History of Rutledge, (Grainger County) Tennessee United States of America

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Biographies:

Benjamin St. James Fry, editor, was born at Rutledge, Tenn., June 16, 1824. He was graduated from Woodward college, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1844, and became associate editor and publisher of the Western Rambler. He was a Methodist circuit preacher, 1847-56; president of the Worthington, Ohio, female college, 1856-60, and chaplain of the 63d Ohio volunteer infantry, 1861-64. He was agent of the Methodist book concern at St. Louis, Mo., 1865-72, and editor of the Central Christian, Advocate, 1872-92. He was a delegate to the general conferences of 1876, 1880, 1884 and 1888, and also to the ecumenical conferences at London in 1881 and at Washington, D.C., in 1891. The honorary degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Quincy college, Ill., in 1871. He published the lives of Bishops Whatcoat (1854), McKendree (1855), Roberts (1856), and George (1856); also a prize essay Property Consecrated (1856). He died in St. Louis, Mo., Feb. 5, 1892.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Cocke, representative, was born in Washington county, Va., in 1772; son of Gen. William and Sarah (Maclin) Cocke; grandson of Abraham Cocke and great-great-great grandson of Richard Cocke, who came to Virginia prior to 1632 and settled on the James river in Henrico county. He removed to Tennessee with his father who became a United States senator, and he was there admitted to the bar in 1793. In 1796 he was elected a member of the first state legislature, and was continuously re-elected, serving for many years as speaker of the lower house. Subsequently he was elected state senator. He was a representative from Tennessee in the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th congresses, 1819-27. He was prominent in the Florida and Creek wars; was a major-general in the U.S. army, and had a fierce controversy with Gen. Andrew Jackson, who was his superior in command and who had him cashiered. Parton, in his "Life of Andrew Jackson," blames Jackson and states that General Cocke was completely vindicated on the trial. He founded a school for deaf mutes at Knoxville, Tenn. He died in Rutledge, Tenn., Feb. 16, 1854.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor