Dr. Laws was born in Carroll County, Tennessee in 1829 and is the 2nd of six children, three of whom are living. The father, Hiram Laws, was of English ancestry, born in Orange County North Carolina November 17, 1803. His father, George Laws is supposed to be a son of one of three brothers John, George and James who emigrated from England about 1620, and settled in Maryland, where they figured quite prominently among the business men of that State. Hiram was reared by a mother's tender care, his father dying while he was quite small. He acquired sufficient education to enable him to enter the teacher's profession, which he followed for a number of years. About 1825 he married Jincy Ann Sims, and immediately started for Maury County Tennessee where he remained one year. He then came to Carroll County and settled in the 12th District and in 1834 moved to Alabama, but returned to Carroll County in 1836, where he passed the remainder of his days. He died in 1879. Mrs. Laws was also a native of North Carolina born May 2, 1807 and died in 1878. Our subject was reared under the parental roof and received his education in the country schools and in Huntingdon, but acquired the most of his knowledge and ability through his own application. He possessed an intellect of extraordinary brilliance, and soon became master of all the mathematical branches, and had a good knowledge of the languages. He afterward spent twelve years teaching, and was one of the most popular educators of this portion of the State. In 1861 he commenced the study of physics, and two years later entered the Rush Medical College, and at the close of the Rebellion entered as a partner with his former preceptor, and began the practice of his chosen profession. In 1871 he entered the Medical Department at the University of Nashville and Vanderbilt University, and graduated in 1873. He then returned to Clarksburg and continued his practice and well-deserved success. He was for eight years School Commissioner of his District, which position he declined to hold longer. He is present one of the Trustees of Clarksburg Male and Female Academy. He is a Republican in politics, a Mason and the owner of 700 acres of land.

GOODSPEEDS HISTORY OF TENNESSEE 1887