04/10/14

PARTRIDGE, Edward (1825- )

Edward Partridge, proprietor of the Partridge Hotel, of Erin, was born in Worcester County, Mass., December 20,1825. His parents were Edward and Editha (Bullard) Partridge, natives of Massachusetts, but both died in New Hampshire. They reared a family of nine children, eight of whom are now living, and one of whom died but a few months ago. Our subject was the fifth of the family and was reared on a farm to the age of thirteen when he engaged at making shoe-pegs till nineteen years old, at which time he engaged at driving an ox team on a railroad construction. From this he became foreman. From this time till 1880 he continued railroading and held various positions. He was roadmaster on different eastern roads, and on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad was roadmaster for fourteen years. He has made Erin his home since 1866. In 1880 he bought the property he now owns and has ever since run the hotel. He was married July 19, 1866, to Mattie H.E. Zell. Five children have blessed this marriage, viz.: Stella E., Hattie L., Edward R., Jennie C. and Fannie F. The wife and eldest daughter are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Partridge is one of the upright citizens of Erin and a Republican in politics.

Transcribed by Susan Knight Gore

Source: Goodspeed, Weston A, and John Wooldridge. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Montgomery, Robertson, Humphreys, Stewart, Dickson, Cheatham and Houston Counties. Nashville: Goodspeed Pub. Co, 1886.

04/10/14

OUTLAW, G. W. (1823- )

G.W. Outlaw, a very prominent citizen of Houston County, is a native of Montgomery County, Tenn. His parents were George and Frances (Belotte) Outlaw, both natives of North Carolina. They were raised in their native State and came to Montgomery County, Tenn., in 1804. The father was in the war of 1812. He died in 1843, his birth having occurred in 1780. The mother was reared an orphan and died in 1869. Of the family of twelve children of this parentage George W. is the only one now living. He was born March 20, 1823, and was reared on a pioneer farm, receiving a very limited early education. He remained with his parents till he married and then took his mother to live with him where he began farming in Montgomery County, and where he resided till March, 1880, when he moved to Danville, where he built a large brick house and runs a hotel. He is a member of the firm of S. W. Kelly & Co., also in merchandising. He owns about 2,000 acres of land and carries on farming extensively. He became the husband of Elizabeth Outlaw in 1849, and by her the father of three children, one of whom is now living, viz.: Elmira T., the wife of J. S. West, of Houston County. Mrs. Outlaw died in 1854. Our subject then chose and wedded Mrs. Anne (Tomlinson) Kelley in 1858. Several children have been the fruits of this marriage, namely: Mattie D., Eddie, Johnnie L. And Rosa D. Mr. Outlaw and all his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Politically he was an old line Whig, formerly, but is now a Democrat and a very prominent citizen of the county.

Transcribed by Susan Knight Gore

04/10/14

NESBITT, Capt. James M. (1837- )

Capt. James M. Nesbitt, clerk of the Chancery Court of Houston County, was born Oct. 8, 1837, in Dickson County, Tenn., being the youngest of a family of five children of Thomas and Dorcas (McAdoo) Nesbitt, natives of South Carolina and North Carolina, respectively. The parents lived and died in Dickson County. The father was a blacksmith and farmer, and an elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He was in the war of 1812. He died in 1867. The mother was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and died in 1853. Our subject was reared on a farm and secured a common school education. In 1865 he enlisted in Company D, Forty-Ninth Tennessee Volunteers, Confederate States Army, as third sergeant, from which he was afterward promoted to captain. He was in several severe battles and was wounded in the right arm by a gun shot. He was twice a prisoner of war and was in prison at the time of the surrender. Coming from the war he engaged in farming at Yellow Creek which he followed till 1873, when he began merchandising in Houston County and continued for five years. He then sold out, came to Erin and engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, which he now continues successfully. In 1882 he was elected justice of the peace and still holds that office. He was appointed to his present trust by Judge Seay April 25, 1885, and has filled the office efficiently. In politics Mr. Nesbitt is a Democrat. He is one of the well respected citizens of Houston County.

Transcribed by Susan Knight Gore

04/10/14

McDONALD, J. W.

J. W. McDonald, clerk of the Circuit Court of Houston County, was the eldest child of a family of five children born to the marriage of Daniel McDonald and Elizabeth Wilson. The father was born in North Carolina December 30, 1802, and when but eight years old came to what is now Houston County, where he followed farming, and died May 11, 1864. He was an elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The mother was born August 19, 1810, and died in October, 1880. She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. John W. was born October 30, 1831, near Erin, and spent his early life on a farm securing a very limited early education. At the age of twenty-three years he married, and farmed on a part of the home farm until 1878, when he was elected to this office, having held the office a term of two years before this. He was married October 29, 1854, to Nancy A. McAuley, of this county, the result of this union being two sons, William A., a druggist in Erin, and Daniel W., now attending school. Mr. McDonald, his wife and eldest son are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Previous to 1860 he was a Whig, but since then has been a conservative Democrat. He has filled his office since 1878, and is held in the high esteem of his constituents.

Transcribed by Susan Knight Gore

04/10/14

MAHONY, Thomas (1852- )

Thomas Mahony, proprietor of the Central Hotel, was born in Petersburg, Va., August 14, 1852. His parents were Jeremiah and Mary (Reardon) Mahony, natives of Ireland. They came to America in 1850 and lived about four years in Virginia, and then removed to Ohio. From there they came to Tennessee in 1870, where the father died in 1878, having been a manual laborer in mines, on railroads, etc. The mother now lives in Erin and superintends the hotel. Thomas spent his early life, to the age of fifteen years, with his parents. He then, being a poor boy, began his own support by manual labor. He was brakeman on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad for three years, and in that service lost an arm in coupling cars. Since then he had been attending water tanks for the same company. In 1877 he established the Erin Wagon Works, which he now runs. In 1880 he began keeping hotel in the building where the Partridge House now is, and for two years kept that place. Since then he has had his present stand. May 9, 1883, matrimonial rites were celebrated, uniting him to Ella Dawson, of Paris, Tenn., the result of this union being two children: Mary and Emma. Mr. Mahony is a member of the Catholic Church. Politically he is a Democrat and always has been. He is one of Erin’s good and enterprising citizens.

Transcribed by Susan Knight Gore

04/10/14

LEE, James S. (1830- )

James S. Lee, clerk of the County Court of Houston County, was born May 26, 1830, within the present limits of Houston County. He was the youngest, but one, of eight children born to the marriage of John W. Lee and Elizabeth Hawkins, natives of North Carolina. The father was born about 1790. He married the mother in that State, and soon after came to Tennessee, where he followed farming. He was one of the prominent pioneers, and bore the high esteem of the people. His death occurred in 1849, and his mother in 1884, she being in her eighty-sixth year. Our subject was reared on a farm, and had the common school educational advantages, and has acquired his education mainly by his personal application outside of school. He remained with his parents till he married at the age of twenty-five, after whichhis mother lived with him till her death. He taught school in this county two
and a half years, and then engaged in mercantile business at Ashley, Ill., for
one year. He then returned to Tennessee. In 1861 he enlisted in Company I,
Fiftieth Tennessee Volunteers, Confederate States Army, in which he served three months at Fort Donelson, and was discharged because of sickness. He was then a mercantile clerk till 1871, when he was elected to the office he now holds, the only incumbent ever in the office. In 1873-74 he read law, which he now practices. October 13, 1856, he was married to Sarah C. Richardson, a native of this county. Eight children have been born to this union, viz.: Ella, the wife of William Wilson, of Stewart County; Minnie, the wife of E. W. Rauscher, of Erin; James S., Alma, Robert E., Harry, Sallie, and Harrison C., who died at sixteen years of age. The wife died October 1, 1885. She was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Lee is a member of the Knight Templar Degree, F. & A.M. Politically he is a firm Democrat, and stands high in his party and as a citizen.

Transcribed by Susan Knight Gore

04/10/14

HOPPES, James (1838- )

James Hoppes was born February 14, 1838, In Scioto County, Ohio, of which State his parents, Michael and Rachael (Reynolds) Hoppes, were natives. The mother died about 1858, and the father now lives in Arkansas, where he follows farming, having formerly been a carpenter and steam-boat pilot. James was reared on a farm with his parents to the age of eighteen, when he enlisted in Company B, Thirteenth Missouri Volunteers, Federal Army, and was in service three years and seven months. He was in the battle of Fort Donelson, and his partner was in the same battle on the Confederate side. After the war he settled at the La Grange Iron Works of Stewart County, Tenn., where he followed the wagon-maker’s trade until 1879, when he came to Erin and engaged in the wagon-maker’s trade, and in the spring of 1884 he formed a partnership with Mr. Edwards, with whom he now continues. He was married, December 18, 1871, to Mary Arnold, a native of Indiana. This union has been blessed in the birth of seven children, all of whom are living: Annie, Fannie, Elizabeth, George, Sarah E., James and Thomas W. The wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Hoppes is a Republican in politics and always has been. As a citizen of the county he is highly valued and respected.

Transcribed by Susan Knight Gore

04/10/14

HARRIS, Volney R. (1850-1911)

Volney R. Harris, one of the most prominent and leading business men of Houston County, was born in Logan County, Ky., January 17, 1850, being the third of a family of twelve children of Y. F. E. and Mary Anne (Rowe) Harris. The father was reared in Simpson County, Ky., and was a farmer by occupation, but also carried on a very extensive saddlery. He lived and died in Kentucky, his death occurring in 1870. The mother was reared in Tennessee, and is now living at the age of sixty-five years, making her abode with her different children. The paternal grandfather of V.R. was a very zealous and prominent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and was instrumental in the founding of that church. He educated many young men for the ministry. The immediate subject of this sketch was reared on a farm at his Kentucky home to the age of fourteen years. At this age he began life for himself. Leaving the parental roof with only $2.65 in money he engaged as clerk in a store in Robertson County, Tenn., for three and a half years. At the end of this time he engaged with a Nashville wholesale dry goods jobbing house at a salary of $720 per year for the first year. He worked for this firm for six years at increased salary, and the last two years commanded $3,000 per year. On January 1, 1875, he opened a general merchandising trade at Erin, where he has ever since remained. Being very successful, he has gradually increased his business affairs, and now the firm of Harris & Buquo is engaged extensively in manufacturing lime and cooperage material. The firm has recently started an enterprise at Clifton, Tenn., as the Clifton Cement & Mining Company in the manufacture of cement, sewer-pipe, etc. Mr. Harris was the prime mover in the opening of that enterprise. In 1878, when yellow fever was imported by means of hospital cars being sidetracked here, Mr. Harris, with a few other faithful citizens, fearlessly stood between life and death and with untiring energy cared for the sick and dying. The firm of Harris & Buquo transacts a yearly business of $125,000, and owns about 15,000 acres of land in Houston County. On January 18, 1871, the marriage of Mr. Harris to Lizzie Garner was solemnized. She is the second daughter of Judge John E. Garner, of Springfield, Tenn. This union has been blessed in the birth of six children as follows: Johnnie, who died at ten years of age; Lizzie R., who died at four years of age; Edgar R.; Ewing G.; Henry D. and Mabel. The last four are living. Both Mr. Harris and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Harris is a firm Democrat but conservative. He enjoys the high esteem of the people of Houston County, and is too extensively known and highly respected to have us speak otherwise then in his praise. Those who know him will remember that he was a poor boy, and is now a successful business man.

Transcribed by Susan Knight Gore

04/10/14

HAGLER, B. F.

B. F. Hagler, a merchant of Erin, was one of a family born to the union of William Hagler and Delilah Pegrim. His father died when he was but about three years old, and his mother, when he was about twelve years old. He then lived with an uncle to the age of fifteen, when he began his own support, having had very limited educational advantages, his schooling being only what he earned himself. After attending a two-years’ term of school he began teaching and continued till the war, when he enlisted in Company B, Fourteenth Tennessee Volunteers, C.S.A., where he served till the fall of 1862, when he became physically disabled. In the winter of 1862 he entered the cavalry service and continued therein till the surrender. He received a gun-shot wound in the left elbow, at Franklin, Tenn. After the war he engaged at general carpenter’s work for two years, and then at railroad bridging for about eight years. Since then he has pursued his trade, farmed, and sold merchandise. He established his present business in 1883. September 2, 1872, Callie Rauscher became his wife, who lived to be the mother of two children: Guy L. and Blanche C., and died October 29, 1876. He chose and wedded his present wife, Bettie (Pollard) Hagler, February 12, 1878, the result of this union being three children: Rooke, Daisy and Grover C. Mrs. Hagler is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Politically Mr. Hagler is a firm Democrat, and he is a good citizen of Houston and a self-made man.

Transcribed by Susan Knight Gore

04/10/14

GRAFRIED, William F. (1844-1928)

William F. Grafried, one of the prominent farmers of Houston County was born in 1844, to the marriage of George and Mary (Wenz) Grafried. His parents were natives of Baden, Germany, where they raised a family of four children–two boys and two girls. By occupation the father is a farmer, wine being the chief product. He is one of the leading citizens of his village, having held the positions of treasurer and surveyor. Both are zealous workers in the Lutheran Church. The parents still live in their native land, the father being eighty-six, and his wife eighty. William’s ancestors as far back as they can be traced are Germans. Having received a common school education he left home in 1866 to try his fortune in the New World. After working on the farm and getting some use of our language, he attended the English schools. In 1874 he married Mary Bower, by whom he had three children, two of whom are still living. He and his wife also hold to the teachings of the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Grafriedowns a large tract of land and a good saw-mill, and is recognized as one of Houston County’s enterprising citizens.

Transcribed by Susan Knight Gore