Submitted by Vicki Shaffer. Page created by Jane N. Powell
J. M. Ing is a son of Joseph and Violet (Armfield) Ing, both born in North Carolina in 1800. They were brought to Sumner County by their parents when young, and here they met and were married. They came to Gibson County in 1824 and died here in 1877 and 1884, mother and father respectively. The father was a Democrat and farmer and he and wife were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. They were the parents of eleven children. Our subject inherits English blood from his father. His great-grandfather, Ing, was a British soldier in the Revolutionary war. On a pretense of going ashore to get fresh water he deserted and afterward made his home in America. J. M. Ing was born in Carroll County, December 28, 1825, and owing to his services being required at home his educational opportunities were limited. At the age of twenty he became the architect of this own fortunes and after working by the month for about one year, he learned the carpenter's trade and worked at the same for abort seven years. Since that time he has followed farming and now owns 160 acres of good land. In 1852 he married Sarah A. Omen, who was born in 1828 and died in 1859, leaving three children. In 1860 Mr. Ing wedded N.E. Durley, who was born in 1836. To them were born five children. Mr. and Mrs. Ing are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and he is a Democrat.
B. C. Jarrell, member of the Humboldt Buggy & Wagon Company, was born in Wilson county, Tenn., on the 5th of February, 1836, and is the third son and the fourth born of fifteen children (ten of whom grew to maturity) of Fountain and Elizabeth Jarrell, who were born in Virginia and North Carolina respectively. Fountain Jarrell left his native State when seven years of age, and until 1830 resided in North Carolina. He then came to Tennessee, where he soon married, and purchased a farm in Wilson county, where he spent the remainder of his days, with the exception of two years, 1839 and 1840 when he lived in Illinois. He died in 1862. His widow yet resides on the home place, hale and hearty, although seventy-six years of age. B. C. Jarrell, our subject, remained with his parents until twenty-two years of age. He then engaged in the milling business near Lebanon, but sold out in the fall of 1870, and located at Humboldt, where he erected a new saw-mill, which he operated until 1880. At that time the firm known as the Humboldt Buggy and Wagon company was organized, and he became one of the leading partners. Their fruit-box business amounts to about $40,000 per annum. He is a Democrat, and a strong temperance man, and belongs to the Masonic, G. T., K., of H., and K.&L. of H. fraternities. On the 24th of February, 1859, he married Elizabeth F. Pearce, of Lebanon, born February 22, 1839, daughter of Joseph K. and Mary (Latimer) Pearce. They have six children, four living: James R., Benjamin Fountain, Carrie E. and Charles T. Mr. and Mrs. Jarrell are members of the Baptist Church, and the former has been deacon in the same for twenty-three years. Mr. Jarrell is a man of exemplary habits, never having uttered an oath, been intemperate, or gambled.
M. H. Johnson, clerk of the law court at Humboldt, Tenn., was born in Maury County, July 17, 1813, the eldest of five children of William A. and Mary (Griffin) Johnson, who were born in North Carolina. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a soldier in the war of 1812, and the maternal grandfather a Revolutionary soldier. William A. Johnson came to Tennessee in early manhood, and was here married, previous to the war of 1812. In 1836 they came from Maury to Gibson county, and here resided until a short time previous to the father's death, which took place in McNairy County, Tenn., in 1852. His wife died three days later. M. H. Johnson was reared on a farm. He began doing for himself at an early day, and in 1837 came to Gibson County, where he resided until 1850, when he removed to Purdy, McNairy County, and engaged in the livery business. In 1858 he was elected clerk of the circuit court, and held the office eight years. Early in 1863 he removed to Jackson, and one year later came to Humboldt, where he has since resided. At the close of the war he engaged in the family grocery business, continuing two years. In 1870 he was appointed deputy law court clerk and chancery court clerk. In 1872 he was elected law court clerk, and has filled the office efficiently to the present. He has also been deputy chancery court clerk for the same period. He is a Mason and a member of the I.O.O.F., and was married September 2, 1834, to America J. Thomas, who died in February, 1860, leaving seven children: Virginia, Hiram T., William A., Mary, Sarah J., America J. and Albert T. November 8, 1864, Mr. Johnson married Mrs. M. I. M. (Lannon) Wrather. The following are their children: Florence, Jessie and Joe. Mrs. Johnson died August 25, 1881. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, as is her husband.
Joseph T. Johnson, a prosperous farmer of Gibson County, is a son of Franklin S. and Mildred L. (Terry) Johnson, both natives of Halifax County, Va., where they grew to manhood and womanhood, and married. To them were born two sons; the younger, Philip G., was a tobacconist, and was murdered by negroes in Arkansas. The father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and a Democrat in politics. He was a farmer and stock raiser, and while on a business trip to Texas, in 1833, sickened and died. His wife continued to reside on the old homestead until her death, in 1863. Joseph's ancestors on both sides were of English descent, and in all probability he is related to Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. He was born in the same State and county as his parents, April 25, 1818, and his juvenile days were spent in laboring on the farm and attending the common schools. He followed school-teaching about ten years in succession, and then about three years in Tennessee, having come here in 1841, in a wagon, a distance of 1,000 miles. He was married, in 1840, to Jemima S. McGehee, a native of Halifax County, Va., born October 17, 1817. Their union was blessed in the birth of nine children, five of whom are living. The family are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
John F. Jones is a Tennessean born in 1844. His parents, J. W. and Jemima A. (Baird) Jones were born in South Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. They became the parents of twelve children. The father was a prosperous farmer and, after his wife's death in 1862, married N. N. McClure, widow of James McClure. John F. resided with his father until sixteen years of age, then joined the Twelfth Regiment Tennessee Infantry, under Col. Russell, and served until the close of the war. He received a slight wound at Shiloh, and at the battle of Peach Tree Creek lost his left leg. After his return home, he was elected constable of the Thirteenth District, and held the office for eight years, during which time he was united in marriage to Columbia S. Long, daughter of James and Susannah (Jones) Long. She was born in Tennessee, in 1848, and is the mother of four children: James B., Ivie, Irma and Bessie. Mr. Jones has held that office of county register for four years. Since that time he has been engaged in farming. His farm, on which he settled in 1882, is about six miles from the county seat, and consists of 170 acres. The principal products are corn, cotton, small grain and stock. He is a member of the Agricultural Wheel in his district, and in politics has always been a stanch Democrat.
William F. Jones, general merchant, is a Marshall county Tennessean, born January 26, 1846, son of Thomas B. and Amanda (Robinson) Jones, who were born in Williamson and Maury Counties, Tenn., in 1824 and 1826, respectively. The father died in Greenfield, Tenn., February 10, 1884, son of Wiley Jones, of North Carolina. William F. Jones is the eldest of seven children. He received the education and rearing of the average farmer's boy. In 1869 he came to Kenton, and the same year was married to Susan J. Potter, who was born in Maury County, April 18, 1847. They have one child, Myrtle L. Potter, who was born October 15, 1871. From 1869 to 1871 Mr. Jones was a clerk in Kenton. At the latter date he engaged in the grocery and saddlery business on his own responsibility, but three years later began selling dry goods, and has been quite prosperous in his business transactions. In 1869 he was appointed express agent and has continued such up the present time. He belongs to the Democratic party, and is a Mason and a member of the I.O.O.F., Grand Conductor of the Ground Lodge of Tennessee. He and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and he is a leading business man of Kenton.
Marcus De Lafayette Jordan, M.D., of Milan, Tenn., was born in Gibson
County, on the 1st
of November, 1834; son of William and Elizabeth (Boyd) Jordan, who were
born in the Old
Dominion. William Jordan came to Tennessee with his father, William Jordan, when he was bur
a lad, early in the present century. They located in Williamson County, near Triune, and our
subject's father came to Gibson county in 1820, locating on a farm three miles east of Milan,
where he raised a very large family. He was twice married and to sisters, our subject being the
son of his second wife. He died on his farm in September, 1863. He was one of the most
enterprising and successful planters in west Tennessee, owning about 15,00 acres of good land
and 100 negroes. He was for many years magistrate of his district, being an old line Whig in
politics, and was conscientiously opposed to secession up the date of his death. His wives came
to Tennessee at an early day and were second cousins of the noted John Bell.
Dr. Marcus
Jordan, our subject, resided on a farm in Gibson County, until fifteen years of age when
he
entered Union University at Murfreesboro, Tenn., graduating from the same in 1852. He then
began studying medicine at McLemoresville under Drs. Boyd and Brannock,
and later entered
Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, and graduated in March, 1857. He returned home
and practiced at Milan until the war, when he was appointed first assistant surgeon of the Fifth
Tennessee Confederate Infantry, and served in this capacity until the battle of Stone River when
he was left behind in charge of the hospital, and was held in hostage by the Federals from June
until December, 1863, and served in his professional capacity as surgeon of Col.
Biffel's
regiment of cavalry, under Gen. Forrest until the close of the war. He resumed
practice at
Milan and has met with the bests of success. In November, 1858, he married Mattie H.
Hillsman, who died in 1876, leaving four children: Robert Lee, Mary E., Marcus
DeLafayette
and Irma. In October, 1877, the Doctor married Josephine E. Perry, of
Rutherford County. In
1874 he was elected to the State Senate, and served with honor and distinction during the session
of 1875. Since 1869 he has been engaged in the drug business in Milan, and is a member of the
Gibson County Medical Society. He and wife belong to the Baptist Church.
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