My Genealogy Hound

J. O. Bettis, senior member of the livery firm of J. O. Bettis & Co., of Mossy Creek, was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., May 11, 1845, and is the son of John W. and Mary (Lyle) Bettis. The father was born in Jefferson (now Hamblen) County, Tenn., and was the son of David Bettis, who was born of Irish parents. The father was a farmer and mechanic, and was most successful in business pursuits, beginning life very poor and working up to a good competency. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and was a man generally esteemed and respected. The mother was a Miss Lyle, who was born in North Carolina, of Italian parents. She was a pious, Christian lady, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject was reared on the farm, and acquired a practical education in the district schools. He worked on the farm until the breaking out of the late war, and September 11, 1863, enlisted in Company D, of the Ninth United States Regiment of Tennessee Cavalry, of which he was corporal. He served two years, and on September 13, 1865, was mustered out at Knoxville. He was wounded in the right hip joint while on picket duty near Cobb’s Ford, in Hawkins County, Tenn. After the war he returned home and resumed farming, which he continued as far as able, by reason of his wound, and has made a success, and now owns and cultivates a fine farm of about 750 acres in the Ninth District. March ll, 1887, he engaged in the livery business at Mossy Creek, and now owns the largest and best equipped livery stable in Jefferson County. He is an enterprising and public-spirited citizen, and encourages all public enterprises. He is a warm friend of the public schools, and has served for a number of years as School Commissioner in his district. He was married in 1867 to Martha A. Johnson, who was born in Jefferson County, in September, 1850, and is the daughter of Joel Johnson, of Jefferson County. To this union ten children have been born, one of whom is deceased.