USA > Tennessee > Notable men of Tennessee. Personal and genealogical, with portraits, Volume I > Part 10
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in the public schools of his native county, and engaged in mer- cantile pursuits at Stewart's Ferry, and successfully followed that business about ten years. In 1894, while thus engaged. he was elected justice of the peace in his district, serving until he resigned to take his present position, to which he was appointed in July. 1903. to fill the unexpired term of Benjamin T. Loftin as register of the county court. The office gives employment to five deputies, and is one of the most important positions in the county. Mr. Phillips was married, Sept. 7, 1890, to Miss Maggie L. Wright, a native of Davidson county and a daughter of George W. and Arvilla E. (Jenkins) Wright, both natives of the county. Three children have been born to them: Dan C., Baxter G. and Eva, all living, and ranging from twelve to four years of age. Mr. Phillips is a member of Joe Johnston lodge No. 83, Knights of Pythias; Osceola lodge No. I, A. R. M., and Junior Order of American Mechanics, all in Nashville. Politically he is a Democrat. His father was a justice of the peace for years. The Phillips and Wright families are well known and prominent Southern families.
R. T. McCONNICO, city attorney of Nashville, Tenn., is one of the younger members of the bar in that city, but gives every promise of becoming one of the leaders. He was born in Marshall county, Tenn., educated in the public schools of Nashville, and at Vanderbilt university, graduating from the law department of that institution in the class of 1896. He "swung his shingle" to the breeze in Nashville, and practiced law until February, 1898, when he was appointed assistant city attorney. He served in this capacity until 1901, when he was elected city attorney for a four-years' term. Mr. McConnico is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a member of the younger set in the professional circles of Nashville and is rapidly rising in popular favor.
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D. B. CLIFFE, M. D., for years a practicing physician of Franklin, Tenn., was born at Wooster, Wayne county. Ohio, where he lived until thirteen years of age, when he came to Franklin, Tenn., and there made his home with Doctor McPhail. a promi- nent physician of earlier days. His father, Joseph E. Cliffe, was also a prominent physician. In the war between Spain and Brazil he served
as surgeon in the navy until the close and then went to England, where he died at the age of fifty- six. The subject of this sketch was one of three children, he and a brother being twins. He is now the only one living. After moving to Franklin he pursued his studies in the com- mon schools, and in 1840 entered his uncle's office for the purpose of studying medicine. He graduated in 1842 from the Louisville Medical institute and began practicing in Franklin the same year. There he followed his profession until within a few years, when he gave it up on account of other interests. Doctor Cliffe is now president of the Nashville & Decatur Railroad Company, whose line is leased to the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company. For years he has been president of the National Bank of Franklin and holds that position at the present time. In addition to those interests he is a large landowner in the county. Doctor Cliffe was appointed assessor of internal revenue under President Grant and later was made collector of internal revenue for the fifth district of Tennessee, but resigned some time during the Hayes administration. For many years he was mayor of Franklin and has always taken an active interest in politics, in which he is one of the Repub- lican leaders in the state. He was chairman of the state executive committee at the time Hayes was nominated for the presidency and also at the time of Mckinley's first nomination. He is a member of Hiram lodge No. 7, Free and Accepted Masons, and of De Payin's commandery No. 11, Knights Templar, in both of which he has passed through the chairs and
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is a member of the Grand Lodge. He is a member of the American Medical association, of the Middle Tennessee society, and Williamson County Medical society. He served for a short time as surgeon in the Twentieth Tennessee regiment. He was married Nov. 15, 1842, to Miss Virginia Whitfield, a native of the county. and they have had six children, of whom but one is living .- John B., of this county. Doctor Cliffe is, and for many years has been, a trustee of the Central Hospital for the Insane, at Nashville; was professor of anatomy in Shelby Medical college in Nashville, in 1860; is without doubt one of the most prominent men in that section of the state, and no man is more highly esteemed or has a greater number of friends. He has been married sixty-one years and his wife is still living. the two growing old together gracefully and happily.
JOSEPH L. PARKES, of Frank- lin, Tenn., is a native of Stafford- shire, England, where he was born Feb. 1I, 1835. He remained at home until about sixteen years of age, ieceiving such limited education as the country and circumstances afforded, then came to America and proceeded direct to Franklin, where he had an uncle engaged in the bank- ing business. His first occupation was as clerk in a general store conducted by Paikes. Plunkett & Co., with whom he remained for four years. In 1855 he entered the employ of the Planters bank of Tennessee and was connected with that institution for a number of years. In 1864 he engaged in the mercantile business for himself. which he carried on for four years, and during that time he and a Mr. Campbell conducted a private banking busi- ness. In 1869 he sold his interest in the store and organized the Bank of Franklin, of which he was elected cashier. In 1871 the bank was reorganized as a national bank, Mr. Parkes retaining the position of cashier, which he has continued to hold to the present time and is now the oldest active banking official
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in the state of Tennessee. From its organization the bank has had a wonderful growth and its stockholders have received good dividends on their investment. For much of its success Mr. Parkes is entitled to credit. He has shown a capacity in his position which has kept him in the place he has occupied so long, and he is well known, not only in Franklin, but throughout the state, as a progressive but at the same time a conservative financier. He is a member of Hiram Lodge No. 7, Free and Accepted Masons, and is a Knight Templar ; has filled all chairs in both lodge and commandery; has been for twenty- eight years treasurer of the joint board of finance of the Ten- nessee annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and a member of the board of trustees of that church. Mr. Parkes has always taken an active part in church and educational work and has been a member of the church since 1870. In politics he is a Democrat. In 1856 he was married to Miss Lena Campbell, a native of Franklin. She died within a week after their marriage. In 1868 he was married to Miss Louisa Walker, a native of Jackson, Miss., where her father was a prominent judge. Five children have been born to them. William W. and Joseph L., Jr., live in Franklin; James H., is in Nashville; Jessie is the wife of George Arnistead and Louise is the wife of R. H. Crockett, both of Franklin.
ROBERT A. BENNETT, treasurer of the city of Nashville, Tenn., was born and educated in Sumner county, of that state. His first venture in business affairs was as an employe of Weil, Connell, Riddle & Co., wholesale dry goods. Afterward he was with Herman Bros., Tindanel & Co. for twelve years, two of which he spent on the road. In 1900 he engaged in the retail shoe business for himself, in which he continued until he was elected treasurer of the city in September, 1903, for a term of four years. Mr. Bennett has always taken an active interest in political affairs. Thoroughly imbued with the prin- ciples of his party, he is always ready to assist. both by con- tributions of money and by personal effort, to make those prin- ciples victorious. He is a well-known figure in fraternal circles, being a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias lodge, a
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member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In all these societies he is popular because of his good nature, his willingness to assist in the lodge work and his generous charity. He is a member of the Tulip Street Methodist Episcopal church and. a liberal supporter of its worthy charities.
FELIX R. ROBERTSON, a native of Nashville, Tenn., was born in the year 1827, his father being Dr. Felix Robertson, who was the first white child born on the "Bluff." Doctor Robertson was a grandson of Gen. James Robertson, the founder of the pioneer settlement of French Lick, now the city of Nashville, so that for four generations the family has been inseparably connected with the growth and progress of Ten- nessee's capital. Felix R. Robertson received a fair education and at an early age began the battle of life for himself as a planter in Arkansas. Here he remained until the breaking out of the war. When President Lincoln made his second call for troops Mr. Robertson returned from Arkansas to Tennessee determined to enter the Confederate service. although he was in delicate health and some of his friends declared that he would not live for six months if he became a soldier. Notwithstand- ing the entreaties of his friends and the state of his health he called a meeting to raise troops for the cause of the Confed- eracy. The speech he made on that occasion will long be remembered by those who heard it. Naturally gifted with a wonderful command of language and filled with poetic elo- quence, he made an impassioned appeal to the young men to take up arms in defense of their homes and the South. At that time there were a number of young Frenchmen in the city, many of whom were present at the meeting. To these he especially appealed to emulate the deeds of their ancestors * who served under Napoleon at Mondovi, Lodi and Austerlitz, and even on the ill-fated field of Waterloo. So stirring was his appeal that a company was soon organized and he was elected captain by a unanimous vote. The predictions of his friends proved true, however, for the hardships of army life so told upon the delicate constitution that after the battle of
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Corinth he was honorably discharged and sent to his home at Sunnyside Lake, Ark., where a month later he answered the final roll call of the Great Commander. During his last illness he was constantly cared for by his old friend and partner in the plantation. John A. Cheatham. Captain Robertson's son still owns the old plantation that was redeemed from the wil- derness by his father. A daughter is also living, and both children are respected members of society.
F. C. RUSSELL. of Franklin, Tenn., judge of the Williamson county court, was born on a farm near Belleview, Davidson county. Tenn., Feb. 15, IS48. He is a son of James and Miriam (Hill) Russell, both natives of Davidson county, the father born in 1818, and now deceased. The mother is still living at the age of eighty-nine years. Her people were Virginians. The paternal grandfather was a native of North Carolina, who settled in Tennessee at a very early date and passed his life as a farmer. The maternal grandfather was also a farmer and a soldier of the war of 1812. He was of Virginia ancestry. James and Miriam Russell were parents of nine children, six of whom are still living. Judge Russell was reared on a farm and lived there until he was elected sheriff of Williamson county in 1886. In this office he served three terms; in 1893 he was elected justice of the peace and city recorder of Franklin dis- trict ; served three years as recorder and five years as justice of the peace and in 1896 was elected judge of the county court, which position he still occupies. He was married in 1885 to Miss Sallie Givens, a native of the county and a daughter of George W. Givens, a well-known farmer. They have had two children. Mr. Russell is a member of Franklin lodge No. 4, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; has passed through all the chairs and is at present district deputy grand master. He is also a Knight of Pythias. In politics he is a Democrat, is
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one of the most prominent politicians of the county, as well as a very popular gentleman with men of all parties. Every one who knows him speaks well of him.
JOHN H. SAVAGE, an old and eminent lawyer of McMinn- ville, Tenn., was born in Warren county, Tenn., Oct. 9, 1815. When he was about twenty-one years of age he joined a com- pany that was being formed for the purpose of aiding the Texans in their war for independence. Before the organization was completed Gen. Sam Houston had won the decisive victory over Santa Anna at the battle of San Jacinto. Young Savage then joined Lauderdale's "company of scouts," for service in the Seminole war, and it is said he fired the first gun of the campaign against the Seminoles. After that he studied law, was admitted to the bar and practiced his profession until the commencement of the Mexican war. Again his military ardor dominated his course and he enlisted in the army. At Molino del Rey he was severely wounded while acting as major of his regiment, and for his gallantry on the field was made lieu- tenant-colonel of the Eleventh United States regular infantry. In 1849 he was elected to Congress and served one term. He was again elected to Congress in 1853, and was twice re-elected. In the days just prior to the Civil war he was opposed to the doctrine of secession, but after the State of Tennessee voted to secede he remained loyal to the land of his nativity and took up arms in her defense. He organized the Sixteenth Tennessee infantry, which served under Lee in Virginia; was afterward under Beauregard at Corinth : then with Donelson in his military operations in Tennessee and Kentucky. After General Wright succeeded General Donelson Colonel Savage resigned his com- mission and returned to the practice of law.
HON. B. F. COCKRILL, JR., of Nashville, Tenn., is a representative of Davidson county in the state legislature. and a native of Tennessee, and also a descendant of one of the oldest families of the state. He was educated at Washington and Lee university. of Virginia, from which he was grad- uated an A.B. in 1883. He returned to Tennessee and engaged
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in farming until 1887. On Nov. 16, 1887, he was married to Miss Willie Christen, of one of the oldest families of Virginia. She was a graduate of Augusta Female academy of Staunton, Va. After their marriage they resided for six years at War- renton, Va., where Mr. Cockrill was engaged in fancy stock raising and agriculture. Returning to Tennessee in 1896, he lived on the old home place until Sept. 1, 1902, when he' removed to West Nashville, where he now resides. He has always been active in politics, and while living in Virginia he accompanied Senator Daniel in the campaign for free silver ; was the first school director in his district; is district chairman of the Democratic committee; was elected a member of the general assembly of Tennessee in November, 1902; was elected one of the three turnpike commissioners of Davidson county the following April; was appointed deputy register of Davidson county in July, 1903, and he is a member of the Democratic county committee. Mr. Cockrill is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Royal Arcanum, and belongs to the West Nashville Presbyterian church, which he, with twelve others, built. He is connected with James R. Sullivan in the coal business, agriculture and stock raising.
COL. NICHOLAS NICHOLS COX, of Franklin, Tenn., was born in Bedford county of that state, Jan. 6, 1837. His parents, Caleb and Nancy Cox, were married in 1811. in North Carolina, and soon after moved to Bedford county, Tenn., settling near what is now the village of Union- ville. Caleb Cox served as a soldier with General Jackson. At the time he settled in Bedford county, the country was almost untouched by man. He and his wife were the parents of thirteen children, five boys and eight girls, all of whom were reared to manhood and wom- anhood. Of these Nicholas N. was the youngest. He got his name from a Primitive Baptist minister, and his parents were
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of that faith. They were of that sturdy race composing the greater number of the early settlers of Tennessee, of deep relig- ious and patriotic convictions, honest, simple in manner, indus- trious in habits, and possessing a devotion to duty that marked them as men and women of the first type. N. N. Cox, as he always signs his name, lost his father while an infant. The family had scattered, some of the children being in Arkansas and two of the brothers had gone to Texas, then in the Far West. The devoted mother, in her endeavors to keep them together, carried N. N. Cox and his sister to Arkansas and from there to Texas in the year 1847, in which state she died in 1860. One of the sons who had gone to Texas had died before the mother reached there, but she found the other near San Antonio. Nicholas grew to manhood in that state and took his part in the stirring affairs of those years, his first military service being given as the result of a raid made by Indians between the family home at Seguin and San Antonio. He was one of the members of Captain Callahan's command of Texas Rangers who followed the marauders through Texas, across the Rio Grande. and into Mexico, the Indians being overtaken twenty- five miles beyond the border, where a desperate fight ensued, in which Cox received a painful but not dangerous wound in the knee. Soon after this he returned to Tennessee and took up the study of law at Lebanon, graduating from the law school there in 1858. He located at Linden, Tenn .. and at once began to attract attention by his undoubted ability. Hardly had he established himself in the practice of law when war broke out and Tennessee enrolled herself with the Confederacy. Young Cox organized a company of cavalry, of which he was elected captain, and they were mustered into the state service on July 4, 1861. His company was made a part of the second battalion of Tennessee cavalry and he was chosen major, in which rank he served through the campaign of 1861 in Kentucky and up to the battle of Shiloh. Upon the organization of the Tennessee cavalry into regiments, Major Cox's battalion was assigned to the First regiment. He organized another battalion of cavalry in Tennessee, which was assigned to General Forrest's com- mand and took part in the work against the Federal flank in
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the movement into Kentucky. Later, under Gen. Joe Wheeler, it participated in the daily fighting of the Confederate rear guard in the return to Tennessee. In December, 1862, Major Cox and his command took part in Forrest's expedition into West Tennessee, and on the last day of the year he and his battalion distinguished themselves at Parker's Crossroads, where he was captured. While he was still a prisoner the battalion was united with one under command of Col. T. A. Napier, making the Tenth regiment of Tennessee cavalry. When he was exchanged at City Point Major Cox was given command of the regiment, which shared in Forrest's subsequent opera- tions, including the battle of Chickamauga. Later he and his regiment were assigned to Armstrong's division of Wheeler's cavalry corps, but Colonel Cox secured a transfer and followed Forrest when the latter was transferred to the department of Mississippi and West Tennessee. When the war closed Colonel Cox returned to Tennessee and settled upon Franklin, as a place in which to resume his law practice. He was eminently successful, gaining in a very short time a commanding posi- tion among the profession in Tennessee and building up a fine practice. While conducting an increasing law practice Colonel Cox carried on farming quite extensively, finding much pleasure as well as profit in agricultural pursuits. His talents could not escape general notice, and in 1890 he was chosen as the repre- sentative of the seventh Tennessee district in the lower house of Congress. So satisfactory was his work that he was four times elected. He served on such committees as those on banking and currency and military affairs, performing splendid work on the latter committee during the war with Spain in 1898. He retired from Congress of his own volition. His work while there was of a high order and of the same quality as that which gave him a place in legal circles in the state. Colonel Cox was married on Jan. 6, 1859, to Miss Mary Slayden, of Hickman county, and three sons and two daughters have been born to them; two sons and two daughters are living. Colonel Cox has retired from public life and is devoting his time to farming and banking. He is now vice-president of the National Bank of Franklin, Tenn.
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ROBERT J. GORDON, of Frank- lin, Tenn., known as "Colonel," was born in Giles county, Tenn, Feb. 23, 1823. He is the son of Major John Gordon, who was born in Garrard county, Ky., in 1798, and settled in Williamson county in 1806. Two years later the family removed to Giles county, where John Gordon remained at home until his marriage with a Miss Kennedy, a daughter of James Kennedy, a native of Marshall county. They lived on a farm in Giles county until his death at the age of ninety-two years. His wife was seventy-two years old at the time of her death. The family is of Scotch descent. Robert J. was one of the eleven children born to them. He attended the common schools and spent one year in Jackson college, at Columbia, Tenn. His first occupation was that of a clerk in a dry goods store at Pulaski, Tenn., which occupation he followed for a short time. when he gave it up to engage in farming. In 1849 he engaged in a general mercantile business at Lynnville and remained there two years, when he removed to Pulaski, where he followed the same business until 1869. He then went to Nashville and went into the wholesale clothing trade. in which he remained for five years. During that time he was associated in a commission business and upon retiring from the clothing house he formed the commission firm of Gor- don Bros. & Co., in which he retained an interest until 1885. In 1879 he purchased a place adjoining Franklin and has since been a resident there. Some time afterward he retired from ,the active pursuits of life and now devotes his time to the man- agement of his farm and in looking after his investments. He is a director in both banks, and for several years has been. vice- president of the Williamson County bank. He has one of the finest old country homes in the vicinity of Franklin-a home that is noted far and wide for its hospitality and the sterling character of its owner. In 1851 he married Miss Mary. daugh- ter of Rev. C. P. Reed. She died in 1853. the mother of one
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child, also now deceased. Mr. Gordon married a second wife in the person of Miss Anna B. Crockett, a native of Franklin and daughter of Dr. Samuel Crockett. . She, too, passed away in 1897. His third and present wife was Mrs. Louise H. (Cochran) Perkins. Mr. Gordon has been a member of the Presbyterian church since he was twenty years old and has been an elder for fifty years. In politics he is a Democrat and one of the kind that knows no compromising. He is one of the best known men in the county and is possessed of many fine qualities of head and heart, which have made him many friends.
HON. JAMES DANIEL RICHARDSON, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., who has represented the fifth district in Congress ever since 1884, was born in Rutherford county, Tenn., March 10, 1843. During his boyhood he attended the common schools and at the breaking out of the Civil war was a student at Franklin college, near Nashville. At the age of eighteen years he left school to enlist as a private in the Confederate service. He served nearly four years, the last three of which he was adju- tant of his regiment, the Forty-fifth Tennessee infantry, par- taking in all the engagements in which his command took part. After the war he took up the study of law, and on Jan. 1. 1867, began practice in Murfreesboro. Mr. Richardson soon achieved a reputation as an able, ambitious and at the same time pains- taking young lawyer, and this reputation brought him new cli- ents at every turn until he had a comfortable business. From. the time he became a voter he took a lively interest in every- thing pertaining to politics, and in 1871 he was elected to the lower branch of the state legislature. He took his seat in that body in October, and on the first day was elected speaker of the house, being at that time but twenty-eight years of age. At the next session of the legislature he was elected to the senate. In 1876 he was a delegate to the Democratic national convention at St. Louis, and was also a delegate to the national conventions of 1896 and 1900, being permanent chairman of the national convention of 1900, which met in Kansas City, Mo. In Febru- ary, 1900, he was made chairman of the Democratic congres-
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