History of Memphis, (Shelby County) Tennessee United States of America

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Biographies:

James Robinson Graves, author, was born in Chester, Vt., April 10, 1820; son of Zuinglius and Loisa (Snell) Graves. He was principal of Kingsville academy, Ohio, 1839-41, and then removed to Kentucky for his health and took charge of Clear Creek academy, near Nicholasville. While teaching he mastered a college course of study without assistance and began the study of theology. He was ordained to the Baptist ministry and in July, 1845, removed to Nashville, Tenn., where he established an academy and in the fall became pastor of the 2d Baptist church. He was editor of the Tennessee Baptist 1846; originated the Southwestern publishing house of Nashville, Tenn., in 1848; and in 1850 founded the Tennessee and Alabama female institute, afterward the Mary Sharpe female college, Winchester, Tenn., and drafted its curriculum. He was one of the leaders of the Baptist high church party, holding the "Old Landmarkism" views. In addition to editorial articles and contributions to periodicals he wrote: The Desire of All Nations; The Watchman's Reply; The Trilemma; The First Baptist Church in America; The Great Iron Wheel (1854); The Little Iron Wheel (1856); The Bible Doctrine of the Middle Life; The Intermediate State (1869); Exposition of Modern Spiritism; Old Landmarkism, What It Is (1878); The Little Seraph; The Intercommunion of Churches (1879); The Redemptive work of Christ (1883); The Work of Christ in Seven Dispensations; The New Great Iron Wheel (1884); Denominational Sermons (1885); and The Parables and Prophecies of Christ (1887). He edited and brought before the public Robinson's History of Baptism; Wall's History of Infant Baptism; Orchard's History of Foreign and English Baptists, and Stewart's Baptisms. He died in Memphis, Tenn., in 1896.

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

James Patton Anderson, soldier, was born in Winchester, Tenn., Feb. 16, 1822; son of Col. William P. and Margaret L. (Adair) Anderson. He was graduated at Jefferson college, Canonsburg, Pa., in 1840, and in law at Frankfort, Ky., in 1842. He practised law in Hernando, Miss., 1842-'46; served in the Mexican war as lieutenant-colonel, 1846-'49; was a representative to the Mississippi legislature two terms; U. S. marshal, Washington Territory, 1853-'55; and a delegate to the 34th congress, 1855-'57; declined the nomination for governor and removed to Monticello, Fla., where he resided, 1857-'61. He was a delegate to the state convention of 1861, and a representative in the provisional Confederate States congress, 1861. He was colonel, brigadier-general and major-general in the Confederate army, 1861-'65; won promotion for gallant conduct at Shiloh and Stone's river; commanded the military district of Florida; was severely wounded at Jonesboro, and commanded a division in the army of the Tennessee. He died at Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 20, 1872.

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

James Ronald Chalmers, soldier, was born in Halifax county, Va., Jan. 11, 1831, son of Joseph W. Chalmers, U. S. Senator from Mississippi. He was graduated at the South Carolina college in 1851, and in 1853 was admitted to the bar. He was made district attorney in 1858, and in 1861 was a delegate to the secession convention. He was commissioned as colonel of the 9th Mississippi regiment, in 1861, and in February, 1862, was promoted brigadier-general, serving with distinction throughout the war. In 1875 and 1876 he was a member of the Mississippi state senate, and in the latter year was elected a representative in the 45th Congress. He was re-elected to the 46th Congress, and was given a certificate of election to the 47th Congress, but the office was contested and won by John R. Lynch. He was elected to the 48th Congress, and contested the election to the 51st Congress. He died at Memphis, Tenn., April 9, 1898.

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

Charles W. Adams, soldier, was born in Boston, Mass., Aug. 16, 1817. He removed to New Albany, Ind., with his parents in 1819; was educated in the public schools and removed to Helena, Arkansas Ty., in 1835, becoming a bank-cashier. He fitted himself for the law; was admitted to the bar in 1839; practised for some time with W. K. Sebastian, afterwards U.S. senator, and was judge of the 1st circuit court of the territory, 1852-4. He was a member of the peace convention at Washington, D.C., in February, 1861, and also of the constitutional convention in March, 1861, which met to decide upon the relation of Arkansas to the Union, and subsequently adopted the ordinance of secession. He entered the Confederate army as quartermaster with the rank of major on the staff of Gen. Thomas H. Bradley and after organizing the department over which he presided, resigned and recruited the 23d Arkansas infantry, becoming its colonel. He joined the army of the Tennessee at Corinth, Miss., and subsequently became chief of staff to General Hindman in the trans-Mississippi department, being transferred with him to the army of the Tennessee. He was commissioned a brigadier-general in the Confederate army for gallantry at Missionary Ridge, and was then assigned to the northern subdivision of the trans-Mississippi department where he served until the surrender of Lee. He removed to Memphis, Tenn., in 1865, practised law there in partnership with Gen. Albert Pike until 1869, and thereafter alone. He died in Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 9, 1878.

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