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 56
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H. L. W. Taylor, farmer and stock raiser of the Twelfth District, was born in Jeffer- son County, Tenn., July 14, 1852, the son of Parmenas and Sarah (Moore) Taylor. The father was born in Jefferson County, January 18, 1821, and the mother, December 19. 1821, in the same county. The grandfather, Col. Parmenas Taylor, was a frontier settler of East Tennessee. Our subject was reared on the farm, and received his education at Morristown, Tenn., in the Reagan High School. He became a pedagogue at eighteen. and taught four years in Jefferson County. In May, 1872, he became the husband of Emma, daughter of James Harrison, of this county. Of the three sons and one daughter, Laura, Arthur and Frank are living. Our subject did not bury his one talent, and now owns and cultivates a farm of 300 acres on the north bank of French Broad River, and also has 279 acres of timbered land. He is an enterprising, self-made man, and is a Master Mason, and member of the K. of H. He is a Democrat.
Albert G. Taylor, farmer and stock raiser, was born near French Broad River. Jeffer- son County, Tenn., October 20, 1832, the son of William and Mary (Lingingfelter) Taylor The father was a native of Tennessee, a farmer, and of English descent, while the mother was of German origin, born in Pennsylvania, and was a resident of Tennessee from her childhood. Our subject, Albert G. Taylor, is the youngest son of nine sons and three daughters. Hle grew up in farm and school life. After the death of his father, which occurred when our subject was quite young, about two years old, he worked with his brothers on the farm until twenty-six years old, when he began for himself. July 23. 1857, he married Sarah Jane, a daughter of Benjamin and Rebecca (Mathews) Doughty. To them eight children-four sons and four daughters-were born, viz .: First son. Rufus M .; first daughter, Mary Rebecca (deceased August 10, 1863,); second daughter, Eva A. : third daughter, Sarah Jane L .; second son, Albert C .; fourth daughter, Lilest Ida: third son, Millard B .; fourth son, Lilburn W. The mother died March 20, 1879, aged forty years, eleven months and eleven days, and September 29, 1880, Rachel, daughter of Michael and Harriet (Jacobs) McGuire, became his second wife. Through all of his many hardships and difficulties to encounter, he has surmounted them all to date. Ile has acquired over 400 acres of well improved land, and one of the best grass farms in the county. Ile is a Methodist, and Royal Arch Mason; his first wife was a Methodist, and his second a Presbyterian. He has been justice of the peace ever since the war, is a Republican in politics, and in favor of the constitutional amendment.
W. H. Taylor, M. D., a practicing physician of New Market, Tenn., was born in Anderson County. Tenn., December 28, 1853. He was reared on the farm, and educated at Clinton, of that county, and at Maryville, Blount County. He taught school a short time, and then began the study of medicine with Dr. R. E. T. Brazelton, at New Market. In 1883 he graduated from Vanderbilt University, Nashville. He has since practiced successfully at New Market. and is an energetic and self-made man. May 1, 1891, he mar- ried Mollie, a daughter of Wilson Biddle, and they have had four children.
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
J. W. Thornburgh, M. D., was born in New Market, Tenn., February 25, 1828, the son of Ai and Mary (Landsdown) Thornburgh. The father was born October 7, 1798, and followed tanning in early life, and afterward merchandising in New Market. He died at New Market, Tenn., July 3, 1883. The mother was born October 11, 1791, and died at the same place April 20, 1876. Our subject, the seventh of nine children, was a boy at school at the time of the Mexican war, and at the age of eighteen, during the progress of the war, volunteered in 1848 in Company G, commanded by Capt. J. J. Reese, Col. George R. McClellan commanding, Fifth Tennessee Regiment Infantry; served until the close of the war, was honorably discharged, and returned to New Market, his native town: com- pleted his education, and when of age began medicine under Dr. A. Blackburn, and since twenty-three years old has been practicing in his native town, excepting a short time in Union County before the civil war. In 1861 he organized a company of cavalry, and while en route to the United States Army in Kentucky, was attacked by the Confederates at Wilson's Gap, in the Cumberland Mountains. They were unarmed and were captured, he receiving a wound in neck. He was taken to Knoxville, and after a provisional trial for treason to the Confederacy was imprisoned at Nashville, to await his regular court trial, but a mutual friend of Jefferson Davis and himself succeeded in influencing Mr. Davis to procure his release without trial. He then began practice at home. and, when the Fed- erals captured the State, he became assistant surgeon in the hospital at Knoxville. In 1867 he was elected to represent Grainger County in the Legislature, and in 1868 was made surgeon-general of Tennessee militia for a year. He then returned to New Market to his present successful practice. In 1850 he married Louisa M. (Haskins) Bewley, of Cocke County, Tenn. To them four sons were born: William P. and Samuel H. survive their deceased two brothers. The former is at home, and the latter in the postoffice department at Washington City. Our subject is a Presbyterian and a warm Republican. He is one of the oldest and ablest physicians in the county of Jefferson.
Maj. R. Thornburgh, merchant at New Market. Tenn., was born there February 2. 1880, the son of Ai and Mary (Landsdown) Thornburgh, the former a native of Tennessee, and the latter of North Carolina. The father was also a farmer and merchant. Our subject was educated at New Market, and reared on the farm. After the fall of Sumter he enlisted in Company K, First Tennessee Federal Cavalry, and in 1865 was mustered out as major. He was a gallant soldier of twenty-two battles, and since the war has returned to his favor- ite pursuit of merchandising. Addie E., a daughter of Adam K. Meek, became his wife, and Mamie is their only child. In 1884 our subject was elected to the Lower House of the Legislature to represent his county, and again re-elected in 1886. He is a Presbyterian, and a member of the G. A. R.
Samuel Watson Tindell, president of Carson College, Mossy Creek, Tenn., was born at Church Grove, Knox County, October 4, 1844, the son of Hiram and Mary (Harbison) Tindell, both living. Samuel, the grandfather, came from North Carolina in early days, and is said to have assisted in building the first store in Knoxville. The grandfather, Aaron Harbison, was also one of the pioneers of East Tennessee. Our subject was brought up on a farm ten miles north of Knoxville, on the Tazewell Pike. In the winter of 1862, while attending school three miles from home, he started for Kentucky to enlist in the Union army, but was overtaken by the parents of the other boys of the company, and persuaded to return home. In the fall of 1862 he taught his first school, and as he became eighteen at its close, and subject to the Confederate conscription act, he found it impos. sible to escape to Kentucky until the following February, to which time, from October, 1862, he lay in the woods, barns, and other places of safety, seldom feeling the warmth of a fire or seeing the inside of a house. On the night of February 3, 1803, he, with twelve others, started for Kentucky, but the deep snow and fear of being tracked, caused them to be ten days in reaching Somerset, Ky. After three months, he and his brother ran the blockade, and visited home until the following July, scouting in the woods. They returned to Camp Nelson, Ky., and August 14, 1863, he enlisted in the Ninth United States Tennessee Cavalry, under Col. Joseph Parsons. He was promoted to sergeant, and in February, 1863, was made captain of Company G, Seventh Tennessee Mounted Infan-
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JEFFERSON COUNTY.
try, and July 27 following he was mustered out at Nashville. He now attended Walnut Grove Academy, and five months later went, with his teacher, to Franklin Academy, and three months later entered East Tennessee University. He took the first prize in Greek at the end of the freshman year; left there the following fall, and January 1, 1869. he went to Amherst College, where he entered the Sophomore Class. He was president of his class in his senior year, and graduated in 1871. He then taught high school at Upton. Mass., one term, and resigned and entered Newton (Mass. ) Theological Seminary, and June 10, 1871, graduated. He was ordained by the First Baptist Church at Knoxville, August 2, 1874. He became principal of Franklin Academy, Jacksboro, Tenn., in August, 1874, and in October, 1875, resigned to become pastor of the Cleveland (Tenn.) Baptist Church for four years. He was principal of the Young Ladies Institute at Cleveland during 1877-79; resided on a farm at Rhea Springs during 1879-80; was principal of Franklin Academy during 1881-82; came to the chair of Latin and Greek in Carson College in July, 1882; became chairman of the faculty in January, 1883, and president the follow- ing spring. During the time of the small-pox at Mossy Creck, in the latter part of December. 1882, and in January, 1883. in the absence of all the rest of the faculty, he remained at his post, re-collected the scattered students in part, and, in connection with J. T. Henderson, then a member of the senior class, taught out the year, and saved the college from dis- banding. Amherst College gave him the degree of A. B. in 1871, and A. M. in 1874; Car- son College conferred the degree of D. D. upon him May 30, 1887. Lizzie E. Ames, of Sebec, M., became his wife June 22. 1874. and died at her father's home, August 14. 1876. Lillie, born July 30, 1875, was the only child born to them. He married Katie, a daughter of John D. and Susan Chattin, of Rhea Springs, July 15, 1878. Their children are Lois, born September 15, 1879, deceased October 23, 1879; Pearl, born November 17, 1880; Susie, born April 24. 1883, and Samuel Watson. Jr., born February 16, 1886.
John Vance, a farmer and stock raiser, was born in Jefferson County, June 2, 1837. the son of Samuel and Mary S. (Kennedy) Vance. Jefferson County was the native place and home of the father, who was a successful farmer, and died July 30, 1866, at the age of sixty-three. The mother, a daughter of James Kennedy, was born in Knox County. Our subject is the third child of three sons and one daughter, and was reared on the farm. receiving, besides the ordinary studies of country schools, a high school education at New Market. He then returned to his father's farm, and June 14, 1860, married Martha J., a daughter of John P. Mathes, M. D., of Jefferson County. Their children are James K., Jennie R., Samuel N., Eva, Minnie, Hugh L., Mary S. and Fred W. Mr. Vance began with little capital, but now owns and cultivates three farms aggregating over 450 acres of fine land. He is a Master Mason, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.
John E. Walker was born in the Twelfth Civil District of Jefferson County, Tenn .. March 29, 1850. He is the son of Haynes and Eliza (Moore) Walker. The father is a native of Tennessee, and was a farmer, but is now in an old age and living with his son. our subject. The mother is also a native of Tennessee, and is also living with our subject. Both the parents have been useful citizens, and are good Christians; they are now in the decline of life, and are blessed by the tender care of our subject, whom they reared on the farm and educated at Mossy Creek College. Our subject finished a mathematical course, and but a few months of finishing a literary course. Our subject taught two schools before entering college, and by earnings thus gained he entered college, and after his collegiate work was over, he taught for two years, and then took up farming. He commenced this occupation with no capital other than willing hands and might, but had very bad health, and at one time left his field and gave up business under compulsion occasioned by his feeble health. But almost immediately he gathered courage, and with all the zeal possible began again his occupation, and by close care of himself he soon began to gain good health. and thus passed away this embarrassment. His need of a capital was accomplished by enterprise in farming. and by successful trading in stock. He now owns and cultivates a farm of more than 300 acres, and is trading in stock and grain. November 4, 1875, he was united in marriage with Helen Stokely, of Cocke County. Three sons and one daughter have blessed the union. Their names are Walter
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
Stokely, Frank T., Minnie Lnewa, Clyde Allen. Our subject is a member of the Baptist Church, and a Mason.
James T. Watkins, merchant and postmaster at Mossy Creek, was born in Kentucky. July 22, 1844, the son of Claiborne R. and Rhoda (Harris) Watkins. The father was born in Whitley County, Ky., in 1802, the son of Joel Watkins, and lived as a farmer, and died in 1873. The mother was born in Grainger County, Tenn., in 1812, the daughter of Isaac Harris, and died about 1856, a member of the Baptist Church. Our subject was reared on the farm, and acquired a practical education in the country schools, and left the faim January 1, 1863 and enlisted in the Federal Army, Company A, Eighth Kentucky Infantry, and joined his regiment after the battle of Stone River. His company were in the general campaign about Chattanooga, and was the first to reach the top at Lookout Mountain. In October, 1864, the enlistment of the Eighth Regiment expired, and they were mustered out, excepting 109 men, among whom was our subject, who were trans- ferred to the Fourth Kentucky Mounted Infantry, and took part in the Georgia campaign. Our subject was mustered out at Macon, Ga., in August, 1865, and returned home, and soon went to Dandridge, Tenn., and became a clerk in his brother's store. From 1812 to 1882 he was merchandising at Mill Spring. then moved to Mossy Creek to his present business. He has been postmaster since September 2, 1885. He is now one of the trus- tees of Newman Female College, Mossy Creek, and is a progressive man interested in public welfare. In 1870 he married Leanah Galbraith, a daughter of William Galbraith, and born August 12, 1844, in Jefferson County. They have had seven children. Our sub- ject is a Mason, is treasurer of the Knights of Honor, and collector for the People's Mutual Life Insurance Order, of Nashville. He is a Baptist while his wife belongs to the Presbyterian Church.
Wirt C. Watkins was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., March 27, 1853, the son of John M. and Belvadra N. (Combs) Watkins, natives of Tennessee. The father is a farmer of Hamblen County, and the mother died in February. 1865. Our subject was reared on the farm and educated at Mossy Creek. When of age he began for himself as a merchant at Talbott in 1819. After four years of mercantile life he returned to the plow and sickle and has followed agricultural pursuits ever since. His beginnings were small, but he has succeeded and now owns 160 acres of well improved land. A Miss Kate King became his wife in January, 1883, and Charles is the only child of their union.
Henry C. Whitaker, farmer and stock raiser in the Seventh District, was born in Trenton, N. J., November 6, 1836. the son of Joseph and Mary (Johnston) Whitaker, natives also of New Jersey. The father was a contractor and builder, born December 19, 1809, and deceased at Philadelphia, June 14, 1584. Richard, Thomas, and John are the names of Joseph's successive ancestors, and John was born in England in 1696. Our subject, one of three sons and four daughters, was reared in Trenton, and educated at the city schools. He entered a printing office in Philadelphia when fifteen years of age, and afterward set type in various large cities in the United States. August 18, 1862, he enlisted in Company M, Second New York Cavalry, and fought in the ranks through the war. He was mustered out June, 1865, at Alexandria, Va. He then resumed his trade, and became foreman of the composing room on the Memphis Post. from 1865 to 1869. He then went to Indiana, and April 14, 1869, was married to Sallie, a daughter of Jacob Waltz, a son of Frederick Waltz, both descendants of Frederick R. Waltz, of Switzerland, who came to America in 1750; he then moved to his present home. Bertram W., Gertrude E., Dora, Jessie and Joseph, are their children.
S. D. Williams was born at Mooresburg. Hawkins Co., Tenn., January 25, 1823, and is the son of George and Sallie (Moore) Williams. The father's native county is Hawkins County, Tenn., and he was the son of John Williams, a Virginian by birth, and one of the early pioneer settlers of East Tennessee, and who was of Welsh descent, and a plain and practical farmer, and a sober. industrious citizen. and a soldier in the war of 1812. The father of our subject was a farmer, and nored as a man of deep intel- lect, reserved. firm and practical. He was a farmer by vocation, and as such was prac- tical and successful, and died at his home in Hawkins County in 1555, at the age of fifty-
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JEFFERSON COUNTY.
six or fifty-seven years .. In 1817 he married the mother of our subject. She was a native of Surry County. N.C., and was a woman of most desirable domestic qualities, a devoted wife, a kind and affectionate mother, and devout Christian. Unto her were born fourteen children, of whom our subject is the fifth. He was reared on the farm, and received a limited education in the neighboring schools of his father's home, and served his father on the farm till he reached his majority, and then, having concluded his education non- sufficient, entered school in Holston College, New Market, Tenn., and attended one ses- sion. It was while here at school he met and formed an acquaintance with Miss Mary P. Reese, the second daughter of Dr. Joseph B. M. Reese, of East Tennessee. This lady was a teacher in a female seminary at New Market at this time, and her acquaintance with our subject resulted in her becoming his wife, August 20, 1841, when our subject was in his twenty-second year. She was a highly educated woman in classics, having received a classical education at the female school of Jonesboro, Tenn. She was well conversant with general literature, and was noted for sincerity and devotion. She was the mother of eleven children, eight of whom have become useful men and women. This faithful wife and devoted mother died April 22, 1874, at Los Angeles, Cal., at the age of fifty years. She lies buried in Los Angeles cemetery. February 2, 1875, he married for a second wife, Mary Eva Bradford, daughter of Ennich and Eva Bradford. of Mont- gomery County, Va. Our subject's life occupation has been farming and trading in and raising of stock. He has followed his occupation for the most part in East Tennessee. with the exception of four years, during which time he was growing cotton in the State of Mississippi, and three years at Danville, Ky., stock raising. He has been a successful man in his many undertakings, sustaining, however, a heavy loss of property during the civil war; nevertheless, he has outlived the embarrassment, and is now a prosperous and practical farmer of Jefferson County, and besides being a man of a broad experience and observation, he is a man well conversant with judicial and political history. He is not a man who has aspired to office, yet fills what is regarded with much esteem by those know him. He is a charitable man, and gives much to religion and education, and to all beneficial enterprises. He has long been a member and elder in the Presbyterian Church, and for a considerable time has been a Mason. He is now in his sixty-fifth year, and is still an active man physically and mentally.
Thomas N. Williams, judge of Jefferson County, Tenn., was born in that county, June 17, 1861, the son of George and Adaline (Reed) Williams. The father, a farmer, was born in Jefferson (now Hamblen) County, in 1810, and died in 1860. The mother was born in 1832, the daughter of Wylie J. Reed, and died in 1862. The parents were mem- bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal Churches respectively. Our subject, so early an orphan, was reared on the farm of his brother-in-law, in Jeffer- son County, and when fifteen entered the college at Maryville, attending four years. In 1886 he began reading law with W. D. McGuinley and W. A. McTeer, at Maryville. When of age he was admitted to the bar, and then attended school at Athens, Tenn., a term. He then practiced at White Pine successfully for several years. He is an eloquent speaker, and very impressive before a jury. Since Angust, 1856, he has been in his pies- ent position. elected as a Republican over three opponents, receiving 196 plurality and a majority of 500 over his Democratic opponent. He was but twenty-five when he received his commission as judge, the youngest man to whom this has ever been known to occur in the United States. He is a man of extraordinary talent, and is discharging the duties of his office with satisfaction, while he shows a general interest in all public affairs and improvements. He has lived at Dandridge since his election.
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
COCKE COUNTY.
C. F. Bover. clerk of the circuit court, was born in 1846 in Cocke County, where he has since resided. He enlisted in August, 1868 in Company A, Third Tennessee Mounted Infantry. He was appointed sergeant but declined the appointment. He served until December, 1864 when he was mustered out at Knoxville. He then attended school two years at Parisville, when he engaged in farming and merchandising until 1876 when he was elected sheriff of Cocke County, and was twice re-elected to same office-serving in all six years. He was then elected circuit court clerk and was re-elected August, 1856. He was elected justice of the peace in 1809, and served about three years, being elected to fill an unexpired term. He was married in 1872 to Miss Florence McNabb, a daughter of Alexander McNabb, a native of Monroe County, although he has lived in Cocke County the most of his life. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Boyer: Hester E., Henry S., Horace C., Jettie, George R., Creed Mc, and Franklin A. Mr. Boyer is a Republican in politics. and he is a Master Mason. He was the fourteenth of fifteen children of Isaac and Elizabeth (Simms) Boyer, natives of Virginia and South Carolina, respectively. Mr. Boyer was a son of Jacob Boyer, a native of Virginia. who settled in Cocke County about 1817 with his family. Mr. Isaac Boyer was a farmer and tanner by occupation. Mr. C. F. Boyer began life in very moderate circumstances and the most he is now worth is the fruit of his own business ability. He owns a fine farmi of 300 acres, which was formerly owned by his grandfather, Padgett. While sheriff Mr. C. F. Boyer hung two men-noted desperadoes, the only men ever hung in Cocke County by law, and otherwise rendered valuable service as a sheriff.
J. J. Burnett, a farmer in the First District, was born February 7, 1824, in North Car- olina, near Ashville, and December, 1835, he moved to his present location. He began life for himself when of age as a farmer. He attended school at Holston College, Jefferson County, Tenn. He began with about $1,200, and what he is now worth is the fruit of his own industry and good management. He owns about 400 acres of land where he lives. He was married February 10, 1853, to Miss Mary E. Huff, daughter of Stephen Huff, who was a son of John Huff, who was a native of Virginia. Six children blessed the union: Jehu J., Stephen F., Jesse A., Frances E. C., Sissie Elizabeth J .. Cynthia A. Mrs. Burnett died about 1863. He was married a second time October 10, 1867, to Miss Esther A. Lea, a daughter of Alfred Lea, a native of Jefferson County, or near the Jeffer- son and Knox County line. Five children blessed this union: Evalena, Henrietta. M., Harriet C., Joseph J. and Swan A. Mr. Burnett is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and is a Democrat in politics. He was elected justice of the peace, and served six years. He cast his first presidential ticket for Gen. Taylor. He was the eleventh of thirteen children of Swan R. and Frances (Bell) Burnett, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively: Mr. Burnett coming to North Carolina when a boy. He began life for himself a poor man, and by his very successful farm management became quite com- fortably fixed. He was a son of Thomas Burnett, a native of Virginia. He was killed by a Tory, about the time of the battle of King's Mountain, in which battle his brother Joseph was killed while fighting for his country. Mr. and Mrs. Swan Burnett were of English and Irish descent respectively. Mr. J. J. Burnett and possibly a sister in Missouri are the only children now living of thirteen.
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