The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1887
Biographical Sketches, Warren County
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James Webb, farmer and stock raiser, is the son of James and Mary (Webb) Webb, and was born in the Fifteenth Civil District of Warren County, Tenn., December 25, 1818. The father was born in North Carolina about 1790, and was of English descent. He came to this county about 1813, and was one of the first settlers. He was a farmer, a Democrat and a member of the Baptist Church. He died in April, 1877. The mother was a native of North Carolina born about 1796, and also of English descent. She died about 1867. Our subject lived with his parents until the time of his marriage, which occurred August 25, 1842. Miss Mary Byars, a native of Warren County, Tenn., born in March, 1828, became his wife. She is the daughter of H. and J. Byars and by her marriage became the mother of sixteen children, eleven of whom are living: Malvina, Jane, Ascenith, A. J., H. B., Isham, G. H., James, Robert L., Mary E. Dovey and Joseph L. Those deceased are Thomas, Didama and three children that died in infancy. After marriage our subject began farming and now, by his good and judicious management, owns 1,200 acres of land. He has been elected constable of his district, also tax collector and justice of the peace at different times. At present he is tax assessor. He is a decided Democrat in politics and an excellent citizen.
B. C. Wilkinson, farmer, miller and merchant, was born in DeKalb County, Tenn., December 11, 1836, and is the son of George W. and Mary Wilkinson. The father was born in South Carolina about 1815, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He was a farmer, a Democrat in politics, and died in Smith County, Tenn., about 1847. The mother was born in South Carolina about 1817, is still living and is a resident of southwestern Missouri, and a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. Our subject is the eldest of five children. He remained at home until after his father's death when he came to Warren County and lived with an uncle - C. A. Cantrell. He remained with his uncle until nineteen years of age when he returned to De DeKalb County and attended school for one year. He married Miss Elizabeth Potter, March 24, 1859. She was born May 13, 1844, and is the daughter of Thomas and F. Potter, of French descent. Nine children were the result of this union, seven of whom are living: Thomas B., William D., John F., George L., A. L., Cleveland L., and Bell; those deceased are Mary, born in June, 1863, and died when an infant, and Fatima, born in January, 1881, and died when an infant. After marriage our subject began cultivating the soil and this he has continued up to the present time. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted in the Sixteenth Tennessee Regiment (Confederate Army) commanded by John H. Savage, and in Company A, commanded by L. H. Savage, and was in the battle of Perryville and many skirmishes. At the battle of Perryville he received a wound. At Ringgold, Ga., in 1863, he was taken prisoner and remained in prison at Rock Island, Ill., until the close of the war. After his return from the war he again engaged in farming. In 1873, in connection with his farming interest, Mr. Wilkinson engaged in merchandising at Bare Branch. In 1881 he closed out his business at the latter place and came to his present location where he followed his former occupation, but also engaged in the milling business. He has 250 acres of land well cultivated and is succeeding quite well in life. He is a Master Mason, a member of the Christian Church, and a decided Democrat in politics.
E. H. Williams, a prominent farmer of Warren County, was born in Onslow County, N. C., February 28, 1836, the third of a family of seven, born to N. W. and E. N. (Cox) Williams. The parents were married in 1830 in North Carolina, and in 1837 came to Tennessee, where the father engaged in farming until 1851, when he established a mercantile store at Tullahoma. Soon after his location in that town he was appointed postmaster and held that position until his death in 1853. He was of English descent, his wife of Irish. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and at an early age chose as his occupation, the carpenter trade. He worked at this trade until 1853 when he turned his attention to farming and has farmed very successfully until the present time. He has in connection with farming traded in stock very extensively and in 1883 and 1884 sold goods in Viola. April 29, 1861, Mr. Williams' marriage with Fannie Cunningham was solemnized, and to this union one child was born, W. E., born July 14, 1865. Mrs. Williams died in 1867. January 15, 1874, Mr. Williams married Janie Albritton, of Snowhill, Ala. This union resulted in the birth of two children: Charley, born February 14, 1876, and Frank, born March 29, 1878. Mrs. Williams was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and died March 18, 1880. Mr. Williams married Nannie M. Finch, of Warren County, January 8, 1883, and to them one child has been born, Alice, born September 8, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he is a Democrat in politics. In 1876 Mr. Williams was elected justice of the peace and has held that office to the present time.
P. H. Winton, farmer, was born in Coffee County, Tenn., August 13, 1841, the sixth son of Stephen and Susan (Sayne) Winton, who were both natives of Tennessee. The father was of Scotch descent, born in 1791, was a life-long farmer, and a member of the Christian Church. He died March 1, 1878. The mother was born in 1801 or 1802, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Her death occurred January 11, 1864. P. H. was reared on the farm and received but a limited education. In 1858 he was engaged by G. Braly as salesman at a small salary and remained with him eighteen months, when he began as salesman for Dr. Davis and after one year with this employer he engaged in various occupations until April 27, 1861, when he enlisted in P. Turney's regiment, First Tennessee. In June, 1862, he was discharged on account of ill health, and in 1864 he began farming, which he continued until 1867, when he established a mercantile store in Viola, and one year later returned to the farm. For one year he farmed in connection with his father-in-law and then began farming on his own resources. In 1882 he raised 1,600 bushels of wheat on 100 acres of land, and has made farming a success. September 10, 1873, Mr. Winton wedded Lillian Ramsey, a daughter of S. M. and O. (Smart) Ramsey, and to them have been born three children: McRamsey, born July 8, 1874; Harris S. (deceased), born January 12, 1876, and Emma O., born September 26, 1877. Mrs. Winton died September 17, 1881, a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Winton is a member of the same church, and a Democrat in politics.
Col. Edmund J. Wood, a well know and enterprising planter of Warren County, is a native of Tennessee, born May 15, 1828, in what is now Cannon County, but at that time was a part of Warren County. He is a son of John H. and Roxanna P. (Sutton) Wood. The father was of English descent, born in North Carolina in 1803, and while a child came with his parents to Tennessee. He was a farmer and merchant by occupation, a Democrat in politics, and died in Cannon County in 1879. The mother was of Scotch-English ancestry, born In Kentucky in the year 1806. Edmond J. secured a good education in youth and was principally educated at Irvin College, Warren County. After completing his education he was for three years engaged in the mercantile business at Woodbury, Cannon County. In 1853 he was sent to the State Legislature and represented Cannon County for two consecutive terms. In 1859 he was elected to the State Senate, representing the counties of Cannon, Warren, Grundy, Coffee and Van Buren one regular term and two extra sessions. In 1861 Mr. Wood moved to Warren County, and in September, the same year, enlisted in Company F, Fifth Confederate Regiment, with B. J. Hill as colonel. He was elected captain of the company, and at Corinth, Miss., was made lieutenant colonel, but on account of ill health, caused by rheumatism contracted during the services, was not able long for active service. He spent his time as his health would permit with the army, but in 1864 returned home, and after the close of the war settled on his plantation, and has since been a successful planter. In the bloody and hotly contested battle of Shiloh he took an active and conspicuous part, and in the report of his commanding officer, was complimented for his gallant conduct upon the field, and referred to as the "bravest of the brave." In 1886 Col. Wood was defeated for the State Legislature by, Col. John H. Savage, though he controlled a large vote of the citizens of Warren County. In March, 1887, he was appointed by President Grover Cleveland, postmaster at McMinnville, Tenn., which position he is now filling to the satisfaction of the public and the department. In 1854 he married Miss Lizzie Thompson, a most excellent lady, a native of Rutherford County. To this union have been born three children. Col. Wood has done much in supporting the interest of the Democratic party in this part of the State, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
William T. York, a prominent and enterprising farmer of Warren County, residing in the Fifth Civil District, was born in the county July 9, 1849. He is the son of George W. and Martha (Lurk) York. George W. Lurk was born in North Carolina September 20, 1810, and died in July, 1876. He was of English descent and came to Tennessee when quite young with his parents, who settled on Rocky River. He was a successful farmer, was well educated, was a member of the Christian Church and of the Democratic party. Mrs. York was born in Warren County, Tenn., December 19, 1810, and died October 25, 1851. She was a well educated member of the Christian Church. William T. York