He was born in Greene County, Territory of US South of Ohio River before Tennessee statehood, son of James R Clift Sr. and Alice Hitchcock both born Maryland. Grandson of Joseph Clift who fought in the Revolutionary War, and Mary Edgell, both born in Maryland.
His mother died in 1831 and father remarried to Martha Patsy Knipper in 1833. William married Nancy Arwin Brooks, April 15, 1823, Knox Tennessee. She died in 1847.
He married Elizabeth Haney Merritt before 1869. She was born in Kentucky and died in 1895.
'Col. Clift Acquired Early Properties From State for One Cent Per Acre. Partnership Bought Large McClung Tract; Held Vast Holdings.' by Zella Armstrong, Hamilton County Historian. September 5, 1955, Chattanooga Newspaper:
"Clift and McRee, the first partnership in Hamilton County was composed of Maj. Robert C. McRee and Col. William Clift. They were brothers-in-law.
Soon after the marriage in Knoxville, they moved to Hamilton County where they made large investments in land, in their partnership name.
Among other properties was a tract of 10,000 acres purchased from the McClungs who lived in Knoxville and one is inclined to believe that it was friendship of the McClungs which interested them in the Hamilton County country.
The McClung thousands of acres as well as several other investments of from 50 and 200 acres to several 5,000 acre tracts have been sold and divided again and again. Recently in the courts some property was sold at Soddy with a division of resulting funds among many heirs.
Col. Clift bought 5,000 acres on Walden’s Ridge and with William Stringer a ridge long known as Stringer’s Ridge. I believe it is not a familiar place name now.
These grants from the State of Tennessee were purchased at once cent an acre, the 5,000 acres costing $50. Much of the land is now within the limits of Chattanooga and is worth millions. James W. Clift, son of Col. Clift, was the Hamilton County surveyor. He made a survey of the purchase in June 1850. The boundaries ran from the point where the North Chickamauga Creek empties into the Tennessee River, across the county and across Walden’s Ridge to the Marion County line, along the Tennessee to the Suck and thence along the Tennessee to the beginning. It is thus evident that Col. Clift and William Stringer owned the whole of Moccasin Bend, the most famous scene in the world.
Organized Militia-Col. Clift organized the Seventh Regiment Volunteer Militia and commanded it for a number of years.
Col. Clift was born in Greenville, Greene County, in 1795, before Tennessee became a state. His wife, Nancy Brooks, was born a year later. She died in Hamilton County in 1847. They are buried in the Soddy Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
When the War Between the States broke out, Col. Clift took his regiment, the Seventh Volunteer Militia, into Federal service, although he was far past military age. The Clift family is an example of the division in families in the War Between the States. Two of Col. Clift’s sons served in the Confederate Army, two were with their father in the Seventh Volunteers of the Federal Army. The husbands of his three daughters were in the Confederate Army.
The Seventh Regiment of Volunteers was not long in active service, as it was disbanded, the men going to Kentucky to join Union Army units. Col. Clift remained in Hamilton County serving the Union Army in many ways. He was attempting to carry messages from the Federal commanders in Chattanooga to Gen. Burnside in Knoxville when he was arrested by his son, Maj. Moses H. Clift of the Confederate Army.
This is one of the most dramatic stories of the war in the Chattanooga area. The date was Oct. 14, 1863, midway in the two-month siege of Chattanooga.
Many Descendants-A large and interesting line of descendants of Col. William Clift and Nancy Brooks Clift fills Chattanooga records through the four sons and three daughters.
Some of the scores of well-known city and county residents are Mrs. Thomas Ross Preston Sr., who was Roberta Clift, daughter of Maj. Moses H. Clift; her daughter and granddaughter; Rhosian Clift, a son of Maj. Moses Clift; Thomas R. Preston III; William Clift, a son of Moses Clift, lives in New York City and is the father of the movie actor, Montgomery Clift; Mrs. Herbert Bushnell, George Abel, Mrs. Florence C. Horton and her son, Gordon Horton.
The children of Col. Clift and Nancy Brooks Clift were James W., who married Jane McKenzie; Mary Ann, who married James Woods Cozby Henderson; Joseph John, who married a Miss Lively and after her death married her sister; Robert Brooks, who married Miss Cross; Merica W., who married R. W. Coulter; Elizabeth Agnes, who married twice, first McDonald, and second, Johnson Coulter; and Moses Hainey, who married twice, first, A. C. Cooke and, second, Florence Parrott."
His mother died in 1831 and father remarried to Martha Patsy Knipper in 1833. William married Nancy Arwin Brooks, April 15, 1823, Knox Tennessee. She died in 1847.
He married Elizabeth Haney Merritt before 1869. She was born in Kentucky and died in 1895.
'Col. Clift Acquired Early Properties From State for One Cent Per Acre. Partnership Bought Large McClung Tract; Held Vast Holdings.' by Zella Armstrong, Hamilton County Historian. September 5, 1955, Chattanooga Newspaper:
"Clift and McRee, the first partnership in Hamilton County was composed of Maj. Robert C. McRee and Col. William Clift. They were brothers-in-law.
Soon after the marriage in Knoxville, they moved to Hamilton County where they made large investments in land, in their partnership name.
Among other properties was a tract of 10,000 acres purchased from the McClungs who lived in Knoxville and one is inclined to believe that it was friendship of the McClungs which interested them in the Hamilton County country.
The McClung thousands of acres as well as several other investments of from 50 and 200 acres to several 5,000 acre tracts have been sold and divided again and again. Recently in the courts some property was sold at Soddy with a division of resulting funds among many heirs.
Col. Clift bought 5,000 acres on Walden’s Ridge and with William Stringer a ridge long known as Stringer’s Ridge. I believe it is not a familiar place name now.
These grants from the State of Tennessee were purchased at once cent an acre, the 5,000 acres costing $50. Much of the land is now within the limits of Chattanooga and is worth millions. James W. Clift, son of Col. Clift, was the Hamilton County surveyor. He made a survey of the purchase in June 1850. The boundaries ran from the point where the North Chickamauga Creek empties into the Tennessee River, across the county and across Walden’s Ridge to the Marion County line, along the Tennessee to the Suck and thence along the Tennessee to the beginning. It is thus evident that Col. Clift and William Stringer owned the whole of Moccasin Bend, the most famous scene in the world.
Organized Militia-Col. Clift organized the Seventh Regiment Volunteer Militia and commanded it for a number of years.
Col. Clift was born in Greenville, Greene County, in 1795, before Tennessee became a state. His wife, Nancy Brooks, was born a year later. She died in Hamilton County in 1847. They are buried in the Soddy Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
When the War Between the States broke out, Col. Clift took his regiment, the Seventh Volunteer Militia, into Federal service, although he was far past military age. The Clift family is an example of the division in families in the War Between the States. Two of Col. Clift’s sons served in the Confederate Army, two were with their father in the Seventh Volunteers of the Federal Army. The husbands of his three daughters were in the Confederate Army.
The Seventh Regiment of Volunteers was not long in active service, as it was disbanded, the men going to Kentucky to join Union Army units. Col. Clift remained in Hamilton County serving the Union Army in many ways. He was attempting to carry messages from the Federal commanders in Chattanooga to Gen. Burnside in Knoxville when he was arrested by his son, Maj. Moses H. Clift of the Confederate Army.
This is one of the most dramatic stories of the war in the Chattanooga area. The date was Oct. 14, 1863, midway in the two-month siege of Chattanooga.
Many Descendants-A large and interesting line of descendants of Col. William Clift and Nancy Brooks Clift fills Chattanooga records through the four sons and three daughters.
Some of the scores of well-known city and county residents are Mrs. Thomas Ross Preston Sr., who was Roberta Clift, daughter of Maj. Moses H. Clift; her daughter and granddaughter; Rhosian Clift, a son of Maj. Moses Clift; Thomas R. Preston III; William Clift, a son of Moses Clift, lives in New York City and is the father of the movie actor, Montgomery Clift; Mrs. Herbert Bushnell, George Abel, Mrs. Florence C. Horton and her son, Gordon Horton.
The children of Col. Clift and Nancy Brooks Clift were James W., who married Jane McKenzie; Mary Ann, who married James Woods Cozby Henderson; Joseph John, who married a Miss Lively and after her death married her sister; Robert Brooks, who married Miss Cross; Merica W., who married R. W. Coulter; Elizabeth Agnes, who married twice, first McDonald, and second, Johnson Coulter; and Moses Hainey, who married twice, first, A. C. Cooke and, second, Florence Parrott."
He was born in Greene County, Territory of US South of Ohio River before Tennessee statehood, son of James R Clift Sr. and Alice Hitchcock both born Maryland. Grandson of Joseph Clift who fought in the Revolutionary War, and Mary Edgell, both born in Maryland.
His mother died in 1831 and father remarried to Martha Patsy Knipper in 1833. William married Nancy Arwin Brooks, April 15, 1823, Knox Tennessee. She died in 1847.
He married Elizabeth Haney Merritt before 1869. She was born in Kentucky and died in 1895.
'Col. Clift Acquired Early Properties From State for One Cent Per Acre. Partnership Bought Large McClung Tract; Held Vast Holdings.' by Zella Armstrong, Hamilton County Historian. September 5, 1955, Chattanooga Newspaper:
"Clift and McRee, the first partnership in Hamilton County was composed of Maj. Robert C. McRee and Col. William Clift. They were brothers-in-law.
Soon after the marriage in Knoxville, they moved to Hamilton County where they made large investments in land, in their partnership name.
Among other properties was a tract of 10,000 acres purchased from the McClungs who lived in Knoxville and one is inclined to believe that it was friendship of the McClungs which interested them in the Hamilton County country.
The McClung thousands of acres as well as several other investments of from 50 and 200 acres to several 5,000 acre tracts have been sold and divided again and again. Recently in the courts some property was sold at Soddy with a division of resulting funds among many heirs.
Col. Clift bought 5,000 acres on Walden’s Ridge and with William Stringer a ridge long known as Stringer’s Ridge. I believe it is not a familiar place name now.
These grants from the State of Tennessee were purchased at once cent an acre, the 5,000 acres costing $50. Much of the land is now within the limits of Chattanooga and is worth millions. James W. Clift, son of Col. Clift, was the Hamilton County surveyor. He made a survey of the purchase in June 1850. The boundaries ran from the point where the North Chickamauga Creek empties into the Tennessee River, across the county and across Walden’s Ridge to the Marion County line, along the Tennessee to the Suck and thence along the Tennessee to the beginning. It is thus evident that Col. Clift and William Stringer owned the whole of Moccasin Bend, the most famous scene in the world.
Organized Militia-Col. Clift organized the Seventh Regiment Volunteer Militia and commanded it for a number of years.
Col. Clift was born in Greenville, Greene County, in 1795, before Tennessee became a state. His wife, Nancy Brooks, was born a year later. She died in Hamilton County in 1847. They are buried in the Soddy Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
When the War Between the States broke out, Col. Clift took his regiment, the Seventh Volunteer Militia, into Federal service, although he was far past military age. The Clift family is an example of the division in families in the War Between the States. Two of Col. Clift’s sons served in the Confederate Army, two were with their father in the Seventh Volunteers of the Federal Army. The husbands of his three daughters were in the Confederate Army.
The Seventh Regiment of Volunteers was not long in active service, as it was disbanded, the men going to Kentucky to join Union Army units. Col. Clift remained in Hamilton County serving the Union Army in many ways. He was attempting to carry messages from the Federal commanders in Chattanooga to Gen. Burnside in Knoxville when he was arrested by his son, Maj. Moses H. Clift of the Confederate Army.
This is one of the most dramatic stories of the war in the Chattanooga area. The date was Oct. 14, 1863, midway in the two-month siege of Chattanooga.
Many Descendants-A large and interesting line of descendants of Col. William Clift and Nancy Brooks Clift fills Chattanooga records through the four sons and three daughters.
Some of the scores of well-known city and county residents are Mrs. Thomas Ross Preston Sr., who was Roberta Clift, daughter of Maj. Moses H. Clift; her daughter and granddaughter; Rhosian Clift, a son of Maj. Moses Clift; Thomas R. Preston III; William Clift, a son of Moses Clift, lives in New York City and is the father of the movie actor, Montgomery Clift; Mrs. Herbert Bushnell, George Abel, Mrs. Florence C. Horton and her son, Gordon Horton.
The children of Col. Clift and Nancy Brooks Clift were James W., who married Jane McKenzie; Mary Ann, who married James Woods Cozby Henderson; Joseph John, who married a Miss Lively and after her death married her sister; Robert Brooks, who married Miss Cross; Merica W., who married R. W. Coulter; Elizabeth Agnes, who married twice, first McDonald, and second, Johnson Coulter; and Moses Hainey, who married twice, first, A. C. Cooke and, second, Florence Parrott."
His mother died in 1831 and father remarried to Martha Patsy Knipper in 1833. William married Nancy Arwin Brooks, April 15, 1823, Knox Tennessee. She died in 1847.
He married Elizabeth Haney Merritt before 1869. She was born in Kentucky and died in 1895.
'Col. Clift Acquired Early Properties From State for One Cent Per Acre. Partnership Bought Large McClung Tract; Held Vast Holdings.' by Zella Armstrong, Hamilton County Historian. September 5, 1955, Chattanooga Newspaper:
"Clift and McRee, the first partnership in Hamilton County was composed of Maj. Robert C. McRee and Col. William Clift. They were brothers-in-law.
Soon after the marriage in Knoxville, they moved to Hamilton County where they made large investments in land, in their partnership name.
Among other properties was a tract of 10,000 acres purchased from the McClungs who lived in Knoxville and one is inclined to believe that it was friendship of the McClungs which interested them in the Hamilton County country.
The McClung thousands of acres as well as several other investments of from 50 and 200 acres to several 5,000 acre tracts have been sold and divided again and again. Recently in the courts some property was sold at Soddy with a division of resulting funds among many heirs.
Col. Clift bought 5,000 acres on Walden’s Ridge and with William Stringer a ridge long known as Stringer’s Ridge. I believe it is not a familiar place name now.
These grants from the State of Tennessee were purchased at once cent an acre, the 5,000 acres costing $50. Much of the land is now within the limits of Chattanooga and is worth millions. James W. Clift, son of Col. Clift, was the Hamilton County surveyor. He made a survey of the purchase in June 1850. The boundaries ran from the point where the North Chickamauga Creek empties into the Tennessee River, across the county and across Walden’s Ridge to the Marion County line, along the Tennessee to the Suck and thence along the Tennessee to the beginning. It is thus evident that Col. Clift and William Stringer owned the whole of Moccasin Bend, the most famous scene in the world.
Organized Militia-Col. Clift organized the Seventh Regiment Volunteer Militia and commanded it for a number of years.
Col. Clift was born in Greenville, Greene County, in 1795, before Tennessee became a state. His wife, Nancy Brooks, was born a year later. She died in Hamilton County in 1847. They are buried in the Soddy Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
When the War Between the States broke out, Col. Clift took his regiment, the Seventh Volunteer Militia, into Federal service, although he was far past military age. The Clift family is an example of the division in families in the War Between the States. Two of Col. Clift’s sons served in the Confederate Army, two were with their father in the Seventh Volunteers of the Federal Army. The husbands of his three daughters were in the Confederate Army.
The Seventh Regiment of Volunteers was not long in active service, as it was disbanded, the men going to Kentucky to join Union Army units. Col. Clift remained in Hamilton County serving the Union Army in many ways. He was attempting to carry messages from the Federal commanders in Chattanooga to Gen. Burnside in Knoxville when he was arrested by his son, Maj. Moses H. Clift of the Confederate Army.
This is one of the most dramatic stories of the war in the Chattanooga area. The date was Oct. 14, 1863, midway in the two-month siege of Chattanooga.
Many Descendants-A large and interesting line of descendants of Col. William Clift and Nancy Brooks Clift fills Chattanooga records through the four sons and three daughters.
Some of the scores of well-known city and county residents are Mrs. Thomas Ross Preston Sr., who was Roberta Clift, daughter of Maj. Moses H. Clift; her daughter and granddaughter; Rhosian Clift, a son of Maj. Moses Clift; Thomas R. Preston III; William Clift, a son of Moses Clift, lives in New York City and is the father of the movie actor, Montgomery Clift; Mrs. Herbert Bushnell, George Abel, Mrs. Florence C. Horton and her son, Gordon Horton.
The children of Col. Clift and Nancy Brooks Clift were James W., who married Jane McKenzie; Mary Ann, who married James Woods Cozby Henderson; Joseph John, who married a Miss Lively and after her death married her sister; Robert Brooks, who married Miss Cross; Merica W., who married R. W. Coulter; Elizabeth Agnes, who married twice, first McDonald, and second, Johnson Coulter; and Moses Hainey, who married twice, first, A. C. Cooke and, second, Florence Parrott."
Gravesite Details
His half brother Rev. Harrison Davis Clift is memorial 62615205.
Family Members
Siblings
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