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 58
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L. B. Bewley, farmer. was born January 20, 1848, on the farm of his life-long resi- dence. In October, 1973, he started for Oregon to settle permanently in his career, but in March of the next year returned. He was educated at Tusculum College, Greene County. Ilis residence, nearly a hundred years old, built by Mr. James Carmichael, is situated on his fine farm of 400 acres, which is known by the name of "Solitude." April 20, 1979, he married Lydia E. Wolford, a daughter of D. D. Wolford. a native of Sullivan County. Their children are Clara Belle, Lloyd Roswell, Wolford Bernard and Frank Powell. He
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and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which he has been a deacon for ten years. He is a conservative Democrat, and was a stanch Union man dur- ing the late war. He first voted for Seymour. He is the second of three children of Jacob M. and Malinda H. Lyle nee Moore, Bewley, the grandparents of the litter of whom came to America on the same vessel, and were of Scotch-Irish blood. Jacob was first married to Sarah Maroney, by whom he had cleven children. He was a man of native ability, born in Washington County, Tenn., and acquired large possessions. His memory was remarkable, nothing he ever read or saw seeming to be lost, either in his studies of nature or the text-book. For several years he was magistrate and chairman of the county court, and represented Greene County in the Legislature three terms. He afterward moved to Jefferson County, which he also represented one term in the Senate. He was an intimate friend of Andrew Johnson, whom he was the first person to suggest and influence to accept the candidacy for representative of Greene County, and was the first and only man who heard Andrew's first speech-in the woods, while in training to stump the county. He was known as Johnson's," political daddy." He was of Welsh origin, and died in February, 1867, about eighty years old. He was in the entire war of 1812.
Jay C. Brown, of Brown & Stubblefield, merchants, was born in 1850 in South Orange. Essex County, N. J., and came to Tennessee in 1869 and cleiked for Brown & Crowell, which when he became a member in 1872, became Brown, Crowell & Co. In 1976 he then with E. J. Wells began the firm of Brown & Wells, which changed in various ways until January, 1883, when the present firm was organized. In 1880 he married S. Allie Proctor, a daughter of Rev. H. P. Waugh. of the Holston Methodist Episcopal Confer- once. There are two children: James P. and Mary K. They are members of the Presby- terian Church, of which Mr. Brown has been a ruling elder since 1879. He is the fourth of seven children of Aaron B. and Catherine M. (Crowell) Brown, natives of New Jersey. where they are among the leaders in the Presbyterian Church of South Orange, N. J .. Aaron Brown having served as ruling elder for twenty years. Our subject has made a success in his business, and the firm is one of the leading ones of Morristown.
C. J. Burnett, a farmer and miller, in the Fifth District, was born in 1818, in Claiborne County, and when an infant was taken to Hawkins, near Hamblen County, where he has since resided. He began life for himself when sixteen years old, a poor man, and what he is now worth is the fruit of his own industry and good management. He first engaged in farming, and one year later built a mill, then took charge of Marshall's, near Long's ferry, and ran it for eighteen years. He then came to his present location and engaged in farming, milling and millwrighting. He owns a fine farm of 300 acres where he lives. besides other tracts of land in other parts of the county and a corn and saw mill. Ho was married, December 17, 1839, to Miss Sarah MeCravy, a daughter of Benjamin MeCravy , a native of East Tennessee. Twelve children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Burnett: William B., Milton S., Mary, now Mrs. Sullenbarger: Margaret. deceased: Eliza, now Mrs. Mitchell; James T .; John B .; Alice, now Mrs. Alice Kirkpatrick; Isabell; Samuel. deceased; Robert and Charles C. Mrs. Burnett is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Mr. Burnett is a Royal Arch Mason, and a Democrat in politics. He cast his first presidential vote for William H. Harrison. He was elected justice of the peace of his District in 1854. and has been re-elected at each election ever since. and also was appointed by the Legislature to assist in forming Hamblen County. Hewas the fourth of eight children, four only of whom are now living, of Claiborne and Delila (Bunch) Bur- nett. Mrs. Burnett was a cousin of Col. Bunch, the first man to scale the breastworks at the Horseshoe battle, and she was a daughter of David Bunch. Mr. Claiborne Burnett was a native of Virginia, and settled in Claiborne County about 1812. He was of Scotch-Irish descent.
T. C. Cain is a native of Hawkins County, born in 1842, and reared on a farm within the present limits of Hamblen County. He attended college at Greeneville. and left school in 1860. During the war he purchased stock throughout Kentucky for the United States Government, and at the close of the war returned to his home near Russellville. this county, following farming and grain trading. In 1869 he located at Morristown, and was
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elected first circuit clerk of Hamblen County, and served eight years. He served two years in the Legislature, elected in 1879, and then established and managed the Cairo House several years, and which he still owns. He was superintendent of the State's prison during the last administration of Gov. Bates, since which he has been engaged in looking after his property in Morristown, and his farm interests. In 1867 he married Bet- tic Kenner, of Rogerville, to whom were born four sons and two daughters, one deceased. He is a Knight of Honor. and his wife is member of the Presbyterian Church. The pater- nal grandfather, Hugh Cairo, was born in Ireland, and soon after the Revolution came to America and settled in Hawkins County, where he died about 1850. Hugh, Jr .. the father, was born in the last named county, and married Lucy Holston, by whom our sub- ject, six brothers and one sister were born, only four of whom are still living. The mother died in 1850, and the father afterward married Mary Rankin, who survived him, his death occurring in 1864.
D. L. Carmichael, a farmer, was born February 17, 1837, in Grainger County, Tenn., and moved to his present location about 1808. Before and after attaining his majority he taught several schools near where he resided, but has given most of his attention to farming. In September, 1870, he married Julia A., a daughter of Jona than L. Noe. a native of Grainger (now lamblin) County. Their children are Sallie E., Prudence (deceased), Susan J., Elizabeth E., John and Georgie A. He and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, in which he has been a deacon about ten years, and is at present clerk and treasurer. He is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Breckin- ridge. Since August, 1876, he has been justice of the peace. He is the fifth of six chil- dren of Daniel C., and Prudence (Howell) Carmichael, natives of Grainger County, where they died. The father served many years as tax collector of the county, and also as jus- tice, and from the poverty of young manhood he became one of the wealthiest men in the county. He was the eldest of eight children of James, the grandfather, a native of Penn- sylvania, who came south in the latter part of the eighteenth century to what is now Grainger County. The father and mother are of Irish and Dutch origin respectively. the former born June 15, 1800.
Charles H. Darlington, A. B., A. M., editor and proprietor of the Tennessce Pilot, was born in 1848 in West Chester, Penn., and graduated at Haverford College, Penn. He first clerked in wholesale dry goods and notion store in Philadelphia for several years. and then taught school about three years. He then went to Woodstock, Ill., when he became editor and manager of a paper of that place, and afterward assisted in establishing a paper in the interest of the grange. In 1875 he went to Muscoda, Wisconsin, and estab- lished the Museoda News, which he sold in 1881, and established the Philips (Wis.) Badger; this was sold, and some months later was started The Bee at the same place, by the same. In 18So he sold that, and moved to Morristown, Tenn., and purchased his present paper. The Pilot is Republican, and the editor is working earnestly for the interests of East Tennessee. The Dandridge Banner was lately merged into the Pilot, so that the circulation now reaches about 1,300. Mr. Darlington's energy and ability as an editor and printer are causing his paper to win contidence, not only in Tennessee, but in States. The Pilot was established April 16, 1884, by W. M. and J. S. Fitzgerald. and
gh Mr. Darlington's ability it has taken a front rank. In 1874 he married a native
. Western Reserve, Ohio, and of old New England stock; from childhood a resident of Woodstock, Ill., where her father died. They have four children, and in religious belief are Congregationalists. Our subject is one of six children of Howard Darlington. native of West Chester, Penn., and of English, Welsh. German and Quaker origin. The other surviving children are a brother in Chicago, and a sister in West Chester, Penn., the latter a skillful artist. The increase from 300 to the Pilot's present circulation is due to our subject's ability as a journalist and printer, in which capacities he is making himself felt.
S. G. Felknor, a farmer, was born in 1834 in Jefferson (now Hamblen) County, where he has since resided. When eighteen be began for himself a farmer, and in 1862 married Paralee Thompson, a daughter of James Thompson, a minister of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Their children were Samuel W., and an infant (deceased). He is a Presby-
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terian and his wife a Methodist. He is a Republican, and first voted for the Whig candi- date in 1856. He is the tenth of eleven children of James and Ann (Guthrie) Felknor. the former a native of Hawkins County, and the latter a native of Jefferson (now Hamblen) County. The father was a farmer in connection with his trade as a tanner. and was of Dutch-Irish stock. He was also a volunteer in the war of 1812, and bis father, Philip, was born in Pennsylvania. The Felknors are of German origin. The Inother was a daughter of Alexander Guthrie, native of Botetourt County, Va., and severely wounded in the Revolution, the closing surrender of which by Lord Cornwallis he was a witness. The mother's grandmother, Mrs. McFerrin, was a native of Scotland, and com- ing to America settled on the farm where Mr. Felknor now resides. Our subject is a man of considerable information, and a great reader. The boast of the Felknor family is that during five generations none of its members has ever used tobacco in any form, nor any intoxicating liquors as a beverage.
George W. Folsom, president of the First National Bank, was born in Carter County, Tenn., December 19, 1824. He is directly descended from one of three brothers who emigrated from England about 1760. Two of them settled at Portsmouth, N. H., one of whom married and raised a large family, from whom the northern branch of the family trace their descent. The third brother removed to South Carolina, and was a captain in the army of the Revolution. From him the southern branch of the family, now located in South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas and the Indian Territory. trace their descent. The grandfather of our subject was a soldier of 1812, and found a soldier's grave at Norfolk, Va. His father, Malcolm N. Folsom, was born in Moore County, N. C., in 1792. He also was a soldier of the war of 1812. After his discharge from the army he married Nannie Hughes, and about 1823 removed to Greene County, Tenn., where he remained only a short time before removing to Carter County, where he fixed his permanent home, and where he died February 21, 1878, at the ripe age of eighty- five years. He was a man of limited education, but of superior mental endowments naturally, as shown by the fact that of 6,000 judgments in causes rendered by him during eighteen years' service as a justice of the peace, only three causes were ever reversed on appeal. Our subject is the third of five sons and three daughters who grew to maturity. all of whom are still living. During the late war he held a special position on the staff of Brig .- Gen. A. E. Jackson. One brother, Maj. H. M. Folsom, of Elizabethton, was quartermaster of Jackson's Brigade, and another, B. F. Folsom, of Roan Mountain, Tenn., belonged to Col. Crawford's Tennessee regiment, and was so desperately wounded by perhaps the very last shell thrown into Vicksburg before its surrender, that he was the last prisoner of war discharged from the hospital at that place. At the conclusion of the war our subject began the mercantile business at Bristol, but at the end of a year removed to Morristown, where he pursued the same business for six years. From that time lie w.is engaged in agricultural and other pursuits until March 22, 1886, when he accepted the presidency of the First National Bank, which he still retains. He was married. in 1869, to S. Ellen Taylor, daughter of the late Frank Taylor, of Hamblen County, and has two children living of six born to the marriage. He is a member of the Masonic Order, and a fair illustration of what can be accomplished by pluck and energy in the pursuit of business.
J. A. Goodard, dentist, of Morristown, was born in Blount County, Tenn., in 1943. and was reared in his native county until during the war, when he served three years in the Union Army, being mustered out as captain of Company H. in the Third Tennessee Cavalry. He then returned to Blount County and engaged in merchandising there. for a few years, after which he attended the Louisville Medical College in 1-70-71, and estab- lished a practice in his native county, residing in Friendsville, that county, nine years. After this he accepted an appointment as deputy collector in the Internal Revenue sery- ice, and discharged the duties of that office six years, being located at Morristown; at the expiration of which time he resumed the practice of his former profession, dentistry. which he has since continued and devoted most of his time to. His ancestors were of English descent. In October. 1865, he married E. E. Wayland, which union has been blessed with a family of nine children.
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James Hale, a farmer, was born June 19, 1813, in Washington County, Tenn., and wben sixteen years old came with his parents to Jefferson (now Hamblen) County, where he has since resided, giving his attention chiefly to farming and stock dealing. He ped- dled merchandise for six years, and in May, 1841, married Mary Ann Moore, a daughter of Ephraim Moore, a native of Tennessee. Their children were Patrick H. C., Napoleou T. F., Alexander E., Richard S., James F., Thomas N., Sarah E. (deceased), Martha A. (deceased) and Mary C. (now Mrs. Lawrence). She died May 16, 1815, and May 16, 1877, he married L. C. Portrum. He is a Baptist, and in politics a Republican, first voting for the Whig candidate in 1836. After the war he was elected to the Legislature from Jeffer- son, and then from Jefferson, Greene. Hawkins and Hancock Counties, and was active in securing the adoption of the constitutional amendments. In 1842 he was elected justice, and with the exception of his Legislative service, and during the war, he has held the office ever since. He is the fourth of six children of Richard and Mary (Cox) Hale, natives of Washington and Sullivan Counties, respectively. The father served three campaigns in the war of 1812. They were of English origin. The grandfather, John Hale, of Maryland, was in the Revolution, and one of the earliest pioneers of Washington County, Tenn. Our subject owned 1,200 acres of land, which he gave to his lawful heirs. Mr. Hale writes to the publishers as follows: When I came to Washington County with my father, at sixteen years of age, I never knew one neighbor to charge another for cutting his wheat or oats till I came with my father to Jefferson County. The neighbors would meet, and take a certain boundary and commence at the ripest wheat first and then to the next ripest, till all was cut. The young ladies would meet and pull the flax. At that time " Old sister Phoebe" was popular, and the young folks would play it in the evening and then break up in friendship to meet again the next day, to cut the next ripest, and so on till all was cut. When I commenced stock driving, it was a long wearisome trip. For six or eight years, during the time I was driving, I never spent a Christmas at home. Since the railroad has got in operation, I make a trip to Charleston and back in one week. An old neighbor that used to drive hogs long before I did, was in the Legislature when the people asked for a charter to build a road from Charleston to Cincinnati. He moved to strike out "Cincinnati" and insert "the moon," for he thought it was as reasonable that they could build a railroad to the moon, as to build one across these mountains to Cincinnati, for he thought either was impossible. I mention these two circumstances merely to let the young people know the advantages that we have now, compared with those in that day.
. E. B. Hale, M. D., was born in Washington County, Tenn., December 14, 1838, and is the son of James C. and Elmira (Beacon) Hale. Both parents were natives of Tennessee. The father was a farmer; he died when our subject was but nine years old, and left a widowed mother to care for a family of six sons and one daughter, of which family our subject is the fourth. He was reared on the farm and his common-school education was received in county schools of Washington County. At the age of sixteen years, he entered Boone's Seminary in Washington County, and at the end of four years. finished his literary education, and then took up the study of medicine, under Dr. J. D. Clarke as preceptor. and continued the study for three years, and began a practice with his preceptor, which practice he continued until the outbreak of the civil war, and then. in 1862, he went to east Kentucky, and, by the governor of Kentucky, was commissioned as surgeon in the United States Army. Later he went to Louisville, where he did service in the hospital, No. 12; later he was given charge of the recruiting company, and in 1863. he went to Nashville, and here was commissioned first assistant surgeon, in the Fourth Tennessee Cavalry. In this command he remained until he was mustered out of the service, at Nashville. July 12, 1865. During the war he was captured, together with Ins company, at Liberty Hill, Ga., and afterward had a chance to escape, but his wounded comrades requesting that he remain with them, he did so. and rendered much medical and surgical aid, and after the imprisonment was over, and be was returned to his com- mand, an officer, in behalf of his comrades, presented our subject with a gold watch and chain as a reward for his services. At the close of the war he returned to bis native State.
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and at Russellville resumed a practice which be continued for nine years, and in the meantime he graduated from the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, and since has attended lectures at Louisville, Cincinnati and New York. In 1876 he located at Talbot. Jefferson Co., Tenn., where he has conducted a successful practice. In 1868 he was united in marriage with Eliza J. Eckel, daughter of Hon. James Eckel. Our subject is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, and is a Master Mason, and a well-respected citizen.
George S. Hale, farmer and stock raiser, was born May 23. 1840, in Greene County, Tenn. He left there in 1870, and moved to Cocke County, but four years later returned to Greene County, and soon moved to his present home in Hamblen County. He began independently when twenty-six years of age, and with some assistance from his father, and he now owns a fine farm of 230 acres along the "Chucky " River, mostly bottom lands. December 12, 1867, he married Nancy J., a daughter of Daniel Jones, a native of Cocke County. Their children were Mary D., Katie R., Joseph D., Charles T., James L .. George S. and Nannie J. (twins, the latter deceased). and Clyde. His wife died February 19, 1884, a Christian of the Baptist faith. Our subject is a Baptist, and in politics is a Democrat, and first voted for Horace Greeley, He is a Master Mason. He is the second of five sons of Joseph and Rebecca C. (Landrum) Hale, natives of Greene County, where they lived and died. His father was born February 9, 1789, and died January 6, 18:3: lived all his life on the same farm. The mother died in 1873, in her sixty-sixth year. The father commanded a company under Gen. Jackson. in the war of 1812, and was elected justice. which office he declined. He was a Baptist and a Jeffersonian Democrat. He was the third of eleven children-seven boys and four girls, all deccased-of Philip and Catherine (Douglas) Hale, natives of Fauquier County, Va., and in 1785, moved to Greene County, Tenn. Philip's father was a native of England, and a brother of Capt. Nathaniel Hale, who commanded a company in the Revolution, under Gen. Washington. after whose Long Island defeat, Capt. Hale volunteered as a spy to learn the intentions of the enemy, and being apprehended was executed the next morning after his capture by the order of Gen. Howe. (See page 126. of the Military History.) In May, 1862, our subject enlisted in Company K, Fifty-ninth Tennessee Infantry, and served until his surrender with Gen. Lee's Army in 1865. He is a highly respected man of more than ordinary ability.
R II. Harle, the subject of this sketch, is a farmer and stock raiser, in the Seventh Civil District, Hamblen County, Tenn., and was born October 2, 1852, on his present home- stead, the old plantation of his father, and the land that our subject's grandfather bought and settled on in 1804. He is the son of John Wesley and Penelope (Hamilton) Harle. The father was born in Hamblen County, and is now a citizen of Morristown. The mother is a native of Dandridge, Jefferson Co., Tenn. Our subject was reared on the farm, and received a limited education in the country schools. He farmed with his father on the old plantation up to 1852. when his father removed to Morristown, Tenn. Then he took charge of the place, and has farmed in his own interest ever since, Decem- ber 31, 1884, he married Sallie Foute, of Texas, but a native of Memphis, Tenn. One daughter. Cary Ethel, has blessed the marriage. Our subject is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. and a Knight of Honor. a successful young Democrat.
John E. Helms, editor and publisher of the Morristown Gazette, was born April 3. 1828, in Botetourt County, Va., and came with his father and family to Knoxville about 1835. When about eleven years old he was apprenticed to Gifford & Eastman, printers. in the office of the Knoxville Argus, for five years, after which, for a few terms. he attended school at the East Tennessee College, now East Tennessee University, until the breaking out of the Mexican war, when he enlisted in Company K. First Tennessee Cavalry, and served one year, being one of the youngest members of his company. After returning home he was offered a Lieutenancy in the Fourteenth Tennessee Infantry by President Polk, but did not accept the proffered commission. He then purchased the Knoxville Standard, and in partnership with his brother, W. T. Helms, published that paper several years. He was also connected with several other papers at Knoxville until September, 1873, when he purchased his present paper of L. P. and G. E. Speck, of which
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paper he still has control. He was postmaster at Knoxville under Pierce's administration. He was the first Odd Fellow initiated in East Tennessee, and that too before he was of age, by special dispensation. November 17, 1847, he married Margaret L. Lones, a native ot Knox County, Tenn. They have four sons and four daughters. She died January 2, 1878, and he then married Miss Sallie E. Vanmeter, a native of Virginia, who was for twenty-five years principal of the preparatory department of Marion (Va.) Female Col- lege. Mr. Helms was elected secretary of the Senate in 1875, and was re-elected in 1877, serving in all four years. He was a son of William S. Helms, a native of Virginia, whose father, Rev. Jobu, was the first Methodist Episcopal preacher in that section of the State. The wife of William S. was born in Litchfield, England, a daughter of Dr. W. Sharrocks, who came to Richmond, Va., about 1703, and there practiced medicine until his death. In 1866 the Gazette was established by Croft & Neal, and soon bought by the gentlemen of whom our subject purchased it. The Gazette's chief circulation is in East Tennessee, although other parts are represented on its lists, as well as other States, reaching about 1,200. It is a thirty-two column Democratic paper, the oldest one published in upper East Tennessee; John E. Helms, Jr., is assistant editor and manager of the paper.
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