My Genealogy Hound

Col. John A. Fite, Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, Tennessee, was born in 1832, in De Kalb County, a son of Jacob and Matilda (Baird) Fite. The father, of German origin, was born in North Carolina, and with his father came to Davidson County, then Smith County, and finally settled in DeKalb County, where he passed his days. Jacob married there, and was merchant at Alexandria as well as farmer, in 1846 he moved to near Lebanon, and died at the age of eighty-three. The mother, born in Hickman County, Tenn., died in 1876. Four of their eleven children are Dorcas R., widow of Leonard Scott; John A.; Dr. J. G. of Lebanon, and Edwin C. When fourteen years old our subject went to Wilson County and was educated in the university at Lebanon, and at Irving College. He began studying law at twenty-two, and in 1855 graduated from the law department of Cumberland University, and immediately began practice with his brother at Carthage. His brother being elected circuit judge in 1858, he formed partnership with Hon. W. D. De Witt, now at Chattanooga. In 1861 he enlisted in Company A, Seventh Tennessee Regiment, Moore’s Guards, and was elected captain and fought in Seven Pines; promoted major in 1862; he was in Mechanicsville (where he had two ribs broken), Chancellorsville, Cedar Run (where he received a wound in the leg), Fredericksburg and Gettysburg (where he was captured and taken to Fort McHenry), thence to Fort Delaware, thence to Johnson’s Island, where he was retained for nineteen months, and paroled in February, 1865, but remained in North Carolina. After the war he resumed practice with his brother, and in 1871 was also appointed clerk and master of chancery court holding it for over six years. In 1878 he and H. M. Hale became partners, and in 1882 he was elected to the State Legislature to fill an unexpired term, and elected to his present position in 1886. December 29, 1866, he married Mary M., daughter of Leroy H. and Eliza Mitchell, and born in Smith County in 1841. Their two children are Bettie and Mattie. He is a Master Mason and he and Mrs. Fite are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. For years he has been one of the leading lawyers of Smith County bar.