Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee, Part 106

Author: Speer, William S
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Nashville, A. B. Tavel
Number of Pages: 1278

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HON. WILLIAM E. B. JONES.

Me MINNI ILLE.

A LTHOUGHI a Marylander by birth, the subject of this sketch has been so long and so prominently identified with Tennessee affairs, he is quite as much a Tennessean as one " native here and to the manner

born." The place of his nativity was Annapolis, Mary- land, where, on December 21, 1828, he first saw the light. His father, Maj. Richard Ireland Jones, a major in the United States army of 1812, was a native En-

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glishman, born in London, served as a British midship- man, but resigned and came to Maryland when twenty- one years old. He was married three times, and died in Maryland in 1814, at the age of seventy-four, when the son was only fifteen years old.

Mr. Jones' mother, nee Lucretia J. Ball, was a native of Kentucky, born the daughter of William and Leti- tia Ball, of a Virginia family. The grandfather, Ed- win Ball, moved from Virginia to Kentucky at an early day. Miss Lucretia Ball was teaching school at Fay etteville, Tennessee, when Maj. Richard Jones met her and there they were married, she being his third wife. She died in 1840, leaving five children, only three of whom survive: (1). Ada, now wife of Dr. Amos Han- cock, of Overton county, Tennessee. (2). Emma. now wife of James McMillan, of Monroe county, Kentucky. (3). William Edwin Ball Jones, subject of this sketch.

W. E. B. Jones, was educated at St. John's college, Annapolis, Maryland, but he received all of his school- ing before the age of fifteen. At about the age of seventeen, he entered the clerk's office of Bracken county, Kentucky, as a deputy clerk, where he remained six months, meantime reading law. Continuing his law studies a year or more after this, he was licensed to practice by Judges Crenshaw and Tompkins, at Glas- gow, Kentucky. He began practice at Livingston. Overton county, Tennessee, in September, ISIS, and practiced there with considerable success up to the time of the war.

In 1861, he entered the Confederate army, joined Bledsoe's cavalry company, and remained in that com- pany until the latter part of the year, when he was mustered out of service, his time of enlistment having expired. After the war he moved to MeMinnville, Tennessee, where he has practiced law ever since, in partnership, two or three years, with W. J. Clift ; three years with W. V. Whitson, and ten years with T. C. Lind, his present partner.

A Jeffersonian Democrat in politics, Mr. Jones has never deviated from the principles of that party. In 1860, he was a delegate to the Democratic national con- ventions at Charleston and Baltimore, at Charleston voting for Johnson, and at Baltimore for Douglas

He was mayor of Livingston one your, and in 159 60, represented Overton county in the lower house of the Tennessee Legislature, serving on the judiciary and banking committees.

lle belongs to no secret society and to no church, though formerly a member of the Christian church, the doctrines of which he still believes.

Mr. Jones first married in Fentress county, Tennes- see, December 29, 1850, Miss Vestina Bledsoe, daughter . of William Bledsoe. Her mother was, originally, Miss Elizabeth Prosper, of a Kentucky family. Her brothers, Willis S. and Robert HI. Bledsoe, were both gallant Con- federate officers, the former a major and the latter a captain, in Col. Baxter Smith's Fourth Confederate cavalry regiment. Mrs. Jones was of the same family as the Anthony Bledsoe family, of Summer county, Ten- nevee. By his marriage with Miss Bledsoe, Mr. Jones has five children : - (1). Ennaa Jones, educated at Naz- areth Academy, Bardstown, Kentucky. (2). Laura J. Jones, educated at the Cumberland Female College, MeMinnville. (3). William B. Jones, born February 18, 1857; educated at the East Tennessee University ; married Miss Allie, in Dallas, county, Texas, where he now resides. They have one child, Alice Bell. (+). Mary Lucretia Jones; educated at the Cumberland Fe- male College, MeMinnville. (5). Minie Lee Jones, educated at the same school. . The first Mrs. Jones, died February 13, 1867, at the age thirty-two; a mem- ber of the Christian church.

Mr. Jones' second marriage, which took place in Van Buren county, Tennessee, March 29, 1870, was with Miss Ann L. Page, daughter of Dr. John S. Page. Her mother was Miss Louise Turner. By this marriage, Mr. Jones has four children. (1). Richard Edwin Jones, born April 29, 1872. (2). Idalia Ermine Jones, born February 1, 1875. (3). Annie May Jones, born May 22, 1878. (1). John Meredith Jones, born February 26, 1882.

Mr. Jones has had the experience of beginning life on nothing twice, first when a youth of nineteen, and next after the war. He is now in independent circum- stances, owns two valuable farms, and has an interest in two others, besides valuable real estate in MeMinnville. He is also a director in the National Bank at MeMinh- ville. He has always made it a rule to be in his office ready for business, and to be prompt and attentive, and has the reputation of being a hard student, He is a man of' strone will, and a man of individuality. In man- ners, he is plain and unassuming, and in address, delib- crate and positive. Integrity of character and fixedness of purpose are the factors of his prosperity.

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COL. LEONIDAS TROUSDALE.

NASHVILLE.

C OL. TROUSDALE was born in Robertson county, Tennessee, February 12, 1823, at his father's farm near Springfield, the county seat. When he was three years old his father moved to Jackson, in Madison county, of the same State, then a pioneer district, re- ceiving its first generation of white settlers. At the age of seven he commenced attending such schools as were accessible in that half reclaimed country, and at nine commenced the study of Latin. His principal in- structor was Samuel Mcclanahan, a graduate of the South Carolina College, at Columbia, South Carolina. With this gentleman he studied for six successive years, when his teacher was called to the bar, and abandoned the scholastic profession. He very early developed a taste for literary composition, having edited a weekly paper at thirteen, which was circulated among his school-fellows in manuscript. At sixteen he started another journal, also circulated in manuscript. At the age of twelve he returned to his birth-place, Spring. field, and attended school at Liberty Academy for two years, under a good classical scholar. In 1837, at the age of fourteen, he entered the University of Nashville, Dr. Philip Lindsley, president. Among his contempo- raries there were J. Berrien Lindsley, " Nicaragua " Walker, William T. Haskell (the well-known orator), John M. Lea (afterward judge of the chancery court and mayor of Nashville), Gov. Runnells, of Texas, and Hardy M. Burton, a distinguished lawyer. In the fall of 1839, he entered the East Tennessee University, of which Joseph Estabrook was president, and here he graduated as A. B., in 1811.

Soon after graduation, he emigrated to Carroll county, Mississippi, where he taught school for two years and a half, when he was appointed deputy clerk of the chan- cery court. In this capacity, however, he served only a few months, when, the war with Mexico having broken out, he enlisted as a volunteer in the First Mississippi regiment, whose colonel was the since renowned Jeffer- son Davis. The regiment first served under Gen. Tay- lor, at the mouth of the Rio Grande, where, as always happens with newly recruited soldiers, the troops were alnost decimated by diarrhea. The First Miss- issippi formed part of Gen. John A. Quitman's brigade, which also included the First Tennessee regiment, Col. Campbell ; the division commander was Gen, William O. Butler. While in this command he participated in the storming of Monterey, with its succession of san- guinary street fights, and then, after Ampudia had capit- ulated and marched out of the city, the regiment was ordered to join Scott's army at Vera Cruz. It had, however, only marched as far as Victoria, when it was ordered back to Agua Nueva, and found itself again under Taylor's command, at the battle of Buena Vista, where four thousand five hundred Ame icans routed

twenty three thousand Mexicans, under Santa Anna, At this battle the First Mississippi regiment had at one time a very important position, the whole event of the engagement turning upon its maintaining its part against very disproportionate numbers. After this bat: de he was elected second lieutenant of his company. At the close of the war he returned to the United States, and was mustered out of the service at New Or- leans, where he landed.

In the fall of 1817, he commenced editing a paper called the Weekly Democrat, at Carrollton, Mississippi, which he continued till. in the winter of 1849-50, he was elected assistant clerk of the Mississippi senate, and at the adjourment of that body he returned to his native State.

He now took up his residence in Gallatin, where, for a few months, he edited a Democratic paper called the Tenth Legion. Moving from thence to Little Rock, Arkansas, he was for twelve months editor of the Ga- cette and Democrat.

After gaining experience and self-confidence, with some reputation, by these fugitive efforts, he moved to Memphis, and there purchased an interest in the Mem- phis Appeal, of which he was co-editor for eight years. In 1860, occurred the great division in the Democratic party, which lost it its power for a quarter of a century, and, together with a parallel split in the Whig party, brought on the civil war. The conflicting claims of Breckinridge and Douglas to the presidential nomina- tion occasioned this division, and also a division between the proprietors of the Appeal, and this necessitated the resignation by him of the editorship. At this time the successive deaths of Poindexter and Eastman, of the Nashville Union and American, had necessitated an addition to the editorial staff of that paper, and he sold out his interest in the Ippod and transferred his ser- vices to the other paper, where he had for his colleagues those well-known journalists, John C. Burch, F. C. Dunnington, J. O. Griffith and Thomas S. Marr. The fall of Fort Donelson, in February, 1862, and the con- sequent occupation of Nashville by the Federal forces, suspended the publication of the paper for some years.

He was now appointed aid-de-camp on the staff of Gov. Isham G. Harris, and, after the transaction of a multiplicity of military business ini that Capacity, was promoted adjutant general of brigade on the staff of Gen. Marcus J. Wright and John C. Carter, taking an active part in the Chickamauga campaign of 1863, in- cluding the battles of Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. His health and strength being much impaired by the fatigues and privations of this trying campaign, he now tendered his resignation, which was accepted by President Davis

He did not long continue idle, however, The Chat-

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tanooga Rebel was now entrusted to his editorial care. This little journal was one of the most remarkable products of the civil war. Its originator and proprietor was Franc. M. Paul, formerly one of the editors of the Memphis Bulletin. Among its editors or contributors were Henry Watterson, of the Louisville Courier Jour- nul, Albert Roberts, of the Nashville American, Charles Faxon, of the Clarksville Jeffersonian (now dead), Leon, Trousdale and others, whose names are well known as writers. It was started by Mr. Paul, at Chattanooga, in 1862, but though it bore the same name throughout, it was published at. many different south- ern towns, migrating from one to another, according to the fluctuations of the war. It remained at Chatta- nooga till the advance of Rosencrans' army and the bombardment by Wilder's battery made that place a little too hot for typographical proceedings, when it was established at Marietta, Georgia, and after several more removals its publication was finally and forcibly suspended by Gen: Wilson, of the Federal army, at Selma. Alabama, during the celebrated raid he made through that section, just previous to the close of the war. Wilson seemed to have had a special spite against this particular journal, and gave orders, just previous to the evacuation of Schna by his troops, for the burn- ing of a large and valuable building in which the paper was printed. The building was the property of minors, and through the most carnest efforts of their representa- tives the Federal commander was indneed to modify his order so as to spare the building, but directed that the printing material of the Rebel office should be effectu- ally wiped out, which order was strictly carried out. Everything that could be destroyed by fire was con- sumed in the street in front of the office, while the presses, imposing stones and other fixtures that could not be burned were broken into fragments with sledge hammers and axes. In the conflagration were destroyed three complete files of the paper, which contained much matter bearing upon the history of the war in the department in which it had been published that cannot be replaced. The best thoughts and raciest para- graphs ever penned by the able and brilliant writers who filled its columns for three years, perished in that bonfire at Selon: for these same Gentlemen we doubt not, will sustain us in the assertion that they never did better work with their pens than that per- formed under the inspiration of the stirring times of those years of civil strife.

At the close of the war, Col. Trousdale returned to Memphis and commenced the publication of the Mem- phis Commercial, his colleagues being John M. Keat- ing, John Heart, Rolfe S. Saunders and Capt. W. W. Carnes. The office of this paper, with all its material, was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1867, when he became associated with Albert Pike in the editorial conduct of the Memphis Appeal, remaining there one year.

It was as a journalist, especially as a leading political writer for the daily press, that Col. Trousdale exhib- ited his abilities to the best advantage, for in that field he was more at home than in any other. Gifted with a natural aptitude for the profession, and trained in its duties from his earliest youth. he spent the best years of his life on the editorial tripod, and achieved a repu tation in that field of labor of which any man might be proud. His editorial carver was passed prior to the present era of sensational journalism, but covered a period when the newspaper was, perhaps, more potent. in moulding public opinion than it is even in the pres- ent day of mammoth sheets, pictorial illustrations and a vaster range of subjects, not to mention the increased facilities afforded for the gathering and dissemination ; of news from every quarter of the world. His style as a writer is clear, per-pietons and direct. and no one was ever at a loss for the meaning of his sentences, or the drift of his logie. In the discussion of public questions in the days of his literary prime, none of his contempo- raries brought to bear on a subject more correct infor- mation, deeper thought or sounder logic. Though wielding a trenchant pen, it never shed gall or bit- terness in party strife nor traced a line of personal abuse or villification. The elevated tone of his writ- ings, his strict regard for all the courtesies of the pro- fession, his esprit de corps, no less than his ability as an editor. secured the highest consideration and regard of his brethren of the press, and the esteem and confidence of the public.

In 1869, he was elected secretary of the Memphis Chamber of Commerce, to which office he was twice re- elected, being at the same time secretary of the Mem- phis Agricultural and Mechanical Association, which positions he held for four years, Then he became book - keeper in the county trustee's office, and held that position till he was appointed, in 1875, by Gov. Porter, State superintendent of public instruction. This office he held for six years, being successively reappointed by Gov. Porter, in 1877, and by Gov. Marks, in 1879.

During this period his labors were unflagging. The present prosperity and popularity of the public school system are due to those labors Capt. Thomas Il. Paine, his successor, pays the following high tribute to his efforts in behalt of `popular education: " To Col. Trous dale more than any other man, are the people of Ten- nessee indebted for the progress, general development, and present condition of our public school system. Having been State superintendent for six years, he has given the subject much thought, and each term of his service has been characterized by a wise and conserva- tive management of the affairs connected with the work entrusted to his care."

The six years of Col. Trousdale's administration as State superintendent of public instruction, were years of growth and development. During this period, the public school system became rooted in the confidence

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and affections of the people. Many improvements and agencies were devised to make the system efficient and popular. The counties increased their rates of taxation. An improvement was visible in the personnel of the county superintendents and teachers, Many graded schools were established in the citiesand towns, Teach- ers' conventions and institutes were held in various parts of the State. The schools were gradually reduced to system and uniformity. The State Normal College was established to train a corps of teachers. The effi ciency of the system of State and county supervision was greatly improved. Col. Trousdale, with native tact, brought on these developments gradually and almost im- perceptibly, but the end of his administration showed a far more solid and substantial condition of his depart- ment than its beginning. He left the office, upon the incoming of the Republican administration of Gov. Hawkins, beloved by the teachers and people of the State, to whom his faithful discharge of duty and his amiable character had endeared him. A strong pres- sure was brought to bear on Gov. Hawkins by the edu- cational men, including many Republicans, to retain the faithful officer at his post. The political rule was ap plied, and Col. Trousdale left the office amid universal regrets. . The following extract from one of his ciren; lars to county superintendents in relation to institutes, shows his earnestness, and the breadth of his views: " From such conferences there will almost certainly ra- diate an enthusiasm and influence which will impel early and active exertions to organize, fraternize and heighten the efforts of all free school teachers throughout the State. Such an inspiration is needed and will be fur- nished by making these district conferences worthy of the attendance of the best educators of the State. 1 find, by experience, that the institutes heretofore held have achieved great good, but their diffusion through- out every portion of the State has not been general and systematic enough. I desire that this influence and in- spiration, which is great and wonderful, should reach every county, and every school district in the State, however remote and obscure. To this end, I earnestly invoke the active and enthusiastic co-operation of the county superintendents." These institutes were sue cessfully established, and Col. Trousdale brought to bear, in the development of the school interests, an array of talent, such as has never been surpassed in the United States. The ability and eloquence of this noble body of educators deserve to be handed down to posterity. We name a few of these learned and accomplished philanthropists: Supt. S. Y. Caldwell, Drs. E. S. Joynes, N. T. Lupton, W. Leroy Broun, Prof. J. I. D. Hines, Col. S. H. Lockett, Prof. E. Alexander, Rev. W. S. Doak, Capt. Frank M. Smith, Prof. William Carroll, Prof. James E. Scobey, Supt. James T. Leath, Capt. W. R. Garrett, Mrs. Annie Chambers Ketchum, Misses Clara Conway and Jennie Highee, Profs. J. W. Terrell, S. S. Woolwine, James Dinwiddie and Carkie Harri

son. There were many others equally deserving and efficient.

In 1881, he was appointed, by Col. Killebrew, assist- ant superintendent of that department of the National Exposition at Atlanta devoted to the Nashville and Chattanooga and the Louisville and Nashville railroads. For several months he traveled on the Louisville and Nashville railroad and its branches, collecting objects for exhibition.

In March, 1883. he was appointed, by Capt. Paine, clerk and assistant superintendent in the bureau of public instruction, and here he commenced the publi- cation of the Southwestern Journal of Education. In this he continues occupied to the present day. . In August, 1885, he was appointed surveyor of customs of the port of Nashville.

From this record it appears that Leonidas Trousdale has been what Homer calls Ulysses, πολύτροπος άνηρ, a man of many reserves and many resources, often falling, but always falling on his feet, of boundless versatility and indomitable energy. His superhuman activity, un- der both prosperous and adverse circumstances, has at length told upon his constitution, and he suffers under a distressing nervous malady, which must sadly abridge his enjoyment in life, but which does not prevent him from doing a large amount of work in his office, or from being always prompt to welcome a friend, or do one a service, if it is in his power-and this is no slight un- dertaking, for of Col. Trousdale's friends the name is legion.

Col. Trousdale's father was Bryson Blackburn Trous- dale. He was born in Orange county, North Carolina, about 1793, being brought by his father to Sumner county, Tennessee, in his childhood. His teachers were Gideon Blackman and John Hall, the latter an eminently learned man, whose brother, William Hall, was afterward governor of Tennessee. At about twenty years of age he took a farm near Springfield, in Robert- son county, and married Susan, widow of John Har- well, by whom he had four sons and one daughter : (1). Albert Gallatin, died at Corinth, Mississippi. (2). Cincinnatus, a prominent lawyer at Helena, Arkansas ; a man of considerable mental 'powers. He was a lieuten- ant in the Mexican war, and died January 3, 1852. (3). Leonidas, subject of this sketch. (4). Susan, who mar- ried, first, Capt. Campbell Allen, who died of consump- tion, by whom she had two children, both dead ; second, in 1855. Gen. S. R. Anderson, who had been colonel of the First Tennessee regiment in the Mexican war, afterward postmaster of Nashville, and general of the First Tennessee brigade. in the Confederate army; he died in 1883. She is now living in Nashville with her daughter, Mai.

Bryson Trousdale was a man of irreproachable char- acter, very temperate when temperance was not in the repute it now holds, and a great friend of education. Though his own education had been limited and his

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means slender, he spared no expense in the education of his children. A delicate constitution and extreme youth prevented him from participating in Jackson's military exploits. He died at Nashville, in 1878, at the age of eighty-five. His father (grandfather of Leoni das Trousdale) was a Revolutionary soldier of the North Carolina line. He settled, about the close of the last century, in Summer county, Tennessee, on the spot. where now stands the northern part of the town of Gal- latin, Tennessee. His father (great-grandfather of Leonidas), was a Scotch Irishman, who migrated from the north of Ireland to Pennsylvania, and thence to North Carolina. Relatives of the same name may still be found in Ireland.

The mother of Col. Trousdale was born near Peters- burg, Virginia, daughter of James and Martha Hicks, She died before her children were grown.

His paternal grandmother was Miss Dobbins, of North Carolina, a relative of Hon. James C. Dobbins, who was secretary of the navy under Mr. Pierce.

His uncle, William Trousdale, was a lawyer in good practice, a soldier in both the Indian and Federal wars of Jackson, and colonel of the Fourteenth United States infantry in the Mexican war. He was wounded at the battle of Chapultepec. Both as a soldier and as a civilian, he was recognized as a man of tried courage and unimpeachable honor. In 1850, he was elected governor of Tennessee. A son of Gov. Trousdale, Julius A. Trousdale, of Gallatin, Tennessee, served under Gen. Bate in the late war, and has been twice elected to the house of representatives and once to the senate of Tennessee. Another son of Gov. Trousdale, the Adest, Charles W. Trousdale, served under Forrest in the late war, and lost a leg at Chickamauga. He re- sides now at Gallatin, Tennessee. Judge John V. Wright and Gen. Marcus J. Wright are also cousins of

Col. Trousdale, on the maternal side. Memoirs of these gentlemen are given in this volume.

C'ol. Trousdale married, December 24, 1853, Virginia Frances, daughter of Levi and Martha Joy, of Bolivar, Tennessee, by which marriage he has five children : (1). Lula, a kindergartener at Dyersburg, Tennessee. She studied that system of education at Worthington, Ohio, and is very successful in imparting it in practice. (2). Jennie Joy. (3). Susie, died in infancy. (1). Leon, jr. (5). Levi Joy.

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Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee, Part 106

Author: Speer, William S Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Nashville, A. B. Tavel Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Speer, William S
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Nashville, A. B. Tavel
Number of Pages: 1278