My Genealogy Hound

Andrew J. Viar, the son of Robert and Frances (Parker) Viar, was born in Floyd County, Va., in 1832. The family consisted of nine children, five now living. The father was born in North Carolina about 1790. He was left an orphan when quite young and was raised by a Mr. Hastin, receiving a very limited education. He was in the war of 1812. When twenty-one he married Miss Frances Parker. He was then living in Virginia, where he remained farming as a tenant, until 1846, when he moved to Rome County, Tenn., and spent the rest of his life there, except a short time in Monroe County. Mrs. Viar was born in Pennsylvania in 1795, and died in 1863 in Monroe County. In 1866 he married Mrs. Akin, who died in 1878. Mr. Viar died in 1877, at the advanced age of eighty-seven. Our subject remained at home until his majority. In 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate Army, under Capt. Blair, of East Tennessee, and Col. Rounds. He engaged in the seige of Vicksburg, was captured, and soon after returned home after twelve months’ active service. December, 1863, he married Miss Delila, daughter of Nathan and Nancy Ragains, of Monroe County. They had ten children, six living: Ellen V., wife of Nathan Bizzle; Amanda E., Nathan A., Nancy F., Walter O. and Amy J. After his marriage he moved to Virginia, and two years later returned to East Tennessee. January, 1871, he moved to Orange County, Ind., and the October following moved to Fayette County, Tenn., and the next year to Dyer County. In 1883 he bought 200 acres of land in the Seventh District, five miles east of Dyersburg, and has since engaged in farming. Mrs. Viar was born in Blount County, Tenn., in 1845, and is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Viar is a self-made man, and is conservative in politics.