My Genealogy Hound

Col. James L. Stribling, a prominent and well known citizen of Lawrence County, Tenn., was born in Giles County, March 9, 1829, son of Obadiah T. and Mary (Simonton) Stribling, natives respectively of South and North Carolina. The father came to Tennessee in 1818 and practiced medicine there in Athens, Ala., until 1829, when he came to Lawrenceburg, where he resided at the time of his death in July, 1833. James L. has made his home in Lawrence County since 1843. In 1847 he and W. P. Horne purchased the Middle Tennessean, a weekly newspaper, in the interest of the Whig party, and the only paper printed in the judicial circuit at that time. The paper had been established in 1845, by Dr. W. P. Rowls, under the name of the Academist, and was afterward run by S. E. Rose, John A. Tinnon, Lee M. Bentley and Horne & Harrison. Col. Stribling purchased Mr. Harrison’s interest and continued the publication of the paper until 1850, when the firm sold to Hatcher & Jerrett. After retiring from the newspaper business Col. Stribling engaged in farming, but in 1872 returned to Lawrenceburg and engaged in the hotel business, and continued successfully about six years. Since that time he has given his time and attention to farming and general trading. In August, 1885, he became connected with the grist mill of Lawrenceburg, being a partner of Daniel Guthrie. July 15, 1849, he married Mary J. Alexander, of Maury County, who bore him six children: Edward L., Mary A., Fannie K. (Mrs. A. M. Looney), James H., Rose E. and Robert Lee. The Colonel is a Democrat but previous to the war was a Whig.