Ephraim E. Trentham

Notes:

Buried in Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 107, 108, 123, 124.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 83.
"Smoky Mountain Family Album," Gladys Trentham Russell, 1984, p 114.
"Mountain Ways", Gene Aiken, 1983, p 110.

Ephraim — Mary "Polly" Trentham. Mary (daughter of Levi Trentham and Litha Emaline Ownby) was born 28 Apr 1875; died 4 Feb 1943; was buried Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery, Blount County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

1. Emma R. Trentham was born 14 Aug 1901, Sevier County, Tennessee; died 2 May 1992; was buried Oak View Cemetery, Blount County, Tennessee.
2. Trentham was born 1904; died See Notes.
3. Charles Trentham was born 8 Feb 1906, Tennessee; died 18 Jul 1969; was buried Oak View Cemetery, Blount County, Tennessee.
4. Trentham was born 1908; died See Notes.
5. Robert Trentham was born 1909.
6. Edith Trentham was born 23 Jun 1914, Tennessee; died 28 Jul 1982; was buried Oak View Cemetery, Walland, Blount County, Tennessee.

Other Events:

• Census: 1900, District 11, Sevier County, Tennessee
• Census: 1910, District 11, Sevier County, Tennessee

Notes:

----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 210.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 91, 123, 194.
"Smoky Mountain Family Album," Gladys Trentham Russell, 1984, p 114, 133.

William married Rebecca Elizabeth Ogle 9 Sep 1880. Rebecca (daughter of Preston Ogle and Rebecca "Becky" Conner) was born 6 Aug 1862, Tennessee; died 23 Mar 1905; was buried Sugarlands Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Census: 1900, District 11, Sevier County, Tennessee

Notes:

----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 123, 194.

Notes:

Serving the Union Army during the Civil War, Caleb L. Trentham enlisted in Company C, First Regiment of Tennessee Light Artillery Battalion.

Their house was in lower Sugarlands, Sevier County, Tennessee.

Their sons Amos, Jim, John, and Harve made musical instruments.

Donald Reagan lists middle name as "Eli".
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 102, 123, 165.
"Smoky Mountain Family Album," Gladys Trentham Russell, 1984, p 23, 148, 149.
"Mountain Ways", Gene Aiken, 1983, p 50.
Caleb L. Trentham Family Bible, Nelma Inman, Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Caleb married Mary M. Martin 15 Sep 1861. Mary (daughter of James Lacy Martin and Mary Evans) was born 10 Jul 1843, Sevier County, Tennessee; died 15 Apr 1927; was buried Trentham Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 102, 122.
"Smoky Mountain Family Album," Gladys Trentham Russell, 1984, p 23, 148.
"Mountain Ways", Gene Aiken, 1983, p 50.

Notes:

Preston and his family were listed in the 1850 through 1880 Federal Census of
Sevier County, Tennessee.

Preston enrolled as a private 1 Oct 1863 in Company H, 9th Regiment of the
Tennessee Cavalry Volunteers during the Civil War. He died at Camp Nelson,
Kentucky of typhoid fever.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1974, p 73.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 194.
"Mountain Ways", Gene Aiken, 1983, p 47.

Preston married Rebecca "Becky" Conner 4 Dec 1843, , Haywood, North Carolina. Rebecca (daughter of Samuel Conner and Nancy Swearingen) was born 1828, Haywood County, North Carolina; died 13 May 1892, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried White Oak Flats Cemetery, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

----------
Reference
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1974, p 73.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 192, 194, 218.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 144.

Notes:

Sometime in the early 1820's, William Trentham and his family migrated to Sevier County, Tennessee from Haywood County, North Carolina. They settled in the Two-Mile Branch and Forks of the River area, now part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

William Trentham was one of the early school teachers for the White Oak Flats community. A story handed down for generations about him as the school teacher in White Oaks said -- "William Trentham seems to have known how to enforce order among what must have been a body of turbulent pupils, for it is told of him that he once whipped a daughter of Daniel Wesley Reagan for spitting into the school books of her fellow students. This so incensed the father of the girl that he vowed there should be no more schools of that kind where he lived, so he locked the schoolhouse and took away the key."

William Trentham and his wife Easter Ogle were listed in the 1830 and 1840 Federal Census of Sevier County, Tennessee.

William Trentham was appointed as the only postmaster for the White Oak Flats community. The post office was organized on 11 November 1840 and was disbanded on 13 June 1844. He also served as the Justice of Peace for the 11th Civil District (White Oak Flats).

William Thomas arrived at home after an extended trip in the woodland with a ruptured appendix and without proper medical attention resulted in his untimely.

William Trentham was buried with his wife in the Trentham Family Cemetery, now part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. William's grave stone gives 1843 as his date of death.
----------
Reference
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1974, p 49.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 164.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 101-102.
"Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage", 1994, p 359
Bonnie Trentham Myers, Bltrentham@aol.com, 20 November 2000..

William married Easter Ogle 1826, Sevier County, Tennessee. Easter (daughter of Thomas J. Ogle and Sophia Bosley) was born 6 May 1806, Sevier County, Tennessee; died 6 Jan 1883; was buried Trentham Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In the minute books of the White Oak Flats Church a mention is made of "Sister Easter Trentham" in the records of the January 1827 meeting.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mounty Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1974, p 49.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 139, 164.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 101,102.

Notes:

Listed in the 1860 through 1880 Federal Census of Sevier County, Tennessee.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1974, p 50.
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 237.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 102, 104.

James married Mary Evans Abt 1841/1842, , Sevier County, Tennessee. Mary (daughter of Jacob Evans and Martha Ogle) was born 1825, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

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:

It is believed that Samuel Conner was named for his grandfather Samuel Conner. Family tradition says "Samuel Conner is said to be of red Irish ancestry while some of his younger generations is crossed with 'Black Dutch'." Samuel Conner was listed in the 1790 Federal Census of Lincoln County, North Carolina.

On 24 September 1819, Samuel Conner bought 100 acres of land from John Hyde for $150.00. This land was located "on South West side of Natahala Johns Fork of the Oconaluftee River..." in Haywood County, North Carolina, now part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Samuel Conner was listed in the 1820 Federal Census of Haywood County, North Carolina. There was one male and two females born 1810/1820; one female born 1794/1804; one male born 1775/1794; and one male born before 1775 in the household.

Samuel Conner was listed in the 1830 Federal Census of Haywood County, North Carolina. There was one male and two females born 1825/1830; one female born 1820/1825; one male and one female bor 1815/1820; two females born 1810/1815; and one male and female born 1780/1790 in the household. Their eldest daughter, Susannah, was already married to John Watson and lived next door to Samuel Conner in the 1830 census.

On 4 April 1834 Samuel Conner bought 84 acres of land from Jacob Couches for $120.00. This land was located "on both sides of the North Fork of Oconaluftee River" and joined his land in Haywood County, North Carolina, now part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Oconalufty Baptist Church was organized on 6 June 1836. Samuel Conner and his wife Nancy Swearingen joined the church as charter members.

The Oconalufty Baptist Church "resolved that we have our Church meetings at Both Brothers Samuel Conners & Jacob Mignes (Seigor) Each one in their turn for conven[ience] of the Aged & infirm until we get a Regular meeting house and that we have a prayer meeting at Brother S. Conner & Brother Minges on each Fork of sd river Between Each Monthly meeting Each one in its turn."

Samuel Conner died at his homeplace on the waters of Ocanalufty River. Exact date of death and burial site have not been located.

It was indicated that one of Samuel Conner's heirs had not received their share in the estate. There is a Power of Attorney in Jackson County, North Carolina - it is given below:

"State of North Carlina)
Henderson County )

"Know all men by these presents that we Busrod Conner & wife Massee Conner heirs at law of the estate of Samuel Conner Deceased have this day constituted and appointed B. M. Enloe our legal and lawful attorney to settle with Joel Conner in all matters pertaining to our interest in the said estate of Samuel Conner Dec'd as full & as lawfully as if we were present at the settling thereof and we further authorzie the said B. M. Enloe to sell and dispose of all our interst in the land owned by sd Samuel Conner Dec'd as full as if we present doing thereof

"In testimony whereof we have set our hands and seals this the 12th June 1859

"Attest His
Joseph Masewell Bushrod X Conner (Seal)
James Masewell Mark
Her
Massee X Conner (Seal)
Mark

"State of North Carolina)
Jackson County )

"Court of Pleas and Quarter Session - June Term 1859, the foregoing power of attorney was duly proven before me by the oath of James Maxwell subscribing witnesses thereto & recorded - let it be registered - certified the 22nd September 1859

A. M. Enloe, Clear"

From the Abstract of Titles for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, "we do not find any conveyance from Samuel Conner for either of the tracts conveyed to him by the foregoing deeds. He was one of the earliest settlers on Ocona Lufty River and he and those under whom he claims have been in the continuous posession of these lands for nearly a century." (This note was written in 1920's/1930's)
----------
Reference:
"Ownby-Watson Family History", Percival David Park, May 1985, p 66.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 183-184, 185, 217.
"Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage", 1994, p 285.

Samuel — Nancy Swearingen. Nancy (daughter of Samuel Swearingen, III and Massey) was born 1792, Burke County, North Carolina; died Jan 1854; was buried White Oak Flats Cemetery, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Nancy Swearingen Conner, widow of Samuel Conner, and her two sons, Robert and
Andrew, received their letters of dismission from the Oconalufty Baptist Church
in March 1847 meeting. Shortly after March 1847, Nancy Swearingen Conner and
her two sons migrated to Sevier County, Tennessee. The rest of Samuel Conner's
family was already married and lived in Sevier County, Tennessee except Joel S.
Conner who remained in Swain County, North Carolina.

Nancy Swearingen Conner was listed in the 1850 Federal Census of Sevier County,
Tennessee as the head of household with her son Andrew at home.

The SMHS lists birth date as 1790
----------
Reference:
"Ownby-Watson Family History", Percival David Park, May 1985, p 66, 67.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 184, 217.
"Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage", 1994, p 285.