Goodspeed, Carroll County, Tennessee Article
Benjamin S. Pritchard, farmer and stock dealer of the Thirteenth
District, was born in Carroll County in 1835, and is one of a family of
ten children, only three of whom are living: Martha J. (Mrs. Henry Cox), B. S.
and Susan (Mrs. Thomas L. Key). The father of our subject,
Charles Pritchard, was born in Anson County, N.C., in 1797,
and his father, Jesse Pritchard, immigrated from North Carolina
to Carroll County in 1834, where he passed the remainder
of his days. In about 1817 Charles was married to Martha Williams,
and in 1833 came to Carroll County, where he settled and
engaged in farming. He died March 4, 1872, and at that time
was the owner of 3,000 acres of land. The mother of Benjamin
was also a native of North Carolina, born about 1800 and
died in October, 1883. Our subject grew to manhood under
the parental roof and received a common-school education.
In February, 1860, he married Amanda Philips, and by this
marriage had five children, two living: J. Homes and Sherad.
After marriage Mr. Pritchard located in Henderson County, where
he remained till 1882 and then removed to the farm on which he
now resides. This consists of 323 acres of excellent land
about three miles south of Clarksburg. He also owns 800 acres
of land in other tracts, 325 of which is in Henderson County.
He is one of the most extensive and enterprising farmers
in the county. Mrs. Pritchard died January 7, 1874, and in
November of the same year he married Lou Parker, who
was born in Carroll County in 1833, and who is the daughter of J. C.
and Elizabeth Parker. Previous to this, in April, 1864, Mr. Pritchard
offered his services in defense of his country by enlisting under
Capt. James Gooch and served under Gen. Forrest's command.
He was at Harrisburg and Brice's Cross-roads,
and returned home in August of the same year. He is a Democrat
in politics; was formerly a Whig and cast his first vote for John Bell.
He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and a liberal supporter of religion
and charitable institutions.
