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Chapter VI - Biographies
(Of People Alive at Time Seals
Wrote)
In the preceding chapter we have given brief biographical
sketches of those now dead who have helped to make the history of White
County. The purpose in the present chapter is to give brief sketches of
those yet living who have had a part in the life of the County.
R. L. Jones was born near Peeled Chestnut and
received his early training at Onward Seminary. He taught school in
White County. Was Superintendent of Schools for the County, moved to
Chattanooga and became Superintendent of Schools for Hamilton County. He
was appointed State Superintendent of Public Instruction by Malcolm R.
Patterson; later he became President of Middle Tennessee State Teacher's
College and is now Superintendent of the City Schools of Memphis.
Charles Lee Lewis, author and educator, was born at Doyle March
7, 1886. He took his A. B. Degree at the University of Tennessee in
1906, his A. M. at Columbia University in 1911. From 1911 to 1916 he was
teacher of English in Robert College, Constantinople. In 1916 he was
appointed teacher of History and English at the United States Naval
Academy. In 1925 he became an associate professor in the same
institution. He is the author of Famous American Naval Officers, Life of
Matthew Fontaine Maury, Famous Old World Sea Fighters, and The Life of
Admiral Franklin Buchanan. He has also edited a number of books and been
a contributor to various magazines.
Dr. William Marcus Taylor, son of Joe W. Taylor, grandson of
Creed Taylor, and great grandson of William M. Taylor who moved from
Virginia to the Calfkiller Valley in 1800, was born at Cave in this
County. His wife was Miss Laura Wilson. Dr. Taylor and his wife spent
three years in Porto Rico as Superintendent of education and orphanage
work. He traveled in various mission fields for five years. For four
years he lived in New Orleans where he was pastor of Charles Avenue
Christian Church. For several years he was pastor of All Souls Unitarian
Church of Chattanooga. Dr. Taylor was pastor for seven years of one of
the Christian Churches in Chattanooga. Dr. Taylor is the author of
twenty-three books on psychological subjects.
J. B. Hill was born in Spencer on November 14, 1878. He received
his early education in the public schools of White County and later
graduated from George Peabody College for Teachers at Nashville. In
August, 1898, he began his railroad career as a clerk and telegraph
operator at Sparta. His rise from that time has been steady. During the
war when the railroads were under the Government supervision, Mr. Hill
was elected chief clerk to the Federal manager of the Nashville,
Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad. When the war was over, he was
appointed chief clerk in the office of Whitford R. Cole, president of
the road. In 1926 Mr. Hill became President of the Nashville,
Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad. He has recently been made President
of the Louisville and Nashville.
S. Houston Proffitt was born in Putnam County. He was educated at
Doyle and Spencer. He taught at Ver-del Normal School and other places
in this County and at Cookeville. He was County Superintendent of White
County for a number of years. He has been President of the State
Teachers' Association and is now teaching in Chattanooga. He has
published one volume of poems.
Dr. W. J. Breeding was born in White County and as a young man
taught school. After his graduation in medicine he be. came a company
doctor for the Bon Air Coal & Iron Company. Later, for a great many
years, he had an extensive practice in upper Calfkiller Valley where he
made his home. He was a public spirited citizen, member of the White
County School Board, and identified with nearly every progressive
movement in the County. During the World War he was a medical examiner
to the White County Draft Board. For a number of years he has been
connected with the State Health Department with residence in Nashville.
Robert Paine Hudson, born in White County, is the author of four
volumes. He has written some delightful poetry. He has a degree of
Doctor of Literature.
J. D. Gunn now living in Nashville, Tennessee, was
born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but he came to Sparta in early manhood and
became pastor of the Church of Christ. He was identified with many of
the enterprises of the County and was for many years Chairman of the
White County High School Board. He is an evangelist of great power.
H. Leo Boles was born at Gainesboro, February 22, 1874, but he
grew up in this County on Cherry Creek. He was educated in the schools
of this County and at Burritt College. He is a member of the
International Council of Religious Education and the Editor in Chief of
the Sunday School literature for the Churches of Christ series. He is
one of the Editors of the Gospel Advocate. He holds a Master's Degree
from Vanderbilt University. For more than a quarter of a century he has
been identified with David Lipscomb College, first as a teacher and then
as President. He has also done evangelistic work over a wide territory.
E. G. Rogers was born at Doyle. He was educated in the school at
Doyle, White County High School, and Middle Tennessee Teachers College.
While he was a student at White County High School he distinguished
himself as a hard student, finishing the four-year course in three
years, the honor man in his class. He is now principal of the High
School at Chapel Hill, Tennessee. Mr. Rogers has published one volume of
poetry which deals mainly with White County.
William Martin Young, son of Martin Young, was born in Sparta and
received his training in the Sparta City School and White County High
School. He received part of his training in music in Chicago and is an
accomplished musician. He is now connected with the National
Broadcasting Company in New York.
Earl Lollar, son of John I. Lollar, was born in Sparta, and
received his early training in Sparta City School and White County High
School, from which institution he entered the College of Arts and
Sciences in Vanderbilt University taking the degrees of B. S., M. S.,
and Ph. D. from that institution, practically working his own way
through all the years he was there. From Vanderbilt he went as an
instructor in Leland Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.
H. G. Hill began his business career in Sparta,
later moving to Nashville and establishing the H. G. Hill chain
stores. He is one of the most successful chain store operators in the
South.
Bud Robinson, nationally known evangelist, brother of J. J.
Robinson who still lives in this County, was born on a farm, twelve
miles north of Sparta, January 27, 1860. He went to Texas in 1876 and
worked for four years on a ranch. He was converted under an
old-fashioned Methodist circuit rider in 1880 and began preaching soon
after that. In his autobiography he gives much valuable information
about the White County of his boyhood. He is the author of thirteen
books, more than half a million copies of which have been sold. He has
aided more than sixty young men in their education for the ministry. He
personally supports three missionaries on the foreign fields. Bud
Robinson has conducted evangelistic campaigns all over the United
States. In a personal letter to the writer he says, ''Well, I can thank
God for ever being born in White County,
Tennessee. It is a great county and filled with the finest people in the
United States. White County has produced as many fine preachers and
school teachers as any rural county in the" nation. They have gone out
from those beautiful hills to bless the world; may their tribe increase.
In love to all the old White County boys and girls, I desire to meet
them one and all in Heaven at the great marriage supper of the lamb.''
Q. M. Smith though not born in White County has an intimate
connection with White County. He was for four years teacher of science
in White County High School and he married Miss Esmeralda Robinson, a
Sparta Girl, daughter of R. E. Robinson, a leader at the Sparta Bar. As
President of Tennessee Polytechnic Institute he has had the training of
a great many young people from White County.
William Harold Sims was born and reared in White County. He was a
broadcaster over Radio Station WSM, accepting a job in the Congressional
Building at Washington, was promoted to House Police, then promoted to
the same office in the Senate Building. At his spare time he took a
course at George Washington University and is now Secretary to the
American Consul in Bridgetown, British West Indies.
Mrs. Minnie Allison Welch, widow of the late J. M.
Welch, was one of the organizers of the W. C. T.
U. in White County and for a long time its President. For many years now
she has been State President of the W. C. T. U. and has appeared on the
program a number of times at the National Convention of that
organization. She is now living in Chattanooga.
Hon. Tom Findley, an orphan boy born in Virginia, practiced law
for several years in Cookeville. In the World War he was a staff
officer. He is now a prominent lawyer in Lebanon, Tennessee.
Howard Sutton, son of Frank Sutton was born in Sparta and
received his early training here. While pursuing his university work he
won a scholarship to one of the great French Universities and studied
for a while in France. Be is now a member of the faculty of Brown
University, Providence, Rhode Island, as a teacher in the Department of
Romance Languages.
Rev. B. B. Pennington, son of Jasper Pennington is one of the
most brilliant young men in Southern Methodism. He has held the largest
churches in the Tennessee Conference. Only recently he returned from a
study tour of Philistine and the Near East.
Fred Sperry, who lives now in Chattanooga, represented White
County one term in the State Legislature.
Creed Shockley was the first Superintendent of the State
Agricultural and Training School for Negroes, near Pikeville. He was
succeeded by another White Countian, William Mitchell, who still holds
the position.
Oliver Anderson, who later built and operated a railroad and some
great lumber mills, bought the first automobile ever brought to White
County. He made money charging twentyfive cents a passenger for a mile
ride out of town and back.
Thomas Passons, born in Hickory Valley, taught in White County
and in Texas, and is now Professor of English in Tennessee Polytechnic
Institute at Cookeville.
Rev. I. B. Keathley is a District Superintendent in the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
Joel Anderson practiced law for many years in Sparta and then
moved to Knoxville where he has been very successful.
Oscar McPeak, son of the late J. W. McPeak, stands high in the
firm of one of the largest corporation law firms in New York.
Dr. Edgar McPeak, brother of Oscar, is a successful doctor in Los
Angeles, California. Roy Bosson, owns and edits two newspapers in
California.
Miss Verla Hennessee, who was born and reared on Cherry Creek,
has made good as a teacher in two states.
Gerald King was the manager of one of the actresses in Paramount
Pictures in Hollywood for a few months and is now chief clerk of the
Savoy Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dr. Oliver Hill is a child specialist in Knoxville. He is a son
of the late L. D. Hill. He is held in the highest esteem in his
profession.
Dr. Lucius Hill, brother of Dr. Oliver Hill, is a leading
physician in San Antonio, Texas.
Frank Y. and Paul Hill, sons of the late L. D. Hill, are lawyers
in Laredo, Texas. Paul has been a member of the Texas Legislature. Both
were in the World War. Frank was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
for bravery under fire near Geneva, France.
Dr. Stanton and Iliff Marchbanks sons of the late Burt
Marchbanks, for more than fifty years a druggist in Sparta, are making
good, one as a doctor and the other as a druggist. D. Stanton Marchbanks
is a skin specialist in Chattanooga and Iliff is a leading druggist in
Cookeville.
John Bell, who was known in White County a few years ago as the
Boy Orator, is connected with the
circulation department of the Chattanooga Times. His wife was the former
Mrs. Will Little Kimsey.
J. M. Goodbar, an old White County boy, has the largest wholesale
shoe store in the South. He is in Memphis.
Three of the leading members of the firm of Murray Dibrell Shoe Company
were born and reared in White County. These are Byrd and Shade Murray
and Will Dibrell.
Joe Doyle, born and reared at Doyle, is a wholesale shoe merchant
in Knoxville. He is one of the men of whom Doyle is proud.
C. E. Snodgrass, a White Countian now living in Crossville, has
been a Criminal Court Judge, a member of Congress, and is now a member
of the Court of Appeals.
R. P. Webb, a White Countian, is a member of the firm of Foster,
Webb and Parks, the largest lithographing company in the South.
Who's Who in White County Today
The men and women whose names appear in this section are
some among those now living in this County who have made and are making
their contributions to the life of the County.
J. R. Tubb, Sr., was born in DeKalb County in 1852. His
grandfather, Colonel James Tubb, won his military title in the War of
1812, and was at one time the largest land owner and slave holder in
DeKalb County. His father, John B. Tubb, was a lawyer and at the time of
his death was Circuit Court Clerk of DeKalb County. Mr. Tubb came to
Sparta. in 1879 and engaged in the produce business, being the pioneer
in that business in this County. Mr. Tubb was the first in Tennessee to
buy poultry by the pound, Nashville and other places following his
example later. In 1890 he erected a roller mill at the West end of a dam
which he built across the Calf killer just above the bridge. Eight years
later he sold the machinery and established a spoke factory at the east
end of the dam. This factory is now run by steam and the largest spoke
factory in the world. There is probably no one in the County who has
been more prominent in opening up the resources of the County, buying
poultry, grain, and timber and giving employment to men, than has Mr.
Tubb. Mr. Tubb is a man of fine judgment and a blameless character. He
has been councilman, member of the Sparta School Board, and mayor of the
town. One of his son's, J. R., Jr., recently resigned as mayor of
Sparta, another is a doctor, another is president of one of our banks,
another a merchant, and also one engaged with his brother in the spoke
business.
H. N. Clouse, a native of White County; has been all his life
engaged in the lumber business, and is now the Southern representative
of the John I. Shafer Hardwood Co., one of the largest lumber companies
in the United States. He is a public spirited citizen and is at the
present time the President of the Civitan Club of Sparta, and member of
the City Council.
Franklin Wilhite was born on Cherry Creek and lived there for a
great many years. He now lives in Sparta. He is one of the largest
farmers and stockmen in White County. He and his son-in-law, Comer
Knowles, operate three big farms and deal in horses, mules and cattle on
a large scale.
James R. Hennessee was born in White County and has lived here
all his life. He has a. large farm and dairy herd, being one of the
largest burley tobacco growers in the County. He has held many offices
of trust in the County, having been Trustee of the County, high sheriff,
and now the postmaster of Sparta.
S. C. Dodson was born in White County and has spent his life in
the County. He has for a long time been prominently identified with the
farming and business interest of the County. He owns a large farm in
Stewart Cove and at one time owned the Sparta Roller Mill. He was for
eight years postmaster of Sparta and now represents this district in the
State Senate.
Beecher Hunter was born in Dry Valley, Putnam County, but came to
Sparta when he was a young man and engaged in business with his uncle,
J. L. Quarles. He was the first undertaker in White County. He is
still engaged in the undertaking business and general merchandise.
Dr. William M. Johnson was born and reared in White County. A
graduate of the University of the South, studied also at Johns Hopkins
University and Bellevue Hospital, New York. He was for a while the
company doctor at Bon Air. During the World War he was an officer in a
medical corps. He is now one of the most prominent surgeons in this
section of the State. He also does a large general practice. His wife
has for several years interested herself in locating the graves of
Revolutionary soldiers buried in White County and in other matters
connected with the Daughters of the American Revolution.
A. G. Dibrell, son of the late Frank Dibrell, was born at Sparta.
He graduated at Annapolis Naval Academy in 1902, and retired in 1933,
being Commander of a battle ship. He is now engaged in insurance and
real estate.
Mrs. Lucetta C. Sims. Mrs. Sims is a native White Countian. She
was the first woman member of the State Democratic Executive Committee
from White County.
Joe Fooshee was born on Cherry Creek and received his early
training at Cumberland Institute. He is a graduate of the University of
Tennessee. For eighteen years he was principal of the Dayton High School
at Dayton, Tennessee. He returned to White County and for a number of
years was principal of White County High School and is now a teacher in
that institution. His son, Malcolm Fooshee, was a Rhodes Scholar and
spent three years in Oxford, afterwards going to Japan and other
Oriental countries on business for his firm. He is now associated with
the John W. Davis law firm of New York City.
J. R. Lee was born near Pikeville and came to Sparta many years
ago and has been a large factor in the development of the modem Sparta.
He owns a large farm, saw mill, planing mill, and ice plant. For many
years his son-in-law, R. L. Fooshee, was in partnership with him in the
operation of the largest column mill in Tennessee. His sons built the
finest hotel ever built in Sparta. This hotel is now run by Will F. Lee.
W. E. Shockley was educated at Onward Seminary and Burritt
College. He has spent his life as a teacher in White and Van Buren
Counties. For a number of years he was a teacher in Burritt College. He
served White County as Superintendent of Public Instruction for two
terms. He lives now at Quebec and is still active.
E. L. Tyndale was born in Oxford, England, April 14, 1849. He was
educated in Somersetshire. He became a druggist. In October, 1871, he
came to New York City, remaining eight months, and then went to Chicago
where he engaged in the drug business. After a few years he returned to
England, married in Margate. He remained in England four years, then
returned to the United States, going first to San Antonio, Texas, where
he remained for three years, then back to Chicago where he remained
seven years, then to Beaumont, Texas, and finally to Sparta in 1903. He
has been an abstractor here for many years. In 1932 he won a place in
Who's Who in Genealogy, an organization which operates more or less in
every civilized country in the world. This was a deserved tribute to a
man whose labors have been prodigious.
George H. Hudson was born in White County in 1860, a descendent
of Abel Hudson, one of the first settlers of the County. Judge Hudson.
served eight years as County Judge of White County. He has long been one
of the prominent members of the Sparta Bar. He is the father of W. D.
Hudson, Mayor of Clarksville and member of the State Democratic
Executive Committee. His granddaughter, Isabel Ikard, little daughter of
Sally May and Orville Ikard, when eight years old wrote an eight line
poem. The little girl's father has a position in the legal department of
the Veteran's Administration.
R. L. Hill son of R. Hill was, born in Blue Spring Cove. He is
descended from some of the first settlers of White County. He owns a
large stock farm, hundreds of acres of valuable land, a coal mine, and
since the death of his father has been president of the First National
Bank. Mr. Hill has for many years been a moving spirit in the good roads
movement in White County and at present time is a member of the White
County Road
Commission.
Judge Harry Camp was born in White County. He was educated at
Onward Seminary and Burritt College and became a teacher in White
County, then editor of the Expositor, then a lawyer. He is now Judge of
the Criminal Court of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, and is a man who has a
very wide circle of friends. He is respected for his sterling worth. His
son, Scott, is a member of the State Legislature from White County. His
wife is the daughter of the late Scott Breeding, who for more than fifty
years was influential in White County as teacher, farmer, member of the
County Court, and man of large affairs. James and Scott, sons of Judge
Camp, are lawyers in Sparta.
E. E. Carter, a native White Countian, has done much for the
developing of the County. He has been a contractor, and has operated for
years a saw and planing mill in Sparta. He long represented the Third
District in the State Republican Executive Committee. He has served the
County as Chairman of the School Board and has been Mayor of Sparta.
W. F. Story, Jr., was born on the Story farm near Sparta. He was
educated in the Sparta schools and
attended the University of Tennessee and Middle Tennessee Teacher's
College from which institution he graduated. He was for four years
County Agricultural Agent of Warren County. While there he organized the
Cooperative Creamery and Canning Factory. He returned to Sparta as a
teacher in the city school for two years. He was for four years district
manager of the Modern Woodmen, a fraternal order. Be represented White
County one term in the State Legislature. He was one of forty-two who
voted to impeach Governor Horton, He introduced a bill in the
Legislature to develop Cove Creek before such a bill was introduced in
Congress. He is secretary and treasurer of the White County Federal Farm
Bureau.
Major William C. Grimshaw was born in England. Be has been a
soldier by profession and has fought in the armies of many nations. He.
served in our army with distinction in the World War and on several
occasions was entrusted with important missions. He came to Sparta soon
after the war ended and has lived here in retirement since. He has been
a world traveler and is a man of rare culture. He is a contributor to
some of the most exclusive magazines in the country. He writes both
verse and prose but some of his verse is most exquisite poetry.
Dr. A. F. Richards was born in White County and received his
early training at Onward Seminary and at Burritt College. He taught for
a few, years and then went to the University of Nashville from which he
graduated in medicine. He has done post-graduate work at the University
of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins, and Tulane. During the World War be
served in the army medical corps in the department of medicine known as
Opthalmia. He was a medical examiner for the White County Draft Board in
the early days of the war. Dr. Richards also had a son, Frank Argo, in
the service, the only ease in White County of a father and son both
being in the service. Frank Argo Richards is now T. E. R. A.
Administrator for White County. Dr. Richards served for a number of
years in the state public health service. He now practices his
profession in Sparta.
Dr. R. E. L. Smith was born in White County and received his
early training in Onward Seminary. He has had a large practice in
general medicine hut he has specialized in nervous diseases and for many
years was at the bead of the Eastern State Hospital at Knoxville. He now
lives on his farm near Doyle and does a general practice.
Rev. Paul E. Doran, for three years head of the Department of
History in Duncan School, Nashville, two years assistant in English at
Vanderbilt, one year Instructor in English in Cumberland University,
three years Principal of White County High School, is now Supervisor of
Cumberland Mountain Presbytery, famous as one of the Presbyteries under
the direction of Dr. Warren H. Wilson. He was educated at the E. W.
Grove School, Cumberland University, Vanderbilt University, Peabody
College, and the University of Chicago. He was the pastor of the first
Larger Parish organized in the South. In 1928 he was sent by the
National Headquarters of his Church to make a study of church
administration in Great Britain and Ireland and on the Continent and to
present the result of his studies in a book on Church Administration. He
was invited to speak at the Irish Assembly in Belfast on, "Prohibition
in the United States." He spoke also that year at the International
Congress on Stewardship in Glasgow, and at the Edinburgh Minister's
meeting in St. George's Hall on the "Budget Plan of Church Finance in
the United States.'' He has twice been on the program as a
speaker at the Presbyterian General Assembly in this country.
Dr. S. E. Gaines is a graduate of the University
of Nashville and has perhaps a longer continuous record as a practicing
physician than any other doctor in White County now in practice. His
hobby is his farm to which he gives much attention. His wife is
prominent in music circles in Sparta and in the work of the church. She
was the first President of the Parent-Teachers' Association in Sparta.
He was a medical examiner to the White County Draft Board during the
war. Recently he was President of the Upper Cumberland Medical Society.
Dr. E. B. Clark was born in White County from pioneer stock. He
began his career as company doctor at Bon Air. He has what is said to be
the best X-Ray machine between Knoxville and Nashville. He has a large
general practice besides being County Health Officer for White County.
Dr. J. C. Blankenship, who is a surgeon as well as a physician, is
associated with Dr. Clark. He, also, is a White Countian.
Malcolm C. Hill, youngest son of the late L. D. Hill, was born
and reared in Sparta. He is a graduate of White County High School and
Vanderbilt University Law School. He studied also at the University of
Tennessee. Until his father's death he was associated with his father in
the practice of law at the Sparta Bar. Since that time he has practiced
alone, occupying a suite of rooms over the Commerce Union Bank. He is a
veteran of the World War, and was wounded in action. He is a member of
the Civitan Club, was once District Governor of the Civitans, and one of
the promising young lawyers of this section of the State. He is Chairman
of the County Democratic Executive Committee. His wife was formerly Miss
Rebecca Boone Lacy, a very
efficient teacher of English in White County High School, prior to her
marriage.
Dr. E. G. Sullivan practiced in the northern part
of the County for many years and was recognized as an able physician of
the old school. He served in the Confederate Army. After his health
failed he moved to Sparta and was a member of the Board of Directors of
the First National Bank for many years. He and Mrs. Sullivan had two
children, Dr. Bayard Sullivan of California and Mrs. C. T. Mayberry of
Sparta. Both Dr. and Mrs. Sullivan have died within the past few years.
W. W. Hull, a Canadian, with his family located in Sparta in 1877
and established a tin shop which operated for about thirty years,
selling to his son, E. H. Hull, but continued with the business for some
years before retiring. He was one of the best mechanics Sparta ever had
and was an enterprising citizen, always interested in the upbuilding of
the town, especially the establishing of the Dibrell Normal School. He
died at the age of 76.
Ernest Hull, the Hull of the Mayberry and Hull Hardware Company
was raised in the tin-shop of his father, W. W. Hull, whom he bought out
some thirty years ago and continued the business about ten years when he
went into the hardware business with C. T. Mayberry. Mr. Hull is a
Civitan and a Methodist, and has acted as local correspondent of the
Nashville Banner for the past forty years. He was married in 1896 to
Miss Lizzie Cannon of Shelbyville. They have one daughter, Mrs. Charles
Bostick.
Joe V. Williams, one of the outstanding lawyers of Tennessee, who
has made his home in Chattanooga for a number of years was reared in
Sparta and began the practice of law here. He frequently demonstrates
his loyalty to the "Old Home Town and County" by aiding in "putting
over" things for Sparta. and White County. His ability as an attorney is
much appreciated and frequently is retained in important cases,
originating in the local courts. He is now President of the State Bar
Association.
H. F. Srygley. Some of our foremost men of today
had their start in White County. Professor H. F. Srygley taught his
first school in White County, beginning at Quebeck in 1906. He is now
Superintendent of City Public Schools, Nashville, Tennessee. Professor
Srygley is one of the best loved and most honored citizens of Nashville
and valued highly in the educational life of Tennessee. He is now
President of the Middle Tennessee State Teachers' Association.
His keen intellect and broad vision have played a great part in the
marvelous school system now enjoyed by the city of Nashville, and it is
with great pride that White County has the distinction of having had him
teach his first school in our County.
Dr. J. B. Snodgrass, a native of White County, who was one of the
older and best known doctors within the recollection of the older
residents of the County at this time. He began the practice of medicine
in 1855 and served as a surgeon in the Confederate Army. He had the
reputation of having ridden more miles on horseback in his practice than
any other physician in the State. His ability as a physician was
recognized throughout this section of the State. His latter years after
retiring were spent in Nashville with his children.
Ray J. Clouse, a native White Countian, has devoted his life to
the lumber business, having made an extensive study of Southern woods
most suitable for the manufacture of furniture, and is now district
manager of the Southern Desk Company, who enjoys the distinction of
being the only factory in the South manufacturing a complete line of
school and church furniture. Much of the lumber they use comes from
White County and the hills of Tennessee. Mr. Clouse has offices in
Nashville.
Mal C. Wallace was born in Hickory Valley, the son of Stephen
Wallace. He is descended from pioneer stock. For seven years he was
Superintendent of Sparta City Schools. Under his administration the new
city school building was erected. At present he is connected with the
State Department of Finance and Taxation.
T. H. Fancher, mill and farm owner1 merchant, was
born at Fancher's Mill and has spent most of his life in White County.
He has been of great benefit to the farmers of the County in that he has
through his trading furnished them a ready market for their cattle and
hogs. He represented White County one term in the State Legislature.
Dr. E. C. Hawkins, who does a general medical practice throughout
the County, is a native Tennessean, but he came to Sparta from
Pennsylvania.
Dr. E. F. Richards, was born in White County and received his
early training in Burritt College. He graduated in Dentistry from
Vanderbilt University and began almost at once the practice of his
profession in Sparta. He has given freely of his time for the
advancement of Sparta. When Sparta had a Lyceum and Chautauqua Club, he
was one of its backers. He was one of the charter members of the Civitan
Club.
Dr. R. B. Thurman was born in McMinnville, but soon after his
graduation from dental college he moved to Sparta and has ever since
been connected with the things that make for the development of the
town. Of late years he has done much to develop the Sparta Band. He,
more than anyone else, perhaps, is responsible for its continued
existence.
Dr. G. J. Pemberton was born and reared in Scott County, but has
for several years been a dentist in Sparta. By his fine spirit he has
gained many friends in this County.
Rev. R. B. Brown, although now pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church of Cookeville, is really still identified with Sparta since he
has large business interests here. He is a native White Countian, a
product of Cumberland Institute, and of Cumberland University. He was a
teacher and preacher in White County before he went to the University.
He spent a number of years in West Tennessee and in California as a
pastor and then returned to Sparta to build the present Presbyterian
Church of which he was pastor for many years. Probably no other minister
in White County ever had the confidence of so many people.
W. C. Brown was born in Cannon County and came to Sparta when he
was twenty-seven years old. For
a number of years he was principal of the city schools. After leaving
the school room he engaged successfully in the retail grocery business.
He was one of the organizers of the Sparta unit of the Ragland-Potter
Wholesale Grocery Company and has since been the manager of the company.
He has long been prominent in the management of the County Fair and is
identified with other interests of the County. He was one of the charter
members of the Civitan Club. He is one of the best known and best liked
men in White County.
W. I. Jarvis was born at Mount Gilead. He married Miss Pearl
Owen, daughter of the late M. W. Owen. He is a farmer and road builder.
He has for many years been Road Supervisor of White County.
Bob Terry, now retired, was a large planter and stock raiser. In
pre-prohibition days he ran a distillery. For many years he was a member
of the County Court.
C. B. Johnson is County Superintendent of Schools for White
County.
Rogers Cope is a farmer, merchant and traveling salesman. He is a
member of the White County School Board and has served as its chairman.
Alex Moore is a successful farmer and is a member of the County
School Board.
Tom Scott is a fine young farmer and has recently been elected a
member of the County School Board.
James F. Erwin is one of the outstanding farmers in the County.
He owns a fine dairy herd. For ten years he was chairman of the White
County School Board. For thirty years he has been president of the
County Sunday School Convention.
Mrs. Stoey organized the Rock House Chapter, Daughters of the
American Revolution in 1930. The Regents since then have been Mrs. W. M.
Gilbert, Mrs. Herbert West, Mrs. J. T. Lee, and Mrs. E. H. Hull.
Immanuel Sorrell is descended from a long line of
worthy ancestors. He has reared in White County a fine family. He was
born in North Carolina.
Miss Edna Wallace is the efficient Register of White County, the
first woman to hold that office.
Thomas J. Walling was the first railroad station agent in White
County. He ran a store at Teters which was renamed Walling after him. He
later became a lumberman.
S. G. Butler is a valuable citizen and splendid lawyer. He served
one term as County Judge.
Wiley Steakely was a Confederate Scout. After the war he became a
lumberman and has been an important factor in the development of the
County.|
C. C. Geer is a young lawyer of promise at Sparta. His wife, the
former Alice Bigler, directs the Tennessee Emergency Relief
Administration schools of this district of Tennessee.
Rev. Ura A. Brogden was born in Hickory Valley. He was educated
at Maryville College and Cumberland University, and finished at Lane
Theological Seminary. He served three years as a Missionary in China. He
is now pastor of Hickory Valley Presbyterian Church.
Miss Minnie Moyers has been a teacher for over forty years, one
of the best the County ever produced.
I. B. Moore has been a teacher in the County for more than forty
years. He has been Chairman of the
County Democratic Committee and a member of the State Legislature. He is
no political trickster but an upright man.
Rev. Jerry Mulligan has for the period of a long lifetime been an
upright and influential citizen. He is the only TwoSeed-in-the-Spirit
Baptist preacher now living in the County.
Virgil McBride was born and reared near Sparta. For many years he
was a farmer and stock trader. He is now connected with the State
Highway Department as Supervisor of the District comprising the counties
of this section.
J. J. Robinson, the brother of Rev. Bud Robinson,
was a Confederate Scout. He is living in retirement at his home at
Robinson Chapel. He is the oldest Presbyterian Elder in Tennessee having
served his church continuously since 1865. He has been a member of the
General Assembly, the highest court in his church.
John Snodgrass, the son of the late Squire Dave Snodgrass, was
for several years a teacher in White County and is now Circuit Court
Clerk, having been elected again and again without opposition.
H. W. Andrews was born and reared in Wilson County and graduated
from Cumberland University. He succeeded C. M. Franklin as County Agent
in White County and has since identified himself with the progress of
the County. Under his direction much land has been terraced and other
soil improvement methods have been adopted. He was a charter member of
the Civitan Club. He has helped to promote the most successful county
fairs the County ever had and thousands of dollars have come into the
County as prizes awarded in the larger fairs, largely as a result of his
labors.
Miss Iva Benton was born in Carroll County in West Tennessee, was
educated at the University of Tennessee, and came to White County soon
after her graduation as Home Demonstration Agent. She succeeded Miss
Minnie Eldridge who was very popular here and who went to Texas as a
District Agent. Miss Benton has organized many clubs of women and girls
and has brought back many of the lost household arts in this section,
such as cheese making. She has helped promote the County Fair.
J. M. Taylor was born and reared in the old Bethlehem Community
near Doyle, and has for many years been the President of the Taylor and
Burrough Factory, manufacturer of men's clothing, now located at Doyle.
He is one of the most public spirited men in White County. For a great
many years he has been connected with our County Highway Department,
usually as President of the Road Board. He was largely responsible for
the location of the Broadway of America through Sparta and White County.
He has for many years given encouragement to every public enterprise in
the County.
White County has for several generations been furnishing
useful men and women in many callings to other sections. They are
scattered all the way from New York to San Francisco. It has not been
the intention here to name them all, but I have named those I happen to
know about.
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