Christmas memories

We had more than one Christmas dinner in our family while I was growing up in the 1950's and 60's.  I think a lot of families did back then. Mama had dinner at our house for her family, usually on the Sunday after Christmas.  Christmas Eve was reserved for the Oeser family.

On Christmas Eve, Daddy and his nine siblings would all gather at their parent's home.  Mama and Papa Oeser lived at 1022 Pennock Ave., for most of their married years.  We lived across and down the alley, and we always walked to their house.  Daddy was named Ernest for his father.  Daddy had six brothers, Robert, Herbert "Corky", Paul "Peanut", Jimmy, Orville and Ronnie and three sisters, Ruth "Sis", Margaret and Dot.  Our last family Christmas before Mama Oeser died, was in 1963.  I believe 24 of what would  eventually be 31 grandchildren, had been born by that time.  My sister Ann, was the only grandchild who had married at that time, and she had two children.  There would have been about 49 immediate family members and probably a few family friends. Ruth Allen, who had been a next door neighbor, in years past, sometimes came with her son Don. Cousin Evelyn Sharer and her husband Vernon were likely to drop by.  The house was a small Queen Anne Victorian, with a wrap-around front porch.  The house had two entry doors from the porch, at the front and around to the side.  There were five rooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom and it was here that the ten children had grown up.    The living room was L shaped, with a mantel and fireplace.  On Christmas Eve every room was filled with aunts, uncles and cousins.  My grandmother, my mother, and aunts prepared a feast.  Turkey and dressing with every accompaniment imaginable.  On the side board there was Spice Round, and Mama Oeser's special potato salad, green beans, fried corn and what seemed like endless bowls of this and that.  There were plenty of desserts, including Mama Oeser's fabulous jam cake and a beautiful coconut cake.  There was always homemade fruit cake. And of course boiled custard, served from the crystal punch bowl.

When I was young, we exchanged gifts among all the cousins but as the grandchildren multiplied we started a tradition of drawing names, a few weeks before the big night.  The ceilings in the old house were high and Mama Oeser always had a tall tree, and under the tree was a winter village.  My uncle Robert made lighted houses and a church for the village.  There were miniature cars on the road in front.  The tree skirt was covered with cotton and looked like snow.  In the middle of the village was a frozen pond made from a mirror with ice skaters. It was a magical wonder to a little girl.  It was a wonderful time from which many cherished memories are stored.

The younger cousins, may not remember Christmas at Mama Oeser's.  After she died in 1965, our aunt, Margaret Oeser Allen took upon herself the tradition of Christmas Eve dinner for the Oeser family.  Many wonderful and cherished memories from Christmas at Margaret's home.  We are all getting older and we have our own growing families, with children and grandchildren and great grandchildren.  We no longer gather as a large family on Christmas Eve.  But sometime tonight, I am sure that memories of Christmas with the Oeser's, will cross the minds of many.

Click here to read more about the Oeser family. 

 

Merry Christmas to all my Steele cousins

Wishing a Merry Christmas to all my Steele cousins.  

Pawpaw Steele sitting at center.

When I was a child we had a Christmas dinner every year at our house with Mama's family.  Her dad and any siblings who were Nashville at the time, along with their families, would come together, usually on the Sunday after Christmas.  Mama was the best cook and we had so much good food to share.  Mama's family was scattered across the country and we didn't see all of them every year or even know some of them very well.  We knew that the ones who could not be present, were with us in spirit, and that Mama thought of and missed each one of them, especially at Christmas time.  We were fortunate to spend many Christmas seasons, with Mama's dad, Wilmoth Steele.  He was our Pawpaw. His sister's Neva and Ila, had Christmas with us also.  Pawpaw's wife Minnie, died before any of her grandchildren were born, but she was always in Mama's thoughts and we loved her through the stories Mama shared. This Christmas, as I take time to remember Christmas past, I think of the many family members who are no longer with us.  At  Christmas, I really miss my Mama and Daddy and my brother Ernest and my nephew Paul.  My uncles, Ed Steele and wife Elsie, Paul Steele and wife Elaine, Felix Steele, Bob Steele, Gerald Steele and wife Phoebe, Walter Steele, and Aunt Neva's husband, Wallace Hunley.  Also my aunt Lorena Steele Clingan and her husband George Marion Clingan.  This past year we lost our uncle Raymond Larry Steele and our aunt Mary Steele Gifford Cole just one week apart.  They are all in my thoughts.  At this time of year, I always remember Mama's baby sister Ila Ruth, who died when she 14 months old.  Mama was only seven at the time but she never let Ila Ruth be forgotten.  Only Neva is left now, out of twelve children.Thinking of Aunt Neva, all of my cousins and all of their families, near and far, those who are still with us, and those who have passed on.   

Steele family 1972

Click the link to read more about the Steele family -  One of Twelve 

Steele family obits from the Gospel Advocate

Gospel Advocate Obituaries

Steel, John W.

John W. Steel was born on November 23, 1851; was married to Mary A. L. Buchanan on September 15, 1874; obeyed the gospel of Christ about thirty-five years ago; and died on January 20, 1909. His neighbors and those that knew him well testify that he lived a faithful and devoted life. He was a useful member of the church at Donelson, Tenn., manifesting a lively interest in the prosperity of the cause at that place. He was devoted and faithful as husband and father, exerting a good influence in his family and in the neighborhood where he lived, and a large audience was present at the funeral to show their respect for the dead and to manifest their sympathy for the bereaved family. He leaves a wife, three children, and also many relatives and friends, to bear the loss of one they loved. By all these, and by the congregation of which he was a member, the loss of Brother Steel will be deeply felt. But they will not sorrow as those who have no hope; and if they will all follow his example in faithfully serving the Lord to the end of life, they may meet him where these sad farewells will no more be felt or feared.

E. G. S.

Gospel Advocate, February 11, 1909, page 183.

Steele, Annie Moore

Annie Moore, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Steele, was born on September 24, 1887; was baptized into Christ by Brother Felix Sowell in 1904; and died on June 9, 1907. Sister Annie is said, by those that knew her, to have been an earnest Christian girl; pleasant and affectionate at home, kind and gentle toward her associates, and esteemed by all as faithful in all the relations she sustained. She was in her twentieth year when the fatal typhoid fever carried her into the beyond. She was a treasure in the family, highly esteemed in the church and esteemed by all who knew her. She had attended to the one thing needful, the salvation of her soul, by entering into and continuing in the service of the Lord until death. Thus she leaves to her family and friends the joys and consolations of the precious hope of the gospel of Christ. Let her family and friends also be faithful to the Lord until death, and they may meet her in the home where changes never come, and where sad farewells will never again be said.

E. G. S.

Gospel Advocate, June 27, 1907, page 414.

Steele, Samuel

Brother Samuel Steele died, at his home, ten miles east of Nashville, Tenn., on May 30, 1903. He was born in White County, Tenn., a few miles east of Smithville, now the county seat of DeKalb County, in June, 1822. From there he came to Davidson County in 1846, and had lived here ever since. Before leaving the place of his nativity, he became a Christian, being baptized by Brother Jesse Sewell. On January 5, 1851, he married Miss Mary Binkley. For thirty-four years, hand in hand, they trod the path of life. To them were born ten children. The wife and mother died on August 8, 1884. In 1886 he married Mrs. Kelly (a widow), of Williamson County, Tenn., who in his declining years helped him to pass the time, in sickness and in health, in that way and manner becoming a good wife. Three of his children preceded him to the grave. Brother Steele was loved and respected by all who knew him. His integrity was unquestioned; he strove to do right. His Christian character was above reproach; he read the Book, believed what it taught, and tried to shape his conduct by its precepts. He was an honored member of the congregation at Donelson, Tenn.; and the great number of friends and acquaintances who attended his funeral attested the esteem in which he was held. His family and friends may sorrow, but they should be comforted by the hope that he has attained unto an defiled, and that fadeth not away. May all profit by his example strive to emulate his virtues, covering his faults with the mantle of charity. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

James E. Scobey.

Gospel Advocate, June 18, 1903, page 394.

John Buchanan, Sr. Davidson Co. TN

Records concerning the estate of John Buchanan Sr.  who died in Davidson County, Tennessee in April of 1787.  John Buchanan, Sr. and his son Samuel, died intestate, without a will.  Their estates were administered by James Mulherin and John Buchanan Jr.  Provided is both the original page from the will book and a typed transcript of the record. 

Davidson County Will Book 1, page 69, Inventory John Buchanan Sr.

Davidson County Will Book 1, page 69, Inventory of the estate of John Buchanan Sr., as transcribed by the Works Progress Administration, 1937

The following document is the settlement of the estate of John Buchanan, Sr. and Samuel Buchanan as administered by John Buchanan, Jr. and James Mulherin. Samuel Buchanan son of John, Sr. died on May 1, 1786, killed by Indians.  John, Sr. died in April, 1787, killed by Indians. The amount from the sale of the estates of John and Samuel Buchanan was 275 pounds, 17 shillings and 6 pence. After debts were paid the cash from the estate was divided, one and half shares to the widow, 63 pounds, 15 shillings and four equal shares, 42 pounds, 10 shillings, to the other legatees. The real estate was divided into four parts, increasing the shares of the legattees, other than the widow, to 49 pounds and 5 shillings.  Statement of Geo. Parks, atty for James Buchanan says that he received 49 pounds, and 5 shillings for James Buchanan.  It is possible that James Buchanan was a minor child of John Buchanan, Sr., at the time of the estate settlement, and was appointed an attorney to see after his interests. Another possibility is that Buchanan had some sort of health or mental problem that would require someone to look after his interest in the estates. It is possible that he had moved away and/or his whereabouts unknown, also requiring someone to look after his part of the estate.  Proof of this may be in county court records from that time.  The settlement was accepted and filed September 30, 1796.  The order filed by the court also mentions the estate of John Kennedy, which was also administered by John Buchanan, Jr. and James Mulherin and presented at the same time for settlement.

Davidson County, Tennessee Will Book 2, page 58

Davidson County, Tennessee, Will Book 2, page 58 as transcribed by the Works Progress Administration, 1937.

Legatees are not usually named in an estate settlement.  There is an exception here because of the receipt given by George Parks in which he names James Buchanan.  The widow received one and one half shares of the estate in the amount of 63 pounds 15 shillings and 1 pence. The remaining four heirs received equal shares in the amount of 42 pounds 10 shillings and 1 pence.

We know that one of the four legatees was James Buchanan.  Children of John Buchanan, Sr. known to be living at the time the estate was settled were; John Buchanan, Jennie Buchanan Todd and Nancy Buchanan Mulherrin.

There are few records to identify or document the children of John Buchanan, Sr.  Most of what we know comes from reports of happenings at that time and from family records and stories. Alexander Buchanan, killed at the battle of the bluff on April 2, 1781 is known to be a son from reports given at that time and preserved in written history.  Samuel Buchanan killed on May 1, 1786, is known to be a son from reports given at that time.  Family records and stories give us the names of daughters Jennie and Nancy.  And son John Buchanan, Jr., better known as Major John Buchanan, is known to be a son from reports given at that time.  A granddaughter of John Buchanan, Sr. wrote a story about her life. She was Rebecca Todd Davisson, born in 1783 in Davidson County, Tennessee.  She wrote about her grandparents, her uncles Alexander, Samuel and Major John.  She wrote of her uncle James Mulherin who had married her mother's only sister, but did not name her aunt. 

Children of John Buchanan, Sr. and wife Jane Trindle.
John Buchanan, Jr., eldest child born 1759.
Alexander Buchanan, killed April 2, 1781
Samuel Buchanan, killed May 1, 1786
Jennie Buchanan, married James Todd
Nancy Buchanan, married James Muherrin
James Buchanan

I cannot come up with any explanation for James, other than he is a child of James Buchanan, Sr.   He shared equally in the estate and his attorney gave a receipt to the administrators which stated, "Then recd. of John Bucchanan the just and full sum of forty nine five shillings it being in full of James Bucchanan part of his father's decd. estate and his brother Samuel it being in full of sd. estate, I say recd. by me Novr. 12th 1792," Geo Parks, atty for Jas. Bucchanan. [George Parks came to Tennessee from Guilford County, NC and was a resident of Davidson Co., TN and later of Sumner Co., Tennessee, where he died in 1810.]  It has been suggested that James Buchanan had to hire an attorney to get his share of the estate.  There is no evidence of that or that George Parks was an attorney. He does not appear in Davidson County or Sumner County court records acting as an attorney. It was very common to give power of attorney to someone to act on behalf of another in legal matters.  Appointing someone to act on James Buchanan's behalf, might add to evidence than James was an adult, and not living in Davidson County at the time of the settlement. The receipt given by George Parks was dated Nov 12, 1792. At that time George Parks was still living in Guilford County, NC.  James Buchanan is not mentioned in accounts of the attack on Buchanan's Station in 1792, suggesting that he might have been living elsewhere.  Their is a James Buchanan living in Guilford County, NC, in the 1780's and 1790's.  Perhaps James Buchanan did not come to the Cumberland settlements with the rest of the family, or left early on. One could speculate forever, but the truth is, at this time, we know only that James Buchanan was a son of John Buchanan, Sr, a brother of Samuel Buchanan and was alive in November of 1792.

I did find on bit of evidence that James Buchanan may have lived in Davidson County.  John Buchanan's book of arithmetic, was a book owned by and written by Major John Buchanan.  The book is part of the Buchanan Collection at Middle Tennessee State University. A coverage date of 1780 to 1789 is given for the book.  Within the book near the back is written, "James Buchanan his hand."

Possible signature of James Buchanan son of John Buchanan, Sr.

Major John Buchanan's Arithmetic Book  - Middle Tennessee State University

K-K-K-Katy - Annie Lorena Capps Hunt

Mama was a storyteller and on hot summer evenings she entertained me and my cousins with tales of her childhood and her family.  We did not know that we learning the story of who we are and where we came from, we just enjoyed hearing Mama's stories.  Some were sad and some were funny and she even had a few a ghost tales to share.

Mama told many stories about her maternal grandparents, Felix and Lorena Hunt.  She called them Little Grandpa and Little Grandma.  They were both small people and the names fit them.  Little Grandpa was a kind and good man and his grandchildren all had good memories of him.  Little Grandpa died before most of her grandchildren were born.  Mama was only seven when her grandmother passed away from tuberculosis.  They were living in a house at 1815 Long Avenue in East Nashville, at the edge of Shelby Park.  During her growing up years Mama and her parents and siblings often shared a house with the Hunt grandparents and with Grandpa Hunt, after Little Grandma died.

Annie Lorena Capps was born on June 20, 1868, daughter of John Walker Capps and Margaret Louisa Sharpe Capps.  She was a pretty girl with dark hair and eyes so dark, they sometimes appeared to be black. 

Annie Lorena Capps Hunt

I only have a few photos of her, and just this one of her as a girl.  She was so cute, maybe a bit of tomboy.  Her hat was possibly inspired by Annie Oakley, who would have been very popular at the time. While she was a child, Annie Lorena lived with her family on the south side of the Cumberland, in a house on North Market Street (now 2nd Ave. N.), near Broad Street.  In the early 1880's the family crossed to the north side of the Cumberland to East Nashville.  Annie Lorena was just a week past her 18th birthday when she was married to Felix Zollicoffer Hunt, on June 28, 1886.  At the time they were married Annie Lorena and her parents were living at 620 Shelby Ave. Coincidentally, a few years later, Alex Steele purchased the house at 620 Shelby and his son Wilmoth Steele was born there.  In 1915 Wilmoth Steele would marry Minnie Hunt, daughter of Annie Lorena Capps Hunt. Felix and Annie Lorena moved a lot.  I don't think there is a street in East Nashville that they did not live or near. 

Little Grandpa loved to sing and even belonged to a barber shop quartet.  In 1918 the song, "K-K-K-Katy" was a big hit and one of Little Grandpa's favorites.  He began to call Little Grandma Katie. 

K-K-K-Katy, beautiful Katy
You're the only g-g-g-girl that I adore.
When the m-moon shines, over the mountain.
I'll be waiting at your k-k-k-kitchen door.

Little Grandpa adapted the lyrics to suit himself, but it was close to the original.  Mama remembered Little Grandpa singing K-K-K-Katy, long after his wife had passed away.  One granddaughter was named Katie, in honor of Little Grandma's nickname.

Lola Mae Steele Oeser and Shelby Avenue

This is a story about my Mama, Lola Mae Steele Oeser, and a story about an old house that was lost to urban renewal.  Mama grew up in East Nashville and moved to Northeast Nashville after she married Daddy.  Except for a few years spent in Inglewood, she never lived more than three miles from the place she was born.   Our East Nashville roots run deep.  William Sanders Hunt, Mama's great-grandfather was living in Edgefield as early as 1855, long before it came to be known as East Nashville.  He was the first generation of the family in East Nashville.  My sister's granddaughter is the seventh generation to live in East Nashville.  Most of our family stories are centered in East Nashville and this one is no different.

Lola Mae Steele Oeser, 1919-1983,

The spot where the Exxon station sits, on the southwest corner of Shelby Avenue, near the Titan's Stadium, has a special meaning to our family.  Anytime we would drive past with Mama in the car, she would point to an empty graveled lot, west of the station and say, "That's where I was born."  I have to confess, being young and occupied with other things, I didn't ask questions or think about it much.  

After Mama died, in 1983, all of the questions I should have asked about the past, came at me.  I found a copy of Mama's birth certificate among her papers and noted that she was born at 227 Shelby Avenue which fit with the place she had pointed out.  Within a few years of her passing I was researching in earnest at Metro Nashville Archives, for any family information I could find.  I looked in city directories to see who lived at that address over the years and made notes.  I found a photo at the archives made during construction of the Shelby Avenue Bridge that had Shelby Avenue and East Nashville in the background. I zoomed in on that area and did a high res scan and could see several houses on Shelby.  

Shelby Avenue, 1910.  House on extreme right is the Harvey Campbell home, 227 Shelby Avenue.

That is about as far as it went, until one day, while looking at Marty Evan's Historic Nashville website, I found a photo of an old house on Shelby Avenue.  When I compared Marty's images to my scan, the houses matched.  Marty had titled the photos as "Guzze House Shelby Avenue."  I began my search for the original owner of the house, with the Guzzi family.  Going backward through deeds and other records it was finally determined that the builder of the house was a man named Harvey Campbell.

227 Shelby Avenue, circa 1961, image from Marty Evans, Historic Nashville.

Mr. Campbell, born in New York in 1812, came to Nashville in the late 1840's with his wife Mary, and four young children, Charlotte, Charles, Alonzo C. and Maria. A fifth child, Sarah was born in Nashville in 1853.  Campbell was a retail merchant and for many years had a store on the Nashville Public Square and another in Edgefield.  He sold dry goods, household furnishing and groceries. 

Harvey Campbell had purchased many lots and constructed houses that he would rent to Edgefield residents.   At one point he had more than twenty houses for rent.

Nashville Union and American, December 28, 1871

Nashville Union and American, June 4, 1872

He was also the proprietor of the Edgefield House, near the Woodland Street Bridge and advertised his rental properties in local newspapers.  

Nashville Union and American, May 11, 1873

Edgefield House, Creighton Collection, Metro Archives

 He sold his store on the public square to his son Charles.  Campbell became involved in the political affairs of Edgefield and was involved from the beginning in the incorporation of Edgefield as a city.  Campbell served on the first board of aldermen for Edgefield.  He was also involved in the political side of Davidson County, serving as a magistrate in the County and Chancery Courts.

Nashville Union and American, December 24, 1868

In the 1860's he purchased lot 43 of Shelby's second addition to Edgefield.  He already owned several adjacent lots and decided to build a house for himself on Shelby Avenue. . The house that Campbell built, was Second Empire style, popular in the U. S. from 1860 through 1880, though not common in the South. With a mansard roof topping the single tower and porch, this house looked different than most of the neighboring structures in East Nashville.   

Nashville Union and American, October 15, 1869

When Harvey and Mary Campbell moved into the new house in 1871, their sons, Alonzo and Charles, and daughter Charlotte had left home.  Charles, along with at partner, had taken over his father's store on the public square.  Alonzo became an engineer and chemist.  Charlotte married John H. Hunt and lived with her family at 233 Shelby Avenue.  Maria married attorney Malchi Bryan in 1873 and moved to Kentucky.  Sarah married W. Matt Brown, Jr. son of a former Nashville mayor.  By 1880 Mary had died.  Harvey's son Alonzo and his family and Harvey's daughter Sarah and her husband were living in the house, with Harvey.   

Harvey Campbell died in 1887 and the house passed to his grandson William H. Hunt and later to William's sister, Mamie Hunt.  The Hunt's did not live in the house but kept it as an investment, renting the house to others.  In 1917 the house was sold to Judge Malachi Thomas Bryan.  He had been married to Harvey Campbell's daughter Maria and was now a widower. Bryan was also the brother of Nora Bryan, who married Alonzo C. Campbell.

During the time that Bryan owned the house it continued to be a rental property.  Nashville directories list the families that lived in the house in those years.  In 1919 Felix and Lorena Hunt moved in, sharing the house with another tenant.  Felix Hunt lived in the house until 1921. Their daughter Minnie Hunt Steele, was my grandmother.  Apparently Minnie and her husband Wilmoth Steele were living in the house, with her parents, on August 23, 1919, the date on which Mama was born. By the time the 1920 Nashville directory was published, Wilmoth and Minnie (and Mama) were living on Howerton Avenue, north of Main Street.

When Malachi Thomas Bryan died in 1923, the house was sold out of the family for the first time.  The purchaser defaulted on the mortgage, and the executors, reclaimed and, sold the house to Mrs. Lena Guzzi in 1928.  The house remained in the Guzzi family until 1961 when it was sold to the Nashville housing authority and was soon after demolished.

227 Shelby Avenue, 2014, Google

Heaton (Eaton) Family Davidson County, Tenn.

Will book 2:13

Will of Amos Heaton

Wife Elizabeth

Daughter Prudence Ewry

Son Robert

Son Enoch

Son Thomas

Daughter Sally Heaton

Daughter Elizabeth Cain

Daughter Polly Heaton

It has been reported tha Amos Heaton named a daughter “Fanny” in his will.  The actual text is “Also I give & bequeath unto my wife Elizabeth four negros named Matt & Jack & fanny & Clary during her natural life time & then to be divided in the following Manner.  I give and bequeath to my son Enoch Matt & to my son Thomas Jack & Clary to my daughter Sally & Fanny to be at the disposal of my wife Elizabeth”

Will book 3:33

Will of Elisabeth Heaton

Son Enoch Heaton

Son Thomas Heaton

Thomas’s wife Polly Heaton

Daughter Prudence

Daughter Polly

Daughter Elisebeth

Daughter Sally

Son Robert

Son Robert, Executor

Written may 18, 1805

Witnesses Drury Felts and Jacob Boling

Will Book 4:308

Sale of Amos Eaton, Enoch Heaton, Administrator

Recorded Sept 2, 1814, sale was on May 20 1814.

Will Book 13:9

January 5, 1844

Inventory Robert Heaton  taken Dec. 5, 1843

George E. Sanderson, Administrator.

Will Book 15:534

Will of Thomas Heaton Rec. August 2, 1853

Filed in Randolph Co., Ark. Sept. 29, 1852

Son Amos Heaton, Executor

Will Book 18:263

Amos Heaton decd. Administrator Settlement

March 20, 1860 Thomas Stogner, Admin.

Some Northeast Nashville Families

Searight

George Searight  - A native of Ireland, born in Werren Point on 25 Nov. 1831, immigrated to U.S. in 1884 landing at New Orleans, being then 13 years old.  Naturalized May 1853,  source- Davidson County, Tennessee NATURALIZATIN RECORDS 1803-1906, Abstracted by Mary Sue Smith, 1997, page 209

George married 1^st Mrs. Fannie M. Wilson Lauderdale Co. AL November 23, 1859

George married 2^nd Mary Turner in Davidson Co., 18 Jan 1876

1850 Lauderdale County Alabama Census

Seawright, George 19 born in Ireland, living in household of  Turner Foster.

1860 Davidson County  Tennessee Census

Seawright, George 28 born in Ireland

Seawright, Fanny 26 born in Alabama

Seawright, Anne Wilson  age 7 born in Alabama

1870 Davidson County  Tennessee Census

Seawright, George, 38, born in Ireland

Seawright, Fannie, 36, born in Alabama

Seawright, Annie, age 17, born in Alabama

Seawright, Lucy, age 7, born in Alabama

Seawright, Frank age 5, born in Alabama

Seawright, Wilson, age 1, born in Tennessee

1880 Davidson County  Tennessee Census

Searight, George,  age 48,  born Ireland, wholesale grocer

Searight, Mary,  age 37, born Alabama

Searight, Susan,   age 17, born Tennessee

Searight, Frank,   age 15, born Tennessee

Searight, Wilson,  age 11, born Tennessee

Searight, George Turner.  age 3, born Tennessee

Searight, Henry Brown,  age 1, born Tennessee

In 1900 George Searight born Nov 1831 and wife Mary born Aug 1847 are living in Sumner County and his occupation is farmer.   Children Fauntleroy Nov 1883 aged 16 and Carrie Louise Aug 1886 aged 11.  George and Mary have been married for 23 years had 5 children, 4 are living.

Another child Paul was born 1888 and died 1898  ancestry world tree

Scales

Grace Cora Hillman was born 16 Jul 1858 in Empire Iron Works, Trigg, Kentucky, USA, daughter of  Daniel Hillman and Grace Marable Hillman.   Grace married David Campbell Scales October 14, 1880 in Trigg County KY.  Grace and David Scales were parents to  Anne Hillman Scales, Elsworth P. Scales and Daniel Hillman Scales. The family lived on Berry Street in North Edgefield.in the former home of Reverend John Berry McFerrin.  This antebellum home had originally been the residence of Hardy Wilkerson Bryan and his wife Margaret McGavock Bryan.  Grace Scales died in Nashville, TN, Nov. 4 1836 and is next to her husband buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.  Daughter Anne Hillman Scales was born in 1883 and died 1958.  She  married Andrew Bell Benedict, Jr.   He was born in 1885 and died  in1953.  He was a banker and served as President of Ward –Belmont.  Their son Andrew B. Bendict, III became chairman of the board of the First American Bank of Nashville and was a trustee of Vanderbilt University.  Their daughter, Grace married Dr. Thomas Fite Paine Jr., and was the mother of Anne Scales Paine, Tennessean staff writer .

See this webs site for more information on  Anne Scales Benedict.

http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/speccol/benedicta_bio.shtml

Louis C. Lischy died February 19, 1894 and is buried in Springhill Cemetery.  The name was spelled Lischy and not Lischey as the street is spelled.

Joel W. Carter Sr. died June 12, 1936 aged 92 and is buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. He was born in Alabama.

Joel W. Carter, Jr. died May 24, 1939, aged 62 and is buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. 

Timothy Demonbreun, Last Will and Testmant, 1827

When Timothy Demonbreun, Sr. wrote his will in 1823 he named his surviving children in this order; daughter Agnes Doza; daughter Julia Johnson; son Timothy Demumbrun, Jr.; illegitimate son John Batteaste/Baptiste Demumbrun; illegitimate daughter Polly Demumbrun; illegitimate son William  Demumbrun. At the time Timothy Demonbreun, Sr. wrote his will, his youngest child John Batteaste Demonbreun born in 1792 or 1793 according to his War of 1812 Pension file was about 30 years old. An interesting find from the John Batteaste pension file is that he did not know until he was an adult that Timothy was his father. He stated that he thought his step-father Joseph Durat/Duraque was his father. It is also stated in the pension file that he was born few months before the March 1793 marriage of his mother Elizabeth Bennett and Joseph Durat. 

Davidson Co., Will book 9, pp. 94-96.

Timothy Demonbrun Decd.Will Recorded March 19, 1827

The many days of my existance and my bodily infirmities warn me that I have not long to live. In anticipation of my departure I leave the following as my Last will and Testament. In the first place I appoint my friend Joseph T. Elliston Esqr of Davidson County my executor...

...to my daughter Agnes Doza and such child or children that she may have living at the time of my death by Mr. Doza in equal shares, the mother and the children the sum of five hundred dollars hereby directing my executor to pay this legacy into the hands of the mother Mrs. Doza, which shall forever acquit him against any claim of the children who may have an interest in this devise.

...to my daughter Julia Johnson one thousand dollars in cash and hereby declare that the receipt of Mrs. Johnson single or married shall acquit my executor forever against the demand of every other person whatever. I also give and bequeath to my said daughter Julia Johnson two hundred and ninety acres of land part of the tract on which my son Timothy Demonbrun now lives in Davidson County to be laid off and allotted to her by my executor having due regard to Quality but in such a ways as not to interfere with the plantation of my son Timothy in any way...I give and bequeath to the three oldest sons of my daughter Julia Johnson now living to each of them the sum of one hundred dollars to be paid by my executor into the hands of their mother or any guardian properly appointed unless they be of age for their use...

...to my son Timothy Demumbrun the sum of one thousand dollars in cash....to my said son Timothy two hundred and ninety three acres of land in Davidson County including the farm and plantation on which he now lives.

...to my illegitimate son John Batteaste Demumbrun the sum of five hundred dollars...to his the said John b. one third part of a trract of 440 land for which I have a deed from Capt. Joshua Hadley...

...unto my illegitimate daughter Polly Demumbrun now married to (left blank) the sum of five hundred dollars and also the one third part of said 440 acre tract...

...to my illegitimate son William Demumbrun five hundred dollars and the remaining third part of said 440 acre tract...

...to my two sisters Catherine Demumbrun and Polly Demumbrun five hundred dollars each these two sisters if alive reside in the city or neighborhood of Montreal in Canada...

...I have hereto set my hand and seal Sept. 24th 1823.
Thimote demonBreun

Witnesses; M. Fly, Nelson Thornton, E. H. Foster

Probated Davidson county Court January Session 1827, proven by Nelson Thornton and Ephraim H. Foster and Micajah Fly.

Joseph T. Elliston, the executor named in said will,...qualified.

I tried posting the will scan from the will book but it is too small to read on the blog.