- GEN. A. E.
JACKSON
-
- Gen. A. E. Jackson, the oldest inhabitant of Jonesboro, was
born January 11, 1807, near Nashville, Tenn. He is the son of
Samuel D. and Eliza C. (Woodrow) Jackson. The former was born at
Carlisle, Penn., September 16, 1755, and was the son of Philip
Jackson, a native of Ireland. He served as a lieuntenant in
Stark's regiment in the Revolution, and afterward became a
successful merchant in Philadelphia. In 1801, having purchased
from Gov. Blount 30,000 acres of land in East Tennessee, and
20,000 acres in Middle Tennessee, at a cost of $25,000 in goods,
he came to Jonesboro, but soon after removed to a point midway
between Morristown and Mossy Creek, where he erected a log house.
Fearing Indian depredations, however, he removed to Middle
Tennessee in a short time. He was a relative, and intimate friend
of "Old Hickory" but in 1811 the general won 10,000 acres of his
best land, on a horse race, and during an alercation concerning
the wager, ran him through the body with a cane spear. This
difficulty caused a coolness between them, which lasted for
several years, but they finally became friends again. In 1811 Mr.
Jackson returned to Washington County, and located on a farm on
Chucky River, bought of Gov. Sevier. Subsquently he removed to
Jonesboro, and for a time was engaged in merchandising. He finally
returned to the farm, and lived with our subject. He died May 2,
1836. He was an able and strong willed man, and became wealthy,
but lost it all through the failure of Robert Morris, for whom he
had become security, for a very large amount. His wife, the
daughter of Henry Woodrow, a native of New Jersey, was born in
Philadelphia, on September 22, 1764. She was an intimate friend of
Mrs. President Madison, and was her bridesmaid at her first
marriage. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and died at
our subjects present home January 8, 1844. Gen. Jackson was reared
at Jonesboro, receiving his education principally at Washington
College, as a member of the family of Samuel Doak, Sr. He also
attended Greeneville College, and finished his education under
Henry Hoss, on Boone Creek. He was a merchant with his father, in
Elizabethton, Tenn. for a short time, after which in 1826, he
removed to his farm, and later engaged in shipping produce to
Alabama. In 1834 he engaged in merchandising, which business, in
connection with his boating, he carried on for about twenty-two
years. In 1842 he removed to Jonesboro, where four years later he
established a store. At this time he agreed to take the products
of the Iron Works of Elijah Emory, which, although a great risk,
proved a successful one. At Mr. Emory's death, he removed his
stock of goods from Jonesboro to Taylorsville, but still continued
his business on Chucky River. Just before the war he engaged in
copper mining, in North Carolina, and opened a store in
Burnsville, that State; he also had a store in Watauga County, N.
C., and one at the mouth of Boones' Creek, in Johnson County. He
was one of the most active organizer and promoters of the
construction of the East Tennesse & Virginia Railway, and was
one of thirty men forming a company, which took $300,000 stock in
the road to prevent a loss of its charter. He also became the
financial agent of the road, and in that capacity disposed of
$300,000 of State bonds, at the highest price ever paid for
similar securities. He was the author of the bill making
appropriations for birdges and masonry, and secured its passge by
the Legislature, and on more than one occasion saved the road
large amounts of money by substituting his own note in place of
that of the company. In 1861 he entered the Confederate service,
as quartermaster and paymaster, in which capacity he acted for the
first two months without commission, and without giving bonds; he
remained in the paymaster department until February 8, 1863,
disbursing about $10,000,000. On that day he was commissioned
brigadier-general, and was soon after placed in command of a
military district, including a part of North Carolina, Virginia
and East Tennessee, with Thomas' Legion of 1,300 men, including
300 Cherokee Indians, the sixteenth Georgia Battalion, and Phipps'
Tennessee Battalion, to which was afterward added the sixty-second
North Carolina Regiment. In 1863 he cleared East Tennessee of
bush-whackers, and during that year, and the succeeding one, had
several engagements with various commands. While at Wytheville,
Va., on his way to join Gen. Lee, he learned of the surrender at
Appomattox, and at once disbanded his troops. After his return
home he was compelled to defend lawsuits for pretended damages
growing out of the war, involving in the aggregate $390,000, and
was indicted for treason in both Federal and State courts, but was
finally dismissed. In 1864 he rented Washington Springs, Va.,
where he joined his fmily at the close of the war. In 1866 he
rented a farm, and two years later, became a commission merchant
in Knoxville, but in 1871 returned to Jonesboro. In his domestic
relations, Gen. Jackson has been very fortunate. On June 8, 1826,
he married Serephina, a daughter of Nathaniel Taylor, a
brigadier-general in the war of 1812. She was a native of Carter
County, and bore him seven sons and seven daughters. She was a
Prebysterian, and died on October 27, 1880. Gen. Jackson is an
Episcoplian, and is the oldest surviving Confederate general. He
is a relative by marriage, and a personal friend, of Jefferson
Davis. At the council of Indian chiefs held for the purpose of
discussing the cession of their lands in Georgia, Alabama and
Mississippi, he was the only white person present.
-
- JOHN A.
KEEBLER
-
- John A. Keebler, a farmer and a stock dealer of the Eighteenth
District, was born November 9, 1831, in Washington Co., Tenn.,
where he has since lived. He began life for himself when
twenty-one years old, with $1,000 given him by his father, and the
balance of what he is now worth is the fruit of his own industry
and good management. He deals quite extensively in stock, in which
he is very successful. He was married in August, 1854, to Miss
Julie Crouch, a daughter of Joseph Crouch, a native of Washington
County. To Mr. and Mrs. Keebler eight children have been born:
Sarah E., Florence J., Mary, Penelope, Ulyses, John, Samuel and
Maud. Mrs. Keebler is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church,
and Mr. Keebler is a Democrat in politics. He is an active Master
Mason. He is the third of seven children of James and Sarah
(Hawes) Keebler. Mr. Keebler, the father, was a native of
Rockingham County, Va., and when a boy, was brought by his parents
to Washington County, Tenn. He was quite an active Christian
worker in the Christian Baptist Church, and was an old line Whig.
He was a very enthusiastic and successful stock dealer and farmer.
He was a son of Jacob Keebler, an old resident of Philadelphia.
-
- SAMUEL
KEEBLER
-
- Samuel Keebler, was born on Kindrick's Creek, in Washington
County, Tenn., August 26, 1804. He moved with his father from
Kindrick's Creek to Limestone (same county), in the year 1838; he
has lived at his present home every since. He is a well-to-do
farmer, and has made farming a success. He went through with
everything he ever undertook, put nothing off till tomorrow that
could be done today--this was his motto. He owns much fine land,
has a large fine brick house on the farm he lives on, well
furnished. There are about 700 acres where he lives, besides this
he has about 1,000 acres in different parts of the county
(Washington): about 700 of these are the best in the county. He
began the battle of life for himself, when about sixteen years
old. He belongs to the Christian Baptist Church. He has been an
old line Whig, now a Republican. At the present writing he is
eighty-three years old, and can see to read common print without
spectacles (he has his second sight). He is the youngest child of
nine children, four boys and five girls; all are dead but him.
Jacob Keebler, son of Jacob and Catherine Keebler, was born
October 22, 1765, at Marcus Hook, New Castle Co., Del. Mary Young,
daughter of James and Barbara Young, was born about one mile from
Marcus Hook, Chester Co., Penn., September 17, 1765. The aforesaid
Jacob Keebler and Barbara Young, were married by Edward Varnum, in
Chester Town, March 11, 1785. After marriage they moved to
Philadelphia, Penn. Two children were born there: Sarah and John.
Thence they moved to Berkeley County, Va. Eight years later they
moved to Tennessee, and settled on Kindrick's Creek, Washington
County, in 1799. Jacob Keebler was of German descent, and
Catharine of English descent. Jacob, Jr., was a soldier of the
Revolution in the early part of his life, and, in the latter part
of his life, farming was his occupation. James and Barbara Young
were of English stock. The former was born September 20, 1736, and
the latter May 10, 1733.
W. C.
KEEZEL
W. C. Keezel, farmer, was born in 1842, in Rockingham
County, Va., and when fourteen years of age came to this county,
where he has since resided. He was educated at Laurel Hill Academy,
and in September 1862, enlisted in Company M, First Tennessee Federal
Cavalry, as a sergeant. He was captured in 1862 at Mulberry Gap, and
taken successively to Knoxville, Libby Prison and Petersburg, where
he was exchanged. August 8, 1864, he was captured near Atlanta, and
taken to Andersonville, Charleston, Florence, S. C., and Wilmington,
N. C., where he was exchanged in February, 1865. He then went to
Annapolis, Md., Columbus, Ohio, and then home. He was mustered out at
Nashville in 1865. In 1869 he married Mary, a daughter of Enos and
Sabra McFall, natives of Carter county. She died in 1873, a member of
the United Brethern Church, of which he is a steward, trustee and
Sabbath-school superintendent. He is a Republican. He owns a farm of
167 acres. His parents, Enos and Eliza (Carpenter) Keezel, are
natives of Rockingham County, Va., the former a minister of the
United Brethern Church, and a blacksmith and farmer. The mother died
about 1852, and Margaret, a daughter of Peter Plecker, became his
wife, and after his death, in 1881, she married again, and now lives
in Kansas. Henry was the next ancestor, a native of Keezelton, Va.
Our subject has one of the finest springs of water in the country,
elevated by a hydraulic ram to his spring house. The spring is
fifteen feet below the surface of his front yard.
SAMUEL JACOB
KIRKPATRICK
John Kirkpatrick, the great-grandfather, came from
Scotland in the year 1750, and located in Botetourt County, Va.,
where he married Jennie Wilkins, of Pennsylvania. He was a pioneer of
Tennessee about the beginning of the Revolution, settling in what is
now Jefferson County. Jacob, his son, and grandfather of our subject,
was born in Virginia in 1774, and died in July, 1844. He was a near
relative of Maj. Robert Kirkpatrick, who was killed in an Indian
fight near Loudon, under Governor Sevier. Jacob married Isabella, a
daughter of John White, a Baptist minister who came to America at a
very early date. The marriage occurred in 1708. Hugh Lawson White,
their son, and father of our subject, was born September 28, 1874,
and died August 31, 1852. He married Mary A., daughter of Samuel
Chesnutt, son of Hugh, of South Carolina, March 8, 1838. Samuel
married Susan Lee, daughter of Thomas and Mary Lee, the former a son
of Capt. John Lee, in whose house the first court of Hawkins County
was held. He was a near relative of "Light Horse Harry Lee." Our
subject was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., August 21, 1841, and
attended Clear Spring Academy, where, on May 1, 1861, he enlisted in
the Confederate Army, and was paroled as captain of Company E.,
Second Tennessee Cavalry, May 5, 1865, at Charlotte,N. C. He began
reading law at Jonesboro, under Chancellor Lucky, in September, 1865,
and was admitted to the bar in November 1866, and has practiced ever
since. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1870, a
member of the referee court, by appointment of the judges of the
supreme court, for two years. In October, 1866, he married Dora, a
daughter of Henry and Anna M. Hoss, born May 11, 1847. She is the
great-granddaughter of Governor John Sevier, and sister of Dr. E. E.
Hoss, of Vanderbilt University. They have had nine children.
-
-
- C.K.
LIDE
-
- C. K. Lide, merchant, was born near Athens, Tenn., December
15, 1846, and was educated at Forest Hill Academy. April 1, 1862,
he enlisted in the First Tennessee Confederate Artillery, and in
1864 was made captain of the ordnance department. While detailed
in April, 1865, he surrendered at Jonesboro, and at the close of
the war became a salesman in Memphis for four years. Then he was
in the grocery business in Baltimore for six yers. After a sojourn
in the West, until 1880, he moved to Knoxville, and in 1884 to
Johnson City, engaging in the hardware business. March 28, 1883,
he married Albina Worth, of Creston, Ashe Co., N. C. of a noted
family of that State. Dr. John W. and Mary E. (Lipscombe) Lide are
the parents. In 1740 the Lides (in Welsh, Lehuyd) settled on the
Pedee River, in South Carolina--John, Thomas and Robert; John
leaving a son, William, the father of John W. Lide, who, after his
medical education at Philadelphia, came to Bean's Station, Tenn.,
about 1818, when he married Mary E. Lipscombe, of Richmond. He
practiced near Bean's Station a few years, and between 1820 and
1830 he removed to McMinn County, Tenn., and located at Forest
Hill to educate his children. He was also called upon to assist in
opening up the Tellico Iron Works, to aid the Hiwassee Railway,
and in founding the branch Bank of Tennessee at Athens, and many
other enterprises. He died at Athens, April 7, 1846. His children
reside in various States, our subject being the only one in
Tennessee.
H.G. LONG
H. G. Long, a farmer in the Tenth District, was born,
June 3, 1826, in Russell County, Va. He began life for himself when
fourteen years old, being the only support of his mother after his
father's death. He began life for himself with only about $300. The
balance of what he is worth is the fruit of his own industry and good
management. He moved to his present location in March, 1875. He owns
a fine farm of 225 acres where he resides, and besides has given
considerable property to his children. He enlisted in the spring of
1863 in Capt. Dickinson's company, Twenty-ninth Virginia Infantry,
Confederate States of America, and served until the close of the war.
He was dismissed at Lynchburg in April, 1865. He was married, January
31, 1850, to Miss Synthia D., a daughter of William and Tabitha
Gibson, natives of Russell County, Va. He was a soldier in the war of
1812, commanding his regiment during that time. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson
were of English descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Long nine children have been
born: Mary T., Andrew A. (deceased), William G., Elizabeth
E.(deceased), Charles N., James B., and two died in infancy. Mr. and
Mrs. Long are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, as
also all the children. Mr. Long is a Democrat in politics. He served
one term as county supervisor of Russell County, Va., polling the
largest vote ever polled in the county. He has served as road
overseer two years for Russell County, Va., being the most efficient
overseer the county ever had. He was the youngest of five children of
Andrew and Mary (Lytton) Long, natives of Russell County, Va. He was
one of the most enterprising, successful farmers of his day, and was
a very active Christian worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
was considered a model man. His sister Anna married a Honaker, who
died shortly afterward, and she lived a widow until her death. Mr.
and Mrs. Long were of Dutch-English descent. Mr. Andrew Long died
about 1831, aged about forty-one. Mr. Long died in 1860, aged about
seventy-five years.
J. F.
LYLE
J. F. Lyle, a meat merchant at Johnson City, and
farmer in the Ninth District, was born in 1849 in Washington County.
He was educated in the common schools. He clerked in L. C. Hoss'
general store at Knoxville for three years. He then engaged in
farming two years, and then engaged in general merchandising at
Morristwon with D. Pence, the style of the firm being Pence &
Lyle, where he remained three yers. He sold his interest, and
purchased the farm where he now resides. He opened up his meat store
at Johnson City in January 1887. He owns a farm of 192 acres where he
now resides. He was married, in 1874, to Miss H. Bell Barton, a
daughter of James and Mary (McFarland) Barton, natives of what is now
Hamblen County. To Mr. and Mrs. Lyle one child has been born--Mary L.
Mr. and Mrs. Lyle are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which
Mr. Lyle has been deacon four years. He is a Democrat in politics. He
is an Odd Fellow. He received some property from his father, but has
doubled what he received. He is the eighth of ten children of John
and Lucinda (Boring) Lyle, natives of Virginia and Washington County,
Tenn., respectively. Mr. Lyle came to Tennessee when thirteen years
old.
J. P. LYLE
J. P. Lyle, farmer, was born in 1843 in Washington
County, where he has since resided. He was educated in an academy,
and when seventeen enlisted in Company D., Sixty third Tennessee
Volunteer Infantry (Confederate), and was wounded in Virginia, and
captured near Petersburg April 2, 1865, and taken to Fort Delaware,
and retained until the close of the conflict. He has since been
engaged in farming and brick-making. In 1870 he married Mary I.,
daughter of James Deakins, of this county. Their children are Rettie,
Ralph D., James H., John R., James B., Summers, Zed S. and Rosa C. He
and his wife are Presbyterians, and he is a Democrat. His parents are
John and Lucinda P (Boring) Lyle, the former a brick-mason and now a
man of considerable means. Joseph, the grandfather, died in his
native State, Va. The mother was a daughter of Chainey Boring, one of
the earliest settlers of this county, and she died in June, 1886.
-
-
- EZ. SALMON
MATHES
- Ez. Salmon Mathes, farmer, was born in Greenville, S. C.,
October 13, 1831, the son of Alexander and Orpha Wood (Merritte)
Mathes. The father was a native of Washington County, Tenn., and
was born August 29, 1800, the son of Alexander Mathes, Jr., whose
father bore the same name, and was born March 12, 1740, in
Shenandoah Valley, Va. The last mentioned became the husband of
Ann Leath, March 21, 1769, and moved to this county when it was a
part of North Carolina (1782), and settled near Washington
College, where he lived the life of a farmer, until his death in
1806. His wife was born March 8, 1748. Alexander, Jr., the
grandfather, was born October 5, 1775, and July 16, 1799, married
Isabella Ord. He was a farmer and lived near Washington College
until his death, February 12, 1865. The father was a tanner by
trade and filled many positions of honor and trust; his
grandfather, his father and himself, were successively ruling
elders in Old Salem Presbyterian Church, and trustees of
Washington College for over one hundred years; the father died
February 14, 1884. The mother, Orpha (Wood) Merritte, was born in
Greenville, S. C., November 8, 1803, and was the daughter of
Wheeten Merritte, whose father came to America with La Fayette.
Her children's names were Alexander, Alfred H., our subject, Sarah
I., William E. and John Shields. The mother died June 5, 1879. Our
subject's parents were both Presbyterians. Our subject was
educated at Washington College, and has followed farming and
trading, and for some time was in the service of the East
Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia Railroad Company. November 21,
1853, he married Mary J., a daughter of Dr. W. W. Bovell. She was
born in this county, August 9, 1832,; she died May 25, 1886. Their
children are William G., born October 24, 1854; Mary E., March 6,
1857; Jane Doak, April 2, 1859; John Alfred, August 20, 1861. Our
subject is a Presbyterian; he is secretary of the board of
trustees of Washington College, and is a Royal Arach Mason.
JOHN A.
MATHES
John A. Mathes, merchant, was born at Washington
College, Tenn., August 20, 1861, the son of Ezekiel S. and Mary J.
(Bovell) Mathes, who are mentioned in the sketch of W. G. Mathes. Our
subject was educated at Washington College and Jonesboro, and then
entered his brother's store, at the latter place. After clerking a
year there, he became a merchant at Telford. He then went to
California, and remained two years, but in 1885 returned, and became
a partner of his brother, W. G., at Johnson City. The following year
he traveled for A. J. Patterson's mills, of Bluff City, and in 1887
became a partner with Mr. Patterson in a wholesale grocery, grain and
provision store, at Johnson City, the first wholesale store of the
place. January 6, 1886, he married Lillie L., a daughter of James M.
Gentry, deceased. She was born in Ashe county, N. C. September 6,
1868. Her father was a prominent merchant of Johnson City from 1869
until 1880. Our subject is a Presbyterian, while his wife is a
Methodist.
- WILLIAM G.
MATHES
-
- William G. Mathes, cashier of the Jonesboro Banking &
Trust Company, of Jonesboro, Washington Co., Tenn., and one of
the most prominent young merchants and citizens of that place,
was born at Washington College, Washington County, on October
24, 1854, and is the son of E. S. and Mary Jane (Bovell)
Mathes. E. S. Mathes, the father, was born in Greenville, S.
C., October 30, 1831, and is the son of Alexander Mathes, Jr.
Alexander, the grandfather, was born at Washington College in
1800, and was the son of Alexander Mathes, Sr., who was a
native of Virginia, who immigrated to East Tennessee at a very
early date, and was one of the pioneers of Washington County.
When a young man, Alexander, Jr., removed to South Carolina,
where he married O. W. Merritt, and where two children were
born. He then removed to Cocke County, Tenn., and then to
Washington College, where he remained until his death, which
occurred in April, 1885. He was quite prominent during his day,
and filled numerous minor offical positions, among which were
those of county surveyor and justice of the peace. E. S.
Mathes, the father, was reared at Washington College, and was
educated in the College at that place. He resided at the above
place until 1863, and then going through the Federal lines
remained from the county until 1865; then located at Jonesboro,
and filled the position of depot and express agent for the East
Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia Railway until 1871, and then
removed to Washington College, where he now resides on the
farm. He was married November 13, 1853, to Mary Jane Bovell,
our sujbect's mother, who was born at Washington College April
9, 1832, and was the daughter of Dr. W. W. Bovell, a native of
Washington County, Va. She was the great-granddaughter of
Alelxander Doak, the first president and founder of Washington
College, the oldest institution of learning west of the Blue
Ridge Mountains. He was a native of Virginia, and immigrated to
East Tennessee at a very early date. A history of this college
may be found in another part of this volume. The mother died in
May 1866. Our subject was reared at Washington College until
1864, when he went through the Federal lines to Knoxville, and
remained until 1865; then returned to Washington College, and a
few months later removed to Jonesboro. He secured a good
academic education at Washington College, and in the schools of
Jonesboro, and began life for himself in 1871 as deputy
postmaster at Jonesboro, which position he filled until 1877.
In 1874, while in the postoffice, he engaged in the grocery and
produce business at Jonesboro, and is still engaged in that
business starting on $100 capital, for which he worked at $15
per month, and increasing and building up until he now has one
of the leading mercantile establishments in Jonesboro, doing an
average annual business of $40,000. He was one of the
originators of the banking institution with which he is now
connected, which was founded June 10, 1886, and of which he is
a director, and was elected cashier from its organization. He
is one of the most progressive and successful of Jonesboro's
young citizens. He is broad and liberal in his views, always
takes an interest in public affairs, and encourages all public
enterprises of a worthy nature. He is full of energy and
enterprise, and is universally esteemed and respected by his
fellow citizens for his sterling worth and character. He was
united in marriage on March 2, 1876, with Fannie C. Barrett,
who was born in Richmond, Va., on August 31, 1855, and is the
daughter of William S. Barrett. To this union two children have
been born, one of whom is dead. Both our subject and his wife
are members of the church; he of the Presbyterian, and she of
the Christian.
-
R. M. MAY
-
- R. M. May, merchant, was born seven miles south of Jonesboro,
February 20, 1851, the son of Cassimore E. and Catheine (Bayless)
May, the former born in Washington County, Tenn., in 1824, the son
of Cassimore, Sr., a native of the same county. The next ancestor,
also Cassimore, was a native of Germany, and his father dying when
the boy was but ten years old, he was bound out, and accidentally
throwing a stone so as to break some slate roofing, a punishable
offense, the fourteen-year-old lad tied up his clothes in a
handkerchief, and made for America, landing in New York, and
working his way to Washington County, Tenn. He was a natural
mechanic, and the family now have a padlock which he made, and
used to protect his stock from the Indian raids. From him down
they have been farmers and blacksmiths, the father also being a
tanner. In 1853 the father removed to Georgia, but after the death
of the mother the children came back to Tennessee, and from his
fifth to his tenth year our subject lived with his grandparents.
The father again married, and lives in Washington County, Tenn.
The mother was born in 1827, and died in 1856. She was the
daughter of Samuel G. Bayless. When sixteen our subject went to
Knoxville, where he learned the saddler's trade. He taught school
in Washington County two years, and in 1879 entered a dry goods
store, with a salary of $100 and board for the first year, with an
increase of salary to $600 a year. In September, 1883, May &
Patton (L. H.) was the firm, but since 1885 Mr. May has been
alone. He carries a stock of from $5,000 to $6,000 and does about
$22,000 worth of business annually. February 14, 1879, Mary E., a
daughter of Maj. James E. Deakins, became his wife. She was born
in 1856 and died in 1879. Their children are William E. and Minnie
E.
AZOR
MILLER
Azor Miller, farmer and miller, was born in 1842, in
Washington County, where he has since resided, excepting two years
spent in Missouri. He began life independently when twenty-five years
old, and now owns 384 acres in two different tracts, besides valuable
mill property. In 1861 he enlisted in the Eighth Tennessee Cavalry
(Confederate States Army), and served two years, and was afterward
placed in Morgan's command and captured on the Ohio raid, being
retained at Camp Douglas eighteen months, and paroled in March, 1865.
He has been farming and milling ever since. In January, 1870, he
married Kate, a daughter of Bryant and Julia (Earnest) Stephens,
natives of Virginia, and among the earliest settlers of Greene
County. Their children are Rebecca E., Anna B., Nicholas S., Julia,
Jacob A., Benjamin R., Nellie and Azor. He and his wife are
Presbyterians, and for three years he has been a deacon. He is a
Democrat, a Master Mason, and a K. of H. His parents, Jacob and Anna
(Clark) Miller, were natives of Washington County, Tenn., and
Virginia, respectively, and of Dutch and Dutch-Irish stock. He also
was a farmer and miller, and a man of unusual force of character. He
was an active worker in the Baptist Church. Jacob, Sr., was the next
ancestor, a native of Pennsylvania, and an early settler of this
county. He was a farmer and volunteered for the war of 1812, but too
late for servie.
SAMUEL H.
MILLER
Samuel H. Miller was born July 18, 1818, within four
miles of where he has since resided. He began doing for himself when
twenty-three years old, a poor man, and, excepting a small amount of
property he inherited, what he is now worth is the fruit of his own
industry and good management. He owns a fine farm of about 240 acres,
and, besides 120 acres in another farm. He has given his children
consideralbe property and a good education. Mr. Miller has never
undertaken anything, since he was converted fifty years ago, that he
didn't ask divine guidance, and he has enjoyed excellent success. He
was married November 5, 1840, to Miss Eliza A. Range, a daughter of
Jacob and Susan (Hale) Range, natives of Washington County, Tenn.,
where they died, aged respectively about eighty-seven and
seventy-three years. To Mr. and Mrs. Miller ten children have been
born: Julia (now Mrs. Carr), Elbert S., William P., Susan M. (now
Mrs. Carr), Alice E., Peter Q. and Jacob R. (twins). Mr. and Mrs.
Miller are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as also is all
their living children. Mr. Miller was cradled a Whig, but since the
war he has voted with the Republican party in politics, and was a
strong Union man during the late war. He served as justice of the
peace for six years. He was the eldest of ten children--nine of whom
lived to be grown--and five of them are still living, of Peter and
Mary (Hunt) Miller, natives of Wahington County, Tenn. He served in
the war of 1812 under Gen. Jackson. He was lieutenant of his company.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller were active and devoted Christian workers in the
Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was the leader of his
congregation. He was a man of splendid natural abilities, and was
highly respected by all. He was a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Boone)
Miller. Mrs. Miller was a cousin of Daniel Boone. Mr. Miller was born
in Germany and after coming to the United States, married, and a year
later came to Washington County. He had four sons and one daughter.
He was a very devoted Christian worker in the Reformed Lutheran
Church. Mrs. Elizabeth Miller was a daughter of Susan and Sarah
(Crouch) Boone. Mrs. Crouch was born on Boone Creek. The first log
house ever erected in this county was built on a portion of the land
which Mr. Miller owned shortly after he was married. It was torn down
three years since.
J. H. MONGLE,
M.D.
J. H. Mongle, M. D., was born in June, 1826, in
Washington County, Va., on a farm which has been owned by the Mongle
family for 200 years. He completed a classical course at Washington
College, and attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College,
Philadelphia, in 1847. In April, 1848, he began practice in
Washington County, Va., and in February, 1859, he moved to Johnson
City, where he has been most successful as a practioner. In 1847 he
married Sarah, a daughter of John Wright, a pioneer of Carter County
and a minister of the Christian Church. Their children are John A.,
Thomas N., Mollie C. and Carrie A. All the family, except the
daughters who are Methodists, are members of the Christian Church. He
is a Republican, and has served several terms as city alderman. He is
also a Knight of Labor, and by his practice he has acquired
considerable wealth. He was the eldest of seven children of Abram and
Rebecca (Hughes) Mongle, the former born in 1795 in Virginia, the
latter in 1812 at Blountville, Tenn. The father was sheriff of
Washington County fifteen years, and a judge of the county court for
several years. He was also a justice of the peace. They were of
German and English blood, respectively, The grandparents were Jacob
and Mary (Gobble) Mongle. The great-grandfather, a native of Germany
came to Lancaster, Penn., then to Hagerstown, Md., and finally to
Washington County, Va. Daniel and Frederick, brothers of Abram, were
settlers in the Indian forts on the Watauga River.
-
-
- W. A.
NELSON
-
- W. A. Nelson was born in 1846 in Washington County, where he
has since resided. He was reared on a farm where he remained until
twenty-two years old. He graduated in the classical course at
Tusculum College in 1869. He first engaged in teaching school at
Limestone seven years, and was the principal spirit in the
building of Jonesboro District High School, under the auspices of
the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The school is surely a
credit to Limestone, ranking with the best in this part of the
county. On account of ill health, he was forced to quit teaching,
when for the following one and one half years he engaged in
farming, and since then he has been engaged in merchandising at
Telford and Limestone. He was appointed railroad agent at
Limestone, in March, 1880, which position he still holds. The most
of what he is now worth is the fruit of his own industry and good
management. He is a member of the firm of Nelson & SLoan,
hardware merchants. He was married November 17, 1886, to Miss
Callie Rorex, a daughter of J. A. Rorex, a resident of Cocke
County, Tenn. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South. Mr. Nelson is a Democrat in politics,
although prohibitive in principle. He was the seventh of eleven
children of George W. and Martha E. (Yager) Nelson, natives of
Washington County, Tenn. The father was justice of the peace for
about twenty years, and followed merchandising, farming and
trading, giving his attention principally to the latter. He built
four miles of the East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia Railroad,
and was a director of the railroad about fifteen years. He was a
son of William Nelson, who was a native of Virginia, and one of
the earliest settlers of Washington County, Tenn. He moved to Polk
County, Mo., about 1847, where he died. Mr. George W. Nelson began
life for himself without a dollar, and accumulataed considerable
property. He was noted for his great energy and splendid practical
business ability. When only nineteen years old, he took entire
control of "Cranberry Iron Works" of Carter county, which
prospered greatly under his management. He was naturally inclined
toward the iron business. He was a very public spirited man,
especially taking great interest in all educational and religious
enterprises. He was a trustee of both Washington and Tusculum
Colleges for many years. He was one of the pioneer movers in the
building of the East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad, in which
he took a great interest, making at times great sacrifices for the
Company. At his death he owned about 8,000 acres of land. He died
October 17, 1881, by injuries received in falling from a second
story of his dwelling. Mrs. Nelson died March 16, 1877.
