My Genealogy Hound

Dr. J. N. Wardlaw, clerk and master of chancery court of Lauderdale County, and the son of Joseph and Mary A. (Niswanger) Wardlaw, was born June 2, 1820, in Laurens County, S. C. His parents were both born in that county, the father in 1793 and the mother in 1797. After marriage, in 1827, they came to Lauderdale County, and here spent the remainder of their days. Their family consisted of eleven children, seven of whom are living. Both parents were Methodists, and while in South Carolina, the father held the position of magistrate. He was a farmer and in politics an old-time Democrat. He died in 1862 and his wife in 1877. Our subject’s paternal ancestors were of Scotch descent and his maternal of German. He was reared on the farm, received a fair English education and at the age of seventeen entered a dry goods store as salesman where he continued three years. In 1840 he began the study of medicine under Dr. D. M. Henning. After reading a year he took a course of lectures at the Louisville Medical College. In 1844 he married T. J. Davie, a native of Alabama, born October 24, 1824, and the daughter of Dr. Edward Davie, of Haywood County, Tenn. To our subject and wife were born eight children. In 1851 the Doctor bought one-fourth interest in the steamer Naomi. In 1853 he sold out and moved to Ripley to engage in farming, and three years later he went into the mercantile business. In 1860 he opened a cotton house at Memphis, but during the war suspended business. In 1868 he again engaged in the mercantile business. Shortly after the war he was appointed clerk of the circuit court. In 1870 he was appointed clerk and master of chancery court and still holds that office. Politically, he was a Whig before the war, opposed to secession, but during the war he took sides with his State. He furnished two brave boys for the war, and the elder, Edward D., was killed at Brice’s Cross Roads. For fifty-seven years the Doctor has been a resident of Lauderdale County, and is numbered among its early settlers and worthy citizens.