Marshall County, TNGenWeb

ALFRED J. LANE, farmer, was born February 8, 1848, on the farm where he now lives. While growing up he received a fair practical education in the common schools, and, like a dutiful son, remained with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, when he went to Pulaski to clerk in a cotton factory. Two years later he returned to the farm, and in 1873 he was married to Mary A. Overton, a native of Texas, born February 19, 1853. Of this marriage three children was the result: John F., Mary D. and William J. Mr. Lane is a Democrat, and he and wife and eldest child are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. He has an excellent farm of 308 acres, well stocked. He has been a resident of this county for twenty-one years, and is accounted a good farmer and an enterprising citizen. He is a son of Joel and Susan H. (Carter) Lane, both natives of Tennessee. They were married in Maury County, and settled on the farm where Alfred now lives. Both parents were members of the Missionary Baptist Church. The father’s chief occupation was farming, though he worked at blacksmithing, shoemaking, carpentering or whatever his inclinations suggested. Mechanical ingenuity runs through the Lane family. He died in 1854. The mother is still living, the wife of M. E. C. Overton, by whom she had ten children.

COL. JAMES HENRY LEWIS, attorney, of Lewisburg, was born September 17,1837, in Maury County, Tenn. His grandfather, John C. Lewis, was a native of Virginia, and moved from that State to North Carolina, where he married a daughter of Nathan Forrest, near Orange Court House. at which place Fielding Lewis, father of the subject of this sketch, was born. Subsequently John C. Lewis, with his family, immigrated to Middle Tennessee. Fielding Lewis married Lydia Preston, in Sumner County, Tenn. Her father was a captain of Tennessee Volunteers, under Jackson, at New Orleans in 1815, and died soon after his return home from this campaign of disease contracted in the service. He was a member of the Preston family of Virginia and Kentucky. The grandmother, Lewis, was a member of the same family of which Gen. N. B. Forrest was a descendant, all at one time residents of Bedford and Marshall Counties. Lydia Lewis died in 1860, and Fielding Lewis in 1876. They were both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The husband was a farmer and mechanic, and was a relative of Gen. Meriwether Lewis, of the “Lewis and Clark Expedition” fame. Col. J. H. Lewis worked on a farm and in the shop until attaining his majority. His opportunities at school were limited, so that his education is almost entirely the result of his own efforts. At the age of twenty-one he began the study of law, and in October, 1859, was admitted to the bar. In 1861 he married Victoria J. Sims, who lost her father in the Mexican war. Her grandfather was John 0. Cook, of Maury County, of whose family she was a member, being an orphan girl. Her other grandfather was Gen. Winn, of South Carolina. The result of this union is four children, three of whom are living. Both husband and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Politically he is a firm Democrat. A short time before his marriage he enlisted in Company I, Second Battalion Tennessee Cavalry, Volunteers, as a private, and within a year was made captain of the company. After the consolidation of the Second and Eleventh Battalions the command was known as the First Regiment Tennessee Cavalry. He served as lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, and commanded the regiment for more than a year of the war. In the latter part of the war he commanded a brigade, including the command at the battles of Averysboro and Bentonville, N. C. After four years’ service he returned home, located in Lewisburg and engaged in the practice of law, and served in the Legislature of the State session 1871-72 as joint representative from Marshall, Giles and Lincoln Counties Col. Lewis was largely instrumental in building the Duck River Valley Railroad, and served as president of the company two years prior to its lease to the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railroad, having been a director before, and has been connected with the road ever since its building. He threw all of his energy and influence into the building of the road, and succeeded wherein most men would have failed. For twenty years he has practiced his profession, with ex-Gov John C. Brown as his partner a portion of the time, and later with his brother, and now by himself. He is now the attorney for the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad in Maury, Marshall and Lincoln Counties. His ability as a lawyer is too well known to need comment, and he is a public-spirited citizen of the county, having done much for the schools, churches, and all other benevolent organizations of the county and State. The firm name, Lewis Bros., was dissolved in 1885, and Capt. Thomas F. Lewis, the junior member of the firm, is now a member of the bar at Jackson, Tenn.

BENTLEY A. LONDON, a prosperous young farmer of Marshall County, Tenn., is a son of N. B. and Cynthia A. (McConnell) London, both born in what is now Marshall County in 1825 and 1832. Soon after marriage they began farming, in which they were very prosperous. The father was a stanch Democrat, and died in 1869. The mother afterward married P. Fox and is still living. Bentley A. inherits English blood from his father and Irish blood from his mother. He was born October 4, 1855, in Marshall County. His early educational advantages being limited, when nineteen years of age he began his career as a farmer, and before reaching a legal age made several land trades. At the age of twenty he married Mattie A. Fox, by whom he has two children-Bettie 31 and Bentley D. Mrs. London is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. London is a stanch Democrat, and is the owner of 140 acres of fertile land. In February, 1886, he and W. D. Fox purchased N. S. Hopwood’s general merchandise store, and have been doing a good business ever since.

WILLIAM A. LONDON, a leading livery man of Lewisburg, Marshall Co., Tenn., is a son of Nathan B. and Cynthia A. (McConnell) London, who were born, reared and married in Marshall County. The father was a successful farmer, and served a short time in the late war, under Forrest. He was a Democrat, and died in 1869. His widow married Pervines Fox, Jr., by whom she has two children. Our subject was one of nine children, and was born November 23, 1857, in Marshall County. He was educated in the common schools, and at the age of nineteen began to do for himself. Since 1878 he has been engaged in the livery business in Lewisburg in partnership with different men, but since 1885 he and S. D. Davis have done business together, and are securing comfortable competencies. He also, in connection with McAdams & Sons, has done an extensive business in buying and selling horses and mules. In 1878 he wedded Mary E. Braly, by whom he has two daughters. Both Mr. and Mrs. London are members of the Christian Church. In politics our subject is a Democrat.

WILSON G. LOYD, clerk of the Circuit Court of Marshall County, is a son of Alexander M. and Louisa (Blackwell) Loyd. The father was a merchant, having sold goods in Bedford County for some time. In 1838 he removed to Texas for the purpose of surveying public lands. He was called from this world of toil at the early age of twenty-nine. Our subject was born April 26, 1838, in Lewisburg, but, his mother having died when he was but an infant, he was left to the care of an aunt at Shelbyville till nine years of age, after which he went to live with an uncle in Louisiana. At the age of seventeen he returned to this State and attended school three years, completing his education at Franklin College in 1859. He then went back to Louisiana and engaged as salesman in Alexandria till 1861, when he enlisted in Company B, Second Louisiana Infantry in the Army of Northern Virginia. At the battle of Gettysburg he received a slight wound, and it was the only one he received during the entire four years he was in service.  In 1865 he wedded Victoria C. Meadows, and by this union became the father of eleven children, all living. Both Mr. and Mrs. Loyd are earnest workers in the Christian Church. In politics Mr. Loyd is a Democrat. In 1878 he was elected circuit court clerk, and has filled that position in a satisfactory manner. In 1885 he became bookkeeper of the Bank of Lewisburg.

JOHN B. LUNA is a son of James G. and Rhoda C. (Stevens) Luna, native Tennesseeans. They were members of the Primitive Baptist Church. The father was a Democrat, and died in 1846, at the age of thirty-nine. The mother lived until 1880. John B.’s birth occurred in Marshall County August 29, l844. At the age of fifteen he began earning his own living, receiving a common school education. For about eleven months he served in Company I, Eighth Tennessee Infantry, and then returned home and resumed farming. In 1864 he wedded Mattie Yowell, who died the following year. In 1870 Maggie Vaughn became his wife and seven children blessed their union. Both Mr. and Mrs. Luna are members of the Primitive Baptist Church, and, like his father, Mr. Luna is a Democrat. They possess 235 acres of land, and he is considered one of the best farmers of Marshall County. He gives much attention to raising fine stock and owns the two horses, Tom Hall and Chieftain, the latter of Black Satin stock. For forty-two years he has been a resident of Marshall County, and no man has been more intimately connected with the progress of the county than he.

SHELBY B. MARSH is a son of Simeon and Elizabeth (Shelby) Marsh, who were born in North and South Carolina, respectively. In 1812 they came to Tennessee and located in Marshall County, where the father became an extensive farmer and land speculator. The father was a Democrat, and died when about seventy years old. His ancestors were Revolutionary soldiers from the “Nutmeg State.” The mother was related to Shelby, the second in command at the battle of New Orleans, and governor of Kentucky. Shelby B. Marsh was born in North Carolina. At the age of fifteen he began clerking in a store, and after following that occupation for a few years he began trading in negroes, making some $10,000 there at. Seven children were born to his marriage with Elizabeth Jones, which took place in 1837. Two of the children died in infancy and Robert J. and Simeon were killed in the late war. Mr. Marsh is a stanch Democrat and has been remarkably successful in his business career. His wife is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

WILLIAM T. MARSH is a son of Shelby and Elizabeth J. (Jones) Marsh, and was born June 24, 1843, in Giles County, Tenn., and was reared by a father who, though very wealthy, was a believer in honest toil, and taught his sons to work. He acquired a good rudimentary education, and later attended Cumberland University. He then returned home, and has followed the free and independent life of a farmer up to the present time. He owns 930 acres of very fertile land, and is extensively engaged in stock raising. In 1871 Amelia Jackson became his wife. She is a daughter of Thomas R. and Elizabeth S. (Madry) Jackson, who were born in North Carolina and Missouri, respectively. They both came to Tennessee when young, and became the parents of ten children. The latter was a Democrat, and died in 1883. His widow still lives, and has attained the age of seventy-two years. To Mr. and Mrs. Marsh were born three children-two sons and one daughter. Our subject and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he is a stanch Democrat.

JOHN L. MARSHALL, of the firm of Cowden & Marshall, of Lewisburg, is a son of James G. and Margaret J. (Bullock) Marshall, both Natives of Tennessee. In early life the father was a teacher, but later engaged in the occupation of a farmer. Both parents were church members, the father being an elder for many years in the Presbyterian Church, and the mother an active member in the Methodist Episcopal Church. She died in l863 and the father followed in l871. He was a Democrat in politics. Our subject was born January, 30, 1850, in Marshall County, and inherited Scotch-Irish blood from his father and English blood from his mother. He passed his youthful days on the farm and received an academic education. In 1869 he entered Cumberland University, where he completed his education. Having taught two terms he commenced the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1875. He then became a partner of P. C. Smithson, and two years later dissolved partnership, practicing alone till 1883. He then became one of the firm to which he now belongs. In 1876 he wedded Mrs. M. L. (Swanson) Lyle, who died in 1881. Five years later he married Martha Steele. Mr. Marshall is an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and his wife belongs to the same church. He is a conservative Democrat, and is considered by all as an able and successful young lawyer.

JAMES M. MARTIN is a son of Henry and Maria (Tankersley) Martin. Henry Martin was born in North Carolina in 1802, and when young came to Tennessee and located in Bedford County, where he married Miss Tankersley, born in 1808. They were the parents of eighteen children, seven of whom are living. The mother was a member of the Christian Church, as was also the father until the last few years of his life, when he became a Universalist. He held the position of constable six years and that of deputy sheriff two years. During the late war he supported the Confederacy although too old to take an active part. The mother died in 1842 and two years later Mr. Martin marries Mrs. Delilah Lamb, by whom he had six children. His death occurred in I864. James .M. was born September 6, 1822, in Williamson County, and secured a practical education. At the age of twenty he began working by the month and in 1845 married Nancy McGee, who was born February 21, 1826, in North Carolina, and died in 1856, having borne one child who died.  In 1857 Mr. Martin took for his second wife Mary Stanfield, and seven children blessed their union. Husband and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he is a stanch Democrat in politics and for some eight years has held the position of magistrate and has been constable nearly four years. He owns 260 acres of land and is known to be a thrifty farmer and an honest man.

HARDIN MAYBERRY is a son of Gabriel Mayberry, who was a Virginian by birth and married Rosanna Hardin, of South Carolina, by whom he had four children. They came to Tennessee when quite young and when Nashville was a small collection of cabins. The father was a Democrat and a prosperous farmer and lived to be seventy-five years of age. His widow outlived him but a few years. Grandfather Mayberry was a Revolutionary soldier at the age of seventeen, and was intimately associated with Gen. George Washington. Hardin, our subject, was born in Hickman County July 14, 1826, and was reared on a farm, receiving a common school education. Since attaining his twenty-first birthday he has farmed, and now owns a well stocked farm of 1,000 acres. In 1847 he married Cornelia E. Galloway, who died in 1856, leaving four children: Mary M., Harriet C. and two infants, deceased. Mr. Mayberry’s second wife was Mrs. A. P. Blair, who bore him six children: Lawreston H., Emma P., Lula L., Harvey, Cora and Gabriella. Mr. Mayberry was a soldier in the late war, serving, in Company A, Forty-eighth Tennessee Infantry. and was one of the defenders of Fort Donelson. After a two months’ imprisonment at Camp Chase and five months’ imprisonment at Johnson’s Island he was exchanged at Vickburg, and failing health caused him to be released. He served as first lieutenant about one year.

JOSEPH McBRIDE, clerk of the county court, was born December 27, 1827 in Lincoln (now Marshall) County, Tenn., and is of Scotch-Irish descent. He is a son of G. W. and Mary H. (Cook) McBride, natives, respectively, of North Carolina and Virginia. The father was a farmer, a Democrat in politics, and occupied the office of magistrate the greater part of his life. He died at the age of sixty-two and the mother at the age of sixty. Our subject grew to manhood on the farm and received a practical education in the common schools. In 1853 he wedded Mary A. V. Palmer, by whom he had ten children, seven of whom are living. Mr. McBride, like his father before him, is a stanch Democrat,, and he and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. For nearly twelve years he has served as magistrate, and was also chairman of the county court a term. In 1882 he was elected to the position he is now occupying, and has filled that office in a highly satisfactory manner.

COL. W. L. McCLELLAND was born in North Carolina in 1815, and when a boy came with his parents to what is now Marshall County, Tenn. On reaching manhood he married Mary Chambliss, by whom he had three children. His wife died in 1854, and he wedded Sarah Chambliss, a sister of his first wife, by whom he had two children. He and both his wives were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. In early life he was a merchant, and later he took himself to farming, in which he was more than ordinarily successful. He twice represented his county in the State Legislature, and was chosen delegate to the Charleston and Baltimore Convention in l860. During his life he was one of the most enterprising and energetic business men in his section. He died in 1883, leaving a widow and five children to mourn their loss. John R. is a lawyer of Nashville, Fernando, a farmer of Marshall County; Mattie, the wife of Capt. A. E. Read, of Louisiana; Ada lives at home, and Zana is the wife of W. W. Ogilvie, who has an interest in and charge of the old McClelland homestead. He was born in Maury County May 15, 1856, and attended Webb’s school at Culleoka, and later the Tennessee University, completing the freshman year. He first opened a hardware store in Lewisburg, and in connection handled grain. His marriage with Miss McClelland was consummated in 1881. Mr. Ogilvie belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and in polities is a Democrat. In 1885 he moved to the farm, and is now extensively engaged in stock raising.

FERDINAND S. McCLELLAND may be mentioned as one of the prosperous farmers of
Marshall County, Tenn. He is a son of Col. W. L. and Mary (Chambliss) McClelland, and was born February 7, 1841, in what is now Marshall County. His educational advantages were above the average, and he had reached his senior year in Cumberland University when the war broke out and he volunteered in Capt. Walker’s company. Third Tennessee Infantry. He served four years and the last year and a half was lieutenant in the ordnance department. In 1866 he wedded Mary Y. Plattenburg, a native of Alabama, and to them were born seven children. At the close of the war he located in Alabama, where he was engaged in the culture of cotton four years. In 1870 he returned to Marshall County, Tenn., where he owns 150 acres of fine and well improved land. He is a conservative Democrat in politics and is a man of recognized ability. During the agitation of the State debt question he made many public addresses in favor of its payment in full. For thirty-seven years he has been a resident of Marshall County, and by his upright conduct and geniality has won the respect and esteem of all.

FREDERICK B. McCLURE, farmer of Marshall County and son of John and Sarah (Cooper) McClure. The father was born in North Carolina and there married Miss Jameson, who bore him five children. They came to Tennessee about 1811 and located in Rutherford County. His wife died and he then wedded Mrs. Cooper. To them were born four children. Both husband and wife were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The father was a tanner by trade and worked thereat in early life. Later he betook himself to farming. The mother died in 1845 and the father in 1848. Our subject was born in Rutherford County, August 15, 1827, but attended school very little in boyhood, owing to poor health. At the age of twenty he began farming and later purchased a farm in Marshall County. In 1862 he volunteered to serve in the commissary department, continuing until the close of the war. In 1866, after his return, he wedded a Miss McAfee, daughter of Green and Elizabeth (Scales) McAfee, and to their union were born five children, three now living. Mr. McClure is a stanch Democrat and is the owner of 163 acres of land in the garden spot of Marshall County.

HENRY G. McCORD was born August 12, 1847, in Williamson County, and is of Scotch-Irish descent. He received the rudiments of his education in the common schools and subsequently attended Cumberland University, and graduated from the literary department in 1873. He taught school for about three years, and then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. In 1877 he married Lillie V. Ogilvie, who was born May 13, 1856. The fruits of this union were five children: Marks W., Harris O., Manella M., Joseph C. and Chamilla S. In 1864 Mr. McCord went out in Company C, Eleventh Tennessee Cavalry, Confederate Army, and served until the close of the war. He has a good farm of 269 acres, well watered and furnished with good buildings, and is considered a first-class farmer. He is a Democrat in politics, and he and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is a son of Cowden and Sallie A. (Williams) McCord. The father was born in Williamson County in 1809, and the mother was born on the farm where Henry now lives in 1826. They were married in Marshall County in 1844, and to them were born eight children, seven of whom lived to be grown, and six are living now. The father was a Democrat in politics, and for one term served as magistrate. He was also a farmer and an extensive one at that. The mother died in 1863, and in 1879 the father died also.

ROBERT A. McCORD, JR., member of the hardware firm of Woods & McCord, was born March 10, 1859, in Marshall County, son of Cowden and Sarah (Williams) McCord. (See sketch of Henry McCord for further particulars of parents.) Our subject was reared on the farm, and received a good common school education. At the age of twenty-two he began to battle his own way in life. In 1882 he came to Lewisburg, and in connection with Coffey & Woods engaged in the grain and agricultural business.  In two years he transferred his line of business to hardware, in which he has succeeded remarkably well. In 1881 he was united in marriage to Bettie Whittsitt, and this union resulted in the birth of three children. In politics Mr. McCord is conservative, voting the Democratic ticket when good men are presented. He and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He has, in the short space of four years, won a place among the first business men of the city.

HON. DILLISTON S. McCULLOUGH is a son of Richard and Nancy (Posey) McCullough, natives of Virginia and South Carolina, respectively. The father was born in 1803 and the mother in 1807. They were married in Rutherford County, Tenn., and were the parents of ten children, five of whom are now living. The father was a tiller of the soil and was quite successful in that occupation. In politics he was, respectively, a Whig, Know-nothing and Democrat. In 1878 the mother died and four years later the father died, too. Our subject was born May 11, 1838, in Rutherford County, and is of Scotch-Irish descent. He passed his youthful days on the farm and received his education in the district schools; later he took an academic course at Union Hill, and finished at Union University, where he graduated in 1860, with the degree of A. B. After teaching a term he volunteered, in 1861, to lead Company D, Eighth Battalion Tennessee Cavalry, which afterward became Starnes’ regiment. Having served about twelve months he resigned his commission and joined the Eleventh Tennessee Cavalry. After the war he taught two terms, but not liking the nomadic life of a teacher, he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, in which he is still engaged. In 1865 he married Martha J. Jordon, and to them were born three children: Ruben J., William R. and Dilliston. Mr. McCullough is a Democrat in politics and has not escaped public notice. In 1880 he was elected senator of the Thirteenth District, representing Marshall, Lincoln, Moore and Franklin Counties, and in 1883 he was elected to the same position by the Sixteenth Senatorial District, composed of Marshall and Williamson Counties. Mr. McCullough has been a resident of Marshall County for seventeen years, has a good farm of 180 acres, and is one of the county’s best men.

COLEMAN R. McCULLOUGH, an enterprising farmer of Marshall County, and a son of Richard D. and Nancy (Posey) McCullough, was born February 25, 1842, in Rutherford County. He received a good practical education in the common schools, and in 1862 volunteered in Company C, Eleventh Tennessee Cavalry, Confederate Army. During nearly three years of faithful service he was engaged in eight hard-fought battles, but was never wounded or taken prisoner. After the war he engaged in farming, and in 1868 was united in marriage to Margaret R. McLean, a native of Marshall County, born October 21, 1844. This union was blessed by the birth of six children-two boys and four girls. Mr. McCullough is a Democrat in politics and a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. His wife is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. For four years our subject has filled the position of constable in a capable and satisfactory manner. He has a good farm of 300 acres, well stocked, and has been a resident of the county for twenty-eight years.

COL. CHRISTOPHER C. McKINNEY was born December 10, 1825 in Lincoln, County, Tenn. He was reared on the farm and attended the old-time subscription schools. His parents were James and Temperance (Rowe) McKinney, natives, respectively, of Virginia and South Carolina. When young they came to this State, the father in 1808 and the mother two years later. After marriage they settled in Lincoln County where they passed the remainder of their days. The father was a member of the Methodist Church and the mother a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. Their family consisted of seven children, six of whom are living. The father was a farmer and carpenter and a soldier in the war of 1812. The father died in 1862 and the mother in 1880. Our subject after reaching twenty-one years of age began working for himself at $5 per month. After farming and milling for several years he opened a grocery store in Petersburg in 1854. He then changed to the dry goods business and this he continued till the war. In 1849 he wedded Mary Luna, and this union resulted in the birth of seven children, six of whom are living. In 1861 Mr. McKinney enlisted in Company B, Eighth Tennessee Infantry, sharpshooters, as first lieutenant and from that arose to lieutenant-colonel of his regiment. At the end of four years’ faithful service he returned and engaged in merchandising as salesman and book-keeper at Richmond, Tenn. In 1884 he opened a grocery store in this place where he has had a lucrative practice ever since. Mr. and Mrs. McKinney are active members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which he has been an elder for twenty-nine years. He is a Democrat, a good businessman and a highly respected citizen.

G. A. McLANE, one of the firm of McLane & Co., proprietors of a saw and planing mill, is a son of Jesse and Flora (Patterson) McLane, natives, respectively, of North Carolina and Virginia. They came to Tennessee at an early day, and were married in Marshall County, and there reared their family of seven children. Previous to this union the father had been married to Nancy Paton, by whom he had nine children. He was a Whig in politics. His ancestors were of Irish descent and his wife was of Scotch lineage. G. A. McLane was born August 14, 1836, in Marshall County. He only attended school about six months during his life, and when of age could scarcely write his own name, but by energy and ambition he overcame his deficiencies, and was a school-teacher for about three years, following farming at the same time. During the war he followed merchandising with Alfred McGahey at Shelbyville, but about three years later returned to the farm. In 1874 he engaged in his present business, and in 1885 moved to Lewisburg and became one of the above named firm. Eliza Whitsett became his wife in 1870. To them were born five children, only four of whom are living. Mr. McLane was a strong Union man during the war, and was strongly opposed to slavery. He was one of the men in his district to vote for the Union. In politics he is a stanch Republican. Mr. McLane has prospered in worldly goods, and owns a good farm, besides a saw and planing mill.

JOSEPH A. McRADY, a native of Maury County, was born January 18, 1827, and is a son of Ephraim McRady. The father was born in Kentucky in 1800, and as his parents died while he was yet quite young, he was reared by an uncle. After reaching man’s estate he wedded Sarah Wingfield, a native of Maury County, Tenn., born in 1806, and by this union became the father of two children: Joseph A., our subject, and Susan. Both parents were leading members of the Presbyterian Church. The father was a house carpenter by trade, but spent the latter part of his life in farming. In politics he was a stanch Democrat. In 1838 the mother died, and the father then married Margaret White, who was also a member of the Presbyterian Church. The father died in 1871. Our subject, during his youth, had the best of opportunities for an education. After finishing the common school course he entered Jackson College, Maury County, and graduated from that institution in 1846. After teaching a year he began to read law under Judge Dillahunty, and, in 1849, opened an office in partnership with Robert Payne, at Lewisburg. Here he continued five years. In 1852 he married Margaret E. Ewing, who was born February 14, 1833. This union resulted in the birth of nine children, seven of whom are living. The second son, Flarins S., is a rising young physician of Petersburg, Giles County. Our subject and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a Democrat in politics. In 1861 he volunteered in Capt. Holden’s company of the Fifty-third Tennessee Infantry, Confederate Army. He was soon appointed to the commissary department, and served in that capacity until the close of the war. He was captured at Fort Donelson and soon removed to Johnson’s Island. Being sick when the roll for exchange of prisoners was called, a bushwhacker answered to Mr. McRady’s name, and thus escaped. Our subject remained in prison twelve months. Since the war he has followed agricultural pursuits. He has a large farm of 430 acres, and has had reasonable success.

NEWTON McQUIDDY, farmer, born September 26, 1819, in Woodford County, Ky. was of Scotch-Irish descent on his father’s side and English on his mother’s. His parents were John and Achsah (Dale) McQuiddy, both natives of Kentucky. The father was born in 1790 and the mother in 1793. They had nine children, six of whom lived to be grown; three are living at the present time. The father was a farmer, though for several years, both in Kentucky and Tennessee, he ran a rope and bagging factory. He was a Whig, and a man who made the most of everything he undertook. At the time of his death, which occurred in 1863, he had over 1,500 acres of land. The mother died in 1881. Our subject grew up on the farm, and was educated in the schools of those early days. At the, age of twelve he went to work in his father’s factory, where he remained for about twelve years. In 1843 he married Nancy A. Shofner, a native of Lincoln County, born January 6, 1823. The fruits of this union were eleven children, nine of whom are living. Two of the boys, W. B. and J. C., are promising young ministers in the Christian Church. Mr. McQuiddy is a member of that church, and his wife a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. McQuiddy was a strong Union man during the war, and now votes with the Republican party. He has a farm of 1,200 acres, and is widely known and highly respected.

ROBERT MONTGOMERY, SR., usually called “Uncle Robin,” a retired farmer of Marshall County, was born September 5, 1810, in South Carolina. He passed his youthful days on the farm in the summer months, and attended the common schools in the winter season. He was the son of Robert and Esther (Spence) Montgomery. The father was born in Ireland in 1784, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He came to this country with his parents when but a lad and. settled in South Carolina. After reaching the years of maturity he was married, and was living in South Carolina at the time of his death, which occurred in 1825. In 1830 the mother and her children came to Tennessee. Here the mother, after living a long and useful life, died in 1859. Our subject was married, June 5, 1855, to Margaret P. Ormand, of Alabama. The fruits of this union were three children: Mary E., now Mrs. Mount; John O. and Jane S., now Mrs. Wiggs, all living. Mr. Montgomery is a Republican in politics, and he and wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church. His son-in-law, I. T. Wiggs, was born October 21, 1846, in Marshall County, and received a fair education in the common schools. By his marriage to Jane L. Montgomery he became the father of one child, yet unnamed. He is a carpenter by trade, but has also followed the occupation of a farmer to some extent. Politically he is rather conservative, but inclines toward the Democratic party. He is the son of Needham B. and Elizabeth G. (Radford) Wiggs. The father was born in North Carolina in 1812 and the mother in Tennessee in 18 15. The former died in 1876 and the latter in 1856.

JAMES J. MORGAN’S birth occurred in Maury County, Tenn., July 28, 1848, son of William B. and Martha L. (Huggins) Morgan, Tennesseeans by birth and residents of Maury County, after their marriage. Their children are James J., Lizzie C., David E. and Ella P. The father was a soldier in the late war in Capt. Holman’s company, Fifty-third Tennessee Cavalry, and served nearly two years. He was captured at Fort Donelson and imprisoned at Camp Morton about seven months, but lived only a few weeks after being exchanged. After his death the mother lived with her children until 1877, when she, too, died. The father’s people were Scotch-Irish, the mother’s French Huguenots, who came to America at an early day. James J. Morgan’s early education was limited, owing to the breaking out of the war. He resided with his mother and cared for her until her death. In 1879 he married Belle Davis, who was born in. Marshall County, July 29, 1854, and four children have blessed their union: Mary E. (deceased), William C., Scott D. (deceased), and Alice. Mr. Morgan belongs to the Presbyterian Church and his wife to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is a Democrat and owns a one-third interest in a well stocked farm of 260 acres.

ELISHA G. MORRIS, a leading miller and farmer of Marshall County, and a son of Allen and Margaret E. (Sawson) Morris, was born February 14, 1843, in Marshall County, and is of English descent. His parents were natives of North Carolina and South Carolina, respectively. The father was a farmer, and in connection with this ran a still-house. Later he followed the trade of blacksmithing and milling. He died in 1862, and in 1886 the mother, too, passed away. Our subject received a good practical education in the common schools, and subsequently attended Chapel Hill Academy, but the breaking out of the war cut short all his plans. In 1861 he enlisted in the Fifty-fifth Tennessee Infantry, Confederate Army, and at the battle of Shiloh received a severe wound. At Petersburg he was captured, and after remaining in prison eight months was paroled and entered the service no more. In 1867 he wedded Chlora A. Hopkins, and this union was blessed by the birth of ten children, seven now living. The eldest son, William A., is a student at Goodman’s Business College, the rest being at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Morris are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Democrat in politics, and has made this county his home all his life.

JAMES J. MURRAY, one of the oldest attorneys of Lewisburg, Tenn., is a son of Henry and Matilda (Denney) Murray, born in North Carolina and Ireland, respectively. They both came to Williamson County, Tenn., when young, and were there married. This family consisted of eight children. The father was a farmer and Democrat, and died at the age of fifty years. The mother lived to the ripe old age of ninety-four. James’ ancestors on his father’s side were of English-Irish descent, and on his mother’s Scotch-Irish. He was born in Williamson County June 20, 1830, and received a common English education. He was salesman in the mercantile business several years, and became a student of Blackstone under R. K. Kercheval. In 1857 he entered the Lebanon Law School and the same year was admitted to the bar and opened an office in Lewisburg, where he has since successfully practiced. In 1865 he wedded Mary A. Carothers, by whom he has five children. Mr. and Mrs. Murray are members of the Christian Church. In 1861 Mr. Murray enlisted in Company B, Fifty-third Tennessee Infantry, and rose to the rank of first lieutenant. He was slightly wounded at Atlanta and severely at Franklin. After his return he followed his profession and farmed on a limited scale. He made a specialty of raising fine jacks and also kept a fine horse of No. 1 pedigree. Mr. Murray is a talented lawyer and a Democrat in politics.

S. J. MURRELL is one of the twelve children of Richard and Sarah (Hale) Murrell, who were born in Sullivan and Washington Counties respectively. After their marriage they settled in Sullivan County, where they spent the remainder of their lives, The father held the office of magistrate for many years, and died at the age of forty-five. The mother lived to be about fifty-five years of age. Our subject was born and reared on a farm in Sullivan County. He was born March 9, 1820, and after attending the common schools completed his education in Holston College and Washington college, Tennessee. Caroline F. George became his wife in 1843, and to them were born six children, two of whom are dead. In 1862 he joined the Southern Army, serving in Trivet’s company, and. was out twenty-six months, twenty-two months of that time being spent as a prisoner at Johnson’s Island. He served as second lieutenant. In 1863 he came to Marshall County, and is now one of the heaviest tax-payers of the county. He is a Democrat. Mrs. Murrell’s death occurred in 1879. She was a second cousin of Lewis Cass, and also of Caleb Cushing. Since her death Mr. Murrell and his daughter Josephine have lived on the old home farm.

 

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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