ROANE COUNTY, TN - BIOGRAPHIES - Goodspeed Biographical Sketches ==================================================================== 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: Marceline Beem marceline@mindspring.com ==================================================================== Col. D. G. Bowers, a farmer in the Sixth District, was born in 1826 in Orange County, N. C., and when a child was brought by his parents to Roane County, where he has since resided. He began life for himself when of age, and engaged in farming which he has since followed. He enlisted in 1862 in Company A, Fifth Tennessee Infantry, and was elected captain of his company upon its organization, in which capacity he served about two years, when he was commissioned colonel of his regiment on account of his ability and efficiency as an officer. He was mustered out of service April 20, 1865. He was married in 1848 to Miss Eliza Bowman, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Morgan) Bowman. Mr. and Mrs. Bowman were born and raised in Virginia, and came to Tennessee at a very early day. Mr. Bowman was a son of John Bowman, a Revolutionary soldier. To Mr. and Mrs. Bowers eight children have been born: Mary E., (now Mrs. Evans), Sarah E. (deceased), John W., Rufus S., James J., Thomas L., Samuel B., and David (deceased). Mrs. Bowers is a member of the Baptist Church; Mr. Bowers is Repub- lican in politics, and cast his first presidential vote for Gen. Taylor. He is the fifth of six children of Benjamin and Mary (Cloud) Bowers. Mr. and Mrs. Bowers were natives of North Carolina, and immigrated to Roane County, Tenn., about 1827, where they died. The father was a son of Green Bowers, who also was a native of North Carolina, and came to Roane County about 1824, and about 1854 moved to Missouri where he died. He was sheriff of Orange County, N. C. for seven years. Mr. Bowers was of English descent. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas B. Byrd, an extensive farmer, now residing on a part of the old homestead, in the Seventeenth District, owns, also, two other farms in the county, one of 230 acres, and the other of 130 acres. His grandfather, Jesse Byrd, located on the site of Kingston about 1795, the first ferryman at what was Byrd's Ferry, now Sevier's Ferry. In 1808 he abandoned the ferry, and located five miles above Kingston, south of the Tennessee. He was one of the first justices after Roane County was organized, and constructed some of the first houses erected in Kingston, some still standing. He died in 1847, and his wife a few years before, both at advanced ages. Joseph Byrd, the father, was the eldest of two sons and four daughters. In youth he served in the Indian war under Gen. Jackson, and at his majority married Ann Pride. He was a farmer who occasionally boated from Kingston to Huntsville, Ala., and was considerably interested in the slave trade. He served eight years as sheriff of Roane County, and was also many years a justice. At the removal of the Cherokees, in 1836, he formed a company, and was afterward colonel of the regiment. He died in 1858, and his widow in 1885. He had nine sons and three daughters. Our subject, three brothers and two sisters, are living. Five brothers were in the Union service, one as colonel and one as quartermaster. There were also two in the Confederate service, one as colonel. Our subject was born in 1825, and has always lived in Roane County. To his wife. Savanna E. (Margrave), have been born three sons and five daughters, one of each sex being deceased. The family are Methodists, and he is Chaplain of the F. & A. M. lodge. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L. W. Carter, farmer, was born in 1849, in Washington County, Tenn., and when twenty-tour moved to Roane County, where he has since lived. He has acquired his education since maturity by reading and study, and began for himself when of age, as a day laborer. In 1876 he married Mary, a daughter of Alexander and Amanda (Hembree) Suddath. Their children are Cora L., Maggie A., Edgar, Maud, and an infant (deceased). She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. Carter is a Republican, and first voted for Grant. He is a Mason. After his marriage he purchased a farm, and he now owns a fine farm of 175 acres in Blue Spring Valley, the most of which property is the result of his own efforts at adding to some property he received from his wife. He has had several positions of trust, such as the administration of estates, school commis- sionership, etc. He is the second of ten children of Abraham and Catherine (Clouse) Carter, the former of whom was born in North Carolina, and came with his parents to Greene County in his youth. It was in Washington County where the father married. He was a justice, and a worthy and able Baptist minister. In the Third North Carolina Infantry, under Col. Kirk, he was an orderly sergeant. The mother was a daughter of William and Lizzie (Laudermilk) Clouse, the former of whom was a soldier in the war of 1812, under Gen. Jackson, and one of the earliest pioneers in Washington County. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. F. Cormany, circuit court clerk, was born in Virginia 1857, and as an infant was brought to Roane County, where he was reared on a farm. When seventeen he became a clerk with S. J. D'Armond for five years. Then after a year as clerk for Childers & Martin he began merchandising at Pickle's Landing, in the firm Pickle & Cormany, after- ward succeeded by D'Armond & Company, our subject being a member of the company. In May, 1882, our subject entered the race for the office he now fills, being re-elected in August, 1886, without opposition. In 1879 he married Huldah E. Harmon, a native of this county. She died in August, 1883, leaving one daughter, Oma. He then married Alice Cox, of Lenoir's Station. Their only child is Maud. Both are church members, and he is a member of the F. & A. M. fraternity. His parents, Aaron and Eliza (Blansett) are engaged in farming, and also custom milling in this county. They lived in Virginia, their native State, before coming here in 1858. Our subject is the eldest of eight surviv- ing children, four others being deceased. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maj. H. Crumbliss, a prominent and influential citizen of Kingston, Tenn., was born in Roane County, said State, on the 21st of November, 1834, and raised on the farm of his parents; he is next to the youngest of a family of eight children, five of whom are deceased. His father, James Crumbliss, was a native of Ireland, immigrated to this county while quite young, and married Anna Goddard, with whom he lived until November, 1839, when he died, leaving H. Crumbliss less than five years old, who was raised by, and remained with, his mother till her death, which occurred in 1858, after which he went to the West, where he spent three years in Missouri and Texas. In March, 1861, he returned to the home of his childhood, and in August same year, in company with others of his native county, he crossed the Cumberland Mountains to Camp Dick Robinson, Ky., where he enlisted as a private soldier in Company E, First Regiment Infantry Volunteers, com- manded by Col. R. H. Byrd; he was appointed orderly sergeant of said company, and on the 15th of March was promoted to adjutant of the regiment, which position he held to the end of the war. He was one of 1,500 that made the famous Sanders raid to Knoxville, Tenn., in the month of June, 1863, and acted as adjutant-general to Gen. Sanders while on that raid, and the last time his regiment ever marched in battle line it marched under the command of H. Crumbliss (the other field officers being absent). On the 29th of November, 1864, he was mustered out, and honorably discharged from the service of the United States by the secretary of war. At the close of the war he returned to Kingston, where he still remains. Since the war he has served his county two years as sheriff, three years as tax collector, and twelve years as clerk and master of the chancery court. On the 3d of April, 1867, he was married to Nellie Griffin, of Somerset, Ky., and of six sons and two daughters born to them, one son is deceased. He has a beautiful home in Kingston, a valuable farm on the Tennessee River and some iron ore lands, which engrosses the most of his attention, and at present he is Worshipful Master of Union Lodge No. 38, F. & A. M., Kingston, Tenn. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. J. D'Armond, a prominent merchant, one of Kingston's oldest citizens, was born in 1816, in Louisiana, and came to Roane County in 1837. He began farming the next year, and was so engaged until 1853, when, in December, he came to Kingston and embarked in the mercantile trade, which he has since continued. In November, 1835, he married G. B. D'Armond, by whom he had one son and three daughters: Thomas H., of Louisiana, and Matilda J. (now Mrs. Christian), living in Johnson City, Tenn., and two daughters deceased. His wife died in 1852, and he afterward married Margaret A. Yost, a native of Virginia, but reared in Kingston. They have two sons and a daughter: James G., M. E. and S. J., all of Kingston. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church. The D'Armond family is of French origin, and the grandfather and one or two cousins were pioneers of Knox County, which they left about 1790 or 1795, and after a few years in Mississippi, moved to Louisiana, where they died: Thomas F., the father, who was born in Mississippi in 1795, went to Louisiana with his parents, and there his death occurred. He lived in Roane County a year, about twelve months after our subject located here. Julia A. (White), the mother, was living in Louisiana at the time of their marriage. Of two sons and two daughters reared in the family, our subject and his brother, in Louisiana, are the only survivors. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- W. M. Ellis, an old and prominent farmer of Roane County, was born at the mouth of Pond Creek, in that part now in Loudon County, May 4, 1818. His father, Francis Ellis, was born In South Carolina, where he married Sarah Breedlove, and, about 1815, located where our subject was born, and the next year after the latter's birth, he pur- chased and moved upon the farm where our subject lives, but living on the opposite side of the river. He was a most successful farmer. Stoves, however, were a rare commodity in his household. He died October 24, 1839, and his wife, surviving him many years, died at the age of one hundred. Our subject is the third son and fifth child, and remained at home until his marriage, except two years during the removal of the Cherokee Indians. March 26, 1839, he married Lucy Bowlin, a native of Roane County. After his father's death our subject purchased the portion of the estate lying south of the Tennessee River, containing 400 acres, and has made this his residence ever since. Three sons of ten sons, and three daughters are deceased. The two eldest sons, William and John, enlisted in the Second Confederate Tennessee Cavalry, the former being killed in February, 1862, the other serving until the close. The family are members of the Methodist Church. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. E. Franklin, editor of the Roane County Republican, was born at Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1853, was reared and educated there, and in youth learned surveying and engineering. He was employed as surveyor on several railroads in the North, and at Nashville and Knoxville, Tenn., under Maj. Crawford, until the summer of 1886, when he succeeded the Roane County Publishing Company in editing his paper. William B. Franklin, the father, was a native of Georgetown, D.C., and spent the most of his life in Virginia. He moved from Georgetown to Ohio in 1832, and there married a Miss Scott, by whom seven children were reared to maturity. The mother of these children died about 1838 or 1840, and he then married Elizabeth Lee Bell, a descendant of Robert Lee. By this marriage our subject, two brothers and two sisters were reared, four of them still living. The deceased brother, James T., was an Episcopal minister, and died at Erie, Penn., in 1881. He had been pastor there a year or two before his death. The death of subject's father occurred in 1879. One brother of our subject was an aide on Gen. Thomas' staff at the battle of Murfreesboro or Stone River. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. A. Hill, manager of the mines at Ironton, was born in Roane County in 1845, and reared on a farm in this county. In August, 1861, he enlisted in the First Tennessee Fed- eral Infantry, and served three years. After the war he followed farming until about 1878, when he became interested in mining. The firm of Hill & Kindrick was formed in 1884, and now possesses two tracts aggregating 265 acres at Ironton Mines, and also forty acres of mineral rights, employing about fifty men. In addition to these mines they operate three others, all near the Tennessee River, in which they employ about 100 men. These tour mines annually produce about 31,000 tons, which is furnished to cities, the Chattanooga Iron Company's furnaces, and the Dayton furnace. In 1870 he married Margaret A. Kindrick, to whom have been born three sons and three daughters. Mr. Kindrick lives in Chattanooga, attending to the boating and sales, while Mr. Hill manages the mines. His parents, Barney and Nancy (Millican) Hill, natives of Brad- ley County, after marriage moved to Roane County, where they reared five children, all living. Our subject was a child when the father died, and the mother's death occurred in 1877. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. C. Hinds, a farmer and butcher at Rockwood, was born in 1837 in Roane County. When sixteen years old he began life independently, and in 1855 went to California, where, for the first four years, he worked on a stock ranch. He after- ward combined butchering and stock-raising, and in 1866 returned to Tennessee, where he has since resided. In December, 1867, he married Ruth Caroline, a daughter of L. J. Hinds, a native of Roane County. Their children are William C., Rilla C., Nora L., Samuel B., Martha E., Katie K. and Ella M. The eldest daughter and her parents are members of the Christian Church. In politics Mr. Hinds is Conservative, and first voted for Lincoln. He is the third of four children of John and Sarah A. (Hickey) Hinds, the former born and reared in Roane County, and the latter born in Knox County, but a resident of this county since childhood. The father, an excellent farmer, was captured and held as prisoner at Chattanooga for three months during the late war. The grandfather, Sylvanus Hinds, and a brother were the pioneers in honor of whom Hinds Valley received its name, and the former was a soldier of the Creek Indian war and of that of 1812. Our subject began as a poor man, but now owns 100 acres one mile east of Rockwood, and also deals extensively in stock. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H. B. Hinds, an enterprising farmer, was born in 1852 in Roane County, where he has since resided. He received a good common-school education, and was thrown upon his own resources at thirteen, and has ever since been engaged in farming. He has a fine 200-acre home farm. In 1878 he married Susan, a daughter of Christie and Martha Millard. Their children were Maggie (deceased) and Pearl. His second wife, to whom he was married in 1887, was Mrs. Mattie Baker, daughter of Thomas and Eliza Snodgrass. He is a Republican, and cast his first vote tor Grant. He is the eldest of two children—a son and daughter—of George W. and Elizabeth (Robbs) Hinds, both natives of Roane County, where the latter still survives her husband. In 1861 the father enlisted and served until November, 1862, when he died in Indianapolis. He was of Irish origin, and a son of Joseph and Susan (Hawkins) Hinds, natives of North Carolina, and after their marriage residents of Knox County, and finally of Roane County. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. D. Hembree, a farmer, was born June 16, 1840, in Roane County, where he now resides. He received a good academical education. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confeder- ate Army, Company I, Twenty-sixth Tennessee Infantry; in 1862 was transferred to the Sixteenth Battalion of Cavalry. In 1868 he commenced farming. April 23, 1868, he mar- ried D. C. Staples, and has five children by her: John B., Elmira C., Mary C., Anna D. and Robert L. Mrs. Hembree died July 5, 1871, and November 18, 1872, our subject mar- ried Mary J. Dail, whose children are Dixie J. and Joel D. The mother died June 14, 1883, and April 23, 1886, Mr. Hembree married Lucy E. Dail. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, he being a strict member and steward of the same church, and trustee of three different churches. He now owns 800 acres of land, 350 of which are in a high state of cultivation, mostly all in grass. He has always been a Democrat; he is a Prohibitionist. His father, Col. Joel Hembree, was born in Spartanburg, S. C., March 25, 1793; when nine years old he came to Roane County, Tenn., and in 1812 enlisted in the war; in 1836 he was a colonel; he served three terms in the Legislature and twice in the State Senate; was a strong Democrat. He died December 23, 1868, in the Christian faith. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- T. A. Kindrick, a farmer, was born February 17, 1845, in Roane County. He received a good academical education, and when twenty-five years of age began for himself. In 1868 he went to Missouri, and worked in a fruit-tree nursery for fourteen months, and then returned to Roane County, his present home. December 25, 1877, he married Mol- lie, daughter of William and Margaret (McPherson) Foust, natives of Roane County, the former of whom served as sheriff of Rhea County for several years, and was a soldier during the entire late war. Our subject's children are Samuel McK., Ira E. and Mary M. His wife is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church; in politics he is a Democrat, first voting for Seymour. He is the eighth of the eleven children, seven sons and four daugh- ters, of Samuel and Mary (Rector) Kindrick, the former born in Upper East Tennessee, and since his childhood a resident of Roane County, and the latter a native of Roane County, and deceased in 1886, aged seventy-seven years. The grandfather, Samuel Kindrick, Sr., was a native of Virginia, of Dutch descent, and one of the earliest pioneers of Roane County. The father, beginning as a poor man, now owns 800 acres. Our subject owns a fine farm of 196 acres on the Tennessee River, nine miles west of Kingston. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hugh Martin, of Childers & Martin, merchants, was born in Knox County, in 1836, the youngest of nine children (five sons and four daughters, three of the former and two of the latter still living) of Samuel and Julia (Reese) Martin. The father was born in Ireland, and came across the water in his youth, locating in Jefferson County and finally in Kingston. Here he followed merchandising, and supplied the garrison during the war of 1812. In 1830 he left Kingston and went to Campbell's Station, Knox County, where he was engaged in mercantile trade about fifteen years. Agriculture then occupied his attention until his death, in 1856, three years after the death of his wife. Our subject came to Kingston, in 1853, to attend school, but soon embarked in the mercantile trade in the firm J. B. & H. Martin. This firm continued until 1864, when the brother withdrew, and our subject conducted the business during and after the war, until the present firm was formed in 1870. May 1, 1871, he married Sarah E. Center, a native of Roane County. By this alliance two sons and four daughters have been reared. The family are Presby- terians, and he is a Mason, and has been treasurer of Union Lodge, No. 38. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Capt. W. E. McElwee, attorney, ore miner and farmer, was born in 1837, in Roane County, where he has since lived. He received a good common-school education, and was thrown upon his own resources when eighteen years old. He began poor, and what he is now worth was accumulated by his own industry and good management. He first worked in a foundry for three years, then worked at cabinet work two years, then enlisted in Com- pany I, Twenty-sixth Tenneseee Infantry (Confederate States Army) in July 1861, as a pri- vate. In December, 1861, he was elected second lieutenant, and, immediately after the battle of Murfreesboro, was promoted to the captaincy of his company for his bravery and efficiency as an officer, and was placed on a committee to examine and determine upon the competency of officers, in which capacity he served until after the battle of Chicka- mauga, when he was placed in command of an engineer corps, and assigned to duty as corps engineer of Hood's corps, which position he held until the close of the war. He was surrendered at Greensboro, N. C., with Gen. Johnston's army. He then came home and worked as a mechanic two years, when he acted as civil engineer for "The Roane Iron Company," for the following six years, when he engaged in mining iron ore, which, in connection with farming, he has since followed. He was married, in 1868, to Miss Martha R. Brown, a daughter of William V. Brown, of Roane County. Three children were born to this union: Franklin, and two that died in infancy. Mrs. McElwee died in 1872. Mr. McElwee is a Democrat in politics, but cast his first presidential ballot for Bell and Everett. He is the youngest of four children of William and Lucinda (Eblen) McElwee. The father was born and raised in Roane County, near Loudon County, and the mother was born in Loudon County, Va., and when seven years old was brought to Tennessee. William McElwee was the first white child known to have been born in Roane County. He was one of sixteen children of James McElwee, a native of Charlotte, N. C., and immigrated to Tennessee when Daniel Boone came west the second time. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and served in Sevier's regiment during the battle at King's Mountain. William McElwee was of Scotch-Irish, and Mrs. McElwee of German descent. James McElwee married on the Watauga River, in Virginia, and was among the first settlers at Knoxville. He first settled five miles below Knoxville, and was the first man to go to the rescue when the Cavett family was massacred. He served in all the expeditions made against the Indians during the frontier time of East Tennessee, and died in Roane County. William McElwee served under Gen. Jackson in his Indian campaigns, and also served in the war of 1812. W. E. McElwee participated in forty-two battles during the late war, and was wounded three different times. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elbert C. Montgomery (deceased), a farmer, was born December 23, 1825, in Roane County, where he died May 8, 1886. His limited education he supplemented to a great degree by his own study and reading, in after years. In 1851 he married Elizabeth C. Stephens, daughter of William and Emeline Stephens, natives of Bledsoe County. Mr. Stephens was justice of the peace for many years, and a son of Isaac and Anna (Davis) Stephens, among the earliest pioneers of the Sequatchie Valley. Our subject's children were Mary E., now Mrs. W. W. Smith; William S. (deceased), a graduate of Emory and Henry College, Virginia, in the class of 1879; Maggie, a graduate of Martha Washington College, Virginia, in the class of 1876; John A., a graduate of Emory and Henry College, in the class of 1883, and for some time a teacher, but later a farmer; and Laura F., educated at Martha Washington College. Our subject was, from his majority, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and after the separation, in 1844, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He was a prominent and influential church worker. His wife and children belong, likewise, to that denomination. He was a Democrat at the time of his death, but was formerly an old line Whig, and first voted for Taylor. He began life for himself when twenty-five years of age, and at his death owned a fine farm of 1,000 acres, all, excepting a gift from his father, the result of his own care and ability. He was a successful farmer, and a prominent and highly respected citizen, and greatly missed by all who knew him. He was the sixth of seven chilren—four sons and three daughters—of John and Mary (Wenton) Montgomery. All the children are living in Missouri, excepting our subject and Alexander, and Mary (Mrs. White) who moved to Missouri, then to Texas, and finally to California. The father, probably a native of Sevier County, was a pioneer there and in Roane County, where he died. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joseph A. Muecke is a well-to-do and enterprising citizen of Kingston. He was born in Hungary in 1843, and, with his parents, came to America in 1849, locating in Kingston, Tenn., in July of that year. At the commencement of the war, our subject entered the Union service, serving three years in the First Tennessee Infantry, after which he returned home, and has since been engaged in merchandising. He served as Roane County trustee during the years 1884 and 1885. His parents, Joseph and Frederica are citizens of Kingston. The father taught school in Hungary, and has followed merchandising here. Our subject married Henrietta Neergaard in 1872. She is a native of Holstein, Germany, but was reared in Roane County. To this marriage three sons and four daughters have been born, two of the sons now deceased. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- R. W. Neergaard, a prominent farmer of the First District, was born at Paint Rock, Roane County, in 1853, one of eight sons (one daughter) of Theodore and Augusta (Stuhr) Neergaard, our subject, Theodore A. (of Missouri) and Henrietta (Mrs. Muecke) being the only survivors. The parents were reared and married in Germany, and in 1848 came to America and located at Paint Rock, where they attended to their farm until their respective deaths, in 1858 and 1878. The mother moved to Kingston in 1867 to educate her children, and lived there until her death. In 1877 our subject married Nannie W. Patton, a native of Roane County, and daughter of Dr. J. P. Patton. Of their five sons one is deceased. He then bought his present home of 200 acres, mostly Tennessee River bottom lands. He also owns 400 acres in this county, part of his father's estate. He grows cereals, and also gives considerable attention to stockraising. The family are Presbyterians. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- W. J. Owings, merchant and manufacturer of woolen goods, was born December 22, 1815, within three miles of Rockwood, his present home, where he has since lived, excepting two years in Kentucky and Ohio. When eighteen he was thrown on his own resources, and by his own ability has acquired what he has. He was a carpenter and millwright before the war, when he was made sutler by Col. Byrd, of the First Tennessee, in which he continued up to 1863. He then engaged in merchandising at Nicholasville, Ky., where he remained one year, and then returned to Roane County, his present home. On January 13, 1839, he married Margaret, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret Kendrick, who were the earliest pioneers of Roane County, and of German descent. Of our subject's eight children, the following are living: Samuel A., F. D., State's attorney of the Roane County District; Mary, now Mrs. William Smith; and Martha A., now Mrs. Thomas A. Brown. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church. He is a Republican, and first voted tor Van Buren. He is the eldest of thirteen children born to Samuel and Sarah (Randolph) Owings. The father was born and reared in Roane County, and was a sol- dier in the war of 1812, and assisted in the removal of the Cherokee Indians to the Indian Territory. He was the third of nine children born to Edward and Elizabeth (Sumpter) Owings, natives of North Carolina, and he was the first man to cross the Big Emory River and there build a house. Both were of English descent, and the grandmother was a woman of remarkable force of character. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. A. Owings, merchant, was born in 1850 in Roane County, where he has since lived, excepting two years spent in Kentucky. He received a good academic education, and was thrown upon his own resources when twenty-three years of age. He first ran a card- ing machine and saw mill, managed a farm for five years, and then engaged in merchan- dising and milling in partnership with N. D. Acoff, as Owings & Acoff. He began life with $3,500, received from his father, but by his ability in management he now owns, besides the stock and seventy acres belonging to the firm, seventy acres where he now resides. In 1878 he married Martha J. McGregor. Their children were Lennie L., James S. (deceased), Mary A., Samuel C. (deceased), and and an infant (deceased). Both are members of the Christian Church. He is a Republican in politics, and first voted for Grant. He was elected justice in 1883, which office he still holds. He is the sixth of nine children born to W. J. and Margaret (Kendrick) Owings, both residents of Roane County all their lives. The father, a sutler for the First Tennessee during the late war, began life a poor man, and succeeded in accumulating considerable property. He was a splendid millwright. His home is in Rockwood. The grandfather, Samuel, was one of the first pioneers of this county. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. C. Pope, county court clerk, was born in Roane County in 1843, and was reared on a farm in the county until the commencement of the war, when he enlisted in the Fifth Federal Infantry, and after the retreat from Cumberland Gap was promoted to orderly sergeant, serving until the close. He then located on a farm till he was elected county surveyor in 1874; then moved to Kingston, where he has since resided. He served as surveyor till 1878, and was then elected county court clerk, and is now serving his third term. In 1866 he married Matilda C. Mathews, a native of Roane County, by whom one son and six daughters were born— five daughters living. The mother of these children died in April, 1882, and in September, 1883, our subject married Mary E. Smith, also a native of Roane County. Jehu Pope, the great-grandfather of our subject, was of Irish descent. He was reared in Virginia, married there, and moved to Jefferson County, Tenn., where William E., the great-grandfather of our subject was born. The latter was a Baptist minister, and soon after the establishment of Blair's Ferry, located in Roane (now Loudon) County, then afterward in this county, where he died in 1867. Jehu H., the father of our subject, was born in Jefferson County, was a Baptist minister, and died in Roane County in 1875. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Parker, was a native of Roane County, and died in 1880. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- W. B. Reed, editor of the Kingston East Tennesseean, was born in 1836, in Charles town, Jefferson Co., Va., where he was reared and educated. From 1858 to 1861 he was engaged in journalism in his native county. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted and served in the Twelfth Virginia Cavalry, under Col. Turner A. Ashby, eighteen months. Then, under the Confederate law exempting newspaper men, he was dis-charged and engaged on the Richmond Examiner about a year. Tiring of newspaper life he again enlisted—this time in the marine service— serving as coast-guard on Chesapeake Bay, where, with his squad, he was captured and spent eleven months at Point Lookout and other Federal prisons. Through a special exchange of the naval men in February, 1865, he returned, and again being discharged, he re-engaged on the Richmond Examiner, Where he remained until the close of the war. In November, 1866, he came to Kingston, and established the paper of which he has been editor and proprietor ever since. In 1875 he married Mary E. Jackson, of Virginia, who died in 1879. He then married her sister Roberta. They are both Presbyterians, of which church he has been an elder for several years. His father, John, was born in Maryland. He married Emma Downs, in Charlestown, Va., and lived there permanently. Our subject is the only survivor of four sons and two daughters who lived to maturity. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E. V. Robbs, a merchant and farmer, was born August 30, 1827, in Washington County, Tenn., and since his eighth year has lived at his present home. In April, 1847, he enlisted in the First North Carolina Infantry, and was mustered out August 8, 1848, at Smithville, N. C. August 11, 1861, he also enlisted in Company E, First Ten- nessee Infantry, and served until March 7, 1865. He was second lieutenant of his com- pany, and while stationed near Washington, in Rhea County, guarding the ford there, he was captured, and with nine others, of whom he became the only survivor, was held sixteen months and three days in Libby Prison. He was engaged in iron forging until 1876, since when he has been devoted to farming and merchandising at his present location. Besides his stock of goods he also owns 500 acres of land on the C. S. R. R., all the result of his own skill and hard work. March 11, 1852, he married Rebecca S., a daughter of Samuel and Sallie Owings. Their children are Alexander (now of Texas), Sallie (widow of the late W. Tarwater), and Margaret (deceased). The mother died Sep- tember 14, 1859. February 23, 1860, he married Louisa Ables, a daughter of J. C. Ables. Their children were James, Henderson, Nancy A., Lillie M., Amanda (deceased), Eddie (deceased), Luther (deceased) and Patrick. He is a Republican, and first voted for Taylor. He is the third of twelve children of Alexander and Nancy (Hickey) Robbs, the former a native of South Carolina, and since boyhood a resident of Washington County, Tenn. The mother was born in Wytheville, Va., and also when a child became a resident of Washington County. He was a son of Edward and Betsey Robbs, of Irish origin. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- William Smith, a farmer at Post Oak Springs, was born June 3, 1827, in Roane County. He began business for himself when thirty years old, a poor man. He was married, in January, 1863, to Miss Mary Owings, daughter of W. J. Owings, of Roane County, Tenn. Mr. and Mrs. Owings were born and raised in Roane County. W. J. Owings' was a sutler during the late war. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith three children have been born: James E. and Fidelia; the first born died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Smith is a Republican in politics. He first engaged in merchandising in Rhea County, Tenn., where he remained five years, and then went to Texas for the purpose of seeing the country, with the view of locating, He remained there one year, when he returned to Post Oak, and engaged in merchan- dising. at which be continued until the breaking out of the late war. During the war he engaged in farming at his present location, and also engaged in merchandising in Kentucky. After the war he farmed the year following, when he engaged in merchan- dising with his brother, the style of firm being William Smith & Bro. He continued. thus for the next eight years, when he quit the goods business and went to farming, which has occupied most of his attention since, except a store he ran in connection with farming up till three years since. He is the sixth of eleven children of Anthony and Ann (Baily) Smith. The father was born in Virginia, and when quite small was brought by his parents to Roane County about 1790. Mrs. Smith was born in Blount County, and when small was brought to Roane County, where she resided until her death, which occurred in March, 1887, aged about ninety years. Anthony Smith was a soldier in the Creek Indian war under Gen. Jackson, and was a blacksmith and farmer by occupation. He died about 1847, aged about sixty years. He was a son of John Smith, who was born and raised in Virginia, and after his marriage came to Tennessee. William Smith has a fine farm of upward of 300 acres, where he resides, besides some land he owns in other tracts, which he has accumulated by his industry and good management. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L. Swafford, merchant, was born in 1826 in McMinn County, Tenn. He began for himself at nineteen, a poor farmer; but since 1873 he has been merchandising. In 1842 he married M. C. Wilson, a daughter of Richard and Jane Wilson, natives of Tennessee, and of Irish and Dutch descent respectively. Our subject's children were Eliza J., deceased; Sarah E., now Mrs. Walsh; Mary A., deceased; Martha C., now Mrs. Aytes; Ellen, now Mrs. Williams; John, a merchant in Meigs County, Tenn.; Tennessee (deceased), Lawrence (deceased), Florence; (deceased) and Theodosia A. (deceased). Both have been members of the Baptist Church since their early years, in which he has been clerk and deacon for eight years, and Sunday-school superintendent for five years past. He is a Republican, and for many years has been a justice of the peace. He is the only child of John and Sarah (Gahagen) Swafford, natives of Tennessee. The grandmother, also named Sarah Gahagen, was born in Ireland, and after her marriage first settled in McMinn County on coming to America. The father, John, is one of eight children of Thomas and Sarah Swafford. The father of our subject's wife, Richard Welroed, was one of the most prominent Baptist ministers in McMinn County. Our subject is a prominent member of his church, and an able business man. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. B. Tedder, a farmer and butcher at Rockwood, was born in 1829 in Roane County. He is the fifth of eight children of John and Mary (Robeson) Tedder. The father was born in Greene County, N. C., and when twenty-one years of age came to Tennessee, settling in Roane County. The mother was born and raised in Jefferson County, Tenn., and when quite small came to Roane County with her parents. John Tedder was an Inter- nal revenue officer for several years. J. B. Tedder was married, November 10, 1862, to Miss Sarah J. Shadden, a daughter of John and Betsey (Mitchell) Shadden. To this union seven children have been born: Eugene S., John, Joseph, William, Mary E. (deceased), Charles and Gideon. Mr. Tedder is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has an interest of 100 acres in the farm, where he now lives, and also owns 200 acres in Cumberland County. He is a Republican in politics. John Tedder was of Welsh and Mrs. Tedder of English and French descent. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Capt. L. M. Wester. John Wester, the grandfather of Capt. L. M. Wester, was born in North Carolina and married there, reared most of his family there, and about 1818 came to Jefferson County, Tenn., where his death and also his wife's death occurred. Daniel Wester, a son of John, and Our subject's father, were born in North Carolina, in 1787, left home at the age of ten years, passing through the town of Kingston located on Duck River, in Middle Tennessee, and in his sixteenth year accompanied Capt. Williams to Natchez the expedition against the Spaniards, than returned. In his seventeenth year he mar- ried Elizabeth Lloyd, then residing with her parents, John and Rachel Lloyd, on Duck River. Daniel Wester, his wife and her parents, then moved to Jefferson County, and after a couple of years started back to Duck River, but stopped at the fort at Kingston, where Daniel soon became a Commissary officer, and was also deputy sheriff under Gen. Brown, which position he held twenty-two years. He was also with Harrison in the battles around Lake Erie and in Canada. After serving here at the fort under Gen. Brown he became a local Methodist preacher, and also located on a farm eight miles below Kingston, where he resided till his death. Our subject is the eleventh of a family of twelve children, two sons and three daughters still living. Daniel Wester's first wife died in 1843, and he then married Sarah Breedlove, by whom he had two sons and one daughter. Daniel Wester died in 1860, and his second wife is still living. Capt. L. M. Wester was born in Kingston In 1823, and remained with his parents till eighteen years old, then married Sarah Hamel, a native of Roane County, by whom one son and two daughters were born, the son, John M., still living. This wife died in 1848, and he after- ward married Catharine E. Yost, a native of East Tennessee, by whom one son and two daughters are surviving. The Captain has always made Kingston his home, with excep- tion of the year 1851, when he resided in Texas. At the commencement of the Mexican war he volunteered at Kingston in Company C, Fourth Tennessee Regiment, Being elected lieutenant at the organization. At the commencement of the late war he enlisted in the First Tennessee Federal Infantry, being elected captain of Company 0. His son, John M., enlisted in the same regiment, and was at the organization elected second lieutenant, he being then sixteen years old. The captain served two years, then resigned on account of sickness; the son after serving two and a half years, received an appointment of cadet at West Point, and withdrew to go there. The Captain has been in the Legis- lature three terms, and State Senate once, and has been a justice of the peace for twenty nine consecutive years, including the time he was in the army. He is now also county school commissioner. At the age of nineteen he was elected constable, serving two years, and was a colonel in the old State militia. During his official duties in both wars he never placed a man of his under guard. He and family are Methodists. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. A. Winton, farmer, was born, February 2, 1819, in Roane County, where he grew to manhood. He was educated at Emory and Henry College, Washington County, Va. After beginning life for himself at his majority, he engaged in teaching at Saltville, Va., and has since been engaged as a farmer. February 2, 1843, he married Susanna, daughter of John and Susan Baker, who were among the earliest settlers of Washington County, Va. She died in March, 1878. November 27,1877, he married Carrie P. Corry (nee Smith), a daughter of John Y. Smith, an old citizen of Roane County; and a prominent lawyer. They have one child, John Lenoir. Mrs. Winton died in 1881. Our subject has been a Methodist, of the Southern Branch, since 1838. He is a Democrat, and first voted for Clay. He was justice of the peace about two years, and is an F & A. M. He is the fourth of the eleven children of James and. Rnoda (Mitchell) Winton, natives of Roane County, where they died March 17, 1849, aged sixty-two years, and September 3, 1886, aged ninety-one years, three months and fourteen days, respectively. The latter was of Dutch stock. The grandparents were John and Arabella (Cunningham) Winton, the for- mer of Irish stock, and born November 8, 1761, and the latter born May 18, 1763. John was a successful financier, and amassed a large fortune before his death. He settled near Muddy Creek Station sometime before 1785. Our subject owns a fine farm of about 500 acres on the Tennessee River, and is a highly respected, well-informed man. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------