Showing posts with label McElroy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label McElroy. Show all posts

Friday, May 08, 2026

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)

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.

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

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

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
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.

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Antioch news from Warren Co. TN(Sept 1933)

Before there was online social media, there were newspaper articles focused on specific areas where they posted about what all the citizens of that area were doing.  This one is from Antioch, a community in Warren County Tennessee(not to be confused with the city in Davidson County)


Notes of Interest Around Antioch  (Sept. 1933)
(transcribed as written)
Mss Aileen Johnson spent the week-
end with her sister, Mrs Evy Spark-
man of Cummingsville.
Andrew McElroy has malaria fever.
Sam Brady is some better.
Mrs. Charles Rogers is visiting her
daughter, Mrs Oda Grissom.
Andrew Hillis was in Sparta Satur-
day.
Mrs. Jim Breedlove and children and
Miss Della Chandler were Wednesday
guests of Mrs. Andy Acuff.
Miss Willie Maye Witt visited Mrs.
Bascomb Chandler Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs R.obert Wednestead
visited Mr. and Mrs. Ervin Wednestead.
There will be a box supper at Semi-
nary(near Bone Cave) Saturday night,
Sept. 23. The public is invited.


"Notes of Interest Around Antioch," Southern Standard(McMinnville, TN), Vol LIV, No 30, 21 Sept 1933, p 7, col 2; images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-B3RM-16VB : accessed 24 February 2025) IGN 8964042, Image 828 of 1152.

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Postcard with McElroy TN Postmark


Found a postcard that was postmarked from McElroy TN on Ebay and sent by a McElroy cousin. Listing the information on the postcard below with a little bit of background on it's sender.

Information from a Postcard on Ebay
Postcard Front Subject: Picture of Vanderbilt University
Printer:  Souvenir Post Card Co. New York Printed in Germany (20729)
Postmarked McElroy, Tenn April 22 1909 A.M.
From: B.E. McElroy McElroy TN
To: Miss L W Schumacker
415-419 No. Main St
Santa Ana California
Message: Glad to exchange views with you. Write again.
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B E McElroy (my 1C3R)
Bertram E(Eanes according to his Military file) McElroy was the son of Andrew J McElroy and Emma Steakley.  He was at one time the postmaster of McElroy TN.  That PO was discontinued around the time of WWI and mail from then on went thru the Quebeck P.O.  He is among those in a 20 Sep 1917 article in The Tennessean whose exemption claims were denied. Bertram went on to serve in the US Army's 82 Division(Ser # 1895080) Departing 25 Apr 1918 on the ship Caronia from New York NY and listing his sister Sarah McElroy as his next of kin.  He worked as a traveling grocery salesman and as far as I know never married.  He died May 23, 1926 from a skull fracture which according to his death certificate he sustained when he was knocked down by an auto truck on May 20th.  

Sources: 
  • Post card listed on Ebay sent by subject https://www.ebay.com/itm/382979529837?hash=item592b5bdc6d:g:o4QAAOSwfQ1c7ztx
  • "More Certified Lists Announced--District Board Continues Work of Deciding Appeals for Exemption" The Tennessean(Nashville, Tennessee) 20 Sep 1917  p. 2 col 4.
  • The National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985; Record Group Number: 92; Roll or Box Number: 401; Imaged at Ancestry.com. U.S., Army Transport Service Arriving and Departing Passenger Lists, 1910-1939 > Outgoing > Coronia > 25 Apr 1918-14 Jul 1918 > Image 349 of 1192.
  • 1900 United States Federal Census: Imaged at Ancestry.com Tennessee > Van Buren > District 1 Enumeration District: 0133 p. 3 sheet 3B  Image 9 of 12.
  • 1910 United States Federal Census: Imaged at Ancestry.com Tennessee > Van Buren > District 1 Enumeration District: 0170 p. 2 Sheet 2a  Image 3 of 7.
  • 1920 United States Federal Census; Imaged at Ancestry.com Tennessee > Warren > McMinnville > Enumeration District: 0125 p. 25 sheet 1a Image 1 of 59.
  • Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1958; Roll Number: 6; Imaged at Ancestry.com as Tennessee, U.S., Death Records, 1908-1965, Death Certificates  > Warren > 1926 > Image 112 of 272.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Van Buren Co TN -1857 Political meeting


The A.J. McElroy mentioned is my 3rd Great Grandfather whose full name was Andrew Jackson McElroy. His Dad was Andrew McElroy who moved his family to the area from Oglethorpe County, Georgia.



Nashville Union and American (Nashville, Tennessee)12 Apr 1857, Sun  Page 2

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Andrew Jackson McElroy (1820-1900)


Looking through the ProQuest Historical Newspaper in search of some information on a Paternal great-uncle and had the urge to search for my 3rd Great Grandfather, Andrew Jackson McElroy(from my Maternal lines).  I didn't have a source document for his death date.  I knew it was some time after the Ogle Co.'s Compendium of Biography which was published in 1898.  I also knew that he had written his will November 20th of 1896 and that the will was proved September 3rd of 1900 and recorded the next day in Van Buren Co TN Records.    The first item that came up in my query led me to the answer.

Death of A.J. M'Elroy  Prominent Citizen of White County Joins the Majority---Special Dispatch in The American
SPARTA, Tenn., Aug 21-  Andrew Jackson McElroy, one of the oldest and best known men of this section, died Sunday night at his home at Bone Cave in Van Buren County after confinement to his room for some time.  Col. McElroy was 86 years of age and until the past two or three years had regularly attended the courts here, where he enjoyed a fair practice.

He had ever taken a great interest in politics and was an ardent Democrat.  Besides holding several minor offices he represented this district in the State Senate from 1885-1887.  His character was spotless and he was admired by all who knew him.  The interment took place last evening at the family burying ground before a large attendance of relatives and friends.
(Source: "Death of A.J. M'Elroy -Prominent Citizen of White County Joins the Majority";.Special Dispatch in The American; The Nashville American(1894-1910); Aug 22, 1900; Digital Collection of ProQuest Historical Newspapers:  The Nashville Tennessean pg 8. )


I did a Google search and found a site that lets you check a date to see what day of the week it was on for a given year.  August 21, 1900 was a Tuesday which puts him dying on Sunday August 19, 1900.  Problem solved!


Andrew Jackson McElroy was likely born in April of 1820 as that is the age which he lists the most consistently in census records.  For the 1870 Census he is listed as a few years younger.  I just feel fortunate that he was listed at all.  Several of my other folks aren't listed in 1870.  The 1870 census is the first census after reconstruction and is notorious for inaccurate information some of which is possibly due to census takers from the north being using in many areas of the south.  See the Census Book for more information on this and other census records.   Below are a few of  Andrew J. McElroy's Census entries.

1830 White Co TN
Andrew McElroy
Males:
1 5-under 10
1 10-under 15  (Andrew J. age 10 )
1 40-under 50  
 Females:
1 under 5
1 5-under 10
1 13-under 20
1 30- under 40
(Source: 1830 White Co. Tennessee; Series: M19; Roll: 182; pg. 13; FHL Film: 0024540) 

1840 White Co TN
Andrew McElroy
 Males:
1 10 under 15
1 15 under 20
1 20-under 30 (Andrew J. age: 20)
1 40-under 50
1 50-under 60
Females:
1 10 under 15
2 15 under 20
1 40 under 50
(Source: 1840 White County, Tennessee; Roll: 536; pg. 19; FHL Film: 0024550)


1850 Van Buren Co. TN 1st Dist   pg. 367B  14/14
 A. J. McElroy 30 M Clk of Crt $5000 TN
Jane McElroy 24 F TN
Levina McElroy 4 F TN
Sarah McElroy 3 F TN
James K. P. McElroy 10/12 M TN  
(Source: 1850 Van Buren, County Tennessee, Dist 1 ;Roll: M432_897; pg. 367B)

1860 Van Buren Co. TN Spencer P.O. pg 21  273/273
A. J. McElroy 40 M Farmer $10,000 $1737 TN
Jane McElroy 32 F TN
Leviney McElroy 14 F TN
Sarah McElroy 13 F TN
J. K. P. McElroy 9 M TN
Martha McElroy 7 F TN
Eliza McElroy 5 F TN
A.J.M. McElroy 1 M TN
John O? 18 M common Laborer TN  
(Source: 1860; Van Buren, Tennessee Spencer P.O.; Roll: M653_1277; pg 21 FHL Film: 805277)


1870 Van Buren Co. TN Bone Cave 1st Civil Dist pg. 304a  15/15
A.J. McElroy 47 M W Lawyer
Martha McElroy 27 F W Keeping House
Levina McElroy 23 F W
Sarah McElroy 21 F W
Polk K McElroy 20 M W
Martha McElroy 18 F W
Eliza McElroy 15 F W
A. J. McElroy 11 M W
William McElroy 7 M W
Eveline Greer 9 F W
Elizabeth Greer 7 F W
William Greer 5 M W
Hiram C. Carter 62 M W Sadler
(Source: 1870 Van Buren County, Tennessee, Dist 1; Roll: M593_1567; Page: 304A; FHL Film: 553066)


1880 Van Buren, Tennessee Dist 1 Page 246D
A. J. McElroy Self M M W 68 TN Lawyer GA  GA
Martha McElroy Wife F M W 40 TN  Keeping House GA GA
Andrew J. McElroy Son M S W 21 TN  At Home TN  TN
Wm. McElroy Son M S W 19 TN At Home TN TN
Wm. Greer SSon M S W 16 TN  At Home TN  TN
E. Wallace Niece F S W 22 TN At Home TN TN
R. G. Waterhouse Other M S W 24 TN Minister Of Gospel  TN TN  
(Source: 1880 Van Buren County, Tennessee, Dist 1 ; Roll: 1283; FH L Film:1255283; pg: 246D; Enum Dist 127)


1900 Van Buren Co. TN Dist 1 Enum Dist 133  Page 3B  Sheet 3B  56/56
Andrew J McElroy Head W M Apr 1820 80 M 31 TN GA GA
Martha McElroy Wife W F Dec 1842 57 M 31 2 of 3 children living TN TN TN
Lizzie Zimmerman Aunt W F Nov 1854  45 wd 1 of 1 children living TN TN TN
Eva Zimmerman Cousin W F Aug 1888  11 S  Missouri Ohio TN  
(Source: 1900 Van Buren, County, Tennessee Dist 1 ; Roll: 1603; pg: 3B; Enum Dist: 0133; FHL film: 1241603)

Monday, August 17, 2009

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