Goodspeed’s Marshall County Biographies – Surnames R & S
DR. THOMAS E. REED, a leading physician of Lewisburg, is a son of Andrew J. and Virginia E. (Nelson) Reed, both natives of Tennessee, where they grew to years of maturity and were married. Shortly after the latter event they moved to Giles County. The father was a farmer and in addition carried on merchandising for some time. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the mother a member of the Presbyterian Church. The mother died in 1860 and afterward the father married Mary E. Scott, who became the mother of four children, two of whom are living. Our subject was born July 15, 1860, in Giles County, Tenn., and was reared on a farm. In boyhood he attended the country schools and afterward Giles College and Fayetteville Academy. In 1874 he took a course of lectures in the University of Virginia and in the spring of 1876 graduated from the medical department of Vanderbilt University. In the same year he commenced practicing his profession in Lewisburg and the extensive patronage he has received says more for his ability and popularity as a physician than mere words can do. Dr. Reed, like his father, is a Democrat, and he and Mrs. Reed are members of the Presbyterian Church.
JOHN G. REYNOLDS was born July 21, 1858, in Marshall County, Tenn., and received a good common school education; son of John G. and Victoria (Liggette) Reynolds, both natives of Tennessee, he of Williamson County and she of Marshall County. After marriage they settled in Williamson County, where the father died. To them was born one child, our subject. The father was a Whig in politics, and his chief business was trading, being shrewd and successful at that. Besides he owned a good farm. In 1858 the mother removed to this county and wedded Capt. J. C. Cundiff, by whom she had seven children. At the age of twenty-one our subject began working on a farm of his own. In 1880 he was united in marriage to Ada W. Wilson, a native of Williamson County, born February 5, 1860. By this marriage two children were born: John T. and Clarence B. Mr. Reynolds is a Democrat in politics, and he and wife are worthy members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He has a good farm of 125 acres, and as a farmer has met with very fair success. He is very fond of bird hunting, and is a sure shot.
JOHN D. ROBERTS (deceased) was born tention to the free and independent life of a farmer. In 1842 he wedded Susannah M. Wilson, who was born January 4, 1824, and who is a daughter of Aaron J. and Hannah (Martin) Wilson. To Mr. and Mrs. Roberts were born eleven children, seven of whom are living. The eldest son is a rising physician of Texas. During the late war our subject went out to serve his country, but failing health prevented his carrying a musket. He worked at his trade in the hospital when able. In 1860 he moved to Arkansas, where he owned nearly 1,000 acres, but in 1873 returned to this county. In 1884, after an active, useful life, he was summoned to lay down his burden and pass to that realm where toil, sorrow and death are not known. He was a Democrat in politics. Mrs. Roberts is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and is living on her large farm of 450 acres, which is being conducted very successfully by her son, Sidney J., who is a stirring young business man, and promises to make one of the leading farmers of his community where he now resides. He followed the plow in his youthful days, and received an academical education.
CAPT. W. M. ROBINSON, farmer, is a son of James and Maria (Mayfield) Robinson, who was born in Williamson County, Tenn., in 1805, and Bedford County, Tenn., in 1814, respectively. They were farmers and the parents of four children. The mother died in 1838, and the following year the father moved from Bedford County to Marshall County, and in 1844 married Mrs. Anna A. Wilhoite, whose maiden name was Warner. The father was a man of fine intellect and was a teacher for many years. He was a wide-awake and successful business man, and died when only forty-one years of age. Our subject is of Irish-English descent, and was born August 30, 1831. After receiving an academical education, he, at the age of eighteen, began to make his own way in the world by merchandising and lumbering, continuing almost continuously until the present time. Mary C. Orr became his wife August 26, 1841, and eight children were born to their union seven of whom are now living. In the late was he served in Company D. Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, and arose to the rank of first lieutenant, and was afterward commissioned captain of his company, being on staff duty the most of the time. He owns a fine farm of 550 acres, a saw-mill in Alabama, and an interest in a store at Farmington. He is a Democrat and a man who has made life a success financially.
C.J. SHEFFIELD, a leading farmer of Marshall County and a son of J.B. and Martha M (Falwell) Sheffield, was born January 27, 1832, on the farm where he is now living. He attended the common schools, and afterward completed his eduacation at Chapel Hill. At the age of eighteen he began farming, but soon turned his attention to school teaching, whick he followed for several terms. In 1859 he began the mercantile business as salesman for King, Powell & Co. and before the close of the year had bought out Powell, and soon after he and Col. T.C.H. Miller purchased King’s interest. In 1861 he volunteered in the Confederate Army, in Col. Haynes’company Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, and was wounded three times, but never captured during four years of service. About eighteen months after enlisting he was appointed sergeant, and soon after arose to second lieutenant, holding that position till the close of the war. He then returned home and engaged in farming, which occupation he has followed ever since. In 1874 he wedded Laura Dobson, a native of Williamson County, born November 23, 1850. This union resulted in the birth of three children: Samuel, Henry and Ephraim. Mr. Sheffield is a Democrat, and he and wife are member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He has a good farm of 430 acres, the greater part of which he has made by stock raising and close attention to business.
NEWTON J. SMILEY, trustee of Marshall County, is a son of H.B. and Sarah (Lowry) Smiley, natives of Kentucky and South Carolina, respectively. The father’s chief occupation was farming, though in early life he worked at the carpenter’s trade. He was a soldier under Jackson in the war of 1812, and having lived to see the return of seventy-five winters was called from the trials and tribulations of earth. The mother was in her ninety-third year when she died. Our subject was born August 9, 1833 in the Bedford fraction of Marshall County, and was of Irish-Scotch descent. He was educated in the country schools, and having farmed until 1861, he volunteered in Company G, Thirty-second Tennessee Infantry as a private, and was one of the brave boys who defended Fort Donelson. After his capture and imprisonment at Indianapolis, Ind., he was exchanged at Vicksburg and re-entering the service was promoted to first lieutenant. After nearly four of faithful service he returned home and soon after engaged in the mercantile business in which he was successful, though twice burned out. Previous to the war, in 1857, he wedded Catherine E. Hall, by whom he had seven children, all living. Both he and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Like his father before him he is a warm Democrat. In 1884 he was elected to the responsible position that he is now occupying. In connection with his office he is engaged in tilling the soil.
A. LAFAYETTE SMITH is a son of George W. Smith, who was born in 1822 in McNairy County, Tenn., and was married to Mrs. Martha (Fowler) Wilson (widow of Mark H. Wilson and the mother of five childred). Mrs. Smith was born in 1818 and to her union with Mr. Smith Were born five children. They were members of the Christian Church and the father was a well-to-do farmer and a Democrat. They came to Marshall County about 1853. After the mother’s death Mr. Smith married Mrs. McDowery, to whom two children were born. The father died in 1884. Lafayette Smith was born December 25, 1846, and his educational advantages were such as could be obtained in the common schools. He began earning his own living at the age of nineteen, and in 1870 wedded Sarah T. Collins, and their union was blessed with seven children. His wife died in 1885 and the following year he married Margaret E. Goodrum. Mr. Smith is a Democrat and owns a fine tract of 350 acres of land.
THOMAS M. SMITH, farmer, is a son of Thomas S. and Lucinda (Blackwell) Smith, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Kentucky. They were married in Williamson County, Tenn., whither they immigrated when children. The father had been married previous to his union with Miss Blackwell, and by that union had one child, Merritt. By the second marriage he became the father of four children: Thomas M., Emeline F. (deceased), Susan A. and Sarah C. The father was a tiller of the soil, and quite a successful one at that. He died in 1843 and the mother followed in 1880. Our subject was born November 24, 1835, in Davidson County, Tenn., where his father had moved for a few years, to superintend a farm. His education was rather limited, but not enough to prevent him from having sufficient knowledge for all practical purposes. He farmed for his mother till 1879, when they bought the farm where he now lives. In 1861 he enlisted in Capt. Alexander’s independent company, and after a year’s service joined the Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, Confederate Army. He served all through the war without receiving a wound or being taken prisoner. Since that time he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and at the present has a farm of 235 acres. He is a democrat in politics and has been a resident of this county for thirty-two years, and is considered an honest, upright citizen.
PEYTON C. SMITHSON, one of the prominent attorneys of Lewisburg, is a son of John G. and Ann (Ladd) Smithson, both natives of Virginia, the former born in 1820 and the latter in 1818. They were married in Williamson County, this State, and became the parents of fifteen children, all of whom lived to be grown. Five of the boys are lawyers. Both parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the father being a local minister there, though his chief occupation if farming. He is a republican in politics. Our subject was born in 1851, in Williamson County, and was of English descent on his father’s side and Irish on his mother’s. He assisted his father on the farm, and acquired sufficient education in the common schools to enable him to teach. After following this occupation for some time he entered Giles College and there completed his education. In 1874 he commenced reading law in his brother’s office, and the following year was admitted to the bar. He subsequently opened an office in Lewisburg, where he has had a good practice ever since. In 1878 he wedded Ellen McClure, and to this union were born four children. Mrs. Smithson belongs to the Presbyterian Church. For two years Mr. Smithson held the office of mayor of Lewisburg. He is a Republican, though conservative in his views. For eleven years he has followed his profession in Lewisburg, and is one of that city’s best attorneys.
JAMES C. SNELL, farmer, is a son of John A. and Mahala (Bills) Snell, who were natives of North Carolina. The father was born in 1809 and his wife in 1814. They were brought to Tennessee when young, and were married in Marshall County. Of their ten children eight are living. They were well-to-do farmers, and in former days raised cotton on the ground where the court house of Lewisburg stands. The father was constable four years, and was a Democrat in politics. He died in 1869, and his widow has since resided with her children. James C. was born July 22, 1833, in Marshall County, and received such education as could be obtained in his day. He began renting land at the age of twenty-one, but at the end of twelve years purchased 137 acres of land where he now lives. In 1857 he married Fannie Elliott, born in Marshall County in 1832, and died in 1877. In 1878 Mr. Snell was united in marriage to Melissa Ewing, who was born May 6, 1851, in Marshall County. Our subject has no children by either marriage.
JOHN STAMMER is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Wadley) Stammer. The father was born in Alabama in 1805, and the mother in Rutherford County, Tenn., where they were married by Squire Nash. Both parents were professors of religion. The father was a farmer and died in 1837, leaving a wife and four small children. The mother would go to the field with her children to hoe corn, pick cotton, or whatever else she could do toward making an honest living. While she succedded in that she did vastly more-she sanctified honest toil with the sweat of a mother’s brow, and taught her little ones the lesson of self-reliance. After three years she married J. R. Haskins, and is still living at the ripe age of seventy-seven. Our subject was born January 27, 1827, in Rutherford County, Tenn., and had very meager chances for schooling. At the age of eighteen he wedded Margaret A. Bigger, and to them were born three children, only one of whom is living. Three years later his wife died, and in 1851 he was married to Letitia Bigger, sister of his first wife, by whom she had seven children. Mr. Stammer is a Democrat, and in 1862 enlisted in Company F, Twenty-third Tennessee Infantry, Confederate Army. He was captured and confined for nearly a year, but was at last released. He acted for some time as quartermaster-sergeant. Since the was he has farmed, and has 265 acres of good land. He is a Mason, and treasurer and supertendent of Eagleville & Chapel Hill Turnpike.
ALBERT B. STILLWELL, proprietor of the “Stillwell House,” of Lewisburg, is a son of Osburn B. and Deborah L.(McCord) Stillwell, both natives of this State, where they grew up and were married. Their family consisted of three children, only one of whom, our subject, is living. One child died in infancy, and the other enlisted in the was and was captured at Fort Donelson. After lying in prison but a few days at Lafayette, Ind., he died from a relapse of the measels caused by exposure. The father was a tiller of the soil, and died while in the full strength of manhood. The mother then married John J. Elliott, by whom she had three children. She died in 1883. Our subject was born October 31, 1842, in Marshall County. His ancestors on his mother’s side were Scotch-Irish, and on his father’s probably Irish. He passed his boyhood days in assisting on the farm, and received a limited education, owing to the financial circumstances in which the family were left at the death of the father. In 1866 our subject began the mercantile business at Verona, and this he continued until 1878. Two years later he was elected trustee, and for four years filled that office in an able manner, In 1868 he wedded Mary K. Collins. Mr. Stillwell is a member of the Christian Church, and Mrs. Stillwell of the Methodist Church. In 1882 our subject purchased the hotel that he is now conducting.
CORNELIUS T. SWANSON, attorney, was born December 8, 1832, in Williamson County. His youthful days were passed in assisting on the farm and in attending the common schools. His education was completed in an academy. In 1858 he began reading law with John Marshall, of Franklin, and the following year was admitted to the bar. He then began the practice of his profession at Troy, Tenn. In 1861 he volunteered in Company H, Ninth Tennessee Infantry, as first lieutenant, and served a short time in the was when he was disabled by sickness for several months. After the reorganization of the army he joined the Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, and remained with that until the close of the war. After returning home he located in Franklin, and in 1868 wedded Emily C. Orr, and by her became the father of one child, Annie B. Two years after locating in Franklin he went to Mississippi to take charge of a cotton plantation, where he continued about six years. Finding that this was not a very lucrative business he returned to Tennessee and opened a law office in Lewisburg in 1877, where he has received his full share of patronage. In 1875 Mrs. Swanson died. Mr. Swanson is a Democrat in politic and has practiced his profession for nine years in Lewisburg. He is one of the first attorneys of Marshall County. He is the son of James and Anne M.S. (Zollicoffer) Swanson. The mother is a sister of Gen. Zollicofer. Both parents are natives of this State. The father was born in 1802, and the mother in 1808. The father was a farmer and died in 1869, the mother died fourteen previous to his death. The Swansons are of Scotch-Irish descent, and the Zollicoffers of Swiss.
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