REV. ASA W. ELKINS was born July 10, 1821, son of Eli and Nancy (Riggins) Elkins. The father was bon in North Carolina, and when a young man immigrated to Tennessee and settled in Bedford County in about 1816. He was a farmer by occupation and in early life was married to Miss Nancy Riggins, a native of North Carolina. The fruits of this union were ten children: Deletha, William S., Mary, Asa W., James, Sarah, Nancy K., Evaline, Eli and Richard, who died during the late war.
Eli Elkins immigrated to Alabama in 1833 and settled in Jackson County, where he died in 1835. After his death Mrs. Elkins married Lewis Page, and to them were born one child, Nancy W., who died during the war. Mrs. Page died about 1876. The Elkins family is of English descent. The grandfather of our subject was in the Revolutionary war and was a gallant soldier.
Our subject was born in the present limits of Coffee County. The educational advantages at that early day were not what they are now, consequently the education that he acquired at school was rather limited. By this own efforts he has gained considerable information, and is considered a man of sound judgment and good sense. In 1846 he married Miss Lucinda Stafford, a native of this State, and one child blessed the union, Mary A. Mrs. Lucinda Elkins died in 1848, and in 1849 Mr. Elkins married Miss Angeline Hufman. The results of this union were eight children: Sarah J., Nancy V., John W., Martha E., Margaret A., Lafayette, Robert E. and George T. Sarah J. died July 26, 1850; Nancy V. died June 12, 1875; Lafayette died March 19, 1885, and one died in infancy without being named. Mr. Elkins was licensed to preach the gospel in 1868 and has since been a local preacher. He was ordained deacon by the annual conference. He and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Transcribed by Kathryn Hopkins
Goodspeed Publishing Co. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Reminescences [Sic], Observations, Etc., Etc. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1988.