This Official Site of The TNGenWeb and USGenWeb Projects is
Giles County, Tennessee
Pisgah History - Part III
By W. Thomas Carden
A Giles County TNGenWeb Project
PISGAH HISTORY
By W. Thomas Carden
October 27, 1904
Sketch of Early Settlers and Their Descendants.
The NEAL family have been influential citizens of this neighborhood for many years. There are but few of the name at present in these parts but their descendants are numerous, being some of the-foremost people in this vicinity. Charles NEAL came from Virginia. He is buried in the graveyard at this place. His wife is buried at Bunker Hill. He was the father of John, Matthias, Isaac, Wiley, Mrs. Mary WELLS, Mrs. Allen PITTS, and Mrs. Nancy WESTMORELAND.
John was born in 1797, and died August 14, 1878. He married Miss Sandal ABERNATHY. She was born in Brunswick County, Virginia, July .6, 1789, and died August 11, 1854. Henry, William and Mary were the children by this marriage. Henry was the husband of Miss Sarah Ann NEAL, who is living at the age of 77 years. He was born November 6, 1825, and died July 26, 1854. They had three children, all are now dead. Isaac Henry died in Arkansas when 19 years old. Mrs. E. F. AYMETT deceased; Mrs. GOLIGHTLY deceased; were the other two. Dr. R. E. AYMETT married Mrs. GOLIGHTLY's only daughter, Annie. Their children, Leonard J., Allen, Rachel E., and Urban are the sixth generation of Charles NEAL. Mary NEAL married Dr. W. E. LANCASTER. John NEAL's second wife was a Miss JACKSON. One child, Martha, was born by this union. She married Henry BUTLER and lives in Pulaski.
Matthias NEAL moved to Texas in 1846. He married Pauline CARUTHERS. She was living a few years ago at the age of about 90 years. She was a remarkable woman. Even at that age she wrote with her own hand a very beautiful letter, forming the letters in the old style, evenly. Their only son died in early life. One daughter married a WALPOLE, the other a Captain MOORE. A son of Captain MOORE is a leading lawyer of Paris, Texas, and has been State Senator.
Isaac NEAL was an old bachelor.
Wiley NEAL had several children. One girl married a BLACK, another married a BRADLEY, another a JOHNSON. David now lives at Vinta. Dr. George was killed at Ft. Donelson during the war. Dr. Wiley, I think, is living in Lawrence County. Mrs. KENNEDY and Mrs. Ken MCKNIGHT were twin sisters. They are living at the advanced age of about eighty years.
Mrs. Mary WELLS was born May 6, 1801, and died March 6, 1859.
Mrs. Nancy WESTMORELAND wife of Laban, was the mother of T. J. and Dr. Monroe (notice of whom has already been made). Several of her sons were doctors. Dr. Lum died in Arkansas. Dr. Pomp died a few years ago in Alabama. Dr. Jerome lives in Little Rock, Arkansas. Field died in Texas. Marshall died in Colorado. Hawkins died near Elkmont, Alabama.
John NEAL lived once where Dr. LANCASTER lives, also a Mrs. WHITNEY lived at that place in time. John NEAL lived on the ridge in a log cabin where Henry BUTLER's house now stands, moving there in 1846. One Sunday morning a large turkey gobbler strolled into the yard. Mr. NEAL got his flint-lock to shoot it but the powder in the powder pan was damp. He took sight of the turkey while his wife touched the powder with a live coal. When the smoke cleared away the turkey was there with a bullet through its head.
Esquire Killman DANIEL lived at that place before Mr. NEAL. He owned a pet bear, which he had captured, that he kept fastened to a tree in the yard and wild bears would visit bruin at night. Esquire DANIEL moved to Ocolona, Mississippi, about 1846. He had two children. Margie married a BUCHANAN. She and a soldier who fell sick and died while stopping with Mr. NEAL, are buried on the BUTLER place. William DANIEL married a sister of General George GORDON, a noted lawyer of Memphis.
Dr. William E. LANCASTER was a native of South Carolina, and a direct descendant of Daniel BOONE, his mother being a BOONE. The family claim to belong to the lineage of the LANCASTERS of England who are mentioned in the War of the Roses. They are undoubtedly the scions of this illustrious name. They retain the old pronunciation of the name. Dr. LANCASTER, when seventeen years old, came to this County with William May, a kinsman. They settled above Pulaski on the Columbia Turnpike near Pigeon Roost Creek. Dr. LANCASTER taught school for several years. Major J. B. STACY, Esquire, William ALEXANDER and Mrs. WALES (nee PHILLIPS) went to school to him. He gave Major Joe a trouncing whenever the young fellow deserved it. He was associated with Dr. FIELDS and studied medicine under him. He clerked in a drug store. He clerked awhile in a dry goods house. One day a very poor man wanted to buy a shirt on credit and Dr. LANCASTER sold it to him. The proprietor of the store wanted to know why he credited such a worthless looking fellow. Dr. LANCASTER said he would pay for it if Joe CHILDERS did not. Mr. CHILDERS was the man who bought the shirt. Dr. LANCASTER attended lectures at Louisville, Cinncinatti and Jefferson College, at Philadelphia. His sons have notes he took while at college, which are lucid, succinct and ample. He practiced medicine in Giles County for about sixty years. He was a man of charity and did many deeds of love and sympathy. He had a retentive memory and a fine intellect. He was well versed in equity and jurisprudence. He wrote a will which Governor John C. BROWN was employed to.set aside but when the will was examined, he said that it was sheet-anchor in strength and he could not touch it. When Governor BROWN later wrote one of his law books he inserted the form of this will verbatim as a legal pattern. Dr. LANCASTER died in 1900, aged eighty six years. His wife died several years before. They had eight children, six of whom are still living. Mattie died when a young lady. John Earl died when an infant. William Henry ("Bud") is a merchant at this place. Alonzo J. ("Hoss") and George Washington ("Judge") are doctors. Miss Desdemonia Boone and Miss Ella live with their brothers. Mrs. M. E. BUTLER, of Pulaski, is the other daughter. Her children - Misses Mamie and Pearl and Ruby, twins - are the only living grandchildren of Dr. LANCASTER.
George Washington OLIVER was born July 2, 1767, and died December 25, 1833. His wife, (nee Ann WILSON) was born February 3, 1772, and died October 15, 1865. He came from North Carolina to this place about eighty six years ago. He was a camper for several years. He had two sons.
William H. was born February 16, 1813, in Williamson County, North Carolina, and, when four years of age, came to this place with his father. He married Sarah Ann WILSON. She was born July 2, 1830, and died May 26, 1867. Eight children, four boys and four girls, were born of them. Only two are alive. George Jefferson was born June 29, 1847, and died August 12, 1870. Nancy Caroline died when young. Fountain Pitts died when an infant. Felix Zebulon died early. Charlotte Sonorah married Honorable E. P. HARWELL. She died December 25, 1886. Miss Ann Eliza lives with her brother, William M. OLIVER.
Mr. OLIVER married Miss Katherine MCCONNICO the second time. Three sons were born of this marriage. Only one, John H. OLIVER, lives. George Garner and an infant died. Mr. OLIVER died November 4, 1881. His widow married W. H. AYMETT and is living. Mr. OLIVER built the old homeplace where J. H. OLIVER lives. The floor in this house is ash and is about one hundred years old. It was taken out of a house on the place. Mr. OLIVER was a camper at the camp meetings.
The other son of G. W. OLIVER was Ananias and was known as Major OLIVER. He also came from North Carolina. He died in 1866. His son, Van, was killed in an altercation at Montgomery, Alabama. Major OLIVER served in the Indian Wars of 1812-14. Major OLIVER married Nancy HARWELL, a daughter of Raleigh HARWELL. Mendoza, a daughter, married, first, Felix MCKNIGHT, second, Arch YOUNG, and third, her first cousin, Marlon MARKS. Pauline died when a young woman. Erastus is dead. America married Walker W. WINSTEAD, now living in Nashville. J. Phillips OLIVER lives in Nashville. Hester Ann ("Babe") married Dr. WINSTEAD of Williamson County, a brother of Walker W. WINSTEAD. Walker W. WINSTEAD, a shoe merchant on Church Street, Nashville, is a son of America Oliver WINSTEAD. He married Bettie RUCKER, of Rutherford County. They have two children, Marguerite, aged about 17 years, and Walter aged about 12 years. Dr. Fletcher OLIVER, deceased, was another son. Mrs. Rebecca OLIVER, his widow, and daughters, Misses Dora and Virginia, live in Pulaski. Clanton, a son, is dead. Swan and Hawkins are sons. Melvin, another son of Major OLIVER, was killed at Shelton Hill, near Corinth, Mississippi, in April, 1862. W. M. OLIVER owns a little rocking chair which his father possessed when a baby. The old man used it to rest his head in when he took a nap, in his closing days. The chair is strong and well preserved and is bottomed with hickory bark. John H. OLIVER has a very old folding table which belonged to his father. Mrs. W. M. OLIVER has a plaited, hand-made straw hat, which was made by her great grandfather, Nathan BASS. It is made of wheat straw with a high top and varnished. It is sewn with waxed flax thread. It looks well and without close examination one would think it a bought hat at the stores of today. W. M. OLIVER has two children - Collins aged about twelve years and Mary Will aged about eight years. J. H. OLIVER has four boys, all small.
Alfred HOUZE came from Brunswick County, Virginia, to this place. He was a respected citizen of this section, a useful member of the church, and a substantial farmer. He married Miss Caroline MCKNIGHT. Ten children were born to them - five boys and five girls. All of the boys and three of the girls are living. W. M. ("Bud"), John M. ("Trip"), Felix H. ("Speck"), R. L. ("Blade"), and Charlie are the boys. Mrs. F. M. BASS, of Bunker Hill, Mrs. WILLIAMS, of Decatur, Alabama, and Miss Lula are the girls. Mr. HOUZE died ten years ago, aged 73 years. His widow lives at the old homeplace where she has lived for fifty six years. She is seventy eight years old. "Bud" and Charlie are the only two of the boys who married. Misses Mary, Nola, Lois and Lucile and Marvin, Garland and Alfred are the children of "Bud". Mrs. Tom Odeneal, Mrs. John Morris, Misses Blanche, Minnie, Etta, Jeffie and Dewitt BASS are F. M. BASS'S children. Mrs. Carrie PRESTON, Elmer and three small boys are the children of Mrs. WILLIAMS.
Willis WORLEY, son of Gabriel WORLEY, one of a large family, was born in Williamson County in 1818. He came with his father and settled on Bradshaw. Mr. WORLEY, Sr., was in affluent circumstances and owned a large farm and many slaves. Mr. WORLEY, Jr., moved near Pisgah in 1874. He married a Miss WOOD the first time. Seven children were born of this union, to wit; R. Winfield, John, W. M., George W., W. Pinson, Chattie, who married a man named JACKSON, and Martha, who married a PACK. The widow of R. W. WORLEY lives at Bradshaw. Their children are Virgil, who married Miss Mildred ABERNATHY, and has a little daughter named Lucile; Birdie L., who married W. H. BELL, and lives in Pulaski; L. BROWN, who married Miss Leila YOUNG, and Talmage. Mrs. Will WINFORD and Miss Colie WORLEY are the children of W. M. George W. went to West Tennessee and lives at Elbridge. He has four children - Marvin, Ethel, who married a GALLOWAY, Mamie, and Sallie. Bonnie, Lula, Sallie, Ruby, Willis and Van are the children of W. P. They live in Pulaski. Mrs. PACK lives in Texas. Mrs. JACKSON lives in California. Mr. WORLEY married Margaret HAMLIN for the second time. Five boys and four girls were born of this marriage. P. Vic is married and lives at Young. He has no children. Henry Clay lives near this place. He married a daughter of Esquire R. L. CULPS. His children are; Neil, Lee (Dead), Arnold, Henry, Ollie, Willie, Lake, Hudson, Birdie and Louise. Daniel A. is dead. He married Jennie MCCORMICK. W. Flournoy, Flautt, Lacie and Gertrude, are his children. Robert L. is married and has several children. Sallie died when young. Fannie married William HARWELL. They have three children -Horace, Sadie and a baby girl. Maggie married a Mr. DOSS. Sullie A. married Joe AYERS. They have a son named Grady. Tully married Mary Lou WRIGHT. He has a little girl named Ruby. In 1872 Willis WORLEY represented Giles County in the lower house of the Legislature. He bought $10.00 worth of Lottery Tickets in the Kentucky Lottery Association and in 1874 he drew a prize of $50,000. He died of Typhoid Fever a few years ago and is buried in Pulaski.
PISGAH HISTORY
By W. Thomas Carden
November 3, 1904
The AYMETT Family and Their Progenitors.
The AYMETT Family in this section is a large aggregation. They doubtless sprung from the older of two brothers who came to America from Europe. These two brothers, John and Francis, were of Huguenot descent. They came first to Charleston, thence to Newbern, North Carolina, and finally settled in Jones County, about thirty miles from Newbern. There is evidence that the name in that State and the name in this State originated from the same parentage stock. Francis AYMETT (grandfather of Mrs. Maude AYMETT Bragaw, informant of this data) was a descendant of Francis, the younger of the two brothers. He had two sisters. One married a BANKS and the other married a MERCER. Francis AYMETT and his wife, Anna, had four children Susan, Mary, Sarah and John. Susan married Joseph BROCK. The other two girls died unmarried. John Edward married Mary HAYWOOD of the well known HAYWOOD Family of North Carolina. They had five children - Anna, Elizabeth, Ida, Maude and Mary. The first two died in infancy. Ida died soon after graduation at St. Mary's, Raleigh, North Carolina. Maude married Stephen Gambreling BRAGAW, of the old BLOUNT Family of Eastern North Carolina. Governor BLOUNT of Tennessee belonged to this family. They have no children. Mary married Dr. John Moore MANNING, son of Dr. MANNING, Professor of Law in the State University of North Carolina. They have one child - Mary HAYWOOD. These AYMETT's are all Episcopalians, unreconstructed rebels and Democrats.
The first AYMETT to come to this County was William, better known as Jerry. He came originally from Newbern, North Carolina, where he was born July 23, 1797. The name was formerly spelled "AMYETT", but, through an inadvertance of some sort, it was changed to the way it is now spelled. William AYMETT left home, when a mere stripling, and went to Philadelphia, where he secured an apprenticeship under a carpenter. He followed that vocation for some time, and came to Nashville, and from there to Murfreesboro. Later he came to Giles County. He married Louisa HAMILTON, a niece of Judge MCNAIRY, the first judge of Davidson County. Judge MCNAIRY owned a 5,000 acre tract of land on Buchanan and Leatherwood Creeks. Having no children, he bequeathed and sold this land to relatives. Mrs. AYMETT was given 316 acres. Her Brothers, Tom and Andrew HAMILTON received 300 acres each. W. M. OLIVER now owns the Andrew HAMILTON farm. Miss WILSON, whom John MCCORMICK married the first time, secured 250 acres. Bob MCNAIRY, a brother of the Judge, bought 1,700 acres. The remainder was divided into tracts and sold and given to various relatives. Mr. AYMETT was a small man of great courage. He was eccentric. For shrewdness, keen wit and repartee he was unexcelled in this County. He was a noted Whig. For years he was assistant clerk in the County Court and Circuit Court. He enjoyed life as few do. His energies were bent toward pleasure. He lived to be ninety four years old. He wanted to live to be 100, and, had he done so, intended giving a banquet to his many friends. His death occurred in 1891. He had eleven children - nine boys and two girls. The oldest child was Katherine. She married K. A. BUCHANAN and moved to Arkansas, where they raised a large family. Doria married P. B. BUCHANAN, brother of above, and went to Arkansas, also. They reared a large family, mostly girls. The boys were Hance Hamilton, James McNairy, ("Hub"), W. H. ("Cud"), Henry Clay, John M., F. Duff, E. F. ("Babe"), Tillman and A. S. ("Button").
Major Hance is living on Leatherwood, aged about eighty years. He belonged to the 53rd Tennessee Regiment. His children are: Thomas W., William B., Ben and Mrs. Pink ABERNATHY, twins, and Mrs. Leodocia HOPKINS. Delia and Mary died when young. Anna married Lewis KING. She is dead.
W. H. is living on BUCHANAN Creek. His children are: Professor William D., who is single; Felix; Henry W., a magistrate of the Seventh Civil District, this County; Mrs. Lou MCCORMICK, who recently was left a widow with six boys and two girls, all small; Mrs. Mildred STORY, who has three children, and Miss Lucy.
The children of E. F. AYMETT are: Estelle, who married a KENNEDY and lives at Caruthersville, Missouri; Shelly who recently married John MCGINNIS, and Mary.
Henry Clay is dead. His children are: Dr. Robert Erskine, and Wesley. Two small children are dead. His widow lives at the old homeplace.
F. Duff died about a year ago. Julian, Elizabeth, Mattie, and McCallum, with their mother survive him. They live on Leatherwood Creek.
Tillman and A. S. are dead. They had no family.
John M., who is a prosperous farmer and prominent citizen, lives at the old AYMETT Homestead, to which he has added tracts from time to time. He married, in 1868, Ann Eliza HARWELL. She died in 1904. They had two children. The son died when young. Lillie, the daughter, married J. Allen LOYD, a druggist of Pulaski. She married a Mr. BIRDSONG first but he died in a short time afterwards. Mr. AYMETT was a member of General BROWN's Company, 3rd Tennessee Regiment. After the fall of Donelson and exchange of prisoners, he joined the Fifty Third Tennessee and was made Sergeant Major. After HOOD'S retreat from Nashville and Franklin, he was elected Lieutenant in Captain DAVIS' Company, First Tennessee Cavalry, and went out with HOOD. They marched through Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. During the battle at Henry Court House the Captain was wounded and the command fell on Mr. AYMETT. The Colonel of the Regiment threw him rear guard to cover retreat. He joined Joseph E. JOHNSON's Army, and surrendered in May, 1865, at Charlotte, North Carolina. They marched back to Knoxville. The horses of all privates were taken from them but the officers were permitted to keep their horses. When they left for home they went two and two and when one would come to a road which carried him home he would turn off. Mr. AYMETT and Lieutenant John D. BUTLER, of the First Tennessee Cavalry were neighbors. They rode home together and were the last to separate.
James M. AYMETT died a few months ago, aged 76 years. He left one son, James V., who has several children. The oldest daughter, Mary Lizzie, married Eddie Lee HOPKINS a few months since.
An exciting incident, in which Mr. AYMETT figured conspicuously, took place on Leatherwood Creek. There is some variance as to details but the main facts in the case seem as follows: A Yankee soldier, for whom Mr. Jerry AYMETT entertained a decided liking, often spent long visits with Mr. AYMETT. There was a still house not far away and one day a party of certain men, who lived at that time in this section, came from the distillery drunk. They stopped at Mr. AYMETT's and wanted to take the Yankee off with them, and wanted ("Hub") to go with them. Mr. AYMETT divined their intentions and protested most earnestly against his Yankee friend being carried away. The men promised not to hurt the soldier. They carried him away and in a short time shots were heard in the direction they had gone. In a few days F. D. and E. F. AYMETT passed by where the soldier had been killed and a buzzard was sitting on his breast. The body was never buried. People got the bones and were making knife handles and other toilet articles of them, when the Federal Authorities appeared on the scene to arrest the perpetrators of such indignities. One man was using the skull for a soap receptacle. Years afterwards a long bone was found in a mill-race on Buchanan Creek. A doctor, seeing it, said it was that of a human, and it was discovered that it was the-femur bone of this soldier. Shortly after the murder this whole section was put under strict Military Rule. Mr. AYMETT had left his father's home and gone to his mother-in-law's home - Mrs. MCLIN, when the killing happened. He was reported, however, to the authorities and arrested and jailed. He was the only one arrested. The guilty parties could not be apprehended. The Federals built a gallows and were about to hang Mr. AYMETT, whether or no, when he made his escape. A friend, learning that they intended to execute Mr. AYMETT the following day, visited him in prison and they formulated a plan of escape. A permit was secured from General DODGE to visit Arney RICHARDSON, and two guards were sent to escort him. Probably Mr. AYMETT told the guards he would get them some whiskey. He talked with his friend and came back to the guards. He leaned forward, as to whisper into the guard's ear. When the soldier bent his head, Mr. AYMETT knocked him down, grabbed his gun, and knocked the other down, and ran. It was about dusk. In a short time pursuit was made. Blue-coats were running hither and thither all over Pulaski. Some say Mr. AYMETT ran to "Frog Bottom" and fell into the branch, where the soldiers had been slaughtering beeves and hogs, and that he covered himself with a skin and crawled down the branch, imitating an old sow, in sight of the soldiers. He managed to get to East Hill and climbed a cedar tree. A little negro saw him and gave the alarm. He dodged again and again and finally got away. He came to Henry AYMETT's. Mrs. Eliza TARPLEY tore up her riding skirts to make moccasins for him as his feet were torn and bleeding. She also fed him. He hid in a kind of sink hole on his brother Henry's farm and stayed until all danger was over. Dr. R. E. AYMETT was a small boy at the time and carried victuals to him. Mr. AYMETT was entirely innocent of this dastardly, monstrous crime. When the Yankees learned the particulars in the case and that Mr. AYMETT had been reported by an enemy he was never again molested. He lived a long peaceful life on Leatherwood Creek esteemed and respected by all.
PISGAH HISTORY
By W. Thomas Carden
November 10, 1904
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The ABERNATHY Family is one of the largest and best connected families in the County. Quite a number of the name have lived in and around Pisgah and many of the older ones camped and attended camp meetings at this place. William, son of Charles and Ellis ABERNATHY was born April 4, 1742, in Virginia. He married Elizabeth CLAYTON. All of their children were born in Virginia. He died February 8, 1832. The following were their children: Clayton who was born September 21, 1769; Alice, who was born December 17, 1771; William, who was born July 29, 1774; Jesse, who was born July 3, 1778, and died July 19, 1851; Caty, who was born January 11, 1781, and married Alexander TARPLEY; Susannah, who was born March 20, 1783, and married Alan ABERNATHY; John, who was born February 23, 1785, and died March 7, 1861; Eliza, who was born March 4, 1787, and died October 1, 1831, and was the wife of Jonathan DRAKE; and Charles Clayton, who was born July 27, 1790, and died January 2, 1877. I do not know how many of them came to this County.
Charles Clayton ABERNATHY was born in Brunswick county, Virginia. He married Susan W. HARRIS the first time. Elizabeth, the oldest child, was born October 30, 1816. She married Richard DALEY. They had one son. The second child, Mary Ann, was born August 28, 1818. She married Alfred EASON. They had a large offspring. Gilbert T. was the third child. He was born May 21, 1820, and died in Montgomery County in 1888. He left a large family. Alfred Harris, the fourth child, was born February 26, 1822. He was a scholarly man and was a noted educator. Dr. Charles Alfred is a son and has a son named Shields. A. Samuel, County Superintendent of Public Instruction, is a son. He married a Miss MAY and has the following named children: May HARRIS, Aubrey Lee, who recently married Thomas O'NEAL, Butler, Haywood, Fisher and Samuel, Jr., Mrs. J. V. AYMETT is a daughter. She has several children. "Bub" is another son. He is engaged in teaching school in Pulaski. He has a daughter named Julia. One daughter married a RODEN and has a daughter named Elizabeth. Butler ABERNATHY, Sr., is a son of Alfred H. ABERNATHY. The fifth child of Charles Clayton, Sr., was Maria D., who was born November 23, 1823. She married James Milton PAINE, a half-brother of Bishop Robert PAINE. They had one son and three daughters. She died July 5, 1901. Susanne, the sixth child, was born August 24, 1825. She married J. P. MAY, and is the mother of Dr. Pink MAY. She has been dead several years. Dr. Charles Clayton was the seventh child. He was born October 9, 1827, and died April 27, 1903. He had two daughters - Mrs. Mollie BYRNE and Mrs. Eliza PAISLEY. William Allen, the eighth child, was born January 26, 1830, and died March 29, 1848. John S., the ninth child, was born August 14, 1832, and was mortally wounded at Cheat Mountain, Virginia, in September, 1861. Judge Andrew J., was the tenth child. He was born September 18, 1834. He was Chancery Judge for sixteen years. Several of his children died in infancy. Three are living - Mrs. CUNNINGHAM, Rebecca and Sadie. The Judge is well preserved and is quite an affable man of deep piety and erudite attainment. He lives at Pulaski. Katie, the eleventh child, died when a babe.
Charles Clayton, Sr., married the second time, Elizabeth H. DICKSON, a sister of Colonel DICKSON, July 16, 1848. The twelfth child is J. Polk, the present Clerk and Master of Giles County. He has two grown children - Ensign Robert and Miss Tommie - and three or four small children. The thirteenth child is Ada E., relict of the late F. D. AYMETT. The fourteenth child is Delia T., wife of W. S. BUTLER, County Judge of Giles County. The fifteenth child is Robert D., of Pulaski. The sixteenth child is Charles M. The seventeenth child is Dr. Albert Sidney. The eighteenth child died when young. The nineteenth child was Charlotte, who married Frank WILLIAMS. They have several children and live in Pulaski.
James and Elisha ABERNATHY, two brothers, came from Virginia to this County. James had nine boys and two girls. Their names were: Hardaway, John, Clayton, Elbert, Sterling, Lee, Turner, Hartwell, Caltson, Mrs. Davis BROWN, and Mrs. William BIRDSONG. Elisha had nine girls and two boys. Their names were: Elise, who married her first cousin, Turner ABERNATHY; Harriet, who married Jessie GRUBBS; Ellen, who married William GRUBBS; Nancy, who married Baker POTTS; Susan, who married James WATSON; Mary, who married a COFFMAN; Martha, who married a GRIFFITH; Parthenia, who married Bryant FOWLER, and a girl that died when young, and James, and William, who choked to death when a small boy. A. L. ABERNATHY is a son of Eliza and Turner ABERNATHY. He has three children - Mrs. Holland, Mrs. V. E. WORLEY, and Homer.
Sterling ABERNATHY was a prominent citizen of this section. He was born in 1811 in Brunswick County, Virginia, and came to this place in 1817. He died in 1879, aged 69 years. His children were: William J., who lives near Pulaski; Mart, who lives at Curve, West Tennessee; Eb, Ned, Mrs. Press BASS, Mrs. Pat BASS, Mrs. Parilee OSBORNE, Mrs. Lee SMITH, Mrs. Rebecca OLIVER, and a girl that died early.
Most of these have families and some of their children live in this section. Mrs. J. H. OLIVER and Mrs. Samuel S. HARWELL are daughters of Mrs. OSBURNE. The other OSBURNE children live in West Tennessee.
Thomas and James ABERNATHY lived near Elkton. They were wealthy and influential citizens. They had camped at Pisgah for several years. Thomas ABERNATHY married a sister of Bishop Robert PAINE. She died in 1891.
Stephen, Alexander, William, John H., Henry and Cole LOYD, with several sisters, came from Brunswick County, Virginia, to this County. They were influential citizens of this section and their descendants are prominent people of the county. Several of the older men were leaders in the camp meetings.
Among other noted families of this section is the SMITH family. Robert SMITH was the first of the family to settle in Giles County. He married a RHODES and had a large family. R. M., of Pulaski, Lee, of Bunker Hill, Mrs. HOUSE, of Nashville, and Mrs. Charlotte LOYD are the only ones now living. Washington SMITH died this year. O. E. SMITH was his son. He has one child - Robert Everett. "Buck" was killed during the war. William, Zachary and "Polly" are dead. I do not learn the names of the others. R. C. SMITH is a son of R. M. SMITH. He married Jennie LOYD. They have three children - Thurman, Virgil and Ellen. Mrs. Reverend Robert H. HUDGENS, of Nashville, Mrs. Claude BENNETT, of Pulaski, Arney,and Orman, William and Eunice (the two latter are dead) are the other children of R. M. SMITH.
Rebecca COLLINS McCracken was born in Lincoln County November 10, 1809. She was a daughter of Abner COLLINS, an old Revolutionary Soldier and a Hardshell Baptist. He lived to the advanced age of 93 years. At the age of nineteen, Rebecca married John Lytle MCCRACKEN, and moved to Giles County a few years later. They were both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church but always camped at Pisgah during camp meetings. Five children were born to them, to wit: Luther, Mary, Martha, John C., and Cordelia. Luther married Charlotte SMITH and died during the Civil War. Mary married Means STORY, both dying shortly afterwards. Martha died quite young, John C. married Mary BARNES. Cordelia married Samuel MAYES. John Lytle, the father, died in 1855. "Aunt Becky", as she was usually called, was an energetic woman of profound intelligence. Her memory was remarkably good, remaining so until a year or two before her death, which occured April 1903. She was very religious and was full of piety and zeal. Her last words were "glory". She belonged to a family noted for their longevity. She was 94 years of age. At the time of her death she had ten grandchildren. Robert S., and W. W. MCCRACKEN, of Bunker Hill, Mrs. E. F. AYMETT, of Pisgah, Mrs. R. S. TUCKER, Mrs. Henry MCKINNEY, John Lytle MCCRACKEN, of Bunker Hill, Mrs. W. P. DOBBINS, of Pulaski, and Mae and Belle MCCRACKEN. She also had twenty two great-grand children and two great-great-grandchildren, little daughters of Luther Holt.
Reverend James B. BROWN lived at Pisgah many years ago, leaving a widow and several small children. Reverend W. D. BROWN, who went to Mississippi; Reverend Willis J. BROWN, of near Pulaski; M. P. BROWN now dead; Mrs. Ella WILLIAMS now dead; Mrs. Lucy A. WILKERSON; and Pitts B. BROWN, a conductor on the L & N Railroad for several years, were his children.
The children of Reverend W. J. BROWN are: Coley, Marvin, Fannie, Elizabeth, Florence, dead, Pitts, Neil, Ed, and William, dead.
Larkin CARDEN came from South Carolina to this County in 1809. He had several children. William was killed during the war. Raley married an ARTHUR and had three children: Hawkins; Poney, who married an ABERNATHY; and Rosanna, who married Bent EZELL. Betsey married Crutch BAUGH. Dicie married Pink HOUGH. Cynthia married Freeman BIRDSONG. Larkin and Lewis were the other children.
Lewis CARDEN's wife is still living. Their children are: James, W. Henry, R. Hatcher, Annie, and R. Murray.
James (known as "Big Jim"), first married a WILLIAMS. They had two children, Dee, who lives in Texas, and Lou, who married Gail RAMBO, and has three children, Robert, Beulah, and Luther. James CARDEN married a WATSON the second time - William, J. Hawkins who married Lillie BECK, Pearl who married Will NIP, Fisher, Henry, Mary, Lizzie who married Matt BIRDSONG, Kirk and Una, are the children of this union.
W. H. CARDEN married Joanna WATSON. The following are their children: Cletus, who married Pearl HOLLINS; Mary Eliza, who married Si NEAL and is the mother of one child, named Warren; Neely, Ella May, Tippie, Ada Ruth, Charlie and Buford.
R. H. CARDEN married a BROWNLOW. Their children are: Eza, who married Eula BRYANT and has two children, named Mary Lee and Barbee; Annie who married Hy SISK and has three children, respectively, Myrtle, Irene, and William Allen; Ethel who married Claude WATSON, and has one child, named Robert; Kate, who recently married Leck HOPPER; Raymond, Floyd, P. D. and one dead.
Annie married Thomas E. YOUNG. Their children are: Sidney, Dora, Annie, Walton, and Carlie, who married a WEDDINGTON, all now dead. Lewis who is in Texas, Nannie, Florence, and Joe D.
R. Murray CARDEN married Maude HOLLAND. Kelly and Jessie are their children.
Larkin CARDEN, brother of Lewis, married a DEGRAFFENRIED first. They had three children - Kirk, who married a JACKSON. Willie, who married a DUGGER, and "Sissy", who married Zachary DYER. His second wife was a DUNNIVANT. James is a son. He married first an ABERNATHY and the second time a GOLIGHTLY, Vessie and Myra are the offspring. Larkin's other children were; Tom, who married a THOMAS; Fannie, who died when a young lady; Edna who married a BEARD, and Leona, who married a BEECH.
There were others connected with the History of Pisgah. I think I have secured about all the names of the prominent families.
PISGAH HISTORY
By W. Thomas Carden
November 17, 1904
Interesting Sketch of The HARWELL Family
The HARWELL Family groups are large and numerous. In the immediate vicinity of Pisgah at present they are not so many as they once were. They have scattered. There are HARWELLS in the States of Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas and Missouri. One is never heard of living north of the Ohio River. A characteristic of the family is the continuation of given names from one generation to another. Most of these people are plain, unostentatious folk, of good morals, inclined toward piety. Quite a number have been ministers, but all of the Methodist Denomination. The family generally are Methodist. One small branch of the family were Primitive Baptists. They have mostly been farmers by occupation. Few have entered commercial or professional life, except the ministry. A prominent member of the family says that one remarkable fact in connection with their history is that there has never been one President of the United States or any of them been sent to the penitentiary. Tradition says that in the latter part of the Seventeenth or early part of the Eighteenth Century four brothers named HARWELL came to America from the north of England and settled somewhere in Virginia. It is said that they came from Lancastershire, perhaps Lancashire, and from near the village of Blackburn. One of the four died a bachelor.
Definite history of the name begins with the names of five brothers, to wit: Buckner, Samuel, Raleigh, Herbert and Franklin. They are supposed, of course, to be the descendants of the four brothers. "Deadwoody" County, Virginia, is referred to as the place where the four original brothers located. Dinwiddie County is evidently meant. A part of the family removed from Virginia to North Carolina. The family in Virginia was formerly very small but now the name through the South is as sand upon the seashore in number.
Buckner was the oldest of the five brothers. His children were: (1) Samuel, who was born 1780, moved to Alabama, died about 1840. (2) James was born 1782 and died about 1818. (3) Richard was born.1784 and died about 1826. (4) Buckner was born 1786 and died 1824. (5) Thomas was born 1788 and died 1832. Frederick was born 1790 and died 1836. (7) Gilham was born 1792 and died 1838. (8) Nancy was born 1796 and died 1860. (9) Elizabeth was born 1798 and died 1834. (10) Griff was born 1800 and died 1848. (11) Abigail was born 1802 and died 1830. William was born 1806 and died 1878. (13) Sarah was born 1810 and died 1842. (14) Hartwell was born 1804 and died 1858. This list was made by Dr. Thomas B. HARWELL, a grandson of Buckner HARWELL. Dr. J. R. HARWELL gives a list of the same family which differs slightly from the above. Neither claim their list to be absolutely correct. The last list has the name of Shadrach. (15)
Buckner,Sr., was married twice. He came from Brunswick County, Virginia, to Nashville in 1808. He was the only one of the family who came out at that time. In 1811 he came to Giles County and settled on Richland Creek, near Butler's Ford. He died in 1815. Lewis BROWN and Aaron BROWN were brothers-in-law to Buckner. They lived near each other.
Samuel had a son named Thomas. James had no children. Shadrach's sons were: Theophilus, Buckner, Harrison, James and Fisher. Gilham's children were: Dr. Thomas B., who is the oldest living HARWELL, Gilham, and Sarah, who married Dr. [Wiley B.] PEPPER. Hartwell's sons were: Samuel, Buckner, William and Warren. William (son of Buckner first) had a son named William. Thomas had no children. Grif had a son named Lynn. Frederick had no children. Richard's sons were: Robert, Coleman, Abner and Franklin. Theophilus had a son named Fisher. William, of the third generation, had a son named W. TAYLOR. He lives in Nashville. A daughter of William married a CUSHMAN, and has a son named William CUSHMAN, and a daughter. These are all the descendants of Buckner I can secure.
The next of the five brothers was Samuel. Thomas, Samuel and Hubbard were his sons.
His daughter, Elizabeth, married Levi SHERRILL and was the mother of Reverend John SHERRILL of Tennessee Conference; Sam and Joshua SHERRILL; and Mary ("Polly) who married Ausburn B. HARWELL; and Eliza, who married Duke DRIVER of Marshall County; Susan, who married Joe OSBORNE and moved to Obion County; and another daughter who married Finch THORPE of Giles County.
Thomas had no children.
Samuel's children are as follows: Mary Ann Elizabeth. She was born December 19, 1819, and died May 10, 1836. She is buried at Mt. Zion near Bradshaw. March 1835 she ran away and married Reverend William McKendree ("Mack") HARWELL. She was fifteen years old and he was eighteen. She was the mother of.Dr. John Rufus, now of Nashville, was born March 10, 1836, just two months before her death. Robert married Parthenia SMITH. They had three children. "Sissy" married first Colmore SUTTON and second time married Zachary SMITH. Mrs. George MCKNIGHT was her daughter. Mrs. MCKNIGHT and her husband died within a day or two of each other. Mrs. MCKNIGHT had one son, named Willie. Mrs. J. P. CAMPBELL is a daughter of Mrs. SMITH. Mrs. SMITH lives with her. The second child of Robert was Samuel, who belonged to the 32nd Tennessee Regiment. He died in 1862 at Bowling Green, Kentucky. William was the other child. He married but I have no record of his family. William ("Chip"), son of Samuel, married Nancy SMITH, sister of Robert HARWELL's wife. His brother, John Rufus, died in youth. Smith, brother of Parthenia, (Robert's wife) and of Nancy (William's wife). Caroline another sister died when about twelve or thirteen,years old at Prospect. She was the first person Dr. John Rufus HARWELL ever saw die. He was four years and a half old at the time. She was buried at the old McNairy graveyard on BUCHANAN Creek. Samuel HARWELL's wife was Catherine MCNAIRY, daughter of Robert MCNAIRY, who was a brother of Judge MCNAIRY of Nashville.
Hubbard's sons were: Samuel. He is dead. Do not know whether married or not. Franklin is dead. He married a Miss MCKNIGHT. She became the fourth wife of Reverend McKendree ("Mack") HARWELL. The fourth generation is as follows: The children of Dr. John Rufus, only descendant of Mary Ann Elizabeth, will be noted among Harbert's descendants, the fourth of the five brothers. Robert's son, William ("Good Billy"), married the widow of Dr. Coleman HARWELL in the Sugar Creek neighborhood. William's ("Chip") son, William G., married a BENSON. He died a few years ago. His widow lives on Bradshaw. His daughter married Emmett SUTTON. Franklin, son of Hubbard, married a MCKNIGHT, and left three children - one son and two daughters. The eldest daughter, Sallie, married W. Wilkes HARWELL. The fifth generation is Dr. William HARWELL, of McBurg, son of William G., and Mrs. Robert STORY, Misses Daisy and Grace and Mrs. ARROWSMITH Clark, Charlie, Lee and Ada SUTTON and a small girl and Mrs. John MCLIN belong to this generation. The sixth generation are the children of John MCLIN and Robert Story. Hubbard HARWELL's wife was Sallie MCNAIRY, sister of Catherine, wife of his brother Samuel. This completes the descendants of Samuel, one of the five brothers, as far as I have knowledge. Samuel (first) died in the 40's near Mt. Zion, and was probably buried at the McNairy graveyard.
Raleigh was an old fashioned Methodist class-leader. He died August 7, 1836, aged 74 years, and is buried at the Marks graveyard. The following are his children: Reverend Samuel B., Featherston, Reverend Coleman, Fletcher, Wesley, Reverend Logan D., Harbert L., Abigail ("Abbie"), Nancy, Sallie, Pauline, and Elizabeth.
Reverend Samuel B., joined the Tennessee Conference in 1820. In 1840 he fell into the Holston ranks and died in East Tennessee. He was a staunch Republican. His progeny live in Roane County. His wife, S. E. HARWELL, is buried in the Marks graveyard at Antoinette. She was born April 10, 1815 and died November 15, 1850.
Richard Featherston was born September 17, 1795, and died November 28, 1843. His children were: Buckner, who was born June 30, 1804, and died July 21, 1827; Clayton, who was born October 26, 1819 and died October 27, 1830; Featherston ("Bud"), died in 1862, at Camp Douglas. He belonged to Company A, 32nd Tennessee, and was captured at Ft. Donelson; Mary P., was a beautiful young lady and a great favorite especially among her relatives. She died when about twenty years old. Eliza, his wife, was born November 15, 1810 and died February 14, 1844.
Coleman was born May 10, 1800, and was a preacher at the age of 22. He was a member of the Tennessee Conference. He died of consumption July 5, 1830. Tommie HARWELL has his Bible which has blood stains on its leaves where it fell during hemorrhages.
Lewis Fletcher was born May 9, 1811, and died July 25, 1823.
Wesley married a Miss CARRUTHERS. Three children were born by this union, namely; Mary, who married Henry Clay AYMETT and is now living near Pisgah. Sarah, who married William J. ABERNATHY, and died several years ago, leaving two children - Miss Nettie and Erskine, and Erskine who was killed at Chickamauga during the War. He married Sarah LEE the second time. They had no children. He married Jane MCCRACKEN, daughter of Thomas MCCRACKEN, the third time. Three children were born of this marriage, viz: Tommie, John KELTNER'S wife and Miss Mattie. William F., Samuel S., Olin and a small son are children of Tommie. Sam married Mattie OSBORNE and has a son. John KELTNER and wife have one child - Jennie. Wesley HARWELL married the fourth time Mrs. Rachel MOORE (nee HUNTER). They had no children. He died in West Tennessee.
Reverend Logan D., was born May 18, 1817 and died August 6, 1899. He married Narcissus OWEN who was born September 2, 1827 and died July 29, 1863. She was a woman of rare traits and lovely graces which made her very popular. She was the first Featherston HARWELL's step-daughter and a step-sister to Featherston, the second ("Bud"). She was reared in Williamson County. Ann Eliza, the only child by this marriage, married John M. AYMETT. She died 1904. Reverend Logan D., joined the Tennessee Conference in 1841 with a class of seventeen. Reverend W. G. HENSLEY was a member of that class. He traveled eight years and several as a local preacher the rest of his life. He was a good man. He traveled this work in 1845 with Goldman GREEN as colleague. They had twenty-four appointments. He served the work afterwards for short times to fill vacancies. His second wife was a RALSTON. Six girls were born to this union. They were: Mrs. Henry W. AYMETT, Mrs. William M. MONTGOMERY Mrs. David ELDER (dead), Mrs. Neil C. BIRDSONG and Misses Kate and Mamie.
Harbert L. had six children. His wife, Mary Sisily was born September 19, 1826 and died October 24, 1857. Cornelia, the oldest child, married James RALSTON and has a large family. Holland was a member of 3rd Tennessee Confederate Regiment. He died after the War from exposure during the War. Lafayette died in 1888. James died the same year. William B. ("Dee") and Honorable Ed. P. are living, the latter at Prospect. James married a Miss MCCONNICO of Williamson County the first time. Holland of Pulaski and Fielding of St. Louis are his sons. His second wife was Lorena ANDERSON, daughter of Stephen ANDERSON. Their children were boys. Fayette married Adele MONTGOMERY (now Mrs. J. C. YOUNG). They had four children. Jesse died in 1900. Mary is dead. Bessie married John LONG of Pulaski. Ora married John YOUNG. Ed P. married first Miss Norah OLIVER. Two children were born to them. Only one, Miss Lillian, is living. A son is living by his second marriage. "Dee" married Harriet SCOTT. They have four girls; Eulalia, Lizzie Lee, Alma, and Hattie Will.
"Abbie" married William ("Good Billy") BROWN and lived near Bethel on Jenkin's Creek. They had five children. Sarah was the first wife of T. M. N. JONES, a lawyer of Pulaski a few years ago. "Cuff", a nick-name which he was always called, do not know real name, is dead. Mary is married but fail to learn to whom. She is still living I believe. Reverend Thomas F. was a member of the Tennessee Conference. Raleigh was a very bright young man. He died in early manhood while going to school at Pisgah.
Nancy married Major Annanias OLIVER. Her children have already been noted under caption of OLIVER Family.
Sallie married Lewis MARKS. He was born December 26, 1802 and died April 3, 1877. They had a large family. Marion married Mendoza YOUNG, (nee OLIVER), his first cousin. Coleman ("Cuff") married a Miss ROBINSON of Lincoln County the first time and a Miss RALSTON the second time. He is living in the Friendship neighborhood. Henrietta married a Reverend WILSON of the Tennessee Conference, a son of Abel WILSON. West is dead. Sallie is dead. Miss Mattie is living at Antoinette. L. B. ("Bud") is living at that place. His son, L. Myron, keeps a store. He has several other children. Two are grown young ladies, Misses Ona and Forrest SANSOM. "Babe" married a WESTMORELAND and died six or eight years ago in Alabama. His wife is dead also. There are Mack and Angeline. What became of them I do not learn.
Pauline married a LUCAS and moved to Lawrence County. She had four children, three daughters and a son Laura married Captain WATERS, U. S. A., of Indianapolis. James LUCAS was a merchant at Bessemer, Alabama, a few years ago. Of the other two daughters I do not learn.
Elizabeth CROSS, daughter of Raleigh and Arah HARWELL and consort of Shadrach CROSS was born October 27, 1791 and died July 2, 1854. The above is the inscription upon her tombstone in the Marks graveyard. She was the mother of Reverend Coleman CROSS of the Tennessee Conference. He died when a young man.
Reverend Earnest W. BROWN, son of Reverend Thomas F. BROWN, belongs to the fourth generation. Others of the fourth generation have already been referred to. S. A. HARWELL was born January 23, 1823 and died June 14, 1850. He was a son of Raleigh. He is buried in the MARKS graveyard. Mrs. A. HARWELL was born May 25, 1824 and died April 22, 1862. Sarah H. HARWELL was born August 18, 1773 and died September 15, 1839. Elizabeth HARWELL was born April 17, 1794 and died May 19, 1832. These last named Harvells are buried at the Marks graveyard. To which family of the name they belong I do not ascertain.
PISGAH HISTORY
By W. Thomas Carden
November 24, 1904
The HARWELL Family And Its Large Connection.
The Harbert branch of Harwells is very large. They have lived in and around Pisgah for a great many years. (1) Reverend Coleman was once a member of the South Carolina Conference, but he lived in Lincoln County, North Carolina, from which place he removed to Giles County about 1812 or 1813. He died in the house where Dr. J. G. MASON's family lives near Prospect, in January 1841. His remains were carried in an ox cart to the Prospect Campgrounds, a mile distant where they were interred on land owned by his first cousin, Thomas A. WESTMORELAND, who was merchant and postmaster at that place. A headstone was erected at the grave but it was destroyed by Federal Soldiers during the war. (2) Harbert or Harbard (the name is spelled differently by several of my informants) was the second son. (3) Reverend Stith M. was the other son. (4) Jane was a daughter.
(1) Reverend Coleman's children were: Ausburn B., Reverend Thomas Douglas, and Reverend William McKendree ("Mack").
(2) Harbard's children were: Thomas, Sarah, Lettie and Slater, who was killed at Gettysburg during the War.
(3) Reverend Stith M. was a local preacher. He came from Virginia to North Carolina and removed to Tennessee in 1800. He had nine children. Reverend Coleman A., who lives near Bradshaw is the third oldest living HARWELL. He belonged to the Tennessee Conference for eight years. Raleigh B. is dead. Reverend Harbard M. is a local preacher, living near Bradshaw. Reverend William S. is a member of the Tennessee Conference at present. His mother was named Martha B. He was born April 12,1845, joined the Church in September, 1864, and was admitted on trial into the Conference October 17, 1867 at Clarksville. He has served the following charges. Shoal, one year; Lafayette, one year; Diana, two years; Elkmont, one year; Swan, one year; Blanche, one year; Pleasant Valley, one year; Mooresville, one year; Linden, and Beardstown, one year; Hampshire, four years; Carter's Creek, one year; Huntland, one year; Belfast, one year; Almayville, 1901-2. Mary married "Boss" SMITH. She is living on BUCHANAN Creek. Martha died in 1865. S. Capers died a few years ago. Stith M. lived to be 77 years old. Sarah Agnes was noted for her great piety and sweet disposition. She died when a young woman in 1847. Samuel M. belonged to Company "A", Cook's Regiment, 32nd Tennessee. He died in prison at St. Louis.
(4) Jane married Dr. James McDONALD. Both died about the same time. Reverend Stith M. raised their three children, Jonas, Jane and Robert. Robert belonged to the 32nd Tennessee and died during the War. Ausburn B. married Mary ("Polly") SHERRILL, daughter of Levi SHERRILL and Elizabeth HARWELL, his wife, daughter of the first Samuel HARWELL. They had two children -William C. who married and moved to West Tennessee and died, and Levi, who married, and has been lost sight of by relatives. Ausburn B. married the second time and had several children. About the close of the War he started to Texas and died before reaching his destination. He is buried in that State. His children are supposed to be in Texas.
Reverend Thomas Douglas HARWELL was a member of the Tennessee Conference when a young man. He died in Dyer County, Tennessee, near Friendship in the 90's and is buried in a graveyard in the neighborhood. He married Ann RUSSELL, of JACKSON County, Alabama. He had six children: viz.: Macy C. who married George W. TAYLOR of Prospect vicinity and moved to West Tennessee, where both died. Dr. W. Fletcher was a surgeon in the Confederate Army. He died in Dyer County and is buried near Friendship in Crockett County. Thomas C. was killed in the Confederate States Army. "Ninnie" -a nickname - married a Methodist Minister named SAWRIE. They went west. He is dead. Her real name was Sarah. Joe P. is married and lives in Dyer County. L. Burr married Alice MOLLOY and lives at Friendship, Crockett County. He is a leading merchant of that place.
Reverend William McKendree ("Mack") HARWELL was married four times. His first wife was Mary Ann Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel HARWELL. They had one child - Dr. John Rufus of Nashville. His second wife was Eliza NASH, of Bedford County. His third wife was Ophelia MCKNIGHT. His fourth wife was the widow of Frank HARWELL (Hubbard's son) who was a sister of his third wife. Reverend "Mack" did not belong to Conference but he traveled Richland Circuit one year in the 40's as junior preacher to fill a vacancy. Reverend LOYD RICHARDSON was his colleague. He died at the home of W. A. WILKERSON near Bradshaw a few years ago, aged eighty odd years, and is buried at Mt. Zion by the side of his first wife, at his request. He had no children by the third and fourth marriages. By the second marriage the following; LaFayette, who died in youth. Dr. Coleman ("Bud", sometimes called "Dr. B. C.") married a Miss WARREN, who is now wife of William ("Good Billy") HARWELL. Dr. Coleman is dead and is buried near Minor Hill. He practiced medicine on Sugar Creek. Joanna married W. A. WILKERSON. W. Wilkes lives near Bradshaw. He married Sallie HARWELL, daughter of Frank HARWELL. Thomas S. died in Nashville when a young man, while living with his half-brother, Dr. John Rufus. Ausburn married near Bunker Hill and was killed by a kick from a mule several years ago. Thomas, son of Harbard, married a MCKNIGHT. His sister Sarah was a handsome and attractive woman. She married a SMITH. His other sister, Lettie, died a few years ago.
The fourth generation is as follows: Samuel K., Riggs, Meade and Raleigh, sons of Reverend Coleman A. Harbard M. has a son named Coleman and a daughter, Dora, who married Wash ADKINS. Mary J. SMITH's children are: William, who married Jennie BURGESS. They have two children - Vestal and Clyde. Charlie S., who married Ellen BURGESS, a sister to William's wife, and who recently died. They had two children - Tully and Leila May. Bascom who married Ivy HAYES. They have one child, Lillian, who married W. S. MAYES who died in 1903. Monroe is single. Raleigh's widow is living. John S. was a son. He married Angie, daughter of Reverend W. A. TURNER. They had three children - Mary, Allen and Pattie. He died in May, 1904. His widow lives in Texas. Rufus died in boyhood. Alvin died when a young man. William G. is living near Pisgah. A sister is living. The children of S. Capers are: Walter, who married a BURCH and has three small boys and two small girls; Mrs. Walter SMITH; Mrs. Arney YOUNG, who has two young boys and Edna, who died in young womanhood.
Edward TAYLOR, a bright young man, son of Mary C. and George W. TAYLOR, and grandson of Reverend Thomas D. HARWELL, married a daughter of the President of Hiawassee College. He died shortly afterwards. His sister, Lennie, married and died in Dyer County, West Tennessee.
Dr. W. Fletcher HARWELL married Sallie MALLORY of Friendship, Crockett County, oldest sister of L. Burr HARWELL's wife. They had one son - Fletcher - who lives with his mother in Texas. L. Burr HARWELL's son, Carl M., is a finely educated young man, and is a professor in a college at Little Rock, Arkansas.
Dr. John Rufus HARWELL's children are: Idella M. She died in October 1879 at 21 years of age and is buried at Nashville. Florence P. married Franz E. HARWELL and lives in Pensacola, Florida. He is a descendant of Franklin HARWELL. Thomasella B. married Wharton J. ALLEN and lives in Nashville. Florence P. HARWELL's children are: Franz Rufus, 15 years old and Annie Wharton, 12 years old. Thomasella B. ALLEN'S children are; W. HARWELL ALLEN, 17 years old and Lucile E. Allen, 13 years old.
Joanna WILKERSON'S children are; Beulah, who married William CAPLEY. She died recently and left three beautiful little children. William, Frank, Misses Cora and Mattie WILKERSON, are the others. W. Wilkes HARWELL has several children. Ausburn, youngest son of "Mack" had three children - Sadie and Alva and Collier.
"Mack" son of Raleigh, married Sallie MCCRACKEN, now the wife of E. F. AYMETT. He died about 15 years ago. They had three children - Luther, Edgar and Miss Charlie, all living.
There are several scattering names. "Fat Tommy" HARWELL was a son of Sam, a brother of Hubbard. His sons - Lum, Harb, "Bud", and "Boogie" live in this section and have families. Tommy married a MCKNIGHT. Frank, his brother I think, died during the War. He married a MCKNIGHT also. Peter MAYES and John HAYES married either daughters of Sam or Hubbard. W. A. OWEN married into this family. His wife died in 1902 and is buried at Pisgah. Thomas OWEN, a son, lives near Young. Franklin HARWELL, the last of the five brothers, had three children - Harbert, James and Buckner. Harbert's children are: Burns, Cicero, Virgil, Addison, Christopher and Franz E. This branch of the family have lived in Mississippi for many years. Some have gone elsewhere but many are in that State yet.
Reverend Dr. John Rufus HARWELL, Grand Secretary of the I.O.O.F. of Tennessee, of Nashville, was once a member of the Tennessee Conference. He furnished a considerable portion of the items about the HARWELL Family, which are inculcated in this history. He writes very interestingly of both the Family and old times at Pisgah. He left Giles County when sixteen years of age and has only occasionally visited old sites and scenes. He was born in 1836. In his letter he spoke of Reverend Elam STEVENSON thus: "He married my paternal grandfather's sister, Lydia PAYNE, in North Carolina. I knew him well, and he was one of God's noblemen; pure as a woman, polite as Chesterfield, simple as a child, genial in disposition, and lived and died without a stain upon his character. Grand old man. My last visit to him at his son Mack's, when on his dying bed, is one of the sweetest memories of my life. This world grows very few men like him now". Reverend Coleman HARWELL was one of the campers at Pisgah. He owned one of the best camps on the ground. About 1838 he moved to Prospect. His three sons went with him. He did not camp at Pisgah again as there was a campground at Prospect, where he did camp. His family visited camp meetings at Pisgah. In the boyhood of Dr. J. R. HARWELL there were over fifty tents at this place, quite a number of HARWELLS - Wesley, two HARBERTS, Logan D., and Stith M., and Levi SHERRILL, two OLIVERS, several ABERNATHYS and a great many others. The meetings usually were held in September. They began on Friday evening and lasted until the next Wednesday. Generally there were five services: prayers at sunrise, preaching at 8 and 11 o'clock A. M. 3 o'clock P. M. and at "early candle light". Everything was free - free board, free lodging, free care of horses, and a free gospel. After supper and as twilight began the people would collect in their tents or sit on benches in front and make the welkin ring with their hymns. This was continued until the horn was blown for evening service. Many a love match was made during these meetings. One marriage, a Gretna Green affair, created a furor. It took place in one of the tents. The contracting parties were Robert MCNAIRY and Albina "Duck" JOHNSON. Reverend James C. STEVENSON officiated. The bride was the niece and ward of William H. OLIVER.
Among the preachers who attended these meetings and traveled the Richland Circuit were, Goldman GREEN, Loyd RICHARDSON, W. R. "Buck" HUGHES, W. J. HENSLEY, Sion RECORD, Smith W. MOORE, W. A. GILMORE, William Davis BROWN, brother of Willis J. BROWN, and several others. Reverend Dr. HARWELL says he saw Reverend Joshua BOUCHARD and was baptized by him. He also knew A. F. DRISKILL and John SHERRILL, two presiding elders quite well. In speaking of them he says; "DRISKILL was a pure, good man but he created no enthusiasm. He always made very rigid rules for the government of the people during camp meetings which sometimes caused friction. On one occasion his reproof was so pointed and personal that he was threatened with a thrashing, and was given an escort for protection when he left for home. Reverend John SHERRILL was more popular. He was more tolerant and a preacher of considerable popularity. He was large and broad-shouldered, of commanding appearance, with a stentorian voice. He did not rant but was deliberate yet earnest in his style and his voice, although strong, was pleasant. Pisgah! dear glorious old Pisgah! A thousand precious memories crown upon me at the mention of the sacred name. If it's old trees could speak what a wonderful story they could tell of the fifty years of singing and shouting, of preaching and praying, of glorious conversations and hallowed associations".
And thus is Pisgah held in recollection not by a few but by many. Here is where they first saw the light. Here is where many pleasant days were spent. The changes can be but sad. How different today. Familiar faces are few. Strangers tread in their steps. The landmarks altered or effaced. The heart is filled with mingled sorrow and tearful memory. Friends and kin are gone. Were it not for the beaming star of hope in the firmament of life this existence would be too sad to live.
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