Case No. 183, filed 20 September 1866
John F. STEPHENS and wife Lavina VS E. E. GRIFFITH, et al:
File contains will of Jesse RHEA
This suit combined with No. 173, and a part of info below is in that suit.
Jesse RHEA died intestate Oct 1858. Will: died of old age; to present wife; all heirs; to
James RHEA's heirs $5 each. Executors: Wm. RHEA and Elisha GRIFFITH; executed 20 Oct
1858. Witnesses: David STEPHENS & Wm. RITCHEY. Both suits say there were 11 heirs
but suit 173 papers were lost by clerk and he made new one by copying No. 183. There are
14 children (or children's children) listed, with all but one specified as son or
daughter and this one is in list with all the others and is presumably a son. The widow
is Amelia RHEA of Monroe County. The children are:
1. James RHEA who died intestate in Missouri leaving children:
a. Jesse
b. Nancy
c. James
d. Margaret
e. Spencer
all are in Missouri - Executor GRIFFITH paid James his share.
2. Mary dec'd wife of John COULTER of Illinois, children:
a. Martha J. BROWN of Iowa
b. John
c. William
d. Margaret - wife of E. W. TATE
d. Sarah dec'd wife of ___ FOX whose child, Sarah Jane FOX is a minor.
Mary COULTER's share was confiscated by Confederate Government
3. Rebecca KEEBLE dec'd wife of Manley KEEBLE, heirs:
a. Mary - wife of M.B. GARNER of Blount Co., TN
b. Katherine W. - wife of Jesse Kagle of Sevier Co., TN
c. Pleasant of Blount Co., TN
d. Richard H. of Blount Co., TN
4. John who died intestate about 1862-3 in Monroe Co., TN. Heirs:
a. Margaret A. - wife of O.M. DIXON
b. Elizabeth - wife of Jefferson SMALLING
c. William Rhea
d. Ellison T.
e. Samuel M.
f. Lewis
g. Harvey
h. Hettie C.
last 2 minors and all of Monroe County, TN
5. William Rhea, Sr. of Monroe Co., TN
6. Elizabeth - wife of Richard KEEBLE of Blount Co., TN
7. Sarah - wife of John MORGAN of Missouri
8. Margaret - dec'd wife of _____ STEPHENS of Illinois. Heirs:
a. Wm. R.
b. Mary Ann - wife of _____ CHURCH
c. Margaret Jane - wife of D. H. McMILLAN
d. James M.
e. Louis A.
f. Sarah E.
Margaret's share was confisicated by Confederat Government
9. Eveline - wife of John MAGILL or McGILL of Illinois
Her share confiscated by Confederate Government
10. Lavina - wife of John F. STEPHENS of Illinois
Her share confiscated by Confederate Government
11. Wyly of Monroe Co., TN
12. Lewis of Oregon - his share confiscated also
13. Riley of California - his share confiscated also
14. Eliza - dec's wife of Alexander LEE of Monroe Co., TN, her heirs:
a. Margaret - wife of Wm. FERGUSON
b. Pleasant
c. Mary C.
d. Sarah F.
e. John
f. Elizabeth
g. Jesse
h. Nancy J.
i. Evaline Lee
b through i all minors of Monroe Co., TN
Witnesses give testimony as to conditions in Monroe County, TN during war: County
strongly Rebel, Thomas J. CAMPBELL a Jajor in Confederate Army was in charge of
confiscations by Confederate Govt. of property of Union men, and was Judge Advocate of
Court Martial in Knoxville when some Union men were condemned on charge of bridge burning.
The Defendant, Elisha A. GRIFFITH, Exec. of Jesse RHEA, says he paid all the heirs who
were residents, but he has no way to send money to those in states outside of the
Confederacy. He kept money until Confederate Government brought suit against him and they
confiscated shares ($995.16 each) of Nos. 2, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 13. Judge rules that
GRIFFITH is liable to these 6 for their shares, with interest from 1861.
Mary Lou