Contributed by Floyd Owsley
   Joseph Owsley,(Housley), Joseph born ABT 1790, North Carolina or Tennessee, married ABT 1812, in Tennessee, Phoebe Longmire, born ABT 1797, North Carolina, died ABT 1880, Campbell County, Tennessee. Joseph died ABT 1879, Campbell or Union County, Tennessee. Family members relate that Joseph was disowned by his parents due to his marriage to a part Indian, Phoebe Longmire. He was listed as their son in the book, The Owsley Family in England and America, written by Harry Bryan Owsley in 1890. It seems that Harry Owsley received his information from children and grandchildren who would definitely have knowledge of Joseph's parentage. Phoebe Owsley Alsup (1862-1942), granddaughter of Joseph and Phoebe, informed her descendants that her grandmother, Phoebe, was a Cherokee Indian and that Joseph was disowned by his parents due to his marriage to Phoebe. James Ousley, son of Joseph, lived some with his granddaughter, Annie Berry, before his death in 1919. James often talked about his mother, Phoebe, saying that she was an Indian. 

Joseph's name was always spelled Ousley in Grainger County and Union County. His name was always spelled Housley in Campbell County. All of Joseph's descendants spelled their name Ousley except those that stayed in Campbell County. 

Joseph and Phoebe were buried in the Cedar Creek Bridge Cemetery but their graves were later moved to the Bakers Forge Memorial Cemetery when the TVA built Norris dam. The TVA placed markers at the graves of Joseph and Phoebe with incorrect dates on them. 

Joseph was listed in the 1810 census of Grainger County, Tennessee. He was listed as living in Campbell County, Tennessee in 1830,1840 and 1850. In 1860 and 1870, he was listed as living in Union County, Tennessee. After Joseph's death, Phoebe was listed as living with her son, John, in the 1880 census of Campbell County. Joseph first appeared on the Campbell County tax list in 1823. On September 22, 1813, Joseph Housley, a citizen of Campbell County, signed a petition to move the county seat (Petition 19-3-1813 to the General Assembly of Tennessee). Joseph's occupation was a cooper, a trade he must have learned from his father, John, who was also a cooper. 

It is believed that Joseph was a member of the Powell River Baptist Church which was right beside the Cedar Creek Bridge Cemetery. Joseph's name can be found in the minutes of the Powell River Baptist Church in December of 1852. 
 

I. John Housley born ABT 1814, Campbell County, Tennessee, married (1) 12-Aug-1832, in Grainger County, Tennessee, Caroline Hinshaw, born 5-Oct-1816, Tennessee, (daughter of George Hinshaw and Anna Golden) died 4-May-1858, Campbell County, Tennessee, married (2) 26-Oct-1858, in Grainger County, Tennessee, Nancy J. Riggs, born -Jan-1832, Tennessee, (daughter of Thomas Riggs and Millie ________________,) died 18-Apr-1910, Campbell County, Tennessee, and Rebecca Chapman, born ABT 1830, Tennessee, died AFT 1880, and Caroline Woods, born ABT 1825, South Carolina, died AFT 1860. John died 1894, Campbell County, Tennessee. Caroline Hinshaw Housley was buried at the Cedar Creek Cemetery but was later moved to the Bakers Forge Memorial Cemetery. John was buried at the Bakers Forge Cemetery but was later moved to the Bakers Forge Memorial Cemetery. It has been related from family members that John fathered children by his first wife, Caroline, and also two other women, Rebecca Chapman and Caroline Woods. John was never married to Rebecca Chapman or Caroline Woods. Although John's second wife, Nancy, had no children, it seems that she raised most of John's children. Nancy was first married to John Clark. 

 
II. William H. Ousley born 25-Mar-1815, Campbell County, Tennessee, married (1) ABT 1834, in Campbell County, Tennessee, Mary Jane Baker, born 1-May-1815, Tennessee, died 15-Jul-1872, Pulaski County, Missouri, buried: Dry Creek Cemetery, Pulaski County, MO, married (2) 2-Feb-1873, in Pulaski County, Missouri, Catherine Virginia Logan York, born 12-Aug-1825, Amherst County, Virginia, (daughter of John Malone Logan and Elizabeth ________________) died 6-Oct-1899, Pulaski County, Missouri, buried: Rockwell Cemetery, Pulaski County, MO. William died 19-Mar-1890, Pulaski County, Missouri. William fought for the Union in the Civil War. He served with the 28th Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia. William Ousley moved to Osage County, Missouri 1844/47 where he lived in Crawford Township in 1850. Between 1860/1870 he moved to Pulaski County, Missouri. William and Mary Jane were buried at the Big Piney River Cemetery in Pulaski County, Missouri. 

III. Genzeth (Jane, Jincy) Housley born 1816, Campbell County, Tennessee, married ABT 1836, in Campbell County, Tennessee, Abraham (Abe) Cox, born ABT 1820, Campbell County, Tennessee, (son of William Cox and Mary ________________, ) died AFT 1880, Campbell County, Tennessee. Genzeth died 1887, Campbell County, Tennessee. Genzeth was buried at the Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Anderson County, Tennessee but was later moved to the Bakers Forge Memorial Cemetery in Campbell County, Tennessee. Abraham Cox was buried at the Rains Grove Cemetery in Campbell County, Tennessee. Abraham and Genzeth lived in Campbell County, Tennessee in 1850,1860, 1870 and 1880 according to census records. They lived in the Sugar Hollow area. Abraham was a member of the Powell River Baptist Church. 

IV. Robert Housley born 5-Nov-1818, Campbell County, Tennessee, married (1) ABT 1838, in Campbell County, Tennessee, Sarah Cooper, born 27-Mar-1821, Tennessee, (daughter of Peter Cooper and Barbara Ridenour) died 27-Oct-1883, Campbell County, Tennessee, married (2) 14-Oct-1885, in Campbell County, Tennessee, Nancy Comer, born 1836, Campbell County, Tennessee, died 1901, Campbell County, Tennessee. Robert died 6-Jan-1886, Campbell County, Tennessee. Robert Housley was a prominent citizen in Campbell County. He was a Justice of the Peace and performed numerous marriages. Robert was also Tax Assessor in Campbell County in 1882. Robert and Sarah were members of the Powell River Baptist Church from September 1856 until February 1871 when they left and helped form the Sugar Hollow Baptist Church as charter members. Robert, Sarah and his second wife, Nancy were buried at the Bakers Forge Cemetery but were later moved to the Bakers Forge Memorial Cemetery in Campbell County, Tennessee. The Civil War greatly affected the lives of Robert and Sarah with sons and son-in-laws fighting for the Union. The war was the cause of death of two sons, John and Joseph. Sarah also had two brothers who died during the war at Andersonville, Georgia. Robert's second wife, Nancy Comer, was first married to David Wright. 

V. Elizabeth Housley born 1822/24, Campbell County, Tennessee, married 24-Sep-1840, in Campbell County, Tennessee, Lewis Wilson, born 1823, Tennessee, (son of Nancy Wilson) died 1870, Campbell County, Tennessee. Elizabeth died ABT 1869, Campbell County, Tennessee. Lewis and Elizabeth Wilson were living in Campbell County, Tennessee in 1850 and 1860 according to census records. They lived at Sugar Hollow where most of the Housley family lived. Lewis and Elizabeth were both buried in the Cedar Creek Cemetery in Campbell County, Tennessee very near where Elizabeth's parents, Joseph and Phoebe were later buried. Their graves were later moved to the Bakers Forge Memorial Cemetery when the TVA built the Norris Dam. The moves were authorized by their son, Milton (Mit) Wilson. 

On August 27, 1857, Lewis Wilson sold 300 acres of land on the banks of the Powell River to his brother, Nelson Wilson, for the sum of $470.00. The land sold was noted as follows: (a certain tract or parcel of land situated lying and being in the first district of said county and on the waters of Powell River the place where said Housley has lived for several years it being the place where I the said Lewis Wilson now lives). This same land was sold back to Lewis Wilson from Nelson Wilson on December 25, 1862. 

On May 22, 1869, Lewis Wilson sold land to his son, Alfred Wilson, for the sum of $380.00. The land was noted as being on the north bank of the Powell River. Lewis Wilson died sometime between May 22, 1869 and April 7, 1870. Elizabeth also died before 1870. 

The inventory of the estate of Lewis Wilson was recorded in Campbell County on April 7, 1870. His three oldest sons were listed as purchasing property in the sale. Also listed was his brother-in-law, Abraham Cox. 

According to the 1870 census of Campbell County, the younger children of Lewis and Elizabeth Wilson were living with their older adult children. Lucy and James were living with Alfred Wilson. Rufus was living with George Wilson. Martha and Milton were living with John Wilson. In 1880, Milton and Lucy were living with Alfred Wilson being listed as Alfred's brother and sister. Rufus was living with Abraham and Jincy Housley Cox being listed as their nephew. 

VI. Pleasant Ousley born ABT 1827, Campbell County, Tennessee, married 10-Dec-1848, in Campbell County, Tennessee, Mary Dagley, born ABT 1833, Tennessee, (daughter of Joseph Dagley and Grace ________________,). Pleasant died 13-Jan-1876, Pulaski County, Missouri. Pleasant Ousley fought for the Union in the Civil War. He was a Private in Company C, 28th Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia (USA). At the time of his enlistment, he was described as 5'10" with brown eyes and brown hair. Pleasant Ousley moved from Campbell County, Tennessee to Gasconade County, Missouri 1856/1859 and later to Pulaski County, Missouri. Pleasant's name was recorded in the minutes of the Powell River Baptist Church in Campbell County, Tennessee before his move to Missouri. 

VII. Martha Jane Ousley born 3-Jun-1828, Campbell County, Tennessee, married ABT 1846, in Missouri, John Sevier Branson, born 17-Mar-1826, Tennessee, (son of Thomas Branson and Susanna Alma McGown) died 27-Nov-1905, Mariposa County, California. Martha died 12-Jan-1908, Mariposa County, California. John and Martha Branson moved from Campbell County, Tennessee to Osage County, Missouri 1843/1847 where they were living in 1850. John and Martha were living in California by 1856. According to census records, John and Martha were living in Hornitos, Mariposa County, California in 1870, 1880 and 1900. John John and Martha were buried at the Odd Fellows cemetery in Hornitos, California. 

VIII. Caroline Housley born 1834, Campbell County, Tennessee, married 18-Oct-1849, in Campbell County, Tennessee, Lewis J. Johnson, born ABT 1831, Tennessee, died AFT 1870. Caroline died AFT 1870. Lewis and Caroline Housley Johnson were living in Campbell County, Tennessee in 1850 living next door to Caroline's parents. In 1860, they were living in Raccoon Valley section of Union County, Tennessee again living next door to her parents. By 1870, Lewis and Caroline had moved to Missouri and were living in Phelps County according to census records. Lewis and Caroline may have died before 1880 because they cannot be found in any census records. Caroline may have been a twin to her sister (Sarah) who was also born in 1834. 

IX. Sarah (Sally, Sadie) Housley born -Feb-1834, Campbell County, Tennessee, married 23-Dec-1849, in Campbell County, Tennessee, Pleasant M. Graves, born -Jun-1832, Tennessee, (son of David Graves and Mary (Polly) Hollaway) died AFT 1910. Sarah died AFT 1910. Around 1858, Pleasant and Sarah moved from Tennesse to Mills County, Iowa. By 1867, they had moved to Salem in Richardson County, Nebraska where they were living in 1870 and 1880 according to census records. In 1900 and 1910, Pleasant and Sarah were living in Seward in Logan County, Oklahoma near their daughter, Hattie May Graves Holden. Another daughter, Martha Alice Graves Stewart, lived nearby in Cashion, Kingfisher County, Oklahoma. 

X. Crawford Ousley born 2-Nov-1836, Campbell County, Tennessee, married (1) 6-Sep-1855, in Campbell County, Tennessee, Melinda LettLett, Melinda, born 8-Dec-1835, Campbell County, Tennessee, (daughter of William Lett and Sarah Dagley) died 9-Jul-1857, Osage County, Missouri, married (2) 20-Sep-1857, in Osage County, Missouri, Malinda Cox, born 19-Apr-1839, (daughter of William Cox and Precious Campbell) died 14-Sep-1909, Los Angeles, California, buried: Inglewood Cemetery, Los Angeles, CA, married (3) 20-Oct-1868, in Maries County, Missouri, Catherine Cox, born 25-Sep-1849, Missouri, (daughter of William Cox and Elizabeth Wallace) died AFT 1942. Crawford died 5-Dec-1908, Crocker, Pulaski County, Missouri. Crawford Ousley fought for the Union in the Civil War. He served in Company C, 28th Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia. Crawford was married to Malinda Cox and her half sister, Catherine, at the same time and fathering children by both of them. In 1860, Crawford and his family lived in Gasconade County, Missouri. In 1870 and 1880, they were living in Pulaski County, Missouri. In 1900, Crawford was living in Phelps, Co., Mo. 

XI. James Ousley born 22-Apr-1838, Campbell County, Tennessee, married 19-Oct-1858, in Campbell County, Tennessee, Mary Newman, born 6-Nov-1836, Anderson County, Tennessee, died 15-Jan-1927, Dora, Douglas County, Missouri, buried: Denlow Cemetery, Douglas County, MO. James died 2-Nov-1919, Douglas County, Missouri, buried: Denlow Cemetery, Douglas County, MO. James Ousley and his family moved from Tennessee to Missouri. In 1870, James and Mary lived in Pulaski County, Missouri. In 1880, they lived in Phelps County, Missouri. They moved south and were living in Douglas County, Missouri in 1900 and 1910.