My Genealogy Hound

J. M. Shute, a very successful farmer of the Fifth District, was born where he now resides in 1832, and is a son of Lee and Margaret (Dunn) Shute. The father was born in Davidson County, Tenn., in 1797, and was of German descent. He was married in his native county, and in 1831 came to Sumner County, purchased 320 acres of land in the Fifth District, where he settled, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He afterward possessed 840 acres in Sumner County. He died in 1879. His wife was born in Davidson County, Tenn., in 1811, and died in 1852. They had eight children, three of whom are living. Lee’s father, John Shute, settled on the old home place, where he passed his life. Lee’s grandfather was a native of Pennsylvania, and at a very early date immigrated to where Goodlettville is now standing. It was then Mansker Lick. He afterward moved to Richland Creek, near Nashville, where he settled and died. Our subject was educated in the common schools of his county, and in addition attended the literary department of Cumberland University at Lebanon for one year. He attended Washington Institute, in Davidson County, two years, and the Tennessee Institute about the same length of time. In 1853-54 he was in attendance at the law department of Cumberland University for ten months. In 1855 he entered the teacher’s profession, and taught two years. He then commenced his career as a farmer. During the civil war he enlisted in 1861 in Company A, First Battalion of Tennessee Cavalry (Confederate Army), and participated in the battles of Shiloh, Thompson Station, Murfreesboro, Pulaski, Lebanon, Franklin and Barbersville. He was captured at Jackson, W. Tenn., and taken to Alton, Ill., where he remained one month. He was again captured at Kingston Spring, and was taken to Camp Chase, Ohio, and retained six months. He was paroled in 1864, and returned home. After peace was declared he resumed farming on the old home place. In 1867 he married Miss Martha Donelson, a native of Sumner County, born in 1847, and the daughter of Gen. Daniel S. Donelson. The fruits of this, union were four children: Margaret Lee, Mary D., John Branch and Martha B. Mr. Shute’s father erected a large and commodious brick house in 1858, one of the best in the county. Our subject now owns 400 acres, and is one of the substantial farmers of the county. He is a Democrat, a Royal Arch Mason, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.