Heirs of John Frizzell listed in Rutherford Co TN Minutes(1939)

Date: December 11, 1939
Case: A. D. Frizzell et al. vs. No. 668 Allene Ferrell et al.

This case centers on a 90-acre tract of land originally owned by John (J. B.) Frizzell (recorded in Deed Book 74, page 428). John was the son of David Frizzell and Rebecca Manley Frizzell.  Following John’s death in October 1929, his widow, Susan Frizzell, occupied the property until her own passing in 1939. Because the couple had no children, the estate was distributed to the heirs of John’s siblings. All of his siblings were deceased by the time of this case, so it was necessary to trace the lineage down an addition generation or two.  It is important to remember that the Order of Reference only lists those siblings who produced heirs.  It does not mention Margaret Catherine Frizzell who died young nor  James Reuben Frizzell who is deceased and had no issue. Given the amount of heirs(60), it was determined that it would be best to sell the 90 acre tract.

1. Lee Andrew Frizzell 5 living children (1/42 share each) and 2 grandchildren (1/84 share each).
2. Thea Frizzell 8 living children (1/63 share each) and 5 grandchildren via Mary Frizzell Reynolds (1/315 share each).
3. Sissie Taylor 1 living son, Zack (1/21 share), 1 grandson via Beckie (1/21 share), and 2 grandchildren via Norah (1/42 share each).
4. Abbie Frizzell 1 living son, A. D. Frizzell, who receives a full 1/7 interest.
5. Annie Jakes 6 living children and 1 grandchild (Hazel Jakes), each receiving a 1/49 share.
6. Mealie Fults 3 living children, each receiving a 1/21 share.
7. Henry Frizzell 11 living children (1/98 share each) and various grandchildren via deceased children Susan, Dona, and Dave (shares ranging down to 1/490).

I didn't mention the names of all the heirs in this article but a complete list can be seen by visiting the URL listed in the source below.

Notes:  

Thea is Theoderick Rushing Frizzell.
Sissie Taylor is Mary Elizabeth Frizzell Taylor.
Abbie Frizzell is Absalom Manley Frizzell.
Annie Jakes(my Great Grandmother) is Telitha Ann Frizzell Jakes.
Mealie Fults is Permelia Jane Frizzell Fulks.

Comparing these minutes against my own research proved highly productive, though it did reveal a discrepancy: one of the grandchildren’s surnames is recorded incorrectly. Based on the context, I suspect this error occurred when the case was being transcribed into the official minutes book.

Source:

Rutherford County(TN) Chancery Court Minutes, Vol OO, p 272-5, A D Frizzell et al vs. No.  668 Allene Ferrell et al; images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L989-Q4QY : accessed 11 April 2026), IGN 7516347, Image 169-170 of 665.

Johnny Jakes' Auto Accident-Rutherford Co. TN (1929)

For several years, I’ve been sitting on a bit of a mystery regarding my grand uncle, John L. Jakes. I had found an earlier article detailing an auto accident he was involved in, which ended with him being arrested and scheduled to appear before the Justice of the Peace the following day. Despite searching, I had never been able to locate a record which detailed the outcome.

With The Home Journal (Murfreesboro, TN) now available on FamilySearch, I finally located a follow-up piece that fills in the blanks. While both articles refer to him as "Johnny Jakes," I’m certain it’s my John L. because the reports mention his occupation as a local barber in Murfreesboro.

The two articles tell a very different story when read together. In the first, Johnny claimed he wasn't the driver, alleging that another man had been behind the wheel and fled the scene immediately after the crash. However, the second article, which was published after his court appearance which suggests the judge didn't buy that story. It appears there was no mystery driver after all; it was Johnny behind the wheel, and he had been driving while under the influence. Thankfully there were no injuries. I’m glad I located the second article. It gives me some idea of what really happened. 

The Persistent Problem of Misattributed Ancestor Photos

We’ve all been there: you use a photo of an ancestor in a post or on a page, only to find it later on Ancestry (or another site) completely misidentified. Once those family trees are copied, the error propagates indefinitely.

There is rarely an easy fix. Even after a friendly correction, most users will thank you for the insight but leave their digital trees untouched, allowing the error to persist.

You can’t control what other people put in their trees, but you can write up the info that you know to be correct. Include the specific evidence—such as dating of clothing, hairstyles, or the type of photograph (like a tintype or daguerreotype)—that proves who the subject is (or isn’t). AI could help you to do this.

Copy the evidence info into a Google Doc, include a small version of the photo for reference, and then take a screenshot of that entire page. Upload that screenshot as an image to the ancestor’s profile. This ensures that the evidence and the image are permanently linked, making a real effort to stop the error in its tracks. Even if it doesn't stop the error from being passed, and it likely won't, at least you will have made an effort in getting the correct information out there.

John Sparks and Joice Putman--Union Co. SC Marriage Contract(1815)

This was an interesting find tonight while searching in Union County, South Carolina, Records.

A Marriage Contract to secure each of their belongings for their children from their previous marriages. Joice Putman is the widow of James Putman.  James & Joice Putman were my 4th Great Grandparents.

Page 58

State of South Carolina 
Union District 

Whereas there is & intension of marriage between John Sparks Widower and Joice Putman Widow, the two parties John Sparks and Joice Putman have agreed to make a seperate contract to Secure each ones estate to their own children that is now existing, it is therefore agreed by us John Sparks and Joice Putman, to make these presents our firm and lawfull marriage contract, in the manner and form as follows first John Sparks do agree to take Joice Putman to be his lawfull wife without having any lawfull claim to any of the estate or property that is here at the time of their marriage, likewise Joice Putman do agree to take John Sparks to be her lawfull husband without having any lawfull claim to any of the estate or property that is his at the time of their marriage 

Listing of his estate

his land, one Bay Mare, and filley, two Cows and Calves and five head of other cattle, eight head of hogs, One bed and furniture, three pott own and skillet, twelve pewter plates two dishes and Three basons, two tables, one Cubboard, one chest, a flock of Sheep, plantation tools, axes, plows, hogs, & Knives & forks and all his rights and Credits, to remain altogether in his power only the common use of the same during their living and dwelling together

Listing of her estate

One Negro woman named Lucy her two children, Anderson and Peggy, two beds and furniture, two tables, one walnut chest, a Walnut Cubboard, two pots, oven & Spider, eight pewter plates, four Basins and two dishes, a pewter Quart and tea pot, a bread baker and fat Irons, two piggins, a Churn, a spinning Wheel, three Cows & Calves, Sow and pigs and five other hogs, seven chairs, one Side Saddle, One wire Sifter, two Jugs, & c and all her rights and Credits, to remain altogether in her power only the common use of the same during their living and dwelling together.

Witness our hands & seals this tenth day of August 1815, Signed, sealed and confirmed in the presense of us. 

John (His Mark) Sparks(seal)

Joice (Her Mark) Putman (seal)

Test: Ralph Jackson

Thos S Greer

John Hart

Page 59

This is to certify that I have married John Sparks & Joice, his wife, within mentioned, agreeable to the within written Contract, this 10th day of August 1815 

- --- Thos S. Greer, M. G. 

State of South Carolina Union District - 

Ralph Jackson this day personally came before me, and duly made Oath as the law directs, and that he was present and saw John Sparks and Joice Putman, sign & Deliver the within Marriage Contract to each other as their act and deed for the use and purposes within mentioned at the same time saw Thos Greer and John Hart subscribe as Witnesses with himself and also saw the Reverend Thos Greer sign the Certificate on this back of this instrument of their Lawfull Marriage - Sworn to and subscribed before me this 16th September 1815  Ralph Jackson

Received this 13th October 1815

Source:

Union County, South Carolina, Register Mesne Conveyance, Vol N, p 58-9, Marriage contract dealing with holdings of John Sparks, widower & Joice Putman widow; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLK-NS84-Y  : accessed 20 March 2026), IGN 8196619, Image 236 of 611.

A Fun Exercise Using Thrulines--Descendants of Jabel Putman

I am fortunate to have tested myself and three of my siblings in an effort to capture the DNA we inherited from our Dad.  He passed away before autosomal DNA (atDNA) testing was widely available. That gives us four of his children who have tested. Each child received 50% of their DNA from him, but not the same 50%. Because of this, sometimes all four of us will share a common match. Other times, only one of us will have the match.

The table below shows the number of tested Jabel Putman descendants that Thrulines believes are connected through each child's branch, broken out across the four siblings. This was primarily a visual exercise in identifying potential connections through Jabel's children,  so I did not double-check every match. If you use this exercise to infer a connection through a Thruline ancestor, you will need to verify each connection independently. The table is a great illustration of the randomness of DNA inheritance. 

Jabel Putman(1772-1835) is my 3rd Great-Grandfather.  He was from Union County, South Carolina, before moving to Bedford County, Tennessee.

Things to remember:  

• Thrulines uses users' trees, and those could likely have errors that other trees have copied.
• Thrulines is side-blind and doesn't verify that the match is on the side of the family that would make the suggested connection possible.
• Thrulines links smaller segment matches, which may be false positives / identical by state and not by descent.

To make sure the Thruline suggestion is even possible:  

• Look at the shared matches you have with the DNA match connected with the Thrulines. Do they share with other known matches of that line?
• Is the match even on the correct side to make the Thrulines possible?
• Green dotted lines between each connection from the Thruline Ancestor to the DNA match indicate that it is a hypothesis and should be checked as thoroughly as possible before being used to make any inferences. The match may be connected through an entirely different line.

Studying the Thrulines gives you a better understanding of the matches because it forces you to prove or disprove the possibility of the connection through that match or line, which helps your overall research. Just as you never really know who might have the most Putman or Cook DNA, you also don't know who might have sources or clues to help with your research. Locating cousins can be very helpful, especially if they are actively researching. Everyone who tests isn't. I feel like this table will also be a helpful reference when I want to work on Jabel's line.

John W Manire (1855-1924) of Bellville, St. Clair County, Illinois

John W Manire is my 1C3R

Retired Dentist Died Suddenly of Apoplexy

John W. Manire, 68 years old, a retired dentist, died suddenly at his home, 17 South 13th street, this morning at 10 o'clock, following a stroke of apoplexy. Manire, although complaining of rheumatism in his arm, was apparently in good health this morning. While seated in a chair by the stove in the kitchen of his home, he had been discussing family affairs with his wife, when he suddenly gave an exclamation of pain and collapsed in his chair. His wife hurriedly summoned some of the neighbors, who notified her son and also called a physician.

When the two arrived a short time later they found that the man had died. Deputy Coroner Albert Baldus held the inquest this afternoon and a verdict of "death, due to apoplexy" was returned by the jury. The deceased was born in Tennessee, September 19, 1855, a son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Manire. He was united in marriage to Miss Maggie B. Minter, February 17, 1875. Besides his widow, he is survived by the following children: J. L. Manire, Mra. L. Sharber, of White Plains. Ky.: Mrs. Anna Woodson, B. L. and H. C. Manire, of this city, and Mrs. Willie Wilson, of Providence, R.I. The funeral will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the residence to Walnut Hill cemetery..

"Retired Dentist Died Suddenly of Apoplexy", Belleville Daily Advocate, May 19, 1924,  p 1, col 4; image,  Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/belleville-daily-advocate-john-w-manire/193400604/ : accessed March 14, 2026), clip page for John W Manire(age 68) Retired Dentist Died Suddenly of Apoplexy.