Bradley County
Tennessee General Assembly
Page 2

Ducan, David Washington (1867-1922)

HOUSE, 58th General Assembly, 1913-15; representing Bradley, James, and Polk Counties; Republican. Born near Bee Log, Yancey County, North Carolina, March 24th, 1867; son of William Franklin and Martha J. (Hensley) Duncan. Attended "common schools" of Bradley County. Married in Bradley County April 3, 1891, to Carrie Baldwin, native of Ball Camp, Knox County, daughter of Hugh Wilson and Deborah Louise (Cowen) Baldwin; children-- Harold Baldwin, Alberta Terrell, Mary Louise, Ruth Hensley, John Foster, and James Baldwin Duncan. Came with family to Bradley County at early age; occupation when in legislature, farmer and cattle raise with home at Tasso, Bradley County; at one time operated a dairy farm; for sixteen years was connected with railway postal service; mail clerk on Nashville-Atlanta Railroad, 1891-1905; won third prize in state fair for best dairy record, 1908. Served as State Livestock Inspector for East Tennessee, 1921-22, under appointment by Governor Alfred A. Taylor, Secretary County Republican Executive Committee, 1914-15. Contributed newspaper column "Farm, Dairy, and Livestock Department," 1908. Member Disciples of Christ; Free and Accepted Masons; sometime Patron, Order of the Eastern Star; member Past Matrons and Patrons Club; Independent Order of Odd Fellows; member East Tennessee Farmer's Institute; founder Tennessee Cattlemen's Association; past secretary Cleveland Commercial Club. Died near Cleveland, Bradley County, March 24, 1922; buried in New Friendship Cemetery, in Big Chatata Valley near Friendship Baptist Church, Bradley County.

Edwards, Richard M. (1822-1907)

HOUSE, 34th (Confederate) General Assembly, 1861-63; representing Bradley County, Unionist. Born in Roane County December 31, 1822; names of parents not found. Attended Oak Grove Academy, Cleveland, Bradley County; described as "well versed in history and English literature;" studied law and admitted to bar, 1850. Married in 1850 to Mary Lucinda Craigmiles of Cleveland; children--Lucy, Mary Emma, and John C. Came to Cleveland, 1838, before the Indian removal, coming with Uncle, Dr. P. J. R. Edwards, who reared him; practiced law; one of incorporators and a vice-president of Western North Carolina, Cleveland, and Chattanooga Railway. Although a Democrat, Edwards supported the Greenback  Party and was candidate for Governor on Greenback ticket in 1878 and again in 1880, but was unsuccessful in both campaigns. Author of chapter "Bradley County and the Town of Cleveland," in East Tennessee, Historical and Biographical (1893). In Mexican War, enrolled for duty at Athens, McMinn County, November 9, 1847; corporal, Company C, 5th Tennessee Infantry; detailed as hospital steward at San Juan, Mexico, April 1, 1848; mustered but at Memphis, Shelby County, July 20, 1848. In Union Army; mustered into service and authorized to raise a regiment by Secretary of War November 5, 1862; made Colonel, 4th Tennessee Cavalry, U. S. A.; command transferred to another November 24, 1864; mustered out March 16, 1865. Member Free and Accepted Masons, Masters degree, Knights of Pythias. Died at Soldiers Home, Johnson City, Washington County, January 22, 1907; buried in Fort Hill Cemetery, Cleveland.

Franklin, Walter (1868-1934)

SENATE, 68th General Assembly, 1933-34; representing counties of Bradley, Anderson, McMinn, and Roane; Republican. Born in Bartow County, Georgia, February 16, 1868; son of J. W. and Sarah Franklin. Attended "common schools" of Bartow County; Grant Memorial University, Athens, McMinn County. Married, date and place not indicated, to Elizabeth Dial; two sons-- Walter, Jr. and Roy A. Franklin. Taught school for a few years in Ohio and East Tennessee before entering newspaper field; before removal to Cleveland, Bradley County, had operated a newspaper at Madisonville, Monroe County, and at Athens, McMinn County; bought the Cleveland Herald January 1, 1913, which he edited and published for remainder of life. Chairman Bradley County Republican Executive Committee at time of death. Member Methodist Church; Ocoee Lodge No.97, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Woodmen of the World; sometime president Rotary Club. Died at Cleveland May 1, 1934; buried in Fort Hill Cemetery.

Gaut, Jesse H. (1824-1905)

HOUSE, 34th (Reconstruction) General Assembly; representing Bradley County; served through 1st session April 3-June 12, 1865, and in 1st Adjourned Session from October 2 to December 5, 1865, on which date he resigned seat because of "imperative duty that I leave my seat and return to my business engagements, " resigned "with regret and from extreme necessity"; vacancy thus created filled by Judge K. Clingan; Gaut served in SENATE, 44th General Assembly, 1885-87; representing Counties of Bradley, James, McMinn, Meigs, and Polk; Unionist in 34th Assembly, Republican in 44th; had been a Whig before Civil War. Born near Athens, McMinn County, November 25, 1824; son of James and Rosamond (Irwin) Gaut. Attended "common schools" at Cleveland, Bradley County; two years at East Tennessee University, Knoxville, Knox County; read law for two years and obtained license to practice. First married December 6, 1849, to Sarah E. Isbell of McMinn County, daughter of Benjamin and Martha (Parks) Isbell; she died May 28, 1864; three sons by this marriage --Thomas Isbell and twins, Oscar Hamilton and Orlando Parks; second marriage March 8, 1866, to Ella A. Lucky, daughter of Seth J. W. and Sarah (Rhea) Luckey; six children by this marriage--Sarah Luckey, John Watson, Jesse Rhea, twins, Agnes Moore and Luella Irwin, and the youngest, Cornelius Luckey Gaut. Taught school in earlier years; practiced law at Cleveland; attorney for East Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia Railroad; attorney for Branch Bank of Tennessee, 1855-61; one of incorporators of North Carolina, Cleveland, and Chattanooga Railway Company. Unsuccessful candidate for judge of the 2nd Chancery Division of Tennessee, 1868; special judge on Tennessee Supreme Court at Knoxville, 1881; mayor of Cleveland, 1882-83; appointed postmaster at Cleveland. Member Presbyterian and later of Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Died October 23, 1905 buried in Fort Hill Cemetery, Cleveland.

Hall, John H. (1929-      )

HOUSE, 84th General Assembly, 1965-67; representing Bradley County; Republican. Born at Valley Head, DeKalb County, Alabama, October10, 1929; son of John M. and Clara E. (Brooks) Hall. Attended Arnold Elementary School and Bradley Central High School, both at Cleveland, Bradley County. Married at Rising Fawn, Dade County, Georgia, December 25, 1949, to Mary Ellen Runion, native of Polk County and daughter of Elias and Florence Runion; one son-- Brian Keith Hall. Employed since June 28, 1945, by Duplan Corporation of  Cleveland, manufacturer of textured yarns; presently (1967) office and personnel manager. Elected, 1966, Commissioner of Police, Streets, and Lights, Cleveland. In U. S. Army January 1947-June 1948; rank, sergeant, Medical Corps. Steward and trustee, Methodist Episcopal Church; Free and Accepted Masons Royal Arch degree; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Young Republican Club; Auxiliary Police; Optimist Club; Toastmasters Club; American Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars. Business address, P. O. Box  84; residence, 1105 N. W. 24th Street, Cleveland.

Harris, Richard R. (c. 1832-    ?)

HOUSE, 33rd General Assembly, 1859-61; representing Bradley County; Democrat. Born in Monroe County c. 1832; names of parents and extent of schooling not determined; studied law. Was married but nothing found to indicate name of wife, date and place of marriage, and names of children, if any. Was practicing law at Cleveland, Bradley County, when in legislature; removed to Rome, Georgia, (1883) where he edited the Tribune of that city. In confederate army; enlisted at Cleveland February 14, 1862, as private, Company D, 5th (McKenzie's) Tennessee Cavalry; detached for duty in commissary department, March 28, 1862; transferred to Brigade Quartermaster Department May 24, 1862; promoted to assistant regimental Quartermaster May 24, 1862; continued in that capacity to end of War, attaining rank of captain; paroled at Charlotte, North Carolina, May 3, 1865. Member Presbyterian Church; secretary Lodge No. 97, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 1856. Date of death and place of burial not found.

Henry, Ake (c. 1808-1871)

HOUSE, 29th General Assembly, 1851-53; representing Bradley County, Whig. Born in Tennessee c. 1808; undetermined are following: exact date and place of birth, names of parents; and extent of schooling. Married to Sarah B.; family name of wife, date and place of marriage not indicated; oldest child, Philmore T., born c.1836; five younger children--James H., Harrison H., Martin C., Naomi J., and Sarah G. Engaged in farming in Bradley County with post office address Cleveland; commissioner for Cleveland and Ducktown Railroad. Chairman of Conservative Union Men of Bradley County, 1866-67. Died at Cleveland May 16, 1871; place of burial not stated.

Johnston, Thomas Lynn (1908-1969)

HOUSE, 77th and 78th General Assemblies; representing Bradley and Polk Counties; Democrat; in 77th Assembly he contested seat first held by Frank Day Lowery; successful in contest and was seated February 8, 1951 and served to end of term in 78th, January 2, 1955. Born at Cleveland, Bradley County, December 18, 1908; son of Thomas Brunner and Frances Elinor (Maples) Johnston. Attended following schools in Chattanooga, Hamilton County:   Central Elementary School, 1913-21; Central High School, 1922-25; Chattanooga College of Law, 1928-332; studied civil engineering at American Technical College, Chicago, Illinois, 1934-36. Married at Cleveland September 28, 1935, to Margie Ruth Hawkins, daughter of James B. and Pearl (Cochran) Hawkins of Old Fort, Bradley County; children--Thomas Lynn, Jr., Rita Lynn, and Sharon Johnston. Occupation: manufacture of ornamental concrete, Cleveland, under firm name of Concrete Crafts, described as the largest manufacturer in United States, of a general line of ornamental concrete lawn and garden furniture. Democratic committeeman for 4th civil district of Bradley County; county veterans service officer. In World War II; entered military service at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, 1942; staff sergeant 245th Combat Engineers; honorably discharged at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, August 16, 1945; awarded Purple Heart; Distinguished Service Cross; Good Conduct Medal. Member Disabled American Veterans; serving two terms, 1950 and 1951, as State Department Commander of D. A. V., member Veterans of Foreign Wars; American Legion. Member Methodist Church. Died at home in Cleveland December 12, 1969; buried in Fort Hill Cemetery.