D-E Bios, Goodspeed's History of Tennessee

 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.

Rev. J. H. DAVIS, a minister and farmer of the Eighteenth district, was born in Gilford County, N. C., January 12, 1820, and is the son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Howard) Davis, both natives of North Carolina.   His father was a saddler by trade.  Mr. Davis spent the days of his boyhood with John Kester, Esq., and his only education was that which he gained by his own exertions, studying at home.   In August, 1841, he married Sarah McCrary, a native of North Carolina, who died in 1842.   June 2, 1844, he married Sarah Clark, also a native of North Carolina, who was born November 22, 1822, and died  March 4, 1864.  To this marriage were born three children, viz.: Rebecca J., wife of A. L. Freeman; Lou, wife of James Hollis, and Agnes.   Mr. Davis came to Tennessee in November, 1857, and located at Yorkville, Gibson County, where he lived for eight years, and then removed to Weakley County, where he has since resided.    In October, 1864, he married Mrs. Collier, daughter of Archibald and Rebecca Rowett, who was born in Virginia July 81, 1830.  To the last marriage three children have been born, two of whom are still living, viz.: P. A. and Emma P.   Mr. Davis has been a preacher of the Baptist Church for over thirty years. He has been a zealous worker in the cause of religion, rendering effective service to the Lord.   Politically he has affiliated with the Democracy since the death of the Whig party.    He and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.

E. R. DENT, magistrate and farmer of the Eighteenth District of Weakley County, Tennessee, is one of five children born to John B. and Nancy Dent, who were born in North Carolina July 30, 1812, and September 29, 1806, and died in Tennessee in 1884 and 1885 respectively.   They were married about 1834.   The father was a farmer.   Our subject was born in Weakley County, Tenn., October 4, 1841, and obtained a common school education.   October 3,1866, he married Martha A. Chambers, a daughter of J. W. and Margaret Chambers.   Mrs. Dent was born January 9, 1847, and is the mother of six children, viz.: Minnie B., Ida L., Effie D., James R., Eugenie M. and Jessie.   Mr. Dent has resided on two different farms in the Eighteenth District.   His present farm consists of 140 acres of well improved and fertile land, about three miles from Martin.   Mr. Dent has always been industrious and energetic and a man of good business principles.    In 1870 he was elected to his present office of magistrate and has served by re-election up to the present time.   He is a Democrat and his first presidential vote was cast for Horace Greeley.   He is a member of the K. of H., and he and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

Joseph E. DENT's birth occurred in North Carolina in 1807, and he is one of eight children born to the marriage of John Dent and Eda Williams.    The former was born in North Carolina in 1783, and was married when about twenty-one years of age.    He died about 1845 and his widow a few years later.   His father, John Dent, Sr., was born in Maryland, and served as a private soldier in he Revolutionary war.   Joseph E. Dent was educated in the common schools, and when about nineteen years of age immigrated with his eldest sister, Mrs. Willis Cook, to Maury County, Tenn., and began working rented farms.   In 1828 he came to Dresden and worked for several years at the carpenter's trade, and in 1834 removed to Hickman, Ky., and after residing there until 1844 returned to Weakley County and took charge of his father-in-law's farm for about three years.   Since 1875 he has resided on his present farm of 210 acres.   He also owns several other tracts of land amounting in all to over 500 acres of land. He was formerly a Whig in politics, but since the war has been strictly conservative.   He belongs to the I.O.O.F.     In January, 1830, he married Catherine Jones, daughter of Israel and Margaret Jones.   They have no children of their own, but in 1852 they adopted an orphan boy, George W. RACHELS, whom they reared and who is now living on the farm with themselves.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Dent are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

H. N. EDMUNDS was born in Henry County  Tenn., February 18, 1850, and is the son of Howell and Martha (Pitman) Edmunds.  The father was born in Virginia in 1791, and was a farmer and a merchant by occupation.   In youth he went to North Carolina, and about 1844 came to Henry County.   Here he married in  1846.  He farmed and sold goods.  He owned at one time nearly 600 acres of land.  He died in 1854, aged sixty-three years.  Two of his live children are now living: Emma, wife of Benjamin Paris, and our subject.  The mother was born in Virginia in 1832, and came to this State at the age of thirteen.  Her second and present husband is Robert Boyd.  Mr. Boyd was born in Henry County in 1838.  Our subject was reared by his mother and was educated in Henry County, and in Logan County, Ky.  In 1873, he became a resident of Weakley County.  The following year he bought nearly 200 acres of land where he now lives.  He is one of the most enterprising citizens of the county, and is universally respected.   In politics be is a stanch Democrat. His farm now comprises 250 acres.

B. B. EDWARDS, clerk and master of the chancery court of Weakley County, Tenn., is a son of Thomas C. and Paulina Bransford (Bondurant) Edwards, who were born in North Carolina and Virginia, in 1800 and 1809, and died in 1872 and 1883 respectively.   Nathan Edwards, our subject's grandfather, came from North Carolina to Tennessee, in 1800, when the latter State was almost an unbroken wilderness.    He died in 1832.   Thomas 0. Edwards was educated in Gallatin, Tenn., and when about twenty-one years old began studying medicine.   He traveled in several of the Southern States a few years, and in 1826 came to Dresden, Tenn.    He married the following year, and eventually became one of the leading physicians of Weakley County.   He retained a lucrative practice until old age compelled him to abandon active life.   He was a man universally respected and esteemed, not only for his qualities as a physician but as a neighbor and friend.    Seven of their children lived to be grown, namely: Mary C. (Mrs. H. C. McCutcheon), Benjaman B., Nathan N.,  L. B., Thomas C. a D. D. S., Charles E. and Alfred G.  The last four live in Texas.  Our subject was born in 1830, where he now resides, and was academically educated at Dresden.  At the age of eighteen he began teaching school, continuing two terms.   In 1849 he became a disciple of Blackstone, his preceptor being  Hon. Emerson Etheridge.   In 1851 he was admitted to the Tennessee bar and immediately began practicing.   In September, 1856, he wedded Martha Morilla Cotton, who was a native of Sumner County, Tenn.    She died the following year, and in October, 1860, he wedded Miss Hugh Allie Button, daughter of Benjamin and Lovey Sutton.   She was born in 1840, in Sumner County, and is the mother of six children: Latham N., Morie, William T., Paulina, Nathan And Benjamin.   While the war was going on, Mr. Edwards taught school two years, January 12, 1875, he was appointed clerk and master of the chancery court to fill the unexpired term of W. R. Ross, and at the end of the term was re-elected for six years, and in 1883 was again re-elected.   As a lawyer he is regarded by his legal brethren and constituents as an able advocate and a safe counselor.   He has always been a Democrat in politics and belongs to the K. of R.

J. A. ESKRIDGE, a leading citizen and pioneer of the Fourth District, was born in 1844 in Granville County, N. C., and was one of a family of twelve children (five of whom still live), born to William and Mary Eskridge.   His father was of Irish descent, and was born in Granville County, N. C., in 1798.   In 1844 he removed to Weakley County, Tenn., and engaged in farming, continuing the same until his death, which occurred in December, 1876.   His mother was also a native of the same county and State as her husband, and was born in 1808, and died February, 1878.    Mr. Eskridge obtained his early education in the neighborhood schools, and afterward attended Columbus Academy, at Columbus, Ky.   On May 26, 1867, he married Fanny, the daughter of E. P. and Sabina Latham, who was born in Weakley County, Tenn., on March 25, 1864,  and died May 5, 181886.   To them were born seven children: Walter, Lula, Laura, James, Maud, Minnie and Fanny L.   Mr. Eskridge located upon his farm soon after marriage, and has continued to live there up to the present.  His farm embraces 750 acres of excellent land, in a high state of cultivation.   In 1866 he was elected constable, a position he filled for four years.  He is a man universally respected, energetic and public spirited, and lends a willing aid to all public enterprises. He is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Gen. George B. McClellan for President. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

Charles M. EWING, attorney at law, of Dresden, Tenn., was born in Davidson County, Tenn., in 1842, son of William B. and Martha (Graves) Ewing.   The father was born in the same county as our subject, in 1801.   He was a farmer, and was married about 1839, and located on the old home place near Nashville, where his father, Alexander Ewing, had settled at a very early date.   In his boyhood days, Charles M. attended the common schools, and in September, 1860, entered the University of Virginia, but in May, 1861, returned home and espoused the Confederate cause.   He enlisted in Company C, First Regiment, Tennessee Infantry, and participated in the battles of Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Atlanta, the Dalton Campaign, Franklin,   Nashville and numerous severe skirmishes.   He remained in the field until the final surrender, when he returned to his native county, and went to Lebanon and entered the law department of Cumberland University, where he remained until June, 1866.   He then returned and settled in Nashville where he began the practice of law.   He attended school at Lebanon, Tenn., for some time and there met Miss Bettie Caruthers, and in November, 1867, they were married.  Mrs. Ewing is the daughter of Hon. Abraham Caruthers, who was the founder of the law department of Cumberland University, and was president of the same and one of the ablest lawyers in the State. Mr. and Mrs. Ewing have three children: Estelle, Caruthers and Charlie.   In April, 1867, Mr. Ewing came to Dresden, where he has since practiced his profession.   He is one of the leading lawyers of the Dresden bar, and is a fluent and forcible speaker, and commands a large clientage.   He is a Democrat and a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a K. T., a K. of P., K. of H. and a member of the A.O.U.W.   He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

J. B. EZELL, farmer, fruit and vegetable grower, is one of live children of G. W. and A. M. Ezell, and was born in Marshall County, Tenn., in May, 1848.    The parents were born in Williamson and Marshall Counties, Tenn., in 1824 and 1880, respectively.   The father is a farmer of Marshall County.   The mother died in 1863.   Our subject was reared and educated in his native county, attending Chapel Hill Academy, under Prof. Cooper, who was captain in the army.    On the 21st of February, 1867, our subject and Miss M. A. Elder were united in marriage.  Mrs. Ezell was born in the balmy State of Alabama, in Lawrence County, in 1843, and is the mother of six children: Annie B., Johnnie H., George W., Fain, Emma and Frank.  Mr. Ezell located on his father's farm after his marriage, but two years later moved to Weakley County, and in 1870 bought the farm where he now resides. His farm consists of about 120 acres of valuable land well-improved.   Since 1878 he has been quite extensively and successfully engaged in raising fruits and vegetables, shipping the same.  He is a Democrat in politics, and he and wife are members of the Primitive Baptist Church.   Mr. Ezell's parents were born in Lawrence County, Ala., the father in 1816 and the mother in 1819.   Mr. Elder was a merchant and moved to Marshall County, Tenn., in 1850.   He died July 27, 1885,  and the mother in May, 1884. Their family consisted of eight children, seven of whom are now living.