D, E, G - Goodspeed, History of Tennessee, Haywood County

John H. DANCY residing in the Second District of Haywood County, was born in October, 1831, in Williamson County, and is the son of Isaac Dancy, who was born August 7, 1783, in Virginia, but moved at an early date to Tennessee, locating at Spring Hill, and was captain of a militia company of Williamson and Maury Counties.  He moved to Haywood County in 1831, and located on the farm where our subject now lives, and established a postoffice called Dancy, that was moved in 1841 to Dancyville, still retaining the name.  The first Methodist Church in this part of Tennessee, was built about 200 yards from his dwelling, and was used as a schoolhouse.  John Dancy's mother's maiden named was Mary LAMB; she was born in Virginia, July 19, 1793, and died September 6, 1859.  Our subject remained on the farm until his father's death, in August, 1863. February 27, 1856, he married Louisa KERR, daughter of Francis B. and Ann R. Kerr; the father was born February 27, 1801, in South Carolina, and died in Fayette County in 1885; her mother was born in Sumner County, and died August 30, 1873.  Mrs. Dancy was born November 5, 1834, and they have ten children: John William, Mary F. (Wife of V. M. PATTON), Ella (wife of Absalom RUDD), Albert S., Alexander, Isaac Bradley, Lula, Lillie B., Emma R. and James H. Mr. Dancy is worth about $7,000 which he as accumulated since the war.  With his wife he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church South; his educational advantages were limited when he was young, but he has always manifested a warm interest in the schools of the county.  He is now a Democrat, but before the was an old-line Whig.

Jesse T. Davis, an enterprising young farmer and citizen of Haywood County, was born in the county September 8, 1862, and is the son of John C. and Matilda L. (CORE) Davis. His father was twice married. In 1853 he married Miss Martha CORE, who died two years after she was married, and in 1855 Mr. Davis married Miss Matilda CORE, a sister of his first wife.  She was born in Haywood County in about 1845.  Mr. and Mrs. Davis were both devout members of the Methodist Church, he being a steward in the same, and Mrs. Davis taking an active interest in the Sunday-school.  Jesse T. Davis had fine opportunities for acquiring a good education.  He was principally educated at the Vanderbilt University at Nashville.   In 1881 he attended on session at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, of Louisville, Ky., but decided to make farming his work, so when twenty-one years of age he settled on the old homestead, and has since given his time to the farm.   October 26, 1882, he married Miss Minnie S. SANGSTON, born in Haywood County, November 5, 1864, and they have a son and a daughter from this marriage. Mr. Davis is a Democrat, and a member of the Methodist Church, and is a justly popular young man. His father was a native of South Carolina, born in 1830.

J. E. DOUGLAS, a resident and farmer of the Second District, was born in 1829 in Wilson County, and is the son of Hon. Burchett Douglass, who was born October 6, 1793, and died July 31, 1849.  He was one of the prominent politicians of his day; was a member of the Whig party, which he represented a number of times in the State Legislature, and was at one time speaker of the House.  He was a very popular man, and during twenty years of public life never was defeated, and for many years he was president of the m\bank of Somerville, Fayette County. Our subject's mother was Martha McGEE, born in Wilson County; she was the daughter of Rev. John McGee.  As his father was engaged so much in politics,  J. E. Douglass remained on the farm until twenty-four years of age; he then went to Mississippi and farmed two years, when he returned and remained with his father until he died, when he bought a steam, grist and saw-mill near Memphis, which he ran until 1859, then came to his present farm, thirteen miles southwest of Brownsville, and three miles west of Dancyville, and engaged in the mill business, which he still continues. Mr. Douglass was first married, in 1859, to Sarah F. PEWETT.  The three children born to this marriage are dead.  March 8, 1868, he married Mrs. Martha Phillips, a widow with one son -- David C. Phillips.  By this marriage were two children: Lena Lee, born in 1871, and Willis B., born in 1873.  Dr. Douglass is a man trusted and esteemed by all, and is one of the most substantial citizens and business men of his county. In politics he is a Democrat.

Capt. Alexander DUCKWORTH, clerk and master of the chancery court of Brownsville, Tenn., and native of Haywood County, was born March 16, 1832, son of William W. and Mary M. (ALEXANDER) Duckworth, natives respectively of South and North Carolina. Robert W. Duckworth, the Captain's grandfather, came with his family to Tennessee from North Carolina early in the twenties, and settled near Knoxville.  He settled in Madison County, and in, or before, 1830, located in Haywood County, where he died. Here William W. was married and settled.  He raised a family of nine children -- three sons and one daughter now living:  William L., Thomas N., Martha A. (widow of C. F. SMITH), and Alexander who is the eldest.  The father died April 8, 1859, followed by the mother's death the following day.  Capt. Duckworth's boyhood days were spent in his native county, where he secured a good academical education chiefly by his own exertions.  He prepared himself for teaching, and followed that profession until 1859, then began managing his father's farm.  Here he resided until 1862, then joined the Confederate Army, serving as lieutenant and afterward as captain of Company L., Seventh Regiment Tennessee Cavalry, and was seriously wounded in the right arm in a cavalry skirmish at Collierville, Tenn., and has never fully recovered.  Capt. Duckworth server with distinction until the close of the war, then returned home and resumed farming and teaching, and resumed the study of law which he had begun in 1858.   In 1867 he came to Brownsville and engaged in the study, and later the practice of law.  November 14, 1870, he was appointed clerk and master of the chancery court, of Haywood County by Chancellor James Fentress and held the position continuously under the various chancellors to the present time.  He has always been an unswerving Democrat in politics and has taken an active part in the local campaigns of the county.  He is a Royal Arch Mason and has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1846.

William W. DUPREE, farmer, citizen and native of Haywood County, was born August 15, 1839, and is the son of Donaldson R. and Mary E. (CLEMENTS) Dupree.  The father was a native of Alabama, born near Huntsville in 1813, and came to Haywood County in about 1831;  he first owned a mill, but afterward farmed very successfully, and died in November 1871.  The mother was a Virginian and came with her parents to this county about 1819, and died in 1843.  Mr. Dupree, Sr., was married twice;  he had three children by his first marriage, and five by his second, his first wife being the mother of William W.  Our subject, by his own efforts, secured at his father's fireside a good education, and all of his life has been a reading man;  he owns and lives at the old homestead, and has been more than usually successful at farming.  In his political views he is a sound Democrat.  When fourteen years old he joined the Methodist Church, and has since been a very useful member;  he prays in public and fills the office of steward in the church.  January 12, 1861, he married Miss Sarah F. NOLAN, who was born in Haywood County, October 8, 1844; six sons and three daughters have blessed this marriage.

A. Carey ESTES, attorney at law of Brownsville, Tenn., and a native of Haywood County, was born Jun 17, 1849, son of Moreau P. and Mary Quarles NOEL Estes, who were both native Virginians. (See sketch of Joel Estes, grandfather of subject.)  Subject was educated in the University of Virginia, in which institution he read law and graduated from the legal department in 1871.  He was admitted to the Brownsville bar in the fall of the same year and has been employed in the practice of his profession continuously ever since, having met with good and well deserved success.  November 6, 1872, he married Miss Nora P. MANN, of this county and four living children resulted from this union, viz.: Fredonia, Carey, Jefferson M. and Nora P.   Mr. Estes is a Democrat in politics, and has taken an active part in the political affairs of the county; was city attorney of Brownsville a number of years.  In 1863 he enlisted as a private in Company D, Seventh Tennessee Cavalry, and served as such in the Confederate Army until close of the war.   Himself and wife are member of the Baptist Church, in which he is a deacon.  Mr. Estes is recognized as one among the public spirited and reliable citizens of the county, and a legal practitioner of ability and experience.

Rev. James H. Gillespie, a devout minister, and a prominent citizen of Brownsville, Tenn., was born in Blount County, Tenn., August 10. 1804.  His parents were Robert and Elizabeth (HOUSTON) Gillespie, and were natives of Virginia.    Rev. James Gillespie in early life was engaged with his father in the manufacturing business. In 1825 he graduated at the East Tennessee College, located at Knoxville, Tenn., at that time.   He then went to Alabama and engaged in the mercantile business, but in 1827 he entered the theological college at Princeton, J. J., and prepared himself of the university, graduating from there in 1830, and the same year was licensed to preach.   In 1831 he was ordained pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Somerville, Ala.   He remained there until 1838, when he moved to Franklin County, Ala., where he took charge of the school and filled the pulpit of the Presbyterian Church until 1842.   In 1843 he moved to Denmark , Tenn., and was pastor in the Presbyterian Church until 1868, when he was called to fill the pulpit of Presbyterian Church at Brownsville, remaining in charge until 1872.   Since then Mr. Gillespie has been engaged in evangelical work in various churches.   He has been an earnest worker in the church, and is perhaps the oldest minister in West Tennessee.  October, 1830, Mr. Gillespie married Abigail C. Ellis, daughter of Col. Samuel and Pricilla ELLIS, of New Jersey.   They had three sons and two daughters: Mary, William F. (A minister in Texas), James E., Robert A. (deceased; he was also a minister) and Martha L.   Mr. Gillespie is a member of the F. & A. M. and of the I. O. O. F. In politics was formerly a Whig, but is now a Democrat.    He has lived a long and useful, and is a consecrated man.

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