Jesse C. Roberson

        Jesse C. Roberson, farmer of the Fifteenth District, was born February 10, 1820, in Bledsoe County, and came to Hamilton County in June, 1862. He is the ninth of twelve children born to James and Margaret (Worthington) Roberson. The father was born in Anderson County, Tenn., in 1784, on Clinch River, and was of Scotch descent. He moved to Bledsoe County in 1805, was the first settler in Sequatchie Valley and suffered all the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. At first he had to go eighty miles to mill. He represented Bledsoe and Marion Counties in the State Legislature in 1829 and 1830. He was a very successful farmer and trader, accumulating a large fortune, and was a prominent citizen of the county. He was a major in the State Militia, a deacon in the Baptist Church, and was the first man in that county to send his children away to school. He died in August, 1851. Mrs. Roberson was born in 1785, and died January 28, 1828. She was of English descent. He married the second time Miss Sallie Hutchinson, by whom he had four children. Our subject received his education in the University of Knoxville, and at the age of eighteen was thrown upon his own resources. He wedded Miss Mary Shepherd February 15, 1863. She is the daughter of Lewis and Margaret (Donohoo) Shepherd. Mr. Shepherd was born in Newberry District, S. C., in 1796, and died November 2, 1856. Mrs. Shepherd was born, in Monroe County, Tenn., in 1811, and is still living. Mrs. Shepherd's father, Mr. Charles Donohoo, came to Monroe County at quite an early day, locating first in a fort. He was sheriff of that county for many years. His father was an Irish weaver, and was quite prominent in Ireland. Our subject's great-grandfather, on his mother's side, came from England to America with Lord Baltimore, and settled in Baltimore County, Md. Many of his descendants now live there, wealthy and prominent citizens. Our subject began life a poor man, and when twenty-seven years of age his father gave him $600 and he received some property by his wife, the balance has been acquired by his own industry and splendid management. During the late war much of his property was destroyed and taken by the armies which infested the neighborhood quite frequently. The war left him $28,000 in debt, which he has about liquidated. He now owns a fine farm of over 2,900 acres in Hamilton County, and also owns 1,600 acres in the Sequatchie Valley. To Mr. and Mrs. Roberson were born four children: Sallie M., Lewis Shepherd, Mary Worthington and Jessie Kankin. Mr. and Mrs. Roberson are of Baptist belief, and their daughters are members of that church. Mr. Roberson is a Royal Arch Mason, was a Whig in politics before the war, a Republican afterward, and is now a stanch Prohibitionist. He is a man well known for his honest dealings, has never pleaded usury nor taken advantage of the bankrupt law. His children have had good educational advantages for the last twelve years in the city of Chattanooga.
Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887