Bradley County
Tennessee General Assembly
Page 4
| Purvine, Moses H. (1810-?) HOUSE, 27th General Assembly, 1847-49; exact date and place of birth, names of parents, and extent of schooling not determined. First married to Sarah who was living in 1860; second marriage to Mary A. E.; in neither case was found family name of wife, date and place of marriage, although his second wife listed in U. S. Census of 1870; eight children, the eldest of whom was born was born c. 1836 and the youngest c. 1868; names of children--John B., Joseph B., Susan, Robert C., Harry L., James K. P., Neill L.L.(daughter), and P. Thomas Purvine. Occupation when in legislature: farmer, and cabinet maker in 1st civil district of Bradley County. Delegate to following Democratic Conventions: congressional district convention, 1869, and to national convention same year; senatorial district convention and to convention for floterial district, 1878; to state convention, 1882. Member Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Date of death and place of burial not determined. Rann, Grover Russell (1905-1969) HOUSE, 81st, 82nd, and 83rd General Assemblies, 1959-65; representing Bradley and Polk Counties in 81st and 82nd, Bradley alone in 83rd; Democrat. Born in northern Georgia January 19, 1905; exact place of birth and names of parents not determined. Attended schools in Georgia. Married, date and place not given, to Pauline G. Shoenfield; seven children--Mrs.. John P. Dethro, Mrs. J. Doyle Mathews, Mrs. Nancy Bingham, Henrietta, Reba Jean, Pattie, and Grover Russell Rann, Jr. Described as a grocer, gas station operator, wholesale lumber business, farmer, and operator of sawmill; associated with Cavalier Corporation of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, for more that sixteen years; editor several years of Chattanooga Times outdoor page; entered lumber business at Cleveland, Bradley County; at time of death was coordinator of Tennessee State Industries; resided at McDonald, Bradley County. Member United Methodist Church; Fraternal Order of Police; Tennessee Conservation League; past president Bradley County Fox and Coon Hunters Association; Southeastern Fox Hunters Association; Cleveland Bears; Ruritan Club; Lions Club. Killed February 25, 1969, in traffic accident at Newport, Cocke County; buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Chattanooga. Richey, Eli (1795-1857) HOUSE, 31st General Assembly, 1855-57; representing Bradley County; Democrat. Born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina in1795; exact date of birth, names of parents, and extent of schooling not found. Married in Washington County in 1816 to Nancy Duncan, a native of that county. Eight children: John, Caroline, Elizabeth, and Emaline; names of others not found. Soon after marriage, moved to Blount County and in 1849, to Bradley County; described as a planter and a Presbyterian in belief but not a church member. Died in Bradley County May 25, 1857; place of burial not found. Rowles, George Warren (1808-1869) HOUSE, 24th and 32nd General Assembly; 1841-43; 1857-59; representing Bradley, McMinn, Monroe, and Polk Counties in 24th, Bradley along in 32nd; Democrat. Born at Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, October 6, 1808;son of William Penn and Margaret Elizabeth Rowles. Attended college at Harper's Ferry, then in Virginia but now in West Virginia; studied law and licensed to practice at Harper's Ferry. Married January 3, 1842, to Mary Adelicia Stout, daughter of Dr. Benjamin C. and Jame (Haselrigg) Stout; their eight children-- George Warren, Jane E., William R., James B., Oliver D., Mary R., and twins, Howard M. and Minerva M. Moved with family to Harper's Ferry while quite young; moved to Bradley County when it was first opened up; was one of first of two attorneys at Bradley County bar; during Civil War, took refuge first at Newman, Georgia, and later at Lafayette, Alabama, where he practiced law until end of war; opened office at Chattanooga, Hamilton County, but ill health prevented practice; removed to Ringgold, Georgia, to make home for remainder of life. Presidential elector, 1840, on Democratic ticket with Martin Van Buren; appointed, 1846, by Governor Aaron V. Brown, judge of 3rd Judicial Circuit to fill vacancy but defeated in next election; in same year appointed by Governor Brown quartermaster general of state troops, raised for was with Mexico, offered post of Assistant Secretary of the Treasury by President James Buchanan but refused to accept appointment because of "strong dislike for President"; delegate to Democratic National Convention, 1860, which met at Charleston, South Carolina but did not attend convention which met at Baltimore, Maryland, two months later. Member Presbyterian Church, Cleveland. Died at Ringgold, Georgia, November 24, 1869; buried in churchyard of Stone Church, Catoosa County, Georgia. Simpson, Jacob H. (1865-1936) HOUSE, 61st General Assembly, representing Bradley and Polk Counties; elected to fill vacancy created by resignation of Jacob Smith; qualified and seated for Extra Session, August 10, 1920 and served to end of term, January 2, 1921; Democrat. Born in Monroe County August 10, 1865; son of George C. and Elizabeth (Burris) Simpson. Extent of schooling not determined. Married to Jully Maddux; date and place of marriage not stated; fifteen children--Homer C., Toy, Ethel Elizabeth, Bessie, Lilly, B. L., Moody, Mrs.. Henry McNabb, Mrs. Dillard Barton, Mrs. Howard Sims, Mrs. J. A. Davis, Mrs. W. O. Maples, and two whose names do not appear. Moved to Cleveland, Bradley County, 1906, and established a grocery business which he continued for some thirty years. Earlier a member of the Methodist Church, later joined Church of God. Died at Cleveland November 3, 1936; buried in Fort Hill Cemetery. Smith Jacob (1868-1928) HOUSE, 60th and 61st General Assemblies; representing Bradley, James, and Polk Counties; served through 60th Assembly, January 1, 1917 to December 31, 1918, and through 1st Session, 61st General Assembly, January 6 to April 17, 1919; resigned at undetermined date before convening of Extra Session of that assembly, which convened August 9, 1920; vacancy thus created was filled by election of Jacob H. Simpson; Smith was a Republican. born, place not indicated, October 26, 1868; son of William and Nancy Jane (Hamontree) Smith. Attended secondary school at Chatata, Bradley County; Grant Memorial University, Athens, McMinn County. Married July 31, 1892, to Bertha Ramsay, daughter of Dr. R. R. and Eliza (Blackburn) Ramsay; children-- R. Alva, Homer A., J. Karl, Richard, and Della Mae. Engaged in farming in early life; taught school twelve years; established, 1915, Cola Nip Bottling Company in Cleveland, Bradley County; instigator and president of Cleveland baseball club. Spent many years in public office; chairman county court, 1902, 1919; county court clerk, 1906-14; county judge number of years; member Cleveland City Board of Education; elected city recorder in January 1923, to fill enexpired term; appointed U. C. Commissioner for East Tennessee in February, 1925, which office he held to time of death. Member Republican County Executive Committee. A trustee in Methodist Church, Cleveland. Delegate to Farmers Convention, 1902. Died at Cleveland January 28, 1928; buried in Red Hill Cemetery, five miles east of Cleveland. Smith, John Lee (1847-1925) HOUSE, 43rd General Assembly, 1883-85; representing Bradley and Polk Counties; Democrat. Born at Bradley County, May 16, 1847; son of Samuel Axley and Martha E. (McCarty) Smith. Attended "common schools" at Cleveland; Emory and Henry College; Emory, Virginia, studied law and licensed to practice. Married at Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia, in 1874 to Rosa Pruden, daughter of Judge W. H. Pruden of Dalton; children-- William Pruden and Mattie Sue. Began practice of law at Chattanooga, Hamilton County; moved from there to Dalton, Georgia, for short while; moved to Charleston, Bradley County, where he was in practice when in legislature; finally moved back to Cleveland c. 1900. Attorney-General of 17th Judicial Circuit, 1890-94; member county election commission, 1900-01; elected mayor of Cleveland, 1902. Member County Democratic Masons. Died at Cleveland May 8, 1925; buried in Fort Hill Cemetery. Stuart, Hardwick (1914-?) HOUSE, 72nd General Assembly, 1941-43; representing Bradley and Polk Counties; Democrat. Born at Cleveland, Bradley County, November 4, 1914; son of David Sullins and Lollie Belle (Hardwick) Stuart. Attended public schools of Cleveland, 1920-28; Webb School, Bell Buckle, Bedford County, 1928-32; Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, 1932-38, receiving LL.B. degree latter year; admitted to bar, 1937. Married at Richmond, Virginia, July 16, 1943, to Cynthia Carolyn Bennett of Richmond, daughter of Floyd S. and Mae (Bowling) Bennett; children children-- Hardwick, Jr., Cynthia Belle, and Floyd Bennett. In active practice of law at Cleveland since 1938 except for years in military service. City attorney for Cleveland, 1946-47; 1956-57. In World War II; enlisted in U. S. Marine Corps at Nashville, Davidson County, July 7, 1942; active duty from September 21, 1942 to December 26, 1945; commissioned 2nd lieutenant, December 7, 1942, serving as combat intelligence officer; discharged as captain in Reserve November 30, 1949. Member Methodist Church; Kappa Sigma, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Phi Delta Phi fraternities. Residence (1964), 2318 Oakland Drive, Cleveland. Tibbs, William Henry (1816-1906) HOUSE, 30th General Assembly 1853-55; representing Bradley County; Whig. Born at Appomattox, Virginia, June 10, 1816; name of father not found but mother's family name before marriage was Swenney. Moved with father to Smith County, 1819. Attended "common schools" of Smith County. First married, 1838, to Mary McSherry of Hamilton County; one son-- Charles H., who was born at Yazoo City, Mississippi; after death of first wife, date not indicated, he married, 1843, Celina Hardwick, native of Bradley County, daughter of John W. and Jane (Montgomery) Hardwick; children by this marriage-- L. W., John J., Mary, William, Horace, and Augustus Tibbs. At age of seventeen, worked as blacksmith and carpenter; moved to Yazoo City, Mississippi, to engage in merchandising; returned to Tennessee and settled at Cleveland, Bradley County, at undetermined date prior to 1844; there he established a merchandising business and engaged in trading; moved to Dalton, Georgia prior to 1866. Elected trustee of Bradley County, 1844, and served four years; appointed 1848, board of trustees of Masonic Female Academy; elected, November 6, 1861, to represent 3rd Congressional District of Tennessee in House of Representatives, First Permanent Confederate Congress; was not re-elected to next Confederate Congress in 1863. Died on October 18, 1906, at Dalton, Georgia; buried at that place. Tipton, Jonathan Caswell (1816-1896) HOUSE, 28th General Assembly, 1849-51; representing Bradley County; Whig at that time; Union man during Civil War; Republican in later years. Born at Cloverhill, Blount County, December 13, 1816; son of Jonathan, III, and Lavinia (Williams) Tipton. Attended "common schools." Married December 19, 1851, to Elizabeth Shearon, daughter of Thomas W. and Elizabeth (Brewer) Shearon of Davidson County; children-- Ida L., William Shearon, Edmund Caswell, Mary L., Horace, Adelia Tennessee, Jonathan S., and Catherine Elizabeth Tipton. Clerked in dry-goods store at age of sixteen; two years later assisted brother, E. W. Tipton, in surveying lands in West Tennessee; assisted another brother, John B. Tipton, to survey lands in Ocoee District in East Tennessee; for three years operated store of his own; moved to farm in Bradley County to engage in agricultural pursuits. Elected county surveyor, 1837, and served two terms; elected colonel of Bradley County regiment, Tennessee Militia; circuit court clerk, 1864-74; elected mayor of Cleveland , Bradley County, three times; justice of the peace; city recorder; census taker for county, 1881; appointed U. S. Commissioner for East Tennessee, 1893, holding that position until death. Member Methodist Church. Died at Cleveland November 15, 1896; buried in City Cemetery. Son of Jonathan Tipton, III; grandson of Colonel John Tipton; father of William Shearon Tipton; Kinsman of Abraham Tipton; son-in-law of Thomas W. Shearon, sometime members Tennessee General Assembly. Tipton, William Shearon (1851-1904) SENATE, 50th and 51st General Assemblies, 1897-1901; representing counties of Bradley, James, McMinn, Monroe, and Polk; Republican. Born at Morgantown, Rhea County, September 12, 1851; son of Jonathan Caswell and Elizabeth (Shearon) Tipton. Attended "common schools." Married at Shelbyville, Bedford County, September 15, 1881, to Elizabeth Sandusky, daughter of C. C. Sandusky; children-- Nellie B., Cecil S., and William Sandusky Tipton. Editor and publisher of Cleveland Herald, 1874-1904; one of incorporators of North Carolina, Cleveland, and Chattanooga Rail Road Company; a director in Chattanooga Bank and Loan Association, of which he was vice-president, 1892. City recorder, 1871-75; postmaster at Cleveland, 1881-85; appointed by President Benjamin Harrison, 1889, U. S. Marshall for Eastern District of Tennessee; during same administration appointed U. S. Commissioner to fill vacancy, serving to 1893; elected, 1893, to board of education and re-elected 1894, serving as president of board latter year; elected county coroner, 1895. Chairman Republican County Executive Committee,1878, and re-elected, 1880; delegate to Republican National Convention, 1880, 1892. Member Baptist Church; Ocoee Lodge No. 97, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being elected Grand Marshall, 1887. Died at Cleveland April 23, 1904; buried in Fort Hill Cemetery. Great-grandson of Colonel John Tipton; grandson of Jonathan Tipton, III, and of Thomas W. Shearon; son of Jonathan Caswell Tipton, sometime members Tennessee General Assembly. Walcott, Karl C. (c.1863-?) HOUSE, 48th General Assembly, 1893-95; representing Bradley County; Republican. Born c. 1863; exact date and place of birth, names of parents, and extent of schooling not determined. Married, date and place not indicated, to a Miss Swartz, daughter of Mrs. Sarah Swartz; two children whose names do not appear. Occupation, dairy farmer; owned a farm called "Ocoee"; specialized in making of butter; in 1902 awarded a contract to grade a mile of bed for a railroad out of Knoxville. Post office address while in legislature; Cleveland, 5th civil district of Bradley County. Member county court; elected, 1894, a member of county board of equalization; member Republican County Executive Committee, 1900. Member Farmer's Association; delegate to convention of that body, 1893; vice-president for Bradley County of East Tennessee Dairy Association. Moved from Bradley County c. 1902; place of final residence not determined but wife was living in Floritan, Florida, in 1918. Date of his death and place of burial not found. White, William Orlando (c. 1843-?) HOUSE, 35th General Assembly, 1867-69; representing Bradley County. Born in Bradley County c. 1843; son of Andrew Jackson and Carolina A. (Townsend) White. Was a student, 1861, at Oak Grove Academy, Cleveland, Bradley County; apparently his parents were living at Cleveland at time and subject listed his home in Cleveland while in legislature. Was married; nothing found to show name of wife, date and place of marriage; two children identified -- William Orlando, Jr. and Clarence White. Moved to Knoxville, Knox County, at undermined date after legislative session; engaged in wholesale drug business until 1891; was in contracting business in Knoxville in 1895; employed by various firms dealing in building materials until 1909; in 1911 was engaged in real estate business; name does not appear in Knoxville City Directory after 1911. In Union Army; enlisted as private in Company E, 4th Tennessee Cavalry, U. S. A., at Louisville, Kentucky, December 24, 1862, at age of nineteen; occupation listed as farmer at that time; commissioned 1st lieutenant, September 18, 1863, serving as regimental quartermaster; on detached service as quartermaster at brigade headquarters April 12, 1864; promoted to captain, Company I, 4th Tennessee Cavalry, May 15, 1864, but continued on detached service at brigade headquarters; returned to duty with Company I, October 19, 1864; mustered out at Nashville, Davidson County July 13, 1865. Date of death and place of burial not determined.
transcribed by Pam Rathbone |
