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 72
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WASHINGTON COUNTY.
the son of Cassimore E. and Catherine (Bayless) May, the former born in Washington County, Tenn., in 1824, the son of Cassimore, Sr., a native of the same county. The next ancestor, also Cassimore, was a native of Germany, and his father dying when the boy was but ten years old, he was bound out, and accidentally throwing a stone so as to break some slate roofing, a punishable offense, the fourteen-year-old lad tied up bis clothes in a handkerchief, and made for America, landing in New York, and working his way to Washington County, Tenn. He was a natural mechanic, and the family now have a pad- lock which be made, and used to protect his stock from the Indian raids. From him down they have been farmers and blacksmiths, the father also being a tanner. In 1858 the father removed to Georgia, but after the death of the mother the children came back to Tennessee, and from his fifth to his tenth year our subject lived with his grandparents. The father again married, and lives in Washington County, Tenn. The mother was born in 1827, and died in 1856. She was the daughter of Samuel G. Bayless. When sixteen our subject went to Knoxville, where he learned the saddler's trade. He taught school in Washington County two years, and in 1879 entered a dry goods store, with a salary of $100 and board for the first year, with an increase of salary to $600 a year. In Septem- ber, 1838, May & Patton (L. H.) was the firm, but since 1885 Mr. May has been alone. He carries a stock of from $5,000 to $6,000, and does about $22,000 worth of business annu- ally. February 14, 1879, Mary E., a daughter of Maj. James E. Deakins, became his wife. She was born in 1856, and died in 1879. Their ;children are William E. and Min- nie E.
Azor Miller, farmer and miller, was born in 1842, in Washington County, where he has since resided, excepting two years spent in Missouri. He began life independently when twenty five years old, and now owns 384 acres in two different tracts, besides valuta- ble mill property. In 1861 he enlisted in the Eighth Tennessee Cavalry (Confederate States Army), and served two years, and was afterward placed in Morgan's command and captured on the Ohio raid, being retained at Camp Douglas eighteen months, and paroled in March, 1865. He has been farming and milling ever since. In January. 1870, he married Kate, a daughter of Bryant and Julia (Earnest) Stephens, natives of Virginia, and among the earliest settlers of Greene County. Their children are Rebecca E., Anna B., Nicholas S., Julia, Jacob A., Benjamin R., Nellie and Azor. He and his wife are Presbyterians, and for three years he has been a deacon. He is a Democrat, a Master Mason, and a K. of H. His parents, Jacob and Anna (Clark) Miller, were natives of Washington County, Tenu., and Virginia, respectively, and of Dutch and Dutch-Irish stock. He also was a farmer and miller, and a man of unusual force of character. He was an active worker in the Baptist Church. Jacob, Sr., was the next ancestor, a native of Pennsylvania, and an early settler of this county. He was a farmer and volunteered for the war of 1812, but too late for service.
Samuel H. Miller was born July 18; 1818, within four miles of where he has since resided. He began doing for himself when twenty-three years old, a poor man, and, excepting a small amount of property he inherited, what he is now worth is the fruit of his own industry and good management. He owns a fine farm of about 240 acres, and. besides 120 acres in another farm. He has given his children considerable property and a good education. Mr. Miller has never undertaken anything, since he was converted Dry years ago, that he didn't ask divine guidance, and he has enjoyed excellent success. He was married November 5, 1840, to Miss Eliza A. Range, a daughter of Jacob and Susan (Hale) Range, natives of Washington County, Teun., where they died, aged respectively about eighty-seven and seventy-three years. To Mr. and Mrs. Miller ten children have been born: Julia (now Mrs. Carr), Elbert S., William P., Susan M. (now Mrs. Carr). Alice E., Peter Q. and Jacob R. (twins). Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as also is all their living children. Mr. Miller was cradled a Whig, but since the war he has voted with the Republican party in politics, and was a strong Union man during the late war. He served as justice of the peace for six years. He was the eldest of ten children-nine of whom lived to be grown-and five of them are still living. of Peter and Mary (Hunt) Miller, natives of Washington County, Tenn. He served in
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the war of 1812 under Gen. Jackson. He was lieutenant of his company. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were active and devoted Christian workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was the leader of his congregation. He was a man of splendid natural abili- ties, and was highly respected by all. Ile was a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Boone) Mil- ler. Mrs. Miller was a cousin of Daniel Boone. Mr. Miller was born in Germany and after coming to the United States, married, and a year later came to Washington County. He had four sons and one daughter. He was a very devoted Christian worker in the Reformed Lutheran Church. Mrs. Elizabeth Miller was a daughter of Susan and Sarah (Crouch) Boone. Mrs. Crouch was born on Boone Creek. The first log hous- ever erected in this county was built on a portion of the land which Mr. Miller owned shortly after he was married. It was torn down three years since.
J. H. Mongle, M. D., was born in June, 1826, in Washington County, Va., on a farm which has been owned by the Mongle family for 200 years. He completed a classical course at Washington College, and attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College. Philadelphia, in 1847. In April, 1848, he began practice in Washington County. Va., and in February, 1859, he moved to Johnson City, where he has been most successful as & practitioner. In 1847 he married Sarah, a daughter of John Wright, a pioneer of Carter County and a minister of the Christian Church. Their children are John A., Thomas N., Mollie C. and Carrie A. All the family, except the daughters who are Methodists, are members of the Christian Church. He is a Republican, and has served several terms as city alderman. He is also a Knight of Labor, and by his practice he has acquired considerable wealth. He was the eldest of seven children of Abram and Rebecca ( Hughes) Mongle, the former born in 1795 in Virginia, the latter in 1812 at Blountville, Tenn. The father was sheriff of Washington County fifteen years, and a judge of the county court for several years. He was also a justice of the peace. They were of German and English blood, respectively. The grandparents were Jacob and Mary (Gobble) Mongle. The great-grandfather, a native of Germany. came to Lancaster, Penn., then to Hagers- town, Md., and finally to Washington County, Va. Daniel and Frederick, brothers of Abram, were settlers in the Indian forts on the Watauga River.
W. A. Nelson was born in 1846 in Washington County, where he has since resided. He was reared on a farm where he remained until twenty-two years old. He graduated in the classical course at Tusculum College in 1869. He first engaged in teaching school at Limestone seven years, and was the principal spirit in the building of Jonesboro District High School. under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The school is surely a credit to Limestone, ranking with the best in this part of the county. On account of ill health, he was forced to quit teaching, when for the following one and ore half years he engaged in farming, and since then he has been engaged in merchandising at Telford and Limestone. He was appointed railroad agent at. Limestone, in March. 1st. which position he still holds. The most of what he is now worth is the fruit of his own industry and good management. He is a member of the firm of Nelson & Sloan. har !- ware merchants. He was married November 17, 1886, to Miss Callie Rorex, a dauzl'ex of J. A. Rorex, a resident of Cocke County, Tenn. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are inembets of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. Nelson is a Democrat in politics, although prohibitive in principle. He was the seventh of eleven children of George W. and Mur hs E. (Yager) Nelson, natives of Washington County. Tenn. The father was justice of the peace for about twenty years, and followed merchandising, farming and trading, giving his attention principally to the latter. He built four miles of the East Tennessee. Virgin & Georgia Railroad, and was a director of the railroad about fifteen years. He was a son of William Nelson, who was a native of Virginia, and one of the earliest so there of Washington County, Tenn. He moved to Polk County. Mo., about 1847, where by dia. Mr. George W. Nelson began life for himself without a dollar, and accumulated en : able property. He was noted for his great energy and splendid practical hesp - ability. When only nineteen years old, he took entire control of "Cranberry ites Works " of Carter County, which prospered greatly under his management He W.s naturally inclined toward the iron business. He was a very public spiritel H ...
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WASHINGTON COUNTY.
especially taking great interest in all educational and religious enterprises. He was a trustee of both Washington and Tusculum Colleges for many years. He was one of the pioneers movers in the building of the East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad, in which he took a great interest, making at times great sacrifices for the Company. At his death he owned about 8,000 acres of land. He died October 17, 1881. by injuries received in falling from a second story of his dwelling, Mrs. Nelson died March 16, 1877.
Col. Thomas H. Reeves, attorney at law and farmer, near Jonesboro, was born Feb- ruary 21. 1843, in Iredell County, N. C. At the age of fifteen he came to Tennessee, and located at Fall Branch, fifteen miles northwest of Jonesboro, and entered the Fall Branch Seminary, at that time one of the best schools in the country. This school was broken up by the war in 1861, and having secured a copy of " Scott's Military Tactics," he soon dis- played such knowledge of the military art, as to cause a demand for his services as " drill master " for the home guards organized by the Union men for home protection. Novem- ber 15, 1861, several hundred Union men of East Tennessee assembled at Chimney Top Mountain, in Greene County, to organize a regiment for the Federal Army, then in Ken- tucky. In this organization he was elected captain of a company of eighty-six men. This command being without arms, equipments or communication with the Federal Army was soon dispersed, and he made his way through the rebel lines to Kentucky, where he entered the Union Army as a private soldier, in which capacity he rendered service until February 19, 1803, when he was promoted to first lieutenant of Company D, Fourth Tennessee Infantry Volunteers. May 29 he was promoted to captain; August 10, 1864, to major; June 5, 1865, to lieutenant-colonel; and July 29, 1865, to colonel of his regiment, at the age of twenty-two years, being one of the youngest men during the war who passed through all the grades from a private soldier to colonel of a regiment. Ile was honorably mustered out of service with his regiment August 2, 1865, and studied law with Judge A. J. Brown, being admitted to the bar in August, 1866. On reorganization of the regular army in 1866 he was tendered the position of captain, which was accepted November 23, and he went on duty at New Orleans. From there he went to Ship Island, Miss., as commander of the post, at which place he contracted disability, upon which be was retired from active service June 5, 1888. March 2, 1887, he was brevetted major and lieutenant-colonel in the regular army for faithful and meritorious services during the war. He resides one mile east of Jonesboro on a fine farm of 275 acres, with a magnificent residence surrounded by a beautiful grove of trees. His family consists of wife, three sons and two daughters. His father, Ira Reeves, died in Iredell County. N. C .. July 19. 1844; his mother is living in Jonesboro. He has been Master of the Masonic Lodge, Dictator of the K. of HI. lodge. Commander of the G. A. R. po-t, justice of the peace. chairman of the county court. county attorney, mayor of Jonesboro, assistant clerk of the Legislature, and United States marshal for East Tennessee. He is now presiden; of the Jonesboro graded school board, superintendent of the Baptist Sunday-school, and devotes his time and means to promote the interests of both. Col. Reeves is & Republican, and served eight years as chairman of the congressional district committee for his district, and for the same length of time, as a member of the Republican State committee. In 1876 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention at Cin- cinnati. He was president in 1896 of the Republican State Judicial Convention, and has the reputation of being one of the best parliamentarians in the State. He started in life without a dollar or an influential friend to help bim-working at the blacksmith's trade from the age of eight years until fifteen, but now enjoys the comforts of life, and attrib- utes all his blessings and success to the Bible promise, "That all things work together for good to them that love God."
W. R. Reeves was born June 20, 1850, on the farm, where he has since resided when permanently located. He received an academical education, and attended school at Emory and Henry College, Virginia, one term; was thrown upon his own resources when of age, and has always followed farming. He owns a tine farm of upward of 200 acres, where he resides. He was married in 1851 to Miss Mary, a daughter of John A. and Ellen (feeter) Murphy, natives of Pennsylvania and Washington County, Va., respectively.
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They were of Scotch-Irish and German descent. Her father was a prominent and successful physician. To Mr. and Mrs. Reeves two children have been born: Edward Murphy (dead) and Mary Ellen. Mr. and Mrs. Reeves are members of the Methodist Episcopal and Lutheran Churches, respectively, and Mr. Reeves is a Democrat in politics. He has served as recording steward and steward of his class, and has also served as Sunday- school superintendent, and in various ways has taken quite an active part in church work. He was the youngest of eight children of William P. and Mary (De Vault) Reeves, natives of Washington County, Tenn. He was a carpenter by trade, and was one of the best house carpenters of his day. He built the hotel at Limestone Springs, S. C., a very fine building, composed of 110 rooms. He was a very active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was recording steward about forty years. Mrs. Reeves was a member of the same church. Mr. Reeves died August 20. 1885, aged about eighty-two years. Mrs. Reeves is still living, and makes her home with her son, our subject. Mr. W. P. Reeves was a son of Edward and Nancy ( Miller) Reeves, natives of North Carolina, and Washington County, Tenn., respectively. He came to Tennessee when about twenty- five years old, where he married. He was drowned in Wolf Creek, Ky., when about forty-eight years old. Mis. Mary Reeves was a daughter of Valentine and Susanna ( Range) De Vault. Mr. William Reeves began life for himself a poor man, and accumulated con- siderable property by his industry and good management.
Edward Rogan, farmer, was born September 3, 1843, in Sullivan County. He went to Knox County when about thirteen, and attended East Tennessee University. When the war began, he enlisted in Capt. Blair's Company, of the Sixty-third Tennessee Infantry, in April. 1862, and was paroled at Montgomery, Ala., in April, 1865. He then became a clerk, and in 1868 engaged in business for himself in Sullivan County, Tenn. He continued merchandising until 1978, since which date he has been on his purchased farm. He was also traveling salesman for Lee, Taylor & Co., wholesale grocers, at Lynchburg, Va., in 1884-85, and then for a season he was in the same capacity for Hoar, Morgan & Co., wholesale shoe dealers, at Philadelphia. He now owns a good farm of 265 acres. In May, 1872, he married Isadore, a daughter of John F. Deaderick, a native of Washington County. Their children are Rosa D. (deceased), Carrie L. and Sue D. vife died November 30, 1883, and January 6, 1886, he married E. R. Deaderick. 're Presbyterians, and be was a ruling elder one year at Blountville. He is a Dem- wat. His parents, C. H. P. and Caroline (Powell) Rogan, were natives of Sullivan County, His mother was born in Washington, D. C. His father was notary public at Knoxville, where he was engaged in merchandising up to the time of the capture of that place, when it was confiscated. He became general bookkeeper for the East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia Railroad, and also acted as paymaster for eleven years, and is now assistant bookkeeper for the company. Daniel and Catherine Rogan are the next ances- tors, and were natives of Scotland and the United States, respectively. He died about 1842, aged about eighty-one years, and the mother died about 1846, aged about eighty- two years.
Henry Hunter Ruble, farmer, was born in Washington County. June 23, 1828, being the son of Henry E. and Pheba A. (Hunter) Ruble, the former born in this county June .6, 1797, the son of John Ruble, a native of Pennsylvania. John's father, Mathias, was born in Germany, probably Bavaria. Henry E. was a teacher and farmer. and died December 2, 1868, in Washington County. The mother, a daughter of Jacob Hunter, was born in this county December 8. 1796. Our subject and two sisters are the only living children of three sons and two daughters. She died August 9, 1876. Both parents were Cumberland Presbyterians. Onr subject was reared on the farm, and educated at Wash- ington College, and has long been a successful farmer. On September 14. 1849. he was married to Elizabeth J., a daughter of Edward West. She was born May 26, 1827. They have five sons and six daughters. He and his wife are Presbyterians.
Elbert A. Shipley was born in Washington County, eleven miles from Jonesboro. February. 18. 1549, the only child of Nathan and Mary (Jones) Shipley, the former born in Washington County, in November, 1822, the son of Enoch, a native of the same
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county, and in tura the son of Nathan, a native of Baltimore. Nathan was a member of the Legislature, and a surveyor of Washington County for several years, which office the father also held from 1805 to 1881, when he resigned, and now lives in the suburbs of Jonesboro, a representative of one of the oldest and most prominent families. The mother was born in this county in October, 1827, the daughter of John Jones, a prominent advocate of the Methodist teaching, although not a minister. Our subject was the only child, and attended school at Fall Branch and Jonesboro until 1850. He entered the Federal lines early in 1866, joining Company I, of the Eighth Tennessee Cavalry, but was not mustered on account of ill health. After the war he farmed and attended school until 1863, when he clerked for J. D. Cox, of Jonesboro, but soon farmed again. In 1870 he became a partner of Dr. M. S. Mahoney, as merchant at Jonesboro, under the firm name of Mahobey & Shipley. In 1874 Dr. Mahoney became a silent part- ver in the firm of Shipley, Smith & Co. For two years our subject had been deputy cir- cuit clerk, and in 1875 took charge of the office in connection with Mr. Luttrell, the clerk. In 1876 the firm was dissolved, and Mr. L. C. Peoples took Dr. Mahoney's place. In 1877 our subject became claim commissioner at Washington also, but resigned the same year on account of his home business. In 1878 he was elected county clerk, and re-elected in 1882, and retired voluntarily in 1886. He abandoned merchandising in 1880, since when he has been farming and raising stock near Jonesboro, on a good farmi of about 450 acres. He is now secretary of the Jonesboro Board of Education, and is an able financier, whose services vastly improved the finances of the county when he was its clerk. December 4, 1873, he married Jennie R., the daughter of Shelby T. Shipley, born in Jonesboro in 1550. Five of their six children are living. Both are Methodists.
Wendell D. Snapp was born in Washington County, August 27, 1820, and was reared on the farm. He was educated at Washington College and at the law school of Lebanon, Tenn., but, being the only child of an aged father in charge of a large farm. he then remained at home, and has always devoted himself to agriculture, and with marked success. October 15, 1868, he married C. L. Snapp, a daughter of John P. Snapp, of Greene County, Tenn. She was born in Greene County June 28, 1844. Their children are Abraham L., John P., Hawkins W. and Rhea McE., born on the following respect- ive dates: June 20, 1870; March 17, 1872; January 30, 1875, and July 22, 1880. He. his wife and eldest son are Presbyterians. He is a trustee of Washington College, and is postmaster at Brownsboro. Lawrence Snapp and wife, the great-great-grandparents, natives of Germany, came to America, to Shenandoah County, Va., in the carly part of the eighteenth century. Their son, Lawrence, Jr., was born about 1732, and married Mary G., to whom was born Abraham, the grandfather. He married Mary Foglesong, of German lineage, and settled in Washington County, about 1801, on the land our sub- ject now owns. In 1797 Abraham, the father, was born, one of six sons and eight daugh- ters: Lawrence, George, Peter, Joseph, Abraham, Jacob, Catherine, Sallie, Lena, Betsie Flora, Mary, Patsey and Peggie. The father was a farmer, and October 10, 1826, mar- ried Mary Patton, to whom was born Dr. S. T. Snapp, deceased. She died October 30, 1897, and November 3, 1829, he married Matilda Wendell, a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Hawkins) Wendell, and born at Lexington, Va., November 17, 1804. Our subject was their only son. The father died March 31, 1875, and the mother November 8, 1822, both devoted Christians.
G. W. St. John, was born in Smyth County, Va., July 29, 1832, the son of Berry and Hannah (Dungan) St. John. the former born in Campbell County, Va., December 1S, 1793, the son of George St. John, of Scotch-Irish origin. The father was an extensive farmer, and died at the age of seventy-six, a member of the Baptist Church, The mother was born in October, 1800, in Smyth County, Va .. the daughter of John Dungan; she died at the age of seventy-six years, also a Baptist, Our subject is one of eight sons and five daughters. He was reared in Smyth County, Va., with country advantages, and has always been a successful farmer. He lost much that he had gained by trading. through the war, but has since recovered all. He now lives near Carter Depot, Tenn. May 10, 1866, he became the husband of Mattie A., a daughter of John Blair, at Loudon, Tenn.
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Their children are Frank B., James T. and Lena M. He and his wife are Methodists of the Southern branch.
Benjamin T. Swingle, farmer, was born in Washington (now Unicoi) County, May 11. 1816, the son of George and Mary M. (Haynes) Swingle, the former born in Maryland, in 1779, the son of Leonard Swingle. George is supposed to be the name of Leonard's father. Our subject's father was a millwright, and came from Maryland about 1800, and married the daughter of George Haynes in 1807. Their children are Sarah. Leonard MI., George W., our subject, Mary M., Eva E. aud Margaret H. The mother, born in 1787. was of German blood, and died April 27, 1844. The father died June 20, 1836. He was a Lutheran and the mother a Methodist. Our subject was reared of the farm and educated at Holston Seminary, New Market. Tenn. He has been a farmer, but has devoted some years to merchandising and milling, as he is a millwright by trade. In 1970 he became clerk and master in chancery and served two terms. During the war he was in the quar- termaster service in the Federal Army. November 13, 1888 he married Margaret L., a daughter of James Cochran. of Irish lineage, who was born September 11, 1822, in Greene County, Tenn. Their children are George W. (March 11, 1841), William C. (March 27, 1850), James F. (April 29, 1859), ------- , J. J. C. (February 3, 1861), Mary J. (December 1, 1839), and Margaret E. (March 26, 1848). The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
George W. Swingle is a son of B. F. Swingle, whose sketch may be seen above. Our subject was reared on the farm and educated in rural schools. For eight years in early life he was merchandising in Johnson City and with marked success. He has since been as successfully devoted to agriculture. September 12, 1876, he was married to Eliz- abeth Cornelia, a daughter of Franklin and Evaline (Vincent) Hunt, who was born in Sullivan County, Tenn., July 10, 1854. Their children are Eva B. (June 21, 1977), Hugh F. (August 21, 1879), Alvin E. (July 4, 1882), and Charles W. (September 27, 1885).
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