James A Womac - Goodspeed

From History of Tennessee, Containing Historical and Biographical Sketches of Thirty East Tennessee Counties, The Goodspeed Publishing Co, 1887.

McMinn County, p.1031-1032

James A. Womac, a well-known resident of the Ninth District, was born in Rutherford County, N.C., July 14, 1822. He is the eldest of six children born to Alexander and Mary (Neal) Womac. The father was of Irish descent, thought to have been born in Cocke County, Tenn., about 1802. He went to North Carolina at an early date and there remained until 1839, when he moved to the Ocoee Purchase in Bradley County. During the war he came to McMinn County, where he died in 1877. He was a successful farmer. The mother was of Welsh origin, born in North Carolina about 1802, and died in her native state in 1832. Our subject remained with his father until he attained his majority. He then began as a tiller of the soil. He purchased a small farm, to which he has since added, and it now contains 1,000 acres. He came to McMinn County shortly after the war, and remained until 1878, when he went to Meigs County. Three years later he returned to his present location. While a resident of Polk County he was six years a justice of the peace. During the late civil war he was pressed into the Confederate service, declining the rank of captain which was offered him. He served as first lieutenant. He was in no battle. At the age of nineteen he joined the Baptist Church, and at twenty-four was ordained a minister. He is a Master Mason, and belongs to Sons of Temperance. In August 1844, he married Margaret, daughter of James and Masila Thompson; the latter born in North Carolina in 1829, and was committed to the grave on her thirtieth birthday. She was a member of the Baptist Church, and mother of five children, of whom are living Mary M., Riley B., Woddy [sic] A. and Evaline -- Buckner died in infancy. In 1859, our subject married Rebecca, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Higdon, who was born in McMinn County, about 1841, and died in Meigs County in 1880. She was also a member of the Baptist Church. Eleven children were the fruits of this union, ten of whom are living: Daniel S., Lillian, Esther S., Thomas M., Ransom J., Margaret, William James, Robert S., Schuyler and George W. In August, 1880, Mr. Womac married Catherine, widow of W. F. Whiteside, and daughter of James H. and Carolina Hamilton. Mrs. Womac was born in McMinn County in 1845. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. James H. Hamilton was born in McMinn County, October 27, 1811. He was a local minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a Master Mason. He was a tanner by trade. He married October 20, 1837, and died November 2, 1871, leaving a wife and eight children. His wife was born June 9, 1819, and died October 10, 1880. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.