LAURIN BRYAN ASKEWSend info to Barbour County mail list
An enterprising citizen of Clarksville is Laurin Bryan Askew, wholesale and retail druggist. He was born in Eufaula, Alabama, on the 29th of August, 1863, a son of Bryan and Mina J. (McLaurn) Askew, the former a native of Mississippi of English descent and the latter likewise a native of Mississippi and of Scotch descent. The paternal ancestors came from England to America at an early day and the name Bryan has been carried through the family for generations. The maternal grandmother was a member of the Stuart family and a native of Mississippi. Prior to the Civil war Bryan Askew was engaged in the mercantile business in Vicksburg. Upon the outbreak of the war he sent his family to Alabama and while in that state the birth of Laurin Bryan occurred. Immediately after the war the family returned to Vicksburg and found that city a more or less devastated place. The Federal soldiers had burned the goods and the store belonging to the father and subsequently Mr. Askew set out for New York to get a new supply. He was taken off the boat at Memphis quite ill, however, and his demise occurred a short time afterward at the old Gayoso Hotel. Bryan Askew's father was the son of Bryan Askew, a native of North Carolina, who was the progenitor of this branch of the family in Mississippi, having located in Hinds county.
In the acquirement of his early education Laurin Bryan Askew attended the common schools of his native state and at the age of ten years came to Clarksville. He enrolled in Stewart College, later the Southwestern Presbyterian University, and after completing his course there became associated with the firm of Owen & Moore, druggists, the business which he and his partner, G. W. Coulter, now own. They are engaged in the wholesale and retail drug business and carry a complete line of books, stationery and sporting goods. Mr. Askew is a man of well proven ability and well merits the success he has achieved. In addition to the drug business he is active in financial circles as a director in the Northern Bank of Tennessee, the oldest bank in the state and one of the very few that withstood the ravages of the Civil war. Mr. Askew is also on the finance committee of the institution.
General Richardson, who was a member of the Peace Council. At one time, while on leave in England, L. B. Askew found the name "Bryan Askew" on a tablet in the First Scotch Presbyterian church in Trafalgar Square, London, this name being listed as one of the founders of the church. Harley L. Askew was with the Thirtieth Tennessee Division which assisted in breaking the Hindenburg line. He served with the rank of sergeant major.
Since attaining his majority Mr. Askew has given his political endorsement to the democratic party and the principles for which it stands. Although he has never sought nor desired public preferment, he is ever cognizant of the duties and responsibilities as well as the privileges of good citizenship, and to that end is active in the furtherance of every movement for the upbuilding of the town, county and state. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, to the support of which he is a generous contributor, and fraternally he is identified with the Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias.
On the 11th of November, 1887, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Askew to Miss Florence Fleming, the adopted daughter of John F. Couts. They have become parents of three sons: L. B., Jr., John Couts, and Harley L. L. B., Jr., married Leisel Hoevel of Weisbaden, Germany. John Couts married Barbara Barker, granddaughter of Childs Barker, a prominent banker and farmer of Christian county, Kentucky. John Couts is engaged in farming in that county and he and his wife are the parents of four children, Barbara, Laurin B. (III), John Couts, Jr., and Peter M. Harley L. married Norine Harrison, a daughter of a prominent and honored old family of Robertson county. Both L. B., Jr., and Harley L. are veterans of the World war. The elder son served under General Pershing, going to France with the First American Expeditionary Forces, and was attached to the Third Army Cavalry, participating in the battles of Chateau Thierry and St. Mihiel, and was gassed. Upon the signing of the armistice he was transferred to Travis, Germany, with the Army of Occupation and was later transferred to Paris, where he was with
