Henry Clay McLaurine

HENRY CLAY McLAURINE, whose birth occurred in Giles County, Tenn., January 8, 1840, is a son of William and Ann (Swan) McLaurine, and of Scotch-Irish descent. His parents were natives of Virginia, born in 1791 and 1797. The father was a tiller of the soil and died in this county in l862. The mother died in l866. Our subject is the youngest of eleven children, seven of whom are now living. He was reared on the farm and received his education in the district schools. During the years 1859-60 he clerked in a dry goods store at Molino, Lincoln County. In 1861 be enlisted in Company K, First Tennessee Cavalry, and for more than a year was a prisoner in Camp Morton. In 1866 he came to Prospect, in this county, and after clerking for one year engaged in the general merchandise business and there remained until 1882, when he removed to Pulaski. In 1873 he married Bettie M. Deaver, and in 1876 he ran for the office of sheriff and was deputy sheriff from 1872 to 1875. He ran for sheriff In 1876 against four Democrats and one Republican, and was defeated by the Republican by two votes. In 1882 he was elected county trustee and discharged the duties of this office in a highly satisfactory manner for two years. In 1885 he was commissioned postmaster at Pulaski, and confirmed January 12, 1886, by the United States Senate. He is a Democrat, a Mason, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He is one of the county's best citizens, and a representative of one of the old families.

From: Goodspeed's History of Giles County

See a photo of Henry and Bettie's tombstone.