JAMES FRANKLIN SMOTHERS
7th Tennessee Calvary Co. B
James Franklin Smothers was born 22 September 1837 in the Eighteenth District of Carroll County, TN near the Benton County line. He married Sarah Elizabeth Barnes on 29 April 1857 in Benton County. She was born 24 August 1837 the daughter of William Barnes and his wife Sarah Wyatt. Her father was a Methodist Minister from South Carolina. Sarah Elizabeth Smothers died 25 September 1883 and buried in the Palestine Cemetery near Holladay, TN, a small hamlet in the southern part of Benton County, TN.
James Franklin and Sarah Elizabeth Smothers
had issue: 1. William Green Smothers born in 1858, married
Elizabeth Kee on 10 February 1884 and died in 1892.
2. Andrew John Thomas Smothers born 7 October 1859, married
Martha C. Hicks on 10 August 1881 and died 6 January 1905.
3. Jimmy Smothers born in 1860 and died in 1863.
4. Sarah Elizabeth Smothers born in 1862, married William Hawkins
Merrick on 30 December 1880 in Benton County.
5. Robert Seaborn Smothers born 3 April 1866 and died 20 March
1889.
6. Martin Luther Smothers born 22 January 1869, married Sallie B.
Barnes on 26 December 1889 and died 20 December 1959.
7. Thomas Jordan Smothers born 20 November 1871, married Martha
E. Brackin on 5 March 1893 and died 8 August 1956.
8. Mary Jane Smothers born 3 June 1876, married Riley C. Watson
on 27 February 1901 and died 22 April 1913 in Arkansas.
9. Ernest Hawkins Smothers born 3 May 1879, married Rosa Bell
Ellis on 21 December 1898 and died 1 June 1951.
James Franklin Smothers enlisted in the United States Army on 28 June 1862 at Huntingdon, TN while organizing the 2nd West Tennessee Cavalry Regiment. These men were later transferred to the 7th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment, U.S.A. commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Isaac R. Hawkins. They were organized into nine companies and sent to Trenton, TN on 14 November 1862.
James F. Smothers was captured near Trenton, TN by the Confederate 7th Tennessee Cavalry led by General N.B. Forrest on 20 December 1862. However, he was paroled the same day and reassigned to Company C of the 7th Tennessee Cavalry, U.S.A. since there were only enough men to form four companies of those return by parole. James Franklin Smothers remained with this regiment until discharged 15 July 1865 and returned to his family in Benton County, TN.
He was a dedicated member of the Methodist Church and became a licensed preacher in the McLemoresville District Conference, and assigned to the Palestine Episcopal Methodist Church near Holladay, TN. He was also a Mason and a member of the Mt. Carmel Lodge Number 333, F&AM, at Holladay, TN.
James Franklin Smothers married Victoria (Cora) Alice Baggett on 20 November 1884. Cora Baggett was born 8 April 1856 a daughter of Henry W. and Elvira Baggett of the Second Civil District, Benton County, TN. The Baggett family had come from South Carolina to Benton County before 1850.
James Franklin and Cora Smothers had moved from their home near Holladay, TN in the southern part of Benton County to the Sixth Civil District in the northern part of the county near the Big Sandy River. Malaria had taken several members of his family and his doctor advised moving to another area that would be more suitable for his family.
James Franklin and Cora Smothers had issue:
1. Laura (Mink) Smothers born 28 November 1885, Married John
Henry Patterson and died 6 June 1939.
2. James Logan Smothers born 3 May 1887, married Dovie Wright on
26 February 1907 and died 18 October 1974.
3. Minnie Smothers born 10 October 1888, married Elihu Florence
on 21 April 1917 and died 4 August 1980 in Missouri.
4. Elbert H. (Jack) Smothers born 2 May 1890, married Minnie
Burnette on 13 August 1921 and died 26 July 1961.
5. Pearl (Pearlie) May Smothers born 16 August 1892, married
Carlos Hicks and died 13 July 1954.
James Franklin Smothers died 10 January 1916 and buried by his first wife, Sarah Elizabeth Barnes, in the Palistine Cemetery near Holladay, TN.
The "CAMDEN CHRONICLE" published an article on
Friday, 4 August 1916, as follows:
"James Franklin Smothers was born in Carroll County,
Tennessee in September, 1837. In later years, he came to Benton
County where he lived until his death in January 1916. Brother
Smothers became identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church
and after-wards became a minister of this church. He also served
in the Federal Army as a volunteer during the Civil War. Brother
Smothers was made a Master Mason December 7, 1870 and was a loyal
member of this order. He was united in marriage to Eliza Barnes,
daughter of William and Sallie Barnes. Nine children were born to
this union, of whom three survived him, Jordan, Ernest and
Martin. He was afterwards married to Cora Baggett, who with five
children, survived him.
Brother Smothers was held in high esteem by his neighbors and friends, and is sadly missed in the home, in the church and in the lodge room. We, the members of the Mt. Carmel Lodge No. 333, F&AM of Holladay, Tennessee deeply sympathize with the bereaved and would console them with a promise to the faithful, he is in the hands of a Just God, who doth all things well and giveth to every man his wages.
(Signed) Allen H. Robinson and P.W. Harris, Committee." Cora Smothers died 27 March 1948 and buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Sixth District, Benton County, Tennessee.
Submitted by E.J. Sims
Frederick
B. Barnes
7th Tenn. Cavalry, Co. I
Frederick B. Barnes was born abt 1843. He died at Andersonville of chronic diarrhea on 16 Feb 1865 and is buried in grave #12662.
Submitted by Diana Allison
JAMES
H. BARNES
7th TN Cavalry Co. C
James H. Barnes (1845-1931), private, 7th TN Cavalry Co. C. Jan. 1, 1865-Aug 1865. 7 mos. 8 days. He was also a Methodist minister.
Submitted by Diana Allison
Stephen
N. Clement
7th TN Cav Co. A
Picture Contributed by Anita Clement Collins
Stephen N. Clement- US Soldier was a private in Co. A 7th Reg., TN Cav. enlisted 12 Jan 1864--discharged 26 June 1865 Had Rumatism & Kidney? Length of Service 1/5mos.15 days. He was captured during the war and spent time at Andersonville Prison.
Submitted by Diana Allison
Additional Informaton Added Company D, 7th Tennessee Cavalry
According to his affidavit on 15 September 1886, Stephen Newton Clement enlisted as private in Co. D, 7th Cav., Hawkins Regiment, in Paris, Tennessee on 14 January 1864, and was captured at Union city, Tennessee on 24 March 1864. That he "lay" in Andersonville, Georgia prison for thirteen months and four days, and that he and others were marched about 300 miles through mud and water to said prison. In June of 1864, there was about 20 days of rain and the only protection we had was blanket stretched over us. He stated that he was a healthy man when he enlisted. On 28 April 1865, he was paroled at Jacksonville, Florida. On 4 may 1965 he was sent to the U. S. General Hospital at Hilton head, South Carolina. He was sent to Camp Chase, Ohio on 17 May 1865, and arrived there on 22 May 1865. He was mustered out on 24 June 1865. He was discharged on 30 July 1865, in Nashville, Tennessee, by reason of general order 77. On 20 may 1912, in Cert. #470410, he gave this description of himself: Height-5 ft 8 in, complexion-light, color of eyes-blue, color of hair-light, occupation-farmer. He stated that he was born on 31 December 1842, in Benton County, Tennessee, and at the time he enlisted, his address was Manleyville, Tennessee. He stated that he had been married to Easter Ann McDaniel on 30 January 1867 (dau. of Alse McDanieland Martha Jane Pitt), at her home by W/ R/ Pierce, JP, and that they had children:
Thomas Daniel Clement born 26 April 1869
Stephen Alse Clement born 19 February 1871
George Ewing Clement born 25 January 1873
James Aaron Clement born 24 June 1875 (named for Stephen Newton's
father Aaron)
Dona A (Angeline) Clement born 7 November 1878, died 24 December
1878
John Randolph Clement born 11 July 1880
Alice Clement born 20 April 1883
Stephen Newton stated that he had scurvy while in prison and that "it has eat up my teeth and gums", that he suffers from ulsers and "suffer from my bones paining me". He further stated that he has kidney trouble and rheumatism, all as result of being in prison.
After his wife, Easter Ann died on 11 August 1905, near Big Sandy, Tennessee, he married Malissa D. Whitley, widow of Asbury Whitley, on 22 October 1908, at Lick Creek, by Rev. C. F. Cooper. Stephen Newton Clement died on 25 May 1915, in the Crooked Creek Community. His widow Malissa applied for a widow;s pension on 24 August 1915.
His grandson, John Newel Stephen Clement, my father, told me that grandpa used to tell him stories about being in prison during the war. One in particular that he remembered was: "One day a snake came slithering across the yard, and men were fighting over it because they were so hungry, and were not given enough food. They wanted to eat it". He told of people dying all around him. When the war started on 12 April 1861, he was nineteen years three months old.
Since 30,192 of those captured died in prison, Stephen Newton was very fortunate to live though it.
Contributed by Anita Clement Collins
JAMES
GREER
7th Tennessee Cavalry Co. I
James Greer enlisted in September 1863. He died at Paducah, Kentucky in May 1865.
Submitted by Jeanette Piekenbrock
Died in his tent of measles at Johnsonville, Tennessee
Submitted by Jeanette Piekenbrock
Died in his tent of measles at Johnsonville, Tennessee
Submitted by Jeanette Piekenbrock
JAMES
R. MULLINS
7th TN Calvary Co. E
James R. Mullins was a pvt in Co E 7th TN CAV USA. He enlisted in Huntingdon on 6/28/62 and was mustered in on 8/11/62 at Humboldt, TN. He was 35 at the time, 5' 8" tall, fair complexion, hazel eyes, auburn hair and was born in Montgomery NC and was a farmer. He died in Mobile AL on 5/25/64 of scrobutus after being captured by Nathan B. Forrest's men at Union City in March of 64. (10 men from the 7th TN died that night in a cotton warehouse, James was one of them). He is buried in Mobile Alabama in Mobile Military Cemetery in grave number c-588.
James R. Mullins born 1827 Montgomery County, NC married 07 July 1861 Carroll Co TN to Jane Malone born December 1833 NC. Their child James Buel Mullins was born October 1863 - suppose in Carroll Co TN. James R. Mullins died 24 May 1864 in Mobile Alabama.
Submitted by Mary Turney Miller
Isaac
Francis Marbry
7th TN Calvary Co. A
Isaac Francis Marbry of the 7th TN
Calvary Co. A. The Marberry name may be found spelled many ways.
Enlisted January 12, 1863 - discharged August 9, 1865. He married
Luellen Rowe on September 5, 1867. They had one daughter, Ada J.
Marberry who marrried George Washing McKelvy. He died September
5, 1868 with bronchitis pneumonia contacted while in service.
Submitted by E. J. & Frances Sims
Wm
Thomas Higdon
7th TN Calvary Co. E & C
Wm Thomas Higdon was in 7th Cav USA. He was a corporal in Co E/c, enlisted 6/26/62, mustered in Jackson 8/1/62 age 24. He was 6' 1", fair complexion, blue eyes, lt. hair, born in Benton Co., TN., a farmer. He was at Camp C and Andersonville. He enlisted in the confederate Army (2/28/65) while at the prison after being hospitalied from 12/27/64 - 2/7/65 with scrobutus. His spouses were Mary E. Whitehead, F. Kilbreath and Sarah Rowe. He was the son of Thomas G. Higdon
Submitted by Mary Turney Miller
County Host Betty Brooks
Graphics courtesy of Civil War Clipart Gallery