SAMUEL GAINES ADAMS
While the lessons of adversity are not always salutary, sometimes awakening
and intensifying humors which lie near the surface of our being, and exciting the uncomfortable feelings that spring
from envy and kindred passions, they are in the main beneficial in that they strengthen character, multiply resources
and increase self-reliance. When the burdens laid upon us appear heavy beyond our years and unjust in proportion
to those of others, a sense of duty is aroused and the reserve forces of our nature are called into action, and
by their very exercise they are built up and fortified. It was so in the case of the interesting subject now under
consideration. Called upon at the early age of eleven to support himself and assist in the support of his widowed
mother, he nerved himself for the task and in the very effort gained new power and grater self-confidence. And
the gain thus made has continued through life to him, enabling him to meet later trials and difficulties with greater
fortitude and more extensive facilities. Mr. Adams was born at Kingsport, Sullivan county, Tennessee, not far
from the Virginia line, on July 6, 1862, and is the son of Joseph and Susan (Crickenberger) Adams, natives of the
Shenandoah valley in Virginia. The father farmed until his death, which occurred in 1863. He supported the Republican
party in politics and was generally esteemed a good and useful citizen of his county and state. The mother and
their one child, Samuel G. Adams, survived him, the mother living until September 12, 1886. The son grew to the
age of eleven with scarcely any schooling, as he was obliged to work at whatever he was able to do from a very
early age. In 1873 he and his mother moved to Colorado Springs, this state and there he at once became connected
with newspaper work, using his spare time in attending school. The summers of 1874, 1875 and 1876 he devoted to
running cattle in the employ of A. V. Hunter. He next moved into the mountains and, in partnership with S. B.
Clark, raised cattle on the open range, being successful at the business and making a gratifying profit out of
their venture. The partnership continued until the 1878, when it was harmoniously dissolved. In March, 1879,
Mr. Adams, then nearly seventeen, changed his residence to Leadville and his occupation to prospecting and mining,
in which he had varying success for two or three months. In May he moved to the Tincup country, where he mined
and prospected for a year, then passed an equal portion of time near Salida. In the summer of 1881 he became a
news agent on the Rio Grande Railroad, and in time was promoted to the position of conductor on this line, remaining
with the road until 1893. He was then sent to the Columbian Exposition at Chicago to represent the state of Colorado
in the department of natural history, exhibiting especially the native animals and birds of the state. After the
close of the fair he returned to Colorado and followed mercantile life at Minturn until 1898, then selling out
his interests there, he moved to Routt county, locating at Steamboat Springs in July. Here he has been continuously
engaged in keeping a hotel and dealing in coal lands, and was interested in the Steamboat Springs Pilot, a publication
devoted to the development of the county by making known the value, extent and character of its mineral lands,
of which he makes a special study. His services in this behalf have been so valuable and so much appreciated that
he has the credit of having done more to develop the county and bring its hidden wealth to the notice of investors
and into the channels of trade than almost any other man living within its borders. In politics he is not an active
partisan, but in national and state affairs supports the Republican party. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic
order and the Brotherhood of Railway Conductors. On December 19, 1886, he united in marriage with Miss Ada L.
Weaver, a native of Massachusetts reared in Vermont.
(Source: Progressive Men of Western Colorado, Publ 1905. Transcribed
by Anna Parks)
JOSEPH KENT BROWN
Attorney at law; born at Blountville, Tenn., Feb. 10, 1898; English-German
descent; son of Chas. A. and Mattie J. (Chambers) Brown; paternal grandparents Abel J. and Emily (Teeter) Brown;
maternal grandparents Jas. Ripley and Sue (Greever) Chambers; educated in public schools of Sullivan Co.; Emory
and Henry College, A.B. degree 1921; University of Virginia, LL.B. degree 1922. Member of Presbyterian church;
Democrat; Delta Theta Phi; American, Tenn., and Bristol Bar Ass'ns; Lion's Club, Bristol (Past Pres.); Country
Club, Bristol (Vice-Pres.); Chamber of Commerce; B.P.O.E. Began practice of law in Bristol, Tennessee July, 1922
the associate of the late E. K. Bachman, with whom the firm of Bachman and Brown was formed in 1925. Upon the death
of Mr. Bachman he and Judge Joseph A. Caldwell formed a partnership which later became the present firm of Caldwell,
Brown and O'Dell. Has built up a large practice of the law in Bristol and surrounding territory and is regarded
as one of the leading lawyers of his section of the state; elected city attorney of Bristol, Tenn., in 1926 which
position he now holds. He is the father of one daughter Elizabeth Gentry (Betty Jo). Married to Gladys Gertrude
Gentry, Dec. 24, 1921. His principal hobby is aviation.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
MRS. AMELIA (SLACK) COPENHAVER
Daughter of an East Tennessee publisher; born at Johnson City, Tenn.,
June 4, 1904; English, Scotch-Irish, German descent; her father Embree Munsey Slack; mother Maxie Cox; married
to Nathaniel Hawkins Copenhaver Oct. 16, 1926; paternal grandparents John and Julia Penelope (Holston) Slack; maternal
grandparents James Bowles and Amelia (Richmond) Cox; attended the public schools of Johnson City; later, East Tenn.
State Normal; Barnard College, N.Y.C.; studied abroad for 2 years. Democrat; member of the M. E. Church So., D.A.R.,
U.D.C., American Legion Auxiliary, Business and Professional Women's Club, Tenn. Fed. of Women's Clubs, Bristol
Garden Club, Bristol Bk. Club, Tenn. Press and Author's club, and T.B. Assoc. Appointed Postmaster at Bristol,
Tenn. on Aug. 26, 1935 by Pres. F. D. Roosevelt, sponsored by Sen. McKellar and Sen. Bachman, serving as an acting
postmaster for several months before this appointment. Before assuming her present duties, was editor of the Women's
Page of the Bristol News Bulletin,
a position which she held for 8 years. She is the only lady postmaster of a first-class office in the state; is
Sec. Treas. of the Tenn. Chapter of the Nat'l Ass'n of Postmasters; is a member of the Steering Committee for the
organization of Young Dem. Clubs of Am.; three times elected member of the State Dem. Executive Committee from
the first Congr. Dist.; is honorary Nat'l Committeewoman of the Young Dem. Clubs of Tenn. Mother of three children:
- Mary Amelia, Shirley Ellen, and Nat, Jr.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
HUGH WALTER COPENHAVER
County Court Clerk, farmer; born at Kingsport, Tenn. of German ancestry,
February 10, 1880. Son of Levi Hawkins and Katherine Ellen Copenhaver. Paternal grandparents Christley Copenhaver
and wife; maternal grandparents, Joseph and Susan (Castle) Groseclose. Attended first the public schools of Sullivan
County; finished his education at King College, Bristol, Tenn. Member of the Lutheran Church; Democrat; Mason,
Shriner; Elk; Jr.O.U.A.M.; Rotary. Elected to the office of County Court Clerk in August 1934, by an overwhelming
majority; records show he is the first in over forty years to be elected without first serving as Deputy Clerk.
Records also disclose that more money has been turned into the County Tresury than during any previous administration.
These outstanding achievements together with his courtesy make him one of the most popular men of his county. Prior
to his election to office, was engaged in farming and livestock raising, specializing in Shorthorn and Angus cattle.
In the beginning of his career was a member of the Sullivan County Court for many years; was a member of the County
Board of Education, serving as Chairman for eleven years. His father was a soldier in the Confederate Army during
the Civil War.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
MISS MARTHE PEARL CROSS
Born at Bluff City, Sullivan County, Tenn., April 24, 1890; of German,
French and English descent; daughter of Hugh Henry and Jerushe J. (Jones) Cross. Paternal grandparents William
Anderson and Martha (DeVault) Cross; maternal grandparents William and Martha (Lattura) Jones. Educated at Holston
Institute; Virginia Intermont College, Bristol, Va.; Lufkins Business College, Bakersfield, Cal. Member Lutheran
Church; Democrat. During her early life was a teacher of music, having classes in many sections of Sullivan County.
Public career began Sept. 10, 1926 at which time she was appointed Deputy Register of Deeds of Sullivan County;
held this position for eight years, under the late Mrs. M. M. Mullenix, the first woman to serve as Register of
Deeds of Sullivan County. Elected to the office in August 1934, by an overwhelming majority over her two lady opponents;
is a candidate for re-election without opposition. For many years she has been very active in all church and civic
work, teaching a class in Sunday School for the past twenty years. Her grandfather Cross was a soldier in the Confederate
Army, was wounded at the Battle of Murfreesboro. Her father has spent many years in public service in his county,
and is now Deputy Register of Deeds under Miss Cross.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
DR. LANDON HAYNES GAMMON
Scotch-Irish; descendant of the late Landon C. Haynes, for whom he was
named; born near Blountville, Tenn., April 6, 1861; occupation, physician and surgeon; son of George Fain Gammon,
merchant, and Mrs. Lavinia Haynes; paternal grandparents George and Jane (Gregg) Gammon; maternal grandparents
David and Rhoda (Taylor) Haynes. Member of the Presbyterian Church; Democrat; received his education in Sullivan
County Schools; University of Va.; Univ. of Maryland; M.D. degree 1892; graduate work at New York Post-Graduate
School. N.Y.C. Married July 18, 1930 to Corolla Crockett. Began the practice of medicine in Saltville, Va., in
1893, remaining there for 10 years; then removed to Bristol. Member of a family of 15 he was forced to bear the
expenses of his education; at the beginning of his practice he borrowed a horse; this did not prove a handicap,
and in the years that followed he built up an enviable practice in Sullivan Co. and surrounding territory. Three
times elected to the office of mayor at Bristol beginning in 1910; cousin of the two Ex-Governors Taylor, Robert
L. and Alf. Father of five children: - Attorney Landon Haynes, Chattanooga; Margaret Henry Gammon, Boston, Mass.;
Dr. William Miller, Bristol; Wirt Henry, Sport Editor of Chattanooga
Times; and David Haynes born on June 11, 1931.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
RAYMOND McCLELLAND MASSENGILL
Public Official; born at Blountville, Tenn., July 29, 1897; English descent.
In 1919 he started into business for himself, organizing a real estate and live stock business; operated this business
for nine years. Elected Trustee of Sullivan County in August 1928 by an overwhelming majority; in 1930 was reelected
without opposition; upon the election of his successor he was appointed chief deputy, which place he has held for
eight years. Few men of his county have enjoyed a longer and more successful career. Has given much time to both
church and civic affairs, having served as Supt. of his Sunday School for ten years. Was married August 22, 1928,
to Margaret Anderson; to this union two children were born, Mary Louise and Raymond McClellan, Jr. He is the son
of Henry Hall and Margaret Anderson (McClellan) Massengill; paternal grandparents John and Jane (Colbough) Massengill;
his maternal grandparents David and Elizabeth (Anderson) McClellan. His Grandfather McClellan was a soldier in
the Confederate Army during the Civil War; died at Shiloh of pheumonia. His father was a member of the Sullivan
County Court for more than forty years, an unprecedented tenure of public service in this county. Educated in the
public schools of Sullivan County; King College, Bristol, Tenn.; A.B. degree 1919.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
JAMES DECATUR NEWLAND
Born at Bloomingdale, Sullivan County, Tenn., of Irish descent, on May
4, 1882; son of William Milbourne and Ella (Hicks) Newland. Paternal grandparents William and Margarete (Pecktol)
Newland; maternal grandparents Henry and Sarah (Johnson) Hicks. Married Carrie Snider April 12, 1925; to this union
were born two children, Samuel Wayne and Harold Anderson. Educated in the public schools of Sullivan County; Kingsley
Seminary, Bloomingdale, Tennessee. Member of the M. E. Church So., Democrat; Elk; I.O.O.F.; Jr.O.U.A.M. First elected
sheriff of Sullivan County in August 1916, serving for four years; then became engaged in the mercantile business
in Bristol, Tenn., which business he continued until he was again elected sheriff in 1932; since that time he has
been re-elected twice. Has an outstanding record of service and accomplishments as an officer; recognized as one
of the most fearless peace officers in the entire state; his popularity is attested by the extended tenure of public
service with which he has been honored by the people of his county.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
JOHN EDD O'DELL
Scotch-Irish descent; born March 10, 1906 at Emmett, Tennessee; son of
John Edd and Mary Etta (Morton) O'Dell; paternal grandparents Thomas Finley and Margaret (Longcore) O'Dell; maternal
grandparents Nathan and Alice (O'Dell) Morton. Began his education in the public schools of Sullivan Co.; attended
King College; the Univ. of Va.; LL.B. degree 1927. Member of Presbyterian Church; Democrat; Mason. Began the practice
of law in Bristol in 1927 with the firm of Caldwell, Brown and O'Dell where he enjoys a large and lucrative practice.
Elected direct Representative from Sullivan Co. to the seventieth General Assembly of Tenn. 1936; received many
important committee assignments and was regarded as one of the leading members of the House; was the author and
co-author of much important legislation; teacher in Sunday School, he has for several years taken an active part
in all church and civic affairs. Married to Frances Minton, Sept. 6, 1926 to which union four children were born.
His hobby is golf.
Source: Prominent Tennesseans, 1796 - 1938; transcribed by Amanda Jowers
