My Genealogy Hound

Maj. W. H. Joyner, dry goods merchant, of Gallatin, is a native of Sumner County, born in 1834, and the son of Robert and Mary (Hargrove) Joyner. The father was born in 1802 and a farmer by occupation. In 1810 he came to Sumner County and settled in the Sixth District, known as Joyner’s district, named in honor of him, where he purchased 640 acres of land. He was one of the first settlers in the county and died about 1851. His wife was born in North Carolina in 1803 and came to Sumner County, Tenn., when a mere child. She died in 1881. They had six children, four of whom are now living. Our subject received his education in the common schools of Sumner County and remained at home until the breaking out of the war, when he organized Company B, Eighteenth Tennessee Regiment (Confederate Army) and was elected captain. He participated in the battles at Fort Donelson, Franklin, Chickamauga, Murfreesboro, Missionary Ridge, Atlanta and was in many severe skirmishes. He was captured at Fort Donelson and sent to Johnson Island. He was retained about nine months when he was exchanged and afterward rejoined his command. At the battles of Chickamauga and Murfreesboro he was wounded, shot in the leg at the former and two ribs broken at the latter place. When the army was reorganized he was promoted to the rank of major, which position he retained until the close. He returned home May 22, 1865, after an absence of just exactly four years. October 3, 1865, he married Miss Eliza Goodlett, a native of Davidson County, born in 1842 and the daughter of Rev. A. G. Goodlett. To them was born one child, James, who is a student in the commercial college at Nashville. In 1866 Mr. Joyner located in Gallatin and the same year was appointed deputy sheriff. In 1868 he was elected sheriff and served four years. In 1872 he was proprietor of Peyton’s Merchant Mills and the following year established a livery and sale stable in Gallatin, and also speculated in stock. In 1883 he established a dry goods store in connection with his stable. In 1885 his stable was burned and since then he has given his entire time to his store. He is very conservative in politics, voting for principal and not for party, but rather favors the Democratic principles. His first presidential vote was cast for Fillmore in 1856. He is a member of the following orders: Masonic, I. O. O. F., K. of H., K. of P., and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, he being one of the stewards.