USA > Tennessee > Notable men of Tennessee. Personal and genealogical, with portraits, Volume I > Part 25
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Summers, mother of Professor Summers, is a daughter of Capt. Calvin Brewer, for four years a captain in the Confed- erate army. He was in the battle of Shiloh, and saw Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston fall from his horse when shot in that battle. Captain Brewer was a wealthy man when the war be- gan, owning a great deal of land and a large number of slaves, but all was lost in that terrific struggle. His wife was Chris- tina Price. He died soon after the close of the war, at the age of fifty-five years, and his wife died in 1900, aged sixty- seven. They reared a family of two boys and ten girls. One of the sons and five of the daughters are yet living. Five children were born to George W. and Susan Summers, Leslie E. being the third. Josie is the wife of William Talley, a farmer, of Warren county. James M. is a traveling salesman in: the North, through Ohio and West Virginia. Agnes is the wife of Albert Snipes, a farmer, of Warren county. Henry L. is in the wholesale hardware house of W. B. Belk- nap & Co., of Louisville, Ky. Leslie E. was educated in the Viola Normal school, at Viola, Tenn., later in Irving col- lege, and subsequently at Burritt college, where he received the degree of A. M. in 1899. He began teaching in Warren county at the age of eighteen, teaching in the fall and winter and going to school in the summer. In 1899 the school at Trousdale was founded. Professor Summers was its principal and proprietor until September, 1903, when he took his present position as associate principal of the Cookeville Collegiate in- stitute, Prof. N. T. Finney being his associate. Professor Summers was elected county superintendent of schools for Warren county in January, 1901, and re-elected in 1903, but resigned in September, so as to be able to devote all his time to the institution. He has great aptitude, both for teaching and organizing schools; is a hard student; keeps well abreast of the times in the best methods, and is well informed in the current literature and events of the day. For one of his age, he has had an extended and varied experience, and has pupils in four or five counties in as many states. He has accomplished much good in his line, is one of the leading educators of his county, and a consistent member of the Christian church.
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ORION C. CONATSER, of Mon- terey, Tenn., was born in Fentress county, Tenn., Jan. 30. 1863. He was educated in Hiawassee college, completing the course and receiving the degree of A. B. in June, 1883. Later he graduated from the law de- partment of the Cumberland uni- versity, where he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1885. Soon after this he was appointed clerk and master in chancery, in Fentress county, and served in that position for six years; then resumed practice at Jamestown, the county seat of Fentress county; continued there until 1898, when he removed to Cookeville, Putnam county; practices in the county, state and Federal courts, and has been attorney for many large corporations, among them the Nashville & Knoxville railroad, the Craw- ford Coal and Iron Company, the Tennessee Central Railroad Company and the Gainsboro Telephone Company. Mr. Con- atser has been very successful in his profession, and deservedly stands high at the bar, being numbered among the best attor- neys in his part of the state. He is greatly valued as a citizen : is well read in his profession; is a diligent student, and is well informed in the events of the day. He was married, Oct. 14, 1890, to Miss Jennie Maxwell, a native of Tennessee. She departed this life in 1897, at the age of twenty-five years. They had three children: Walter H., Edna and Loma. Mr. Conatser is a member of Jamestown lodge No. 281, Free and Accepted Masons; member of Cookeville chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and Baldwin commandery No. 7, Knights Templars. of Lebanon. He is also a member of Mt. View lodge No. 179, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has served as worshipful master of the Jamestown Masonic lodge and as noble grand of the Odd Fellows.
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SAMUEL R. SIMPSON, a well-known contractor and builder, of Gallatin, Tenn., was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 14, 1821. His father, whose name was also Samuel, was a native of Ireland, who came to America when he was sixteen years of age, and was for a long time the gardener of the Pennsylvania university. The grandfather of Samuel R. Simpson died in Ireland, but his great-grandfather came to America a little while before the beginning of the Revolution, joined the American army at the commencement of hostilities, and was killed by the Indians while serving under Major Stark. Samuel Simpson, the father, married Jane McKnight, of Pennsylvania. One of her relatives, John Gist, was a soldier in the American army during the Revolution, and his rifle, which he carried through that memorable contest, is still in the hands of the subject of this sketch. Samuel R. Simpson learned the trade of carpenter in his early life, and in 1851 came to Tennessee, where he was employed on railroad work until the spring of 1861. Upon the beginning of the Civil war he enlisted in Captain Bidwell's company, Thirtieth Tennessee infantry. His regiment was stationed at Fort Donelson, and he was made quartermaster-sergeant, but was surrendered with the troops there and held a prisoner until October following. After his exchange he served with his regiment in Mississippi, with the rank of captain-quartermaster, took part in the mili- tary operations about Vicksburg, and was finally surrendered at Columbus, Ga. There is a curious incident connected with Mr. Simpson's military experience. At Chickamauga he found on the field a medicine case belonging to the One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois infantry. This case he kept with his quartermaster's stores, its contents being used in the Confed- erate service. After the war was over he retained the medi- cine chest as a sort of relic. In 1883 his sister from Illinois paid him a visit, and promptly recognized the medicine case as the property of her son, Dr. William Turner. All these years he had kept the case, little thinking that it had ever be- longed to his own nephew, another corroboration of the old saying that "Truth is stranger than fiction." Since the war, Mr. Simpson has been engaged in contracting and building,
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at Gallatin, some of the best structures in Sumner county having been erected under his supervision.
ROBERT A. SHIFLETT, chief mine inspector of the State of Tennessee, was born at Charlottesville, Va., in the year 1862, and lived there until he was twenty years of age. His primary education was obtained in the public schools of bis native town, after which he attended, for one session, the Dixon Preparatory school, and then took up the study of civil engineering. He was employed in the construction of the Charlottesville Water Works, and the water works at Rich- mond and Bedford, Va. Subsequently he assisted in the con- struction of the Richmond & Allegheny railroad, the Chesa- peake & Ohio, the East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia, the American, Preston & Lumpkin, a short line on the Harriman division of the Southern railroad, and some other lines of lesser importance. This work occupied his time until about 18S7. when he came to Tennessee and located at Knoxville, which has ever since been his home. Since coming to Tennessee he has been engaged chiefly in mining engineering. His work in this line gave him a wide knowledge of the character and needs of the Tennessee mines, which has been of inestimable value to him in his official capacity. He was appointed mine inspector by Governor McMillin, and was made chief mine inspector by Governor Frazier. His appointment in the first place was eminently satisfactory to interested parties, and his promotion to the position he now occupies met the approval of mine owners all over the state. Mr. Shiffett is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and affiliates with the Presby- terian church.
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: THOMAS EMMET GOFF, druggist, manufacturer of soft drinks, and farmer, of Monterey, Tenn., was born in Pikeville, Bledsoe county, Tenn., Sept. 23. 1853. His parents were T. C. and Sarah (Carter) Goff, both now deceased. The father was a mechanic in earlier life, and in his later days was engaged in a mercantile and stock business. He resided at
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River Hill, White county, where he spent his last years, and died Dec. 19, 1892, at the age of sixty-three. He and his wife were members of the Christian church. During the war, he was a manufacturer of saltpetre, and was exempt from service, but he paid for a substitute and continued manufactur- ing for the needs of the time. He was as well and favorably known as any man in the mountain district. In his earlier days he held office. His father was James Goff. an early and highly esteemed settler of the Cumberland mountains, a Virginian and a descendant of Judge Goff, whose ancestor, Judge Goff, beheaded Charles III. On coming to America, the Judge set- tled on the Louisiana Purchase, at some point believed to be in Missouri. On the maternal side, Sarah Carter Goff was the daughter of David Carter and one of a family of twelve chil- dren. Her mother was a Miss Scott. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Goff, of whom seven are living : James L .. living near Spencer; Thomas E., the subject of this sketch; Judge J. D., of Sparta; Florence, Mrs. L. M. Wallace, of River Hill; Carrie, Mrs. O. C. Crane, her husband a mer- chant, of Monterey; Ann, Mrs. M. G. Green, her husband a lumberman, of Monterey; Kate, Mrs. Chas. Rogers, whose husband is also in the lumber business, at Monterey; the other two died quite young. Thomas E. attended the common schools, and for some time studied at Burritt college, Spencer, Tenn. After leaving school, he engaged in mercantile pur- suits and became a traveling salesman. Upon giving up this occupation, he went into the real estate business, at Sparta, and later engaged in the drug business, at Livingston. From there he went to Monterey, where he has a large and well- selected stock of goods in his line. With his twenty years' experience in the drug trade, he has mastered all of its in- tricacies, and he has also handled considerable real estate in that time. He owns a large hotel in Monterey, and, having been a traveling salesman himself, "once upon a time," he understands what the public needs. His hotel, therefore, is one of the best in that section of the state, and deservedly enjoys a large patronage. Mr. Goff was an alderman for a number of years, and was the second mayor of the place.
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He is one of Monterey's live, earnest and progressive citi- zens, one of the coterie that have made the town what it is- the equal of any in that part of Tennessee. Mr. Goff is the founder, president and general manager of the Monterey Bottling Works, with a capacity of 100 cases a day, and a branch office at Lebanon. When the company was estab- lished a location was sought where the water used in the business should be as pure as it is possible to find. They found an article so pure and clear, at Monterey, that it is unneces- sary to filter it or distill it. The stockholders of the company include some of the best business men in Putnam county. They represent more than $1,000,000 in property, while the capital stock of the company is but $10,000. Mr. Goff is num- bered among the best business men of the town and county. On March 24, 1885. he was married to Miss Edna Reed, a native of Kentucky, but reared in Tennessee, and a daughter of D. D. and Martha (Winton) Reed. Mr. and Mrs. Goff have four children living: Willie D., T. M., Admiral Dewey and Bessie D .; Maudie died when seventeen months old.
CAPT. ANDREW J. CHISHOLM, Monterey, Tenn., was born at Cookeville, Putnam county, Dec. 16, 1874. His parents are William C. and Margaret (Paul) Chisholm, both natives of that county. The father was born in 1835, near Cookeville; has been a farmer all his life; enlisted in the Con- federate army, in 1861. in Company G, Twenty-fifth Tennessee regiment, Colonel Stanton commanding, which was assigned to Bragg's command. Mr. Chisholm took part in the battle of Mill Springs, where he was wounded below the knee, which disabled him so much that he was easily taken prisoner; was later exchanged and returned to his regiment; was at Perry- ville; at Murfreesboro, where he had his little finger shot off ; was . in other battles and skirmishes, and continued in the service until near the time the surrender occurred. When the war closed, he returned to his farm and resumed that peaceful occupation, which he has followed until the present time. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and his wife, who died in 1880, was also a member I-20
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of that faith. The parents of William C. Chisholm were Richard and Sarah (Conway) Chisholm, both natives of Vir- ginia. They lived to be eighty-eight and eighty-nine years old, respectively, and reared eight children, of whom William C. is the only one living. Richard enlisted for the Black Hawk war, but his company was not ordered out. His father, whose name was William Chisholm, served under General Jackson in the Indian wars, and was at the battle of New Orleans, Jan. 8, 1815. The Chisholms were from Northern Scotland. The first man who adopted the name of Chisholm was an earl and a close friend of Robert Bruce, marrying into the Bruce family. The Chisholms served in the wars of England; are said to have taken part in the American Revo- lution; they were in the battle of Bannockburn, which decided the fate of Scotland. Mrs. William C. Chisholm, the mother of Andrew J., was the daughter of Thomas and Sallie (Erwin) . Paul, who reared a large family. William C. and Margaret Chisholm were the parents of the following children: Ben- jamin F., who married Olva McCulla and has four children, Millo, Lusky, Gaskell and Cecil; Sidney, who enlisted in the same company as Andrew J., served the same time, is now an attorney at Cookeville, and was married, Nov. 5, 1902, to Miss. Virginia Evans, a native of Putnam county and daughter of S. O. and Mary (Anderson) Evans, the latter deceased ; Andrew J., the subject of this sketch, and Jeremiah, who died in childhood. Andrew J. was educated in the common schools, later graduated from Pleasant Hill academy, where he com- pleted a high school course, in 1897, and then took a special course. On April 25, 1898, he enlisted as a private in Com- pany C, First Tennessee infantry. He started for San Fran -. cisco, June 15th; September 9th the regiment sailed for Manila and reached there October 28th; remained on the Lunetta river until February, 1899; acted as guard for the Philippine penitentiary ; was in several fights and skirmishes; accompanied. the Iloilo expedition, Feb. 6, 1899; occupied the town after the bombardment; was in several engagements during the day the landing was made, including Mandureo and Jaro River : was also a part of the expedition to Cebu, where the fortifi -.
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cations were captured, together with about 100 cannon. In
September, 1899, it embarked for home, returned via Japan, visited several cities in that country and reached San Fran- cisco after a voyage of fifty-four days. The regiment went into camp at San Francisco for two weeks, at the end of which time they returned home and were mustered out, after a service of twenty months. After his return, Captain Chisholm studied two years at Cookeville Collegiate institute, and went from there to the University of Nashville, where he received the degree of A. B., in 1903. He had the appointment to the Monterey high school one year, and then engaged in the livery and grain business. Mr. Chisholm held the office of county superintendent from 1900 to 1902. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and his wife be- long to the Methodist Episcopal Church South. His wife was Miss Berenice Koppikus.
GEORGE N. WELCH, of Mon- terey, Tenn., is secretary of the Cumberland Coal Company; owner of coal lands and town property; general manager of the stave department; a partner in the store of J. W. & Geo. .N .. Welch, and is connected with the Monterey Stave and Lumber Com- pany. He was born on a farm in Putnam county, Tenn., Jan. 26, 1880, and is the son of John W. and Julia (Ford) Welch, of Monterey. Both parents are members of the Missionary Baptist church. George N. is the oldest of five children, the others being: A. P., who is a wholesale and retail dealer in hay, grain and feed stuff, in . Monterey; Charles, Ethel and Ora. George N. attended the country schools until thirteen years old, and the following three years attended the city schools. Since that time he has spent much time in the woods, in connection with the Mon- terey Stave and Lumber Company. This company was or- ganized through his efforts, in 1902, for the manufacture of
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lumber, beer-keg staves, etc. With his knowledge of the sur- rounding country, the company-composed of himself, his father, J. H. and W. B. Ray, natives of Putnam county-has secured large and excellent tracts of timber in that county, covering a territory of at least 15,000 acres, the present value of which is about $100,000, with a supply of fine poplar and white oak timber good for several years. The company operates three saw-mills, located at various distances of from three to fifteen miles from the railroad, each having a capacity of 13,000 feet, a total of 39,000 feet daily. In the matter of beer-keg staves, they have three plants, one at Overton, one in Putnam county and one in White county, each having a daily capacity of 5,000 feet. Their stave plants manufacture one- fourth of all the beer-keg staves made in the United States, and the country uses 10,200,000 full-dressed staves annually. They take the stock all the way from the stump to the cooper, which gives employment to 180 men and forty-eight teams. George N. Welch is general manager of this department, and all the work in it is done under his supervision. In the Coopers' Journal, published at Milwaukee, Wis., by M. C. Moore, he is styled (because of his size and juvenile appearance) "the Tennessee Beer-Stave Kid." He is a man of excellent busi- ness qualifications, and, though a product of the county, he can easily cope with those who have better literary attain- ments and a broader experience. Considering his age and the limited field of his operations, he compares well with the lead- ing men of the state in his line. He is energetic; enthusiastic, and one of the most enterprising men in the county. He is one of the five members composing the Monterey high school board, and is secretary of that body. Mr. Welch is a member of the Concatenated Order of Hoo Hoos, better known as "The Black Cat," an organization made up largely of lumber- men, manufacturers and railroad men. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was married, on Nov. 25, 1900, to Miss Effie Walker, daughter of J. C. and Lou C. (Ray) Walker, of Monterey.
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HON. HENRY V. B. SMITH, mayor of Crossville, Tenn., secretary of the Powell Lumber and Mining Company, and secretary and treasurer of the Chronicle Publishing Com- pany, of Crossville, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., March 20, 1869. He is the youngest son of Maj. Geo. H. and Mary F. B. (Brown) Smith, now living in Santa Rosa, N. M. Geo. H. Smith was born in Norwich, N. Y. He was one of the first to learn telegraphy, and in connection with his mercantile estab- lishment he conducted a telegraph office and published a news- paper. Later he went West, and was connected with the Western Union Telegraph Company, at St. Louis. At the out- break of the Civil war, he organized the first military tele- graph, and was placed in charge of the department of Mis- souri, with the rank of major, receiving a commission as colonel at the close of the war. About 1872 he became superin- tendent of the Lake Superior & Mississippi railroad, at that time a branch of the Northern Pacific railroad. Later, when the former road became independent and reorganized as the St. Paul & Duluth railroad, he became its general superin- tendent, serving in such capacity for nine years. He remained in active railroad business until 1902, when, by his physician's advice, he retired, and now, at the age of seventy-one years, he is enjoying a well-earned rest, after an energetic and use- ful career. His wife, who is now sixty-nine years of age, is the daughter of Henry V. and Elizabeth (Breed) Brown. She is descended from the Breeds of Breed's Hill and Bunker Hill fame. Her father died in middle life, from the effects of sunstroke, and her mother lived to the age of seventy- seven years. She is one of three surviving children. Henry V. B. Smith is one of seven children, six of whom are living. He was educated in the public schools of St. Paul, Minn. Leaving school at the age of fourteen, he entered railway service as bill clerk, cashier and telegraph operator. He re-
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moved to Crossville in the summer of 1888. Having learned the printer's trade in his youth, he bought an interest in the paper then known as the Crossville Times, later purchasing the remaining interest, and published this paper until 1895. 1= 1892, while on a visit to St. Paul, Minn., he was tendered the position of general manager of the St. Paul & Minneapolis Messenger and Telephone Company, for the purpose of its reorganization. Leaving his business in Crossville in trusted hands, he accepted the position, serving in that capacity for fifteen months, when, the purposes of his appointment having been accomplished and his affairs in the South demanding his attention, he resigned and returned to Crossville. He has held by appointment, for several years, the office of deputy clerk and master of the chancery court, his last term expir- ing in 1903. He is a Republican, but was appointed to this office by the late H. G. Dunbar, a Democrat. He was ap- pointed deputy clerk of the circuit court, in 1896, and had full charge of that office for two years. He was admitted to the bar Feb. 3, 1897. In 1898, Col. Jere Baxter, promoter, builde: and president of the Tennessee Central railway, engaged his services in connection with that enterprise, later appointing him to the position of secretary to the president of that road. which position he held until Dec. 1, 1901, when he resigned to accept the secretaryship of the Powell Lumber and Mining Company. He was elected mayor of Crossville in December. 1902, and re-elected the following year. The city improve- ments bear testimony to his fine administration. Mr. Smith was married, on Sept. 3. 1890, to Bessie Florence, daughter of Orion N. and Hester (Archer) Wilcox. now residing in Riverside, Cal. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two children, Nellie C. and Hester M. Mr. and Mrs. Smith attend the Congre- gational church, and are members of the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Smith is a Royal Arch Mason. He is a man of indomitable energy, and is ever active in promoting the best interests of his community.
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HON. JAMES W. COOPER, of the law firm of Cooper & Hamby, of Crossville, Tenn., also a member of the Tennessee legislature and secre- tary of the Cumberland Realty and Coal Company, was born near Mc- Elway's Ferry, in White county, April 19, 1878. He is the son of William and Amanda (Sparkman) Cooper, the former a native of Pennsylvania, of Irish extraction, and the latter a native of Coffee county, Tenn., and a relative of ex-Governor Coffee. William Cooper was born March 2, 1843, and learned the trade of a carpenter, which occupation he followed before the war. In July, 1861, he en- listed in Company C, Twenty-fifth Tennessee infantry, Colonel Clanton's regiment, and was in all the battles participated in by his command, which was a part of General Bragg's divi- sion, Johnston's army; acted as trumpeter; stood the service well; although captured once but soon afterward made his es- cape. When the war closed, he returned home and resumed his trade, but later engaged in sawing lumber, building. real estate, etc., buying mountain lands when they were low in price and holding for the increase that came, usually selling to great advantage. He now owns between 15,000 and 25.000 acres of Cumberland mountain lands, in Cumberland county. His family resides at Nashville. The paternal grandparents of James W. Cooper were William and Margaret (Moat) Cooper. He was a ship carpenter, and was employed in his earlier years in the royal navy yard in Dublin, Ireland; came to the United States in 1811. and settled where Scranton, Pa., is now located. His son, William, was born there before a post-office had been established. William Cooper, the grand- father, returned to Ireland with his family, in 1845, and died there, in 1856. The following year the widow returned to this country, where she had a brother, and soon after the family removed to Fentress county. and later to White county, Tenn. During the years from 18.45 to 1857, William, the father
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