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.

1943-1944 Term Dupont Grammar School Report Card Davidson Co. TN

The images are scans of my Dad, Billy Joe Cooke's 6th Grade Report Card.  He was attending Dupont Grammar School in Old Hickory, Davidson County, Tennessee(USA).   
(Form No. 1)

Davidson County Elementary Schools Report

School reports are of value if they help parents understand the meaning of practices in school and the opinion of the school of the child's progress. We want each child to compete with his own record, not with those of other children. Therefore teachers and parents must avoid comparing the child with other children in class and home.

The school desires to help each child become a worthy member of the group, use his leisure time constructively, and master the school subjects.

Name: Billy Joe Cooke
Grade: 6

The grading period was every 4 weeks

Grade listed in parenthesis is his Final Average

Dad was graded on the following subjects :

Arithmetic(94)

English(93)

Geography(91)

Physiology-Hygiene(90)

Reading(90)

Spelling Test and Written work(98)

Days Present--173 Days

Days Absent-----3 Days

Days Tardy------0 Days

In that grade level they were also graded on a number of 

"Habits and attitudes Desirable for Citizenship"

Dad was Promoted to Grade 7

School  Dupont Grammar School

Principal:  W. M. Tate

Teacher:  Bertha McFerrin

Term 1943-1944

Parents Sign:  Mrs. T D Cooke signed 6 times

Dupont Grammar School Principal W M Tate (31 Dec 1896 - 31 Jan 1968)

William McKever Tate Sr. was the son of Daniel Anderson Tate & Clara Raulston and was born in Marion County, Tennessee.  He married Inez Roth in 1924 and the following year they came to Davidson County, TN where he was principal at Morny School. He worked at several other schools but held the position of principal at Dupont Elementary School from around 1938 until his retirement in 1962.  At the time of the 1940 census, Principal Tate and his family lived on Lawrence Street in Old Hickory.  That was two streets over and down about a block from where Dad and his parents lived during that time. According to his obituary, he is buried in Woodlawn Memorial Park 

6th Grade Teacher Bertha McFerrin (22 Mar 1911 - 8 May 2001)

Bertha McFerrin was the daughter of Arthur Alexander McFerrin and Callie Ann Vance. She was from the Cannon County town of Readyville.  Bertha graduated from MTSU(Then Middle TN State Teaches college) in 1936.  She never married nor had children of her own.  At the time of the 1940 Census she and her Dad were in Montgomery Co.,  Tennessee living with her sister and brother in law.  She is buried at Riverside Cemetery in Woodbury, Cannon County, Tennessee.

Sources:

1. Cooke-Jakes Family Papers, in possession of Marie Cooke Beckman, "Report Card of Billy Joe Cooke, 6th Grade student at Dupont Grammar School," School Term 1943-1944. Item Digitized 7 Aug 2022.
2. "W. M. Tate Sr. Services Today," The Tennessean(Nashville, TN) 2 Feb 1968, pg 35 Col 6; ; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 7 Aug 2022).
3. "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K44V-7VJ : 11 January 2021), William M Tate, Civil District 4, Davidson, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 19-9, sheet 14A, line 25, family 267, NARA digital publication T627, National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 3884.
4. "U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; database with images, Ancestry(https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1265/: 7 Aug 2022), Tennessee > Middle Tennessee State Teachers College > 1936 > image 35 of 124.
5. "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4Z6-M8G : 11 January 2021), Bertha McFerrin in household of Sterling B Odom, Civil District 12, Montgomery, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 63-24, sheet 3A, line 12, family 44, NARA digital publication T627. National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 3923.
6. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55567967/bertha-mcferrin: accessed 07 August 2022), memorial page for Bertha McFerrin (22 Mar 1911–8 May 2001), Find a Grave Memorial ID 55567967, citing Riverside Cemetery, Woodbury, Cannon County, Tennessee, USA; Maintained by Patricia Davidson (contributor 46638656).

Dupont Research Resources

In researching my paternal grandparents I have been studying anything to do with Dupont and their Old Hickory TN location where my grandparents lived.  The Nashville Archives and the Tennessee State Library and Archives both have a Dupont Collection.  The links below take you to a PDF listing of each archives collection.  

Dupont Collection(Old Hickory, TN) Summary of items at the Nashville Archives.

Dupont Collection(Old Hickory, TN) Summary of items at TN State Library and Archives(TSLA)

The Hagley Museum also has a good bit on Dupont some of which includes pictures from Old Hickory. Also, there are a number of pages on Facebook dedicated to Old Hickory which post pictures and articles of historical significance 

Books In My Personal Library

• Dutton, William S. 1951. DuPont: one hundred and forty years. New York: Scribner's.
• E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. 1952. Dupont, the autobiography of an American enterprise. Wilmington, Del: Du Pont.

I've also been working on my Old Hickory TN--Dupont tree which is currently at Ancestry. It's a public tree but  requires being subscribed to Ancestry or viewing from your library's Ancestry acct.  At some point this may change if I can find a host that meets my needs so that I can get it out there for all who are interested.

Please feel free to leave a comment or email me at my Google email acct (rmbeckman) if you have comments or questions about the Old Hickory community during its time as a company town.  I'd love to hear from  you.  

Note: I intend to add to this post as new resources become available.

Connecting with Descendants of the People in Your Ancestors' Neighborhood

 The folks on Sesame Street have been teaching the importance of the people in your neighborhood for years. There is even a meme circulating on many of the social media platforms that reminds us that we can "never forget the neighborhood kids or the great times we had."  Where am I going with this?  I want to offer a bit of advice that has helped me in my research and enriched my knowledge of my family.  If you are not in contact with the descendants of folks who were the neighbors of your parents & grandparents, you should be.  You both have stories and in many cases pictures of each other's family.  Have old family pictures of people you don't know?  They may be able to help you figure out the identity of those folks.

About 6 years back I contacted the descendant of one of my grandparents neighbors.  It's been great to share stories that were handed down about the people in the neighborhood and their interactions.  Earlier this week she brought me old photos that she'd inherited--some pictures of my folks and others within that neighborhood.  I've spent  the better part of this week scanning and adding them to my Old Hickory, TN--Dupont tree at Ancestry.  Thankfully the majority of the people in the pictures are identified.  This was a true blessing for me and my family and I hope that once I get the pictures uploaded others with family there can experience that same joy.

Family history research is more than just names, dates and begets, It's pictures and documents which, when analyzed and pieced together weave the stories of the lives of our ancestors. 

1940 Davidson Co. TN Old Hickory 900 Block of Dodson Street

1940 Davidson Co TN Dist 4 Old Hickory 

This information is what was given to the enumerator for the 1940 census.  Please consult the census images which contain more information.


900 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Household #168  Rent $15
Finis E Robbins(x) head M W 65 M TN Same House Janitor Dupont
Mary E Robbins wife F W 60 M TN Same House
Ruby Robbins dau F W 37 wd TN  Same House Inspector Dupont

901 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Household # 187  Rent $12.50
Fred Pipkins head M W 30 M TN Same House Chemical Building Operator Dupont
Euda Pipkins(x) wife F W 30 M TN Same House
Marie Pipkins dau F W 10 S TN Same House
Wanita Pipkins dau F W 6 S TN Same House
Fay Pipkins dau F W 4 S TN Same House

902 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Household #169 Rent $15
Harry Knight head M W 36 M TN Same Place Spinner Dupont
Verna Knight wife F W 29 M TN Same Place

903 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Household #188   Rent $12.50
Earnest Carlisle head M W 34 M TN  Same Place Doffer Dupont
Ester Carlisle(x) wife F W 34 M TN  Same Place
Earnetine Carlisle dau F W 9 S TN   Same Place
Jimmie Carlisle son M W 8 S TN   Same Place
Westle Carlisle son M W 6 S TN  Same Place
Donald Carlisle son M W 5 S TN  Same Place
Ruby Carlisle dau F W 3 S TN Same Place

904 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Household # 170 Rent $15
Charlie Mercer head M W 39 M TN Same Place Doffer Dupont
Lulu Mercer(x)  wife F W 27 M TN Same Place
Melvin Staggs lodger M W 34 D  TN Same Place  Oiler Dupont

905 Dodson St Old Hickory TN
Household #189  Rent $12.50
Roy Agee head M W 34 M TN Chemical Building Operator Dupont
Edna Agee(x) wife F W 26 M AR
Carol Agee dau F W 6 S TN

906 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Household # 171 Rent $15
James T Chesteen head M W 35 M TN Same House Spinner Dupont
Li? Chesteen (x) wife F W 32 M TN Same House
Bobbie Chesteen son M W 7 S TN Same House
Glen Chesteen son M W 3 S TN Same House

907 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Household # 190 Rent $12.50
Porter R. Whitehead(x) head M W 27 M AL  Same Place Foreman Textile Area Dupont
Ruby Whitehead wife F W 27 M TN Same Place
Porter L Whitehead son M W 5 S TN Same Place
Gloria J. Whitehead dau F W 3 S TN Same Place

908 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Household # 172  Rent $15
Burton Douglas head M W 38 M KY Same Place Chemical Building Operator
Ovie Douglas(x) wife F W 34 M TN Same Place
Nadine Douglas dau F W 13 S KY Same Place
Reba Fay Douglas dau F W 6 S TN Same Place

909 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Household # 191 Rent $12.50
Howard Gibbs(x) head M W 25 M TN Same Place Winder Operator Dupont
Virginia Gibbs wife F W 21 M TN Same Place
Catheline Gibbs dau F W 4 S TN Same Place

Household #192 Rent $7
Annie M Thomas Head F W 68 D TN Same Place
Lyla Thomas Dau F W 25 S  TN Same Place

910 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Household # 173 Rent $15
Buford Sanders head M W 33 M TN Same House Chemical Building Operator Dupont
Gladys Sanders wife F W 32  M TN Same House
Lola Vance Sanders dau F W 14 S TN

911 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Household # 193  Rent $12.50
This is the home of my paternal Grandparents.
Thomas D Cook head M W 51 M TN Same House Spinning Mechanic Dupont
Pearl Cook(x) wife F W 48 M TN Same House
Magnus Cook dau F W 23 S TN Same House
Viola Cook dau F W 22 S TN Same House
June Cook dau F W 17 S TN Same House
Morris B Cook son M W 13 S TN Same House
Billie Joe Cook son M W 9 S TN Same House
Bobbie Jean Cook dau F W 6 S TN Same House
James Jakes father-in-law M W 83 wd TN Same House

912 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Household # 174 Rent $15
James Mayhue (x) head M W 36 M KY Same Place Checker Dupont
Lura Mayhue wife F W 26 M TN Same Place
Linton G Mayhue son M W 13 S TN Same Place
Gloria Mayhue dau F W 8 S TN Same Place
Larry Mayhue son M W 2/12 TN Same Place

Sources:

"United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K44V-HQT : accessed 9 January 2019), Old Hickory, Civil District 4, Davidson, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 19-9, 900 Block of Dodson St(odd number houses), sheet 10A & 10B, p. 150 (stamped) 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.

"United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89M1-8Z5L?i=16&cc=2000219 : accessed 9 January 2019), Old Hickory, Civil District 4, Davidson, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 19-9, 900 Block of Dodson St(even number houses),sheet 9A & 9B , p. 149 (stamped) 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.

1930 Davidson Co. TN Old Hickory 900 Block of Dodson Street

My Dad was born in October of 1930.  He lived at 911 Dodson Street until the late 1940s.  More than likely the majority of these people would have been his neighbors at that time.   This information is what was given to the enumerator for the 1930 census.  Please consult the census images which contain more information.

1930 Davidson County Tennessee Dist 4 Old Hickory Town(North Part)

900 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Dwelling # 396 Family # 511
Herbert Carter(age 30)wife, Ida(age 30). Herbert & Ida were both 16 when they married. They have a son J. T. (age 13) and a daughter, Anna B.(age 3). Herbert is a painter for a Building & Construction Co. Connie Jones, (age 18) who is listed as Bro-in-law of Herbert also lives with them. He hauls coal & ice for a Coal & Ice Company. The Carters pay $8 a month in rent. All born in TN as were their parents.

901 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Dwelling # 435 Family # 559
Living in this household are Claude Bell(age 23) widowed mother, Rebecca(age 58). Claude is employed at the Rayon Mill where he is a Spinner. Rent is $13 a month. Claude's sister Etta Gunter(age 19) also lives here along with her husband Fred(age 20) and son Fred Jr.(6 months old). Fred Sr was 19 and Etta was 18 when they married. Fred Sr. is asst. Route Manager for a newspaper.  All born in TN as were their parents.

902 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Dwelling # 395 Family # 509
Charles L. Epps is a widower and the head of this household. He pays $8 a month in rent and is employed as a painter with a Building & Construction Company. Charles' daughter Mazella Epps( age 20--single) lives with him and takes care of the housework. Daughter Elizabeth Graham(age 24--widowed) also lives here as does her daughter Lucy E. Graham(1 5/12). Elizabeth works as a Silk Inspector for the Rayon Mill.  All born in TN as were their parents.

Dwelling # 395 Family  # 510
William Dudney(age 29) & his wife Emma(age 24) live here with their son Eugene(age 4 10/12).  They pay $12 a month in rent.  William is employed as a machinest at the Rayon Mill.  All born in TN as were their parents.

903 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Dwelling # 436 Family # 560
Living here are Burl Page (age 27) and wife, Luanna(age 27). Both were 25 yrs old when they married. Burl works as a Spinner at the Rayon Mill and they pay rent of $13 a month. All born in TN as were their parents.

Dwelling # 436 Family # 561
Joe Lomax(age 28) and wife Willie M.(age 24) live here along with their son Eugene(age 7). Joe was 19 yrs old & Willie was 15 yrs old when they were married. Joe is employed as a Spinner at the Rayon Mill and their monthly rent is $12. All born in TN as were their parents.

904 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Dwelling # 394 Family # 507
Home of Haskell Dixon(age 28) and wife May(age 24). Haskell was 19 yrs old and May was 16 yrs old when they married. Sons Melvin(age 6) & James E.(3 yrs 8 months) and Daughter Gracie(age 5)also live with them. Haskell is employed as a Spinner in the Rayon Mill and their monthly rent is $8. All born in TN as were their parents.

Dwelling # 394 Family # 508
Bert E. Grimes(age 36) and wife Ola M.(age 22) live here along with their son Bert E. (2 yrs 10 months old). Bert Sr. is employed at the Rayon Mill as a mechanic. Bert Sr.'s parents were born in Indiana and he was born in Oregon. Ola and Bert Jr. were born in TN. They pay $9 a month in rent.

905 Dodson St Old Hickory TN
Dwelling # 437 Family # 562
Home of James Gregory(age 35) wife Melba(age 34). James was 17 & Melba was 16 when they married. Their son George(age 17) and daughter Irene(age 15) also live with them. James and Melba are both employees of the Rayon Mill where James is a foreman in the Shipping Room and Melba is a forelady in the Reeling Room. They pay $13 a month in rent.  All born in TN as were their parents.

906 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Dwelling # 393 Family # 505
Barry A. Kizziah(age 60) and wife, Nannie(age 53) live at this address along with their son Hermon(age 22). Barry was 36 and Nannie was 28 when they married. Their rent is $8 a month. Barry works at the Rayon Mill where he is an electric blower operator. Hermon works as a grocery clerk. All born in TN as were their parents.

Dwelling # 393 Family # 506
Home of Lectra Brown(age 21) and wife, Bettie(age 19). They were married within the year and are both workers at the Rayon Mill...he is a worker of Cold Racks and she is an inspector. Their monthly rent is $12.  All born in TN as were their parents.

907 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Dwelling # 438 Family # 563
Roscoe Roberson(age 36) and wife, Mollie(age 27) live here along with their daughters--Katherine(age 9) Frances(age 5) Pauline(9 months) and son G. B. (age 3) Ther Roberson's pay $13 a month in rent. Roscoe is employed with the Rayon Mill as a Blocker in the Wringer. Roscoe was 21 and Mollie was 15.(Math doesn't work out right on this.) They also have two boarders-- Walter Heffine(age 30 divorced) who is employed at the Rayon Mill as an operator in the riping room. George Thompson(age 24 single) who also works at the Rayon Mill as a Spinner. All born in TN as were their parents.

908 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Dwelling # 392 Family # 504
George L. Smith (age 23) & wife, Pearle(age 21) live at this address along with their daughter Martha(18 months). George is employed as a Spinner at the Rayon Mill. George was 19 and Pearle was 17 when they married. They pay $8 a month in rent. All born in TN as were their parents.

909 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Dwelling # 439 Family # 564
This is the home of Henry Tatum(age 23) and wife Louise(age 17) who were married within the year. Henry's widowed mother Kate(age 64) also recides with them as does Henry's brother & his family which consist of Claude(age 30) and wife Esther L. (age 23) Sons Russell(age 6) Charles W. (age 4 yr 5 months) and daughter Dorothy(age 4 months). Both Henry and Claude work for at the Rayon Mill where Henry is a Cake Wrapper and Claude is a Spinner. Rent on this home was $13 a month. All of the occupants of this house were born in KY with the exception of Dorothy who was born in TN. All parents of occupants were born in KY.

910 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Dwelling # 391 Family # 503
John L. Herdon(age 18) is listed as head of household here. He is single and works as a Laundry Boy at the Rayon Mill. His widowed mother Mattie(age 59)also lives here as do 6 other boarders. Blanche Pulaski(age 25 single), Helen Pulaski(age 23 single) Ruth Pulaski(age 20 single). The Pulaskis all work at the Rayon Mill as Reelers. Jesse George(age 23 single) is a Painter for a Construction Company. Robert Pennington(age 18 single) and Virgil Redman(age 18 single) both are employed as Winders at the Rayon Mill. Monthly rent on this home was $8. All born in TN as were their parents.

911 Dodson St. Old Hickory TN
Dwelling # 440 Family # 565
This is the home of my paternal Grandparents. Thomas D. Cook(age 42) and wife Pearl(age 39). Tom was 24 and Pearl was 21 when they married. Also living with them are daughters-- Magnus(age 17) Viola(age 14), Olive June(age 6) and a son listed as Morris V. but should be Morris B.(age 2 yr 11 months) Tom works at the Rayon Mill where he is a mechanic. Rent for their home was $13 a month. All born in TN as were their parents.

912 Dodson St Old Hickory TN
Dwelling #390 Family #501
James H. McDougal (age 24) and wife May(Married at 21 yrs of age),  a son L. W. McDougal who is 2 1/2 yrs old. They also have two boarders--Naomi Graham(age 19 single) and Cletus Holly age 20.  All Household members and their parents were born in TN with the exception of Naomi whose parents and herself were born in KY.  Naomi and Cletus also work for the Rayon Mill where Naomi is a Reeler and Cletus is a Spinner.  They pay $8 a month in rent.

Dwelling #390 Family #502
J. D. Arnold(age 27) and wife Lealon(?) Arnold(age 22)  Daughter Peggy(age 5).  J.D. and Lealon were married at 21 and 16 yr of age. J.D. is a Millwright at the Rayon Mill. They pay $20 a month in rent.  All born in TN as were their parents.

Sources:

"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SPWV-YMF : accessed 9 January 2019), District 4, Davidson, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 244, sheet 28-A, p. 167 (stamped), 900 Block of Dodson Street(odd numbers), NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2243; FHL microfilm 2,341,977.

"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SPWV-GP8 : accessed 9 January 2019), District 4, Davidson, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 244, sheets 25-A & 25-B, p. 154 (stamped), 900 Block of Dodson Street(even numbers), NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2243; FHL microfilm 2,341,977.

Obits from DuPont Employee Newsletter--Beal and Garrett

Old Hickory Record Vol 21 No. 4 March  26, 1971 pg 2 Obituaries section
This is a newsletter for DuPont employees and was also mailed out to retirees.  While it listed the age, it doesn't list the birth or death dates.

Carl F. Beal
Age 65
Began in 1927 as a clerk in Accounting
Retired in 1965 as a Sr. Clerical Assistant at "Corfam"

Survivors:
Wife--Shannon Beal
Daughters--Mrs. Dalores Smiley(Nashville, TN)
Mrs. Sara Jane Matthews(Richardson, TX)
Son--Carl F. Beal(Martinsville, VA)
3 Grandchildren

George G. Garrett
Age 69
Retired in 1965 after 32 years of service
Worked in Rayon as a Chemical Building Operator
the majority of his years with DuPont
His last four years with the company were as a 
"Dacron" Staple Operator

Survivors:
Wife--Myrtle Garrett(Goodlettsville, TN)
Son--James G. Garrett(Goodlettsville, TN)
3 Grandchildren and 2 Great Grandchildren

Obits from DuPont Employee Newsletter--Cheatham and Jarman

Old Hickory Record Vol 21 No. 4 March  26, 1971 pg 2 Obituaries section
This is a newsletter for DuPont employees and was also mailed out to retirees.  While it listed the age, it doesn't list the birth or death dates.

George H. Cheatham

Age 56  (Nashville, TN)
Survivors:
Wife, Pearlene Cheatham
Daughter, Dorothy Phillips
Mother, Mrs. Mary Crisman
A sister
Employed with DuPont from 1944-1971
(Shipping area since 1965)








William B. Jarman
Age 63 (Portland, TN)
Survivors:
Wife, Velma
Daughters,
Mrs. Betty Sue Bradley
Mrs Elsie Taylor
Mrs Lillie Belle Long
Son: Amos Jarman
Employed with Dupont from 1925-1953
(retired--majority as a spinner)

Mr. and Mrs. Horace E. Tomlinson--From The Old Hickory Record.

This article was in The Old Hickory Record a company paper distributed by DuPont .  Presumably this would have been published in late Sept / early Oct edition as they married September 25, 1948.  My Grandmother saved newspaper clippings of people she knew.  This was one of them.

Reba's parents were Earnest Lillard Massey and Effie Mai Glover Massey who lived on Hadley Avenue in Old Hickory and can be found there in the 1930 & 1940 US Federal Census of Davidson Co TN(Dist 4 Old Hickory).  At that time my grandparents, Tom D. & Pearl Jakes Cooke,  lived at 911 Dodson Street.  That residence no longer exist and has been gone since at least the early 70s as I remember when we would drive down Dodson Street on the way to my paternal Aunt's house(on DeBow St.) Dad would point out that the house they lived in used to be at that corner lot.

In my earlier post about folks who lived near my grandparents when they lived on Clarke Street in Old Hickory my goal was to identify the persons in the pictures from that time period.  Now I've come up with all sort of questions about that time period and place.

Do any of these DuPont Company papers still exist?  Are they in an Archive?

What happened to the Rent records or employee records for the earlier DuPont years(pre-1950)

Is there an Old Hickory Directory for the years 1923-1950 or so? 

I've contacted the Nashville Public Library and the TN State Library & Archives and they have directed me to the Old Hickory Branch of the Nashville Public Library.  I'm hoping to contact them and find out if they know the answers to any of those questions.  If I do learn more about that I will post here.

Freddie W. Wauford & Thomas D. Cooke retirement announcements

Headlines From Dupont's Company Paper(Old Hickory, TN)
Rayon Record  Newspaper Aug 5, 1953
Two Veteran Maintenance Men Retire Effective August 1
Freddie W. Wauford and Thomas D. Cooke(my grandfather)




Freddie W. Wauford, Maintenance Locker Room Attendant, retired from the Company under the age requirement on August 1, after more than 24 years' service.

Mr. Wauford was born in Alexandria in DeKalb County, Tennessee. He was engaged in farming before joining the Du Pont Company in 1929. He first worked in Plant 1 Textile and was then a Wash and Bleach Operator until that operation was discontinued. After short periods again in the Textile Areas and Inspections, he was sent to the Maintenance Department in April 1941 as Locker Room Attendant. He remained in this job until his retirement.

He was married in 1910 to Miss Ida Washer. They now live at 1302 Jones Street in the Village, where they own their home. The Waufords have three sons and one daughter. Two of the sons are plant employees, Orvestil, who works in Plant 2 Laboratory and William, of Plant 1 Spinning. The other son is a former employee and the daughter is married to Bill Willoughby, who works in Plant 1 Chemical Building.

Mr. Wauford says he has no immediate plans following his retirement. Speaking of his career with Du Pont, he said, "It comes from my heart when I say you could travel the world over and not find a better company than Du Pont for which to work. And that group of men in the Maintenance Department is the best bunch of fellows I've ever known. I count every one of them as a friend and want to wish them well."

Clarke Street Neighbors Old Hickory, TN 1923-1946

[Edited 12/20/2018 to include a link to Part 2 at end of this post]

In February of 1927, my grandparents were living at 1009 Clarke Street in Old Hickory, Tennessee when their oldest son died of scarlet fever.   His name was Thomas D. Cooke Jr and his parents and siblings always called him Tomie D.  I have several pictures of him with friends and family that I have published on my webpage, in my tree at Ancestry, and here on my blog.  My grandmother had pictures of him and his sisters with children from the neighborhood where they lived which came into my possession as the family historian.  I can identify my aunts, and Tomie D. in the pictures but do not know who the other children are.  Presumably, they would be children who lived near them on Clarke Street or the surrounding streets.  I thought it might be good to review the area and look at the folks who were living there during 1927 but so far I have been unable to find a city directory for that area.  My grandparents moved to 911 Dodson Street(Old Hickory) shortly after Tomie D.'s passing but I wanted to see who all was living in that area of Clarke Street in 1930.  Maybe eventually I'll be able to find some sort of listing.  Old Hickory was a company town at least prior to 1945/46 so all residents on that street were renters.  I've contacted TN State Archives and the Nashville Library and neither know of a directory for that area covering the time period.  For the time being, I'm studying the 1930 census and hoping to learn more.  I"ve started a research tree on Ancestry for those who lived in that area and have begun researching the families and the houses.  The houses, which were Sears Modern Homes, are just as interesting as the people.  Looking at Google's street view I was able to see how they look present day.  As you might imagine, some have been modified, but they still retain enough of the features to allow for identification.  The styles on Clarke Street both on the north side(odd house numbers) and the south side(even house numbers) seem to be either a Georgia model or a Haskell model home.

Tomie D Cooke(on right) and friend
circa 1925

I'd love to know the identity of the other boy in the picture.  I would guess they are about the same age.  Also, I'd love to hear from other descendants of people who lived on Clarke Street or Dodson St in Old Hickory Tennessee between 1923-1946.

Map of the area of Clarke Street
Showing my notes of the residents from 1930 Census entries

Below is a little bit of the household information I was able to gather from the 1930 census as well as my additional comments on the house style from viewing them on Google Maps.  I'll post some more pictures and additional households for the south portion of Clarke Street in a future blog post.

1930 US Federal Census Davidson Co. TN; District 4; Enum. Dist.: 0244; Page: 47B; FHL microfilm: 2341977. Ancestry.com images; image 94 of 105.

1001 Clark Street (Rent $23)[Appears to be "Georgia" model]
Lenard N. Roaden--Head--age 40- --mar at 26 TN TN TN Spinning Room Belt man Rayon Plant
Alma Roaden--wife--age 37--mar at 25 TN TN TN 
James A Roaden--son--age 4 4/12 single TN TN TN
Lenard M Roaden--son--age 3/12 single TN TN TN

1003 Clark Street (Rent $18)[Appears to be "Haskell" model]
Howard D Bowman--head--age 26 mar at 22 TN TN TN Foreman in Spinnerette Lab Rayon Mills
Aileen Bowman--wife--age 21 mar at 17 TN TN TN
John H. Bowman--son--age 1 8/12 -single--TN TN TN 

1005 Clark Street (Rent $18)[Appears to be "Haskell" model]
Wilburn R Hunt --head--age 37 mar at 21 TN TN TN Fire Dept. Chief --Village
Mattie N. Hunt--wife--age 36 mar at 20 TN TN TN
Blanche Hunt--daughter--age 14 single TN TN TN
Elizabeth Hunt--daughter--age 13  single TN TN TN
John W(est) Hunt--son--age 10 single TN TN TN
Howard L. Hunt--son--age 10  single TN TN TN
Joe M. Hunt--son--age 8 single TN TN TN
Wilburn E Hunt--son--age 4 6/12 single TN TN TN
Kenneth R Hunt--son--age 1 4/12 single TN TN TN

1007 Clark Street Rent $18[Appears to be "Haskell" model]
Douglas Cone Jr.--head--age 26 mar at 20 TN TN TN Foreman in Spinning Room Rayon Mills
Mattie W. Cone--wife--age 26 mar at 20 MS MS MS
Douglas Cone III--son--age 4 3/12 single TN TN MS

1009 Clark Street Rent $18[Appears to be "Haskell" model]
Henry Powell--head--age 27 mar at 26 TN TN TN Foreman in Spinning Room Rayon Mills
Mildred Powell--wife--age 26 mar at 25 TN TN TN Forelady in Reeling Room Rayon Mills
Howard McKibbon--boarder--age 29 mar at 29 TN TN TN Foreman in Spinning Room Rayon Mill
Bessie McKibbon--boarder--age 23 mar at 23 TN TN TN

1011 Clark Street Rent $23[Appears to be "Georgia" model]
Arthur L. Snyder--head--age 32 mar at 29 Can.(Eng) Can.(Eng) Can.(Eng) Sales Serviceman Rayon Mills
Dora Snyder--wife--age 23 mar at 20 KY KY KY
John Snyder--son--age 1 8/12--single--MN Can.(Eng) KY
John S Fonda--boarder--age 29 mar at 27 NY NY NY Research Chemist Rayon Mills
Marion G Fonda--boarder--age 30 mar at 28 NY NY NY 

Clarke Street Neighbors Part 2 

March 21, 1891--Birthday of Pearl Gray Jakes Cooke

Today is the birthday of my Paternal Grandmother, Pearl Gray Jakes Cooke.  She was born on this day in 1891 in Bell Buckle, a town in Bedford County, Tennessee to James Jakes and Thelitha Ann Frizzell Jakes.  She married Thomas DeWitt Cooke in Shelbyville, TN in 1912 and they lived in Christiana(Rutherford Co. TN) until they moved to Old Hickory in the mid-1920s when Tom went to work for Dupont.  They lived on Clarke Street in Old Hickory for the first few years and that is the residence they were living at when her only son(at that time), Tomie D.  died with Scarlet & Rheumatic Fever in 1927.  That loss stuck with her as it would any mother and I think it played a huge part in her being overprotective of her children.  At the time that Tomie died, my grandmother was pregnant and 2 months later she delivered another son, my Uncle Morris.  The picture shows Tomie D., Olive June, and Pearl not long before Tomie came down with the illness which swept through the community.

At the time Old Hickory, TN was pretty much a company town with the vast majority of the residents employed at the Dupont Plant.  After Tomie's death, they purchased plots at Mt. Olivet Cemetery where he is buried along with my Grandparents and several of their children.  They must have moved to 911 Dodson Street not too long after Tomie's death because they are on Dodson Street by the time the 1930 Census rolls around.  It was the year that my Dad was born but he would not arrive until October so he was not enumerated on that census.  Daddy also came down with Rheumatic Fever and was bedridden for a great length of time.  I'm sure this must have been tough on not only my Dad who was in Elementary School, but also on Pearl who I can only imagine was fearing that he too would die.  He didn't though...not until many years later.  Daddy joined the service during the Korean War and Pearl insisted that they were not going to move from the house on Dodson St as long as he was away.  When Dad returned home he worked at Dupont for several years.  Pearl was in her late 70s when I was born.  Dad was their youngest son and my parents didn't start a family until my Dad was 38. By the time I was old enough to have memories of Pearl she was in her 80s.  She was stern...but she had seen a lot in her lifetime.  The loss of a son...disease outbreak,  wars...the transition from buggies and horses to automobiles.  She and Tom had 3 sons and 4 daughters.  

My Grandfather retired from Dupont and in 1970 they along with my parents moved to Dickson TN.  My Grandpa was dying from Lung Cancer. and Emphysema  He passed in 1971 another loss for Pearl and our family.  During the biggest part of my childhood, my Grandmother lived in the same neighborhood that my parents and I did--Spanish Oaks in the Pomona Community of Dickson Co. TN.  The things I remember most about my Grandmother.  Before moving to Pomona she used to make Kraut in a crock on the large shaded porch of the house where she lived on North Charlotte Street....as a child I was fascinated by the bright green flies.  Kids are weird and I was no different.  She loved flowers.  She planted them everywhere.  She made good homemade wine...and if you coughed while you were visiting her...she would give you some of the wine for your throat.  We coughed a lot.  She also thought that a shot of whiskey could ward off a cold.   After she hit her 90s, her present-day memory failed but she could remember things from her childhood.  I always loved to hear her stories.  She had good and bad days...she could bless your heart in one breath...and tell you where to go in the next..they called it hardening of the arteries but I guess it was dementia.  She would hide money....and she had a small pistol which we were always taking away from her so she wouldn't hurt herself and she was always finding.  The first curse words I ever heard were said by her.  I remember her getting a self-propelled lawnmower.  She was in her 90s...she would put it on "rabbit speed" and hold on for dear life.  I always wondered why she didn't pick the slower speed.  She must have been doing something right though because she lived to be 102 years old.  Happy Birthday, Granny Cooke!!

March 21, 1891--Birthday of Pearl Gray Jakes Cooke

Today is the birthday of my Paternal Grandmother, Pearl Gray Jakes Cooke.  She was born on this day in 1891 in Bell Buckle, a town in Bedford County, Tennessee to James Jakes and Thelitha Ann Frizzell Jakes.  She married Thomas DeWitt Cooke in Shelbyville, TN in 1912 and they lived around Christiana(Rutherford Co. TN) until they moved to Old Hickory in the mid 1920s when Tom went to work for Dupont.  They lived on Clarke Street in Old Hickory for the first few years and that is the residence they were living at when her only son(at that time), Tomie D.  died with Scarlet & Rheumatic Fever in 1927.  That loss stuck with her as it would any mother but I think it played a huge part in her being over protective of her children.  At the time that Tomie died my grandmother was pregnant and 2 months later she delivered another son, my Uncle Morris.  The picture shows Tomie D. Olive June, and Pearl not long before Tomie came down with the illness which swept through the community.  At the time Old Hickory, TN was pretty much a company town with the vast majority of the residents employed at the Dupont Plant.  After Tomie's death they purchased plots at Mt. Olivet Cemetery where he is buried along with my Grandparents and several of their children.  They must have moved to 911 Dodson Street not too long after Tomie's death because they are on Dodson Street by time the 1930 Census rolls around.  It was the year that my Dad was born but he would not arrive until October so he was not enumerated on that census.  Daddy also came down with Rheumatic Fever and was bedridden for a great length of time.  I'm sure this must have been tough on not only my Dad who was in Elementary School, but also on Pearl who I can only imagine was fearing that he too would die.  He didn't though...not til many years later.  Daddy joined the service during the Korean War and Pearl insisted that they were not going to move from the house on Dodson St as long as he was away.  When Dad returned home he worked at Dupont for several years.  Pearl was in her late 70s when I was born..Dad was their youngest son and my parents didn't start a family until my Dad was 38. By the time I was old enough to have memories of Pearl she was in her 80s. She was stern...but she had seen a lot in her lifetime.  The loss of a son...disease outbreak,  wars...the transition from buggies and horses to automobiles.  She and Tom had 3 sons and 4 daughters.  My Grandfather retired from Dupont and in 1970 they along with my parents moved to Dickson TN.  My Grandpa was dying from Lung Cancer. and Emphysema  He passed in 1971 another loss for Pearl and our family.  During the biggest part of my childhood my Grandmother lived in the same neighborhood that my parents and I did--Spanish Oaks in the Pomona Community of Dickson Co. TN.  The things I remember most about my Grandmother.  Before moving to Pomona she used to make Kraut in a crock on the large shaded porch of the house where she lived on North Charlotte Street....as a child I was fascinated by the bright green flies.  Kids are weird and I was no different.  She loved flowers.  She planted them everywhere.  She made good homemade wine...and if you coughed while you were visiting her...she would give you some of the wine for your throat.  We coughed a lot.  She also thought that a shot of whiskey could ward off a cold.   After she hit her 90s, her present day memory failed but she could remember things from her childhood.  I always loved to hear her stories.  She had good and bad days...she could bless your heart in one breath...and tell you where to go in the next..they called it hardening of the arteries but I guess it was dementia.  She would hide money....and she had a small pistol which we were always taking away from her so she wouldn't hurt herself and she was always finding.  The first curse words I ever heard were said by her.  I remember her getting a self propelled lawnmower.  She was in her 90s...she would put it on "rabbit speed" and hold on for dear life.  I always wondered why she didn't pick the slower speed.  She must have been doing something right though because she lived to be 102 years old.  Happy Birthday, Granny Cooke!!

Tomie D. Cooke Jr., Olive June Cooke Brannon & Pearl Gray Jakes Cooke

Old Hickory TN Area: Old Photos of Homes and unknown persons

These pictures were taken in Old Hickory TN during the mid 1920s.  My paternal grandfather, Thomas DeWitt Cooke and his family moved there when he hired on at Dupont.  They lived at 1009 Clarke Street until some time after their oldest son died from Scarlet/Rheumatic Fever in 1927. From there, they moved to 911 Dodson St which was several blocks away from their previous residence.  The house on Dodson St. is no longer there but the one on Clarke Street is still standing.  I have read the articles which tell about the different house styles of Old Hickory.  I am not sure which house my aunts and uncle are standing in front of in the picture.  It may be the one where they lived on Clarke St. or at a neighbors.  I believe that the picture of the woman sitting on the steps, the children all in front of the house...and the one of the two boys beside the house are all taken by the same house.  The picture of the two girls is probably at a different house as the porch column looks different to me.

I wish I could identify the children in this picture.  The boy standing in front right is Tomie D. Cooke(my uncle).  The 2nd girl from the left on the back row is my aunt Magnus Cooke Snoddy.  Girl on the right of the back row is my aunt Viola Cooke Agee.  The little girl in front on the right is my Aunt Olive June Cooke Brannon.

I wish there was some way of contracting folks who had family who worked for Dupont and live in the area around Clarke street during that time period.  If you can identify any of the unknown people in the pictures or know which house this is please contract me at my gmail address associated with this blog.

This is a picture of my uncle Tomie D. Cooke and his friend from the neighborhood.

This is a school picture take probably in the mid 1930s at whatever school was operating at Old Hickory at the time.
If you can identify any of the people in this picture, I'd love to hear from you.  My aunts are the ones with the Xs beside of them.

This is a picture of my aunt Viola Cooke Agee and a neighborhood friend.  I believe that the taller girl in the picture is the same one who is in the picture of the 7 children in front of a house as shown above.