Submitted by Eddy Clark
J. C. Tharp, merchant, of Gibson, Gibson Co., Tenn., is a son of Hardy W. and Cynthia J.
(Broom) Tharp, who were born in North Carolina in 1801 and 1803, respectively. They were
married in their native State in 1821, and in 1836 moved to Fayette County, Tenn. To them were
born ten children. Both parents were members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and the father
was a member and chairman of the county court for many years. He was a Whig before the war
and a Democrat after, and was a farmer of considerable note, being the owner of 2,000 acres of
land. The mother died in 1880, followed by the father's death three years later. Our subject is of
English descent and was born in Franklin County, N. C., May 24, 1830. He received good
educational advantages and after attending the common schools, completed his education at
Bethany College, Va. He studied law for about six months with the view of making it a
profession, but was induced by his father to give it up. He then engaged in the mercantile
business in Summerville, Tenn., where he continued until 1857. From that time until 1861 he
was engaged in the same business at Quincy, Tenn. In 1862 he removed to Texas, and the
following year joined Capt. Toliver's company, Seventh Tennessee Confederate Cavalry. After
serving a short time his health failed and after being in the hospital for some time was
transferred to the commissary department. After the war he resumed business at Quincy and in
1871 went to Texas where he remained three years. In 1875 he transferred his business to
Gibson, where he has been reasonably successful. Mattie, daughter of Solomon Shaw, became
his wife in 1856 and the mother of one daughter-Anna C. His wife died in 1864, and the
following year he married Ella Neal, who bore him five children, four living: Henry N., Emma
L., James H. and Mary A. In 1874 this wife died and in 1875 Mrs. Virginia Askew became his
wife. The family are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Tharp was a Whig
previous to the war, but has since been a stanch Democrat. For about ten years he has been
postmaster at Gibson. He used to keep the office at Quincy, when the salary was 25 cents per
quarter. Besides his store he has a small stock and fruit farm.
Isaac Thetford, farmer, is a son of Josiah and Mary (Canady) Thetford, who were born in
Illinois and Tennessee respectively. They were married in Gibson County, Tenn., and here
raised a family of eight children. Josiah Thetford was a Federal soldier during the late war,
serving about three years. He voted the Whig and Republican tickets during his life, and was an
industrious farmer. He died in 1870. His widow lived with her children until 1880, when her
death occurred. Our subject was born in Gibson County, Tenn., May 30, 1833. He is of Irish
ancestry, and both of his great grandfathers were soldiers in the Revolutionary war, under
Washington. Isaac only attended school about six months during his youth. He remained with
his father until about twenty one years of age, when he began his career as a farmer. In 1854 he
married Mary J. Hill, by whom he had eleven children, five sons and six daughters. He is a
member of the Missionary Baptist Church, a Republican, and owns 160 acres of land.
John G. Thomas, M. D., was born January 13,1831, son of Gambrell and Ruth (Cole) Thomas.
The father was born in South Carolina, August 19, 1796, and died there, in 1843. After his death
his widow moved to Mississippi and died there in 1873. They reared a family of eight children,
all of whom are now dead (1886), except four: William J., Luarka, John G. and Reuben. Dr.
Thomas, our subject, was born in South Carolina, and moved with his mother to Mississippi in
1848, where he was given the advantages of a common school education. He began the study of
medicine in 1852, and in 1855 entered the South Carolina Medical School at Charleston, and
graduated from this institution in 1857. He began practicing in Mississippi, but in 1859 moved
to Arkansas, where he resided two years, then returned to Mississippi. In 1867 he came to
Gibson County, Tenn., where he has since practiced his profession. In 1865 he was married to
Miss Sallie Quinn, who died in the spring of 1884, having borne two children: Mattie L. (who
died at the age of fifteen), and Annie L. In the fall of 1884 Dr. Thomas married Miss Emma
Howell. They have one child-Hubert G. Dr. Thomas owns 50 acres of good land in the Twenty
fourth District of the county, and, being one of the successful physicians of Gibson County, has a
good and paying practice.
Samuel H. Thomas, register, and native of Gibson County, Tenn., was born on the 17th of April, 1845, and is a son of Rev. Samuel Y. and Sarah C. (Thomas) Thomas, who were Tennesseans. Samuel H.'s early days were spent on a farm, and in 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate Army, Twelfth Tennessee Cavalry, and served until June, 1864. He was wounded at this time, and was never able to re-enter service. After the war closed, and he regained his health, he attended school two years, and in 1871 engaged in the mercantile business at Dyer, and was thus engaged until 1875. Soon after this he was appointed postmaster at Dyer, and was also agent for the Southern Express Company at that place, which position he held until 1881. He was elected notary public of the Twenty-first District in 1879, and held the office until 1882, since which time he has followed agricultural pursuits. He was elected register of Gibson County in August, 1886. Mr. Thomas married Harriet E. Polk, February 9, 1871. She is a daughter of William and Mary Polk, of Fayette County, Tenn. They are the parents of the following children: William H., Samuel Y., Sallie L., Albert A., Mattie M., James D. and Earle. The family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Thomas is a Democrat, and of Scotch-Irish descent.
Henry Thompson's birth occurred in Maury County, Tenn., October 29, 1827. His parents were
Thomas and Elizabeth (Koons) Thompson, and he came to Gibson County with them at the age
of sixteen and has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He owns seventy-one acres of
valuable and well improved land, on which he located in 1884. Since 1858 he has been a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in 1853 was married to Jennie L. Moon,
daughter of William and Parmelia A. Moon, who are residents of Gibson County, and to their
union were born three children, one daughter and two sons: James B., John G. and Lula R. Mr.
Thompson has met with fair success in his business ventures and is an industrious "tiller of the
soil."
John Thompson (deceased) was born in Maury County, October 29, 1829, and was a brother of
Henry Thompson, whose sketch appears above. He was brought to West Tennessee when quite
small, and was yeared and educated in Gibson County. He followed agricultural pursuits until
his death, May 6, 1882, and was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and always
took an active part in all church affairs. He was generally successful in his business ventures,
and at the time of his demise owned 248 acres of as fine land as can be found in Gibson County,
all well improved, and a part of the same in a high state of cultivation. In 1854 he married
Nancy M. Wright, daughter of James W. and Lucinda Wright, and by her became the father of
three children: James T., Gideon H. and Luther M. James and Gideon are dead. The mother and
Luther M. are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
William Timmins, a prominent citizen of Gibson County, was born in Hawkins County, Tenn.,
November 7, 1811. He attended the common schools in boyhood and in 1822 moved with his
parents to Lincoln County, where he followed farming and remained until 1869. He then moved
to Gibson County and settled near Dyer, farming until 1880. and then moved to the town. He
superintends his farm of 140 acres and is considered a prosperous farmer and successful
business man. He has been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1838
and is a man whose moral worth is unquestionable. In 1840 he married Julia A. Martin, who
has borne him five sons and four daughters: Mary M., Charles B., George A., William M.,
Nannie and Thomas (twins), John W., Anna E. and Laura. Mr. Timmins supports the
Democratic party and is of Irish descent. His parents, Ambrose and Nancy (Henderson)
Timmins, are native Tennesseans.
Andrew J. Tighlman, a farmer of the Tenth District of Gibson County, Tenn., was born
November 22, 1851, son of Stephen H. and Mary Tighlman. The father was born in South
Carolina, and in 1832 came to Tennessee and settled in Gibson County. His occupation was
farming and stock raising. He reared a family of thirteen children to maturity, and died in
Gibson County in 1832. His wife died in 1874. They were earnest and worthy members of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Andrew J. Tighlman was born in North Carolina and came to
Tennessee with his parents. He has always followed farming for a living, in which he has been
quite successful, and now owns 178 acres of land in a high state of cultivation. In 1845 he was
united in marriage to Miss Mahala Tyson, and seven children have blessed their union: S. W.,
Palmyra, Tyson E., Jack D., George, Adaline and Coriana (who died in 1858). Mr. Tighlman
and family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and are highly respected in the
community in which they reside.
D. G. Tull, M. D., of Yorkville, Tenn., was born in 1837, and is a son of John R. and Susan W.
(Edwards) Tull, who were born in Delaware and Kentucky, respectively, and moved to
Williamson County, Tenn., after their marriage. The father farmed in early life and then
directed his attention to teaching school. He was in the war of 1812 and was captain of the State
militia. He and his wife were church members from early life, and while he was attending
conference at Shelbyville, Tenn., in 1847, he was taken with typhoid fever and died there. His
widow died in 1859. His father, Isaac N. Tull, was a native of Delaware and was a Presbyterian
minister. He was twice married; the first time to a Miss Roberts, and the second time to a Miss
Daisy. He died shortly after the war of 1812. Our subject's maternal grandfather was a pioneer
citizen of Kentucky and was one of the original manufacturers of Bourbon whisky. He was very
wealthy. He was married to a Miss Garrard, who bore him twelve children, and then to a Miss
Kelley, by whom he had twelve children. He died in 1854, at ninety-five years of age. Our
subject, Dr. Tull, was reared on a farm and was educated partly in Kentucky and partly in
Tennessee. After his father's death he lived with his widowed mother until eighteen years of
age, when he began studying medicine, under Dr. Robert Buchanan, of Williamson County, and
read with him three years. He at the same time attended the University of Nashville, and
graduated in 1860. He located at Bethesda, and practiced until 1861, when he enlisted in Capt.
Wm. Ewing's cavalry, McNairy's battalion, First Tennessee, and remained with him twelve
months, then joined Ballentine's regiment, Seventh Mississippi. He was in some of the
principal battles of the war, and never received a wound or was taken prisoner. After his return
from the army he located near Trimble's Station, in Obion County, and practiced five years.
February 5, 1868, he married Miss T. Hamilton, daughter of James M. and Rachel Hamilton.
She was born in Tennessee, in 1850, and became the mother of four children, two of whom are
dead. Mrs. Tull died in 1877. Dr. Tull, after leaving Trimble Station, located about four miles
from Yorkville, but at the end of eighteen months moved to Yorkville, his present station. In
1881 he was married to Sallie N. Scales, daughter of Maj. Wm. P. and Mary Scales. She was
born in Tennessee, and died in 1883. The Doctor is a member of the Masonic and I. 0. 0. P.
fraternities, and also the A. O. U. W. He belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and is
a stanch Democrat.
V. S. Turner was born in Iredell County, N. C., in 1846, and is a son of J. C. and Rebecca
(Dobbins) Turner, who were natives of Maryland and North Carolina, respectively. The father
was taken to North Carolina by his parents, and came with them to Fayette County, Tenn., in
1858. The father was a farmer, and was at first very prosperous, but met with reverses, from
which he never fully recovered. Of the six children born to him all lived, save one that died in
infancy. He moved to Gibson County in 1873, and he and wife were worthy and consistent
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife died in September, 1882. Our subject
and his father lived together until 1880, when the former settled on his present farm of 145
acres, which is well improved. Besides this he has ninety-seven acres partially improved. In
1871 he married Ida Gaither, daughter of William T. and M. B. Gaither. She was born in North
Carolina, in 1856, and came to Tennessee after her marriage. She has borne her husband one
daughter - Maggie A. Mr. Turner was magistrate one term, and is a Democrat and a member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church South. In April, 1864, he joined the Fourteenth Regiment
Tennessee Cavalry, Confederate States Army, and served until the regiment was disbanded, at
Rienza, Miss. He returned home, and was not able to rejoin his command, owing to the position
of the Union lines. He was at Memphis and Franklin, but was not wounded nor taken prisoner.
William R. Tyson is a resident of the Twenty-fourth District, of Gibson County, Tenn., and is a
son of Benjamin and Hannah (Williams) Tyson, who were born in North Carolina. Our subject
was born in Moore County, N. C., January 2, 1822, and was brought to Tennessee by his parents
in 1825. He has followed agricultural pursuits from boyhood, and has been reasonably
successful. He owns 150 acres of valuable and well improved land, and has reared and educated
a large family of children. November 15, 1845, he and Ann Eliza Rutledge were united in
marriage. She is a daughter of Elzy and Judith Rutledge, of Gibson County, and has borne her
husband five sons and four daughters: Henry C., Emily J., Harriet J., Juda F., William B., Mary
W., Parilee T., Jasper and Reuben. Mr. Tyson is of Scotch-Irish descent, and in politics is a
Democrat. He is a member of the F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F.
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