Lawrence County Heritage

 

The Journal of the Lawrence County

(Tennessee) Genealogical Society

 

Vol. 17 No. 4  Summer 2014

 

Table of Contents

 

Compiled by Susan Beeler Anderson

 

From the Editor:

 

There are still a few copies of the Heritage of Lawrence County, Tennessee available for purchase.  It is time to renew your membership for the coming year.  Early renewals will be guaranteed to receive the Fall issue of the Journal.  Contact Jim tincanman@charter.net with comments, suggestions, or concerns about the Journal.

 

LCGS Membership Update:

 

New Members: Pamela Grisham Gregg; Changes of address: Debbie Kelly.

 

Yesteryear Insights

 

Information from a local 1884 newspaper concerning West Point and Chinubee High School Boarding Students.

 

Mystery Families and Photographs

 

Four photos are shown that need identification.  They include photos from the Beckham and Dye Collectons at the Lawrence County Archives.

 

Migrations To And From Lawrence County, TN During The 1870s Through Early 1900s - Part XV (continued from Spring of 2014)  Researched and Compiled by Kathy & Lawrence Niedergeses

 

This information was found in newspapers from the 1890s and early 1900.  It includes names mentioned as migrating to or from Lawrence County, visitors, names registered in hotels, former residents subscribing to local newspapers.  Copies of the actual newspaper pages are available from microfilm from the Archives.  Please contact the Archives if you have migration information about your Lawrence County ancestors.  Surnames:  Starr, Matthews, Walker, Pickard, Stewart, McDougal, Odeil, Stewart, Bentley, Dustin, Hughes, McArter, Mills, Crane, Rhodes, Meigs, LaBaw, Smith, McLean, Jones, Gilmore, Spaulding, Gray, Jones, Garrett, Bate, Lindsey, Hagan, Doak, Wilson, Metcalfe, Barton, Cornell, Ribble, Culbertson, Fath, Rose, Elliott, Maurray, Frazier, Garrett, Harvey, Hindman, Hughes, Lockhart, Simms, Hagan, Meek, Bancom, Bailey, London, Goulding, Ball, John, Hightower, Bearden, Gunselman, Thomas, Schweiss, Clendenin, McClain, Cannon.  (To be continued in the Fall 2014 issue of the Journal)

 

Lawrence County, Tennessee 1890 Tax List - Part II, Tenth Civil District (continued from Spring 2014)  Wallace Palmore

 

The names of those taxpayers in the Tenth Civil District of Lawrence County, Tennessee are listed with the following additional information: acres, land value, total property value, poll tax, state tax, county tax, school tax, RR tax, and highway tax:  Dooley, Deer, Duddleson, Dame, Donahay, Davis, Dean, Evans, Eheman, Eagley, Estes, Eskin, Etheridge, Eakin, Foster, Flanagan, Fulks, Fitygeral, Frank, Fuller, Felton, Gueisler, Gang, Gunderson, Galimore, Glassbrook, Griffin, Garrett, Goodrich, Gwin, Hughes, Hood, Hudson, Hart, Handy, Henson, Hannah, Hanky, Houston, Hale, Hollis, Holly, Henry, Held, Horn, Harris, Hughes, Honzell, Irvin, Ingram, Johnson, Kennedy, Kelley, Kincade, Kidd, Kitchens, Kidd, Kath, Ludlow, Lyons Lincoln.  (To be continued in the Fall 2014 issue of the Journal)

 

About Our Front Cover, In Search of the Mills at Peach  By Wallace Palmore

 

The author traces the ownership of several mills located in the Peach community in southeastern part of Lawrence County, Tennessee.   Mills included: Powell Mill, Hawkins Mill, Hankins Mill, Jones/Simmons Mill, Peach Roller Mill, Watkins Mill.  The history covers various owners from 1847 to 1973.  Surnames included: Baulch, Powell, Lacroix, Dobbins, Jones, Simmons, Hankins, Hammonds, Gibbins, Wood, Bassham, Cavin, Lewis, White, Burch, Lanier, Haraway, Watkins, Dabbs, Appleton, McMasters, Kelton, Schade, Commer, Hall, Richardson, Kincaid, Dendy, Harrison, Hagan, Buchanan, Tucker, Townsend.  The cover photo shows the Peach Saw Mill with Petty family in boat; another photo shows the Peach Saw Mill; a third photo shows the dam at Peach as it looks today.

 

Lawrence County Birth Records 1902-1912 - Part XXIII (continued from Spring 2014)  Transcribed by Donna Niedergeses Davis, 2004

 

The following surnames are found in the original book of births and deaths in Lawrence County, Tennessee, 1908-1912 by Donna Niedergeses.  Information includes: last name, first name, date of birth, sex, color, where born, physician's name, date of ??, and page number in book.  Surnames:  Alexander, Kelley, Potts, Murdoc, Rippy, Bradley, Bryant, Clayton, Kelley, Keaton, Blue, Warren, Bates, Staggs, Anthony, Burns, Regensburn, Ellingboe, Abernathy, Roberts, Beeler, Williams, Steel, Woodard, Pullin, Haines, Bently, Gabrel, McNeice, Davis, Wigfall, Shively, Carter, Bashor, Yarbrough, Brink, Busby, McNeal, Beuerlein, Rohling, Melton, Gallaher, Alford, Springer, Kobeck, Webb, Beckett, McLean, McCrory, Chambers, Helton, Gibbs, Davidson, Slagle, Cannon, Kraus, Hobbs, Buchanan, Baxter, Tripp, Morehead, Falkner, Brown, Nix, Martin, Cromwell, Green, Wilson, Warner, Fleeman, Felker, Durham, Mandy, Cockrell, Enos, Holtsford, Thorne, Bryan.  (To be continued in the Fall 2014 Issue of the Journal)

 

The Baxter Family: from Georgia to Tennessee Submitted by LaShawn Howell Baxter

 

The author traces the origins of several Baxter families who migrated to Lawrence County in the early 1900's.  Census, land, marriage and other records are referenced to tell the story of James Baxter of Cocke County, Tennessee and his descendants who came to Lawrence County.  Photos include: the headstone of James Baxter in Cocke County; the Baxter home and new car; group photo.  Eight generations are shared.

 

The Fire Fiend - Part V (continued from Spring 2014) Researched and compiled by Kathy Niedergeses

 

  This is the fifth article in a series that includes information on fires, fire fighting equipment and the men who have protected Lawrenceburg since early times.  Sources include local newspapers, minutes of the City of Lawrenceburg, various community histories, Our Hometown: Lawrenceburg, TN, etc. and are given with each entry.  The author asks the readers to submit any information regarding fires not listed to the Lawrence County Archives.  See the article for details on the location, date, etc. of each fire listed.  The following locations and surnames are mentioned in the article:  newspaper, bank and post office in Lawrenceburg: Gibbs, Belew, Harvey, Schade, Crowder, Starnes; barn on Pulaski Road: Sowell; barn and automobile on Pulaski Street: Gilmore, Parkes; court square in Lawrenceburg: Kelley, Coffman, Smiley, Reavis, George, Gould; residence: Griswell, Neelley; baby: Jackson; residence: Gould, Rippey; residence; Stewart; Iron City: Thompson, Sweaney, Willis, Forsythe, Littrell, White, Defoe; Oddfellow and Rebekah Lodge Halls; Red Cross Rooms; store: Moody, Godsey; barber shop, pool room; store: Busby.

 

Yesteryear Advertisements

 

An ad for the sale of the residence of Dr. E. McClain in 1883.

 

The Blacksmith and the Farmer: A Tale of Slander, Bacon, and Murder in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee by Clint Alley

 

This fascinating and entertaining story tells the tale of one of the most infamous murders in Lawrence County's history.  The author relates the murder of Thomas J. Westmoreland by Lewis Kirk, veteran of the Mexican War and captain in the 9th Tennessee Cavalry, by examining books, newspapers and court records.  Kirk's descendants are listed to be among today's Tennessee families - Williams, Crook, Massey, Abernathy, Moore, Gibbons, and Talley.

 

Yesteryear Insights - Negroes Recruited for Military Service

 

A 1948 notice in the local newspaper announcing that the local Army recruiter has been authorized to accept negroes for enlistment in the Regular Army.

 

Minutes to Lawrence County Genealogical Society Meeting, Saturday, March 15, 2014  Doyce Shaddix

 

The meeting was called to order by President Wallace Palmore.  Minutes from the past meeting were approved and the financial report read and accepted.  It was reported that a copy of the Heritage of Lawrence County, Tennessee was placed in the Library of Congress.  Fifty additional copies are available for $65.  The meeting was adjourned.  The speaker was Jimmy Moore who spoke about his paternal Moore lineage and his maternal Flippo lineage.  Details of his presentation are given in the Journal.

 

Yesteryear Insights - How Wills Post Office Got Its Name

 

An 1891 newspaper account of how the Wills post office was named in honor of Nashville's postmaster Maj. A. W. Wills.

 

Minutes to Lawrence County Genealogical Society Board Meeting, Saturday, March 15, 2014  Doyce Shaddix

 

The meeting was held in the Lawrence County Library and was called to order by Lila Gobbell.  Minutes from the previous meeting were read and approved.  The financial report was read and approved.  Old business included the process of giving a copy of the Heritage of Lawrence County book to the Library of Congress.  New business included discussion on selling 50 additional copies of the above mentioned book.  A motion was approved to place a portion of the book money account into a certificate of deposit.  The meeting was adjourned.

 

Mary Ann Meister Orth  By Kathy Niedergeses

 

This is a biography of Mrs. Mary A. Orth, born in 1879 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the daughter of Mathias and Katherine Gorman Meister.  The history includes information on her parents and their immigration from Germany and their known children.  Mary Ann married John J. Orth in 1911 and after she was widowed in 1913 she supported her family by running a boarding house in Lawrenceburg.   She also operated a hotel and details are given regarding the various names of this hotel and its history.  Her home at 222 Lawrence Street in Lawrenceburg was a Sears & Roebuck home.  A photo of Mary Ann is shown as well as a photo of her home.

 

Queries By Kathy Niedergeses

 

A query asking for information relating to a wagon train during the late 1870's leaving Lawrence County and possibly going to Arkansas.  Surnames: Pullen, Choate, Stewart, Patterson. 

 

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