K - L, Goodspeed, Haywood Co Tennessee, 1887

J. H. Kerr, one of the early farmers of this county, resides in the Second District, and was born December 3, 1828, in Giles county, Tenn., being the son of Francis Kerr, who was born in 1801, in South Carolina, and came with his father to Giles County, where he lived until the latter died, then moved in 1829 to Fayette County, and settled one mile southwest of Dancyville, and eleven miles north of Somerville, where he died, December 1, 1885. Our subject's mother's name was Anna Reed (Neal) Kerr, was born in 1806, and died August 80, 1875, in Fayette County. J. H. Kerr was raised on a farm and remained with his father until he was thirty-one years of age, when he began farming by hiring. He entered the Confederate Army in March, 1864, but remained only a short time, was wounded at Atlanta, Ga., receiving a flesh wound that did not disable him from service; at the close of the war he resumed farming, which he still continues. November 28, 1858, he married Ann I. Wainwright, daughter of George I. and Martha Wainwright, of Fayette County. They have three children: Mattie C., wife of E. P. Nelson; Mollie E. and James B.   Mr. and Mrs. Kerr and all of their children belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and in politics he is a Democrat.  Mr. Kerr is a self-made man, in comfortable circumstances, and is a most estimable citizen.

J. B. Lee, a young and enterprising farmer of the Tenth District, was born in Lauderdale County, May 21, 1856, and was one of eight children, six of whom are living. The parents were T. F. and L. G. Lee. The father was born in North Carolina in 1819, came to Haywood County at an early date and first located near Brownsville, but soon afterward moved to the Twelfth District; he was a farmer, and died in 1881. The mother was a Miss Williamson, born in Shelby County, in 1830. J. B. Lee was raised at home, and first attended the county schools, then spent some time at the Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tenn. In 1881 he married Miss J. L., daughter of G. B. and Sarah A. Medlin. Mrs. Lee was born in Haywood County, in 1863; they have three children - Robert W., Thomas A. and a baby. In 1883 Mr. Lee located on his present farm of 319 acres five miles north of Woodville, and he is considered a progressive and energetic farmer. In polities his vote and support are always given to the Democratic party. Mr. and Mrs. Lee are both leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

Capt. William J. Link, a prominent citizen of Haywood County, was one of its pioneers; he is a native of Halifax County, Va., and was born February 28, 1813, being the son of Bird and Varilla (Morton) Link. While our subject was still an infant, his parents moved in 1813 to Davidson County, Tenn., and lived there fourteen years. In 1827 they came to this county, where the father died in 180, and the mother in 1852. Capt. Link received by his own efforts a good education, and when still young commenced the cultivation of the farm. He has been married twice; his first wife was Miss Mary Meux, a native of Alabama; they were married January 24, 1838. December 12, 1866, he was married to Mrs. Mary (Sevier) Ware, whose mother was a niece of ex-Gov. Sevier, of this State. No children were born to either marriage. Capt. Link has been a singularly prosperous man, commencing life without money, and by his thrift and industry has accumulated a handsome estate, owning in Haywood County over 3,000 acres of the most fertile land; he is an exceedingly generous man, always responding liberally to all appeals in behalf of charity. He is a strong Democrat and was captain of the State militia before the way; he was not in the war, but sympathized with the South. In early life he joined the Methodist Church and has since been a consistent member.

Capt. W. J. Lyle, an influential citizen and farmer of the Second District, was born in March, 1882, in Montgomery County, Tenn., and is the son of Thomas H. Lyle, who was born in Smith County, April 2, 1807, but lived from childhood in Montgomery County to the time of his death, February 22, 1850. For a number of years he was deputy sheriff and tax collector of Montgomery County. Our subject's mother, Margaret M. Wilkerson, was born April 28, 1807, in Sumner County, and died aged seventy-nine. He was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. For three years before his father's death he war, a confirmed invalid, and the support of the family devolved upon Capt. Lyle; he remained on the farm until he was twenty-five, when he removed to Haywood County and was salesman for Alexander, Black & Co. Two years later the firm sold out and he received a position as book-keeper for Stewart & King, cotton and commission merchants of Memphis, and a year later he went to Mansfield, Henry County, and took charge of a dry goods house and cotton factory for W. H. Thompson; but after a year the excitement over the war decided Capt. Lyle to return to Haywood County, where he soon after made up a company, of which he was captain, and went into the service soon after the battle of Shiloh, but was soon discharged on account of ill health; since then he has farmed very successfully.  In 1867 he was elected deputy sheriff and continued in that office until 1876, when he was elected sheriff, and held the office until 1880, when he was elector, from the Ninth Congressional District, of the Republican party, against T. E. Richardson, of the Democratic party of Dyer County, and G. B. Hisk, of Gibson County, for the Greenback party. August, 1882, he was elected trustee of the county and served one term; also made the canvass for Congress in 1882, with Rice and Pierce of Obion County, and was defeated by 4,700 votes, his opponent not carrying the party vote by 3,500.  In 1884 he was elected to the State Senate, from the Thirtieth Senatorial District I over W. B. Claybourne by 900 majority. Capt. Lyle married October 9, 1856, at Dancyville, Sarah V., daughter of Oliver and Elizabeth Alexander. They have had ten children: Addison A., Thomas O., Gray W., Susan Lillian, Lizzie D., W. Jesse, Willie N., Fred W., Otis and Ruth. Capt. Lyle is a self-made man; he has acquired his money and his education by his own efforts. He is a man of large influence in his county, is a Republican, a Master Mason a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and of the K. of H. and the A. 0. U. W.

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