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.

W. H. WEATHERLY was born in Guilford County, NC, July 10 1815, and is the son of William WEATHERLY and Nancy (WALKER) WEATHERLY. The father was of English descent, was born in Guilford County, NC, about 1783, and died in Bradley County, Tenn., April 5, 1865. He came to Bradley County in 1837, and was a successful farmer. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He was an old line Whig. Nancy, the mother was of English descent, was born in Rockingham County, NC, and died in Henry County, Tenn., December 5, 1837. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Our subject was the fourth of eleven children. He lived with his parents until twenty-two years of age, and then was engaged in overseeing a plantation for one season; then came back with his father, and went to farming in the First District, renting that year; then purchased a farm of 120 acres, and lived thereon six years; then sold out and purchased 200 acres in the same district, and occupied it four years; then sold again and bought in the Fourth District a farm of 145 acres, and lived thereon fifteen years; then bought 265 acres. In 1865 he purchased 299 acres near the first purchase in the Fourth District. He also owns 140 acres more land in the Fourth District, and eighty acres in the Third District, in all 649 acres of land, with the principal part in cultivation. July 19, 1839 he married Miss Rachel CAFFY, who was born in Guilford County, NC, April 16, 1817, and died in Bradley County, Tenn., March 10 1851. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. This union resulted in the birth of five children, three now living; William G., Robert W., And Sarah L.; and those dead are Nancy J. and Mary L. July 11, 1851, he married Clememtine LOONEY, who was born in Roane County, Tenn., May 19, 1821, and died in Bradley County, Tenn., December 5, 1862. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. She was the widow of James A. LOONEY. This union resulted in seven children, all now living: Rachel L., Margaret E., Martha P., Emma C., Clementine P., John W. and Henry B. July 19, 1863, he married Miss Rebecca SMITH, who was born in McMinn County, Tenn., December 29, 1827. She is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. She is the daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (WHITE) SMITH. This marriage resulted in the birth of five children, three now living: Elizabeth, Hattie and Charles L., and those dead are Minerva and Fannie. In 1851 he engaged in the mercantile business at Red Clay, GA. In 1866 he began to card wool, which he has continued to the present. He is now worth $12,000 in farming land, and has divided very liberally with his children. He has a good education, secured by his own exertions. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South for fifty-five years. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and a Democrat.

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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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