John Cantrell Fite (Part 2)

   Early in the 1800s John Fite had developed his homestead in what in 1837 became DeKalb County, Tennessee, about 30 miles east of Nashville. He and Martha raised seven children, two of whom became Baptist ministers: Moses Fite, born in 1791, and Henry Fite, born in 1800. Even though John had never been ordained, he was respected as an elder and he was known as Reverend John. By 1809 a young man from South Carolina had moved into the area and quickly became known as an energetic and devout Baptist. This was Cantrell Bethel, who must have been drawn to Rev. John Fite because they established a church which became the Salem Baptist Church in the town of LIberty. Cantrell was born in 1779, and Rev. John probably thought of him as an older brother to Moses and Henry. In 1829 Henry Fite’s first son was born and named John for his grandfather and Cantrell for his surrogate uncle.

Henry Fite spent most of his life near Liberty, Tennessee and continued his father’s work as a religious worker. He served as the pastor of the Salem Baptist Church, and as did most country preachers he tended his farm. He married Mary Grandstaff in 1823; she died (perhaps in childbirth) at 39. Henry later married Martha Garrison. His oldest son, John Cantrell Fite was born in 1829.

   There were other Fite families scattered throughout east Tennessee, and John was a common first name. As a result there were several John Fites in the area, and in particular a John Fite a few miles away - but very different. Jacob B. Fite was a first cousin to Henry Fite, and Jacob had a plantation near the small town of Alexandria which is about 5 miles from Liberty. Jacob was a slaveholder and a Southern Methodist. I’m certain that Henry and Jacob must have been aware of each other but I doubt that they were friends. Jacob had a son John Armenas Fite, b. 1832, and Jacob was wealthy enough to send John A. to law school; he graduated from Cumberland University in 1855. By 1860 John A. had 2 slaves of his own.

   At the outbreak of the Civil War, John A. Fite enlisted in Company B, 7th Tennessee Infantry, Confederate Army. He was almost immediately promoted to Captain, then fought at Seven Pines, then Mechanicsville (wounded), Cedar Run (promoted to Major), fought at Chancellorsville (promoted to Colonel), and finally at Gettysburg as he led his men in the fatal Pickett’s Charge he was wounded and captured. He surrendered his sword to Captain Samuel Moore of the 14th Connecticut Infantry, and spent the final months of the war as a prisoner. After the war he returned home, married and resumed his law practice. He pledged allegiance to the United States and was elected to the Tennessee legislature, became a judge, and was widely respected. In 1890, Captain (now Colonel) Samuel Moore returned Colonel Fite’s sword as a gesture of goodwill which was considered an important act of healing (although the healing has never been complete). John A. Fite died in 1925 at the age of 93. (Part 3 next)