These articles were taken from an old book called Tennessee, The Volunteer State, 1796-1923 by John Trotwood Moore and Austin P. Foster published by S.J Clarke Publishing Co., 1923.
This book is no longer in print.
Fred J. Testerman is well known in business circles of Rogersville as vice president and general manager of the mercantile business operated under the name of W. T. Testerman & Sons. He was born in Kyles Ford, Hancock county, on the 15th of March, 1885, a son of W. T. and Julia (Livesay) Testerman. The father was born and reared in Hancock county, where his family located at an early day. The Testermans have been residents of Tennessee for three or four generations. Upon the completion of his education W. T. Testerman engaged in the mercantile business and achieved substantial success in that connection. He is at present a member of the state highway commission. For eight years he was clerk and master in chancery of Hancock county and for twelve years he was in the internal revenue department of the federal government. At Kyles Ford on the 25th of December, 1883, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Testerman and Miss Julia Livesay, who is also living. Her father, Andrew J. Livesay, was a member of the Hancock county court for a number of years. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Testerman eight children were born, four boys and four girls, all of whom are living, Fred J. being the oldest of the family.
Fred J. Testerman was educated in the public schools of Hancock county and subsequently attended Carson and Newman College at Jefferson City. He took literary work for one year and then enrolled in the business department of the college, from which department he was graduated in 1908. As a boy of sixteen years he engaged in business with his father at Kyles Ford, and he was active in that connection until 1909, having acquired an interest in the store. Subsequently he disposed of his interest to an uncle, John W. Testerman, and came to Rogersville, where he established a wholesale grocery active in the conduct of that business, achieving substantial success, and he then disposed business under the name of the Rogersville Grocery Company. For five years he was of it and became a member of the firm of Rogan & Testerman. They built up a reputation as hardware and machinery dealers and Mr. Testerman remained in that association until 1921, when he sold out his interests and opened a general department store in Rogersville, under the name of W. T. Testerman & Sons. He has laid the foundation for a successful business and is enjoying an extensive and representative trade. His wide and varied experiences have made him thoroughly familiar with every phase of the selling game and the best principles of honesty and integrity govern him in all transactions. Mr. Testerman has an interest in the Testerman Motor Company, which company handles the Ford car for Rogersville and he is a member of the Consumers Grocery Company and a director of that organization.
Julian Heath Campbell, member of the railroad and public utilities commission of Tennessee, was born in Johnson City, Washington county, this state, on the 23d of May, 1885, and is a son of John Calhoun and Ann Hazeltyne Judson (Nelson) Campbell, both of whom were natives of this state, the father's birth having occurred in Hancock county, while the mother was born in Washington county. She is deceased. The father makes his home in Johnson City, where he is looking after his timber, mineral and real estate interests. He served as postmaster of Johnson City for fourteen years and was also mayor for a time. He occupied a place on the board of public education for many years and is widely recognized as one of the most prominent figures in connection with the business interests and public life of the community in which he makes his home.
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