Transcribed from Goodspeed’s History of  Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present; Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketches of from Twenty-Five to Thirty Counties of East Tennessee, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Original Observations, Reminiscences, etc., etc. (Chicago and Nashville:  The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887), pp. 962-987.  See footnote below for on-line access.

P. L. BIBLE, contractor and builder of Cleveland, is a son of Henry and Rachel (SIMMONS) BIBLE, both natives of Greene County. Having married, they settled in Monroe County where he farmed. In their family were five children — four sons and one daughter. In 1837 the father died, and the mother moved to Polk County, where she died in 1877. Our subject was born in Monroe County, August 13, 1833. He was raised on the farm, and received a fair education. At the age of twenty-one years he began learning to make and lay brick, and after an apprenticeship of some two years he began taking contracts. In 1869 he came to Cleveland, and has followed his trade since. He built CRAIGMILES Block, McNELLY corner, JONES’ residence in Cleveland, Maury County, GA., Courthouse, and many others in Bradley and adjoining counties. In 1866 he married Miss Amanda COLEMAN, of Polk County, by whom two children: George and Herschel were born. After the death of his first wife he married, in 1875, Miss Mary TAYLOR, of Monroe County, by whom two children: Taylor and Maggie, were born. Both he and his wife are Missionary Baptists. In 1861 he volunteered in Company B of Third Tennessee Infantry (Confederate States Army), as second lieutenant. After a year’s service he raised Company B, of the Sixty-second Tennessee Infantry (Confederate States Army), which was mounted toward the close of the war. He was at first in Manassas, Chickasaw Bluff, Champion Hills, siege of Vicksburg, and was never away from his command during an engagement. He surrendered at Washington, Ga. At the close of the war he returned to his trade. He started in business with nothing, and has made all he has. He is a Master Mason and a Democrat. For some thirty years he has worked at his trade.

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This biography was transcribed by Sherry Pollard. We thank her for transcribing all the Goodspeed’s biographical sketches.

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