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 59
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J. C. Hodges, attorney at Morristown, was born in Claiborne County, Tenn., in 1837, and was educated at Tazewell College. He removed to Morristown in 1858, studied low with llon. T. W. Turley at Morristown, and was admitted to the bar in 1861. At the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion he raised a company for the Confederacy, being the first volunteer from Jefferson County. Failing to complete the organization of his com- pany, he joined the Nineteenth Tennessee Infantry, and was afterward promoted to a Lieutenancy in that regiment. He was in command of his company at Shiloh, where, on the second day of the battle, he was severely wounded. After recovering from his wound, he raised a second company, which composed part of the Sixtieth Tennessee Infantry. At Big Black River, in April, 1862, the regiment was captured, and, with most of the officers of the regiment, our subject passed about twenty-one months in prison at Johnson's Island. His family having "refugeed" to North Carolina when Longstreet left East Tennessee, he found them in Jefferson, in that State, at the close of the war. where he remained until October, 1866, at which time he returned to Morristown and began the practice of law. In 1874 he was elected senator from the Second Senatorial District, serving one term.
W. A. Howell, farmer, was born in 1830 in the locality where he has since resided. He began teaching at fifteen years of age, and from that time until he was eighteen he was a pedagogue, and then became a clerk for Morris & Noe, on Crosby's Creek. Tenn., for three years. He then returned to his old home, and began his career as a farmer, in connection with dealing in stock and real estate. He has been elected justice of the peace since 1873, and was elected chairman of the county court in 1875, having served six years in succession, and ten years up to January, 1887. Since 1875 be has been a stockholder in, and since 1878 a director of, the Lookout Bank. In 1852 he married Mary, a daughter of John and Mary (Allen) Lillard, old citizens of Cocke County. Their children are John L., an eminent physician of Tulare City, Cal., and William E., a farmer and stock dealer in Hamblen County, near Morristown. He has been a clerk in the Bap- tist Church for thirty years, to which church his wife also belongs. He is a Democrat, but was formerly an old line Whig. He is the son of Jesse and Eleanor (Milligan) Howell, who had a family of seven children, two boys and five girls, and was reared on the old homestead in Grainger (now Hamblen) County, the home county of his wife. The father served twelve years as justice of the peace, and was deputy sheriff of Grainger County. He was the son of Caleb Howell, a native of North Carolina. and one of its pioneers, who served in the war of 1812. Our subjeet's wife died in 1856. and in 1859 he married Saletha, a daughter of Col. Allen Bettis, of Jefferson County.
Pleasant M. Kirkpatrick, a prominent and highly esteemed citizen of Hamblen County. was born in Jefferson (now Hamblen) County, January 15. 1815, the youngest of six children reared to maturity. He remained on the farm until the date of his marriage. January 1, 1846, when he married Harriet Rutherford, a native of Greene County, and
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they located on the farm of 450 acres, one mile west of Whitesburg, their present home. He has a beautiful two story brick residence, near which is one of the largest and finest springs in Hamblen County. He was deputy sheriff of Jefferson County several years. before the war, and also followed merchandising a few years, but farming has occupied the most of his attention. He has a family of six sons and two daughters, as follows. Granville K. (married), who is now engaged in general merchandising at Johnson City, Tenn .; Augustus W. K. (married), in the photograph business, at Athens, Tenn .; Elliott K., in the general merchandise business, at Whitesburg. Tenn .; Lafayette (married), farming near Moorseburg, Tenn .: Wilkins W. K., in clothing and furnishing goods business, at Johnson City, Tenn .; John B. K., with G. K., in the general merchandise business, at Johnson City, Tenn. ; Mary and Martha, at home, with their parents. Our sub- ject was treasurer of the Kyle Masonic Lodge about twenty years, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The father, Wilkins, was born in Virginia about 1792, and, in youth, located on Bent Creek, within the present limits of Hamblen County, where he married Sarah Hoskins, whose parents then resided on the farm now owned by Rufus F. Taylor. There they resided on Bent Creek, near Bays Mountain, until their respective deaths, in 1842 and 1838.
Garret Lane, farmer, was born in 1816, in Jefferson (now Hamblen) County, where he has since resided and been engaged in farming all his life. When twenty-two he began for himself, aud now owns 190 acres of fine land. October 10, 1839, he married Lucinda, a daughter of William Maskall, a native of Tennessee. Their children are Lewis, Pheba C., William, Catharine, Malinda J., James R., John W., Mary E., Isaac A., Sarah A. and Garret M. He is a Republican. and first voted for Harrison. He is the fifth of eleven children of Isaac and Rebecca (Scruggs) Lane, natives of Jefferson and Greene Counties respectively. The father was constable for several years, and was the son of Tidence Lane, a native of North Carolina, and for many years a justice of the peace. The Lanes are of English stock, and Tidence and his wife lived to be about ninety years of age, the family being noted for longevity. They were among the best farmers in the county. Our subject has been a school commissioner for several years, and is a man of integrity and honor.
John Lawrence, farmer, lawyer and minister, was born September 23, 1834, in Jeffer- son (now Hamblen) County, and received both an academic and collegiate education. From his fifteenth year he had the management of his father's interests, until the latter's death. On February 23, 1876, he married Callie, a daughter of James Hale. Their children are John J., Velara M., Robert L. T. and Maud E. He and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, in which he was licensed to preach in 1873. He studied law under Judge Rose, and was admitted to the bar in 1877, to practice in the courts of the county and State. He is an Odd Fellow. He owns the "Richard's Farm." on which he lives, a fine farm of 275 acres, well managed, and rich in iron ore; and a third interest in an 800-acre tract. Hle is the sixth of seven children born to John and Amy (Mccullough) Lawrence, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, and of Irish and Scotch- Irish origin, respectively. The father, a son of James L., was a soldier in the war of 1812, under Gen. Jackson, at the famous battle of "Horse Shoe Bend." The Lawrence family, in America, are descended from an Irish girl, who, in crossing the Atlantic, was sold to pay her passage, to a man who afterward married her. Of four boys, Abbot and William Lawrence, the noted cotton manufacturers of Lowell, Mass., are descendants of those who staid in Massachusetts, and the others went to Georgia. The maternal grandfather. James McCullough, a native of England, came to America before the Revolution, and settled on the Yadkin River, in what was formerly Rowan County, N. C. He was a descendant of the royal family of England, was a graduate of Oxford, and was admitted to the legal bar, but never practiced. He was an informed man of his day, and very wealthy, taking an active part in public affairs. As an excellent surveyor he assisted in establishing the boundaries of many counties in North Carolina. He was very liberal and benevolent. Our subject is a man of ability and education, and a highly respected citi- zen, and an agreeable neighbor.
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James II. Lones, a farmer in Hamblen County, Tenn., was born three miles west of Knoxville, Tenn., February 29, 1820. He is the son of Jacob and Jane (Hicky) Lones. The father was born in Shenandoah County, Va., in 1502, and in youth immigrated to Knox County. Tenn., and was one of the pioneer settlers of the county. He was the son of Henry Lones, a native of Bucks County, Penn., born September 4, 1765, and died in 1848, in Knox County, Tenn. He was among the first settlers of Knox County. He was of German parentage. The father of our subject was a farmer, and was a lieutenant in the war of 1812. He was a useful and well respected citizen, and died at his home in Knox County in 1847. The mother of our subject was a native of Virginia, and was of English origin. She reared a family of five boys and five girls, of which children our subject is the third. He was reared on the farm and received his education in an old field school in Knox County. He remained with his father in the main, until his death. His principal occupation through life has been farming. On July 31, 1850, he was united in marriage with Comfort Knox (Peck) Tate, a daughter of David Tate and Mary Chamberland. Her father was a native of Botetourt County, Va., and in youth came to Tennessee. He was an extensive farmer, and was the owner of what is known as Chamberland Bend, Grain- ger County. He was of Irish-Scotch parentage, a practical farmer, and died at the ripe old age of eighty years, ending a useful and eventful life. The mother of Comfort was a Tennesseean, and was the daughter of Jeremiah Chamberland, a native of Ireland, and one of the earliest settlers of East Tennessee, prominent in its early annals. Comfort is the fourth of a family of ten children, born in Grainger County January 14, 1822. To her marriage with our subject two children have been born, a daughter and son. Their names are Mary and William. Our subject was in the Mexican war. He has been suc- cessful in his undertaking; has been a man of prudence.
W. H. Maze, a prominent citizen of Morristown, was born within the present limits of Hamblen County in 1841, and reared on a farm until the outbreak of the war. He enlisted in the Union Army. First Tennessee Cavalry, with which he served until the close. He then followed farming until 1873, when he was elected tax collector of the county, and after filling that office two years, he resumed farming. In 1880 he was elected sheriff, whose duties he discharged until September, 1886. The paternal grandparents, William Maze and his wife, were from Halifax County, Va., and after marriage located on the farm where our subject was born. and there resided until their deaths. Our sub- ject's father, William, who then became possessor of the estate, was born in 1801, and married Elizabeth Jacobs, by which union a family of four sons and four daughters were reared. He was a colonel in the State militia, and died in 1866, his wife's death occur- ring about twenty years before. Our subject, two brothers and three sisters are the sur- viving members of the family. The youngest brother, Lafayette, served in the Ninth Tennessee Federal Cavalry, and died in Andersonville prison in 1864. In 1876 Mr. Maze married Louisa Holloway, a native of Jefferson County.
J. H. MeClister, a farmer in the Eighth District, was born in 1844. in Jefferson (now Ham- blen) County, Tenn. When seventeen years old he began doing for himself. He enlisted October, 1862, in Company I, Second Tennessee Cavalry, Confederate States Army, and served until April, 1865, when he was surrendered with Johnston's army in North Caro- lina. He then went to Knoxville, and engaged in merchandising, at which he continued three years, when he came back to his home district, and taught school two terms. Then he went to Rutledge and was principal of Madison Academy at that place for two years. He then went to Rheatown, Greene County, and was principal of the school there six years, at the end of which time, on account of ill health, he gave up school teaching, and has since engaged in farming. He began life a poor man, and what he is now worth was accumulated by his own industry and good management. He now owns a fine farm of 200 acres. He was married in 1974 to Miss Maggie Ford. a daughter of P. W. Ford. of Petersburg, Va., a tanner by trade. Four children have blessed this union: Ida L., Lena L., Mertie M. and Carl H. Mr. and Mrs. McClister are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. McClister has been a ruling elder eleven years, and has recently been elected delegate to the general assembly of the church, to meet soon at St. Louis.
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Mr. MeClister is Democratic in politics, and cast his first presidential ticket for Horace Greeley. He was elected a justice of the peace in 1882 on a Democratic ticket, in a strong Republican district, and has been re-elected at each election since. He was elected chairman of the county court in January, 1887. He is the second of six children of David and Maria (Helen) McClister. Mr. and Mrs. McClister are natives of Jefferson County. He is a son of James McClister, a native of Ireland.
Judge William McFarland was born at Dandridge, Jefferson County, in 1821, and in childhood moved to Springvale, which is within the present limits of Hamblen County. Here he was reared, and educated at the common schools, and merchandised from 1850 to 1861. He studied law under Judge Robert M. Barton, and in 1863 was admitted to the bar; then, in November, 1866. located at Morristown in the practice of his profession, which he continued until 1869, and was then appointed judge of the circuit court, to fill an unex- pired term. In 1870 he was a candidate to the State convention, and in 1874 was elected to Congress from the First Congressional District, being elected over Judge Butler. He was a candidate for re-election in 1876, bat was defeated by Judge Randolph. He was mayor of Morristown several years, retiring from office in 1885, since which he has resumed the practice of law. In 1850 he married Nancy A. Turley, a sister of the deceased Judge Turley. To Mr. and Mrs. McFarland five sons and three daughters have been born; one of each is now deceased, and Mrs. McFarland's death occurred in 1883. He is a director in the Morris- town Stove Works, which have recently been organized with a capital of $20,000. He is a Free Mason, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. His wife was also a member of the same church. Robert McFarland, Sr., the grandfather of our subject, was a lieu- tenant in the Revolutionary war, and moved from North Carolina to Wythe County, Va .. and from the latter place came to Jefferson County, Tenn. (within the present limits of Hamblen County), in 1783, and lived here fill 1887, being the first sheriff of Jefferson County. Subject's father, Robert McFarland, was born in Jefferson (now Hamblen) County, and during the war of 1812 was a recruiting officer in the United States service, being located on the Canadian border. After the war of 1812 he returned to this vicinity, and was elected colonel of the State militia, and was also justice of the peace many years. He died in 1844. The father of our subject first married a Miss Barton, by whom two chil- dren were born, one, Judge. Isaac B., now residing in Texas; the other deceased. After the death of his first wife, he married Mary Ann Scott, the mother of our subject, who was a daughter of Irish parents. By this marriage our subject, one brother (Judge Rob- ert McFarland) and four sisters were born, of which family our subject and two sisters are surviving, the mother having died in 1866.
William M. Murdoch, a prominent citizen of the Eleventh District, was born in Washington County, Va., in 1828. He was reared on a farm until maturity, and then followed merchandising at Abingdon, Va., until 1857, at which date he located in Haw- kins County, near the site of Rogersville Junction. In 1861 he married Bettie J., a daugh- ter of Redden S. Taylor. for whose biography see sketch of the Taylor family. Daring the war he was at Saltville, Va., and shortly before the close located on the Holston River. in Hawkins County, where he remained three years. He then purchased his present home farm of 300 acres, including a part of the north side of Bays Mountain. He is a Mason. and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The grandfather. John Murdoch, was in the Revolution, and entered land near Abingdon, Va., about 1780. He was a native of Ireland. The father, Joseph, was reared on the entered land, and followed agricultural pursuits until his death, just prior to the late war. The mother, Martha (Lee), was a daughter of Dr. Archer Lee, and a cousin of Robert E. Lee. She was a native of Abingdon, and died the year previous to her husband's death. Our subject, two brothers and three sisters, are the survivors of a large family. Joseph P., a brother, served throughout the war in Lee's army.
C. G. Nenney, farmer and Inmber dealer, was born in 1834, within three miles of where he now resides. He received his education at Tusculum College, in Greene County. Tenn., and commenced life independently at twenty-two years of age. For one year he farmed, and in 1957 was appointed agent for the East Tennessee Railway Com-
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pany, which position he held for twenty-eight years. Since his resignation, in March, 1886, he has been cugaged in farming and lumber dealing, at Russellville. In 1Stt he was married to Ellen, a daughter of William T. and Lucinda (Doak) Smith. Their chil- dren are Lucy (deceased), Chester and Nellie. They are Presbyterians, in which church he has been a deacon for five years. He is a Democrat, first voting for Buchanan. Heis the third of six children of Charles P. and Sarah (Galbraith) Nenney, natives of Jefferson (now Hamblen) and Greene Counties respectively. The father was active in politics. and was engaged in merchandising and farming. He was instrumental in the building of the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railway. The grandparents, Patrick and Lucy (Bramlet) Nenney were married in Augusta County, Va., the former a native of Ireland, and first permanent resident of this county, at Bent Creek, about 1790. The mother, Sarah, was a daughter of James and Nellie ( Martin) Galbraith, natives of Pennsylvania. of Scotch-Irish stock, and among the earliest settlers of Greene County. The grand- mother, Nellie, was a daughter of Mrs. Ann Miller, of Pennsylvania.
William James Owen, a farmer and mechanic in the Seventh District; was born April. 10, 1810, in Rockingham County, N. C., was brought to Grainger County, Tenn .. when quite small, and afterward moved to Greene County, where he lived three years. and then moved to Jefferson (now Hamblen) County, Tenn., where our subject has since resided. He learned carriage and wagon-making when seventeen years old, which he fol- lowed twenty-one years, when he purchased a farm where he has since resided. He began life for himself, a poor man, and by his industry and good management has become quite comfortably fixed. He now owns a fine farm of 262 acres. where he lives. He was married, February, 1847, to Mary Jane Taylor, a daughter of James and Lucy (Jones) Taylor. Mrs. Taylor was a daughter of Daniel Jones, of Cocke County, being one of the earliest settlers of that county. To Mr. and Mrs. Owen ten children have been born: James, Elizabeth (now Mrs. Sullenbarger), Robert N .. Rufus M., Richard, Thomas, Lucy (now Mrs. Humstead), Mattie Bell, Franklin Jones, and the eighth child born (William) is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Owen are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Ower is Democratic in politics. He cast his first presidential vote for Andrew Jackson, and was captain of the militia for a number of years. He is the second of nine children of Richard and Martha ( Wilhoit) Owen. Mr. Owen was born and raised near London, Eng- land and when seventeen years old went on the sea as a sailor, which life he followed seven years; he then settled in North Carolina, where he married. He was a tanner and cur- rier by trade. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a son of Richard Owen. After the death of Mrs. Richard Owen, Jr., Mr. Owen married Miss Mary Harrison. By this union five children were born. Mr. Richard Owen, Sr., was a soldier in the war between England and France, and was commissary for a part of the army. Mrs. W. J. Owen died June 11, 1884.
W. G. Read, proprietor of the Read House, and a farmer at Russellville, Tenn .. was born in 1846 in Hawkins (now Hamblen) County, where he has since been permanently located. He received an academical and collegiate education, attending school at Bur- lington Academy, New Jersey; and at Princeton College, which ill health compelled him to leave before completing the course He afterward attended law school in the law department of Transylvania University, at Lexington. Ky., when he again was forced to quit school on account of ill health. He served as acting clerk and master at Rutledge, Grainger Co .. Tenn., four years. He then engaged in farming until three years since, when he moved to his present location. He was married in 1873 to Miss L. A. Legg, a daughter of J. P. Legg, who was a native of Knox County, Tenn. Four children have blessed this union: G. Pearl, Harry P., William P. and James P. Mrs. Read is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Read is a Republican in politics. He cast his first presidential vote for U. S. Grant. He was the only child of Daniel I. and Barsheba C. (Cobb) Read. Mrs. Read was a native of Hawkins County, and Mr. Read was born in Middle Tennessee, and when small was brought by his parents to the locality of Morristown. When ten years old he entered James Deaderick's general store as a clerk, in which capacity he served. until he was grown, when he engaged in stock
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trading and farming until abont 1850, when he accepted the position of bookkeeper for Cowen & Dickenson's, wholesale house, at Knoxville. Tenn., where be proved himself one of the most exact and thorough accountants of the country. After serving in that capac- ity for several years he again engaged in farming. He began life for himself a poor man. and through his excellent ability as a practical business man accumulated quite a fortune. Mr. and Mrs. Read were of English descent. Mr. W. G. Read owns a fine farm of 450 acres on the Holston River, and besides an interest in the bome farm. Mrs. Daniel Read died June 23, 1848, aud Mr. Read was married a second time in 1869 to Mes. Mary Anderson. formerly Miss Atkinson. Four children blessed this union-two of whom only are now living. Mr. Daniel Read was a son of Thomas Read, who was in some of the Indian wars under Gen. Jackson, and who married a daughter of Daniel Inman, of Jefferson County, Tenn. He was a son of Phelps Read, who came from North Carolina to Tennes- see when a young man, about 1785. He was of Scotch-Irish descent. Mrs. Daniel Read was a daughter of William Cobb, who was born August 10, 1783, on the Wautauga River. He was a son of Pharoh Cobb, a native of Virginia, who was a son of Benjamin Cobb, a native of England, who settled on the Wautauga River, about the year 1769. He lived to be one hundred and ten years old, and before his death he got his second eye sight, and a part of his third sot of teeth. Mr. William Cobb was married to Isabel Cooper in 1:27, by which union two children were born-both now deceased. Mrs. Daniel Read was born September 24, 1829, and died June 23. 1818.
M. J. B. Roberts, of Carriger, Roberts & Co., druggists, was born in Knox County. Tenn., in 1855, and from the age of seventeen taught school six years. He then came to Morristown, and became a clerk of various general merchants until 1SS1, when he entered the drug business with W. P. Carriger, continuing until January, 1886. From that time until the following May he filled a position with Chapman, White, Lyons & Co., wholesale druggists, Knoxville, when the present firm was formed. His father, Will- jam Roberts, was born on Sinking Creek in Knox County, nine miles east of Knoxville. in 1819, and moved to Beaver Creek, north of Knoxville, when he was nine years old, and reared at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, until youth, when he moved to the vicinity of Knoxville, where he still farms in connection with following his trade, cat- pentering. His mother, Caroline (Smith), is also still living, a native of East Tennessee, and reared near the block house in Knox County. Our subject is the second child of two sons and two daughters, one of the former being deceased All his grandparents were pioneer settlers of Knox County. Our subject is a Methodist.
Thomas Rogan, a Russellville lawyer, was born July 20, 1925, in Sullivan County, Tenn., and began the study of law at nineteen years of age with Thomas A. R. Nelson. and when of age was admitted. He began the practice of law December 31. 184;, at Tazewell, Claiborne County, where he remained until September, 1851, when he moved to Lockhart, Tex., and continued in practice at that place for ten years. Since then be has been in his present location. In December, 1833, he married M. L. Granam, a daugh- ter of Hugh Graham, native of Ireland, and one of Claiborne County's pioneers of the earliest days. Their children are Catherine M., Margaret C. (deceased). Hugh G .. Grif- fith C., Maggie L. (now Mrs. Millar), Willie (deceased), and Ellen P. Our subject is a Presbyterian, of which denomination he has been a ruling elder since about 1548. He is a Democrat, and first voted for Cass, for whom he was a sub-elector. stump-speaker. aud otherwise active. He is the eldest of eight children of Griffith and Mary (Smith) Rogan, natives of Botetourt County and Washington County. Va., respectively. The grandfather. Daniel Rogan, was a native of Ireland, and before his marriage became a resident of Virginia, and afterward one of the earliest pioneers of Sullivan County. Tenn. Griffith and Daniel both were successful business men, and remarkably expert in penmanship. Hugh Graham was also so successful that he acquired a considerable fortune. Our sab- ject practices in all the courts of Tennessee, and has made as an attorney a high rank His dwelling is one of seven houses, the only one now used for residence, built about 1799, and its owner is a man highly respected and prominent.
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