Sam Scott, a well known farmer and stock raiser of the Eighth District, was born in White Qounty, January 24, 1822. He is the seventh child of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Milican) Scott, both of whom were natives of Tennessee. The father was born in 1784;
he was an extensive and prosperous farmer and stock raiser, and cultivated the second crop grown in White County. Although uneducated, he took great interest in the advancement of all educational enterprises. By industry and judicious management he accumulated considerable property; was worth at least $20,000. He died in 1852. The mother was born about 1786, and died in 1840. Our subject remained on the home farm until 1850, when he began farming for himself. In the spring of 1861 he entered the Confederate service, enlisting in the Sixteenth Tennessee Infantry, under command of Col. John H. Savage. He participated in the battle of Chickamauga; August, 1862, was discharged at Chattanooga, on account of his age. In 1863 he went out with Gen. John H. Morgan's cavalry. He fought at Charleston, Tenn.; was in a battle at Saulville, Va., while in G. G. Dibrell's command, in which he continued to the close of the war. He returned home and resumed his farming, and has met with unusual success. He is a liberal contributor to all charitable and educational enterprises, a valuable and esteemed citizen, and stanch Democrat. November 18, 1862, he married Francis, daughter of John and Mary (Scott) England. Twelve sons and one daughter were born to their union, all living but one.
Col. W. G. Smith, lawyer, of the firm of Snodgrass & Smiths was born in Granville County, N. C., September 25,
1828, a son of George C. and Martha (Gooch) Smith, the former of German-French ancestry and the latter of Welsh
descent. The father was born in Virginia in 1806, died at his son's, Dr. Henry P. Smith, whom he desired to have
treat him for dropsy of the heart. He died of pneumonia April, 1, 1875. The mother was born in North
Carolina, August, 10, 1809, and died in White County, December 24, 1881. The father, a tailor, was an apprentice
in the same shop with Andrew Johnson in Raleigh and Oxford, N. C. The parents were married near Oxford, May
10, 1826. In 1848 they began a five-years' residence in Rutherford County, and then came to McMinnville where
they were living at the time the father died. The mother then made her home with her son, Rev. J. D. Smith, who is
a popular minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Our subject, one of nine children, was educated in
the Oxford Academy of his native State; has been an extensive reader also. Preceding his parents a few months
to Tennessee, he came to Nashville where he worked at the gilder's trade, painting mirror frames for three
years. In 1853 he established a general store at McMinnville, but the following June lost the whole of his small
earnings. Beginning again he continued as salesman for four years, working for a firm at Increase. In 1857 be
came to White County and bought a stock of goods from James A. Hill, but in 1861 he left his business with a
brother, and became captain of Company C, Twenty-fifth Tennessee Infantry (Confederate), and afterward
lieutenant-colonel of the Eighty-fourth Tennessee Regiment Infantry, and took part in the battles of Shiloh,
Corinth, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, and from Dalton to Atlanta. After the war he returned home and resumed
his business at Cave, White County, and added the tanning business also. In 1866 he began the study of law
and was licensed a few years after, and since that time has been before the Sparta bar. After 1869 he was on
his farm in the Third District until 1886, wlien he came to Sparta. May 10, 1857, he married Amanda B.
Templeton, born in White County, Tenn., September 24, 1836. They have seven children, of whom W. T.
is a member of the law firm. Our subject is a Democrat, and he, his wife and four children are members of
the Christian Church.
T. W. Stewart, a well known farmer of the Third District of White County, was born March 3, 1843, in Person
County, N. C. When about seven years of age he immigrated to Tennessee with his mother and located in Hawkins
County, E. Tenn., and came to White County in 1859. His mother, Frances (Epps) Stewart, was of Dutch descent,
born in 1806, in Lunenburgh County, Va., and died in White County in 1867. The father, David S., was born about
1800, in North Carolina, where he died in 1844. His mother was an English lady, whose maiden name was
Drummond. Our subject was raised on a farm and educated in the country schools. At the age of eighteen he entered
the Confederate Army, Company I, Eighth Tennessee Cavalry. He served during the entire war. and was in
several of the most famous battles, but received no serious injury. After the restoration of peace and his return
home, he spent one session at school and then engaged in farming, to which occupation his attention has since
been given. He is one of the most substantial and enterprising agriculturists in the county and an esteemed citizen.
He is a Democrat. October 31, 1866, he married Martha M., daughter of William and Betsy Anderson. This
union resulted in the birth of William A., Elizabeth F., Lizzie Gertrude, Mary Lucinda, Lillian May, Martha Maranda,
Leonie and Joseph Wyatt.
W. F. Story, of Story Bros., lawyers, was born in Fentress County, December 20, 1846, the son of Noah W. and Catherine (Woolsey) Story, both of English ancestry. The paternal ancestors came over with William Penn, one of whom, Thomas Story, assisted in the colonization of Pennsylvania. The father, born in North Carolina, died in White County, Tenn., March 30, 1879. The mother, a native of Fentress County, died in White County, August 15, 1885. The father came from Fentress County to White County in 1865. He was a farmer and a member of the same church as his wife, the United Baptist Church. After completing a liberal education, our subject taught school for two years, and in 1872 he began the study of law under Col. Calms, of Sparta, with whom he became partner, after he had the same year secured a license to practice. In 1873 he established a firm of his own, since which time he has been practicing. In 1885 Gov. Bates appointed him to the newly created office of White County judge, to which he was elected in 1886. For the last twenty-seven years he has been associated with his younger brother, Ephraim, in their present very successful firm. April 3, 1878, our subject married Hattie E. Cole, a cultivated lady born at Elkhart, Ind., in 1847. Of their four children a son and daughter are living. He is a sound Democrat and he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
J. W. Taylor, a prominent manufacturer of jeans and woolen goods, and proprietor of a grist-mill, was born in September, (smudged) in White County, Tenn., of Irish descent. His father, Creed A. Taylor , as born about 1809, in Virginia, and immigrated to White County about 1818. His death occurred in 1857. The mother, Sarah (Walling) Taylor was born.about 1811 or 1812, a daughter of Joseph and Katie Walling. She died in 1866, while on a visit to relatives in Arkansas. Our subject was reared on a farm and educated in the County schools. After farming a short time he engaged in the grist-mill business in 1863, and has met with unusual success. He added wool-carding machines to his business. In 1876 he put in five looms, and several more since that time, until he now has ten, with a capacity of 250 yards per day. The mill has a fine central location; is on Calf Killer River, six miles south of Sparta; is known as the Tebo Woolen Mill. Mr. Taylor has between $17,000 and $18,000 invested and is doing an extensive and lucrative business. He is a self-made man, his possessions being the fruits of his own efforts and industry. His eldest son, Creed A., is a partner in the mill. In 1862 our subject married Miss Margret Smallman, a cousin of the distinguished Judge Smallman, of Warren County. To their union four sons and six daughters have been born. Previous to the war Mr. Taylor was a Whig, and is now a Democrat. He and his wife are consistent and esteemed members of the Christian Church.
J. H. Towles, a leading merchant of Onward, was born May 1, 1854, in Warren County, a son of John W. and Lucinda (Wilson) Towles. The father was born March 31, 1819, in Warren County, Tenn., where his father, Joseph Towles, a Virginian, emigrated in 1818. The mother was born November 4, 1824, and died in July, 1865. They are thought to have been of English descent. The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm and received a liberal education. About the time of. his majority, he engaged in the merchandise business in Smithville. October 20, 1875, he moved his stock to Towles' Mills, now known as Jesse. In 1879 he went to Cross Roads, Warren County, and remained until October 20, 1884, when he came to Onward, where he has been most successful. He was the first to build at this place, and has done much toward its improvement and advancement. Through his efforts the high school was established in 1886. He is a valuable and highly respected citizen, a member of the Christian Church, and a stanch Democrat. March 14, 1877, he married Miss Emma J., daughter of Christopher C. and Lavenia (Hudson) Zwingle, of Irish descent. To this union four children have been born: Mary E., Oliver J., Lavenia L. and Baxter Benton. Mrs. Towles is an earnest member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Wm. Turner, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of the Eighth District, was born in White County March 13, 1839, the third child of James and Ann (Lyda) Turner. The father was born about 1814, in Tennessee. He was a successful farmer of White County;
he died in 1840. The mother is of Dutch descent, born about 1816. She is an earnest and respected member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. At the age of nineteen our subject began farming on his own resources. In July, 1861, he entered the Confederate Army, Company E, Twenty-fifth Tennessee Infantry, under command of Col. S. S. Stanton. He took active part in the battles of Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Drury Bluff and Knoxville. April 2, 1865, he was captured and imprisoned at Johnson Island, Ohio,
and was retained till June 19. He returned home and resumed farming. In March, 1870, he was elected trustee of White County, and served two terms. In 1874 he again gave his attention to agriculture, stock and cattle raising, so continuing up to present date. He is a prosperous, energetic and universally respected man, and a stanch Democrat. March 26, 1872, he married Ann, daughter of W. B. and Jane (Simms) Cope, of White County. To this union three children have been born: James, born August 19, 1873, died August 4, 1880; Frank, born November 22, 1875; Mary, born December 31, 1877. Mr. Turner belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and his wife to the Cumberland Presbyterian.
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