Category Archives: Geneology

The Grubb/Grubbs Family

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After the passing of Ms. Lucille, I was questioned about whether the correct spelling of her maiden name was Grubb or Grubbs. In early census record, the name is usually spelled Grub or Grubb.  Over the years it evolved into Grubbs.

Although some families use the early spelling and some choose to use the latter, most in this area are descendants of William Debarron Grubb (1811-1895) and his wife Nancy Dodd (1807-1877), both born in Virginia.  They migrated to Tennessee about 1848, traveling by oxcart with their five children who were also born in Virginia.

(1) Mary Susan (1838-1856) who married  a Mr. Eaves.

No further information on Mary.

(2) Jemima C. (1840-1930) who married William D. Adkins (1831-1907) in Weakley county in 1857.

From family history–Jemima is remembered as being a small woman who always wore a black dress and black bonnet.  She was buried in a black dress and bonnet alongside her husband at the Grubb family cemetery. According to 1900 census, they had no children.

(3) Elizabeth Ann (1842-1900) who married Asa Clifford Matheny (1835-1898) in Weakley County in 1869.

The  second wife of Asa, they were parents of  sons Beverly, James, Henry, and daughter Nancy.  Asa’s children by first wife Katheryn Johnson-William, Susan, Lucy and Obe.  Elizabeth and Asa are buried at Concord Cemetery near Latham.

(4) Benjamin Alfred (1843-1923) who married  Susan Martha Tucker (1852-1918) in Weakley County in 1868.

Benjamin A. Grubb  was a Pvt. Co H, 33 Inf. Regt. in Confederate Army during War Between the States and fought in Battles of Shiloh, Perryville, KY and Chattanooga.

Benjamin Alfred and Susan were parents of ten children:  James; Nancy Elizabeth who married W. L. Howard; Joseph;  Benjamin Silas who married America Valera May Bowlin; William; Valeria C. who married Tobe Bowlin; Cynthia; Edna who married Mr. Thomas; Neal Lester who married Lula Mae Eaves; and Susan Annie who married J. C. Glasgow.

(5) Edward H. (1846-1898) who married Delaware  (maiden name unknown) (1847-1901)

Edward and Delaware were parents of six known children:  Susan Adeline; Robert L; Mary Ann; Alfred W.; Albert H; and Edwin Coleman who married Maggie Lee Wilson in Weakley County in 1898.

Edward and Delaware Grubb are  buried at Grubb family cemetery.

Edwin Coleman (1879-1967) and Maggie Lee (1882-1969) Grubb were parents of Ela Flois who married Tobe Mansfield; Claud who married Alta Watts; Seymore; Reubin who married Estelle Puckett; Lucille Delaware who married Riley Rainbolt; and L. C. who married 1st Clinton Caldwell,and married 2nd Hubert Puckett.  She is the only surviving child.

Edwin C. and Maggie Lee Grubb are buried at Matheny Grove Cemetery.

(Note: Although family records state that many of the early burials were at the Grubb family cemetery, it’s location could not be determined.  As some of these family members do have head-stones at Thompson Cemetery on Boydsville Road,  it is likely they are the same.)

According to family history, Debarron and Nancy’s  journey from Virginia to Tennessee took six weeks.  The family settled on the Boydsville Road probably in or near the Fancy community.

The sixth child of Debarron and Nancy Grubb, Sarah Jane Grubb (1848-1918) was born after the family arrived in Tennessee. She married William A. Thompson (1839-1910) in 1866.  They are buried in Thompson Cemetery.

Sarah Jane and William A. Thompson were parents of sons Benjamin A. and Albert S. (Burke) and a daughter Nancy A. who married Edmund A. Stow.

William A. Thompson was a Confederate soldier; he also served four terms as sheriff of Weakley County.

Nancy and Ed Stow were parents of Annie Laura; William Monroe (Buck); Sarah Patience; Lydia; Susan Ethlene;

Pearl Irene; and a child who died in infancy.

Debarron Grubb, known as “the Ole Dutchman,” and his wife were buried in the Grubb family cemetery.

Debarron Grubb was postmaster of the Black Oak post office from October 17, 1855 until September 22, 1866.  Black Oak is one of three post offices listed in the 5th District in the 1860 census record, the other two were Elm Tree and Boydsville.  (The Palmers Store post office was discontinued in January 1855 and was reinstated in July of 1874 as Palmersville).

Historians and genealogists have tried for years to pinpoint exactly where the “Black Oak” Post Office would have been, a query that may never be answered with authority.  My personal belief is that it was somewhere between the Fancy community on the Boydsville Road and the crossroads where the Boydsville Road meets the Latham/ Palmersville Road.

The Boydsville Road beginning at Boydsville on the Kentucky/Tennessee state line and continuing through Sprouts Levee to Dresden is one of the oldest roads in Weakley County and is still widely traveled.

Compiled Information from Weakley County History & Families, Pansy Baker, Census Records, Cemetery Records, Tennessee Marriage Records; Various Family Trees on Ancestry, Debarron Grubb Family Bible Extracts, Tennessee Postmasters, and personal research.

Obituaries

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Sympathy is extended to families of those who have lost a loved one in the past few months.

Mrs. Shirley (Bowlin) Allison, Class of 1955, passed away October, 2016.

Mr. Charles Henry McWherter, Class of 1949, passed away October of last year.  He is survived by a daughter Lisa Carol and a son Vic.

Mrs. Lucille (Grubbs) Rainbolt, one of the older citizens in Weakley County, passed away October 23, 2016 at the age of 104. She is survived by her children Billy Joe, Norma, and Anna.  She was preceded in death by her husband Riley and her son Jerry Mack.

Ms. Lucille worked as a custodian at Palmersville School while in her 80s until the school closed.  Afterward she worked at McDonald’s when in her 90s and held a second job cleaning a local office building.

Mrs. Jessie Lou (Rickman) Davis, who resided in the Austin Springs community most of her life before moving to Murray, KY, passed away on October 20, 2016 at age 92.

After moving to Murray, she volunteered for 23 years at the Murray-Calloway County Hospital. Mrs. Davis was preceded in death by her husband Cecil Davis; she is survived by her son Danny Davis.

What an inspiration these ladies should be to all of us.

Palmerville’s Past

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Even though I am a Palmersville native and as a teenager had lived within a ghost’s breath of the little family cemetery plot where several members of the Palmer family are interred, I knew very little about the Palmer family until the “genealogy bug” bit me. As most genealogists will agree it is almost impossible to research genealogy without also gaining knowledge of the area’s local history.

One of the earliest settlers to the area which was to become the village of Palmersville was Smith Palmer who was born in Virginia in 1790, the son of Amasa Palmer. Smith Palmer, accompanied by his nephew Edmund Mayfield Palmer, made the journey overland from North Carolina with teams and wagons and arrived in western Tennessee at a time when all the country was sparsely settled and only a few clearings were made in the great wilderness.

Edmund Mayfield Palmer settled near Paris in Henry County, Tennessee and became a very successful grocer there. He later moved to Paducah, Kentucky and after a time returned to Paris when he spent his last days. It is not known whether Smith Palmer’s wife and family came with him initially or joined him at a later date, but I believe Smith Palmer settled in Henry County for a time as records show he paid taxes in 1827 in Henry County on 463 acres and seven slaves as well as one poll tax.

However, we find that in 1833 Smith Palmer purchased a 640 acre section and an adjoining 125 acre tract in Weakley County near the present site of Palmersville where his slaves cleared up and improved a large amount of land. Here he spent his last days. Smith Palmer died in 1840. The village of Palmersville was laid out near the center of the Palmer farm in the early 1840’s and the town was first named Palmerville (note spelling) in his honor. Postal service was established on September 20, 1847 with John W. Palmer, son of Smith Palmer, as postmaster.

Reportedly John W. Palmer was also the first merchant of the village. Postal service was discontinued in August of 1849. Then in July of 1850, service was reinstated with the name of Palmer’s Store, again with John W. Palmer as postmaster, followed by his brother James A. Palmer as postmaster from 1851-1855. For the next few years postal service was intermittent. Possibly mail service was out of “Black Oak” or “Elm Tree” until1874 when the post office was reinstated as Palmersville, the current spelling, with Joseph W. Wescoat as postmaster.

Smith Palmer and his first wife Elizabeth Mayfield Palmer had seven known children:

  • William A. Palmer born about 1812
  • James Alfred Palmer born about 1815
  • Emily Palmer born about 1817
  • John W. Palmer born about 1819
  • Henry 0. Palmer born about 1822
  • Mary Rebecca Ann Palmer born about 1824, and
  • Elizabeth Catherine Palmer born 1828.

The first six children were born in North Carolina and Elizabeth Catherine was born in Tennessee.

After the death of his first wife, Smith Palmer married another woman named Elizabeth (maiden name unknown), and to this union was born

  • Amanda Palmer in 1830
  • Tennessee Palmer in 1834
  • Virginia Palmer in 1836
  • Edward M. Palmer in 1838, and
  • Sarah Palmer in 1840.

Smith Palmer’s last will and testament written September 6, 1839 and probated April 1840 leaves his estate consisting of land and twenty-one slaves to his beloved wife Elizabeth and his children. Over the years, the land was sold off until only 235 acres of the original Smith Palmer land remained in the Palmer family in 1892. At that time, the four heirs of Robert Smith Palmer (son of James Alfred Palmer and grandson of Smith Palmer) and his widow Sophia Josephine Palmer divided that 235 acres.

Although the final resting place of Smith Palmer is not known for certain, the Palmer family graveyard located behind the northwest corner of the old brick “Herman Biggs” store building in Palmersville does contain monuments to several of the Palmer family members–a lasting tribute to this pioneer family. Many believe that Smith Palmer is also buried at this site. A recent discovery in the center of the cemetery of a carefully-placed brick border which had been covered with layers of soil for many years and which happens to surround an area just the size of a grave gives a great deal of credence to this theory. If only those graveyard ghosts could talk!

August 2002

The Will of Smith Palmer

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A scan of the original Smith Palmer will is here. Below is the text.

Will of Smith Palmer, pp. 195-197

In the name of God Amen. I Smith Palmer of Weakley County and State of Tennessee being of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life I give divise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form:

-Item first, as I have heretofore given to William A. Palmer my eldest son to the amount of one thousand and seventy dollars. And to James A. Palmer my second son one Negro man named Gilbert valued at one thousand dollars and a certain tract of one hundred acres of land valued at three hundred dollars.

And to Emily M. A. Cavett my eldest daughter one Negro girl named Margaret vauled at seven hundred dollars and one Negro boy named Doctor valued at six hundred dollars.

Item 2nd As the above named William A. Palmer, James A. Palmer and Emily M. A. Cavitt have received each of them the above named sums I now proceed to give and bequeath John w. Palmer my third son Henry 0. Palmer my fourth son, Mary R. Palmer my second daughter, Elizabeth C. Palmer my third daughter all these last four jointly and severally the number of eight Negroes viz. I give unto John W. Palmer, Henry O. Palmer, Mary R. Palmer, and Elizabeth C. Palmer Reuben, Isham, Henderson, Manuel, Ralph, Ailsey, Ann and Reeny which last mentioned eight Negroes to be equally divided between John W. Palmer, Henry O. Palmer, Mary B. Palmer and Elizabeth C. Palmer as each become of age.

Item 3rd I also give and bequeath unto James A. Palmer, Emily M. A. Cavett (p. 196) John W. Palmer, Henry 0. Palmer, Mary R. Palmer and Elizabeth c. Palmer the number of five Negroes viz. Amy. Guida, Willis, Thomas and Jim jointly and severally to be equally divided among them after my decease.

Item 4th I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Palmer and Amanda M. F. Palmer, Tennessee Palmer, Virginia Palmer and Edward H. Palmer a certain number of Negroes viz. Nick, Nancy, Wat, Charles, Washington, Susan, Phil, and Isaac to be jointly and severally and equally divided between Elizabeth Palmer my beloved wife and Amanda M. F. Palmer, Virginia Palmer, Tennessee Palmer and Edward H. Palmer.

Item 5 I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Palmer the manner Negroes viz. Nich, Nancy, Wat, Charles, Washington, Susan, Phil and Isaac to have and to hold the same and the use of them while she Elizabeth Palmer my beloved wife remain a widow.

Item 6th, I do and it is my wish that all my lands house-hold furniture and perishable property shall be sold after my decease and the money equally divided between Elizabeth Palmer my beloved wife, James A. Palmer, William A. Palmer, Emily M. A. Cavett, John W. Palmer, Henry o. Palmer, Mary B. Palmer, Elizabeth c. Palmer, Amanda M. R. Palmer, Virginia Palmer, Tennessee Palmer and Edward H. Palmer.

Item 7th It is my wish that John w. Palmer shall act and be executor ofmy estate and lt is further my wish that the court do not demand any bond and security from the said John W. Palmer for the same. It further my wish that John w. Palmer my executor should sell all my lands either publicly or privately on a credit of one two and (p. 197)_three years and all my perishable property and household furniture and to be sold at public sale on a twelve months credit.

Item 8th It is my wish that Leonard s. Langley shall take care of my daughter Mary R. Palmer ad act as guardian for her. Also for Paul Palmer to take my daughter Elizabeth C. Palmer and act as guardian for her.

And I the said Smith Palmer do hereby utterly disallow revoke and annul all and every other former testament and will legacies bequests and executors by me in any wise before named willed and bequeathed rectifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixth day of September in the year of our Lord ·one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine.

Smith Palmer (Seal)

Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the said Smith Palmer as his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have herewith subscribed our names.

George W. McWhorter

Hiram Jones

James Brann

 

State of Tennessee

Weakley County April Term 1840

This was the execution of the foregoing last will and testament of Smith Palmer proven in open court by the oaths of George w. McWhorter, Hiram Jones and James Brann subscribing witnesses thereunto and ordered to be recorded.

John C. Dodds, Jr. Clerk

Palmer Family Service Record

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Ed Palmer
Company E. Enlisted September 17, 1863 at Paris, TN, by Capt. Bomer for 3 years. Bay horse valued at $600. Present on roll for March/April 1864. On roll for May/June 1864, “Transferred to old command May 23, 1864”.
Source: Compiled Service Records

E.H. Palmer
Company K. Enlisted January 1, 1864 at Conyersville, TN, by Capt. Bowman for the war. Black mule valued at $600. Present on roll for March/April 1864 as Private. Present on roll for May/June 1864 as 1st Sergeant, “Elected May 20th”. Wounded at Harrisburg.
Rennolds (1904/61) reports he died in hospital.
Died at Lauderdale Springs Confederate Hospital, September 12, 1864.
Source: Compiled Service Records [R]; Rennolds (1904/61); Watkins (1989), p. 30.

J.T. Palmer
Greer’s Regiment. Although filed with the Greer’s regiment cards, the labels appear to read “Green’s” regiment. On prisoner rolls: private, Co. A, captured at Waverly, TN, June 14, 1862; at Camp Douglas, IL, February, 1863; transferred to City Point, VA, April 1863.
Source: Compiled Service Records [G]

James Palmer
Company E. Enlisted November 25, 1863 at Paris, TN, by Capt. Bomer or Captain Hallum for 3 years. Bay mare valued at $600. Present on roll for March/April 1864. On roll for May/June 1864, “Transferred to old command May 23, 1864”. The file also contains a card stating that James Palmer was “wounded slightly left arm” at Tishomingo Creek; this card probably is misfiled.
Source: Compiled Service Records

Jesse Washington Palmer
Company E. The Index to Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications shows that Tennessee pension application #10669 was filed by Jesse W. Palmer of Carroll County for service with the 20th Cavalry.
Born 1844, Henry Co. TN. Married 1867, Martha Jane Ross, in Carroll Co. TN. Died 1920, Carroll Co. TN. Widow’s pension file #8015.
Source: Index to Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications; Sherril (1992)

Joseph Martin Palmer
Company E. Enlisted September 17, 1863 at Paris, TN, by Capt. Bomer for 3 years. Bay horse valued at $750. Present on roll for March/April 1864 as 2nd Sergeant. Present on roll for May/June 1864 as 2nd Sergeant. Wounded at Harrisburg. Oath of allegiance at Nashville, TN, May 23, 1865; described as resident of Henry Co., TN, fair complexion, light hair, blue eyes, 5 ft. 11 in., surrendered at Johnsonville, TN, May 20, 1865.
On report of absentees and deserters, Verona MS, Feb. 28, 1865. Residence Henry Co. TN; probable whereabouts Henry Co.
Born 1836, Henry Co. TN. Married 1855, Martha J. Faust, in Henry Co. TN. Died 1896, Gibson Co. TN. Widow’s pension file #4402.
Source: Compiled Service Records [R,C]; Sherril (1992); David Dyer

J.M. Palmer
Company E. Enlisted September 17, 1863 at Paris, TN, by Capt. Bomer for 3 years. Absent on roll for March/April 1864, “Absent with leave April 2, 1864”. Absent on roll for May/June 1864, “Absent without leave in Tenn. By Hallum”.
Source: Compiled Service Records [R]

from: http://www.utm.edu/staff/leeb/service.htm

Andrew Williams Family

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Andrew Williams, born 1815 in Chatham County, NC, was a son of Allen and Elizabeth (Davis) Williams.

Andrew came to Kentucky as a young man and married Mary Jane Turnbow in 1837 in Calloway County, KY. They were parents of six known children: Mary Ann , Martha Elizabeth, Lewis, James Riley, Cornelia, and Rachel Caroline. Mary Jane Williams died a few weeks after the birth of Rachel in 1855.

In 1856, Andrew married Martha Elizabeth Cochran in Calloway County, KY. They were parents of six known children: four sons-J. Amphion, Lucian, Shiron Edwin, William and two daughters-Lucy Jane and Sallie. Census records show them living in Graves County, KY in 1860 and 1870.

At some time between 1870 and 1880, Andrew Williams moved his family into Weakley County. On the 1880 census, Andrew’s occupation is listed as miller and farmer. His son James R. Williams and his family also live in Weakley County in 1880; James’ occupation was listed as “working in sawmill.” Very likely, this is the same location where Will Williams would later run a store.

A copy of a Magistrates Warrant dated July of 189? from the files at the Historical Society shows A. Williams and Sons as plaintif against a man who owed them a “debt due by account under $500.” As this suggests a family business, perhaps other sons of Andrew were also involved.

Andrew Williams died August 1899 and was buried at Zions Hill Cemetery in First District. Martha Elizabeth Williams died January 1908 and was also buried at Zions Hill as well as several other Williams family members.

W. J. Burnett Family

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When volunteers unlock the doors at the Historical Society’s buildings on Friday afternoon, we never know what or who to expect. On one cold, snowy day this past winter, two dogs were warming themselves against the front door and were very reluctant to move. Some days are lonely–nary a soul shows up. One day, a long tour bus (something like Dolly Parton might own) pulled up and parked in front and a group of visitors from the Portland and Castalian Springs, TN area visited.

Recently John and Shirley Fiery and their daughter from Sapulpa, OK came by and asked if we had any information on William James Burnett who had lived in Palmersville in the late 1880s. Of course, we did!

William James Burnett was born September 1850 in Virginia to William F. and Ruth (Giles) Burnett. William F. Burnett died in 1850. Ruth then married Edward Preston Hodges in 1860. In 1866, William James, his mother, and his step-father came to Weakley County.

W. J. worked as a day laborer on a farm for a couple of years, and in 1869 he formed a partnership with Dr. G. L. Brooks and opened a grocery business in Palmersville and later added dry goods to the stock.

W.J. married Martha Cordelia Ridgway, daughter of James Marion Ridgway and Sarah Ann (McWherter) Ridgway, in December of 1870. They were parents of seven known children: Effie, Annie Bell (who died at one year), Bolivar Bates, Birch C., Severa Bell, Blanche, and Brooks G.

In 1877 after Mr. Brooks died , W. J. Burnett sold his interest in the grocery and dry goods business.

Two years later, Burnett returned to the dry goods business and partnered with Calvin O. Gatewood and T.J. Collier in Palmersville. In 1881 he sold his interest in the business and purchased 305 acres of land near Palmersville. He later increased his land holdings to 640 acres and gave considerable attention to stock raising. In 1883, Burnett partnered with Felix Grundy Eanes in the tobacco business.

Sometime between 1880 and 1900, Martha C. Burnett died, and W.J. Burnett and children left Weakley County and moved to the Indian Territory which would later become Oklahoma. Apparently he was a man of good business ability, as he is listed in the 1900 Census as a banker and his son Bolivar Bates was a clerk in the bank. Burnett built a grand house in Sapulpa–the grandest in Oklahoma he said. W. J. Burnett died in 1903 and was buried at the Old Sapulpa Cemetery in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.

One story was told that Bolivar Bates Burnett made his fortune in the oil business in Oklahoma; he later lost it and committed suicide in New York City in 1925.

The Fireys now own this grand house and operate Miss Scarlett’s Tea Room there. It is also available for renting out for special occasions. Check out their website. www.burnettmansion.com