Category: Biography

SPARKMAN, John J. (b. 1857)

Posted on by

John J. Sparkman, a representative and leading farmer of the First district of Van Buren county, was born December 7, 1857, on the farm where he still continues to reside.  His parents, Andrew J. and Elizabeth (Hunter) Sparkman, were also natives of Van Buren county, the former born November 2, 1838, the latter May 8, 1840.  The paternal grandparents, John and Lavina (McElroy) Sparkman, were natives of North Carolina and Van Buren county, respectively.  The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation and served as constable in his district for two years.  During the Civil war he entered the Confederate service, was captured near St. Louis, Mo., and was taken to a hospital in that city, where it is supposed that he died.  His widow made her hoe with our subject until she, too, was called to her final rest in February, 1894.

Upon the home farm John J. Sparkman grew to manhood, and attended the public schools of the neighborhood, where he obtained a good practical education.  For many years he devoted his attention exclusively to his agricultural interests, but for the past ten years has also engaged in merchandising at Bone Cave and has built up a lucrative trade.  He also served as postmaster at that place for about twenty years, but was removed a few months since on account of his advocacy of the free coinage of silver.  He has been district constable for six years, and also served as deputy sheriff for two years with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the general public.  In connection with general farming he has been interested in stock raising, making a specialty of fine hogs and poultry, and has been instrumental in improving the grade of the same in Van Buren county.

On the 9th of June, 1881, Mr. Sparkman married Miss Rebecca A. Moore, who was born in Van Buren county, May 12, 1852, and they have become the parents of three children:  Andrew J., born April 11, 1882, died April 22, 1888;  Mary E., born June 30, 1884, and Emma T., born November 24, 1886, are both attending school.  The parents and older daughter are members of the Missionary Baptist church, and the family is one of prominence in social circles.

Memorial and Biographical Record, an Illustrated Compendium of Biography.  Geo. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago, 1898, p. 326.

MOORE, Patrick (b. 1825)

Posted on by

Rev. Patrick Moore, father of Mrs. Sparkman * , has for over a half century been a tireless worker in the cause of Christianity as a minister of the Missionary Baptist church, and is one of the most honored citizens of Van Buren county, his home being in the Sixth district.

He was born in Greene county, N.C., October 17, 1825, a son of Thomas and Rebecca (Stepp) Moore, who were born, reared and married in Virginia, whence they removed to Greene county, N.C., and later to Cumberland county, Tenn., locating in the Crocker Neck neighborhood.  Subsequently they removed to Ball’s Bottom on Caney Fork, when bears and panthers were still quite plentiful in that region and from there they went to Big Bottom, finally settling near Spencer, Van Buren county.  The father died at the age of fifty-three years and was the first person buried at that city.  His wife reached the advanced age of eighty-six years.  He was probably of Irish parentage, was by occupation a farmer and mechanic, and was a soldier in the war of 1812.  In early life Mrs. Moore was a Methodist, but in 1849 joined the Missionary Baptist church, with which she ever after affiliated.  Of her six children only our subject is now living;  James, a farmer and Baptist minister, died in White county, Tenn.; Amanda and John both died in childhood; Frederick, a brick mason and farmer, died in Warren county, Tenn., at the age of seventy-three; Jane married William Mayfield and died in Fisher county, Tex.

Patrick Moore obtained his literary education in a small free school conducted at Laurel Cove, and while not in school he engaged in farming until twenty years of age, when he joined the Missionary Baptist church and commenced preaching.  Ever since he has been a devoted minister of the gospel, and has been the means of bringing many souls to Christ.  For one year after his marriage he lived in Warren county, Tenn., the following year made his home at Rocky Run, and then purchased his present farm in Van Buren county, where he has now resided over half a century.

Feeling the need of a better education, Mr. Moore attended Burritt College for two terms after his marriage, and subsequently engaged in teaching on Pine Ridge, in a free school in Spencer, and in his home district.  For the long period of forty years he has faithfully served as pastor of the Laurel Creek Missionary Baptist church, and has also had charge of many other congregations, including those at New Hope and Bethel in White county; Macedonia; Greenwood; Shells Ford; Friendship; Hebron; Philadelphia; Grundy; Rutledge Falls; Coffee; Morrison and Blue Spring, both of Warren county.  At times he has also served as missionary, was pastor of the church at McMinnville for time and of a church in the upper part of Bledsoe county, has preached for many miles around his home, and has taken a deep interest in the Sunday School at Laurel Creek Seminary.

Mr. Moore was married on the 5th of December, 1845, to Elizabeth Jane Neal, who was born on Rock river, in 1829, and died November 6, 1882, beloved by all who knew her.  Her father was Charles Neal, and the family came to this county from East Tennessee.  Of the thirteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Moore only four are now living, namely: James M., a resident of Van Buren county; Rebecca, wife of John J. Sparkman, of Bone Cave; Lansford M., a farm of this county, though formerly a merchant; and Homer, a farmer of Warren county.  Those deceased are Amanda and Docia, who died at the home of their parents; Charles, who married, but died at home; and Richard, who was married and lived in the same neighborhood.  In July 1884, Mr. Moore married Nancy Cunningham, who was born in Irving College, Warren county, December 5, 1849, a daughter of Thomas Cunningham.  Four children blessed this union: Claude Fate and Fred Clay, who are still living; and an infant and John, now deceased.  Mrs. Moore is also a consistent and faithful member of the Missionary Baptist church.

Mr. Moore has placed his farm under excellent cultivation and in connection with farming he successfully engaged in merchandising for fifteen years at Laurel burg, where he also erected a mill, and did quite an active business as a miller and shipper of grain.  He was also instrumental in establishing the post office at that place, and for a short time after the war he served as circuit court clerk.  Fraternally he is a charter member of the Masonic lodge od Spencer, with which he has affiliated for thirty-five years, and politically he was originally a Whig, but is now identified with the Democratic party.  During his ministry Mr. Moore has received thousands into the church, and has married hundreds.  His life is exemplary in all respects, and he ever supports those interest which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity, while his own high moral worth is deserving of the highest commendation.

*In the original book, Rev. Moore’s biography followed John J. Sparkman’s  and, of course, referred to Sparkman’s wife.

Memorial and Biographical Record, an Illustrated Compendium of Biography.  Geo. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago, 1898, pp. 326, 327 and 328.

HILLIS, Isaiah Thomas (b. 1839)

Posted on by

Isaiah T. Hillis, an enterprising and well known farmer of the Fourth Civil District, Warren County, was born in the county October 23, 1839, and is the son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Drake) Hillis. Isaac Hillis is of Irish descent, and was born in Warren County, Tenn., in 1806.  He had a good education and was a successful man, and died in 1877.  His father was a native of North Carolina, and went from that State to Kentucky with Daniel Boone, but came to Tennessee and settled on Rocky River in 1804, thus being one of the first settlers of Warren County. The mother of Isaac T. Hillis was born in Carter County in 1808, and was of English descent.  She was a well educated woman, and died in 1878.

The subject of this sketch lived with his parents until the breaking out of the civil war, when he enlisted in Company I, Sixteenth Tennessee (Confederate) Infantry, and was in active service four years and seven days. He was at the battles of Chickamauga, Murfreesboro, Corinth, and numerous smaller battles and skirmishes. During the first two years he was in feeble health, and in different hospitals – Huntersville, Va., Rockbridge, Va., and Columbus, Miss.

After his return from the war he lived with his parents until December 23, 1869, when he was married to Miss Marandie J. Moore, of White County, Tenn., a most worthy and well educated woman. She is the daughter of Alexander and Mary Moore, and is herself the mother of five children, all living: Charles M., Mary M., Ransom M., Isaac H. and Marandie J.  When married, Mr. Hillis moved to his present location.

In his youth he secured a collegiate education at Burritt College, situated at Spencer, Van Buren Co., Tenn. He is a very active and decided man, and a Democrat dyed in the wool. He has been elected by that party to the office of justice of the peace and other offices.

Goodspeed’s History of Tennessee, 1887 edition, reprinted by Ben Lomond Press, McMinnville, Tennessee, 1972 as The Goodspeed  Histories of Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Warren and White Counties, p. 898.

HILLIS, Blackstone Oregon (b. 1854)

Posted on by

Honored and respected by all, there is no man in Van Buren County who occupies a more enviable position in agricultural and political circles than Mr. Hillis, who is now the efficient and popular register of deeds of the county.  He possesses untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution, and his close application to business and excellent management have brought to him the prosperity which is to-day his.

On Rocky River, in the Eighth district, upon the farm where he now lives, Mr. Hillis was born March 12, 1854, a son of Isaac and Jane (Logue) Hillis.   The father was born near Lexington, Ky., and was one of the first settlers on Rocky River, the country round about being then a vast cane brake.  Bear was plentiful and deer and wild turkey abounded.  Throughout life he followed the occupation of farming and was very successful.  On coming to Van Buren county, he was accompanied by his brother, James Hillis.  He was twice married, his first wife being Rebecca Naylor, who died many years ago.  His death occurred March 9, 1877, in the house now occupied by our subject, when he was eighty-nine years of age.  In politics, he was a pronounced Democrat.  The mother of our subject, who was a consistent member of the Christian church, was born on Rocky River, Van Buren county, and died here in 1891, at the age of seventy-seven years.  By each wife the father had twelve children, but only eight of the twenty-four are now living, namely;  Rebecca, widow of Chris Hager, and a resident of McLennon county, Texas; James, who lives at the head of Rocky River in Van Buren county;  Roswell, whose home is also in that locality; Squire, a resident of Van Buren county; and Virginia, wife of Nelson R. Gully, a prominent farmer of this valley.  The three named, together with our subject, are children of the second marriage.

In the schools near his father’s home, Blackstone O. Hillis obtained his education.  At the age of sixteen years he began earning his own livelihood, and has since successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising, owning a fine farm in the valley and another in the mountains.   He was married on the 11th of January, 1875, the lady of his choice being, Miss Martha Denney, who was born on Laurel Creek, and is a daughter of Preston Denney.  To them were born three children, but Revedy is the only one now living, the others having died in infancy.

Since attaining his majority Mr. Hillis has been an ardent Democrat, and on that ticket was elected register of Van Buren county in 1896.  His wife holds membership in the Christian church.

Memorial and Biographical Record, an Illustrated Compendium of Biography.  Geo. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago, 1898, pp. 474 and 475.

HASTON, E.S. (b. 1850)

Posted on by

E. S. Haston, a well known farmer of the Second District, was born September 11, 1850, in Van Buren County, a son of Isaac T. and Elizabeth (Sparkman) Haston. His father was born March, 1828, also in Van Buren County, and died in 1875. His father (grandfather of our subject), David Haston, was a pioneer settler of Tennessee. Subject’s mother was born about 1826, and died in 1882. E.S. Haston is of Irish descent; he was raised on a farm and educated at Spencer, Bird College. In 1871 he began business for himself. He was interested in merchandising at Spencer from 1877 to 1880, at which time he closed out and has since been exclusively engaged in farming. In 1884 he moved to his present place of residence. He is a self-made, industrious and substantial man.  By judicious management and economy has accumulated his possessions. He is a Democrat, a member of the I.O.O.F. and belongs to the Masonic Lodge at Spencer. In November, 1880, he wedded Miss Maggie Cummings, a native of Van Buren County. To their union four children have been born: Fred Dexter, Walter Eugene, Willle Burt and an infant.

Source: undocumented

CLARK, Carroll H. (b. 1842)

Posted on by

In the respect that is accorded to men who have fought their way to success through unfavorable environments we find an unconscious recognition of the intrinsic worth of a character which can not only endure so rough a test, but gain new strength through the discipline. The following history sets forth briefly the steps by which our subject, now one of the leading general merchants of Spencer, Van Buren county, overcame the disadvantages of his early life.

Mr. Clark was born February 26, 1842 at Carthage, Smith county, Tenn., but was brought to Van Buren county, in 1846, by his parents, James and Rebecca (Sanders) Clark, who located on the mountain side, near Laurel Cove, where they developed and improved a farm. The father was also a native of Smith county, born in 1817, and was a son of Benjamin Clark, who was born in Virginia and died in Van Buren county, Tenn.  James Clark was a farmer and stock raiser by occupation, and was Democrat in politics. He died on Caney Fork, Van Buren county in 1866, and his wife, who was born in DeKalb county, Tenn., in 1816, passed away at the home of her son, A.M. Clark, in Spencer, in 1886. Eight children were born to them, of who three are still living: Carroll H., of this review; Martha, now the wife of C.W. Mooneyham, of DeKalb county; and A.M., a merchant of Doyle, White county, Tenn. Those deceased are Manson, who died in 1861; Samantha, who married Mark Mitchell and died in Laurel Cove, Van Buren county; Samuel K., who died before the war; James Nelson, who died in Van Buren county; and Bethena, who died in the same county when a young woman.

Carroll H. Clark obtained his primary education in an old school house, which was minus floor and chimney, and for a time pursued his studies under the direction of Rev. Patrick Moore, who is still an honored resident of Van Buren county. Later, he attended the York Academy, in Spencer, walking four miles to school; but while a student in that institution the Civil War broke out, and he laid aside his test books to join the Confederate army. As a private, he enlisted in Company I, Sixteenth Tennessee Infantry, under Colonel John Savage, and came out of the service bare headed and barefooted, but entitled to a Lieutenant’s commission. At the battle of Perryville, he was wounded by a gunshot which came near ending his life, and on account of his wound was unable to take part in the battle of Murfreesboro. Later he participated in the battle of Chickamauga, both days; was with Johnston on the retreat through Georgia, taking part in all the battles, and on the 22nd of July, 1864, was again wounded in front of Atlanta, a musket ball passing through his left arm. On leaving the hospital, he joined his command in North Carolina, after a long tramp, and was at Jonesboro, that state, when they surrendered, April 26, 1865.

Mr. Clark’s capital at the close of the war consisted of a world of energy, which has been the means of bringing to him success, as he had no money to aid him. Returning to his old home, he bought a small piece of land, and, in connection with its cultivation, he taught some small schools. In 1874 he was the people’s choice for sheriff of the county, and so acceptably did he fill the office that he was re-elected in 1876. Two years later he was elected circuit clerk, and, in 1882, was re-elected to that position, the duties of which he discharged with promptness and fidelity. On the expiration of his second term he was appointed deputy and served in that capacity for a few years, after which he was deputy clerk and master for ten years. For four years he has also been a member of the county court, and, during President Cleveland’s second administration, was post-master of Spencer for four years and one month. His official career was ever above reproach, always leaving office as he had entered it — with the confidence and good will of the entire community. In his political views Mr. Clark is a Democrat. In 1894 he embarked in merchandising in Spencer, and is now successfully engaged in that business.

On the 17th of October, 1867, Mr. Clark married Miss Keziah Mooneyham, who was born in Van Buren county, April 10, 1850, and died September 9, 1897, leaving three children, namely: Charles M., a farmer of Van Buren county; and Frank S. and Robert Y., both at home. A son and daughter are deceased – Clenney, who died in childhood and Daisy at the age of six years. Mr. Clark is an active worker in and prominent member of the Christian church at Spencer, in which he is now serving as secretary and treasurer.

Memorial and Biographical Record of the Cumberland Region, An Illustrated Compendium of Biography. Geo. A. Ogle & Co. Chicago, 1898. pp. 253 and 254.