LAKE COUNTY TN - GOODSPEED - The Biographies of Lake County F - H ********************************************************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Jane N. Powell ********************************************************************************************************** F - H Bios, Goodspeed History of Tennessee, 1887 (Not responsible for typos and errors. Please check the original Goodspeed before adding to your genealogical record as absolute proof --- and then remember that the family only told what that wanted the public to know.) D. G. Ferguson is a son of James and Emeline (Shepherd) Ferguson. The father was born near Nashville, Tenn., 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 Co., but in 1886 owing to old age, gave up active life, and he and wife moved to Lake Co where they reside with their son. They are now quite advanced in years. D. G. Ferguson was born and reared in Henderson County, his birth occurring October 25, 1848. His school days did not exceed three months, as the war broke out just at the time he should have been attending. At the age of eighteen he began farming, and has continued to the present. In 1866 he married Lucinda Rouse, who died in 1875, having borne six children. The same year Mr. Ferguson married Jane Gale, who has borne him five children. He is a Democrat, and for two years has held the office of road commissioner. From 1872 until 1881 he resided in Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and Arkansas, and, on coming to Lake County five years ago, had but $100, three mules and one wagon load of goods. Through good management and energy he is now worth about $6,000, and has the reputation of being an honest man and a good farmer. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, Ala., in 1805. They were married in Madison County Ala., 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, Tenn., where she died in 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Griffin were devout members of the Christian Church. Mrs. Griffin died in May, 1841, and Mr. Griffin was married twice afterward, and he died in April, 1850. In politics he was a Whig. Mr. F. H. Griffin is of Welsh-Irish descent, and was born in Madison County, Ala., January 29, 1827; was raised on the farm, and received what was then considered a good education. January 25, 1855, he married Miss Susan C. Hopper, who was born in Williamson County, Tenn., December 16, 1837. Three sons and four daughters were born to this union - three of them living. Mrs. Griffin was a member of the Methodist Church, and died, February 17, 1866, as she had lived, a Christian. July 13, 1870, Mr. Griffin married Miss L. J. Babb, who was born in Obion County, Tenn., October 3,1844. They have five children. Mr. and Mrs. Griffin are Methodists. He is a Democrat and a Mason, being a Knight Templar, and has been a citizen of Lake County ever since its organization, being at the time elected a magistrate. He moved in 1848 to that part of Obion County that is now Lake County. He commenced life without a dollar, and now owns 435 acres of good farming land, thus demonstrating the power of energy and determination to overcome all obstacles and attain success. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, Ky. At the age of sixteen, he accepted a position as salesman in his brother's store, but a few years later returned to farming. In 1846 he married Frances N. McGehee, born December 19, 1832; they had no children, and the following year she died. In 1848 he married Sarah H. Tittesworth; she was born November 21, 1832, and died in 1880. They had seven children, five living. Mrs. Harper was a Methodist. Mr. Harper was a Whig before the war, and a Democrat since. In 1855 he moved to Madrid Bend. He owns 400 acres of fine land. In 1875 he moved to California on account of his wife's health, but, as it failed to benefit her, they returned to Madrid Bend. He has been a resident of the county for thirty years, and is now in his eightieth year. His life has been a long and useful one, and he retains the confidence of all. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- James C. Harris, one of the leading merchants and farmers of Lake County, is the son of Christopher 0. and Jane (Flanagan) Harris. His father was born in Alabama, in 1796, and his mother near Lexington, Ky., 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. He engaged in farming and stock raising, and during the winter served as pilot on the flat-boats. While on a trip to New Orleans he was taken ill with yellow fever, and died there in 1841. His wife remained at the old homestead until she died in 1885. Mr. James Harris' ancestors were on his father's side, English and Scotch, and on the mother's Irish; he was born March 22, 1830, in Fulton County, Ky. While he was never in school over twelve months in his life, yet he acquired by experience and observation a good business education and knowledge of the practical affairs of life. In 1857 he married Mary A. Neville, born In Hickman County, Ky., in 1835; they had ten children, five now living. In 1859 they moved to Lake County, and have lived there ever since. In 1858 he opened a small store on his farm, but owing to the war it was closed. In 1865 he built the first store in Tiptonville after the war, and has since had mercantile interests there; he owns two cotton- gins and 15,000 acres of land. Mr. Harris commenced by cutting wood at thirty-five cents per cord, and by hard work and shrewd trading, has amassed quite a fortune, paying more taxes than any one else in Lake County, where he has resided for twenty-seven years. He is a zealous Mason, being a Royal Arch Mason and Master of the Blue Lodge for twenty-five years. He is one of the best business men and useful citizens of Lake County. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, Tenn., 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, Tenn., 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 Episcopal Church. Mr. Hassell died December 23, 1858; Mrs. Hassell is still living. Our subject, H. M. Hassell, had few opportunities of acquiring an education. He left Henderson County and moved to Lake County in 1871. October 16, 1884, he married Miss Ruth Delaney. She was born in Hardin County, Tenn., December 4, 1857, and with her husband belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church South. While Mr. Hassell is a Democrat he does not take any active part in politics. He is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. Mr. Hassell, at the time he commenced farming in Lake County, was without money, and by hard work and perseverance has bought him a fine farm of 235 acres, and is now constantly adding good improvements. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 her husband's church. Mr. Hines lost everything during the war. His wife died in 1868. He bad been married previous to his union with Miss Ashburn, to Sarah Daniel, by whom he had two children. He died in 1879; his ancestors on his father's side were Scotch-Irish. Austin Hines was born August 18, 1838, in Fulton, Ky.; was raised and educated at home, remaining with his parents until thirty-five years of age; then without money he came to Lake County, and bought a farm of 142 acres. Though then a dense forest, it is now one of the best farms in the county. In 1877 he married Shaby Wilson, born January 23, 1854, in Cape Girardeau County, Mo. They have two children, Thomas C. and Fay A. Mrs. Hines is an old school Presbyterian. In 1861 he enlisted in Company. E, Fifteenth Tennessee Infantry and during four years' hard service was never taken prisoner, and wounded but twice - once at Shiloh and once at Chickamauga - the last wound disabling him for further service. After the war he resumed farming and has been quite successful. Mr. Hines has been a resident of Lake County for thirty-five years. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 were Methodists, and three of the sons were ministers. Rev. William Holifield was a local minister for forty years. He was in the war of 1812 with Gen. Jackson, and was at the battle of New Orleans, and was always a democrat. He was regarded as one of the best farmers in his neighborhood. In 1860 he died a faithful servant of the church and a worthy member of society. In 1865 his wife died. Rev. M. J. Holifield was of German descent on his father's side and English on the mother's. Was born in Graves County, Ky., July 12, 1881. He remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age, then commenced farming, and by private study prepared himself for the ministry and was licensed to preach when only twenty three years of age. He volunteered as a private in the Confederate Army, Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, and after a year was made chaplain of the regiment, continuing in that position until the close of the war. In 1850 he married Ruth A. Hatchel, born February 28. 1882, and they had two children: William L. and James L. In 1869 his wife died and in 1871 he wedded Martha A. Watson, who was born February 10, 1833. In 1865 he moved from Kentucky to Weakley County, Tenn., and in 1871 to Lake County. In 1878 was elected county trustee, held the office for four years and resigned. In addition to his ministerial labors, he engaged in farming, owning a farm of 150 acres. For thirty-two years he has devoted his life's best efforts to advance his Father's cause and has been a shining light in the Methodist