From the Editor
The editor expresses her warm appreciation to John Brewer for editing the Spring 1999 issue. She also offers regrets that, after this issue, she will be unable to continue in her post as editor. Overwhelmed by her personal schedule, she will also be completing the research and writing for her Ph.D. dissertation. She promises, however, to continue to help in any way possible on future issues. Also, she offers a reminder about the "First Families of Lawrence County" project, and concludes with an appeal for volunteers to write feature articles and to transcribe county records for publication.
John McCracken of Lawrence County, Tennessee by Philip G. McCracken
One of Lawrence County's largest landowners of the early nineteenth century, John McCracken was born in Union District, South Carolina, in 1779. He moved to Lawrence County in 1824 and lived here until his death in 1865. After briefly introducing John, the author backtracks to his father, James McCracken, and follows him from his birth in Scotland in 1754, to his death in Alabama in 1824. Then he returns to his oldest son, John, tells of John's life and marriage, of his migration into Giles, and ultimately of his move to Lawrence County. He concludes with an account of the four McCracken children and their offspring.
The Book Nook reviewed by Kathy Niedergeses
Books reviewed this issue include: 1850 Tennessee Census; Tennessee Mortality Schedules - 1850, 1860, 1880; 1860 Tennessee Census; 1870 Tennessee Census; Tennesseans in the Civil War, Part 1 and 2; Index to Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications; 1880 Maury County, TN Census; Marriage Records of Wayne Co., TN 1857-1929; Second Creek Primitive Baptist Church Minute Book II: 1907-1948; Beech Spring Church Book, 1873-1922; Endeavor To Preserve - A Narrative from an Old Confederate; A Walk Through the Past - People and Places of Florence and Lauderdale Co., AL; Buckie (Buckeye) Primitive Church Minute Book 1871-1886.
The Elijah and Easter Bird Smith Family of Early Lawrence County, Tennessee by Mary Nell Hollis Franks
In this straightforward account, the author chronicles a well-to-do family that moved into eastern Lawrence County in the early part of the 1800's. She then follows the Smith Family offspring up to about the time of the Civil War, and promises to continue with the next generation in a future issue.
Lawrence County Court Clerk Wills - Jan. 1829 to Oct. 1847 abstracted by Shirley Hollis Rice (continued from Vol. 2, No. 3)
Names and actions involved this issue include: William Basham, guardian report; William Whitfield, settlement with administrator; Wakefield, additional sale of estate; D. H. Stockton, guardian report; Martha Gaither, sale of estate; Dr. Robert McLean, widows allowance; William Basham, guardian report; Spencer Pearce, guardian report; John McAnally, inventory of estate; D. H. Stockton, additional sale of property; Daniel May, guardian report; James McCutchen, inventory of estate; Jeremiah Allen, sale of the negro property; Robert Chaffin, administrator's settlement; N. Christian, settlement of estate; Daniel May & George May, administrator's report; D. May, sale of estate; R. J. McLean, inventory of estate; R. J. McLean, sale of property; James McCutchen, will; John Anthony, widow's allowance; William W. Mathews, sale of property; John Anthony, sale of estate; D. H. Stockton, inventory of estate; Fredrick Rackley, settlement of administrators; Joel Warrin, settlement of administrators; Joel Warrin, division of property; Robert Chaffin, sale of estate; John W. Baily, guardian report; Joseph Stephenson, inventory of Samuel Kelly, sale of estate; Howel Hammonds, sale of estate; Choat, widow's allowance; James Appleton, settlement with administrator; Young Landford; widow's allowance; Young L. Lanford, inventory of estate; John F. Harrison, inventory of estate; John Davis, guardian report; Thomas Choate, sale of property; John Anthony, administrator's settlement; John Franks, will. (To be continued in next issue . . .)
Queries . . .
Researchers seek help and/or any information on the following names: Hughes, Grinnell, Campfield, Bentley, Bailey, Miller, Jolly.
About Our Front Cover . . .
Photo shows various members of Franks and Smith families clearing off land for the Smith Cemetery in the Fall River Community of southeastern Lawrence County.
The Melton Families of Wayne and Lawrence County extracted from Factory Creek: The People, The Place, and the Times by permission of Shirley Hollis Rice
The author traces four families by the name of Melton living in the Factory Creek area, along the border of Lawrence and Wayne Counties, according to the 1830 census. Beginning with John Melton, born in 1797, she offers a brief history of each, along with an account of their descendants.
Welch & Drake Reunion . . .
Descendants of George W. Welch and Elisha Jane Drake Welch will hold a reunion on Saturday, October 16, 1999 at the City Administration Building in Lawrenceburg.
Mystery Families and Photographs
In this issue three photos from the Archives have been submitted: a class from Knob Creek School, date unknown. If anyone knows any of the children, please contact Kathy Niedergeses. On the back of one of the others the words, "Grandpa Seagraves, Joe's Daddy" are written, while the other photo says, "Joe and Will Seagraves."
List of Lawrence County Genealogical Society Members (continued from Vol. 2, No. 3)
A list of members, their addresses, e-mail addresses, and the surnames each are researching; published here in the hopes that members will find contacts who are researching the same lines they are. This issue features names that begin with Fowler and end with Jordan. (to be continued . . .)
Index to Volume 2, Fall 1998 - Summer 1999 compiled by Kathy Niedergeses and Donna Ramsey.
Minutes of the Quarterly Meeting, March 20, 1999 by Gail Dover Walters, Secretary.