Evander M. Betts, a prominent merchant of Claybrook, was born in Davidson County, Tenn., in 1833, and is the son of John J. and Ruth (Glasgow) Betts. The parents are also natives of this State. The Betts family are among the first settlers of Davidson County. The father was a farmer in the latter part of his life, his early days being spent in milling. Ten children blessed their union - three daughters and seven sons - of whom two daughters and two sons are living. The father moved to Mississippi in 1845, and there remained until his death, which occurred in 1849. He was in the war of 1812, and furnished one son for the Florida Indian war and two for thee Mexican war. His widow followed him in death in 1883. Our subject was reared to manhood on the farm, leaving it at the age of twenty-one, and engaged in different pursuits until 1861, when he volunteered in the quartermaster's department, and remained until 1862, when he enlisted in the Fifty-first Tennessee Regiment and there remained until 1864, when he was wounded at Atlanta, Ga., which rendered him unfit for soldier duty the remainder of the war; yet he rendered the Southern Confederacy all possible aid otherwise until the close. Since the war he has been engaged in farming, milling and stock-trading, until 1875, when he began merchandising in the village, and continues up to the present time. In 1861 he married Miss Catherine T. Bushy. She was born in this State about 1841, and is the mother of one child, that died at the age of nineteen. The mother died in 1865. In 1866 he married Lou Boswell, of this State, and daughter of Edward Boswell. She was born in 1833, and is the mother of one child, named Emily A. Himself and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. November 25, 1886, his daughter, Emily A., was united in marriage to Wm. B. Britt. Our subject is a member of the Masonic order, and also of the K. of G. R. In politics he is Democratic.

Goodspeeds History of Tennessee