USA > Tennessee > Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee > Part 70
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Of these brothers, Christopher Simonton was success- fully engaged in agriculture before the war; went into the Confederate army ; had his house and barn, crib and stables burned by the Federals; died in hospital in Dallas county, Alabama, and now lies buried at New Hope church, near Forts, in that county. Presley Simonton, also a farmer, served in the Fifty-first Ten- nessee, Col. Browder's (afterward Chester's) regiment ; returned home, and siekened and died in August, 1862. Hissister, Miss Mary Simonton, who waited on him, also
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siekened, and survived him only six weeks. Robert C. Simonton was a merchant at Salem, Arkansas; enlisted in the Twelfth Tennessee regiment ( Richardson's brig- ade); served under Forrest during the whole war ; fell a victim to camp fever in 1865, and died just as the news of Lee's surrender reached his brother, Capt. Charles Simonton, who was standing at his bedside. William W. Simonton, after leaving Erskine College, taught school in Dallas county, Alabama ; married Miss Maggie Moore, daughter of Col. Robert Moore; went to farming after his marriage; enlisted as a private in the Twenty-seventh Alabama. regiment; was twice wounded in battle; surrendered at Goldsborough, North Carolina; returned home and died two years afterward of wounds received in service.
Capt. Simonton's oldest sister, Martha Simonton, first married Albert MeCain, and afterward her present hus- band, J. C. Davis, and now resides in Dorsey county, Arkansas. Ilis sister, Sarah A. Simonton, married Charles F. Strong, a farmer, residing near Atoka, Tip- ton county. Capt. Simonton's half-sister, Margaret, married Ross McCain, a prominent citizen of Tipton county. Their son, William S. McCain, is an attorney of reputation at Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
After his resignation from the army, Capt. Simonton returned home and resumed teaching at Porterville While engaged in teaching there he married, October 16, 1866, Miss Mary MeDill, daughter of Capt. Robert MeDill, a merchant of that village, a Presbyterian elder, and of Scotch descent. United States Senator Me Dill, of Iowa, is a member of the same family. Mrs. Simon- ton's mother was a Miss MeCreight, of a South Carolina family, also of Scotch blood. Mrs. Simonton was edu- cated at the schools at Porterville and Covington, and is characterized by gentleness, devotion to duty, won- derful fortitude and unusual resolution. Her charms of mind and manner make her a primo favorite in the social circles. in which she moves.
By his marriage with Miss MeDill, Capt. Simonton has five children : Anna, Ella, William M., Charles P. and Nannie May.
Mrs. Simonton had three brothers in the Confederate service. Scott MeDill fell at Chickamauga, William S. MeDill was killed at . Franklin, and George W. M.Dill was shot through the right breast at Perryville, and was thought to be mortally wounded, but recovered; rejoined his command, Ninth Tennessee regiment, Maney's brigade, Cheatham's division, and surren. dered at the close of the war, at Greensborongh, North Carolina.
Capt. Simonton is an hereditary Democrat. Trying to rebuild his shattered health and shattered fortunes, he was occupied in the school-room until 1870, when he announced himself a candidate for circuit court clerk, and made the race against Nat Tipton, a very influential and popular citizen, defeating him by the handsome majority of six hundred and fifty votes. Having studied
law at intervals, and whenever he could spare the time from the serious business of making a living, he was admitted to the bar, in 1873, by Judges Flippin and Walker, and has since continued the practice very sue- cessfully, financially, and gaining reputation, especially as an advocate In 1874, after a bitter contest, he was re-elected clerk by a greatly increased majority. In 1876, he resigned this place, having been nominated as the Democratic candidate for the Legislature from his county, and was elected, though the Dorsey B. Thomas opposition carried the county by more than two hun- dred votes. This canvass was exceedingly bitter and personal, and the tact and ability displayed in it, espe- cially his self-possession, under trying circumstances, laid the foundation for Capt. Simonton's future promo- tion. In the Legislature he served on the judiciary and federal relations committees.
Two years later, that is, in 1878, he was a candidate for Congress in the Ninth congressional district. com- prising the counties of Tipton, Lauderdale, Dyer, Obion, Lake, Weakley, Gibson, Crockett and Haywood. Ile came to the convention with four opponents, one of whom was the son of the late Hon. John Bell, of Ten- nessee, and the equal of his distinguished father in ability and attainments. Capt. Sinonton received the nomination, and was elected to the Forty sixth Con- gres. He defeated Mr. Bell again in convention in 1850, and was returned to his seat in the Forty-seventh Congress. During the canvass for this term, he was opposed by a coalition candidate, nominated by the low-tax greenback convention, in the person of Mr. George Mathis, of Trenton, a gentleman who had gained considerable reputation as an expert stumper and deba - ter. Mr. Mathis abandoned the race after the first meeting.
Of Capt. Simonton's ability as a congressman, the Baltimore (Maryland) Baltimorean said: " Mr. Simon- ton, as a legislator, is for the useful and practical, a thorough economist, and the enemy of class legislation and jobs. He is a good parliamentarian, and was often called during the Forty-sixth Congress to preside in committee of the whole, during the consideration of most important and difficult matters, which he did with much credit to himself and satisfaction to the house. His knowledge of parliamentary details enable him al- ways, in connection with intelligent attention to the proceedings, to understand the status of pending meas- ures. He is up with the business, attentive and watch- ful. He does not often address the House. but when he does, has the satisfaction of receiving its respectful and considerate attention. In committee work, the most important legislative duties, he is painstaking and laborious, and has made a number of reports, involving much labor and research- prominent among which was his report on the claim of certain descendants of offi- cers of the Revolutionary war, involving more than sixteen million dollars, and the investigation of which
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requires a knowledge of the proceedings of the continen- tal Congress, as well as the fiscal history of the govern- ment after the adoption of the constitution of 1789."
During his service in Congress Capt. Simonton also made considerable reputation by the able speech he delivered on the bill for appointing a tariff commission.
By the redistrieting of his congressional district by the Legislature of 1882, his county was attached to the Tenth or Memphis district, and the people whom be had so acceptably served that he bad broken down all opposition to his re election, were thus deprived of the opportunity of returning him, to Congress; hence his retirement from that branch of the public service.
To the honor of his Christian mother is due the fact that Capt. Simonton was a regular attendant at Sunday- school from a boy, and probably also that he is now a Sunday-school teacher and an older in the Presbyte- rian church. He is a Knight of Honor, a member of the order of Knights and Ladies of Honor, and Master Workman of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. For ten years he has been a member of the board of trustees of Tipton Female Seminary.
It is said he has made more speeches than any other man in Tipton county and on many subjects-tem- perance, education, Sunday-school celebrations, Young Men's Christian Association, literary addresses, and on commencement occasions, anniversaries, and the like.
Since he has been keeping house, there has been no time when he and his wife have not had in their home a: least one, and often two or even three orphans, school-
ing and caring for them-most of them related either to himself or her, thus paying to others the debt of gratitude he owes to the uncle who sent him to college and helped him to a start in lite.
During the year 1875 he edited the Tipton Record. While running this paper the made it a lively sheet, calling public attention to many official irregularities, as well as making it educational in its progressive tone.
Briefly stated. the elements that bave combined in Capt. Simonton, and enabled him to succeed, are : first, i determined effort; second, to never miss an opportu- nity he thought he could honorably improve to his ad- vantage. He found out very carly in life that it he waited for somebody to find places for him and put him along, he would never reach the desired end; that he had these things to work out for himself. His observa- tion had taught him that success rarely comes with a single effort, but by repeated effort and the use of many expedients, and victory has often to be snatched from the jaws of seeming defeat. The man who succeeds is he who can fight hardest when fortune seems against him. The most useful lever of success is a well- schooled mind, coupled with a resolution to conquer obstacles and attain excellence.
In person, Capt. Simonton is of medium height, well and compactly built, has a fine eye, whose glance is shot square and straight at his auditor, most pleasant and engaging manners, and is in the very prime of life; a life wholly pure and unsullied -- one that is a pride to possess, and should be an honor to uphold.
NICK D. RICHARDSON, M. D.
T" HIS popular and successful physician and surgeon was born at Athens, Alabama, November 30, 1832. His father was William Richardson, a prominent lawyer at that place, for several years attorney-general of Alabama, and representative of Limestone county in the Alabama Legislature, from 1830 to 1833. He died in 1866, in his sixty ninth year. fle stood in the front rank of Alabama lawyers; was a man of the highest integrity ; never sought office, and at one time declined appointment to a judgeship. He stood particularly high as a chancery lawyer, and had a legal reputation as the peer of the best and ablest men in Alabama. He was a Virginian by birth and education; for a time, about. 1819, filled the chair of ancient languages in Washington- Lee University ; caine to Mabama in 1821, and settled as a pioneer.
Dr. Richardson's grandfather, William Richardson, was a Virginia planter, slave holder and line stock - breeder. He was a patriot soldier in the Revolutionary
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war. On his father's side he was of English. and on his mother's side of' Irish blood.
Dr. Richardson's mother, we Miss Ann Davis, was a native of Hanover county, Virginia, daughter of Capt. Nick Davis, an officer in the war of 1812 He emigrated to Alabama at an early date ; was president of the Ala- bama senate thirteen years; a member of the Alabama State constitutional convention, in 1819, and the recog- nized leader of the Whig party in that State during its existence. He was a close and intimate personal friend of Henry Clay the two being raised as boys, within a stone's throw of each other. in " the slashes of Hanover." Capt. Davis died at his homestead in Alabama, in 1856, at the age of seventy five years, a man universally be- loved, wealthy, charitable, hospitable, and a great lover of fine stock, especially thoroughbred racers. It is re- lated of him that he was particularly partial to hard working men, who always found welcome at his house and table He married Miss Patsey Hargrove, of a
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Virginia Quaker family. His son, Col. Nick Davis. jr., maternal unele of Dr. Richardson, was a brilliant law- yer at Huntsville ; was attorney-general of the State ; a Whig leader ; a fine stump orator, and a representative of Madison and Limestone counties in the Alabama Legislature, also a member of the State secession con- vention of 1861.
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Dr. Richardson's maternal aunt, nee Miss Martha Davis, is now the widow of Judge George W. Lane. for many years a circuit judge in Alabama, and from 1861 up to his death, in 1864, United States district judge.
Dr. Richardson's mother died May 3, 1861, at Athens. Alabama, at the age of fifty-one years, leaving seven children : (1). Mary P. Richardson, now wile of Thomp- son Anderson, a leading wholesale dry goods merchant at Nashville, Tennessee. (2). Nick D. Richardson, sub- ject of this sketch. (3). William Richardson, a promi- nent lawyer and politician, now judge of the probate court at Huntsville, Alabama, He married Miss Lizzie Rucker, of Lynchburg, Virginia. (D). Edwin R. Rich- ardson, a wholesale shoe merchant of the firm of Rich- ardson, Mason & Co., Nashville. He married Miss Sue Hamilton, daughter of Mortimer Hamilton, a merchant. and niece of James M. Hamilton, now a large hardware merchant at Nashville. (5). James B. Richardson, of the firm of Richardson, Mason & Co., Nashville. He married Miss Sallie Evans, daughter of William II. Evans, for many years one of the largest wholesale merchants, and also a banker, at Nashville. (C). Am E. Richardson, now wife of II. E. Jones, a prominent lawyer at, Nashville. (7). David Michelle Richardson, graduated M.D. from Bellevue Medical College, New York, and died unmarried, in 1879.
Dr. Richardson was raised in Athens, attended the schools thero till his sixteenth year, then went to the University of Virginia and studied two years. In 1852-3. he attended the Jefferson Medical College. Philadel- phia, and graduated M. D., in 1853, under Prof's Pan- coast, Dunglison, Bache, Mutter, Huston. Meig, and J. K. Mitchell. He remained six months after gradua- tion in practice at the Pennsylvania hospital. In 1851, he returned to Athens and commenced practice in partnership with Dr. T. S. Malone, then the most prominent physician in North Alabama.
lle practiced at Athens till 1861, when he went into company F, of the Twenty-sixth Alabama regiment, as a lieutenant, and shortly afterward was commissioned by President Jefferson Davis as a surgeon in the Con- federate States army, and served as such till his surren- der at Macon, Georgia. He served almost exclusively in the field, and was in the campaigns in Alabama, Ton- nessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Texas, Mississippi and South Carolina, including the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesbor- ough, Chickamauga, and those from Dalton to Atlanta. Jonesborough, Franklin and Nashville.
The war over, he returned to Alabama and resumed
practice " with nothing but a home, a wife, three chil- dren and a horse." He, however, followed his practice closely till 1873, when he was taken down with inflamma- tory rheumatism, and was sick for five years. In 1881, he moved to Nashville, where he is now in practice. Financially, he has been, by means of his profession, and by farming in Alabama, a fine success, and is now esti- mated to be worth fifty thousand dollars. His business principles are of the highest order- to live within his means, buy nothing unless he is able to pay for it, and never buy anything on credit. These principles he inherited from his progenitors on both sides -- families proud of their standing in the community in which they lived, and ever given to recognizing and encouraging merit wherever found. whether in the hovel or in the mansion.
He was raised a Whig, but since the war has voted the Democratic ticket, though he has never held or wanted civil office. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of the Ancient Order of United Work men. Ile belongs to no church, but is a warm friend of the Christian religion, and especially of the Methodist de- nomination.
Dr. Richardson first married, at Athens, Alabama, Oc- tober 27, 1858, Miss Bettie Hine, only daughter of Ros- well Hine, a leading merchant of that place, of a New York family. Her mother was originally Miss Mary P. Malone, daughter of Capr. John P. Malone, a large Ala- bama planter, and a soldier in the war of 1812. Mrs. Richardson died at Athens, in 1874, at the age of thirty- eight, leaving six children : (1). Roswell H. Richardson. born at Athens, November 7. 1859: now a merchant at that place; married Miss Ellie Walker, daughter of Judge William II. Walker, a prominent lawyer at Ath- ens, and has one child, Walker. (2). Ann Davis Rich- ardson, born November 15, 1861 . graduated at Athens Female College; married, in IS81, T. N. Hobbs. a planter, in Limestone county, Alabama, and has one child, Richardson. (3). Charles B. Richardson, born at Cartersville, Georgia, November 22, 1863: now in commercial life at Nashville. (D. William E. Rich- ardson. born at. Athens, February 27, 1866: now at school. (5). Mary Pleas. Richardson, born . August 12. 1868. (6). Nick D. Richardson, jr., born August 9, 15.1.
Dr. Richardson's second marriage, which occurred at Huntsville, Alabama, May 1, 1879, was with Mrs. A. E. Sledge, widow of O. D. Sledge, a merchant at that place. Her father was William H. Echols, a merchant and planter in North Alabama, and her mother was Miss Mary Hobbs, of a Virginia family.
Personally, Dr. Richardson is a most attractive and companionable gentleman. He is six feet high : weighs one hundred and eighty pounds: has the face and man- ners of the typical, warm hearted, impulsive southern planter, and looks fearless, unsuspecting, independent and very self-conscious
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IION. THOMAS C. MUSE.
JACKSON.
H ON. THOMAS C. MUSE was born in Pittsyl- vania county, Virginia, January 23, 1834. When he was only five or six years old, his father moved to Henderson county, Tennessee, where he grew up. When sixteen, he elerked on the Tennessee river in the com- mission business one year. His father, Daniel C. Muse, a farmer, was a native of Pittsylvania county, Virginia, exceedingly fond of politics, a Henry Clay Whig, and when dying, January, 1865, left an injunction that his children should all be educated-a wish which was carried out. He came to Tennessee with one child and one negro, and notwithstanding losses by the war, left an estate of thirteen thousand dollars, besides his lands. After his death his widow " broke up," moved to Jack - son, and there died in 1878, at the age of fifty-eight. She was originally Eliza, daughter of Isaac Stone, of Virginia. She was a lady remarkable for her fine man - agement, economy and domestic qualities, and her de- votion to husband, children and servants. The clothing for her entire family she had made at home.
His father trusted almost entirely to his memory in his transactions with his neighbors, though he could keep books. After his death many of his neighbors came to, his administrator and paid several hundred dollars of which there was no account in writing. He was a remarkably healthy man, his last sickness being his first. His grandfather, William Muse, was a Vir- ginian, of Scotch- Irish blood. One of his sons. James Muse, was a man of fine literary attainments; located near Lexington, Kentucky; taught a private school; made a fine fortune by speculating in lands, moved near Lexington, Missouri; remained there several years as a teacher, and also as a minister of the Christian church ; from there he moved to Collin county, Texas, and died: He was an eloquent man, and distinguished as a leader in his church wherever he resided.
Of his brothers: (1). Dr. John A. Muse resides at. Pinson, Madison county, Tennessee, engaged in the practice of his profession. (2). Henry Muse, who was educated at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and West Point. New York, resigned his position after remaining two years at West Point, is now farming in Johnson county, Texas. (3). William A. Muse is principal of the pub- lie school at Rutherford station, Gibson county, Ten- nessee. (4). Etheridge Muse was educated at the South- western Baptist University, and is now merchandising at Jack's creek, Henderson county, Tennessee. (5). James D. Muse, graduated June, 1884, from the Southwestern Baptist University. Of his sisters, Jennie E., widow of Milton S. Edwards, is postmistress at Lexington, Tennessee. Callie A. is the wife of Ed. MeCollum, a merchant at Henderson station, Chester county, Ten- nessee. She was educated at the Conference Female
Institute, Jackson. Ida, the youngest sister, educated at the same school, is living, unmarried, with her sister at Lexington.
The subject of this sketch was educated at Clinton Academy, Hickman county, Kentucky, and graduated in law at the Cumberland University, Lebanon, Ten- nessee, in 1855; practiced law at Lexington, Tennessee, till the war; after which he moved to Jackson, Tonnes- see, continuing his law practice,
In 1874, he made a canvass for Congress against Hon. J. D. C. Atkins, but was defeated, one of the issues in the canvass being the civil rights bill, on which he took the same view precisely that the Supreme court of the United States has lately laid down, viz .: That all men are equal before the law, and that negroes must obtain their rights through the same channels with the white race. In that canvass also he took ground for a tariff for revenue, with incidental protection.
He became a Mason at Jackson, Tennessee, in 1870, and has taken all the degrees, including Knight Tem- plar.
In religion, he inclines to the Methodist church, but is not a communicant. His first wife was a Methodist. The present Mrs. Muse is a Presbyterian.
He married first in Madison county, in 1855, Eliza- beth, daughter of William R. Collier, of that county, a native of North Carolina, a prominent citizen of the county, and a large farmer. Her mother was a Robin- son, of a North Carolina family, grand-daughter of Battle Robinson, a large slave-hohler, who moved from North Carolina to Madison county, where he died. From this marriage were two children: (1). William ( .. born March. 1860, graduated at the Southwestern Baptist University, Jackson. now on the editorial staff of the Louisville Courier-JJournal. (2). Albert D., born February, 1867, now studying in the Southwestern Bap- tist University, taking a full course, as did his brother,
Mrs. Elizabeth Muse dying. he married at Paducah, June 6, 1872, Mrs. Theresa, widow of Capt. Charles C. Smedley, daughter of Mr. Edrington, who, for a great number of years, was clerk of the county court of Bal- lard county, Kentucky. She is a step-daughter of Hon. John W. Crockett, at one time member of the Confederate Congress from Kentucky. Her mother was a Robertson, of Kentucky. Her daughter, Fannie Smedley, married Charles C. Harris, a druggist at Jack- son. and has two children, William and Charles. Mrs. Muse is a lady of fine literary attainments, well read in poetry, a good French scholar, and is noted for her tireless industry, family pride and ambition, especially for the success of her step-sons.
In February, 1861, Mr. Muse was elected from Hen. derson county to the convention to consider whether the
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State should remain in the Union. The convention was voted down, Mr. Muse advocating " No convention." His father being a Whig and an uncompromising I'nion man, he inherited those principles, and was a I'nion man during the war, and on that account was arrested, in 1862, by the Confederate authorities and held a prisoner at New Orleans until Gen. Butler took the city, and released him. He then took .a sailing vessel, and after twenty eight days, landed at Boston, went to New York, and thence, via Louisville, home, which he reached July, 1862, finding the country in possession of the Federals. When the Confederates regained possession, he was again arrested, in 1863, but the citizens of Lexington, Henderson county, interfered and procured his release, at the instance of his wife, who claimed that in reciprocity she was entitled to her husband's release, she having favored several distin- guished Confederates. She went further, and assured the Confederates that. if her husband was taken off, she would have Lexington burned, including her own house, which argument prevailed. On his release, he took his wife and child to Paducah, where he remained two years, until about the close of the war.
In 1865, he was elected from the Twenty-first senato- rial district-Henderson, Decatur, Humphreys, Perry and Benton counties-to the State senate, in which he voted for universal suffrage, and against the issuance of State bonds, under Brownlow's administration, for the purpose of rebuilding and re-equipping the railroads of the State, that had been neglected and worn out during the war. In 1867, he was appointed by Gov. Brownlow, chancellor of the division composed of Haywood, Dyer, Gibson and Madison counties. In 1868, he was elected to the same position and held it till the change of the constitution, in 1870, when he was defeated by Hon. James Fentress, of Bolivar. In 1868, he was elector for the Eighth congressional district, and voted for Grant and Colfax. The same year he was chairman of the Republican executive committee of that district. In 1876, he was a delegate to the national Republican convention at Cincinnati, and in 1880, to the national Republican convention at Chicago. In 1850 he was a candidate for the United State senate, but was defeated by Hon. H E. JJackson, and returned
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