David Pitman(Apr 1838-11 Feb 1922)--52 Ancestors

David Pitman(Apr 1838-11 Feb 1922) is my maternal 2nd Great Grandfather. This week's 52 Ancestor prompt was "branching out" and I can think of no other ancestor of mine who fits that more than he does.  He was born near Paint Rock Alabama in 1838 to Daniel & Comfort Hatfield Pittman.  His family was in Dekalb Co TN by the 1850 Census which is where he was living when he met and married his first wife Mary D. T. Adcock(1842-1902) 22 DEC 1859.  I descend thru their daughter Nancy Florence Pittman(my Mom's Paternal Grandmother).

David's surname is spelled several different ways:  Pittman, Pitman and Pitmon.  It's also "butchered" in the 1920 census and several other documents a few times. Also, nicknamed Dave.   There are some online trees that have his name as David Harlin Pitman but I've never found anything to indicate that.  He did name one of his sons David Harlin Pittman but I've never found a record showing that name for the elder David "Dave'" Pitman.

David was in the Civil War with the Co A 16th TN Regiment(Confederate) and is listed among others that served with him in an article in the Southern Standard from 1884.  I have a copy of his 2nd wife's confederate pension application which was approved.  

There had been some tails passed down thru the family that he had made his own alcohol but I'd never found any proof until I located several Federal court case announcements at Newspapers.com.  These were spanning the years from 1873-1876.  I haven't yet been able to get copies of the cases but that is one of my top items on my to-do list in my research on him.  

In 1870 he and his wife Mary are enumerated in the Florence District of Rutherford Co Tennessee.  Next door are his Mom, Comfort(likely widowed) and several of his siblings with their children.  I have no idea what brought them to the Murfreesboro area unless it was the war.  David and Mary would go back to Dekalb County.  Several of his sister would marry in Rutherford Co TN and move on to Gibson Co TN before moving on to other parts.  I don't know if Comfort moved on to Gibson Co TN with them or died before the move because I can't locate her in the 1880 census.

David and Mary had at least 12 children together according to the records which I have found.  They also helped to raise several of their grandchildren before Mary's death in 1902.  After Mary passed,  David remarried to a much younger woman, Florence Alabama Prater(Widow of Leonidas Poss) and had 4 more children.  Avorilla Poss, a step daughter from his wife's previous marriage also lived with them until she married in 1915. David passed in 1922 at the age of 83 and is buried in Young Bend Cemetery in Dekalb Co. Tennessee.  Several branches of his descendants moved to Alabama, California and Texas and there are some who still live in Dekalb, Warren & White Co area of Tennessee.  I see many of them among my maternal DNA matches. I don't know if this is because of the shear number of them or if they are more interested in DNA testing than cousins from other of my ancestors.

Sources:

"Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKH3-XYL5 : 10 March 2021), David Pittman and Mary D F Adcock, 22 Dec 1859; citing DeKalb, Tennessee, United States, Marriage, p. , Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville and county clerk offices from various counties; FHL microfilm 593,050.

"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCD8-MSV : 23 December 2020), David Pitmon in household of Daniel Pitmon, DeKalb, Tennessee, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8TH-ZY6 : 18 February 2021), David Pittman, 1860.

"United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD8M-DHH : 29 May 2021), David Pitman in entry for Comfort Pitman, 1870.

“The Courts,” Republican Banner, 19 Nov 1873, p. 4, col. 5 ; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 30 Jan 2022).

“The Courts,” The Tennessean, 25 Oct 1874, p. 4, col. 4; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 30 Jan 2022).

“The Courts,” The Tennessean, 21 Oct 1876, p. 3, col. 7; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 30 Jan 2022).

"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD79-LNM : 15 January 2022), David Pitman, Civil District 11, DeKalb, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .

“Roll Company A 16th Tenn. Regiment.,” Southern Standard, 21 Jun 1884, p. 4, col. 4; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 30 Jan 2022).

"United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MS8Z-4V1 : 29 January 2022), Davis Pitman, 1900.

"Tennessee, U.S., Marriage Records, 1780-2002" imaged at Ancestry.com,  Dekalb > 1899 Jan-1909 Aug: Marriages Image 525 of 843 (pg 427) David Pitman to F. A. Prater: accessed 30 Jan 2022.

"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGFM-J8B : accessed 31 January 2022), David Pittman, Civil District 7, DeKalb, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 57, sheet 2A, family 21, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1497; FHL microfilm 1,375,510.

"United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNPL-G3Z : 3 February 2021), David Pinon(should be Pitman), 1920.

"Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1966," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N9BD-BM2 : 1 March 2021), Dave Pitman, 11 Feb 1922; Death, Smithville, DeKalb, Tennessee, United States, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93245425/david-pitman : accessed 30 January 2022), memorial page for David “Dave” Pitman (Apr 1838–22 Feb 1922), Find a Grave Memorial ID 93245425, citing Young Bend Cemetery, DeKalb County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by Walela (contributor 47310007) .

"Tennessee, Confederate Pension Applications, Soldiers and Widows, 1891-1965", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q571-M9LP : 31 October 2018), Florence A Pitman in entry for David Pitman, 1891-1965.

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Telitha Ann Frizzell Jakes(28 Mar 1858- 18 May 1920)--52 Ancestors

My great grandmother, Telitha Ann Frizzell Jakes was the daughter of David Frizzell and Rebecca "Beckie" Manley Frizzell. My grandmother, Pearl Jakes Cooke, used to tell us about her Mother being the youngest child and how when her parents were expecting her they were getting all sorts of suggestions for names. The story(and I don't know how true it was) went on to say that there were so many suggestions they had a long name that they almost named her to include everyone but instead decided on Telitha Ann Frizzell. She went by the name Annie. A short and simple name, especially compared to "Edy Addy Annabelle Narcissa Fannie Yell" Frizzell. Annie's mother died when she was around the age of 4. Her father remarried and passed on about 8 years later. Annie married my great grandfather, James Jakes in Rutherford County Tennessee September 1st of 1880. I've not found Annie in the 1880 census but I did find James Jakes boarding near Annie's widowed step-mother.

Annie and James had 5 daughters and 3 sons which they raised during the earlier years in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. I stopped there once on my way back home to Alabama. It was beautiful and made me feel close to that side of the family. I've always been curious about what she looked like. I've seen photos of all my other great grandparents that I never got to meet but not of Annie. One of Annie's daughters, Lula Jakes Gibson, named her only daughter after her Mom, naming her Telitha Aline Gibson.

 When her brother James Reubin Frizzell passed, he left her some property which she and her husband James sold a few years later to Abe Eaton. I found the deed for it in the Bedford Co TN records. She died May 18th of 1920 from complications of pneumonia. For whatever reason, her tombstone in the Willow Mount Cemetery has the year of death as 1919 but I am fairly certain that her death certificate which I have a copy of is more likely to be correct.

Sources:  
"United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD8F-3H6 : 29 May 2021), Talitha Frizzell in entry for David W Frizzell, 1870.

"Tennessee State Marriage Index, 1780-2002," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNXC-4MQ : 4 December 2014), James Jakes and Annie Frizzell, 01 Sep 1880; from "Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2008); citing p. 129, Rutherford, Tennessee, United States, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.

"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSZ5-Q9K : accessed 24 January 2022), F A Jakes in household of Jas Jakes, Civil District 5 (excl. Bell Buckle town), Bedford, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 5, sheet 12B, family 222, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,558.

"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGX2-HKC : accessed 24 January 2022), L Annie Jakes in household of Jim Jakes, Bell Buckle, Bedford, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 6, sheet 6A, family 109, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1490; FHL microfilm 1,375,503.

"United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN5S-CXC : 3 February 2021), Annie Jakes in entry for Jim Jakes, 1920.

"Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1966," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NSXN-YB5 : 1 March 2021), Annie Jakes, 18 May 1920; Death, Bedford, Tennessee, United States, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville.

"Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVLL-4CG7 : 7 July 2020), Annie Jakes, 1920; Burial, , ; citing record ID , Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

1840 Bedford Co TN--Dist 10

The 1840 US Federal Census for Bedford County TN's  Dist. 10 was enumerated in two separate halves so it makes it kind of hard to follow but not impossible.  We really need to look at that district because we won't see a census listing for it until 1860.  District 10 Rover pages are missing/lost from Bedford Co TN's entries for 1850.  I used the "tallying" part of the 1840 Bedford Co TN census pages to find where the two sections were and have listed the pages with links below.  It's easier to find at FamilySearch and free so I have the links from there.  You will need to be logged in to view but registration is free as is viewing once you are logged in.  At Ancestry there is a Warren Co Pennsylvania District listing at the first part if you browse to Bedford Co. TN for 1840 which is confusing.  

1840 US Federal Census of Bedford Co TN Dist. 10 1st half p. 42-45

Image 92-pg 42a https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YTB-92Z1?i=91&cc=1786457
Image 93-pg 42b https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YTB-927X?i=92&cc=1786457

Image 94-pg 43a https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YTB-92WK?i=93&cc=1786457
Image 95-pg 43b https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YTB-92QZ?i=94&cc=1786457

Image 96-pg 44a https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYTB-9GR6?i=95&cc=1786457
Image 97-pg 44b https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YTB-92WJ?i=96&cc=1786457

Image 98-pg 45a https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYTB-9P9N?i=97&cc=1786457
Image 99-pg 45b https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YTB-92WF?i=98&cc=1786457

1840 US Federal Census of Bedford Co TN Dist. 10 2nd half p. 52-54

Image 115-pg 52a https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YTB-923G?i=114&cc=1786457
Image 116-pg 52b https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YTB-9245?i=115&cc=1786457

Image 117-pg 53a https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YTB-92SG?i=116&cc=1786457
Image 118-pg 53b https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYTB-9G5M?i=117&cc=1786457

Image 119-pg 54a https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYTB-9GFD?i=118&cc=1786457
Image 120-pg 54b https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYTB-9G16?i=119&cc=1786457

James Polk Acuff(12 Jan 1872-23 Nov 1939)--52 Ancestors

In the early 2000s, my maternal grandmother's 1st cousin, Sarah Josephine Acuff Woodlee and I exchanged letters.  I still have a large envelope of the letters she wrote to me.  In a letter written in Oct of 2001, she also included a small tin type picture of my Gr Grandfather James Polk Acuff(1872-1939) sitting on his Dad's lap.  It is one of my favorite and my most treasured possessions. I thought for sure I'd lost the picture in my move back to Tennessee in January of 2012.  Thankfully, I had not.  In packing up my desk, I'd inadvertently knocked the envelope into my box of backup discs and that was where I found it when I was going thru those discs in 2018.  

Polk looks to be around the age of 2 in the picture which would mean it was likely taken around 1874.  I have a copy of a picture of  Polk's parents, William Leon Acuff and his wife Sarah McElroy Acuff which would have been taken around the same time.  I can tell this because Polk's Dad looks exactly the same in both pictures(groomed and clothing wise.)  Polk grew up in Van Buren Co TN and later moved to Huntsville AL in the Dallas area of Madison County as many folks did in search of work. His oldest daughter(my grandmother) was living there in 1920 with her husband and his family and their two sons.  Many folks who moved to that area went to work in the Dallas cotton mills.  Polk and and his wife moved there some time after 1927. He is listed in the 1929 City Directory of Huntsville along with 4 of his children, his brother and nephew, all employed by Dallas Mills.  Polk and family are in the 1930 census there as well.  Polk's wife, Fannie Hale Acuff died in September of 1939 and Polk died that same year in November.  Any time I hear Rison Avenue mentioned I think of my Acuffs  I believe the section of Rison Avenue they lived on no longer exist after the Interstate 565 exchange was built 

To give you an idea of how small the picture is, I'm including a photo of it in my hand below.

James M. Jakes(b. 02 May 1857-d. 15 Aug 1941) --52 Ancestors

My favorite find happened when the 1940 US Federal Census was released in 2012.  I located my paternal grandparents living exactly where I knew they would be in Old Hickory. To my surprise, my grandmother Pearl Jakes Cooke's dad, James Jakes was living with them.  I didn't even know he was still living and that time.  I'd searched for James' death certificate but did not have access to many records in my early research.   I knew that he had outlived his wife and I'd had her death certificate(from 1920) and information about her stone in the Willow Mount Cemetery.  His gravestone did not have his date of death either(and still doesn't.)  So I assumed he'd passed and went on to easier research for the time being.   I wonder what surprises the 1950 Census will bring me when it is released in a few months.  This also serves to remind me that I need to get his probate file which I have not found yet. He died the following year and I found his death certificate shortly after finding him in the that 1940 census.  I hope to do more research on him and also his children as we have some Jakes cousins showing up in our DNA research that I've not been able to place on the tree just yet. 

Source: "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K44V-H7Q : 11 January 2021), James Jakes in household of Thomas D Cook, Civil District 4, Davidson, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 19-9, sheet 10B, line 56, family 193, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 3884.

John King(b. 11 Feb 1770 d. 18 Aug 1814)--52 Ancestors

John King(1770-1814) is my 4th Great Grandfather.  I know very little about him other than what has been written in the Rover / Bedford Co TN book for the family.  My DNA and that of others in the King family back up our connection to him and his wife--- John King & Nancy Brandon   According to that article, John King married Nancy Brandon in Buncombe Co NC and had land in Barren Co KY. They had 3 children who were born there in KY before the family began buying land in what is now Wartrace, TN.  The family moved to Bedford Co TN abt 1807 after clearing land and building a small cabin. Four more children were born after their move to Tennessee.  John would also operate the first grist mill in Bedford Co. which was built using a set of mill stone he had gotten out of the Cumberland Mountains and brought (using logs to move)to the area where they lived. It was known as the Garrison Mill after the area in which they lived(Garrison Fork area of Duck River.) 

I really need to work on this family as I do not have any documentation for what is mentioned in the Rover book.  It's also been the family story that he was a brother of Samuel King(one of the founders of Cumberland Presbyterian Church)  I need to find more on that.  John's son John(my 3rd Great Grandfather) was a preacher and did help to organize Jackson Ridge Cumberland Presbyterian Church. I'm hoping that this post will remind me(and other King researchers) of the need for further research on this ancestral line.  There is a question of his death year being either 1811 or 1814 which needs to be resolved.

Source: History of Rover and the 10th district of Bedford County: lest we forget the people and things in our corner of the world. 1986. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Pub. Co. p.245 "The King Family" by Gladys Wheeler Farris.

A Lot Can Happen in 10 Years

 

The current thing on social media is the "#10YearChallenge."  To participate you post two pictures of yourself--one from the current year and one from 10 years prior to your social media of choice.  After seeing others post, I finally got around to adding mine.  Looking at my two pictures it doesn't look like much has changed for me.. It has though--good things and bad things.  There is a lesson to be learned from this.  Here in the US, the federal census is taken every 10 years.  Let's say I look at the census records of my maternal grandparents and compare 1920 and 1930.  I can see that they moved. However, there are things I can't tell from just viewing those 2 records.  For them, the loss of two infant daughters who were born in those in between years would be at the top of the list.  The real challenge in understanding our friends and for the genealogist, our ancestors is in knowing what happened in those in between years. Unfortunately for those with US ancestors the loss of the 1890 census created the "#20YearChallenge"  Not entirely impossible to find things but it does make it harder.  There are so many records out just waiting to be found.  If you too have US ancestors you are likely excited about the upcoming release of the 1950 US Federal Census.  Have you been able to find your families "paper trail" for the years leading up to it?  If you haven't, you are not alone.  I'm still working on mine too.  Sometimes I'm so focused on further back in my research that I do a poor job with the more recent items.  I need to try and do better with that.

New Improvements at MyHeritage

MyHeritage has made some great improvements to the tools available to help with our research.  In the past few days they have released a new view option for your photos.  In addition to grid view you now have a list view with quick edit & sort/filter options.  You can read more about it at their blog

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White Co TN, 1889-1890 Teacher & Public School Directors

Educational Department

J. N. Huff, Editor and manager Doyle, Tenn.

A list of the names and the post-office address of the Teachers and Public School Directors of White County,, Tennessee, for 1889-90. The names marked thus * are Directors.

Sparta

J. S. McMillin
Wm Thurman
J. P.  Jarvis
O. L. Johnson
Clarence Sperry
Mrs. M. M. Hill
Miss Julia Brannon
Ben Simpson, col.
* Dr. W. S. Findley
*J. R. Tabb
* W. J. McBride
*E. C. Irwin
Wm McIlheran
J. E. Nowlin
S. V. Geer
D. S.  Pope
W. F.  Farris
Miss Sally Smith
Miss Nora Matheny
Laura Cantrell, col.
*A. O. Jett
*E. Jarvis
*Wm Lowery

Doyle Station

J. W. Bryan
J. W. Scott
Mrs Jennie Williams
Miss Effie Hill
K. S. Allen, col.
*Wm Stewart
J. N. Huff
O. C. Crain
Miss Minnie Moyers
Alice Sparkman, col.
*H. H. Keathley
*Wm Hollinsworth

Cave

W. N. Billingsley
Miss Eva Lowery
J. M. Lewis

Onward Station

W. B. O'Conner
J. E. Kuhn

Quebeck

T. B. Sparkman
*M. V. Slatten
Miss E Templeton
*J. S. Cooper

Newark

S. S. Cashdollar
J. W. Scott
R. H. Brown
*John Mitchell
*Sam Scott
*G. D. Hampton
W. I. O'Neal
R. L. Proffitt
Miss M. Mooneyham
*N. H. Hitchcock
*C. B. Crook

Baker's X Roads

W. L. Acuff
W. M. Davis
Thos Elliot, col.
G. C. Oliver
*J. H. Pistole

Walling

T. N. Henry
*J. W. Scott
J. T. Fisher

Darkey Springs

J. D. Jenkins

Pollard

F. M. Grissom
T. J. Clark
T. C. Winstead
J. W. McPeak
*H. B. Grissom
*Henry Ogden

Cassville

R. L. Jones
J. G. Anderson
D. R. Baker
*G. E. Baker
Mary Jones
John Heifnor
*B. C. Collins

Fancher's Mill

Thos Head
James Springs, col.
Miss L. A. Mooneyham
*T. C. White

Dodson

W. H. Moody
*C. T. Dodson
*James Wilson

Cherry Creek

D. L. Lansden
C. J. Williams
S. M. Hickman, col.
*W. J. Bumblough
*Z. B. Holman
J. A. Cooper
*James S. Lee
T. L. Springs, col.
*E.C. Clouse

Solon

J. M. Welch
Miss Belle Johnson
Benton Young
Miss Lou Frey
*W. F. Scarbrough
John Little

Amanda

Miss Vina Cooper
*W. J. Weaver
J. P. Brady
*N. Clouse

Simpson's Mill

W. W. Young

River Hill

Frank Stipe
*S. M. Wallace
Lula Richardson col.
*Thos Lewis

Taylor's

W. J. Breeding
*I. D. Stewart
A. Miller

Key

*T. C. Shagart
J. M. Randles, col.

Green Tree

Miss Lizzie Wilson
*Joel Broom

Perilla

J. D. M. Cummings
*E. S. Haston

Bon Air Coal Mines

J. L. Cary

--W. N. Billingsley, Co., Supt., Cave, Tenn.

Source: “Educational Department,” The Sparta Expositor, 04 Oct 1889, p. 8, col. 1; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 2 Jan 2022).