Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee, Part 96

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

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Had he sought his own aggrandizement, to the sacri- fice of his convictions and principles, he was in a posi- tion, as a distinguished Unionist, at the close of the war, to have sought and obtained any judicial or po- litical office in the gift of the people of East Tennessee, by allying himself with the Republican or Radical party, then, as now, largely in the majority in that section of the State; but, like the illustrious Clay, of whom he was a worthy disciple, he would rather be right than be president.

Mr. Kyle was a fine specimen of the mountain man of culture. Possessing a splendid physique, six feet high, well proportioned, with an olive complexion, and dark or hazel eyes, his appearance was marked and pre- possessing. He was frank and open in his manners, with a smile and kind word for all, which endeared him to the hearts of his associates. His temperament was mild and placid, and in his generous nature he was wont to cover the foibles of others with the mantle of a broad charity.

In early youth he was fond of music and the sports, and at one period of his life was a fine performer on the violin. Ile had a passion for the saddle-horse, and spent much of his time in equestrian exercise. Al- though not an orator, he had a strong, musical voice, combined with a rare faculty of presenting his thoughts in terse, epigrammatie phrase, which made him an in- teresting speaker in the forum or upon the rostrum.

Four children -- three daughters and one sou-sur- vive to mourn the loss of a beloved father and sainted mother. The eldest, Lucy A., was born on the 3d of May, 1818, educated at. Salem, North Carolina, and is an accomplished lady. In 1877 she married Dr. F. A. Shotwell, of Rogersville, where they still reside. The second, Hugh G. Kyle, was born December 29, 1819, finished his education at Princeton, New Jersey, where he graduated with high honors in 1870. Returning home, he read law with his father, and was licensed in 1871. In 1879, he married Bertha, daughter of Tyre

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Glen, on the Yadkin river, North Carolina. One child blessed this union, a daughter, Margaret, now four years old. He also resides at Rogersville. The third child, Annis, was born in 1853. She was also educated at Sa- lem, North Carolina, receiving a classical training. In September, 1875, she married Judge H. S. K. Morrison, of Estillville, Virginia, where they have since resided. Maria Louise, the youngest, was born in September, 1862, and received her education at the Rogersville Female College. In 1882, she was wedded to W. B.

Robinson, a merchant, of Newport, Cocke county, Ten- nessee.

Though their father left them no patrimony of a po- cuniary valute, it must be the chief solace of these chil- dren to reflect now, and in after years, that he left them a patrimony of infinitely more value, the character of a just and honest man, whose very name was a synonym for integrity, which is the greatest panegyric that could be written of his fame. May they follow the example of their illustrious sire.

ORVILLE H. MENEES, M. D.

NASHVILLE.

L OOKING at the two principal factors of the greatness of a State-mind and pride-and taking the medical profession as the measure of both, it is safe to say there is no reason to be found, either in climatic influences, or the products of its soil, to prevent the development of character and talent here in Tennessee equal to any on the globe. The State has already de - veloped surgical talent equal to Gross, " the best in the world," practitioners equal to Flint, and diagnosticians that have no superiors on the continent. The more prominent physicians of the State are not only masters of their profession, but men of broad culture, and of the highest sense of honor, making themselves-to use the language of the most eloquent of them all-" both a service and a sacrifice," and to honor their work the only legitimate way to get honor from it. The medical schools of Tennessee are already commanding the re- spect of the nation, and have given three presidents and five vice-presidents to the American Medical Associa- tion, one president to the association of superintendents of insane asylums of the United States, sent their ac- credited representatives to the World's Medical Con- gress at London, and the Centennial Medical Congress at Philadelphia, and, the most significant fact of all, are attracting students from the immediate neighborhoods of older institutions, and even from localities beyond them.

Nor are the older medical men the only representa- tives of the profession that are entitled to a place in this book. There are young men developing among the faculties that have already achieved something of dis- tinction, and are a promise that the standard of the profession shall not be lowered when committed to their bands. Of these, Dr. Orville Harrison Menees, of Nashville, son of the eminent professor, Dr. Thomas Mences, deserves a separate mention.

He was born at Springfield, Tennessee, April 15, 1859; received his literary education in Vanderbilt Univer- sity, Nashville; graduated M. D., first from the medical department of the Vanderbilt, in 1879, and took the degree of M. D. in the medical department of the Uni- versity of Nashville, in 1880, and succeeded his deceased brother, Dr. Thomas W. Menees, as associate demon- strator of anatomy. In April, 1880, he was elected demonstrator of anatomy in the same institution. Born on the high plane of an inherited profession, there he played and grew up and studied under the judicious training of a father ambitious to be excelled by his son. After taking his degrees, and having seen some of the practical work of the profession here, his father advised hi, before entering upon his professional career, to visit the famous medical colleges and hospitals of Europe, study the methods of the professors there, attend their lectures, read their books, and thus thor- oughly qualify himself for his life's work. Accordingly, in 1881, he made a medical tour of Europe, and visited the medical institutions of Edinburgh, London, Paris, Berlin and Vienna.

He continued to hold the position of demonstrator until the spring of 1883, when he was elected to the chair of anatomy and histology in the medical depart- ment of the University of Nashville and Vanderbilt University, a professorship which he now holds with great credit to himself and brilliant promise for the future.

Dr. Menees became a Mason in 1882, in Phoenix Lodge, No. 131, Nashville, and has taken all the degrees in the York Rite, including Knight Templar, and the 32° of the Scottish Rite. Like all his family and rela- tions, in polities he is an hereditary Democrat, and in religion a Methodist. He is ummarried.

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HON. NATHAN GREEN, LL. D.

LEBANNON.

TI HIE reputation of this distinguished educator in the law is one that is not confined to Tennessee alone, but is co-extensive with the geographical bound- aries of the Union, and particularly with those of the South. Thousands of men, now eminent in judicature and statesmanship-many of them enrolled among the nomina clara of the Republic, and thousands of others struggling up the rugged paths to eminence, with hearts of steel and intellects of fire --- bear the impress of this master mind, and testify to his great abilities.

Judge Green was born in Winchester, Tennessee, February 19, 1827, and in that vicinity grew up to the age of sixteen, alternately going to school and working on his father's farm-his father's policy being to train his children to respect the dignity and acquire a knowl- edge of manual labor. It was a wise policy, too, for it strengthened the boy's physical constitution and taught him, besides, to appreciate school learning the more when he could get to it. In 1843, his father sent him to Cumberland University, at Lebanon, where he en- tered the junior class and graduated A. B., in two years, under Rev. T. C. Anderson, president, and Profs. N. Lawrence Lindsley and A. P. Stewart. After gradua- tion he served five months as tutor in the preparatory school of the university. After this he returned home to Winchester and began reading law, and in Septem- ber, 1847, entered the first class of the law school, founded at Lebanon, by Judge Abram Caruthers. In two years he graduated, receiving the degree of L.L. B. under Profs. Caruthers and Judge Nathan Green, sr., father of this subject. He then formed a partnership with Judge Robert L. Caruthers and began the prac- tice of law at Lebanon in the fall of 1819, and remained in this partnership twelve months, until Judge Ca- ruthers went upon the Supreme bench. In 1853, he associated with himself in the practice of law the late Gen. Robert Hatton, and with him remained in prac- tice three years, doing a good business, when they dis- solved partnership, Gen. Hatton going to congress, in 1856, and Judge Green taking the professorship of law in Cumberland University, in which he was associated with his father, Judge Nathan Green, sr., and Judge Abram Caruthers, until the breaking out of the war between the States, in 1861. During this period, before the war, the law school was remarkably successful, numbering as high as one hundred and eighty pupils. At the breaking out of the war, Lincoln's proclama- tion of April 13, 1861, caused the suspension of its operations, its five hundred students in all departments scattering everywhere, most of them going into the southern army, and Judge Green's occupation as a law teacher was gone.

Shortly after the beginning of the war his old friend, Prof. A. P. Stewart, having been made general in the Confederate States army, invited him to accept a place on his staff as first aid de-camp, which he accepted and afterward became adjutant-general. He remained in the army while it was at Columbus, Kentucky, and was afterward at Fort Pillow, Island Ton, New Madrid, and Shiloh. He was exposed to fire at New Madrid and Shiloh only. Shortly after the battle of Shiloh, his health failing, he resigned his position, but rejoined the army in the fall of 1863, having been appointed, May, 1864, superintendent of engineering works, located first at Atlanta and then at Macon, Georgia. This position he filled till the surrender. In April, 1865, he was captured by the Federal General Wilson at Macon, Georgia, and paroled. In company with hundreds of other Tennesseans he started home, but at Chattanooga he and they were perfidiously arrested and imprisoned by the Federal authorities, and detained prisoners till they took the oath of allegiance, ten days afterward. While in prison they were treated contemptuously in all ways, with one exception. A sergeant of the Federal army, finding that Judge Gecen was destitute of money and of all things, gave him a horse on which he made his way home to Lebanon, after two years' absence. On arriving home, his beard having become gray, and his clothing being the regulation rebel gray, rather coarse gray at that, his children did not know him.

Although the country was in a desolate and dis- rupted condition, the mails had been stopped and the means of communication were limited, Judge Green and his father, who was then in feeble health, reopened the law school in September, 1865, Judge Abram Ca- ruthers having died during the war. They succeeded in collecting some twenty-five young men, every one of whom had been an officer or soldier in one or the other of the contending armies. All of them being be- ginners, the work of the law school necessarily devolved on Judge Nathan Green, jr. His father having at- tempted to teach law a few months, sickened and died, March 30, 1866. On his death-bed the eminent gen- tleman called the son to him and said, " If you fail to get Judge Ridley or Judge Mckinney to take my place your law school is gone." He got neither, both having declined. Hle, however, in September, 1866, secured the services and co-operation of Hon. Henry Cooper, late United States senator, and the law school, instead of dying, as the father had predicted, doubled in numbers. within six months after his death-so true it is that the success of no enterprise is depend- ent upon any one man, however great he may be. There is always somebody raised up in the providence of God

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to take one's place. Judge Green has been connected with the law school ever since as one of its professors, and it has been the most successful law school in the State. His professorship in the law school extends over a period of twenty-eight years, and during this time he has had the honor of teaching more than two thousand young men, many of them now creditably representing the institution and him in congress, in legislatures, and at the bar in all the States south of the Ohio river. Among the distinguished alumni are ex-Gov. James D. Porter, now assistant secretary of the United States, Gov. William B. Bate, of Tennessee, United States Senator Howell E. Jackson, Hon. John F. House, Hon. E. II. East, and many others.

Upon the resignation of Dr. McDonmold, in 1873, Judge Green was elected chancellor of the university, and has held that position ever since. In 187-,the trustees and faculty of Center College, Danville, Ken- tucky, on motion of Col. W. C. P. Breckinridge, mem- ber of Congress from Kentucky, conferred upon Judge Green the degree of LL. D.

Judge Green's ability, however, is not confined to his eminent qualifications as a teacher and expounder of the law-his work of unifying the different departments -law, theological and literary-of the university, is recognized by those most interested and best acquainted with the history and needs of the institution, and marks him a man of fine administrative abilities, entitling him to the gratitude of the faculty, students and patrons of the university.

Judge Green became a Mason at Lebanon, in 1850; in religion, he is a Cumberland Presbyterian, and an elder in that church, and in politics acts with the Dem- ocrats, though a Whig before the war. He is the author of a volume entitled " The Tall Man of Winton," a book designed for the young, the copyright of which he gave to his church, and they have sold several edi- tions of many thousand copies of it. He delivered, in August, 1883, an address before the Monteagle Associa- tion on the subject of " Government of Families and Schools," which has attracted wide attention.

In 1876, he became president of the National Bank of Lebanon, and still fills that position. When he was married, twenty dollars in his pocket and good claims for about three hundred dollars were the sum total of his earthly possessions. Before the war he was worth twenty thousand dollars, mostly slave property. His life work has been teaching law, but, unlike most bookish men, he has managed to accumulate a very pretty property, keeping him in very independent circumstances.

Judge Green married, at Lebanon, October 15, 1850, Miss Betty McClain, daughter of Josiah S. McClain, for forty years clerk of the county court of Wilson county, remarkable for his great integrity, particularly as a custodian of the public funds. He died, April, 1876, seventy-seven years old. Her mother, nee Miss Martha Johnson, who died in 1880, at the age of sev-

enty, was a native of Wilson county. Mrs. Green graduated from Abbe Institute, Lebanon, in 1848, and, like her father, is without hypocrisy, and remarkable for her straightforwardness and honesty, without any trace of guile, yet agreeable, warm-hearted, full of sym- pathy and au earnest, working Christian.

By his marriage with Miss McClain, Judge Groen has had eight children, five of whom died in infancy. Those now living are : (1). Ella Green, graduated from Corona Institute, Lebanon, and afterward from Ward's seminary, Nashville; married, in 1873, Hon. W. C. Caldwell, a lawyer, of Trenton, Tennessee; now one of the judges of the court of referees. They have four children, Gertrude, Albert, Mattic Ross and Willis, (2). Mattie Green, graduated at Ward's seminary ; mar- ried, June 28, 1883, Reagan Houston, a successful law- yer of San Antonio, Texas. (3). Grafton Green, born August 25, 1872.

Judge Green's most remote known English ancestor was a tallow chandler in London. His grandfather, Thomas Green, was a soldier in the Revolution from Virginia, and fought under Washington. He began life as an overseer in Virginia, and by taking care of what he made, he was soon better off than his employer, and became a rich man and raised a large family, of whom Judge Green's father, Judge Nathan Green, was the seventh son, born in Amelia county, Virginia, Decem- ber, 1792, moved to Winchester, Tennessee, when a young man, practiced law there successfully, was a member of the State Legislature from Franklin county, was elected by the Legislature chancellor of the divis- ion, including his county-Franklin -- was then placed upon the Supreme bench of Tennessee, where he re- mained by successive elections twenty-five years. He had much to do with formulating and settling the pecu- liar jurisprudence of the State. He was elected a law professor in Cumberland University, in 1849, resigned his position as judge of the Supreme court in 1852, and died March. 1866. He was universally considered by the profession as one of the greatest and purest judges that ever adorned the bench of this or any other coun- try. He was remarkable for the purity of his private character, and his great activity and zeal as a worker in the church of Christ.

Judge Green's mother, nce Miss Mary Field, a native of North Carolina, was born in 1792. Her influence and character had much to do with the formation of her husband's character. She also distinguished herself for her piety and her work in the church; was a sweet- natured, gentle-spirited woman, whom everybody re- spected and honored. Her father, James Field, was a farmer in North Carolina. His family claimed to be descendants of Mary Queen of Scots. Judge Green's mother died, in 1849, leaving seven children, one of whom, Gen. Tom Green, the oldest son, fought in the battle of San Jacinto, in the Mexican war, and was a major-general in the Confederate service at the time

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of his death, April, 1864, in a skirmish on the Red river. Tom Green county, Texas, perpetuates his memory, and marks the honor in which Texas held his name.

Judge Green's second brother, William S. Green, was a prominent physician in south Georgia, now deceased. His third brother, Dr. Hal. Green, is a successful and prominent physician at Okolona, Mississippi. His fourth brother, John A. Green, is one of the oldest lawyers in Texas-at San Antonio-and was -secretary of State under Gov. Throckmorton. His fifth brother, Robert Green, died, at the age of thirty, in Texas, hav- ing acquired very great reputation as a lawyer, and of whom the Texans used to say, " the best lawyer among us." Judge Green's only sister, nee Miss Ann Green, is the widow of the late Dr. James C. Bowdon, an emi-

nent minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and for years president of Lincoln University in Illi- nois. It is a strong, able family, and has given to the State and country worthy sons and daughters.

Judge Green's father, by a second marriage, had one daughter, Miss Mary Field Green, who died the wife of M. Merritt, esq., a successful lawyer of Henderson, Kentucky.

Judge Green's success in life has grown out of his faithfulness to engagements, punctuality to his appoint- ments, to his pursuing with unswerving fidelity one line in life, to his exalted character for probity and jus- tice, thus winning for him the public confidence, and giving him a place among the standard men of Ten- nessee.

ALEXANDER B. WILSON, A. M.

GREENEVILLE.

A LEXANDER B. WILSON, the well-known at- torney, is a native of Greene county, Tennessee, born February 26, 1838. He grew up in that county and has lived there all of his life, excepting the winter of 1865-6, which he spent in Illinois. After going to various country schools, he attended the old Greeneville College three years, graduating thence in 1858, under President John L. Lamson and Prof. A. J. Brown. After graduation he followed no special business until the war came up, when, being a Union man, he joined the Federal army as a non-commissioned officer in com- pany F, Fourth Tennessee infantry regiment, com- manded by Col. Stover, son-in-law of ex-President Andrew Johnson. Shortly afterward he was promoted to a second lieutenancy and again to a first lieutenancy, and served in Kentucky and Tennessee. His regiment was captured at MeMinnville, Tennessee, by Gen. Wheeler's Confederate cavalry forces; was paroled and disbanded, but reorganized a few months thereafter, at Lexington, Kentucky ; crossed the mountains into East Tennessee and served in that section until the close of the war. He was mustered out of service in August, 1865, at Nashville, Tennessee.

After the close of the war he went to the home of his brother, John P. Wilson, now a merchant at Olney, Illinois, and spent the winter there prospecting, but the vigorous climate not agreeing with him, he returned to Greeneville and resumed the study of law with James Britton, and was admitted to the bar, in 1867, by Judge R. R. Butler and Supreme Judge Sam Milligan. Shortly after he became the law partner of Mr. Britton, under the firm style of Britton & Wilson, a partnership which lasted until, Mr. Britton's death, since which time he has practiced alone. - having business in all the courts of the State.

Politically, Mr. Wilson has been a Republican since the war, but previously was a Democrat, as was his family. In 1861, at the State election to decide whether Tennessee should secede from the Union, he voted against secession. In 1877, he was appointed a commis- sioner of the United States circuit court, and has held that position ever since. In 1880, he was elected to represent Greene county in the Tennessee Legislature ; served in the session of 1881; was a member of the judiciary committee, and during the session voted to settle the State debt at 60-6.

He became a Mason at Greeneville, and is now a member of the Royal Arch Chapter. He is a member of the Presbyterian church ; is a member of the board of trustees of Greeneville and Tusculum College, from which institution he received the degree of Master of Arts, conferred in 1869. In addition to his heavy law practice, he has done a good deal of newspaper writing, without being formally an editor.

Mr. Wilson first married, in Chester county, South Carolina, September 7, 1875, Miss Sue Cartledge, daugh- ter of Rev. A. M. Cartledge, of the Baptist church. Her mother was originally Miss Louisa Haygood. The first Mrs. Wilson was educated at Winnsborough, South Carolina. By this marriage two children were born, James C. and Lula Belle.

The first wife dying, Mr. Wilson next married Miss Sallie J. Cartledge, a sister of his first wife, by whom he has two children, a daughter, Madge, and an infant son.

The grandfather of our subject, John Wilson, came from Pennsylvania and settled in Greene county, Ten- nessee, among its early pioneers. He was of Scotch- Welsh stock. He married a Miss Weir. The father, James C. Wilson, was born in Greene county, Tennes-

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see ; was a justice of the peace, a farmer, and a Demo- erat in politics: He died at the age of sixty-four years, in 1872.

Mr. Wilson's mother, nee Catharine Rice, was a native of Greene county, the daughter of David Rice, who came from Rockbridge county, Virginia, and settled in Greene county as a farmer. She died in 1873, at the age of sixty-four years, leaving eight children : (1). John Wilson, now a merchant at Olney, Illinois. (2). Mary Wilson, wife of Dr. G. H. Evans, now living near Sacramento, California. (3). David Wilson, a merchant at Eufalua, Alabama, (4). Alexander Benjamin Wilson, subject of this sketch. (5). Margaret Wilson, married Dr. D. W. Rankin, now in Washington county, Arkan- sas. (6). Samuel D. Wilson, now in business at Knox- ville. (7). Belle Wilson, now wife of J. L. Marsh, depot agent at Home station, on the East Tennessee and Virginia railroad. (8). James Theodore Wilson, who died in 1881.

Not only is Mr. Wilson a successful lawyer, but he ranks among the leading members of the East Tenes- see bar. Ile specially excels in chancery practice, and his name is associated with many of the most important

cases that have come before the courts in his section of the State. His life has been upright and honorable. HIe has been strictly temperate-was never even a dram drinker ; never bet on games of chance; has always tried to keep his business up, and be prompt and ready for the trial of his cases.

Without solicitation on his part, he was nominated to the Legislature and served one term, but has refused to be a candidate again under any circumstances. In his case it will be observed that he has staid at one place; concentrated his energies upon one business ; has friends because he is a friendly man-and has fixed habits and fixed principles-and thus has secured the full confi- dence of the public. A gentleman of culture, he is not the mere lawyer, but stands high in social circles also. As a speaker, he is forcible; is a thoughtful, stu- dious worker; a safe counselor, and as a lawyer, is prompt, faithful and energetic in the management of his client's cases. Living among people who have known him all his life, he is esteemed by them for his professional ability and personal integrity, which is a better eulogium, perhaps, than anything an editor can write.

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Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee, Part 96

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