Harlan County Hightowers

Thomas Jefferson Hightower

As a progressive business man and a thoroughly conscientious and upright citizen, this gentleman has always enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the community. Thomas Jefferson Hightower was born in Parrottsville, East Tennessee, on Oct 29, 1829. His grandfather, Thomas Hightower, was a native of South Carolina, and a gallant soldier in the American Revolution. His father, Allan Hightower, was also a native of South Carolina and a very successful planter and stock-raiser of that state. The maiden name of Mr. Hightower's mother was Louisa Jefferson. She was a native of Virginia and a member of that distinguished family to which the illus- trios Thomas Jefferson belonged. The boyhood and early youth of Mr. Hightower were spent in his native village in Tennessee, and from the institutions of that neighborhood he derived a common school education. At the age of eighteen he began to shift for himself and settled in Dahlonega for the purpose of digging gold. He failed, however, to gratify his ambition in this direction and decided to abandon the enterprise, since ill-luck had deprived it of all its former fascination. He clerked for a year in a grocery store in Dahlonega, and then located in Forsyth county, a few miles distant, where he found employment as a clerk, retaining his position for four years. After this he clerked in a grocery store in Rome, Ga, for two years. He was then overtaken for the second time by the gold fever, and set out for the mountains of California, going by the way of the isthmus of Panama and taking a two month's trip. After a rugged experience of two years in the west, dividing his time between the gold fields and a general merchandise business, he returned to Georgia in 1854, locating in Forsyth county. He was then and there united in marriage to Miss Eliza E Henderson, a lovable and gentle lady, who died in 1886, leaving seven children as follows: Milton H., Allan R., Harry H., Thomas J. Jr, John B., Albert S., Ida K., wife of William J Montgomery, and Mark. In 1854, the year of his marriage, Mr. Hightower opened a general store in Cherokee County, which he operated until the spring of 1862. He then sold out his business for the purpose of accepting an appointment under the Confederate government in the quartermaster's department, with headquarters located in Atlanta. Here he remained until the close of the war. After the war he engaged in the grocery business in Atlanta, the firm being that of Ford, Hightower & Co. Their place of business was on Mitchell street. Two years after this, Mr. ford sold out his interest and the business was conducted under the firm name of Hightower and Company. From 1872 to 1876 Mr. Hightower carried on the business alone, forming a partnership with Mr. J C Hallman after the expiration of that time. Honest methods and a steadfast devotion to the principles of fair dealings have made the firm of Hightower & Hallman one of the leading wholesale grocery establishments of the south. Mr. Hightower served as a member of the state senate during the sessions of 1859 and 1860. He has always manifested a deep interest in public affairs but has never allowed his political aspirations to interfere with his business engagements. He prefers the uneventful life of a busy merchant to the more conspicuous role of a public servant. Mr. Hightower is a blue lodge Mason and a consistent member of the First Baptist Church. He was married for the second time in December 1887 to Miss Georgia A Nichols, a cultured and accomplished young lady of Griffin Ga., and his home life has been a very happy one. Still vigorous and strong in the enjoyment of a robust constitution, Mr. Hightower has the promise of many additional years in which to illustrate the qualifications of a successful business man. Memoirs of Georgia Vol I; Fulton County sketches.

Thomas Jefferson Hightower's children;   John B Hightower, Albert S Hightower, Ida R Hightower, Mark  Hightower, Milton H Hightower b: ABT 1856 in Georgia    Allen R Hightower b: ABT 1856 in Georgia   Harrison H Hightower b: ABT 1858 in Georgia        Thomas Jefferson Hightower Jr. b: ABT 1859 in Georgia