Goodspeed's Henry County Biographies - M surnames
J. W. Mathis,
Esq., a resident of Henry, Tenn., was born April 1, 1842, in
this county. His father, Josiah Mathis, was a native of
Kentucky, and died in this county December 24, 1863. The mother
was a native of this State, and died about 1846. Our subject
remained on the farm assisting his father up to the time of the
latter’s death, when he assumed the responsibility of the family
till 1879, after which he engaged in agricultural pursuits for
himself. He was elected magistrate August, 1882, and at present
is occupying that position. December 28, 1869, he married L. A.
Wallace, of this county and the fruits of this union were six
children: Clark M., Mary H., John A., James J., Edward S. (who
died in 1882) and Emerson E. Mr. Mathis’ educational advantages,
owing to circumstances, were rather limited, but he has always
strongly advocated the cause and manifested a willingness to aid
all enterprises pertaining to the advancement of education. He
is a Mason, a member of the Agricultural Wheel, and a Republican
in politics.
G. T. Morris,
M. D., is a dealer in dry goods, ladies’ and gents’
furnishing goods, clothing, hats, caps, boots and shoes,
established his business March 13, 1886, in Paris. He
established a general store at Big Sandy, Benton County, in 1872
and carries a stock of $4,000 and does an annual business of
$12,000. He has a $10,000 stock at this place and does a leading
business. He was born at Camden, Tenn., January 30, 1851, and is
a son of W. P. Morris, an extensive merchant and prominent
citizen of Benton County. Our subject was reared in his native
town and received a practical academic education. He graduated
from the medical department of the university of Tennessee (now
Vanderbilt) in February, 1872, and immediately afterward engaged
in merchandising at Big Sandy and also engaged in practicing
medicine for six months. September 3, 1874, he married Blanch
Beasley, a daughter of Daniel E. Beasley, now a farmer of this
county. Four children were born to our subject and wife: Elbert
E., Granville T., Jr., Claudie L., and Minnie. Mr. Morris has
been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South since
thirteen years of age. He is a conservative Democrat in politics
and is one of the most successful and thrifty merchants in this
part of the State.
Dr. W. T.
McClarin, a successful practitioner at Elkhorn, Tenn., was
born at Carthage, Smith Co., Tenn., December 6, 1846; son of
Charles and N. (Bradley) McClarin. The father was a native of
the Emerald Isle born August 15, 1818, and came to America with
his parents when a youth, locating in Smith County. He died May
12, 1851. The mother was born in Sumner County, Tenn., in 1818
and is now residing with her son Dr. W. T. Our subject received
his education in the Smith County schools and afterward attended
Conyersville Academy, Henry County. He then entered the office
of Drs. Bradley & Bomar of that place and read medicine for two
years, after which he attended a course of lectures at the
medical department of the University of Nashville in 1865-66. In
1871 he married Laura Weldon, a native of Henry County, Tenn.,
born February 15, 1854, and the daughter of Dr. A. J. Weldon of
Paris Landing. To this union were born seven children: Charles
J., George C., William H., Henry B., Oswald Gross, Bertha L. and
Annie Myrtle. After completing his medical education Dr.
McClarin began practicing medicine and has continued that
business up to the present time with evident success, as his
many patients now living can testify. He is a member of the
Masonic fraternity and has been master of the lodge at Elkhorn
for some years. He is a K. of H. and a member of the Henry
County Medical Society and of the West Tennessee Medical
Association. He is a Democrat in politics and he and wife are
members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
T. C. McNeill,
proprietor of the drug and book store, established his present
business November 1, 1865, and has continued very successfully
to the present time, carrying a large stock and having one of
the best appearing stores of the kind in the State. He was born
December 9, 1830, in Carroll County, Tenn., and is a son of
William L. and Rachel (Clark) McNeill. The father was a native
of North Carolina, was married in that State and came to Carroll
County in the early settlement. He followed mercantile pursuits,
and died in Carroll County. Our subject received a fair
education at various schools, and at the age of thirteen began
clerking in the mercantile trade at Huntingdon. At the end of
five or six years he entered the literary department of the
University of Michigan, at Ann Harbor, and graduated from that
institution in 1857. He also graduated from the chemical and
pharmaceutical department of that university in 1858. He was
then professor of natural history in Andrew College, Trenton,
Tenn., one year, after which he attended one course of medical
lectures at Ann Harbor, and graduated from the University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (medical department), in 1860. After
practicing a short time he was made surgeon of Russell’s
Twentieth Regiment Tennessee Cavalry, and served until the
surrender. Returning from the war he continued practicing until
November 1, 1865, when he began his present business. February
22, 1862, he married Lucy E. Randle, of Trenton, Tenn. He is a
member of the Democratic party, and one of the county’s most
respected citizens.
N. W. McNeill,is a native of Carroll County, Tenn., born in November 1827.
His father was born in North Carolina and died in Tennessee
about 1836, after having lived here about ten years. His mother,
Rachel B. Clark, was a native of North Carolina. Our subject
remained on the farm until twenty-three years of age, when he
entered Kentucky Military Institute, and graduated in the year
1853. He then engaged in civil engineering, which he continued
up to the late war. He was also division engineer of the Memphis
branch of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. In September,
1863, he entered Russell’s regiment, Bell’s brigade, Company B,
and was first lieutenant of the same. He was neither captured
nor wounded during the time he was in the service. At the close
of the war he returned home and has been engaged successfully in
farming ever since. February 14, 1858, he married Bettie
Covington of Carroll County, who died in July, 1869, leaving one
child, Charley. Mr. McNeill in December, 1872, married Susie
Covington of Henry County. This union resulted in the birth of
two children: Addison Lee and Mattie Eva. Our subject is one of
the substantial men of Henry County, being worth about $20,000,
which sum he has amassed since the late war. Previous to the war
Mr. McNeill was an old line Whig, but is now a Democrat in
politics.
I.A.
McSwain, physician and farmer of the Eighteenth District,
was born where he now lives December, 1845, and is one of nine
children, three of whom are living, born to David and B.
(Randle) McSwain, both natives of North Carolina, the former
born in 1802 and the latter in 1807. The father was a farmer by
occupation, and magistrate of the Eighteenth District for about
twenty-five years, being well known throughout the county. He
died September 5, 1867. The mother is now living with her son,
Dr. I. A., and is seventy-nine years of age; is quite spry and
has reasonably good health. Our subject received his education
mostly at Bethel Academy, and when a young man read medicine
with Dr. Weldon, at Buchanan, for two years. He then entered the
medical department of the University of Louisville, where he
completed his studies in 1867. He then located at Buchanan and
has remained there ever since, with the exception of two years
that he spent at McKenzie. In 1868 he married Maggie, a native
of Henry County, born August 20, 1852, and the daughter of Isaac
and Jane Dale, and to this union were born seven children:
Willie, Eddie, Horace, Lillie, Prentice, Marvin and Rubie. In
connection with his professional work, the Doctor superintends
his fine farm and is succeeding well in both profession and
occupation. He is a member of the West Tennessee Medical
Association and the medical association of the county. He is a
Democrat in politics, a Mason, a Knight of Honor, and he and his
wife and both of the eldest children are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
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