Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee, Part 30

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

USA > Tennessee > Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee > Part 30

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The early life of Judge Bradford was spent in the healthy and salubrious mountain atmosphere of Polk county, Tennessee. Here he grew up, developing tastes and habits in the direction of attaining the best educa- tion that could be obtained in the rural districts in which he lived. He attended an excellent school, from 1810 to 1811, at " Forest Hill," Athens, Tennessee, under the supervision of Charles P. Samuel, a fine scholar and educator. . At the age of seventeen he was elected county surveyor of Polk county; at eighteen was appointed postmaster at Columbus, Tennessee, and the same year began the study of law under the late Judge Charles F. Keith. He obtained license to prac- tice his profession at the age of twenty, from Judges Thomas L. Williams and R. M. Anderson, and also was married the same year to Miss E. K. Imman at Dan- dridge, Tennessee. He located at Dandridge, and the next year, being but twenty-one years old, was elected a justice of the peace. At twenty-four he was appointed clerk and master of the chancery court at Dandridge, and held that position from 1851 to 1859. During this period he was also a merchant for five years, but never lost sight of his legal profession, studying and practic- ing continually.

In 1859 he was nominated by a Whig convention for

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the State senate: resigned his clerkship and was elected senator from Jefferson, Hawkins and Hancock counties, without opposition. At the close of the memorable sessions of the Legislature, 1859-60, he volunteered in the Confederate army, and in February, 1862, was elected colonel of the Thirty-first Tennessee mounted infantry, and served as colonel of the regiment, having been re- elected, until the close of the war. He participated in many battles and skirmishes, and bore himself with gallantry at the siege of Vicksburg, and in the battles of Morristown, Tennessee, Ball's Gap and Marion, Vir- ginia, Champion Hills, Mississippi, and others.

At the termination of the war, in 1865, Col. Bradford removed to Athens, Tennessee, and engaged in the practice of law, as partner with the able Col. A. Blizard, and so continued until August 19, 1875. On this last date the Hon. D. M. Key, chancellor of the Third chancery division of Tennessee, having been ap- pointed to the United States Senate, Gov. James D. Porter appointed Col. Bradford to fill the place hitherto occupied by Judge Key. In August, 1876, Judge Bradford was elected by the people, Hon. D. C. Trewhitt being his competitor. In August, 1878, he was re-elected for the full term of eight years, Hon. P. B. Mayfield being his competitor. He is now presiding chancellor at Chatta- nooga, having removed to that city in 1880.

Judge Bradford married Miss Elizabeth K. Inman, September 23, 1846, at Dandridge, Tennessee. She was the daughter of Shadrach and Sarah Inman. Her mother's family was named Henderson. Mrs. Bradford is a lady of remarkably fine sense, modest deportment, fine appearance, and of great purity of character. She is never elated in prosperity ; and under trials of adver- sity she never manifests trouble to those who sur- round her in the family circle. She and Judge Bradford are both members of the Presbyterian church, South, at Chattanooga. When Judge Bradford started in life a married man he had no capital. When the war broke out he had accumulated about twenty-five thousand dollars in negroes and personalty. The mis- fortunes which befell him at the close of the war left him penniless. He began life anew with less than nothing, for he owed security debts, which have all been paid in full, and he is now in comfortable circumstances. He never promised a dollar that he did not pay it at the hour when demanded. Such fortune as he has accu- mulated since the war he has presented to his noble wife, for her Christian forbearance and fortitude in rearing their children during that trying and eventful period.

By his marriage with Miss Inman Judge Bradford has five children living of eleven born, six having died in infancy or early childhood. Those surviving are : (1). May Bradford, born in Jefferson county, there educated, and now under the paternal roof. (2). Linda

Bradford, born in Jefferson county ; educated at Sullin's Institute, Athens, Tennessee ; married, in 1879, Dr. O. E. Rose, of Athens, nephew of Gov. William G. Brownlow; now practicing medicine at Chattanooga ; they have two children, Gus Bradford and Elizabeth. (3). Henry Bradford, born in Jefferson county, Novem- ber 27, 1855; educated at the University at Athens, Tennessee ; began life at sixteen as a merchant's clerk ; has made a remarkable success, and is now with the firm of Whitfield, Powers & Co., New York city. (1), Eliza- beth Tipton Bradford, born in Jefferson county; edu- cated also at Athens ; married in 1877, John H. Cleage, a furniture merchant at Chattanooga, and has two children, William and Elizabeth. (5). Augusta Franklin Bradford, born in Jefferson county, and educated at Chattanooga.

Judge Bradford is a Mason, the only secret society to which he belongs, and joined the Lodge at Dandridge, in 1850, served three years as Worshipful Master, and took the Chapter degrees in 1874, at Athens, Tennessee. Before the war a Whig, since the war he has been an undeviating, consistent and conscientious Democrat. He was never drunk in his life, and in all things is strictly a temperate man. As a lawyer he is chiefly noted for his rigid discipline, brevity of argument and briefs, and avoidance of long-winded, tedious and prolix pleadings and practice. As a chancellor he tries to model his court after the same style. His success in life is attrib -. utable to an indomitable energy, together with an honest resolution to deal honestly with all men, under all cir- cumstances, and fairness and impartiality mark his course in every emergency and in every station.

Few men are so fond of telling a good anecdote, of giving a good hearty hand-shake, or who enjoy social life and good neighborhood so well as Judge Bradford. In this respect he is a type of the Tennessee gentleman of the old regime. With dignity of character he unites great plainness and directness of address, and is noted for his impulsive hospitality and liberality. . A finished gentleman and prominent among the eminent jurists of Tennessee, he is equally distinguished for those fine social qualities called." flow of soul " that give every man who meets him a cheerful opinion of himself and of human nature. A man of consummate grace of manner and adaptability, he is so deferentially respect- ful as to divert his company's attention away from him- self' to an introspection of themselves. With all classes of people, school-girls promenading on the streets, shop- men, stalwart farmers, literati, professional men of all sorts, and mechanics, he seems equally at home, and has the enviable faculty of appearing to take infinite pains to make everybody feel at home with him. Ilis father trained him and his brothers to do all manner of me- chanical work needed on a farm, and when a mere boy Judge Bradford could make a horseshoe and nail it on.

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IION. GEORGE W. MARTIN.

MARTIN.

G EORGE W. MARTIN was born in Weakley I county, Tennessee, October 16, 1839. William Martin, his father, was born in Halifax county, Virginia, January 30, 1806, and died in Weakley county, Tennessee, January 17, 1859. His ancestors were among the first settlers of Virginia, but claim no lineage from titled royalty, but with pride they refer to a long line of descendants, each one handing down to the other an untarnished reputation. He was reared on a farm, and received, for that day, a good education in the schools of the county. He married while quite young, against the wishes of her parents, Sarah Glass, of Halifax county, Vir- ginia. Soon after his marriage his wife's parents moved from Virginia to Weakley county, Tennessee, and in 1832 he followed, and settled six miles northeast of Dresden, Weakley county. When he settled in Weakley county, he had about half a dozen slaves, a few hundred dollars in money, a wagon and team, and household furniture for a small family. His family having been tobacco farmers in Virginia for several generations, and as he had been reared on a tobacco plantation himself, he very naturally brought with him tobacco seed to Tennessee, and to him belongs the honor of planting the first tobacco ever raised in Weakley county. From the beginning he made a specialty of tobacco culture, and made a great success of it, and continued up to his death to be the largest tobacco raiser in his county. He not only cultivated tobacco largely, but for many years he bought largely and shipped it on his own flatboats down the Obion and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans. In 1839 he moved from his farm northeast of Dresden to a large tract of fine woodland nine miles west of Dresden, on the well-known stage road leading from Nashville to Iliekman, Kentucky. , Here, upon this magnificent landed domain, the life and sphere of William Martin at once began to broaden and widen, and from 1839 to 1859, the latter the year of his death, no man ever led a more active life. Everything he undertook prospered, and he grew rich rapidly. Though he was only fifty- three years old when he died, he was worth a quar- ter of a million dollars. He was never a candidate for office, and never held any. His life was purely the life of a business man, and in that line he had but few equals. No man of the county ever had more friends, and no one ever did more to deserve them. His faults, whatever they were, injured no one but himself, and no one was more outspoken for the right than he, and no one more positive against the wrong. He was a Whig in politics, and always took a lively interest in behalf of Whig candidates. He was thoroughly alive to all public enterprises, and took an active part in behalf of the Nashville and Northwestern railroad, and subscribed

liberally to help build the road through the county. le was a man of individuality, strong will-power, de- cision of character, and arrived at definite conclusions quickly. When he. once set out to perform a certain thing, no obstacle seemed to deter him. Ile was genial and sunny, fond of fun, and never morose. His house was on a public highway, and it was always open to the traveler, let him be friend or stranger, free of charge.

Sarah Martin, are Glass, mother of George W. Martin, and wife of William Martin, was born in Halifax county, Virginia, July 26, 1810. Her father, Dudley Glass, was a man of considerable means, and gave his daughter a fine education, and was displeased when she married, as he preferred her remaining single a few years longer. She was a lady of commanding appearance, rather tall and graceful. She was never stout, and therefore did not live to be very old. She died in Weakley county, Tennessee, July 29, 1853. Several of her brothers were men of prominence and distinction. Thomas Glass is one of the most successful and prominent planters of Weakley county. John Glass, of Trenton, Tennessee, was one of the most cultivated and accomplished gentlemen of the State. Presley "T. Glass, of Ripley, Tennessee, has been a member of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, and a member of the United States Con- gress, and was a prominent member of each body. He is a gentleman of large information, and is now, and has been all his life, a close student. But few gentle- men of the State are so thoroughly acquainted with the history of Tennessee. He is a gentleman of great modesty, and claims less for himself than is conceded to him by others.

George W. Martin was born and reared on a farm nine miles west of Dresden. He was the fifth child, having four brothers and sisters older and four younger than himself. He was kept constantly at school in the neighborhood from eight years old until fourteen -- most of the time walking three miles. At school he was idle and full of mischief, and the rod was used on him with great freedom. Whenever a strange noise or an unknown prank took place in the school-room and the offender was not known to the teacher, it was generally fastened upon George. The teacher to whom he went the greatest length of time, did him the credit of saying in after years that he would always confess and tell the truth when called upon for information, although he knew it would in many cases cost him a whip- ping. During the entire time of going to school in the neighborhood books were distasteful to him, and he looked forward with great pleasure to the time when his school days would be over. His father believed thoroughly in the beneficial results of industry, and he

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never allowed his children to grow up in idleness, but always found something for them to do during vacation, and George was taught all kinds of farm work. \t this time he made much better progress at the plow- handles than he did in the school-room. When he was about fifteen years of age, he was sent to the Male Academy of Dresden, Weakley county, and board- ed with the family of Maj. Alfred Gardner. Here he studied better, and began to feel the importance of an education, and was popular with his teachers, After going to the academy in Dresden for one year, he was sent to Bethel College, at Me Lemoresville, Tennessee, at that time one of the most flourishing schools in the State. Here he found about three hundred young men from all parts of the South; a well-selected library of several thousand books, a well-filled laboratory, and a corps of competent teachers. Here a total change took place in George. He joined one of the literary societies, took a great interest in the debates, and at once began to read books. His taste first led in the direction of light biography, then to history. The first ten months he read over twenty-five volumes of biography and his- tory outside of a full course of studies. He has been fond of books and a great reader since this period. After remaining at Bethel College for two years, he went to Union University, at Murfreesborough, Ten- nessee-took a full English course, and studied Latin, French and German; belonged to the Calliopean so- ciety, and was elected to deliver the commencement address for that society.

In a few months after leaving Union University, he joined the Ninth Tennessee regiment, and in May, 1861, was mustered into the service of the State of Tomassee for twelve months, at Jackson, Tennessee. His regi- ment was at Columbus, Kentucky, the day the battle of Belmont was fought, but was held in reserve, and did not cross the river. When the battle of Shiloh was fought, G. W. Martin was in the hospital in Mississippi. His term in the service of the State of Tennessee ex- pired in May, 1862, and he did not enlist in the Confed- erate service. Ile went to his home in Weakley county, and remained there for a few months, but soon found he could not live there in peace, and re- solved to leave. the country until the war was over. He left New York for Europe early in 1863, and remained. there until about the close of the war. He visited all of the leading countries of Europe, and remained long enough in each to become well acquainted with the manners and customs of the people. After an extended trip of more than a year, he went to Paris and took rooms in the Latin quarter, near the university, and convenient to the library of St. Genevieve. He made this his head- quarters for about ten months, and when not engaged in short excursions in and around the city, he was in the library, reading up the history of each country he had visited. Here he met George Alfred Townsend (Gath), and for several months they roomed together.

He learned to speak the Freuch and German languages fairly well, but could not speak either so as to be under- stood when he first entered the country, though he had studied cach at college.

He returned to New York a few months before the war closed, and remained there until it did close, when he went to his old home in Weakley county. He found all the live stock of all kinds gone, the farm in a dilapi- dated condition, the labor system thoroughly demoral- ized. He remained on the farm for two years, but was not satisfied with the results. He rented the farm and erected a saw mill at Gardner station, Weakley county, Tennessee, and operated it for one year with fine results and sold it.

In 1869 he erected a large grist mill, steam cotton gin and wool-carding machinery at Gardner station. Ile operated this machinery with great success until 1873, then sold it.

The Mississippi Central railroad was extended from Jackson, Tennessee, to Cairo, Illinois, in the year 1873, and it crossed the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis railway on his land, near his father's old homestead. Hle laid off the town of Martin at the junction of the two roads in May, 1873, and at once erected a large saw mill, flouring mill, steam cotton gin, and built a large hotel, together with many other buildings of less note. . In ten years from the time the town of Martin was laid out it had a population of fifteen hundred inhabitants, three white and two colored churches, a fine. academy with two hundred pupils, a large planing mill, a number of fine brick business houses, and many handsome pri- vate residences, George W. Martin contributed largely in building up the town, and always took an active part in all public enterprises.

From 1868 to 1880, his life was one of great activity, and he made money very rapidly. He made no business mistakes.

On the 23d of May, 1878, he married Miss Mattie Williams, daughter of D. P. Williams, of Haywood county, Tennessee. Miss Williams was the grand- daughter of Rev. Thomas Joyner, of North Mississippi. Her father came from Mecklenburg county, Virginia, and settled in Haywood county, Tennessee, in 1826.

Mr. Martin took a bridal tour to Europe, and spent the remainder of the year 1878 in an extended tour, visiting the great universal exposition of Paris, and all the principal European cities.

Mr. Martin has always taken 'a prominent part in politics, and is a Democrat. He was elected to the lower house of the Thirty-eighth General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, for the years 1873-74. . He advocated the public school system in his county when it was unpopular, and aided in passing a law allowing counties to levy a tax for school purposes, and that law is the basis of the present school system of the State. Ile introduced, in 1873, the first bill ever introduced in the Tennessee Legislature on the subject of State regu-

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lation and control of railroads, The bill did not pass that session, but the principle was adopted by all par- ties in a few years. He was elected to the State Senate for the years 1877-78, from the counties of Henry, Weakley, Obion and Lake. During that session the adjustment of the State debt was the most important question. He was elected by the Senate as one of the commissioners whose duty it was to go to New York and ascertain from the creditors of the State upon what terms the State debt could be settled. A proposition was made to settle the debt at sixty cents on the dollar, the new bonds of the State issued in place of the old ones to have interest-bearing coupons that were to be made receivable for all State taxes. He opposed the proposition upon the ground that the Legislature could not make coupons receivable for taxes, and the Supreme court of the State afterwards sustained that position. He held that precedent justified the State in making a proposition of adjustment to the creditors, and acting upon that principle, he introduced in the Senate a bill to settle the debt at fifty cents on the dollar, and the new bonds to bear four per cent. per annum for five years, five per cent. for five years, and six per cent. for ten years, at which time they were due. The bill passed the Senate, but failed in the House. It was opposed by many of the most prominent men of Ten- nessce upon the ground that the State could accept . propositions to settle the debt with honor, but could not make propositions to scale the debt without dis- honor. A few years after the State debt was perma- nently settled upon the principle that the State had a right to make propositions. In 1880 the great split in the Democratic party took place in regard to the State debt. The State credit wing was led by John V. Wright, and the low tax wing by S. F. Wilson. We have had nothing in the State to equal the excitement of that year since the commencement of the civil war. It was generally conceded that Weakley county was a low tax county, and the low tax candidate and his friends claimed that he would carry the county by fifteen hundred or two thousand majority .. When the State credit Democrats met in convention to nominate a candidate for the lower house of the Legislature, they found several candidates before them, but it was not believed that either of them could be elected. Mr. Martin was unanimously nominated against his pro- test, and, very much against his wishes, persuaded to accept the nomination. After the most exciting race ever made in the county, he was elected by six hundred and fifty-two majority. During this session, what was known as the one hundred-and-three bill passed. It provided that the entire debt of the State should be settled dollar for dollar, with three per cent. interest, the coupons to be made receivable for all State taxes. Mr. Martin voted against it.

He was nominated by the Democratic convention, against his protest, for the State Senate, from the coun- ties of Henry and Weakley for the years-1885-86, and elected without opposition.

He has served two sessions in the lower and two in the upper house of the General Assembly of the State, and the two first sessions he announced himself as a candidate, but the two last sessions he accepted the office to please his friends-he did not desire or ask for it.

Mr. Martin has never sought popularity, but he val- ues and has received such public approval as follows merit. Popularity that is raised without merit and lost without crime, he has never labored to secure. In his public and private life, his object has always been to do right rather than do what would be popular. He de- tests show of all kinds, and never makes an effort at display in anything. As a speaker he is dignified and forcible. He deals in facts; and with the aid of his great store of information, is always able to throw much light upon any subject he may discuss.

In the social circle Mr. Martin is particularly fortu- nate; possessing rare conversational powers, combined with a social, genial nature, which render him a most agreeable companion. He is a man of warm impulses, active sympathy, and while in early years he was some- what irritable, yet at all times his anger was like the spark, soon gone. Hle is entirely without malice; is positive by nature, and one will never be misled with regard to his position, as he is never non-committal on important inatters. Those who know Mr. Martin best like him most.

Hle joined the church to which his wife had belonged from infancy-the Methodist . Episcopal church, South- in the summer of 1883, and takes a great interest in church and Sunday-school matters.

He has always been ardently in favor of educating the masses, and he is now having a public school taught at his own expense in the town of Martin,

Ile gives liberally to the church and to all kinds of public enterprises. He is now living at " Malema," one of the most beautiful homes in West Tennessee, just east of the town of Martin, in plain view of the place where he was born.

The last business enterprise he engaged in was the organization of the Bank of Fulton, Kentucky. He was the first president of the bauk, but resigned, as he did not desire to engage in active business pursuits.

He is now living upon au ample income, derived from rents, bank stock, interest-bearing securities and the returns from a cattle ranch in western Texas. Ile has no children.

Mr. Martin is a great reader, and has one of the best private libraries in the country, and many additions of choice books are made every year.

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DUNCAN EVE, A.M., M.D.

NASHVILLE.

T' IHIS distinguished surgeon was born in Augusta, Georgia, May 1, 1852, received part of his aca- demic education at White's Creek Springs, Tennessee ; next studied four years at the Kentucky Military In- stitute, near Frankfort, in 1874 took his medical degree in Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York city, under Profs. Frank HI. Hamilton, Louis A. Sayre, Austin Flint, W. H. Van Buren, Isaac E. Taylor, James Woods, and others, and was interne in the hospital for one year thereafter. Returning to Nashville in 1874, he was associated with his father, the celebrated Paul F. Eve, in surgical practice and as associate to his father's chair of surgery in the Nashville Medical College until his father's death, November 3, 1877, since which date he has been senior member of the firm, Duncan & Paul F. Eve, and the successor to his father as professor of surgery in the Nashville Medical College, now the medical department of the University of Ten- nessee, In 1874-5-6-7 he was also professor of micro- scopy in the Tennessee College of Pharmacy.

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Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee, Part 30

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