Harger Family Documents- Franklin County Virginia

Harger:  Franklin County, Virginia, USA

John Harger (1756-19 Nov 1836) who died in Franklin County Virginia, is my 4th Great Grandfather through my paternal grandmother's lines. His will helps to sort thru and identify his children. There are more court records which mention his will and the family relationships. He mentions that John Burwell Harger is the son of one of his deceased daughters, but doesn't name the daughter. Later John Burwell Harger's portion is divided among the surviving children and their descendants. This yields a lot of information about who each of the children married. While I had the will, I didn't have the court case brought by Frances Harger Woody's husband. I've included the sources with the URLs to access the documents below. If you are a Harger researcher this information is very valuable.

The Harger siblings married into the Fishburn, Grist, Jakes, Jones, Picklesimer, Woody,  and Young Families

Nancy Harger Jakes and family moved to Bedford County Tennessee.
Frances Harger Woody and family moved to Osage County, Missouri.


Sources:

Franklin Co VA Will Books 1829-1837, Book 4, p 384, John Harger Dec'd Will; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9P6-938J ; accessed 12 Dec 2025), IGN 7644995(Item 2), Image 201 of 321.

Franklin Co VA Will Books 1829-1837, Book 4, pg 614, John Harger Dec'd Will; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9P6-93HP ; accessed 12 Dec 2025), IGN 7644995(Item 2), Image 315 of 321.

Franklin Co VA Chancery Papers Book Order Book B 1851-1865, p 216, John & His wife Frances Woody Vs. Harger Exr & others; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK4-61F1 : accessed 12 Dec 2025), IGN 8141193, Image 121 of 236.

Franklin Co VA Chancery Papers Book Order Book B 1851-1865, p 258, John & His wife Frances Woody Vs. Harger Exr & others; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK4-618G : accessed 12 Dec 2025), IGN 8141193, Image 141 of 236.

Franklin Co VA Chancery Papers Book Order Book B 1851-1865, p 303, John & His wife Frances Woody Vs. Harger Exr & others; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK4-61Z7 : accessed 12 Dec 2025), IGN 8141193, Image 164 of 236.

Edward C Harrison's Petition To Open Grist Mill on Duck River

Transcription of Bedford Co TN Court Minutes

March Term 1849

Upon the petition of E.C. Harrison by his attorney John P Steele, which was this day filed in court representing to the count that he is desirous to erect a grist mill on Duck River near to where Hiram Harris now lives. that he is the owner of the banks of said River on the west side at the point where he wishes to erect said mill and one Wm G Cowan is the proprietor of the land on the east side of said river who is not willing your petitioner should erect said mill.

It is therefore ordered by the court that a summons ____ to said Cowan to be and appear at this next term of this court to answer to the allegations in said petition.  It is further ordered by the court that Jacob Fisher, John Streeter, Benjamin Earnheart & John F Thompson, four honest freeholders citizens of said county be & they are hereby required to go upon the premises, lay off and value on oath, one acre of the land of said Cowan.

Notes:

Edward C Harrison's occupation is listed as a miller in the 1850 Census(the visitation date was 31st Oct 1850).  I don't know if he opened that grist mill as I've not found either party in the minutes for the next term. I've not located Edward's family in 1860 and this may be because they were moving to Ray County, Missouri where they are enumerated in 1870. Edward C Harrison is a son of William Harrison(1750-1833) and Elvira Cooper Harrison(1770-1851).

Sources:

• Bedford County Tennessee Court Minutes Books 1848- 1852, p 55, March Term 1849, EC Harrison petition to build Grist Mill on Duck River near where Hiram Harris currently lives; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-D3C6-999G-F : accessed 8 Dec 2025), IGN 8659600, Image 35 of 844.
• 1850 US Federal Population Schedule, Bedford County Tennessee, District 7, p 142(stamped), Dwelling 32, Family 32, William G Cowan(line 13); image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DC6Q-LT4 : accessed 8 December 2025), IGN 4191095(item 2 of 2), Image 121-391, Entry for William G Cowan and Sarah Cowan, 1850.
• 1850 US Federal Population Schedule, Bedford County Tennessee, District 8, p 157(stamped), Dwelling 63, Family 63, k Edward C Harrison (line 20); image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DC6Q-21Y : accessed 8 December 2025), IGN 4191095(item 2 of 2), Image 150 of 391, Entry for Edward C Harrison, 1850.

Infographic: Jefferson Gideon Cook, his wives and children

I used the Infographic option(currently in beta) at Google's Notebooklm to create an infographic from the information in my blog post about Jefferson Gideon Cook's wives and children. It did a fairly good job of providing a visual of the information contained in the blog post.

Sources:

1900 U.S. census, Davidson County, Tennessee, Nashville, Ward 4(part of), enumeration district (ED) 101, sheet 4-A, house 27, Family 30, J G Cook household; imaged, "United States Census, 1900," FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MS8W-XQH : accessed 20 February 2024).

"Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950", image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKHS-XP1N : accessed 10 February 2024), Entry for J G Cook and Miss Mary S Hamer, 08 Sep 1866(bond date).(notation on bond says marriage was solemnized on the 9th)

"Tennessee, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1851-1900," database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com) Martha A Hale and J G Cook 30 Oct 1869 Rutherford Co. TN, citing Rutherford County, Tennessee Marriages, 1851-70. FHL Film #0379649.

"Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950", image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKHS-66RD : accessed 20 February 2024, Entry for Jefferson G Cook and Mary J Elliott, 14 Oct 1884.

"Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1966," FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NSWT-VJF : accessed 20 February 2024), Entry for Jefferson Gideon Cook, 18 Jan 1931.

“Funeral for Confederate Veteran to Be Today,” The Tennessean, 20 Jan 1930, p. 5, col, 7; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 20 Feb 2024).

"United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KQB-1YTY : 10 February 2023), Ollie M Cook,

"Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1966", index only, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6JCS-JWHF : accessed index only 20 February 2024), Entry for Ollie Mai Cook, 10 Apr 1968. (Digital image forthcoming which will then change the range of years covered in the record set)

"Robert Lee Cook", Nashville Banner, 12 June 1954, p. 2, col. 7; digital images, Newspapers.com(https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 20 February 2024).

"Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1966", image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NSV9-P79 : accessed 20 February 2024), Entry for Robert L. Cook 11 Jun 1954.

"Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014," online database, Ancestry.com; entry for Ollie M Cook 413-84-1422.

1910 U.S. census, Davidson County, Tennessee, Nashville, Civil District 6, ED 93, Sheet 2a, Dwelling 27 Family 27, Household of Jefferson G Cook; unaged, "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TXC-9SG : accessed 20 February 2024).

"Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1966", image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N91N-Z68 : Fri Oct 13 18:15:23 UTC 2023), Mary Jane Cook, 23 Mar 1915.

1920 U.S. Census, Davidson County, Tennessee, Nashville, Civil District 6, ED 111, Sheet 7b, Dwelling 135, Family 147, Household of Jefferson G Cook; imaged "United States Census, 1920",database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN51-8KR : accessed 20 February 2024),

1930 U.S. Census, Davidson County, Tennessee, Nashville, Civil District 6, ED 19-214, Sheet 15b, Dwelling 321, Family 337, Household of David Cook; imaged "United States Census, 1930", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SPWK-CXB : accessed 20 February 2024).

1940 U.S. Census, Davidson County, Tennessee, Woodbine, Civil District 6, ED 19-19, Sheet 9b, Household 195, Household of David S Cook; imaged, "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K44V-5YX : accessed 20 February 2024).

1950 U.S. Census, Davidson County, Tennessee, Woodbine, ED 19-37, Page 8, Dwelling 63, Household of Stahl D Cook; imaged "United States 1950 Census", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6NTM-JT2D : accessed 20 February 2024).

"Mrs. Mary J Cook", The Tennessean, 25 March 1915, p. 14, col. 6; digital images, Newspapers.com(https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 20 February 2024).(Death announcement for Mary who died on the 24 of March)

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/215649022/ollie_mai-cook: accessed February 21, 2024), memorial page with gravestone image for Ollie Mai Cook (1886–1968), Find a Grave Memorial ID 215649022, citing Triune Cemetery, Triune, Williamson County, Tennessee, USA.

Obit of Andrew Jackson Acuff(1942)

ACUFF Andrew Jackson Acuff, 68, died at his home at Quebeck in White county Friday . The funeral services were conducted from the residence Saturday afternoon by John W. High. Burial was in the McElroy cemetery . Mr. Acuff was born in Van Buren county December 3, 1873. He was a son of William and Sarah McElroy Acuff. He was married to Hannah Hash in 1904 . Survivors include one son, Elbert Acuff of Quebeck and a daughter, Mrs. Livy Woodlee of Chattanooga. Mr. Acuff had been a member of the Church of Christ since early in life.-- Arrangements by High Funeral company

Source:
Obituary(Acuff), Southern Standard, Vol LXIII NO 41, 24 July 1942, p 6, col 1, Obituary of Andrew Jackson Acuff; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-43TC-GFF4 accessed 21 November 2025), IGN 8992355 Image 1027 of 1194.

Tom & Clarence Cook's WWI Draft Registration & Numbers

Both my paternal grandfather, Thomas D Cooke(age 29), and his brother William Clarence Cook(age 26), registered for the World War 1 Draft on June 5th of 1917. Their draft numbers along with the other Marshall County men that registered were published in The Marshall Gazette the following month.  Tom and Clarence were both employed by the Houston & Liggett Sawmill. They were also both married with children. Neither of them were called up to serve.

See THIS article at the National Archives for more information about who was required to register.

Sources:

"Registered Men's Draft Numbers Drawn", The Marshall Gazette(Lewisburg TN), Vol XLIII, No. 167, 24 July 1917, p. 3, col 3. Thomas D Cook, Chapel Hill; FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-Q3RM-5S8W : accessed 16 Nov 2025) IGN 8963192, Image 285 of 1071.

"Registered Men's Draft Numbers Drawn", The Marshall Gazette(Lewisburg TN), Vol XLIII, No. 167, 24 July 1917, p. 3, col 1. William Clarence Cook, Chapel Hill; FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-Q3RM-5S8W : accessed 16 Nov 2025) IGN 8963192, Image 285 of 1071.

"United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYTP-3NKW : accessed 16 November 2025), Entry for Thomas D Cook(Precinct 8 Chapel Hill TN), 5 June 1918: IGN 5152433, Image 3581 of 5963.

"United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YTP-382H : accessed 16 November 2025), Entry for William Clarence Cook(Precinct 8 Chapel Hill TN), 5 June 1918; IGN 5152433 Image 3585 of 5963.

Berryville, Old Hickory, Davidson Co TN Deed: Thomas D & Pearl Cook(1928)

Using the Full Text Search at FamilySearch, I found a Deed involving my paternal grandparents. I no idea the deed existed. They purchased(5 May 1928) from Wm A Bryan & wife Emma Berry Bryan, two lots(lot 26 & 27 in block 4) in the Berryville Community of Old Hickory TN. The lots were on the west side of Wood Avenue according to the description given in the deed. On 18th November 1930, they sold these same lots to Otis Hire. My Dad and his sister were the youngest children and probably wouldn't have known anything about this since Dad was born in Oct 1930 and his sister, 3 yrs later. There was a lot going on with the family at this time period--Multiple family members dying from TB, a suicide of a brother in law. Both of my grandparents had already lost their mothers about a decade earlier as well as losing a son in 1927 to Scarlet Fever. They remained in Old Hickory where my grandfather was employed by Dupont and retired from there in the 1950s.

I've added the original purchase transcription to Thomas & Pearl's profiles in my tree at Ancestry. I was able to find Otis Hire in census records for the years 1920-1950.  He probably knew my grandfather thru work as they were both employed as mechanics at Dupont.

Sources:

Davidson County, TN Deed Book 667, pg 25, Deed W. A. Bryan & wife, Mrs. Emma Berry Bryan to Thomas D Cook & wife, Pearl Cook; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-X3CX-48RW : accessed 15 Nov 2025 IGN 8661376 image 332 of 628.

Davidson County, TN Deed Book 737, pg 762, Deed Thomas D Cook & wife Pearl Cook to Otis Hire; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-X3CX-C4QK : accessed 15 Nov 2025) IGN 8661408, Image 791 of 815.