History of Tennessee Collections – Page 8 of 9

Biographical Sketch of H. Clay Lewis

Mr. H. Clay Lewis, one of the enterprising young farmers of Lake County, is the son, of Robert A. and Mary (Donaldson) Lewis and was born in Lake County, January 5, 1860. Mr. Lewis was raised on a farm, and when a boy had few school advantages. When seventeen years of age he went to New Orleans and entered Dolbear’s Commercial College, but the death of his father prevented him from completing his course, as he then returned to Lake County and assumed charge of his father’s farm. On December 25, 1884, he married Miss Maggie H. Harper, daughter of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Cross

George W. Cross, a prominent lawyer of Manchester, Tennessee, was born in Anderson County August 31, 1849. He is the son of William and Jane (Black) Cross, both of English descent and natives of Anderson County. The former, born in 1810, is still living; the latter, born about 1820, died February 26, 1885. Married in 1836 the elder Cross-engaged in farming. He is a democrat, and sympathizes with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of which his wife was a member. Our subject, the fifth of eight children, was educated chiefly at Cumberland University, at Lebanon, Tennessee, and the military school of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George N. Carter

George N. Carter, jeweler, dealer in watches and silverware, and a leading young citizen of Tullahoma, Tennessee, was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, in 1859, and is the son of James Carter, a native of Virginia. He father immigrated when quite small with his parents to Bedford County, Tennessee, where, in 1830, our subject’s grandfather, grandmother, and five children were burned to death in their residence, the house having been set on fire from a stove. Reared in the town of his birth, he attended the public schools. In 1878 he succeeded his father in the jewelry business at Tuscumbia, continuing … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George B. Riley

George B. Riley has been a resident of Lake County for thirty five years past, and is considered one of the representative men of that county, and was the son of George E. and Mary (Castle) Riley. His father was born in Henry County, Tennessee, February 1816; his mother in North Carolina in 1818. Mr. George Riley was a farmer and mechanic, and was married in Weakley County, Tennessee December 25, 1835. From this union were nine children, seven boys and two girls. The parents moved to Lake County in 1852, where the father died April 6, 1859, and the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of G. Squires M.D.

G. Squires, M. D., was born in 1839, near Middleton, Smith County, one of eight children, four living, of John and Maria (Gulick) Squires, the former of Scotch-Irish origin, Born in Virginia about 1795, and the mother of like ancestry, born about 1804 in Smith County, Tenn. The father’s parents settled at the head of Plunkett Creek in Smith County about 1800, when he was a boy. He was a farmer and a soldier of the Mexican war, the long service in which, during its whole course, lift him in such feeble health that he died in a few years … Read more

Biographical Sketch of G. S. Deakins

G. S. Deakins, farmer, of the Thirteenth District of Coffee County, Tennessee, was born in Marion County (now Sequatchie) Tennessee, in 1832, and is the son of William and Sarah (Richards) Deakins, natives of Tennessee. The father died in 1848 and the mother in 1836. Both were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Reared on the farm with a common school education, he also attended Burritt College at Spencer, Tennessee, and later, Emory and Henry College of Virginia. Having entered the law school of Lebanon (Tennessee) University in 1860, the civil war caused him to enter the confederate service, in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of G. R. Crane

G. R. Crane, druggist and a prominent young citizen of Tullahoma, Tennessee, was born in Manchester, Tennessee, November 26, 1858, the son of Dr. William and M. A. (Alexander) Crane. At the age of two years he with his parents came to Tullahoma, which has since been his home. He acquired his education in the public schools, and has added much thereto by his practical experience. He began life for himself when but fifteen years of age as a clerk. At the age of twenty-one he began in the produce business, and continued in this for one year, when he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of F.M. Taylor

F. M. Taylor, farmer in Coffee County, was born January 16, 1845, in Tennessee. He is the son of Daniel and Mary (Angel) Taylor, the former born about 1813, in Tennessee, and the latter about 1811, and is still living, while her husband died in 1846. His grandmother, also Mary Angel by name, a native of Virginia, died in 1885, about one hundred years old. Leaving the farm, our subject served a year in Company A, First Tennessee Infantry. Not yet eighteen, he was discharged on account of his years, and after two years’ teaching, he began his life of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of F. N. Miller

F. N. Miller, editor of the Manchester Times and a prominent citizen of Manchester, was born at Port Hudson, Louisiana, December 5, 1853, the son of Albert and Delilah (Saunders) Miller, the former born October 18, 1822, in Indiana, and the latter May 1, 1832, in Kentucky, and still living in Port Hudson, Louisiana. The parents were married about 1846. In 1861 the elder Miller enlisted in the Confederate Company E. twenty first Mississippi Regiment Infantry, and was killed in the battle of Chickamauga in 1863. He was a successful brick mason. Our subject is the third of five children, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of F. E. Cunningham

F. E. Cunningham, proprietor of the Tullahoma Distillery, and a prominent citizen of Tullahoma, was born in Bedford County, Tennessee, September 15, 1852, and is the son of M. T. Cunningham, a native of Pennsylvania. The father died in 1874. Our subject was reared in Bedford County, and educated in the town schools. At fourteen years of age he entered the store at Flat Creek as clerk, remaining there until four years later he was appointed United States revenue storekeeper, in which he was engaged about four years. In 1876 he purchased and conducted a distillery in Coffee County, but … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Emmett Russell

Emmett Russell, one of the young businessmen of Tullahoma, was born in Bedford County, Tennessee, November 26, 1866, and is the son of W. F. Russell. He was reared in his native county, near Shelbyville, and attended the common schools. In 1881 he came to Tullahoma and entered the store of Carroll Bros, as clerk, and remained with them for three years, when he accepted a similar position with R. Wilson. October 1, 1886, he engaged in business for himself, opening a fancy and family grocery store, is meeting with success, and has built up a splendid trade. In politics … Read more

Biographical Sketch of E.J. Evans

E. J. Evans, commercial traveler for Weel, Connell & Riddle, dry goods, shoes, clothing, etc., Nashville, was born in 1850 in the District of Columbia, and now resident of Smithville. He is the son of John G. and Lucinda (Vick) Evans. The father, born in 1819, in Dekalb County, Tenn., is the son of Joseph Evans, a native of Maryland, who, when a boy, came to Tennessee and settled where Liberty, Dekalb County, is located, among the very earliest white settlers. John G. had learned the carpenter trade under his father, and after his marriage in 1844, he settled in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of E. W. Pearson

E. W. Pearson, an enterprising farmer of Coffee County, was born in Bedford County, November 23, 1856. He is the son of Charles and Mary J. (Wells) Pearson, natives of Tennessee. The elder Pearson was a manufacturer in Bedford County until 1871, when he was a farmer and millwright in Coffee County, and finally at Sparta, Tennessee, where he is still milling. Our subject, the oldest of seven children, after an academic training attended Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York. Returning home he began the lumber business for I. W. Whitman, of Boston, and in August 1878, was employed by … Read more

Biographical Sketch of E. M. Whitworth

E. M. Whitworth, a farmer of Coffee County, was born August 3, 1840, in Bedford County. His father, Benjamin F., was born in Marshall County January 8, 1814, and died October 12, 1876. In the fourth generation back were three brothers who were among the famous Jamestown, Virginia, settlers, and the next generation came to Tennessee. His mother, Minerva L. (Morton) Whitworth, was born in 1820, in Tennessee, daughter of Jacob and Annie (Fisher) Morton; the former was in the war of 1812 under General Jackson. Reared on his father’s farm until of age he then began his present successful … Read more

Biographical Sketch of E. A. Call

E. A. Call, farmer and miller, of Coffee County, was born in Lincoln County March 6 1825. His parents, Daniel H. and Nancy (Hinkle) Call, natives of Roan County, N.C., came to Tennessee about 1822, and began farming and distilling. He built the first steam distillery in Coffee County, continuing until about 1848 in the business. Our subject, one of nine children, entered the distillery at sixteen, and continued successfully for thirty-six years. November 9, 1850, he married Susan Timmins, of Lincoln County, by whom he had nine children. She died June 19, 1877. October 7, 1879, he married Francis … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Thos. P. Davis

Dr. Thos. P. Davis, one of Alexandria’s most respected citizens, was born in Smith County, August 31, 1858. He is the youngest of ten children of Benjamin and Kittie (Whorley) Davis. The father was born in North Carolina about 1817, and moved to Tennessee when a young man; afterward married and settled in Smith County. He was one of the most substantial, enterprising and industrious farmers in the section. His death occurred about the close of the late war. His wife was a native of Virginia and came to Tennessee with her parents; she died when the Doctor was an … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. A.H. Parkes

Dr. A. H. Parkes, whose birth occurred on the farm where he now resides, in Moore County, October 11, 1936, is one of seven surviving children, born to the union of Martin L. and Susan (Smith) Parkes. The father was a native of North Carolina, born in 1793, and came to this county about 1818. He was an officer in the war of 1812, and was magistrate in Lincoln County for several years. He was a tiller of the soil, and died December, 12, 1845. The mother was born August, 8, 1803, in Virginia, and came to this county in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of D.T. Harrison

D. T. Harrison, druggist, was born in 1856 in Dekalb County, the son of John and Mary (Kelley) Harrison. The father, born in Ireland, came to America with his parents when eight years old, and when eleven left home and in some way settled in White County, Ill. He married in White County and learned the tanner’s trade. He was in the late war about one year, and in 1865 came to Smithville and bought a tan yard of W. H. Magness, at which he continued until 1880, when he was elected register. He served four years and in 1886 … Read more

Biographical Sketch of D.G. Ferguson

D. G. Ferguson is a son of James and Emeline (Shepherd) Ferguson. The father was born near Nashville, Tennessee, and when but a boy went with his parents to Henderson County, where be afterward married and made his permanent home. He is a democrat, and in 1861 volunteered in Company A, First Tennessee Confederate Infantry, but after serving one year, was discharged for disability. He owns 200 acres of land in Henderson County, but in 1886 owing to old age, gave up active life, and he and wife moved to Lake County where they reside with their son. They are … Read more

Biographical Sketch of D. E. Mead

D. E. Mead, merchant of Hillsboro, was born September 7, 1839, at Greenville, N. Y. His father, W. R. Mead, was born about 1798 and died in 1879, in Vermont. His grandfather, Adolphus, was in the Revolution. Liddie (Colwell) Mead, his mother, was born about 1800 in Virginia, and died in 1882 in New York. Living on his father’s farm until twenty-two years of age, he began business at Logansport, Inc., but was soon commissioned sutler under General Rosecrans. After the war he engaged in merchandising at Tullahoma until 1866, when he began his present occupation. He has served almost … Read more