McNAIRY COUNTY, TN - BIOGRAPHIES - STOVALL FAMILY ============================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping, with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic Pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Douglas H. Prather douglas-memphis@worldnet.att.net =============================================================== April 18, 1924, McNairy CountyIndependent Stovall Family One of the o'dest and one of the most prominent families in about all the history of this county are the Stovalls. The information we have is that the family came to McNairy county from Middle Tennessee. Bartholomew Stovall, the ancestor of the family of which we write, was born in 1755, about the time of the French and Indian wars. When the battle of King's Mountain was fought this young man was a young colonist, and participated in that decisive engagement, being in the command of Col. Williams. He went later to where Nashville is and there located. There is a story told in connection with his early settlement there. He had married, and while living near or in the old fort, then known as French Lick, two of his little children strayed too far away in the wilderness all about and were slain by the Indians. The first wife of this old settler and soldier was Agnes Nolew. She died, being the mother of several children. Then he married Mary Hamm, who was born in 1753. In 1829 he died. One of his sons was George Pryor Stovall, who was born during the administration of George Washington, and his son was known to many of the early settlers of McNairy county. George Pryor Stovall lived in the vicinity of Nashville for some time and there married Elizabeth Shull. Several Children were born to this union. Two of the children with whom the older people in the county were familiar were John M. Stovall and other children. This family, George Pryor Stovall and family, came to Madison county about the time Purdy was establish, or a year or two thereafter, living in the village then called Jackson. Some years there after the family came to McNairy county and settled in the 2nd district on the waters of Mosses creek. The section was a virgin forest, and there were no nearby settlements. But he possessed all the traits of the pioneer and builder, and set about his great task with that heroism and bravery that had characterize the life of his father. The two children, mention of whom is made above, grew to manhood in McNairy county and spent their lives here. W. W, Stovall married Sarah Hunter, sister of Capt. H. A. Hunter, another of the old citizens of the county. To this union were born several children, J. R. Stovall, who has already passed the four score mark, living in Bethel Springs, where he has been identified with the interests of that progressive town for forty years and for is yet active, was the oldest in the family He was at one time one of the best sheriffs in the state, serving as sheriff for the constitutional term from 1876 to 1882. It is related by Mr. J. R. Stovall that in one of his races for sheriff he was opposed by the "red fox," the sobriquet for Uncle Bill Jopling. Mr. Stovall, a young man, had charged that his opponent had been an office holder for a long time-that he was a candidate when he was born. Riding along the road from one appointment to another he rode alongside Mr. Jopling, and during the conversation state that, "Mr. Jopling, I have been saying some things about how long you have held office and that you were holding office when I was born. How about that ?" Mr. Jopling: "When were you born, Randolph?" Mr. Stovall: " In July, 1842." Mr. Jopling: " Well, you got it about right. County court had just elected me constable at old Purdy." The other children were Mary,who married John Sanders, and thereafter Frank Basham; Lean, Who married Robert Talley; Delia, who married a Wofford; George, who died when young; Ella, who married Sanders, and then John English; Emogene, who married Noah Prince; Idelle, who married a Searight, and Edgar, a prominent railroad man of the south; Alcie Ann and Favette, who married a Reed. Many of that large family have died. John M. Stovall, the other son mentioned, was born about 1825, about three months before the establishment of the town of Purdy. He married Nancy E. Ferguson in 1846. He lived here after his marriage, stayed a short time in Missouri, and moved to old Purdy in 1855. There were several children in this family. A. W. Stovall, one of the fore most citizen and lawyers in this section of the state, and who died a short time ago, was the second in that family. Then there were Mary, the oldest, who married an Allen, who at one time lived in Bethel Springs; Dilly who married a Dowling, and lived in Union City; Alcie, who married a Kernodle; Missouri, long since deceased; David, who died a good many years ago; O. J. Stovall, one of the prominent business men of Jackson, Tenn., and, in earlier days, one of the big merchants of Bethel Springs, and George Stovall, and Charity, who married E. F. Hendrix. John M. Stovall engaged in business in Purdy, and was admitted to the bar in 1867, being at the time of his death local attorney for the Mobile & Ohio Railroad Company. He was a Whig in politics, and while opposed to secession and in favor of the Union, he went with his state when it seceded and raised a company of volunteers for the Confederate army and was elected captain. He did not become a soldier, owing to the scarcity of arms and provisions at the time. He died just a month after the celebration of the Centennial of American Independence, the 4th day of August, 1876. Perhaps none of this large and influential family was as well known as was A. W. (Ance) Stovall. He was born in the 2nd district at the old "Stovall Homestead, " and grew to manhood here. He was admitted to the bar when quite a young man and made a success of his chosen profession. He was active in all matters of public interest, and represented the people here in both branches of the Legislature, and after his removal to Jackson was honored by the people there to a seat in the State Senate. He loved his county and its people, and always took a deep interest in all matters that affected the welfare of the citizenship of his old home county. These two pioneers, W. W., and John M. Stovall, have a long time ago gone to their reward. They belonged to that day and age that have passed, but remembered today by those who come after them for the many contributions they made in the upbuilding of this good county. Reminiscences of the Early Settlement and Early Settlers of McNairy County by Gen. Marcus J. Wright, published in 1882 by Author. Pages 42 and 43 The Stovall family have been residents of McNairy county for many years, coming from Middle Tennessee. Their remotest ancestors of whom they have any account. was Bartholomew Stovall, who was born May 15th, 1755. He was in the Revolutionary War, and took part in the battle of King's Mountain, under Col. Williams. He was one among the early settlers of Davidson county, was in the Frontier Fort at Nashville then known as "French Lick" and while living there and protecting themselves in the fort two of his boys, mere children, wandered too far from the fort "hunting cows," and were slain by the Indians. He had married Agnes Nolew and raised a family, and after her death he was again married to Mary Hamm, who was born May 18, 1753. He died September 6, 1829. George Prior Stovall was a son of Bartholomew Stovall, and was known to many citizens of McNairy county. He was born in the year 1797 and lived near where his father settled, in Middle Tennessee, until some time after he had married Elizabeth Shull and several children were born unto then; among the number John M. Stovall and W. W. Stovall, who were afterwards well known in McNairy county. The family emigrated from Middle Tennessee in about the year 1827, first settling in Madison county, at the then village of Jackson. Moving from there in a few years afterwards, they settled in McNairy county, in the Second District, on Mosses Creek, and raised a large family. He was a poor man, and never accumulated much property, but succeeded in educating his Children above the average at that time. In politics he was a strentious Whig; he believed strong in maintaining the unity of the, nation, and the perpetuation of our institutions. He died at the place where he had lived for many years; the place is now known as the "old Stovall place." Leaving Elizabeth a widow with several children to care for and educate, she did well her duty, living most of her time with John M. Stovall, who aided her in maintaining herself and family. Elizabeth Stovall was born November, 1800 married January, 1818. and died at the residence of Nancy E. Stovall on the 27th day of March, 1878. John Milton Stovall was born July 20, 1825, came to this county when a mere boy, married Nancy E. Ferguson on December 16th, 1846, Soon after his father's death he quit farming and moved to Springfield, MO, engaging in house carpentering, but he returned to McNairy again within twelve months to help care for and provide for his widowed mother and family, which charge he met like a hero, though he was a very poor man, so far as property was concerned. In I855 he moved to Purdy, then a flourishing town of several hundred inhabitants. Here he worked some time at the carpenter trade, and also kept grocery, run a livery stable, &c. ; he did some work on the Purdy college. In politics he was always a Whig, and was once the Whig candidate for Register against Maj. Benjamin Wright; his party being in the minority, he was defeated by a slight majority. At the outbreak of the war he was opposed to secession and in favor of the Union. But when Tennessee, his native State seceded, he sided with her afterwards and twice enlisted in the Confederate Army. He raised a company of volunteers, and was elected captain, but was never received in the service on account of the scarcity then of arms and provisions; he did not become a soldier, but went to farming to support his family. After the war he engaged in merchandising, as he had been immediately preceding the war. He studied law after the war and was admitted to the Bar as a practicing attorney on the day of 1867. At his death he was an attorney for the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, having acted in that capacity for some time previous. He died in the town of Bethel Springs, on the 28th day of November, 1870, where he had lived for some time previous. He left a large family, but few of whom were grown. Among his children that were well known in McNairy, county, was David Jerome Stovall, who was born on the 21st day of April, 1851. He was very apt at study and soon procured a good education and studied telegraphy. He opened the first telegraph office at the now flourishing town of Henderson, Madison county. He held the position of railroad agent and operator at Kenton, at Troy station, and at Bethel; was at the time of his death railroad agent and operator, and express agent at Bethel, getting a good salary, having the utmost confidence of his employers and the public. He had a brilliant mind and doubtless would have attained distinction had he have lived. He originated the idea of joining the in interests of Falcon and Bethel in an effort, to move the county seat to the railroad. He died greatly lamented on the ? day of August, 1876