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 66
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G. L. Gammon, a merchant at Caney Branch. Greene Co., Tenn., was born in Sulli- van County, Tenn., September 30, 1853, and is the son of Alooney and Sarah A. (Pence) Gammon. The father was a native of Sullivan County, Tenn., born in 1806, and died in 1876, and was a son of Richard Gammon, Sr., who was a native of England, and was a pioneer settler of East Tennessee. The mother of our subject was also a native of Sulli- van County, Teon., and was the daughter of Col. David Pence, a native of Virginia. She was the mother of seven children-two sons and five daughters-of which family our sub- ject is the eldest but one. He was reared on the farm and received a limited education in the country schools; he worked on the farm till 1870, and then began work on the farm of Enoch K. Bachman, of Sullivan County. He next worked at carpentry, and still later clerked for parties of Sullivan County. In 1883 he began traveling for Spencer & Brown. of Greeneville, Tenn. In 1887 he formed a partnership with R. G. Gammon, and began merchandising at Caney Branch, Greene Co., Tenn. He is a practical business man, and is young and energetic.
R. G. Gammon, a merchant at Caney Branch, Greene Co., Tenn., was born in Sulli- van County, February 14, 1856, and is the son of Abram L. and Sarah A. (Gammon) Gammon. His father's father was Hon. Abram L. Gammon, and was a farmer and mer- chant by vocation. Our subject was reared on the farm, and received a limited educa- tion in the country schools. He farmed early in life, and clerked for a while at Cedar Creek, Greene County, and in 1878, formed a partnership with George Gammon, and went to merchandising at Caney Branch. In 1880, he became sole proprietor of the establish- ment, and afterward conducted a good business for six years. In 18? he formed a part- nership with G. L. Gammon, and the firm is now carrying on general merchandising at Caney Branch. Our subject is a self-made man, universally respected, and is postmaster at Caney Branch.
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William Girdner, M. D., was born at Flag Branch, Greene County, September 19, 1808. the son of Conrad and Eva (George) Girdner, the former born in Northhampton County. Penn., February 20, 1787. The father was of German origin, the son of Michael and Huldah (Beach) Girdner. Conrad was two years old when they set out with two horses and a wagon for the wilds of Tennessee, in February, 1792, on a seven weeks' journey. Comad went to school to Charles O'Neal. an Irishman, who was teaching during one of the In- dian wars. In 1807 he left home and married Elizabeth, a daughter of Yost George. who spent the first four years of his life in Germany. Conrad then settled on the land given him by his father. His grandfather David and his wife, the latter driving, came to Greene County with a team of horses; he died on Richland Creek, and Conrad died at his home May 11, 1882. Our subject, Catherine, John, Delilah, Luther, Eliza, Mary J., Stephen, Alexander, Nancy and Sally are Conrad's children. William graduated from Greeneville College when about twenty-two, and began studying medicine under Dr. Broyles. He began practice May 1, 1837, at Cedar Creek, Greene County, and has scored over a half century of success. September 24, 1839, he married Mary A., a daughter of John Link. Their children are Robbley, Douglason, Laura, Ione, Emma, William H. and John H. She died September 14, 1871, and June 24, 1884, M. J. Cavener, nee Leming, became his wife. Our subject earned his education himself. He has been a Lutheran for about sixty years.
J. K. P. Hall, clerk and master of chancery, and claim agent, was born in Greene County, May 9, 1840, the son of David F. and Lydia (Robertson) Hall, the former born in the same county in 1808, the son of William Hall, of Virginia, a pioneer of the county. David was a magistrate for about eighteen years, and died July 6, 1812, a Quaker in relig. ion. The mother was born in 1805, the daughter of John Robertson, a farmer of Green County. She withdrew from the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and joined the Bap- tist. Our subject attended school at Fall Branch, and August 11, 1862, enlisted in Com- pany B, Fourth Federal Tennessee Cavalry, and became first lieutenant in December fol- lowing. He was mustered out at Nashville, July 12, 1865. He then farmed and prose- cuted claims against the government, and in 1881 became deputy United States revenue collector, Second District, but in 1885 he again engaged in the claim agency, and in No- vember, 1886, was made clerk and master of chancery. He is a member of the G. A. R .. at Jonesboro, and of Johnson Masonic Lodge, at Fall Branch, and of Jonesboro I. O. O. F. Lodge, and K. of II. at Jonesboro. September 4, 1866, he married Martha J., a daughter of William Hall, a native of Greene County. They have five children. He and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
John Hardin, merchant and stock dealer, was boru north of Greeneville, October 4. 1839, the son of Cornelius and Annie (Cox) Hardin, the former born in 1809; John was the Dame of the next two direct ancestors. The great-grandfather was killed in a charge against the Indians near the site of Chattanooga. He was a captain, and made the charge against his own judgment, knowing it was certain death. His dying message to his wife was that their unborn child might be given his name, and that boy became one of the pioneers of Greene County, and served in the war of 1812. He died, in 1845, a prominent man. The father, a farmer and stock dealer, died August 18, 1873, esteemed by all. The mother, a daughter of Eliacom Cox, a native and leading citizen of Greene County, was born in 1813, north of Greeneville, near where she now lives. She is a Methodist. Our subject was educated at Greeneville Academy, and farmed until April. 1863, when he enlisted in Company A, Fourth Tennessee Federal Infantry. In the fall he was captured at McMinnville, but was paroled at once. He joined his command at Knoxville, and served until August 18, 1865. He has since been farming and stock dealing with success. The firm of Trim & Hardin, merchants, began in 1887. July 4, 1861, he married Malinda. 3 daughter of John Kidwell, and born near Greeneville in 1811. Their children were Robert A., born May 17, 1802; Charles, born July 17, 1866; Cornelius, born October 14, 1871, John K., born October 6, 1875, and Lillian, born January 23, 1883, deceased November 3, 1986. He and his wife are Methodists.
Landon C. Haynes was born in Greene County, Tenu., February 27, 1857, the son of
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James G. and Sarah E. (Campbell) Haynes. The father was a native of Tennessee. born July 23, 1832, and died July 4, 18:3. He was the son of Joseph Haynes, a native of Tennessee, and of German descent. Our subject's father was a carpenter by trade. and was universally respected by all who knew him. The mother was also a native of Ten- nessee, was born July 15, 1884, and is the mother of three children, viz .: Joseph C .. Landon C. and Cicero. Landon C. was reared in the country until eight years of age, and afterward in Greeneville. He was educated in the Tusculum College, from which institu- tion he graduated in 1877, and in the same year be became tutor of ancient languages in the college, and later, in 1881, became professor of mathematics. In 1882 he married Jennie C. Brown, a daughter of Col. John Brown, of Greene County. Two sons have blessed their marriage. Our subject is a self-made man. When he had finished one year's work in college his father died, and our subject was left with no means to complete his educa- tion: but he applied himself closely, and by energy and hard toil earned enough to defray the expenses to complete his collegiate education. He is a young man, and is very pro- ficient in his profession. He is a sober and industrious man, a member of the Presby- terian Church, and is universally respected by all who know him.
J. J. Howell, M. D., the subject of this sketch, is a practicing physician at Rboatown, Greene Co., Tenn., and was born in Wilkes County, N. C., June 18, 1849. He is the son of S. S. and Elizabeth ( Ferguson) Howell. The father was a native of North Carolina. and was of English descent, and was & farmer; he died November 11, 1880, at the age of seventy-two. He was a man of tact, social and religious, and was a well respected citizen. The mother is a native of Wilkes County, N. C., and daughter of John B. Ferguson. of North Carolina. She is the mother of five children -- three sons and two daughters -- all but one sister lives. The mother still lives in her native county. Our subject was reared on a farm, and educated in the Greeneville and Tusculum Colleges. He began the study of medicine in 1874, and began practicing in Greene County, Tenn., in March, 1876. He graduated from the Vanderbilt University, at Nashville, in March, 1884, when he returned to Rheatown, and resumed a successful practice. He is a self-made man. He had zo advantage of money to educate himself, but by his own energy and perseverance earned enough to defray the expenses of an education. His work for securing money was selling books, and working in the harvest field. In 1876 he was united in marriage with Sarah R. Leming, daughter of John Leming. To this marriage are born five children-three daugh- ters and two sons: Flora, Rowland, Minnie, Wayland and Macie. Our subject is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, is a Master Mason, and very temperate.
J. M. Hunter, a farmer and stock dealer in the Seventh District, was born in 1834 in Greene County, where he has since resided, and where he permanently located, having traveled quite extensively over the United States. He began life for himself, a poor man. and what he is now worth is the fruit of his own industry and good management. He owns & fine farm, where he now resides, of 3174 acres, another of 231, and another of seventy- five acres. He has given his attention principally to stock dealing. at which he has been very successful. He was married in 1868 to R. C. Allen, a daughter of Samuel Allen. a native of Greene County. Three children blessed this union: William (deceased), Rebecca (deceased) and Charles Washington. Mrs. Hunter was killed February 14, 1884. by parties evidently desiring to kill and rob Mr. Hunter. Mr. Hunter was married Septem- ber 15, 1885, to Miss N. S. Hawkins, a daughter of Dr. Joseph Hawkins, a native of Greene County, a very successful medical practitioner, and who was very popular. Mis. Hunter was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and Mr. Hunter is a Democrat in politics, and cast his first presidential ticket for James Buchanan. He is a Master Mason, and a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge. He is the fifth of eight chiliron -- two sons and six daughters-of John and Lettie (Self) Hunter, natives of Greene County. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was a very successful farmer and stock dealer. Mr. Hunter was a son of Sammuel Hunter, a native of Ireland, immigrated to America. settling first in Washington County, Va., and afterward moved to Greene County. Tenn , being one of the earliest settlers of the last named county. He was a farmer by ocen pation. He had eight children-three daughters and five sons: Thomas, John and Samuel
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lived and died in Tennessee, William and James moved to Missouri, where they died unmarried. Thomas Hunter's children moved to Missouri, excepting Frederick, who moved to Indiana.
M. F. Jerolds, M. D., was born June 8, 1823, in Kentucky. He received an academ- ical education and began medicine when but eighteen, under Dr. I. N. Hodgin, and attended medical lectures at Louisville Medical College. He began practice in 1845 at James Cross Roads, Washington County, and has had an extensive practice ever since. He was a surgeon in the Second Tennessee Cavalry, United States Army. from 1862 to 1965. In December, 1845, Lucinda, a daughter of Jeremiah Wells, a native of Sullivan County, became his wife. The children were Alice, Henrietta (deceased) and William (deceased). She died in September, 1854, and in December, 1855, he married Nancy A., a daughter of Benjamin Blackburn, native of Washington County, Tenn. Their children were Oliver (deceased), John C., Frank M. (deceased) and Fannie HI. He and his wife are Presby- terians, but his first wife was a Methodist. He is a Republican, and in 1877-78 repre- sented his county in the Legislature. He has been a Mason for about thirty-eight years. Ile is the second of six children of Jesse and Nancy A. (Quinby) Jerolds, natives of Washington and Sullivan Counties, respectively. He was a farmer, the son of George Jerolds of Ireland, who was one of the leading pioneer farmers of Washington County.
A. S. Johnson, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Greene County, December 21, 1897, on Cedar Branch, near Old Stone Dam Camp Grounds. He is the son of Thomas and Mahala (Gfellers) Johnson, the former, a farmer and dealer in stock. born near the foot of McCartner Mountain in 1804, and died in 1870. The mother was born in Greene County, on the banks of the Nollichucky River in 1805. She still lives in this county. Of three sons and five daughters one of the latter and two of the former are deceased. Our subject was reared on the farm, and attended country schools. He has been success- fully engaged in farming and stock-dealing all his life. In October, 1850, he married Matilda A., a daughter of Benjamin Gray, of Greene County. Their two sons and three daughters are all married. Our subject is a Master and Royal Arch Mason. He Dow owns 350 acres of finely improved land, and 8,000 acres of mountainous land, on which at a height of 6,000 feet is the well-known summer resort, Cold Spring.
Robert M. Jones was born in Jefferson (now Hamblen) County October 28, 1847, and is the son of Thomas M. and Lavenia A. (McFarland) Jones. The father was born near the present Hamblen County line, in Cocke County, Tenn., in 1816, and was the son of Daniel Jones, who was a native of Virginia, who immigrated to Cocke County, Tenn .. at a very early date in the history of the State, entering land in that county and becom- ing one of the pioneers of that county. He served in the war of 1813, and was a promi- nent citizen of that locality. Thomas M., the father, is a farmer by vocation, and removed to Jefferson County in about 1815. He followed farming in Hamblen County for a number of years, and then removed to Cocke County. He moved from one place to another until 1881, and then took up his home with his son, our subject. The mother was born at Spring Vale, Jefferson Co., Tenn., and was the daughter of Robert McFarland, who was born on the same farm as his daughter (and was the son of Robert McFarland) who was a native of Scotland, and one of the first settlers of Jefferson County, and was the first sheriff of that county. She was a sister to Robert McFarland, who served as supreme judge of Tennessee. She died April 17, 1850. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject was reared on the farm until his seventeenth year, and attended school in the public schools of the neighborhood and at Greeneville, where he secured a practical edu- cation. At the age of seventeen years he began railroading, beginning as a brakeman and working his way to fireman, then engineer and conductor, and was the first con- ductor on the Morristown road (western North Carolina branch of the East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia Railway-Buncombe). He quit railroading in April, 1873. and engaged in merchandising the following year at Warrensburg. Greene County, where he remained for two and a half years, and then engaged in farming at his present farm, and has continued up to the present, making a success of the same. He is a public-spirited man, and always encourages worthy public enterprises, and takes an interest in the
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schools and churches. He is energetic and enterprising, and is universally esteemed and respected by his neighbors. He was married, June 23, 1874. to Ellen Bible, who was born April 9, 1856, and was the daughter of David and Diana (Foubion) Bible, both of whom are natives of Tennessee. To this union two children were born, both of whom are liv- ing. The wife died August 17, 1879, and December 28, 1852, he was united to Jennie Crosby, who was born in Lick Creek, near Midway, Greene Co .. Tenn., October 3. 1852, and is the daughter of Lemuel Crosby, one of the leading citizens of the Fourth District of Greene County. She is a member of the Baptist Church.
George E. Kenney, a farmer in the Eleventh District, was born in Angust. 1894, in Greene County, where he has since resided. He began life for himself when twenty-two years old in only moderate circumstances, and the most of what he is now worth is the fruit of his own industry and good management. He owns a good farm of about 250 acres. He was married, in 1856, to Miss Mary Weems, a daughter of William Weems, a native of Greene County, Teun. Two children blessed this union: John C. Breckinridge (deceased) and Wilbur C. Mrs. Kenney died in February, 1865. He was married a see- ond time, in January, 1806, 10 Miss Louisa Brown, a daughter of Rev. Alexander Brown, a native of Greene County, Tenn. One child blessed the last union-Laura (deceased). Mr. Kenney is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a Democrat in poli- tics. He east his first presidential ticket for James Buchanan. He was elected justice of the peace in 1800, and has been re-elected at each election since excepting one, when he was not a candidate. He has given umversal satisfaction in the discharge of the duties of his office, none of his decisions ever being reversed. He was the eldest of twelve children of James and Elizabeth (Weems) Kenney, natives of Greene County, Tenn. The father was a very successful farmer all his life, and took quite an active interest and part in religious affairs. He died about 1859, aged about fifty-eight years. Mrs. Kenney died in 1883, aged sixty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Kenney were of Irish and English descent respectively. Mrs. Elizabeth Kenney was a daughter of James and Hannah Weems, natives of Greene County. Tenn., and of Virginia respectively. Mr. James Keuney's father was of Irish descent, and was a weaver by trade.
Rufus J. Kidwell, was born four miles north of Greeneville on the waters of Roaring Fork of Lick Creek, Greene County, on April 2, 1825, and is the son of Elijah and Polly (Hankins) Kidwell. The father was born in Greene County in 1802 and was the son of Joshua Kidwell, who was born in the valley of Virginia, and was the son of a native of Wales, England. Joshua, the grandfather, came to Tennessee in about 1787, and settled in Greene County, of which he was one of the pioneers; coming when there were but few white meu here and the country was overrun with Indians. He and a brother were engaged in the Indian campaigns, and the latter was killed in the assault upon the Indians at Lookout Mountain. Elijah, the father, was a farmer and carpenter and carried on the two vocations jointly, making a success of both. He was an industrious and energetic man; though well known and highly esteemed, he never entered public life nor ever held a county office, being of a retiring disposition, and uever asking for office. While at work erecting the residence in which H. D. Maloney now resides on Chucky River, he contracted a fever from which he died on August 28, 1842. The mother was born in New Jersery in 1798, and was the daughter of William Hankins, who was a native of Scotland. He immigrated to Tennessee at the close of the Revolutionary war, and settled in Greene County on Roaring Fork of Lick Creek. She was a pious Christian lady. and died in 1962. She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. A peculiarity of the grandparents of our subject was, that each lived and died on their original farms and the same are in the possession of their children. Our subject was raised on the farm, and attended school at the common schools of the county, and finished his education at a private or subscription school taught by Thomas B. Jarnagin, of Jefferson County, who was edu- cated at Tusculum College. At the age of nineteen years his health failed him, and he learned the saddler's trade under Joshua C. Lane of Greenville, serving an apprenticeship of three years. After learning the trade he located at Springvale, near the bend of Chucky, in Jefferson (now Hamblen) County, and engaged in tanning and manufacturing leather
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into saddles, boots, shoes, etc. In November, 1856, he removed to Russellville, and engaged in merchandising, and sold goods over two years, and then opened a large tan- nery on the Barton farm, about half-way between Russellville and Morristown, and con- ducted that establishment during the progress of the late war. He is a sympathizer of the Federal Government, but did not enlist in the war. He gave freely of his goods to the poor of both sides, refusing in no instance to respond to the calls of the people for leather. At the close of the war he removed to Morristown, and in connection with D. Morris and others in merchandising, tanning and manufacturing leather, remained at that place until August, 1875. He then removed to Rogersville, Tenn .. and for four years was con- nected with the Rorgersville Female Institute, and educated his daughters at that school. Hle then located on a farm, nearly two and one-half miles west of Rogersville, followed farming until 1882. and then removed to Warrensburg, engaged in merchandising. and has continued up to the present, meeting with much success. He carries a general stock of merchandise of about $4,000, and does about 812,000 of business annually. He was nnited in marriage at Springvale, Tenn .. on October 28, 1851, to Emma McFarland, who was born at the above place, July 1, 1830, and is the daughter of Col. Robert McFarland, a son of Robert MeFarland, Sr., and a sister of Robert McFarland. who was one of the supreme judges of Tennessee. To this union eight children have been born, all of whom are living and grown. Robert G., the oldest son, is railroading in Texas, with head- quarters at Fort Worth. and Charles E. is engaged with his father in merchandising. Florence, the eldest daughter, is the wife of W. J. McSween, a lawyer of Newport, Cocke County, Tenn., and the other daughters are at home. Both our subject and wife and all his children are members of the Presbyterian Church.
Samuel W. Leming. farmer and stock raiser, was born in Greene County, August 7, 1840, the son of John and Rhenemah (Henshaw) Leming, the former a native of Cocke County, born December 20, 1798, died in this county November 17, 1855. He was a mill- wright about eighteen years, and among the first of his trade in East Tennessee, and also engaged in farming. Samuel, a native of North Carolina, was the next ancestor, and came to East Tennessee at an early date, being one of the pioneers of East Tennessee. He was in the Indian wars and the war of 1812, the scabbard knife he used in that war being in the possession of our subject, along with two conch-shells used by his grandpar- ents. The mother, a daughter of Washington Henshaw, was born in this county Septem- ber 15, 1810, and died April 22, 1882. Her father came from Rockingham County, Va., to this county in 1199, and erected the first mill of any importance in Greene County, and was active in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject, the eldest of eight children, was reared on the farm, and educated at Tusculum College, which the war caused him to abandon for the Confederate Army, Company L, Fourth Tennessee Cavalry. He was at Chickamauga and Murfreesboro, and surrendered with Gen. J. E. Johnstou. After a trip West he settled on his present farm in Greene County. In 1878 he married Martha Mc. Alexander. Their children are Frauk E., J. Gertrude, Bessie C., Mary P., Susan E., Cora; A. and Thomas D. He and his wife are Methodists. He has been president and treasurer of the county agricultural association, and is now on the executive committee. Hc is a trustee of Tusculum College, and one of the committee who built the present building. He has also been a steward in his church for eighteen years.
James Love, "our subject, is one of the prosperous farmers of Greene County, and was born about three miles north of his present home in the Third Civil District, on June 20. 1824. He is the son of Charles and Hannah ( Evans) Love. The father was a native of Greene County, Tenn .. and was of English extraction, and was a farmer. The mother also was a native of Greene County, and was the mother of fourteen children-ten sons and four daughters. Our subject is the fourth, and was reared on the farm, and educated in the country schools. Hechas farmed successfully all his life. He had a very limited capi- tal to begin the occupation with, and has been very energetic, and by hard toil has been successful in his calling. He owns and cultivates a farm of 317 acres, situated on the Nollichucky River, and also owns two other farms: one of 250 acres. in the Fifth Dis- triet. and 143 acres in the Fourth Civil District. His land is good, and he has it mo ler-
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