My Genealogy Hound

Lieut. Harvey Chenault, a prominent citizen and farmer of the First District, was born in Sumner County in 1837, being the fifth child of fourteen children, nine sons and four daughters living. The parents were David and Louisa (Quisenberry) Chenault, natives of Madison County, Ky. The father was of French ancestry, born in 1800. Our subject’s grandfather was David Chenault, was a native of Virginia, and one of the pioneers of Madison County, Ky. He was a Baptist minister of ability, and possessed considerable means; he did a noble work in the church. David, Jr., was raised in Madison County; married in 1827, and moved to Sumner County in 1836; purchased a part of the “Old Greenfield tract” of land in the First District, where he spent the rest of his life farming, being one of the most extensive land owners in Sumner County. He was widely known and raised a large family of children, who inherited his many good qualities. He died in December, 1883. The mother was of German extraction and is still living at the old homestead, seventy-five years old, and a devout member of the Christian Church. Our subject was raised and educated at home. After attaining his majority he entered the mercantile business for a short time, and spent a year and a half in Texas. In 1861 he joined the Confederate Army, enlisting in Company K, Second Tennessee Infantry, as second lieutenant, and was soon promoted to first lieutenant. He served in that regiment nearly three years; he was first in the Virginia campaign, and was then transferred to the Army of the Tennessee, taking active part in all battles that his command participated in — being in the battle of Acquia Creek, the second battle of the war. February, 1864, he was compelled to resign his commission on account of ill health. He then joined the cavalry and was sent to the Indian Territory, as quartermaster, for ten months, when he joined Douglas Texas Battery, and served until the surrender, when he returned home and resumed farming, after four years of gallant service. April, 1867, he married Miss Sallie, daughter of James W. and Susan M. Bullock. Six children were born to them, four sons and one daughter living: Anna D., William, Nathan B., Cleburne and Harvey. Mr. Chenault has always lived in the First District. In 1882 he purchased the old Gen. Winchester farm, known as “Crag Fort,” six miles east of Gallatin, containing 500 acres of productive land. He is a good business man and a practical farmer, giving a generous support to all laudable enterprises. Politically he was formerly a Whig, casting his first presidential vote for John C. Breckinridge; since the war he has been a Democrat. Mrs. Chenault was born in Montgomery County, Ky., in 1846, and is a member of the Christian Church.