Notable men of Tennessee. Personal and genealogical, with portraits, Volume II, Part 24

Author: Allison, John, 1845-1920, ed
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern historical association
Number of Pages: 662


USA > Tennessee > Notable men of Tennessee. Personal and genealogical, with portraits, Volume II > Part 24


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26



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with the degree of A. B., and three years later received the degree of A. M. from the same institution. For two years he was principal of the Coal Creek academy, after which he read law, and was admitted to the bar in Knoxville, in 1886, by Judges D. K. Young, M. L. Hall, and Chancellor W. B. Staley. The same year he located in Clinton, where he has been engaged in practice ever since. He has a large clientage, practices in the surrounding counties, and in the state and Fed- eral courts. For eight years he served as one of the aldermen of Clinton. Mr. Burnett is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Senior and Junior Orders of American Mechanics, and the Masonic fraternity. On Aug. 2, 1885, he was married to Miss Nancy A., daughter of W. H. and Nancy L. (Goins) Edwards, of Clinton. Her father died in 1886. Two children were born to Mr. Burnett and his wife: Fernando C. and Jones C. Their mother died on May 30, 1893, aged twenty-five years, and on March 9, 1904, their father was married to Mrs. Mary L. Adkins, nce Brooks. She is a member of the Baptist church, and is one of the most estimable ladies of Clinton.


JOHN L. HANDLY, secretary and treasurer of the Handly-Goodman Wholesale Grocery Company, of Har- riman, Tenn., was born near Win- chester, Franklin county, Tenn .. Feb. 10, 1862, where his father, James C. Handly, was a large land owner and before the war owned a considerable number of slaves. He was a native of that county, and died there in 1872, in his sixtieth year. He mar- ried Cynthia A. Shook, a daughter of Abraham Shook, a prominent farmer and at one time sheriff of the county. He was also one of the founders of the Goshen Cumberland Presbyterian church. The paternal great-grand- father of the subject of this sketch was Capt. Samuel Handly, who was in the Revolutionary war and fought the Indians all


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over East Tennessee. On one occasion he and his company were surprised by a band of hostile Indians; he was captured near Crab Orchard, Tenn., and held a prisoner for six months, during which time he was subjected to all sorts of cruelties. After his release he settled in Franklin county, and was a member of the first constitutional convention of Tennessee. One of his sons was John Handly, the grandfather of the sub- ject, who in his day was one of the best-known men in the county. He lived on the road running from Huntsville, Ala., to Nashville, and his house was a popular stopping-place for trav- elers. He served as sheriff of the county, and had large farm- ing interests. He married Susan Cowan, and James C., the father of the subject, was their oldest child. Four generations of the family rest side by side in the old Woods graveyard, near Winchester. John L. Handly is the youngest of seven children, the others being: William C., a shoe merchant, in Nashville; Mattie, Mrs. L. S. Sims, of Nashville; Professor Erskine, a teacher, at Birmingham, Ala .; Sue, living at Nash- ville; Shook, died at the age of thirty-six years; Mary J., who died when but twelve years old. Mr. Handly was educated at the Winchester Normal school under Prof. J. W. Terrell, one of the best instructors in the state, and later took a course in the Goodman Business college, of Nashville, Tenn., after which he embarked in the retail grocery business with the firm of Hogan & Hall. Some years later he went on the road as a traveling salesman for a wholesale grocery house, his field being Middle Tennessee and Northern Alabama. Then, for some time, he was a member of the wholesale grocery firm of Scrog- gins, White & Co., of Nashville, and in 1900 came to Harri- man and established the Handly-Goodman company. Their salesmen cover Eastern Tennessee and part of the State of Kentucky, and the house has a constantly growing trade. At the end of one year it became necessary to double the capital, in order to meet the demands of their custom, and to secure larger quarters. Mr. Handly has been secretary and treasurer of the concern ever since it started. He occupies a high place in the business circles of Harriman, as is evidenced by his being elected to the presidency of the Chamber of Commerce.


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He is a Knight of Pythias, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was married, Sept. 17, 1903, to Miss Lucile, daughter of Jesse and Salina (Riley) Trotter, of Georgia. Her father is dead, but her mother is liv- ing, at Dalton, Ga. Mr. and Mrs. Handly are among the popular people of Harriman, and are active workers for the good of the town.


HON. WILLIAM F. MILLICAN, postmaster at Rockwood, Tenn., was born on a farm in Roane county, June 12, 1862, his parents being John H. and Susan E. (Abel) Millican, both natives of Tennessee. His father served for twelve years as a mem- ber of the county court, was deputy sheriff for six years, held other minor offices, and is now a notary public. He and his wife are living on a farm in Roane county, both being mem- bers of the Baptist church, in which he holds the office of dea- con. The paternal grandparents were Moses Scott and Narcis- sus (Underwood) Millican. The maternal grandparents were J. C. Abel and Annie (Hinds) Abel. Of their nine children three survive. After the death of his first wife he married again, and is now living at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. William F. is the second of a family of eight children. He attended the public schools in his boyhood days, after which he worked on a farin and on the public works at Rockwood. From a laborer he advanced to the position of mine foreman, which he was filling when he met with an accident, in Novem- ber, 1896, which incapacitated him for further work in that line. On July 1, 1897, he received the appointment of post- master from the late President Mckinley, and was reappointed by President Roosevelt. Prior to that, he served as city clerk one term and in the legislature, being elected in 1894 to the forty-ninth general assembly of Tennessee, and was a member of the session that settled the memorable Evans-Turney contest.


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As a member of the house, he served on the committee on labor and several other important committees. Mr. Millican is one of the public-spirited men of Rockwood, always taking an interest in movements to advance the interests of the city, and has the name of being one of the best postmasters in Eastern Tennessee. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has three times represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge. He has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was married, Nov. 4. 1883. was Miss Anna Joseph, a native of Wales and a daughter of John and Jane Joseph, of Rockwood. By this marriage he had five children : Jennie May, now Mrs. John T. Dickson; Emma, a clerk in the postoffice with her father; Anna, in school; Harry, died at the age of five months, and Maude. The mother of these children died in June, 1893, and on March 28, 1895, Mr. Millican mar- ried Miss Lizzie, daughter of Samuel J. and Letha (Kendrick) Acuff. of Roane county. Four children have been born to this second marriage: Hobart, died at the age of five weeks; Madge E., William F., Jr., and Neil Wright. Mr. Millican's first wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he and his present wife belong to the Christian church.


HON. ABSALOM P. THOMP- SON, a prominent attorney of Rock- wood, Tenn., was born at Pigeon Ford, Sevier county, Tenn., April 24, 1844. His father, Robert B. Thompson, was born in Wythe county, Va., in 1820. The last twenty-four years of his life he was in the employ of the Roane Iron Company. Before the dissolution of the old Whig party he affiliated with that organization, but after the war he was a Republican. He died in 1892, esteemed by all who knew him as an honorable and worthy citizen and a charitable neighbor. He married a Miss Minerva Burnette, a


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daughter of Osborn J. and Catharine (Krouse) Burnette, and one of a large family of children. She is still living in Rock- wood, at the age of seventy-six years. A. P. Thompson is one of seven children, all living. He was educated in the common schools and later attended night school. On Aug. 19. 1861, he enlisted in Company E, First Tennessee infantry, and served until Sept. 17, 1864. In that time he fought in numerous engagements, among them Wild Cat and Mill Springs, Ky .. . Murfreesboro, Tenn., and was with Sherman on his "March to the Sea." After the war, he was associated with General Wilder in building the town of Rockwood, and was the keeper of the furnace that made the first iron with coal for fuel that was made south of Mason and Dixon's line. In 1871 he went to Chattanooga, where he was employed in the rolling-mills. During his fourteen years' residence in that city, he attended the night schools and read law with Col. H. B. Case. In 1885 he was admitted to the bar, his license being signed by Judge John B. Hoyle, of the circuit court, and Chancellor William Bradford. Soon after his admission he returned to Rockwood. and has ever since been engaged in the practice of his profes- sion at that point. Under the administration of President Arthur, he was appointed postmaster at Glenalice, Roane county. and also served four years under the Harrison administration. In 1896 he was elected to the legislature, and was re-elected in 1898. As a member of the house he served on the committees on judiciary, railroads, banks and insurance, agriculture, and several others of lesser importance. He was the acknowledged leader on the Republican side, though he was in harmony with the leaders of the opposition on the question of redistricting the state for judicial purposes. In 1898 he was appointed jus- tice of the peace, and held the office for six years. Mr. Thomp- son is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and is adjutant of his post. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are recognized as one of the leading families of Rockwood in church and social matters. He was married, May 18, 1865, to Miss Ruth C., daughter of Henry P. W. and Margaret D. (Horner) Heines, of Roane county. To this marriage have been born the following chil-


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dren: Margaret M., now Mrs. J. C. Stith, of Russellville, Ga .; Robert W., who was a railroad conductor on the Illinois Cen- tral and who was injured in an accident, near Canton, Miss., July 24, 1896, and died two days later, having married Miss Gertrude Williams and been the father of one child, Ruth Eliz- abeth, who died at the age of three months; Laura F., the third child, married and residing at Rockwood; Lillie May, now Mrs. David E. Drips, of Russellville, Ga .; John Wilder, who died at the age of six years; Anna Catharine, Blaine and Arthur, the three last-named dying in infancy.


HON. A. E. RADERT, judge of the Anderson county court, Clinton, Tenn., was born in France, Sept. 13, 1869, and is the only surviving child born to Amiel and Marie ( Brassin) Radert. The father, in early life, became associated with the zinc manufacturing industry in his native land. The business finally brought him and his family to the United States, where for some time he was located at St. Louis, Mo., and since 1880 in Clinton, where he was connected with the zinc works until they were closed. He is still living in Clinton, at the age of sixty-five years, and has one brother, Jules, living in France. The mother died in 1886, at the age of forty-five. Both par- ents were members of the Catholic church, to which the father still belongs. Judge Radert received his first education in France, but the greatest part of it was obtained in the schools of St. Louis, though he afterward attended school at Knoxville and Clinton. From the time he quit school until 1898 he was employed as bookkeeper by the Fisher & Burnett Lumber Com- pany, of Knoxville. In 1898 he was elected to his present posi- tion, and has been re-elected every year since. Being an expert accountant, the bonds of Trustee W. W. Hays secured his employment as deputy trustee, and he straightened out the affairs of the office for the first time in the history of the county. In his official capacity he has won a reputation for carefulness and capability that any man might envy. Judge Radert is a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, a past chancellor commander, and has three or four times rep- resented his lodge in the Grand Lodge, where his natural talent


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and executive ability have made him a useful and influential factor in the affairs of the order. He was married, in May, 1901, to Miss Marietta Foster, a daughter of M. N. and Rosa Foster, of Clinton. Her father is one of the leading merchants and owner and proprietor of the Foster House, one of the well- known and appreciated hotels of Eastern Tennessee. Mrs. Radert died Feb. 2, 1902, leaving an infant daughter, Marie. She was well known in Clinton, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and her death was sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends.


DAVID REES, D. D. S., a promi- nent dentist and mayor of Clinton, Tenn., was born at Aberdare, Wales, Jan. 27, 1864. His parents, Daniel and Margaret (Evans) Rees, were both natives of Wales, the Welsh spelling of the name being "Rhys." At the close of the Civil war in America they came to this country, and settled in Eastern Tennessee, where the father soon became identi- fied with the mining interests of that section. He was a pioneer in the coal mining industry, and was a member of the Walden Ridge Coal Company, of Sale Creek, Hamilton county. He is now living at Oliver Springs, aged seventy-five years. He removed to Oliver Springs in 1882, and his wife died there in 1889, being about fifty-five years of age. Their four children are David, the subject of this sketch; John, Thomas and Mary, now Mrs. John Thomas, all but David residing in Colorado. David attended the com- mon schools during his boyhood, and then worked in the mines to acquire the means of securing a better education. In 1886 he took one term in the dental department of Vanderbilt uni- versity, and in 1892 was graduated from the dental department of the Tennessee Medical college, at Knoxville, Tenn., with honorable mention, and since that time has been engaged in the practice of dentistry and interested in the development of the oil


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and gas fields of Tennessee and adjoining states. In 1902 he was elected mayor of Clinton, taking the office on New Year's day, 1903, for a term of two years. In the election he had no opposition, being the unanimous choice of the people of the city. This tells better than words of his merit and popularity among those who know him best and who are his daily asso- ciates. During his term of office he advocated no salary for the mayor and aldermen, and was elected for a second terin, having no opposition. Doctor Rees is a member of Alpha lodge No. 376, Free and Accepted Masons, in which he has been honored by being elected worshipful master and repre- sentative to the Grand Lodge. He is also a Knight of Pythias and an Odd Fellow, and he and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He was married, March 15, 1894, to Miss Lottie Abbott, of Cleveland, O. She is a daughter of Fred A. and Libbie Abbott, her father being connected with the wholesale and retail house of Stirling, Welch & Co. Doc- tor Rees and his wife have two sons, Abbott and David Spen- cer.


HINSON DUNCAN HICKS, M. D., a physician, of Clin- ton, Tenn., is a descendant of some of the oldest families of Tennessee and North Carolina. His paternal great-great- grandfather was a farmer, before the Revolution, in the neigh- borhood of Raleigh, N. C .. and his name was Raleigh Hicks. His son, Richard, the great-grandfather of the Doctor, also lived and died near Raleigh, but the grandfather, John Hicks. came to Tennessee in early life. On the maternal side, the Duncans came from North Carolina to Tennessee over 100 years ago. Doctor Hicks is a son of William R. and Mary L. (Duncan) Hicks, and was born in Anderson county, Tenn., Oct. 14, 1876. During the Civil war his father served in Company C, Second Tennessee infantry, from Aug. 8, 1861, until in February, 1865. The regiment received its baptism of fire at Wild Cat, Ky., under Gen. George H. Thomas; was at Mill Springs, Murfreesboro, in pursuit of Gen. John Mor- gan, the noted raider, and was surrounded and captured at Rogersville, Tenn., Nov. 6, 1863. The captives were con-


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fined at Bell Island for a time, and were then taken to Libby prison, where they were held until September, 1864, when they were taken farther south. At Augusta, Ga., Mr. Hicks es- caped, but was afterward recaptured and held a prisoner at the Florence prison, Charleston, S. C., remaining in prison altogether over thirteen months. When he came home, in February, 1865, he weighed less than 100 pounds. Today he weighs 190, and is in good health. After the war he taught school, borrowed law. books from Col. C. J. Sawyer and equipped himself for the practice of law. Since his admis- sion to the bar he has served on the bench in the second judicial circuit for sixteen years, and is now next door to Colonel Sawyer, who gave him the first encouragement to study law. He was married on March 19, 1868, and Doctor Hicks is the third of a family of four children. He was educated at the Clinton high school, and later took a select course in Grant Memorial university. He then entered the medical department of the University of Louisville, Louisville, Ky .. and graduated in April, 1900. Since then he has been engaged in the practice of his profession at Clinton. Doctor Hicks represents the progressive element of the medical profession. Although a young man, he has won a high standing in his chosen calling, and commands the respect of his brother physi- cians and the public generally. He is a member of the Ten- nessee State Medical association and of the Anderson County Medical society. He is the examiner for the Equitable, Massa- chusetts Mutual and Ætna Life Insurance companies, in Clin- ton; a member of the Clinton board of examining surgeons for pensioners; is a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal . church.


L. H. CARLOCK, attorney-at-law, LaFollette, Tenn., was born in McMinn county, of that state, Oct. 20, 1873. His father is the Rev. L. L. H. Carlock, now serving his second term as presiding eller of the Abingdon district. He was born in Missouri, in 1845; clerked in a store until sixteen years of age; then enlisted in the Confederate army and served two II-20


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years, being a prisoner at Fort Delaware at the close of the war. He then went to the home of his uncle, James C. Car- jock, in McMinn county, walking from Fort Delaware to Nashville, and alternately taught and attended school until he finished his education. He has filled pulpits at some of the principal cities in Ohio, and at Knoxville, and was for some time president of Sullivan's college, at Bristol, Tenn. Several of his twelve brothers and sisters are living, and all are use- ful members of society. He married Nannie C. Cass, whose mother was a relative of the noted Catholic priest, Father Ryan, and to this marriage were born seven children: Mary Olive, now Mrs. James R. Brener, of Bristol; Edith, Mrs. Robert Harnsby, of Athens; L. H., the subject of this sketch; Clyde, Mrs. W. H. Hull, of Marion, Va .; Lucie Lee, wife of James W. Sheffey; Harold, bookkeeper, at Bristol; Katie R., now a student at Martha Washington college. L. H. Carlock was educated at Emory and Henry college, first taking an academic course, then the degree of B. A., and later a post- graduate course, after which he was adjunct professor in Latin and Greek for one year. He then entered the law department of Washington and Lee college, and from this institution he received the degree of LL.B. Mr. Carlock began the practice of law in Chattanooga. in the office of Creed F. Bates, but nine months later he was hurt in the Richardson building fire, and went to Knoxville, where he took up practice as soon as suf- ficently recovered from his injuries. In the fall of 1902 he located in LaFollette. where he has a good business, extending to all the state and Federal courts. Mr. Carlock has a high standing -- at the bar as a lawyer and in the community as a · man and a citizen. He was married, Dec. 21, 1898, to Miss May Belle, daughter of Jerome and Belle (Mabry) Templeton, of Knoxville. Mrs. Carlock died June 30, 1902, leaving one child, Mary Isabel. Mr. Carlock is a Mason, and is secretary of his lodge. He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.


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ABRAHAM LINCOLN DEMAR- CUS, of Clinton, Tenn., sheriff of Anderson county and deputy United States marshal, was born in that county, Oct. 25, 1853. his parents being Job and Margaret (Cooter) DeMarcus, both natives of Tennessee, the former of Anderson and the lat- ter of Hamblen county. The father was a farmer in moderate circum- stances, and knew much of the hard- ships of pioneer farm life in Ten- nessee. Before the war he was strenuously opposed to seces- sion, and three of his sons fought in the Union army. He died at the age of eighty-seven years, having all his life been a devoted Christian and a great reader of the Bible. The pater- nal grandfather, Solomon DeMarcus, came to Tennessee from North Carolina early in the last century. Abraham L. De- Marcus is the eleventh of the twelve children born to his parents. John died at the age of thirty years; Balcerie mar- ried Thomas Long. and died at the age of twenty-five; Solo- mon died at the age of forty-five; Joseph married, and is still living at Spencer, Ind .; Amos is a Baptist minister, who, al- though afflicted with rheumatism. still preaches from a chair : Frazier was also a minister, who filled pulpits in Tennessee. Indiana and Kentucky, frequently preached while in the army, and died, aged about thirty-five, of consumption; Jane mar- ried a Mr. Hankins, and died. aged about forty-five: Brad- ford died in the army, at Camp Pigeon Roost; Taylor died. at the age of thirty-seven; James died, at the age of nineteen, and William, the youngest. lives on the old home farm. The mother of these children died. some time in the eighties, aged about sixty-seven years. The subject of this sketch attended the common schools, where he acquired the rudiments of an education, which he has greatly enlarged by reading and self- culture. At the age of seventeen he went to Indiana, where for four years he worked with his brothers at farm work and other occupations. He then returned to Tennessee and taught


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penmanship for some time. He was appointed deputy United States marshal, under the Harrison administration, holding the office for four years. He was then elected city recorder for two years, but at the close of the first year resigned to be- come a candidate for sheriff. This office he held two terms, and when President Mckinley came into office he was reap- pointed to the position of deputy marshal, which he still holds. In April, 1904, the county court elected him to serve out the unexpired term of G. W. Moore, deceased. Mr. DeMarcus is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, and has passed through the chairs in both lodges. In Odd Fellowship he is the oldest member of Clinton lodge. He was married, Jan. 27, 1892, to Miss Ella Emmert, the youngest daughter of Hon. William C. and Mary (Renshaw) Emmert, of Unicoi county, Tenn. Her father was a prominent lawyer, and served two terms in the Ten- nessee legislature. He died July 7, 1893, at the age of seventy


years. His widow is still living, residing at Erwin, Unicoi county, where she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and highly esteemed by her neighbors and a large circle of friends. Mr. and Mrs. DeMarcus have one son, Daniel Kelly. Mr. DeMarcus is a member of the Baptist church, and his wife is a Presbyterian. They live in one of the handsomest residences in Clinton, and their home is one of the most hospitable in the city.


CHARLES MORTON GLOVER, cashier of the LaFollette State bank, LaFollette, Tenn., was born in Lawrence county, Ind., May 8, 1867. His father, John B. Glover, is a native of Harrison county, Ind .; a graduate of the Indiana State university; treasurer of Lawrence county from 1868 to 1872; treasurer of the state from 1872 to 1874; consul to Havre, France, from 1881 to 1885; deputy revenue collector for the sixth internal revenue district of Indiana, at Indianapolis, from 1901 to 1903, when he resigned on account of ill-health; a pronounced Republican from the organization of the party, and a personal and political friend of the late Governor Mor- ton. Before the war he learned dentistry, and followed that




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