David Crockett Maples, Sr.

b 20 Oct 1840, , Sevier, Tennessee
d 30 Oct 1928, , Sevier, Tennessee  
bur Gatlinburg, Sevier, Tennessee William Maples  
Wilson Maples b ABT 1740 1745  
| b 1780 Prudence  
William Abijah Maples  d 27 Nov 1815 b ABT 1745 1750  
|b 1804 |    
|d ABT 1870 1880 Sarah Rolen  
|  b 1785    
David Crockett Maples, Sr.  d 25 Oct 1858  
|Mary R. 'Polly' Ogle-1 + Archibald 'Redmond' McMahan  
|m 17 Mar 1860 Archibald McMahan b 1731  
| |b 1773 McNulty  
Elizabeth McMahan  d 27 Feb 1853  
 b 1807 | George Byrd  
 d ABT 1855 1856 Elizabeth Byrd  
 b 1777 Mary  
 d 1844

Children

1 < Susan Rosanne 'Susie' Maples
2 < Sarah A. Maples
3 Redman Maples
4 < Isaac Lavator 'Squire' Maples
5 Mary Isabel Maples
6 < David Crockett Maples, Jr.
7 James Howard Maples
8 Nathaniel Maples

Notes

Serving the Union Army during the Civil War, David Crockett Maples enlisted 18 October 1863 at Sevierville, Tennessee in Company H, 9th Tennessee Cavalry. He was discharged on 8 June 1865. His personal description at that time was: 6' 3' in height, fair complexion, blue eyes and light hair.

From the pension file of David Crockett Maples, an affidavit by William R. King in 1893 tells the story how David Crockett Maples lost his feet. It is quoted in the exact words of William R. King...'Said Maples was badly frostbitten in the winter 18??. Said Maples undertook to carry a man from his home to the top of the Alleghany or Smoky Mountains, and the snow was very deep, and the weather very cold. The snow was so deep that it was very difficult for him to travel. Said Maples went on, tried to comply with his promise in carrying the man accross the mountain and the snow was so deep that his strength failed. He became so exhausted that he could not get back to his home or any place of shelter. He crawled into a hollow log and lay overnight where he was very much exposed, and from said exposure he was badly frozen so much so that both of his feet had to be amputated. His feet were amputated on the 21st day of January 1877 caused from being frozen.'

He made and fitted artificial boots..strapped them to his legs and wore them till his death. This has been told by numerous descendants, and is a true mountain legend.

David Crockett Maples was buried in Banner Cemetery.

Source: 'Smoky Mountain Clans', Donald B. Reagan, 1974, p 102. 'Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3', Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 140, 189, 204, 238, 240. Rosa Lee Downey notes, 16 June 1983, p 119, 122. 'Smoky Mountain Family Album,' Gladys Trentham Russell, 1984, p 65. 'In the Shadow of the Smokies', Smoky Mountain Historical Society, 1993, p 524. Dee Lansford GEDCOM, 24 September 1995. 'Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage', 1994, p 288. 'Mountain Ways', Gene Aiken, 1983, p 24. 'Mountain Ways Two', Gene Aiken, 1986, p 87.


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© Copyright 1995, 1996 David L. Beckwith