Dialtha Evans

Notes:

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Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 115, 130.

Dialtha married Joel Ownby 15 Feb 1858, Sevier County, Tennessee. Joel (son of Aaron Ownbey and Mary "Polly" Buckner) was born Apr 1836, Sevier County, Tennessee; died 2 Jan 1909, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried Ownby Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

1. Richard Tilman Ownby was born 13 Jan 1860, Sevier County, Tennessee; died 9 Mar 1938, Bradley County, Tennessee; was buried Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery, Bradley County, Tennessee.
2. Mary Jane Ownby was born 19 Aug 1862, Sevier County, Tennessee; died 21 Mar 1934, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried Pigeon Forge Baptist Church Cemetery, Pigeon Forge, Sevier County, Tennessee.
3. Aaron Ownby was born 1865, Tennessee; died See Notes.
4. Elbert Ownby was born 1867; died See Notes.
5. Altamire Ownby was born 1869; died See Notes.
6. Rhoda Ownby was born 1871; died See Notes.
7. Leander Ownby was born 1873; died See Notes.

Notes:

Affectionately called "Preacher Dick", he was received into the White Oak Flats Baptist Church in October of 1839 "by experience". In October of 1843, he was granted the right "to exercise a public gift wherever his lot Should be Cast." He was ordained at the church on the 27th of October 1846 "through the assistance of Brothers Isaac Kimbro and Eli Roberts as presbytery..." (Church minutes book of White Oak Flats Baptist Church). This began his long and fruitful service to the Lord and his fellow man.

Beside the Gatlinburg Church, he served New Salem Church, Lebanon in the Glades, Friendship in Greenbrier, the Hills Creek Church and at both Evan's Chapel No. 1 and 2. He also made visits to the Indians in North Carolina. Dr. Burnett, in his book about pioneer ministers credited Richard Evans with converting more than 10,000 souls to Christ and personally baptizing more than 1,800 persons.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 158.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 106, 130.
"Smoky Mountain Family Album," Gladys Trentham Russell, 1984, p 128.
"Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage", 1994, p 52.
"Mountain Ways", Gene Aiken, 1983, p 126.

Richard married Mary Olief "Olive" Ownbey 30 Jan 1840, , Sevier County, Tennessee. Mary (daughter of John Ownby, Jr. and Elizabeth Hill) was born 11 Jul 1821, , Buncombe County, North Carolina; died 26 Apr 1908, , Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried Forks of the River Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: 1TQQ-GG

Notes:

----------
Reference
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1974, p 51.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 106, 130.
"Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage", 1994, p 52.

Notes:

Martha and Jacob gave the land for the Lebanon Baptist Church in the Glades. They left a joint will which is recorded in Will Book I, page 247, Sevier County Courthouse. Their daughter, Sophia Ownby, and her son, Samuel, are mentioned in it. The will was probated in April 1878.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 158.
"Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage", 1994, p 52, 298.

Jacob married Martha Ogle Abt 1823, , Sevier County, Tennessee. Martha (daughter of Thomas J. Ogle and Sophia Bosley) was born 1807, Sevier County, Tennessee; died 1885; was buried Glades Lebanon Baptist Church Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Martha and Jacob gave the land for the Lebanon Baptist Church in the Glades. They left a joint will which is recorded in Will Book I, page 247, Sevier County Courthouse. Their daughter, Sophia Ownby, and her son, Samuel, are mentioned in it. The will was probated in April 1878.

Samuel Ownby told of his grandmother's love of the mountains. His parents, James and Sophia Evans Ownby along with his grandparents, Martha and Jacob Evans had moved to Copperhill, Tennessee. Martha yearned for the mountains so much, she started walking home. Jacob and James rode after her and finally persuaded her to stay until they made their harvest that year. She held them to their promise and they returned that fall to the Smokies.

Census records verify the story above mentioned. They are listed in the 1850 Federal Census of Gilmer County, Georgia, right near the state line of Tennessee and Georgia.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 158.
"Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage", 1994, p 52, 298.

Other Events:

• AFN: 1TQP-13

Notes:

John Ownby Jr. served in the War of 1812 with the North Carolina malitia. Records from the National Archives show John Ownby as a private in Captain Bradly's Company of North Carolina militia for six months but was not called out until February and continued in actual service for over fourteen days. He was discharged in Rutherford County, North Carolina on 6 March 1815. In 1858 John Ownby applied for a bounty land grant on the basis of his military service. He received a grant of 158 acres in Sevier County, Tennessee.

In 1816, just after the War of 1812 was over, John Ownby Jr. and his family moved from Rutherford County, North Carolina to Sevier County, Tennessee. This Ownby family was the only one listed in the 1830 Federal Census of East Tennessee.

On 4 February 1858, John Ownby Jr. made a will to dispose of his property. In his will, he said, "I give and bequeath to my son John H. Ownby all my property both real and personal consisting of one hundred and twenty five acres of Land, Cattle, Hogs, Horses, household furniture, etc. I have given and bequeath all my property to said son John in consequence of his kindness in taking care of myself and wife in our age and during our infirmity."
----------
Reference:
"Kinfolk, Ownbey Family Lines of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina", p 13.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 64, 105.
"Mountain Ways", Gene Aiken, 1983, p 203.

John married Elizabeth Hill 14 Mar 1803, Rutherford County, North Carolina. Elizabeth (daughter of John Hill) was born 6 Nov 1784, Buncombe County, North Carolina; died 24 Aug 1830, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: 1TQP-28

Notes:

Donald B. Reagan has birth date as 6 November 1786.
----------
Reference:
"Kinfolk, Ownbey Family Lines of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina", p
13.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 64, 105.
"Mountain Ways", Gene Aiken, 1983, p 203.

Notes:

Bride: Elizabeth Hill
Groom: John Ownby
Bond Date: 11 Mar 1805
County: Rutherford
Record #: 01 245
Bondsman: Arthur Ownby
Witness: R Lewis, Clerk of Court
Bond #: 000135548

North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868

Notes:

Emigrated from Wales.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 158.

Notes:

Thomas went with his parents to Ninety Six District, Edgefield County, South Carolina from Wilkes County, Georgia.

Tom was named with his brother, Hercules, as coexecutor of their father's will in 1803 in Edgefield District, South Carolina. He also signed the 1811 deed of conveyance which disposed of the land left by William Ogle to his "four boys". Another deed, dated in 1825 and disposing of land in Edgefield District, South Carolina, was signed by Thomas and Sophia Ogle. They had apparently rented out this land after moving to Sevier County, Tennessee.

No Tennessee land grants prior to 1824 were found for Tom Ogle but it is known that he was in Sevier County as early as 1805. He and Hercules Ogle deeded 48 acres of land at the mouth of Walden's Creek to William Murphy in 1807. According to the deed, found in the Tennessee State Library and Archives, they held title to the land "by virtue of seizure and occupancy". The exact date of Tom's settlement in Gatlinburg is not known but he was one of the first settlers there.

Records of Tom's service in the War of 1812 were found in the National Archives. He served in Captain Andrew Lawson's Company of East Tennessee Drafted Militia Regiment, commanded by Colonel William Johnson, and fought against the Creek Indians. In 1850 and 1855, Tom received bounty land grants as a result of his service.

In December of 1817 when the White Oak Flats Baptist Church was formed as an arm of the Sevierville church, Tom Ogle and his wife were listed as charter members. The first church building was started in 1855 on Tom's land. It was located where the Arrowcraft Shop stands now. A deed conveying title of the land to the church by Thomas Ogle was executed on 8 April 1861. This is found in Sevier County Courthouse in Deed Book M, page 211.

Thomas J. Ogle has three land entries, which are dated from 1 May 1824 through 23 Jan 1826, in the Surveyor's Book No. 1 of Sevier County, Tennessee. These land entries were granted by the state of Tennessee. All these were located in the White Oak Flats community and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Tom left a will dated 27 Sep 1861 and probated in County Court in February of 1862. It is recorded in Will Book I, p 74-75. William T. Ogle is mentioned as Tom's eldest son and is named executor of the will. Also Tom mentioned "my son Thomas Ogle... my Sons, to wit., Preston, Levi and Caleb..." In the Court records, Thomas Ogle's will was admitted for probate 3 Feb 1862. On 3 March 1862, Caleb Ogle and Wilson Duggan were appointed administrators of the estate of Thomas Ogle. (Court Minutes Book I, page 747 and 752)

There is a list of "Inventory of the property belonging to the estate of Thomas J. Ogle, Dec'd., late of Sevier County, Tennessee in the Inventory Book, page 190/92.

In the GUARDIANS, EXECUTORS and ADMINISTRATORS Settlement Book for Sevier County, Tennessee, there is a record for the estate of Thomas J. Ogle. From this book, the following list of the living heirs of Thomas J. Ogle is quoted: "the above Settlement shows that there is in the hands of the administrators the sum of $187.23 to be equally divided among twelve heirs, to wit., Levi, Hercules, Isaac, Rebecca wife of Preston, William T., Celeb, Thomas, Esther Trantham, Hichols Ownsby, Jacob Evans, Andrew Conner, and David Owensby & wife."

The family appears in the Federal Census records of Sevier County from 1830 through 1860. The census and other records found show that the second generation of Ogle sons in Gatlinburg began using their father's initial in their names when there was confusion created by the same names.
----------
Reference
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1974, p 47-48.
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 154-155, 211.

Thomas married Sophia Bosley Abt 1804. Sophia was born Abt 1789, Maryland; died 13 Jul 1857, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried White Oak Flats Cemetery, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Sophia is spoken of as the "red-headed woman" in the family stories. It is said she hoped and prayed for a church and minister of their own in the community. Her hopes were realized when their son, William T. Ogle, became a minister of the Gospel, as did a younger son, Caleb Ogle.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1974, p 47-48.
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 154-155, 211.

Notes:

Following the path of migration to the West in Virginia, John Ownby came with his parents, sometime before 1760, to Albermarle County, Virginia (later Amherst County).

There are records of several land transactions for John Ownby in Amherst County, Virginia:
(1) On 27 April 1764, John Ownby bought from Charles Parkes, 359 acres, lying on the north branches of the Buffalo River and the north side of Fluvanna. This land ran with the lines of Ambrose Porter.
(2) On 5 September 1768, John Ownby sold to Martin Trap, 111 acres, lying on north branches of Buffalo River.
(3) On 5 February 1769, John Ownby sold to David Blitz for nine pounds, twelve shillings, 70 acres, situated on the branches of Buffalo River, being a part of a large tract belonging to the said John Ownby. Also John Ownby's wife relinquished her dower rights at that time.
(4) On 25 February 1769, John Ownby sold to William Mays, 178 acres, situated on the branches of Buffalo River starting with James Williamson's corner and running with the lines of David Blitz, being a part of a large tract belonging to the said John Ownby.

In the early 1770's, John Ownby and his family migrated to Pittsylvania County, Virginia where Ambrose Porter died leaving a will in 1773. In Ambrose Porter's will, he mentioned his daughter Ann and her five youngest children, namely, John, Milly, Susanna, Ambrose, and Arthur. Each of Ann's five youngest children was willed "one cow of heifer each to be delivered to them as they come to the age of nine or then years old."

In the late 1770's, John Ownby and his family moved again to Tryon County, North Carolina (later Rutherford County). Here he began to buy lands and remained until his death. They lived in the area of Colonel Hampton's Mill near Cove Road in Rutherford County, North Carolina.

They were listed in the 1790 through 1820 Federal Census of Ruterford County, North Carolina.

John Ownby was buried in the "Old Field Cemetery" which is located five miles north of Bat Cave just off North Carolina Highway #9.
----------
Reference:
"Kinfolk, Ownbey Family Lines of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina", p 78.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 63-64.
IGI, Batch 8712005, Sheet 25, Source Call Number 1396341, Film.

John married Nancy Ann "Nannie" Porter Abt 1760, Albermarle County, Virginia. Nancy (daughter of Ambrose Porter and Jemima) was born 1743, Orange County, Virginia; died 1818, Rutherford County, North Carolina; was buried Old Broad River Cemetery, Rutherford County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Buried in Mountain Creek Church Cemetery.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 63-64.

Other Events:

• AFN: BGW1-J0

Notes:

----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 105.