2012 CCHGA Officers RD Huffines- President James Jenkins - VP Betty Cannon- Treasurer Lisa Walker Asst. Treasurer Judy Mayo- Secretary Jane Dilworth- Asst. Secretary Roger Smith, Member at Large If you have joined CCHGA since the last newsletter publication, please send an email to cchga007@bellsouth.net to receive the issue from March 2012. Newsletters from past years can be found at the url http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com /~tncchga/bytes.htm. CCHGA Editor: Lisa Walker, Cheatham County Historian, countyhistorian@bellsouth.net Mark your calendars for 2012 CCHGA Meetings! All meetings are at 6:30 at the Cheatham County Public Library. 06/28 Dr. Tom Kanon TSLA Tennessee and the War of 1812 07/26 Business Meeting 08/23 Myers Brown - State Museum - Images of Tennessee Confederates 09/27 Business Meeting 10/25 Graham Perry State Museum Native American Folklore 11/15 Business Meeting Dec No meeting June 28, 2012 CCHGA Program 6:30 Cheatham County Public Library To help commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812, Dr. Tom Kanon will be the guest speaker on June 28 at the Cheatham County Historical and Genealogical Association (CCHGA) meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Cheatham County Public Library. The presentation will shed a light on Tennessee's role in the war. Politically and militarily, Tennessee played a vital role in the War of 1812 and placed the state in the national spotlight for the first time. The presentation will also focus on key questions: What caused the war? Why did Tennesseans want to fight? What is the legacy of the war in Tennessee? The guest speaker is Tom Kanon, an archivist at the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA). He holds a master's degree in History and a PhD. in Public History from Middle Tennessee State University. Dr. Kanon is an award-winning author who has written extensively on the War of 1812-related topics for publications such as Tennessee Historical Quarterly and Ohio Valley History. The meeting is open to anyone with an interest in the War of 1812, as well as geneaologists who want to gain some historical knowledge and background for their research. CCHGA Bytes Page 1
The Link School The Link School was built on a hill across the Old Clarksville Pike from Mallory s Church on what is now Thomasville Road. The school began in 1900 by Professor Samuel Albert Link. It was the first institution in Cheatham County to offer a secondary school program. The school closed in 1907 and became a county elementary school in 1908. In closed in 1946. The Modern Woodmen of America and the Oddfellows organizations used the building until the 1940s. Pages 54 & 55 Cheatham County History and Families CCHGA PROGRAM MEETING: On August 23, 2012 Myers Brown will present a program based on his book Images of Tennessee Confederates. The program will include a PowerPoint presentation and lecture using selections from the book. The book includes over 200 images of Tennessee s Confederate soldiers and draws upon images in the collection of the Tennessee State Museum, the Tennessee State Library and Archives, and many private collections. Myers Brown holds a B.A. in History from Oglethorpe University and an M.A. in Public History from Middle Tennessee State University. Myers served as the curator of military history at the Atlanta History Center and as the curator of Pond Spring, the General Joe Wheeler Home in Courtland, Alabama. He joined the staff of the Tennessee State Museum as curator of extension services in 2005. CCHGA Bytes Page 2
Photos from Neptune Smith Cemetery Submitted by Jesse Hay CCHGA Bytes Page 3
Tractor Wreck Kills Ashland City Man (date unknown, article was cut out of newspaper and donated to CCHGA) ASHLAND CITY-Tenn.,- Jesse Erwin Balthrop, 66, of the Thomasville community, was killed when his tractor overturned here yesterday. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow at Mallory's Church here. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Balthrop was engaged to farm work when his machine overturned and he was pinned underneath, authorities said. Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Mabel Boyd Balthrop; three daughters, Mrs. Betty Farmer, Colombia, Tenn., Mrs. Hilda Ford and Mrs. Bonnie Rediker, Ashland City, Tenn; mother, Mrs. Belle Balthrop, Ashland City; a brother, Carl Balthrop, Ashland City; four sisters, Mrs. Porter Morris, Mrs. Harvey Shearron, Chapmansboro, Tenn., Mrs. Howard Boyd, Mrs. Elwin Breedlove, Nashville and seven grandchildren. Poet's Corner Sidney's Bluff How shall I paint you? With words or with brushes? My canvas lies idle- the sketch just begun. The morning is early- the vapors elusive; But Sidney's rock walls are eternal, unchanging. Sunlight strikes the top of the bluff's upright face And slips down the cards slowly, one at a time. It kindles orange fires between bare rocks and evergreens- Trees holding so stubbornly the sides of the bluff. A few of these trees are hanging tenaciously, Refusing to give up their hold on the bluff. Far below a dirt road awaits to receive them, When they have decided no longer to cling there. The light having climbed down the bluff's golden walls, And beginning with roof tops of barns and of houses, Brings life to the valley across from the Cumberland- The river which mirrors the beauty I see here. The far-away hills, touched by veils of pale vapor, Offer up incense to their great god-day. While out of the shadows where they have been hidden, Into the sunlight which turns them to silver, Fly the just-awakened birds with their songs of thanksgiving. How can I paint you with words or with brushes? Mary Frances Bradley CCHGA Bytes Page 4
About People We Know (from 1965 or 1966 Ashland City Times) Mrs. Russell Pruit and Mr. and Mrs. Sam King of Town Creek, Ala., were guests last weekend of Mrs. Frank Wanous and Mrs. O.O. Pickard. Mr. and Mrs. Allen Sykes were in Donelson last Tuesday guests of their son and family, Mr. and Mrs. Joby Sykes. They were accompanied home for several days visit by Mrs. Sykes' cousin, Mrs. Rachel Lewis, of Bakersville, Calif., who is in Nashville visiting other relatives. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hatcher and children, Pam and Randy, of Beebe, Ark., were here Friday visiting old friends. They are former residents of Ashland City, When "Pete," our highway patrolman took a job on pipeline construction he took his family to Corpus Christi, Texas, where they have lived until about two months ago. Bobby L. Balthrop, student at U.T. was at home the past week with his parents and wife; Mrs. W.T. Morris and sons, Michael and Kevan, of Hunsville, Ala., joined her brother here and visited her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Balthrop. Mrs. Beuna Simpkins of Bellsburg spent last week in Madison with Carl Dunn family while her daughter, Mrs. Dunn was in Nashville Memorial Hospital. She reports her doing satisfactorily. Mr. and Mrs. George R. Clark or Birmingham, Ala., spent the weekend with his mother, Mrs. W.T. Clark and also visited other relatives. They were accompanied here by her mother, Mrs. J.F. Tucker, who has been visiting with them for several weeks, and has come home for the summer. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Robinson and baby, of Madisonville, Tenn., were here the past weekend. They came especially to see her grandmother, Mrs. J. Ben Thomson who continues ill in St. Thomas Hospital, and to be with her grandfather. Paul Eastridge of Memphis was in town Friday visiting old friends. Mrs. Eastridge, the former Miss Joan Beanscomb of Courtland, Miss., and their daughter, were in Shelbyville visiting her sister, Mrs. Travis Kindall. Paul after four years in the Navy is with Kimberly Clark at Memphis where they make their home. Miss. Kathy and Nancy Cumins, students at Austin Peay State College returned to school today after being home several days, between quarters. Mr. and Mrs. T.D. Hudgens had as their guests Sunday, Mrs. Fannette Vaughn and son, Haymore; and her brother, Everette Stuart, all of Pikeville, Tenn. Local Girl Completes Nurses Training (date unknown, article was cut out of newspaper and donated to CCHGA) Miss Barbra Johnson has completed nurses training and graduated from the St. Thomas School of Nursing on August 11. She is now temporarily employed at the St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville. Miss Johnson is a graduate of Cheatham County Central High School Class of 1953. She is daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey Johnson of Ashland City. CCHGA Bytes Page 5
SERVICES FOR MRS. HAZEL BLAKENSHIP DOZIER June 18, 1921 Sept. 15, 1992 SERVICES Fri., Sept. 18, 2:00P.M. Ashland City Church of Christ CLERGY Bro. Jim Bill McInteer Bro. Steve Campbell Bo. Dan Harless INTERMENT Woodlawn Cemetery Nashville BEARERS Connie Dozier L.C. Dozier Max Dozier Murray Dozier Ricky Dozier Lee Hunter SERVICES FOR MRS. NANCY HAGEWOOD JOHNSON July 18, 1928 May 16,1993 SERVICES Wed., May 19, 2:00P.M. Boyd- Shearon Chapel CLERGY Bro. Jack Mraz INTERMENT Smith-Neptune BEARERS Johnny Matlock Jeff Matlock Greg Hagewood Steve Stratton Steve Smith Pat Smith A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO A SPECIAL PAIR Last Sunday afternoon, February 25, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse E. Morris celebrated fifty years of marital bliss. Their romance blossomed into matrimony February 25, 1923 at the Greenbrier Church of Christ following the morning worship service. The vows are read by the late Granville L. Collom who preached at Greenbrier that morning. They have spent their lives in Cheatham Co. The last forty-seven years have been spent in Ashland City where they have reared their family and where they have been a wonderful example of Christian manhood and womanhood. Brother Jess has served many years as an elder of the Ashland City Church of Christ. We feel that the words employed by Luke to describe another fine Christian man can be appropriately applied to Brother Jess: "He is a good man, full of the Holy Spirit, and because of his influence many people have been added unto the Lord." (Acts 10: 22, 23) We also feel that some words from the wise man Solomon would be appropriate in describing Miss Eva: "Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth with the elders of the land Strength and honor are her clothing, and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a women that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." (Proverbs chapter 31) The Morris family consists of four children, Mrs. Morgan (Evelyn) Buffington, Decatur, Ga.; Charles Elihu, Florence, Ala.; Alfred, Richmond, Ky., and Roy, Nashville. The lives of this fine couple represent the epitome of Christian character and example. More than 200 relatives and friends came by the fellowship room of the Ashland City Church to express their love to this great man and woman. -Dorris Wilson CCHGA Bytes Page 6
Primary Research Notes of W. Ray Walker, Sr. From Notebook of Mr. and Mrs. George (Cora Williams) Nicholson Page 1 C ville Leaf Chronicle Mrs. Julia Edmondson died Jan 28 1946 Born Feb 13, 1869. Father Rev. Lewis Lowe, Mother Julia Richardson. Widow of John R. Edmondson. Children Mrs. Laura Wall, Mrs. Troy Halliburton, Mrs. Laurin Edmondson, John Lewis Edmondson. Mrs. Laura Wall married Lynn Richardson. Page 7 By Geo. Nicholson. Jim Cooney Williams was a son of Lewis Williams. Lewis Williams was a brother of Ham and Kit. Children of Thos Wms From Belle Chambliss at Gardner sale (8-30-51) The above Lewis Williams married a Perry. One of Ham & Kit s sisters married Buckner Harris, grandfather of Dave Harris, who married Maggie Murphy. Page 8 From Jack Fielder told to Geo. Nicholson in Clarksville, Feb 10, 1947 He said he thought he had heard his parents say that John Majors father was named Jacob and that his mother was a Weakley. Jacob Major raised his family at the (now called) Johnnie Fielder place, where Fred Nicholson & wife Ruth Evans Nicholson now live. Page 9 From Verge Stewart told to Geo. Nicholson, Mar 1, 1947 Verge s father was Jack Stewart. Jack was a brother of Garland & Elijah. Elijah was the father of Charles who lives near Herman Church. Page 10 From Mrs. Mat Nicholson, Mar 8 Demps Burton s first wife was a sister of Doc. Smith & Mrs. Joe Smith. His second wife was a sister of Singing Tom Williams. Page 11 From R. M. Nicholson to Geo. Nicholson Mar 18, 1847 Henry Hunter s oldest daughter Lula married Tom Balthrop, brother of Alice Weakley. Mrs. Hewitt, Mrs. Jack O. Hunter & Mrs. Crotzer. Another daughter Mary, he thought married a Lyle and another daughter Mattie married someone around Nashville. Marshall married a Harris. Finis married an East we think. Page 12 Also Ben Pace and Dock Pace were brothers. Ben s children Henning, Geo., Babe, Priscilla, Lizzie (?) Dock s children (wife Donie Morris from below C ville by Grace B. James) Crude, Hardy, Pauline Dempsey Hunter Jr second wife was Tom Clifton s daughter Mrs. Mary Ann Jones Page 16 Clarksville Leaf Chronicle 10-6-47 Charlie Blanton born Oct 11, 1879, died Oct 4, 1947. Father Henry Blanton, Mother Sallie Medoria Wall, Wife Florence Crotzer. CCHGA Bytes Page 7
Wed., Sept. 25, 1957 Bride- Elect Is Honored At Gift Tea Miss June Empson, popular bride elect, was honored with a gift tea Sunday September 15, from 3 until 5, in the afternoon at the home of Mrs. Carl Balthrop on Stratton Hill. Mrs. Sam Reeks Sr., Mrs. Brantley Smith, and Mrs. Baxter Nicholson were joint hostesses with Mrs, Balthrop in giving the affair, and were assisted in entertaining by Miss Martha Adkisson. Misses Jerry Nicholson, Dorris Williams, Andrew Smith and Sue Empson, served the guests, and Mrs. Julian Empson mother of the bride-elect assisted in receiving fifty guests. For the occasion bouquets of white mums were used throughout the reception rooms. The serving table was overlaid with a linen cloth decorated with curt work embroidery. The arrangement flanked by pink candles in crystal holders. The honoree received many lovely gifts including pieces of her chosen patter in crystal and china. The CCHGA office needs volunteers to assist in running the office! Please call 615.792.3623 or email cchga007@bellsouth.net Visit CCHGA website: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tncchga/ CCHGA BYTES Cheatham County Historical and Genealogical Association P. O. Box 703, Ashland City, TN 37015 Phone 615-792-3623 cchga007@bellsouth.net http://www.rootsweb.com/~tncchga/ Visit CCHGA s Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/pages/cheatham-county-historical-and-genealogical-association/353525208627 CCHGA Bytes Page 8