Alex Lackey, a native of South Carolina, was born in 1771, and in 1800 came to
Rutherford County, Tenn., where he married Miss Kelton, by whom he had three
sons: James A., William K. and Alex R. This wife died about 1816, and four
years later he married Eleanor Garmany, who bore him one son and five
daughters. The father and both his wives were members of the Old Presbyterian
Church. He and Gen. Andrew Jackson raised the first house in Murfreesboro.
He served during the war of 1812, and was a farmer through life. He was a
Jacksonian Democrat in politics, and died in 1853. His wife died in 1840.
James A., the eldest son of the first marriage, was born February 14, 1809, in
Rutherford County. When young he began the study of medicine, and after
graduating at the Transylvania Medical College in 1836, he came to Lauderdale
County, and located in Ripley a short time after. He practiced in the county
for forty-eight years, and was one of the most successful and popular
physicians, and a highly useful citizen. In early life he filled the offices
of postmaster, magistrate, and later had the honor of representing Lauderdale
and Dyer Counties twice in the State Legislature; first in 1858-59, and in
1868-69. Politically he was an old line Whig and a strong Union man, but
after the war he became a Democrat. He was of a very sympathetic nature,
forgetting his own interests in his efforts to forward those of others. In
1842 he married Rebecca Richardson, by whom he had one daughter, who married
and died without issue. His death occurred in 1885. The youngest son of the
father’s second marriage was Dr. Benjamin F. Lackey, one of the leading
physicians of Lauderdale County, born June 15, 1836, in Rutherford County.
His boyhood days were spent on a farm, and his early educational advantages
were fairly good. After the death of his father he went to school for some
time in Murfreesboro, and in 1854 came to Lauderdale County, and three years
later began the study of medicine under his brother, James A. He took one
course of lectures in 1858-59 at Nashville, and the latter year entered the
Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Penn., and graduated in 1860. The
same year he began practicing at Ripley, and in 1861 was appointed to the
position of surgeon in the First Confederate Cavalry. In December, 1862, he
became surgeon of Whatron’s brigade of cavalry, and the March following was
promoted to chief surgeon of the first division of cavalry, holding that
position till he was paroled at Atlanta, Ga., in April, 1865. He was twice
captured during his service, but was only held a few days each time. He has
since practiced medicine in Ripley. In 1867 he married Victorine D. Wade, who
was born January 1, 1846, in Davidson County, Tenn., and to them two children:
James H. and Laura V. In 1879 his wife died, and the following year he
married Agnes F. Lynn, who was born March 9, 1845, near Knoxville, though
raised and educated in Illinois. No children have blessed this union. The
Doctor owns about 1,500 acres of land. His wife is a member of the
Presbyterian Church.

Goodspeed’s Biographies of Lauderdale Co., TN