GABRIEL MAUPIN is a native Virginian,
born September 7, 1810, and son of Blan and Sallie (Brown) Maupin, who
were born in the "Old Dominion" in 1770 and 1772, respectively. They
were married about 1790, and became the parents of five sons and five daughters,
our subject being the only one living. The family came to Tennessee
about 1811, and here the father died in 1829 and the mother in 1852.
Our subject has followed farming from boyhood, and in early life was engaged
in stock trading. He owns a farm of 500 acres on Duck River, also
some valuable property near Shelbyville. His business career has
made him well known throughout the county, and he is considered one of
its worthy citizens. He was married, September 1, 1844, to Miss Sallie
Hickerson, who was born January 2, 1820, daughter of Joseph and Nancy (Russeau)
Hickerson. Mrs. Maupin died July 27, 1884, having borne these children:
Nancy R., born September 5, 1846; Blan, born November 22, 1847, and died
September 7, 1884; Sarah Ann, born March 10, 1849; Joseph H., born August
21, 1851; Gabriel. born September 12, 1853, and died April 15, 1879; Thomas
H., born December 18, 1855; Marietta, born December 23, 1858, and Thornton
P., born December 23, 1861. Mr. Maupin is a member of the Methodist
Church, and is a life-long Democrat.
T. S. MAYES. James Mayes was
born about 1788 in Georgia and came to Tennessee in 1816. He married
Polly Sparks, who was a native of Georgia, and our subject was born to
them December 16, 1814. He resided on his parents' farm until twenty-one
years of age and then began farming on his own responsibility, and has
continued very successfully up to the present date. He served the
people of his district in the capacity of constable for six years, being
first elected in 1840, and in 1852 was elected to the same office for two
years. Since that time he has farmed exclusively and has accumulated
a good property through his own exertions. Anna Catner became his
wife, January 4, 1848, and this union has resulted in ten children, seven
of whom are living: Mary E. (Mrs. J. D. Blackwell), Eliza J. (Mrs. W. R.
Woodard), William W., John A., Martha A. (Mrs. J. A. Woodard), James L.
and Harriett F. Mr. Mayes is a man of great decision of character
and is strictly honest and exact in his business transactions. He and Mrs.
Mayes are members of the Christian Church and he supports the Democratic
party.
DR. THOMAS CHAPMAN McCRORY, an eminent
physician, was born in Bedford County, November 13, 1834, and is the son
of John and Annie (Wilson) McCrory. He is of Scotch-Irish extraction.
The father was born in Mechlenburg County, N. C., February 5, 1788, and
the mother in Georgia, October 11, 1791. They were married in Marshall
County, Tenn., and were the parents of twelve children. The father
died October 13, 1874, and the mother January 22, 1864. Our subject
had the advantage of a good common school education, and afterward read
medicine with Dr. Smith Bowlin. He then attended the Ohio Medical
College at Cincinnati and completed his studies, receiving his diploma
from the Medical University at Nashville, from which institution he graduated
in 1867. He enlisted in Company D, Second Tennessee Regiment,
Confederate States Army, and served as lieutenant of the regiment under
Col. (now Gov.) Bate. Dr. McCrory was made assistant surgeon, but
preferred a more active part and took his place in the regiment.
He participated in the battle of the first Manassas, Murfreesboro, Shiloh,
Chickamauga and the various battles between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
He was captured during Hood’s advance in Tennessee, and taken a prisoner
to Fort Delaware, where he remained until Lee’s surrender. Since
the war he has followed his chosen profession, and has at this time a very
large and lucrative practice. February 28, 1860, he wedded Miss Sallie
J. Knott, daughter of Iverson Knott. This union resulted in the birth
of eight children only three of whom are living: Thomas F., Eugene and
Alva. The Doctor is a Democrat and a Mason. Mrs. McCrory is a member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
JOHN A. McGILL is the oldest child
born to William and Mary (Gardner) McGill. (For particulars of parents
see sketch of William McGill). Our subject was born November 1,1841, and
had the advantage of a practical education in the common schools.
When the war broke out he enlisted in the Confederate Army in the Seventeenth
Tennessee, Regiment under Col. Newman, and participated in most of the
battles of the war. During the battle at Drury's Bluff he was wounded,
and this disabled him for service. He was given a furlough and went
to Alabama, where he remained one year. He then came back to Tennessee,
and in 1867 was married to Miss Mary E. Terry. To this union one
child was born, viz.: Ida I., born January 23, 1870. Mr. McGill and
family are consistent members of the Christian Church, and are one of the
leading families of the county.
THOMAS B. McGILL, son of W. McGill,
whose sketch appears in this work, was born December 15, 1848, in Bedford
County. He was reared on a farm and remained with his parents to
the age of eighteen. He then engaged as a clerk in a dry goods store
in Shelbyville till 1875. He then went to Nashville and clerked in
a wholesale dry goods store for about a year. He then traveled in
Kentucky for the Nashville Nursery one year. He then returned to
Shelbyville and dealt in live-stock, etc., till 1881, when he established
a mercantile trade in the Twenty-third District and secured the establishment
of the post office at Singleton, and held the office in connection with
his store three years. In September, 1883, he sold out and farmed
for one year. In December, 1885, in connection with James B. Green,
he opened the grocery and provision trade in Shelbyville, and the firm
does a thriving business. He was married, June 4, 1884, to Miss Kittie
Elliott, the result of this union being one son, Robert S. Mr. McGill
is a member of the Christian Church, and his wife is a member of Methodist
Episcopal Church South. Politically he is a Democrat. He is
one of the enterprising and respected citizens of Shelbyville.
WILLIAM McGILL, a prominent farmer
and stock raiser of Bedford County, was born May 14, 1820. He is
the son of James and Sallie (Parker) McGill. The father of our subject
was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1787, and at an early day immigrated with
his father to the United States and settled in Virginia, where he remained
several years. He then moved to Rutherford County, Tenn. He
was a soldier in the war of 1812, was in the battle of New Orleans.
He was married in 1816, and was the father of several children: Nancy,
William, Lucy, Elizabeth, Sallie, Priscilla and James. The father
died in 1860 and the mother in 1884. Our subject was reared on the
farm, educated in the country schools, and in 1840 was married to Miss
Mary Gardner. Eight children were the result of this union: John
A., Sarah J., Robert P., Thomas B., Franklin, Lewis Cass (who died September
28, 1874), Bedford and Tennessee. In 1874 Mr. McGill was elected
trustee of Bedford County, which office he held for two terms in a very
able manner. He is a member of the Christian Church, owns a fine
tract of land in the Twenty-third District. and is one of the representative
men of the county.
E. H. McGOWAN was born and reared
in Rutherford County, Tenn. His birth occurred September 26, 1842.
At the age of nineteen he entered the Confederate service, enlisting in
Company C, Twenty-third Tennessee Regiment, and served out his term of
enlistment (twelve months). From that time up to 1869 he farmed,
and then engaged in the merchandise business at Poplins' Cross Roads, where
he has done well, from a financial standpoint. November 8, 1863,
Nancy A. Crowell became his wife and the mother of nine children: Robert
F., Henry C., William C., Margaret J., Nancy F., Rebecca W., Florence,
Isabella and Eddie. Mrs. McGowan was born in 1844 and died August
30, 1885. Mr. McGowan is a Democrat and is a son of Samuel G. McGowan,
who was born in Tennessee, and who married Rebecca Halts. They died, respectively,
in 1853 and 1852.
DR. JOSEPH H. McGREW was born February
13, 1826, in Bedford County, Tenn., being the youngest of eleven children
of William McGrew. The father was a native of Kentucky, and when
young went to South Carolina, where he married Nancy Goodwin. In
1811 they came to Bedford County, where they lived and died, the father
being a farmer. The father's death occurred in 1852, and the mother's in
1860. Our subject was reared on a farm. When seventeen years
of age he came to Shelbyville, and began the study of medicine in 1844.
He attended lectures in Louisville in 1845-46, and in Philadelphia in 1846-47,
graduating in March, 1847. He then returned to Shelbyville, and has
since been engaged in the practice of medicine successfully. He was
married, in 1851, to Letitia Cannon, who bore him two children: James H.
and Samuel J. The wife died in 1857, and January 31, 1866, he was
married to Mary B. Evans. Himself and wife are members of the Missionary
Baptist Church. He is a member of the F. & A. M. and I. O. O.
F. fraternities. Politically he is a firm Republican. Dr. McGrew
is examining surgeon in the pension service, and ranks among the able practitioners
of the county. He is now practicing with his younger son, Samuel
J., who was born December 11, 1854. He (S. J.) studied medicine with
his father. He attended lectures in the University of Pennsylvania,
graduating in 1881, and has proven himself well-informed in his profession.
He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Politically he is
a Republican.
JAMES W. C. MITCHELL, a merchant
of the Twenty-fourth District of this county, was born January 29, 1842,
son of T. F. and Margaret (Binkley) Mitchell. The father was a native
of North Carolina, and in early life immigrated to Alabama and settled
in Huntsville, where he was married. He was the father of eleven
children: Sarah A. (deceased), John (deceased), Mary, Martha, James W.
C., Joseph (deceased), Robert H., Bates. Nancy, Logan and Elizabeth.
Joseph Mitchell was killed in the battle of Franklin and was buried at
Columbia. Our subject's father is still living at the advanced age
of eighty-six. James W. C. Mitchell was reared on the farm, given
an education in the country schools and when in his eighteenth year entered
the Confederate Army in the Thirty-seventh Tennessee Infantry; was in the
battles of Perryville, Chickamauga, Atlanta, Murfreesboro, Franklin and
others, and was wounded twice. After the war he came back to this
county and has since that time resided here. In 1873 Miss Catharine
Bomar became his wife. The results of this union were four children:
Oscar L., James W., Bibbie B. and one not named. In 1875 Mr. Mitchell
went into the mercantile business in the Twenty-fourth District, and in
1881 went into the distillery business at the same place, making about
sixty-five gallons of whisky per day, and is doing a $3,000 business.
ROBERT S. MONTGOMERY was born November
30, 1829, in South Carolina, and is a son of Thomas Montgomery, who was
born in 1808 and is of Irish parentage. He came to Tennessee in 1844,
locating near Palmetto and in 1854 erected a dwelling-house, in which our
subject now lives. Robert S. began to reside permanently in the State
in 1855, and the same year engaged in merchandise business with Samuel
Carpenter, continuing up to the date of the late war. After its close
they again resumed business and, in 1874, T. S. Montgomery purchased Mr.
Carpenter's interest, the style of the firm being then changed to Montgomery
Bros. In 1885 they sold out to J. O. Montgomery, a cousin.
March 13, 1855, he married Miss Susan Dysart, daughter of James P. and
Leah Dysart. To Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery were born eight children: Alice
E. (Mrs. J. F. Tillman), Mary (deceased), Jimmie (deceased), Thomas A.,
Lillie (wife of Dr. W. C. Ransom), Denny, Gertrude Inez and Robert H.
Mrs. Montgomery died April 19, 1881. He is a Republican and a strict
member of the Presbyterian Church.
T. S. MONTGOMERY was born March
80, 1848, in the "Palmetto State." At the age of fifteen he left
home and engaged in the dry goods business, clerking for his brother Robert
S. at Palmetto. He entered Union Academy at the end of eighteen months,
where he remained about ten months. He then returned and remained
with his brother until the war. At its close he again resumed his
clerkship and at the end of two years commenced farming. From 1868
to 1874 he was in the mercantile business at Farmington, but then returned
to Palmetto, and in 1885 he and his brother sold out to their cousin.
Since 1882 he has served as magistrate of his district. September
27, 1866, he wedded Magie L. Hagle, daughter of Peter and Esther Hagle.
They have five children: Flora Esther, T. Clarence, Ethel, Susie and Hoyle.
Mr. Montgomery is a Republican and a member of the United Presbyterian
Church.
CLEMENT J. MOODY, one of Bedford
County's prominent attorneys is a son of Samuel S. and Letitia (Cannon)
Moody. The father was born in Henry County, Tenn. He was a
minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church and was a member of the general
conference of 1844, when the churches divided and he adhered to the Methodist
Episcopal Church South. He was one of the most eminent ministers
of the church and for many years was presiding elder of this district conference.
He held very prominent positions in various places. His death occurred
May 7, 1868. The mother was a niece of Gov. Newton Cannon, and her
father was one of the most prominent pioneers of this county, and gave
the land whereon the town of Shelbyville was built. She died July
24, 1880. The subject of this sketch received a good early education,
graduating at the Centre College, Kentucky, in 1865. He then read
law in Shelbyville and in 1867 graduated in the law department of the Cumberland
University at Lebanon, Tenn. He was then admitted to the Bedford
County bar and has been justly successful in the profession, ranking among
the leading criminal lawyers of the State. He was married January
18, 1881, to Miss Sally C. M. Cannon, daughter of John T. Cannon, whose
sketch appears in this work. Mr. Moody and wife are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. Moody is a Royal Arch Mason and Past
Grand Master of the Shelbyville Lodge. Politically he is a firm Democrat,
and is one of the leading spirits in his party.
DR. GEORGE W. MOODY, a leading physician
of Shelbyville, was born November 5, 1848, being a son of Samuel S. Moody
(see sketch of C. J. Moody). He was reared with his parents to the
age of twenty-one, and had begun the study of medicine. In 1869 he
graduated in the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia. He then
located in Shelbyville, where he has met with justly deserved success in
the practice of his profession. He was married, March 16, 1861, to
Miss Georgie Strong, a native of this county. Her parents were from
northern Alabama, and her mother is the daughter of Gen. Moore, of Tullahoma,
Tenn. Dr. Moody's married life has been blessed in the birth of two
children, viz.: Winston G. and Samuel S. Himself and wife are members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he is steward and trustee
of the same. He is a member of the Medical Society of Tennessee,
a Democrat in politics, and is a worthy and highly respected citizen of
the county.
JOHN R. MOON, M. D., is the eldest
of seven children born to the union of Pleasant B. and Mary Ann Moon.
His birth occurred November 12, 1853. He received good educational
advantages, and attended the Unionville Academy. He began studying
medicine when quite young, and in October, 1876, entered a medical college,
from which he graduated in March, 1878. He practiced his chosen profession
about three years with average success, and in May, 1882, he located in
Poplin's Cross Roads, where he has since lived and established a good practice.
William U., born November 26, 1877; Bertha Erie, born January 6, 1880;
James P,. born November 1, 1881; John R., born September 1, 1883, and Mary
Myrtle, born May 29, 1885, are the children born to his union with Mattie
M. Dryden, which took place May 7, 1876. Dr. Moon and wife are members
in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and in his political
views he is a Republican.
Q. E. MORTON was born September
25, 1835, in Bedford County, Tenn., find is the son of Jacob and Annie
(Fisher) Morton. The father was born February 17, 1787, in North
Carolina, immigrated to Tennessee about 1814, and engaged in the blacksmith
trade. He was the first alderman of Shelbyville. The mother
was also a native of North Carolina, and her marriage to Jacob Morton,
September 12, 1815, resulted in the birth of fourteen children. Our
subject grew to manhood on the farm, and at the age of twenty began farming
for himself, and this he continued very successfully up to the time of
the late war. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate
Army, in the Twenty-third Tennessee Infantry, remaining but thirteen months
in the regular service, when he was appointed sutler of his regiment.
He was soon captured, and upon being released returned home and engaged
in agricultural pursuits, which he has continued up to the present time.
Previous to the war, in 1855, he wedded Nancy M. Jackson, of this county.
To them were born seven children: John J.; Martha E., wife of E. C. Barnes;
Mark J., a practicing physician of Center Grove, who was born September
8, 1864, and graduated from the medical department of the State University,
of Nashville. Prior to entering the university he had studied medicine
for three years. He has at present quite a good practice, which is
constantly increasing. The fourth child of our subject is Q. Emmet;
sixth, Rufus H., seventh Nannie R. and eighth James L. Mr. Morton is a
Republican, and he and wife are members of the Primitive Baptist Church.
He was elected magistrate in 1882, and this office he filled in a highly
satisfactory manner.
EDWARD A. MOSELEY, JR., farmer,
is a son of Thomas G. and Mary T. (Sikes) Moseley, and was born in Bedford
County, Tenn., February 17, 1850, of English and Welsh descent. The
father was born in Limestone County, Ala., December 13, 1824, and was married
December 16, 1846. To them were born nine children. Thomas
G. Moseley served in the commissary department of the Confederate Army
under Maj. James F. Cummings. He served one term in the Confederate
Legislature of Tennessee as a member of the House of Representatives.
He was a member of the Senate in the Thirty-ninth General Assembly representing
Bedford and Rutherford Counties. He was a Henry Clay Whig prior to
the war but has been fully identified with the Democratic party since that
time. Our subject's early days were spent on a farm and in attending
the common schools, after which he took a business and commercial course
in Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College at Nashville, Tenn.
June 80, 1869, he wedded Miss Mattie Thomas, born August 12, 1852, daughter
of William Thomas, born in 1807 and died in 1861, and Jane (McCrary) Thomas,
born in 1816 and died in 1882. To them were born the following interesting
family: Jesse T. L. P., Mary S., Maggie E., Janie T., Carrie Drue, Mattie
Louise and Bessie. Mr. Moseley is a Democrat and a member of the
Masonic fraternity. He and wife and three eldest daughters belong
to the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Moseley is the owner of 200
acres of land, and the most of his attention is given to raising Norman
and Clydesdale horses, of which he has many fine specimens.
GEORGE P. MUSE, farmer, was
born in Bedford County, Tenn., January 29, 1844, and is the son of Orville
and Malinda M. (Ross) Muse. His father was born in Virginia November
13, 1806, and his mother was born in South Carolina April 26, 1809. The
Muse family are among the early settlers of the State, coming here when
Tennessee was but a wilderness. Our subject lives on a farm adjoining
the one his grandfather settled on after immigrating to this State.
Our subject is the sixth in a family of ten children born to his parents.
He was reared on the farm and received a fair practical education.
He enlisted in the Second Regiment Tennessee Infantry, Confederate States
Army, under Col. (now Gov.) Bate, at the youthful age of sixteen, and served
throughout the entire war. He participated in the battles of first
Manassas, Shiloh and Richmond, Ky. He was severely wounded in the
latter engagement, captured and paroled within the Federal lines.
After recovering sufficiently he was taken to Camp Douglas, where he was
held three months and then exchanged. He then joined his regiment
in Tennessee. After this he was clerk in Cleburne's commissary department,
and was again captured while retreating from Dalton. He was held
in Rock Island, Ill., until near the close of the war. Since the
war our subject has served the public fourteen years; six years in the
capacity of constable, four years as sheriff and four years as deputy-sheriff.
November 8, 1866, he wedded Miss Mary J. Wright, of Bedford County, Tenn.,
and the daughter of Whitfield Wright. Their children are seven in
number -- four sons and three daughters. Mr. Muse has a fine farm
of 110 acres, and he is a Democrat, an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Honor and
a Royal Arcanum. Mrs. Muse and one son are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South.
WILL J. MUSE, clerk of the County
Court of Bedford County, was born December 5, 1844, near Shelbyville.
The Muse family originated in the United States from two brothers, James
and George Muse, who came from England to North Carolina. George
went to Virginia and James remained in North Carolina. Our subject
is a descendant of the latter. The father of Will J. was Jo C. Muse,
and the mother was Mary A. Muse, the parents being cousins. The father
was a farmer and mechanic, and was identified with the public interests
of this county. The maternal grandfather, John T. Muse, was, when
quite young, among the first settlers of this State. He was an able
minister of the Missionary Baptist Church, and founded the first church
of that denomination in this county. He died suddenly while in the
preparation of a sermon, having eloquently preached away a lifetime.
Will J. was reared on a farm and had limited educational advantages.
At the age of seventeen he entered Company B, of Turney's First Tennessee
and served throughout the war. He was promoted from a private to
the captaincy of his company. He received eleven wounds, three of
which were very serious. Returning from the army he attended school
three years and taught one year. For three years he then clerked
in a store. Subsequently he and a brother engaged in merchandising
till 1882. He was elected to his office in August, 1882, and has
filled it with general satisfaction to his constituents. He was married
in 1872 to Nannie Russell, the results of this union being two children:
Henry Kirk White and Georgie Awa. Both Mr. Muse and his wife are
members of the Missionary Baptist Church. He is a member of the I.
O. O. F. In politics he is a firm Democrat.