John Shealie/Shelly
Vanatta September 1869-December 25, 1945
So that John Shelly Vanatta can be recorded in this cemetery (he has no
stone), his death certificate states he was buried here (family
cemetery, Dismal, TN). There is a blank stone next to his sister,
Jullie/Julia, and in other spaces in the row of stones belonging to the
family of John and Katherine Vanatta. He resided at the time of his
death with his daughter, Mrs. Hattie Lengner, and he died there in
Davidson Co., TN, at 1023 5th Ave. North, Nashville, TN. He died on
December 25, 1945, and the certificate states he was born in DeKalb
Co., TN listing father, John Vanatta, and no mother listed. The 1900
census of DeKalb Co., TN shows his birth as Oct. 1874, and almost all
records differ about this, but it is most likely that the 1870 census
is correct, since it states he was born in Sept of the year preceding
the census date, being Sept. 1869. He could not be known before he was
born; so the 1870 census is correct. His wife was listed in the death
certificate as Neely Oakley Vanatta.
There was no county marriage record found
for John Vanatta to Neeley Oakley, but the 1900 census of DeKalb Co.,
TN, where they probably married, shows they were married 12 years
(1887/1888). Neal "Neeley" Ann (Oakley) Vanatta was the daughter of
Joe Oakley and Sis Payne, both born in DeKalb Co., TN. Neeley
was born
on January 16, 1870 in DeKalb Co., TN and died January 17, 1944 in
DeKalb Co., TN, the year before her husband died. She was buried in
Hayes Cemetery in Liberty, DeKalb Co., TN.
Their children were:
Hettie (md. __ Lengner? Crook?, and b. Dec. 1891- d. ?),
Hallie (Feb, 1894- ?),
Willie (March 1896- ?),
Josie
(md. Ernest Holder on April 29, 1916 in Warren Co., TN, and b. July
1898 by 1900 census, but death cert stated b. Oct. 1, 1901
[wrong year]- d. March 4, 1938 Nashville, Davidson Co., TN),
John D. (b. Sept. 17, 1902- d. July 8, 1928 Liberty, DeKalb, TN),
Charles D. (md. Mattie Driver, and b. March 17, 1908 DeKalb, TN- d. April 13, 1934),
Ruby B. (f) (b. 1910 DeKalb Co., TN, and md. Frank Howard McMaster Nov 10, 1942 in Davidson Co., TN)