Timeline--Tennessee Ferguson Hill

Tennie's Timeline 

She was born Tennessee Ferguson to James Ferguson and Susan Carson but was never listed as that in any of the census records when she was living at home.  She was always listed under the last name of her step dad James P Cook.  There are still many holes in her timeline but I certainly have a better picture of her life than I did the first time I located her in the 1870 census.  Regarding her first marriage--I'm not sure what happened and at first I thought it might be another Tennie Hill but the evidence that it is her was greater.  I'm still searching for documentation on how that marriage ended. 

I have a copy of the obituary of George H Solifelt.  There were two: one by the town talking about his service in the Army, and another VERY detailed one (likely written by Tennie) which gave the year that the two came to Iola KS as well as a short bio for George.  I haven't found anything to back up anything from the obituaries other than maybe the time they start appearing in Iola and that he was a veteran.   I'm sure there are more clues waiting to be discovered. For now this is what I have on Tennie. 

1862 BIRTH: Bedford Co. TN USA (Nov 25)
1863-1867 DEATH: father James C. Ferguson
1867 MARRIAGE: Mom to Stepdad James Polk Cook
1869 BIRTH: half-sister Harriet Sophie Cook(7 Feb 1869–1960) Bedford Co TN
1870 BIRTH: half-sister Minerva Mae Cook(1870–1913) Bedford Co Tn
1870 CENSUS: District 10, Bedford, Tennessee, USA
1873 BIRTH: half-brother William Clifford Cook(15 Dec 1873–1961)
1880 CENSUS: District 10, Bedford, Tennessee, USA

1880 DEATH: Step Grandmother Elizabeth Putman Cook(5 Sep)
1881 MARRIAGE: Franklin Co AR to Hugh Clawson(15 Nov)¹ 

1882 DEATH: Step Grandfather Wm C Cook (1 Jan)
1881-1886 (Presumably a divorce, annulment, or death of husband #1)
1886 MARRIAGE: Franklin Co AR to Henry F Hill(1 Sep)
1888 DEATH: Step Dad James Polk Cook
1900 CENSUS: Sebastian Co AR
1902 DEATH: Mother Susan Carson(1837–1902) Rover, Bedford Co TN
1907 DEATH: Husband Henry F Hill(1840– 12 Mar 1907)

1909 MOVES:  to Iola Kansas with "Uncle" George H. Solifelt ²

1910 CENSUS:  Not Located
1912 DIRECTORY: listing at 628 N Kentucky Iola, Kansas, USA
1913 DEATH: half-sister Minerva Mae Cook(1870–1913)
1915 RESIDENCE:  Iola, Allen, Kansas, USA (State Census household of G H Solifelt)

1916 RESIDENCE:  Iola, Allen, Kansas, USA 1618 N 1st (widow of Henry--City Directory)

1920 CENSUS: Iola Ward 1, Allen, Kansas, USA
1925 CENSUS: (State) Iola, Allen, Kansas, USA
1927 DEEDS: Iola Register Oct 1927
1930 CENSUS: Iola, Allen, Kansas, USA

1935 WROTE WILL:  (Apr 13)
1935 RESIDENCE: Iola, Allen, Kansas, USA from 1940 Census 

1940 CENSUS: Iola, Allen, Kansas, USA
1943 DIRECTORY: Iola, Allen, Kansas, USA
1945 DIRECTORY: Iola, Kansas, USA
1946 DEATH: Iola, KS, USA (11 Mar) 421 South Buckeye
1946 FUNERAL NOTICE: Iola, Kansas (Mar 12)
1946 BURIAL:  Highland Cemetery Iola, Kansas, USA(Mar 13)³

1946 WILL PROBATED:  Allen Co Kansas Probate Records, Probate file # 6782 (14 Mar)⁴ 

McCorkle Neighbor--Dyer Co TN 1840

Looking at the 1840 US Federal Census for Dyer Co TN and studying those who were enumerated around my 2nd Great Grandfather Wm C Cook.  Most of those that remained in Dyer Co are enumerated in 1850 Federal Census in District 9.  I looked at maps for the years before and after 1840 and I believe that they would have been in the Eastern section of District 4 which was District 9 by 1850.

The most interesting find so far is the household enumerated immediately before Wm C. Cook.  That head of household is R. A. H. McCorkle.   Robert Andrew Hope McCorkle went to Nauvoo, IL  in 1844.  He was interested in learning about the Mormon religion and had questions for Joseph Smith. He didn't get to speak to Smith but did write to him and that correspondence was saved and is interesting reading.  It's a great insight into one of Wm C Cook's neighbors.  You can find more info about this letter at the link below.  This family was also in the Rutherford Co TN area prior to coming to Dyer Co. TN.  Prior to coming to TN they were in Rowan & Iredell Co. NC area.  Also Gillespie and Brandon ancestry in the McCorkle family.

“A Question on My Mind” Robert McCorkle’s 1844 Letter to Joseph Smith

Finding Nancy--Answers and More Questions

Yesterday I took a break from writing my article about my Jakes/Frizzell Great Grandparents and started "Framing out" Part 4 of my 6 post blog series about 1836-1840 Williamson Co TN Dist. 25 folks which include my Putmans(this portion covers surnames M-P).  As I was gathering my Putman information, I wondered why Nancy Putman(widow of Jabel Putman) is not enumerated in 1840.  She's known to be still living and was on the tax list in previous years.  Where is Nancy Putman in 1840?

My plan was to look for her in one of her children's households if I couldn't find a separate listing in another county(she was not showing up in Williamson).  I started in on that and noticed that there was a Noah Putman in Dyer Co TN.  Hmmm not where I'd expect him to be.  Let's check this out! No older female in Noah's household but the person listed right before him on the 1840 US Federal census of Dyer Co TN is Wm C Kook  👀

Could this be Wm C Cook, my 2nd Great Grandfather that I've never been able to find in the 1840 Census?  The ages for all the folks that should be in his household line up perfectly....except there are two extras--an older female who is most likely his Mother in Law, Nancy Putman and a yet unidentified female (15-20).  

While I realize that Cook is a common name, evidence seems to suggest this is most likely him.  

• He is next door to his Brother in law, Noah Putman
• Household composition matches
• Familiar surnames(Call, Hendrix/Hendricks, Harrison, and others) from Williamson Co TN District 25 around him. 
• DNA:  The descendants of Wm C Cook & Elizabeth Putman have a cluster they are in with descendants of a Lightfoot family who is in Dyer Co during the same time period.

I checked the USGW's 1840 Dyer Co TN Census Transcription (pg 104)  just to see how his entry was transcribed.  It was listed as HOOK there.

So now I have my answer to my original question: "Where is Nancy Putman in 1840?"  Nancy is most likely the older female living within the household of Wm C Cook(listed as Wm C Kook) in Dyer Co TN in 1840.  With every answer comes new questions and hopefully answers, documents, and evidence. The circle of research.

Where was Mom & her family in 1950?

I'm using maps to locate where my mother & her parents were enumerated in preparation for the release of the 1950 US Federal Population Census.  I'm fortunate that my Mom is still living and I was able to ask where her family lived in 1950. Mom said they lived "on C P Moore's place."  I found the location on Google Maps.  In another streak of luck, the road is named after C P Moore.  My next step was visiting the National Archives website and looking at the 1950 Enumeration District Map for Van Buren County, Tennessee.  

This is a rural area so even if the index doesn't catch the name, reading thru the district won't be too bad. This is especially true since I'm kin to almost all of Van Buren County residents at least once and in some cases thru multiple ancestors.  

Sources

Enumeration District Maps-Tennessee-Van Buren County. Enumeration District and Related Maps, 1880 - 1990.Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007. National Archives, College Park, Maryland; digital image, National Archives (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/44271012 : accessed 7 February 2022).

Image:  C.P. Moore Road, Rock Island, Tennessee; Map data ©2022 Google (https://www.google.com/maps/ : accessed 7 Feb 2022).

What Date was Census Day?

Viola W Cooke Agee & her big sister Magnus Cooke Snoddy
Daughters of Thomas DeWitt Cooke Sr. & Pearl Gray Jakes Cooke

If you are the least bit interested in family history research and have family that live/lived in the USA you are probably getting prepared for the release of the 1950 US Federal Census.  I've had the locations for Mom and for Dad written down in my notes for awhile but this week I looked them up on the Enumeration District maps to make sure I had those numbers.  Sure it's going to be sort of indexed but most indexes can be problematic even in the best of times.  Add to that the fact that I love to be prepared.  

My Dad's 2nd oldest sibling was Viola White Cooke.  She was born in 1915.  While I know that Cook/Cooke regardless of spelling is a common name I would not have thought that Viola was somewhat common but apparently it was for that time period.  In fact, there was another Viola White Cook born in 1919.  They both lived in Marshall Co. TN.  They are both included in the 1920 census living in the household of their fathers.  Both fathers were named Tom and born in the 1880 time frame.

There are key differences of course--the birth year for the two Violas, The mother's names(Pearl vs. Rosa), siblings names etc.  The other Viola White Cook died Feb 21, 1920.  😥 Because the 1920 census used January 1st as the census day, she was included in the 1920 census despite having only lived for 3 months and 11 days.  As far as I know these two Cook/Cooke families were not related.  If they are connected it will be before the early 1800s.  My Cook research has been stalled at identifying the parents of my 2nd Great Grandfather for the entire 31 years I've been researching.  I am somewhat familiar with the ancestry of the other Tom Cook as he descends from Thomas Cook and Permelia Marcum.

Census Day for the US Federal Census 1790-2020

1790            1st Monday in Aug(Aug. 2nd)

1800            1st Monday in Aug(Aug. 4th)

1810            1st Monday in Aug(Aug. 6th)

1820            1st Monday in Aug(Aug. 7th)

1830-1880   June 1st

1890            June 2nd           

1900            June 1st

1910            April 15th

1920            January 1st

1930-2020    April 1st

I should note that my Aunt Viola White Cooke had also been "confused" with another Viola Cook from the Memphis TN area who was born around 1915 and had parents named Tom and Pearl.  My family name didn't have the E on the end of Cooke in any records I can find until about the 1930s.  

Sources:

United States Census Bureau. "What day was the census taken each decade?" December 9, 2021. https://www.census.gov/.

Viola White Cooke Agee(daughter of Tom Cooke & Pearl Gray Jakes Cooke)

"United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNRS-SM9 : 3 February 2021), Vaiola Cook in entry for T D Cook, 1920.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34100297/thomas-dewitt-cooke : accessed 05 February 2022), memorial page for Thomas Dewitt Cooke Sr. (13 Jul 1888–18 Mar 1971), Find a Grave Memorial ID 34100297, citing Mount Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by rmbeckman (contributor 48136157) .

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34100383/pearl-gray-cooke : accessed 05 February 2022), memorial page for Pearl Gray Jakes Cooke (21 Mar 1891–1 Jul 1993), Find a Grave Memorial ID 34100383, citing Mount Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by rmbeckman (contributor 48136157) .

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25665088/viola-white-agee : accessed 05 February 2022), memorial page for Viola White Cooke Agee (12 Jun 1915–18 Oct 2006), Find a Grave Memorial ID 25665088, citing Mount Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by rmbeckman (contributor 48136157) .

Viola White Cook(daughter of Tom Cook & Rosie Joyce Cook)

"United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNRS-96Q : 3 February 2021), Viola Cook in entry for Tom Cook, 1920.

"Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1966," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N9PP-3LG : 23 February 2021), Viola White Cook, 21 Feb 1920; Death, Chapel Hill, Marshall, Tennessee, United States, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/96382633/tom-cook : accessed 05 February 2022), memorial page for Tom Cook (1883–1924), Find a Grave Memorial ID 96382633, citing Smyrna Cemetery, Chapel Hill, Marshall County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by Larry Haynes (contributor 47214604) .

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/96382124/rosie-cook : accessed 05 February 2022), memorial page for Rosie Joyce Cook (Jul 1889–1937), Find a Grave Memorial ID 96382124, citing Smyrna Cemetery, Chapel Hill, Marshall County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by Larry Haynes (contributor 47214604) .

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/96382642/viola-cook : accessed 05 February 2022), memorial page for Viola Cook (1919–1919), Find a Grave Memorial ID 96382642, citing Smyrna Cemetery, Chapel Hill, Marshall County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by Larry Haynes (contributor 47214604) .

Williamson Co. TN--Dist 25(1836-1840)--J-L

Over the past few years I've been studying Williamson Co TN Dist. 25 in hopes that knowing how the families were interconnected will help  break thru my Cook brick wall.  Using a spreadsheet, I pulled together my notes and information on this community in order to have a quick reference when those surnames showed up in any other parts of my research. I'm publishing this to my blog in the hopes of finding other researchers interested in the area and time period that the information here might help.  This portion contains families who were living in or taxed in District 25 of Williamson Co TN during the years 1836-1840 whose surnames begin with J-L.  When possible I've noted connections in neighboring districts.  Simply put, there is a lot of overlap of families between Williamson Co TN Dist. 25,  the Versailles and Eagleville area of Rutherford Co TN and Bedford Co TN Dist. 10(Rover). Also please note that anyone listed as NOT enumerated in District 25 should probably read not listed as Head of Household in Williamson Co. TN District 25.  They may be within another household OR they may not be enumerated at all within the district for a number of reasons. 

A-C           D-H            J-L          M-P           R-S           T-Z

Jackson

Frances Sr (Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839) Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.
Frances Jr.(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1839) Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.
Frances H(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838) Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.
Nathan(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839)Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.
Richard(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1837, 1838, 1839)Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.
Samuel(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.
Sarah(Dist. 25 Tax List:  1837, 1838, 1839)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.
Thomas(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1837, 1838, 1839)Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.
William(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839)Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

[These Jacksons are Francis M Jackson and his descendants. Francis was the son of

Thomas and Mary Jackson. He was from Amelia Co Virginia. He married Elizabeth

W. Childress. Their children were born in VA except for Francis & David who were

born in Rockingham Co NC. Dick Poplin wrote an article about them which is in the

Rover Vol 2 Book on p 234]

Jarrett

F. S. Jarrett (Dist. 25 Tax List: 1839)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

Jones

Allen B Jones(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1837)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.
John Jones(Dist. 25 Tax List: None)Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.
Thomas Jones(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1838, 1839)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

Jordan
Blunt Jordan--Dist. 25 Tax List: None) Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

Lamb

Barham Lamb(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1838)Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

David Little Lamb(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

David Long Lamb(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

David Lamb Jr.(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1838, 1839)Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

David Lamb Sr.(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839)Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

Harper Lamb(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839)Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

Jonathan Lamb(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836)Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

Merriman Lamb(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1838 )Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

In 1837 & 1839 there is a Merriman Lamb listed on the Bedford Co. TN Dist 10 Tax List.

Thomas Lamb(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839)Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

William Lamb(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839)Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.Also same on

[This Lamb family descends from Thomas and Alice Longshore Lamb who were Quakers from Bucks

PA. They moved south thru VA, NC and eventually Union Co SC before arriving in Williamson Co TN.

They left the Quaker religion and were active as Primitive Baptist (Padgett Creek SC). There are

connections between the Lambs and the Landrum thru their church, intermarriage and both came to TN

from Union Co SC Specifically those descendants of David Lamb and Esther Landrum]

Landrum

Delilah Landrum(Dist. 25 Tax List:1836, 1837, 1838, 1839)Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

Widow of Merriman Landrum. They married in Union Co SC.

John Landrum(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839)Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

Son in Law of John Hall. Baptist Preacher Mt Pleasant Church Son of Reuban & Mary Ray

Landum

Thomas Landrum(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1837, 1838)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

William Landrum(Dist. 25 Tax List: None )Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

Lewis

Andrew G Lewis(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

William C Lewis(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839)Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

Little

Alfred L. Little(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1837,1838) Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.
He was also among those who made purchases at the Estate Sale of Joseph S Cook.

He married Martha Pope daughter of Charles Pope & Elizabeth Smith Pope.  Some

researchers have her as a 1st wife but she may have been the only wife.  The 1850 census

for them is a mess. She couldn't have died by 1851 as some claim as the youngest son's

death certificate said his Mom was a Pope. I'm thinking it is more than likely that Martha E's 

middle name was Emily. At any rate more research is needed and hopefully this will help.

David Little(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1837) Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

John Little Jr(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837,1838, 1839)Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840
John Little Sr(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836, 1837,1838, 1839)Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840

Joseph C Little(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836) Enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840

William Little--(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1838) Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.
There is a Wm. Little/Lytle on Bedford Co TN Dist. 10(Rover) for years 1836, 1837, and 1838.

Zachariah Little(Dist. 25 Tax List: 1836 & 1839) Not enumerated in Dist. 25 in 1840.

He and W. C. Cooke signed each others marriage bond.  

Sources: 

• Tennessee, US, Early Tax List Records, 1783-1895 https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2883/
• Williamson County(Tennessee) Tax Records 1800-1963) Tax records 1831-1845 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4V-V2HL?mode=g&cat=234786
• Tennessee State Library and Archives. Ancestry.com. North Carolina and Tennessee, U.S., Early Land Records, 1753-1931 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
• Nance, R. Fred, and John W. Nance. 1983. The history of Versailles, tenth district, and its people. Murfreesboro, Tenn. (P.O. Box 906, Murfreesboro 37130): Rutherford County Historical Society.
• "United States Census, 1840." Database with images. FamilySearch.

Bedford Co TN.  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YTB-921F?wc=31SJ-161%3A1588669927%2C1588669780%2C1588665902&cc=1786457

Rutherford Co TN  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYB9-98FZ?wc=31SK-FMD%3A1588669927%2C1588669425%2C1588665902&cc=1786457

Williamson Co TN  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YB7-4DT?wc=31S2-443%3A1588669927%2C1588667580%2C1588665902&cc=1786457

• Rover Historical Society. History of Rover and the 10th district of Bedford County: lest we forget the people and things in our corner of the world. Vol. I(1986), Vol. II(1999). Paducah, Ky: Turner Pub. Co.