Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee, Part 51

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 51

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Such, in part, is the record left of Hannah and Ellis Hughes by one of their sons.

After the death of her husband, Hannah Hughes

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removed to Baltimore with her ten children, these quite young. The record adds that " the enterprise was blessed of God." She died in April, 1816, and the record is thus closed : " The sermon preached by that eminent minister of the gospel, Mary MitHin, upon the occasion of returning from the grave, just inclosed, to the meet - ing then convening, was among the most consoling and eloquent discourses ever listened to by him who leaves this testimony upon record, with the hope that. the lesson which he has learned of so impressive a char- acter may not be lost to others. ' Trust in the Lord, O my soul.'"

Phoebe Hughes, the eldest child, married John Skel- ton, and her family were amongst the earliest settlers of Cincinnati, the Stansburys of that place being descend- ants of hers. Annabella Hughes, another daughter, married Peter Little, a man of considerable prominence in Maryland, who represented his district for many years in the United States Congress, and whose only son and child married the daughter of Dr. Chapman, a man of note in Baltimore. Mary Hughes, another daughter, was married to Benjamin Fowler, of Wash- ington, by whom she had three daughters, one of whom married A. B. Murray, another Thomas Harrison, and the third Dr. Riley, all of Washington, where their families still reside. The late Mrs. Robert Garrett, of Baltimore, was a daughter of Mrs. Harrison. Elinor Hughes married William Buel. Jeremiah Hughes, a sou, located in Baltimore and was, at the time of his death, and for years prior thereto, owner and proprietor of Niles' National Register, a paper of wide and pow- erful influence. Gideon and Thomas Hughes both moved to Ohio, where they settled.

Elijah Hughes, another son, grandfather of the sub- jeet of this sketch, removed to Tennessee early in the present century, and settled in Robertson county, near Turnersville, where he continued to reside up to his death, honored and respected by all who knew him. He brought with him to Tennessee a young and beauti- ful wife, nee Miss Ellen Hamilton, a native of Balti- more, who survived him but a short time. By her he had four children, two daughters and two sons : Eliza- beth Hughes, who married Rev. Simon Peter, of Ken- tucky, and removed to Illinois, carrying with them several valuable slaves and emancipating them because they were convinced the institution of slavery was wrong. It need not be added that the courage to do right under such temptations sustained them in a life of usefulness and great prosperity. Mary Hughes mar- ried a Mr. Whitehead, and settled at Natchez, Mississ ippi. Jesse Hughes removed to Louisville, Kentucky, where he married a Miss Buckner. His family now reside at South Bend, Indiana.

Richard E. Hughes, the father of George T. Hughes, remained at the old home, and in carly life married a distant relative, Miss Amanda Oursler, whose parents had also emigrated from Baltimore and settled first in

Summer county. Richard E. Hughes possessed to an un- common degree, those traits which characterized his an- cestors, pertinacious resistance of wrong, a clear concep- tion of the rights of his fellow-man, and unswerving devotion to principle. It may be imagined that the im- moral and vicious dreaded his power and influence. For years before his death, he succeeded in preventing the sale of liquors in the village in which he lived-by per- suasion, by buying the property in which it was sold, even at exorbitant prices, and refusing to allow it to be used for that purpose, and finally, to perpetuate his in- fluence as far as possible, provided in his will that no whisky or intoxicating drink should ever be sold upon any of the lands devised by him, and in case it was done the title should revert to others. When but a boy he learned the trade of a blacksmith, and although in after years he accumulated a considerable estate, yet he never abandoned his hammer and his apron, and to im- press upon his only son the dignity and importance of labor, he once went into the rooms of an artist in his working garb, with his arms bare, and steady hand grasping his hammer, which on the " sounding anvil " had wrought out his fortune, his face begrimed with dust, and in this plight, with his boy beside him, had his picture taken.

Richard E. Hughes died at the early age of fifty-two, in the year 1855, leaving surviving him his widow and six children, five daughters and one son, all of the lat- ter comparatively young. His industry and prudence had accumulated sufficient property to secure his family in case and comfort, which was added to by his wife, who took the entire management of the business, and conducted it with the rarest of good judgment and skill, but unfortunately. most of the property consisted of slaves which were emancipated by the results of the war; and thus mother and children, or those who were still under her roof, consisting of three daughters and the son, the latter being quite young, were thrown upon their own resources.

Nothing but an uncommon share of fortitude and perseverance on the part of the mother, and unques- tioning obedience and submission to her guidance on the part of the children, enabled her to complete the education of her children, hold together the remnant of their estate, and start them out into the world with a small competency unencumbered with debts, and, best of all, unencumbered by habits of prodigality. She still lives, beloved and honored of her children, at the advanced age of seventy-three years, with her daughter, Mrs. Minnie Fizer, in Robertson county. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. Her children now living are six in number : (1). Emna Hughes, now widow of Dr. C. H. Lockhart, formerly of Clarksville. (2), Ellen Hughes, now wife of Maj. A. J. Allensworth, of San Antonio, Texas. (3). Mary Hughes, now wife of William Darden, a farmer in Robertson county. (1) Sarah Hughes, widow of

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Maj. A. W. Bently, formerly of Lawrenceburg, Ten- nessee, brother of George W. T. Hughes' wife. (5). George W. T. Hughes, subject of this sketch. (6). Minnie Hughes, wife of George M. Fizer, of Robertson county, Tennessee.

George Washington Taylor Hughes was born in Rob- ertson county, Tennessee, February 22, 1817, the day on which the battle of Buena Vista was fought; this coincidence coupled with the fact that it was also Wash- ington's birthday, accounts for his name doubtless. He received his education at the schools of his native vil- lage, until the age of twelve, when he entered Stewart College, at Clarksville, Tennessee, in the freshman class, and remained there until the commencement of hostili- ties. In the fall of 1864 he entered school at Eminence, Kentucky, and remained until the summer of 1865, having completed only a portion of his studies, expect- ing to return and complete his course the ensuing ses- sion. As the representative of his literary society, he delivered an address on February 22, 1865, which was complimented in the papers of Louisville, and he was unanimously selected as the representative of his class at the close of the term. On his return home his mother did not think the condition of the estate would justify the expense of returning him to college. Ile then, after some hesitation, and not until persuaded to that course by friends, commenced the study of law, under the di- rection of Hon. James E. Bailey, of Clarksville. After spending several months in study he entered the law school at Lebanon, Tennessee, and left that school in the summer of 1868; first located in Sprinfield, Ten- nessee, where he was licensed to practice law by Judges Alexander Campbell and Frazer, but after a few months removed to Lawrence county, Tennessee. He practiced at Lawrenceburg from June, 1869, to June, 1876, and then moved to Columbia, Tennessee, where he has prac- ticed ever since, first in partnership with Maj. Isaac N. Barnett, until the latter's death, in September, 1884, and since in partnership with Mr. E. H. Hatcher, the style of the firm being Hughes & Hatcher.

Mr. Hughes is a Democrat, though his father was a zealous Clay Whig. He has, however, never been a candidate for office, and never held office except that of

alderman of Lawrenceburg two or three years, and at Columbia, where, as the first president of the board of education, he assisted in the organization of the pub- lie schools. One thing of which he is proud, that he has never attended a political convention, never had much to do with polities, though by no means neutral in matters pertaining to the welfare of his country. At twenty-one he joined the Masous at Springfield, but has taken only the Blue Lodge degrees. He is a Knight of Honor ; a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, as were all his people on both sides before him, since the organization of that church ; is a Sunday-,. school teacher, and for fifteen years a Sunday-school superintendent, and is now a trustee of the church at Columbia.

Mr. Hughes married at Lawrenceburg, June 3, 1869, Miss Lilly V. Bently, daughter of Daniel . Bently and Matilda Bently, ner Miss Matilda Lindsley, of Maury county. Mrs. Hughes' father was a capitalist and the first president of the Lawrenceburg bank ; was a self- made man ; started in life without means, and made his fortune merchandising and trading, and later in life went into the banking business and loaning of money.

By his marriage with Miss Bently Mr. Hughes has two children : (1). Leonard Hughes, born at. Lawrence- burg, September 18, 1871. (2). Enuna Clare, born at Lawrenceburg, May 5, 1874.

Mr. Hughes began life on a small patrimony, and his wife brought him a small estate. He is now reckoned among the few Tennessee lawyers who are good finan- cial successes. He has faithfully met the duties his profession imposed upon him; has never had any bad habits ; never drank a quart of intoxicating liquors in his life; never made a bet ; has been content to make money in a legitimate way ; never deals in futures, and avoids going security. He is now a director in the Columbia Cotton Mill company, and also in the Co- lumbia Water company. He has occasionally acted as special chancellor by election of the members of the bar. He is regarded as a very fine chancery lawyer ; a careful, industrious, thorough investigator, of a log- ical turn, a good reasoner, and progressive in his pro- fession.

RICHARD R. DASHIELL.

JACKSON.

D R. RICHARD R. DASHTELL is descended of a Maryland Huguenot family. His great-grand father fled from France to England, where he married a sister of Lord Fairfax, came to America, and settled on the eastern shore of Maryland about 1750 His son, Rev. George Dashiell, was rector of St. Peter's church

in Baltimore in 1790, when Baltimore was a little vil- lage. He married a sister of Gen. W. S. Winder, a Baltimore lawyer of political and social distinction, and who was defeated by the British at Bladensburg in the war of 1812. Rev. George Dashiell was the leader of the movement in the division of the Protestant Episco-

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pal church into high and low parties, he adhering to the low church party.

Dr. Dashiell's father, Alfred II. Dashiell, was born in Baltimore in 1791, was a clergyman in the Episcopal church, going with his father, and finally joined the Presbyterian church. He was pastor of a Presbyterian church in Philadelphia ten years; then pastor of a church three years in Jacksonville, Ilinois; next was president of the Nashville Female Academy four years; then was pastor of the Presbyterian church at Frank . lin, Tennessee, four years; then for fifteen years was pastor of the church at Shelbyville, Tennessee; after- wards for two or three years was president of the Rog- ersville College, East Tennessee, and finally removed to Brooklyn, New York, where he died in 1882, at the age of eighty-six, leaving a reputation for unyielding cour- age in standing for whatever he thought right, and for boldness in the declaration of his convictions, however unpopular. He was a man of great force as a speaker. He left living seven children, of whom Dr. Richard R. Dashiell is the oldest. His son, George Dashiell, is a cotton merchant at Memphis. His son, Rev. A. H. Dashiell, is pastor of the Presbyterian church at Lake View, New Jersey. His son, Dr. W. B. Dashiell, is a large farmer at Kaufman, Texas. His daughter, Emily E. Dashiell, is now the widow of Jesse H. McMahon, widely known as the editor of the old Memphis En- quirer. His daughter, Sophie R. Dashiell, is now the wife of Capt. Carter Harrison, of Murfreesborough, grandson of President Harrison. His daughter La- vinia C. Dashiell, is now the wife of Dr. William Lytle, of Murfreesborough.

Dr. Dashiell's mother, nee Miss Ann Ridgely, was the daughter of Judge Richard Ridgely, of the Supreme court of Maryland. Her mother was a Miss Dorsey. Dr. Dashiell's mother was, on her mother's side, a cousin of Judge Chase, of the Supreme court of the United States, who was appointed by Gen: Washington. She was also cousin of Hon. Reverdy Johnson, and of Gov. Howard, of Maryland, and was a piece of Nicholas Ridgely, the leading merchant of Baltimore in his day. She died at Brooklyn, New York, in 1880, at the age of eighty-one. Her leading characteristics were religious fervor and devotion to her children.

Dr. Dashiell was born in Baltimore, August 18, 1816, and lived in that city until ten years of age. His next ten years he passed in Philadelphia. He graduated at. Amherst College, Massachusetts, in 1833; afterward studied medicine four years in the University of Pon- sylvania, graduating in 1837, under Profs. Chapman, Gibson, Dewees, Horner, Rogers and Jackson. He settled in St. Louis in 1837, where he practiced nine months, when that city had only twelve thousand in- habitants. He next settled at Nashville and practiced there, 1839-40, when he was invited to take charge of the iron works below Clarksville, and there he practiced and farmed nine years. In 1847 he removed to Jackson,

Tennessee, where he has practiced ever since, farming before the war, but not since.

During the war he was appointed by Gov. Isham G. Harris, surgeon of the Sixth Tennessee Confederate regiment (Col. William H. Stephens), and in this ca- pacity served through the war, in Tennessee, Kentucky and Georgia. He had charge of the Beauregard hos- pital at Jackson, in 1862, and retained that position till ordered to the field.

Dr. Dashiell was one of the carlier members of the Medical Society of the State of Tennessee, at Nashville, of which Dr. Felix Robertson was the first president. He occasionally contributes articles to medical journals, chiefly on diseases peculiar to the Forked Deer valley.

Dr. Dashiell is an Entered Apprentice Mason, an an- cient Odd Fellow, a member of the Knights of the Golden Rule; in politics a Democrat, though formerly an old line Whig; for two years was an alderman of Jackson, and in religion has been a Methodist for forty- five years, and has served as steward and trustec. In 1850-51-52, he was a partner of Col. W. W. Gates, of the West Tennessee Whig, and edited that paper two years in the interest of the Whig party, and supported Gen. Scott for president.

Dr. Dashiell first married in Stewart county, Tennes- see, in 1841, Miss Louisa Jane Kizer, by whom he has one child, Miss Emily E. Dashiell, a graduate of the Conference Female Institute at Jackson, in which she taught music one year, and is now teaching music in that city. She is also highly educated in other branches.

Dr. Dashiell's first wife dying in 1848, he next mar- ried at Jackson, January 15, 1850, Miss Eliza Jane Tay- lor, daughter of Col. Richard Taylor, a planter, origi- nally from North Carolina. Her mother was a daughter of Philip Alston, a planter of Madison county, Ten- nessee, originally from Chatham county, North Caro- lina. Mrs. Dashiell graduated at the school of Rev. William Findley, at Jackson, Tennessee, and is a lady noted for her devotion to her church and for her do- mestic economy.

By this marriage Dr. Dashiell has four children : (1). George T. Dashiell, born in October, 1850; educated at West Tennessee College ; was for four years private secretary of Gov. Richard Coke, of Texas, and is now engaged in stock raising and railroading at Kaufman, Texas. (2). Amic Ridgely Dashiell, graduated at C'on- forence Female Institute, Jackson. (3). Richard HI. Dashiell, born in February, 1856; educated at West Tennessee College, and is now in mercantile business at Jackson. (1). Alfred T. Dashiell, graduated from the Southern Baptist University at Jackson, and died in 1881, at the age of twenty-one.

In setting out in professional life, Dr. Dashiell aimed to attain high standing as a surgeon and practitioner, and has succeeded, both professionally and financially, and built up for himself a high character, and a repu tation as one of the standard men of his city and State.

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MAJ. HENDERSON MITCHELL FOLSOM.

ELIZABETHTON.

T' HE subject of this sketch, residing within the romantic mountain region of upper East Tennes- see, can justly lay claim to a proud English lineage. Many distinguished persons, bearing the name of Folsom, figured in English civil and military history. The American Folsoms are descended directly from the Earl of Percy. Persons who mention with com- mendable pride their distinguished ancestry are not infrequently ridiculed by people whose plebeian motto is, "Let every tub stand on its own bottom," and who are unwilling to give credit to father, mother or remote ancestor for any of their own better characteristics. After interviewing more than twelve hundred persons and studying their family histories, the editor is of opinion that an honorable family pride is a very potent factor in the formation of individual character, and is oftentimes the main inspiration of lofty endeavor. No one of proper sentiment can fail to feel a pride in an- eestry which was the boast of chivalrous days, espe- cially if, like the Folsoms, he can trace his lineage back to the grand old days of the Crusaders, when his pro- genitors left home and friends and battled against the followers of Mohammed for the sepulchre of Christ.

Three brothers, sons of the Earl of Percy and the Countess of Foulsham, found it necessary, in 1760, to leave England on account of their sympathy with the American colonies in their complaints and struggles against the mother country. They very naturally bent their course toward America, landing at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where two of the brothers settled. The other settled in South Carolina. Only one of the Portsmouth brothers married, and from him descended the northern branch of the family, including the Cali- fornia Folsoms, for whom Folsom City, California, is named. The brother who settled in South Carolina, the great-grandfather of Maj. Folsom, was a captain in the Revolutionary army. His descendants are settled in South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, Indian Territory and Tennessee,

The grandfather of Maj. Folsom lived in Moore county, North Carolina. He died in the service of the United States, at Norfolk, Virginia, where he is buried.

The father, Malcolm Neilson Folsom, was born in Moore county, North Carolina, December 5, 1792, was married in that county and moved to Tennessee about 1820. He settled first in Greene county, but after- wards removed to Carter, where he farmed and held a number of public offices, among them, register of the county, county court clerk and justice of the peace for eighteen years. During the eighteen years he tried six thousand recorded civil causes, and but three of his decisions were ever reversed on appeal, an extraordinary

record. His education was limited to ninety days' schooling, but he had strong native sense, and was a man of strong convictions and undoubted integrity. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He had three honorable discharges from the army during that war, having enlisted three several times for limited periods. He died February 22, 1878.

The mother of Maj. Folsom, Nancy Hughes. was, a native of Moore county, North Carolina. She was, in all respects, a model woman, industrious, frugal, gentle in her disposition, and noted for her hospitality. She : was a member of the Methodist church, as was also her : husband. She died at Elizabethton, April 16, 1877, about seventy-five years of age.

There were leftsurviving Malcohn and Nancy Folsom, eight children, viz. : (1). William James. (2). George W. (3). Nancy. (4). Thomas S. (5). Mary. (6). Hen- derson M., subject of this sketch. (7). Benjamin F. (8). Sarah.

Maj. II. M. Folsom, the subject of this sketch, was born at Elizabethton, Tennessee, October 4, 1831, and has made that his home all his life. He has been, in great degree, the architect of his own fortune. He began life for himself at the age of sixteen, at which time he set out for Missouri to enter Ebenezer High School, ten miles north of Springfield. After two years' study there he went to school no more. Previous to his going to Missouri, he had spent a short while at Emory and Henry College, Virginia, and also about a year at Holston College, New Market, Tennessee, under president Allen HI. Mathes, who, leaving that institu- tion for Missouri, persuaded young Folsom to accom-'] pany him, promising that his board and tuition should cost him nothing. After quitting, school, Maj. Folsom went to merchandising in partnership with Dr. G. T. Magee, at Elizabethton, meanwhile, as opportunity offered, reading law under the instruction of Gen. James T. Carter. In 1856 he was licensed to practice by Judge Seth J. W., Luckey and Chancellor Thomas L. Wil- liams. Soon afterward, he was appointed clerk and master, a position which he held for six years. Since his retirement from that position he has devoted him- self closely to his profession, excepting the interrup- tion caused by the war, and has had an exceptionally successful career at the bar.

Maj. Folsom entered the Confederate service October 23, 1862, as major and quartermaster on the staff of Gen. Alfred E. Jackson. In June, 1864, he was trans- ferred, with same rank, to Gen. John C. Vaughn's command. Army of Northern Virginia, and was quarter- master on his staff for three months. He was then transferred to Gen. Wharton's brigade, Northern Vir- ginia, in the same capacity, but, after one month in that

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position, he was ordered to Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's army, then in Georgia, but never reached it, owing to the Federal occupation of East Tennessee, and western North Carolina .. In November, 1864, he rejoined Gen. Jackson's command and remained with him till the close of the war. Maj. Folsom took part in the battles of Piedmont, Lynchburg, and Liberty, Virginia, in June, 1864; in the capture of Martinsburg, Virginia, July 4, 1861 ; Winchester, September 19, 1861 ; Cedar Creek, October 19, 1861. The commission which he held-that of major-was the highest in rank from Car- ter county in the Confederate army.

In regard to politics, under the old division of parties Maj. Folsom was a Whig, and voted for the last ticket that party ever put into the presidential race, Bell and Everett. Since the war, he has been a Democrat. Not approving the course of reconstruction and disliking the feeling evinced by the Republican party towards the people of the South, he felt constrained to co- operate with the Democratic party as the one from which the South had most to hope. He has never taken an active part in polities in any way, and was never a candidate for public office, though his friends, without any offering on his part, have several times had his name before congressional conventions. Though' very decided and steadfast in his political views, he has no taste for the business of politics.

In 1854, Maj. Folsom was made a Master Mason, at Elizabethton, Dashiell Lodge, No. 238, and has served in every office in the lodge. For ten years he has been attorney for the Knoxville Car Wheel Company. He is a member and steward of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and several times has been a lay dele- gate to the Holston annual conference and to the dis- triet conference. Though now in his fifty-fifth year, Maj. Folsom has never in his life sworn a profane oath, having, from boyhood, refrained from the habit, under the solemn conviction that it was wrong to swear. It would seem that a man who had served through the war as quartermaster, and had encountered the vexa- tious experiences of the court-room for nearly thirty years, without swearing at all, deserves a place in this volume alongside of the venerable Dr. J. B. MeFerrin, who is on record as having never told a lie in his life. Maj. Folsom himself' said to the writer: "I am not conscious of having ever told a wilful, mischievous lie in my life; nor, in a married life of thirty years, have I ever been unfaithful to my marriage vows." He joined the church in 1854, and was for many years Sunday- school teacher, deeply interested in the welfare of the rising generation.

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Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee, Part 51

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