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Is anyone connected to a Jessie or J.J. Childress from Grundy, Va.? Born apx
1850-
died 1932-3 I've come across some wonderful pension application's (online) I
know you would love to see if you don't have them already . Seems J. J.
joined the CSA at a very young age 10- 15 years of age. He then had quite a
bit of trouble proving he was there in order to get a pension at the age of
80.
INDIANA JACK
Does anyone have an Elizabeth CHILDRESS born abt 1793 in SC? She marr.
Ezekiel STAGGS probably in Franklin Co. TN before 1818 and was in Jefferson
Co. AL by 1824. Ezekiels 2nd wife said in her Widows Pension App. for the War
of 1812 that Elizabeth's last name was Child--- (can't read the last part).
The BLM web site shows Levi, Meredith & William CHILDRESS bought land in
Jefferson Co. AL in the early 1820s when Ezekiel & Elizabeth were there.
Elizabeth had sons named Levi, Meredith & William (although Ezekiel's father
was also William).
Bill STAGGS
wstaggs189(a)aol.com
A Christmas Incident
'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the charts
The lines that were empty would sure break your heart.
The pedigree chart was laid out with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas would know who or where.
As searcher I nestled all snug in my bed
While visions of ancestors danced through my head.
Others sound asleep both upstairs and down
All in a nightcap and ankle length gown.
when out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I jumped from my bed to see what was the matter.
When much to my wonderment there did appear
Good old St Nicholas with a grin to each ear.
His bulk was tremendous, his eyes full of glee
He laughed as he picked up the sad pedigree.
He shouted and roared and ripped it to bits
While I swallowed my heart and went into fits.
"Dash it all, dash it all," I heard him then say,
"This clutter and mess is just in my way."
He said not a word as he started his job
He sat down at once and his pencil did jog.
A new pedigree he filled out in two winks
Giving names, dates, and places and all missing links.
Clear back to Adam, and down to the last...
For ageless was he, having served in the past.
I thought, "Oh, how wonderful it would all be
If he did for others what he did for me!!:
As he finished and blotted the ink not quite dry
A sadness came over me and then I did cry!
He gave me the details and seemed to have such fun
But now all my ancestor chasing was done!!!
He bounced out the window and I heard him say,
"For others I'll do the same any old day,
Just tell them my number and be good and kind,"
But then, a sure thought came into my mind...
Nobody wants ancestors that fast and so good
I'll let everyone else do the job just as they should.
(by Dora Mills - Ash Tree Echo Jan 1983)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
Below is Part 3 of 3 parts of the memoirs of John Williams Childress, the
great great grandson of Joel Childress. 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 sons John Williams, Avent, and
Adair Lyon [called Lyon]
4.. John Williams Childress who wrote the text below in 1960.
Text that is in square brackets [ ] are my additions....
Gary Childress
"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 [son of John Whitsitt Childress Junior and brother of the
author of this memoir] 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 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
Rutherford County Historical Society (Tenn.) Publication, issue 16, Winter
1981
Maxine,
By chance are you related in any way with Mary Elizabeth Gilliam (1835-1913) who
married a Henry Thomas Rodgers (1835-1896)?
Her parents were Nathaniel and Sarah Sally (Davis) Gilliam.
All going back to Marcus Gilliam.
My Great Grandparents were Henry And Mary Elizabeth (Gilliam) Rodgers
Maxine Gilliam wrote:
> I would like Part 1 & Part 3. Thanks.
> Maxine Gilliam
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Childress" <london2000(a)fea.net>
> To: <CHILDRESS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
> Sent: Friday, 17 December 1999 23:40
> Subject: Re: [CHILDRESS] Part Two of the memoirs of John Williams Childress
>
> > Hi Martha,
> > I'll send you the Part One privately so as not to bore the listmembers who
> > just saw it, and I haven't posted Part Three yet. At some point (a week
> or
> > two) they'll show up in the Rootsweb archives at the following address:
> Go
> > to
> >
> > http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl
> > and type in "Childress" as the name of this list
> > and a second search engine will appear that will allow you to be more
> > specific such as "Part One"
> >
> > You state: " its pretty unsettling to find that one's great great
> > grandfather was an originator of the KKK...Yikes"
I would like Part 1 & Part 3. Thanks.
Maxine Gilliam
----- Original Message -----
From: "Childress" <london2000(a)fea.net>
To: <CHILDRESS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Friday, 17 December 1999 23:40
Subject: Re: [CHILDRESS] Part Two of the memoirs of John Williams Childress
> Hi Martha,
> I'll send you the Part One privately so as not to bore the listmembers who
> just saw it, and I haven't posted Part Three yet. At some point (a week
or
> two) they'll show up in the Rootsweb archives at the following address:
Go
> to
>
> http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl
> and type in "Childress" as the name of this list
> and a second search engine will appear that will allow you to be more
> specific such as "Part One"
>
> You state: " its pretty unsettling to find that one's great great
> grandfather was an originator of the KKK...Yikes"
>
> Freed slaves sometimes found it advantageous to keep the surname of their
> slaveowners if it afforded them some status or protection from harassment
> after the Civil War. The freed slaves who took the Childress surname
> probably intended to invoke the surname of the wife of President Polk as
> badge of protection..... little did they know that when they spoke the
name
> Childress to a Klansman that they were invoking the name of one of its
> founders. Klansmen's ears must have perked up when that name was spoken.
I
> can visualize a Klansman saying to a freed slave...."I know your
> family....fine family". John Whitsett Childress Junior's résumé reads
very
> well if you can just get past that little teeny weenie tiny bit about
> forming a terrorist organization.
>
> Gary
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "marth bush" <mbush1(a)rochester.rr.com>
> To: <CHILDRESS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
> Sent: Friday, December 17, 1999 1:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [CHILDRESS] Part Two of the memoirs of John Williams
Childress
>
>
> Hi Gary, at your advice I subscribed to the Childress digest. I found the
> memoir below fascinating (and horrifying -- as a liberal northerner it's
> pretty unsettling to find that one's great great grandfather was an
> originator of the KKK...Yikes.
>
> Anyway, I know you are probably swamped with mail, but had you published
the
> first and/or third parts of this memoir? could I find it somewhere? I
> appreciate your help.
> Martha Bush
> ----------
> >From: "Childress" <london2000(a)fea.net>
> >To: CHILDRESS-L(a)rootsweb.com
> >Subject: [CHILDRESS] Part Two of the memoirs of John Williams Childress
> >Date: Fri, Dec 17, 1999, 3:46 AM
> >
>
> >Below is Part 2 or 3 parts of the memoirs of John Williams Childress, the
> >great great grandson of Joel Childress of Rutherford County, TN, father
of
> >Sarah Childress Polk. The four generations referred to in the memoirs are
> as
> >follows:
> >
> > 1.. Joel Childress who is the father of
> > 2.. John Whitsett Childress SENIOR. who is the father of
> > 3.. John Whitsett Childress JUNIOR who is the father of
> > 4.. John Williams Childress who 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
> >
> >"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, form 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, form 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 [John Whitsett Childress Junior]
> >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 [John Whitsett Childress Junior] 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."
> >
> >
> >
> >==== CHILDRESS Mailing List ====
> >To see previous Childress mail list postings archived at Rootsweb go to
> >http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl
> >Contact List Owners Mark Childress/Gary Childress at london2000(a)fea.net
> >
>
>
> ==== CHILDRESS Mailing List ====
> To see previous Childress mail list postings archived at Rootsweb go to
> http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl
> Contact List Owners Mark Childress/Gary Childress at london2000(a)fea.net
>
>
>
>
> ==== CHILDRESS Mailing List ====
> To see previous Childress mail list postings archived at Rootsweb go to
> http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl
> Contact List Owners Mark Childress/Gary Childress at london2000(a)fea.net
>
>
Hi Martha,
I'll send you the Part One privately so as not to bore the listmembers who
just saw it, and I haven't posted Part Three yet. At some point (a week or
two) they'll show up in the Rootsweb archives at the following address: Go
to
http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl
and type in "Childress" as the name of this list
and a second search engine will appear that will allow you to be more
specific such as "Part One"
You state: " its pretty unsettling to find that one's great great
grandfather was an originator of the KKK...Yikes"
Freed slaves sometimes found it advantageous to keep the surname of their
slaveowners if it afforded them some status or protection from harassment
after the Civil War. The freed slaves who took the Childress surname
probably intended to invoke the surname of the wife of President Polk as
badge of protection..... little did they know that when they spoke the name
Childress to a Klansman that they were invoking the name of one of its
founders. Klansmen's ears must have perked up when that name was spoken. I
can visualize a Klansman saying to a freed slave...."I know your
family....fine family". John Whitsett Childress Junior's résumé reads very
well if you can just get past that little teeny weenie tiny bit about
forming a terrorist organization.
Gary
----- Original Message -----
From: "marth bush" <mbush1(a)rochester.rr.com>
To: <CHILDRESS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Friday, December 17, 1999 1:42 PM
Subject: Re: [CHILDRESS] Part Two of the memoirs of John Williams Childress
Hi Gary, at your advice I subscribed to the Childress digest. I found the
memoir below fascinating (and horrifying -- as a liberal northerner it's
pretty unsettling to find that one's great great grandfather was an
originator of the KKK...Yikes.
Anyway, I know you are probably swamped with mail, but had you published the
first and/or third parts of this memoir? could I find it somewhere? I
appreciate your help.
Martha Bush
----------
>From: "Childress" <london2000(a)fea.net>
>To: CHILDRESS-L(a)rootsweb.com
>Subject: [CHILDRESS] Part Two of the memoirs of John Williams Childress
>Date: Fri, Dec 17, 1999, 3:46 AM
>
>Below is Part 2 or 3 parts of the memoirs of John Williams Childress, the
>great great grandson of Joel Childress of Rutherford County, TN, father of
>Sarah Childress Polk. The four generations referred to in the memoirs are
as
>follows:
>
> 1.. Joel Childress who is the father of
> 2.. John Whitsett Childress SENIOR. who is the father of
> 3.. John Whitsett Childress JUNIOR who is the father of
> 4.. John Williams Childress who 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
>
>"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, form 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, form 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 [John Whitsett Childress Junior]
>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 [John Whitsett Childress Junior] 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."
>
>
>
>==== CHILDRESS Mailing List ====
>To see previous Childress mail list postings archived at Rootsweb go to
>http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl
>Contact List Owners Mark Childress/Gary Childress at london2000(a)fea.net
>
==== CHILDRESS Mailing List ====
To see previous Childress mail list postings archived at Rootsweb go to
http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl
Contact List Owners Mark Childress/Gary Childress at london2000(a)fea.net
Hi Gary, at your advice I subscribed to the Childress digest. I found the
memoir below fascinating (and horrifying -- as a liberal northerner it's
pretty unsettling to find that one's great great grandfather was an
originator of the KKK...Yikes.
Anyway, I know you are probably swamped with mail, but had you published the
first and/or third parts of this memoir? could I find it somewhere? I
appreciate your help.
Martha Bush
----------
>From: "Childress" <london2000(a)fea.net>
>To: CHILDRESS-L(a)rootsweb.com
>Subject: [CHILDRESS] Part Two of the memoirs of John Williams Childress
>Date: Fri, Dec 17, 1999, 3:46 AM
>
>Below is Part 2 or 3 parts of the memoirs of John Williams Childress, the
>great great grandson of Joel Childress of Rutherford County, TN, father of
>Sarah Childress Polk. The four generations referred to in the memoirs are as
>follows:
>
> 1.. Joel Childress who is the father of
> 2.. John Whitsett Childress SENIOR. who is the father of
> 3.. John Whitsett Childress JUNIOR who is the father of
> 4.. John Williams Childress who 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
>
>"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, form 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 mothers 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 fathers [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 1888to
>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.
>Johns [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, form which he was elected Tennessees 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 Browns 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 [John Whitsett Childress Junior]
>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 "collectors item"
>because the writers story of his return home after the surrender of the
>Confederate Army is the only known account of that phase of a soldiers
>life. Several histories of that period quote Ridleys diary for the only
>picture of a Confederates 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 mothers 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 bookof which he was very proudis most interesting. He
>was, during his whole service, on the Staff of Gen. A.P. StewartCSA.
>
>"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 familySelenehad no children,
>though married twicefirst 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. Browns 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 stillafter 75 yearsthe
>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 dont 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 candidatesTaylor 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 appointmentas 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 fathers and I
>also kept up my friendship with them until their deaths.
>
>"In the late days of fathers [John Whitsett Childress Junior] 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 fathers 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 politicsthe appointment by President Coolidge as Chairman of the
>D.C. Public Utilities Commission in 1926."
>
>
>
>==== CHILDRESS Mailing List ====
>To see previous Childress mail list postings archived at Rootsweb go to
>http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl
>Contact List Owners Mark Childress/Gary Childress at london2000(a)fea.net
>
Started a new webpage... take a look and let me know what you think. There's a picture of me and my family on it.
I'm still working on it. But will hopefully finish it soon.
www.geocities.com/lagoudeau_98/index.html
click on the link
LeAnneGoudeau(a)msn.com
Below is Part 2 or 3 parts of the memoirs of John Williams Childress, the
great great grandson of Joel Childress of Rutherford County, TN, father of
Sarah Childress Polk. The four generations referred to in the memoirs are as
follows:
1.. Joel Childress who is the father of
2.. John Whitsett Childress SENIOR. who is the father of
3.. John Whitsett Childress JUNIOR who is the father of
4.. John Williams Childress who 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
"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, form 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, form 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 [John Whitsett Childress Junior]
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 [John Whitsett Childress Junior] 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."
Hi Sara Binkley Tarpley,
I just want to use your posting to highlight for listmembers some problems
that North and South Carolina cause researchers.
The counties in those states were reformed several times and makes research
very confusing. A researcher has to learn the county in which he is
researching in order to make headway. The trouble is that it is not always
apparent or intuitive from a simple statement of fact, how many counties are
involved.
For example to use your posting to illustrate a point, you say... Joseph
CHILDRESS b. abt. 1765, d. abt. 1800, married Elizabeth Binkley, 10 Aug.
1787, Surry Co., NC.
But since Surry County was formed about 1771 from Rowan County. Joseph could
have been born on the same parcel of ground on which he was married, but the
parcel was in Rowan County when he was born and was in Surry County by the
time he got married. Or his children could have been born on the very ground
Joseph was married in Surry County but by the time the children died on that
very same ground in 1850 it was Yadkin County. It is possible for two
researchers to be talking about the very same person but because of the
seemingly different locals... they don't realize that it is the same person
or family line. Ultimately, it helps the researcher to place a name to a
very specific map location...if at all possible, but then you'd be into
researching at a very exhaustive level trying to find place names on a deed
and plotting them on map like http://mapping.usgs.gov/www/gnis/gnisform.html
The issue of county formations is further complicated when with each
generation the family moves just a bit and not sooner has the researchers
figured out one set of overlapping counties than he has to figure out
another set of overlapping counties. All I can say is that it seems prudent
to check the neighboring counties in these states, and if anything is
remotely close, then immerse yourself in the history of the counties even
more and expect to be talking to other researchers who don't describe the
information precisely as you'd expect to find it.
For example, when you say..
"Joseph CHILDRESS b. abt. 1765, d. abt. 1800, married Elizabeth Binkley, 10
Aug. 1787, Surry Co., NC" ........
that could be an identical match to a researcher who posted that he is
looking for a "Childress family born in
Wilkes, NC , then moved to Forsyth County, NC and died in Stokes County, NC
"......not at all obvious or intuitive to either researcher unless they have
been studying their counties.
I have pasted below the 'History' of Surrey County. You can note that the
Moravian religious sect was a major player. Sara Childress Polk was
schooled in NC at the Moravian Academy in Salem, NC and her teachings there
went far to make her appear cultured and gave her the Presbyterian
philosophy she relied upon in the White House when she reputedly forbid
alcohol and dancing at White House parties because of these
Presbyterian-Moravian church teachings. Sara Childress Polk traveled 500
miles from Western TN to this Moravian Academy so she is apt to have stayed
with kin along the way or in NC. James K. Polk was prominent before being
President, in politics and congress (Speaker of the House under Andrew
Jackson) about 15 years after Sarah's Moravian schooling. So kin who met
Sarah on her way to school could well have identified with her celebrity
early on and boasted to their extended relatives, tales that are told today.
THE HISTORY AND FORMATION OF SURRY COUNTY
Surry County was formed from Rowan County. This was while Surry County was
still a British Colony. An act to form Surry County was proposed to the
North Carolina Assembly in December 1770 by Martin Armstrong, Anthony
Hampton and James Dunne. The legislation was passed in January 1771 and was
to become effective 1 April 1771. It was named to honor Lord Surrey, a
member of Parliament who protested the taxes levied on the colonists by the
British.
Part of Rowan was annexed to Surry in 1773. This was to make sure that all
of the Moravian's Wachovia tract was in Surry County. When the division of
Surry from Rowan occurred in 1771, it left Salem in Rowan and Bethabara and
Bethania in Surry. In the beginning, Surry did not want the Moravians in
their county because the Moravians refused to fight and they lived
differently and better.
Surry County quickly realized that not only did they need the tax money from
the Moravians, they needed the friendship and knowledge. Moravian leaders
were highly educated, practical, wise to the ways of the world and highly
disciplined. They had markets, mills, crafts, craftsmen, stores, taverns,
Inns, workshops and schools among other things.
Surry leaders went running back asking the Moravians of Salem to petition
the Assembly of North Carolina to put the rest of the Wachovia Tract in
Surry County borders. The Assembly refused the first petition in 1772. In
1773 Salem leaders Frederick William Marshall and Traugott Bagge went to the
N.C. General Assembly at New Bern, talked with the Governor and the bill
passed the third.
Wilkes County was formed in 1777 from Surry and the District of Washington,
now in Tennessee. The act was effective 15 February 1778. It should be noted
here that this took the western part of Surry where Low Gap is located. This
put Jesse Franklin and others in Wilkes County.
Stokes County was formed in 1789 from Surry, all of the Moravian Tract was
now in Stokes. In 1850 Stokes County was divided and the southern part
became Forsyth County. The original Moravian Tract made up a large part of
Forsyth County.
Part of Wilkes County was annexed to Surry in 1792. This gave Low Gap and
western Surry County back to Surry County. This was done at the request of
Jesse Franklin. (He became the only NC Governor from Surry.) Researchers
should note that the names of the people in the Low Gap area and others in
the western part of the county will be found in the NC census of 1784-1787
and the US Federal census of 1790 in the Wilkes County listings. This also
applies to Wilkes County tax lists and deeds from 1777 until 1792.
Yadkin County was formed from Surry in 1850 with the Yadkin River forming
the boundary. Part of Surry on the west was annexed to Allegheny in 1869,
1870 and 1875. Corbitt says no description given in the law. It was around
Aaron Woodruffs and Saddle Mountain.
(Information from Corbitt, David Leroy, The Formation of North Carolina
Counties, 1663-1943, Raleigh: State Department of Archives and History,
1950, pp. 199-202)
Regards,
Gary Childress
----- Original Message -----
From: <Kena159(a)aol.com>
To: <CHILDRESS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 1999 9:57 AM
Subject: [CHILDRESS] Joseph Childress-TN
My information about this person is very sketchy, and all of my data is from
others; so bear with me.
Can anyone identify the parents of
Joseph CHILDRESS b. abt. 1765, d. abt. 1800, married Elizabeth Binkley, 10
Aug. 1787, Surry Co., NC. (The marriage is the only firm piece of data I
have on Joseph.) Elizabeth moved to Robertson Co., TN, with her children
about 1800. It is not clear to me whether Joseph died before or after they
moved.
Joseph Childress' second great-granddaughter wrote this to a family
researcher, date unknown
"The Childress' were related to Mrs. James K. Polk some way. My mother said
she remembered hearing Uncle George Farmer (Dr. John Childress Farmer, my
grandfathers father) telling about visiting the Polks in the White House.
Did you ever hear this tradition..."
I suspect that it may be only a tradition as I have found nothing that shows
any relationship between these Childresses and Sarah Childress Polk. (On
the
other hand, since I know so little about Joseph, I suppose a relationship is
possible.)
I found James K. Polk's death recorded in the 1850 TN Mortality Index. His
occupation is shown as lawyer. Of course, that is what he was at the time
of
his death, but it surely looks like ironic understatement when you see it in
writing.
Sara Binkley Tarpley
==== CHILDRESS Mailing List ====
To see previous Childress mail list postings archived at Rootsweb go to
http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl
Contact List Owners Mark Childress/Gary Childress at london2000(a)fea.net
My information about this person is very sketchy, and all of my data is from
others; so bear with me.
Can anyone identify the parents of
Joseph CHILDRESS b. abt. 1765, d. abt. 1800, married Elizabeth Binkley, 10
Aug. 1787, Surry Co., NC. (The marriage is the only firm piece of data I
have on Joseph.) Elizabeth moved to Robertson Co., TN, with her children
about 1800. It is not clear to me whether Joseph died before or after they
moved.
Joseph Childress' second great-granddaughter wrote this to a family
researcher, date unknown
"The Childress' were related to Mrs. James K. Polk some way. My mother said
she remembered hearing Uncle George Farmer (Dr. John Childress Farmer, my
grandfathers father) telling about visiting the Polks in the White House.
Did you ever hear this tradition..."
I suspect that it may be only a tradition as I have found nothing that shows
any relationship between these Childresses and Sarah Childress Polk. (On the
other hand, since I know so little about Joseph, I suppose a relationship is
possible.)
I found James K. Polk's death recorded in the 1850 TN Mortality Index. His
occupation is shown as lawyer. Of course, that is what he was at the time of
his death, but it surely looks like ironic understatement when you see it in
writing.
Sara Binkley Tarpley
Gary,
I am very interested in learning more about the John Childress who was
born in 1755 and his family. I believe my wife is one of his descendants.
You mentioned that his father fought in Braddock's Defeat. Do you know his
father's name? His Mother's? Anything else about his lineage, siblings,
etc.? Thanks!
Lee
----- Original Message -----
From: "Childress" <london2000(a)fea.net>
To: <CHILDRESS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 1999 8:51 PM
Subject: Re: [CHILDRESS] Childress auction at EBAY
> Hi Linda,
>
> I think the John you are referring to is John Childress born 1755, whose
> father died at Braddock's Defeat, and who himself received a Rev. War
> Pension for the battle of King's Mountain and elsewhere. Regarding that
> John Childress we have found no apparent links to Joel Childress of
> Rutherford County. TN despite them residing in the same county after 1800.
> Just the opposite they seem to be different lineages.... for example....
> Joel is born in 1777 in VA but the John b. 1755 you refer to didn't even
> marry until after the Rev. War in the 1780's in the Carolinas, according
to
> his pension and didn't have a wife Virginia in 1777. There are a number
of
> incongruities like that. But it has caught our attention though that they
> show up in the same County, Rutherford....
>
> Gary
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <Hollyblu1(a)aol.com>
> To: <CHILDRESS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 1999 5:08 PM
> Subject: Re: [CHILDRESS] Childress auction at EBAY
>
>
> Hi Gary and list members,
>
> I am very interested in the Childress family of Murfreesboro, TN also
> because
> according to pension application records a John Childress applied for his
> and
> listed it as where he lived.
> He stated that he was born in Virginia and lived for a while in Laurens
> County, SC (1790) the year in which my ancestor John Childress was born
> there
> and then for a short while in Kentucky before moving to Murfreesboro. I
> believe him to be the father of my John Childress and wondered why he
moved
> to Murfreesboro. Was he related to Joel in someway? He died there in 1825.
> Thanks for any help Linda
>
>
> ==== CHILDRESS Mailing List ====
> To see previous Childress mail list postings archived at Rootsweb go to
> http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl
> Contact List Owners Mark Childress/Gary Childress at london2000(a)fea.net
>
>
>
>
> ==== CHILDRESS Mailing List ====
> Unsubscribe by writing only one word UNSUBSCRIBE and e-mail to either
> CHILDRESS-L-request(a)rootsweb.com or CHILDRESS-D-request(a)rootsweb.com
> Contact List Owners Mark Childress/Gary Childress at london2000(a)fea.net
>
----- Original Message -----
From: "Childress" <london2000(a)fea.net>
To: <CHILDRESS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 1999 8:51 PM
Subject: Re: [CHILDRESS] Childress auction at EBAY
> Hi Linda,
>
> I think the John you are referring to is John Childress born 1755, whose
> father died at Braddock's Defeat, and who himself received a Rev. War
> Pension for the battle of King's Mountain and elsewhere. Regarding that
> John Childress we have found no apparent links to Joel Childress of
> Rutherford County. TN despite them residing in the same county after 1800.
> Just the opposite they seem to be different lineages.... for example....
> Joel is born in 1777 in VA but the John b. 1755 you refer to didn't even
> marry until after the Rev. War in the 1780's in the Carolinas, according
to
> his pension and didn't have a wife Virginia in 1777. There are a number
of
> incongruities like that. But it has caught our attention though that they
> show up in the same County, Rutherford....
>
> Gary
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <Hollyblu1(a)aol.com>
> To: <CHILDRESS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 1999 5:08 PM
> Subject: Re: [CHILDRESS] Childress auction at EBAY
>
>
> Hi Gary and list members,
>
> I am very interested in the Childress family of Murfreesboro, TN also
> because
> according to pension application records a John Childress applied for his
> and
> listed it as where he lived.
> He stated that he was born in Virginia and lived for a while in Laurens
> County, SC (1790) the year in which my ancestor John Childress was born
> there
> and then for a short while in Kentucky before moving to Murfreesboro. I
> believe him to be the father of my John Childress and wondered why he
moved
> to Murfreesboro. Was he related to Joel in someway? He died there in 1825.
> Thanks for any help Linda
>
>
> ==== CHILDRESS Mailing List ====
> To see previous Childress mail list postings archived at Rootsweb go to
> http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl
> Contact List Owners Mark Childress/Gary Childress at london2000(a)fea.net
>
>
>
>
> ==== CHILDRESS Mailing List ====
> Unsubscribe by writing only one word UNSUBSCRIBE and e-mail to either
> CHILDRESS-L-request(a)rootsweb.com or CHILDRESS-D-request(a)rootsweb.com
> Contact List Owners Mark Childress/Gary Childress at london2000(a)fea.net
>
SOUTH CAROLINA
GEORGE P. CHILDRESS arty. Fisher's co.
HENRY F. CHILDERS 1st arty co. d
WILLIAM CHILDERS 1st arty co. d
W.F. CHILDERS hvy arty 15th (Lucas') bn co. b
WILLIAM J. CHILDERS hvy arty 15th (Lucas)' bn co. a
JAMES G. CHILDRESS lt. arty. Lynch's co.
THOMAS H. CHILDRESS Lt arty Lynch's co.
WILLIAM CHILDRESS Lt. arty. Burrough's co.
J.R. CHILDERS lt. arty 3rd Palmetto bn co. a
JOHN S. CHILDRESS 1st cav. co.?
GEORGE C. CHILDRESS cav. 1st. bn. (McNairy's) co. c
W. W. CHILDRESS cav. 1st bn. (McNairy's) co. c
J. B. CHILDRESS 3rd cav. (Forrest's) co. c
J.D. CHILDERS 4th cav co. d
J.J. CHILDERS 4th cav co. d
N. CHILDERS 4th cav co. d
JOSEPHUS CHILDRESS 4th cav. (McLemore's) co. e
WILLIAM CHILDRESS 5th cav. co. g, i, h
SAM I. CHILDRESS 6th cav. (Wheeler's) co. k
ROBERT J. CHILDRESS 6th cav co. e
G. W. CHILDRESS cav. 11th bn. (Gordon's) co. a
WILLIAM W. CHILDRESS 11th cav.
WILLIAM CHILDERS 14th cav bn co. a
ADOLPHUS BROWN CHILDRESS 20th cav. (russell's) cav co. d
PATTERSON Z. CHILDERS inf Hamptons Legion co. f
TENCH CHILDERS inf Holcombe Legion co. i
J.D. CHILDERS Manigult's bn vol. co. a
A.L. CHILDERS 1st inf Campbell's co
JOHN CHILDERS 1st inf (Carleston) bn co. f
J.B. CHILDERS 1st st. troops co. a
J.T. CHILDRES 1st (Butlers) inf co. g
WILLIAM C. CHILDERS 1st (Butler's) inf co. d
J. W. CHILDRESS inf. 1st bn.(Colm's) adj.
J. W. CHILDRESS inf. 2nd cons. regt. co. i capt.
ELISHA W. CHILDRESS 2nd (Robinson's) inf co. a
JOHN W. CHILDRESS 2nd inf. (Robinson's) co. a capt.
ELISS CHILDERS 2nd rilfes co. k
J. T. CHILDERS 2nd rifles co. e
A.M. CHILDRESS 2nd rifles co. e
CHARLES CHILDRESS 2nd rifles co. h
JOHN CHILDERS 2nd rifles co. f sgt
W.M. B. CHILDRESS 2nd rifles co. h
D.M. CHILDRESS 3rd inf co. g
W.A. CHILDRESS 3rd inf co. g
JOHN W. CHILDRESS 3rd inf. (Clack's) co. k cpl.
ROBERT H. CHILDRESS 3rd inf. (Clack's) co. a
Died Chickamuga September 20, 1863
W. H. CHILDRESS 3rd inf. (Clack's) co. i,
JOHN W. CHILDRESS 3rd inf. (Clack's) co. k cpl.
Died at Camp Douglas (prison)
J. H. CHILDERS 3rd res. co. k
THOMAS D. CHILDERS 3rd res co. h cpl
W.B. CHILDERS 3rd res co. k
O.W. CHILDERS 3rd res co. h
JAMES L. CHILDRESS 3rd res co. f sgt
J. WARE CHILDERS 4th inf co. f
JAMES CHILDERS 5th inf second co. e
JOHN CHILDERS 5th inf 1st co. h, 2nd co. b surived the war
present at appomattox
WASH CHILDERS 5th inf 2nd co. g
F. M. C. CHILDRESS 5th inf. 1st. co. f, 2nd co. e
J. A. CHILDRESS 5th inf. 2nd co. ?
T. P. CHILDRESS 5th inf. 2nd. co. c
Z. D. CHILDRESS 5th inf. 2nd co. h
W.B. CHILDERS 5th mil beat co. 4
SHEROD CHILDERS 5th st troops co. b
JOSIAH CHILDRESS 5th st troops co. b
J.J. CHILDERS 6th inf second co. k
JOSIAH CHILDERS 7th res co. b sgt.
SHEROD CHILDERS 7th res co. b sgt.
WILLIAM CHILDERS 7th res co. f
JOHN CHILDERS 7th res co. b
JOHN J. CHILDERS 9th inf co. b
W. W. CHILDRIS 9th inf. co. k
EZEKIEL CHILDERS 12th inf co. b
JOSIAH CHILDERS 12th inf co. b
SHEROD CHILDERS 12th inf co. b
W.C. CHILDERS 12th inf co. b
W.W. CHILDERS 12th inf co. b
A.L. CHILDERS 13th inf co. e
TENCH CHILDERS 13th inf co. e
R.F. CHILDERS 14th inf co. e
J. WARE CHILDERS 16th inf co. b
died of disease at home 10/21/1863
J.N. CHILDERS 16th inf. co. H
N. CHILDERS 16th inf co. h deserterd 5/1864
WARE E. CHILDERS 16th inf. co. B
died of disease at home
WILLIAM E. CHILDERS 16th inf co. b
J. CHILDERS SR. 17th inf co. c
J.C. CHILDERS 17th inf co. c
JOHN CHILDERS 17th inf co. k
JOSEPH CHILDERS 17th inf co.k
JOSIAH CHILDERS 17th inf co. k
S. CHILDERS 17th inf co. c
JACOB CHILDERS 18th inf co. k
RICHMOND CHILDERS 18th inf co. f
WILLIAM CHILDERS 18th inf co. f
D. M. CHILDRESS 19th inf. co. a
SAMUEL CHILDRESS 19th inf. co. g
BERRY CHILDERS 20th inf co. a
JOHN H. CHILDERS 20th inf co. a
THOMAS CHILDERS 22nd inf co. c
N. CHILDERS 23th inf co. i
P . F. CHILDRESS 26th inf. 1st co. i
JOHN CHILDERS 27th inf co. c
WILLIAM I. CHILDERS 27th inf co. b
J. M. CHILDRESS 42th inf. 1st co. k
J. B. CHILDRESS 43rd inf. co. e
WILLIAM M. CHILDRESS` 43rd inf. co. d
ROBERT CHILDRESS 46th inf co. g
STERLING CHILDRESS 46th inf. co. g
J. C. CHILDRESS 47th inf. co. b
JAMES B. CHILDRESS 48th inf. (Voorhie's) co. e
J. H. CHILDRESS 51st inf. co. h
J. H. CHILDRESS 51st (cons) inf. co. d
WILLIAM T. CHILDRESS 54th inf Childress'co.
capt.
J. T. CHILDRESS 55th inf. (Brown's) co. b
G. G. CHILDRESS ? ?
JAMES A. CHILDRESS ? inf. co. ?
Gary,
My guess is that maybe Joel and John might have been cousins or Uncle and
nephew.
I have received information that my John Childress born 1790 in Laurens
County, SC was the son of another John Childress who died in Knox County, TN
but nothing leads them together. Do you have any more information on John who
died in Rutherford County? I would like to have a copy of his pension
application because all I have seen is bits and pieces of it.
Thanks for all your help! Linda
Below is part of a memoir of John Williams Childress, the great great
grandson of Joel Childress of Rutherford County, TN, father of Sarah
Childress Polk. The four generations referred to in the memoir are as
follows:
1.. Joel Childress who is the father of
2.. John Whitsett Childress SENIOR. who is the father of
3.. John Whitsett Childress JUNIOR who is the father of
4.. John Williams Childress who wrote the text below in 1960.
Text that is in square brackets [ ] are my additions....Gary Childress
Part One
The Childress Family of Tennessee by John Williams Childress
"Our great grandfather, Joel Childress, was born on march 22, 1777. He
married Elizabeth Whitsett, [b.] 1781- [d.] 1863, came to Tennessee from
Virginia, and settled January 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 buy 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 mothers 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. Elizabeth Whitsett’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 Whitsett [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 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
Whitsett [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 Whitsett 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 Whitsett 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 Whitsett 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 Whitsett 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 Whitsett 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."