PETTIGREW FAMILY
James M. & Corry Pettigrew
In 1821 or 1822, James M. and Corry Pettigrew of Armagh county, Ireland, immigrated to America. They located in SC.contracting for canals and ditches. They then went to Alabama and engaged in merchandising until 1825. Then they came to Tennessee, locating in Perryville. About this time, a half brother, George B. Pettigrew came from Ireland and entered into partnership with them, locating a branch store at Beardstown, Perry Co. James M. also located a branch store at Oak Grove and they operated other stores at Decaturville, Decatur County, and at Spring Creek, Madison County.
James M. took over the business at Oak Grove and remained there until his death. He never married.
George, the half brother, was born June 13,1807, and August 12, 1830, he married Elizabeth Adamson, also a native of Ireland. He died October 29, 1859, and she January 15, 1871. They were the parents of 7 children , 5 of whom died in infancy. One son, James A.enlisted as a private in Company G., 20th Regiment Mounted Confederate Infantry. He became captain of his company and was wounded at Shiloh and Hoover's Gap. He was taken prisoner where he remained until January 6, 1864. The 2nd, George B enlisted as a private in Company G., 20th Regiment Mounted Confederate Infantry. George B. was promoted to 2nd Lt. before his death at Fishing Creek, KY.
Corry was born May 30, 1800. He managed the mercantile at Perryvillle. April 2, 1840, he married Mary A. Douglass, daughter of Joseph S. Douglass of Decatur County. To them were born 2 children: Thomas Jefferson and James K. Polk, both of whom enlisted in the CSA under General Cheatham, August 1861. Thomas J. was wounded several times and taken prisoner, but escaped. Since the war he has been engaged in the mercantile business. He married January 7, 1869, to Cordelia Welch, daughter of Henry Welch. She died in February, 1880, leaving 4 children : Mary E., Corry H., Martha A., and Elizabeth K.
James K. was promoted to become captain of his company. He was wounded at Shiloh. James was born June 13, 1844, and January 25, 1871, he married Margie A. Sherdon, a daughter of Daniel B. Sheardon, of Pennsylvania. She was born March 12, 1852, and became the mother of 4 children : Carrie P., Lucy B., Magie M., and Lena H.
Thomas and James were both Democrats and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
James K. was born in Decatur County, June 13, 1844. He was named after his uncle. January 25, 1871, he married Maggie A. Sherdon, born March 12, 1852, in Sciota County, Ohio. Her father, Daniel Sherdon, was a native of Pennsylvania. Her mother, Jane E. (Reynolds) Sherdon was from Ohio. They were the parents of 4 daughters : Carrie P. born at Oak Grove, January 27, 1872 ; Lucy Bell, born May 12, 1875 at Sulphur Springs; Maggie May, born March 24, 1877 at Sulphur Springs ; and Lena H. born September 29, 1878 at Sulphur Springs.
Among the influential and prominent families that came Decatur County at an early day was the Pettigrew family. In1821 or 1823 James M. and Corry Pettigreiv, two educated and polished young gentlemen of Armagh County, Ireland, left their native land and immigrated to America. They located in South Carolina and were engaged in contracting for canals and ditches. After considerable experience there they went to Alabama. and engaged in merchandising until 1825. They then came to Tennessee and located at Perryville. About this time George B. Pettigrew, a half brother, came from Ireland and entered into partnership with them, locating a branch store at Beardstown, Perry County. James M. also located a branch store at Oak Grove, an they operated other stores at Dccaturville, Decatur County, and at Spring Creek, Madison County. They were men of superior education and wonderful business ability, accumulate vast possessions and were recognized as the leading business men on the Tennessee River. James M. took charge of the business at Oak Grove, and remained there until his death. He was never married. George, half brother of James M. and Corry, was born June 1_, 1807, and August 12, 1830. married Elizabeth Adamson, also a native of Ireland. He died October 29, 1859, and she January 15, 1871. To them were born a family of seven children, five of whom died in infancy. James A. and George B. enlisted as privates in Company G, Twentieth Regiment Mounted Confederate Infantry. George was promoted to second lieutenant before his death, which occurred at the battle of Fishing Creek, Ky. James A. became captain of his company, and was a brave and fearless soldier. He we wounded at Shiloh, April 6, 1862, and was again wounded at Hoover's Gap, Tenn., and taken prisoner where he remained until January 6, 1864. Corry Pettigrew was born May 30, 1800. He managed the mercantile business at Perryville, and was man possessed of remarkable, business ability and untiring industry. April 2, 1840, he married Mary Douglass, daughter of Joseph S. Douglass, of Decatur County. He died but his widow is still, living. To them were born two children: Thomas Jackson and James K. Polk, both of whom enlisted in the Confederate Army under Gen. Cheatham August, 1861, and took an active and gallant lead in the engagements of that division - Shiloh, Perryvilie, Murfreesboro. Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Atlanta, etc. At the latter place Thomas J. was wounded, lost his left arm and was disabled from further activity. He was also wounded at Shiloh and taken prisoner but made his escape three days afterward at Pittsburg Landing. In 1863 he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, and served in that capacity until he was disabled at Atlanta. Since the war he has been engaged in mercantile and agricultural pursuits. He owns one of the finest tracts of land in the county. He was married January 7, 1869, to Cordelia Welch, daughter of Henry Welch. She died in February, 1880, leaving a family of four children: Mary E., Corry H., Martha A., and Elizabeth K. James K. followed the fortunes of war in the same company with his brother Thomas. He enlisted as a private but was, by active and gallant service, promoted until he became captain of his company. He was wounded a Shiloh and disabled from active duty. He was born June 13, 1844, and January 25, 1871 he wedded Miss, Maggie A. Sherdon, a daughter of Daniel B. Sherdon, of Pennsylvania. She was born March 12, 1852, and by her marriage became the mother of four children: Carrie P., Lucy B., Maggie M. and Lena H. Thomas J. and James K. are both Democrats and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. They are prosperous and worthy citizens.
James K. Pettigrew, born in Decatur County, June 10, 1844, is a descendant of one of the oldest and most honored families. He is named after his Uncle who was well known at Spring Creek, Madison County, at Decaturville, Perryville and Bradstown, Perry County, where he was engaged in business. Our subject was educated at Lexington and Mifflin, Henderson County. He took part in the late war, and received a wound in a skirmish one morning after the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, was convalescent in camp at Macon, Ga., when sufficiently recovered was honorably discharged arid returned home resuming his business of general merchandise at Oak Grove, Tenn. A year later he opened a brunch house at Sulphur Springs, a place owned by Mr. Pettigrew and famous for the medicinal qualities of its waters. January 23, 1871, he married Miss Maggie A. Sherdon, born March 12, 1852, in Sciota County, Ohio; the father. Daniel B. Sherdon, was a native of Pennsylvania and the mother. Mrs. Jane E. (Reynolds) Sherdon, of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Pettigrew have become the parents of four daughters: Carrie P., born at Oak Grove, January 27, 1872; Lucy Bell, born May 12, 1873; Maggie May, born March 24, 1877, and Lena H., born September 29, 1878; these three births occurred, at Sulphur Springs. To his children Mr. Pettigrew gives the advantages of a thorough college education. He and his entire family are members of the Southern Methodist Church. Mr. Pettigrew is a stanch Democrat. a pleasant gentleman and universally esteemed.
Goodspeeds History of Tennessee
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