REV. ASA W. ELKINS was born July
10, 1821, son of Eli and Nancy (Riggins) Elkins. The father was bon
in North Carolina, and when a young man immigrated to Tennessee and settled
in Bedford County in about 1816. He was a farmer by occupation and
in early life was married to Miss Nancy Riggins, a native of North Carolina.
The fruits of this union were ten children: Deletha, William S.,
Mary, Asa W., James, Sarah, Nancy K., Evaline, Eli and Richard, who died
during the late war. Eli Elkins immigrated to Alabama in 1833 and
settled in Jackson County, where he died in 1835. After his death
Mrs. Elkins married Lewis Page, and to them were born one child, Nancy
W., who died during the war. Mrs. Page died about 1876. The
Elkins family is of English descent. The grandfather of our subject was
in the Revolutionary war and was a gallant soldier. Our subject was
born in the present limits of Coffee County. The educational advantages
at that early da were not what they are now, consequently the education
that he acquired at school was rather limited. By this own efforts
he has gained considerable information, and is considered a man of sound
judgment and good sense. In 1846 he married Miss Lucinda Stafford,
a native of this State, and one child blessed the union, Mary A.
Mrs. Lucinda Elkins died in 1848, and in 1849 Mr. Elkins married Miss Angeline
Hufman. The results of this union were eight children: Sarah J.,
Nancy V., John W., Martha E., Margaret A., Lafayette, Robert E. and George
T. Sarah J. died July 26, 1850; Nancy V. died June 12, 1875; Lafayette
died March 19, 1885, and one died in infancy with out being named.
Mr. Elkins was licensed to preach the gospel in 1868 and has since been
a local preacher. He was ordained deacon by the annual conference.
He and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
MARTIN EULES, a worthy citizen of
Bedford County, Tenn., is a son of Adam and Dorothea (Shofner) Eules, who
were born in North Carolina in 1775 and 1778, respectively. They
were married about 1803 and immigrated to Tennessee in 1810. To them
were born eleven children, four of whom are living. The father died
in 1843, and the mother in 1872. On the 8th of November, 1848, our
subject was united in marriage to Miss Casander Bobo, who was born December
10, 1825, and a daughter of Elisha and Lucy (Dean) Bobo, natives of South
Carolina, and who died in 1860 and 1830, respectively. To Mr. and
Mrs. Eules were born eleven children: Eli S., born in 1845 (deceased);
Mary E., born in 1846 (deceased); Elisha A. born in 1848, Allen F.,
born in 1850; John M. born in 1852 (Deceased); Harriet E., born in 1855,
Ella J., born in 1857 (deceased); Minnie A., born in 1860; Lula B., born
in 1862; Della C., born in 1865, and Lucy T. born in 1867. Martin
Eules stated in life for himself almost penniless, but by energy and perseverance
has accumulated considerable property. His farm, consisting of 500
is about eight miles from Shelbyville, besides this he owns seventy acres
in Coffee county and forty acres in this county. He and wife
are members of the Lutheran Church and their children belong to the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church. In politics, Mr. Eules is neutral.
DR. ROBERT F. EVANS, a prominent and leading physician of Shelbyville, was born August 24, 1821, in Caroline County, Va., being the only son of a family of eight children born to the marriage of David S. Evans and Judith Bowlware, both natives of Virginia, of Welsh and English descent, respectively. The father came with his family to Bedford County in 1832; and followed farming until 1840, when he bought the Evans House and began the hotel business, which he continued till the war. He died in 1869, the mother surviving him one year. Dr. Evans was eleven years old when coming to this county, and was reared on a farm.. He assisted his father in the hotel business a short time and then studied medicine for several years. He graduated in the University of Pennsylvania in 1847, and then returned to Shelbyville, where he has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession ever since, except in 1850-51, when he was on a western tour. He was married, December 24, 1867, to Mrs. Mary C. Fite, who was the mother of two children by her former marriage, viz.: Dr. C. C. Fite, assistant physician at the East Tennessee Insane Asylum, Knoxville, Tenn.; and Jennie M. Fite, now the wife of Surg. A. M. Moore, of the United States Naval Service, Washington, D. C. The marriage of Dr. Evans has been blessed in birth of two children, Stella and Mary F. He, his wife and youngest daughter are members of the Episcopal Church, and his eldest daughter of the Presbyterian Church. He has been senior warden of the church ever since its organization. He is a Knight Templar Mason. He is a member of the Tennessee Medical Society, and was elected president of that body in 1878. Politically he was reared a Whig, but is now a conservative democrat.