History of Meigs Co., TN from
The Goodspeed Publishing Co. 1887

David M. Blevins, planter and merchant, was born in Sullivan County, October 13, 1833, the son of James and Ruth (Rockhold) Blevins, of English and Scots-Irish stock, and natives of Sullivan County; the former born January 22, 1802, and deceased in Meigs County, February 10, 1849, and the latter born February 29, 1808, and still living. The parents were married, about 1826, and spent about twenty-three happy years in this county, and the mother has never remarried. He was a Democrat, and both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject, one of nine children, was educated at Decatur, and left the farm, and began life as a merchant. In August, 1859, he opened a general store at Decatur, but, in 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Third Confederate Tennessee Infantry, and was in Virginia until February, 1862, and took part at Manassas (the first) and at other places. He was also in East Tennessee, and in the following December, at Vicksburg, where he was captured with Pemberton's forces., paroled, and in September following exchanged, entering service again at Decatur, Ga. He was an adjutant for three years, but enlisted as second lieutenant. On his return, in 1865, he resumed farming , and in 1873 made a tour of ten months through California, Oregon and Washington Territories. He then engaged in the grain traffic on the Tennessee River, and in 1875 he turned to the plow again, and since 1876 has been at his present home, where since October 1880 he has also had a store of general merchandise. Fannie Hoyle became his wife December 28, 1880. She was born at Cleveland, Tenn., in 1860. Their children are David, born August 22, 1882, and died September 16, 1882; James H., born April 8, 1884, and Hugh, born October 16, 1886. Our subject is a Democrat and a Methodist.