Coffee County TN

Biographical Sketch of W. Ramsey

W. Ramsey, a farmer of Coffee County, was born April 3, 1823, in Warren County. Samuel and Pollie (Strowd) Ramsey, his parents, lived in Warren County. The elder, Mrs. Ramsey’s father, was one of the first settlers of that county. Our subject is of English and Irish descent. November 30, 1852, he married Rachel Parker, by whom he had four children. She was a member of the Christian Church and died March 5, 1862. August 5, 1865, he married Ellen Norton, daughter of J. M. and Mary (Wilkinson) Norton of Coffee County. They have one child. Our subject taught school, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William M. Fariss

William M. Fariss, M. D., a leading citizen and physician of Tullahoma, Tennessee, was born in Franklin County, Tennessee, April 22, 1834, and is the son of William and Martha (Clardy) Fariss, natives of South Carolina. The father died in 1861 and the mother in 1874. Both were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Our subject was brought up on the farm and attended the public schools. In 1854 he began the study of medicine at Winchester, with Dr. Wallace Estill as preceptor. Later he attended several courses of lectures, and in March 1858 graduated from the medical department of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J.W. Waggoner

J. W. Waggoner, Esq., of Coffee County, born October 8, 1836, is the son of J. A. and Rebecca Waggoner, the former, born in 1806, died in 1848, and the latter born in 1806, died in 1883. Our subject is of German and Scotch descent. After continuing on the farm to care for his mother, he entered the Confederate service in 1862. After six months in camp with Captain McCutchen’s company, he was made steward and bookkeeper of the hospital at Chattanooga, afterward farming and teaching; in 1869 he took his present office of magistrate. He began the successful practice … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. A. Clark

J. A. Clark, farmer in Coffee County, was born in Rutherford County, August 22, 1822. His parents, Anthony and Sallie (Dunlap) Clark, natives of North Carolina, came to Tennessee in 1800 remained until 1850 and then went to Texas. Here the father died about 1871, and the mother a year later. They were of Irish and English descent. Our subject married Millie Wilkinson in 1844. Born to them are nine children: John, November 5, 1845; Rufus, November 10, 1846; R. S., January 19, 1849; I. M., November 5, 1851; Ellen, March 3, 1854; Sallie, April 4, 1856; James, April 7, … Read more

Slave Narrative of Ann Matthews

Person Interviewed: Ann Matthews Location: Nashville, Tennessee Place of Birth: Murfreesboro, Tennessee Place of Residence: 719 9th Ave. South, Nashville, Tennessee “I wuz bawn in Murfreesboro on Stones River. I dunno how ole I ez en hit meks me ‘shamed ter tell peeple dat, but mah mammy would hit me in de mouth w’en I’d ax how ole I wuz. She say I wuz jes’ tryin’ ter be grown.” “Mah mammy’s name wuz Frankie en mah daddy wuz Henry Ken Kannon. Don’ member much ’bout mah mammy ‘cept she wuz a sho’t fat Indian ‘oman wid a turrible tempah. She … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. T. Lawrence

W. T. Lawrence, deputy sheriff of Coffee County, and a prominent citizen living near Beech Grove, Tennessee, was born October 22, 1847, in Coffee County. He is the son of John H. and Tabitha H. (Blankenship) the former born in 1812 (died in 1858) in Tennessee, and the latter born in 1810 in Virginia, and living in Coffee County. The father was a farmer, politically a democrat, and belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject, one of nine children, received his education chiefly at Beech Hill Academy, when soon after his father’s death the care of the estate was … 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

Coffee County, Tennessee Cemetery Transcriptions

Tennessee Cemetery records are listed by county then name of cemetery within the Tennessee county. Most of these are complete indices at the time of transcription, however, in some cases we list the listing when it is only a partial listing. Following Cemeteries (hosted at Coffee County, Tennessee Tombstone Transcription Project) Bethlehem The Baptist Church Of Christ Cemetery Bly Cemetery Bryan Family Cemetery Fountain Grove Cemetery Holland Cemetery Hurricane Cemetery  Miller Cemetery Robinson Cemetery Robinson Cemetery Smith Cemetery Womack Cemetery Maplewood Cemetery (hosted at Interment)  

Biographical Sketch of W. A. Marshall

W. A. Marshall, furniture dealer, and present mayor of Tullahoma, Tennessee, was born in Lincoln County, Tennessee, in 1842, and is the son of J. W. and Nancy  T. (Neal) Marshall, natives of Prince Edwards County, Virginia. Reared on the farm of his parents; our subject received his education at the neighboring schools. At the age of thirteen he came with his parents to Tullahoma, and entered his father’s store, remaining until the opening of the late war. He then enlisted in Company B (Confederate), of Turney’s First Regiment of Tennessee Infantry. After the war he returned home, working at … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John H. Ashley

John H. Ashley, High Sheriff of Coffee County, and a prominent citizen of Manchester, was born in Rutherford County, June 13, 1848. He is the son of W. F. and Lidia A. (Mankin), both natives of Tennessee and of English descent; the former was born near Beech Grove in 1822 and died November 5, 1878; the latter, still living, was born in Rutherford County in 1822. The elder Ashley was a farmer and a sound democrat. Our subject was the oldest of seven children; received his academic education at Beech Grove Academy chiefly, and for sixteen years successfully pursued agriculture. … 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 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

Biographical Sketch of William Alwood

William Alwood, a prominent citizen of Manchester, Tennessee, was born September 22, 1850, in Fulton County, Ohio. He is the son of Levi S. and Delilah (McQuillin) Alwood – the former of Scotch descent, born in Ohio October 9, 1826, the latter of Irish descent and born June 22, 1830, in Ohio. The elder Alwood was married in 1848; engaged in farming and he came to Tennessee in 1873, his permanent home. He is a republican and in sympathy with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife is a member. After completing his academic studies he was employed on … Read more

Biographical Sketch of S. J. Crockett

S. J. Crockett, farmer in Coffee County was born June 9, 1809, in Georgia. His father, John, a native of South Carolina and pioneer of Tennessee in 1812, was born February 29, 1780, and died March 9, 1859. He was of Irish descent. His mother, Mary (Cowan) Crockett, was born November 7, 1779, in Georgia, and died in 1857. Leaving the farm when of age, after four years in general merchandising at Hillsboro, he began his career of farming. He was collecting officer for a time. March 15, 1835, he married Amelia Austell, born February 4, 1817, in South Carolina, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of P. H. McBride, M. D.

P. H. McBride, M. D., a well-known physician of Coffee County, was born in that county, December 27, 1825. He is the son of William S. and Milly (Conwell) McBride, the former born at Lynchburg, Va., and the latter born at Abbeyville, S. C. in 1801. They died in 1879 and 1877 respectively in Coffee County, where he was a farmer. Our subject, one of ten children, after his school life ended, was for two years a blacksmith. Serving in the Mexican war for over a year, he fought at Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. Returning to Coffee County he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. W. Yates

J. W. Yates, merchant and a prominent young citizen of Tullahoma, Tennessee, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, August 24, 1855, and is the son of James and Mary A. (Walters) Yates, natives of England. The parents came to America in 1855, and our subject was born three days after their arrival in Cincinnati. The parents are members of the Episcopal Church, and are citizens of Coffee County, Tennessee. Our subject received a good education in the public schools, and followed it with several courses in bookkeeping. In 1882 he came to Tullahoma and engaged in business, and is at present … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James H. Rutledge

James H. Rutledge, merchant, and a prominent young citizen of Tullahoma, Tennessee, was born in Lincoln County, Tennessee, November 13, 1855, and is the son of Samuel Rutledge, a native of North Carolina. Our subject was reared on the farm, receiving his education in the public schools. In 1876 he began farming in his native county, and continued until 1882, when he came to Tullahoma, and with his brother, R. F. Rutledge, engaged in the grocery business; they have since added clothing, furnishing goods, and a boot and shoe stock. Mr. Rutledge was married in 1876 to Ida Roughton, a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Carden

James Carden, farmer and stock dealer in Coffee County, was born there September 28, 1831, and is the son of Lewis and Catherine (Simpson) Carden, of Scotch-Irish descent, the former born May 17, 1809, and now living, and the latter born about 1815 in North Carolina, and deceased July 16, 1869. Our subject lived with his father until twenty four years of age, from whom he received 125 acres, living on this for nineteen years, when he came to his present place. He married Pharaba Simpson, born August 16, 1837, in Coffee County, January 18, 1855. Twelve children were born … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Stokely Jacobs

Stokely Jacobs, a well-known planter of Coffee County, Tennessee, was born there February 26, 1840 (ancestors mentioned in biography of A. Jacobs). Our subject, after completing his education, was engaged in agriculture chiefly. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate Company G, Seventeenth Regiment Tennessee Infantry. He occupied various positions in Hardee’s corps, and took part in the battles of Rock Castle, Perryville, Murfreesboro and Petersburg, where he was captured and sent as prisoner to Point Lookout and Elmira, New York, paroled in 1865, he returned home, and after the close of the war began farming. Entering the store of … 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