My Genealogy Hound

Hon. Henry H. Hubbard, one of the most prominent citizens of Jefferson County, was born in Greensboro, N. C, February 12, 1825, the son of Jacob and P. (Swain) Hubbard. The father was born in 1789 in North Carolina, the son of Joseph and Ann (Crews) Hubbard. Joseph was born in Mecklenburg County, Va., about 1740, a descendant of English Quakers, who came over with William Penn, for the settlement of Pennsylvania. Jacob came to Greensboro, N. C, in 1818, and was one of the founders of that city. He was a merchant and trader, and was a strong-minded man, fond of politics and private discussion, often engaging in political conversation with John C. Calhoun, who often passed through the city. From 1846 to 1855 he lived in Raysville, Ind., and then removed to Nashville, Tenn., where he died in 1862. The mother was born near Greensboro, N. C, in 1799, the daughter of Dr. George Swain, a native of Nantucket, Island, and who was in early life on whaling vessels, in various portions of the ocean, and later, an able and well-informed physician, with a remarkable memory and extensive acquirements in history, science, mathematics, geography, theology and the literary and political publications of the day. He died in his eighty-first year. The mother died in Raysville, Ind., in 1848, and lies buried in the Friends’ burial ground there. Our subject, the third of eight children, was reared in Greensboro, N. C, and received a classical education at New Gordon Quaker Boarding School, and at Colweld Institute, Greensboro, N. C. When but seventeen he taught a classical school at Holt’s Factory, Orange County, N. C, then, for about six months, was engaged as assistant clerk, in the county clerk’s office of Guilford County, N. C. In May, 1844, he was called to the chair of mathematics in Holston College, New Market, Tenn., but was assigned, on his arrival, the chair of languages, and in that capacity instructed many distinguished Tennesseans, among whom are ex-United States District Attorney Meek, Judges Hoyle, Randolph and others. He served in the college one session, and then began the study of law under Judge Hynds, of Dandridge, one of the ablest jurists of his day, in East Tennessee. Judges Robert M. Anderson and Thomas L. Williams admitted him in August, 1846. He was soon after appointed director of the Bank of Tennessee, and then became the attorney of the bank of that district. At a public meeting at Strawberry Plains, held in 1851, to break ground in the constructing of the East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad, our subject made a forcible address, which was the means of bringing his talents before the public. He was chosen to represent Jefferson County, the ensuing Legislature, and served with distinction, being one among the youngest members of that body. He served on the public lands, education and common schools, and redistricting committees and others, and introduced many important measures, several of which became laws, among which were these: “To incorporate Mossy Creek Baptist Seminary (now Carson college).” “To provide for the agricultural, geological, and mineralogical survey of Tennessee,” the latter bill furnishing the foundation for a bill which subsequently became a law, and proved of incalculable benefit to Tennessee. It was during that session, that the system of internal improvement was put in operation. In 1853 he was re-elected, and unanimously chosen speaker pro tem, of the house, which position he filled for almost a month, during the speaker’s sickness. The free banking system was established, and he became cashier of a new bank at Dandridge. When the Confederate Congress met at Richmond, he was chosen recording clerk of the Senate, and then returned and remained at home throughout the war. He was one of the executive committee of the State grange for four years, and served as its business agent at Knoxville for several years. He was vice-president of the East Tennessee Farmers’ Association, and has always been a prominent member of the Farmers’ Convention, and delivered many valuable addresses and essays to that body, the one delivered in 1884, on dairy farming, attracting so much attention as to be extensively published. In the gubernatorial contest of 1876 he was earnestly solicited by his neighbors to become the Democratic candidate for that part of the State, but declined, preferring private life. October 24, 1844, he married Mary J. Branner, a daughter of George Branner, and born in Dandridge August, 10, 1826. She is a granddaughter of Col. John Roper (deceased). Her father represented Jefferson County in the Legislature. Five of the twelve children of our subject are living. He and his wife are Methodists. Henry Hull, the subject of the following sketch, is a farmer in the Ninth Civil District, of Jefferson County, Tenn., and was born in said county May14, 1839. He is the son of Isaac and Sophia (Hammonds) Hull. The father was a native of North Carolina, and came to Tennessee when but a boy; he was a very extensive farmer, and died about 1872, at the age of nearly eighty-five years. The mother is a native of Tennessee, and now lives with our subject. She is the mother of three sons and five daughters. Our subject is the youngest of these children, and was reared on the farm and educated at Black Oak Grove College. He has followed farming all his life, and is now one of the prosperous farmers of Jefferson County, owning a farm of 500 acres and has it well-improved. In 1879 he was united in marriage with Amanda Lacy, a daughter of John Lacy, of Grainger County, Tenn. One son and four daughters have blessed the union; their names are Zora, Sophia, Evaline, La Fayette and Martha Virdie.