Phillip S. Hale, a prominent citizen and well-to-do farmer of Hawkins County, was born in that county December 10, 1830, son of Phillip S. and Elizabeth (Bachman) Hale. They were of Scotch-Irish and German descent, and natives of East Tennessee, the father of Greene County, and the mother of Sullivan County. They were married in the latter county, and lived at Kingsport, same county, after their marriage several years, then moved to Hawkins County, where the father died in 1867, at the good old age of seventy-four. The father was a farmer, and in his early days he was engaged in the mercantile business; was a Democrat, and a worthy member of the Presbyterian Church, to which the mother also belongs. Our subject is one of twelve children. He was born in Hawkins County, where he secured a good academical education, and, with the exception of one year, part of which (1865-66) he spent at Bristol, lived in that county all his life, engaged in farming. After living at different places in the county, about 1874 or 1875, he purchased and settled on the place where he now lives. He is an industrious citizen, his early lesson in life having been hard, and now owns upward of 210 acres in the fifth District, on the Holston River. July 23, 1857, he married Miss Margaret Smith, of Hawkins County, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Smith. Eight children – four sons and four daughters (one son deceased)- were born to this union; the deceased, Samuel Smith was born November 15, 1860, and died August 21, 1881. Our subject is a decided Democrat. He is not a member of any church, but is in sympathy with the Methodist faith. Mrs. Hale is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

Transcribed by Betty Mize from Goodspeed’s History of Tennessee, 1886.