Scrapbook clippings with Monroe County, Tennessee Ties

50th Wedding Anniversary announcement of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Buell Blair - approximately December 1950 (Mrs. Blair was formerly Miss Lonie Ethel Watkins of Monroe County, TN)
Married 50 Years Special to The News-Sentinel
Etowah, December 23 - Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Blair observed their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house at their home here Sunday. All of their six children were present, including two daughters, Mrs. M. M. Case of Chattanooga, and Mrs. Buford Long of Louisville, Ky.; and four sons, Claude Blair, Burline Blair and Harless Blair of Etowah, and Herman Blair of Oak Ridge.
Mr. and Mrs. Blair were married in their native Monroe County a half century ago, Mrs. Blair was the former Miss Lonie Watkins. They later moved to Chattanooga where Mr. Blair was employed by the Southern Railway. They came to Etowah in 1911. Mr. Blair was an L & N employee here for 22 years as a peace officer. He was deputy sheriff, constable and police chief. Their son, Claude, is commissioner of fire and police in Etowah and another son, Burline, is police chief.
Submitted by: Susan Kendall

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A write-up of the annual Watkins Family Reunion, probably in the 1940's or 1950's. Annual Reunion Held Sunday By Watkins Family
The annual Watkins family reunion was held Sunday at Quinn's Springs near Etowah. W. M. Green was elected president of the group and Miss Nellie Sue Green, secretary.
Those present were Mr. and Mrs. J. U. McKeehan of Miami, Fla.; Mrs. Cordie White of Nashville, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Scarbrough of Lenoir City, Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Blair of Etowah, J. R. and W. R. Watkins of Chattanooga, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Blair and daughter of Oak Ridge, Mrs. W F. Hampton of Cleveland, Mrs. Charles Culpepper of Hope Mills, Nc, J. A. Watkins, W. C. Watkins, Broxie Watkins, J. Noyall Watkins, J. R. Watkins, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hammond Jr., and daughter Vivian of Memphis; Mrs. Buford Long of Louisville, Ky; Mr. and Mrs. G. H . Hall and daughter Marion of Knoxville, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Triplett of Rome, Mr. and Mrs. Hoyal M. Bull of Athens, Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Watkins, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Long, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Lyles, and Mrs. Sarah Watkins of Maryville, Miss Flossie Cunningham of Copperhill, Miss Ruth Scarbrough, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Scarbrough and children, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wilcox and children of Lenoir City. Mr.and Mrs. L. H. Case and son, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Frank, Mr. and Mrs. D. R. Case, Mr. and Mrs. M. M. Case, Mrs. Annie Webb, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Walker, all of Chattanooga; Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Watkins of Maryville, Mr. and Mrs. Harless Blair and J. Kenneth Blair, Mr. and Mrs. M. H. Morrison, Mr.and Mrs. Sam Lattimore, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Harper and son, Larry; Robert N. Harper, Mr.and Mrs. W. A. Blair, Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Green and son, J. R.; Miss Nellie Sue Green, Roy Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Claude Thomas and daughters, Gordon Thomas and Mrs. Dovie Bledsoe of Etowah.
Submitted by: Susan Kendall

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SOCIETY PAGE - Democrat Herald - 1937 - Baker City, Oregon 50th Anniversary of Wedding Celebrated
Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Spivey of Baker celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at the family home, 2045 Virginia Street, February 13th. They were married at Tellco Plains, Tennessee and came to Baker 17 years ago. Mrs. Spivey was 71 years old December 29, 1936. They are the parents of six sons and one daughter and have 24 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
A lunch was served at the Spivey home Saturday to friends who called to extend congratulations. A family dinner was served Sunday. Among those present were: W.F. Spivey of The Dalles, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Spivey and daughter of LaGrande, Luther Spivey and family, Harvey Spivey and daughter, Mrs. Allen Ellis and family, Thurston Ellis and family and Thomas Ellis and family.
Mr. Spivey, who is employed by the Stoddard Lumber company, and Mrs. Spivey received many beautiful gifts.
information by:Linda Spivey Bjorklund

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Baker City Herald-Baker City, Oregon- May 1960
Local Couple Celebrates 50th Year Wed
Mr. and Mrs. Allen F. Ellis celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary May 15 with their family.
The couple was married in 1910 in Tellico Plains, Tenn., by the Rev. Beavers.
Three of the couple's eight children are living, two of them in Baker and a son, Thurston and family who reside in Burney, Calif. The Baker residents are Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Dunn, and Mr. and Mrs. Jack Ellis. Thurston and his wife Georgianna, were here for the weekend to help their parents celebrate. They also lived for many years in Baker.
Submitted by: Linda Spivey-Bjorklund

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Maryville Times, Saturday, May 17, 1902

A very disgraceful scene was enacted at the decoration at Baker’s Creek last Saturday. Three young men, Wess and Gus Steele and Esq. King’s son were drunk, and very boisterous, disturbing the people who had gathered to lay flowers upon the graves of departed loved ones. They were arrested by Sheriff J.H. Pickens and gave bond for their appearance at Court. They resisted the officer but were soon taken in tow. It is a shame that such things occur.

Maryville Times, Saturday, September 22, 1900

THE KILLING OF CHARLES JONES

At Madisonville on Tuesday at 12 o’clock

Charles Jones met a very tragic death at the little village of Madisonville on Tuesday. Charles with his sons Moultrie and Ole have more than once charmed a Maryville audience, with their musical tallent being expert musicians. For the past summer they have been at Alleghany Springs, and several time furnished music for the visitors there.

The cause of the fight was the old McGhee-Howard feud which has existed for years, which has already caused the death of two of the Howard family, Henry and Ernest, who were alleged to have been killed by John McGhee and son, Joe. The Jones’ are related to the McGhee’s by marriage.

The men who engaged in the fight were Cal and Tom Howard and Denton and another man whose name we did not learn representing the Howard side with Josh and Charles Jones and sons Moultrie and Ole on the McGhee side.

The men met at the Clew Hotel where they had gone for dinner. The fight occured on the porch and in front of the hotel in the street. It is not known what was the cause of the present difficulty, but Charles Jones made statements just before his death in which he stated that Tom and Cal Howard approached him after the adjournment of court, and began some rough talk. He claimed that Josh Jones who was with him asked the Howards to leave, as they did not want any trouble with them, but more words passed and Tom Howard drew his revolver and fired, and at the same time he and Joshua drew their pistols. He also claimed that four shots which were in his breast were fired by the Howards after he had fallen to the ground. He was shot five times, the four spoken of above and once in the abdomen. Josh Jones was shot twice, under the heart and in the neck.

Cal Howard was shot three times, but the wounds are all slight. Tom Howard was cut in the right arm with a knife and his vest was grazed by a bullet. The two other men on that side were uninjured.

About twenty shots were fired and the fighting furious for a few minutes. It seems remarkable that no others were killed as the streets were crowded, it being court week.

All the surviving parties are under arrest. It is feared that there will be more trouble in the future.

The following is taken from the Knoxville Sentinel:

Madisonville, Tenn. Sept. 19.--The fatal shooting affray here yesterday continues to be the topic of discussion. Tuesday when court adjourned at noon, Charles and Josh Jones went to the Clew House, which is directly opposite the court house, for dinner. They sat down on the porch and Clew Hicks, the proprietor, handed Charles Jones a paper. In a few minutes, one of the Howards

stepped into the hotel and with an oath said to the proprietor that he would not stop there if the Jones’ were there. Josh Jones arose and told Howard that he did not want to have trouble. Howard then backed out in the yard and pulled his pistol. Charles Jones got up to stop Howard and prevent him from shooting. As he did so, Howard fired the first shot, which hit Charles Jones. Immediately, several others around began to shoot. One of the participants was in the sample room and fired four shots through the window. Calvin Howard is dangerously wounded as is also Josh Jones. Charles Jones lived only a few minutes after the shooting occured. Tom Howard was not seriously hurt.

Maryville Times, Wednesday, October 4, 1893

Cheoah, NC---Last week a terrible accident occured at L.J. Kerles on Conley’s Creek that resulted in the death of six men and the wounding of six others. At 9 o’clock a.m. the earth trembled and the mountains echoed with the terriffic noise caused by the dreadful explosion of Beggars’ 22 horse power engine and the scene that greeted the eyes of the beholders was awful. The body of Henry Smith, (col.) was picked up 150 yards from his post of duty. All the machinery was scattered about in the wildest confusion--the groans of the wounded rent the air and the mangled bodies of the dead completed this picture of horror. The killed are: Ben McMahan, Lee McMahan, Dick Nichols, Jesse Gunter, James O. Kelley and Henry Smith (col.). Only the two last mentioned were employees, the others being visitors. The wounded are Yeb Strange, Bud Rollins, Garner Rollins, Ben Miller, James Miller and George Gunter. The wounded are expected to recover.

Maryville Times, Wednesday, June 6, 1894

James Prater, an old citizen of this county, who has lived in the 5th district of Blount County since 1833, was in town Monday and had in his possession an old Indian pipe which he found near where the celebrated Cherokee Indian Chief, Choto, was buried. The pipe is carved out of one solid piece of stone of some kind. The pipe bowl sits on a base having four rectangular sides about two inches long, and at the other end is what is thought to be a place for the finger in holding the pipe. The highest part of this is about half an inch and on top it has thirteen nicks, and on the ends where the stem is inserted and sides of the base are thirteen small dots. On one side of the base is scratched the image of a gun, and on the other what appears to be a stake-and-rider fence. The bowl is about an inch high. Mr. Prater dug up the remains of Choto in the year 1867, but found the pipe the 21st of last month. It is a curious relic. We have seen pictures of such pipes, but never saw one before.

Madisonville Democrat, Wednesday, August 2, 1933

FLOYD THOMAS KILLED

Floyd Thomas, about 29 years old, of the Toqua community, was dead on his sleeping porch Monday morning, with a .38 pistol wound in the head.

Coroner J.P. Taylor held an inquest over the body. The jury’s verdict was that Thomas came to his death by a gunshot wound inflicted by unknown parties. Dr. R.C. Kimbrough and Undertaker Charles H. Biereley performed an autopsy at the instance of the coroner, and found that Thomas had been shot in the top of the head as stated above, the ball ranging down through the neck and lodging in the right lung.

Thomas was buried at Mt. Zion, Tuesday afternoon.

Thomas was implicated in a charge of dynamiting a house some time ago. His friends claim that he had nothing to do with the dynamiting, but that he knew who was guilty of the charge and that because of that knowledge, he was killed.

Up to the time of going to press, no arrests have been made, but the officers are at work on clues which they believe may lead to the apprehension of the party or parties responsible for Thomas’ death.

Maryville Times, Monday, April 2, 1923

KILLING ENDS OLD GRUDGE

PITT ROSE SHOT BY CHARLEY DITMORE AT CALDERWOOD SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

TRIAL OF DITMORE IS SET FOR HEARING IN MARYVILLE TUESDAY MORNING

Pitt Rose was shot and killed by Charley Ditmore Saturday afternoon, one shot being in the neck and two in the back, the trouble occurring at Calderwood. Ditmore is now in jail, his preliminary trial having been set for Tuesday morning. He claims self defense. Esquires Jett and Brakebill will hear the case.

It is said that an old grudge has existed between the men for some time, it being claimed that Rose accused Ditmore of having reported a still. It is asserted that Rose had threatened Ditmore, saying he would have to pay for the still or suffer the results. Parties from Calderwood asserted that Rose stepped in front of Ditmore Saturday and told him the matter would have to be settled then, and Ditmore fired three shots into Rose, one entering his neck and two into his back as he fell. It was stated three bottles of whiskey were taken from Rose’s pockets.

Maryville Times, Wednesday, April 20, 1892

Sheriff McKeehan, of Monroe County, with 16 men started after the Murphy desperadoes who had killed two men about the first of April. On coming to the house where the outlaws were barricaded, a plan was made to assault it from all sides at once. When the signal was given, only one of the men, Charles E. Ray was brave enough to respond. He was shot down and then in place of trying to bring off the body, the cowardly sheriff and his gang "skipped" and left the man lying out all night with a severe wound on the left side of his head. He is in a very critical condition and will probably die, whereas if he had been taken care of at the time he was shot, the wound itself would not have proved fatal. Thus through the cowardice of his companions, one of the bravest men of Monroe County was murdered. A man who would be guilty of such cowardly act should not be allowed to hold office a day longer.

Madisonville, Tennessee

April 3rd 1884

    Yesterday Joseph E. Houston and wife celebrated their Golden Wedding.  It was expected that all their children would be present: but owing to distance and other causes only a portion of them were there, with a few of thier relatives and friends.

    Among the many presents received were a handsome goldhead cane to J.E. Houston from his son-in-law R.C. McCroskey with monogram and date of marriage April 2d 1834 and present date April 2d 1884.  Handsome gold spectacles from Mrs. R. C. McCroskey to her mother, also with dates and name. (R.C. McCroskey to Blanche M. Houston).

    Beautiful gold watch chain to J.E. Houston from his son-in-law Vastine Stickley and Wife. (Vastine Stickley to Josephine E. Houston)

    Elegant Silver cake basket lined in gold from Mr. C.M. Johnston and family.  Handsome gilt plaque painted in oil by thier niece Mrs. Alice Johnston in the center of which is the Houston coat of arms, a pair of gray hounds rampant on a borken column, and an hour glass with the last sands running out, the motto "in tempo", and date of marriage and present date.  The whole being surrounded by a wreath of Autumn leaves.

    Beautiful pair of gold cuff buttons and pin from Mr. Worth Stickley and wife.

    A morocco Authograph Album to Mrs. Houston and a beautiful pair of Slippers to Mr. Houston from Dr. M.C. Duncan.

    An elegant dinner was prepared by their daughters Mrs. Browder and Stickley which was enjoyed by all. (Mary C. Houston to Samuel Browder)

    The old folks, though they did not look old, looked proud and happy, and received the many tokens of esteem with much pleasure and gratification, and we doubt not will ____ these mementoes keep the day green in their memories until the last sands have run from the glass of life.