James C. Childers
James C. Childers, a well-known farmer of the Fifth District, (James
County) was born in Cook County, Tenn., April 28, 1830. He is the seventh of
eleven children born to John and Mary (Campbell) Childers. The father was of
Irish-English descent, born in Virginia about 1780, and died near Little Rock,
Ark., October, 1859. He was a successful farmer, and a Whig. The mother was born
in Cook County, Tenn., and died at Harrison, Hamilton Co., Tenn., in August,
1860. They were married in Cook County about 1810. Both were members of the
Missionary Baptist Church. The subject of our sketch received a good academic
education. He began farming at an early age. In 1872 he moved to his present
place of residence. In 1871, at the organization of James County, he was
appointed by the Legislature as county commissioner. The same year he was
elected county court clerk, and held that office until 1874. He was then made
deputy county trustee, under S. J. Blair. In August, 1878, he was elected to
this office for one year, to fill the unexpired term of J.
W. Smith, who had resigned. Our subject is a decided Democrat and worthy
citizen. January 7, 1852, he was married to Miss Rebecca A. Reynolds, who was
born near Greeneville, Green Co.,
“Goodspeed’s History
of East Tennessee,”