"History of White County", Chapter VI

History of White County is a 1935 book by Reverend Monroe Seals.
==CHAPTER VI==
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 Teachers7 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 became 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 Churc11 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 Vander-bilt 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. He 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 Palestine
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 twenty-five 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, Teaxs.
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 Calfkiller jus 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 laregst 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. B., 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 Boiler 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 modern 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 P. 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 I860, 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 granddaugher, 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. He 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. He 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 he 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 case 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 but he has
specialized in nervous diseases and for many years was at the head 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, Pea-body 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-Kay
machine between Knoxville and Nashvile. 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 eases, 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
Tennesse. 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. H. 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 physian 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 owner, merchant, was born at Fancher's Mill and
has spent most of his life in White Comity. 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 throuhgout 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
Chatauqua 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. H. 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 Two-Seed-in-the-Spirit Baptist preacher now
living in the County.
Virgil McBride was born and rearerd 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.
Category:"History of White County"
Category:Texts