My Genealogy Hound

COL. ROBERT B. JETTON, register, and native of Rutherford County, Tenn., was born February 15, 1818, and is one of eight children born to the marriage of Robert Jetton and Nancy Wilson, both natives of North Carolina. The father came to this State about the beginning of the present century. He was a farmer and a Democrat of the Jacksonian school, being a major under Jackson in the Seminole war. He was a member of the Legislature a number of terms, and was recognized as one of the leading spirits of Democracy in the county during his time. He was prominently identified with all private and public enterprises and was a member of the Old School Presbyterian Church, in which faith he died December 26, 1840. Our subject resided with his parents on the home farm and received a good collegiate education, attending the Nashville University. At the age of twenty-two he began farming for himself, continuing the same until the ravages of war almost ruined him financially. After the war he made an attempt to regain his former financial standing, and succeeded in part. Later, owing to financial embarrassments, he was compelled to abandon farming and seek other employment as a means of livelihood, and for a time was deputy under Hardy Murfree, register of the county, and served two years. Mr. Murfree died about this time and Mr. Jetton was elected to fill the unexpired term, and in 1882 was elected to the office by the people. He has been unfortunate in matrimonial affairs, having lost two wives by death. His present wife was Miss Esther L. Murfree, whom he married in 1857. They have five children living. He had one daughter by his first wife, now Mrs. G. W. Fall, of Nashville, who was reared by ex-President Polk’s wife. Mr. Jetton is a Democrat and he and family are members of the Presbyterian Church.