removed to Clinton, Tenn., in 1865, and began practicing law, and has continued up to the present, making a success and a good standing as a lawyer and a man. He is a member of Alpha Lodge, No. 376, F. & A. M., of which he served several years as Master, and Representative to the Grand Lodge two different years. September 17, 1868, he married Lizzie Whitson, who was born in Clinton, Tenn., January 21, 1841, the daughter of John Whitson (deceased). Four chil- dren were born to them. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and died April 5, 1880,
J. C. Scruggs was born in Anderson County, Tenn., December 16, 1840, and is the son of John and Susannah (Edwards) Scruggs. The father was born in Knox County in 1797, and came to Anderson County in his youth. He was a farmer, and died in May, 1861. He was the son of John Scruggs, a native of Virginia. The mother was born in Anderson County, February 1, 1803, and is the daughter of Samuel Edwards. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which her husband was also a member. Our subject was reared on the farm, and acquired his education in the home schools. August 7, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, Second Federal Tennessee Infantry. for three years, but served until mustered out at Nashville, May 1, 1865. On November 6, 1863, he was captured at Rogersville, Tenn., and was imprisoned at Belle Isle, Ander- sonville, Charleston and Florence, and was paroled at Goldsboro, N.C., in 1863. He then returned home and resumed work on the farm. In 1873 he was elected county school superintendent, and served one year. October 16, 1886, he was appointed by Judge Gibson as clerk and master of chancery court of Anderson County, which posi- tion he holds at present. June 27, 1877, he married Mary L. Moore, who was born in Jef- ferson Courthouse, N.C., December 3, 1848, the daughter of Dr. C. J. Moore, of Jeffer- son County. Their children were Oscar S., born April 28, 1878, Mabel, born Novem- ber 11, 1879, Mary E., born January 24, 1882, and John C., born April 20, 1834. Our sub- ject is a member of Alpha Lodge, No. 376, F. & A. M. He removed to Clinton in 1886. His wife is a member of the Southern Methodist Episcopal Church. T. J. Scruggs, a brother, was born in this county January 13, 1839. He was reared and received his early education at the old farm, and finished his studies in Knox County and in Iowa August 7, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, Second Federal Tennessee Infantry, and was captured at Rogersville and imprisoned, as was his brother, and exchanged at Florence in December, 1864. He was mustered out in February, 1865, at Nashville, and then returned to Anderson (County. From 18GS he was eight years in Iowa, and then six years in Kansas, when he returned. Since 1886 he has been register of Anderson County. He is a member of the G. A. R.
H. C. Slover is a native of Anderson County, Tenn., and was born September 16, 1844. He is the son of Aaron and Nancy (Burton) Slover. The father was born in Anderson County, Tenn., November, 1809, and was the son of Aaron Slover, a native of Virginia, and one of the pioneers of Anderson County, of which he served as trustee for about twenty years. The father was a farmer by vocation. and died October 10, 1896. The mother was born in Virginia in April, 1813, and was the daughter of John Burton, a native of Virginia, who moved to Anderson County about 1815, where he died in 1850. She died in 1863. Both parents were members of the Methodist Church. Our subject was reared on the farm where his father was born, and acquired his early educa- tion at home. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company C of the Second Federal Regiment of Tennessee Infantry, and November 6, 1863, was captured at Rogersville, Tenn. He was
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confined in prison at Belle Isle, Andersonville, Charleston and Florence, being exchanged from the latter place after thirteen months and ten days' imprisonment, from which his health suffered greatly and his constitution was undermined. He was mustered out of service at Knoxville, Tenn., May 21, 1865, and returned to his parents. He attended school next, but after several months bis health became so poor he was compelled to leave the school permanently. He has served as constable, school commission and deputy sheriff of Anderson County, and in 1880 enumerated the census of his (5th) district. He was elected clerk of the circuit court in 1882, and re-elected in 1886. filling the same with credit, and is one of the leading citizens of Clinton. He is a mem- ber of W. C. Carnes' Post, G. A. R., and of the Baptist Church. He was married in August, 1867, to Matilda A. Carden, who was born in Union County, Tenn., May 8, 1839, and is the daughter of Goldman and Rosa (Monroe) Carden, of Union County. To this union six children have been born, two of which are deceased. The mother is also a member of the Baptist Church.
J. P. Walker, M. D., the subject of the following sketch, was born in Knox County, fenn., September, 28. 1857. He is the son of Wesley and Mary (Griffith) Walker, both natives of Tennessee. Our subject was reared on the farm, and received a common- school education in the country schools of his county. At the age of seventeen he began. the study of medicine, under the instruction of Dr. P. W. Walker and A. B. Tadlock, M. D., and continued his study till he entered the Nashville and Vanderbilt Universities, from which universities he graduated in 1881. Prior to his entering the universities he had practiced under his preceptors, and had done some practice upon his own responsi- bility .. He practiced at intervals between lectures at the universities. In the year of bis graduation he located at Oliver Springs, Anderson County, where he has estab. lished a large practice. He located here on the last day of April, 1881, and on the follow- ing day received two calls, and ever since he has had a good practice. He is a young and energetic physician, and has a bright future. He had no capital, with its advantages, but has succeeded in surmounting this obstacle. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and though he is not an ardent politician, he is a man of political sentiment, which he quietly expresses by the casting of his vote.
John H. Whaley, carpenter, a prominent citizen of Clinton, was born November 30, 1861, and is the son of Hercules and Mary J. (McAdoo) Whaley. The father was born in Rhea County, November 14, 1824, and was by occupation a trader. He died in 1864. The mother was born in Clinton in 1834, the daughter of John McAdoo, and a sister of Prof. McAdoo, of Knoxville. She is now living in Clinton. Our subject was reared in Clinton and in Texas. Until 1877 he attended school at the former place, and then began farming and working at his trade, and is now one of the best carpenters and contractors in Clinton. March 1, 1885, he married Clara Cullom, who was born October 6, 1865, the daughter of Gen. William Cullom. They have two children. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of which heis a steward, and one of the Sunday school superintendents.
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