Lake County TN

Biography of Henry M. Darnall

Henry M. Darnall (deceased) was born in Chester District, South Carolina in 1808. His parents moved to Maury County, Tennessee, when he was four years old. When nineteen he left there and went to Obion County, and lived there and in Lake County until his death. His early education was neglected, though be inherited fine sense from his mother, and his father was well educated. When thirty years of age he was appointed captain of a company of militia; then was made colonel, and finally brigadier general. During the war he was offered the generalship of the army of Virginia, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James W. Tipton

James W. Tipton, a leading farmer and stock trader, of Lake County, is the son of Rev. Joshua and Rebecca A. (Rider) Tipton. The father was born in Wilson County, Tennessee, in 1817, and the mother in the same county in 1819. They married and lived in Wilson County until 1843, when they moved to Carroll County, and in 1845 to what is now Lake County, where they remained until they died. They had ten children, six sons and four daughters. Both belonged to the Methodist Church. While living in Obion County, he was deputy sheriff, and when Lake County … Read more

Biography of Richard C. Everett

Richard C. Everett, an extensive land owner and farmer of Lake County, is the son of William and Christine (McDaniel) Everett. His father was born in North Carolina in 1785; his mother in Scotland in 1795, her parents moving to America, and locating in North Carolina, when she was very small. She married there, and in 1832 Mr. and Mrs. Everett moved to Fulton, Kentucky In 1846 they moved to Madrid Bend. They have six boys and four girls; only three living now. Both were Methodists. Mr. Everett was on extensive farmer, but lost heavily by security debts; he was … Read more

Biography of Rev. M. J. Holifield

Rev. M. J. Holifield, one of the active local ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of Lake County, is the son of Rev. William and Elizabeth (Copeland) Holifield. His parents were both natives of North Carolina. The father was born in 1782; the mother in 1786. They moved to Kentucky when young, and had sixteen children; seven boys and three girls lived to be grown. The entire family was Methodists, and three of the sons were ministers. Reverend William Holifield was a local minister for forty years. He was in the war of 1812 with General Jackson, and was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William A. Sims M.D.

William A. Sims, M. D. is a son of William and Julia (Cooke) Sims, who are Tennesseans, born in 1826 and 1833 respectively. They were married in west Tennessee and immediately located in Crockett County where they have since resided. Of eight children born to them five are living, four sons and one daughter. Three of the sons are physicians and one is a teacher, though all have taught school. Both parents and all the children are members of the Christian Church. Dr. William A. Sims was born January 15, 1857 in Crockett County. His early education was quite limited … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William J. Wynn

William J. Wynn, a retired farmer of Lake County, is the son of Ezekiel and Lucy (Threadgill) Wynn. His father was born in Virginia, and when a young man moved to North Carolina, where he married Miss Threadgill. In 1830 they moved to Wayne County, Tennessee, and in a few years to Obion County. They had eleven children, four sons and seven daughters. Mrs. Wynn was a Methodist; Mr. Wynn in politics a Whig. He devoted most of his time to farming, and was a good mechanic. He died in 1850, and his wife in 1862. His ancestors were of … 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 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

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 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 Robert A. Lewis

Robert A. Lewis (deceased) was a prominent farmer of Lake County, and was born in 1833, in Fulton County, Kentucky; his father was Major R. N. Lewis. Our subject had good educational advantages. In 1855 he married Mary Donaldson, who was born January 24, 1834 in New Madrid County, Missouri at Donaldson’s Point. She is the daughter of Andrew J. and Kate (Baird) Donaldson. Her father was born at Athens, Alabama, but was raised at Nashville, Tennessee, her mother at Chattanooga. Soon after they married they went to Missouri and remained until 1844 when they came to Lake County. Mr. … 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 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

Biography of Dr. J.M. Wright

Dr. J. M. Wright has been an able and popular physician of Lake County for eighteen years, and was the son of Moses and Lericy (Farris) Wright. His father was born in Kentucky in 1812 and his mother in Giles County, Tennessee in 1814. When quite young he came to Tennessee, and married Miss Farris in Obion County, where they made their home. They had three sons, two of whom are farmers and stock raisers in Texas. Mrs. Wright was a Cumberland Presbyterian, but there being no church near her of that denomination, she united with the Methodists. In politics … Read more

Biography of Mrs. Caroline (Watson) Dickinson

Mrs. Caroline (Watson) Dickinson, the widow of William R. Dickinson, is the daughter of Daniel and Rowena (Bartlett) Watson. Her father was born in North Carolina in 1797 and the mother in Missouri in 1802, where they married and lived until 1820, when they crossed over to Fulton County, Kentucky, and lived there until they died. They had eight children, two boys and six girls. Her mother was a devout Methodist; her father, an energetic farmer, and a democrat, and died in 1865; the mother died in 1869. Mrs. Dickinson was born April 6, 1823, being the first child born … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Harper

William Harper, one of the oldest men in Lake County, is the son of John and Elizabeth (Weaver) Harper; they were both probably born in Pennsylvania; they married, and made their home in Kentucky. They had three sons, but one of them living; they both belonged to the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Harper was a farmer, and in politics a Whig. Mrs. Harper lived to be sixty five years old, and he was eighty seven; his ancestors were Dutch. William Harper was born June 10, 1807, in Woodford County, Kentucky At the age of sixteen, he accepted a position as salesman … 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

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

Biographical Sketch of Austin L. Hines

Austin L. Hines, an old resident and farmer of Lake County, is the son of Sandy and Polly (Ashburn) Hines. His father was born in 1802 in Missouri and his mother in Kentucky in 1806. When young, Sandy Hines went to Kentucky, where he married Miss Ashburn and shortly after returned to Missouri, where he lived until 1851, then came to what is now Lake County. They had three sons and three daughters. Mr. Hines was a democrat, and by occupation a farmer. He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Hines was a Methodist, but finally joined … 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