Goodspeed’s Marshall County Biographies – Surnames E, F & G
ALLAN L. EWING is a son of Lyle A. and Rebecca A. (Leeper) Ewing, born, respectively, in Georgia and Tennessee, in 1808. They became the parents of nine children, eight of whom lived to be grown. The father began life a poor boy and afterward opened a store in Farmington and became a wealthy man. He was magistrate of his district sixteen years and was an old-line Whig in politics. He died in 1853 and the mother in 1878. Our subject’s ancestors on both sides were Scotch-Irish. He was born April 28, 1833, in Marshall County. His early school advantages were very good; besides this he attended Lewisburg Academy, Maryville College, and completed his education at Shelbyville University. After teaching about four years he turned his attention to farming, and in 1861 volunteered in Company H, Forty-first Tennessee Infantry. In 1863 he was captured at Farmington, Miss., and after an imprisonment of four months at Alton, Ill, he was enchanged at Vicksburg. After returning to service he was made sergeant. In 1864 he was again taken prisoner and would have been shot had it not been for a Union lad of seventeen. A drunken Federal soldier had leveled his gun to shoot him when the lad knocked aside the gun, the ball barely missing Mr. Ewing. He returned to farming after the surrender and in 1868 wedded Marian V. Palmer. They are both church members, and in politics he is a conservative Democrat. He owns 353 acres of land besides a house and lot and grist-mill.
NEWTON B. EWING is a son of James Ewing, who was born in the “Keystone State” in 1782. After residing in Georgia for some time he came to Tennessee, and, soon after his marriage to Mary Neill, settled in Marshall County, where he reared a family of eight children. He was a Whig and acted as magistrate for many years. After the mother’s death, in 1828, he wedded Mrs. Sarah How, and died in 1860. Our subject was born in Bedford County, Tenn., November 2, 1826, and inherits Scotch-Irish blood from his father. He received the education and rearing of the average farmer’s boy, and at the age of nineteen began to battle his own way in the world by farming and trading. He owns 223 acres of land and is quite a successful farmer. In 1853 he married Florella J. Ewing, who was born May 2, 1835. They are members of the Presbyterian Church. During the war he served some time in Company H, Seventeenth Tennessee Infantry, although his health was very poor. Previous to the war he was a Whig, but is now a Democrat. He has lived within the limits of Marshall County all his life, and he and wife have passed thirty-three years of happy wedlock, and are surrounded by many warm friends and relatives.
DR. J. C. C. EWING, one of the good farmers of Marshall County, is a son of James V. and Elizabeth (Ewing) Ewing. The father was born in Wythe County, Va., in 1805 and was one of the most extensive farmers in this county. He was for many years magistrate, and held for several terms the position of chairman of the county court. He died in 1878. The mother was born near Athens, Ga., in 1813, and since the death of her husband has been living on the old homestead, and is now seventy-three years of age. Our subject was born November 12, 1839, in Marshall County, and his ancestors on both sides were of Scotch-Irish extraction. He was reared on the farm and had a fair opportunity for schooling, completing his education at Shelbyville. In 1860 he began the study of medicine under McClure & Johnson, of Lewisburg, and the same year took a course of lectures at the University of Nashville. The stirring events of the war cut short his medical pursuits. In 1861 he volunteered in Company H, Seventeenth Tennessee Infantry. During the four years of the war he never received a scratch nor was he ever taken prisoner. After returning home he practiced his profession four years at Lewisburg, and then completed his course at the Bellevue Medical College, and graduated from that institution in 1870. He then returned home and engaged in agricultural pursuits, and has continued that occupation up to the present time. Mr. Ewing has a farm of 500 acres, and is accounted a good farmer and an enterprising citizen. In politics he is conservative, voting for the man rather than the party.
GEORGE WYTHE EWING AND WILLIAM K. KERCHEVAL, editors and proprietors of Marshall Gazette, were born and reared in this county, and while growing up, received their education in the common schools. The former (Mr. Ewing) took quite an extensive course under William Stoddert, D.D., embracing nearly the entire course of the University of Virginia. After completing his school days, he taught mathematics and language in Lewisburg Institute for two terms, and the same at Farmington Academy and some minor schools. Mr. Kercheval finished his education at Fayetteville, Tenn. In 1871 the Marshall Gazette was established, and, two years later, Mr. Ewing and two partners purchased the paper and office, and soon after Mr. Kercheval joined him; thus Mr. Ewing and he became sole proprietors, going in debt for the greater portion of it. Both were wholly unacquainted with the business, but notwithstanding they have made it a success and their crisp, newsy, eight-column paper has a circulation of about 1,100. George Wythe Ewing is a son of James S. Ewing, who was born July 5, 1824, in Maury County, and at the age of twenty began his career as a farmer, following that occupation for a period of fourteen years. In 1845 he wedded Eliza J. Rivens, by whom he had two children, only one of whom (our subject) is living. In 1859 the father came to Lewisburg and engaged in merchandising, following that business almost ever since. Both he and wife are worthy members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he has been an elder for about thirty-two years. For some time during the war he served as conscript officer in the Confederacy. He served as trustee of this county, and also as magistrate. He is a Democrat in politics and the son of William D. and Rebecca (Ewing) Ewing, the former born in 1786, and died in 1872, and the latter born in 1791 and died in 1847.
J. BRITT EZELL, farmer, was born July 14, 1838, in Marshall County, and at the age of thirteen, with the consent of his parents, went to live with J. Britt Fulton, an uncle, who had no children of his own. While with him he received a good academic education. About the same time his uncle took a little girl, by the name of Sarah J. Reynolds, to raise. She and Britt grew up together, went to school together, and as time passed on childish affection gave place to stronger affections of man and womanhood, and in 1860, they were united in matrimony. To them seven children were born, five of whom are living. He is a Democrat in politics, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1861 Mr. Ezell volunteered in Company A, Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, Confederate Army. After about fifteen months’ service as quartermaster and commissary, he was transferred to the purchasing commissary department, where he continued till the close of the war. During the whole time he was in the war he was neither wounded nor taken prisoner. Since that time he has been extensively engaged in farming and trading. When his uncle died he left a farm of 236 acres to our subject and wife, to which has been added sufficient to make it 670 acres. Our subject has lived in this county all his life, and is considered a good farmer and an enterprising citizen. He is a son of Joseph D. and Mary C. (Fulton) Ezell, both natives of Tennessee, the father born in 1810 and the mother in 1817. The father was a farmer, besides being engaged largely in trading and stock raising. For several years he held the position of magistrate, but was not a man who aspired to places of public trust. He died in 1889, leaving his widow and children well provided for. Since his death the mother has lived with her children.
DR. F. FERGUSON, one of the leading practitioners of Marshall County, was born February 18, 1848, in that county, reared on the farm and had all the advantages that the common schools of those days afforded. He is a son of John F. and Amelia L. (Brittain) Ferguson. The father was a native of South Carolina and the mother of North Carolina. In early life they both came to what is now Marshall County, being among the early comers to that part of the State. For many years the father was a magistrate but his chosen profession was that of a farmer, being one of the most extensive in the community. After the death of the mother the father married Mary Brittain whose maiden name was Williams. In 1870 the father also passed away. In 1869 our subject began the study of medicine under Dr. J. B. Stephens of Nashville and late in the same year entered the medical department of the University of Nashville and graduated from that institution in 1871. He then opened an office in District No 7, and has followed his profession there ever since. Besides what his practice brings him he has a good farm of 280 acres. In 1873 he wedded Sallie J. Robinson, who was born in this county August 21, 1855. To this union were born three children: John T., Maggie R. and James F. Mr. Ferguson is a Democrat in politics and he and wife are members of the Primitive Baptist Church. The patronage Mr. Ferguson has received and the financial advancement he has made render comments on his ability both as a farmer and a physician unnecessary.
REV. THOMAS B. FISHER was born February 5, 1844, in Marshall County, and was of German descent from his paternal ancestors and Irish from his maternal. He was reared on the farm and received a common school education. In 1862 he enlisted in Capt. Miller’s Company, Eleventh Tennessee Cavalry, Confederate Army, where he remained till the close of the war. He and four brothers served in that contest; one of them received a wound, from the effects of which he died several years after the war. Having returned home, out subject attended school in his own county and took a course at Union University, graduating from the literary department in 1869. He then joined the Tennessee Conference, and has been engaged in preaching the word of God ever since. In 1872 he married Sallie H. Roberts, who was born in Marshall County, August 31, 1847. The union was blessed by the birth of four children: Wilson P., Fannie B. (deceased), John R. and Mary. Mrs. Fisher and her son Wilson are also members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. In 1883 Mr. Fisher moved to the farm and has remained there ever since, but he still carries on his ministerial work. For seventeen years he has been actively engaged in the good cause, and his ability as a preacher is too well known to require comment. He is a son of John and Mildred (Stratton) Fisher. The father was born in North Carolina in 1806, and was the oldest of twenty-one children. The mother was born in November, 1810, in Maury County, and was the second wife of John Fisher. This union resulted in the birth of three children, all boys, two of whom are living. The father was a blacksmith and wagon-maker by trade until after he had passed the meridian of life, when he turned his attention exclusively to farming. he died in 1882 and his wife followed three months later.
JOHN L. FITZPATRICK, a leading farmer of Marshall County, was born December 29, 1847, in Maury County. His youthful days were passed on the farm and in securing an education at the Mooresville school. At the age of twenty-five he lift home and went to Texas on a grand buffalo hunt, and for five years was engaged in this pursuit. he killed some 3, 000 buffalo and hundreds of deer, antelope and wolves. Having returned home he, in 1880, married Rebecca B. Grant, and native of West Virginia, born May 9, 1850. This union resulted in the birth of two children: Samuel W. (deceased), and John P. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Democrat in politics and owns 465 acres of the best land in his district. He is a son of Col. S. W. and Mary D. (Love) Fitzpatrick. The father was born in 1812 in Giles County and the mother in 1814 in Maury County, where they were married in 1832. They lived in this county until 1859 and then moved to Marshall County. In 1873 they returned to Maury County and there passed the remainder of their days. The father, three years previous to his death, joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. The mother was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church from girlhood During the days of militia he held the position of colonel. He was a farmer by occupation, owing some 3,000 acres of land and 150 negroes, besides abundance of stock, but the war swept away many thousands for him. When Grandfather Fitzpatrick came to this county he brought his wife and household goods on a pony, himself walking, accompanied by six bear dogs and his rifle. At the age of thirty-six he determined to go to work, and as a result, when he died at seven-two years of age he was worth $325,000. January, 1880, the mother died, and in in December of the same year he too passed away.
ROBERT M. FOLLIS, a prosperous farmer of Marshall County, Tenn., was born in Giles County, Tenn, November 18, 1830. His early education was almost wholly neglected, and while growing up he learned the blacksmith’s trade with his father. After becoming grown he attended school until he had learned the three “R’s” and then resumed working at his trade. In 1851 he wedded Sarah Compton, by whom he had six children, all sons. She died in 1872, and the following year he married Mary Jones. To them were born three children. In 1862 he volunteered in Capt. Gordon’s company, Eleventh Tennessee Cavalry, and served for nearly three years. He resumed his trade, and in 1882 abandoned work, owing to his right arm giving out. He has farmed since that time, and owns 326 acres of land, the most of which he had made by hard work. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Martin) Follis, were born in North Carolina and Kentucky, respectively. the father moved to Kentucky when young, and there married, and soon removed to Giles County, where he live until his death. They were the parents of eleven children, and were members of the Primitive Baptist Church. He was an old-line Whig in politics, and died in 1845. After his death the mother moved to Illinois, and there died in 1882.
A. S. FOSTER, farmer, was born May 9, 1816, in Lincoln County. While growing he strongly desired an education, but the opportunities were not afforded. In 1836 he wedded Martha M. Cunningham, and nine children blessed this union. In 1883 his wife died, and the same year he wedded Fannie L. J. Foster. Our subject is a Democrat and a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. He has been magistrate and deputy sheriff, and is an example of what a young man of industry and determination can do, having started to keeping house with less than $100 worth of property, he arose by hard work and close attention to business to one of the heaviest tax payers of his community. For about thirty two years he has lived in this county, and is accounted a food farmer and an enterprising citizen. He is a son of Frederick and Sallie (Broadaway) Foster. The father was born in 1798 in Kentucky, and the mother in 1797 in North Carolina. They were married in 1813, and located in Lincoln County, but soon moved to Illinois, where they remained seven years. They then returned to Lincoln County, where they spent the remainder of their lives tilling the soil. The father was a soldier in the Creek war, and a Democrat in politics. He did in 1838, and the mother followed in 1857.
JAMES E. FOWLER is a son of Alanthas L. and Tennessee A. (Fowler) Fowler. The father was born in Virginia in 1822, and the mother in Tennessee in 1831. Alanthas Fowler cam to Tennessee in 1829, and married our subject’s mother in 1848. To them were born four children, James E. being the only one living. The father served in the late war in Capt. McCure’s company, Forty-first Tennessee Confederate Infantry, and was one of the defenders of Fort Donelson. After his capture and imprisonment at Camp Morton, some seven months, he was exchanged at Vicksburg, and served no more, owing to ill health. He has lived the quiet, independent life of a farmer, and casts his vote with the Democratic party. The mother died in 1860. He is now sixty-three years old, and has the confidence and respect of all who know him. James, his only child, was born August 25, 1851, in Marshall County. He was reared on a farm, and received a common school education. After taking a trip West for his health, he returned to the farm given to him, and in connection with his father is farming and raising stock. Anna M. Willis became his wife in 1882, and to them two children were born. Both husband and wife are members of the Christian Church, and James is a Democrat.
GEORGE W. GARRETT. Levi Garrett, father of George W., was born in the “Palmetto State” in 1790, and when a small lad was taken to Virginia where he lived to be grown. He then came to Tennessee, having in his possession at the time of his arrival only a horse and 50 cents. He followed the occupation of farming and became the owner of 1,000 acres of land. He remained single until nearly fifty years of age, and then wedded Miss Davis, who was born in Tennessee in 1818, and to them were born eight children. The father was an 1812 soldier and in politics was an old-line Democrat. He died in 1867 and the mother nine years later. Jesse J. Garrett, son of Levi Garrett, was born in Marshall County, October 1, 1846. His school days were limited and at the age of eighteen he enlisted in Company E, Eleventh Tennessee Cavalry, being an escort of Gen. Hood for a time and was with Forrest until the close of the war. He has been a farmer and owns 250 acres of excellent land. In 1868 he married Mary Ferguson, by whom he has had four daughters. She died in 1880 and since that time he and his children have kept house. Mr. Garrett is a Democrat. George W. Garrett, our immediate subject and son of Levi Garrett, was born October 27, 1852, in Marshall County. Like his brother he received a limited education and at the age of nineteen became an independent farmer on the place where he now lives. In 1873 he wedded S. L. Neren, daughter of Isaiah and Amanda (Hall) Neren, and to them were born five children. Mr. Garrett owns 196 acres of fertile land and is a stanch Democrat in his political views. He and Mrs. Garrett are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
THOMAS E. GARRETT, dealer in stoves and tinware, is a son of Jacob and Mary A. (Morris) Garrett, natives, respectively, of North Carolina and Maryland. The father died at the age of seventy-seven and the mother at the age of sixty-five. The father was a farmer, a Democrat, and he and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject was born september 23, 1842, in Sumner County, Tn.., he passed his early days on the farm and attended the common schools. At the age of seventeen he began learning the tinner’s trade with McClure, Buck & Co., of Nashville. After learning this trade, in 1877, he opened a store of his own in Lewisburg and has been doing a good business since. In 1879 he wedded Elizabeth M. Brandon, and to this union were born two children. During the war he enlisted in Company F, Fifteenth Tennessee Cavalry, and served nearly two years. He then returned home and resumed his trade. Mr. Garrett is a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Garrett has been a resident of Lewisburg for nine years, and is recognized as one of the wide-awake business men of the town.
ANDREW J. GRIFFIS, senior member of the firm of Griffis & Bro., of Robertson Fork, Tenn., is a son of T.M. and Nancy E. (Carner) Griffis, natives of Tennessee, where they grew to manhood and womanhood and were married. They spent the greater part of their lives in what is now Marshall County, and here raised their family of ten children. They were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and in politics the father was a Democrat. He served a short time during the late war and is now a prosperous farmer. The mother died in 1879. Andrew is of Irish-French descent and was born in Marshall County, July 22, 1847. He received a very limited education in his youth, but on reaching manhood he attended Cumberland University and afterward taught school a short time. He then began the merchantile business with A. D. Wallace. Since 1872 he and his brother have been in business together, and in connection with their store operate a large farm. Six children were born to his marriage with Bettie E. Tucker, which occurred in 1878. They are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and he is a Democrat politically.
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