Smoky Mountain Historical Society Queries

Volume XXIV, No. 1 Spring 1998


SHIELDS - Matthew Joseph SHIELDS was born in Ireland, about 1815. He lived in Warrenton, Warren GA and married twice there. He died there in the 1870’s. Other Warren County SHIELDS’ seem to be connected to the TN SHIELDS families, and I’m interested in knowing if anyone has any information on a branch of Irish SHIELDS of about the year 1815. I have been unable to establish any link from this Irish born SHIELDS to the other SHIELDS men of Warren County who are around him: John, Abraham, Robert, Erasmus and John Jr. I am interested in contacting anyone who can lend any information on this Irish SHIELDS line. Family information points to connections to the SHIELDS people in the East Tennessee area, also Montgomery families. Thank you for helping. Billye D. Jackson, 3004 Coffey Street. Victoria, TX 77901-7427. Email: coffey@viptx.net.

MORGAN - I am researching the MORGAN family of Sevier County. I need an obituary of Sarah MORGAN, who died 15 November 1941, and is buried in Pleasant Hill, near Sevierville. Has anyone heard of the old George MORGAN home site, and if so, what can you tell me about it? Rhonda Grant, 221 Lincoln Street, Sitka, Alaska 99835.

McPETERS/THOMAS - My grandfather, Samuel Clark McPETERS, was born 24 December 1900 in Blount County, TN to John McPETERS, born ____ and Laura Bell THOMAS, born about 1874. In the 1880 Blount County census there is a John McPETERS, 13, son of Mary McPETERS. Any information on them or their people will be appreciated. Jesse Williams, 3316 1st Avenue, Columbus GA 31904. Email: jessewms@mindspring.com.

SHIELDS/CAMPBELL - I am looking for the parents of James SHIELDS and Anny (Ann) CAMPBELL. James was born in what is now Greene County, TN, although census indicates VA, 1790. Anny was possibly born in the same location in 1791. They were married in Knoxville, Knox County, TN in 1812. Children: Evaline, Elizabeth, John, Eleanor, Rachel, Calvin, James, Amanda, Nancy Jane, Campbell, and William. The family moved through KY to settle in Morgan County, IN until 1833 when they moved to Putnam County, IL. James died 1871 and Anny died in 1877. Joan Miller, 1838 Georgetown Blvd., Lansing, MI 48911. Email: GeneJo1846@aol.com.

COWAN - Trying to find information on the family of David COWAN. Anecdotal information places him in Sevier County in 1700’s. His daughter Sarah, was born 27 February 1778; she married Pleasant Chitwood, the son of James C., born in Rutherford County, NC (again more anecdotal information) in 1775. Sarah and Pleasant were married 28 September 1797. They both died in Scott County, TN. Any information on either or both would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Judy Knight, PO Box 530, Little Switzerland, NC 28749-0530. Email: jknight@boone.net.

DOCKERY - Seeking information on brothers and sisters of great grandfather L.D. DOCKERY. Records and family history show that they lived in area of Del Rio, Slabtown, Deep Gap area of Cocke County, TN in 1870’s parents came from Asheville, NC area. Have tree from present to L.D., but no info on others, also have tree on Carlisle back to 1500’s. They were from same area. Any leads would help. Martin Dockery, 200m SW Allapattah Road #29, Indiantown FL 34956. Email: martind@treco.net.

OGLE/WEBB/DENNIS/FERGUSON/PROFFITT/BOHANAN - Pleasant PROFFITT born 1826 Sevier County married Nancy Rosann OGLE - 1st wife born 2 June 1829. Pleasant was the son of Benajah PROFFITT born circa 1794 and Sarah Byrd born circa 1784. Nancy was the daughter of Willliam P. OGLE and Sarah BOHANAN. Their son Benajah "Ben" A. PROFFITT born 22 March 1847 married Catherine DENNIS - 1st wife born 27 August 1850, married Sarah E. FERGUSON - 2nd wife born 11 October 1861. married Laura WEBB - 3rd wife. Any info on these families would be appreciated. Will exchange. Jim and Helen Proffitt, 9480 Lotus Drive, Westminster, CA 92683-7446 Email: JamesP262@aol.com.

WALKER - Looking for info on John Onby/Ownby WALKER born circa l795 NC, married Ellen Milley Robenson 16 April 1816, in Knox County? In War of 1812, East TN Militia, Commanded by Col. William Johnson, and in the company of James Stewarts from September 1814 to May 1815. It is believed he moved to MO around 1817, next found in Bates County, MO in 1842, Vernon County, MO in l860, then to Shasta County, CA and died in 1882. His first family was: Prudence Walker born circa l8l8; Susannah O. WALKER born circa l820; William Robinson WALKER born November 1823; Ann Self WALKER born circa l826; Hannah Barilla WALKER born January 1828; George Washington WALKER born circa l835; Elizabeth WALKER born circa l836, and John Onby WALKER Jr. born circa l838.

John Owenby/Onby remarried in 1852 to Rebeca Wilkerson in Cedar County, MO and had 4 children: Mary Elizabeth born 1853; Martha Carolina born October 1854; Wesley West born March 1856 & Jessie born circa 1869. Have been unable to connect John O. WALKER to the NC or TN folks. All help appreciated. Chuck Lassiter, Pu'u Moi Ranch, Box 8, Papaikou, HA 96781 Email: CHASLASS@prodiqy.net.

SING/CAGLE/GRAVES/PARTON/WILSON/NORMAN/DELANEY/WILLIAMS/GILLESPIE - Elisha PARTON married Catherine of Haywood County, NC; had children Sarah, Anna, Marion, Willliam, Matt, Chastain, Harriet, James Napolian. Anna married James GILLESPIE in Madison and ended up in Sevier County in 1880. They had William, Josiah, Matilda, Robert and John H. George SING’s father was John SING born NC circa 1799. I think his father was Ben SING married to Elizabeth, a skinner and weaver. George was married to Jane SING in Sevier County and had Sarah Jane who married A. J. GRAVES. His great grandfather was Steven GRAVES who married Jenny (?) in Vonore, TN. A. J.’s father, Riley GRAVES married Elizabeth WILSON. Her sister was married to Silas. Was their mother Rebecca? William NORMAN married Virginia McKnight. His father was Eli NORMAN of NC. William had Thomas, who married Elizabeth Ann DELANEY of the Townsend area in 1873. She is said to be full-blood Cherokee. Their children married WILLIAMS’es - Andrew and Margaret, whose father was Nathaniel Harden WILLIAMS. I think his father was John Williams of Monroe County Any help on these names, Haywood County NC, and Cherokee Indians info greatly appreciated. Sherry Norman Holzwarth, 3031 W. Taylor Road, Turlock, CA 95382. Email: JHolzwa768@aol.com.

McMAHAN - I am researching Aaron McMAHAN who was killed in 1896. I have found that his mother was a woman named Penelope, who later married a man named Charles McGill. I am told they are in the 1860 Hamilton County census. She was born in 1835 and died in the Sevier County poorhouse, I think. I still don’t know who Aaron’s father was. All help appreciated. Pam McMahan, 806 Delight Lane, Sevierville , TN 37876. Email: PeddlerM@aol.com.

BREEDEN - I am seeking info on William M. BREEDEN d. May 18, 1839. He married Feb 18, 1858 in Sevier County to Darcus Ann Loveday born Jan 18, 1841. I just learned that William’s m. and f. lived common-law marriage? William took his mother’s maiden name BREEDEN instead of his father’s surname, James. I want to know his father and mother’s first names. William and Darcus were living in Harrisburg community, Sevier County in 1860 census. Then into Monroe County and then into Whitfield County, GA. Any help appreciated. Nancy Cross, 3375 Dalton Pike SE, Cleveland, TN 37323.

JUSTUS - Seeking info on my JUSTUS family. I was born 1949 in Maryville. My father, A. D. JUSTUS, born Newport in 1928, lives in Claxton. His father, Alton Demetrus, born 1903-1980 Maryville buried in Newport. Johnny Justus died in 1910 in Newport. Johnny A. Justus, 668 Highland Ave. Dayton, TN 37321. Email: Slick84225@aol.com.

DAVIS - Seeking info on Columbus "Fate" DAVIS married to Martha Sneed in 1886 in Sevier County. Believed to have had children Henry, Mary and Charles. Fate was the son of Dr. Benjamin DAVIS, buried in Webbs Creek Cemetery. Would also love to hear from anyone with info on when Sarah Baker DAVIS died and where she is buried. She was listed in the 1910 census. Sarah was married to Levi DAVIS. Brenda Hall, 116 James Avenue, Maryville TN 37804

HURST/YARBERRY - Have death certificate of Robert Lincoln YARBERRY, born 29 Dec 1894 to Albert and Lindy HURST YARBERRY, in Sevier County. He was a WW I vet but don't know if he was in TN at time of enlistment. He moved to CA during Depression or soon after. Married a Vada Kirksey from Texas, died in Winters, CA on 8 July,1945. Would like to make contact with others researching same familys. I will share information. Karole T. Stockall, 13986 Pineland Circle, Magalia, CA 95954-9438 Email: karolet@juno.com.

MARTIN/JENKENS - Seeking info on ancestors of William MARTIN and Rebecca JENKENS, my great grandparents. I have published a book on their descendants. William MARTIN was born in Sevier County 1816-1820. Rebecca JENKENS was born in NC on 17 May, 1823. They married in Haywood County, NC on 19 Jul 1840 and reared 11 children. First 5 children born in TN (prob Sevier County) William Albert MARTIN (1841-1913), my grandfather; Jeremiah MARTIN (1843.-1914); Quintine A. MARTIN (1846-); Barbara MARTIN, (1848-); Margaret MARTIN (1851-);Sarah Catherine MARTIN (1853-); The William MARTIN Family migrated to Arkansa and then to Texas. Robert E. Martin, 1608 University Dr. Arlington, TX 76013-1777 Email: remartin@fastlane.net.

KELLY/LOVEDAY - Still looking for more info on KELLY/LOVEDAY families. My paternal grandfather was William Horace Kelly who married Dicie LOVEDAY daughter of Eli and Callie Spurgon LOVEDAY. Would like more info on Dicie's family, other than what is on the listing in Smokykin.com, like who Dalton LOVEDAY married and whereabouts of his adopted son Charlie and or Charlie's family. I have many pictures of both families, as do my sisters and brother. Grandfathers siblings: Alice, Algia, Jerome and Mitchell. Info on their families needed. Grandmother’s siblings: Etta, Lloyd, Georgia, Dalton, Carrie, Winnie and others. I think there were nine, total. One may have been a cousin. I also want to know how Dave LOVEDAY, father of Larry LOVEDAY, is related to my grandmother's family. Elise K. McClary, 1601 Northview Cir. Garland, TX 75040-4300 Email: GatTenn@aol.com.

PITTMAN CENTER - Looking for historical info on the establishment, mission, and individuals that worked at the PITTMAN CENTER mission or settlement in the 1920's and 1930's. My grandfather, a Methodist minister from Wisconsin used to work there on his Summer vacations. I have only heard my mother speak of it in generalities. I have some photos from circa 1940. Philip R. Freimann, 1103 Festival Lane. Montgomery, AL 36117 Email: PFreimann@mindspring.com.

JENKINS - Jonas JENKINS was born NC 1813/14. He married Eleanor or Ellen Craig in Blount County, TN in 1834. Died in early 1870's in Blount County, Louisville/Middlesettlements area. Five sons, William, Hugh, James, David and Samuel. No daughters. Trying to find parents and siblings of Jonas. The name Jonas appears quite often in certain JENKINS lines but I have so far been unsuccessful in finding his family. Anyone have a clue? Judy Jenkins, 1131 Jenkins Lane, Knoxville, TN 37922 Email: JJFarragut@aol.com.

PHOTO WANTED - I need help in locating a picture that was taken at the dedication of the park when President Roosevelt spoke at Newfound Gap. It is a picture of the people who were there that day. They were lined up as if in a school photo. Does anyone know where I could locate this picture and perhaps get a copy? Thanks! Jan Billings, 749 Glades Rd. Gatlinburg, TN 37738 Email: Janree@aol.com 323-430-5881.

GIBBS/BOLING/BREWER/GALLIAN - Researching my grandfather's family. (William H. BOLING, son of Shade BOLING [15 May 1886 to 9 January 1961] and Melvina GIBBS [14 February 1890 to 20 November 1973).Any info on the following will be appreciated: John BOLING [Bowling on marriage License]. He married Joann (Josie) BREWER (26 May 1866 to 11 January 1942) on 21 March 1883 in Knox County, TN. Their children were Jackson, Shade, Martha, Belle, Sarah and John W. In the 1900 census of Sevier County. Joann is living with the children at her parents home and is listed as widowed. Her parents are: Andrew J. BREWER (1824 to 25 January 1906) and Nancy GALLIAN (July 1842 to??) Are her parents Daniel and Elizabeth? We believe John died in some sort of train accident between 1896 and 1900. He is not buried with Joann at Ellejoy Cemetery. (She later married a Garner). Unable to locate a John BOLING in the 1880 census unless he was married and was divorced between 1880 and 1883 when he married Joann BREWER. Thomas John GIBBS (1859 NC to ??) married Martha E.[???](1 April 1864 to 21 August 1905) They married 1870, place unknown. Children Florie [married Henry Sing]; Maggie [married Charles Jackson]; Sally; John; Manerva [married Wm. Dunlap]; Joe; James; Ella [married a Garner]; Belle [married a Nichols]; Melvina [married Shade, both buried in Ellejoy Cemetery]. It also appears that Thomas John GIBBS was killed in a train accident, unknown where or when. Any info greatly appreciated. Roy Raymer, 20300 Wallace, Roseville, MI 48066 Email:rraymer@voyager.net.

DRAKE - My great great grandfather was James Madison DRAKE, born in 1809 in Orange County, NC. In Caswell County, NC he married a Jane Susannah Childress, who was born in 1809 in Halifax County, VA. They started their family in Nash County, NC and later moved to Lee County, VA in 1840. The Childress family of VA moved to Knox County in the last ten years of the eighteenth century. In the 1850’s several of the James DRAKE children journeyed into Blount and Sevier Counties and began families. In the late 1860’s, James and Jane DRAKE moved to Ellejoy and were on the 1870 census as residents of Blount County along with their oldest son William Hines DRAKE and his wife, the former Elizabeth Davis. James died on 7 February 1874 and Jane died on 10 July 1875. William H.’s old residence was at Trundle’s Cross Road, just off the old Sevierville to Knoxville highway. Elizabeth Davis DRAKE died in 1890 and her passing was much lamented by her church which may have met at the Childress Academy. This data is from notes left by my uncle, James H. DRAKE before his passing. Now my problem. I cannot find any record of James and Jane DRAKE being buried in either of the three adjacent counties. I have the Blount County cemetery record, and the Sevier record was checked. So now where do I go? Because of the standing in the church of William H. DRAKE and Elizabeth Davis in this area, I can’t imagine letting his father and mother being buried in unmarked graves. Either James, or William H. gave the Eusebia Presbyterian Church land for their cemetery. Does anyone in the Historical Society have any ideas where James M. and Jane S. DRAKE are buried? I would appreciate any help in this quest. Bill Drake, 11121 Saunders Court, San Diego, CA 92131.


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