My Genealogy Hound

S. D. Waddill, groceryman of Humboldt, Tenn., was born in Madison County, Tenn., February 9, 1848; son of S. Q. and America (Meffield) Waddill, who were born in Tennessee, and of Scotch and English descent, respectively. The father was born in Williamson County, in 1818, and was taken to Madison County when a small lad. His parents were Samuel D. and Elizabeth B. Waddill, and his grandfather, John Waddill, was a Highland Scotchman, and a supporter of the house of Stuart in the rebellion of 1745 and 1746. After the disastrous battle of Culloden, John Waddill, with a number of his clan, took refuge in America, and he soon after married Rachel Quee, and after living a short time in South Carolina came to East Tennessee, in 1818, and was the founder of the Waddills in this State. He died in 1827 at one hundred and seven years of age. He and his son came to West Tennessee when the country was a wilderness and the woods were full of bear, deer, wolves and panther. They cleared a piece of land, raised one crop, and then went back to East Tennessee, and removed the family thither in January, 1819. It was six months before the mother saw a woman and she lived about six miles distant. There were no roads at that time. S. Q. Waddill was a farmer through life, and was married when about thirty-five years of age. He served as justice of the peace and deputy sheriff, and took considerable interest in raising fine horses. He was also a small slave owner. He was a Democrat and died in 1862. S. D. Waddill, our subject, received a common school education, and when fourteen years of age was left homeless. At the age of fifteen he joined Gen. Forrest’s cavalry, Company B, Fourteenth Tennessee Regiment. He was at Harrisburg, Franklin, Yazoo City, Bolivar, Athens and many other important engagements. He returned home early in 1865, and began attending school in Humboldt and was a close student for fifteen months. After farming two years, he began clerking for J. W. Pickler and after remaining with him two years, engaged in the grocery business with R. Stobaugh, remaining with him eleven years. Since December, 1880, he has been in the business alone. His stock amounts to about $5,000. He is a Democrat and a member of the I. O. O. F. November 8, 1882, he married Nancy J. Pearcy, daughter of J. B. and Martha E. (Hicks) Pearcy. Mr. and Mrs. Waddill have one daughter, Bertha America, born August 9, 1885. Husband and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.