Goodspeed's Henry County Biographies - S surnames
Barney Speight,
one of the most extensive farmers and stock dealers of the
Eleventh District, also breeder of thoroughbred horses, was born
in Henry County in 1851, and is one of five children, only two
now living. The father, John M. Speight, was born in North
Carolina about 1820, came to Henry County when about eighteen
years of age, and about 1843 married Lila S. Beman. They had
five children. After her death he married Patsey Barton, and to
this union were born two children. She died, and John M. took
for his third wife Maria Coley and by her became the father of
six children. He settled and remained in the Eleventh District
till his death, which occurred in 1885. He was a Baptist
minister by profession, and followed this calling the last
twelve years of his life, doing a noble work for the Christian
cause. Our subject remained with his parents until he was
twenty-four years of age, receiving a fair education at Cottage
Grove. January 20, 1876, he married Rebecca P. Shell, daughter
of William Shell, and this union resulted in the birth of three
children---only two now living: Barney H. and Lida L. Mrs.
Speight died on January 23, 1880, and in May, 1882, Mr. Speight
married Mrs. Betty Dumas, a native of Henry County, born in
1846, and the daughter of Howard Street. To this union were born
two children: Willie Wain and Harris Lovelace. Mr. Speight is
now living on a fine farm of 300 acres, and is a man of good
business management and a successful farmer. He is a man of
considerable information, having served as constable of the
Twelfth District for a period of four years. He is a Democrat in
politics, and cast his first presidential vote for S. J. Tilden.
Dr. James G.
Stark, physician and surgeon of the Third District, was born
in Henry County in 1852, son of Thomas C. and Winnie G. (Humphreys)
Stark, both natives of Tennessee. The father was born about
1819, educated in the common schools, and when a young man came
to Henry County, where he was married about 1840. He was a
farmer and resident of Henry County till 1855, when he removed
to Calloway County, Ky., resumed his farming, and is still
residing there. Mrs. Stark was born about 1825 and is still
living, and is a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. The
Doctor remained with his parents till he reached his majority,
and received his education in the common schools of Calloway
County, Ky. In 1876 he began the study of medicine under Dr. J.
P. Humphreys, of Calloway County, Ky., and continued here till
the fall of 1876, when he entered the medical department of the
university of Louisville, Ky., during the years 1877 and 1878.
In the fall of 1878 he returned to college and graduated in
1879. Immediately afterward he came to Henry County and settled
in the Third District, where he has since continued his practice
with commendable success. He has an extensive and lucrative
practice, and is fast becoming one of the leading physicians of
Henry County. October 28, 1877, he wedded Emma J. Dumas, a
native of Henry County, born January 13, 1859, and the daughter
of Franklin F. and Malinda I. Dumas, natives of Tennessee. Three
children were born to our subject and wife---two living---Homer,
Thomas F. (deceased) and Helen. The Doctor is now living on a
farm of sixty acres, all in a high state of cultivation. In
politics he is a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote
for S. J. Tilden in 1876.
J. J. Sweatt,
farmer of the Twenty-second District of Henry County, was born
in Warren County, Tenn., in 1819, and is one of thirteen
children, six now living, born to Virtue and Elizabeth (Cox)
Sweatt. The father was born in Maryland, in 1782, and moved with
his parents to North Carolina, at an early day; he remained
there until after his marriage when he emigrated to Tennessee,
and located in Warren County, being one of the very first
settlers. In 1837 he came to Henry County, where he remained
until his career ended in 1859. The mother was born in North
Carolina in 1795 and died in 1883. Our subject was reared at
home and received his education in the schools of Warren County.
In 1839 he married Sarah Edwards, a native of Wilson County,
Tenn., born in 1822, and they have five children; Mary (Mrs.
James Bratton), Martha T. (Mrs. J. L. Turner), America
Florentine (Mrs. J. P. Lamb), F. V. and G. H. Mr. Sweatt learned
the carpenter trade when a boy and followed it exclusively until
the breaking out of the war. In 1860 he located where he now
resides, three miles east of Conyersville, on 320 acres of
desirable land, and is one of the county’s best farmers. He is a
Democrat in politics, a Mason, and he and wife and entire family
are members of the Christian Church.
John C.
Sweeney, a prominent member of the Henry County bar, was
born June 22, 1849, near Paris, and is a son of James and
Elizabeth (Barbee) Sweeney, natives of Virginia, and North
Carolina, respectively. The father was born in 1813, was a
farmer and brick mason, and a member of the first company of
Confederate troops raised in Arkansas. He was discharged in
1862, and died in the same year from disease contracted in the
service. The mother was born in 1819 and died in 1858, at the
age of thirty-nine years. Our subject inherits Irish blood from
his paternal grandparents, and Scotch blood from the maternal
side. He was reared on a farm and worked also in a brickyard;
his educational advantages were quite limited, and in 1859 all
the family moved to Arkansas (the father and a brother died
there). In 1865 John C., returned to Paris, entirely dependent
upon his own resources. He worked at manual labor for his
earnings, and thus attended school (not more than nine months
altogether). After clerking in the Carter House for one year,
and four more years in a drug store, in March 1873, he began
studying law, having accumulated by thrift and economy about
$800. In 1875 he was admitted to the bar and has continued to
practice very successfully. Upon entering the practice he
invested his last dollar in a law library. He now owns a
one-half interest in the Commercial Bank building, and his law
office is the most commodious in the city. He is a member of the
town board, and was treasurer for some time. March 1, 1886, he
was employed by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad as a claim
agent, of the Memphis branch, and now in connection with that
duty still practices his profession. December 23, 1879, he
married Mattie Bomar of this county; three sons are the fruits
of this union: Samuel, Bomar and John. Mr. Sweeney is a Democrat
in politics, and is regarded as an enterprising and respected
citizen of Paris.
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