Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee, Part 124

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

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In the fall of 1828, he removed to Alabama and set- tled in Tuscaloosa, and the same year was admitted to practice in all the courts of that State. In the fall of 1829, he was elected assistant clerk of the house of rep- resentatives of Alabama, to which office he was elected by the three next succeeding Legislatures.

In 1833, he returned to his native State of Tennessee, and settled in Athens, MeMinn county. Obtaining license to practice in all the courts of the State, he at once entered upon his long and useful career in this State, always conducting a large and lucrative business.

In 1837, he was appointed a director of the branch Bank of Tennessee, and by the board of directors was elected president of that institution, holding the office for two years, when he declined a re-election, the po- litical party to which he belonged being in the mi- nority -- an instance of modesty and unselfishness which would be rare indeed in. these days of place- seeking and all' aggrandize ment

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He has always been a public spirited citizen, devoted to the progress and improvement of his State. He was one of the originators of the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia railroad, then called the Hiwassee rail- road, was elected one of the directors, and subsequently was elected president of the company. On January 10. 1851, he was admitted to practice before the Supreme court of the United States. In 1850, and again in 1851 and 1857, he was appointed a member of the American Lepal Association, of New York city. In 1851, he was elected by the people chancellor 'of the Twelfth chan cery division of Tennessee, which division was after- ward the Second, and is now the Third. At that time it had eighteen counties in it, ranging round from Blount county, by the lines of North Carolina, Georgia, part of Alabama, and then north across the State to the Kentucky line. His term expired in 1862.

In January, 1864, Judge Van Dyke was arrested, by order of the military authorities of the United States, at his own house, at 2 o'clock A. M., and carried off as a hostage and imprisoned in Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio. He remained in prison until the last of March, 1865, when he was released. and then went to his family, in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, his wife, three daughters, a little son, Robert, then three years of age, and a niece of his wife, having been arrested by Federal officers in June, 1861, carried north of the Ohio river, and ban- ished from their home during the war.

In April, 1865, he took his family to Quincy, Illinois. Cut off from home, from his practice and income, with a large family to be supported, and in a country hostile to him, his condition was, to say the least, embarrass- ing. However, he resolutely accepted the situation, and did what law practice he could get. July 7, 1865, he was licensed to practice in the Supreme court in and for the Western district of Pennsylvania, and Septem- ber 20, 1865, was liceused to practice in the Supreme court of Illinois. After the war was over he brought his family back, in February, 1866, to his residence, near Athens, MeMium. county, Tennessee, and once again resumed the practice of his profession.

On October, 1873, he was commissioned, with J. W. MeHenry, of Davidson county, and S. W. Cochrane, of Obiou county, to draft a bill according to a joint reso lution of the Thirty eighth General Assembly, for sur veying and distrieting such parts of the State as had not heretofore been surveyed and laid off, in order to perfect titles. In October, 1871, he was a commissioner from the State at large for consideration of the removal of the United States capital. In 1877, and again in 1879, he was appointed a member of the board of trustees of the Tennessee Hospital for the Insane. On December 9, 1875, he was appointed special judge of the Supreme court of Tennessee to try the " Bank of Tennessee new issue" cases. He was commissioned special chancellor of the Third chancery division four times, from 1878 to 1880.

By a joint resolution of the General Assembly of Tennessee, December 24, 1879, the governor was au- thorized to appoint a committee of ten, three from each grand division of the State and one from the State at large, to meet similar committees, June 22, 1850, at Charlotte, North Carolina, to make arrangements for celebrating the centennial of the battle of King's Mountain, and Judge Van Dyke was appointed from the State at large.

Judge Van Dyke was married, May 23, 1833, to Miss Eliza Ann Deaderick, who was born May 1, 1814, in Jefferson county, Tennessee, and educated at Greene- ville, Tennessee. Mrs. Van Dyke is a lovable lady, a woman of strong sense and excellent judgment, devoted as wife and mother, and a model Christian. Her father was Dr. William 11. Deaderick, the half brother of Chief Justice Deaderick. He was born in Virginia, was married in Tennessee, and lived first in Greene- ville, next at the Cross-roads, in Jefferson county, and spent the latter part of his life in Me Minn county, where he died at the age of seventy-three. He was a prac- ticing physician of decided ability. His wife. ace Penel- ope Smith Hamilton, was the daughter of Col. Joseph Hamilton, a lawyer of Jefferson county, a native of Rockbridge county, Virginia, one of the first settlers of East Tennessee, and a member of the convention that organized the State. Mrs. Eliza An Van Dyke's mother died at Athens at the age of forty-three, the mother of twelve children, namely : George Michael, died in in- fancy ; Penelope Hamilton, who married Victor Moreau Campbell, son of Judge David . Campbell; David, who was at the battle of San Jacinto, under Gen. Houston, and died at Athens about 1810; Eliza Aun, Mrs. Van Dyke, wife of the subject of this sketch; William IL., died two years old ; Joseph, who served in the Confed- crate army: Margaretta, who married John L. Bridges, of Athens, Tennessee; Frances Nelson, died unmarried ; Thomas Scott a soldier in the Mexican war, and in the Confederate army ; Robert H., now living in New York city, a commission merchant ; William, a soldier in the Confederate anny ; Alexander Hamilton, died unmar- ried, twenty five years old. Of the twelve, only three are living, Thomas, Robert and Eliza Aun (Mrs. Van Dyke).

By his marriage with Miss Deaderick, Judge Van Dyke has had ten children, namely: (1). Penelope Smith Van Dyke, born August 21, 1834; baptized by Rt. Rev. James H. Otey, bishop of Tennessee ; mar- ried, September 15, 1856, Thomas Cleage; has nine children, William Deaderick, born September 20, 1857; Thomas Alexander, born June, 25, 1858; Rich- ard Van Dyke, born August 5, 1861; Nellie, born December 21, 1863, died November 23, 1861: Susan Coffin, born at Quiney, Ilinois. November 15, 1865; Frances Hamilton, born December 22, 1868; Ana Mary, born March 9, 1871; Letitia, born November 9, 1875, died : Josie Van Dyke, boru

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July 6, 1877. All these children were baptized by Presbyterian ministers, their parents being members of that church. (2). William Deaderick Van Dyke. born October 20, 1836; baptized by Bishop Otey: educated at Maryville, Blount county, Tennessee ; studied law, and became a prominent practitioner at Chattanooga, where he died, in 1883. , In ISGI, he entered the Con- federate army as a private in James B. Cooke's com- pany, but was soon after promoted to the rank of ma jor in the commissary department, and continued in that service until the surrender. He married. June 16. 1859, Miss Anna Mary Deaderick, daughter of Chief Justice James William Deaderick, and by her bad four children: Annie Clifton, born in March, 1860; Thomas Nixon, born in 1864; Frances Lavinia, born in 1868: Carrie Shelby, born in --. (3). Letitia Smith Van Dyke, born October 12, 1838; died, November 7, 1850; baptized by Rev. Mr. Tomes, of the Episcopal church. (4). Richard Smith Van Dyke, born October 14, 1810 : died November 14, 1864; was educated at Princeton College, New Jersey, graduated in 1861, and as soon as he returned home that year joined the First regiment of Tennessee cavalry, Confederate States army ; went into . - -- the army as a private, in Capt. Gouldy's company, and upon the resignation of that officer. was unanimously elected captain of the company, and was soon after pro- moted to the rank of major of a battalion of cavalry. He was captured at Vicksburg, but as soon as he was exchanged he gathered together his battalion and joined the Confederate army in Virginia. On Septem- ber 24, 1864, he was wounded in battle near Parksville, in the valley of Virginia, was taken to Lynchburg. and there died from his wounds. November 14. 1861. and was buried in the private vault of William Murrell, in the cemetery of that city. He was baptized in child hood by the Rev. Mr. Tomes. Episcopalian minister. (5). John Montgomery Van Dyke was born October 7, 1812; baptized by Rev. Mr. Tomes; died September 2 1864. As soon as the war commenced between the United States and the Confederate States of America, he volunteered in the company of Capt. James B. Cooke, Fifty-ninth regiment of mounted Tennessee in- fantry, Confederate States army, as a private. When Capt. Cooke was elected colonel of the regiment Van Dyke was elected first lieutenant, and soon after was promoted to the captaincy of the company. At the taking of Vicksburg, he was captured and paroled, and as soon as he was exchanged he collected his company together and joined the army again, in Virginia. In one of the battles in the valley of Virginia, near Dark>- ville, he was shot through the bowels, and while being taken off the battle-field, the ambulance and party were captured by a party of Federal soldiers, commanded by an officer. Soon after the Federals were forced to re- treat, and having to pass through Darksville, when they reached the village young Van Dyke was discov- ered to be dead, and was left there. His corpse being 1

recognized by some ladies of Darksville, with whom he had previously formed an acquaintance, his remains were taken charge of by them, and buried in a lot of a gentleman adjoining Darksville, with a head-board, with his name, rank in the army and place of residence put upon it. Since the war, Judge Van Dyke received a letter from a gentleman of that place informing him of these facts, and he at once took steps to have the grave properly cared for and marked by a neat stone moment. John Van Dyke had just left the academy in Athens to go Princeton College, as soon as his brother Richard should graduate there, when the war broke out. (6). Frances Lavinia Van Dyke. was born Octo- ber 8, 1814; now living at home, ummarried. She was educated at the Female Academy, at Athens ; was bap- tized by Rev .. Mr: Tomes. (7). Thomas Nixon Van Dyke, jr., was born November 11, 1816; died Febru ary 3, 1863. He was going to school at the academy in Athens, Tennessee, when the war between the United States and the Confederate States broke out. On Octo- ber 4. 1862, he volunteered for the Confederate service. joined Capt. Blair's company, Sixty-third regiment of Tennessee infantry ; was taken sick at Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, from exposure in a Kentucky expedition, was brought home, and died ten days after, and now lies buried by the side of his sister in his father's private graveyard, near Athens, Tennessee. (8). Margaret Josephine Van Dyke, was born August 3, 1849; bap- tized by Bishop Otey; was educated at the Female Academy, at Athens, Tennessee, and at the Female Academy, in New Albany, Indiana, of both which academies Rev. Mr. Rowley was the principal at the time. She was married, by Rev. Joseph H. Martin, Presbyterian, to Hugh T. Inman, May 23, 1871, and has five children, Annie Martin, Josie, Hugh, Edward and Louisa. (9). Mary Hamilton Van Dyke, was born April 4, 1853; baptized by Rev. Thomas W. Humes, of Knoxville; was educated by Miss Lydia Am Bridges, in her private school, at Athens, Tennessee; married George M. Battey, October 4, 1881, and has one child, Henry Van Dyke. (10): Robert Deaderick Van Dyke, was born March 17, 1861 ; baptized by Rev. Joseph HI. Martin, a Presbyterian minister. at Athens.

Judge Van Dyke's sister, Mary Hamilton Van Dyke, fourth child of Thomas J. and Penelope S. Van Dyke, was born April 17. 1805; was educated in Nolachucky Academy, in Jefferson county, Tennessee; moved to Alabama, in 1819, with her mother; after the death of her mother, went to live with her aunt, Letitia Nixon Smith, in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. There she in- termarried, in 1821, with Gen. William Rudolph Smith, oldest son of William Moore Smith, and grandson of Rev. William Smith, D. D., provost of the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia. Gen. William R. Smith afterward moved with his family to Mineral Point, Wis- cousin, where he died. His widow is still living at Mineral Point with her son, John Montgomery Smith.

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Yine children were born to this couple: Rudolph, died ummmarried; Richard, married Frances Boyden; Penel- ope Campbell, married William Henry, a banker, at Mineral Point, who died in 1884; Letitia; John Mont- gomery, married first Toney Hildebrand, and afterward Jenny Crawford, a widow ; Maria; Samuel; Mary ; Henry Hobart.

Eliza Rhea. Van Dyke, Judge Van Dyke's second sis- ter, was born September 6, 1807; was educated at Nola- chucky Academy ; moved with her mother to Alabama, in 1819, where she married a Mr. Scott, of Lawrence county, in that State. Afterward, they moved to some place on Red river, in Louisiana, where she died, leav- ing two or three children.

Judge Van Dyke's paternal grandmother was Letitia, Nixon, daughter of Thomas Nixon. She was three times married; first, to John Rogerson, second, to James Van Dyke, and third, to John Cookley.

Judge Van Dyke's paternal aunt, Letitia Nixon Smith, nee Cookley, married Richard Smith, of Hunt- ingdon, Pennsylvania, son of Rev. William Smith, D. D., provost of the University of Pennsylvania. After the death of her half brother, Thomas James Van Dyke, she sent to Tennessee for two of his sons, Alexander O. and Thomas Nixon, subject of this sketch, whom she raised and had educated. Her husband died in 1822, and in 1843, she came to MeMinn county, Tennessee, to live with her nephew, Judge Van Dyke, and died at his house, near Athens, July 10, 1845, and was buried in the private cemetery on his farm. She never had any chil- dren.

Gov. Nicholas Van Dyke, of Delaware, who after- ward became United States senator from his State, was a cousin of Judge Van Dyke's father.

The boyhood and young manhood of JJudge Van Dyke may be regarded as an index to his future life of use- fulness, integrity and uprightness. Being the son of a United States army officer, he lived in the garrison till 1810, and was taught to read and write by his father. His father resigned his commission in the army in 1811, moved to Rhea county, and there the son went to an old field school near Washington. After his father's death, when he went to live with his uncle and aunt Smith, in Pennsylvania, he obeyed unquestioning and implicitly whatever they enjoined upon him. When he went to Alabama, in 1828, he had nothing to begin upon except his education, his license to practice law and a fixed moral character. the result of the best of in- fluences and careful training. . When assistant clerk of the Alabama Legislature he kept the journal well up and ready, never going to bed until his work was finished and ready to read to the house next morning. Making about five hundred dollars a year, he lived up with the times and managed to spend all his money, but not in dissipation of any kind; never betting, drinking or associating with low company. Afterward, when his

law practice enlarged, he made it an invariable rule to attend as faithfully and promptly to a small case for a small fee as he did to a large case for a big fee. Men noticed that he never had to be called in court, and that he was always ready to report promptly, whether he was ready for trial or not, and this drew a large clientele to him. An occurrence in Hamilton county tended to give him a name and make him friends. By showing undaunted pluck and courage, in 1833 (the only fight he ever had with a lawyer), he evinced that high sense of personal honor that is popular in all ages, and unfailingly draws a following. He has always lived an abstemious life, and attended strictly to his duties; has never contracted debt beyond his means of payment, and said with evident pride to the editor, "I do not owe any one a cent." He is an Odd Fellow, a Royal Arch Mason, originally was a Whig, but since the war has voted with the Democrats. In religion, as in poli- tics, he is independent and liberal; agreeing with all in some things, disagreeing with all in some things, but is for sustaining Christianity against all other creeds and modes of worship.

Judge Van Dyke is a man of most venerable appear- ance; is five feet nine inches high, and weighs one hun- dred and thirty-five pounds. His flowing hair and beard are white with the frosts of his more than fourscore win- ters, but the grand old octogenarian bears up well un- der their weight, and retains a clearness of mind equal to the strongest. His habits are as regular as music. He has never been seriously sick in his life, never had aches or pains, and has never paid out for himself or family as much as one hundred dollars for doctors' bills. His eye is hazel, nose sharp Roman, expression and manner frank, easy, simple and earnest. He is not only a representative Tennessean, but a representative of the highest order of American manhood.

His great personal popularity was shown at the cele- bration of his golden wedding, May 23, 1883, by the at- tendance at his residence of a hundred lawyers and judges of East Tennessee, and as many citizens, and the costly presents made by them. The address of the Chattanooga bar on that occasion wasa splendid tribute to his " pure and good name, his sound judgment, depth of learning, fidelity of purpose, his enthusiasm for jus- tice, publie spirit, private virtue, and to his example as an incentive to high and noble ambition moving in an unsullied sphere." The Chattanooga bar also presented a very fine copy of the Holy Bible, with the family re- cord accurately filled out, with the names and dates of births, marriages and deaths of the family. The ad- dress by Rev. E. A. Ramsey, on behalf of the citizens of Athens, and William T. Lane, esq., on behalf of the Athens bar, were also eloquent and beautiful testi- monials in recognition of the value of his life, his emi- nent publie services, and his exalted and exemplary character.

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HON. ATHA THOMAS.

FRANKLIN.

T' HIE Thomas family came of that hardy race, the Welsh, and the members of the family have pre- served their Welsh origin in the peculiar characteristics of sterling integrity and unwearying industry.

Hon. Atha Thomas was born in Williamson county, Tennessee, October 5, 1829, the son of William Thomas, who immigrated to Tennessee from Nottaway county, Virginia, in 1796. the year that Tennessee was admitted into the Union. He settled in the fertile county of Wil- liamson, where he farmed until his death, in 1841, at the age of sixty-three. He was a private soldier in the Creek war under Gen. Jackson. A quiet, plain man, he was quite successful as a money-maker. In politics he was a Whig. He raised nine sons, and none of them ever voted a Democratic ticket until after the late war. He belonged to a family of patriots, and five of his broth- ers were American soldiers during the Revolutionary war. His brother, Robert Thomas, settled in Davidson county, Tennessee, and there died, leaving one son, Rob- ert H. Thomas.

Atha Thomas' oldest brother, Robert S. Thomas, a mechanic, was chairman of the county court of Hlay- wood county, Tennessee, some thirty years. His broth- er, Hon. Dorsey B. Thomas, represented in the Ten- nessee Legislature, first, Haywood county, and in 1869- 70, was State senator from Humphreys and Benton counties, was speaker of the senate during that term, and again was a member of the lower house in 1882-83, as the representative from Humphreys county, and also State senator in 1881-85.

Of Mr. Thomas' other brothers, the Rev. Woodlief Thomas, his twin brother, is now a Baptist minister at Tilden, Texas. His brothers. John H., William and Samuel, are dead. R. G. Thomas is a merchant at Brownsville, Tennessee, and Dr. David HI. Thomas is a physician at Bell's depot, Crockett county, Tennessee.

The mother of Mr. Thomas, nee Miss Eliza Bass, was a native of Dinwiddie county, Virginia. She came to Tennessee with her brother-in-law. William Beattie. of Rutherford county. She died in 1858, at the age of six- ty-five years. Besides her nine sons, mentioned above, she had three daughters, viz. : Sarah W. Thomas, who first married Henry Jamieson, a prominent farmer of Rutherford county, and raised a large family of chil- dren. Mr. Jameison died about 1859. She then mar- ried John F. Cooper, of Bedford county, where she now lives. Her son, Robert D. Jameison, became quite noted during the civil war for gallantry as a member of Gen. John C. Brown's staff. Her son, Moulton Jamei- son, a brave, manly young soldier, was a member of the First Tennessee Confederate regiment, and fell in the battle of Perryville, Kentucky. Her third son, Hon. James H. Jameison, represented Rutherford county in

the Tennessee Legislature of 1876, and is now a cotton planter near Columbus, Mississippi. Her oldest daugh- ter, Cornelia Jameison, married John L. Henry, now of Dallas, Texas, one of the most prominent lawyers in that State. Her second daughter, Sallie Jameison, mar- ried John F. Carter, a wholesale merchant at St. Louis, afterward at Chicago, where he died, and where she still resides. Eliza B. Thomas. the second daughter, is now the widow of Thomas B. King, and lives in Crockett county, Tennessee. The third daughter, Mary A. Thom- as, is now the widow of Opie Pope, and resides in Ruth- erford county, Tennessee, with her only child, Mrs. Bet tie Beasly. .

Mr. Thomas was raised to labor on his father's farm, with school advantages in winter seasons, until he was seventeen years of age, when he went to Salem Acade- my, in Rutherford county, two years, and then attended Wirt College, in Summer county, from which he grad- uated in his twentieth year. He next taught school two years, near Franklin, engaged meanwhile in reading law. In 1853, he entered the law school of Cumber- land University at Lebanon, where he studied one year, and was admitted to the bar. He next took charge of Thompson Academy, in Williamson county, and taught there until 1861, with fine success, professionally and financially. In 1861, he took charge of the male acad- emy at Franklin, and taught there two and a half years. In 1865, when civil order was restored, he commenced law practice at Franklin, and continued to practice there till JJanuary 1, 1883, when, having been elected State Treasurer for two years by the Legislature, he entered upon the duties of the office, retiring in 1885.

He has taught school fifteen years, and practiced law seventeen years, Oftoo kindly a nature to refuse favors to friends, he has had large sums of security debts to pay, and lost considerably by the war, but is now in comfortable circumstances.

In 1854, he was made a Mason in Hiram Lodge, No. 7, at Franklin, and has taken all the degrees of the York rite, and served as Master, High Priest and Commander.

In the Legislature of 1869-70, when his brother, Dor- sey B. Thomas, was speaker of the senate, he represented Williamson county in the lower house, and was chair- man of the committee on claims, and a member of the railroad investigating committee. He has generally taken an active part in polities in his county, canvassing it in 1879 in favor of the settlement of the State debt on the 50-4 basis

Mr. Thomas first married in Williamson county, No- vember 25, 1856, Miss Sarah E. North, a daughter of Rev. Henry B North, a prominent minister of the Moth- odist Episcopal church, south, and a Virginian. Her mother was a Virginia lady, who came to Tennessee the

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widow of a Mr. Bailey. The first Mrs. Thomas was ed- ucated at Columbia, Tennessee. She died of consump- tion in 1858. He next married in Rutherford county, November 30, 1881, Mrs. Bettie M. Sikes, widow of Am brose T. Sikes, the only daughter and only child of Washington Whittaker, an extensive farmer in Lincoln county, Tennessee. Her mother was a Miss Mosely, of Bedford county, Tennessee. Mrs. Thomas graduated at the Columbia Atheneum. To this marriage have been born two children : Atha Thomas, jr., born August 26, 1882; and Woodlief Thomas, boru January 15, 1881.

Mr. Thomas has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, since 1854; has been repeat- edly a lay delegate to the annual conferences, and was a member of the general conference at Louisville, in 1874. His wife comes of a strong Missionary Baptist family, and she is a member of that church.

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Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee, Part 124

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