My Genealogy Hound

Hon. J. T. Wootten, lawyer, was born in Macon County in 1848, one of two children of Sarah A. Wootten, born in Claiborne County, Tenn., in 1823. She came to Macon County in 1843, where she has since resided. She is a member of the Christian Church. Her parents were Edward and Rosanna (Dean) Wootten, natives of North Carolina, where they were reared and married in 1814. They removed to East Tennessee, where the father died about 1833. Removing to Illinois about 1851, the mother remained there until her death. Edward’s (the grandfather’s) parents, were William and Sallie (Lloyd) Wootten, natives of Wales and early settlers of Halifax County, N. C. From five to fourteen years of age, our subject was apprenticed to H. S. Young, of Lafayette, and then was dependent on his own resources. He, at the early age of fifteen, enlisted in Company K, Thirty-seventh Kentucky Mounted Infantry for one year, and served for eighteen months in Virginia in active service and in many severe engagements. He then re-enlisted in Company D, Eighth Tennessee Mounted Infantry, and continued until the close of the war. After finishing his education in Spencer County he taught two years in Indiana, and then in Macon County, Tenn. For four years after 1868 he was deputy county clerk. January 1, 1871, he married Rebecca M., daughter, of George L. and Mary G. Walton. Their five children are George Irvine, Gerda A., John E., Effie G. and an infant. Mrs. Wootten was born in Macon County, in 1853, and is a member of the Christian Church. From 1872 to 1876 Mr. Wootten served as county superintendent of public schools. After several years in general trading, in 1880 he began the practice of law, and is now one of the most promising and popular members of the Macon County bar. In 1884 he was elected to represent Macon and Clay Counties in the State Legislature, and in 1886 was a candidate for the office of attorney-general, but his party was defeated, although he received the largest Republican vote ever given in the district. He is a progressive man, and has always been Republican in politics, first voting for Gen. Grant. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.