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Kathleen,
I agree! The Childress family is very interesting isn't it? Seems everyday
there is something new we didn't know! I appreciate list member, KAY, for
providing the article on Dr. Childress.
Also, for instance, Creed Taylor who was chancellor or VA, founder of the
Needham Law School (VA) who married Sarah "Sallie" Woodson. Creed was son of
Sophia Childress and Samuel Taylor, SR. Sophia was daughter of Abraham
Childress lll (aka Childers) and sister to CREED Childress of whom it appears to be
the namesake for at least 7 different families who connect to old Abraham
Childress lll. Having said this, there is only one branch of Childress who
continued the name "Creed" and that was the family of JOHN CHILDRESS, Rev.
Soldier who was born 1759 Albemarle County, VA and who died in Knox County, TN in
1849c. Let us know when you begin the Childress book:)
MaryJean
Hi Sarah,
No apology needed. Absolutely sharing genealogical information is the sole
purpose of this list.
Every one appreciates the fact that you shared with the list. I just thought
that maybe if you could contact the other person who shares your lineage the two
of you might come up with more information with some sources. Since you are a
descendant of the Binkley's you could share a lot of information with the list
especially as it pertains to the Childress connection, since there seems to be a
lot of discrepances about this link. Keep up the good work and please do share
with us. Everyone is welcome and wanted. There is a lot of bantering about
these subjects on this list and no one should take it personally. We all share
our opinions and yes, even get into heated arguments about genealogy. This is
just a part of it all. Out of these differences comes a lot of good information
that is or can be just the piece of the puzzle one might need. So, my fellow
list member keep posting, but expect dynamic differences of opinions.
Again, an apology is not needed, we just say "right on Sarah" keep up the good
work. All genealogists and would be genealogists should be so dedicated to
having sources as you are.
I post what I post because some people need additional clues to be able to hurl
the brick wall they have encountered. I have received email telling me how much
having the information, that
I posted, has been just the piece of puzzle they have needed to continue.
Everyone is welcome to post most anything at any time and we all look forward
to any post that you feel like sharing, bar none. So we look forward to all the
information that you wish to share.
Fellow list member,
Kay
Kay,
That was very interesting! I suppose the V. Childress in the 1830 Giles
County, TN census is the father of Dr. Childress. By 1840, for Giles County,
there is no John, John Vaulton or Vaulton Childress in the census. Only James
M - Elize - R.B. - R.L. - and Mary, all Childress.
Would it be correct to say that Robert L. Childress was son of John
Childress (1759 VA - 1848/9 TN) and father of Vaulton, Sr.? Or do I have this
confused? I do know that Joseph B. Childress who married Susan Ezell was a
descendant of John Childress and I thought Robert. Would you know? Thanks Kay!
MaryJean
Patrick and Debra,
Already heard from you regarding Debra's questions about her Childress. For
any of you on the list, please see earlier messages from Debra -
First, Debra, Mary Ann who was married to Vaulton Childress? It's not
uncommon for MARY to be referred to as POLLY. It's a nickname they use,
especially during the time of Vaulton Childress. My great grandmother was Mary
Caroline Burk Ogletree and they called her Polly Burk Ogletree.
Now to Vaulton Childress. I have no reference to his being a John Vaulton
Childress, but that doesn't mean he didn't have two names. The first sign of
him I have in TN (since there were very few census's which were not destroyed
before 1820 in TN) are these -
GILES COUNTY, TN - CENSUS -
CHILDRESS, ROBERT - l 0 0 1 1 0 1 - - 0 2 2 0 2 - -
NOTE - The Robert above was 45 and older and a female 45 and older.
CHILDRESS, VAULTON - 4 0 0 1 0 1 - - 1 1 0 1 0
NOTE - Both Vaulton and Robert were 45 and older. I would have to say they
were probably related. Their the ONLY two Childress in Giles County in 1820
in a census.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
By the 1830 Census for Giles County, TN - Here are these -
GILES COUNTY, TN CENSUS - 1830 -
Page -
145 - CHILDES, PAUL -
180 - CHILDRESS, V. - 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 (last one, 50-60) - - 1 0 1 0 0 0 1
-
181 - CHILDRESS, WALTER -
208 - CHILDRESS, JOEL -
208 - CHILDRESS, ROBERT -
208 - CHILDRESS, ROBERT (aged 60-70) - He is the one from the 1820 census,
probably relation of VAULTON -
*********************************************************
1840 GILES COUNTY, TN CENSUS had -
Page -
100 - CHILDRESS, JAMES M.
106- CHILDRESS, ELIZE -
107 - CHILDRESS, R.B.
107 - CHILDRESS, R.L. (aged 70-80), he is probably the ROBERT from the two
previous census's for Giles County. This in my opinion is ROBERT LINDSEY
CHILDRESS, son of JOHN CHILDRESS of Knox County, TN, born 1759 Albemarle County,
VA, died 1848-9 Knox County, TN -
143 - CHILDRESS, MARY
*********************************************************
1850 GILES COUNTY, TN - had -
JOSEPH B. CHILDRESS - who married SUSAN EZELL (who comes from my EZELL
family) and they had Samuel and Sarah. Plus they had living in their household,
JOHN EZELL aged 12 and JOHN P. EZELL, 27 born SC -
WILLIAM CHILDRESS and wife MARY ANN, plus three daughters and Elizabeth Lee.
JAMES M. CHILDRESS, wife Berthena and a large family -
Both JOSEPH B. CHILDRESS and JAMES M. CHILDRESS had the profession of TANNER
- WILLIAM Childress was a Blacksmith by trade.
SOURCE for above - "TENNESSEE CENSUS RECORDS, 1810 through 1850 of the
CHILDERS - CHILDRESS FAMILIES (and various spellings)" - Published by: Mrs. MOLLY
REIGARD (Childress descendant and editor and publisher of "Childress
Chatter") - Huffman, TX. -
Patrick and Debra - I've been doing original research for my CHILDRESS and
EZELL family and JOSEPH CHILDRESS did marry SUSAN EZELL. I have marriage
records for at least 8 Childress - Ezell marriages in VA, TN, SC and KY.
The above JOSEPH CHILDRESS was to my knowledge a descendant of ROBERT
CHILDRESS who I believe to be ROBERT LINDSEY CHILDRESS, son of JOHN CHILDRESS, Rev.
Soldier. Born December 1759 Albemarle County, VA, according to a copy of
the original ARW Pension papers for John and also court records of his estate
1848-9 in Knox County, TN naming his children and family of heirs and the
lawsuit.
If you need particulars on any in the census, as far as their household, let
me know or the pension of John Childress born 1759. Patrick, you were
correct, I am related to Susan Ezell who married Robert L. Childress. Let me know
if you have questions and or comments on any of them.
MaryJean
Debra,
Under your PS to Patrick regarding the Ezells and "Childers". I've been
working for about 10 years on the Ezell family of early VA. At last count, there
were at least 7 or 8 marriages, but they were with Childress. One of them
was mine, Zelphia Ezell daughter of Rev. Balaam Ezell, Sr, married Thomas
Childress, who died in Robertson County, Tn. 1871, from injuries suffered, I was
told, as a soldier in the CSA during the Civil War.
We did have a branch of Ezells who married Childress and migrated to Tn.
Including the Childress's of Knox County, TN whose descendant married two
Ezells. Other Ezell-Childress branches were married in VA and migrated to KY,
however, all of the Ezell's from Virginia were from our common Ezell ancestor who
arrived in Virginia from France by way of England.
MaryJean
MaryJean (& whomever else responded);
I looked at a copy of the 1850 Charlotte census and I believe there is no
Jr. after Charles - it looks like the old style SS where the first S is an
F. Looks the same for Tilman Childress just above him.
Thanks for the responses. There is an LDS genealogy branch nearby and I will
attack them asap.
Guy
Hi Kay and Guy,
Thanks for telling me about the "JR". I have a legal pad where I copied the
census from the film. I don't have that Charles F. Childress was a "JR", I
must have missed it. If he was shown as a "JR", then his father was a
Charles! I don't think the census taker would have gone to the trouble to write
"JR" if he wasn't one. This is good news for Guy. I would search it Guy and
it appears to me that Charles F. and his brother Tilmon were born in
Charlotte County, so their parents lived there. You'll need census, deeds, anything
you can locate with a Charles Childress and any other one for that matter.
Thanks Kay!
MaryJean
Debra,
Were you directing a question regarding these messages, to me? I believe I
answered Patrick's questions about the tombstone, but, if you have an
additional question, I'll be glad to answer it. Thanks.
MaryJean Childress - Voegtlin
Patrick,
Do have any info on John Vaulton Childress who entered into a marriage bann
with Mary Ann Taylor in Campbell Co, VA. Each signed that bann using other
name than their 1st name. He used Vaulton & she used Polly. They were the
parents of my ancestor, Josiah Taylor Childres (the way the name was spelled
in Giles CO, TN). Josiah was born in 1817 but where & died in San Augustine,
TX in 1879. It wasn't Giles Co, TN. There was also another Josiah Childress
who was born in 1825. I don't know yet how they might be related but people
e-mail me all the time giving me the wrong info for my Josiah.
Mary Ann Childress is buried in the Maplewood Cemetery, Giles Co, TN. John
died 8 miles out of San Felipe, Austin Co, TX in 1838. He lies in an
unmarked grave.
Josiah Taylor Childers (name change again in TX) was my direct ancestor & he
married Emily Blanch Polk. Although he & brother John Charles owned a
tannery in San Augustine, TX, no mention is ever made of them, their
ancestors, nor their descendants. I guarantee that we do exist
P. S. The Ezell family & the Childers family are related. One of the
Childers daughters married one of the Ezell sons & both families are buried
right next to each other in TN. Some are buried within a little fenced off
area there.
-----Original Message-----
From: Patrick Childress [mailto:jpc@gvtc.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 4:36 PM
To: CHILDRESS-RESEARCH-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: Re: [CHILDRESS] ABRHAM CHILDRESS lll (aka Childers) AND HIS
FAMILY - VA -
Dear MaryJean (and entire list),
I've gone back into my e-mail and saved documents archives and have come up
with a few notes that address some of the issues that MaryJean puts forth in
her note following this one.
I believe it's a fair statement that we all would like to have simple facts
in our research for our true "roots." If someone wishes to speculate,
that's okay, as long as it's prefaced with a note to that extent.
Following is a verbatim excerpt from a note issued by Gary or Mark Childress
some time ago, in which the author expounds on the theory of the "1745
crossing" in a ship by a Childress, whose descendent was Sarah Childress
Polk.
Can anyone on distribution of this research list comment as to the accuracy
(or inaccuracies) that might be in the following verbiage?
Are we suggesting that this tombstone did not exist at all? If not, then
what was the purpose of pretense?
Thanks,
Pat Childress
From: "Mark or Gary" <london2000(a)fea.net>
To: <CHILDRESS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Subject: Re: [Childress Research] Re: Gravestone
Date: Thursday, October 19, 2000 7:31 PM
Hi Warren,
Last year we sent a researcher to photograph the gravestone of Joel
Childress. The photographs didn't help. You can't read the inscription from
the photograph. (If you want a black and white Xerox, send me a SASE (self
addressed stamped envelop) but be prepared for a disappointing unreadable
image of a decimated tombstone)
The stone is a fragment in several pieces with about 75% of the stone
missing. One fragment is completely flat with no inscription remaining.
The readable portions (an area of about 2 feet by 3 feet) have the birth and
death dates and an incomplete prayer. That's all that remains.
The stone is laid in cement outside a chapel at "Cannonsburg", a historical
preservation tourist site in Murfreesboro, TN.
2 brothers, descendants of Joel, played on the stone when they were
children and both brothers wrote similar accounts of the stone as adults.
The Rutherford County Historical Society published the following account in
1981.
Below are the complete memoirs of John Williams Childress, the great great
grandson of Joel Childress. These have been posted before to the list but
since there are new members I decided to re-post.
The four generations referred to below are as follows:
(1) Joel Childress had 2 sons Anderson and John Whitsitt Senior.
(2) John Whitsitt Childress SENIOR. had 4 sons John Whitsitt Jr, Joseph,
Eugene, and Horace
(3) John Whitsitt Childress JUNIOR had 3 sons John Williams Childress, Avent
Childress, and Adair Lyon Childress[called Lyon]
(4) John Williams Childress wrote the text below in 1960.
Text that is in SQUARE brackets [ ] are my additions....
Gary Childress
The Childress Family of Tennessee by John Williams Childress
Rutherford County Historical Society (Tenn.) Publication, issue 16, Winter
1981
"Our great grandfather, Joel Childress, was born on March 22, 1777. He
married Elizabeth Whitsitt, [b.] 1781- [d.] 1863, came to Tennessee from
Virginia, and settled Janurary 17, 1799, in Sumner County, where his
children were born. About 1812 he moved to Rutheford, a newly formed
county, and bought a farm about three miles south of Murfreesboro, situated
where Stones River is crossed by the Shelbyville pike. There was a large
frame house in which he lived until his death, August 19, 1819. He was
buried in a fence-enclosed family plot near the house. Among his activities
he was a Postmaster of Murfreesboro.
I well remember his grave in the apple orchard, which was marked by a
ten-foot stone resting upon six columns to a base. The top stone contained
the inscription: "Joel Childress, son of John, son of Joel, who emigrated
from Wales, in his own ship with cargo, in the year 1745." The last two
digits of the date were very dim but my brother and I agreed upon "45". His
migration in his own ship was frequent occurrence where the migrant had
sufficient means to outfit such transportation, since it was well known that
a ship and its contents could readily be sold at a profit, thus giving the
emigrant ready capital. He landed probably in Virginia, or possibly North
Carolina, since the name is found in both sates, but Joel and his wife were
both born in Virginia. Her mother was Polly Sevier.
Upon a visit with my family to Tennessee in 1923, I was distressed to find
no trace of the grave, but found that the two large stones had been used by
the then owner of the nearby cottage, just built as fireplace bases. At
least the inscription above had been left underneath and did no show at the
floor level.
After Joel's death, his widow moved into town and lived there until her
death in 1863. Elizbeth Whitsitts's oil portrait is in the home of my niece
and her great, great niece, Harriet Childress Tune, Nashville, Tenn.
There were six children of Joel and Elizabeth, but two died in infancy. The
others were Anderson, 1799-1837; Susan, 1801-1878; Sarah, 1803-1891: and
John Whitsitt [Sr.], 1807-1884. All were given the best educational
advantages available. Anderson went to Chapel Hill College (now the
University of North Carolina) [the University has no record to corroborate
Anderson's attendance and the admissions department doubts that Anderson
enrolled in Chapel Hill College]; Susan and Sarah were sent to the famous
(and first) girls' school in the country, the Moravian Church Academy,
Salem, N.C. John entered the 1822 class at Chapel Hill. Anderson graduated
in 1818, but John spent only one year, his schooling cut to one year,
presumably, by his father's death in 1819. The girls and their brother
Anderson rode horseback from middle Tennessee to Salem (some 500 miles), he
going on further about 100 miles to Chapel hill, and picking them up in the
spring for [the] return home. They were accompanied only by a faithful
slave to look after the horses and baggage.
In Anderson's class were several close friends, among them James Knox Polk,
later President of the United States, also James Otey and ____ Green, who
were to become the first Episcopal Bishops of Tennessee and Alabama,
respectively. By coincidence, my son-in-law, James Otey (Bill) Urquart, is
the great-grandson of Bishop Otey, for whom his is named. It was also quite
natural that Sarah Childress should meet and marry Jimmy Polk when he came
to Murfreesboro-then the State Capital-in his first political job as
Secretary of the State Legislature.
For the story of Sarah and James Polk, see any history book, but
particularly two, "Young Hickory" and "Memorials to Sarah Childress Polk".
The only other known copy of the latter book is in the Congressional Library
in Washington.
As is well known, Sarah Childress lived for 42 years after her husband's
death in 1849, continuing to the end to occupy the fine estate the President
had bought shortly before his term expired. She lived simply but, making no
visits except to Murfreesboro and Columbia, kept practically open house to
old friends. She died in 1891. As a boy I was taken to see her at regular
intervals. I remember her with affection. My father was the favorite of
all her relatives. At death, Aunt Sarah was buried beside her husband,
until both were transferred to a joint tomb on the Capitol grounds.
Susan Childress married Dr. Rucker and had two daughters. These girls
visited their Aunt in the White House.
The farm and house on Stones River were inherited by my grandfather, John
Whitsitt [Sr], and were successfully operated by him until his death [d.
1884] although late in life he moved to town to a house at College and
Academy Streets, which was owned by his second wife. This house still
stands and a picture of it can be found in the book called "History of
Rutherford County". The caption of this picture reads: John W. Childress
[Sr.] frequently entertained in this house his brother-in-law, President
Polk." This is, of course, an error as Polk died in 1849.
In 1853 John W. Childress [Sr.] built, on the site of his father's [Joel's]
house, a very modern and imposing two-story brick, which I visited often as
a boy of 12 or 15, when it was owned by my cousin, Frank Avent. At Frank's
marriage this house and farm where given to him by his father as a wedding
present. I often stayed with them just to be in the country and to live in
the old place. At 10 I had learned to swim in the nearby Stones River, and
Frank, a great dog fancier and huntsman, would let me hunt with him. I
remember my grandfather [John Whitsitt Childress Senior] only at his
funeral in 1884, but the country place forever stands out in my memory.
That 1853 house was built of brick made on the place, and of stone from the
River. The portico was stone, with 3-root in diameter stone columns
extending above the second floor. Inside was a large entrance hall, with
curving, "flying", no visible support, stairway, with strong banisters. All
rooms were 18 to 20 feet in height, each with about two foot frieze, the
whole being of such hard plaster (no paper) that I have often wondered about
the lost skill of such construction.
I don't remember the size of the farm, but it extended East about one-half
mile to the railroad track and the same distance to the river in the other
direction [the Childress farm was about ½ mile by ½ mile square]. The house
was set about one-fifth of a mile from the gate at Pike where it crossed
Stones River and was reached by a curved driveway, marked by red cedar
trees. When I last saw the property (1923) the last one of these trees had
just been cut down for firewood, but my girls gathered some of the sweet
smelling cedar chips as souvenirs. The house had two rooms, both sides of
hall, both stories, and an Ell, with full porch in the front.
The most outstanding memory of the house was that the portico, the columns
and the room walls were completely covered with pencil and charcoal names
and regiments of Federal soldiers stationed at or near the house, who had
spent their time "beautifying it with their 'art'". Actually, many names had
been chiseled with nail and hammer almost to the roof, and many of them were
well done from the operators point of view. The plaster of the day was so
hard that little harm had been done to the room walls.
When the Federal troops took over Murfreesboro in the summer of 1862, my
grandfather [John Whitsitt Childress Senior, brother of Sarah Childress
Polk] was forced to refugee with his daughters and small children to North
Georgia, where he remained until the end of the war. His house and farm
were immediately taken over the occupied by three "campfollower" families,
who worked the farm and slaves during the period, taking, of course, all
benefits from them as their profit as "conquerors". While the land was
overworked and the servants mistreated, it is quite possible that this
occupancy by Northerners may have preserved the place from complete
destruction, as happened to many other Southern owners who were less
fortunate.
In this connection occurred an unusual and interesting incident. During the
war my father happened to be in the vicinity of the place and so made bold
to ride up to the house to look things over. This he could do because he
wore a long, blue Union overcoat which he had taken from a captured Negro
soldier. His inquiries of one of the squatters as to who owned this place,
etc. were being insolently answered as became the squatter's right when
dealing with a private, even a Unionist. Just then there appeared, however,
a small Negro boy who had come out to gather chips from the woodpile. He
glanced up and in astonishment said: "For God, if it ain't little Marse
John!" Whereupon father [John Whitsitt Childress Junior] showed his
Confederate uniform, forced the man to go with him across the river...by
wading... and turned him over to the military authorities. When the family
returned from Georgia, no one was found of the three former "owners", but
they left their marks on the property.
I don't know how and when this place got out of the Childress family, for I
remember it only after its purchase by father's [John Whitsitt Childress
Junior] brother-in-law, James M. Avent, for Frank. In 1896, while at school
at Bell Buckle, Tenn., the principal, Sawney Webb, called me aside to tell
me that, as he was passing on train the night before, he happened to look
out of the window and saw the house being destroyed by fire. I never knew
how it happened but I never forgot my grief at the loss of the old house I
loved.
Grandfather [John Whitsitt Childress Senior] also owned and operated another
and larger farm about ten miles East of Murfreesboro. Most of his 150
slaves were stationed here, but only the overseer staff lived there.
While continuing to operate his two farms, Grandfather [John Whitsett
Childress Senior] had other interests in town, being organizer and president
of two banks, and was, from its beginning in 1853, a Director of the
Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. His rather distinguished career is told
in considerable detail in a clipping from a Nashville paper which will be
found in my mother's scrapbook, in the suitcase. While this obituary is
signed only "A.S.C.," it was written by Col. Arthur S. Colyax, owner of the
"Nashville America," to my father's [John Whitsett Childress Junior] law
partner in the firm of Colyax, Marks and Childress. The other partner,
Marks, was a former Governor of Tennessee, and Colyax was a famous orator
and former member of the Confederate Senate. I have always believed that,
while the firm had probably the largest law practice in the State, the
partners let father [John Whitsett Childress Junior] do all the work,
resulting in his breakdown of health and his retirement---1884 to 1888-to
Florida. However, he recovered and led an active and useful life for many
years.
By his first wife, Mary Williams of Nashville (for whom I am named)[John
Williams Childress], my grandfather [John Whitsett Childress Senior] had
four sons who lived to full maturity and two daughters. Two of these sons
were my father, John Whitsett, Jr., and Joseph. The latter[Joseph] had two
daughters, Mary Kee and Sarah Polk, but Joe died when they were children.
John's [John Whitsett Childress Senior] older daughters were Mary, who
married James Monroe Avent, and Bettie, who married Major General John
Calvin Brown, of Pulaski [TN]. Avent took my father [John Whitsett
Childress Junior] in as a law partner until he moved to Nashville in 1882.
We were always very close to the Avent family, my younger brother bearing
that name [Avent Childress]. The only remaining member (1960) is Sara [??],
who still lives in the old house and has one son, Jesse C. Beesley, New
York. The other daughter, Bettie [??], married James B. Murfree. Jr. His
widow survived him until 1959. She was 92 at the time of her death. The
third brother was James. M. Jr.[?? the author is not clear who he is talking
about].
Bettie Childress [is the daughter of Joseph Childress who is the son of John
Whitsett Childress Senior] married Brown [Major General John Calvin Brown]
while refugeeing in Georgia, and "between battles" of the war. They
returned to Pulaski, from which he was elected Tennessee's Governor in 1870.
Later they moved to Nashville, where he died in 1889. At which time he was
President of the Texas & Pacific Railroad. There were two daughters, Marie
and Daisy, and a son, John. No males of the name survive.
It was while living with the Browns in Pulaski [TN] that my father [John
Whitsett Childress Junior] studied law, and in 1870 was made a Manager (at
25) of Brown's campaign for Governor. That was his first experience in
politics, and probably led to his 25 years as head (Chairman) of the
Democratic Party in the State. While he retired as Chairman when he became
a judge in 1895, he was until his death (1908) always consulted and followed
in political matters.
It was also in Pulaski that my father became one of the organizers of the
original Ku Klux Klan. (For the complete and true story of the Klan, see
its history in the Ridley book. This gives the only true history of its
beginning, it operations, and its end, and could have been written only by
one who knew the story personally.) [Ridley, Bromfield L.: BATTLES AND
SKETCHES OF THE ARMY OF TENNESSEE ; Morningside Press 672pp - index -
'Ridley's Journal' is a collectors item - Index - Maps - Numerous Photos -
Illustrations - Includes battle details and section on Ku Klux Klan This
compilation of eyewitness accounts, official letters and documents, and the
author's insights provides a wealth of information on the Army of Tennessee.
Ridley served on A.P. Stewart's staff, a position which allowed him access
to privileged information. The work is arranged chronologically, with
accounts of various engagements and chapters on peripheral events relating
to the army. This book is considered a primary source for information on the
Civil War in the Western theater]. I could never get father [John Whitsett
Childress Junior] to admit his membership, for the Federal laws against it
were never repealed: but there can be no doubt that he was one of the boys
who started the KKK in 1867, when he was living in Pulaski. All Klansmen
were young Confederate officers and the original group got together as a
club or fraternity for fun only. The later KKK activities were brought
about for protection against outrages of the scalawags and carpetbaggers who
were exciting the Negroes to crimes.
Incidentally, this Ridley book is now considered a "collector's item"
because the writer's story of his return home after the surrender of the
Confederate Army is the only known account of that phase of a soldier's
life. Several histories of that period quote Ridley's diary for the only
picture of a Confederate's thoughts and acts after his parole. My father
also surrendered at the same time in North Carolina, but all I could get out
of him was that he burst into tears many times a day during the long trip to
Tennessee. Incidentally, Ridley was also from Rutherford County be [sic.
but] he and father never met during the war. He married my mother's
youngest sister, Ideyette, while she was visiting mother in Murfreesboro.
"Uncle Brom" [Bromfield Ridley] was one of the finest and most lovable
persons I ever knew, and his book-of which he was very proud-is most
interesting. He was, during his whole service, on the Staff of Gen. A.P.
Stewart-CSA.
After the death of his wife, my grandfather [John Whitsett Childress
Senior] married Mary Phillips, a cousin of his former wife, and by her had
the following sons and daughters: William Sumner [Childress] who married
Inez Wade;
The second son of William [William Sumner Childress] was Levi Wade
[Childress], who lived nearly all his life in St. Louis, Mo. He died about
three years ago, leaving one daughter and two sons: Wade, Jr.[Childress] and
Fielding [Childress], and his widow all of whom I believe to be alive.
Another son of John Whitsett Childress [Senior?], Eugene, was never married
and died while relatively a young man. The last one, Horace, had no sons,
nor did Annie, nor Ella and the baby of the family-Selene-had no children,
though married twice-first to Jonathan W. Jackson, then to Frederick
Wighthall.
With the death of his father in 1884, my father John Whitsett Jr. (April 20,
1845 - March 28, 1908) became the beloved head of the family and was so
recognized by all. He had little education since he ran away from Military
school to join the Confederate Armey and never returned. He did, however,
acquire an excellent knowledge of law while studying in Gen. Brown's office
in Pulaski, and proved his capacity when he served in Nashville as Circuit
Court Judge for the last 13 years of his life, as well as in his only active
practice after moving to Nashville. But he served capably and successfully
in many other capacities, including General Manager of the "American"
Newspaper, Assistant U.S. Attorney, President of the South Pittsburg City
Co. operating the utilities and building up of that town and organizing and
presiding as President of a National Bank which is still-after 75 years-the
strongest institution in that section of the State. In every capacity and
situation he was sought after for advice and assistance. His best-know
service was as advisor of the Democratic party in politics. This began as
Campaign Manager for his brother-in-law, John C. Brown, in his successful
race as first Democratic Governor after the war, in 1870, at the age of 25.
>From then until his judgeship in 1895, he was Chairman of the Democratic
Committee, at which time he gave up the title for ethical reasons, but
continued in his advisory capacity until the end. Amazing to say, with all
his political activities, and the usual unpleasant feelings thus engendered,
I don't believe he ever had a personal or political enemy. Partly, no
doubt, his popularity was due to his wanting no office for himself, his only
interest being to find the right man for the place in his party. Thus,
every Governor and U.S. Senator depended upon him. In fact he declined
appointment to the U.S. Senate by Governor Taylor, and later declined an
election to that body by the State Legislature, which was trying to break a
long deadlock between two candidates-Taylor and McMillin. He did not want
the job anyway, but spurned the appointment because both men were his close
friends and he would be put in a position of profiting by their defeat. The
Legislature acted, apparently, to get itself out of a long deadlock which
seemed endless. It did end, however, when a third man, Luke Lea, became a
candidate through the proper pressure (money?) to break the tie. Taylor,
after three terms as Governor, later became a United States Senator.
McMillin, after being Governor, and after 20 years in the House of
Representatives, died just aster his appointment-as Ambassador to Mexico.
His second wife, Lucile, was made a member of the Civil Service Commission
in Washington. McMillin first married my cousin, Marie Brown (General Brown
's daughter). Both Taylor and McMillin were devoted friends of father's and
I also kept up my friendship with them until their deaths.
In the late days of father's life he was often unable to hold Court and the
docket was so full that someone had to carry on. Volunteers were welcome
and the man most helpful in these emergencies was Cordell Hull, a young
Judge with 13 counties in his Circuit, who cold still come to Nashville to
help out. I realized later that he did so at his own expense. Hull was,
however, one of father's political protégés, as well as friend, and he
probably profited by the experience and association. Another such protégé
was Joseph W. Byrns, later Speaker of the House. When Hull was Secretary of
State he took occasion at several public gatherings in Washington to
introduce me as the "son of the man who taught me all the politics I know,
if any." I recall two occasions at the Jackson Day Dinners, and at other
times when he was a guest in my home. I knew most of the Tennessee
Delegation and Byrns and Hull were most helpful in my one entry into
politics-the appointment by President Coolidge as Chairman of the D.C.
Public Utilities Commission in 1926.
"My father [John Whitsitt Childress Junior] was in 1861 at military school
in Nashville, but his parents were endeavoring to keep him out of the war
because of his health and weighing only 90 pounds, and believed by them to
have "consumption" [tuberculosis]. They thought military life would be
fatal. However, he ran away from school and joined the army at Bowling
Green, Ky., in October, 1861. He was sent to Fort Donelson just in time to
surrender. From there he was sent by flat-boat to Columbus, Ohio, and then
on to prison camp at Johnson's Island, near Sandusky, Ohio.
At the end of nine months he was exchanged at Vicksburg, Miss., and
immediately returned to the army. At the beginning he became drillmaster
and Adjutant of the 50th Tennessee Regiment, and remained with that
organization. He was four times wounded, once shot entirely through the
thigh, and in the head at Franklin. In the futile charge over Federal
breastworks he crossed the Harpeth River, climbed up and was on the point of
jumping down into the trench when a bullet tore away his right eyebrow and
he was left for dead. About midnight he came to life to find himself in the
burial ditch, but, most fortunately, near the top and so able to climb out
and crawl back to the lines. While his life was saved in this miraculous
manner, he escaped the army's collapse at Nashville two weeks later.
Despite the annihilation of the Western Army, three divisions were gotten
together (in part, of course) and reached Johnson's Army in North Carolina,
only to be surrendered. This formality occurred for him on his 20th
birthday, April 20.
Father [John Whitsitt Childress Junior] was always known and spoken of as
"Captain Childress" unitl he became a judge, but never used either title
when speaking of himself over phones or otherwise. From the time he entered
the army, he was an officer, Adjutant, but drill-master also because he was
probably the only man in his regiment who had any knowledge at all of
military matters. The framed Commission on my wall shows him still a
Lieutenant and Adjutant in September, 1864, and it is presumed he was
promoted to Captain after Franklin on November 30th. I know that he was
breveted Major before the surrender, but he never used the higher rank.
After serving 3 ½ years in army and prison he returned to Murfreesboro, but
soon joined his brother-in-law, General Brown, for the study of law. Upon
completion of these studies he joined another brother-in-law, James M.
Avent, in practice in his home town. In March 1867 he and a friend, Jim
Moore, decided to travel and see the world, which ended four months later
after they had seen most of it. His diary was an extremely well written and
unusual document for a boy of 21, whose education had been interrupted by
the War, and since he and run away from school three months before he was
17, and never again attended school. The interesting way he tells the story
of this indicates the early use of a mind which enabled him to become the
useful and successful man for which he was destined. To me the story tells
of places, people, methods of travel, etc. of which I had no knowledge.
While Father told us all these stories of the trip when we were small boys,
this diary's existence was unknown to any of us, and was not found until the
death of my mother, who survived him by 20 years. When found then by Lyon
[son of John Whitsitt Childress Junior and brother of the author of this
memoir], he fortunately, made copies of it, but I have never been able to
come upon the original. It was written in a small notebook of the time.
Also, I have wondered all my adult life where Father [John Whitsitt
Childress Junior] got the money to make the trip and learned only recently
that on his majority he received an inheritance from his grandmother [one
possibly is the grandmother on the paternal side who was the wife of Joel
Childress]. I certainly never heard him express regret at the way this was
used. I know only that at the time of his marriage in 1870, and immediate
years thereafter, he and his wife were forced to live very simply. Upon his
law partnership in Nashville, things promptly took a turn for the better.
Even with the three years of idleness while he was recovering his health in
Florida, he was never again so strapped financially and was able to give the
three sons proper education. Not until I had finished my sophomore year at
Princeton did I realize the strain that cost and his illnesses were causing
him. Whereupon I got a job and quit college. Lyon [son of John Whitsitt
Childress Junior and brother of the author of this memoir] was doing well in
business and so Avent [son of John Whitsitt Childress Junior and brother of
the author of this memoir]could freely continue and graduate.
While always a loyal Confederate, he never became a "professional", as so
many others were inclined to do. However, he served the Cause outstandingly
in one instance. Probably in his capacity as manager of the largest
newspaper in the State, he attended the funeral of Jefferson Davis in 1889.
It was there determined that something should be done to perpetuate the
ideals of the South and collect and disseminate the facts. Father was
Chairman of a Committee to effect these purposes and they decided to act
through a magazine, "The Confederate Veteran." Father chose as editor an
editorial writer on the American, Sumner A. Cunningham. Through the efforts
and intelligence of this man, the magazine became the "Bible" of the veteran
everywhere, and at the same time became a most interesting and financially
successful literary venture. Its publication continued until its editor's
death, and until the vast majority of the old boys were gone. I was very
fond of Mr. Cunninghame and he almost worshipped my father.
My mother was Mary Adair Lyon (August 6, 1849 - September 29, 1928), oldest
daughter of James Adair and Adelaide Dearderick Lyon of Columbus, Miss. It
was while she was visiting some Deaderick kin in Murfreesboro-the
Wendells-that she met my father and they were married in Columbus on
December 13.
David Deaderick (originally Dietrick) had come as a "Pennsylvania Dutchment"
from Germany, 1720, settled first in that state, moved to Winchester, VA.,
anglicized his name to Deaderick. Again migrated to Tennessee, found its
oldest town -Jonesboro-and his son, David Anderson, was father of my
grandmother, Adelaide, 1817 - 1907.
Lyon's family [The author seems to be referring to the surname of his mother
's family] was almost equally distinguished in East Tennessee, but he put
himself through four years at Princeton Theological Seminary (New Jersey),
1832 - 1836, after which he had churches in Tennessee and Columbus, Miss,
St. Louis and again in Columbus, with the last ten years of his life as
Professor of Religion and Philosophy at the University of Mississippi. His
Journals and pertinent data are in the State Archives at Jackson, and at the
Mississippi State College at State College, Miss.
Lyon [probably Mr. Lyon, father of the author's mother] was almost a fanatic
on education. He personally educated his two older sons to enter the junior
class at Princeton (then the College of New Jersey), to graduate in the
Class of 1859, the younger one being first in his class. The third son
graduated in 1872, but he got through mostly on earned scholarships. He
sent my mother to a fashionable and expensive finishing school in
Philadelphia. Just how all this was done on his salary as a Presbyterian
Minister will always remain a mystery, although he didn't seem to think it
so. He also, almost alone, founded in Clarksville, Tenn., a Presbyterian
College, built on the lines at the Princeton seminary, although he was
assisted somewhat by a Dr. William Stewart and by Dr. Joseph R. Wilson
(Woodrow's father). Lyon was elected (in 1870) the first president. He
promptly accepted but later reneged because his church just refused to let
him go. His son, Adair, later became a professor there and I spent one
year -1898-99 - as a student before transferring to Princeton. The whole
story of the College and Lyon's part in it is told in Cooper's history -
"Southwestern at Memphis" --. This book give sole credit to Lyon as the
real founder. In 1925 the City of Memphis took over the records, etc. and
brought them to that city, which a change in the name of "Southwestern at
Memphis" from its old and dwell-known "Southwestern Presbyterian
University." While still under Presbyterian auspices, it is a thriving
co-educational institution, which has put new life in the old Clarksville
school of which I and hundreds of alumni are still found, but of which there
are so few left. To illustrate, there was published in the Southwestern
News, in 1958, a picture of the 1898 football team,-- of which I was
captain. There was found no one left of the 17 members except myself. I
have the original photograph.
My mother was [a] remarkable woman in many ways. First, she was a great
beauty and always admire, but never seemed to be conscious of that. At
about 40 her hair was snow white and set off her ruddy complexion and black
eyes. She was vivacious, a great talker but never a gossip, and made
friends readily and permanently, She was not, however, a "society woman,"
but preferred church work, and to the end remained a "fundamental Christian"
. She was at home in any gathering, society or church, and was greatly
beloved, being a foil for my quiet father. She was one of the last of the
old-timers who hated liquor and worldly things, even begging me, for
example, not to dance or play cards even after I went away to college.
While we all wandered away from our strict upbringing, we always respected
her wishes and principles.
The sons of John Whitsitt [Junior]and Mary Lyon Childress were Adair Lyon
(always called Lyon), John Williams, and Avent. They were born,
respectively, August 31, 1873, February 16, 1879, and November 30, 1880.
Lyon died in October 1948. A daughter was born dead in 1872. All seven
children of these three sons are girls and, therefore, the Childress name of
the earlier branch of the family is now ended.
END
Gary Childress
8403 Seranata Drive
Whittier, CA 90603
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark or Gary" <london2000(a)fea.net>
To: <CHILDRESS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2000 4:35 PM
Subject: [Childress Research] Re: {not a subscriber} Gravestone
----- Original Message -----
From: "Berg, Warren F, NBSO" <wberg(a)att.com>
To: <CHILDRESS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2000 4:05 PM
Subject: {not a subscriber} Gravestone
Would it be possible to get a picture of thsi gravestone that tells the
story about the Childress trip.
Warren
wberg(a)ems.att.com
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----- Original Message -----
From: MJCV25(a)aol.com
To: CHILDRESS-RESEARCH-L(a)rootsweb.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2005 11:30 PM
Subject: [CHILDRESS] ABRHAM CHILDRESS lll (aka Childers) AND HIS FAMILY -
VA -
Dear List,
May I make some comments and give my opinion on an on going topic or
two?
Thank you, if you said yes:)
Previous discussion concerning Amherst County, VA before and during the
time
of 1783 and 1800 and those named JOHN CHILDRESS who lived there and who
eventually (one branch) migrated to NC has taken several turns.
The "JOHN script", [what I call it] was produced in a series [which I'll
name as the Childress series], by Gary and Mark Childress (see Childress
Research-List archives) and was kindly shared by Joseph Childress with
this list.
After reading the series several times, I recollected some of their
information, I did some digging and had discussions with those surnamed
CARTER and
EDMONDSON. I also realized the information I had on EZELL-CHILDRESS
family,
linked back to JOHN CHILDRESS of Knox CO, TN with my family, as I am a
CHILDRESS
- EZELL myself.
The CARTER and EDMONDSON (researchers) information has been fascinating
and
interesting. Whether of not anything will be completely solved with JOHN
CHILDRESS born 1759 In Albemarle County, VA, I can't say. All I can say
is that
it's perfectly clear to me, there was a family connection which none of
us
really understood, whether the author's of the "Childress Series" do or
don't,
I can't say, they have not responded.. I must say, the ancestry tree
which
was provided by the "Childress series" was confusing and had errors.
This is
the responsibility of the descendants to correct it, I will only say
there
are more than a few glaring errors.
I hope to set the record somewhat straight and hope those who may
descend
from this branch, will check it all out. I suppose you could say the
other
real issue's are - (1) WHO was JOHN CHILDRESS who was born in 1759
Albemarle
CO, VA - (2) WHO were his parents? - (3) Don't you find it odd that the
ancestry tree for JOHN CHILDRESS was proven to be full of holes and in
error, with
hardly any evidence to support it? - (4) ROBERT, son of JOHN was said to
have married secondly, KEZZIAH CARTER in 1812 Amherst Co, VA, is it just
me, but
don't you'all wonder HOW these two ever met, they lived 500 or so miles
from
one another! What link did they have besides the Sandidge family? If any
of
you know, please tell us. - (5) Isn't it also odd, with the "Childress
Series" naming a MARY as wife of SOLOMON CARTER, yet nothing was
mentioned as to
WHO and WHAT was her maiden name and from what family did she come? IF I
could find it, why could they NOT find it?
I am not attaching another's research, that is their business really.
However, as most of you know, there is on going debate on where our
CHILDRESS
family came from. The DNA project has hopefully shown that those with
Childers
and Childress have matched, with exception of a few. But, only males can
take
the test while females, many of which descend from important Childress
and
Childers branches cannot contribute to it, including me!
Nest, we have the Joel Childress tombstone mystery. I don't have to
repeat
it, those of you who've read the messages on the this list and the other
one,
know what has been said. I have an opinion and I shared it with all of
you.
I don't think the tombstone theory is reliable nor do I think it should
dictate to our original Childress or Childers ancestry. I do not believe
another group of Childresses came here ONLY during 1745 and that they
were ONLY
Scottish and from Scotland. Unless you prefer the earlier tombstone
story,
"from WALES and in their own ship" - And next, the different gene pools,
Childers
being entirely different than Childress, due to the "1745 crossing".
Also,
not one of the Scottish Childresses had given names which included
"ABRAHAM,
that was only a CHILDERS name" -
We all know by now, that's a glaring misconception. The name Abraham was
also a CHILDRESS name and JOEL CHILDRESS (tombstone story) was bound out
to a
ABRAHAM Childress, having been orphaned by his father, BENJAMIN Childress
[Lee
Rau research] - Abraham is a common name among the families of CHILDRESS
and
in fact, among the ancestry of one MARY ANN CHILDRESS who married SOLOMON
CARTER, 1759c - Abraham Childress lll was Mary Ann's father.
To Be Continued -
MaryJean Childress - Voegtlin
Well it doesn't exactly answer any of my questions yet but ut does give me
an idea of where to start. Keep me abreast of new developments please. Does
anyone know how our name was spelled originally& why it was Childers in
England, became Childress in America, & then some parts of the family
changed it toChildres & finally Childers?
-----Original Message-----
From: Patrick Childress [mailto:jpc@gvtc.com]
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2005 8:01 AM
To: CHILDRESS-RESEARCH-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: Re: [CHILDRESS] CHILDRESS COMMENTS and OBSERVATION -
Research List:
The following information is condensed from the last available Excel
spreadsheet compiled by the DNA Project Administrator, Gary Childress, in
2004. The "labels" applied to the following groups are provided by Gary:
http://www.childers-childress.com/JUNE2004.xls
Group 1 - "Celtic-Atlantic"
Edinburgh, Scotland Childress Family (2 DNA donors) - Most Recent Common
Ancestor - John Childress, b. 1759 Albemarle County, VA
Dabney Childress Family (1 DNA donor) - Most Distant Known Ancestor - Dabney
J. Childress, b.c. 1803 Goochland County, VA
Guy Robert Childress Family (1 DNA donor) - Most Distant Known Ancestor -
Guy Robert Childress
Crawford County, GA Childres Family (1 DNA donor) - Most Distant Known
Ancestor - Nathan Childers
Freeman Cratus Childers Family (1 DNA donor) - Most Distant Known Ancestor -
Freeman Cratus Childers
Joshua Childress Family of Pittsylvania (1 DNA donor) - Most Distant Known
Ancestor - Joshua Childress, b.c. 1767 VA
(JPC OBSERVATION: What I find puzzling about the above grouping made by
Gary is that at some of the above participants bear no relationship to one
another at all, based on the DNA results furnished by the testing company,
FamilyTreeDNA of Houston, Texas. Taking as an example the DNA marker
results from one DNA donor from the "Edinburgh, Scotland Family" (Gary
Childress) and comparing on a marker-by-marker basis his results with the
single DNA donor from the "Freeman Cratus Childers Family", there are single
step mismatches on the following alleles: 385b; 439; 454; 448 and 449.
FamilyTreeDNA states this guideline for five single step mutations: "20/25
You are not related and the odds greatly favor that you have not shared a
common male ancestor with this person in excess of 2,000 years." Why Gary
chose to make the above grouping is a mystery to me and greatly undermines
the integrity of the whole project.)
Group 2 - "Viking Group"
This group's data, consisting of about 30+ DNA donors, is covered in detail
on my website at:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jpcfamily/childress_dna_project.htm
Group 3 - "Eurasian Steppes, Slavic, Indian"
Bartholomew Gordon Childress Family (1 DNA donor) - Most Distant Known
Ancestor - Bartholomew Gordon Childress, b.c. 1803
Group 4 - "Mediterranean, C. Asia, Jewish"
Little Rock, Arkansas Childers Family (2 DNA donors, known cousins) - Most
Distant Known Ancestor - Roy Childress, b.c. 1900
Hancock County, Georgia Childers Family (1 DNA donor) - Most Distant Known
Ancestor - John B. Childers, b. 1803 VA
I hope the above clarifies to some extent the current status of the DNA
program.
Pat Childress
----- Original Message -----
From: MJCV25(a)aol.com
To: CHILDRESS-RESEARCH-L(a)rootsweb.com
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2005 12:13 AM
Subject: Re: [CHILDRESS] CHILDRESS COMMENTS and OBSERVATION -
Patrick,
Thank you for the current update on the DNA for Childers and Childress.
I
appreciate your taking the time to explain the current DNA groupings.
Since
you are far more experienced with the DNA project, would it be possible
for you
to name for us (what you described) as the 6 families who are in the
(what
Gary Childress) calls the "Celtic Atlantic" group? And also, what you
said as
the - Other 5 by their most distant known ancestors? Who are they if you
can tell us? I know that Gary Childress and Dr. Joseph Childress are
cousins
and match, but what of the others?
On other lists, where there is a DNA project, my cousin who shares our
KYLE
ancestry (Scottish) was in discussion with other's who took the DNA. It
was
there main interest to know who their closest ancestor was among that
group.
I think this needs to be established in the Childers - Childress DNA. I
know it's a long hard process, but if they are going to the trouble to
take a
DNA, then they need to do as much research as possible to get to that
point.
As for the other surnames you mentioned. If they are comfortable
discussing
their family as they know it, then I would suggest they subscribe to a
list.
That way, they can discuss their lineage so that we can all know where
they
came from. The Jackson for instance, there are clues in TN. There were
Jackson's living near Childress in TN and there was a John Childress in
the same
area. I have found nothing solid I can give other than what I have
already.
The other surnames I don't know enough about. I'm sure our listowner
would
invite them to subscribe to this list and or the Childers-List, both if
they
can!
Thanks again Patrick!
MaryJean
To Guy and MaryJean.
If I may interject something here? Perhaps it has slipped by you.
On the 1850 Census for Charlotte Co, Charlotte, Virginia, in the household of Tilmon C.
Childress,
his brother Charles F. Childress is listed as living in the household.
I noticed that on the census Charles F. Childress has Jr. after his name. Perhaps his
father is named Charles F. Childress, Sr. Something to research. Of course the
presence of Sr or JR does not necessarily mean that the son was named for his father,
but it could be a clue to start with. This info was not posted by either of you, so
perhaps you did not see this. If this is old news to you, ignore and continue your
research. :)
MJCV25(a)aol.com wrote:
Guy,
> 1850 Charlotte Co, Census - Reel 940 - July 19, 1850 -
> 131/131 TILMON C. CHILDRESS aged 25, (b.1825) Tanner, born Charlotte County, VA
> TABITHA CHILDRESS, 26, Prince Edward, VA. -
> RICHARD C. CHILDRESS, 04, Appom.Co, VA -
> SALLY W. CHILDRESS, 0l, Charlotte County, VA
> M....Y LUCY, aged 15, Charlotte Co, V (Sister)
> CHARLES F. CHILDRESS, aged 19 (born 1831), Charlotte Co, VA - **(brother)
Guy,
Okay, I see your in CA! Do you have a good research library out there,
maybe LDS? You can order census from them and then view them at their facility.
Don't know if that's possible. I've done original work on the Childress
family in Charlotte County, because mine lived there. They came from Lunenburg
then Charlotte, then Mecklenburg Counties (VA).
I have in my census records (Childress) some you might be interested in.
First though, my suggestion is that you need to make a list of all those in
Charlotte, before that time - And in Lunenburg County, who carried the name
Childress or anything like it. Find the oldest group if possible. I know you
said you had done the census for 1850 Charlotte, but I think you missed some
things, so here is what I have in my notes for 1850 -
1850 Charlotte Co, Census - Reel 940 - July 19, 1850 -
131/131 TILMON C. CHILDRESS aged 25, (b.1825) Tanner, born Charlotte County,
VA - (NOTE - If he's brother to your Charles F. then both were born in
Charlotte according to the census) -
TABITHA CHILDRESS, 26, Prince Edward, VA. -
RICHARD C. CHILDRESS, 4, Appom.Co, VA -
SALLY W. CHILDRESS, l, Charlotte County, VA - (they must have come back to
Charlotte between the ages of Richard and Sally -
M....Y (could not make out the name) LUCY, aged 15, Charlotte Co, VA -
CHARLES F. CHILDRESS, aged 19 (born 1831), Charlotte Co, VA - **
**I would say this is your Charles Francis Childress. He is living with his
brother apparently, however, their parents could have been alive in
Charlotte County, if they were not alive in 1850, then those in Charlotte named
Childress were probably and most likely connected. Let me know if you need
details on them from the census record I have. I would say he's probably the
CHARLES who married the ALMAND and they lived in Charlotte and Lunenburg.
THOMAS CHILDRESS aged 65, Miller, born Charlotte Co. (born 1790) - He is
probably kin to the father of Charles F. Childress or could even be his father.
NANCY CHILDRESS aged 57, *b.1793) born Charlotte - Others in the household
were - Sarah E. - Joel - David W. - Joseph - Stephen - ALL Childress.
ALSO -
Childress, HENRY - aged 47 - Eliza - Samuel W. J. - Henry T. - James - Polly
aged 60 -
Childress - ALEXANDER - aged 25, born Char. - Jane aged 22, Betty, aged 1 -
Childress - WILLIAM B.. aged 45 - Mary aged 43 - Sarah E. Mary J. Harriett
C. - William T. - Joseph B. - Febe D. - Agness F - All born in Charlotte except
the wife Mary, she was born in Prince Edl.
Childress - ROBERT H. aged 35, Sarah aged 30 - John F. aged 1 - All
Charlotte Co -
Childress, Mary A.R. aged 32, born Char. living with Charles and Nancy H.
Allen -
Please check the Childress Research-List for my messages and those of Kay
whose messages have included census and marriage records. Some of my messages
covered those in Charlotte County, including WILLS and DEEDS. There was an
older RICHARD and JOHN CHILDRESS buying and selling land in Charlotte County
in 1770, I have the original copy of the deeds. There was BENJAMIN CHILDRESS
who died right about 1779 Charlotte and left inventory, I have a copy of the
original inventory. There were at least three THOMAS CHILDRESS who left
wills and inventories. There were three sons of JEREMIAH CHILDRESS SR and they
were BENJAMIN - WILLIAM and JEREMIAH, JR. - There was an early tax payer
BENJAMIN, I've seen his name spelt three ways (surname) for 1782 Charlotte. There
was a ROBERT CHILDRESS early on (before 1740c Lunenburg) -
Let me know if you can't find the messages in the archives or if you have
any questions about those in the above census.
MaryJean (Childress - Voegtlin) -
MaryJean,
I have been doing mostly internet research for +/_ 10 years, but not really
hard at it. I did have the opportunity 2 years ago to visit the Jones
Memorial Library in Lynchburg, Va while visiting family. Great library,
devoted strictly to genealogy. On second floor above the Lynchburg City
Library. They helped tremendously. I live in California but would really
like to spend more time in the Jones library.
As far as other info. Names associated with my clan is mainly TIBBS, REID,
and ROAKES/ROARK. They all show up as neighbors on various census' and they
intermarried with my CHILDRESS family.
I was hoping the DNA test would link somewhere, but not yet. Most of the
info I have was in the last message. I'll keep looking. Thanks for any help
or leads you can find.
Guy
-----Original Message-----
From: Patrick Childress [mailto:jpc@gvtc.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 4:36 PM
To: CHILDRESS-RESEARCH-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: Re: [CHILDRESS] ABRHAM CHILDRESS lll (aka Childers) AND HIS
FAMILY - VA -
Dear MaryJean (and entire list),
I've gone back into my e-mail and saved documents archives and have come up
with a few notes that address some of the issues that MaryJean puts forth in
her note following this one.
I believe it's a fair statement that we all would like to have simple facts
in our research for our true "roots." If someone wishes to speculate,
that's okay, as long as it's prefaced with a note to that extent.
Following is a verbatim excerpt from a note issued by Gary or Mark Childress
some time ago, in which the author expounds on the theory of the "1745
crossing" in a ship by a Childress, whose descendent was Sarah Childress
Polk.
Can anyone on distribution of this research list comment as to the accuracy
(or inaccuracies) that might be in the following verbiage?
Are we suggesting that this tombstone did not exist at all? If not, then
what was the purpose of pretense?
Thanks,
Pat Childress
From: "Mark or Gary" <london2000(a)fea.net>
To: <CHILDRESS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Subject: Re: [Childress Research] Re: Gravestone
Date: Thursday, October 19, 2000 7:31 PM
Hi Warren,
Last year we sent a researcher to photograph the gravestone of Joel
Childress. The photographs didn't help. You can't read the inscription from
the photograph. (If you want a black and white Xerox, send me a SASE (self
addressed stamped envelop) but be prepared for a disappointing unreadable
image of a decimated tombstone)
The stone is a fragment in several pieces with about 75% of the stone
missing. One fragment is completely flat with no inscription remaining.
The readable portions (an area of about 2 feet by 3 feet) have the birth and
death dates and an incomplete prayer. That's all that remains.
The stone is laid in cement outside a chapel at "Cannonsburg", a historical
preservation tourist site in Murfreesboro, TN.
2 brothers, descendants of Joel, played on the stone when they were
children and both brothers wrote similar accounts of the stone as adults.
The Rutherford County Historical Society published the following account in
1981.
Below are the complete memoirs of John Williams Childress, the great great
grandson of Joel Childress. These have been posted before to the list but
since there are new members I decided to re-post.
The four generations referred to below are as follows:
(1) Joel Childress had 2 sons Anderson and John Whitsitt Senior.
(2) John Whitsitt Childress SENIOR. had 4 sons John Whitsitt Jr, Joseph,
Eugene, and Horace
(3) John Whitsitt Childress JUNIOR had 3 sons John Williams Childress, Avent
Childress, and Adair Lyon Childress[called Lyon]
(4) John Williams Childress wrote the text below in 1960.
Text that is in SQUARE brackets [ ] are my additions....
Gary Childress
The Childress Family of Tennessee by John Williams Childress
Rutherford County Historical Society (Tenn.) Publication, issue 16, Winter
1981
"Our great grandfather, Joel Childress, was born on March 22, 1777. He
married Elizabeth Whitsitt, [b.] 1781- [d.] 1863, came to Tennessee from
Virginia, and settled Janurary 17, 1799, in Sumner County, where his
children were born. About 1812 he moved to Rutheford, a newly formed
county, and bought a farm about three miles south of Murfreesboro, situated
where Stones River is crossed by the Shelbyville pike. There was a large
frame house in which he lived until his death, August 19, 1819. He was
buried in a fence-enclosed family plot near the house. Among his activities
he was a Postmaster of Murfreesboro.
I well remember his grave in the apple orchard, which was marked by a
ten-foot stone resting upon six columns to a base. The top stone contained
the inscription: "Joel Childress, son of John, son of Joel, who emigrated
from Wales, in his own ship with cargo, in the year 1745." The last two
digits of the date were very dim but my brother and I agreed upon "45". His
migration in his own ship was frequent occurrence where the migrant had
sufficient means to outfit such transportation, since it was well known that
a ship and its contents could readily be sold at a profit, thus giving the
emigrant ready capital. He landed probably in Virginia, or possibly North
Carolina, since the name is found in both sates, but Joel and his wife were
both born in Virginia. Her mother was Polly Sevier.
Upon a visit with my family to Tennessee in 1923, I was distressed to find
no trace of the grave, but found that the two large stones had been used by
the then owner of the nearby cottage, just built as fireplace bases. At
least the inscription above had been left underneath and did no show at the
floor level.
After Joel's death, his widow moved into town and lived there until her
death in 1863. Elizbeth Whitsitts's oil portrait is in the home of my niece
and her great, great niece, Harriet Childress Tune, Nashville, Tenn.
There were six children of Joel and Elizabeth, but two died in infancy. The
others were Anderson, 1799-1837; Susan, 1801-1878; Sarah, 1803-1891: and
John Whitsitt [Sr.], 1807-1884. All were given the best educational
advantages available. Anderson went to Chapel Hill College (now the
University of North Carolina) [the University has no record to corroborate
Anderson's attendance and the admissions department doubts that Anderson
enrolled in Chapel Hill College]; Susan and Sarah were sent to the famous
(and first) girls' school in the country, the Moravian Church Academy,
Salem, N.C. John entered the 1822 class at Chapel Hill. Anderson graduated
in 1818, but John spent only one year, his schooling cut to one year,
presumably, by his father's death in 1819. The girls and their brother
Anderson rode horseback from middle Tennessee to Salem (some 500 miles), he
going on further about 100 miles to Chapel hill, and picking them up in the
spring for [the] return home. They were accompanied only by a faithful
slave to look after the horses and baggage.
In Anderson's class were several close friends, among them James Knox Polk,
later President of the United States, also James Otey and ____ Green, who
were to become the first Episcopal Bishops of Tennessee and Alabama,
respectively. By coincidence, my son-in-law, James Otey (Bill) Urquart, is
the great-grandson of Bishop Otey, for whom his is named. It was also quite
natural that Sarah Childress should meet and marry Jimmy Polk when he came
to Murfreesboro-then the State Capital-in his first political job as
Secretary of the State Legislature.
For the story of Sarah and James Polk, see any history book, but
particularly two, "Young Hickory" and "Memorials to Sarah Childress Polk".
The only other known copy of the latter book is in the Congressional Library
in Washington.
As is well known, Sarah Childress lived for 42 years after her husband's
death in 1849, continuing to the end to occupy the fine estate the President
had bought shortly before his term expired. She lived simply but, making no
visits except to Murfreesboro and Columbia, kept practically open house to
old friends. She died in 1891. As a boy I was taken to see her at regular
intervals. I remember her with affection. My father was the favorite of
all her relatives. At death, Aunt Sarah was buried beside her husband,
until both were transferred to a joint tomb on the Capitol grounds.
Susan Childress married Dr. Rucker and had two daughters. These girls
visited their Aunt in the White House.
The farm and house on Stones River were inherited by my grandfather, John
Whitsitt [Sr], and were successfully operated by him until his death [d.
1884] although late in life he moved to town to a house at College and
Academy Streets, which was owned by his second wife. This house still
stands and a picture of it can be found in the book called "History of
Rutherford County". The caption of this picture reads: John W. Childress
[Sr.] frequently entertained in this house his brother-in-law, President
Polk." This is, of course, an error as Polk died in 1849.
In 1853 John W. Childress [Sr.] built, on the site of his father's [Joel's]
house, a very modern and imposing two-story brick, which I visited often as
a boy of 12 or 15, when it was owned by my cousin, Frank Avent. At Frank's
marriage this house and farm where given to him by his father as a wedding
present. I often stayed with them just to be in the country and to live in
the old place. At 10 I had learned to swim in the nearby Stones River, and
Frank, a great dog fancier and huntsman, would let me hunt with him. I
remember my grandfather [John Whitsitt Childress Senior] only at his
funeral in 1884, but the country place forever stands out in my memory.
That 1853 house was built of brick made on the place, and of stone from the
River. The portico was stone, with 3-root in diameter stone columns
extending above the second floor. Inside was a large entrance hall, with
curving, "flying", no visible support, stairway, with strong banisters. All
rooms were 18 to 20 feet in height, each with about two foot frieze, the
whole being of such hard plaster (no paper) that I have often wondered about
the lost skill of such construction.
I don't remember the size of the farm, but it extended East about one-half
mile to the railroad track and the same distance to the river in the other
direction [the Childress farm was about ½ mile by ½ mile square]. The house
was set about one-fifth of a mile from the gate at Pike where it crossed
Stones River and was reached by a curved driveway, marked by red cedar
trees. When I last saw the property (1923) the last one of these trees had
just been cut down for firewood, but my girls gathered some of the sweet
smelling cedar chips as souvenirs. The house had two rooms, both sides of
hall, both stories, and an Ell, with full porch in the front.
The most outstanding memory of the house was that the portico, the columns
and the room walls were completely covered with pencil and charcoal names
and regiments of Federal soldiers stationed at or near the house, who had
spent their time "beautifying it with their 'art'". Actually, many names had
been chiseled with nail and hammer almost to the roof, and many of them were
well done from the operators point of view. The plaster of the day was so
hard that little harm had been done to the room walls.
When the Federal troops took over Murfreesboro in the summer of 1862, my
grandfather [John Whitsitt Childress Senior, brother of Sarah Childress
Polk] was forced to refugee with his daughters and small children to North
Georgia, where he remained until the end of the war. His house and farm
were immediately taken over the occupied by three "campfollower" families,
who worked the farm and slaves during the period, taking, of course, all
benefits from them as their profit as "conquerors". While the land was
overworked and the servants mistreated, it is quite possible that this
occupancy by Northerners may have preserved the place from complete
destruction, as happened to many other Southern owners who were less
fortunate.
In this connection occurred an unusual and interesting incident. During the
war my father happened to be in the vicinity of the place and so made bold
to ride up to the house to look things over. This he could do because he
wore a long, blue Union overcoat which he had taken from a captured Negro
soldier. His inquiries of one of the squatters as to who owned this place,
etc. were being insolently answered as became the squatter's right when
dealing with a private, even a Unionist. Just then there appeared, however,
a small Negro boy who had come out to gather chips from the woodpile. He
glanced up and in astonishment said: "For God, if it ain't little Marse
John!" Whereupon father [John Whitsitt Childress Junior] showed his
Confederate uniform, forced the man to go with him across the river...by
wading... and turned him over to the military authorities. When the family
returned from Georgia, no one was found of the three former "owners", but
they left their marks on the property.
I don't know how and when this place got out of the Childress family, for I
remember it only after its purchase by father's [John Whitsitt Childress
Junior] brother-in-law, James M. Avent, for Frank. In 1896, while at school
at Bell Buckle, Tenn., the principal, Sawney Webb, called me aside to tell
me that, as he was passing on train the night before, he happened to look
out of the window and saw the house being destroyed by fire. I never knew
how it happened but I never forgot my grief at the loss of the old house I
loved.
Grandfather [John Whitsitt Childress Senior] also owned and operated another
and larger farm about ten miles East of Murfreesboro. Most of his 150
slaves were stationed here, but only the overseer staff lived there.
While continuing to operate his two farms, Grandfather [John Whitsett
Childress Senior] had other interests in town, being organizer and president
of two banks, and was, from its beginning in 1853, a Director of the
Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. His rather distinguished career is told
in considerable detail in a clipping from a Nashville paper which will be
found in my mother's scrapbook, in the suitcase. While this obituary is
signed only "A.S.C.," it was written by Col. Arthur S. Colyax, owner of the
"Nashville America," to my father's [John Whitsett Childress Junior] law
partner in the firm of Colyax, Marks and Childress. The other partner,
Marks, was a former Governor of Tennessee, and Colyax was a famous orator
and former member of the Confederate Senate. I have always believed that,
while the firm had probably the largest law practice in the State, the
partners let father [John Whitsett Childress Junior] do all the work,
resulting in his breakdown of health and his retirement---1884 to 1888-to
Florida. However, he recovered and led an active and useful life for many
years.
By his first wife, Mary Williams of Nashville (for whom I am named)[John
Williams Childress], my grandfather [John Whitsett Childress Senior] had
four sons who lived to full maturity and two daughters. Two of these sons
were my father, John Whitsett, Jr., and Joseph. The latter[Joseph] had two
daughters, Mary Kee and Sarah Polk, but Joe died when they were children.
John's [John Whitsett Childress Senior] older daughters were Mary, who
married James Monroe Avent, and Bettie, who married Major General John
Calvin Brown, of Pulaski [TN]. Avent took my father [John Whitsett
Childress Junior] in as a law partner until he moved to Nashville in 1882.
We were always very close to the Avent family, my younger brother bearing
that name [Avent Childress]. The only remaining member (1960) is Sara [??],
who still lives in the old house and has one son, Jesse C. Beesley, New
York. The other daughter, Bettie [??], married James B. Murfree. Jr. His
widow survived him until 1959. She was 92 at the time of her death. The
third brother was James. M. Jr.[?? the author is not clear who he is talking
about].
Bettie Childress [is the daughter of Joseph Childress who is the son of John
Whitsett Childress Senior] married Brown [Major General John Calvin Brown]
while refugeeing in Georgia, and "between battles" of the war. They
returned to Pulaski, from which he was elected Tennessee's Governor in 1870.
Later they moved to Nashville, where he died in 1889. At which time he was
President of the Texas & Pacific Railroad. There were two daughters, Marie
and Daisy, and a son, John. No males of the name survive.
It was while living with the Browns in Pulaski [TN] that my father [John
Whitsett Childress Junior] studied law, and in 1870 was made a Manager (at
25) of Brown's campaign for Governor. That was his first experience in
politics, and probably led to his 25 years as head (Chairman) of the
Democratic Party in the State. While he retired as Chairman when he became
a judge in 1895, he was until his death (1908) always consulted and followed
in political matters.
It was also in Pulaski that my father became one of the organizers of the
original Ku Klux Klan. (For the complete and true story of the Klan, see
its history in the Ridley book. This gives the only true history of its
beginning, it operations, and its end, and could have been written only by
one who knew the story personally.) [Ridley, Bromfield L.: BATTLES AND
SKETCHES OF THE ARMY OF TENNESSEE ; Morningside Press 672pp - index -
'Ridley's Journal' is a collectors item - Index - Maps - Numerous Photos -
Illustrations - Includes battle details and section on Ku Klux Klan This
compilation of eyewitness accounts, official letters and documents, and the
author's insights provides a wealth of information on the Army of Tennessee.
Ridley served on A.P. Stewart's staff, a position which allowed him access
to privileged information. The work is arranged chronologically, with
accounts of various engagements and chapters on peripheral events relating
to the army. This book is considered a primary source for information on the
Civil War in the Western theater]. I could never get father [John Whitsett
Childress Junior] to admit his membership, for the Federal laws against it
were never repealed: but there can be no doubt that he was one of the boys
who started the KKK in 1867, when he was living in Pulaski. All Klansmen
were young Confederate officers and the original group got together as a
club or fraternity for fun only. The later KKK activities were brought
about for protection against outrages of the scalawags and carpetbaggers who
were exciting the Negroes to crimes.
Incidentally, this Ridley book is now considered a "collector's item"
because the writer's story of his return home after the surrender of the
Confederate Army is the only known account of that phase of a soldier's
life. Several histories of that period quote Ridley's diary for the only
picture of a Confederate's thoughts and acts after his parole. My father
also surrendered at the same time in North Carolina, but all I could get out
of him was that he burst into tears many times a day during the long trip to
Tennessee. Incidentally, Ridley was also from Rutherford County be [sic.
but] he and father never met during the war. He married my mother's
youngest sister, Ideyette, while she was visiting mother in Murfreesboro.
"Uncle Brom" [Bromfield Ridley] was one of the finest and most lovable
persons I ever knew, and his book-of which he was very proud-is most
interesting. He was, during his whole service, on the Staff of Gen. A.P.
Stewart-CSA.
After the death of his wife, my grandfather [John Whitsett Childress
Senior] married Mary Phillips, a cousin of his former wife, and by her had
the following sons and daughters: William Sumner [Childress] who married
Inez Wade;
The second son of William [William Sumner Childress] was Levi Wade
[Childress], who lived nearly all his life in St. Louis, Mo. He died about
three years ago, leaving one daughter and two sons: Wade, Jr.[Childress] and
Fielding [Childress], and his widow all of whom I believe to be alive.
Another son of John Whitsett Childress [Senior?], Eugene, was never married
and died while relatively a young man. The last one, Horace, had no sons,
nor did Annie, nor Ella and the baby of the family-Selene-had no children,
though married twice-first to Jonathan W. Jackson, then to Frederick
Wighthall.
With the death of his father in 1884, my father John Whitsett Jr. (April 20,
1845 - March 28, 1908) became the beloved head of the family and was so
recognized by all. He had little education since he ran away from Military
school to join the Confederate Armey and never returned. He did, however,
acquire an excellent knowledge of law while studying in Gen. Brown's office
in Pulaski, and proved his capacity when he served in Nashville as Circuit
Court Judge for the last 13 years of his life, as well as in his only active
practice after moving to Nashville. But he served capably and successfully
in many other capacities, including General Manager of the "American"
Newspaper, Assistant U.S. Attorney, President of the South Pittsburg City
Co. operating the utilities and building up of that town and organizing and
presiding as President of a National Bank which is still-after 75 years-the
strongest institution in that section of the State. In every capacity and
situation he was sought after for advice and assistance. His best-know
service was as advisor of the Democratic party in politics. This began as
Campaign Manager for his brother-in-law, John C. Brown, in his successful
race as first Democratic Governor after the war, in 1870, at the age of 25.
>From then until his judgeship in 1895, he was Chairman of the Democratic
Committee, at which time he gave up the title for ethical reasons, but
continued in his advisory capacity until the end. Amazing to say, with all
his political activities, and the usual unpleasant feelings thus engendered,
I don't believe he ever had a personal or political enemy. Partly, no
doubt, his popularity was due to his wanting no office for himself, his only
interest being to find the right man for the place in his party. Thus,
every Governor and U.S. Senator depended upon him. In fact he declined
appointment to the U.S. Senate by Governor Taylor, and later declined an
election to that body by the State Legislature, which was trying to break a
long deadlock between two candidates-Taylor and McMillin. He did not want
the job anyway, but spurned the appointment because both men were his close
friends and he would be put in a position of profiting by their defeat. The
Legislature acted, apparently, to get itself out of a long deadlock which
seemed endless. It did end, however, when a third man, Luke Lea, became a
candidate through the proper pressure (money?) to break the tie. Taylor,
after three terms as Governor, later became a United States Senator.
McMillin, after being Governor, and after 20 years in the House of
Representatives, died just aster his appointment-as Ambassador to Mexico.
His second wife, Lucile, was made a member of the Civil Service Commission
in Washington. McMillin first married my cousin, Marie Brown (General Brown
's daughter). Both Taylor and McMillin were devoted friends of father's and
I also kept up my friendship with them until their deaths.
In the late days of father's life he was often unable to hold Court and the
docket was so full that someone had to carry on. Volunteers were welcome
and the man most helpful in these emergencies was Cordell Hull, a young
Judge with 13 counties in his Circuit, who cold still come to Nashville to
help out. I realized later that he did so at his own expense. Hull was,
however, one of father's political protégés, as well as friend, and he
probably profited by the experience and association. Another such protégé
was Joseph W. Byrns, later Speaker of the House. When Hull was Secretary of
State he took occasion at several public gatherings in Washington to
introduce me as the "son of the man who taught me all the politics I know,
if any." I recall two occasions at the Jackson Day Dinners, and at other
times when he was a guest in my home. I knew most of the Tennessee
Delegation and Byrns and Hull were most helpful in my one entry into
politics-the appointment by President Coolidge as Chairman of the D.C.
Public Utilities Commission in 1926.
"My father [John Whitsitt Childress Junior] was in 1861 at military school
in Nashville, but his parents were endeavoring to keep him out of the war
because of his health and weighing only 90 pounds, and believed by them to
have "consumption" [tuberculosis]. They thought military life would be
fatal. However, he ran away from school and joined the army at Bowling
Green, Ky., in October, 1861. He was sent to Fort Donelson just in time to
surrender. From there he was sent by flat-boat to Columbus, Ohio, and then
on to prison camp at Johnson's Island, near Sandusky, Ohio.
At the end of nine months he was exchanged at Vicksburg, Miss., and
immediately returned to the army. At the beginning he became drillmaster
and Adjutant of the 50th Tennessee Regiment, and remained with that
organization. He was four times wounded, once shot entirely through the
thigh, and in the head at Franklin. In the futile charge over Federal
breastworks he crossed the Harpeth River, climbed up and was on the point of
jumping down into the trench when a bullet tore away his right eyebrow and
he was left for dead. About midnight he came to life to find himself in the
burial ditch, but, most fortunately, near the top and so able to climb out
and crawl back to the lines. While his life was saved in this miraculous
manner, he escaped the army's collapse at Nashville two weeks later.
Despite the annihilation of the Western Army, three divisions were gotten
together (in part, of course) and reached Johnson's Army in North Carolina,
only to be surrendered. This formality occurred for him on his 20th
birthday, April 20.
Father [John Whitsitt Childress Junior] was always known and spoken of as
"Captain Childress" unitl he became a judge, but never used either title
when speaking of himself over phones or otherwise. From the time he entered
the army, he was an officer, Adjutant, but drill-master also because he was
probably the only man in his regiment who had any knowledge at all of
military matters. The framed Commission on my wall shows him still a
Lieutenant and Adjutant in September, 1864, and it is presumed he was
promoted to Captain after Franklin on November 30th. I know that he was
breveted Major before the surrender, but he never used the higher rank.
After serving 3 ½ years in army and prison he returned to Murfreesboro, but
soon joined his brother-in-law, General Brown, for the study of law. Upon
completion of these studies he joined another brother-in-law, James M.
Avent, in practice in his home town. In March 1867 he and a friend, Jim
Moore, decided to travel and see the world, which ended four months later
after they had seen most of it. His diary was an extremely well written and
unusual document for a boy of 21, whose education had been interrupted by
the War, and since he and run away from school three months before he was
17, and never again attended school. The interesting way he tells the story
of this indicates the early use of a mind which enabled him to become the
useful and successful man for which he was destined. To me the story tells
of places, people, methods of travel, etc. of which I had no knowledge.
While Father told us all these stories of the trip when we were small boys,
this diary's existence was unknown to any of us, and was not found until the
death of my mother, who survived him by 20 years. When found then by Lyon
[son of John Whitsitt Childress Junior and brother of the author of this
memoir], he fortunately, made copies of it, but I have never been able to
come upon the original. It was written in a small notebook of the time.
Also, I have wondered all my adult life where Father [John Whitsitt
Childress Junior] got the money to make the trip and learned only recently
that on his majority he received an inheritance from his grandmother [one
possibly is the grandmother on the paternal side who was the wife of Joel
Childress]. I certainly never heard him express regret at the way this was
used. I know only that at the time of his marriage in 1870, and immediate
years thereafter, he and his wife were forced to live very simply. Upon his
law partnership in Nashville, things promptly took a turn for the better.
Even with the three years of idleness while he was recovering his health in
Florida, he was never again so strapped financially and was able to give the
three sons proper education. Not until I had finished my sophomore year at
Princeton did I realize the strain that cost and his illnesses were causing
him. Whereupon I got a job and quit college. Lyon [son of John Whitsitt
Childress Junior and brother of the author of this memoir] was doing well in
business and so Avent [son of John Whitsitt Childress Junior and brother of
the author of this memoir]could freely continue and graduate.
While always a loyal Confederate, he never became a "professional", as so
many others were inclined to do. However, he served the Cause outstandingly
in one instance. Probably in his capacity as manager of the largest
newspaper in the State, he attended the funeral of Jefferson Davis in 1889.
It was there determined that something should be done to perpetuate the
ideals of the South and collect and disseminate the facts. Father was
Chairman of a Committee to effect these purposes and they decided to act
through a magazine, "The Confederate Veteran." Father chose as editor an
editorial writer on the American, Sumner A. Cunningham. Through the efforts
and intelligence of this man, the magazine became the "Bible" of the veteran
everywhere, and at the same time became a most interesting and financially
successful literary venture. Its publication continued until its editor's
death, and until the vast majority of the old boys were gone. I was very
fond of Mr. Cunninghame and he almost worshipped my father.
My mother was Mary Adair Lyon (August 6, 1849 - September 29, 1928), oldest
daughter of James Adair and Adelaide Dearderick Lyon of Columbus, Miss. It
was while she was visiting some Deaderick kin in Murfreesboro-the
Wendells-that she met my father and they were married in Columbus on
December 13.
David Deaderick (originally Dietrick) had come as a "Pennsylvania Dutchment"
from Germany, 1720, settled first in that state, moved to Winchester, VA.,
anglicized his name to Deaderick. Again migrated to Tennessee, found its
oldest town -Jonesboro-and his son, David Anderson, was father of my
grandmother, Adelaide, 1817 - 1907.
Lyon's family [The author seems to be referring to the surname of his mother
's family] was almost equally distinguished in East Tennessee, but he put
himself through four years at Princeton Theological Seminary (New Jersey),
1832 - 1836, after which he had churches in Tennessee and Columbus, Miss,
St. Louis and again in Columbus, with the last ten years of his life as
Professor of Religion and Philosophy at the University of Mississippi. His
Journals and pertinent data are in the State Archives at Jackson, and at the
Mississippi State College at State College, Miss.
Lyon [probably Mr. Lyon, father of the author's mother] was almost a fanatic
on education. He personally educated his two older sons to enter the junior
class at Princeton (then the College of New Jersey), to graduate in the
Class of 1859, the younger one being first in his class. The third son
graduated in 1872, but he got through mostly on earned scholarships. He
sent my mother to a fashionable and expensive finishing school in
Philadelphia. Just how all this was done on his salary as a Presbyterian
Minister will always remain a mystery, although he didn't seem to think it
so. He also, almost alone, founded in Clarksville, Tenn., a Presbyterian
College, built on the lines at the Princeton seminary, although he was
assisted somewhat by a Dr. William Stewart and by Dr. Joseph R. Wilson
(Woodrow's father). Lyon was elected (in 1870) the first president. He
promptly accepted but later reneged because his church just refused to let
him go. His son, Adair, later became a professor there and I spent one
year -1898-99 - as a student before transferring to Princeton. The whole
story of the College and Lyon's part in it is told in Cooper's history -
"Southwestern at Memphis" --. This book give sole credit to Lyon as the
real founder. In 1925 the City of Memphis took over the records, etc. and
brought them to that city, which a change in the name of "Southwestern at
Memphis" from its old and dwell-known "Southwestern Presbyterian
University." While still under Presbyterian auspices, it is a thriving
co-educational institution, which has put new life in the old Clarksville
school of which I and hundreds of alumni are still found, but of which there
are so few left. To illustrate, there was published in the Southwestern
News, in 1958, a picture of the 1898 football team,-- of which I was
captain. There was found no one left of the 17 members except myself. I
have the original photograph.
My mother was [a] remarkable woman in many ways. First, she was a great
beauty and always admire, but never seemed to be conscious of that. At
about 40 her hair was snow white and set off her ruddy complexion and black
eyes. She was vivacious, a great talker but never a gossip, and made
friends readily and permanently, She was not, however, a "society woman,"
but preferred church work, and to the end remained a "fundamental Christian"
. She was at home in any gathering, society or church, and was greatly
beloved, being a foil for my quiet father. She was one of the last of the
old-timers who hated liquor and worldly things, even begging me, for
example, not to dance or play cards even after I went away to college.
While we all wandered away from our strict upbringing, we always respected
her wishes and principles.
The sons of John Whitsitt [Junior]and Mary Lyon Childress were Adair Lyon
(always called Lyon), John Williams, and Avent. They were born,
respectively, August 31, 1873, February 16, 1879, and November 30, 1880.
Lyon died in October 1948. A daughter was born dead in 1872. All seven
children of these three sons are girls and, therefore, the Childress name of
the earlier branch of the family is now ended.
END
Gary Childress
8403 Seranata Drive
Whittier, CA 90603
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark or Gary" <london2000(a)fea.net>
To: <CHILDRESS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2000 4:35 PM
Subject: [Childress Research] Re: {not a subscriber} Gravestone
----- Original Message -----
From: "Berg, Warren F, NBSO" <wberg(a)att.com>
To: <CHILDRESS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2000 4:05 PM
Subject: {not a subscriber} Gravestone
Would it be possible to get a picture of thsi gravestone that tells the
story about the Childress trip.
Warren
wberg(a)ems.att.com
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----- Original Message -----
From: MJCV25(a)aol.com
To: CHILDRESS-RESEARCH-L(a)rootsweb.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2005 11:30 PM
Subject: [CHILDRESS] ABRHAM CHILDRESS lll (aka Childers) AND HIS FAMILY -
VA -
Dear List,
May I make some comments and give my opinion on an on going topic or
two?
Thank you, if you said yes:)
Previous discussion concerning Amherst County, VA before and during the
time
of 1783 and 1800 and those named JOHN CHILDRESS who lived there and who
eventually (one branch) migrated to NC has taken several turns.
The "JOHN script", [what I call it] was produced in a series [which I'll
name as the Childress series], by Gary and Mark Childress (see Childress
Research-List archives) and was kindly shared by Joseph Childress with
this list.
After reading the series several times, I recollected some of their
information, I did some digging and had discussions with those surnamed
CARTER and
EDMONDSON. I also realized the information I had on EZELL-CHILDRESS
family,
linked back to JOHN CHILDRESS of Knox CO, TN with my family, as I am a
CHILDRESS
- EZELL myself.
The CARTER and EDMONDSON (researchers) information has been fascinating
and
interesting. Whether of not anything will be completely solved with JOHN
CHILDRESS born 1759 In Albemarle County, VA, I can't say. All I can say
is that
it's perfectly clear to me, there was a family connection which none of
us
really understood, whether the author's of the "Childress Series" do or
don't,
I can't say, they have not responded.. I must say, the ancestry tree
which
was provided by the "Childress series" was confusing and had errors.
This is
the responsibility of the descendants to correct it, I will only say
there
are more than a few glaring errors.
I hope to set the record somewhat straight and hope those who may
descend
from this branch, will check it all out. I suppose you could say the
other
real issue's are - (1) WHO was JOHN CHILDRESS who was born in 1759
Albemarle
CO, VA - (2) WHO were his parents? - (3) Don't you find it odd that the
ancestry tree for JOHN CHILDRESS was proven to be full of holes and in
error, with
hardly any evidence to support it? - (4) ROBERT, son of JOHN was said to
have married secondly, KEZZIAH CARTER in 1812 Amherst Co, VA, is it just
me, but
don't you'all wonder HOW these two ever met, they lived 500 or so miles
from
one another! What link did they have besides the Sandidge family? If any
of
you know, please tell us. - (5) Isn't it also odd, with the "Childress
Series" naming a MARY as wife of SOLOMON CARTER, yet nothing was
mentioned as to
WHO and WHAT was her maiden name and from what family did she come? IF I
could find it, why could they NOT find it?
I am not attaching another's research, that is their business really.
However, as most of you know, there is on going debate on where our
CHILDRESS
family came from. The DNA project has hopefully shown that those with
Childers
and Childress have matched, with exception of a few. But, only males can
take
the test while females, many of which descend from important Childress
and
Childers branches cannot contribute to it, including me!
Nest, we have the Joel Childress tombstone mystery. I don't have to
repeat
it, those of you who've read the messages on the this list and the other
one,
know what has been said. I have an opinion and I shared it with all of
you.
I don't think the tombstone theory is reliable nor do I think it should
dictate to our original Childress or Childers ancestry. I do not believe
another group of Childresses came here ONLY during 1745 and that they
were ONLY
Scottish and from Scotland. Unless you prefer the earlier tombstone
story,
"from WALES and in their own ship" - And next, the different gene pools,
Childers
being entirely different than Childress, due to the "1745 crossing".
Also,
not one of the Scottish Childresses had given names which included
"ABRAHAM,
that was only a CHILDERS name" -
We all know by now, that's a glaring misconception. The name Abraham was
also a CHILDRESS name and JOEL CHILDRESS (tombstone story) was bound out
to a
ABRAHAM Childress, having been orphaned by his father, BENJAMIN Childress
[Lee
Rau research] - Abraham is a common name among the families of CHILDRESS
and
in fact, among the ancestry of one MARY ANN CHILDRESS who married SOLOMON
CARTER, 1759c - Abraham Childress lll was Mary Ann's father.
To Be Continued -
MaryJean Childress - Voegtlin
Guy,
Thanks for sharing with us! I haven't met that many Childress who came out
of Charlotte County (VA) - However, I have now!
My branch of Childress came from Lunenburg County (VA) and then from the
part which was carved from Lunenburg and became Charlotte, where your branch of
Childress obviously lived.
After my 4th great grandfather died, he died in Charlotte County. His widow
much later married Thomas Hamblin and lived in Mecklenburg County. This
took place after 1811. I've studied original copies of records, from census,
deeds, wills, war papers, you name it - The familiar names you mention are
ALMOND or DeAlmond. This family were in Lunenburg Co. very early and have
connections to Childress. I would also suggest you make note of anyone in
Lunenburg County that bears the name of Childers/Childrey/Childress/ and any other
variant. Make a list and then sort them out.
I don't know how long you've been doing family research, so excuse me for
telling you what to do! These are suggestions of mine, since my branch came
from Charlotte County. I can give you a list of who I know for sure who were
there, I'll do a little search on it. Have any more details?
MaryJean Childress - Voegtlin
Dear List,
I took the 37 marker test (#18005) and appear to be one of the "oddballs"
that doesn't match anyone. I can trace back as far as Charles Francis
Childress of Campbell County, VA. (b.1830, d.1865), who married a Martha (b.
1828) in Charlotte County, VA. Don't know where Charles was born, possibly
in Charlotte County.
My Charles married 7/18/1853. I know because I viewed the book in Charlotte
Courthouse. Note that there is another Charles Childress that married in
Charlotte County. That marriage occurred in 1854. Apparently at the time of
their marriage only initials of the parents were used in the book and these
were unreadable.
I also saw a family page indicating Charles F. Childress married Martha Ann
Almond in Charlotte County in 7/14/1852 - I have no idea what bearing that
has on my line.
Charles F. Childress is shown as living with his brother Tilman in Charlotte
County in the 1850 census. Not sure if this is the same Charles Childress,
as I have also seen a Charles E. and a Charles H. in this same time period.
Charles shows up in the 1860 Appomattox Census with his family and an older
Childress female, Elizabeth. Possibly his mother ??
My Charles had children named Munford, Birdie(?), Louisa, Richard, William,
and Charles, possibly others and names seem to change in different records.
He was in the 42nd VA & died in military prison at Point Lookout. MD.
I don't really care which of the disputed "groups" I am in, Viking, Celtic,
or Martian, but would appreciate any further info that get me past Charles.
Thanks,
Guy Childress
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=lkt3&id=I3786
Elizabeth Betsy H. CHILDRESS Born: 1798-06-05 Knox Co, Tennessee USA Died: 1870-01-14
Madison Co, Alabama Married: 2 Oct 1813 in Knoxville, Knox Co, TN Byram Wilborn Hinds
b: 5 Mar 1792 in Knoxville, Knox Co, TN Father: John CHILDRESS b: 1733 in Henrico Co,
VA Mother: Elizabeth LINDSEY b: 5 Jun 1798 in Knox Co, TN
John CHILDRESS Birth: 1733 in Henrico Co, VA Death: Abt 1797 in Goochland Co, VA
Marriage 1 Elizabeth LINDSEY b: 5 Jun 1798 in Knox Co, TN
Children
1. CHILDRESS b: 9 Dec 1759 in Albemarle Co, VA
2. Elizabeth Betsy H. CHILDRESS b: 5 Jun 1798 in Knoxville, Knox Co, TN
============================================================================
http://www.cafelocale.com/discus/messages/18901/18901.html?1122486905
Francis Marion Bruce whom married Mary Amanda Childress, in 1849 Marshall County,
Alabama.Mary Amanda died young when their 2nd child Missouri Jane was still an infant
Her father is Robert C. Childress, he was born 1805 in Knox County, Tenn. and died Aug
9, 1857 in Guntersville, Alabama.
========================================================================
S
Granpano -
RE: Robert Childress in AL -
Go to www. google.com - then type in Pauline Gandrud (Childress records) and
you'll see reference to this author (245 Volume's, "Alabama Records"), I saw
quite a few in Madison County (Childress). If you can get to a good
research library or call the libraries - archives and see if they have these AL
Records by Ms. Gandrud, then I bet you'll have some success.
MaryJean