Where the Sun First Rises in Tennessee & Tennessee History Begins
Johnson County Civil Servants
Johnson Countians Who Have Served in the Tennessee General Assembly
Butler, Edward East (1864-1930), Senate, 57th, 58th, 63rd, 64th and 65th General Assemblies, 1911-1915, 1923-1929, Republican. Born at Mountain City, son of Roderick Random and Emeline Jane Donnelly Butler. Married at Dresden, NC Nov. 6, 1982 Ella M. Baker, daughter of John Baker of Ashe Co., NC. He served as Clerk and Master of the Chancery Court 1890-1900; Mayor of Mountain City, 1903, 1915, 1923; Delegate to Republican National Convention in 1904.
Butler, Roderick Random (1827-1902) House, 33rd, 34th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd and 44th, General Assemblies 1859-1863, 1879-1887; Senate in 34th, 49th, 50th, 51st and 52nd 1865-1867, 1895-1902. Republican. Born in Wythe Co., VA, son of George and Nancy Leitch Butler. Married at Johnson Co. Jan 8, 1847 Emeline Jane Donnelly, daughter of Richard and Rebecca Doran Donnelly. In Johnson County he served as Justice of the Peace for 3 years, Postmaster for 4 years, County judge for 2 years. Elected to the US House of Representatives of 40th and 3 succeeding congress, service from June 26, 1868 to March 3, 1875; elected again to the 50th congress March 4, 1887 to March 3, 1889. Delegate to State Constitutional Convention in 1865; Chairman, First Republican State Executive Committee.
Donnelly, William Kendrick (1827-1921) House, 40th General Assembly 1877-1879; Republican. Born at Johnson County, son of William and Sarah McQueen Donnelly. Married at Taylorsville August 31, 1865 Rachel Alice Moore Kiser, daughter of Green and Sarah Shoun Moore. Served as Constable in 1854.
Fuller, John Terry (1860-1935) House. 58th General Assembly 1913-1915. Republican. Born at Adkins, North Carolina, son of Joseph and Betty John Terry Fuller. Married in Sullivan County August 5, 1882 Sarah Amanda Wills, daughter of James H. and Eliza Ann orr Wills. Served as member of County Court, organized Johnson County Fair Association and served as its president for 25 years.
Grayson, James W.M. (died ca 1900) House. 35th General Assembly. contested seat held by Hawkins Provine Murphy successfully and was seated Nov. 25, 1867; served remainder of term ending October 1869. Married April 1, 1852 Julia Williams.
Greenwell, Sandy Allen (1892-1946) House. 70th General Assembly, 1937-1939, Republican, born at Johnson County son of James F. and Linda McEleay Greenwell. Married Ethel L. Served as Superintendent of Schools at Butler. Affiliated with Johnson County School System for several years.
Grindstaff, Sherman Wilburn (1897-1962) House. 63rd General Assembly, 1923-1925. Republican. Born in Johnson County son of John E. and Sarah Fine Stout Grindstaff. Married at Elizabethton June 3, 1927 Lola Belle Stout, daughter of Va. and Margaret Stout.
Maples, Lemuel L. (1835-1917). House. 47th General Assembly, 1891-1893. Republican. Born in Tennessee son of Deempsey and Rachael MacMann Maples. Married Amanda M.
Moreland, Martin L. (1851-1935) House. 45th and 46th General Assemblies, 1887-1891). Republican. Born in Johnson County son of William and Dicie Lunceford Moreland. Married Oct. 26, 1871 Linda Jane Hyder, daughter of William P. Hyder. Served as Sheriff of Johnson County 1882-1886 and elected again in 1886. Justice of the Peace, Postmaster at Doeville for 32 years.
Murphey, Hawkins Provine (1816-1899). House. 28th and 29th General Assemblies, 1849-1853. Whig. Elected to Seat vacated by Joseph H. Wagner who had represented April 3 through August 29, 1865. Murphey elected to First ADJ Session Oct. 2, 1865-Oct. 6, 1867. Elected to 35th General Assembly. Seat successfully contested by Grayson. Born Clairbourne County, son of Abraham and Sarah Provine Murphey. Single.
Shoun, John Bell (1874-1947). House. 54th General Assembly, 1925-1927. Elected to the House of the 75th General Assembly but did not attend due to illness. Republican. Born at Neva, Johnson County, Tennessee, son of Thomas Jefferson and Amanda Wagner Shoun. Married 1st at Butler August 4, 1898 Rosa A. Stallings, daughter of W.P. Stallings, 2nd at Knoxville June 15, 1929 Ruth Simmons, daughter of Cyrus Simmons. Received MD Degree from University of Chattanooga, post graduate work in School of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania and New York Medican Center.
Slimp, Frederick (1924-1904). House. 36th and 37th General Assemblies, 1869-1873. Republican. born in Johnson County son of Michael and Nancy Razor Slimp. Married 1st September 13, 1855 Nancy Naomi Ward and 2nd December 29, 1889 Martha Stout. Clerk of County Court 1862-1864, Clerk of Circuit Court 1865-1870. Delegate to East Tennessee Union Convention May 30 and 31, 1861.
Smith, Hamilton C. (1820-1885). Senate. 31st General Assembly, 1855-1857. American or know-nothing Party; Whig then Republican after Civil War. Born Carter County son of Caleb and Elizabeth Doran Smith. Married March 8, 1867 Sarah McIntosh Potter.
Stout, John M. (1857-1934). House. 56th and 57th General Assemblies, 1909-1913. Republican, born Johnson County son of Godfred Daniel and Elizabeth Crosswhite Stout. Married March 25, 1880 Mary E. Lowe, daughter of Jacob and Sarah Gambill Lowe. County Trustee 1888-1892. Tax Assessor 1892-1896.
Wagner, Joseph Hugh (1841-). House. 34th Reconstruction General Assembly April 3-August 29, 1865. Resigned August 29, 1865 and succeeded by Hawkins Provine Murphy. Democrat. Born Mountain City son of Mathias M. and Mary S. Fyffe Wagner. Married ca 1874 Sally Kossuth White, daughter of John Fletcher of Florida.
Weaver, Grady L. (1907-). House. 68th General Assembly 1933-1935. Republican. Born Avery County, NC son of H.L. and Sally Jane Weaver. Attended Tennessee School for the Blind through elementary and secondary grades; East Tennessee State College, studied Law at Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tennessee receiving LLB Degree in 1932. Married in Spartanburt, SC Hazel M. Grindstaff of Carter County, TN, daughter of Jim L. and Holly Grindstaff. Home teacher for Blind at Butler, served on board of Alderman, Member of County Court.
Wilson, Joseph Alexander (1862-). Senate. 54th and 55th General Assembly, 1905-1909. Republican. Born in Johnson County son of Irvin E. and Rebecca Shoun Wilson. Married 1st Mattie Adeline Jackson, 2nd Pet Chase of North Carolina. Chairman of County Court in 1881.
