Submitted by , October 5, 1997
Job W. C. Fain is a son of Charles and Sarah A. (Rutledge) Fain, and was born in Tennessee in 1845. Charles Fain was a shoe-maker and farmer and a Baptist minister. He was a resident of Marshall County for many years and in 1850 moved to Hickman County, where he resided until his death in 1880. He was the father of fourteen children, and he and wife were native Tennesseans. At the age of eighteen our subject left home and resided with a brother until after the war. In 1871 he married Mary M. Rowland, born in Tennessee in 1835, and the daughter of William and Mary A. Rowland. Mr. and Mrs. Fain became the parents of three children, one son being now dead. Mr. Fain resided in Humphreys until 1884, when he located on his present farm in Gibson County. It contains 114 acres of well cultivated land and is the fruits of his honest and unremitting toil. He and Mrs. Fain belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he has been a local minister in the same for five years. He is a Mason and a Democrat. His grandfather, David Fain, was a native Tennessean and married Catherine Wood, who bore him seven children. He was a farmer and a resident of Marshall County up to his death in 1840, and his father was a Revolutionary soldier and died in Tennessee. His wife died in 1860. Alexander Rutledge, Mr. Fain's paternal grandfather, died in Tennessee of yellow fever.
C. H. Ferrell, nursery-man and associate editor of the Weekly Messenger of Humboldt, Tenn., was born December 25, 1837, one of five children of Dent and Charity (Shaw) Ferrell, who were born in North Carolina, and of Scotch-Irish extraction. The father was a farmer and was married in his native State early in the twenties. He removed to West Tennessee in a one-horse cart about 1825, and located in Dyer County, where he, in time, owned about 1,800 acres of land and some twenty-five negroes. He was six feet and six inches in height and weighed 200 pounds, with no surplus flesh, and was a man of great physical endurance. He died in 1849, his wife having died nine days sooner. He was a Democrat and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. At the age of twelve years, our subject was left an orphan and began doing for himself. At the age of twenty, he farmed and kept house for himself, and in 1859 he began operating a steam saw and grist-mill. In 1861 he enlisted in the Newbern "Blues" Twelfth Regiment, Tennessee Confederate Infantry. He was at Belmont and Shiloh, and was wounded and captured at the latter engagement. He was confined to Alton, Ill., for several mouths and was exchanged by accident in answering to another's name, the comrade being sick at the time. He rejoined his regiment, which had been changed from infantry to cavalry, and served until the close, participating in many fierce encounters. He resumed farming and milling, and was also engaged in the mercantile business for some time. In 1874 he began keeping a nursery in this county, and be, in company with G. D. Ferrell and T. C. Ferrell, is doing a large business, and employs sixty salesmen. In July, 1885, the Weekly Messenger was established. Mr. Ferrell is a Democrat and was married April 7, 1864, to Lavinia K. Scales, of Gibson County, and they are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. Ferrell, in 1884, introduced the Holstein cattle into West Tennessee, and now has a small herd.
R. H. Fiser's birth occurred in Robertson County, Tenn., April 24, 1841; son of J. H. and Sally (Pence) Fiser, who were of German parentage, born in Tennessee, in February, 1818, and Logan County, Ky., in August, 1814. Our subject's paternal great-grandfather, Peter Fiser, was born in Germany and came to Tennessee in 1796, with five sons, after Robertson County was organized. His son, Joseph Fiser, entered land and reared a family of three daughters and five sons, one of them being J. H. Fiser, our subject's father. He was a farmer through life. and raised three sons. He has resided on the same farm all his life, within three miles of Springfield, and has made a home worthy the efforts of any man. He has been quite an extensive tobacco grower, and is a Mason. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. At the age of six years, our subject went into the tobacco field to make a hand. He was academically educated in Springfield, and at the age of twenty left school and entered the Confederate Army, serving in Company C, of the Knox City Guards, his first engagement being a skirmish at Cheat Mountain. Helm was his regimental commander. He remained at home after two years, owing to poor health. He taught school two years, and in 1868 removed to Humboldt, where he purchased land and engaged in the nursery business, and in growing fruit for market. In 1874 he located one mile out of town and now does a wholesale business. His farm contains sixteen acres. He is one of the pioneer fruit growers of West Tennessee, and is a Democrat. April 26, 1866, he wedded Miss A. B. Batts, born in Robertson County, October 23, 1843, daughter of Jack Batts. To them were born three sons: Ney, George and Bob, and one daughter deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Fiser are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
O. G. Fitzgerald is one of seven children, and was born in Williamson County, Tenn., July 29, 1847. His parents, Obadiah and Martha (Mays) Fitzgerald, were born in Virginia, and came to Tennessee when young. They married, and followed farming in Williamson County till 1857, when they came to Gibson County, and here the mother died, in 1873. The father was born in 1796, and is yet living. In 1863 our subject entered the Twelfth Tennessee Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He then returned home, and, in 1868, married Lucy P. Freeman, of Gibson County, but continued to reside with his parents until 1873, when he moved to Obion County, and engaged in the saw-mill and lumber trade, which he continued in Obion and Gibson Counties until recently. He located on his farm, of 125 acres, in 1885. It lies about eight miles from Humboldt. His family consists of the following children: Carrie, Mary, John O., Alice, Lula and William Freeman.
Abner J. Fletcher is a Gibson County Tennessean, born in 1828, son of William and L. (Jones) Fletcher. William Fletcher is of English descent, born in Maryland. He removed to North Carolina, and there married Miss Jones, who was born in that State. They came to Tennessee in 1822, and the father farmed, and supported a family of twelve children. He died in 1844, and his wife in 1853, being sixty-four and sixty-seven years of age respectively. After his father's death Abner J. lived with his widowed mother until 1852. In 1850 he married Mary O., daughter of John and Mary 0. Wilkes. She was born in Tennessee, in 1831, and became the mother of seven children, four of whom are dead. In 1868 Mr. Fletcher took for his second wife Martha J, Johnson, daughter of Albert S. and Nancy M. Johnson. She is a Tennessean, born in 1851, and has borne her husband one child. Mr. Fletcher located near Rutherford in 1852, and seven years later located in the town, and he and Charles Griffey engaged in the saddlery business. A year later Mr. Fletcher purchased the entire stock, and has since added furniture, groceries and hardware. In 1870 his residence and its entire contents, amounting to about $1,800, was destroyed by fire, without insurance. He has been a deacon in the Baptist Church for thirty-seven years, and became a Knights Templar Mason in 1861, also a member of the K. of H. for a number of years. He is also a member of the Golden Rule, the Ministers' Life Association, of Lafayette, Ind., the Central Benefit Association, of Union City, and the I. O. O. F. Our subject is a descendant of Rev. John Fletcher, co-laborer of John Wesley and Whitefield in the cause of Methodism, and is a strong Prohibitionist and a deserving and honorable citizen.
Alexander B. Flowers is a son of Henry and Mary T. Flowers, of Tennessee, and was born, reared and educated in Gibson County. His birth occurred October 15, 1840. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate Army as a private in the Thirteenth Tennessee Regiment, and after serving one year returned home, married and located on the farm of 127 acres, where he now resides. He has been generally successful in his business ventures, and is an industrious and painstaking farmer. He has been an active member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church since 1856. and is a man of strictly moral character. Margaret Wright, the daughter of James and Lucinda Wright, became his wife June 28, 1862. Their family consists of the following children: Tyrena M. L., Lemoa M., Randolph C., Columbus, Ardella F. and Viola. Mrs. Flowers died May 7, 1873, and February 11, 1874, Mr. Flowers married Nancy Taylor, daughter of David and Ann F. Taylor. They have three children: Julia A., David H. and Esther. The family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
B. R. Foster, farmer, is a son of Samuel and Nancy (James) Foster, who were born in Brunswick County, Va., in June, 1787 and 1795 respectively. They were married when the mother was but sixteen years of age, and two or three years afterward moved to Middle Tennessee. To them were born fourteen children-nine sons and five daughters. They moved to Gibson County in 1850, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The father died in 1855, and the mother in 1863. B. R. Foster inherits English blood from his father and Scotch-Irish from his mother. He was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., October 14, 1829. He had very poor opportunities for education, but in after years was a successful teacher in the public schools. He came to Gibson County at the age of twenty, and February 12, 1857, he married Eliza Holt, and by her became the father of twelve children - six sons and six daughters. Mrs. Foster died August 3, 1882, and February 14, 1883, Mr. Foster married Emma Parish, and by her became the father of two sons: James R., who lived but a short time, and S. E., an infant. Mr. Foster is a Democrat, and has been magistrate twenty-six years. He moved to Medina Postoffice about two years ago, but yet continues farming. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and a Mason.
Richard H. Foster is a son of Samuel anal Nancy (James) Foster, and was born March 15, 1827, in Rutherford County, Tenn. His boyhood days were spent at hard work on the farm, consequently his early education was quite limited. At the age of eighteen he began working at the carpenter's trade for $8 per month, and continued the same about eight months. In 1847 he volunteered in the Mexican war, to serve five years or during the war, but after about eleven months, peace having been declared, be was discharged, and returned to Rutherford County, Tenn., to work at his trade. In 1850 he came to Gibson County, and here has ever since made his home. In 1850 he went back to Rutherford County, and married Mary E. Revel, who was born May 4, 1827, in that county. Their union was blessed with nine children - seven of whom are living. The eldest son, A. W., is in the mercantile business in Gibson; the third son, R. W., is engaged as salesman at Humboldt. Mr. Foster, his wife and six children are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and in politics he is a Democrat. He held the office of notary public four years, and is now poor house commissioner. He owns 117 acres of land which he has earned by his own industry and good management.
Henry Flowers, merchant, was born July 29, 1842, in Henderson County, Tenn. His father, Blake Flowers, was of English descent, born in Sampson County, N. C., May 4, 1815. His wife, whose maiden name was Mahala Deer, was born in the same State and county as himself, in 1825. Our subject's grandfather, Henry Flowers, was a Virginian, born about 1785, and in early life moved with his parents to Sampson County, N. C. He married Miss Dicy Barfield, and moved with his family to West Tennessee in 1822, and died in Gibson County in 1854. The family became represented in Tennessee about 1822, being among the pioneer settlers of Gibson County. Blake Flowers died in 1884 and his wife in 1858. Henry Flowers, our subject, is the second of seven children. He received a common school education and his early life was that of a farmer. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Company P, Twelfth Tennessee Infantry, Confederate States Army, and was so severely wounded at the battle of Shiloh that he was unfitted for further service and was sent home. In 1869 he engaged in business in Kenton and his since continued, being a successful merchant, In 1866 he wedded Miss N. J. Howell, who died in 1869, leaving one child, Ida B. In 1872 Mr. Flowers married Miss A. E. Dozier, who was born in Gibson County in 1854. They have two children: Lucy May and Henry W. Mr. Flowers is a Democrat; became a Mason in 1862 and a Royal Arch Mason in 1865. He and Mrs. Flowers are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
J. B. Ford is a son of John and Violet (Hall) Ford, who were born in North Carolina and Virginia in 1796 find 1804, respectively. John Ford was brought to Middle Tennessee when only six years of age. Here he grew to manhood and married Love Northcutt, by whom he had three children. They came to Gibson County in 1824, and after the death of Mrs. Ford he married Miss Hall, and by her became the father of seven children. Mr. Ford and both his wives were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was for many years a local preacher in the same. He preached the first Methodist sermon in Trenton, Gibson County, and organized the first Methodist Episcopal Church there. He was a Democrat, and for many years held the position of magistrate, and in his younger days taught school. His wife died March 18, 1884, and about three weeks later he died. Our subject inherits French blood from his father and Welsh blood from his mother. He was born in Gibson County on the 1st of October, 1830, and until he reached manhood resided with his parents. His early educational advantages were quite limited; this he improved, however, in later years. At the age of twenty-two he began farming for himself, and has continued that calling up to the present time, and now owns 285 acres of land. In 1854 he married Martha J. McAllister, who was born April 10, 1835, in Gibson County, and of their ten children eight are living. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Ford is steward, trustee and class leader in the same. He is a stanch Democrat, and is accounted a good farmer and a model citizen in the community in which he resides.
Miss Ida Flynn, principal of "Miss Flynn's Select School," at Kenton, Tenn., is a native of Atlanta, Ga., born August 11, 1863, daughter of Matthew J. Flynn, who was born in the "Emerald Isle," and who married Margaret J. Berry, of Atlanta, Ga., who was, born in England. In early life they came to America and settled in Atlanta, Ga., where they met and married, and subsequently, removed to Nashville, where they both died when our subject was only a few years of age. The father was an architect of considerable note. Miss Flynn was reared and educated by Mrs. Thomas D. Craighead, a prominent lady of Nashville. At the age of twelve years she entered the fourth grade of the Nashville public schools, and in 1880 graduated with first honors, receiving the Peabody medal and delivering the valedictory address. She was later placed in the middle class of the State Normal College, and completed the middle and senior years in one year, graduating in 1881 with the degree of L. I. In 1882 she graduated as valedictorian in the Baccalaureate class with the degree of A. B., and received the Peabody medal for distinguished excellence. She came to Kenton the same year and for some time was connected with the Kenton public schools. Her select school was organized February 4, 1885, and the people of Kenton are devoted to her and her work. She is one of the first teachers of the State, and is possessed of untiring energy and undomitable will. She is a woman of rare culture, and her many virtues and graces fit her for any position in life.
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