Granny's Charlotte Street Neighbor: Miss Bessie

During the early 1970s, my grandmother lived at 203 North Charlotte Street in Dickson. The home, which was originally a duplex, was owned by the Shelton family. One of my grandmother's neighbors was Miss Bessie. I'd written about several other of the Charlotte Street neighbors' families, and I'd intended to write about her at some point, but I had to wait until I could find out her surname.  

The Tax Books for Dickson County(TN) are online at FamilySearch and cover the years 1831-1965. My plan was to use the tax book and the 1950 Census together to see if I could locate anyone on Cullum. 

In the 1950 Census, the entry for 100 Cullum(Dickson TN) was that of Ben F Mason, a 74-year-old widower.  The only other person enumerated with him was his niece, Bessie Holt, a 37-year-old divorcee. That entry and the 1965 tax entry for Bessie Holt showing that Charlotte Street bordered her property on the north gives me enough confidence to conclude that she is the same lady who was my grandmother's neighbor.

I found several other records in the Dickson Co TN records at FamilySearch that contained information about Bessie's life.  In December 1962, she took out a loan and used her household furniture for collateral.  The loans from the finance company were recorded in the county books which give a detailed list of the furniture.

• 1-4 pc. Living Room Suite
• 1-17" Philco Television Set
• 1-5 pc. Dinette Suite
• 1-G.E. Refrigerator
• 1-Gas Kenmore Stove
• 1-Speed Queen Washing Machine
• 1-Mahogany Hollywood Bed
• 1-Lt. Mahogany Chest of Drawers
• 1-Lt. Mahogany Dresser

While researching Bessie's life, I found that she had folks from her Holt and Mason sides who went to Indiana(Marion and Vigo Counties) between 1920 and 1930. Bessie must have visited her family there, as I found a marriage record for her there to Harley Hardiman, an older widower, in December 1930.  There is also some question about whether or not she married a Davis man in the 1960s as her Social Security Information records indicated a name change during that period.  By Bessie's passing, Granny had been gone from the Charlotte Street area for over 15 years and I had moved out of state.  I was heartbroken to learn that she had died as a result of a housefire at her residence. How very sad.  She was laid to rest in the East Dickson Cemetery.

Sources:

Dickson County Tax Records, 1962-1965, Tax year 1965, p 38, entry of Bessie Holt; browsable image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C39N-C4YQ?cat=93578&i=782 : accessed 20 November 2024), IGN 8474065, 783 of 906.

1950 US Federal Census, Dickson Co. TN, Enumeration District 22-7, Household #269, sheet 23, Lines 5-6(Ben F Mason & Bessie Holt) 100 Cullum St; FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6FSQ-ZTCN : accessed 20 November 2024), Entry for Ben F Mason and Bessie Holt, 1 May 1950.

Dickson Co. Tennessee, Trust Deeds Vols 86-88(1961-1963), Vol 88, p 343, Chattel Mortgage of Bessie Holt to Hickory Finance of Dickson; images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C39N-8BPR : accessed Nov 21, 2024) IGN 8475046, image 818 of 958.

"Home fires in Montgomery, Dickson fatal to father and son, elderly woman," The Tennessean, Fri 6 Jan 1989, p B-1, col 1; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-home-fires-in-montgomery/159449321/ : accessed 20 Nov 2024).

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/215756933/bessie-holt: accessed November 21, 2024), memorial for Bessie Holt (12 Feb 1904–5 Jan 1989), Memorial ID 215756933, citing East Dickson Cemetery, Dickson, Dickson County, Tennessee, USA.

Bedford Co TN Deed--Holt to Jakes(1913)

Transcription of Land Sale /Deed Record. from Holt to Jakes. 

Filed Date & Time"  Dec 1st, 1913 at 1:20 o'clock P.M.

For the consideration of the sum of $750 to us paid and to be paid by Annie Jakes and James Jakes, we have this day bargained and sold, and do by these presents sell, transfer, and convey unto Annie Jakes, her heirs and assigns forever all the right, title, claim and interest which we have in and to the following described tract of land lying and being in the 6th Civil District of Bedford County state of Tennessee and bounded on the North by the lands of E T Mallard and B. K. Arnold and on the east by the lands of_____  Easton(note:  the blank is in the record); on the south by the land of I. N. Stafford, and on the west by the land of S.M. Hill containing 70 Acres be the same more or less being the same land purchased by us from JW Wilkerson by deed dated November 5th 1910 and registered in the register's office for Bedford County Tennessee in deed book 17 Page 442 & 443 to which deed reference is here made for full particulars as to the metes and bounds $350 cash paid,  the receipt of which we hereby acknowledge and the reminder in two equal payments of $200 each evidence by notes bearing a lien and the legal rate of interest due and payable in one and two years respectively from October 1st 1913 and to secure their payment and all accrued interest a lien is herein retained on the land hearin conveyed. The interest on said notes to be paid annually.  To have and to hold the same to her the said Annie Jakes her heirs and assigns forever.  And we do covenant  with the said Annie Jakes, that we are lawfully seized and possessed  of said land, have a good right to convey it, and the same is unencumbered. 

We further covenant  and bind ourselves,  our heirs and assigns against the lawful claims  of all persons whomsoever. 

It is agreed, and a part of the consideration entering into this sale, that if suit is brought for collection of the deferred payments  set out, or to enforce the vendor's lien that the bargainee herein waives the right of redemption or other equities in law that would defer the collection  of said notes and interest.  This September 23, 1913.  

R.M. Holt

Irene Holt

State of Oklahoma

Oklahoma County

Personally appeared before me Henry O Sitler's a notary public in and for said county and state the within named R M Holt and wife Irene Holt the bargainers with whom I am personally acquainted,  and who acknowledge that they executed the within deed instrument for the purposes therein contained. And Irene Holt wife of the said R M Holt having personally appeared before me privately and apart from her husband the said Irene Holt acknowledged the execution of the said deed to have been done by her freely voluntarily and understandingly without compulsion or constraint from said husband and for the purposes therein expressed. 

Witness my hand and official seal at Oklahoma City Oklahoma the 7th day of October 1913.

(Seal)  Henry O. Setler  Notary Public

Filed for record December 1st, 1913 at 1:20 o'clock P.M.

The ______Easton is actually Eaton and most likely Abe Eaton who within the next year or so buys the property from Annie and James Jakes.(see earlier post)

Source:

Bedford Co TN Deed Book 20 pg 578 & 579
Imaged at FamilySearch.org Film # 008567915  Image 661 of 702
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QY-NQ8F-2?i=660&cat=298281

Purchasers at Estate Sale of Powel Kimbro--Orange Co NC-Nov 1795

Kimbro, Powell (Nov 1795) NC Estate Files Orange Co NC

Catherine Kimbro(widow of Powell Kimbro) gave up admin. rights to his estate to Jeremiah Kimbro. (see above image--pg 2 of estate papers)

The following list of people made purchases at the estate sale.

Isaac Cack
John Esslin
Nicholas Smith
Conrad Cack
Jeremiah Kimbro
John Graves
John May
Joseph Noe
John Hawkins
Henry Kimbro
Eve Kimbro
Daniel May
John Shaddy
Isaac Holt
Rich'd Standley
Conrad Kimbro
Philip Burrow
George Kimbro
William Rose
Felty Neese
John Noe
Philip Shoe
Frederick Kimbro
Peter Spoon
Phillip Moires
Nathaniel Robertson
Henry Cook
Henry Loy
Joshua Holt
George May
Peter Smith
Katy Kimbro

Source:  "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99CD-1FTP?cc=1911121&wc=Q64S-SWB%3A183210201%2C183366001%2C1589133429 : 20 November 2015), Orange County > K > Kimbro, Powell (1795) > image 1 of 13; State Archives, Raleigh.