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George W. Conatser 1840
Parents: Philip and Peggy (Cooper) Conatser. Conatser's were of German
descent, and the Cooper's Scotch-Irish.
His grandfather, John Palser Conatser, came to Watauga with Maj. Anderson, a
great-grandfather of Judge C. E. Snodgrass, when Bean's cabin was the only house in the
great Mississippi Valley. He moved from Watauga to Wayne County. Kentucky, and Philip
Conatser moved from there, here, soon after Fentress County was organized. John Palser
worked for General Greene about the time of the Revolution. He was a soldier at the battle
of King's Mountain. The powder horn he used at this battle was presented to William
McKinley while he was president of the United States, by G. W. Conatser. McKinley wrote
him a nice letter, expressing his appreciation of the gift, and claimed he prized it more
than anything else he had received, on account of its association with the great and
decisive battle.
G. W. Conatser, or Uncle Hickory, as he is familiarly called, has served as Justice of the
Peace, Sheriff eight years and as Deputy U. S. Marshal four years. In politics he is a
republican. He is one of the best known men in the county, and knows everybody. He is a
plain, old-fashioned citizen, and popular, and wields a wide influence among his friends.
He owns a large farm in the Poplar Cove and lives upon it. A coal mine has been operated
upon it for some years to supply local trade.
He was with Sherman in his march to the sea. Served in Company D, Second East Tennessee
Infantry, joining in 1861, and was discharged November 6, 1865, at Knoxville. |