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

Shelbyville Tennessee Cholera 1833

An article in Shelbyville Gazette from 1913 told the story of a list found in the wall of a house in Civil Dist 8. The house was purchased by Michael F Williams from Wilson Turrentine in 1852  The Williams children found the piece of paper in the wall while playing. This was according to Nannie Green, one of the children playing who recalled the incident for the 1913 article. The list is said to be in the handwriting of Methodist preacher Rev Daniel Turrentine.  

I found the deed in Bedford County Tennessee Deed Book DDD page 158.  From what I could tell the deed was recorded in 1862.  You will need to log in to FamilySearch to see but a user account is free with registration if you don't already have one.

It is odd that the amounts at the bottom of the listing do not match the number of persons listed. I found listings of the deaths for 1913 in several papers and while there is overlap of the names there are some that are only included on one list. Another of the listings also has the given names of the enslaved.  Maybe the person who wrote the list was trying to make a complete list of ALL who had perished during the outbreak using information he read in the newspapers.

Males

John Sims

John Brigs

John M Cannon

Tevin Marshall

W Wallis

John Bradford Jr

N E Coldwell

Dr A. B. Morton

Robert Waite

B. Martin

James Brittain

Joseph Brittain

Anderson Vannoy

Dr. Abner Gaither

Peter Donnolly

S. G. Gready

Charles Shanks, Sr.

William Low

Theophilas R Anderson

Thomas C Moore

James Ward

______  Ashburn

Daniel Turrentine

Peter Chilcut

John Miller

John A Mars

John A Mars Jr.

James Davidson

James Ward(listed twice)

Females:

Mrs. J G Whitney

Mrs. Edward Wade

Mrs. K. Anderson

Mrs. John Mitchell

M G Davidson

Mrs. _____Brittain

Mrs. John Miller

Mrs H. Wardlaw

Mrs. Sephronia Watts

Mrs. R. McClintoc

Mrs. M A Watkins

Mrs Amanda Murrough

Mrs. S. Winters

Mrs. _____Mars

Mrs. B Shapard

Mrs C Shanks

Mrs. D. Dwyer

Mrs. J Thompson

Mrs. T J Flint

Mrs. Sol Davis

Mrs. I Marshall

Mrs. Wm B Sutton

Mrs. J B Snodgrass

Mrs. ______ Jones

Mrs. ______Burdette

Children and Infants

John T Shanks

P. Brooks

John Mitchell

Richard Davis

John Marshall

J. Cunningham

Thomas Willingham

W. M Brown

L. A. Bird

One child of each of the following persons:

Mrs. Moon

Hugh Wardlaw

Wm Galbraith

Three children of G W Ruth

The following persons lost slaves as indicated by figures annexed to their names

S. Thompson(2)

Thomas Davis(2)

Mrs. McClinton(1)

James Mars(4)

John Eakin(1)

Dr. Lipscomb(1)

Wm Galbraith(1)

R T Cannon Jr.(1)

D McKissick(1)

R P Harrison(1)

Mrs. _____ Turrentine(1)

D. B. Jett(1)

P. Donnelly(1)

Willis Cannon(1)

Peacock Estate(1)

N E Coldwell(1)

Col R Cannon(1)

M Nelson(1)

James Brittain(1)

T. Holland, Sr. (1)

Mrs. _____  Whitney(1)

H. M Watterson(1)

G. Davidson(1)

Total Whites  75

Total blacks   34

Total             109

Sources: 

"Cholera in 1833." Shelbyville Gazette (Shelbyville, Tennessee), 7 August 1913, p. 2, col. 3. Digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-Q3T3-V81G : accessed 24 May 2024.), IGN 008992021, img 309 of 993. 

Doctors Ads from 1833, Western Freeman(Shelbyville TN), 3 June 1833, p.4 col.5. Digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK4-ZSHF-D : accessed 25 May 2024), IGN 8141788, img 103 of 510. 

For comparison see: 

https://genealogytrails.com/tenn/bedford/cholera.html

https://www.newspapers.com/article/national-banner-and-daily-advertiser-cho/148046235/

https://www.newspapers.com/article/national-banner-and-daily-advertiser-cho/148045980/

Wilson Turrentine to M.F. Williams, Deed, 29 March 1862, Bedford County, Tennessee, Deed Book DDD: 158; Register of Deeds, Shelbyville; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKX-93K1-1?cat=298281 : accessed 25 May 2024), Deeds, v. DDD (includes full-name index), 1851-Sep 1865, Image 265 of 481, IGN 8150806.

Obituaries: Andrew Lee Gibson & Fannie Cora Jakes Gibson

I've been going thru folders and binders looking over copies of things I ordered when I first started researching my family history in 1990.  Around that time I sent a letter to the Shelbyville Time-Gazette or the library in Shelbyville(I can't remember which one and don't still have the envelope) and got a copy of the obituaries of my Paternal Grandmother's sister Cora Jakes Gibson and her husband, Andrew Lee Gibson.  The image I have included with this blog post is a side by side screenshot of the two copies of the obituaries.  The information within the two obituaries is included below.  

Andrew Lee Gibson Dies in Hamilton Ohio

Andrew Lee Gibson, 77, died this morning in Hamilton, Ohio following a long illness.
Funeral Services will be held Thursday at 4 pm from the chapel of he Gowen funeral Home. The Rev. Homer A Cate will officiate and burial will follow in Willow Mount Cemetery.

Mr. Gibson was a native of Bedford County and had lived in Shelbyville until he moved to Hamilton a year and a half ago.


He is survived by this wife, Mrs. Cora Jakes Gibson of Hamilton; 

Two Sons Lytle and Preston Gibson of Shelbyville
Four Daughter Mrs. Irene Wagster and Eunice Osteen of Hamilton
Mrs. Verna Waster and Mrs. Leona Uselton of Shelbyville
Four Brothers, Dee Gibson of Bell Buckle John Gibson of Normandy, Estell and Joe Gibson of Beech Grove and by 9 grand children and four great grandchildren.
The body was to arrived late today or tonight at the Gowen Funeral home.

Source:   Shelbyville Times-Gazette Wed. 17 Jan. 1951 Edition


Mrs. Gibson, 81, Dies. Services to Be On Thursday

Mrs. Fannie Cora Gibson, 81, died Monday night at her home on Hay Rd. after a long illness.
Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at Gowen-Smith Chapel. Burial will be in Willow Mount Cemetery.

A native of Rutherford County, Mrs. Gibson was the daughter o he late James Jakes and Thelitha Ann Frizzell Jakes. Her husband Andrew Lee Gibson died in 1951. She was a member of the Hoover's Gap Baptist Church.

Surviving are 

Four Daughters, Mrs. Irene Wagster and Mrs. Eunice Osteen, both of Hamilton, Ohio
Mrs. Verna Wagster of Shelbyville(TN) and Mrs. Leone Whiteside of New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Two Sons Lytle Gibson of the Flat Creek Community and Preston Gibson with whom she resided.
Two Sisters Mrs. Pearl Cooke and Mrs. Lula Gibson both of Nashville.
Two Brothers, Will Jakes and Euless Jakes, both of Old Hickory; 10 Grandchildren 16 Great Grandchildren and one Great Great grandchild.

Source:  Shelbyville Times-Gazette Wed. 7 Apr 1965 Edition

August 1941--Shelbyville Man Dies in Local Hospital

I found this article using Newspapers.com.  It is the closest thing to an obituary that I have been able to find for my paternal Grandmother's dad, James M Jakes.  He was living with my Grandparents in Old Hickory(Davidson Co. Tennessee) in the 1940 US Federal Census. I do have a copy of his death certificate which shows that he is buried in Willow Mount Cemetery in Bedford Co TN.  For whatever reason, his death year was never placed on his gravestone.   I should also note that there are several errors in the survivor listing.  Two Sons:  Will and Euless Jakes Four Daughters Mrs. Tom Bell, Mrs. Cora Gibson, Mrs. Lula Gibson, and Mrs. Tom Cooke.

Source: 
"Shelbyville Man Dies In Local Hospital"
The Tennessean, 15 Aug 1941, p. 15, col. 6 & 7; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 Sep 2017).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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