Goodspeed's Biographies Goodspeed's History of Greene County -- 1887

W. H. Piper

W. H. Piper, county clerk, was born in Knoxville, Tenn., April 26, l854, the son of Albert M. and Martha O. (Allen) Piper, the former born in Virginia, August 20, 1820, the son of Joseph, a native of Pennsylvania, and of German parents.

The father became a Rogersville merchant about 1838. From 1846 he was in Knoxville as clerk, and from 1851 as partner, in the Coffin Brothers firm, with whom he had removed. In 1857 he became a partner of S. B. Boyd, until 1859. He was mayor of Knoxville for a time. In 1859 he bought a farm, and up to 1867 was a Greene County merchant. In 1871 he became United States deputy revenue collector. He was in the Indian wars. He died June 11, 1878, the first victim of the cholera epidemic of that year. The mother was born December 9, 1824, in Greene County, the daughter of James Allen, of Irish descent. She died May 14, 1869.

Our subject was educated at Clear Springs Academy, Greene Co., Tenn. He taught school and studied law with Maj. Pettibone, until 1882, and in May, 1881, was admitted. In August, 1882, he was elected to his present position, the first Republican to hold the office.

January 17, 1883, Carrie Branuan became his wife. Their children were Bessie, Blain (deceased) and Gracie. He is a member of the United Brethren Church, while his wife is a Presbyterian. During the war of the Rebellion the father, Albert M., and all the members of his family, were uncompromising Unionists.

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