Abraham Lloyd

A. Lloyd, general superintendent of the Soddy Coal Company, was born June 14, 1845*, in South Wales. He came to America in the spring of 1863, and located first in Pennsylvania. He moved from there to Ohio, and in 1867 came to Soddy, where he has since remained. He was one of a company of twenty, mostly Welsh people, who organized a company, and our subject was sent to Soddy to prospect for coal, which being very promising, they at once opened up the coal mine. There being no railroad by which to ship their coal, they built a narrow gauge railroad to the river and shipped by steamboat. In 1874 it was reorganized, and the present company took charge. A. Lloyd and L. W. Morgan were the stockholders in the old company, the rest of the company were new members. It began with a capacity of 500 bushels per day, and it now has a capacity of 500 tons of coal and coke. Arrangements are now being perfected for a much greater capacity. Mr. Lloyd is principally concerned in this company's coal interest in Arkansas. Our subject received his education mostly by his individual application, having attended subscription schools only six months in his life. He is the fourth of five children, born to Evan and Catherine (Reese) Lloyd. The father was born about 1808 and died in 1875. The mother was born about 1814, and died in 1873. They came to America in 1870. Our subject began life as a day laborer, and by his industry and ability as a business manager and financier has accumulated quite a fortune. He married Miss Margaret Evans June 4, 1864. She is also a native of Wales, born in 1840, and the daughter of Morgan and Eliza Evans, natives of Wales. Mrs. Lloyd came to America in 1863, and by her union with our subject became the mother of six children: Elizabeth (deceased October 8, 1886), Evan (assistant bookkeeper at the Soddy Coal Company's office in Chattanooga), Morgan (deceased), Kate, Helen, Maggie and Ida. Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd are members of the Welsh Congregational Church. Mr. Lloyd usually votes the Republican ticket, but votes more for principle and the best man. He is a Royal Arch Mason and is a member of the I. O. O. F. The church with which Mr. Lloyd is connected was organized in 1871, and its congregation is composed of Methodists, Baptists and Congregation­alists, principally the latter. It is in a very prosperous condition, has a splendid Sunday-school, and Rev. Morgan is the pastor. He is a native Welshman and preaches in both the English and Welch languages.

Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887
1880 US Census, District 12, Hamilton Co., TN; Page 107.
* The 1880 Hamilton County Census gives the date of birth for Abraham Lloyd as 1825. He is listed as age 55, born in Wales. His wife, Margaret’s age, is given as 40.