Cocke Co. TNGenWeb
Some Information Regarding Our Green/Greene Line
in Cocke County, Tennessee  

Our Green/Greene line begins with Nancy Belle Green Holt, my great grandmother, who was born on 8 June 1875 in Cocke County, Tennessee and died on 8 June 1937 in Knoxville, Tennessee. She is buried in the Morganton Cemetery in Greenback, Blount County, Tennessee. She was the daughter of Wade Green and Fannie Melissa Arms, who were married on 6 September 1873. Melissa was born on 5 November 1852, probably in Rutherford Co., North Carolina, and is the daughter of Oliver Arms, Sr. and  *Nancy Williams. Oliver was born on 26 March 1816 in Massachusetts and died on 26 November 1887 in Cocke Co. Wade was first married to Martha ? who died while he was in the army during The War of Southern Independence.

(* I did find a reference in the Berryhill Family Papers at Chapel Hill, NC (#M-2857) that mentions an Oliver Arms of Lincoln Co., NC and his prenuptial correspondence with an Elizabeth Sprague of Massachusetts, 1838-1840. I did an inter-library loan in order to read the papers, but found that they were hardly legible. According to another researcher, Wade Green’s first wife was Elizabeth Sprague of Deerfield, Massachusetts).

Wade Green
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Wade Green(e) is my 2nd great grandfather. His first name may have been William according to Wanda Wilson of Newport. He was born on the 6th of August 1833 in Cocke Co. and died on 15 July 1905. He is buried at Clay Creek Baptist Church near Bybee in Cocke County, Tennessee. Wade's parents were John and Martha Maria Hampton Green. Her father was Jobe Hampton. The following is a story passed on to me by Bernice Davies via email on 24 Feb. 1999 regarding John Green, which came from THE REDIC FAMILY HISTORY OF COCKE COUNTY, TENNESSEE:

John Green (1805) was an orphan lad. He was raised by another family. When he was twenty-one years old he was given a horse and saddle, suit of clothes and ten dollars in money. This was all he had when he married. He started into the racehorse business and made money and bought more horses until he was quite well to do. Once, while riding his favorite horse and urging him to do his best running, the horse ran into a tree and broke his neck. Before dying, the horse looked at Mr. Green and whinnied; this almost broke Mr. Green's heart. He swore never to run another horse; this he lived up to. He died worth $12,000. He died in 1860. (Is listed as having been born in South Carolina. Was sick sixteen days and died of Consumption/T.B. in January of 1860. Died one year prior to 1 June 1860 according to the 1860 Mortality Schedule, Tennessee).
 
John Redic married Jaily Green whose father and mother was John Green and Martha Maria Green. They were natives of Old Virginia. Martha Maria's name before she was married was Hampton. Her father Jobe Hampton had three brothers, Wade, John, and Will (William). Martha had only one sister who went to the spring one day for water. She had to draw it with a rope and pail. The pail was too heavy for her to handle. Some neighbor saw the pail fall back into the spring, taking the girl with it into the well. In their excitement they ran to the house and when her parents got her out she was dead. This left only Martha who later married a man named John Green. To this union were born eleven children, all of whom lived to a ripe old age.
 
I discovered that Wade Green had fought during The War for Southern Independence with Co. C, 8th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry. Not only did he fight, but it also seems that four brothers fought as well. Brothers Joseph, Wesley, Alfred, and William fought with the same regiment and company. Brother John Green may have served as well. Capt. Thomas Bible’s roster of Company C spells their last name “Greene.” The following is a brief account of the history of the 8th Tennessee and Wade's experiences during his term of service. A further glance at Captain Thomas Bible’s diary of Co. C, 8th Tennessee gives a better view of what these men experienced.
 
Wade Green mustered into service on 15 May 1863 at Camp Dick Robinson, Kentucky. According to company muster rolls, Wade was "sick in hospital at Crab Orchard, Kentucky" during July and August of 1863. The May and June roll indicates that he was "at hospital, Chattanooga Tenn. Wounded in action at Resaca, Georgia May 14, 1864." According to his pension records, Wade lost his little finger during this battle. He complained of how this wound hurt, cracked and bled during the winter. Wade's brother Wesley was wounded on the 4th of August at the battle of Utoy Creek, Georgia. Wade was again "sick in hospital, Knoxville, Tenn. Since May 14, 1864." Being sick was a typical experience for the Civil War soldier. His regiment was stationed at various places throughout the war such as Nicholasville and Lexington, Kentucky, Greenville, Jonesboro, Strawberry Plains, and Knoxville, Tennessee. An inspection report during their stay in Knoxville on 27 Feb. 1864 stated that the 4th and 8th Tenn. Regiments were "in bad condition as regards appearance, discipline, and drill." The 8th moved by train on the 26th of April to Red Gap, Georgia for the beginning of the Atlanta Campaign.
 
The regiment was heavily engaged at Resaca on May 14 where Wade was wounded. Although almost constantly engaged for the next three months, the heaviest fighting for the regiment came with its attempt to cross Utoy Creek on the 6th of August 1864. Brigadier Gen. Reilly wrote "Where all behaved so gallantly, it is very difficult to give special mention to any, but I cannot, in justice, neglect to bear official testimony to the gallant and heroic conduct of the 8th Tennessee Infantry Officers and men. The list of casualties, however, is their best eulogy, when it is known that the regiment went into the charge with but 160 muskets." Captain James W. Berry stated that, “the regiment entered this charge with 223 men, lost 26 killed, five mortally wounded, 36 wounded, and 16 missing, making a total of 83 casualties. In this serious charge the officers and men of the regiment exhibited in the highest degree the bravery, discipline, presence of mind which characterizes veteran troops." The regiment moved on to Decatur, Georgia September 8th where it stayed for a few months.
 
The regiment moved into Chattanooga, Pulaski and then took part in the fighting from Pulaski, to Columbia, to Spring Hill, to Franklin, and finally to Nashville. The 8th suffered seven casualties at Franklin. During the battle of Nashville on December 16th, 1864 the regiment made a charge and captured four pieces of artillery and about 200 or 300 prisoners. Early in 1865 the regiment helped take Wilmington, North Carolina and occupied this city until it moved on to Newbern, Goldsboro, and then to Raleigh, North Carolina. Wade and his regiment were mustered out of service at Company Shops, North Carolina on the 30th of June 1865.
 
No mention is made as to Wades return trip back to his home in Cocke Co. Also, it is not really known why he decided to fight with the Federal Army. Many fought to save the Union, others fought to protect their homes and family, some fought because they would be deemed cowards if they didn’t, still others joined up for the adventure and excitement and to escape the boredom of farm life, and some actually believed that slavery was wrong. Many were enticed to join by the promise of a bounty and had no particular allegiance to anything but their monthly pay. For whatever reason Wade Green fought I am proud of him, regardless of the side he chose to fight for. It is his courage, strength, and determination that I honor. We are not likely to see such displays of sheer bravery and undying loyalty to one's country and homeland as was exhibited by these men who fought during The War of Southern Independence. I have reenacted many of the battles that Wade and the 8th Tennessee were involved in and have experienced first hand what they experienced and how they suffered. Though my experiences and sufferings are laughable compared to those of my ancestors who fought during The War of Southern Independence, they are plenty enough to make me appreciate their sacrifices. It is for this reason that I had a veterans stone placed at Clay Creek Baptist Church to honor the memory of Wade Green. It would be well that we should all have to live these experiences for just one weekend.

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Family tradition has it that while Wade was away three of his daughters where raped by Confederate soldiers. Atrocities such as this, in addition to brutal guerrilla warfare, political differences and opinions regarding slavery and secession were common and extreme in East Tennessee. Several people have repeated the story of said rapes, but I believe that they are mistaken about Wade Green’s daughters being raped. Those mentioned were too young at the time to have borne children, or were not born during the war years. The story may be true, but I tend to believe that those involved may have been Wade’s sisters.

1850 Census, Cocke County, page 564	1850 Rutherford Co, NC Census, Household #273, Polk District
John Green, 50, SC, farmer $800.00 Martha (Hampton), 49, TN Sarah, 20 William, 18 John, 22 Wade, 17 (My 2nd great grandfather) Jaily, 15 Alfred, 12 Josiah, 11 Wesley, 9 Martha, 8 Job Hampton, 82 (Blind, Martha's father)	Oliver Armes, 34, Mass. Nancy (Williams), 24, NC J.H. (James), 7 Susan, 1 Sarah, 5/12 Irvin Williams, 36

Mary	b. 1822 m. Pleasant O'Neill
Maria	b. 1824 m. Preston D. Bibee
Elizabeth	b. 1826 m. Maxwell M. Bibee
John	b. 1828 m. Catherine
Sarah	b. 1830 m. Wm. Riley Brooks
William	b. 1832 m. Harriet
Wade	b. 1833 m. Fanny Malissa Arms (married twice)
Jaily	b. 1835 m. John Redic
Alfred?	b. 1837 m. Lucinda
Joseph	b. 1839 m. ?
Wesley H.	b. 1841 m. ?
Martha	b. 1842 m. ?

Mary Green b. ca. 1822 married Pleasant O'Neil. Mortality Index 1850-1880 #164
Children: John 1846 TN, Joseph 1848 TN, Marshal 1848 TN, Elizabeth 1856, Mary J. 1859.

Elizabeth Green b. ca. 1826 married Maxwell M. Bibee.
Children: John W. 1852 TN, Sarah M. 1853 TN, Joseph H. 1856 TN, Martha J. 1866 TN, Mancil? P. 1868 TN.

Sarah Green b. ca. 1830 married William Riley Brooks.
Children: Eugene Agustus 1855 TN married Pocahantas, Francis Lafayette "Fate" 1856 TN married Martha Jane Cash, Angelo "Sol" Benoni 1858 TN, Alice Veronie 1860 TN, Dexter "Deck" 1862 TN married Susan C. Tuttle, Josiah "Joe" Andrew 1864 TN married Ida Jane Fisher, Archelaus "Cheed" 1867 TN.

William Green b. ca. 1832 married Harriet ?.
Children: Wesley 1859 TN, James A. 1860 TN, Laura E. 1861 TN, William L? 1863 TN, Garrison 1865 TN, Ernest? 1867 TN.

John Green b. ca. 1840 married Catharine?
Children: Martha 1851, George A. 1858.

Jaily Green b. ca. 1832-37 married John Redic.
Children: Andrew 1857 TN married Anne J. Kinnick, Martha Ann 1860 TN married George Bybee, Cornelius Josiah 1861 Cocke County, Tenn. married Anna Belle Vansickle.

Alfred Green b. ca. 1837 married Lucinda?
Children: John W., Mary M. 1864 TN, Florence 1865 TN, Jane L.A. 1867 TN, William E. 1869 TN.

1860 Census, Cocke County, 8th District, p. 52, household #370	1860 Census Polk Co, NC, p. 29, Columbus Division
Martha Green, 58 Wade, 25 Joseph, 21 Harrison, 19	Oliver Armes, 44, Farmer, Mass. Nancy A. (Williams), 36, NC James H., 18 Susan, 12 Sarah G., 10 Fanny Melissa, 8 (Married Wade Green) Isabella, 6 William F., 4 Johnathan, 1 James J. Williams, 17 (Johnathan and Sarah Williams, age 63, live next door. Parents?)

1870 Census, Cocke County, 5th District, p. 22/Newport	1870 Census Cocke County, 5th District, p. 29
Household #169, Martha Green, 75, NC Household #170, Wade Green, 36, Farmer,, TN Household #171, Alfred Green, 33 Don't know where Jailey and Mary are in 1870. Wade apparently lost his first wife bettween 1860-70.	Wade Green, 47, TN Melissa (Arms), 27 (Wife), NC, NC Jailey, 17 Mary, 14, Cariline, 8 Nancy, 6 (Nancy B. Green Holt Mode) Sally, 5 Harriet (Hati), 1

1880 Census, Cocke County, 5th District, p. 383

Oliver Arms, 64, Mass., Mass., Mass. Isabella, 24 (daughter), NC, Mass., Mass. Robt., 7/12 (g-child), TN, NC, TN Mollie, 11 (g-daughter), TN, NC, TN Thomas, 8 (g-son), TN, NC, TN Andrew Jackson, 19, Laborer, TN, TN, TN (Oliver Arms living beside Wade Green in 1880).

Miss Lucille Green of Knoxville, Tennessee told the following information to me on two separate occasions (21 Sept. 1987 and 24 May 1993). She was the granddaughter of Mary Green. Wanda Wilson of Newport, Tennessee also provided some of this information. Again, I do not believe any of Wade’s daughters were raped, but perhaps some of his sisters who bear some of the same names as his own daughters.

Molly (Mary) Green died at the age of 82. She was Nancy Belle Green's half-sister. She was said to have been raped by Confederate soldiers while her father was serving in the 8th Tennessee. She had the child but I am not sure who the child is. She married Lorenze Cash. Lloyd Green was Molly's son.

Caroline Green was not mentioned in these discussions. No more information on her at this time.

Harriet (Hattie) Green married Crede Harper.

Jailey/Jaylee Green married Tom Swatzel. She was said to have been raped by Confederate soldiers also and lost the child while driving pigs, had a miscarriage and the pigs ate the miscarriage.

Minnie Green married a Fox and had a daughter named Nellie. They lived in Madisonville. She is listed as a widow in the 1920 Monroe County, Tenn. Census in the John T. and Nancy Belle Holt Green Mode household.

Eva Green was also said to have been raped by Confederate soldiers and died during childbirth.

Sally Green married Bill O'Neil. They are said to have moved to Missouri.

"Thank you for the Wade Green piece. Included are the only pictures I have of John Wesley Green, Alfred's son. I'm sorry that I can't provide any other info about the pictures. By the time I got into researching the family my grandmother was very old and suffering from Alzheimer's. My father knew next to nothing about the family history. And everyone else was dead or long forgotten. It’s my understanding that the pictures are taken around Stahl, Mo. I have none of Alfred." (From Mike Stidmon, direct descendent of Alfred Green, brother to Wade Green)

Nancy Belle Green was said to be short, as were the rest of her siblings. She first married Andrew (Andy) Holt in Cocke County on 9 October 1892 and from this union they had one child named Cora Ethel Holt She was born on 28 January 1894 and married Newton /Nute Ward on 31 July 1915. I have been told that my grandfather, Joseph Wheeler Mode, was very close to his half-sister Cora Ethel. Her husband Nute was supposedly not very good to her, abusive, and my grandfather was said to have killed this man. I have not proven this true or otherwise. Cora and Nute are found living in Loudon County in 1920, Cora being 25 and Newton 32.

Here is the Core Ethel Holt and Newton Ward family in 1920, Loudon County.

Newton Ward, 32, Quarry Driller
Cora Holt Ward, 25

(According to Death Indexes in Nashville, Cora Ethel Holt Ward died in Loudon in 1924, age 30. I do not know if she had children, nor what happened to Newton at this time. I have not looked for him in 1930.)

Nancy married secondly to John Thomas Mode on 11 November 1898 in Cocke County, Tennessee. (M.H. Bibee, witness/John Lovell, JP) The parents of John Thomas Mode are believed to be Mary Jane Dover and John Mode of McDowell County, NC. His mother is said to have married her half brother Augustus C. Dover after her first husband, John Mode, died, thus making her Mary Jane Dover Mode Dover. The whole family, including John Thomas Mode and his half brothers and sisters, moved to Cocke County ca. 1887. Mary Jane and Augustus are buried at Clay Creek Baptist Church in Cocke County. John Thomas Mode was born on 12 September 1867 around McDowell County, NC and died on 29 August 1936 in Greenback, Blount County, Tennessee. Both he and Nancy are buried at the Morganton Cemetery in Greenback, Blount County, Tennessee. I have not found a death certificate for Nancy Belle or John Thomas. There were seven children to this union.

Nancy and John Thomas Mode are first found in the 1900 census in Cocke County in District # 4, Page 6. The family at this time includes my grandfather, Joseph Wheeler Mode, and his half sister Cora Ethel Holt. The census states that John T. Mode was 31, can read and write, and was renting. The family moved to Monroe County, Tennessee and are found in the 1910 census for Monroe County, District # 15 and is shown as follows:

Monroe County, 1910
This census says that Nancy is a mother of six with six living at that time and has been married 12 years. John is listed as farmer, can read and write and is renting.
John T. Mode	43 yrs.	NC, NC, NC
Nancy (Green)	34
Joe	11
William A.	9
Pearlie	6
Hattie	3
Mildred	3/12
Minnie (Green) Fox	29	Sister-in-law/Widow
Nellie	5	Niece
Bruce	2	Nephew

Monroe County, 1920
J. T. Mode	52 yrs.	NC, NC, NC
Nancy	42
Joseph	20
Thomas	18
Pearl	15
Hattie	13
Mildred	10
Robert Lee	6
Elmer	4 7/12

The family moved to Greenback, Blount County, Tennessee after 1920 and rented land from J.B. Griffiths near Morganton. John T. Mode was said to be tall and barrel-chested and having high cheekbones. Nancy was a small women and according to my granny, Marguerite Aretta Sliger Mode Caldwell who married Joseph Wheeler Mode, she was "one of the workinest women she had ever seed." "She was able to wring the necks of two chickens at one time, for supper. She would feed em, then grab em and ring their necks, then pull their heads off." The Mode's farm had sheep, pigs, beef cows, milk cows, Plymouth Rock and Dominick chickens. Granny Mode (Nancy) would churn butter, make fresh sausage, and would set crocks of milk in their spring to keep it cold. They raised and killed hogs. They also raised sweet yellow corn. They had a big barn, smoke house and an outhouse.

Granny Sliger Mode said the Modes' always had food on the table and plenty for everyone, family and stranger alike. She said the Modes generally had dark hair and dark eyes. Many people have related to me that John Thomas Mode was part Cherokee and that his mother Mary Jane Dover Mode Dover was full blooded. Have not verified this, but have heard this from a number of people.

The John Thomas and Nancy Belle Green Holt Mode Family

Front row: Robert (Bob) Lee Mode, John Thomas Mode, Elmer Mode,
Nancy Belle Green Holt Mode, Iva Pearl Mode, Hattie Louise Mode.
Back row: William Andrew (Tom) Mode, Joseph Wheeler Mode, Mildred Mode
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"Thrown together by William Joseph (Joe) Mode"
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