LAKE COUNTY TN - GOODSPEED - The Biographies of Lake County L - R ********************************************************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Jane N. Powell ********************************************************************************************************** L - R Bios, Goodspeed History of Tennessee, 1887 (Not responsible for typos and errors. Please check the original Goodspeed before adding to your genealogical record as absolute proof --- and then remember that the family only told what that wanted the public to know.) Robert A. Lewis (deceased) was a prominent farmer of Lake County, and was born in 1833, in Fulton County, Ky.; his father was Maj. R. N. Lewis. Our subject had good educational advantages. In 1855 he married Mary Donaldson, who was born January 24, 1834 in New Madrid County, Mo. at Donaldson's Point. She is the daughter of Andrew J. and Kate (Baird) Donaldson. Her father was born at Athens, Ala. but was raised at Nashville, Tenn., her mother at Chattanooga. Soon after they married they went to Missouri and remained until 1844 when they came to Lake County. Mr. Donaldson was a Democrat and a farmer and died in 1845; his wife was a Methodist and died in 1866. To Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were born nine children, four boys and five girls, only three living: Henry C., Charles A. and Zaida. Mrs. Lewis was a Methodist. In 1861 he volunteered with the Madrid Bend Guards as second lieutenant and was soon promoted to first lieutenant, holding that position until the close of the war. After the war he gave his time to farming. In 1877 he moved his family to New Orleans, then to Florida and in a short time they returned to Lake County. In 1880 Mr. Lewis lost his life in a painful accident. While turning down the wick in his lamp it exploded and he was burned to death. Mrs. Lewis is still living at the old homestead, owning a farm of 400 acres. Both the Lewis's and the Donaldson's are early residents of Lake County. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. H. Clay Lewis, one of the enterprising young farmers of Lake County, is the son, of Robert A. and Mary (Donaldson) Lewis and was born in Lake County, January 5, 1860. Mr. Lewis was raised on a farm, and when a boy had few school advantages. When seventeen years of age he went to New Orleans and entered Dolbear's Commercial College, but the death of his father prevented him from completing his course, as he then returned to Lake County and assumed charge of his father's farm. On December 25, 1884, he married Miss Maggie H. Harper, daughter of William Harper. Mrs. Lewis was born February 27, 1861. They have one son, Robert W. They do not belong, to any church. Mr. Lewis is a Mason and in politics a Democrat. Although so young a man, by his own industry and fine business ability he has been able to buy a fine farm of 337 acres, in the best part of Lake County. He is a shipping agent at Upper Slews Landing. Mr. Lewis is a wide-awake farmer, and a good citizen and an honest man. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wyatt Mooring, a farmer and stock raiser, has been a resident of Lake County for thirty years, and he is the son of Wyatt and Martha (Needham) Mooring, who were both natives of North Carolina; their families moved to Madison County, Tenn. where they first met and afterward married. In 1856 they moved to what is now Lake County,and lived until their death; they had nine children, six still living. In 1870 Mrs. Mooring died, and he married Kate S. Craig by whom he had one child. Mr. Mooring and both of his wives were Methodists; he was a Democrat and always a farmer; for twenty-six years he was chairman of the county court of Madison County and held the office for a term upon the organization of Lake County. He died in 1874 at the advanced age of seventy. Our subject was born June 2, 1840, in Madison County, was raised and educated on the farm. In 1861 he volunteered in Company E, Fifteenth Tennessee Regiment, Confederate Army of Madrid Bend Guards, was wounded slightly once, but at the battle of Missionary Ridge he was captured, and was in prison for seventeen months. being exchanged just before the close of the war. Mr. Mooring then commenced farming. In 1866 he married Kate F. Donaldson, daughter of Andrew J. Donaldson. She was born December, 1843, at Donaldson's Point, Mo. Of seven children born to them, three are living: Richard C., Sallie 0. and Maggie M. Mrs. Mooring is a Methodist. For a short time Mr. Mooring filled the office of constable; he has always been a Democrat. He is an extensive farmer, owning 746 acres of land in the best part of Lake County. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- William Moss is a son of Eli and Dicie (Brock) Moss, who were born and reared and married in the Palmetto State. They came to Tennessee in 1822 and located in McMinn County where they spent the remainder of their days. The father died in 1844 and the mother in 1874. The father was a Democrat, a farmer and a member of the Christian Church. His wife was a Missionary Baptist and became the mother of four sons and four daughters. William Moss was born in McMinn Co., in 1826. He was raised on a farm, received a common school education and made his home with his mother until twenty three years of age. In 1847 he married Betsey A. Bowers by whom he had ten children - five sons and five daughters. Both husband and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and their youngest son is a Methodist. Mr. Moss served about five months during the late war, but the needs of his family demanded his presence at home. He is a Democrat and a good citizen of Lake County, coming to the same in 1874, though previously residing a short time in Hardeman County. He owns 210 acres of land. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Smith Newton, a merchant of Tiptonville, Tenn. is the son of John and Sarah (Box) Newton. His parents were born and raised in West Tennessee, and by their marriage had one son and one daughter. After his father's death, his mother married Mr. Henry Walker. Smith Newton was born in Obion County, Tenn. March 12, 1840. In the beginning of the civil war he enlisted in the Confederate Army in the Fifteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers, and served until the close of the war being in a number of battles and escaping without being wounded. After the war he came to Lake County and engaged in farming. February 22, 1869, he married Miss Catharine Burrus, who was born in Madison County, Tenn. in 1857. From this union three children, two boys and a girl, were born, but all died. After Mrs. Newton died, Mr. Newton married, October 17,1880, Miss Mary J. Talbot, who was born in Arkansas, June 25, 1860, and by this marriage he has three children - one boy and two girls. Mrs. Newton is a Methodist. In politics Mr. Newton votes the Democratic ticket. He has been in the mercantile business at Tiptonville for three years, carrying a good line of groceries, and owns 104 acres of land, under cultivation, in the county, besides some town lots in Tiptonville, and is a good businessman. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert T. Parks, a merchant of Lake County, is the son of John L. and Malinda (Crafton) Parks. Both of his parents were natives of Middle Tennessee, where they were married. They soon after settled in Giles County and lived there until 1852, when they moved to Gibson County, and nine years later to what is now Lake County. They had thirteen children - six sons and seven daughters. They belonged to the Christian Church. In early life he was a teamster, but on coming to the Western District gave his attention to farming. He died during the war and his widow in 1886. Robert Parks was born May 23, 1839, in Giles County, and was raised on a farm and received but a limited education, as he was not fond of going to school, but preferred to work. He has engaged in the poultry business to a great extent and with marked success, farming in connection with it. Since 1873 he has been merchandising. In 1860 he married Mary E. Graham. She was born September 26, 1843 in Gibson County, and they have no children. Both of them are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. In addition to a good store and stock of goods, Mr. Parks owns seven acres of land. He has accumulated his property by his own efforts, and is an honest man, respected by all who know him. He is in politics, a Democrat. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C. M. Peacock, farmer, is the son of Michael and Martha (Applewhite) Peacock. The father was born in Edgecombe County, N.C. October 11, 1799, and the mother in the same county and State, August 12, 1804. They were married in 1823 and to them were born four sons and three daughters; three sons are living. The family moved to Henderson County in 1883, and thence to Obion County in 1837. They were members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Peacock was a Democrat, and he died October 27, 1873, and his wife died March 24, 1869. Our subject is of Scotch-Irish ancestry and was born in Edgecombe County, N. C., April 2, 1830. Owing to the absence of schools at that time in Obion County, where his parents moved when he was seven years old, his education was limited but he educated himself after he was grown. January 15, 1857, he married Miss Ann Brock, who was born in Robertson County, Tenn. April 25, 1836, and to them were born nine children: Alice, born January 11, 1858; Loverd, April 9, 1859; Martha E., July 18, 1861; William C., January 20, 1864; John L., October 11, 1867; Charles B., September 25, 1869; Viola A., December 12. 1871; Daurie V., October 30, 1876; Frederick B., February 11, 1879. All of the above are living except the oldest two. Mr. Peacock has been engaged in farming all of his life, and is now also engaged in mercantile business at Tiptonville. He has been quite successful, and owns now over 1,000 acres of land. He is a Democrat, and a Sir Knight in the Masonic fraternity, and has been a resident of Lake County ever since its organization. Mr. and Mrs. Peacock and the oldest children are members of the Methodist Church South. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- William C. Peacock, clerk of the circuit court of Lake County, and member of the firm of C. M. Peacock & Son, was born January 21, 1863, in Lake County, and was the son of C. M. and Ann (Brock) Peacock. He was raised on the farm and when sixteen entered the Kentucky Military Institute and graduated there in 1881. During this time he had been salesman for M. Ambery of Tiptonville. He taught school for a while after graduating then returned to the mercantile business as salesman. In 1883 his father bought out Mr. Ambery and gave him a partnership in the business. He soon became the business manager of the firm, and has since successfully conducted the store, doing an extensive business. August, 1886, he was elected to the office of circuit court clerk, and has been popular as a good business man and an enterprising citizen. He belongs to the young Democracy of the State. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H. M. Peacock, farmer in Lake County, is a brother of Mr. C. M. Peacock and was born in Obion County October 18, 1846; was raised on the farm and when young he had but few opportunities of securing an education; but has, by studying in later years acquired a great deal of general information. December 30, 1875, he married Miss Georgia Watson, daughter of Robert Watson. Mrs. Peacock was born in Madison County, Tenn. June 27, 1854. Six children blessed this union - four boys and two girls; only three are now living: William H., born July 17, 1879, Martha A., born February 20, 1880; Hattie M., born March 21, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Peacock belong to the Methodist Church South. He is a Democrat in politics and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He owns now 275 acres of good land,and though comparatively a young man is known all over the county as a successful farmer and a good business man, and holds the confidence of all who know him. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- George B. Riley has been a resident of Lake County for thirty-five years past, and is considered one of the representative men of that county, and was the son of George E. and Mary (Castle) Riley. His father was born in Henry County, Tenn., February, 1816; his mother in North Carolina in 1818. Mr. George Riley was a farmer and mechanic, and was married in Weakley County, Tenn. December 25, 1835. From this union were nine children - seven boys and two girls. The parents moved to Lake County in 1852, where the father died April 6, 1859, and the mother died February 14, 1867. They were both members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and Mr. Riley, Sr. was a Democrat. Geo. B. Riley, our subject, was of Irish descent on the father's side and of English on the mother's. He was born in Weakley County December 10, 1839 and as he was raised on the farm, his educational advantages were limited; he worked on the farm and remained with his parents until they died. In 1862 he volunteered under Col. A. W. Campbell of the Thirty-third Tennessee Infantry and ranked as second lieutenant; was severely wounded at the battle of Shiloh, and discharged on account of ill health. Mr. Riley is a Democrat has been a magistrate for fourteen years, and is now chairman of the Lake County court, and is now in the milling business, owning a saw and grist-mill in the Third District. He has been quite successful as a farmer, owning 4,000 acres of good timber land, 100 of it being under cultivation. Mr. Riley is a liberal, upright man.