J. A. P. Fancher, a prosperous farmer and grist-mill proprietor of the Sixth District, was born February 26, 1841, in Overton County, Tenn. He is a son of Thomas H. and Susan A. (Officer) Fancher, of White (now Putnam) County. The father was born January 24, 1799, of English-Irish descent. He was an extensive stock raiser, and a man of considerable prominence and a Democrat; was a major of militia, a justice of the peace and magistrate of Overton County, and was instrumental in relieving the county of debt. He was several times urged to represent his county in the Legislature and Senate. From 1843 to 1846 he resided in Arkansas, after which he came to White County. He died April 5, 1884. His wife was born August 17, 1817; was married February 16, 1840, and died May 31, 1850. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Church South. Our subject was raised on a farm and received a fair education. Since his twenty-fifth year he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and with decided success. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate Army, Sixteenth Tennessee, under command of Col. John H. Savage. After two years’ service his health failed, when he hired a substitute and returned home. Later he was arrested by the Federals and taken to Rock Island, Ill., prison. He was offered his liberty if he would take the oath of allegiance, but he refused. In 1865 he returned to White County, where he has since resided. October 9, 1867, he married Jane, daughter of Rev. James K. and Jane S. (Simpson) Lausden. Mr. Lausden is of Scotch-Irish descent, and his wife of Irish. To Mr. and Mrs. Fancher four sons and three daughters were born, one now deceased. Mrs. Fancher, who was a consistent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, died May 18, 1884. July 6, 1884, our subject married Levina T. Lausden, his sister-in-law, who has borne him one child. Both are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Fancher is a stanch Democrat, and a liberal contributor to, and supporter of, all laudable enterprises.

Source:   Goodspeed Pub. Co. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present; Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of the Counties of White, Warren, Coffee, DeKalb, and Cannon, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Original Observations, Reminiscences, Etc., Etc. Nashville: Goodspeed Pub. Co, 1887.