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 55
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W. F. Nichols was born in Sevier County. Tenn., November 1. 1828. He is the son of John J. and Margaret M. (Scantlen) Nichols. Both parents were natives of Bedford County, Va., and one year after their marriage they removed to Sevier County. Tenn., in 1819. and settled on the Little Pigeon River, two miles above Sevierville. Here they reared their family of three sons and two daughters. They were of Irish descent. The father was a soldier in the war of 1812. They died in Sevierville. the father at the age of fifty- three, the mother at fifty-seven. Our subject was reared on the farm and educated in the country schools. He began farming for himself at the age of twenty-six, having been
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overseer for B. M. Chandler the seven years previous. In 1853 he married Rhoda H. Hill, daughter of Randal and Effie Hill. Five sons and four daughters have blessed the mar- riage. Our subject commenced farming for himself. He had very little capital, and by hard toil and energy his efforts have been crowned with success, yet he has had many obstacles to surmount. He now owns and cultivates a farm of 400 acres, having owned at one time 700 acres. He has been one of the most successful farmers of the county. Ile came to Jefferson County in 1868. During the civil war he was a strong Union man, and was refused entrance to the army on account of a deformed arm, but during all the time he was scouting, guiding and recruiting for the Union Army. He is a Master Mason, and an ardent Republican.
W. F. Park, a leading attorney and citizen of Dandridge, was born near Greeneville, Tenn., August 9, 1845, the son of James and Phoebe (Dobson) Park. The father was born March 4, 1809, near the same place, and is a son of James, Sr., a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, and who settled near Greeneville when it contained but two or three houses. He was a linen bleacher and weaver, and died at the age of ninety-eight. The father, James, Jr., is known as the champion rail-splitter of Greene County, having cut and split 100 rails, on one occasion, from daylight to sunrise, and then 300 more from prepared timber before breakfast, and at another time split 400 before dinner, and then rode seventeen miles to see the lady who became his wife. The mother was born in Greene County in 1812, the daughter of Thomas Dobson. Both parents were Presbyte- rians. Our subject was reared and educated on the farm, as the schools were there located, and March 6, 1863, he enlisted in Company F, Fourth United States Tennessee Infantry. He was captured at McMinnville October 3, 1863, and was paroled at once, and served through the war, being mustered out at Nashville August 11, 1865. The next three years he spent in Clear Springs Academy, of which his brother was principal, and Ewing and Jefferson College, in Blount County, of which his brother had become president. He begau the study of law in 1869, and was admitted the following year. After a little practice in Greeneville he located permanently at Dandridge, and has a fine practice. He is also a farmer, and his farm is stocked with blooded horses and cattle, among them the only registered Holstein cattle in the county, also Percheron and Cleveland Bay horses. July 29, 1868, he married Mary J. Bonham, who was born in Blount County June 21, 1851. They had but one child, and its mother died in 1869. In July. 18:2, he married Cordia, a daughter of James Mitchell, and born in Dandridge July 17, 1846. They have had two children. Our subject is an elder of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Lebanon, Jefferson County, Tenn., and his wife is a member of the Southern Presbyte- rian Church of Dandridge.
C. C. Parker, merchant and postmaster at Talbott, was born in Tazewell, Claiborne Co., Tenn., February 16, 1855, the son of John B. and Margaret B. (Havely) Parker, natives of Tennessee. The father was a mechanic and reared a family of two sons and four daughters. Our subject's brother, of Hamblen County, served as register one term. C. C. farmed with his father until he reached his majority, and finished his education at Mossy Creek. April 29, 1880, he married Sibbie Sophia, a daughter of James Daniel, of this county. Maggie, May, and Edna C. are their children. He went to Indiana after his marriage, and for three years farmed and taught school. He then returned to Tennessee and clerked for M. A. Roberts, and in 1884 began merchandising for himself. He now has a half interest in a general merchandising store, with a good trade. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and of the F. & A. M. order. His principles are Democratic in politics. In the fall of 1883 he was the Democratic candidate for representative of Jeffer- son County against R. Thornburgh. Republican nominee, but was defeated by a less major- ity than that given usually to Republican candidates.
M. II. Peck was born in a house on the site of his present residence in Jefferson County, December 12, 1833, the son of M. L. and Susan (Mynott) Peck. The father was born May 2, 1792, near Mossy Creek, the son of Adam Peck, a native of Botetourt County, Va., and settled in Jefferson County in 1789, a pioneer. Jacob was the eldest and M. L. the eighth of twelve children, the former of whom became a lawyer and served on the
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State supreme bench. Hawkins, another brother, was a judge in Missouri, where he died. M. L. has been a successful farmer, and is now a pensioned soldier of the war of 1813, residing with our subject at the advanced age of ninety-five (May 2, 1887), and uni- versally esteemed. The mother was born sixteen miles from Knoxville, in 1794, the daughter of W. Mynott, a prominent mau of his day. She was a Methodist and died in 1875. Our subject the youngest but one of cight children, was reared at his present home and educated at Black Oak Grove and Mossy Creck (now Carson College). He has made a success as a farmer, now owning 800 acres near Mossy Creek, on which is a fine resi- dence and a saw mill also. He has always preferred private life. February 16, 1868. he married Julia Hayworth, born at the mouth of Mossy Creek, on the Holston River. Janu- ary 12, 1843, the daughter of Richard Hayworth. Four of their seven children are living. Hc and his wife are Methodists. Lafayette, a brother of our 'subject, graduated at West Point in 1837, and became second lieutenant in the Seventh Regiment of regular infan- try in 1858. He became a Confederate major, and died of sickness during the war.
H. S. Pless, the subject of this sketch, is a merchant at White Pine, Jefferson County. Tenn., and was born in Haywood County, N. C., November 5, 1858, and is the son of W. P. and N. L. (Ivester) Pless. Both parents are natives of North Carolina, and when our subject was but a small boy, removed to Missouri, and later to Tennessee, and now live in Jefferson County. Tenn. Our subject was reared on the farm and educated in the country schools and the Emory and Henry College of Virginia. At the age of 18 he began teach- ing, and taught and attended school alternately for eight years. His teaching was in the public schools of Tennessee. During the last year of his teaching he was associate editor of the Eastern Progress, published at White Pine, and later became editor and proprietor of this same publication. In December, 1885, he suspended the publication and began dealing in drugs. He is now associated with J. E. Fry, constituting the firm of Pless & Fry, who are general merchants. Our subject is a young and enterprising man, and of the self-made type.
Samuel E. Rankin, farmer, was born on Dumplin Creek, near Flat Gap, January 5, 1839, the son of Christopher and Frances (Galbraith) Rankin. The father was born Jan- uary 19, 1809, in the above locality, the son of Thoman Rankin, a native of Cumberland County, Penn., who came to Tennessee about 1785, and settled in Jefferson County. The father was a prominent farmer and for several years was an elder in the Presbyterian Church. He died July 1, 1881. The mother was born near Dandridge December 24, 1816, the daughter of James Galbraith, of Jefferson County. She has been a Presbyterian for about half a century, and now lives on the old Dumplin Creek homestead. Our subject grew up with farm life advantages, and July 27, 1863, enlisted in Company B. Ninth United States Tennessee Cavalry, of which he was first lieutenant from its organization to the close of the war, and escaped both being captured and wounded. The regiment was mustered out September 11, 1865, at Knoxville, but Lieut. Rankin was detained until February 13, following, on a charge of murder, to the effect that he was in a detachment sent to capture, dead or alive, a civilian who had harassed the colonel of the regiment. that the man was killed, and our subject said to be one of those who did it. The fact was that he was on the detachment. but on a part of it in the rear, to whom the killing was unknown until after it happened. They were court-martialed, but acquitted of the charge. The circuit court indicted him. however, on his return, and he was tried and acquitted, but the States attorney appealed to the State supreme court, which referred it back to the circuit court. Our subject appealed on a writ of error to the United States Supreme Court, which having no jurisdiction, referred it back to the circuit court again. showing that should that conrt reach a decision the United States Court would decide whether a man could be tried for his life more than one time, plainly intimating that the case would be thrown out of court if opportunity offered. Our subject was under bonds while the case was pending, but at the last precedure he had his securities give him up and went into custody, and sned out a writ of habeas corpus before Judge Trige. of the Federal courts, at Knoxville, who promptly threw the case out of court, saying the defen.1- ant had been unlawfully detained all the long years of pendency. which was from August
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1865, to the same month in 1815, during all of which time our subject was hard at work on the farm, endeavoring to carry on the case and support himself and family. Notwith- standing this severe trial he has succeeded, and now owns and cultivates a fine body of about 600 acres of land. in four farms or tracts, besides a house and lot in New Market, He is a public spirited and generous man, and has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since his eighteenth year. February 7, 1867, he married Sarah L. Lyle, who was born near Dandridge January 3, 1846. the daughter of Samuel R. Lyle. Their children are Rozee A. (born November 1, 1807), an infant (October 10, 1868), Ho race R. (September 24, 1869), Chase R. (September 24, 1869), Courtland T. (May 25, 18:1), Samnel H. (July 29, 1873), Frances M. (July 24, 1875), Christopher M. (January 16, 1877), Nina B. (Septem- ber 28, 1878), Elma N. (February 4, 1880), Herman L. (June 2, 1882, deceased June 4, 1889) and Denmar W. (August 26, 1883).
C. HI. Rankin, the subject of this sketch, is a farmer in the Twelfth Civil District of Jefferson County, Tenn., where he was born March 4, 1851. He is the son of Christopher and Frances (Galbraith) Rankin. Both parents were born in Tennessee. The father was a farmer, and died July 1, 1831, at the age of seventy-two years. The mother is still living on the old homestead. Our subject was reared on the farm and educated in the country schools. He worked with his father on the farm till he was about twenty-three years old, and January 8, 1874, he was married to Catherine Ruth Franklin, daughter of Benjamin Franklin. Three sons and one daughter have been born to this marriage: Their names are Frank Walter, Charles Clyde (deceased), Lucy May and Harry J. When our subject was married he commenced farming for himself, and had a small capital, but had not great advantages to prosecute successful farming. Now he owns and cultivates a farm of 285 acres, and has it well improved. He has been successful in his undertakings, and is a self-made man, and has had much to contend with, but his energy and enterprise has crowned his efforts with success. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and justice of peace for his district, and in politics is a Republican.
Robert A. Rankin, farmer, was born near Greeneville, Tenn., November 15, 1837, the son of James D. and Margaret (Branner) Rankin, who are mentioned in the sketch of George T. Rankin. Our subject was reared on the farm and acquired his education at Greeneville College. He worked on the farm until he enlisted March, 1802, in Company H, Thirty-first Confederate Regiment Tennessee Infantry, and was captured at Vicksburg, but paroled on the ground and soon enabled to rejoin his command at Atlanta. In 1863 he was captured at Rheatown, and for three or four weeks in the old jail at Knoxville, and after the battle of Chickamauga was removed to Camp Chase, Ohio, and imprisoned four months, then at Fort Delaware for a year, during which time he so nearly froze that he lost the nails off his toes. In March, 1865, he was paroled at Fortress Monroe, and was at Amherst when Lee surrendered. He has ever since his return been devoted to farming. and has served as school commissioner. May 20, 1874, he married O. S. (Sprague) Holden. the daughter of Jonathan Sprague, a native of New York. She was born in Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1844. They have had four children. Both our subject and his wife are mem - bers of the Baptist Church.
George T. Rankin was born two miles east of Greeneville, Tenn., November 14, 1844. and is the son of James D. and Margaret (Branner) Rankin. The father was born two miles east of Greeneville, Tenn., April 3, 1809, and was the son of Robert Rankin, who was born in Virginia in 1773, of Scotch parents. He was one of the pioneers of East Tennessee, and when they made their settlements the country was overrun with Indians, and they were forced to hide in the canebrakes at night for safety. James. the father of our subject, removed to Jefferson County in 1859, and settled on the farm now owned by our subject. He was in his young days a sadiller by trade, but in later life was a farmer, and one of the most successful tillers of the soil in the county. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, was an honest. upright and public-spirited citizen, and his death, which occurred June 9, 1878, was universally regretted. The mother was born one mile east of Dandridge, May 10, 1812, and is the daughter of Casper Branner, one of the leading farmers of Jefferson County. The mother is a pious,
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Christian lady, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. She makes her home with our subject. Our subject was reared on the farm, and acquired his education at Tus- culum College, in Greene County, and at the schools of Dandridge. His father put him in his tanyard in 1862, where he worked for about thirteen years, and then be took charge of the enterprise, and continues the same at the present, in connection with his farm. He is an enterprising, and public-spirited man, and is always ready to assist all laudable enterprises. He is a firm believer in the benefit and necessity of education, and is in favor of the advancement and progress of the public schools. He was married September 17, 1885, to Miss Mary O'Brien, of Cocke County, who was born in Charleston, S. C., August 4, 1869, and is the daughter of William O'Brien, deceased. To this union one child has been born, as follows: James, born September, 26, 1886.
M. A. Roberts, general merchant at Talbott, was born in Knox County, Tenn., March 1, 1850, the son of Benjamin and Anivy (Rimmer) Roberts. The father, now of this county, was born in Knox County, Tenn., December 9, 1808, but the mother is a native of North Carolina, and has reared three sons and one daughter. The father was twice married, the first wife being Mary Berry. By his first wife he had two sons and four daughters, and by his second three sons and one daughter. Our subject is the youngest son, and lived on the farm until twenty-two years of age, and the county school was where he studied. The daughter of John Bettis, Lena C., became his wife October 4, 1870, and their children are Gretta, Eddie and Nellie. Since 1872 (in July) he has been engaged in his present business at Talbott. He has been very successful, but has sus- tained heavy losses by fire and robbery, losing by the latter over $400. Success rose above all this, however. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and of the Masonic order. For ten years he was Talbott's postmaster, and holds to Republican principles.
Jesse L. Rogers, one of the most prominent members of the Jefferson County bar, at Dandridge, was born in Powell's Valley, Claiborne County, April 9, 1855, the son of Jesse and Margaret (Wilson) Rogers, both natives of Powell's Valley, and born October 6, 1811. and December 15, 1814, respectively. The father has followed farming for over a half century, on his present farm, in Claiborne County, serving two terms as trustee before the war, and being justice several years. David, the grandfather, was born in 1777. in Vir- ginia, and came to Claiborne County in early days, and served as the first sheriff. being elected by the county court. He was ninety-four years old when he died. The mother, a daughter of David Wilson, of Claiborne County, was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and died November 29, 1857. Our subject worked for twelve years on the fann, when he became an invalid for three years, afflicted with white swelling. He fin- ished his education at Tazewell Academy, and in February, 1873. began the study of law at home, and in October following entered the law department of Cumberland University, at Lebanon, Tenn., from which he graduated in 18:4. He then practiced in Tazewell, and in October began a three years' career as clerk and master of Claiborne County Court. When twenty-one he was a successful candidate for representative of Claiborne and Hancock Counties in the Fortieth General Assembly, the youngest member of that body. He was a delegate to the famous Chicago Convention, and cast thirty-five ballots for Blaine, and the last for Garfield. Since September, 1881, he has been in a splen Hl practice at Dandridge, of which place he was elected mayor in 1882. Annie McFetridge, who was born in Milford, Ohio, February 25, 1860, became his wife October 24. 1550. Their children are Ralph I. born February 17, 1879, and Maggie, born August 10. 1950.
W. T. Russell was born near Athens, Tenn., February 22, 1848, the son of Rer. J. S. and Maldonettie (Cate) Russell. natives of MeMinn County. The father, a farmer and Baptist minister, is a self-educated man of more than ordinary mental abilities, both in business and public affairs, besides those of a literary character; and the mother, a woman of unusual intelligence and devotion. Our subject, the fourth of nine children. rounded his early farm and school life by graduation from Carson College, Jefferson County. in 1868, and with such success that the following year he became the professor of mathemat-
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ics in his alma mater, which chair he held for twelve years. For a short time then he was editor of the Baptist Beacon, at Knoxville, and in August, 1882, he became president of the seminary for young ladies, now Newman College, of Mossy Creek. June 5, 1871. he married Josie, a daughter of Temple Harris, of Dandridge, Tean. He and his wife are Baptists, and for several years he was president of the East Tennessee General Associa- tion, of that church. The subject of this sketch still holds the position of president of Newinan College, and is secretary and treasurer for the overseers of the ministerial educa- tional fund, of Carson College.
S. G. Sanders was born in Wythe County, Va., February, 6, 1839, and is the son of Robert and Louisa (Brawley) Sanders. The father was born in Wythe County, Va., July 4, 1785, and was the son of Stephen Sanders. The father of our subject was afarmer by occupation, and made a decided success of life. He removed to Missouri in 1839, where he died September 24, 1841. The mother was born in Wythe County, Va., March 19. 1805, and is the daughter of James Brawley. She is a pious Christian lady, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is now making her home with our subject, being in her eighty-third year. Our subject was reared on the farm in Wythe County, Va .. and acquired a practical education in the old field schools of the neighborhood. He worked on the farm until his eighteenth year, and then entered a store at Wytheville, as clerk, where he remained until the breaking out of the late war, and in April, 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate Army, joining the Wytheville Grays, of the Fourth Regiment of Vir- ginia Infantry, of Stonewall's brigade. He was in the first battle of Manassas Junction or Bull Run, and in other engagements, and in 1862, after a year's service, was mustered out and returned to the farm. He continued to work on the farm in his native county until 1839, and then with his parents removed to Missouri, where he remained until after the death of his father, and in 1846 removed, with his mother, back to Virginia. In 1553 he removed to Jefferson County, and entered the milling business in connection with farming, and now operates a large custom water power mill, of a daily capacity of fifteen barrels, and cultivates a farm of about 150 acres. He is a prosperous and progressive citi. zen, broad and liberal in his views, and has always encouraged all public enterprises, is a warm friend of education, and has always lent a helping hand to the public schools. hav- ing served as school commissioner in Virginia, and is now one of the school commissioners of the Ninth Civil District. He is generally respected by all who know him. and occupies high position in the esteem and estimation of his neighbors. He was united in marriage March 13, 1863, with Martha A. (Sanders) Sanders, who was born in Wythe County, Va., in 1836, and is the daughter of Dr. Daniel B. Sanders, a prominent physician of his day. To this union three children have been born as follows, two of whom are living: James E .. born May 25, 1863, and died September 1, 1863; Loulie A., born May 25, 1866, and Kittie, born June 19, 1868. Both our subject and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, also the eldest daughter.
W. H. Smith, a merchant at Oak Grove, was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., March 2, 1852, the son of John and C. C. (Baer) Smith, the former born in Kentucky. November 15, 1820. Moses and Parthenia (Miller) Smith were the grandparents; Thomas, the next ancestor back. a native of Tennessee. Moses was a farmer, and moved to Ken- tucky about 1819, but returned to Grainger County, Tenn., in 1825. John, the father. was reared on the farm, and educated in the schools of Grainger County and in Jefferson College. He married in 1847, and his wife was born near Dandridge in 1830. Our sub- ject was reared on the farm. and received a good education at Dandridge, and then after a year's farming, operated a saw mill for eight years. He then purchased a farm, and also engaged in merchandising at Oak Grove, and is succeeding in all three at present. He is school commissioner of his district. October 4. 1876, he married Julia, a daughter of Hlyman Mitchell, who was born in Jefferson County April 21, 1856. Five of their six chil- dren are living: Jessie P., Jennie L., Lucy; Frank N., Rosie and Carrie. He and his wife are Baptists.
A. R. Swann. farmer and stock raiser, was born in Jefferson County, September 24. 1848, the son of John and Sarah (Anstell) Swann. The father, a farmer, of English stock,
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was born in 1796, and died April 20, 1887, a farmer of this, his native county. The mother, a native of Jefferson County, of English lineage also, was born in 1808, aud still lives with our subject. Their four daughters were deceased in infancy. Our subject. the youngest of four sons, grew up in rural life, and when about seventeen years of age enlisted in the Confederate Army, Company A, Capt. Bradford, of Brazelton's battalion. and as escort with Y. C. Humes when the war closed. He was at Murfreesboro, Chicka- mauga, Mission Ridge, Perryville, Kenesaw Mountain and New Hope. He returned to his native county, and in 1866 began farming and trading, but after ten years of this he has been more devoted to stock raising and feeding. He now owns about 3,200 acres of land in Jefferson County, and cultivates about 1,800. all lying in three farms on both sides of the French Broad River, whose bottom lands embrace about 1.000 acres of his land. Strange to say. these possessions grew from a borrowed capital of $25, at the close the war. His present home, his first real estate, was bought in 1876. June 16, 1891. he married Fannie, a daughter of Jesse Burnett, of Cocke County. Janey, Jessie and James are their children, born on the following respective dates: June 27, 1882; October 14. 1884. and November 19, 1886. He and his wife are Baptists.
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