Among the immigrants to Tennessee from the state of North Carolina was Vincent S. Dabbs, who was born in the latter state in 1815, and who came with his brothers and sisters to Tennessee at an early date. They settled in Perry, Wayne and Lewis counties. Vincent S. Dabbs was a successful farmer and stock dealer. He was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Grinder, by whom he had two sons and two daughters, and after her death he married Ellen Elizabeth Lancaster, who bore him eight children, four of whom are still living, Dr. John P. Dabbs being the fourth in order of birth.
Vincent S. Dabbs died in 1880, and his second wife, who was born in Missouri in 1835, passed away in 1911. He was a Whig until after the party was disbanded, and from that time until his death he affiliated with the Democratic Party. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and his wife was a Primitive Baptist.
Dr. John P. Dabbs was born in Farmers’ Valley, Perry County, Tennessee, April 21, 1856. He received his early educational training in the public schools of his native county, after which he took a course in the Bryant & Stratton Business College at Nashville. He then taught in the public schools of Perry County for two years, at the end of which time he began the study of medicine. After suitable preparation, he entered the medical department of the University of Nashville, where he received the degree of M. D. in 1878, and took another course of lectures in 1882. He began practice at Farmers’ Valley, but in 1890 removed to Linden and was actively engaged in practice until he located at Hohenwald in 1909. He is a member of the Tennessee State Medical Society and the Perry County Medical Society, and although more than a third of a century has elapsed since he first received his degree, he has not permitted himself to fall behind in the march of medical progress. In keeping up with the procession, however, he knows how to be conservative without being non-progressive, and is never in a hurry to abandon a remedy that has been tried for the realm of experiment or empiricism. In addition to his professional work, he has been also extensively interested in farming in Perry County, and has dealt in real estate to some extent.
For many years Dr. Dabbs has been recognized as one of the leaders of the Democratic Party in his county and district. In 1896, he was elected to the state senate from the Twentieth Senatorial District, composed of Maury, Perry and Lewis counties, and served for two years. He served as chairman of the Democratic executive committee of Perry County for some time, and is now the secretary of the executive committee of Lewis County. In 1904 he was appointed by Judge Woods to fill out an unexpired term as clerk of the circuit court of Perry County, and in whatever official position he has been called to serve he has given a good account of his stewardship.
Fraternally Dr. Dabbs is a member of the camp of Woodmen of the World at Linden, the Masonic Lodge, No. 256, at Linden, and the Royal Arch Chapter at Jackson, Tennessee. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church.
On August 21, 1877, Dr. Dabbs was united in marriage with Miss Sarah L. Randel,daughter of
Dr. A. P. Randel, of Oregon County, Missouri. To this union were born seven children, five of whom are still living, viz: Mollie May, Commodore Olna, Ethel, Cleveland R. and Sadie Matt. Mollie married Samuel Lomax of Linden, Tennessee; Ethel is the wife of Joseph Tucker, a well-known resident of Perry County; Sadie married C. H. Cude and lives in Texas; and the two sons are engaged in the conduct of a large mercantile concern at Hohenwald, under the firm name of J. P. Dabbs & Sons.
