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 73
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William Tyler, one of the oldest farmers in Washington County, was born there August 5, 1813, the son of William and Nancy (Phillips) Tyler. The father was born and eared in the Shenandoah Valley, Va., and in 1803 settled on the farm once owned by Gov. Sevier. He died in 1820, at the age of seventy-two. His father came from Scotland. The mother was a native of North Carolina, and a daughter of Robert Phillips, of English stock. She was twice married, but our subject was the only son by her first marriage. She died in her ninetieth year, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject was reared on the farm and educated in Washington College. and has since been a successful and able farmer. In 1842. he married Martha, a daughter of Allen Gillespie. The children are Robert, born December 9, 1843, and deceased in the late war; Minerva, born June 17, 1846, the wife of Rufus Cland, farmer, in Washington County; Isabel, born July 21, 1852, the wife of T. A. Kerr, farmer in Colorado; and Madeline, born May 1, 1855, the wife of Ferdinand Ruble, a farmer of Washington County. November 23, 1879, his wife died, and in 1880 he married Cordelia Crumbly, nee Rose. William and Nathaniel T. are their two sons. She died in 1885. In 1996 he married Martha Broyles nec Bitner. Our subject now resides on the old homestead of his father, and is an earnest man whose union feeling makes him hope that the sad experience of the war may perpetuate our Union, and that Christianity may Christianize our Government.
G. W. Walter, farmer and merchant, was born in Washington County, on his present farm, November 15, 1844, the son of John and Margaret (Kyker) Walter, the former bora in Washington County, Teun., in 1800. the son of Peter Walter, a native of Washington County. Peter was the son of English parents. The father died in 1862, and the mother, born in 1802, died in 1864. She was a devoted Christian of the Methodist faith, while her husband was a Lutheran. Our subject had the advantages of country home and school life, and has devoted himself to farming and merchandising. He is as If. made man and has been generally successful. In 1866 he married Rebecca J., a daughter of Thomas Ellis, of Greene County, and their children are Catherine L. and William S. The mother died in 1871. Our subject then married Manda, a daughter of Jacksou ard
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Ineinda Broyles. Their children are Daniel A., Dorotha A., Marion R., Isaac P .. Virgie F., Leona M. and Mary E. He and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In 1862 he enlisted in Company G. Fourth Tennessee Infantry, United States Army, and served at MeMinnville (skirmish) where his company was captured by Wheeler's brigade, and was also in the Paint Rock campaign. He was mustered out as sergeant. He has since been a merchant and farmer, and is also postmaster at Pilot IIill.
Niles N. Warlick, M. D., was born in Henderson County, N. C., August 28, 1850, the son of Andrew and Lou (Spann) Warlick, the former born in Catawba County, N. C. in 1818, the son of Solomon Warlick, of Pennsylvania, born in 1787, and latter of North Carolina. Andrew is now a successful and respected farmer in Henderson County, N. C., and the mother born in that county in 1828, is the daughter of James Spaan. Both parents have been Methodists for over forty years. Our subject grew up in the country and attended Mill's River High School, and in 1873 began medicine under Dr. J. H. Sinsabaugh in Haywood County, N. C. In 1875-76 he attended the college of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, and engaged in practice in Washington County, until 1884, when he attended and graduated from Baltimore University (medical department). He had located at Jonesboro and has had a splendid practice, and made a high standing in his profession. July 1, 1886, he also engaged in the drug business, the firm being (Dr. D. J.) Gibson & Warlick. They have a fine stock and prescription department. He has been remarkably successful in both. September 6, 1877, he married Ella, a daughter of Will- iam Powell, and born in Hawkins County February 14, 1856. Opie P. is their only child, born June 12, 1878. He and his wife are Methodists.
James A. West, farmer and trader, was born in Washington County, Tenn., September 9, 1846, the son of Edward and Isabelle (Rankin) West. The father was a native of Wash- ington County, Tenn., born in the year 1798, and was of English descent. He was a successful farmer and merchant, and died in 1580, at the present home of our subject. full of years and honors. The mother was a daughter of David Rankin, and was born in Greene County, Tenn., in 1810, and died in 1883. She was a most exemplary Christian woman. Both parents were old school Presbyterians. There were born to them six sons and three daughters, of whom there are now living only three sons and one daughter. Our subject was raised on a farm, and finished his education at Tusculum College, near Greeneville, Tenn .. graduating with honor in 1868. Since reaching manhood, he has devoted his life chiefly to farming and trading. He has represented his county in the Legislature twice, with high credit to himself, being clected in 1873, and again in 1883. At present he is chairman of the county Republican executive committee. The county has no better citizen. He is related, on his mother's side, to Gov. John Sevier. In 18.5 he was united in marriage with Emma C. Glaze, daughter of W. B. Glaze. They have two daughters, named Blaine and Belle. Mr. West now owns a farm of 100 acres, near Conkling. Washington Co., Tenn., and is engaged in farming and trading in stock.
E. HI. West, farmer, is the grandson of Edward West, a native of Virginia, and of English lineage. Edward came to Grainger County, when a young man, and married Elizabeth Humphreys. Of their seven sons and two daughters, Edward, the father of our subject, was the eldest but one, and was born in Grainger County, in October. 1797. brit when he was eleven years old, his father moved to Washington County. where in Decem- ber, 1880, Edward died. He was a prosperous farmer. In 1824 he married Isabelle Rankin, a daughter of David Rankin, of Greene County. They had five sons and two daughters. Our subject, the third eldest, was born in this county, December 16, 1831. and was reared with the usual country advantages. He began merchandising, when he was twenty years old, in his father's store, but with the opening of civil war, he went to the Northern and Western States. After the war he settled up his former business, and has since been farming successfully. December 31, 1868, he married A Eva, a daughter of Col. G. W. Telford. of Washington County, Tenn. She was born in Washington County, February 30, 1539. They have had nine children. Those living ate Samuel T .. Clara B., Edward T .. Mary I., George W. and William A. Our subject is an aggressive
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worker, and he and his wife are Presbyterians. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and a Repub- lican.
Landon White was born July 10. 1844, in the locality where he has since resided. He received a good common-school education. In 1861, when sixteen years old, he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-ninth Tennessee Infantry, Confederate States Army. He served for some time as assistant quartermaster. He was captured at Perryville, Ky., October 8, 1363, and detained as prisoner of war until December 12, 1862, when he was paroled, and afterward exchanged. He began life for himself in only moderate circumstances, and the most of what he is now worth is the fruit of his own practical business ability. Ile gave his attention principally to farming until June 5, 1886, when he purchased a saw mill in Mitchell County, N. C., which he has since managed in connection with farming. He owns a fine farm of 335 acres of land where he resides. He was married January 5. 1870, to Hannah E., a daughter of James and Mary (Kitzmiller) Hodges. Mr. Hodges is still living, and is in his eighty-sixth year. Mrs. Hodges is still living, and is about sev- enty-nine years old. The Hodges were of German descent. To Mr. and Mrs. White seven children have been born: Cleopatra, Lula A. and John. Jr. (twins), James L. (deceased), Bessie O., Frank M. (deceased) and Boneta. Mr. and Mrs. White are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and Mr. White is a Democrat in politics. He is a Master Mason. He is the eldest of five children of John and Catherine (Walters) White, natives of Washington County, Tenn. The father was justice of the peace six years. and was one of the directors of the East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia Railroad from the time it was built until he was physically incapacitated for the duties of the office. He was a man of untiring industry and great energy, and was successful in everything he undertook. He was quite an active Christian worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church abont two years, then he joined the Missionary Baptist Church, to which he belonged until his death, which occurred March 9, 1866, aged seventy years and eleven months. Mr. White was of Trish and Mrs. White was of German descent. Ile was a son of James and Anna White, natives of Virginia, and Washington County, Tenn., respectively. Mr. White came to Tennessee when two years old-about 1873. He was justice of the peace for upward of twelve years, and gave universal satisfaction in the discharge of the duties of his office. When he first settled here the only cleared spot of land in this part of the country is now a part of Mr. Landon White's farm. He was one of the pioneer members of the Baptist Church in this whole country, being a very active and devoted member of that church. When he died he willed $300, the annual interest of which was to go toward the support of the pastor of the church to which he belonged. He died January 1, 1866, aged eighty-four years. Mr. Landon White has for several years taken quite an active interest in the development of the educational advantages of his locality, and has served as school director for several years@
Thomas J. Wilson, one of the oldest citizens of his native county, was born in Wash- ington County May 24, 1811, the son of William and Abbey (Waddill) Wilson, the former a native of Greene County, and the son of William Wilson, a native of Ireland. He was a farmer and trader. The mother, a daughter of John Waddill, was born in this county. Of her nine sons and one daughter, five of the former are deceased. Our subject was reared on the farm, and educated at Old Salem, and for twenty years he was in the iron business, in the employ of Elijah Embree, of Washington County, and afterward manu- factured edge-tools at his present homestead, up to the time of the war. Aside from that he has been devoted to agriculture. October 3. 1833, he married Eliza, a daughter of Elihu Embree, a gentleman of English origin. Their children are Elihu E., William. Elijah E., James M., Susan M., Ester E., Thomas J. and Albert W. Mrs. Wilson died February 15, 1887. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject is also a Methodist, and a highly respected man.
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UNICOI COUNTY.
UNICOI COUNTY.
J. F. Toney, merchant, was born in Carter County, March 13, 1857. the son of Will- iam and Evaline (Price) Toney, the former born in Tennessee about 1834, and died in 1864, while in custody of the Confederates. He was a farmer, and of English ancestry. The mother was born in this State, about 1840, the daughter of Christopher Price. Their children are James F., W. C., Rhoda and David. Our subject grew up, with rural advan- tages, and was left fatherless when seven years of age. He is a self-made man, and has been a merchant since seventeen years of age, now of the firm J. F. Toney & Co., extensive merchants, at Erwin and Flag Pond, Tenn. In 1879 he married Fannie B., a daughter of Clifton Miller. Their children are Mamie, Clifton, John G. and Jessie. For four years our subject was circuit clerk of Unicoi County. He is a Mason.
R. R. Emmert was born in Carter County April 15, 1862. His parents were William C. and Amanda (Renshaw) Emmert, the former born December 10, 1883, in the same county, the son of George and Mary (Hendrix) Emmert, the former a Tennessean, the son of George, who came from Germany, and was a soldier under the command of Gen. George Washington in the Revolutionary war, and said to be related to Robert Emmert, whose family went to Germany after his execution. The father is a lawyer of Erwin, and received a limited education in the common schools of Carter County, afterward farming and practicing his profession. He was State senator from 1875 to 1877. In 1851 he married, and their children are Nannie J .. Peter W., Mary E., Delcena C., Robert R. and Ella. Our subject was educated in the country schools, and in 1886 became circuit clerk, and is a popular official, and is now associated with W. B. Clarke in publishing the Ervin Unakean.
James M. Anderson, farmer, was born in Carter County, Feb. 16, 1846, and is the son of John A. and Elizabeth (Swingle) Anderson, the former born in 1823, in that county, the son of Isaac, who was of Irish lineage. The father is a prosperous farmer and self-made man. The mother was born in Washington County about 1817, and died about 1956, the daughter of George Swingle, and of German lineage. She was the mother of four sons and one daughter, and highly esteemed. Our subject was educated at Milligan College, and after teaching school became a farmer. He spent a year in the Federal service dur- ing the war, and is a Conservative-Republican, and a Mason. October 17, 1872, he mar- ried Eva, a daughter of M. L. Taylor, and born Angust 10, 1850. Their children are Malla E., born August 18, 1873; Landon T., September 17, 1875; Elizabeth M., September 30, 1873; Tommie E., August 22, 1881, and Jennie A., September 6, 1886.
Peter L. Barry was born in Johnson County January 11,1833, the son of Charles and Abigail (Razor) Barry, the former a native of Davie County, N. C., the son of John, a native of Dublin, Ireland, and a teacher by profession. He died during the war of 1812 at Mobile, Ala. The father was born in 1799, a pioneer farmer and iron-worker of East Tennessee. His death occurred in 1863. The mother was born in 1799 in Johnson County, the daughter of John Razor, of German descent. She was a devoted Christian, and the mother of five sons and five daughters. She died in 1876. Our subject is a self-educated man, and grew up on the farm. working in his father's iron-works until he was con- scripted into the Confederate service. While at Knoxville under Col. Blake he was on a furlough bome, and afterward joined the Federal Army as second lieutenant in Company E, Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, serving two years. He now cultivates his farm, which embraces over 200 acres, and contains quantities of iron. He is a minister of the Chris- tian Church, and in 1861 married Mary, a daughter of David M. Stout. Their children are Robert F., Amanda A., Dave M., Catharine and Alexander.
G. E. Swadley, farmer, was born in Washington County, February 27, 1838, the son
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
of Henry and Mary Swadley, the former born in Pendleton County, W. Va., January 2, 1819, the son of George Swadley; Mary, consort of Henry Swadley, the daughter of Christian and Christinia Roadcap, was born in Rockbridge County, Va., in 1808. They are both of German origin. Their living children are G. E., Virginia W .. John W., David C., Susan A. and Barbara A., while two sons and one daughter are deceased. Our subject was educated at Boon's Creek Seminary. After he was of age he taught a few years, and is at present county superintendent of Unicoi County, and is largely self-educated, and is a warm friend to education: as exemplified by his official acts, and is in favor of Federal aid and the prohibition amendment. He studied vocal music in 1861 at Singer's Glen, Rockingham County, Va., at which place he made great progress, and came out with dis- tinguished honors, and was an eficient teacher in the divine art, for which he always expressed an enthusiastic love: but before our subject finished his education, he learned the boot and shoe trade, and was recognized as a good and honest workman, and worked at it when not engaged in teaching, up to April 1, 1969, when he married Susan C., s daughter of Perry and Elizabeth Hunter of Washington County, and of German and English origin. She was born December 10,1844, in the latter county. Their children are Mary E., born July 26, 1872; Laura E. born November 23, 1874: Henry H., born May 24, 1877, and Robert A., born April 26, 1880. Our subject has been a farmer chiefly since his marriage, at which time he located on his present farm of 232 acres in Buffalo Valley, containing some indications of iron ore and manganese.
Madison T. Peebles, farmer, was born in Carter County, January 2, 1825, the son of William and Elizabeth (Sheetz) Peebles, the former born October 15, 1787, the son of Williaro, who came from Ireland to Virginia in 1770, a soldier of the Revolution, and a pioneer of East Tennessee. The father was a successful farmer, and became an extensive land owner, having at one time several thousand acres of farming and mineral lands. most of which he conveyed to his children while yet in the vigor of manhood and prime of life. He was an earnest and active Christian of the Methodist Episcopal Church -- one of the 1828-80 reformers of that ecclesiasticism which culminated in the organization of the Methodist Protestant Church, on a basis of mutual rights of the ministry and laity, and lived a useful life, and died an honored member of that church on June 30, 1875. The mother was born on the left bank of the James River, at what is now known as Eagle Rock, Botetourt Co., Va., September 7, 1194, the daughter of Jacob and Catharine Sheetz, who were of German stock. She was an esteemed Christian lady, of the most active benevolence, and died December 4, 1886. Our subject, one of ten children, was born and reared on his present farm, and has chiefly educated himself since attaining to mature age. He read a full course of medicine from the year 1845 to 1848, and, thus equipped, prac- ticed the "healing art" in the Mississippi Valley for eight years, passing unscathed through the Asiatic cholera that decimated the population of that section in 1849. Tiring of the daily scenes of sickness, sorrow and death. often beyond the reach of human reme- dies to relieve, he returned to the paternal roof in 1856, and during the last thirty years has done quite a considerable practice both in medicine and surgery from motives of charity alone, without the hope of fee or reward. The joint owner with his brother. William J., of a large landed estate, he has united the activities of an agricultural life with the more congenial pursuit of literature, and the two brothers, thus dwelling together in "single blessedness," as co-tenants of the same estate for a quarter of a century past. have each exercised all the rights of an absolute sovereign. He has been a member of the Methodist Protestant Church for thirty seven years, is a friend to all public and private enterprises for the promotion of education among the masses, and the moral and religious improvement of society. He is a Royal Arch Mason, a Past Master and Past High Priest of that ancient and honorable brotherhood, and oue among the oldest Masons of East Tennessee.
W. R. Fagan, farmer, was born in Caswell County, N. C., November 16, 1830. the son of J. G. and Elizabeth ( Martin) Fagan, the former born in 1793, in North Carolina, of English-German origin, and the latter about 1798, in the same State, the daughter of Robert Martin, a soldier of the Revolution. The father, a highly esteemed man, and a
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CARTER COUNTY.
blacksmith, died in 1869. The mother was a Methodist, and died about 1875. Our sub jeet, one of a family of seven brothers and five sisters, learned the blacksmith trade, and has devoted himself to farming, now owning 435 acres in Buffalo Valley. November 23. 1838, he married Eliza, a daughter of Samuel McCorkle. She was born February 16. 1836, and is of Irish-German parentage. Their only child is James M., born August 19, 1854, and educated at Milligan College. He is a farmer, and a merchant, and November 21, 1877, married Margaret A., a daughter of G. S. Ellis, and born November 12, 1868. Their children are Robert S., William R., Maggie N., Grover C. and Eliza L.
F. H. Hannum, farmer, was born in Blount County, July 3, 1837, the son of Henry and Ann E. (White) Hannum, the former a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1803, the son of Richard M., of English origin, and he the son of Col. John, of the Revolution. The maternal great-grandfather was a surgeon in the Revolution. Tho father was reared in Kentucky; married in Virginia, and, after a short residence in Florida , came to Blount County, where he was a physician, and died in 1845. The mother, born in 1810, in Abingdon, Va., was a daughter of Col. James White, and died in 1593, a member of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject, one of a family of three brothers and three sisters, was reared in Blount County, and educated in the institute at Lexington, Va., but has since been a farmer, and with his brother now owns 5,000 acres, in this county, on which are found large quantities of iron, and from which the first steel was manufactured in Tennessee, and perhaps in the South.
W. E. Tilson, farmer, was born in Washington (now Unicoi) County, April 29, 1827, the sou of Peleg and Nancy (Allen) Tilson (once spelled Tillotson), the former born in 1795 in Virginia. the son of William, who became a pioneer of East Tennessee, and a farmer, and was the son of William, Sr., who came from Ireland, and was one of Gen. Washington's aides in the Revolution. The father was a farmer, and died in 1841, in Carter County, having become insolvent through intemperate habits and surety debts. The mother, born in Virginia, in 1800, of German lineage, was the daughter of George Allen, and a devoted Baptist. Her death occurred in 1859, leaving the following children : George, Ruth, John A., William E. and James W. Our subject is largely self-educated, and for several years before the war was a teacher, and now is a surveyor and successful farmer. He owns over 4,000 acres, largely timbered and mineral land. March 14, 1852, he married Minerva K., a daughter of James Sams, of Irish-German origin. She was born September 5, 1831. Their children are Eliza E., born March 4, 1853; Leroy S., born August 13, 1854; James F., born December 21, 1856; Jacob C., born March 14, 1860; Mary J., born October 18, 1862; John Q., born April 5, 1866; Lula, born August 20, 1868; and William J., born August 13, 1871. Our subject is the present clerk and master in chancery, and has two sons, who are practicing physicians, one a prominent educator in North. Carolina, and the other two now in school, the eldest one of whom graduates in the class of 1888.
CARTER COUNTY.
J. H. Alexander, M. D .. was born in Blount (now Loudon) County, October 16, 1845, the son of Francis and Margaret A. (Vickers) Alexander, the former born near Leesburg, Tenn., in 1809, the son of Francis Alexander, a native of Buncombe County, N. C., and who married Jane O'Dair, and became a pioneer of Washington County. He was a farmer, and, with his wife, belonged to the Presbyterian Church. The father, a farmer and blacksmith, moved to Blount County when twenty-one, and died in 1870. The mother, born in the latter county in 1820, was the daughter of James Vickers. Both parents were Presbyterians, and had ten children. Our subject, the fifth, attended the Quaker school at Friendsville, and then entered Maryville College for three years, when he began medicine with Dr. Blankenship at the latter place. During 1870, 1871, and
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
1872 he attended the medical department of the University of Louisville, graduating in 1872. He practiced in Blount County until September, 1872, and then in Elizabeth- ton until the fall of 1879. Ile entered Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, and graduated in ISSO, resuming his practice at Elizabethton, where he has succeeded remarkably. In 1868 he married Sallie ML., the daughter of William T. Dowell, a Methodist minister. She died in 1869, and May 7, 1878, Senorita V., a daughter of B. R. Lutz, became his wife. She was born in Virginia November 6, 1851. Their children are an infant son, born January 31, 1874, and deceased February 2, 19;1; Henry F., born December 7, 1874; Maggie, born April 3, 1877; Edwin C., born February 3, 1879; Sarah, born September 5, 1881, and deceased September 5, 1883; and Nannie, born October 30, 1583, and deceased June 23, 1886. He and his wife are Methodists.
G. A. Anderson, a farmer, was born in Carter County, August 17, 1849, the son of John A. and Elizabeth (Swingle) Anderson, the former born in Carter County, Decem- ber 17, 1823, and is a farmer. Isaac and Elizabeth (McInturl]) Anderson, the parents, were natives of Tennessee, the former, of Irish origin, and the latter of German. J. A., the eldest child, has always been a farmer and stock raiser, and in 1845 married, but the mother died in 1856. In 1858 he married Mary A., a daughter of Solomon Jones, and has three sons and one daughter. He owns 250 acres. Our subject was educated at Milligan College and bas always followed farming, trading and stock raising. July 12, 1876, he married Molly Crockett. Their only child is Elizabeth. The mother died in August, 1877, and February 8, 1882, he married Ida L., a daughter of George T. Anderson, and born February 2, 1856, in Georgia, Johnnie E. and Addie M. are their children. Our sub- ject and wife are Methodists, and he is a man who prefers private life.
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