William S. Phipps was born in Hawkins County, July 17, 1848, son of Wesley A. and Eliza (Hale) Phipps. Both were of Scotch-Irish descent, and natives of Hawkins County. the father was born September 16, 1816, in the Eighth Civil District at the place where he died, October 16, 1882, aged sixty-six years. The other was born about 1820 and died in 1865. They were married in Hawkins County, and lived and died where the father was born. The father was engaged in agricultural pursuits, and was very successful. His father, William Phipps, was a native of Botetourt County, Va., and was among the early settlers of Hawkins County. Our subject’s father was a stanch Democrat, and he and his wife were worthy members of the Presbyterian Church. The father served the church as an elder over thirty-five years. Our subject is the third of ten children. He secured a liberal education in his youth, which was commenced in the country schools of Hawkins County, and finished at King College, Bristol. His first industrial employment was in agricultural pursuits on his father’s plantation, and farming has been his chief calling ever since. In 1870,and for the next few years up to 1873, he was engaged in the mercantile business with his father at Stony Point. Since that time he has given his attention exclusively to the farming interest. March 26, 1873, he married Miss Sallie Carmack, of Hawkins County, born in November, 1852, daughter of Dr. John and Matilda Carmack. On marrying, in 1873, he settled where he now lives as a renter, and continued as such up to 1883, at which time he moved to the old homestead and lived three years. In the meantime he wound up his father’s estate as administrator. In 1885 he purchased the farm he now lives on, and moved to it in the spring of 1886. Our subject has been a live, active man, all of his life. He began life rather poor, but now owns upward of 600 acres of land on the Holston river, in the Eighth District. Our subject is a decided Democrat, and he and his wife are worthy members of the Presbyterian Church. The subject of this sketch is the father of six intelligent children – four sons and two daughters. The father was also engaged in the mercantile business from 1866 to 1873, first at Lyons Store, then at Stony Point.

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