USA > Tennessee > Notable men of Tennessee. Personal and genealogical, with portraits, Volume I > Part 12
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JOHN AUSTIN MOON, one of the leading Democratic lawyers of Chattanooga. Tenn., and member of the lower branch of Congress from the third district, was born in Albe- marle county, Va., April 22, 1855. When he was about two years of age his parents removed to Bristol, Va., and in 1870 they came to Chattanooga, where Mr. Moon has lived ever since. He received his primary education in the public schools
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and at Bristol. After coming to Chattanooga he attended King college, at Bristol, Tenn., and in 1874 was admitted to the bar in both the states of Alabama and Tennessee. In 1878 he was admitted to the bar of the supreme court of the United States. In 1881-82 he was the city attorney of Chattanooga; was a member of the Democratic state executive committee in 1888, and by the unanimous request of the bar of the fourth judicial circuit he was appointed special circuit judge in 1889, receiving his commission at the hands of Gov. Robert L. Taylor in May. He was twice reappointed and held the office until January, 1891, when he was appointed the regular judge for the fourth circuit. This position, he held until August, 1892, when he was elected circuit judge and two years later was re-elected for a full term of eight years. During this time Mr. Moon had been a close observer of the political situation and a welcome adviser in the councils of the Democratic party. In 1900 he was a delegate to the national convention at Kan- sas City and was the Tennessee member of the committee on platform. In 1896 he was elected to Congress from the district and re-elected in 1898. He was again the party's can- didate in 1900 and again in 1902, and again in 1904, being elected each time by substantial pluralities. Mr. Moon knows the needs of his district in the way of legislation and generally succeeds in getting about all he asks for. His long training on the bench has given him both the power and habit of analyzing carefully every proposition presented to him for his . consideration, which has had a tendency to increase respect for his opinions. Other orators may be more brilliant, but there are few members of the house whose words carry more weight than those of Judge Moon.
SAMUEL J. A. FRAZIER, real estate dealer, of Chat- tanooga, Tenn., was born in Rhea county, Tenn., in 1840. His father, Samuel Frazier, was a distinguished lawyer, who was for twenty-one years the attorney-general of the third circuit of Tennessee. The son was educated at Washington college and the University of Tennessee, graduating from the latter in 1859 with the degree of A. M. He then took up the study of
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law and was thus engaged at the beginning of the Civil war. Early in April, 1861, he enlisted, and when the regiment, the Nineteenth Tennessee infantry, was mustered in at Knoxville, he was made a lieutenant in Company D. When the regi- ment was reorganized he was elected captain. He was at Fishing Creek, Corinth, Vicksburg, Baton Rouge, then returned to Tennessee and was at the battles of Murfreesboro and Chick- amauga. In the last-named engagement he was severely wounded in the windpipe, and as two of his men were trying to carrying him from the field, both were shot. He afterward received two more wounds while lying on the ground. Later in the action he was captured and taken to Camp Chase, O., as a prisoner of war. From Camp Chase he was taken to Johnson's Island, where he was held until June, 1865. While in the prison at Johnson's Island he paid fifty cents a week for an old copy of Blackstone, earning the money by making gutta-percha rings for visitors, and prosecuted his legal studies under those adverse circumstances. In 1866 he was admitted to the bar and practiced at Washington until 1871, when he was elected attorney-general of the third circuit. This posi- tion he held for eight years, when he removed to Chattanooga, purchased the land where Hill City now stands, and laid out this most beautiful of Chattanooga's suburbs. He has also laid out Frazier's Beach, near Port Tampa, Fla., and is inter- ested in other large real estate transactions. Captain Frazier is one of the most public spirited men in the city where he lives. In his own prosperity he has been a generous donor to worthy public enterprises, notably that of $10,000 to con- struct the suspension bridge between Hill City and Chat- tanooga.
JOHN T. LATTIN, assistant postmaster of Nashville, Tenn., was born at Somerville, Fayette county, Tenn., March 12, 1851. He is a son of John T. and Margaret H. (Zellner ) Lattin, the father a native of New York and the mother of Tennessee. The father became a resident of Columbia, Tenn., in young manhood, and was married there, later removing to West Tennessee, where he was engaged in merchandizing for
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a number of years. He was appointed postmaster of Somer- ville in 1857, by President Buchanan, and served until 1861. During the war he was out, but was again appointed in 1867, serving until his death, eleven years later, of yellow fever, when all the family were sufferers from the same disease. He was sixty-four years of age. The mother died in 1887, at an advanced age. Of a family of ten children, born to them, but two are now living, the subject of this sketch and Luella, unmarried, living in Chicago. One sister died of yellow fever at the same time as her father. Mr. Lattin was educated at Somerville Male academy, an institution of high character. He began his career as a member of of the lower house of the Tennessee legislature, being elected from Fayette county in 1872. He resigned in 1873 to take an appointment as railway mail clerk, on the route between Cairo, Ill., and Jackson, Tenn., on the Illinois Central railroad. He remained in the service until 1876, when he resigned and entered the Cumberland Law school of Cumberland university, where he completed his course and engaged in practice in Somerville. After his father's death, in 1878, he succeeded to the postmastership in Somerville and served in that position six years. In 1889 he was ap- pointed deputy collector of internal revenue for Middle and West Tennessee, and removed to Nashville. He served four years and then engaged in law practice again for four years. In 1898 he was appointed assistant postmaster of Nashville by Maj. A. W. Willis. Mr. Lattin was married in February, 1886, to Miss Lydia Lacey, a native of Somerville, in which place she was reared and educated. They have one child, John T., twelve years of age. Politically, Mr. Lattin is a Republican, and as such has filled the various positions to which he has been elected or appointed. He is not connected with any social orders or religious organizations. In the fif- teenth century there lived at Malines, in Flanders, Pierre Let- tin, the earliest ancestor, to whom the subject of this sketch traces his family. His descendants, by the name of Jean for three generations, were secretaries and registrars of the su- preme tribunal of Malines, and some of them are buried in the old Cathedral of St. Rombout. The family bore arms as
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follows: "Argent, three chevronels vert, between as many mullets sable." One of these, John Lettin, driven from his native land in 1637 by the persecutions under the Duke of Alva, settled in Norwich, England, where he died in the year 1640, leaving several children, two of whom removed to Lon- don, and, with their wives and some of their children, are buried in St. Dionis, Back church and Allhallows church in that city. From this Jolin Lettin was descended that Richard Lettin, sometimes spelled Lattin, and in other generations Latting, who in the year 1638 came from England and settled in Massachusetts. This Richard Lattin had five children, the youngest being Thomas, born at Concord, Mass., Sept. 12, 1643, moved with his parents to Connecticut, in 1644, where in 1687 he married Mercy Wakely. This branch of the family resided in Connecticut, for four generations, the eldest son be- ing named Thomas in each generation, and were members and vestrymen of Christ church, Stratford. In 1789 William Thomas removed with his family to the "old Hartwick patent," near Cooperstown, N. Y., where he died in 1832, leaving a large family. The eldest son, Thomas Anson, born Dec. I, 1778, married Lucy Davidson, a daughter of a soldier of the Revolution and a descendant of the early settlers of Mass- achusetts. The family moved to Columbus, O., in 1815, where Thomas Anson died in 1823, leaving four children. John Thomas, the eldest son, was born April 9, 1814. He located at Columbia. Tenn .. about IS40, where on April 13. 1843, he married Margaret Holmes Zellner, and moved to Somerville, Fayette county, Tenn. He was appointed postmaster at Somer- ville in 1857 and held that position until the outbreak of the Civil war. He was loyal to the Union cause and did what he could to prevent the state from seceding. His wife made a silk flag of the Union, which was raised over the residence and floated there during the exciting period prior to the act of secession. The Confederate authorities removed him as post- master and made a demand on him for a considerable sum of money which the books showed was due the Federal govern- ment. This, however, he refused to pay over, but carefully hid. He was then arrested and efforts made to force him to
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pay over the money. He, however, faithfully guarded his trust and kept the money until the close of the war, when he paid it over to the proper accounting officers of the Federal govern- ment. He was reappointed postmaster by President Johnson in 1867, and his bondsmen under the former appointment, al- though they had been strong secessionists, volunteered again to make his bond for him, which they did. He held the posi- tion of postmaster from that time to his death with yellow fever in 1878.
MAJ. JAMES H. AKIN, of Thompson's Station, Tenn., was born in Maury county, of that state, Aug. 12, 1832. He is the son of Samuel WV. Akin, who was born in South Carolina, Feb. 24, 1788, and was the son of Rev. John Akin, also a native of South Carolina, born in 1761. John Akin's father was William Akin, a native of Scotland. But little is known of his life further than that he came to the United States in an early day and settled in South Carolina. Rev. John Akin was reared in South Carolina and was a soldier in the Revolution. He married Mrs. Mary Watson Howe, also a native of South Carolina and widow of Robert Howe, who was killed in the war ... When a very young man he took up the ministry and was the first Methodist minister to cross Duck river. He settled in the western part of Maury county in 1808 and was very active in missionary and educational work; established one of the first schools, also one of the first Methodist churches in that vicinity; followed preaching and teaching through his life and was well liked by those who knew him. By his will, his negroes were freed in 1821. He and his wife raised seven children and both died, aged about sixty-five. Samuel W., one of the sons, married Millie Biffle, a native of North Caro- lina, daughter of Jacob and Pollie (Deaver) Biffle, the former a soldier of the Revolution, and they passed their lives on the
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old Biffle homestead. Both were active in church work. Nine children were born to them, Major Akin, the subject of this sketch and the youngest of the family, being the only one living. His early education was obtained in a country school, but later he attended academies. From the time he was fifteen years of age he had charge of the farm and engaged exten- sively in stock raising. In 1859 he married Miss Marinda Cecil, a native of Indiana, and they continued to live in the vicinity of the old home until the breaking out of the Civil war, when Major Akin organized Company E, Ninth battalion Tennessee cavalry, of which he was elected captain. The company was mustered into the Confederate service in October. 1861, and sent to Fort Donelson, where it was surrendered with the other troops when that fort was taken by the Federal forces. After being exchanged the company was reorganized at Jackson, Miss., in 1862, and about that time Captain Akin was made major of the battalion. From that time until March 1, 1864, the battalion participated in practically all engagements in Mississippi and Louisiana, and from May, 1863, Major Akin commanded the regiment to the close of the war. In March, 1864, the battalion joined the Army of Tennessee. Major Akin served through the war, spending seven months in prison. At the end of hostilities he returned home and took up his old occupation of farming, living in Maury county until 1881. His wife died in 1867 and in 1881 he married again, his second wife being Mrs. Sophia (Burnett) Kernan, a native of Wil- liamson county. In 1882 he moved to Williamson county and lives near Thompson's Station. His second wife died in 1893 and in 1900 he married Miss Lena Oden, of Williamson county, daughter of Dr. H. Oden, one of Franklin's old practitioners. Three children were born to the first marriage, Mrs. Bettie Jones, of Mt. Pleasant, being. the only one living. Three children were the fruit of the second marriage: Mrs. Ethel Johnson, of Johnson City; Andrew Kernan and Miss Jimmie, Hatton, living at home. In 1870 Major Akin was elected tax collector of Maury county, which position he held two years. He served as justice of the peace of his district in Williamson county for eight years. In 1890 he was floaterial representa-
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tive from Maury and Williamson counties; in 1891 he served as floaterial representative from Maury and Williamson counties in the legislature, and in 1895 was floaterial representative from Giles, Maury, Lewis and Williamson counties, and in 1899 served as representative proper for Williamson county. He is a Democrat, politically, and gives much time and atten- tion to advancing the interests of the principles in which he believes; attends the Methodist church; is a member of Meri- wether lodge No. 192. Free and Accepted Masons, at HIamp- shire; has filled all the chairs in the lodge. He carries on general farming and stock raising, and has a fine farmi of 420 acres, in which he takes great pride.
COL. MOSCOW B. CARTER, of Franklin, Tenn., was born in that city, on Dec. 5, 1825. He is the son of Fountain B. and Mary (Atkinson) Carter, both natives of Virginia. The father was born in Halifax county, April 6, 1797, and was a son of Francis W. Carter, who was born in Virginia in 1767. Francis W. was the son of Samuel Carter, likewise a native of Virginia, but of French descent and a physician by profession. Francis Car- ter was a farmer by occupation. In 1809 he married Sarah Anderson, a native of Virginia, and soon afterward they re- moved to Williamson county, Tenn., settled about three miles from Franklin, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Seven children were born to them. Fountain B., father of Col. M. B. Carter, remained at home until a young man, when he went to Franklin, learned the shoemaker's trade and fol- lowed it for several years. . Then he purchased a farm adjoint- ing Franklin and lived there until his death at the age of seventy-six years. His wife died at the age of forty-six. Her father served as county surveyor and was justice of the peace for several years. Fountain B. and Mary Carter had twelve children born to them, but two of whom are living now: Co !.
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M. B. Carter and his brother, Francis W., of California. M. B. Carter was educated in the Franklin schools and remained at home until twenty years old. In 1846 he organized a com- pany for service in the Mexican war and was elected lieutenant. The company was not needed, however, so he went to Nash- ville and attached himself to Capt. Harris Maulden's company, which was mustered into service in May, 18.16, and sent to Pt. Isabelle, Tex. Colonel Carter served twelve months, tak- ing part at Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, and in numerous minor engagements. He returned home in 1847 and the same year made a trip to New Orleans, St. Louis and Chicago. He helped construct the first telegraph line in the State of Illinois. In 1848 he returned to Franklin, took up the occupation of surveyor and followed it for two or three years. In 1851 he was married to Orlena C. Dobbins, who was born near Boone's Hill in Lincoln county, Tenn. The same year he engaged in the grocery business, which he followed for two years. In 1854 he bought a farm four miles north of Franklin and was living there when the war broke out. He at once set to work to organize a company, of which he was elected captain, and it was mustered into the Confederate service as Company H, Twentieth Tennessee infantry. He was made lieutenant- colonel on the organization of the regiment, which was as- signed to ,Zollicoffer's brigade. On Jan. 19, 1862, Colonel Carter was captured at the battle of Fishing Creek. but prior to that time he had been in a number of skirmishes. After seeing the inside of a number of prisons, Colonel Carter was exchanged at Aiken's Landing in August, 1862. He returned home, and in 1863 rejoined his old regiment, but remained only a short time, when he was paroled. He returned home and continued to live in the vicinity of Franklin until 1898, when he moved to Triune, where he lived for five years. At the end of that time he returned to the vicinity of his old home and now lives two miles south of Franklin. His first wife died in 1860, and he married again, in 1866, his second wife being America Cattles, a native of the county. She died in 1876, and Colonel Carter married Marmela E. Miot, a native of South Carolina. Five children were born to the
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first marriage, three of them being still alive: Mary O. Gil- lespie, of Franklin, and Walter F. and Hugh E., of Kansas. Of four born to the second marriage, those living are Alma Parry and Moscow B., of Franklin. The children of the third wife are Emma, at home, and Frank, in Nebraska. Colonel Carter is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is a Democrat in politics. At the present time he is living a retired life, seeking the rest and relaxation which his active and industrious career has earned. He is one of the most prominent men of the county and is now the oldest living native white-born child of Franklin, and the only veteran of the Mexican war now living in the county.
OLIVER H. FOSTER, a well-known member of the legal profession of Gallatin, Tenn., was born at Glasgow, Ky., April 16, 1838. His father, George A. Foster, was a tailor, and while Oliver was still in his boyhood removed to Nashville, where the son received his education. In 1857 the family located at Gallatin, where the subject of this sketch has ever since made his home, except the time spent in the Confederate service during the war. Early in the year 1861 he raised a company at Gallatin and tendered its services to Governor Harris. This was the first company organized for the state service, and it is worthy of mention that the uniforms of the men composing it were made free of charge by Mr. Foster's father. The company was mustered into the state service in April and was later made Company C. Seventh Tennessee in- fantry. On Dec. 24, 1861, Mr. Foster was made first lieutenant of the company, and as the captain was not able for duty at once, took command. He was in command at Seven Pines, the Seven Days' battles. Cedar Mountain, where he was slightly wounded, Sharpsburg, Shepherdsville, where he was again wounded, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Falling Waters, and in May, 1864, was captured while on duty on the James river. He was imprisoned at Fort Delaware, and on the night of July 2, in company with W. P. Clark, managed to elude the vigilance of the guards, swam six miles to a vessel, where they obtained clothing and passage to Philadelphia.
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After trying to reach his command and failing to find a way through the Federal lines, he started to Greencastle, Ind., where his father had gone some time before, but was arrested and sent to Johnson's Island. . There he remained a prisoner until July, 1865. Returning to Gallatin after the war, he took an active part in the political affairs of the county; was elected county clerk in 1878 and held the office for nine years; was then judge of the county court for five years, and since that time has been engaged in the practice of law. He was mar- ried in 1866 to Miss Sallie Cantrell, and they have a family of five children.
HON. WILLIAM OSCEOLA GORDON, county and criminal judge of Maury county, Tenn., is a native of that county and was born Oct. 23, 1837. He is a son of Powhatan and Caroline (Coleman) Gordon. The father was born in Davidson county, Tenn., March 15, 1802, and was one of the first white children born in the county. He was one of the early politicians of Maury county, and served two terms as representative of his district in the legislature, being elected on the Democratic ticket. He was descended from Scotch ancestors. who estab- lished the family in Virginia, where Capt. John Gordon, paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born. When a young man of about twenty-eight he settled at Nash- ville, and was the first postmaster in that city. He was a follower of Andrew Jackson, and was captain of a company of spies or rangers under that renowned leader in the early Indian wars. He performed some daring feats of bravery and demonstrated wonderful powers of endurance during his life on the frontier, particularly as a dispatch bearer for General Jackson, in which capacity his life was often in extreme peril. He died in middle life as a result of exposure during these experiences. His name is revered by the early settlers of
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Middle Tennessee, to whom his rather miraculous record has been transmitted by traditional history. His son, Powhatan Gordon, inherited many of his peculiarities and traits of character. He also was engaged in warfare against the Indians, and was major of the First Tennessee regiment in the Seminole war. In the discharge of these duties he was brave and fear- less, a characteristic which followed him in the discharge of all the duties of his later life in peaceful pursuits. He died at the age of seventy-eight years, after a life of great ac- tivity and usefulness. His later life was devoted to mercantile pursuits and in public office, about thirty years being spent in the offices of county clerk and in connection with the chancery court. During the Mexican war he accompanied the army to Mexico, and after the capture of Vera Cruz by the United States forces he sold goods in that city. In early days he marketed Tennessee corn in 'Louisiana by flat-boat, and he brought the first steamboat up Duck river. He spent many years in the transportation business prior to the advent of rail- roads, and his experiences were varied and interesting. There is a man now living in Columbia whose life he saved at im- minent peril to his own. His wife died at the age of seventy- eight. Their family comprised five sons and one daughter, of whom but two are living. R. H. Gordon is now a druggist in New York city. At one time he represented Davidson county in the legislature, but has been living in New York for the last ten years. The other is Judge Gordon. He was educated in the country schools and at Jackson college. The latter institution was destroyed by the Federal army during the war and was never rebuilt. He studied law in Columbia, and was admitted to the bar about 1885, and engaged in regular practice until elected county judge in May, 1902. He was re-elected at the succeeding election, his first election being for the unexpired term of Hon. E. D. Looney, retired. Judge Gordon was married May 3, 1859, to Miss Virginia C. Gra- ham, a native of Hickman county. Two children have been born to them: Powhatan Graham, a manufacturer of New York city, and a daughter, Louisa. now wife of Willis E. Jones, an extensive stock dealer in Maury county. Judge
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Gordon is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Royal Arcanum. He and his family are members of the Epis- copal church, of which his parents were also members. Polit- ically, he is a Democrat.
JOSEPH ALEXANDER TIT- COMB, mayor of Columbia, Tenn., and a prominent druggist of that city, was born there Aug. 10, 1856. He is a son of Hiram B. Titcomb, one of the pioneers of the place, who came there in 1849 and since that time has been thoroughly identified with the city's interests. His native state was Maine, from which he emigrated to Memphis in 1846, where he was engaged in teaching and telegraphy for three years. He was the first telegraph operator in Co- lumbia, and not only did he attend to the office details, but kept his line in repair for twenty-five miles north and the same distance south of Columbia. During the Civil war he en- gaged in the drug business, and this business is still conducted by his son. The father retired from active busines in 1888 and has since taken a well-earned respite from the cares of business to which years of attention and good management en- title him. He married Miss C. M. Ewing, daughter of Alexander Ewing, of Williamson county. She died during the infancy of her son, Joseph A., he being the only child born to them. The subject of this sketch graduated from Davidson college, North Carolina, in 1876, entered the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in the autumn of 1877 and graduated in 1880. For two years he was in the drug business in Memphis, and at the end of that time returned to Columbia, where he has remained, succeeding to his father's business on the latter's retirement in 1888. Mr. Titcomb was married in 1881 to Miss Lucy Smiser, a native of Columbia and a daughter of Warren S. Smiser, of an old Maury county family. Two sons have been born to them, Hiram B., Jr., and Warren Smiser, aged
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