Mothers of my Direct Line--Out to the 2nd Great Level

In celebration of Mother's Day I've gathered the information I have for the Mothers in my direct line out to my 2nd Great Grandmothers.  I did not include my mother as she is still living. This was a very interesting exercise and it let me see where I have opportunities for more research on these mother lines.  My Dad's mother, Pearl Gray Jakes Cooke was the only one of these women that I met.

Decoration Day where my maternal grandparents and maternal great grandparents are buried is on Mother's Day.  I remember when we would go to place flowers on the graves that the women whose mother was still living wore a red rose and those whose mother had passed on wore a white rose.

Grandmothers

Pearl Gray Jakes Cooke

Birth: 21 Mar 1891 in Bell Buckle, Bedford Co., Tennessee

Death: 1 Jul 1993 in Dickson, Dickson Co., Tennessee (Aged 102)

Burial: Jul 1993 at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Davidson County, Tennessee

Parents

Father: James M Jakes (1857–1941) 

Mother: Telitha Ann Frizzell (1858–1920).

Husband

Thomas Dewitt Cooke (1888–1971), married 10 Mar 1912 in Shelbyville, Bedford County, TN solemnized by Brom R. Whittemore, Justice of the Peace.

Children

Magnus Elizabeth Cooke (1913–2000)

Viola White Cooke (1915–2006)

Thomas Dewitt Cooke (1918–1927)

Olive June Cooke (1923–2006)

Morris Bradford Cooke (1927–1994)

Billy Joe Cooke (1930–2011)

Living- Daughter

She survived six of her seven siblings living to the age of 102 and lost her 8 yr old son Tomie D to scarlet fever.

Sources

Census 

1900 Bedford Co TN Dist 4 p 12B

1910 Bedford Co TN Bell Buckle p 6A

1920 Marshall Co TN Dist 1 p 4B

1930 Davidson Co TN Dist 4 p 28A

1940 Davidson Co TN Dist 4 Old Hickory p 10B

1950 Davidson Co TN Old Hickory ED 19-17 Sheet 10

Vital Records

Tennessee Delayed Birth Records (1869-1909)

She was 60 years old when she applied for her delayed TN birth certicate. The sources on that certificate are the births of two of  her children, Jakes Family Bible and her sister's death certificate.

Pearl is listed as Mother in the US Social Security Application and Claims Index accounts of her children Magnus, Viola, June and Morris.

US City Directories

She is listed in several City Directories in the 1950s in Nashville.

Newspapers.com obituary from The Tennessean (3 Jul 1993)

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-obituary-of-pearl-gray-ja/12003253/

Several personal items are noted, including saved envelopes from her scrapbooks that verify her various Nashville addresses. 

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34100383/pearl_gray-cooke : accessed May 8, 2026), memorial page for Pearl Gray Jakes Cooke (21 Mar 1891–1 Jul 1993), Memorial ID 34100383, citing Mount Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA.

You can read more about her in a blog post I did a number of years back on her birthday.

https://mariegen.blogspot.com/2017/03/march-21-1891-birthday-of-pearl-gray.html

DNA

atDNA matches in the expected range with cousins that descend from the Jakes & Frizzell lines and thru siblings of Pearl.

mtDNA haplogroup U3a1c8a.

Minnie Acuff Luna

Birth: October 26, 1899, in Van Buren County, Tennessee.

Death: July 5, 1957, in Lincoln County, Tennessee.

Burial: Charity Baptist Church Cemetery, Hazel Green, Alabama.

Minnie's obituary is transcribed in my blog post at

https://mariegen.blogspot.com/2026/04/obituary-of-minnie-acuff-luna-lincoln.html

Parents

Father: James Polk Acuff (1872–1939)

Mother: Emma Frances Hale (1875–1939)

Husband

William Richard Luna (1892–1994) married July 18, 1915, in Van Buren Co., Tennessee.

Children

Eustace/Huston Haskell Luna (1916–1992)

James Bertrom Luna (1919–2000)

Geneva Hortense Luna (1922–1923)

Mary Elizabeth Luna (1924–1925)

Ressie Mae Luna (1926–2015)

Otis Linel Luna (1929–2006)

Jessie Lee Luna (1932–2024)

Living Daughter

William Ernest "Bill" Luna (1937–2020)

My Mother who is still living

Roy Wayne Luna (1943–2013)

Sources

Censuses

1900 Van Buren Co TN Dist 1 p2A

1910 Van Buren Co TN Dist 1 p2A

1920 Madison Co AL Dallas p 10B

1930 Lincoln Co TN Dist 2 p 7A

1940 Lincoln Co TN p 4B

1950 Van Buren Co TN ED 88-5 sheet 3

Vital Records

She lost two infant daughters, Geneva & Elizabeth. Elizabeth's birth announcement was listed in the Huntsville Times(AL).

She was in and out of the hospital several times. My Mom remembers that they pulled fluid off of her frequently.  

She was struck by lightning and lived.

She was also hit by a stray bullet from folks hunting while sitting in her front yard in Van Buren Co TN and survived that but died at the age of 57.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9335871/minnie-luna : accessed May 8, 2026), memorial page for Minnie Acuff Luna (26 Oct 1899–5 Jul 1957),.Memorial ID 9335871, citing Charity Baptist Church Cemetery, Hazel Green, Madison County, Alabama, USA.

atDNA matches in the expected range with cousins that descend from the Acuff & Hale lines and thru siblings of Minnie.

mtDNA haplogroup is H3ei2.

Great Grandmothers

Jane Bell King Cook

Birth: March 5, 1853, in Arkansas.

Death: May 7, 1921, in Rockvale, Rutherford Co, Tennessee. 

The cause of death is noted as pulmonary tuberculosis.

Burial: May 1921, at the King Cook Cemetery in Rover, Bedford County, Tennessee.

Parents

Father: William Benton King (1819–1901)

Mother: Eliza Jane Manire (1818–1896)

Husband

William Green Cook (1854–1944); Married 1876.Marriage: February 3, 1876, in Bedford County, Tennessee, to William Green Cook.

Children

John Lemuel Cook (1877–1968)

Rebecca Love Cook (1882–1928)

Eliza Amacy Cook (1885–1973)

Thomas Dewitt Cooke (1888–1971)

William Clarence Cook (1891–1962)

Laura E. Cook (1896–1898)

Sources 

Census

1860 Bedford Co TN Dist 10 Rover P.O. p222

1870 Bedford Co TN Dist 10 p 292A

1880 Bedford Co TN Dist 10 p 275C

1900 Bedford Co TN Dist 9 p 5B

1910 Rutherford Co TN Dist 12  p 14B

1920 Entire Household was missed (She had Tuberculosis)

Vital Records

Jane is listed as mother on the TN Death Certificates of her son Clarence and her daughter Rebecca.

Jane is listed as mother on the Indiana Death Certificate of daughter, Eliza.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15668259/jane_belle-cook : accessed May 7, 2026), memorial page for Jane Belle King Cook (5 Mar 1853–7 May 1921),Memorial ID 15668259, citing King-Cook Cemetery, Unionville, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA.

DNA

atDNA matches in the expected range with cousins that descend from the King & Manire lines and thru siblings of Jane.

Telitha Ann Frizzell Jakes

Birth: 28 Mar 1858 in Bedford County, Tennessee.

Death: 18 May 1920 in Bedford County, Tennessee 

Burial: 19 May 1920 at Willow Mount Cemetery, Bedford County, Tennessee.

Parents

David W. Frizzell (1808–1870)

Rebecca Manley (1818–1862)

Husband

James M. Jakes (1857–1941)01 Sep 1880 in Rutherford County, Tennessee.

Children

Ella Ruby Jakes (1881–1934)

Fannie Cora Jakes (1883–1965)

Lula B. Jakes (1885–1977)

Katherine "Kitty" Jakes (1887–1963)

John L. Jakes (1889–1937)

Pearl Gray Jakes (1891–1993)

William Bryan Jakes (1897–1997)

Frank Euless Jakes (1900–1983)

Sources

Census 

1860 Bedford Co TN Dist 4 p 117

1870 Bedford Co TN Dist 4 p 171B

1880 Never Located her in this census

1900 Bedford Co TN Dist 4 p 12B

1910 Bedford Co TN Bell Buckle p 6A

1920 Bedford Co TN Dist 7 excluding Shelbyville p 1B

Vital Records

Annie is listed as Mother on son John's Social Security Applications and Claims Index and also on his TN Death Certificate as well as the TN Death Certificate of daughter Cora.

Property Records: Bedford County Deed Book 21, p 124 (Recording the sale of land to Abe Eaton in 1914).

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95394553/thelitha_ann-jakes: accessed May 7, 2026), memorial page for Thelitha Ann “Annie” Frizzell Jakes (28 Mar 1858–18 May 1920), Memorial ID 95394553, citing Willow Mount Cemetery, Shelbyville, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA.

DNA
atDNA matches in the expected range with cousins that descend from the Frizzell & Manley lines and thru siblings of Annie.
mtDNA haplogroup U3a1c8a.

Nancy F Pitman Luna

Birth: 1867 in Tennessee.

Death: April 1899

Burial: Indian Mound Cemetery, DeKalb County, Tennessee.

Parents

Father: David Pitman (1838–1922)

Mother: Mary D. Frances Adcock (1842–1902)

Husband

David Enoch Luna (1865–1948) on July 19, 1885, in White Co, Tennessee. 

Bond and License were issued on July 18, 1885.

Children

Minnie Frances Luna (1887–1976)

Martha Elizabeth Luna (1889–1939)

Haskell Luna (1891–1891)

William Richard Luna (1892–1994)

Mary Lee Nova Luna (1896–1996)

Samuel Douglas "Dougie" Luna (1899–1989)

Sources

Census

1870 Rutherford Co TN, Dist 6 p 298B

1880 Dekalb Co TN, p 97B

Research Note

Nancy’s residence moved between Rutherford and DeKalb counties during her youth. Notably, her final child, Samuel, was born in March 1899, just one month before her recorded death in April 1899.

When she gave birth to my maternal Grandfather Will in April of 1892 she was in Jordan, Fulton County, Kentucky.  I've always been puzzled by that because the family lived in the Dekalb, White, and Van Buren Co of Tennessee any other time I find them.  My theory is that she was visiting some of her kinfolk there and went into premature labor.  Pa was a really small baby and they did not think he was going to make it but he lived to be 101 years old--dying less than a month from what would have been his 102 birthday.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/57299038/nancy_florence-luna : accessed May 7, 2026), memorial page for Nancy Florence Pittman Luna (1867–1899),Memorial ID 57299038, citing Indian Mound Cemetery, DeKalb County, Tennessee, USA.

Emma Frances "Fannie" Hale Acuff

Birth: 5 Nov 1875 in Cane Ridge, Van Buren County, Tennessee.

Death: 5 Sep 1939 in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama.

Burial: Sep 1939 at Charity Cemetery in Hazel Green, Madison County, Alabama.

Parents

Father: William P. Hale (1849–1926)

Mother: Nancy Arminda Hitchcock (1840–1887)

Husband

James Polk Acuff: Married 27 Feb 1897 in Van Buren County, Tennessee.

Children

William Elsie Acuff (1898–1981)

Minnie Acuff (1899–1957)

Ovena Acuff (1902–1975)

Ernest Odin Acuff (1904–1935)

Emma Lou Acuff (1908–1994)

Sarah Acuff (1911–1989)

Sources

Census 

1880 Bledsoe Co TN, Dist 1, p 3A HH # 50

1900 Van Buren Co TN, Dist 1, p 2A

1910 Van Buren Co TN, Dist 1, p 2A

1920 Van Buren Co TN, Dist 1, p 10A

1930 Madison Co AL, Dallas, p 10A

Vital Records:

Fannie is listed as the mother on the TN Death Certificate of daughter Minnie as well as in the Social Security Application and Claims Index for daughter, Sarah.

The Huntsville Times, 5 Sep 1939, p 8, col 3

DEATH CLAIMS MRS. ACUFF, 63 

Rites For Local Woman Will Be Held at Home Tomorrow 

Mrs. James Acuff, 63, died this morning at 4 o'clock at the residence, 319 Rison avenue, following a long illness. Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 4 o'clock at the home, with Homer P. Reeves, minister of the Central Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will follow in Charity cemetery, with Womack in charge of arrangements. Surviving are the husband; one son, William Acuff; four daughters, Mrs. Minnie Luna, Mrs. Ovena Sharp Sara Acuff, all of Huntsville, and Mrs. Emma Sanders, of Tennessee; and two brothers, Sam and Charles Hale, both of McMinnville, Tenn.

Pallbearers at the funeral will be John McBride, Bob Knowles, H. P. Patton, Lloyd Polk, Raymond Smith and Horace Anderton. 

DNA
atDNA matches in the expected range with cousins that descend from the Hale & Hitchcock lines and thru siblings of Fannie.
mtDNA haplogroup is H3ei2.

2nd Great Grandmothers

Elizabeth Putman Cook

Birth: 1814 Union County, South Carolina, USA

Death: Sept 5, 1880 Bedford County, Tennessee, USA

Burial: Sept 1880 Rover, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA

Parents

Father: Jabel Putman (1772–1835)

Mother: Nancy Tyler (1784–1870)

Husband

William Clifford Cook(1811–1882): Married on September 27, 1831

Children

Minerva Cook (1834–1900)

James Polk Cook (1836–1888)

Angeline Cook (1838–1938)

Joseph Knox "Joe" Cook (1840–1907)

Rebecca Cook (1843–1857)

Jefferson Gideon Cook Sr. (1845–1931)

Elizabeth Cook (1848–1848)

David V. Cook (1849–1857)

Lurainy Jane Cook (1852–1924)

William Green Cook (1854–1944)

Cass Buchanan Cook (1857–1908)

Sources

Census

1840 Dyer Co TN p 104

1850 Likely Enumerated in Bedford Co TN Dist 10(Dist 10 entries are lost)

1860 Bedford Co TN, Dist 10, p 222

1870 Bedford Co TN, Dist 10, p 292B

1880 Bedford Co TN, Dist 9, p 269D

Vital Records: Vital Records: Her maiden name is listed on the TN Death Certificate of Daughter Lurainy(though it is not spelled correctly.  Her full name is listed on the TN Death Certificates of son Wm Green Cook and Jefferson Gideon Cook.  I have not yet located the death certificate of Angeline Cook.

Newspapers: National Banner and Nashville Whig (December 7, 1831)announces W C & Elizabeth's Sept marriage along with others.  Note on Marriage Date: While some transcriptions list the marriage as September 29, the original license confirms the ceremony was solemnized by Lemuel Manire on September 27, 1831.

FamilySearch Records: Including a deed for 42 acres in Williamson County

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4T-Q99F-3

Jabel’s Estate Division of Land. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-6WVD-J

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/66488146/elizabeth-cook : accessed May 6, 2026), memorial page for Elizabeth Putman Cook (1814–5 Sep 1880), Memorial ID 66488146, citing Simpson Cemetery, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA.

DNA

atDNA matches in the expected range with cousins that descend from the Putman line thru siblings of Elizabeth.

Eliza Jane Manire King

Birth: 1818 in Williamson Co., Tennessee.

Death: April 1896 in Gainesville, Cooke Co., Texas.

Burial: Gainesville, Cooke Co., Texas.

Parents

Father: David Lemuel Manire (1792–1837)

Mother: Susanna Elizabeth Jackson (1798–1862)

Husband

William Benton King (1819–1901), married in 30 Sep 1841 in Williamson Co., Tennessee. The ceremony was solemnized by William Davis.

Children

Susanna Rebecca King (1842–1932)

Minerva Mary King (1845–1925)

W. J. King (1848–1860)

Stephen Robert King (1850–1913)

Jane Bell King (1853–1921)

Margaret Jordon King (1855–1926)

Richard Nance King (1857–1910)

Sources

Census 

1830 Williamson Co TN p 178 line 16 She is Female 10-14 in fathers Household

1840  Not yet found likely Williamson Co TN in Widowed Mother's Household

1850 Rutherford Co TN Versailles, p 245A

1860 Bedford Co TN Dist 10 p 222

1870 Bedford Co TN Dist 10 p 292A

1880 Bedford Co TN Dist 10 Rover p 275C

Vital Records

Eliza's maiden name of Manier/Manire is listed on Mary Manerva's TX Death Certificate.  Her full name is listed on the TN Death Certificate of her daughter Jane B King Cook.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/89397706/eliza_jane-king : accessed May 6, 2026), memorial page for Eliza Jane Manire King (1818–Apr 1896), memorial ID 89397706, citing Fairview Cemetery, Gainesville, Cooke County, Texas, USA.

DNA

atDNA matches in the expected range with cousins that descend from the Manire line thru siblings of Eliza.

Catherine Morrow Jakes

Born: About 1830

Died: After 26 Dec 1881 evidenced by her role in a deed transfer at that time.

Parents

Father:   James Morrow(1785–1839)

Mother:  Margaret Sutton(1792–1844)

Dates of parents death(year) are given in records concerning land which fell to her and her siblings after parents death.

Husband

George Jakes married about 1845

Children

Ann Jakes (1846–1890)

Parthenia Jakes (1847–1895)

Margaret Elizabeth "Bettie" Jakes (13 Jun 1850 – 1933)

Jane Jakes (1855–1898)

James M Jakes (02 May 1857 – 1941)

William Jakes (Born ~1859)

Sources

Census:

1830 Bedford County  p 110 line 1(She is female under 5 in James Morrow's Household)

1840 Not Found likely in Bedford as she marries there abt 1845 look at guardian records

1850 Bedford Co TN Dist 1 p 80(stamped)

1860 Bedford Co TN Dist 1 Fairfield PO p 6(written)

1870 Bedford Co TN Dist 1 Shelbyville PO p 119(stamped)

1880 Rutherford Co TN Dist 24 p 372B

Court & Legal:

To determine a date of death range, the following court case was used.

George Jakes Deed to W A Kelton Rutherford Co TN Dist 24

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSTZ-H3ML-L

Tennessee Death Records (1908-1958) listed on daughter Bettie's TN Death Certificate but spelled as Marr likely from how some pronounced Morrow.

DNA

atDNA matches in the expected range with cousins that descend from the Morrow line thru siblings of Catherine.

Rebecca Manley Frizzell

Birth: 1818 in Bedford County, Tennessee.

Death: 1862 in Bedford County, Tennessee.

Parents

Father: Reuben Manley (1782–1854)

Mother: Margaret Elizabeth Frizzell (1783–1827)

Husband

David W. Frizzell (1808–1870)(source: Frizzell Bible)  15 Nov 1834

Children

Lee Andrew Frizzell (1835–1901)

Margaret Catherine Frizzell (1837–1845)

James Reuben Frizzell (1839–1912)

Mary Elizabeth Frizzell (1840–1910)

David Crockett Frizzell (1842–)

Henry Hugh Clay Frizzell (1845–1917)

Permelia Jane Frizzell (1846–1882)

John B. Frizzell (1851–1929)

Absalom Manley Frizzell (1852–1931)

Theoderick Rushing Frizzell (1854–1926)

Telitha Ann Frizzell (1858–1920)

Sources

Census

1830: Bedford Co Tennessee p  131  Line 16(Female 10-14 in Reuban Manley's Household)

1840: Bedford Co Tennessee p 20 line 1(Female 20-29 in David's Household)

1850: Bedford Co Tennessee Dist 4 p 113B 

1860: Bedford Co Tennessee Dist 4 p 116B 

Tennessee Death Records (1908-1958) She is listed as mother on her children John B, Ab Manley and Telitha Annie's Death Certificates

Frizzell Bible(published 1846) Transcribed in Bible Records of Calloway County and Adjoining Counties(1971)

DNA

atDNA matches in the expected range with cousins that descend from the Manley line thru siblings of Rebecca.

mtDNA haplogroup U3a1c8a

Keziah Rigsby Luna

Birth: May 1832 in Tennessee.

Death: 1909 in DeKalb County, Tennessee.

Burial: 1909 at Indian Mound Cemetery, DeKalb County, Tennessee.

Parent

Father: Canada Rigsby (1788–1848)

Mother: Mary Lewis (1790–1850)

Husband

Elisha Luna (1825–1889)December 11, 1851, in DeKalb County, Tennessee

Children

Samuel Turney Luna (1853–1903)

Elisha Luna (1855– )

James Dykes Luna (1858–1930)

Nancy Frances Luna (1863–1937)

David Enoch Luna (1865–1948)

Perry Green Luna (1869–1920)

Sources

Census

1850 DeKalb Co. TN Dist. 6 p 86 

1860 DeKalb Co. TN Dist. 7 Smithville PO p 129

1870 DeKalb Co. TN Dist. 7 p 177b

1880 DeKalb Co. TN Dist. 7 p 171c

1900 Dekalb Co. TN Dist. 7 p 181

US Federal Census records. These place her consistently in Civil Districts 6 and 7 of DeKalb County, Tennessee.

Vital Records

Tennessee Death Records (1908-1958) Listed as mother on the TN Death Certificate of her sons, James D, and David E.  Also listed as mother on son, Perry G. and daughter, Mary F's AL Death Records.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/71693814/keziah_ziggy-luna : accessed May 5, 2026), memorial page for Keziah “Kizzie” Rigsby Luna (May 1832–1909), Memorial ID 71693814, citing Indian Mound Cemetery, DeKalb County, Tennessee, USA.

DNA 

atDNA matches with cousins thru Rigsby and Lewis lines.

Mary Adcock Pitman

Birth: 20 May 1842 DeKalb County, Tennessee
Death: 30 Dec 1902 DeKalb County, Tennessee
Burial: Young Bend Cemetery, DeKalb County, Tennessee

Parents
Father: Thomas Adcock (1817–1905)
Mother: Frances Bowles (1819–1906)

Husband
David Pitman (1838–1922)
Marriage Date: 22 Dec 1859 DeKalb County, Tennessee

Children
Thomas Lucian Pittman (1861–1912)
Marshall Pitman (1865–1939)
Green Pitman (1867– )
Nancy Florence Pittman (1867–1899)
David Harlin Pitman (1869–1949)
Francis P. Pittman (1872–1947)
Mary Evelyn Pittman (1873– )
Sarah L. Pittman (1878–1961)
James M. Pittman (1880–1910)
William Horace Pittman (1883–1953)
John Tatum Pitman (1886–1970)
Robert Cecil Pittman (1886–1959)

Sources
Census 
1850 DeKalb Co. TN Dist 6 p 84A
1860 Dekalb Co. TN 7th Civil Dist p 132
1870 Rutherford Co. TN 6th Civil Dist PO Florence p 298B
1880 Dekalb Co. TN Dist 11 p 97B
1900 Dekalb Co. TN Civil Dist 7 p 175A

Tennessee State Marriages (1780-2002): Documentation for her 1859 wedding.
Her maiden name of Adcock is listed on her son David's California Death Certificate
Her full name is listed on TN Death Cert. of daughters Sarah and Pearl as well as the Social Security Application of her son Wm Horace Pittman.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54762406/mary_frances-pitmon : accessed May 5, 2026), memorial page for Mary Frances Adcock Pitmon (20 May 1842–30 Dec 1903), Memorial ID 54762406, citing Young Bend Cemetery, DeKalb County, Tennessee, USA.

DNA 

atDNA matches with cousins thru Adcock and Bowles lines.

Sarah McElroy Acuff
Birth: November 28, 1847, in Van Buren County, Tennessee.
Death: July 2, 1925, in Dallas, Madison County, Alabama.
Burial: July 4, 1925, at McElroy Cemetery, Van Buren County, Tennessee.

Parents
Father: Andrew Jackson McElroy (1820–1900)
Mother: Jane Webb (1825–1867)

Husband 

William Leon Acuff: Married January 5, 1871, in Van Buren County, Tennessee.
They met while he was preaching at the Antioch Christian Church.
He preceded her in death in 1898.

Children
James Polk Acuff (1872–1939)
Andrew Jackson Acuff (1873–1942)
Mattie Ella Acuff (1877–1950)
William Howard Acuff (1880–1914)

Sources
Census Records
1850: Van Buren Co TN Dist 1 p 367B HH# 14
1860: Van Buren Co TN Spencer P.O. p 21 HH# 273
1870: Van Buren Co TN Bone Cave 1st Civil Dist p. 304a HH# 15
1880: Van Buren Co TN Dist 1 p 245A
1900: Van Buren Co TN Dist 1 p 3A
1910: Van Buren Co TN Dist 1 p 2B
1920: Van Buren Co TN Dist 1 p 1B

Vital & Legal Records
Marriage Record: Van Buren County Marriage Book (January 5, 1871).
Death Records: * Alabama Death Index (1908-1959)
Alabama Death Certificate for Mrs. Sarah Acuff.
Listed as Mother on AL Death Cert of son James
Tennessee Death Records (1908-1958)
Listed as Mother on TN Death Cert of sons, Andrew and Wm Howard & daughter Mattie

Obituary: Published in The Huntsville Times(AL) on July 3, 1925 p 1 col 2
Mrs. Sarah Acuff, age 77 years, died Thursday evening at 3 o'clock at residence No 405 Rison Ave., after a long illness.
She survived by one daughter, Mrs. M. E. Slattons, two sons, A. J. and J. P. Acuff, all of Huntsville.
The body will be shipped to Quebeck, Tenn., Saturday morning for interment with Laughlin in charge.

Burial: McElroy Cemetery Van Buren Co. TN, USA
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52395889/sarah-acuff : accessed May 5, 2026), memorial page for Sarah McElroy Acuff (28 Nov 1847–2 Jul 1925), Memorial ID 52395889, citing McElroy Cemetery, Van Buren County, Tennessee, USA.

DNA
atDNA matches with cousins thru McElroy and Webb lines.

Nancy Arminda Hitchcock Hale
Birth: September 6, 1840, in Warren County, Tennessee.
Death: Between April 1883 and 1887 (based on birth of last child and husband's date of remarriage)

Parents
James P. Hitchcock (1810–1897)
Charlotta Fleming (1819–1909)

Husband
William P. Hale (1849–1926) Married around 1870.

Children
Charles Forest Hale(1872–1956)
America Hale Hillis(1874–1963)
Emma Frances Hale Acuff(1875–1939)
Vesta C. Hale Hillis(1876–)
Alice Hale(1878–)
James Buchanan Hale(1880–1947)
Sam Hale(1883–1947)

Sources
Census
1840: Warren County, TN (p 366b) She was born after census date Family enumerated
1850: Bledsoe County, TN (P 411a)
1860: Bledsoe County, TN (P 381, HH# 23/23) PO: Pikeville
1870: Bledsoe County, TN (P 1b, HH# 13/13) Dist 1
1880: Bledsoe County, TN (P 3A, HH# 50) Dist 1

Vital Records
Tennessee Death Records (1908–1965). Listed as Mother on
Buck and Sam's Death Certificates
U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index (1936–2007) Listed as Charles' mother on his US Soc. Sec Application and Claims Index.

DNA
atDNA matches with cousins thru Hale & Fleming lines.
mtDNA haplogroup is H3ei2.

The Civil War Around My Cook & King Families

Long, E. B., Barbara Long, and Bruce Catton. 1971. The Civil War Day by Day : An Almanac, 1861-1865. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.


I wanted to gain a better understanding of what my Cook & King families experienced in the region where they lived during the Civil War. They resided in the southern part of Rutherford County and northern Bedford County, Tennessee. I made a list of key locations and notable events from those areas using Long's Civil War Day by Day. The first part of 1863 appears to have been a particularly difficult time for them. I plan to do this exercise for a few other families and regions.

Eagleville

1863 Mar 2 skirmish

1863 Mar 31 skirmish

1863 Apr 16 skirmish

1863 May 3 Fed scouts

1863 Dec 7  skirmish

Eagleville Pike

1863 Jun 10  Federal scout

Rover
1863 Feb 19 skirmish
1863 Mar 13 skirmish

1863 Mar 15 skirmish

1863 May 5 skirmish

1863 Jun 23 skirmish

1863 Jun 28 skirmish

Shelbyville

1862 Mar 25 Fed Recon to 

1863 Oct 7 Sim's Farm

1864 Nov 28 Calvary units skirmished

Shelbyville Pike

1863 Jan 5 skirmish

1863 Feb 20 skirmish

1863 Apr 23 skirmish

1863 Jun 4 Confederate operation

1863 Jun 6 skirmish

Shelbyville Road
1862 Apr 24 skirmish

Unionville

1863 Jan 31 skirmish

1863 Mar 4 fighting

1863 Jun 23 skirmish

Versailles
1863  Fed Recon to Jan 13 Mar 9

J K Cook--Road Work Book Entry 1874-1875 -- Bedford Co. TN

Below are my transcriptions from the Bedford County Tennessee Road Work Book that concern J K Cook.  I believe he was overseer for the period from Oct 1874-1875 at which time N B King was appointed to take his place. These entries are part of the Cook Family timeline which will be an upcoming blog post.   It is nice to see the properties mentioned.  

Oct 6 1874

This day the court is pleased to appoint J.K Cook over

seer of the Road leading from Dogwood Grove Church Road
in W C Taylors West boundary line to Versials  & Nicholas
Mill Road at Joseph Hayne Southwest corner and
that he have the following hands J K Cooks Widow

Lambs dowry T W Davis N F Neal Joseph Haynes
Rebecca King that lies in 10th Dist and that he
work the same as a second class Road.

Oct 6 1875
This day J K Cook overseer of the road leading from Dogwood

Grove Church Road in Taylor's W Line to Versailes & Nicolus Mill Road 

at Joseph Haynes SW Corner returned into court his order which 

was by the court accepted and it is ordered by the court that 

N B King be appointed in his ____ and stead and that he have 

the following bounds and hands. All the hand on the widow 

Lambs dower, J K Cooks hands T W Davis N F Niel Joseph Haynes, 

Rebecca Kings that live in the 10th Dist & W H Lambs and that he w

ork the same as a second class road.

Sources:  

Bedford County, Tennessee, County Court Clerk's Office, Road Minutes and Overseers Books," 1873-1886, 1889-1891, 1910, image, IGN 8659616, image 47 of 490, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-D3C6-HZ4M?i=46&cat=247682 : accessed 16 April 2024), citing Road Books, Vol. 1A, 1873-1883 pg 36, Tuesday, 6 October 1874, J K Cook appointed Overseer.

Bedford County, Tennessee, County Court Clerk's Office, Road Minutes and Overseers Books," 1873-1886, 1889-1891, 1910, image, IGN 8659616, image 72 of 490, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-63C6-HHXT?i=71&cat=247682 : accessed 16 April 2024), citing Road Books, Vol. 1A, 1873-1883 pg 86, Tuesday, 6 October 1875, J K Cook Overseer to N B King.

Mrs. Ruth King Bond (1891-1914)--Dau of Richard Nance King and Parrie Cook

Mrs. Ruth King Bond (1891-1914)--Daughter of Richard Nance King and Parry Cook King

• Age 23 
• Born 16th May 1891 in Rover, Bedford Co., Tennessee
• Died 30th Apr 1914 at Britton OK
• Lived at Eagleville until age 9(1900)
• Moved to Triune in 1900
• Later to Murfreesboro.
• Married Mr. Dan Bond 11 Dec 1909
• Moved to OK in 1910.
• Mr. Bond died in Jan 1914
• She came to Britton after being widowed to live with her brother Mace King
• Her health rapidly declined
• Survivors:
• 3 year old daughter, Maud
• Sister--Eula King
• Brothers, Mace King and Joe King
• Converted and joined Missionary Baptist Church at Elmer OK in 1911

Source:  Above information from the obituary than ran in the Britton Weekly Sentinel(Britton, OK) 7th May 1914 which can be viewed in digital format at Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112143371/obituary-of-ruth-king/

Additional information:

Ruth's sister, Eula brought Maud back to Tennessee to live with Ella Cook Martin.  Ella was Parry Cook King's sister who had raised Ruth after Parry's death.  She also raised Maud.  Eula returned to OK and died a short time later.  Ruth, Eula and Dan all died of tuberculosis and are all buried somewhere in Britton OK.

Source Additional information from Charlotte Ralston whose source on this line was Maud Bond Hailey Thomas.

I did find Ruth's listed at FindAGrave in Britton Cemetery however it looks like it was added from her death notice and their is no picture of a stone.  I don't know who would have records of the cemetery.  There is a Stone monument that contains some history of the cemetery located here at FindAGrave.  

From the ok3explore.health.ok.gov website:
Earliest OK death record is 1908 however, vital records weren't required by law until 1917.

This is Ruth's pedigree She, her full siblings and her descendants are kin to me  thru the King line, Cook line with an additional line of the Putmans.  You can get a visual of it by looking at the Thruline icons(the gray ones)

Greenfield, Weakley Co. Tennessee--July 1886

In a blog post from August 10th I mentioned Tennessee Delayed Birth Records and the county court orders in the supporting evidence section of those records. If you are researching people who were born between 1880 and 1900 the birthplace information can be very insightful. Given the 20 year census gap caused by the loss of the 1890 census this information really helps when you don't find your folks in their usual location. I was looking at the children of Richard Nance King and his 1st wife, Parrie Elizabeth Cook. Richard is the younger brother of my great grandmother Jane Bell King Cook and Parrie is the niece of my great grandfather William Green Cook(Jane's husband).  I am using the MyTreeTags™ tool in my tree at Ancestry to note that there is a double relationship with their descendants.

In finding the TN Delayed Birth Record for their son, Joseph Knox King, I discovered that the family, or at least Parrie was in Greenfield, Weakley Co TN at the time of Joseph's birth(11 July 1886.)  His maternal Aunt Ella Cook Martin gave a statement that she knew when he was born.  She was 15 at the time of his birth.  His delayed birth record also lists the Cook Family Bible as supporting evidence.  I wish it would have mentioned who had possession of the bible at that time(Aug of 1942) and which Cook bible.

It's somewhat amusing that the instructions along the side say to "Use Typewriter or write plainly with unfading ink" but doesn't mention not to use fading ink for typing. 😃

Dad's Family and some of his paternal kin in the 1950 Census

Below is my list of citations for some of my paternal relatives who were in the 1950 US Federal Census.  The citation format is based on one recommended by Elizabeth Shown Mills in her Facebook post of April 1, 2022 10:04am.  I did make some minor modifications and probably also some typos. 😊A link to the Enumeration Districts is also included after each citation.  This will be a great help to me when I read thru the districts again. I feel fortunate to have found these with no indexing other than the OCR and AI indexing that was used by Archives.gov.  Looks like I only had one household where no one was home and they had revisit.  Those revisits are listed at the end of each enumeration district and those sheet #s start with 71.  See this informative post at HistoryHub.

Dad, His parents and siblings

Papaw Cooke & Grannie Cooke & their children who were still living at home.1950 U.S. census, Davidson Co., TN, Old Hickory, Enumeration District 19-17, Sheet 10, Serial/Household #  91, lines 7-12 (Thomas D Cooke family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to District 19-17 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Davidson&ed=19-17&state=TN

Dad's Sister, Viola & Family

Aunt Viola White Cooke Agee, Uncle Howard and Cousin Wayne
1950 US Federal Census, Davidson Co., TN, Old Hickory, Enumeration District 19-15, Sheet 9, Serial/Household #102, Lines 27-29(J. Howard Agee Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to District 19-15 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Davidson&ed=19-15&state=TN

Dad's Sister, June & Family

Aunt June & Uncle Arnette & son, Michael Brannon in the 1950 Census
1950 US Federal Census, Rutherford Co., TN, 10th Civil District, Enumeration District 75-19, Sheet 14, Serial/Household #126, Lines 7-11(John A Brannon Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to District 75-19 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Rutherford&ed=75-19&state=TN

Census Entries from my Paternal Grandfather's side of the family

Dad's Paternal Uncle John Lemuel Cook & his wife Aunt Malissa Ghee Cook 
1950 US Federal Census Marshall Co., TN, Chapel Hill, Enumeration District 59-1, Sheet 16, Serial/Household # 156, Lines 9-10(John L Cook Family) U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to District 59-1 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Marshall&ed=59-1&state=TN

Dad's Paternal 1st Cousin Annie Laura Cook Hargrove

1950 US Federal Census, Marshall Co., TN, Chapel Hill, Enumeration District 59-1, Sheet 8, Serial/Household # 83, Lines 5-7(Annie L Hargrove Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to District 59-1 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Marshall&ed=59-1&state=TN

Dad's Paternal 1st Cousin John W. Cook & Family
1950 US Federal Census, Marshall Co., TN, Chapel Hill, Enumeration District 59-1, Sheet 6, Serial/Household #60, Lines 5-9(John W Cook Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to District 59-1 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Marshall&ed=59-1&state=TN

Dad's Paternal Uncle Wm Clarence Cook & wife(#3) Richie Vera Windrow Cook .
1950 US Federal Census Rutherford Co., TN Civil District 12, Enumeration District 75-23, Sheet 3, Serial/Household #24, Line 3-4(William C Cook Family) U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to District 75-23 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Rutherford&ed=75-23&state=TN

Dad's Paternal 1st Cousin Luther Cook & Family
1950 US Federal Census, Rutherford Co., TN, Civil District 10, Enumeration District 75-19,  Sheet 8, Serial/Household #69, Lines 11-16 (Luther Cook Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to District 75-19 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Rutherford&ed=75-19&state=TN

Dad's Paternal 1st Cousin Leland Cook's Family
1950 US Federal Census, Rutherford Co., TN, Civil District 10, Enumeration District 75-19, Sheet 73, Serial/Household #104, Lines 12-14 (Leland A Cook Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to District 75-19 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Rutherford&ed=75-19&state=TN

Dad's Paternal 1st Cousin James W Cook & Family
1950 US Federal Census, Rutherford Co., TN, Civil District 12, Enumeration District 75-23, Sheet 2, Serial/Household # 23, Lines 29-30 & sheet 3, Lines 1-2 (James W Cook Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to District 75-23 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Rutherford&ed=75-23&state=TN

Dad's Paternal Aunt Eliza Cook Rowland & Family
1950 US Federal Census, Rutherford Co., TN, 10th Civil District, Enumeration District 75-19, Sheet 9, Serial/Household #77, Lines 2-6 (Horace K Rowland Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to District 75-19 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Rutherford&ed=75-19&state=TN

Dad's Paternal 1st Cousin Sue Bell Thompson Graves
1950 US Federal Census, Davidson Co., TN, Civil District 11, Enumeration District 19-129, Sheet 34, Serial/Household #341, Lines 10-11(Wm W Graves Family); U.S. National Archives, 1950 Census (https://1950census.archives.gov/search/).

Link to District 19-129 https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Davidson&ed=19-129&state=TN

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.

My Paternal Grandfather's Maternal 1st Cousins

About two years ago I wrote a series of blog posts examining the 1st cousins of my paternal grandmother-- one covering her paternal 1st cousins, and another her maternal 1st cousins.  I'm now finally getting around to writing about my Paternal Grandfather's 1st cousins.  This post focuses on his maternal 1st cousins which would be the grandchildren of  William Benton King and Eliza Jane Manire. My Grandfather Thomas DeWitt Cooke(b. 1888) and his siblings descend thru William and Eliza's daughter, Jane Bell King Cook.  Known Ancestor surnames include Brandon, Harris, Jackson(2), King, Lambert, Manire/Manier, Ogilvie, Patton, and Upshaw. Tom has about 26 maternal 1st cousins  These cousins' dates of birth span the years from about 1866 to  1907 so it is likely that he may have known many of them.  While some of them moved to Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma or Texas, the majority stayed in Rutherford and Bedford County.

I've used census records, death certificates, obituaries, wills, etc. and welcome any corrections.  So... if you are in this branch and can offer any help in untangling I'd be more than glad to hear from you.

Tom's Maternal 1st Cousins: (listed by group)

• Susanna Rebecca King James' children:  Liza Florence James, William Robert James, Sarah Bell "Sallie" James, Launana H. James, John C James, Margaret J. James, Mase James, Edward Jackson James, Frank James..
• Minerva May King Fuller's children:  Eliza Jane Fuller Smith, Margaret Fuller Davis
• W. J King(no issue)
• Stephen Robert King's children:   Albert Sidney King and Ida Arminta King
• Margaret Jordon King Foster's children:  Inez Ethel Foster Hudson, Edna Earle Foster Mitchell,  Almeda Duggan Foster Hargett Chapman
• Richard Nance King's children:  
• From 1st marriage:  Amasa B King, M.A. King(died before age 3) M.E. King(died before age 3), Joseph Knox King, Eula T.King, Emily Mai King
• From 2nd marriage:  Richard Lee King, Florence King, Charlie Bryan King, Stephen Robert King.

My Paternal Grandfather's Paternal 1st Cousins

About two years ago I wrote a series of blog posts examining the 1st cousins of my paternal grandmother-- one covering her paternal 1st cousins, and another her maternal 1st cousins.  I'm now finally getting around to writing about my Paternal Grandfather's 1st cousins.  This post focuses on his paternal 1st cousins which would be the grandchildren of  William Clifford Cook and Elizabeth Putman. My Grandfather,  Thomas DeWitt Cooke(b. 1888) and his siblings descend thru William and Elizabeth's son, William Green Cook.  Known Ancestor surnames include Cooke, Joice, Putman, Tyler.

I've used census records, death certificates, obituaries, wills, etc. and welcome any corrections.  There is a lot of intermarriage between the Cook, Epperson, Lamb, Little, Turner & Wheelhouse families. So... if you are in this branch and can offer any help in untangling I'd be more than happy to hear from you.

Tom has about 38 paternal 1st cousins  These cousins' dates of birth span the years from about 1866 to 1907 so it is likely that he knew most of them.  While some of them moved to Arkansas, Illinois and Michigan, the majority stayed in and around Rutherford and Bedford County, TN.

Tom's Paternal 1st Cousins: (listed by group)

• Minerva Cook Boyce's Children:  Evander Warren Boyce, Joseph Forrest Boyce, Rebecca L Boyce Turner, Humphries Hastings Boyce
• James Polk Cook's Children:  Harriet Sophie Cook Boyce, Minerva Mae Cook Lamb, Martha L Cook, William Clifford Cook
• Angeline Cook's Children:  Sally Cook, (unknown-died in childhood) Cook
• Joseph Knox Cook's Children:  Parrie Elizabeth Cook King, W.M. Cook, Melzora Annis Cook Reid, Joseph Knox Cook Jr., Thomas J Cook, Mary Ella Cook Martin,  E.T. Cook, David Strahl Cook, George Daubey Cook, Cass Green Cook
• Rebecca Cook(died young no issue)
• Jefferson Gideon "Doc" Cook's Children:  
• From 1st Marriage--Robert Lee Cook 
• From 2nd Marriage--Jefferson Gideon Cook Jr., John Rainey Cook, Cass Buchanan Cook, Martha Annie Cook
• From 3rd Marriage--Ollie Mai Cook.
• Elizabeth Cook(died young no issue)
• David V Cook(died young no issue)
• Luranie Jane Cook Williams(no issue)
• Cass Buchanon Cook's children:
• From 1st Marriage:  Minnie Pearl Cook Lamb, Joseph Alvin "Alvy" Cook, Willie Bogle Cook, Amna Mai Cook Taylor, James Reid Cook, Emett Alrous Cook, 
• From 2nd Marriage:  Lena C Cook Helsey, Edna Elizabeth Cook Manning, Alla Erin Cook Horton, Edmond Cooper Cook, Daisy Louise Cook Rhinehart, Thomas Clifford Cook

Rev. Felix Z. King Sketch

Rev. Felix Zollicoffer King(my 1st Cousin 3 times removed) was no doubt the namesake of  Felix Zollicoffer, the Civil War Confederate Brigadier General & US Congressman of Maury County, Tennessee.  I found a sketch about him in the Nashville Banner's Church Chimes section from 7th of April 1894 edition(p. 12 col 1).  This article can be found online at Newspapers.com.   I am transcribing a portion of it here.  The last part of the sketch is difficult to read due to a piece of tape on the image.

I'm interested not only because of the King /Upshaw connection(our closest connection--we also connect thru  my Ogilvie / Harris 5th Great Grandparents) but there is mention of Samuel King but the way it's written it appears to say that Samuel King is a maternal connection for him.  My King line is one that needs research as it is little more than speciation back beyond John King & Nancy Brandon.  I've never seen or found any documentation beyond that point although admittedly I've been focused on other lines which weren't back to the time period.  There should be records in KY where John King reportedly moved the family from to Bedford County area.  There should also be some in Elbert Co GA as well as NC(presumably in Buncombe Co if family story is correct).  I often wonder if the connection of my Kings to my Cook(e)s started way before the marriage of my Great Grandparents Wm Green Cook and Jane Bell King.  Maybe the key to my Cook line connection lies in the also finding out the Kings.  If only the surnames weren't such common names.  We do have YDNA testers from both of those lines.

Sketch and Portrait of Rev Felix Z King

Rev Felix Zollicoffer King, the popular past of the Second Edgefield Cumberland Presbyterian Church, was born in Bedford County, Tenn. January 22 1862.  His parents were devout Christians and members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, his father being an elder in that church during a period of Thirty-eight  years.  His grandfather, Rev John S. King was a Cumberland Presbyterian preacher and Rev. Samuel King, one of the founders of the Cumberland Presbyterian, a maternal relative.  Mr. King's mother was closely related to Meredith P Gentry, named in the early history of Tennessee.  Mr. King was reared on a farm, where he labored until he was 20 years of age.  Owing to the poverty of his parents his early education was greatly neglected.

Except Two months in his eleventh year he was not in school at all, until he was 17 years of age and then only three months each for two years.  A notable fact which indicated something of what would have been his attainments had he received early advantages is that during those tow months spend in a county school, when he was 10 years old, he not only mastered the intricacies of the English alphabet, but he performed the herculean task of spelling entirely thru the Webster's, blue-back spell of precious memory, so that he could spell every word in the book by heart.

At the age of 19 he entered the Unionville High School, Bedford County, where he spent two of the happiest and most profitable years of his life.  converted at the age of 18, he joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at the age of 18.  In the interim he remembered a heroic struggle with infidelity, a struggle which ultimately resulted in firmly fixing his faith upon the gospel of Christ.

Mr. King is accustomed to say that his early impressions that he would become a preacher were received a the age of 4 years, during a revival which was being held near his home by Rev John P Hastings.  he joined Elk Presbytery as a candidate for the ministry at the age of 19, and was ordained in 1886.  The first three years of his life as a preacher were devoted to almost constant preaching of the gospel, and for his services during that period he received the munificent sum of $15.00.  After spending a year following this in successful evangelistic work with Rev. T M Hendrix and Rev. N D Crawford he became pastor of three country churches in Bedford and Rutherford Counties, all of which were organized by Samuel King, whose old home still stands at Three Forks, one of these churches.  He entered Cumberland University in 1889, spending two years in special study of English and the sciences.  He found himself inclined to give special attention to philosophy.  He graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Divinity in 1893.

During his first years in school at Lebanon he preached on an average three Sunday a month, thereby securing all the money necessary to support himself and his family during that period.  Mr. King was married to Miss Jennie S Floyd, of Flat Creek, Tenn. December 5, 1886, and is the father of two promising songs.

For some months previous to his graduation he supplied the Second Edgefield Cumberland Presbyterian Church, taking formal charge as pastor in June, 1893.  He has been very successful in all his work, especially in revival work.  His success as a pastor has been scarcely less.

The Second Edgefield church, under his ministry for the last eighteen months, has been doubled in membership and multiplied to all the element of congregational strength.  An effort is being made to build a handsome house of worship in the near future for the congregation.  Mr. King has the universal love and confidence of this people.

A few incidents in his life will indicate his character as determined man of integrity.  For example, although he does not remember when in his childhood he began the use of tobacco and although he had become a slave to the habit, on September 10, 1889, he deliberately quit the use of the weed and has never touched it since.  

(sketch continues but is hard to read)

Source:  "Church Chimes:  Sketch and Portrait of Rev Felix Z King," Nashville Banner, 7 April 1894, p. 12, col. 1; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 25 Nov 2021).

King cousin in U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 database at Ancestry

Working with some of my Thrulines™ suggestions at Ancestry and found an entry in the U.S. Passport Applications collection for my 2nd Cousin 3 times removed, Arthur Dale King.   I share DNA with several of his descendants.

This database is one that contains actual images of the applications.  Here were a few of the things listed on Arthur's application.

• Names, Place of Birth, & Date of Birth for Arthur, his wife, & daughter
• His Father's name, Place of Birth and place of residence.
• The # of a former Passport Application
• Arthur was on a pleasure trip in Europe in 1921
• List of Countries he intends to visit
• Port he will be leaving thru
• When he is expected to return.
• Oath of Allegiance
• Description of Applicant(see image below)
• Mailing address where the passport could be sent
• A photo of Arthur, his wife & daughter.

Snippet from Back side of Application for Arthur Dale King  Application #235030

Judging from the information on the application as well as the other Suggested  Records(shown to the right when viewing the record) this family traveled outside of the US several times.   You can find a lot of additional info in the Suggested Records but you need to evaluate them as you would any other hint.  They may not be the person in the original record.  What a great resource.  I'm thinking I might search for others persons with ties to Bedford County, TN or other key areas where my family lived.

Source List:

"U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/uspassports/ : 2007), Imaged from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Roll # 2143.

Down the Rabbit Hole: Several Williamson Co TN Kings

D. Hamner King was the son of George Peay & Lucinda Tate Gooch King.  There is a short biography about him included in the Madison Co TN section of Goodspeed's History.  [I scanned down the biographies and noticed that there seem to be several of them with Williamson Co. TN ties.  The information listed below is a timeline of the events listed in the Goodspeed bio.]

A native of Williamson Co TN 
1835 Birth: Feb 14th 
1849 Residence: Moved to Carroll Co TN & Farmed
1852 Residence: Moved to Madison Co TN
1855 Residence: Jackson 
1855 Occupation: clerk
1856 Occupation: Engaged in the liquor business
1858 Married: Miss Sarah C Wilson(TN Marriages Ancestry.com)
1864 Military: Enlisted Forrest's Calvary(in Quartermaster's Dept prior to this) 
1874 Business: Built King's Opera House
1883 Business: In March, Opera House burned down.
1891 Death: Oct 14th
1891 Burial: Riverside Cemetery(Jackson, TN Find A Grave)

From a section of the paper devoted to Jackson, TN
The Times-Democrat (New Orleans, LA)20 Nov. 1882 pg. 8 column 1 (1)
Images at www.newspapers.com

While the bio lists his years as mayor as 1872-1876 an article about the Mayors of Jackson lists him as mayor for the years 1873, 1875 and 1876.(2.)

D. H. King also ran the King's Palace Saloon in addition to the Opera House. (3.)

The younger brother of D. Hamner King was David Gooch King whose bio is listed below.
History of the Twentieth Tennessee Regiment Volunteer Infantry, C.S.A.
By William Josiah McMurray, Deering J. Roberts, Ralph J. Neal pg 423

The aunt who is mentioned as having raised David Gooch King was a maternal aunt as she was Elizabeth Gooch before her marriage to Beverly Ridley in Williamson Co TN. David Gooch King's bio carries over onto the next page(424) "David Gooch King came of good parentage than which, on the Gooch side there were none better in the state" (4.)

I found conflicting information as to whether their father, George Peay King, went to Mexico. An unsourced statement in several online trees at Ancestry.com says he left for California in 1849 during the gold rush and was killed in Texas.

Also, there seems to be another Lucinda Tate Gooch who married Joseph Kimbro in Rutherford Co TN in 1822. That's ten years prior to the marriage of George Peay King and Lucinda Tate Gooch who marry in neighboring Williamson Co TN in 1832.(5.) Maybe the elder Lucinda is a paternal aunt of the younger Lucinda. I'm fascinated by seeing the Kimbro connection as the Kimbro/Kimbrough family was around my own King lines who were in Williamson, Rutherford and Bedford Counties in TN. Some of my Kings moved on to Weakley and Carroll Co TN area as well.   Not sure if these Kings are related to my King line. A male from our King line is currently doing the YDNA testing and hopefully, that should provide some insight into our Kings.

1. "Jackson, TN: The second city in size and business importance in West Tennessee" The Times-Democrat, 20 Nov 1882, pg 8 col. 1; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://newspapers.com: accessed 21 Aug 2018).

2. “Milestones of Progress Have Marked Administrations of 32 Mayors,” The Jackson Sun, 29 May 1972, p. 70, col. 2; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 17 Aug 2018).

3. "Jackson, TN: The second city in size and business importance in West Tennessee" The Times-Democrat, 20 Nov 1882, pg 8 col. 3; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://newspapers.com: accessed 21 Aug 2018).

4. McMurray, William Josiah, Deering J. Roberts, and Ralph J. Neal. 1904. History of the Twentieth Tennessee Regiment Volunteer Infantry, C.S.A. Nashville, Tenn: Publication Committee, consisting of W.J. McMurray, D.J. Roberts, and R.J. Neal. pg 424 (https://books.google.com : accessed 21 Aug 2018)

5. "Tennessee Marriage Records, 1780-2002" Database with images. Ancestry. (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 Aug 2018) Williamson 1830 - 1839: Marriages, (Loose) Jo-Pr Image 108 of 1277.

Garrison King--Dickson Co TN--list of heirs

I don't know that this Garrison King has any connection to my own King line(or Cooke line for that matter as his wife was a Cook).  He and Gilford Cook are neighbors in 1840 census(Dickson Co TN) and they live near some of the ancestors of several of my autosomal DNA matches.  These are matches who match me on a segment(s) that I can attribute to having come from my paternal Grandfather whose parents were William Green Cook and Jane Bell King Cook.  Below is a page from Garrison King's Probate file which is on Ancestry in the TN Probate Records Database. It shows the distribution of the money from his estate to his heirs.

Tennessee, Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008
https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9176
Dickson County
Estate Settlements, 1800-1885, Jordan, John P-Northam, Samual
Garrison King"s Folder
Images 309-338 
(The above image is a cropped screenshot of image 321 accessed 1 June 2018)

I would love to find something like this for each of my ancestors.

Looking at the Head of Households for 1820 Elbert Co Georgia --Capt Oliver's Dist

Wanted to read through the Census for the area where my Upshaw/Patton lines had lived.  They would have been gone from the area for likely at least 15 yrs by the time this census was taken.  I see a lot of Cooks and also some familiar names like William King and Leroy Upshaw.  The Upshaw may be a cousin as the age was too young to be my direct Leroy Upshaw.  I'm sure there are errors in this listing as it is my attempt at reading the handwriting from the scanned images.  That said, the writing is worlds better than some I've tried to decipher.

PAGE 1
John Y Allgood
William Nolan
Issachar Cook
John F Cook
Thomas Bell Sr
David Matten?
James Morrison
John Nunley
Peter Allgood
James Bell
Thomas Elliott
Abraham Cook
John Cook
Joshua Cook
Smith Cook
Thomas Cook
Samuel Cook
Thomas Thurlkill
Isaac Mobley
Aaron Brown
Mary Cook
Nathaniel Cook
William Stone
John B Cook
Nicholas Goode
Thomas Childers
David Hudson Jr
Becker Hudson
William Allgood Jr
Mchenry Irons
George Cook
Saml Snellings
William Allgood Sr
Patrick Jack

PAGE  2
James Ragan
Edmond Lowrey
Parish Smith
Thomas Oliver
William King
Leroy Upshaw
Valentine Smith
Jesse Hendrick Sr
William Woods
William S Burch
Thomas Forstson
D??er Jeter
Walker Richardson
Thomas Laninham
Ralph Blackwell
Lewis Wilhight
John Winfield
Peter David
Gideon Hamm
Leonard Smith
William Hendrick
James A Depriest
William Burns


These are listed after the totals on the 2nd pg. (no explanation is offered by the census taker as to why they are listed separately)
Dyonesus Oliver
Isaac O Edwards
David Hudson Sr
William B Key
Andrew Woodley
Chole T Kee
George Perrin
William C Davis

W. B. King 1850 Federal Census Non-Population Agriculture Schedule Rutherford Co TN Versailles Dist

Originally posted by me Jan 11, 2017 but accidentally deleted while trying to use the blogger app from my cellphone....proof that I am indeed human 😆

W. B. King 1850 Federal Census Non-Population Agriculture Schedule Rutherford Co TN Versailles Dist

Agriculture Schedule Entry for William Benton King my 2nd Great Grandfather.

1850 US Fed Census Non-Population Agriculture Schedule
Rutherford Co TN Versailles Dist Nov 13th 1850 page 87 and 88
W.B. King
2 acres of improved land
72 of unimproved land
$200 cash value of Farm
$10 Value of farming implement and machinary
2 Horses
1 milch cows
1 working oxen
15 swine
$108 Value of Livestock
250 Bushels of Indian CornW
2 Bushels of Peas and Beans
10 Bushels of Irish Potatoes
50 lbs of Butter
$16 value of animals slaughtered

Alfred & Fred have an awful lot in common

Working thru descendants of William Benton King and Eliza Jane Manire I began researching their granddaughter Edna Earle Foster.  Edna Earle was the daughter of Margaret Jordan King and William Leroy Foster.   Earle married a man by the name of Alfred Newton Mitchell.  You'd think that would be a name you don't see much...the full name at least.  I was searching thru Ancestry and I notice a link to the WWI Draft Registration Cards  One for a Alfred Newton Mitchell and another for a Fred Newton Mitchell.  So I looked at both of them wondering if he might have a double life.  Stranger things have happened.

Alfred Newton Mitchell

• DOB March 4th 1883
• Address Berwyn, Carter, Oklahoma
• Nearest Relative:  Wife Earl Mitchell
• Occupation:  Sec Foreman Gulf, Colorado & Sante Fe Railway
• White Natural Born Citizen
• Short with a medium build
• Brown Eyes and Brown Hair
• Reg. Date Sept 12, 1918

Fred Newton Mitchell

• DOB Feb 4th 1883
• Address:  Rio Grande Colorado
• DOB Feb 4th 1883
• Nearest Relative:  Wife Hanna Katherine Mitchell
• Occupation:  Stockman Farmer Self Employed
• White Natural Born Citizen
• Short with medium build
• Light Blue Eyes Dk Brown Hair
• Reg. Date Sept 12, 1918

Whew....one with blue eyes and one with brown eyes...
I did find them both in 1920 Census.  I checked that also to make sure ...and no the children don't have the same names.  :-)

I think this is how a lot of mistakes get in peoples tree...they see the Suggested Records and take them as fact and just add away.  Alfred Newton Mitchell is the father of several King descendants(specifically Descendants of Wm Benton King & wife Eliza Jane Manire)
Fred Newton Mitchell is not unless his wife Hannah Katherine Myers was a King descendant.  If she was she didn't come from the Wm B King lines.

My 16 GG Grandparents(better late than never)

I've been meaning to make this post ever since Randy Seaver's Sat. Night Genealogy Fun idea to
Post your 16 GG Grandparents

Just now finding time. I've not attempted to determine exact percentages for my ancestral ethnicity mainly because I have very few of them back to their immigration date. Most of them were in what would become the US by 1770s and some of them earlier than that. I'd say that I'm probably over 90% a combo of English Scottish and Irish.

Paternal Lines(1-8)
Maternal Lines(9-16)

1. William Clifford Cook: born 4th April 1811 in NC, USA; married 27th of Sept 1831 in Williamson Co., TN, USA; died 1 Jan 1882 in Bedford Co., TN, USA.
2. Elizabeth Putman: born 1814 in Union Co., SC, USA; died 5th Sept. 1880 in Bedford Co., TN, USA.
3. William Benton King: born Feb 1819 in Bedford Co., TN, USA; married 30 Sept. 1841 in Williamson Co., TN, USA; died 1901 in Gainesville, Cooke Co., TX, USA.
4. Eliza Jane Manire: born 1818 in Williamson Co., TN, USA; died April 1896 in Gainsville, Cooke Co., TX, USA.
5. George Jakes: born abt. 1820 in Franklin Co.,VA, USA; married abt 1845 in Tennessee; died after 1880 census in TN, USA.
6. Catherine Morrow: born abt. 1830; died after 1880 census in TN, USA.
7. David Frizzell: born 23rd Oct. 1808 in Bedford Co., TN, USA ; married 15th Nov 1834 in ; died 27th Dec 1870 in Bedford Co., TN, USA
8. Rebecca Manley: born 1818 in Bedford Co., TN, USA ; died 1862 in Bedford Co., TN, USA.
9. Elisha Luna: born 5th Nov. 1825 in Smith Co., TN, USA; married 11th Dec 1851 in Dekalb Co., TN, USA; died 19th June 1889 in Dekalb Co., TN, USA.
10. Keziah Rigsby: born 1832 in White Co., TN, USA ; died 1909 in Dekalb Co., TN, USA.
11. David Pittman: born April 1838 in Jackson Co., AL, USA; married 22th Dec 1859 in Dekalb Co., TN, USA; died 11th Feb 1922 in Dekalb Co., TN, USA.
12. Mary D. Frances Adcock: born 20th of May 1842 in Dekalb Co., TN, USA; died 30th of Dec. 1902 in Dekalb Co., TN, USA
13. William Leon Acuff: born 25th of Jan. 1842 in Bledsoe Co., TN, USA; married 5th Jan. 1871 in Van Buren Co., TN, USA; died 3 Feb. 1898 in Van Buren Co., TN, USA.
14. Sarah McElroy: born 28th Nov 1847 in Van Buren Co., TN, USA; died 2nd July 1925 in Dallas, Madison Co., AL, USA.
15. William P. Hale: born 1849 in Van Buren Co., TN, USA; married abt 1871 prob. in Bledsoe Co., TN, USA ; died bet. 1920-1930 in Warren Co., TN, USA.
16. Nancy Arminda Hitchcock: born 6th Sept 1840 in Warren Co., TN; died before 1887 in TN(prob. Van Buren Co.), USA