ROBERT L. ADAMS, clerk and master of the Chancery Court of Marshall county, was born June 15, 1833, in that part of Bedford County now included in Marshall County.  He was reared on the farm but on account of physical disability did not engage in hard manual labor.  He received a good practical education in the country schools and at the age of nineteen commenced teaching in the schools of this county, where he continued for ten years. In 1862 he was elected county court clerk and held that office for a period of twelve years. In 1876 he was appointed clerk and master of the Chancery Court and is still holding that position. When the Bank of Lewisburg was re-established in 1885, Mr. Adams was elected as its president, besides he is one of the directors of the same institution.  Previous to this, in 1860, he wedded Jane E. Bell, and by her became the father of seven children, six of whom are living. Politically Mr. Adams is a firm supporter of Democratic principles. For fifty years he has been a citizen of Marshall County and for twenty-two years of that time he has held positions of trust and honor. This fact alone speaks louder for his ability and popularity than mere words. His parents were Alexander D. and Elizabeth (LaRue) Adams, both natives of Virginia and both members of the Presbyterian Church. The father was a stanch Democrat, although all his brothers were Whigs previous to the war. He died in 1866, and the mother passed away in 1875.

CLINTON A. ARMSTRONG, junior member of the firm of Smithson & Armstrong, is a son of George and Margaret (Orr) Armstrong, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Tennessee.  After marriage they settled in that part of this county, formerly included in Bedford County.  Their family consisted of ten children, nine of whom are living.  The father followed the occupation of a tiller of the soil and was also engaged in stock trading.  He did not aspire to public places, but rather chose to perform the duties of a quiet citizen.  the mother was a member of the Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church, and is still living on the old homestead at the ripe old age of seventy-six.  Our subject was born in Marshall County, was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools.  He subsequently attended Lewisburg Academy.  In 1868 he commenced reading law with Col. W. N. Cowden, and the following year was admitted to the bar.  In 1869 he led to alter Maggie Kercheval, by whom he had two children, one of whom is living.  For seven years he was partner of Col. Cowden, but afterward went into partnership with Smithson, which continues to the present.  Mrs. Armstrong was a member of the Presbyterian Church ; she died April 20, 1886.  Mr. Armstrong is a Democrat, and has been practicing his profession for seventeen years in Lewisburg, and has received his share of the business of the county.

REV. P. L. ATKISSON is a son of Pleasant and Sophronia (Holmes) Atkisson.  The father was born in Virginia, and when young came to Tennessee, where he married, and after a short residence in Giles County moved to Alabama, and few years later went to West Tennessee.  He was a shoe-maker by trade, and also farmer.  To him and wife were born two sons.  In 1835 the mother died, and later he wedded Emily Woods, who born him one son.  He was an 1812 soldier and Jacksonian Democrat.  Our subject was born in Mooresville, Ala., October 7, 1825, and was reared on a farm in West Tennessee.  He received an academic education, and after studying medicine for some time took a course of lectures at Memphis and practiced that profession a number of years.  At the age of twenty-five he commenced his ministerial work, in which he has been engaged ever since.  His marriage with Mary O. Ellison was solemnized in 1850, and to them were born eight children, seven of whom are living.  Mrs. Atkisson is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which her husband is a minister.  He is a Democrat, and in addition to his ministerial work runs a large farm of 500 acres.

HARTWELL G. BAKER was born September 25, 1804, in Davidson County, Tenn., where he was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools.  At the age of twenty-four he left home and began clerking in a store, and at the end of five years bought out employer’s stock, valued at $9,000, on credit, and by close attention to business succeeded in paying his debt.  He sold goods for about twelve years and made a snug little fortune, but the war breaking out about this time, swept away about $25,000 worth of property.  He has redeemed his fortunes somewhat and owns 225 acres of excellent farming land.  In 1837 he was married to Narcissa J. Haynes, born October 9, 1817, in Cornersville, and eight children have been born to them, six of whom are living. Mr. Baker was a Whig, but is now Democrat.  About 1845 he quit the mercantile business and turned his attention to farming.  He has been a resident of the county forty-three years and belongs to the Masonic fraternity.   His parents, Humphrey and Sallie (Hyde) Baker, were born in Virginia and North Carolina, respectively.  The father moved to Kentucky when a boy and finally located in Davidson County, Tenn., where he was married.  He was a blacksmith by trade and a Democrat in politics, and became the father of ten children.  The mother died in 1834, and the father afterward wedded Mrs. Furr, by whom he had two children.  Shortly after their marriage they moved to Kentucky, where the father died during the war.

ANDREW J. BARTLETT. Cyrus Bartlett was probably born in the Old Dominion and when a young man came to Tennessee and married Elizabeth Bedford, probably a native of the State, by whom he had twelve children.  He was a house carpenter by trade, and many houses are now standing which bear the evidence of his skillful workmanship.  He was a Whig in politics, but always cast his vote for Gen. Jackson, because his father fell while serving under him, and the General took upon himself the education of Cyrus.  In 1876 he died, being nearly seventy years of age.  The mother is yet living.  Andrew J. Bartlett, the immediate subject to this sketch, was born in Marshall County, November 2, 1834, and while young received a fair education in the common schools. Having learned the carpenter’s trade, he worked at it until the breaking out of the war, when he volunteered in Company D, Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, and served for three and half years, being sergeant-major the greater part of the time.  In 1865 he wedded Martha E. Turner, by whom he has had one child – Alma.  Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.  He is Democrat, and since 1869 has followed agricultural pursuits, owning at the present time 150 acres of good land in the garden of Tennessee.

THOMAS H. BELL, farmer, was born February 27, 1820, in Wilson County, and had a limited advantage for schooling though he has supplied the deficiency by private study. At the age of nineteen he was joined in marriage to Martha A. O’Neal, who was born in 1824. This union resulted in the birth of six children. At the end of ten years the mother died and in 1854 our subject wedded Elizabeth J. Bruce, who was born April 27, 1834. This union was blessed by the birth of twelve children. Mr. Bell is a supporter of Democratic principles and he and wife are active members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He has held the office of constable, deputy sheriff and magistrate, respectively. He was a strong Union man and is a solid prohibitionist. He has on of the best farms of 130 acres in the county though he has devoted considerable time to house carpentering, running engines and superintending mills. He is a son of Fielding and Elizabeth (Jenkins) Bell, The father was born in Virginia and came to Tennessee in 1802. The mother was a native of Tennessee and was a daughter of Col. Jenkins of Revolutionary fame. After marriage they moved to Wilson and finally to Bedford County in 1826 where they spent the remainder of their days. In 1854 the father died and in 1879 the mother, too, passed away.

DR. G.W. BILLS, a retired physician of Marshall County, was born November 24, 1819, in this county and received a rather limited education, He is the son of Daniel G. and Rachel (Summers) Bills, natives of North Carolina, where they were married and lived until 1816 after which they came to this State and located in what is now Marshall County. The father was a doctor and farmer, and he and wife were members of the Christian Church. He was a Democrat in politics and his death occurred in 1862. The mother followed in 1883 in her ninetieth year. The subject’s ancestors on both sides were of English-Irish descent. After reaching manhood he taught school for a short time. In 1843 he wedded A.E.A. Richardson, a native of Marshall County, born April 10, 1823. To this union were born five children. In politics he is conservative, having voted the national ticket but once since the war. He and wife are members of the Christain Church. About 1847 he began the study of medicine and after practicing for nearly six years, took a course of lectures at Macon, Ga. He then returned to this county and practiced his profession until 1867, when he turned his attention more exclusively to farming. He has a farm of 325 acres, and for twenty-two years has practiced his profession in this county. He has lived to see all his children, except the youngest, become members of the Christian Church, and marry companions who belong to the same. His eldest daughter, Rebecca C. (deceased), was the wife of Thomas J. Allen, a wide-awake young farmer; the second child is C.T, who married Elizabeth Blackwell, and is farming successfully; the third, Daniel W., married Josie Cowden, and is accounted a good farmer; Mollie G. is the wife J. T.Wolland, who is also a tiller of the soil.

RUEBEN BILLINGTON, son of James and Sarah (Walker) Billington, was born March 23, 1823, in what is now Marshall County, and while receiving a common school education, worked on a farm. Like a dutiful son, he remained on the farm until twenty-one years of age, and a year later began the duties of a farmer, and has followed that calling up to the present time. In 1845 he married Matilda Wallace, who was born February 2, 1825, and four children were the result of their union: Malissa (wife of Charles Jones), William K., Amanda M. (wife of C.J.Farris), and Thomas J.  Mr Billington is a stanch Democrat, and after a year’s faithful service in the late war in Col. Haynes’ company, he was discharged on account of failing health. He owns a farm of 190 acres, and gives considerable attention to breeding stock. His parents were born in North Carolina; the father in 1792 and the mother in 1793. They came to Marshall County, Tenn., when young, and after their marriage always followed agricultual pursuits. Of their nine children seven lived to be grown, and five are still living. James Billinton served for some time in the war of 1812; was magistrate and a Democrat. Mrs. Billington died in 1862, and he two years later. Both our subject’s grandfathers were Revolutionary soldiers.

THOMAS C. BLACK, a leading druggist of Lewisburg, and a native of Rutherford County, was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools. He is the son of  Thomas C. and Catherine W. (Morton) Black. The parents were natives of Rutherford County, Tenn.; the father born in 1808 and the mother 1816. They were married in their native county and were the parents of twelve children, eleven of whom are still living. The father was a physician and farmer. He died in 1876, and the mother still lives on the old homestead. Grandfather Black, a Scotch-Irishman, came in an early day from Scotland and taught one of the first schools in Murfreesboro. Our subject, after reaching manhood, began the mercantile business as salesman for Miles & McKinley, in Murfreesboro. After conducting business in that county on his own responsibility for a short time he came to Marshall County in 1875 and engaged in the lumber business.  Five years later he opened a drug store with Dr. S.D. Ewing, in Lewisburg. After dissolving partnership Mr. Black opened the store where he now does an active business. For twelve months he served as a soldier in Col. W.S. McLemore’s company. In politics he is a Democrat and is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

JOHN T. BLAKE, a leading merchant of Marshall County, Tenn., and a son of John W. and Mary A. (Morgan) Blake, was born on the 3d of January, 1834, in Lincoln County, Tenn., and received the education and rearing of the average farmer’s boy. After attaining man’s estate he attended and taught school a short time and then turned his attention to his trade and farming.  He had access to the tools in his father’s shop, and in time became proficient as a worker in wood and iron. Five children were the result of his marriage, in 1857, to Martha Phillips. Their son, John M., is a traveling salesman for Grayfall & Co., of Nashville, Tenn. Both Mr. and Mrs. Blake are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and in politics he votes the Democratic ticket. Since 1857 he has resided on the farm where he now lives. He has a general work-shop and as a business man has been fairly successful. His father and mother were born in North Carolina and Virginia, respectively. After marriage they settled in Lincoln County, Tenn., where they spent the remainder of their days as tillers of the soil. Their family consisted of fourteen children, only five of whom are living. The father was an old-line Whig, and after a long and active life died in 1862. The mother, who was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, outlived him several years.

THOMAS A. BOYD, farmer, was born July 25, 1844, in Williamson County, Tenn. He had the advantages of a common school education, but the war cut short all thoughts of continuing his studies. In 1861 he volunteered in Company C, Eleventh Tennessee Cavalry, Confederate Army. While scouting in East Tennessee he was captured, and after a short imprisonment at Camp Chase he was taken to Fort Delaware, where he remained until the close of the war. He then returned home and went to work on the farm. In 1866 he wedded Mattie S. Wilson, who was born December 2, 1949, in Marshall County. This union has been blessed by the birth of nine children, six of whom are living. Mr. Boyd is a Democrat and he and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He has a good farm of 250 acres furnished with good buildings. He is a son of Joseph B. and Susan W. (Camden) Boyd. The father was born in North Carolina in 1810, and the mother in Virginia in 1809. They were married in 1831 and soon after settled in this county. At the end of six years they moved to Williamson County and engaged in merchandising. In 1846 he quit the mercantile business to engage in farming. Both parents were active members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which he has been an elder for about forty years. In 1885 his faithful companion was taken from his side by the hand of death. The father is living with his son Thomas.

THOMAS WESLEY BRENTS. D. D. and M. D. Thomas Brents, Sr., was born in the “Blue-grass State” and there married Jane McWhorter. They resided in teh State until 1800, and then came to Marshall County, Tenn., and spent the remainder of their lives in agricultural pursuits. The father, although not an educated man, was a man of remarkable intellectual powers, superior to many of his associates in that particulat. He and wife were not professed Christians, but they inclined to the Methodist Episcopal faith. He was an old-line Democrat and died at the age of sixty-two. The mother lived to be fifty-six years old. Thomas Wesley, our subject, was born in Marshall County, February 10, 1823. His early days were spent on a farm and in seeking an education in the old dirt-floor schoolhouse of early days, where the three “R’s” were supposed to be sufficient for an education. Before attaining his twenty-first birthday he had never seen a grammar, but notwithstanding the many disadvantages under which he labored, he conceived the idea of gaining a better education, and began a course of private study, often burning the midnight oil in furtherance of his plans. He folloed pedgoging about for years and became a disciple of Esculapius and attended the Eclectic Medical College, of Memphis, Tenn., the Medical School of Nashville, and finally graduated, in 1855, from the Reform medical College of Georgia, and was chosen demonstrator of anatomy, and later became professor of anatomy and surgery and held that position until the breaking out of the war. Owing to ill health he gave up his proactice and moved to the country and devoted much of his time to the ministry, having started in that calling in 1850. He had acquired a thorough knowledge of Latin and his ministerial labors called for a knowledge of the Greek language, which he immediately began mastering. In 1841 he wedded Angeline Scott, who died in 1857, leaving five small children. Late in the same year he married Mrs. Elizabeth (Taylor) Brown, who bore him four children, two of whom are professional men: T.E., a physician, and John, a lawyer. Dr. Brents moved to Burrit in 1874 to educate his children in Burrit College, where three of the graduated. In politics he is conservative, not having voted since 1856. For fifty-five years he has been a citizen of Marshall County, and whether as a physician, a professor or a minister of the gospel he has few equals and fewer superiors.

ALEXANDER BRYANT, of Marshall County, Tenn., is a son of John F. and Sarah (Amis) Bryant, and was born in Granville County, N.C., December 14, 1818. His parents were also born in North Carolina, and were married in that State, and became the parents of ten children. The father was a well-to-do farmer, and lived in his native State until 1837, and then moved to Tennessee, and located in Marshall County, and there died in 1857. He was a Democrat and for several years held the position of magistrate. The mother died in 1870. Alexander’s early school advantages were very limited, never having attended school more than twelve months. After attaining manhood he began farming and has followed that calling through life. In 1842 he wedded Maria Wilkes, by whom he had eleven children. Both he and Mrs. Wilkes are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Bryant is a Democrat and as a farmer has met with well deserved success. He has been a resident of Marshall County for twenty-seven years, and has the confidence and respect of all who know him.

JOHN A. BRYANT, farmer, is a son of John F. and Sarah W. (Amis) Bryant, both natives of North Carolina, the father born in 1790 and the mother in 1794. After marriage, in 1837, they removed from their native State and came to Marshall County, where the spent the remainder of their days. This family consisted of ten children, six of whom are living. The father was an industrious tiller of the soil, owning nearly 800 acres of land. He ws a Democrat and a man of fair education and good business qualities. His death occurred in 1857. After his death the mother lived a widow on the old homestead until 1870, when she, too, was called away. Our subject was born in North Carolina June 28, 1828, and his ancestors on both sides were of Irish extraction. He was reared on the farm, and owing to the demand for his services at home, received a very limited education. He worked for his father till twenty-one years of age, and then began his career as an independent farmer. In 1860 he wedded Sallie C. Fry, a native of Marshall County, born May 9, 1835, and to them were born four children. In 1862, Mr. Bryant enlisted in Company E. Eleventh Tennessee Confederate Cavalry and after twelve months’ service was appointed brigade forage master, and a year later held a position in the ordnance department. During three years of faithful service he was never wounded nor taken prisoner. After peace had been declared he returned to the more peaceful pursuits of farming. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and for eight years held the position of magistrate. He is a Democrat in politics. He owns over 500 acres of land, and for forty-nine years has been a resident of Marshall County.

JOHN R. BRYANT, farmer and stock raiser, was born February 17, 1849, in Marshall County. He was reared on the farm and received a common English education. At the age of seventeen he took charge of his father’s farm and worked out the indebtedness of the estate. In 1870 he wedded Ada S. Pickens, a native of the county, born August 7, 1849. They are both active members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Bryant has a good farm of 173 acres, nearly all of which he had made by industry and close attention to business. Mr. Bryant has lived in Marshall County all his life, and is a good farmer and an honest, upright citizen. He is the son of William T. and Mary E. (Hill) Bryant. The father was born about 1822 in North Carolina, and about 1837 came with his parent to this county. the mother was born in Maury County in 1824, where they were married. They soon settled in this county and made it their permanent home. They have a family of four children -three boys and on girl. Two of the boys are farmers or the neighborhood, and the third ia cotton trader in Texas. The father is a Democrat in politics, and followed the calling of a farmer and stock raiser.

JOHN A. BURROW, is a son of John and Catherine (Barron) Burrow, born, respectively, in Maury County and Giles County, in 1810 and 1811, and died in 1882 and 1881. They married and located in Alabama, residing there until 1879, when they returned to Tennessee and settled near the mother’s birth-place, in Giles County. Both parents belonged to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the father was a Democrat. John A. was born in Lauderdale County, Ala., March 5, 1844. Owing to the breaking out of the war his educational advantages were retarded. He volunteered in Company E, seventh Alabama Cavalry, and served two and a half years. He was in about twenty battles but did not receive a wound. After his return from the war he began tilling the soil and in 1872 he opened a store in Lawrence County, but at the end of one year was burned out, and soon after returned to the farm where he owns 641 acres of land. Three sons were born to his marriage with Ann E. Allen, whom he married in 1869. Mrs. Burrow died in 1876 and five years later he wedded Nannie Davis, who has borne him two children. He was one of the prime movers in building the Lynnville & Cornersville Turnpike and his efforts have been appreciated by those who know the advantage it has been to the county.

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Source: Biographical Appendix, The Goodspeed History of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford, Marshall Counties of Tennessee from The Goodspeed’s History of Tennessee, 1886.

Transcribed by Paulette Carpenter, 2005