McTEER, William A. (Major)

Maj. William A. McTEER, a prominent attorney of Maryville, was born in Blount County, September 16, 1843. The great-grandfather, ROBERT McTEER, came from Ireland, and located first in Mifflin County, Pa., but about 1780 came to Blount County. He served through the Revolution, and died in the eastern part of Blount County, about 1824. WILLIAM, the grandfather, was born June 14, 1780, in Blount County, served in the war of 1812, and died May 29, 1862. ANDREW B., the father, was born in Blount County, September 5, 1820. He was a farmer, and blacksmith, and was quartermaster in the Third Tennessee (Federal) Cavalry, and also adjutant, Major and Colonel in the State militia. He died June 14, 1885. The mother, NANCY (GAMBLE), a native of Blount County, still lives on the old homestead, originally consisting of 600 acres, entered by ROBERT McTEER, art of which was entered from the North Carolina government.

Our subject has many family relics in his possession, including a watch of English make, held by the family since 1750 and carried through the Revolution by ROBERT McTEER. WILLIAM A. was reared on a farm, was in a country store, and also learned the blacksmith’s trade. He was the first of his regiment, the Third Tennessee (Federal) Cavalry, sworn in, enlisting in Company A. He was made Second Lieutenant, then adjutant, and at the close held a Major’s commission. He also served on the staff of COLS. THORNBURG and PROSSER. After the war he attended Maryville College until 1867, and a year later was made clerk of the circuit court, in which capacity he served from 1868 to 1878, when he was admitted to the bar. He served in the Legislature in 1881-82. He is a director of the Bank of Maryville; is a director and also treasurer of Maryville College. Since 1878 he has been United States commissioner.

In 1876 he married MARY T. WILSON, daughter of REV. D. M. WILSON, a Presbyterian minister, now of Spring City, Rhea County, Tenn. She was born in Beyroot, Syria. Our subject is an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and for several years has been superintendent of the New Providence Sabbath-school. He was president of the East Tennessee Sabbath-school Convention in 1886-87, and is vice-president, for East Tennessee, of the Tennessee State Temperance Alliance.

Source:  Goodspeed Publishing Co. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of from Twenty-Five to Thirty Counties of East Tennessee. Chicago: Goodspeed, 1887.

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