Submitted by Eddy Clark. Page created by Jane Norton Powell
Rev. Oliver P. Parker, a prominent Methodist Episcopal divine of Gibson
County, Tenn., is a
son of William and Jemima (Sanders) Parker, who were born, reared and
married in Virginia.
In 1812 they moved to Williamson County, Tenn., thence to Gibson County, in 1838. The father
was a farmer and Whig, and was a Primitive Baptist in faith. He was of Scotch-Irish descent,
and died in 1840. His wife, who was a Cumberland Presbyterian, resided on the old homestead
until 1844, when her death occurred. She was of English lineage. Our subject is a Williamson
County Tennessean, and was born on the 27th of May, 1824. His early educational
advantages
were limited, but on reaching manhood he attended school and acquired a good English
education. In 1843 he wedded Elizabeth James, who was born on the
3rdof April, 1825. To
them were born eleven children, of whom seven are living. Mrs. Parker and six of the children
belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. During the days of militia, Mr.
Parker held the
position of captain two years, and that of colonel six years. He was revenue collector four terms,
and filled the position of deputy sheriff. After his marriage he was for many years engaged in
the saddle-tree, tan-yard, boot and shoe and harness business, and at the same time managed a
farm. He was engaged in the mercantile business about four years, and as a business man has
been very successful, notwithstanding the loss of about $30,000 in bad debts. He has been a
minister since about thirty years of age, and is well known as a spicy public lecturer, some of his
most practical addresses being "Road to Success," "Hard Times," "The Force of Habit," and
other common sense topics, which have been very favorably received by the public. Although he
makes no pretense to classical scholarship, he is a vivid, forcible speaker, and one whom, when
heard, will not be forgotten.
Newton C. Patton, a prominent old resident of Trenton, Tenn., was born in
Bedford County,
May 27, 1820, son of William and Margaret Patton, natives of South Carolina.
Our subject was
brought to Carroll County when two years of age, and was there educated, and spent his early
life in farming. He began merchandising at Shady Grove in 1846, but in 1858 moved to
Dyersburg, where he followed the same business until 1866. Since that time he has resided in
Trenton, but has not followed merchandising since 1884. In 1848 he was married to Martha C.
Yancey, daughter of Charles L. and Martha A. Yancey. To
Mr. and Mrs. Patton were born five
sons and five daughters: Susan, James L., Frances M., William, Thomas N., Samuel C., Alice,
Mattie, Joe B. and Minnie. Mr. and Mrs. Patton are members of the
Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, and he is a Democrat, and of Irish descent. His sons, Thomas N. and Samuel C., are
dealers in stoves and tinware, at Trenton, and were born in Dyersburg, in 1860 and 1864
respectively. They were brought to Trenton when quite small, and were educated in that town.
Since 1885 they have been engaged in their present business, and are doing quite well
financially. Thomas N. was married, January 16, 1886, to Emma Mitchell.
Both young men are
members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and are Democrats in politics.
William L. Paris is a son of John and Nancy (Morris)
Paris, who were born in South Carolina
in 1794 and 1798 respectively. After their marriage they lived about sixteen years in South
Carolina, and in 1842 came to Gibson County, Tenn. Both were members of the Missionary
Baptist Church, and became the parents of seven children. The father was a Democrat and
farmer, and died in 1846, leaving a wife and six small children with a very small competency.
They fought the battle of life as best they could until the children were grown: then the mother
made her home with her son, William, and died at his home in 1866. Mr. Paris,
our subject,
inherits Dutch and English blood from his father, and English blood from his mother. He was
born in Spartinburgh County, N. C., June 8, 1833, and when only thirteen years of age his father
died, and he was obliged to assist in supporting the family, consequently his school days only
amounted to about six months. In 1858 he married Margaret E. Chandler, who
was born in
Gibson County on the 9th of April, 1834, and their union resulted in the birth of
seven children.
Only one is now living - James A., who married Ada B. Hudson, and is farming
in the
neighborhood. The family are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and our subject is a
Democrat in politics. In 1862 he joined Carroll's company of cavalry, under Forest, and served
about three years. Since the war he has worked at farming, grist-milling and carpentering, and
now owns 108 acres of land. His son owns forty acres.
Thomas. T. Parr, sheriff and native of Gibson County, Tenn., was born on
the 16th of August,
1844, son of John A. and Martha (Jones) Parr, both of whom were born in
Wake County, N. C.
The father came to Tennessee in 1839 and located first in Madison County, and in 1840 in
Gibson County, where he followed farming until his death, which occurred when Thomas J. was
one year old. The mother survived him until December, 1877. Thomas J.
Parrspent his early
days on a farm and secured a common school education. In 1863 he enlisted in Capt. William
Gay's company, Col. R. M. Russell's regiment of cavalry,
and served until the surrender. He
then began clerking in Trenton, and continued until 1872, when he engaged in the mercantile
business here for himself. In 1878 he was elected constable and served faithfully in this office
until 1884, when in August of the same year he was elected sheriff of Gibson County, and has
discharged the duties of this office very satisfactorily to the present time. May 1, 1872, Mr. Parr
married Mary R. Torance, a native of Mississippi. They have five children:
Willie T., Annie R.,
Abdul, John Hess and Tommie, a daughter. Mr. Parr is a stanch Democrat in
politics and a
Mason and a member of the I. 0. 0. F., K. of P. and A. 0. U. W. fraternities.
Henry Clay Pearce, a prominent and well known citizen of Trenton, Tenn.,
was born in Carroll
County, November 5, 1842, son of Stokley D. and Mary (Killough) Pearce,
natives,
respectively, of North Carolina and Tennessee. They were married in Middle Tennessee and in
1821 removed to Carroll County, where he followed farming until his death, in 1856. He was
originally a hatter by trade, but never followed that business in West Tennessee. Henry Clay
removed to this county in 1856 and lived with his brother, his mother having died when he was
an infant. In 1857 he came to Trenton with his brother, John K., and assisted him in conducting
the Union Hall Hotel until the war. In May, 1861, he enlisted in Company F, Fourth Regiment,
Tennessee Infantry, Confederate States Army, and served as a private until the cessation of
hostilities. He then clerked in a mercantile establishment in Trenton until 1872, and then began
keeping a grocery, continuing until 1876. He then acted as deputy county court clerk from 1878
to 1882. From 1876 until 1882 he was magistrate of his district. Since the latter date he has
lived a comparatively retired life, having traded somewhat in real estate and devoted part of his
attention to farming interests. November 15, 1870, he married Sarah A.
Williams, of Gibson
County. They have seven children, three sons and four daughters. Mr. Pearce is a Democrat, a
member of the K. of P., and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church. He has been
secretary of the County Fair Association for three years.
W. C. Penn was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., July 24, 1828, being:
the oldest son of a
family of four boys and four girls born to Josiah and Ruth (Broughton) Penn,
natives,
respectively, of Virginia and South Carolina. The father was a farmer and came to Smith
County, Tenn., in boyhood and later located in Rutherford County, where he married about the
year 1824. In 1834 he moved to near Humboldt, Gibson County. Here he died in 1855, well
respected. He was a Whig and a man of pious convictions. His wife was a member of the
Presbyterian Church, and died in 1883. W. C. Penn was raised a farmer,
securing a meager
education, and in his fifteenth year began clerking for B. Elder, Bro. & Co., at Trenton,
where he
remained seven or eight years. He worked at Memphis and Jackson, and in 1861 enlisted in the
Sixth (Confederate) Tennessee Regiment, and was honored with a captain's commission. After
the battle of Shiloh he entered the cavalry service to do scout duty. He participated at
Hatchie
River, where he received four gun-shot and four saber wounds and was captured by the
enemy. He was paroled and confined in Northern prisons and was exchanged in April,
1863,
and during the rest of the war was with Gen. Forrest. He fought at Brice Cross Roads,
Athens,
Pulaski and elsewhere, and in April, 1865, left the service and began clerking in
Humboldt,
continuing two years. He then served a Cincinnati wholesale house seven years, and in 1876
opened his dry goods store at Humboldt, and has thus continued since. In 1885 he was
appointed postmaster at Humboldt. In October, 1862, he married Miss Texie
Boyce, who died
one mouth later. In August, 1872, he married Miss Olivia Jackson, of Ripley,
who has borne
four children --- Claude (deceased), Olivia, Myra and William. His second wife having died, he
married his present wife, Miss E. E. Williams, in December, 1883, who has
borne her husband
one child, a daughter, named Cora Pearl. Mr. Penn is one of the leading citizens of the
county.
J. W. Penn, M. D., was born in Gibson County August 31, 1836, the third son born to Josiah Penn (see sketch of W. C. Penn). He received an academic education, and at the age of twenty began reading medicine with Dr. C. T. Love. At the end of twelve months he went to Smyrna, Tenn., and read with J. W. Davis, M. D. until November, 1857, when he entered the medical department of the University of Nashville, graduating from the same in February, 1859. He remained with Dr. Davis during his vacations and after graduating began practicing his profession at his former borne, and is now one of the leading, if not the leading, medical practitioner of Gibson County, and is vice-president of the State Medical Society. May 17, 1860, he married Miss C. H. Stilwell, of Humboldt, who was born September 4, 1838, near Florence, Ala., daughter of Dr. W. H. Stilwell. Seven children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Penn: James C., Ruth, George W. (M. D.), Florence, Bessie, Benjamin and Mattie Lou. Mrs. Penn died October 15, 1881. She was an accomplished and highly educated lady, a writer of some note and a fine musician. Dr. Penn married Mary A. Stilwell, a sister of his first wife, March 2, 1883. She was born February 16, 1844. Both are members of the Presbyterian Church.
E. D. Peete, M. D., is a native of Tipton County, Tenn., born August 11,
1847, son of Dr. John
S. and Ann E. (Whitley) Peete, who were born in Virginia and North Carolina,
respectively. Dr.
John S. Peete was reared in his native State, and in early manhood came to Tennessee, having
graduated in medicine at Jefferson College, Philadelphia, Penn. In 1843 or 1844 he located in
Tipton County, where he practiced medicine for some time, and then turned his attention to
farming. He was a Whig and Mason, and died in 1878, of yellow fever. His
wife died in 1876.
They were the parents of eleven children, our subject being the second. He was reared on a
farm, and began a college course in Toronto, Canada, and remained there three years. He entered
the Louisville (Ky.) University in the fall of 1869, and graduated from the same in March, 1871.
He practiced near Clarendon, Ark., until the fall of 1874, when he located in Tipton County,
Tenn., where he practiced and gave some attention to farming. In January, 1877, he removed to
Humboldt, where he has now a large and lucrative practice. He is an efficient surgeon and
stands near the front in his profession. He is a member of the K. of H. and K. & L. of H.,
and
was married March 5, 1872, to Jennie M. Morris, youngest daughter of Edwin
Morris, of
Louisville, Ky. She was born July 23, 1852. Their children are Emma, Edwin M. and Hattie M.
The Doctor and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Francis M. Pipkin, merchant, of Yorkville, Tenn., is a native of the State,
born in 1840, son of
Steward and Louisa (Wade) Pipkin. The father was born in Tennessee and
immigrated to
Kentucky, where he married Miss Wade, who was a native of that State. He
was a farmer and
carpenter, and was an old Mexican war veteran. He moved to Missouri in
1843, where his wife
died, leaving him five children to care for. He shortly after married Mary
Warren, by whom he
had three children. While returning to Tennessee in 1852 he died on the journey in Graves
County, Ky. Francis M. was left fatherless at the early age of eleven years. He made his home
with his uncle and grandfather about two years, and then came to Madison County, Tenn., where
he lived with Thomas Harroll one year. He then went to Missouri and there
resided, with the
exception of a few months spent in Tennessee, until the breaking out of the war, when he
enlisted in Capt. Hart's battery, Confederate States Army, and after one year's
service came to
Tennessee and began working on the farm. In 1863 he married Delphina
Pipkin, daughter of
Philip and Mary A. (White) Pipkin. She was born in Maury County, Tenn., in
1840, and
became he mother of seven children, four of whom are dead. She died in 1880. In 1878 he
located in Yorkville, where he is engaged in mercantile pursuits, being very prosperous in the
same. He is entirely self-educated and is a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W. He is of
Irish lineage and is a Democrat in politics. In 1882 he married Eliza Willbanks,
daughter of
William and Kittie (Grimes) Willbanks. She was born in Tennessee in 1835,
and is the mother
of two children. She and Mr. Pipkin are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
J. M. Pratt is a son of William C. and Sarah (Moore)
Pratt, who were born in Orange County,
N.C., in 1799 and 18O7, respectively. They were married in 1826 and became the parents of ten
children. They removed to Carroll County, Tenn., in 1833, and about two years later came to
Gibson County, and here spent the remainder of their days. The father survived the mother
about five years. He was an old line Whig, and after coming to this county was a strong partisan
of the Democratic party. J. M. Pratt, our subject, is of English-Irish descent, and was born in
Orange County, N. C., November 30, 1831. He was reared on a farm and received only a partial
education in the common schools. He remained with his parents until his marriage, October 26,
1854, to Sarah V. Smith, who was born in Gibson County, and seven sons and three daughters
are the fruits of their union. James M., the eldest son, married Mollie
Carothers, and is
practicing medicine in Texas. Mr. Pratt was an old line Whig, but since the war has been a
Democrat. He and Mrs. Pratt are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He owns
225 acres of land, and in connection with farming was engaged in the lumber business for some
time. He is a good farmer and well esteemed by his fellow men.
George L. Pratt is a son of William C. and Sarah (Moore)
Pratt, who were born, reared and
married in North Carolina. To them were born nine children, five of whom lived to be grown.
They came to Tennessee in 1838, locating in Gibson County, where they followed farming until
their deaths, and became the owners of 660 acres of land. After the mother's death William Pratt
broke up housekeeping, and made his home with his son George until he died. George L. Pratt
was born in Orange County, N. C., October 11, 1827, was reared on a farm, and received a very
limited early education, owing to the demand for his services at home. He began farming for
himself at the age of twenty, and now has a farm of 135 acres. The year following his twentieth
birthday he married Margaret R. McAllister, who was born January 6, 1828,
Their marriage has
been blessed in the birth of seven sons and one daughter. All the family save one are members
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Their son, T. W. Pratt was born in
Gibson County,
Tenn., July 4, 1856, and his boyhood days were spent on his father's farm. His educational
advantages were limited, owing to the breaking out of the war, but after its close he attended the
home school and completed his education at Milan. He began studying medicine at the age of
nineteen under Dr. Hudson, of Gibson, County, and in 1876 entered the
Louisville Medical
College. The following year he practiced in his home neighborhood, and after taking his second
course of lectures graduated in 1879. He located in the Seventeenth District of Gibson County,
and owns 262 acres of land, the greater part of which he has earned by good management and
attention to business. He has an extensive practice and the entire confidence of the people. In
1880 he married Ada E. Smith, who was born in Gibson County, August 15,
1862. They have
three children: Gerda V., Verna G. and Ople. The Doctor is a Democrat.
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