William W. Legg, a prominent citizen, farmer and stock dealer, was born in Knox County, December 5, 1841, a son of J. W. and Martha J. (Meek) Legg. They were of English -Irish, and Scotch-Irish descent. Both were natives of East Tennessee, the father of Knox County, and the mother of Jefferson County. The father was born about 1814, and died in 1870, and the mother was born about 1828, and died in Knox county in the fall of 1862. They were married in Jefferson County, and settled after their marriage in Knox County. In 1865 the father went to South Carolina, and remained four years, then went to Georgia. The father was a merchant and a farmer, and for some twelve years he was county surveyor of Knox County. Our subject is one of eight children, he received a common school education in his youth, and at the age of eighteen (in June, 1862) he entered the Confederate States service, enlisting in company D (Cavalry), Second Tennessee Regiment, served the remainder of the war with credit, and was received into Hume’s Brigade. Our subject took part in the battles of Fishing Creek, Richmond (Ky.), Murfreesboro, Chickamauga Creek and Missionary Ridge. He surrendered in North Carolina, and after the war he went to Chester, S.C. and remained in that State until 1878, trading in live stock. In 1878, he came to Hawkins County, and settled where he now lives. Since then he has been engaged in farming, trading and raising live stock, in which he has been very successful. June 21, 1882, he married Miss Laura A. Lane, born in Hamblen county November 9, 1859. Three children have been born to this union – two sons and one daughter, one daughter deceased. Our subject is a Democrat. He is not a member of any church, but his wife is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

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