Bedford County TN

Biography of Milton Gooddell Young

Well known and prominent in the financial circles of Muskogee is Milton Gooddell Young, who is the President of the Security State Bank. Long experience has well qualified him for the important and responsible duties which devolve upon him in this connection and as the years have passed he has made himself a forceful factor among the bankers of his section of the state. He was born in Florence, Alabama, February 15, 1884, and is a son of Andrew M. and Ollie (House) Young.  His father was also prominent in financial circles, being the first bank commissioner of the state … Read more

Biographical Sketch of A. W. Booth, M. D.

A. W. Booth, M. D., a prominent citizen and leading physician of Tullahoma, Tennessee, was born in Bedford County, Tennessee, in 1858, and is the son of J. B. and Elizebeth (Vannoy) Booth. Our subject was reared on the farm, and educated in the public schools. In 1879 he began the study of medicine, and graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1881. The same year he began practicing in his native county, but soon removed to Tullahoma, where he has since lived and succeeded in building up one of the best practices in the town. October 29, 1884, he was married … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. C. J. Lyon

Mrs. C. J. Lyon, wife of the late T. B. Lyon of Coffee County, was born February 10, 1829, and daughter of James and Jane Mason, the former born August 3, 1789, in North Carolina, and the latter July 2, 1800, in South Carolina. The father’s father came to Tennessee in 1780, living on Stone River, and in Bedford County. He died May 26, 1863. Jane Mason’s parents came to Bedford County, in 1800; one was of Dutch and the other of Irish descent. Our subject, one of seven children, married Joseph Tillman, September 17, 1850. He was born February … Read more

Biography of Ward Smith

Ward Smith, secretary of the Hunter-Robinson Milling & Grain Company and manager of the grain department, was born in Tullahoma, Tennessee, May 22, 1888. His father, Dr. J. Crittenden Smith, was a native of Columbia, Tennessee, and is now in business in Chicago. His father, Dr. T. C. Smith, is still living in Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee. He and his immediate ancestors in the two preceding generations were physicians. The Smith family comes of English lineage. J. Crittenden Smith was united in marriage to Ella Ward, a daughter of John H. Ward, a wholesale furniture dealer of Nashville, Tennessee. He came … Read more

Slave Narrative of Sylvia Watkins

Person Interviewed: Sylvia Watkins Location: Nashville, Tennessee Place of Birth: Bedford County TN Age: 91 Place of Residence: 411 14th Avenue N., Nashville, Tennessee I’se said ter be 91 y’ars ole. I wuz young w’en de War wuz goin’ on. I wuz bawn in Bedford County. Mah mammy wuz named Mariah. She had six chillun by mah daddy en three by her fust husband. Mah missis wuz named Emily Hatchet en de young missises wuz Mittie en Bettie, dey wuz twins. We had good clothes ter w’ar en w’en we went ter de table hit wuz loaded wid good food … Read more

Slave Narrative of George W. Arnold

Interviewer: Lauana Creel Person Interviewed: George W. Arnold Location: Evansville, Indiana Place of Birth: Bedford County, Tennessee Date of Birth: April 7, 1861 Occupation: porter in a wholesale feed store This is written from an interview with each of the following: George W. Arnold, Professor W.S. Best of the Lincoln High School and Samuel Bell, all of Evansville, Indiana. George W. Arnold was born April 7, 1861, in Bedford County, Tennessee. He was the property of Oliver P. Arnold, who owned a large farm or plantation in Bedford county. His mother was a native of Rome, Georgia, where she remained … Read more

Biography of Charles T. Carpenter

Charles T. Carpenter is one of the pioneer bankers of Coffeyville, and for thirty years has been closely identified with what is now known as the Condon National Bank, being vice president of that institution. Mrs. Temple W. Carpenter, his wife, is one of the prominent women of Southern Kansas, has been a leader in religious, social and public affairs, and is president of the Carnegie Library of Coffeyville, and is the only woman who has ever been honored with a place on the school board of that city. The Carpenter family is a very old one in America, having … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jonathan Wilson Walker

Jonathan Wilson Walker, farmer and stock-dealer, Sec. 21; P. O. Mattoon; owns 400 acres; was born in Bedford Co., Tenn., July 26, 1828; lived with his parents on the farm until 27 years of age. Married April 3, 1857, to Mary Sell; she was born in Preble Co., Ohio, March 8, 1831, and has had six children, five of whom are living – Joseph W., James A., Emma O., Mary I. and Sarah E. Mr. Walker has been School Director ten years and School Trustee five years. His father is a native of North Carolina and his mother of Virginia; … 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 William L. Norton

William L. Norton, postmaster and a prominent citizen of Tullahoma, Tennessee, was born in Bedford County, Tennessee, November 27, 1839, and is the son of Dr. William Norton, a native of North Carolina, who was born March 2, 1801, and is the oldest physician with a radius of a hundred miles of Tullahoma. He came to Tennessee, and at an early date, a pioneer of Bedford County. He makes his home with his son, our subject. Mr. Norton was reared in Bedford County and acquired his education in the common schools. He worked on the farm until his twenty eighth … Read more

Biography of Hon. John F. Thomas

Hon. John F. Thomas, real estate agent and a prominent citizen of Tullahoma, Tennessee, was born in Lincoln County, Tennessee, April 17, 1828. His father, Joshua Thomas, a native of North Carolina, died while our subject was a small boy. At the age of eleven years our subject was bound out to Joshua Gore, but ran away and returned to his mother. His advantages were limited, but through his own efforts he acquired a good education, and when twenty three years of age began teaching school. In 1851 he removed to Coffee County and taught a school on Duck River, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John N. Sullivan

John N. Sullivan, farmer, was born November 2, 1838, in Moore County, and is one of ten children born to Dempsey and Naoma (Neece) Sullivan. The parents were both born in this county in 1811 and 1812, respectively, the father being of Scotch Irish descent. He was a farmer, although he also engaged in the mercantile business for a few years in Lincoln County, and dealt largely in stock from 1845 to 1855. The mother died September 1884. The father is still living, a hale, hearty man of seventy five. John N. remained with his parents until the war, when … Read more

Biography of Hon. W.W. Gordon

Hon. W. W. Gordon was born in Winchester, Tennessee, May 20, 1848. His father, Dr. Amzi B. Gordon, was a native of the county of Bedford, moving to Franklin County in about the year 1841, where he began the practice of medicine, soon building up a large and lucrative practice. He was a zealous member of the Baptist Church and one of the founders of the celebrated Mary Sharp College, at Winchester. He died in 1855. His mother is a daughter of John March, a highly respected farmer of the county, and a sister of Hon. Hayden March, who represented … Read more

Biography of Amelia Couch

AMELIA COUCH. – Much honor is due to the worthy lady, whose name is written above for the noble way in which she has met the burdens and hardships of life and has achieved a success that is both gratifying and praiseworthy, while she has always shown forth her characteristic goodness and sagacity, being gracious and affable in her personal walk. Mrs. Couch is the daughter of William and Rebecca Walker being born on November 25, 1838 in Bedford county, Tennessee. The parents removed to Missouri when she was very young and there she received her primary education in the … 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

Biography of Capt. William E. Adams

Capt. William E. Adams, attorney at law, Charleston; was born in Bedford Co., Tenn., Oct. 15, 1830, being the son of John J. and Martha (Gammell) Adams, who came to Coles Co. in December, 1830, settling in what is now Pleasant Grove Tp., on the farm where his father still resides; he made his home at his father’s until about 1855, when he engaged in buying and herding stock, and driving it to Wisconsin; he continued in this business until 1860. He was married in August, 1859, to Miss Olive A. Holton, of Blue Mounds, Wis., and has a family … 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

Biography of James Hailey

JAMES HAILEY. This gentleman is the oldest resident of Ava, and during the long term of years that he has spent in this section, his good name has remained untarnished and he has won for himself many friends. He was born in Bedford County, Tennessee, February 7, 1824, a son of Tavner and Joyce (Tomison) Hailey, the former of whom was born in Henry County, Virginia, was an early pioneer of Tennessee, and in 1839 settled in Webster County, Missouri, where he followed the occupation of farming until his death in 1867. He was a Whig in politics. His wife … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Amzi Alexander Walker

Amzi Alexander Walker, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Larna; owns 240 acres; he was born in Bedford Co., Tenn., May 2, 1830, and lived with his mother on the farm until 23 years of age. He married Elizabeth Johnston April 21, 1853, who was born in Coles Co., Ill., Sept. 29, 1823, and moved on to the farm where he now resides; they have had five children, three of whom are living, viz., Nancy M., William I. and Mail E.; deceased-I. C. and one infant. Mr. Walker was elected Justice of the Peace one term, when he resigned and was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Wilburn Hiles

Wilburn Hiles, one of the substantial farmers of the Fifth District of Coffee County, Tennessee, was born in Bedford County, Tennessee, July 30, 1826. He is the son of Joseph Hiles, a native of North Carolina, who was born in 1796, and immigrated to Tennessee in early days. Our subject, brought up on the farm, attended the common schools. He was engaged in merchandising at Flat Creek, Bedford County, when he entered the service of the Confederacy, and was detailed to raise stock and grain for the Southern Army. Later he became a member of Norman’s battalion, and at the … Read more