Jesse A. Green
Jesse A. Green, sheriff of James County, and resident of Ooltewah, was born eleven miles east of Knoxville, Knox Co., Tenn., January 17, 1828. He is the second of eight children born to Samuel and Martha (Ferguson) Green. The father was born in Knox County, Tenn., about 1789, of English-Irish descent. He died in Hamilton (now James) County, October 15, 1855. He was married in his native county, and a few years later went to Roane County. Shortly afterward he located in Hamilton County, being among the early settlers. He was a farmer by occupation. He served in the war of 1812. He was an ardent admirer of Andrew Jackson, and a stanch Democrat. The mother was born in East Tennessee, about 1791, and died at the residence of our subject, four miles north of Ooltewah, in 1858. Both were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject received a good education in Hamilton County. In 1850 he purchased a farm in what is now James County, upon which he settled the following year. For ten years he engaged exclusively in agricultural pursuits. In 1860 he came to Ooltewah, and, in partnership with E. W. Reagan, established a family grocery. Two years later, on account of the war, he was forced to abandon the mercantile business. With his wife, child, and an orphan whom he was raising, he returned to his farm, and remained there till two years after the war. In 1868 he came back to Ooltewah, and opened a store of general merchandise, in partnership with Elijah and N. A. Fitzgerald. The latter sold out to the other member of the firm. At the organization of James County, in 1871, our subject was elected high sheriff, and served five years. In August, 1886, he was again elected to the same office. He is a true Republican. He is not connected with any church, but is a believer in religion, and is a man of good morals. He began life comparatively poor, but by hard work and energy has accumulated a handsome property. He owns nearly 2,200 acres of land in James and Bradley Counties, the Green Hotel, a business house and dwelling, a half interest in a large flouring mill in Ooltewah, also a half interest in a valuable lot on which is a business house, on King Street, Chattanooga, and three-fifths interest in the Iron Ore and Caolin Mines, in Catoosa County, Ga., six miles north of Dalton. June 5, 1860, he married Miss Rebecca Ferguson, who was born in Grainger County, near Rutledge, about 1829. She died February 8, 1882. This union resulted in one son, Luther, born May 5, 1851, and now a resident of Ooltewah.
“Goodspeed’s History
of East Tennessee,”