Goodspeed’s Marshall County Biographies – Surnames N, O & P
LAMBERT C. NEIL, horse trainer, of Marshall County, was born March 28, 1839, in this county. He was reared by his grandmother and received a limited education. At the age of fifteen he went to Texas and engaged as an overseer of a cotton plantation. In 1859 he went to California, and, after residing there three years, returned with a single companion on pack-horses. In 1862 he went out as an independent soldier in Capt. Carter’s company, and later acted under Forrest. While transmitting an order from one fort to another he was captured and taken to Nashville, then to Louisville, and while being transported in a box car to Camp Chase, he cut out two planks and made his escape. In 1867 he married Letitia Talley, and to this union was born one child, Edgar. Mr. Neil is a Democrat and his wife is a member of the Christian Church. He has a good farm of 121 acres, and his principal business since the war has been training horses for the turf. He owns some well bred racers and trains for others on a fine half-mile track on his farm. He has trained of his own a pacing stallion, “Bay Tom” that makes his mile in 2:23; sold him for $1,500. Mr. Nell has also a trotting gelding “Blue Jay” that makes the distance in 2:29¼; sold for $1,430. “Sumicks,” trial in 2:32, a bay gelding, “Fred. Neil” makes the mile in 2:29¼. Our subject has also trained for others a bay stallion, “Nettle Keyman,” that makes the mile in 2:26½, trial 2:21; sold for $1,500. Mr. Neil has a wide reputation as a horse trainer.
DAVID NIX is one of fourteen children born to the marriage of Robin and Fannie (Arnold) Nix. The father was born in Georgia, and was married to Miss Arnold in Marshall County. He was a Democrat and farmer, and after his wife’s death he married Vicey Cheak. He died in 1880, lacking sixteen days of being one hundred years old. David inherits English blood from both parents. He was born in what is now Marshall County, April 20, 1818. He was allowed to have his own way in regard to attending school, and not knowing the value of an education he preferred working in the cotton fields to attending school, consequently, his education is none of the best. He began earning his own living at the age of eighteen. and after working as a farm laborer five years he purchased 100 acres of land largely on credit, which he paid for and increased to 500 acres. In 1843 he wedded Fannie Glenn, by whom he had ten children. Mr. and Mrs. Nix are members of the Christian Church, and in polities he is a Democrat.
WILLIAM H. OGILVIE. Richard Ogilvie, father of William H., was born in North Carolina, and came to Tennessee about 1796, locating in Williamson County, where he farmed and eventually became the owner of 500 acres of land. He married Cynthia M. Wilson, a native of Georgia, and became the father of seven children. Williamson County was almost an unbroken canebrake at the time of his settlement, so that he had great difficulty in clearing his farm. He died in 1822 and the mother resided with her youngest son on the old homestead until her death. William H. Ogilvie was born in Williamson County December 17, 1818, and in his youth attended the old-time subscription schools, his studies extending to geography and grammar. At the age of twenty be married Elizabeth N. Demumbrane, born in Williamson County December 29, 1820. To them were born eight children, only two of whom are living. In 1853 Mrs. Ogilvie died, and the following year he was united in marriage to Mary R. Gentry, also a native of Williamson County, born December 16, 1825. They are the parents of three daughters. Mr. Ogilvie was a Whig until the war. Since that time has been a supporter of Democratic principles. He is a Royal Arch Mason and owns 700 acres of land.
HON. J. L. ORR is the son of John and Emily (Bagley) Orr, both natives of Marshall County (then called Bedford and Lincoln Counties); the former was born in 1811 and the latter in 1813. They were married in 1830 and were the parents of three children -two girls and one boy. The father followed the occupation of a farmer and served as colonel in the State militia. He was a Democrat in politics. His death occurred April, 1849. The mother died January, 1886. Our subject was born November 9. 1836, in Marshall County, and passed his early life in assisting on the farm and in attending the public school. He completed his education in Erskin College, graduating from that institution in August, 1860. January 29, 1874, he wedded Sally S. Williams, and this union resulted in the birth of four children: Julia, Daisy, Sallie and Robert Williams. In 1861 Mr. Orr enlisted in Company A, Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, commanded by Col. Baxter Smith, and was all through the war. He surrendered at Charlotte, N. C., May 4, 1863, and returned home. He held the rank of first lieutenant and was wounded slightly. He was in all the principal engagements of the southwestern army (except Shiloh). He served two terms in the State Legislature and is a Democrat in polities. He is a self-made man, and at one time taught in the common schools and worked for his father-in-law ten years. He is now doing business for himself as merchant and grain dealer, stock raiser, grain farmer, and is doing a successful business.
ROBERT J. ORR is a son of Robert and Leah (Polk) Orr. The father was born in Maryland, May, 1765, was married in 1790 and immigrated to Williamson County, Tenn., 1806. In 1808 he moved to Marshall County, then known as Bedford County. The mother was of English descent and was born in 1768 and died in 1830. The father died January 5, 1855, and was of Irish lineage. The subject of this sketch was born February 11, 1813, at the old homestead. He worked on the farm until the death of his father, after which he worked for himself. He received a rather limited education in the district schools, and September 25, 1849, he was married to Sarah E. Laws. This union has been blessed by the birth of eight children: David L., Leah C., John M. (deceased), Martha M., Catherine O., Alfred D., Nellie M. and Robert J. Mr. Orr served as captain and colonel in the Tennessee militia until the Rebellion, but did not take an active part in the war. He held the office of magistrate for eighteen years to the entire satisfaction of the people. He is a Republican and a member of the Presbyterian Church and is a strong advocate of the cause of temperance. Mrs. Orr is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her father advocated the cause of the South, serving in the State Legislature before and after the war.
THOMAS A. ORR, farmer, was born February 9, 1827, in Williamson County, Tenn., and is a son of Robert and Mary A. (Cummins) Orr, natives of Williamson County, Tenn. In 1835 they moved to Giles County and five years later to Marshall, and here spent the remainder of their days. They were both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Our subject was reared on the farm and received a practical education in the common schools. Like a dutiful son he remained at home until he was twenty-two years of age. In 1848 he led to the hymeneal altar Minerva Vincent, a native of Marshall County, born July 17,1830. The fruits of this union were twelve children, eight of whom are living. The eldest son, Joseph C. is a stock trader. The second, Robert A., is a rising young physician of Mooresville; William R., is a practicing physician at home. The rest of the boys are at home farming. Our subject has a fine farm of 500 acres and has been a resident of this county for a period of forty-seven years. Mr. Orr is a Democrat in politics and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
GEORGE M. PARK is one of six children and was born February 9, 1844, in Marshall County, Tenn. His parents, Hill and Nancy (Hayes) Park, were born in Tennessee and after marriage settled on a farm in Marshall County, where they are spending their declining years. Hill Park is a democrat. George M. was educated in the common schools, and at the breaking out of the war between the North and South he enlisted with the Southern cause in Company H, Forty-first Tennessee Infantry. He was captured at the fall of Fort Donelson and was imprisoned at Camp Morton, Ind., and Chicago, and was exchanged at Vicksburg and immediately re-enlisted in the service, but was again taken prisoner, at Jonesboro, Ga., and held until the close of the war. During his four years’ service he was only twice wounded, once at Chickamauga and once at Jonesboro. By his energy and good management he has become the owner of 150 acres of land, where he now lives. He was married, in 1867, to Mary J. Alexander, by whom he is the father of eight children-six sons and two daughters.
MOSES PARK, an early settler of Marshall County, Tenn., is a son of Moses and Mary (Wier) Park, who were born in North Carolina, the father in 1780 and the mother in 1779. They came to Tennessee in 1804 and located in Williamson County first and Marshall County about 1812. They were the parents of eight children and members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The father was an old-line Democrat and a hatter by trade, but the greater part of his time was spent in agricultural pursuits. The mother died in 1859 and he in 1864. Moses, our subject, inherits Irish blood from his mother; he was born in the county March 16, 1818, and his days have been passed as a tiller of the soil. He attended the common schools, and while in his “teens” learned the cabinet-maker’s trade. He worked in Missouri for some time, and then returned and worked at his trade until his shop was consumed by fire, and then engaged in farming. Eight children were born to his marriage with Mary A. Davis, which occurred in 1842. His son, Jerome, died from exposure at Fort Donelson. Mr. Park is a Democrat, and by hard work and good management has become the owner of 800 acres of good farming land. He has also been quite extensively engaged in raising fine stock.
HON. JAMES M. PATTERSON, M. D., a leading physician of Marshall County, is a son of James and Mary (Reed) Patterson, born in South and North Carolina in 1794 and 1791, respectively. They were brought to this State when children, and after reaching years of maturity were married in 1818, and became the parents of nine children. They resided in Maury County until 1833, and then came to Marshall County, where the father carried on farming and stock raising on a rather extensive plan. The father was a Whig, and served as magistrate many years. He died in 1875, and his wife the year previous. James M. Patterson was born in Maury County, January 8, 1829, and secured a good early education. At the age of twenty-four he began the study of medicine under Dr. S. J. Rice, and about two years later entered the medical department of the University of Nashville, from which he graduated in 1858, among the first in his class. He began practicing in Maury County, and during the war was part of the time engaged as physician and surgeon. In 1860 he married Margaret S. Hardison, who was born November 10, 1836, and ten children were born to their union. Dr. Patterson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and his wife of the Christian Church. He was a Whig previous to the war, but has since been a Democrat. In 1870 he represented Bedford and Marshall Counties in the State Senate, and filled that position very ably. He came to Marshall County in 1864, where he has followed his profession, and also farmed for twenty-two years.
DR. THOMAS J. PATTERSON’S birth occurred June 13, 1828, in Marshall County, Tenn., on the farm where he now resides. He followed the plow in his youthful days, and received an academical education. He began the study of medicine under Dr. M. H. Scales after attaining his twenty-first birthday, and after reading about two years entered the medical department of the University of Louisville, from which he graduated in 1851. He entered upon his practice in Maury County, and after two years moved to Marshall County, where he has since lived. In 1856 he married Louisa H. Hardin, born December 29, 1832 in Maury County, and educated at Columbia, and eight children blessed their union. He acted as assistant surgeon for about eighteen months during the late war, and since that time has been a Democrat in politics. He is also a Mason, and the owner of 418 acres of land, well stocked. He devotes the most of his time to farming , but still practices among his old patrons. His parents, John and Sarah (Wilson) Patterson, were born in the Palmetto State. The father moved to Kentucky when young, and finally to Marshall County, Tenn., in 1820, where he was married about five years later. The mother died in 1830, leaving two children, and the father wedded Sarah Lavender, who bore him four children, two daughters living. The father was an extensive farmer of his day, and is now in his eighty-fourth year. Our subject’s wife is a daughter of Pleasant and Tabitha (Gentry) Hardin, born and married in North Carolina. They moved to Maury County, Tenn., at an early day, and became the parents of six children, all girls. The father died while in the prime of life, and after his death the mother and her daughters managed the farm. She died in 1873.
DAVID B. PHILLIPS is a native of Lincoln County, Tenn., born February 11, 1842, and after having passed his youth on his father’s farm, obtaining a common school education, he, in 1861, enlisted in Capt. Walker’s company of Third Tennessee Infantry. During four years’ service he was in over fifty battles and skirmishes, but was not wounded during his entire service. He was one of the defenders of Fort Donelson, and after being captured there was imprisoned at Chicago. Having bribed a guard with $5, he made his escape and rejoined his command at Granada, Miss. After the close of the war he engaged in farming, and in 1866 was united in marriage to Nancy V. Gordon, by whom he had two children, only Hallie now living. He owns ninety-four acres of land in the most fertile portion of Marshall County, Tenn., and is considered one of its prosperous farmers. His parents, John H. and Elizabeth H. (Parham) Phillips, were born in Montgomery County, in 1828, and there resided until 1852, when they came to Marshall County. They became the parents of three children and were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The father was a Whig, but later became a Democrat. He followed blacksmithing and farming and continued the latter occupation until his death in 1876. The mother has since resided with her children.
DAVID B. PICKENS, farmer, is a son of William H. and Hannah (Moore) Pickens. The father was born in South Carolina, in 1792, and when young came with his parents and settled on the farm where David now lives. The mother was a native of Kentucky, born in 1795. They were both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and he was a Democrat in politics. He died in 1872 and after his death the mother lived on the old homestead until 1882, when she too passed from life. She had been blind for nearly twenty years. Our subject was born August 9, 1816, on the farm where he now lives; while growing up he received a very limited education, and at the age of twenty-three he began working for himself. In 1842 he led to the altar Mary A. Meador, a native of Williamson County, born August 14, 1824, and nine children blessed this union; all with the exception of two are married and settled in visiting distance of home. Mrs. Pickens is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Pickens is a Democrat and one of the most successful farmers of this county. For seventy years he has been a respected and honored resident of what is now, Marshall County.
JOHN N. PORTER, the youngest son of Thomas N. and Mary F. (Hardin) Porter was born in what is now Marshall County, Tenn., September 24, 1847. While a youth his opportunities for obtaining a schooling were exceedingly limited, owing to the breaking out of the war. At the age of sixteen he volunteered in Company C, Ninth Battalion of Cavalry, and was perhaps the youngest soldier that went out from Maury County. During eight months’ service he was neither wounded nor captured. After the war he rented land for about four years and then purchased a farm of his own, which now consists of 454 acres. Mary R. Rucker became his wife in 1868. She was born June 13, 1851, in Hickman County. Their children’s names are as follows: M. Frances, Melville E., James R., Emma P., Lucy A., Thomas H., John A., Hardin Q., and Tabitha G. Both husband and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and in politics Mr. Porter is a Democrat.
THOMAS M. PORTER is a farmer and native of Marshall County, Tenn., born December 8, 1845. He attended school and assisted his parents on the farm, and in the latter part of the war, although only eighteen years of age, volunteered in Company A, Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, and although in many severe engagements, was not wounded or captured. Since the war he has made agriculture his chief business and is the owner of a well stocked farm of 225 acres. He is a son of Thomas N and Mary F. (Hardin) Porter, who were born in Rutherford and Williamson Counties, Tenn., in 1820 and 1827, respectively. They were married in Maury County, but the greater part of their days were spent in what is now Marshall County. They became the parents of two sons-our subject and John N. The father was a Whig and died in the prime of life. His widow returned to Maury County and married E. H. McLean, by whom she had seven children. After his death she married William Reagen, who also died. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church and is fifty-nine years of age.
WILLIAM N. PYLAND, farmer, is a son of Hardin and Nancy (O’Neal) Pyland. The father was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., in 1813, and the mother in Marshall County, Tenn., about 1826. The father was a blacksmith by trade till the breaking out of the war, after which he engaged in agricultural pursuits. Both are members of the Missionary Baptist Church and both are still living. Our subject was born March 15, 1842, and received his education in the common schools. He inherited English blood from his father and Irish from his mother. At the age of nineteen he volunteered in Company D, Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, and remained in service nearly four years. He returned home and engaged in the free and independent life of a farmer. In 1867 he wedded Elizabeth Bills, a native of Marshall County, born August 29, 1848, and the fruits of this union were an interesting family of five children. Mr. Pyland is a stanch Democrat and he and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Pyland has been quite successful in agricultural pursuits, owning at the present time 233 acres of good land. For thirty-four years he has been a resident of this county and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him.
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