Charles Abner Lyerly

      CHARLES ABNER LYERLY, son of Isaac Lyerly and Louise Jennings Lyerly, was born in Enterprise, Mississippi, March 29, 1847. He died in Chattanooga in 1925. He was educated in the schools of Clark County, Mississippi, and began work at the age of fifteen years. When be was twenty he entered business for himself. He conducted a merchandise house in Enterprise until 1880 when he moved to New Orleans and formed a partnership with John P. Richardson in the wholesale dry goods business. In 1884 he moved to Jackson, Miss., where he organized the First National Bank of Jackson of which he was vice-president. In 1887 he moved to Chattanooga and organized the Chattanooga National Bank of which he was president for eighteen years. In 1907 the Chattanooga National Bank was absorbed by the First National Bank of Chattanooga and Captain Lyerly was chosen president. He held this position until his death. In addition he was vice president of the Chattanooga Transfer Company and director in numerous companies. He was a member of the Mountain City Club, the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club and other organizations. He was deeply interested in agricultural affairs and he owned one of the largest and finest peach orchards in Georgia.
    He married Jennie Drane, in Enterprise, Mississippi, February 6, 1874. Mrs. Lyerly died a few years before Captain Lyerly passed away. Their five children were Irene, who married Lowry H. Lamb; Walter, who died young; Helen, who married Zeboim Charles Patten; Ballard, who is a Major in the United States Army; and Charles Abner Lyerly who makes his home in Chattanooga.
Mr. and Mrs. Lowry H. Lamb had three children, Gloria, who married William Taylor Green; Lowry H., Jr., and Walter Lamb. Mrs. Zeboim Charles Patten died in 1927, leaving one daughter, Dorothy.
"The History of Hamilton County and Chattanooga Tennessee, Volume 1," Zella Armstrong, 1931; Page 427.

Submitted by Dennis C. Wilson
dwilson215@aol.com