Lake County TN

Biographical Sketch of Council P. Cates

Council P. Cates, a substantial farmer of Lake County, is the son of John A. and Susan (Box) Cates; he was born February 6,1855, in what is now Lake County; was raised on a farm, and had the best educational advantages the State afforded, having completed his education at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. After leaving college he was for a while salesman at James Cronan’s store, but it was soon closed, and he commenced farming, but in a short time sold out and went to Texas, and after staying a year there he returned to Lake County. In … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Robert T. Parks

Robert T. Parks, a merchant of Lake County, is the son of John L. and Malinda (Crafton) Parks. Both of his parents were natives of middle Tennessee, where they were married. They soon after settled in Giles County and lived there until 1852, when they moved to Gibson County, and nine years later to what is now Lake County. They had thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters. They belonged to the Christian Church. In early life he was a teamster, but on coming to the western district gave his attention to farming. He died during the war and his … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William C. Peacock

William C. Peacock, clerk of the circuit court of Lake County, and member of the firm of C. M. Peacock & Son, was born January 21, 1863, in Lake County, and was the son of C. M. and Ann (Brock) Peacock. He was raised on the farm and when sixteen entered the Kentucky Military Institute and graduated there in 1881. During this time he had been salesman for M. Ambery of Tiptonville. He taught school for a while after graduating then returned to the mercantile business as salesman. In 1883 his father bought out Mr. Ambery and gave him a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of H.M. Peacock

H. M. Peacock, farmer in Lake County, is a brother of Mr. C. M. Peacock and was born in Obion County October 18, 1846; was raised on the farm and when young he had but few opportunities of securing an education; but has, by studying in later years acquired a great deal of general information. December 30, 1875, he married Miss Georgia Watson, daughter of Robert Watson. Mrs. Peacock was born in Madison County, Tennessee June 27, 1854. Six children blessed this union, four boys and two girls; only three are now living: William H., born July 17, 1879, Martha … Read more

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

Biography of Robert Thompson

Robert Thompson, a farmer of Lake County, was the son of Robert and Sallie (Tharp) Thompson. His father was born in Guilford County, North Carolina in 1792, his mother in Rockingham County, North Carolina in 1790; they were married in Guilford County in 1814, and had eight children, five boys and three girls. They moved to Maury County, and lived there until 1847, when they moved to Lake County, which was then called Obion, and his mother died in 1858 and his father March 28, 1860. They were not connected with any church, though Mrs. Thompson was raised a Quaker. … Read more

Biography of James C. Harris

James C. Harris, one of the leading merchants and farmers of Lake County, is the son of Christopher O. and Jane (Flanagan) Harris. His father was born in Alabama in 1796 and his mother near Lexington, Kentucky in 1800. When a young man he went to Kentucky and married Miss Flanagan, and they spent the rest of their life there. They had five children, three boys and two girls, two of them now living. Mrs. Harris was a Catholic. He was not a church member. He was in the war of 1812 against the Indians; was in politics a Whig. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Moss

William Moss is a son of Eli and Dicie (Brock) Moss, who were born and reared and married in the Palmetto State. They came to Tennessee in 1822 and located in McMinn County where they spent the remainder of their days. The father died in 1844 and the mother in 1874. The father was a democrat, a farmer and a member of the Christian Church. His wife was a Missionary Baptist and became the mother of four sons and four daughters. William Moss was born in McMinn, Colorado in 1826. He was raised on a farm, received a common school … Read more

Biography of Arthur Forbes Eastwood

Arthur Forbes Eastwood, sheriff of Lake County, Tennessee, is the son of William J. and Susan C. (Bigham) Eastwood. His father was born in North Carolina in 1820 and his mother in Carroll County, Tennessee in the same year. They were married in New Madrid County (since called Pemiscot County), Missouri. They had five sons and one daughter, and both belonged to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Eastwood was a democrat, taking an active part in politics. He died December 3, 1852. Mrs. Eastwood afterward married Captain S. B. Kelley and she died August 22, 1870. Our subject is … Read more

Biography of Lauchlan Donalsdon

Lauchlan Donaldson, one of the ablest lawyers of Tiptonville, is the son of Wellington and Elizabeth A (Meriweather) Donaldson. His father was born in St. Johns N.B., and when a young man went to the republic of Texas, where he was engaged with a corps of engineers to survey the Guadalupe River, receiving as compensation a large tract of land. In 1843 he moved to Tennessee, and married Miss Meriweather, in Obion County, who was a native of Montgomery County, Tennessee Soon after they were married they settled at Meriweather’s Landing, and made it their permanent home. Mr. Donaldson, Sr., … 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 Robert T. Webb

Robert T. Webb, trustee and magistrate of Lake County, is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Taylor) Webb, who were born in North Carolina and Kentucky. The father came to Humphreys County, Tennessee, when young, and while there went across to Kentucky, where he married. They soon after located in Gibson County, and a short time after in Crockett County, when the father died. He had been married previous to his union with Miss Taylor, and by his first wife, became the father of six children. His second wife bore him three children, our subject being the only one living. … Read more

Biography of Levi Bates

Levi Bates, one of the industrious farmers of Lake County, is the son of William and Eliza B. (Jackson) Bates. His parents were born in Buckingham, England. They had eleven children-three boys and eight girls; they were both members of the Missionary Baptist Church. His father owned 150 acres of land and was a farmer, and was guardian of the parish in which he lived. While still in the prime of life, he was walking by a brook, when the bank gave away, and he received a fall, dying from the effect of the injuries sustained. Mrs. Bates still lives … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Wyatt Mooring

Wyatt Mooring, a farmer and stock raiser, has been a resident of Lake County for thirty years, and he is the son of Wyatt and Martha (Needham) Mooring, who were both natives of North Carolina; their families moved to Madison County, Tennessee where they first met and afterward married. In 1856 they moved to what is now Lake County, and lived until their death; they had nine children, six still living. In 1870 Mrs. Mooring died, and he married Kate S. Craig by whom he had one child. Mr. Mooring and both of his wives were Methodists; he was a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Milton Donaldson

Milton Donaldson (deceased), the largest capitalist of Lake County, was a native of Alabama, but spent part of his youth in Nashville. After moving to Donaldson’s Point, Missouri, he married Theresa Baird. Mr. Donaldson was a self made man. When he married he had nothing, and by hard work and good management he accumulated an estate worth $150,000. He had but one son, who died in childhood. He was a democrat in politics. Mrs. Donaldson was a Methodist. In 1877 Mr. Donaldson left his home one afternoon to look after his stock. While absent a villain by the name of … Read more

Biography of Benjamin F. Beckham

Benjamin F. Beckham, a prominent farmer of Madrid Bend, is the son of Alexander F. and Mary (Watson) Beckham. The father was born in Virginia in 1828, moved when young to Gibson County, Tennessee, and then to Hickman, Kentucky, then to Mills Point. He married Miss Watson in 1848. They had eight children, only three now living. Mrs. Beckham belongs to the Methodist Church. Mr. Beckham was a merchant and farmed also upon an extensive scale. In politics he was a democrat. Mr. Beckham was the victim of one of the greatest outrages ever perpetrated. It was known that he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of C.M. Peacock

C. M. Peacock, farmer, is the son of Michael and Martha (Applewhite) Peacock. The father was born in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. October 11, 1799, and the mother in the same county and State, August 12, 1804. They were married in 1823 and to them were born four sons and three daughters; three sons are living. The family moved to Henderson County in 1883 and thence to Obion County in 1837. They were members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Peacock was a Democrat, and he died October 27, 1873, and his wife died March 24, 1869. Our subject is of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of P. Davis

P. Davis, clerk and master of the Chancery Court of Lake County, is the son of James and Rebecea (Dalton) Davis. His parents were born in North Carolina, his father in 1803, and his mother July 4, 1811. They were married in 1841, and had five children, two boys and three girls. Our subject and two sisters are the only ones living. Mr. Davis’ mother belonged to the Methodist Church. His father was an old line Whig, and died September 9, 1859, his mother living until January 24, 1885. Mr. Davis is of English ancestry, born in Obion County January … Read more

Biographical Sketch of H.M. Hassell

H. M. Hassell, one of the farmers of Lake County whose success in life has been due to his own efforts, is the son of Nathan G., and Ann (Rayfield) Hassell, and was born in Decatur County, Tennessee, May 31, 1844. The father was born in North Carolina in 1800 and his mother in the same state in 1818. Their parents moved to Decatur County, Tennessee, when they were both young, and they married there. Mr. Hassell, Sr., was a tanner by trade, and in politics, an old line Whig; both his wife and himself were members of the Methodist … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mr. F. H. Griffin

Mr. F. H. Griffin, a farmer of the Fourth District of Lake County, is the son of John T. and Miriam (Bailey) Griffin. The father was born in North Carolina October 12, 1803 and his mother in Madison County, Alabama in 1805. They were married in Madison County Alabama in January 1826, and had eight children, only two of them living to be grown: our subject and Martha J., who was born January 11, 1829, and married Mr. J. S. Williams, of Lake County, Tennessee, where she died in 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Griffin were devout members of the Christian … Read more