M. H. Clift

       
   M. H. Clift., attorney, of the firm of Cooke, Clift & Cooke, is a native of Hamilton County, and the son of Col. William Clift, a native of Greene County, Tenn. The father was reared in Knox County, and came to Hamilton County about 1825, residing at Soddy until his death in 1866. He was colonel of the State militia many years, and during the war was colonel in the Federal Army. From 1848 to 1855 he was commissioner of improvement for the United States Government. The mother, Nancy (Brooks) Clift, was a native of Knox County, and died in this county in 1847. Our subject was reared and educated in Hamilton County, and at the commencement of hostilities enlisted in the Fourth Tennessee Confederate Cavalry. He was paroled at Columbus, Ga., being at that time on Debrill's staff. He was admitted to the bar just prior to the war, and at its termination came to Chattanooga and began practicing his profession in the firm of Wallace & Clift, where be remained one year. After practicing alone for a few months he became a member of the firm of Clift & McRee, then Clift & Bate, then Clift, Bate & Cooke, then Clift & Cooke, and finally, January 1, 1887, the firm of Cooke, Clift & Cooke was formed. Our subject is president of the Soddy Coal Company and Walden Ridge Coal Company, also director in the Mutual Gas Company and the Home Insurance Company. In 1867 be married Miss A. C. Cooke, who bore him two children; she died in 1876. In 1883 he married Miss Florence Parrott, of Cartersville, Ga., and to this union have been born two children, both living. Mr. Clift is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the K. of P.
Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887