Hamilton and James County Biographies K - L

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Key, David M. 

           Hon. David M. Key, judge of the United States District Court for the eastern and middle divisions of Tennessee, is a native of Greene County, this State, his birth occurring January 27, 1824. He is a son of Rev. John and Margaret (Armitage) Key who were also natives of Greene County, their respective deaths occurring in Monroe County, Tenn., in 1854 and 1882. The father was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church. In the year 1826 the family removed to Monroe County where David M. was reared and educated, having graduated from Hiwassee College in 1850. He selected the legal profession as his voca­tion through life, and the same year of his graduation was admitted to the bar. For two years he practiced law at Madisonville, then a short time at Kingston, and in February, 1853, came to Chattanooga, which has ever since been his home. Until the commencement of the war he practiced his profession in the firm of Welcker & Key, then enlisting in the Forty-third Confederate Tennessee Regiment of Infantry, served until the close of the war, and was mustered out as lieutenant-colonel. He then resumed the practice of law in the firm of Welcker & Key until 1868, then in the firm of Key, Eakin & Key. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1870, and in August of the same year was elected chancellor of the Chattanooga division. This position he resigned in 1875, to accept the appointment of United States Senator tendered him by Gov. Porter. In March, 1877, he was appointed Postmaster­ General by President Hayes, and filled the office until August 25, 1880, when he accepted his present position. In 1857 Mr. Key wedded Eliza­beth Lenoir, a native Chattanoogan, and to their union nine children have been born, eight of whom are yet living.
    "Goodspeed's History of East Tennessee, Hamilton County." 1887

King, Thomas S.          

          Thomas S. King, secretary and treasurer of the Vehicle Company, is a native of Wales, and came to the United States in infancy. His parents, Thomas and Mary (Morgan) King, located in Illinois in 1848, where our subject was reared and educated at McKendree College, Lebanon, Ill. At the time of the breaking out of hostilities between the North and South our subject enlisted in the One Hundred and Fiftieth Illinois Infantry and served, until the close of the war. He then returned to Illinois, but at the end of one year moved to Georgia and engaged in the mercantile business for a short time. He was then engaged in the rail­way mail service of the United States until he accepted his present posi­tion in December, 1884. The Vehicle Spring Company was organized in the year 1884 and has $5,000 invested. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and the G. A. R. Mr. King's parents were natives of England and Wales respectively. The father was a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church for more than thirty years before his death; died August 30, 1886. The mother is still living.      "Goodspeed's History of East Tennessee, Hamilton County." 1887 

Kirklen, Elisha         

           Elisha Kirklin, merchant at St. Elmo, was born March 9, 1832, in Bledsoe County, and is one of ten children born to Elisha and Susan (Hixon) Kirklin. The father was born in North Carolina in and came to Bledsoe County at a very early date. He served as justice of the peace for many years and was a very successful farmer and merchant. He was of English descent and died in 1866. The mother was born in Bledsoe County in 1804. She was an active Christian worker and died December 17, 1886. She was of German descent. Our subject received a fair education in the common schools of Bledsoe County. He assisted his father on the farm, and in 1852 married Miss Nancy Stockton. She was born December 18, 1833, and was the daughter of William and Charlotta (Reckter) Stockton. Nine children are the result of our sub­ject's marriage: Mary S. (Mrs. Ashley), Martha J. (Mrs. Schultz), Laura L. (Mrs. Adams), Abraham, Lizzie (Mrs. Jackson), William, Elisha, Joseph and George. Mrs. Kirklen is a member of the Methodist Epis­copal Church South. Our subject farmed in the Second District until 1884, when he moved to St. Elmo and engaged in merchandising. He has a fine farm of 800 acres in the Second District, also four and a half acres in St. Elmo. Mr. Kirklen is a Democrat in politics and was post­master at Hamilton post office for several years.    

"Goodspeed's History of East Tennessee, Hamilton County." 1887

Kirklen Sr., Elisha and Susan         

           Long before ST Elmo became a community, Elisha Kirklen presided over Kirklentown or Kirkland at the foot of Lookout Mountain. Elisha was born in South Carolina on May 27, 1792 and married Susan Hixon, the daughter of Ephraim and Margaret Hixon. The couple had twelve children. While living in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, Elisha Kirklen purchased hundreds of acres along the Tennessee River at the foot of Lookout Mountain. He loved his estate so much that he decided to divide the property among his children provided that the property not be sold. Kirklen purchased the former Jeremiah Fryer farm near Chattanooga Creek and named his estate Kirklentown. Kirklin’s home was located near the old Whiteside Turnpike now called Old Mountain Rd. Kirklen's property covered part of what now is ST Elmo, S. Broad St. And Alton Park.    Years later Susan related to family members how during the Civil War both armies came to the estate and robbed her of food, supplies, guns, tools, animals and anything of value despite the fact that Elisha was in the Confederate Army. She later recalled how they hid in nearby caves during cannon fire. In 1860 Elisha Kirklen’s worth was valued at forty-six thousand dollars yet, when he died on January 17, 1864 the Civil War had left the family penniless. Susan Kirklen who was born on March 25, 1834 continued to live in Kirklentown until her death from a bad fall on June 26, 1885. The couple were buried on a hill in what is now Alton Park overlooking their vast estate. Kirklen Cemetery is located near 42nd and Grand and contains fifty graves though not all were marked. One of Elisha and Susan’s sons was George W. Kirklen who married Louise Lamb. George served as postmaster of Kirklentown.

Written and submitted by Jeffrey C. Webb mysaintelmo.com

Lewis, Edwin S.          

          Rev. E. S. Lewis, A. M., acting president of Chattanooga University, was born in Natick, Mass., August 24, 1855. His father, Rev. Joseph W. Lewis, was a Methodist Episcopal minister of Massachusetts for many years, of which State he was a native. His mother, Miss Dorcas K. Hoar, was a member of one of the most prominent families of the State. Their family consisted of three children - two sons and one daughter. Our subject was the eldest child, and while growing up received his education in the public and high schools of his native State. He prepared, by private instruction, for Boston University, and graduated in 1877 from the College of Liberal Arts, and four years later also graduated from the school of all science of the same university. He was professor of natural science in the Cin­cinnati Wesleyan College, has held the position of president of Little Rock University, and accepted his present position in 1886. In 1879 he married Miss Anna C. Sparks of Hamilton County, Ohio, who bore him two children, only one now living, Edward R. He and wife are both members and active workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee."

 18871880 US Census, Colerain, Hamilton Co., Ohio; 

Llewellyn, Morgan          

          Morgan Llewellyn, secretary and treasurer of the Chattanooga Foun­dry and Pipe Works, is a native of Lehigh County, Penn., born Janu­ary 20, 1846, and the son of William and Mary (Morgans) Llewellyn, both natives of Wales. Our subject was reared to manhood in his native State and received a fair academic education. Early in life he engaged in the iron business, and later engaged in mercantile pursuits for himself at Alliance, Ohio. In 1869 he came to Tennessee, and engaged in the mercantile business at Knoxville, and then engaged in the coal business thirty miles above that city, being superintendent of the mines for eight years. He moved to Washington, D. C., in 1879, and accepted a position as clerk in the post office department, where he continued four years. In 1883, he resigned to re-enter the coal business at Oliver Springs, Tenn., owning an interest in the Winters Gap Coal Company of that place at the present time, and is secretary and treasurer of the same. June 1884, he came to Chattanooga, and accepted a position as bookkeeper with the Chattanooga Foundry & Pipe Works, was elected secretary in July 1885, and treasurer in July 1886, being also one of its stockholders. In 1868 he wedded Sallie A. Powell of Pennsylvania, and four living chil­dren resulted from this union-two sons and two daughters. Mr. Llewellyn is a Republican, a Knight of Honor, a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. 

Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887 

Lloyd, Abraham         

           Abraham 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. 

Lloyd, John E.           

          John E. Lloyd, is a native of Wales, and came to America in the spring of 1860. He spent the first two years, after landing in this coun­try, in traveling quite extensively throughout the United States, prospect­ing for a company of mining capitalists at Philadelphia. He then set­tled at Dupont, Penn., as superintendent of mines belonging to Geo. Dupont & Co. He was with the Delaware Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company for three years as contractor. In 1872 and 1873 he was a member of the Tuscaloosa Mining and Transportation Company who were prospecting with a view to opening up some coal lands in Tuscaloosa County, Ala. He then moved to Rising Fawn, where he was engaged by a New York company, who were engaged in operating the Rising Fawn Iron Furnaces. He then came to Chattanooga and engaged in the real estate business. From here he went to Fort Payne, Ala., to open up the Beson Gap Coal Mines for a New York company, and this proved another failure. He afterward engaged in land surveying in DeKalb County, and moved from there to Soddy, where he has since remained. . He was superintendent of the mines of Dayton in 1882 and 1883 under John H. Furgason, after which he went to Texas and Arkansas to open up mines for Carson & Louis, of Weatherford, Tex. For the past two years he has been located at Soddy, where he has been looking after the ventilation of the mines owned by The Soddy Coal Company. In 1886 Mr. Lloyd was the Demo­cratic candidate for the Legislature from this Legislative district, cutting down the great majority by which the county is usually carried to 200. During the late war be commanded a company in Fitz John Porter's army corps. He engaged in all the battles and skirmishes in which his regiment took part up to the time of his separation from the army. He married Miss Annie Morgan in 1870. She was a native of Wales, and came to America, September, 1870. This union resulted in the birth of five children three of whom are living: Katie, Arthur, Emma, Eudora, Theophilus (deceased) and Elizabeth (deceased). Mr. Lloyd is a member of the Congregational Church as was also his wife. He has been quite a successful geologist and practical miner and has walked over every foot of the mineral lands of East Tennessee, North Carolina and Alabama. His father lived and died in Wales. He was a soldier in the Peninsular war, engaged in the battle of Waterloo, and ranked as colonel in the Brit­ish Army. He died when our subject was quite small.

Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee." 1887 

Lloyd, William R.          

           William R. Lloyd, superintendent of the Sale Creek Coal Company, was born December 4, 1838, in South Wales, and came to America in 1861. He returned to Wales in 1862, and again in 1866. He worked on a farm until fourteen years of age, after which he worked at coal min­ing as a day laborer. He began life a poor man and owes his elevation to his present position to his own ability as a practical miner. He received his education in the subscription schools of South Wales, and at the age of twenty-one began working for himself. In 1859 he married Miss Margaret Thomas also a native of Wales, who came to this country with her husband. By this union they had these children: William T. (killed by a powder explosion at Soddy, in May, 1866), Evan (deceased), Catherine (Mrs. Thomas), Margaret Ann (Mrs. Price), Jane, Thomas, Rebecca and Taliesyn.    Our subject's parents, Evan and Catherine (Reese) Lloyd were natives of Wales, and they in company with Mrs. Lloyd's mother came to America in 1870. Our subject is a Republican in politics, and he and wife have been members of the Congregational Church for many years. He has been superintendent of the Sale Creek Mines since the fall of 1881 and has the respect and confidence of all who know him. 

Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887 

Hunt, Levinna Family-Owned End of Lookout, Living on Mountain        

            Mrs. Levinna Hunt, Now Making Her Home with Mrs. J. M. Nolan, First Came Here in 1874.  Mrs. Levinna Hunt, who makes her home at present with Mrs. J.M. Nolan, on Lookout, is the last of a family which once owned the whole northern end of the mountain.  Mrs. Hunt was born in Broome County, New York. She is now in her ninetieth year and came to Chattanooga in the winter of 1874 with her husband, who had formerly practiced law in Buffalo.  Mr. Hunt suffered from throat trouble and thought that the air of Lookout Mountain would benefit his health.  At that time Chattanooga numbered only 13,000 inhabitants.     They purchased 500 acres on the northern brow of the mountain for the sum of $1500.  There were few houses on the mountain then, and the Hunts had practically no near neighbors.  This was before the first railroad was built up the mountain, and the only means of communication with the outside world was by way of a mountain trail.     For the first two years of their sojourn on the mountain Mr. and Mrs., Hunt lived in the old college buildings.  they organized the first Sunday school ever held on the mountain, and services were conducted in their home.  Mrs. Hunt is one of the oldest members of the First Methodist Church of this city.     It was through Mr. Hunt’s influence that the first railroad was built.  Maj. W.R. King superintended the construction of this road.  It was a narrow gauge which extended from the head of the incline to Natural bridge.  Mr. Hunt sold 140 acres of his holdings to the first incline corporation, obligating them to put up a railroad.  The rest of the original 500 acres was sold off in small lots after the mountain became popular as a residence section.     Mr. Hunt was in his ninety-first year when he died, several years ago.  Mrs. Hunt, who entered her ninetieth year in April, is the last representative, both of her family and his.     She is confined to her bed all the time, and while she is unable to sit up for more than a few minutes, she leads a happy and useful life.     Although she is compelled to lie flat on her back, she manages to keep busy a great part of the day.  During the war she knitted helmets, socks sweaters and scarfs for the soldiers.  Now that she has been ordered to stack her needles she knits and crochets things for household use, and frequently designs her own patterns.     Her memory is remarkably clear and accurate, and she talks in an interesting manner of the e days of Chattanooga.  Her mind is clear and active, and the visitor will find her a remarkably well-informed woman, with a keen interest in what is going on in the world today.  Her eyesight is unimpaired, and she is a constant reader of the daily papers, her church magazine, the Literary Digest and other current magazines. 

The Chattanooga Times 1920
Mrs. L. M. Hunt’s Gift to the University          

          Announcement has just been made public of the gift of the 14-acre home place of Mrs. Lavina Hunt, on Lookout Mountain, to the University of Chattanooga.  The property valuation is estimated in the real estate transfer carried in Tuesday’s Times at $8,000.  It was turned over to the endowment committee of the university, of which Capt. Chamberlain is chairman.  According to the terms of the transfer the university is at liberty to turn the land into cash at any time the trustees may deem it advisable.  Mrs. Hunt is a member of a prominent Methodist family.  Her husband died several years ago.  His brother, who is also dead, was Dr. Sanford Hunt, one of the most prominent Methodist ministers in this country. 

The Chattanooga Times

Submitted by Robbie Burkhart SamandRob@aol.com.