Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee, Part 45

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 45

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On the opening of the Mexican war, in the spring of 1816, Mr. MeAdoo hastened home from an absence, joined a company of volunteers as a private, and sought the Rio Grande. Before marching into the interior, he was elected to the first lieutenancy of the company. His friend, John L. Kirkpatrick, was captain. ' A long march of the regiment -- the second regiment of Ten- nessee volunteers, the brave and eloquent William T.

Haskell being the colonel -- lay through the beautiful valley at the eastern base of the Sierra Madre moun- tains, through Victoria, the capital of Tamaulipas, to the city of Tampico, a distance of five hundred miles, Thence the regiment embarked for Vera Cruz, and took part in the siege ending in the capture of that city, March, 1817. After a long illness, Capt. John L. Kirk- patrick died at Vera Cruz, after which Mr. MeAdoo commanded the company, and led it in the charge at the battle of Cerro Gordo in April, 1817. This charge became the subject, soon afterward, of acrimonious controversy between Brigadier-Gen. G. J. Pillow and Col. W. T. Haskell. The war assuming greater pro- portions than was anticipated, a sufficient quota of vol- unteers for three years was called to the field, and the twelve months men were discharged by reason of expi- ration of service, and were sent home.

Soon afterward, Mr. Me Adoo entered the law office of Judge Edmund Dillahitnty, of Columbia, and in 1849, received license to practice law. Early in 1850, he opened a law office in Knoxville; was elected by the Legislature attorney-general for the second judicial circuit of Tennessee; was afterward re-elected by the people and held the office until the spring of 1860. In this position, he won a distinction for vigor and impar- tiality in the discharge of his duties well remembered by those connected with the administration of justice at that period. In the State convention to nominate a . candidate of the Whig party for governor in 1817, he was offered the candidacy by the committee on nomina- tion, but being averse to political struggles, declined the honor.

The war between the States found Mr. McAdoo's health shattered by dangerous disease. . The better to protect a slave-property, he removed to Georgia, where he entered the southern service in 1863, and continued therein until the war closed. He participated in the struggles at Kennesaw mountian, about Atlanta, at Macon, and throughout the rest of of the war in Geor- gia. On its close, he opened a law office in Milledge- ville.

On the re-organization of the State government, he received the appointiaent of district attorney, and af- terward was made judge of the Twentieth judicial dis- triet. He resigned these to accept the presidency of the St. Mary's and Western railroad company. In 1877, he was offered a position in the corps of instructors in his old alma mater, the University of Tennessee, at Knoxville, which he yet holds, thus returning to the work which most delighted his early life- touching. Judge MeAdoo is the author of an Elementary Geology of Tennessee, numerous alummi addresses, literary lee- tures, centennial poems, etc., etc. He has written much for the press, contributing to the journals of the day editorials, criticisms and news letters. He has unpub- lished manuscripts, intended for publication, sufficient to make a large volume,

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Judge Me Adoo has been twice married. In 1819, he married Miss Anna Cleopatra Horsley, eldest daughter of William and Catherine Horsley. Mr. Horsley was a native of Yorkshire, England; married Miss Catha- rine Arnold in North Carolina, by whom he had two sons, John and Alfred, and three daughters, Anna (Mrs. McAdoo), Eliza (Mrs. Helm), and Catherine (Mrs. MeNutt). By the marriage with Miss Horsley, he has two daughters: Catherine, the wife of Mr. Edwin F. Wiley, residing in Knoxville, and Miss Eunna Me Adoo. Mrs. Anna MeAdoo died in 1853, in Knoxville, and lies buried in Knoxville, in Gray cemetery.

In 1857, Judge Me Adoo was married to Mrs. Mary McDonald, of St. Marys, Georgia, widow of Randolph Mc Donald, who died at Savannah from the yellow fever scourge in 1854. Mrs. MeAdoo is a great-grand. daughter of Charles Floyd, of North Hampton county, Virginia, a member of the St. Helena Guards in the Revolutionary war, and whose son, John Floyd, lo- cated in Camden county, Georgia, having married Miss Isabella Maria Hazzard, of Beaufort, South Carolina. From John and Isabella Floyd, were born four sons and four daughters, whose descendants reside in Geor- gia and Florida. Of these sons, the oldest, born in 1797, was Charles Rinaldo Floyd, the father of Mrs. MeAdoo. He was married to Miss Julia Ross Boog, at St. Marys; and from this marriage were born: (1). Mary Faith Floyd, the wife of W. G. McAdoo. (2). Rosalie Sarah Humes, widow of James W. Humes, of. Abingdon, Virginia. (3). Charles R. Floyd, deceased. (4): Richard S. Floyd, of San Francisco, California. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. MeAdoo, Mr. John Boog, was a native of Dornoch, Scotland, and married Miss Isabella King, of Falmouth, Jamaica.

Mrs. Me Adoo has in her possession, a silver crescent worn on his cap by her great-grandfather, Charles

Floyd, as a member of the St. Helena Guards. and bear- ing the inscription, " Liberty or Death." Her grand- father, Gen. John Floyd, was commander in chief of the Georgia troops called into service at the outbreak of the Creek war in IS13. He led his troops into the hostile country, and fought the Indians in the battles of C'halibbee, Tallassee and Autossee; was afterward in command of the American forces in Savannah uutil the war was ended. He was a member of Congress afterwards; was a large planter; and his hospitable mansion, on the border of the sea, was the resort of hosts of friends. He died June 20, 1839. His .sou; Charles R. Floyd, while a youth of sixteen years, took part in the battles fought with the Indians in the Creek war. For his gallantry, he was appointed to a cadet- ship at West Point, where he received a military edu- cation. In 1821. he traveled in Europe and visited Waterloo and other great battle fields. He was ap- pointed by Gen+ Winfield Scott to the chief command of the Georgia troops engaged in the removal of the Cherokee Indians in 1838, and performed the duty with such celerity and dispatch, that bloodshed was averted. He received the warm commendation of Gen. Scott. He was an exquisite scholar, poet, painter, and noted for his chivalry, which never knew a stain. He died at his home in Camden county, in March, 1845.

Judge W. G. McAdoo, by his second marriage, is the father of three sons: John Floyd, William Gibbs, and Malcolm Ross ; and of four daughters: Caroline Black- shear, Rosalie Floyd, Nona Howard and Laura Sterrett.

As adjunct professor of English and modern lan- guages, Judge MeAdoo has under his instruction the classes in higher English grammar, rhetoric, and Eng- lish literature and history, in our State University; and he still retains the full measure of his vigor and promp- titude in the discharge of duty.

HON. SOLON E. ROSE.

PULASKI.

TI HE lineal ancestry of Judge Solon E. Rose, subject of this sketch, dates authentically, back to Scotland, and the year 1740. Prior to that, however, it is known that the " Clan of the Roses " were located about thirty miles from Inverness, Scotland, and that. they were a little noted for their intermarriages with the Campbells and Grahams. The mother of William Wallace, was a "Rose, as is stated in the history of the Clans of Scotland. The Rose family coat-of-arms, was a shield with a diagonal bar, having three roses upon it, the whole surmounted by a stag, and bearing the motto, " Virtus incendit cires"-" Virtue kindles the strength."

The genealogical tree of the Rose family, reaching back three hundred years, was destroyed during the late civil war. It was transmitted to the youngest son of the oldest son. in continued succession, and in its absence the data herein recorded is given from family tradi- tion. Rev. Dr. Robert Rose; the executor of the vast estate of Gov. Spottswood, of Virginia, a man of emi- nent ability and social worth, came over to America with Gov. Spottswood, who died about 1740. He had four sons, Henry, Hugh, William and Charles, one of whom, probably Heury Rose, was the direct ancestor of the subject of this sketch. He was related to many prominent families of Virginia.

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Henry Rose's grandson, John Rose, was the father of William Rose, the father of Solon E. Rose. John Rene married Elizabeth Davis, and settled on Rose week, Brunswick county, Virginia, when twenty years «AJ, and there died when near the age of eighty. His relative, Dr. Robert IL. Rose, married the sister of James Madison.

.Col. William Rose, father of Solon E. Rose, was bern on Rose creek, Virginia, December 19, 1779, and moved to Giles county, Tennessee in 1813. He mar- ried in Virginia, Miss Elizabeth Winfield Meredith, whose mother was a Winfield, and a relative of Gen. Winfield Scott. Col. William Rose was a farmer ; was elected colonel of the county militia ; was a Democrat ; a Methodist from early youth ; a man who never drank a drop of liquor in his life ; a remarkably well rounded character, distinguished for his devotion to his church, for his numerous charities, his hospitalities and agree- able, social manners. He was one of the first alder- men of the town of Pulaski, and was associated with Aaron V. Brown and others, who afterwards became prominent. One of his favorite sayings was, " If you meet a Scotchman who seems to be a gentleman, trust him; he'll do to trust." He died May 25, 1851, at the age of seventy-two. His wife, a most heavenly minded and lovely woman, long preceded him to the grave, dy- ing in Giles county, Tennessee, December 31, 1820, at about the age thirty-five. She was born in Brunswick county, Virginia, daughter of David Meredith, whose father came over from Wales. She bore Col. William Rose seven children. all sons, to-wit: (1). Edward Winfield Rose, who was chairman and county judge of files county twenty three years; was also once a mem- ber of the Legislature, and next to Thomas Martin, filled a larger space than any man ever in the county. (2). William Meredith Rose, now living in Nashville, was long a merchant and farmer in Giles county. One of his daughters, Henrietta, is the wife of Col. Hume Field, of Confederate army fame. (3). Alfred Hicks Rose, now a farmer in Hardeman county, Tennessee, and was for some years judge of the probate court there. (4). Robert Henry Rose, now a lawyer of fine standing at Lawrenceburg, Tennessee; was chancellor for eight years and circuit judge two years, at Lawrence burg, before the war. He has never married. (5). Fielding Rose, died, aged thirty, a successful merchant. (6). David Erwin Rose, was a physician and a fine belles-lettres scholar; died at the age of thirty-one. (7). Solon Eldridge Rose, subject of this sketch.

Col. Solon Eldridge Rose was born in Giles county, Tennessee, August 18, 1818. He was educated in the Pulaski Wurtemburg Academy, having previously studied under James McCallum, one of the sterling characters of Tennessee. When eighteen years old. he went to the Florida war and was in the battles of the Withlacoochla, Panasophca and the Wahoo swamp. At the two battles of the Wahoo, he attracted the at-

tention of Gov. Call and Col. Bradford, by his dash in leading the charge. After the battle, Gov. Call called on him and said, "You have won the golden spurs; " and Col. Bradford said, "I have a beautiful daughter that is your prize."

For awhile after, as before the Florida war, he was clerk in a store at Pulaski at liberal salaries. In 1839, he commenced studying law in the office of Shields & Rose, procured license in his twenty-second year, practiced awhile at Pulaski, but shortly afterward lo- cated at Lawrenceburg, where, in February, 1843, he was elected attorney-general of that circuit, and held the position six years. . At the expiration of his term, every lawyer in the circuit assured him, either in person or by letter, he would have no opposition if he wanted the office again. He, however, declined re-election. He did a very lucrative practice at Lawrenceburg for the ten years succeeding his attorney-generalship. From 1848 to 1859, he was president of the Lawrence- burg bank, one of the banks that paid every dollar of its currency after the war. During that time he was also engaged in manufacturing business, and in connec- tion with Gen. Allen and others, built the Cres- cent mills in Lawrence county, at an expenditure of $16,000. He moved from Lawrenceburg to Pulaski early in 1859, and formed a partnership with Judge John A. Tinnon, which continued till Tinnon's eleva- tion to the bench, June, 1883. He has, himself, been repeatedly commissioned special judge of the chancery and circuit courts. He has, for many years, been a director in the Nashville & Decatur railroad, and in 1869, succeeded Mr. Thomas Martin, deceased, as pres- ident of the Giles National Bank, of Pulaski. In his professional career, Judge Rose has practiced at the courts with President Polk. Govs. Neill S. and John C. Brown, Hon. A. O. P. Nicholson, Judges Archibald Wright and Milton Brown, Gen. Gideon J. Pillow, and others who became distinguished in political life and in their profession.

Judge Rose however is not more noted for his legal learning and facility of speech, than for his literary ac- quirements. He has long been regarded as one of the most eloquent orators in the State, while he has ever proven himself' exceedingly felicitous with the pen. As early as 1844-15, he edited, for twelve months, the Academist, a literary paper published at Lawrenceburg, and demonstrated his ready acquaintance with the clas- sies, and was perfectly at home among the standard lit- erati. He has been always an active supporter of schools and other public enterprises. He is a member of the American Legion of Honor, and in religion, his proclivities are Methodistic, though he is not a com- municant; and while the rubric of his faith is not so diversified as that of some, yet he is orthodox.

Judge Rose was raised by a Democratic father, but up to the war he himself' was a Whig-every drop of blood in him. In 1848, he canvassed his congressional

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district as the Whig presidential elector on the Taylor and Fillmore ticket, associated in the campaign with Gov. James C. Jones, Hon. Thomas A. R. Nelson, Hon. John Netherland, Col. Searcy and other Nestors of the days of' old line Whigism. He made a brilliant repu- tation as a political orator in that campaign. During the war, he was in active sympathy with the Confede- rate cause, though up to the time Lincoln's proclama- tion for troops was issued, he was a strong Union man, and made the last speech in Giles county for the Union cause. Since the war, he has been among the great leaders of the Democracy of Tennessee, one of the ablest and most ardent.

In 1881, he was elected, and stood elected three-quar- ters of an hour. United States senator from Tennessee, but was defeated at the last, by what means the follow- ing impromptu speech by Col. Rose will show. This speech was delivered before the joint convention of the Legislature -- an exceptional honor, as no man not a member of either house had ever before been called to address a joint convention of the Legislature. He was escorted to the stand and and being introduced by his successful competitor, Judge Howell E. Jackson, spoke as follows: "Gentlemen of the convention: This call is unexpected, but I thank you for the privilege of tendering my profound thanks to the convention for the expression of their confidence and their zeal in my behalf during the recent contest for United States sen- ator. To those who supported me, I feel that I could coin my heart into words of gratitude for their earnest support. Although I did not announce myself' a can- didate, asked no man to vote for me, nor wrote a single letter to forward my election, yet I am no less grateful for the distinguished honor paid me. Not that I was indifferent to so proud a position, for it is an honor the most exalted ambition might covet. If I had been elected, others could have carried more ability to the discharge of its duties, but none more zeal and devotion to the interest of our common country. I should have given my support to questions that were national, if I believed them just and would subserve the general in- terest of the country. Not that I would forget my own loved South. Thon land of my nativity !

" Where c'er I roam, what other lands to soo, My heart untraveled fondly turns to thee."

Tennessee has given her share of genius and valor to the world, has kept step in accord with the graced rythm of human progress, and her destiny and her pros- perity are linked with the entire country. The election of Judge Jackson will add luster to the name of Ten. nessee, and the manner of his election I hope will re- dound to the common good. I hope ere long all politi- cal asperities shall vanish-the winter pass, the spring- time come and the voice of peace be heard in the land, from the Aroostook to the Rio Grande, From Puget sound to Tampa bay, from lake to gulf, and from sea to sea-united in one bond of brotherhood, moving on

to the developing of our mighty material wealth, and accomplishing our sublime future. Notwithstanding these reflections, I can but regret that having been twice elected to the proud position of United States senator I yet failed to retain it. As the contest waged, like a sea when conflicting winds sweep its troubled surface, there arose one amid the storm -- one who I had seen but once before in life, when all my preconceived opinions of him vanished. Frank, open, manly in his bearing- he seemed the very embodiment of pluck and generous rivalry ; while the waves were rolling, alternating for me victory and defeat, he waved over the distracted elements the wand of the magician, and the line gave way; my friends faltered.

. Clan Alpine's hosts were backward borne- Yea, where was Roderick then ? " One blast upon his bugle horn Were worth a thousand men.'

And the sequel of the story was my defeat. Then van- ished the dream of my youth, the earnest wish of my manhood, and the solace of my declining years. But with the memory of such an honor, I can well afford to fold around me my political robe and " lie down to peaceful slumbers." Why regret? Fame is but the castle ambition builds, and like the cloud pavilion in the sky is ever at the mercy of the inconstant winds. Now, in the presence of Judge Jackson, with my hand on my heart, I thank him for his magnanimous conduct during the fervor of the contest. Gentlemen of the convention-without regard to party-I hope your lives may be long, prosperous, useful and happy. May the Christian's hope guide you through life's devious jour- ney ; may "all your ways be ways of pleasantness and all your paths be peace." . May your roof-trees distil blessings as did the sky of Hermon, and around your firesides cluster life's foudest endearments."

Since the foregoing memorable episode in the life of Judge Rose, he has not sought or held political office, except in 1884, when he was unanimously elected by the State Democratic convention of Tennessee, as a dele- gate for the State at large to the national Democratic convention at Chicago, which nominated Cleveland and Hendricks

Col. Rose's reputation as an orator, which has caused his selection as orator of the day on numerous notable occasions, was enhanced by the eloquent and brilliant speech he delivered on " Giles county Day," May 17, 1880, at the Nashville Centennial Exposition-the oc- casion being the dedication of Giles county's tribute, the burthen of the speech being the history of the county, and especially of the three governors that county has furnished the State. The Pulaski Citizen, May 20, 1880, says of that speech :

" Giles county has reason to be proud of the manner in which Col. Solon E. Rose represented her people at

" This in reference to Hon. Roderick Random Butler (Republi- can), who influenced the votes that defeated Jud & Rose.

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the Centennial Exposition Monday last. His oration was a chaste and finished effort, perfectly adapted to every requirement of refined and cultivated taste, and so exquisitely in harmony with the inspiration and pa- triotic purposes of the day as to attract general atten- tion to its marked superiority over any similar effort, either written or uttered, that the Centennial season has yet given birth to. For delicacy of conception, el- evation of thought, brilliancy of style, and poetic fer- vor, it is worthy of being classed with the finest literary productions of the day. It is the superb contribution of a scholar, a poet and a patriot to the annals of the time, and one that Giles county will feel an especial pride in preserving."

Col. Rose married in Lawrence county, Tennessee, November 14, 1843, Miss Marcella Buchanan, who was born in that county, June 25, 1823, daughter of M. II. Buchanan, Esq., once sheriff of Giles county ; a farmer and large slaveholder. Her paternal grandfather, William Buchanan, was from South Carolina, and settled on Buchanan's creek (named for him), in Giles county, about 1810. His mother was the daughter of Maximilian Haynie, the South Carolina astronomer -- an historical character.

Mrs. Rose's mother, nee Miss Ethalinda Bumpass, was daughter of Dr. James Bumpass, and niece of Dr. Gabriel Bumpass, the latter a remarkable but eccentric physician, who afterwards settled in Lawrence county, where he died, ninety-nine years old. Mrs. Rose's oldest brother, Franklin Buchanan, was speaker of the l'en- nessee House of Representatives in 1847-48. Another brother, Dr. Robert M. Buchanan, is now a prominent physician at Okalona, Mississippi, and her brother, Ga- briel J. Buchanan, is a brilliant lawyer at Aberdeen, in the same State. Her nephew, Col. John M. Simon- ton (son of her oldest sister, Mrs. Gilbreath Simonton ), was a colonel in the Confederate service, and president of the Mississippi senate.

Mrs. Rose was finely educated at Pulaski, and has all her life borne the reputation of being a woman sur- passingly handsome, and is an exceptionally lovely character, from what is the brightest page in human life-her devotion to duty. Through all his trials in life, Col. Rose confesses to have found in her an admira- ble aid. Though a comfortable and hospitable house- keeper, she is noted for her good, sound common sense economy, always avoiding extravagance. The children born of this union are four in number: (1). Solonia Marcella Rose, born November 16, 1844: studied first under Mrs. Adams; then at Dr. Prettyman's Female College, Louisville ; graduated at the Columbia Athe- næum; married Capt. John D. Flautt, cashier of the Giles National Bank ; has four children, Marcella Rose, Solon J., Mary Lizzie, and John Haynie. (2). William Haynie Rose, born April 23, 1817 ; educated at Pulaski; now a farmer in Giles county; married Miss Maria Louisa Stacy, daughter of Major J. B. Stacy, clerk and

master at Pulaski; has one child, William Haynie. (3). Elizabeth Ethalinda Rose, born in 1819, died in May, 1858, aged about nine years. (4). Solon Edward Franklin Rose, born December 19, 1850; educated first at Pulaski; graduated at Washington Lee University ; for a time was cashier of the Giles National Bank, but is now a large planter in Lowndes county, Mississippi. He married Miss Laura Marcella Martin, grand- daughter of Thomas Martin, of Pulaski, and niece of Mrs. O. M. Spofford. She is the daughter of William M. Martin, now deceased (sce sketch of Thomas Mar- tin elsewhere in this volume). Her mother, are Miss Lizzie Otis, is a niece of the late Mrs. Dr. Thomas A. Atchison, of Nashville, and of Mrs. Tyree Rodes, of Giles county. They have one child, Lizzie Otis.

Col. Rose prides himself on the fact that his children are of exemplary habits, of high social standing, pros- perous in life, and have been signally fortunate in their marriages.

Col. Rose began life without means. though at one time his father was a man of fortune, but was so re- duced by his exceeding kindness of heart in assuming suretyship for others, his estate was anuch diminished. On this account, the son was compelled, the last few years, to educate himself, yet he bravely devoted him- self to his profession ; was prompt in meeting his obli- gations and faithful in the discharge of his duties. In this way he got a start, acquired a reputation, and when he had surplus money, invested it in bank stock or manufacturing enterprises He has never failed to be at his banking office on time in fifteen years, unless necessarily absent. His chief characteristics as a busi- ness man and a lawyer, are his punctuality-attending to business at once-seeing to his cases in all their detail, and pursuing them with indomitable persever- ance. He now owns and is interested in three fine farms, and is reckoned among the solid men of the State. He owes his success in life to his father's temperate example, never having taken adrink in a saloon in his life ; to abstaining from vices; to being just to all men, and to assuming the demands of duty with courage and determination.

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Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee, Part 45

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