In Memoriam: Pearl Lamb (1903-1936)

Pearl Lamb
Born: October 18, 1903
Died: June 2, 1936
Saved at age 11 and united with Baptist Church at age 13.
Survived by 

Parents:  Mr & Mrs W.H. Lamb

Brothers:  Eugene of Rover, H.B. and Bill of Nashville.

Graduated from State Teachers College in 1932.

Teacher for 5 years at Unionville High School.

Sources:
Baptist and Reflector, October 1, 1936, p 17, col 1 & 2, Pearl Lamb; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/baptist-and-reflector-pearl-lamb-obit/205042090/ : accessed August 31, 2026), clip page for Pearl Lamb-Obit.

The Rutherford Courier, June 5, 1936, p 8, col 6 & 7; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rutherford-courier-illness-fatal-to/205042470/ : accessed August 31, 2026), clip page for Illness Fatal To Miss Pearl Lamb by user rmbeckman

In Memoriam: Mrs. Ruth Elmore Blanton (1893-1942)

Ruth Elmore Blanton

Born: May 4, 1893
Died: Oct 9, 1942
Married: December 25, 1923 to Sam Blanton.

Buried at Simpson Cemetery
3 Children:
Sam Jr.
James and Jean(twins)

Member of Union Ridge Baptist since she was a young girl.

Source:

Baptist and Reflector, February 10, 1944, p 15, col 1, Blanton; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/baptist-and-reflector-ruth-elmore-blanto/204991539/ : accessed August 31, 2026), clip page for Ruth Elmore Blanton.

In Memoriam: Mr. G. T. Johnson (1871- 1940)

Mr. G.T. Johnson
known as Mr. Tommie
Born:  September 14, 1871 (Date from FindAGrave)
Died: December 12, 1940
Married to Miss Elizabeth Garrett on October 18, 1896
Survived by wife, daughter & a number of grandchildren
Predeceased by son who died young.
Member of Union Ridge Baptist Church

Source:
Baptist and Reflector, February 10, 1944, p 15; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/baptist-and-reflector-mr-g-t-johnson/204992604/ : accessed August 31, 2026), clip page for Mr. G. T. Johnson.

In Memoriam: Mr. James Montgomery Thomason (1861-1940)

Mr. James Montgomery Thomason

Born:  November 20, 1861
Died: April 20, 1940
Member of Union Ridge Baptist Church for 69 years.
Served as Deacon, Church treasurer, Sunday School Teacher and Sunday School Superintendent.
Buried at Simpson Cemetery

Married to Bettie Stegall Thomason(passed in 1936)
Survivors:
Son: William Allison "Allie" Thomason
Daughter: Mrs. John Tatum(Pauline Thomason) of Nashville

Source:

Baptist and Reflector, July 11, 1940, p 13, col 1, Thomason; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/baptist-and-reflector-obituary-for-james/204993153/ : accessed August 31, 2026), clip page for Obituary for James Montgomery THOMASON.

The Tennessean, April 21, 1940, p 10, col 4; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-obituary-for-james-montgo/205237733/ : accessed September 3, 2026), clip page for Obituary for James Montgomery THOMASON.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/148953128/james_montgomery-thomason: accessed 3 Sep 2026), memorial page for James Montgomery Thomason (20 Nov 1861–20 Apr 1940), Memorial ID 148953128, citing Simpson Cemetery, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA.

In Memoriam: Mrs. Annie Jeffress Shearin (1868-1943)

Mrs. Annie Jeffress Shearin

Born: February 27th 1868
Died: September 28th, 1943 at her home in Rover after a long illness.

Survivors: 
Husband:  E.C. Shearin
Sons--Tom, Jess, and Bill of Rover. 
Daughters--Mrs Alvie Taylor and Mrs Eugene Lamb, of Rover, Mrs Edd Elmore, of Nashville.
She was a member of the Union Ridge Baptist Church since a young lady.
A kind loving wife and mother has gone home to her reward in heaven--Mrs. Elizabeth Ruckett.

Source:

Baptist and Reflector, February 17, 1944, p 17, col 2, Obituary of Annie J Shearin: image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/baptist-and-reflector-obituary-for-annie/204966839/ : accessed August 30, 2026), clip page for Obituary for ANNIE JEFFRESS SHEARIN by user rmbeckman

In Memoriam: Thea H. Winsett (1870-1941)

 

Thea H. Winsett

Born:  1870

Died:  June 15th,1941, age 71 years.

Buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville TN.
He married to Emma Pope, and to this union five children were born.

He was a member of Union Ridge Baptist Church, and was loyal to his church until failing health caused him to retire from farming and moved to Nashville, fifteen years before his death.

He died suddenly with a heart attack, while attending a family reunion.

The Lord knows best and maketh no mistakes.--Nettie Shearin.

Source:
Baptist and Reflector, February 17, 1944, p 17, col 2, obituary of Thea H Winsett; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/baptist-and-reflector-obit-thea-h-winset/204967352/ : accessed August 30, 2026), clip page for Obit Thea H Winsett.

In Memoriam: Mr. Eldridge Washington Lamb (1868-1943)

Mr. Eldridge Washington Lamb

Born:  September 23rd 1868

Died:  Evening of March 21 1943, Age 74 years, 5 months, 29 days

One of oldest member of Union Ridge Baptist Church(joined at age 21)

He was married to Laura Owen, September 23rd 1897. 

Child, Alton who preceded him.[This is Laura Alton Lamb(1898-1904) who appears on the 1900 US Federal Census in Eldridge's household. She is buried at Lamb Cemetery with her parents]

To the grief stricken widow we extend our sympathy and point her to the Master who said, "Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of the Lord.:--Mrs. Lillian Shearin.

Source: 

Baptist and Reflector, February 17, 1944, p 17, col 1, Obituary of Eldridge Washington Lamb; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/baptist-and-reflector-obituary-for-eldri/204966594/ : accessed August 30, 2026), clip page for Obituary for Eldridge Washington LAMB.

In Memoriam: Mrs. Edna Kimmins Simpson (1861-1943)

Mrs. Edna Kimmins Simpson

Born:  April  5th 1861(Not given in article--date from FindAGrave)
Died:  July 20th, 1943

Buried at Simpson Cemetery in Rover.

One of the oldest members of Union Ridge Baptist Church at Rover, Tenn.
She united with this church in early life and was a willing worker in Sunday School, the W.M.U. and all church work.

She was married to B.I. Simpson in 1880. They had 7 children, 5 of which survive her.

To know her was to love her and she had made many friends during her eighty-two years.
Her influence will live on in her children, grandchildren and friends.

Source:

Baptist and Reflector, February 17, 1944, p 17, col 2, obituary of Edna Kimmins Simpson; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/baptist-and-reflector-obituary-for-edna/204967014/ : accessed August 30, 2026), clip page for Obituary for Edna Kimmins Simpson.

Oscar Thomas Jones( 27 Nov 1865-14 Dec 1952)--Sparta, Tennessee, USA

Oscar Thomas Jones(my 2nd Cousin 3 times removed) is a Hitchcock & Riddle descendant(through his Mom) and doubly kin to Hitchcocks as his Dad's paternal grandmother was a Hitchcock.

He also descends from Thomas Jones and Rebecca Hitchcock.  Oscar was the son of Francis Jones. Francis was the older brother of Almedia, Omelia, and Catherine Jones—the three deaf Jones sisters I have written about previously on this blog in 2017, and most recently on Substack (see: Reconstructing a Nineteenth-Century Network: The Jones-Bronson-Fuller-Bassett Family and the Special Censuses).

Rev. O.T. Jones Killed in Wreck Sunday Morning

A car driven by J. T. Gracey, in which Mrs. Gracey and Rev. O. T. Jones were passengers, and a car driven by Mrs. Robert Poore, whose 5-year-old daughter, Betty Ruth Poore, was a passenger, collided at an intersection on the Smithville road Sunday, resulting in the death of Rev. Jones before his arrival at the hospital.

All the others were taken to the White County Hospital.

Mr. and Mrs. Gracey suffered cuts and bruises and Mrs. Gracey's collarbone was broken.

Mrs. Poore suffered a shoulder fracture, and she and her daughter suffered cuts and bruises. Mrs. Poore is still in the Hospital.

Rev O T Jones

Oscar Thomas Jones was born November 27, 1865 and died December 14, 1952; having been blessed by Our Heavenly Father with a long life of 87 years and 17 days.

When brother Jones was about 50 years of age, he was married to Miss Nola Jones, who survives him. Though he never had children of his own, he raised four children, all of whom survive. They are Mrs. L. H. Lafever, of Honolulu; Odella Anderson of Sparta; J. T. Gracey of Sparta; and Miss Nell Jones who was living in his home at the time of his death. The fact that he was unselfishly concerned to help, and to raise the children; who love him like a father, is indicative the kind of man brother Jones was.

He was concerned to help, not only these children, but all other people about him. This he did: never failing his friends and neighbors in times of sorrow such as has now come to those who loved him; and family, and other neighbors. Brother Jones was a member of the Baptist Church; and a faithful, active christian.

Source:
"Rev. O.T. Jones Killed in Wreck Sunday Morning," The Sparta Expositor (Sparta, Tennessee), 18 December 1952, vol. 77, no. 35, p. 1, col. 8; digital image, FamilySearch (
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-13RR-YYQC : accessed 29 June 2026), IGN 008984674, image 375 of 1142.

Obituary of Minnie Acuff Luna--Lincoln Co TN(1957)

Funeral Services Held At Taft Church Sunday For Mrs. Minnie Acuff Luna

Funeral services for Mrs. Minnie Acuff Luna, 57, were held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, at the Taft Church of Christ by Lewis Ellenburg of Huntsville, Ala.

Mrs. Luna died at the local hospital last Friday at 7:30 p.m., following a very long illness. Interment was at Charity.

Survivors include her husband, Will Luna; four daughters, Mrs. Lester Moore of Nashville, Mrs. Rufus Luna of Sparta, Mrs. William Brown of Peoria, Ill., and Miss Beatrice Luna of Taft; five sons, Bert and Wayne Luna of Taft, Haskel Luna of Huntsville, Ala., Otis Luna of Nashville, and Ernest Luna of the Smyrna Air Base; three sisters, Mrs. Ovenia Sharp and Mrs. Sarah Adair of Chattanooga, and Mrs. Emma Sanders of Huntsville; one brother, Elsie Acuff of Chattanooga, and 12 grandchildren.

[Note:  The name Rufus should be Reefus]

While searching through the Lincoln County News and the Fayetteville Observer, I found several mentions of my grandmother, Minnie Acuff Luna, in the local hospital listings. When I called my mother to verify my grandmother’s hospitalization dates, she recalled that she, too, had been hospitalized with lockjaw shortly after her mother’s passing. I checked those same newspaper columns again and was able to confirm her account.

Sources:

"Funeral Service Held at Taft Church Sunday for Mrs. Minnie Acuff Luna," July 11, 1957 , Vol 53, No 28, p 1, col 3: digital images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-93T3-XD3G : accessed 27 April 2026), IGN 8992133, Image 430 of 1297.

"Patients In Hospital," Fayetteville Observer(TN), July 14 1955, Vol CV, No 27, p 4, col 3; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-Q3RT-S3QF : accessed 27 April 2026), IGN 8984986, Image 899 of 1277.[Mrs W. R. Luna Taft Rt.]

"Patients At Hospital," Fayetteville Observer(TN), Nov 17 1955, Vol CV , No 45, p 12, col 5; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-13RT-SS2M : accessed 27 April 2026), IGN 8984986, Image 1175 of 1,277.[Mrs W. R. Luna Taft Rt.]

"List of Patients at Local Hospital," Lincoln County News, Nov 17 1955, Vol 51, No 46, p 1, col 1,; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-93T3-HK96 : accessed 27 April 2026) IGN 8992132, Image 494 of 1072. [Mrs W. R. Luna Taft Route.]

"List of Patients at Local Hospital," Lincoln County News, Dec 29 1955, Vol 51, No 52, p 1, col 1; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-13T3-HKVW : accessed 27 April 2026) IGN 8992132, Image 580 of 1072. [Mrs W. R. Luna Taft Route.]

"Patients At Hospital," Fayetteville Observer(TN), Dec 29 1955, Vol CV, No 51, p 1, col 3; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-B3RT-SSF6 : accessed 27 April 2026), IGN 8984986, Image 1264 of 1277.[Mrs W. R. Luna Taft Rt.]

"Patients At Hospital," Fayetteville Observer(TN), Apr 25 1957, Vol CVII, No 17, p 7, col 5; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-93RT-QV12 : accessed 27 April 2026), IGN 8984988, Image 207 of 732.[Mrs W. R. Luna Taft Rt.]

Obit of Andrew Jackson Acuff(1942)

ACUFF Andrew Jackson Acuff, 68, died at his home at Quebeck in White county Friday . The funeral services were conducted from the residence Saturday afternoon by John W. High. Burial was in the McElroy cemetery . Mr. Acuff was born in Van Buren county December 3, 1873. He was a son of William and Sarah McElroy Acuff. He was married to Hannah Hash in 1904 . Survivors include one son, Elbert Acuff of Quebeck and a daughter, Mrs. Livy Woodlee of Chattanooga. Mr. Acuff had been a member of the Church of Christ since early in life.-- Arrangements by High Funeral company

Source:
Obituary(Acuff), Southern Standard, Vol LXIII NO 41, 24 July 1942, p 6, col 1, Obituary of Andrew Jackson Acuff; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-43TC-GFF4 accessed 21 November 2025), IGN 8992355 Image 1027 of 1194.

Obituary: David E Luna Age 83(1948)

This is the obituary of my great-grandfather.  He was Mom's paternal grandfather.  David was living with his son Will & family at the time of his death.  My Mom(Will's youngest daughter) was 8 years old when her grandfather died.  He was the only grandparent she ever knew.  Her maternal grandparents both died the year before she was born and her paternal grandmother died in 1899.

David E Luna

Age: 83
Died: 28 Oct 1948 at his son, Will's home near Taft.
Funeral: 5th St. Baptist Church Saturday, 30th Oct 1948
Burial: Charity Cemetery near Hazel Green AL

Survivors:
2 Daughters:
Mrs. Eugene Jaco
Mrs. Jim Roberts
Both of McMinnville, TN

Sons:
Will and Lee of Taft.
Robert, Andrew & Dougie of Huntsville, AL
Several Grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nephews.

Source:
"Rites Held In Huntsville For David E. Luna, 83," Lincoln County News(Fayetteville TN), Vol 44, 4 November 1948, p 1, col 5: FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-Q3T3-KS4S : accessed 13 February 2025) IGN 8992150, Image 623 of 1052.

F. F. Arnold Death Notice(1829-1899)

Death of F. F. Arnold
Frank Arnold is dead! He
died at Tullahoma Saturday
night last from paralysis aged
about 73 years. He was born
and raised in Bedford County
and was widely known as one of
worthiest and best of citizens. He
removed but a short while ago
from the 23rd district in which
he had resided from his youth
up. In the civil war he was a
gallant Confederate soldier and
his old companions in arms will
regret to hear of his death. In
all the relations of life whether
as husband, parent, neighbor or
friend he was as true as the
truest and news of his death will
be heard with sorrow. We join in
this regret and tender our sym-
pathies to his bereaved wife and
relatives. Mr. Arnold was a mem-
ber of the Masonic Order and
was buried with Masonic honors
at New Hope Church Sunday
last in the presence of a large
concourse of friends. Peace to
his ashes.

"Death of F. F. Arnold", Shelbyville Gazette(Tennessee), 30 November 1899, Vol 26 No 48, p 3 col 5; digital image, Familysearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-13T3-DDMX?i=176&cat=479415 : accessed 28 July 2024) IGN 8992019, image 177 of 655.

The widow of Francis Fieldon Arnold applied for a Widow's Confederate Pension.  She was residing in Hamilton Co TN at the time of her application(TN Confederate Pension Application W6421).

Find a Grave, database, and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19079966/francis_fieldon-arnold: accessed July 28, 2024), memorial for Francis Fieldon “Frank” Arnold (7 Feb 1829–25 Nov 1899), Memorial ID 19079966, citing New Hope Cemetery, Shelbyville, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA.

Cannon Death Announcement Confuses Son with Father(1888)

From the Shelbyville Gazette(TN) of 19 July 1888

A death notice reads as follows:  

Death of Charles L. Cannon

We are sorry to hear of the
death of this young man, who after
a somewhat lingering illness died at
his father’s residence in the 3rd
District, on Friday last. By those
who knew him best his loss is
deeply felt. Wherever known he
is spoken of as a most excellent
young man, and we sympathize
with his relatives and friends in
their great loss. Mr. Cannon was
about 24 years of age and was a
nephew of the late Governor Can-
non of this State.

The main issue with this announcement is that it confuses Charles Bowdon Cannon with his father, Charles Locke Cannon.  While Charles B Cannon died in 1888, Charles L Cannon did not die until 1897. Charles L Cannon, son of Clement Cannon(1783-1860) is the nephew of Newton Cannon (1781-1841) Gov. of Tennessee from 1835 thru 1839.

Charles B Cannon is enumerated in both the 1870 & 1880 census in District 3 of Bedford Co. TN within the household of his father.  The family had lived in district 3 since at least the time of the 1850 Census.

Sources:

• 1850 U.S. Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, Civil District 3, p. 99(stamped), dwelling 30, family 30; FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCDQ-XVZ : accessed 1 June 2024), Entry for Charles L Cannon household, IGN 4191095(Item 2), image 40 of 391.
• 1860 U.S. Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, Civil District 3, p. 48, dwelling 367, family 367; FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GBSF-9SLD :  accessed 1 June 2024) Entry for Charles Cannon household , IGN 5171418, image 217 of  565.
• 1870 U.S. Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, population schedule, Civil District 3, p. 27, dwelling 195, family 195, entry for Chas L. Cannon and Margt Cannon; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-68LS-8CT : accessed 1 June 2024), IGN 4275996, image 92 of 924.
• 1880 U.S. Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, population schedule, Civil District 3, p. 171B, dwelling 8, family 8, entry for C. L. Cannon; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBH-LCV : accessed 1 June 2024), IGN 5162347, image 348 of 1038.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/114882791/charles_bowdon-cannon : accessed June 1, 2024), memorial for Charles Bowdon “Charlie” Cannon (23 Nov 1864–13 Jul 1888), Memorial  ID 114882791, citing Cannon Cemetery, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/114882801/charles_locke-cannon : accessed June 1, 2024), memorial for Charles Locke Cannon (14 Feb 1813–24 Aug 1897),  Memorial ID 114882801, citing Cannon Cemetery, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA.
• "Death of Charles L. Cannon." Shelbyville Gazette, 19 July 1888, p. 3, col. 1; FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-B3RX-7HQX : accessed 1 Jun 2024) IGN 8972073, image 126 of 630.

Obituary of Margaret Ruth Thompson Cooper(1941)

Cooper

Mrs. Margaret Ruth Thompson Cooper, age 31 died in a Nashville hospital Saturday March 22.

She was the daughter of the late Charlie Thompson and lived here some 15 years ago.  Her remains were brought here where a short funeral service was conducted by J. L. Nunnley at the Lawrence Funeral Home and burial at Swanson Cemetery. 

Her survivors are one sister, Mrs. Sue Bell Elrod, and three uncles, John Cook of this place, Clarence Cook of Rockvale and Tom Cook of Old Hickory; an aunt, Mrs. Eliza Rowland of Rockvale and Grandfather, W. G. Cook of Rockvale.

Source
The Marshall Gazette(Lewisburg TN) Fri. Mar. 28th 1941 p.6 Columns 1
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-13RM-J76T?i=145&cat=215743
Imaged by TN State Library & Archives and digitized at Familysearch.org
Vol. 69, no. 50 (13 Dec. 1940)-v. 72, no. 18 (30 Apr. 1943)--Image 146 of 1078.

Note:  This would be a transcription of the obituary if it weren't for the fact that I corrected the 3 times that they used the word Rockdale when referring to Rockvale.  

Obituary of William Green Cook(1944)

 William G. Cook

William Green Cook, aged 90 years, died at his home at Rockvale, in Rutherford county December 18 following a brief illness.

Funeral services were conducted at the chapel of the Lawrence Funeral Home in Chapel Hill, at 1 o'clock, Tuesday afternoon, December 19.

Burial in the Cook cemetery at Rover, Bedford county.

Mr Cook was a son of William Clifford and Elizabeth Putnam(sic) Cook and was born in Bedford County.  He resided in Chapel Hill for several years before moving to Rockvale.  He was a retired farmer and had been active until his illness and was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church.

Survivors are:  one daughter, Mrs. Horace Rowland, of Rockvale; three sons, Thomas Cook, of Old Hickory; Clarence Cook, of Rockvale, and Jno Cook of Chapel Hill; 12 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren

Source:  
The Marshall Gazette(Lewisburg TN) Fri. Dec. 29th 1944 p.6 Columns 1
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-93RM-LNNF?i=803&cat=215743
(You'll need to log-in to FamilySearch to view but registration for an id is free as is viewing this)

Obituary of Rebecca Love Cook Thompson(1928)

While researching thru records for another blog post I found that FamilySearch has some of the Marshall Co TN newspapers and on a whim I looked for my Papaw Cooke's sister Rebecca Cook Thompson.  There is was

The Marshall Gazette(Lewisburg TN) Thur. Feb 16th, 1928 p.12 Columns 3 & 4
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-93RM-PNWP?i=51&cat=215743

(You'll need to log-in to FamilySearch to view but registration for an id is free as is viewing this)

Below is the transcription.  

Thompson

Chapel Hill, Tenn. Feb. 13--

Mrs. Rebecca L. Thompson, wife

of Charlie Thompson, died at her

home in Lewisburg Monday morn-

ing, after a lingering illness, aged

46 yeas. She was the daughter of

Wm. G. and Jane Bell Cooke. She 

professed religion in early life and

joined the Cumberland Presbyter-

ian church.

Funeral services to-morrow.

(Tuesday) at the home, after

which the body was brought to 

Chapel Hill and laid to rest in the 

Swanson Cemetery, after short ser-

vices.

Survived by her husband and

two daughters, Ruth Agnes and 

Sue Bell, of Lewisburg; father,

Wm G Cooke of Rockvale; three

brothers, Tom Cooke of Old Hick-

ory; Clarence, of Walter Hill, and 

John L. Cooke of this place; one

sister, Mrs. H.K Roland of Nash-

ville.  Mrs. Thompson lived here 

a number of years.

Notes:  She was 45 years old(+ 9 months & 21 days) at the time of her death according to her death certificate of which I have a copy.  Cause of death was tuberculosis of the lungs.

This is the only location which I have seen the Cooke name spelled with the E.  My Grandparents spelled it with an E only after 1930 in records I've found and neither Wm Green or any other of his sons used the COOKE spelling.  

Obituary: Oscar Pete Earp(1888-1967)

I found my paternal great aunt(by marriage) listed in her brother's obituary.  I thought this was such a great example of how I wish every obit was written--full of details.  It also shows how family becomes scattered out across the country.  This is something to think about for those who are using DNA in our family history research.  The following is a listing of the information contained in the obituary.

Oscar Pete Earp
Age:  79
Born:  March 26, 1888
Died:  November 14, 1967
Place of Birth: Murfreesboro, TN
Parents:  Thomas Jefferson & Lydia Earp

Married:  Sept 1911 to Florence Adcock who died in 1923.  Four children from this marriage--3 sons and 1 daughter.

Married:  1925 to Lillie Mai Adcock
Ten children from this marriage--4 sons and 6 daughters.

One son & one daughter preceded him in death.

Survivors
Wife
Six Daughters:
Dessie Egenes(Storden, MN)
Betty Koch(Bucyrus, MO)
Marie Fields(Roby, MO)
Joyce Inscore(Roby, MO)
Faye Barnes(Sugar Creek, MO)
Sharon Kaye Earp(of the home)

Six Sons:
Alfred Earp(Loda, IL)
Frank Earp(Seattle, WA)
Ervin Earp((Success, MO)
Eugene Earp(Richland, MO)
Marlo Earp(Anchorage, AK)
Harold Earp(of the home)

Sisters:
Emma McKnight(Nashville, TN)
Arminda Jakes(Murfreesboro, TN)

30 Grandchildren
20 Great-Grandchildren

He moved to Missouri in 1935 and lived here until his death.

Member of Roby Baptist Church

Funeral: Friday, November 17, 1967
at Roby Baptist Church with Don Brower officiating.
Burial:  Palace Cemetery
Evans-Elliott Funeral Home in charge.

"Deaths: Earp, Oscar Pete." The Houston Herald(Houston, MO) 23 Nov 1967. Digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com  accessed Apr 24, 2019.) citing original p. 11 col 5.

Who are you and how do you know my Grandmother? --Part 2

Questions about Flora's letter and her connection to my family

What year was the letter written?
Flora's daughter was married  to her first husband in 1943.  The daughter would have been divorced some time prior to 1956 as that is when her ex husband marries again.  This leads me to believe that the letter was written some time between 1943-1956.  I searched for a source for divorce records for area of Akron, Summit Co Ohio, USA but didn't find one available on-line.  So I did what I would have done if I were "on the ground" in that area.  I went to their library by way of the website.  As it happens the Akron-Summit Co. Library has done a wonderful job of getting many of the City Directories on-line.  One of the most impressive ones I have seen.  I now totally get the importance of City Directories and how they contain a vast amount of information.

By checking the Directories for the years from 1940 to 1956 I was able to get an idea of the time period in which it was written.  The 1956-57 Directory shows Flora's Son-In-Law and her Daughter living apart from each other.  They were together in the 1954-1955 listing so I think it's safe to say that the letter was written some time in the period from the publication of the 1954 and the 1956.  Flora's son-in-law marries again in June of 1956 so it may be closer to 1954 when they separated and divorced.


Where is their oldest son in 1940 was he already in the Navy?  If so he should be enumerated at the location which he is stationed.

 326. Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines.-Enumerate soldiers, sailors, and marines in the Army or Navy of the United States as residents of the place where they usually sleep in the area where they are stationed. If, therefore, any household in your district reports that one of its members is a soldier, sailor, or marine stationed elsewhere, do not report him as a member of that household. 

Full instructions for 1940 Census are located HERE  (pdf file)


I'm continuing to search for the oldest son in the 1940 Census.  I was able to request a copy of his obit and found that he was living with his sister in 1974 when he passed away.   Oddly it didn't mention the younger brother who I had found through public records and marriage records living in Dade Co FL.  He would pass 6 years after his brother's passing.

As I was searching the directory I also came across some of my Dad's paternal cousins who had moved north from Tennessee to Akron Ohio for work.  Because they had lived in Indiana a good bit of time when I knew them,  I'd forgotten about their Akron Ohio connection.  So I've sent a message to see if any of them know who Flora might be and her connection.

At this point I still kind of think the connection is a chance meeting when my Grandmother went to see her son who was at the naval hospital in the Washington DC area.  Add to this too that I also noticed that Flora's Social Security Application was completed in Washington DC. The years 1952-1954 are listed in parenthesis in the place where the application year is usually located.  These years differ from the time period that my Grandmother would have been there.  I wonder if the older son was living in Washington from 1940-1954.  By the time she wrote the letter in the card he would have been in the hospital in Chillicothe Ohio.

Much more information and research is needed.  A lot of clues but no clear answers yet.