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 78
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James Brown, farmer and stock dealer, was born October 23, 1811, in Ashe County, N. C., the youngest of eight children of Joseph and Anna (Hayler) Brown, natives of Wilkes and Anson Counties, N. C., respectively. The father was an expert deer huuret. The grandfather. James Brown, was a native of England, and his wife was of German descent. He was a farmer. When of age, our subject began independently as a farmer. and now owns a fine place'of $00 acres, besides a farm in Hawkins County. Septemb :: 14. 1837. he married Harriet N., a daughter of William and Polly ( Halliburton) Farthis_
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JOHNSON COUNTY.
natives of North Carolina, the former a Missionary Baptist minister. Their children were Joseph H., Nancy E., Barton R., Stephen J., Mary E. (deceased), Sallie L. (deceased), Eva A., Martha C., Julian M. and Dudley F. HIe and his wife are Baptists, and also several of their children. He had two sons in the late war, one, Barton R., having organized the only Confederate company in this county, of which company Stephen J. was first lieutenant. Our subject is a Democrat.
S. J. Brown, farmer and stock dealer, was born in 1843, in Watauga County, N. C., the fourth of ten children of James and Harriet (Farthing) Brown, natives of North Carolina, who came to this county in 1846, the former of English and the latter of Scotch- English stock. They were engaged in farming and stock dealing. Our subject was three years old when they came to this county, and when seventeen began for himself. In 1901 he enlisted in Company D, First North Carolina Confederate Cavalry, serving at Chicka- mauga, where he was wounded, and then transferred to the Sixth North Carolina Regiment, and surrendered with Johnston's army. After returning, he studied law. and attended school, and was admitted to the bar January 13, 1868, by the supreme court of North Carolina. Circumstances compelled him to become a hardware clerk at Salisbury, N. C., and six years later at another place, where for two years he engaged independently. and since then has been at his present location, as a farmer. In February, 1874, he mai - ried Addie, a daughter of Jacob and Celia (Perkins) Wagner, natives of this and Ashe County, N. C., respectively. The former is a son of Mathias, who settled in this county on our subject's present farm, about 1789. Our subject's children are Tallulah W .. Charles W. W., Thomas J. and Addielee. Both are Methodists, and he a Democrat, and a Master Mason. Our subject received about $3,000 of property through his wife, but now owns a fine farm of 400 acres, and is an enterprising farmer.
James Henry Church, a prominent lawyer, was born near Elk Cross Roads, Ashe County, N. C., May 5, 1852, the son of Wiley and Margaret (Ray) Church, the forme! born in said county, March 15, 1812, the son of a native of that State. The father is a farmer, living at our subject's birth-place, a prominent man, and was postmaster under President Lincoln's first administration. He is a Baptist. The mother. born in that county in 1817, is the daughter of William Ray, and a Baptist. Our subject, the young- est, except one, of nine children, received a good common-school education, and left the farm when of age to engage in teaching, which he followed in North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee. He finished his education at the Masonic Institute, Mountain City (Taylorsville). Tenn., and began law in May, 1874, under Hon R. R. Butler, gaining admit- tance to the bar in July, 1875, and began practice. He became a minister of the Method - ist Episcopal Church, serving on the Jonesboro Circuit in Washington County, Tenn . one year, and went West. He returned from Kansas to Mountain City, and since Jan- uary, 188!, has been exclusively engaged in his profession of law, and is an able and suc- cessful lawyer. May 5, 1874. he married Virginia L., the daughter of the said Hon. R. R. Butler, born December 19, 1850. Their children are Richard Connolly and a twin sister, Hattie Elizabeth, born August 25, 1875 (the sister deceased the 9th of the following November), and William Rollin, born December 26, 1877. The mother is a Methodist.
Dr. James D. Donnelly, the oldest physician of Mountain City, was born near there December 5, 1823, the son of Richard and Rebecca (Doran) Donnelly, the former born in Albemarle County, Va., August 17, 1790. the son of Robert, a native of Ireland, born in 1760, and who came to Virginia, and at an early date to Carter (now Johnson) County. where he died in 1832. The father was a farmer and served several years as magistrate. His death occurred August 26, 1870. The mother, born in Washington County, Va .. Sep- tember 9, 1796, was the daughter of Alexander Doran, and died December 28. 1876. a mem. ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject, the fourth of thirteen children was educated at Taylorsville, and began reading medicine at Elizabethton in isto, with Dr. Joseph Powell. He began practice in 1948 at his present residence, and for sixteen years served as United States pension examiner, acting as president of the board was trustee for four years and for twelve years acted as school commissioner. Janu .. ry 27, 1860, he married Frances L., a daughter of Archibald Orr, and born in Washington County, Va. They have eight children, while two are deceased. She is a Method'st.
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
Capt. Alfred T. Donnelly, a prominent lawyer and farmer, was born at the old Dou- nelly homestead near Mountain City, March 9, 1835, the son of Richard and Rebecca (Doran) Donnelly, the former born in Albemarle County, Va., August 17, 1790, the son of Robert, a native of Dublin, Ireland, who came to the above county, thence to Rock- ingham County, Wilkes County, N. C., and finally to Carter (now Johnson) County, TenD., where he was a farmer. The father, also a farmer, was a prominent magistrate and constable, whose death occurred on August 26, 1870. The mother was born Septem- her 9, 1796, in Washington County, Va., the daughter of Alexander Doran, who came to this county in its early settlement and settled at Head of Laurel, where he was a promi- nent farmer, and migjor in the militia. Richard Donnelly enlisted in the war of 1812 and served one month, when peace was declared, and assisted in removing the Indians; was also in the Legislature at Knoxville. She died. December 28, 1876. Our subject, the twelfth of, thirteen children, was educated at Taylorsville (now Mountain City) Academy, and at Boone's Creek, in Washington County. In September, 1803, he left teaching and the study of law, to join Company D, Thirteenth Tennessee Federal Cavalry, and became a sergeant-major, and afterward lieutenant, and, while in camp near Knoxville, became captain. He was mustered out September 5. 1865, and resumed his law studies in this county, where he was admitted to the bar the same year. He first entered into part- Dership with the late Col. R. Love and N. M. Taylor, now of Bristol, Tenn. At the end of one year he formed a partnership with Judge R. R. Butler (his brother-in-law), which partnership has continued twenty years and still exists. (Judge R. R. Butler was in Con- gress for eight or ten years after the late war, and is the present member from the First District of Tennessee). Mr. Donnelly has been successful in practice, and became county school superintendent in January, 1878, serving six years. He also has a farm of 1;5 acres, near Mountain City, which he cultivates. He is a Mason. He was also deputy assessor and collector of internal revenue for several years.
H. C. Donnelly, merchant and farmer, was born in this county in 1840, the youngest of thirteen children of Richard and Rebecca (Doren) Donnelly, the former born August 17, 1700, in Virginia, and the latter a daughter of Alexander Doren, an old resident of this county. The grandfather went to Rockingham County, Va., and then to Wilkes County, N. C., when Richard was a young man, and the latter went to Washington County, Va., when of age, and afterward to Johnson County, locating near Taylorsville. now Mountain City. He was a justice for many years, a Whig, and afterward a Repub- lican. The first camp meeting ever held in this region was on his farm. His father, Robert, was born in Dublin, and was engaged in teaching and farming. Richard enlisted in the war of 1812, and served one month. Our subject was fairly educated, and now owns a fine farm of about 675 acres, besides some in other parts of the county. He is one of the firm of Donnelly & Smith, merchants at Shoun's Cross Roads. June 13, 1866, he married M. A., a daughter of Henderson and Sarah (Baker) Shoun, natives of Johnson County. the former a son of Leonard, one of the earliest settlers of Carter County. Their children are Marietta, Joseph S., Sarah V. and Richard R. Both are Methodists. He is a Repub,- lican, and a Master Mason. His farm includes the old Leonard homestead, on which his father-in-law is buried. He has been postmaster ever since 1869.
H. T. Grant, farmer, was born in 1843 in Washington County, Va., the third of ten chil- dren of Archibald S. and Margaret (Orr) Grant, natives of that county, and of English origin. He was a farmer and stock dealer, and both were active Methodists. The grandparents. Archibald and Jennie (McGinnis) Grant. natives of England and Washington County, respectively. The former was brought to this country when a child; first to Kingston. N. C., then to Maryland, and finally to Washington County. Va., where he died. as a farmer. His wife was the daughter of Archibald and Polly ( Hope) Orr, natives of the same county. the former, a son of James, a native of Ireland, and a weaver by trade, one of whose instruments is owned by H. T. Our subject was thirteen years old when they came to this county, and after his education, when twenty years old, he began for himself, with a little inherited property. In 1862 he enlisted in Company A. Fifth North Carolina Con- federate Cavalry, and served at Chickamauga, and until the surrender of Johnston's
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JOHNSON COUNTY.
army. August 28, 1847, he married Frances, a daughter of Peter and Sophia (MeCowan) Wills, natives of this county and Virginia, respectively, and of Gorman and Irish origin. He and his wife are Methodists, and he is a Democrat.
James S. Mitchell, merchant, was born in this county, December 7, 1849, the son of Hyder M. and Sarah (Slimp) Mitchell, the former born in Stokes County, N. C., in 1919, was the son of John Mitchell. The father became a pioneer farmer of this county, and now lives near Mountain City. The mother was born in this county, in 1818, the daugh ter of Michael Slimp. Both were members of the Baptist Church. Our subject. the fifth of ten children, was reared with rursi advantages, and in 18:0 began, alternately, teaching and attending school, for about four years. In 1879 he became a merchant's clerk, and January 1, 1884, began his present business, in which he carries a stock of about $4,000, and does an annual business of about $15,000. September 6, 1878, he msr- ried Alice, the daughter of Jones and Mary (Smithpeter) Smith, the former born in 1819. a son of Daniel Smith. She was born in Carter County, July 13, 1953. Their only daughter, Mary B., was born May 18, 1877.
Emanuel Hoser Mock, farmer, was born in Washington County, Va .. January 19, 1833. the son of Henry and Nancy (Gibbs) Mock, the former born in Suny (now Davy) County, N. C .. September 8, 1794, the son of Henry Sr. and Katy (Black) Mock, of German origin 1820 the father married Nancy Gibbs, and in 1810 married Mary Ketron; Mary K. Wright became his wife in 1857. IJe is the father of thirty children, and now lives in Virginia. Our subject grew up on the farm, working with his father, until eighteen years of age, when he became a millwright. He continued this thirteen years, and since 1859 has been successfully farming, at his present home, where he now owns 400 acres, although he began life with little capital. In 1869 he married Levenia F Wills, a daughter of R. B. and Rebecca (Duff) Wills, and boro in this county August 26, 1851. Their children are Edwin M. L., born October 31, 1870; William R., born October 3, 1862; Lewis E., born April 6, 1875; Sophia A., born November 9, 1877; Naney E., born September 16, 1890; Bessie J., born July 24, 1883, and Charles H., born July 2, 1886. He 'and his wife are Methodists.
Kemp Murphey, the most extensive merchant of this county, was born here July 21, 1841, and is the son of Abraham and Mary Murphy. The former was born in Orange County, N. C., May 18, 1796, and the latter in Caswell County, N. C. Abraham Murphey was the son of John Murphy, a native of Orange County, N. C., who immigrated to Clai- borne County, Tenn., in the year 1798, and died in his eighty-second year. He was mar- ried three times; first to Sarah Purvine in the year 1813, who bore him two sons and one daughter; secondly to Mary Walker, who bore him three sons. and thirdly to Catherine Wills, September 13, 1857. He removed from Claiborne County, Tenn., to New Market, Jefferson Co., Tenn., about the year 1833. Thence he removed to Elizabethton, Car- ter Co., Tenn., and engaged in the mercantile business; thence to Dugger's Ferry in the last named county; thence into this (Johnson County), where he engaged in the manufact- ure of iron; and in merchandising, which two callings he pursued until the beginning of the war in 1861. After the war he settled at Mountain City, then called Taylorsville, and engaged in the mercantile business in partnership with two of his sons, Kemp and Elbert. under the firm name of Murphey & Sons. He retired from the firm in the year 18;5. after which the two brothers continued the business until July 27, 1884. when Elbert one of the brothers died, and since then Kemp, the surviving partner, has continued the business in his own name, and has carried a stock of $8, 000, doing an annual business of $20,000. Healso owna and operates a large tannery at Mountain City. He was educated at Holston College. New Market, Jefferson Co., Tenn. In the late war he espoused the Union cans. and enlisted in Company B, Fourth Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, and was captured at McMinnville, Tenn., in October, 1862, but was paroled and joined his command at Ley - ington, Ky. He was mustered out at Knoxville, Tenn., in 1865. In 1869 he married Susan C. Wills, a daughter of James H. Wills, born in April. 1953, in this county. They have seven children living. Ile and his wife are Methodists. His father was a mioists" of the Methodist Episcopal Church, from about the year 1999. continuously, up to his death, which occurred February 6, 1852.
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX,
Thomas S. Smythe, lawyer, was born in Washington County, Va , Jane 29, 1827, and is the son of Dr. James C. and Ann R. (Orr) Smythe, the former born in the above county July 2. 1790, the son of John A., a native of Ireland, who came to America as a clerk In Lont Cornwallis' army, and at the close of the Revolution settled in Pennsylvania, and married Caroline Hays. He then went to Virginia, engaging in boot and shoe making, and afterward in farming and trading. He died, while on a trading expedition. at Natchez, Miss .. in 1795. Dr. J. C. was reared where Emory and Henry College now stands, and studied law at Jonesboro with E. F, Sevier and J. A. Aiken as classmates. He then exchanged his law library for medical works, and began practice in Virginia, and in 1587 in this county, and finally, in 1St, in Henry County, where he died two years later. He was the first resident physician of this county, ard was highly esteemed as a mon and physician. The mother was born June 2. 1802, in Virginia, the daughter of John Orr, a native of Pennsylvania. She died in 1888. Our subject, the eldest son of nine children, learned the tanner's trade, at which he worked until after his thirtieth year. In 1858 Le became magistrate of this county, and in 1861 chairman of the county court. He was appointed magistrate by Gov. Brownlow, andin 1505 became clork and master. He soon afterward began the practice of law, continuing until 1852, when he became a clerk in the pension department at Washington, where he remained until February, 1883, when he became special examiner to travel through Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Missouri. On June 15, 1886, he resumed practice in Mountain City, and has succeeded finely as a lawyer. In March. 1881. he was commissioned special judge by Gov. Hawkins. On February 22, 1349, he married Margaret. a daughter of Richard Donnelly, and born near Mountain City December 2, 1828. Five sons and two daughters, of nine children, are living.
J. A. Sutherland, farmer and stock raiser, was born in this county. August , 1841, the son of Joseph and Sarah ( King) Sutherland, the former born in Grayson County, Ve .. July 9, 1188, the son of Alexander, a native of Scotland, who came as & British soldier of the Revolution, and first fought at Bunker Hill. After the war he left the army and settled in Virginia, where he married Margaret Bryant, of Irish descent. Che was the mother of two sons and seven daughters. Our subject's father first married Sasan Rob- inson, by whom he has six children. She died in North Carolina, and November 16, 1524. he married Sarah, a daughter of John and Nancy (Collet) King. She was born ja North Carolina November 10, 1803, and was the mother of three sons and seven daughters. She died August 1, 1874, and the father January 10, 1567. Our subject was reared in the country, and, although beginning life as a poor man, he is how a prosperous farmer. He went to Indiana in 1868 and enlisted in the Federal Army, serving with Sherman on his famous march. October 14, 1824, he married Sarah D. Wills. The mother died in 1886. and their only son in 1887. Our subject is a Mason and a Methodist, and has served as sheriff and treasurer of the county.
D. W. Wills, clerk and master in chancery, was born in this county March 11, 1985. the son of John D. and Mary D. (Neel) Wills, the former born in this county December 23, 1808, the son of Peter, a native of Virginia, who came to this county about 1799. He was a large land owner and farmer. The father, a successful farmer also, died December 17, 1886. The mother was born near Abingdon, Va., about 1811, the daughter of Bar. tholomew Neel, and was a Methodist, as was her father. Our subject grew up with rural advantages, and farmed up to the war. In 1865 he became deputy sheriff for eight years, and in August, 1983, became magistrate. and in September, 1885. was appointed to his present position by Chancellor St. John. In October, 1853, he married Mary, a daughter of Samuel Cress, who died in January. 1873, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They had sis children. Nancy, a daughter of Moore Robinson, became his wife October 17, 18:5. One of their three children is deceased. His wife is a Baptist.
Norman R. Wills, farmer, was born in this county October 13, 1847, the son of Peter D. and Sophia J. (McQuonn) Wills, the former born January 16, 1816, in this county. the son of Lewis, who in turn was son of Lewis, Sr., a native of Strasburg. Go-mapy, and a pioneer of this state. The father was an extensive farmer, and accutauisted property.
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JOHNSON COUNTY.
His death occurred July 14, 1878. The mother was born in Washington County, Va .. August 20, 1821, the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Wilson) MeQaunn, the former of Scotch-Irish descent, born in Pennsylvania, the son of Thomas, Sr .. also & farmer. The mother died March 2, 1877, and had the following children: Macon R., Norman R., Virginia C., James N., Francis C. and Sarah H. Our subject was educated at Liberty Hall, Virginia, and was reared on the farm. Martha A. Hawthorn, of Washington County, Va., became bis wife October 13, 1870, and died January 17, 1874. He next married Martha C., a daughter of Maj. James and Harriet M. (Farthing) Brown. Decem- ber 11, 1877. She was born in this county July 19, 1853, and their children are Lura J. and Lewis Karl; the former born October 4, 1878, and the latter July 29, 1885.
James N. Will was born in Johnson County, November 3, 1853, the son of Peter D. and Sophia J. (McQuonn) Wills. The father was born in this county, January 18. 1816, the son of Lewis, who was of German descent. The mother was born in Washington County. Va., August 20, 1821, the daughter of Thomas MeQuonn, who was of Beotch origin. Our subject was reared on the farm and attended the common schools of this county, and since early manhood has been a most successful farmer. He has served as trustee, elected by the county court in 1881, to fill an unexpired term. He is a Republican and a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge.
H. B. Wills, farmer, was born in Johnson County, April 4, 1857, the son of Russell B. and Elizabeth R. (Duff) Wills, the former born in this county July 7, 1820. the son of Lewisand Catherine ( Winsell) Wills, pioneers of East Tennessee. The mother was born in 1828. in Washington County, Va., the daughter of David B. and Sarah Duff. Oursub. jeet is one of six sons and three daughters, and was reared on the farm he now offus and cultivates-a fine farm of 153 acres on the headwaters of the Laurel, in the First District. In 1882 he married Sarah E., daughter of James D. and Frances C. Donseliv. They now have three children-Girtie, Robert R. and Francis R. He and his wife are Methodists, and he a respected member of the I. O. O. F. lodge
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