My Genealogy Hound

J. C. Prichard, a highly respectable farmer of the Ninth District, was born June 19, 1840, in Smith County, and the eldest of six children of William D. and Rebecca (Malone) Prichard. Both parents were natives of Smith County, born in 1819 and 1822, respectively. The mother died in May, 1865. The subject of this sketch received his education in his native county, and assisted his father on the farm until July, 1861, when he enlisted in Company F, Twenty-fourth Tennessee Infantry. He was sergeant of his company. He was wounded at the battle of Stone River, and captured at Missionary Ridge, taken to Rock Island and retained sixteen months; was then taken to Richmond, Va., and paroled. From there he went to South Carolina, and was with Gen. Johnston’s army at the time of surrender in 1865. The two following years he remained at home on the farm. February 20, 1867, he was wedded to Melissa, daughter of William and Elizabeth Lancaster. Mrs. Prichard was born February 25, 1848. To this union seven children were born: Willie, John and James. Four died in infancy. Mrs. Prichard is an estimable, intelligent woman, but has not yet connected herself with any church. Mr. Prichard is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian. He is a Democrat and gave his first presidential vote for Horace Greeley. August, 1876, he was elected justice of the peace, which office he still holds to the entire satisfaction of all. He owns 390 acres of highly cultivated and productive soil, situated on Smith’s Fork, twelve miles from Alexandria, and thirteen miles southeast from Carthage; a portion of this property was inherited from his father-in-law.