My Genealogy Hound

COL. GEORGE W. BOUNDS was born in Scott County, Va., September 25, 1818. His parents and grandparents were natives of the same State, and his maternal grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier. Our subject learned the saddler’s trade, serving an apprenticeship from thirteen to twenty years of age. He then worked at his trade in Estillville a short time, and came to Tennessee in order to vote for Gen. Harrison, as the right of suffrage was extended only to those who were householders or freeholders in their native State. He worked at his trade about six years, and then joined Col. Haskell’s regiment, and served in the Mexican war as orderly sergeant and then as second lieutenant, participating in many of its bloodiest battles. He was mustered out of service, but at the call for more troops he again joined, and was elected lieutenant-colonel of the Fifth Tennessee Regiment, which was independent, George B. McClellan being colonel. During a short time while the latter was sick our subject acted as colonel in his place. He was discharged at Memphis in July, 1848. At the breaking out of the civil war he was not in sympathy with the Southern cause, and, although he was forced to join a company of militia, he was honorably discharged at the reorganization of the army. He then held aloof from the army as far as it was in his power to do, it being wholly against his will or desire to take up arms against the Government. Since the war he has voted the Republican ticket exclusively. He was married, November 18, 1853, to Mary A. Pope. Their union has resulted in six children: James C., born September 23, 1854, and died March 23, 1876; Bettie, born April 30, 1856, wife of Thomas Joyce; John, born November 14, 1857; Fannie, born June 21, 1859; Ann, born July 3, 1860, and died April 23, 1878, and June, born July 6, 1863, and died July 13, 1863. Our subject has been a successful man throughout life, and was considered a brave and faithful officer and soldier in the Mexican war. He is a substantial citizen of Bedford County and a man of influence.