MRS. ALMEDA ANDERSON BURKS
Owner and operator of Burks Cafe. Born in Sequatchie Co., Tenn., Nov.
10, 1896, of Scotch-Irish descent. Parents, Josiah McNair and Ruch Emma (Prigmore) Anderson; paternal grandparents,
William Eagleston Anderson and Nancy Isabella McRee; maternal grandparents, Lafayette Prigmore and Jane Hendricx.
She attended public schools of Sequatchie Co.; and Mendenhall, Miss. in 1923-24; and is a member of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church; Democrat; Royal Neighbors of America; Lapatitti Book Club. Mrs. Burks began her business career
as operator of a private boarding house in Dunlap in 1928, continuing for five years, when she began to operate
Burks Cafe, a business she owns. She is one of the leading business women of her section of the state, taking an
active part in all church and civic affairs. In her early life Mrs. Burks was a teacher in the public schools of
Miss. teaching for two years in Rankin Co.; a saleslady for Kew Mercantile Co. in Dlo, Miss.; a saleslady for Joe
Anderson Gen. Merchandise in Dunlap, Tenn. She is the wife of C. A. Burks, whom she married Aug. 4, 1912, and the
mother of two children: Mrs. Modean Elizabeth Roberson of Nashville, and Mrs. Gladys Elanor Smith of Chattanooga,
Tenn. She is a direct descendant of Capt. John Anderson of Scott Co., famous soldier in the Revolutionary War;
also of John Anderson, Jr. who was a Lieutenant Col. in the War of 1812 and died while on the march with Jackson
to New Orleans. Her great-grandfather, Col. Josiah McNair Anderson, brilliant lawyer and statesman in the early
part of the 19th century, was a member of the legislature of Tenn., and was made Speaker of the House of Rep. from
1833-37. He was a member of the State Senate in 1843-45 and re-elected in 1847-49; he was elected to Congress from
the thrid congressional dist. in 1849-51.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
JAMES DAVIS
James Davis applied for revolutionary pension while living in Hamilton
County, Tenn., Aug. 28, 1832. He was born in Fauquier County, Va., the date not given but he was seventy-one in
1832, therefore, born in 1761. He was living in Wilkes County, N. C when he enlisted in Capt. John Key's company
in which he served three months; he also served five months in Capt. Smith's company, six weeks in Col. Cleveland's
regiment and three months in Capt. Gordon's company. Col. Malbury's regiment and was in the battle of Eutaw Springs.
He also served six weeks in Capt. Pendleton Isbell's company. He moved after the Revolution to Greene County. Tenn.,
then to Campbell and White Counties, Tenn., then to Jackson County, Ala., then to Marion County, Tenn., then to
Hamilton County, Tenn., where he died Dec. 9, 1843. He married Mary, her surname not being given, in 1782, when
she was sixteen years of age, so born 1766. She survived him and died in Hamilton County, after 1844 when the record
states that she was living and before April 19, 1845. They had several children who were then residents of Hamilton
County.
Note: The graves of James and Mary Davis are in that section of Hamilton County which became Sequatchie County,
Tenn.
Source: "Some Tennessee heroes of the Revolution", Baltimore:
Genealogical Pub. Co., 1933, by Zella Armstrong.; transcribed by Kim Torp
JUDGE WILLIAM JOSEPH HARWOOD
County Judge of Sequatchie Co. Tenn. Born in Hamilton, Co., Tenn., March
9, 1869, and is the son of Thomas Jefferson and Julia Obar Harwood. Maternal grandparents, Clark Obar and (___).
He is of Dutch-Irish descent and attended public schools of Hamilton and Sequatchie counties; a member of Primitive
Baptist Church; Democrat. He married Miss Lillie Massey on May 19, 1889. Mr. Harwood was elected County Judge in
Aug., 1934 by a substantial majority, for a term of eight years. Prior to his election as Co. Judge, Mr. Harwood
served his Co. as Trustee by appointment of the incumbent, Mrs. Britton, who was serving by appointment by the
Co. Court to fill the unexpired term of her deceased husband. He served as Trustee of his Co. for one term prior
to his appointment, being elected in 1922. In addition to his official work he was employed by the Chattanooga
Coal and Iron Co. for ten years, and has also been engaged in the ministerial work as a local preacher for a period
of some thrity years. He is the father of eight children: Mrs. Hattie Thomas of Marion Co.; Jeff of Hamilton Co.;
John Lester, diabled Vet. of the World War; Mrs. Myrtle Johnson of Grundy Co.; William Virgle of Mich.; Mrs. Violet
Howard of Fla.; Mrs. Burley Davenport of Hamilton Co.; and Miss Nora Harwood. His hobby is truck farming.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
JAMES HOUSTON HEARD
Attorney at law. County Judge of Sequatchie County; born at Dunlap, Tenn.,
Oct. 17, 1859; Scotch-Irish descent; son of John B. and Isabel (Anderson) Heard; paternal grandparents, Byram and
Nancy (Handy) Heard; maternal grandparents, J. Madison and Elizabeth (Lamb) Anderson. Educated at Sequatchie College,
Tenn.; member F. & A.M. No. 339, and is treasurer of same; Democrat; elected County Court Clerk of Sequatchie
Co., in 1884 and served ten years; appointed Clerk and Master, 1896, and served six years; resigned Aug. 1902,
when elected Co. Judge and was re-elected Co. Judge Aug., 1910, for another term of 8 years; member and Supt. of
Sunday School of M. E. Church, South, Dunlap; married Lee Barker, Dec. 25, 1884, who died Dec. 21, 1891; on Oct.
21, 1896, married Nettie Frix, has been practicing law in Sequatchie Co., since 1893. He was re-appointed County
Judge, March 1933. For a period of seven years he did not hold any public office, but was actively engaged in the
practice of law. He has held public office longer than any public official preceding him. He is also the oldest
member of the Masonic order. His great-grandmother, Betsy McNair of Knoxville, was the mother of the first white
child born in Sequatchie Valley, Louiza Anderson Kerklin, born Sept. 8, 1806. He is also the great-grandson of
Stephen A. Heard who was governor of Georgia serving in 1812. He is the father of seven children: Crud Bates, Robert
Anderson, Mrs. Bessie Johnson, of his first marriage; Roger Houston, Vernon, Paul Windell, and Mrs. Susana Barges.
He is one of the most outstanding citizens of his section of the state, taking an active part in all public and
church affairs. He has served for twenty-five years as Supt. of the So. Methodist Sunday School of Dunlap.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
GEORGE DEWEY LEWIS
Trustee of Sequatchie Co. Born in Sequatchie Co., Jan. 1, 1910, Scotch-Irish
descent. Son of William Riley Lewis, farmer, and Martha Jane (Green) Lewis; paternal grandparents, Charles Lewis
and Julia Anne (Henson) Lewis; maternal grandparents, Thomas P. and Barbara (Brown) Green. He attended public schools
of Sequatchie Co.; Hiwassee College of Madisonville, Tenn., 1929; and is a member of M.E. Church, South; Republican.
On Jan. 14, 1933 he married Miss Lillie Kerby. Mr. Lewis was first elected Trustee in Aug. 1934, and re-elected
in Aug. 1936, each time by a substantial majority; since his election he has proven both his efficiency and worthiness
of the confidence and esteem of the people, and the record of his office shows the excellency of his work. At the
time of his first election in Aug. 1934 he was the youngest Trustee in all the state being only twenty-four years
of age; he is one of the outstanding young men of his section and is the second republican ever to be elected Trustee
of his county. Prior to his election he was engaged in farming and timber business. His grandfather Lewis was a
soldier in the Civil War on the side of the Union, throughout the conflict; his grandfather Green was also a soldier
in the same war on the side of the Confederacy. He is the father of two children: William Hoyt and Jimmie Haskell.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
JOSEPH MINTON
County Court Clerk of Sequatchie Co. Son of Jackson T. Minton and Mary
Hixson Minton, born in Sequatchie Co., Tenn., Nov. 15, 1870. Paternal grandparents, Joe Minton and Elizabeth Smith
Minton; maternal grandparents, Joe Hixson and Elizabeth Alexander Hixson. He attended public schools of Sequatchie
Co., and is a member of the Baptist Church; Democrat; Mason. Mr. Minton was first elected Co. Court Clerk of Sequatchie
Co. in Aug. 1894, and has been re-elected for ten successive terms since then and only three times has he had opposition.
He has made a most efficient and trustworthy official as the records of his office disclose; he has served in this
capacity perhaps longer than any other now serving in the state, having served continously for forty-three years.
He is the father of five children: Festus, of McMinnville; Mrs. Blanche Green, of Palmer; Mrs. Ina Stokes, of Ala.;
Mrs. Pauline Rush, of Ala; and Mrs. Myrtle Ewton, of Dunlap, deceased. He is one of the leading citizens of his
county, assisting in all public affairs for the betterment of his community.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
BYRON POPE
Attorney at Law. Scotch-Irish descent, born at Jasper, Tenn., Nov. 3,
1893. Son of Byron Pope, Attorney at Law, and Virginia (Bennett) Pope. Paternal grandparents, Lavander and Musey
(___) Pope; maternal grandparents, William and Nancy (Hicks) Bennett. He attended public schools of Marion Co.;
University of Chattanooga; Cumberland University, LL.B., 1921. On June 23, 1922 he married Miss Villa Lamb. Mr.
Pope was elected to the Senate in 1936, from the ninth Senatorial district, and was unanimously elected as Speaker
of the Senate without opposition. In his home town of Dunlap he has a large law practice. He was a member of the
House in 1935, from the eleventh political district; assistant Attorney General of the eighteenth Judicial Court
for ten years; Chairman, Democratic Executive Committee for fifteen years; member of Methodist Church; American
Legion; Mason; S.A.E.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
