This Official Site of The TNGenWeb and USGenWeb Projects is
Giles County, Tennessee
Tarpley Biographies
compiled and annotated by
Giles County, TNGenWeb Researcher Nancy B. Brown
See also and Abernathy Biographies
JOHN C. TARPLEY [of Lawrence County, Tennessee] was born in the "Old Dominion" November 21, 1804. His father was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and came to Tennessee in 1808, and for three years was a resident of Nashville [Davidson County], which then consisted of a few scattered log houses. A few houses marked the cities of Franklin [Williamson County] and Columbia [Maury County], and the city of Pulaski was an uninterrupted cane brake. Our subject is the fourth of twelve children of Alexander and Elizabeth (Abernathy) Tarpley, and is of English descent. The mother was a daughter of William Abernathy, a prominent citizen of Giles County, who lived a long and useful life. Our subject received a common school education, and by energy and economy is now the owner of 437 acres of land. He has been twice married, the first time to Temperance M. Stone, in 1827, daughter of Thomas Stone, of Virginia. Their children are as follows: William A., Elizabeth Agnes (Mrs. Robert Johnson), Catherine D. (Mrs. James Parks), Leonidas J., Sarah P. (Mrs. M.B. Harvey) and John R. Leonidas was killed at the battle of Perryville, and Benjamin M. at the battle of Shiloh, during the late war. Mr. Tarpley's marriage to Helen M. Black, in 1857, resulted in the birth of three children: Charles C., Thomas D. and Mary V. Mr. Tarpley is an old line Democrat, and is a man noted for his integrity and fair dealing. (Goodspeeds' History of Lawrence County, Tennessee, Biographies, Chicago, 1886)
NBB Notes: According to A.J. Abernathy's Branch of the Abernathy Family, Alexander TARPLEY married Catherine "Caty" ABERNATHY, not Elizabeth (who married Jonathan DRAKE). He names John Clayton Tarpley as one of their children. Their marriage has not yet been located. Alexander TARPLEY was still alive as late as 1850 when he appears on the Giles County Census, age 73, born in Virginia, with Henry TARPLEY, 35, Mary E., 10, and Philip Neely Tarpley, 3, all born in Tennessee, also in the household (District 8, p. 484, HH1097-1097 -- Charles C. ABERNATHY is in HH1096).
John C. TARPLEY, age 45, born VA, farmer, is in District 5, p. 373, HH82-82, with Temperance, 37, born Tennessee [sic], Benjamin M., 20, William 19 (both farmers), Agness E., 16, Catherine D., 14, James L., 12, Sarah P., 9, Thomas C., 5, John R., 1, all born in Tennessee, all students except Benjamin, Agness, and John R. Also in the household is Martha PERRY, 86, born in North Carolina. Helen M. was the widow of John BLACK based on the 1850 Giles County, Tennessee Census, District 4, page 384, HH13-13, farmer, age 30, with Helen, age 24, John F., 2, William R., 1, Ann E., 5 months, and John PHILLIPS, 20, laborer, all born in Tennessee.
In 1860, John C. TARPLEY is on the Giles County Census, Hammonds Store District, p. 192, HH1346-1320, age 55, Virginia, farmer, with Helen TARPLEY, age 36, Catherine D., 23, Leonadas [Leonidas] J., 21, Sarah P., 18, John R., 12, Mary V., 1, Charles C. 4/12, John F. Black, 12, William R. Black, 11, Ann E. Black, 10, Almetes Black, 9, George W. Black, 8, Martha T. Black, 7, and Andrew J. Black, 5, all born in Tennessee. Each of the Black children are shown with $1,380 real property value, and $2,026 personal property value.
See Lawrence County Goodspeed Biographies, Lawrence County, TNGenWeb for more Lawrence County biographies.
EPPERSON TARPLEY, Esq., wagon and carriage manufacturer, was born in 1846 in Giles County, and is of Irish descent, He attended the district schools, and afterward finished his education in Giles Academy, in Pulaski. He then engaged in agricultural pursuits, and continued this occupation until 1867, when he entered into his present business. He has been rather successful at this, and is doing a good business. In 1862 his marriage with Malissa A. Kellum was solemnized. She is the daughter of Thomas J. and Nancy J. Kellum, of Giles County. The marriage of our subject resulted in the birth of six children: Lizzie V., Silas E., Elwood L., Alice B., Guy and Earl. The family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in high standing. In 1868 Mr. Tarpley was elected magistrate of the Eighth District of Giles County, and still holds that position. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the F. & A. M. fraternity. His parents are Silas S. and Susan V. Tarpley, natives of Tennessee. (Goodspeed's History of Giles County, 1886)
NBB Notes: Silas TARPLEY is on the 1850 Giles County Census, District 8 HH 892-892, age 32, TN, with Nancy [sic] TARPLEY, 23, TN, and children Epherson [sic], age 6, and Leonidas, age 3, both also born in TN. In 1860, Nancy C. TARPLEY, 33, and Mary C. Tarpley, 3, both born in TN, are in the Giles County Pulaski District household (p. 110, HH271-241) of George EVERLY (67, born VA) and Polly, 57, TN (and other apparent children of theirs). Silas, Epperson and Leonidas have not yet been located. They are also missing in 1870, when Nancy TARPLEY, age 43, and Mary TARPLEY, age 18, are in the Giles District 6, Pulaski P.O. HH27-27 of John H. EVERLY, 28, TN, and Polly EVERLY, 67. (1880 not yet checked)
Return to
Index to Biographies
Histories and Biographies
Giles Co, TNGenWeb
Copyright 2000, 2001 TNGenNet, Inc. and submitter(s).
