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 75
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
1296
BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
1791, and died at Ringgold, Ga., May 22, 1864. In June, 1836, there being trouble with the Indians, especially the Creeks, the Government called out troops, and our subject being then nearly nineteen, volunteered in the United States Army, to protect white set- tlers, and gather up and remove the destitute bands of Indians, west of the Mississippi. On completing his teri of service and receiving an honorable discharge, he came to Jonesboro, and entered school, where he remained until February, 1839, when he com- menced the mercantile business, with his brother, under the firm name of A. & D. Jobe. at Ringgold, Ga. In 1811 he commenced reading medicine with Dr. Samuel B. Cun- ningham, of Jonesboro, Tenn. In 1813 he commenced practice, at Burnsville, N. C. In 1814 he married Sophronia, only daughter of James H. Poteet, born in Yancey County. N. C., May 8, 1826, and in 1845 moved to Elizabethton, Tenn., where he practiced medi- cine and surgery up to and during the war. In 1848-49 he attended Transylvania Uni- versity, at Lexington, Ky., and graduated from the medical department. In February, 1806, be received the appointment of special agent of the postoffice department, with headquarters at Raleigh, N. C., and served in that capacity three years and a half. While in this office, the Secretary of the Interior, learning that the Doctor had a knowledge of Indian character, procured a leave of absence from the postoffice department, and appointed him sp cial agent of Indian affairs, and sent him to the Chippewa Na- tion, in the northern part of Minnesota. This was a dangerous mission. The In- dians had recently murdered their principal chief, and were ready to go on "the war path." By traveling about 800 miles in the Nation, and holding councils with them at their towns, he was enabled to appease their wrath, and settle their misunderstandings. Our subject and his wife are Methodists. Five of their
eleven children are deceased. E. D., the only living son, married Eva Taylor, sister to Gov. Taylor; Emma is Mrs. J. B. Miller; Mollie is Mrs. Dr. Hunter; Hattie is the wife of Nat. W. Taylor, brother of Gov. Taylor; the single daughters are Ruth and Sallie.
Robert T. Johnson. The paternal grandfather of our subject, was Jacob Johnson. who immigrated to Tennessee from Millerstown, Md., soon after the close of the Revo- Intionary war, and settled near Eden Ridge, within five miles of Kingsport, Sullivan County. He was a farmer by vocation, and also kept a taveru. He lived there until his death. which occurred in about 1854. He was married to Elizabeth Church, who was a native of Maryland, being born near Hagerstown. She died in 1848. To the grand- parents six children were born, of which our subject's father was the fourth child. Thomas C., the father, was born in Sullivan County on June 5, 1806. He was reared on the farm and acquired a practical education in the schools of the neighborhood. He removed to Carter County in 1834 with Dr. Joseph Powell. Sr., with whom he made his home and studied medicine, but never practice.l. Ile was a farmer by vocation, and was quite a prominent man in the county, and served a number of years as deputy sheriff and coroner, and was lieutenant- colonel of militia, and also major and adjutant under Col. Daniel Stover. He was a member of Deshield Lodge No. 238, F. & A. M., but was initiated in Kennedy Lodge of that order. He was an industrious and enterprising citizen, and always took an active part in public affairs. He was industrious and successful, and accumulated a good competency. He died January 5, 1879. The maternal great-grandfather of our subject was Samuel Tipton, who was the eldest son of Col. John Tipton, who fought in the battle of Franklin with Gen. John Sevier. Col. John Tipton immigrated to Tennessee from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and settled in what is now Carter County during the Revolutionary war. He was the grandfather of Gen. Jacob Tipton, for whom Tipton County, Tenn., was named. Abraham Tipton, the grandfather of our subject, was the son of Samuel Tipton, and was named for Col. Abraham Tipton, who was killed in Bear Grass, Ky., during the Revolutionary war by Indians. Ile was born in Carter County August 27, 1794, and married Martha Lacy of Carter County. He served as sheriff and justice of the peace of Carter County for a number of years, being elected sheriff in 1838, the first one after the adoption of the new constitution. He was elected to the State Senate in 1849. He was also adjutant and major of militia. He died July
1297
CARTER COUNTY,
3, 1868. To this union two children were born, of which our subject's mother was the second. Nancy J., the mother, was born in Elizabethton on November 7, 1818. The par- ents of our subject were married January 8, 1837, and to them have been born nine children, six of whom are living. The children are as follows: Martha E., born May Us, 1838, now Mrs. Huff. of Doyle Station, White County, Tenn .; Sarapbenia, born Decem . ber 30, 1840, married John T. King, of King's Springs, in Carter County, and died November 2, 1894; Anna M., born December 13, 1843, now Mrs. D. N. Reece, and living at Carter Depot, Carter County; Mary C., born September 6, 1847, now Mrs. W. T. Rucher. of Doyle Station; Ada L., born January 3, 1850, married Hiram Bowman, of Johnson County, and died December 8, 1877; A. T., born May 28, 1853; Eugene, born November 7, 1859, died same day; Robert T., born December 20, 1860; William, born February 25, 1856. A. T., is a resident of Elizabethton. William is United States mail agent on the Last Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia Railway, between Bristol and Chattanooga. He was mar- ried April 6, 1887, to Miss Ella Bridewell, of Knoxville, and is also a resident of Elizabeth- ton. Robert T., the subject, is depot and express agent and telegraph operator at Elizabethton, and is also engaged in merchandising at that point, being senior member of the firm of Johnson & Waters. He was married September 6, 1883, to Josie E. Hyder. youngest daughter of Elder J. H. Hyder. To this union three children have been born. The mother of Mrs. R. T. Johnson is a sister to Andrew Fletcher, who was Secretary of State under Gov. Brownlow's administration.
J. J. MeCorkle, farmer, was born in Sullivan County, January 4, 1846, the son of Samuel and Lucinda (Colbaugh) McCorkle, the former a native of Tennessee, and born in 1818, the son of Joseph, a native of Pennsylvania, and of Irish origin. The father was a highly successful farmer, and died in 1883. The mother, born in 1812, in Sullivan County, was the daughter of John Colbaugh, a soldier in the war of 1812, and a farmer. Their children were William M., John J., Eliza, Mary, Martha, Susan and Harriet. Our subject educated himself by the light of a pine knot, and has been very successful as a farmer. When seventeen years old he joined Company H, Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, and was mustered out April 6, 1866, as captain, in the First United States Artillery. Ho has since been farming, and for five years was a trustee, and for four years a sheriff. Sep- tember 20, 1866, he married Ruthey E., a daughter of John and Louise (Arntes) Hentrix, and born in Carter County January 15, 1849. They have eight sons and four daughters. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church, of which he is an elder. He is an able and esteemed man.
D. S. Nave, merchant, was born September 2, 1836, in Carter County, and when fif- teen years old his father's death compelled him to support the family. He is now owner of 101 acres of land, besides a stock of goods at Hampton, where he has been a merchant for two years. In 1866 he became revenue collector, and served until 1870. September 23, 1863, he joined Company A, Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, and was mustered out Sep- tember 5, 1865, at Knoxville, as first lieutenant, while he had first been orderly sergeant. In March, 1860, he married Elizabeth Bowers, a native of Carter County. Their children are Daniel S., Jr., Mary J., John T. and Sarah L. He and his wife are Baptists. of which church he has been a deacon two years. He is a Republican. He is the ninth of ten children of T. and J. (Stover) Nave, natives of Carter County, and died at the ages of fifty-four and seventy-eight, respectively. They were Baptists; he a prominent deacon. The Stover family were of Dutch descent. The grandparents. Abraham and Mary (Williams) Nave, were among the first settlers of Carter County, and were Baptists. Abraham was the second son of Teter Nave, who, with three sons, was among the first pioneers on the Watauga River.
Andrew J. Peebles, a minister and farmer, was born in Carter County, January 16. 1829. the son of William and Elizabeth (Sheets) Peebles, the former a native and farmer of Carter County, and died in 1875, at the age of eighty-nine. The mother was born in Virginia, and died in 1836, aged ninety-two. They had six sons and four daughters. Our subject was educated at Paperville, Pleasant Grove and Fall Branch, and in 184 began the practice of medicine, partly in North Carolina. Mississippi and Tennessee. In
1208
BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
the war he was a quartermaster, and since then has been a farmer, now owning 325 acres in the Fifth District. February 11, 1858, he married Clarissa II., a daughter of Henry Ray, and born February 7, 1841, in North Carolina. They have four sons and two daugh- ters. He is a Methodist, and his wife a Missionary Baptist. Our subject is a Mason, and postmaster at Okolona. Their eldest son, Rev. H. M. Peebles, was educated at Milligan College, and is now an itinerant Methodist Protestant minister.
J. P. Scott, proprietor of the Watauga Woolen Mills, and one of the pro minent citi- zens of Carter County, was born in that county August 19, 1834, and is the son of John and Jane (Humphreys) Scott. The father was born in Washington County in 1997, and was a soldier of the war of 1812, participating in the battle of Horse Shoe. He was a carpenter by trade, and also followed farming. He was quite prominent during his life, and served as a captain in the militia. He died in 1857. His father was Absalom Scott, a native of Scotland, who immigrated to Maryland, where he was married, and then came to Tennessee and settled in Washington County, of which he was one of the pioneers, The mother was born in Carter County, on Doe River, three miles above Elizabethton, in 1808, and was the daughter of Elisha Humphreys, a farmer of Carter County. She died in 1868. She was a member of the Baptist Church. To the parents were born nine children, of which our subject is the fifth. He was reared partly on the farm, and also worked at different trades. In 1869 he associated himself with Messrs. Isaac Slinker and C. II. Lewis, and established the Doe River Woolen Mills. both of whom were Northern men, and were attracted to the location, and its rare advantages by the report of the State geologists just after the war, and by the lectures delivered in the North by N. G. Taylor, the father of the present governor. Remaining with that establishment for about six years, he then sold out his interest in that mill and established the Watauga Mills, of which he is the present proprietor. He was married, in 1870, to Emma Jose- phine Fletcher, who was born at Newport. Cocke County. in 1844, and is the daughter of A. J. Fletcher. To this union seven children have been born, two of whom are dead.
The Watauga Woolen Mills, J. P. Scott, proprietor, of Elizabethton, Tenn., were established in 18:6 by the present proprietor. The mills have a daily capacity of about 300 yards, while during the year 1886 upward of 45,000 yards of goods were manufactured. It has water and steam power and 315 spindles, and uses 150 pounds per day. About $15,000 capital is invested. The large two-story building is on the Watauga River, one mile from Elizabethton.
Judge J. P. Smith, chancellor of the first chancery division of Tennessee, was born in Johnson County, March 30, 1846, the son of A. D. and Mary (Powell) Smith. the former born in Wilkes County, N. C., in 1808, the son of Caleb Smith, a native of North Caro- lina. Eleven brothers, including the father of the latter, were with Gen Gates in the Revolution, and two were killed. Caleb married Elizabeth Doren, a daughter of Robert Doren, of Ireland, and afterward, in 1810, a pioneer of Tennessee. The marriage occurred in North Carolina. He was an iron bar manufacturer and farmer, and died before our subject was born. The father was a sheriff of Carter County about 1880, and in 1835 became sheriff of Johnson County, after which he became circuit clerk, until 1856. He was a lawyer, and engaged in active practice until 1863, when Gen. Burnside authorized him and John K. Miller, as lieutenant-colonel and colonel. to organize the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, but he died in November, 1863, before the organization was completed The mother was born near Washington City, Va., February 27, 1816, the daughter of John Powell, a sea captain, who died while his daughter was a child. She came to her
relatives in East Tennessee, and in 1832 was married. Our subject, the sixth of eight children, grew up in Johnson County until his seventeenth year, attending James Keys private school at Taylorsville. He then joined Company B, Fourth Union Tennessee Infantry, at Nashville, scouting through the Confederate lines to Kentucky. In October. 1864, be became second lieutenant; and was mustered out August 2, 1865, at Nashville He then entered a claim office in Knoxville, and continued until November, 1867, when he began law, and assisted in the clerk's and master's office at Elizabethton. He wa, admitted to the bar in October, 1869, and in 1870 began practice in Johnson County, where
1209
CARTER COUNTY
he resided until December, 1880, and then became assistant United States attorney for the eastern district of Tennessee. On July 8, 1885, he resigned and moved to Carter County, and in 1886 became chancellor of the first chancery division. He was married in Febru- ary, 1867, to Mary A., a daughter of William Craig, born July 2, 1816. Two of their niue children are deceased. He and his wife are Presbyterians.
John C. Smith, clerk and master of the chancery court, was born near Elizabethion, August 26, 1844, the son of James G. and Rosana (Ellis) Sinith, the former born in 1:13, in North Carolina, the son of Caleb Smith, of Pennsylvania, who is mentioned in the sketch of J. P. Smith. The mother was born in Carter County, the daughter of John Ellis. Our subject was educated at Elizabethton, and when seventeen went through the lines, and July 2, 1862, joined Company F, Second Federal Tennessee Infantry, and on November 6, 1863, was captured at Rogersville and imprisoned at Belle Isle, Rich- mond, then in Andersonville, and finally exchanged December 15, 1861. He then went to Annapolis, and returned to Knoxville; but on March 19, 1865, rejoined his command at Cumberland Gap. He was mustered out at Knoxville June 19, 1865. He then entered the claim business at Elizabethton until 1868, wben he began merchandising. In 1570 he entered his present office. On December 23, 1868, he married Eva V., a daughter of Isaac P. Tipton. deceased. She was born in April, 1845, and has borne five children to our sub- ject. Both parents are Methodists.
C. C. Taylor farmer, was born in Carter County, September 12, 1845, the son of C. C. and Nancy (Duncan) Taylor, the former born in this county, May 15, 1195, the son of Dr. Isaac Taylor, of Virginia, who was born in 1756, and came to what is now Carter County about 1776. He was in the Revolution. The father was a physician and farmer. and married, January 28, 1838, the daughter of Jeremiah Duncan, who was born July 4. 1809. Two sons and one daughter are now living. Our subject was educated at Boone's Creek Seminary, and has always been a successful farmer. He was United States inter- nal revenue guager for five years, and in 1870 depaty marshall and census taker. In 1807 he married Frances T., a daughter of George D. Williams. Their children are Incy N., Margaret E. A., George C. and Frank A. H. Our subject is a Republican, a Mason. and a member of the Christian Church.
J. P. Van Huss, farmer, was born in March, 1833, in Carter County, on his present farm. He was educated in the common schools, and when twenty years old began life. and now owns 157 acres of fine land. In 1860 Rebecca. a daughter of Daniel anl Bar- bara (Roadcap) Nead, of Hagerstown, Md., and Rockbridge County, Va., respectively; became his wife. About 1837 they came to Washington County, where the father died. The children born to our subject and wife are as follows: Minnie F., James M., Daniel F .. Barbara E., Flora J., William L. and John D. He and his wife are Baptists, the latter of the German Church. He is a Republican and Prohibitionist. He was a justice in IseD. and has been since 1882. From January, 1883 to 1887, he was county judge, and began e a trustee in 1866, and served four terms. He was deputy sheriff three years, and is & Master Mason. He was twice elected moderator of the Watauga association of Baptist- and was also clerk of the same body from its organization in 1868 for six consecutive years. He is the ninth of eleven children (five of whom yet survive) of Mathie and Lovina (Duggar) Van Huss, natives of Carter (now Johnson) County and the present Carter County respectively. The former was a soldier in 1812. a Whig, a farmer aud & blacksmith. He was a son of Valentine Van Huss, of North Carolina, and of Cister County; the latter born about 1778. He was of Dutch descent, while the mother was or Scotch-English origin. The mother was a daughter of William Duggar, a n. Uvedl North Carolina, and a pioneer of Dugger's Ferry. He was a soldier of the Revel 203 and married three times. The Duggar family are long lived.
-
1.300
BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
SULLIVAN COUNTY.
Joseph R. Anderson. The grandfather of this gentleman, John Anderson, was born in Virginia, May 6, 1750, and was a pioneer of southwest Virginia. He located with his family at the block house at the head of Carter's Valley, and while fighting the Indians bis family were driven from this place three times, after which they lived in the forts until safety was assured. He was a devout Presbyterian, and died in October, 1817. Rebecca (Maxwell) Hall was his wife, and Isaac, the father, was their youngest child, born at the block-house May 8, 1789. The father was a colonel of Virginia militia, and five years sheriff, and a magistrate for twenty years. He was a Presbyterian and died February 7, 1879, in Scott County, Va. May 16, 1816, Margaret, a daughter of Joseph Rhea, became his wife. She was born August 7, 1791, in this county, and died April 24, 1873. Our subject. the eldest of twelve children, was born at the old block-house, October 25, 1819, and was reared on the old homestead until his fourteenth year He received a rudi- mentary education, and at that age became a clerk for his uncle at Blountville, at the same time mastering grammar, geology, astronomy and rhetoric. He received for the first three years $50, $75 and $100 respectively. After eight years' service he began merchandising for himself and was so successful that in two years and a half he repaid the $700 borrowed of his uncle. He then became a partner with his uncle (in 1841), and in 1852 bought 100 acres of land in Sapling Grove and erected a store and dwelling in King's Meadow. In September, 1853, he located on the present site of Bristol, termini of the Virginia &. Tennessee and Tennessee & Georgia Railroads, as a merchant and real estate dealer, selling his land for town lots. In 1870 his brother, son and nephew became partners in merchandise. In 1870, after obtaining a State charter for the Bank of Bris- tol, he became the president and cashier until 1874, when it became the First National Bank, with a capital of 850,000; the capital is now doubled. He has been president ever since. June 5, 1845, he married Melinda W., the daughter of Rev. James King. She was born June 27, 1821. Their children were James K., Sarab A., John C., Isaac S., Mar- garet M. and Joseph K., Sarah and Joseph being deceased. Isaac S. is a minister of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject is a remarkably hale man, and spends nine hours each day at his desk, and directs the general management of his business. He is an elder of the Presbyterian Church. The Anderson family are one of the most prominent in this county. Our subject is an ardent temperance worker, having taken the pledge in 1834. In 1812 he joined the Sons of Temperance, and has filled every position from W. P. up to G. W. P. of the State, which position he now holds.
Eli Anderson, farmer, was born in Sullivan County February 2, 1829, the son of William and Elizabeth (Warren) Anderson, the former, born in this county in 1802, and his wife in 1807, the daughter of Michael Warren. The parents were both Presbyterians, and the mother, now eighty years of age, lives with our subject. Eli attended country schools, and, excepting a few years in the gold mines of California, he has been a farmer, who has acquired by his own ability, three fine estates in this county. In 1856 he married Edna, a daughter of Robert Hughes. The mother died in 1873 leaving three daughters. and in 1877, Lydia, a daughter of Alfred Carr, of Washington County, became his wife. They have two sons. Our subject is an esteemed member of the Presbyterian Church.
Nathan D. Bachman, county clerk and farmer, was born at Kingsport, December 26. 1814, the son of Enoch K. and Cornelia E. (Powell) Bachman, the former born in this county in 1813, the son of Nathan, a Pennsylvanian, who with his father was among the first pioneers of this county. The father was a prominent farmer and merchant at Kingsport, and also served as magistrate, and was a member of the Presbyterian Chaich. He died in July, 1881. The mother was born in Fairfax County, Va., in 1818, and was the
1801
SULLIVAN COUNTY.
daughter of William Powell, who died when his daughter was a child, leaving her with an uncle near Kingsport. She died July 25, 1877, a devoted Christian. Our subject. the second of eight children, attended school at Blountville, and then after a time became clerk at Bristol. He enlisted April 1, 1861, in Company K. Third Confederate Tennessee Infantry, the first company raised in this county. Our subject was then six. teen years old. He served until the surrender, but in 1868 was transferred to the Sisty- third Regiment, Company E, in which he became sergeant-major. After assisting bis father, he began about 1868 for himself, and in February of that year married Nannie J .. a daughter of Dr. Jonathan Davis, and born in Blountville in 1848. They have four boys and four girls. After an unsuccessful candidacy for county clerk in 1882, he was successful in 1886, over the same opponent of the former election and with a handsome majority. It should be stated that the great-grandfather, Nathan , came from Pennsyl- vania, and was one of the first three who brought wagons across the mountains. Ile owned part of the site of Philadelphia. His son, Jonathan, was kidnapped by the Indians and retained for some time. The Bachman family are, and have been, for the most part. engaged in the pursuit of agriculture, and with a fair degree of success. Of this family four brothers are Presbyterian ministers, and have made high reputations as such.
F. M. and P. J. Boy, farmers, are the sons of Andrew and Mary (Hobaugh) Boy. Andrew was born in this county February 15, 1796, the son of Jacob Boy. He was a farmer who was progressive in all he did. He was a Confederate during the war, but accepted the results without a murmur. He was a man whose character left a strong impression on his family. He was a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. and died in 18:0, aged seventy-four. The mother was born in this county December 1, 1799 the daughter of Phillip Hobaugh. She was also a devoted Methodist, and reared four sons and four daughters; she died at the age of forty-four years, and was mourned by all who knew her. F. M. was born December 27, 1825, and after attending country schools began his career as a farmer. June 20, 1858, he married Mary A., a daughter of Renben Hicks and born in this county March 5, 1834. Their children are Nancy E., William J., Robert A. and Mary J. He is a Methodist, while bis wife belongs to the Missionary Baptist Church. P. J., the younger of our subjects, was born November 30, 1843, and has led a life with advantages like those of his brother. He was a soldier of Company F. Sixty- third Tennessee Confederate Infantry, serving in the hardest of the war. January 17, 1867. he married Mary E., a daughter of John Akard. She was born in this county December 10, 1845. Their children are Mary M .. John A. M., James C., William. Sarab A., Martha C. and Frances M. He is a Methodist and his wife of the Lutheran persua- sion.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.