John J. Nichols, merchant of Clifton, Tenn., is a Perry County Tennessean, born July 2, 1855; son of John J. and Martha J. (Buckner) Nichols. Our subjects Grandfather Nichols came from North Carolina to Tennessee at an early day, and located in Hardin County. His son John J., was born in North Carolina, but spent the greater part of his life in Perry County, following mercantile pursuits and the slave business, until his death, when our subject was but two years old. The mother died in 1868, thus leaving our subject to do for himself at an early age. He secured a fair education, and when about eighteen years of age , engaged in mercantile business as clerk. In 1879 he came to Clifton and clerked until 1882, when he engaged in the family grocery business. In May, 1884, he removed to his present quarters, and added dry goods and general merchandise to his stock, and now carries a full and select line of goods. Besides this he handles a line of agricultural implements and wagons, being agent for the Harrison wagon. he is a Democrat, and is considered a reliable business man of the town. In 1876 he Married Rutha J. Harbour, of Hardin County. They have one child, Edna Belle.
Category Archives: GoodspeedBiography
Morrison, William D.
William D. Morrison was born in Tennessee in 1850, son of Merida and Lydia (Hardin) Morrison, whose sketch appears in the work. Our subject’s early days were spent on a farm. He made his home with his parents until twenty-three years of age, when he in partnership with his brother-in-law, purchased the farm on which he now resides. Two years later he became sole possessor. This farm lies on both sides of Green River and contains 286 acres of fairly improved land. Mr. Morrisson is a Democrat and Prohibitionist, and in 1882 was elected justice of the peace and yet holds the office. In 1875 he was married to Lizzie Burns, daughter of Samuel L. and Sallie Burns. She was born in Tennessee in 1853, and is the mother of four children: William S., Sallie, Kate and Mildred. Mr. Morrison joined the Baptist Church at the age of seven-teen. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Morrison, Merida
Hon. Merida Morrison is a Tennessean, born in 1827, son of Edward and Lucy Morrison. The father was a wagon-maker by trade, but owned and lived on a farm. He was in the war of 1812, and after his death his second wife drew a pension. The mother died in 1847 and the father married Elizabeth Butler, and died in 1866. His second wife died in 1885. Our subject assisted his father in the shop and on the farm until his marriage, and since that time has devoted the most of his attention to farming. he purchased his present farm of 385 acres of land, and devotes it principally to the raising of stock. He served the people many years as justice of the peace, and in 1860 was elected to the State Legislature and served one term. In 1845 Mr. Morrison married Miss Lydia Hardin. She was born in Alabama in 1828, and came with her parents to Tennessee when quite young. She is the mother of the following children; Margaret A., William D., Mary A., Martha A., Sofina E., Nancy J., Merida (who died in 1868), Joseph C., and an infant deceased. Mr. Morrison and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
Morris, Jonathan
Hon. Jonathan Morris, a prominent citizen of this county, was born in Logan County, of the Blue-grass State, in 1815, son of William and Rebecca (Grimes) Morris, who were born in Tennessee and moved to Kentucky about 1814, remaining only a few years, when, they returned to Tennessee. The father was a farmer, and served in the war of 1812, participating in the battle of New Orleans. He was a Whig, and died about 1850, His widow was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and died a few years later than her husband. Our subject resided on the old homestead until he attained his twenty-first birthday, when he began fighting the battle of life for himself, and in a few years was elected deputy sheriff of the county and held the office three years. He also held the office of county court clerk for four years, and in 1843 was elected to the State Legislature. Since the war he has served as State senator two years and has filled the office of county judge one term. He was elected to the office of county superintendent of public instruction and filled that position very creditably for two years. Mr. Morris has devoted the greater part of his life to public duties, but of late years (since 1857) has retired to his farm of 1,200 acres (which he has owned for several years), lying between Green River and Chalk Creek. Adjoining this farm he has about 3,000 acres of fertile and well watered land, making as fine a stock farm as there is in Tennessee. He has several different farms in different localities in the county, which he is desirous of selling. Besides this large amount of real estate, he owns several grist and saw-mills. Since the war he has lost about $20, 000 worth of property by fire. Mr. Morris was married, in 1844, to Nancy J. Montague, daughter of Abraham and Clarissa Montague. She was born in Wayne County July 5, 1823, and is the mother of the following children: Martha R., born January 5, 1847, died November 3, 1863; Wayne, born August 24, 1852; James E. H., born August 31, 1855, died March 26, 1881; Clarissa F., born September 20, 1859, died March 25, 1886; Thomas F., born February 10, 1861, died October 6, 1884, and and infant, deceased. march 7, 1883, Mrs Morris died. She was a Methodist in belief. Mr. Morris has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South since 1840. He is a Mason, member of Lodge No. 127, and is a stanch Democrat in politics. He has been very successful financier, and is one of the worthy and honest citizens of the county.
Morgan, James L.
James L. Morgan in a son of Pleasant and Jane Morgan, who were born in North Carolina and Alabama respectively. The father is a farmer, and also follows blacksmithing. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and in politics he is a Republican, and stood firm for the Union during the late war. Our subject was born in Wayne County, Tenn., in 1841, and remained with his father until 1862, when he enlisted in Company A. Tenth Tennessee Regiment of the Federal Army, andremained in the field until the close of the war. He returned home in July, 1865, and remained with his father until he was married to Mrs. Mary (Miller) Girard, daughter of Micager and Mary Miller. Mrs. Morgan was born in Alabama in 1839, and by her first marriage is the mother of two children: Charles T. and Lula B. She and Mr. Morgan are the parents of three children: Viola B., Lillie H. and Dieudonie R. Mr. Morgan’s farm, which he purchased in 1867, consists of 140 acres of fairly improved land. The principal products are corn, grass, peanuts and small grain. Mr. Morgan located on this farm in 1872. He was constable of his district a short time, is a Republican in politics, and cast his first presidential vote for U. S. Grant. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.
Montague, John F.
John F. Montague, one of Wayne County’s prominent farmers and stock raisers, was born in that county July 13, 1851. He was educated in the Clifton Masonic Academy, in Wayne County, and when about eighteen years of age he and his brother, William Y., began keeping drugs in Clifton. In 1871 he sold out that business and commenced the study of law, and graduated from the Cumberland University in 1873. He then located at Waynesboro, and practiced his profession with much success until 1883, when he abandoned his his legal practice and moved on his present farm of 600 acres. About 150 acres of land are in a fine state of cultivation. Besides this property he is owner of a fine tract of bottom land on the Tennessee River, in Hardin County. He has given considerable attention to stock raising since locating on his farm, and owing to his industrious habits and good business qualifications, has acquired a fine patrimony. He belongs to the Democratic party and F. & A. M. fraternity. To his marriage with Joanna Hassell, in 1875, the following children were born: Amos H., Mary Anna E., Edna C., Frank and Joanna. Mr Montague is of French descent.
Merriman, James H.
James H. Merriman is a native of Wayne County, born in 1834, sonof Eli and Rachel (Tankersley) Merriman. The father was born in Tennessee, and was a farmer by occupation and a whig in politics. He came to Wayne County in 1816, and lived until his death in 1851. The mother is yet residing in the district, and is seventy-six years of age. After the father’s death our subject resided with his mother until thirty-four years of age, when he began farming for himself. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate service and served throughout the war, not receiving a wound during his entire service. He returned home in May, 1865. In 1869 he purchased his present farm, consisting of 320 acres. he is a Democrat in his political views, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity, Lodge No. 127. In 1868 he married Frances E. A. Shields, daughter of J. T. and Martha D. (Olds) Shields. She was born in Tennessee in 1850, and became the mother of eleven children: Martha E., James R., Joseph E. (who died in 1881), Thomas F., John C., Rachel C., David H., Virginia A., Walter N., Cynthia R., and Clare B. Mr. Shields is a member of the Christian Church, and his wife of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Meredith, James F.
James F. Meredith is also a son of Thomas Meredith, and was born in Wayne County in 1832. His early days were spent on his father’s farm, and at the age of twenty years he married Mary A. Grimes, who was born in Tennessee in 1836, daughter of Henry and Mary A. (Stockard) Grimes. To James and Mrs. Meredith were born the following family: Lydia A. M. F. (who died in 1868), Jane E. B., Alice E., James F. T., Ula A., Annie E. (who died in 1868) and Joseph L. In November, 1885, Mrs. Meredith died. In 1856 Mr. Meredith purchased and located on his present farm of 900 acres on Buffalo River. Besides this he owns 1,600 acres partially improved, on the north side of that river. At the beginning of the late war he enlisted in the Confederate service, but did not take an active part until 1862, when he enlisted in Biffle’s regiment, but owing to sickness could only serve a few months. He then returned home, and has since farmed, being very successful in that calling. He has always been a stanch democrat in politics.
Meredith, Thomas
Thomas Meredith was born on the 9th of July, 1804, son of Frederick and Mary (Fulton) Meredith, who were born in North Carolina and Virginia respectively, and came to Tennessee in 1800. They were married the same year and became parents of eight children, two of whom are yet living. The father was a farmer and located in East Tennessee, and afterward lived in this State and Kentucky until 1816, when he located in Wayne County, on Buffalo River, and there died in 1826. His wife died in 1863. Up to 1824 our subject resided with his father. At that date he married Mary A. Rasbury, daughter of Lovick and Jane Rasbury. She was born in Georgia in 1805, and came to Tennessee when quite young. She became the mother of three daughters and seven sons. Three of the children are dead. Mrs. Meredith died May 20, 1872, and on the 20th of May, 1877, Mr. Meredith married Mary A. Benham, who was born in Tennessee in 1829, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Benham. Mr. Meredith has been a life-long farmer, and in his young days was very active and powerful, being always ready to assist his neighbors in log rolling, etc. He built a portion of the house, in which he now lives, about fifty years ago, hewed the logs and used the old whipsaw in making joist and other necessary articles. He purchase his present home-farm of 120 acres in 1837, and continued to purchase land from time to time until his real estate amounted to 2,000, acres. During the war he lost, in slaves and security debts, nearly all the property he had accumulated. He has been magistrate of the county for over half a century and has been trustee two terms. He also served as deputy sheriff for six successive years. He has been a life-long Democrat, and furnished five sons for the Confederate Army. He has been a member of the Hardshell Baptist Church for over fifty years. His son, Lovick R. Meredith, was born in Wayne County, in 1827. He remained with his parents until twenty-seven years of age, when he married Anna B. E. Matthews, who was born in Tennessee in 1832, daughter of William Matthews, and immediately began life for himself, working at the following callings: merchandising, stock trading, milling and farming, the latter occupying the principal part of his attention. He is a Democrat, and has served as constable of his district. He enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1862, and served until the final surrender, participating in many of the principal battles. In 1857 he located on his present farm of 1,000 acres, having besides this, 500 acres in different tracts. he is Mason, an honorable and well known citizen, and a Prohibitionist. His children are Mary E., Leonidas T., Ledru R., William W., Lenora E., Deborah O. and Belle M.
McLemore, James H.
James H. McLemore’s birth occurred in Halifax County, N. C., in 1826, and he came to Tennessee in 1844, with his mother and step-father. His own father, Joel H. McLemore, was a tailor by trade, and followed that occupation for many years. He died on a farm to which he had retired in 1835. His widow, Betsey (Pullen) McLemore, then married John Whitaker, and after coming to Tennessee died in 1858. Our subject was married February 1, 1849, to Sallie A. Whitaker, daughter James C. and Delphia (Lyon)Whitaker. She was born in North Carolina in 1828, and came to Tennessee with her parents in 1844, and is the mother of ten children: Virginia W., Richard M., James W. (who died September 13, 1858), Mary E. (who died June 11, 1886), Delphia D., Anna, Sallie H., Robert L. (who died October 14, 1867), John Pullen and Nora. Our subject lived with his father in North Carolina until the later’s death. He acquired a good education, and after his mother’s second marriage continued to reside with her until 1849, when he began life for himself. He purchased his present farm in 1849 and has ever since been a tiller of the soil. His farm consists of 412 acres of well improved and exceptionally fertile land in a good state of cultivation. He and his wife are church members, and he is a Mason and a stanch Democrat.