My Genealogy Hound

John K. McClerkin, a well-known farmer and citizen of Brighton, Tenn., was born in Tipton County, March 8, 1847, and is a son of John M. and Ann (McQuiston) McClerkin, who were both natives of Chester County, S. C. The father was born in 1810, and died November 22, 1872. The mother was born in 1810, and is still living. The parents were married in 1830 or 1881, and soon after moved to Tipton County, settling ten miles southwest of Covington, and three miles west of Brighton. The father was a prosperous farmer. For twelve years before the war and four years during the war he was trustee of Tipton County. He was a Union man, before and during the war, and then a Republican and with his wife belonged to the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. John K. McClerkin received a good education at the high school at Clayton, Ill., then taught school for three years in Tipton County, where he engaged in the mercantile business in Tipton County. In the year 1874 he bought a farm near Brighton, and since then has given his time to farming. March 19, 1870 he married Miss Retta J. Smith, who was born in Tipton County, July 19, 1847, and they had two children, but both died. Mrs. McClerkin died August 4, 1874, and December 24, 1876, Mr. McClerkin was married to Miss Nannie A. Smith, a sister to his first wife. She was born July 29, 1839, and they have had two sons. Mr. McClerkin is a Democrat and a member of the Associate Reform Church.