Whiteside’s Of Obion County
Copyright 1998, George Cunningham & Jane Powell

Jonathan Whiteside moved to Obion County sometime in the 1830’s with other members of his family including his father, William.  Jonathan is mentioned in early court records a number of times including once when he was arrested for public drunkenness.   He was fined one dollar for this.  Jonathan is listed in the Tennessee mortality schedule since in died in 1860. This record states that he was 68 years old, married, born in Tennessee, died in September of 1860, farmer, cause of death – dropsy of chest, and lived in Obion County.

The Whitesides came from South Carolina, Chester District, to Tennessee prior to 1808,  first to Maury County, Tennessee  near the Isom and Hampshire communities. The Whitesides and other Presbyterians helped found Jones Church at Isom in 1806.

Hugh Whiteside ( ? – ? ) married Margaret Lusk ( 1743 – 1830 ). They had the following children: William, James, Abraham, Hugh, Thomas, Samuel, Robert, Elizabeth, Jinnet, Margaret, and Mattie.

Hugh’s son, William Whiteside ( 1763 – 1850 ) married Margaret Culp ( ? – ? ). In 1781 at the age of 18 years, William served in the Revolutionary War for several months. He is recorded as having applied and received a pension in 1832 for this. William and Margaret had the following children: Jonathan, John, Hugh, William, Samuel, Elizabeth.

William Whiteside is listed in the Tennessee mortality schedule as he died in 1850. It states that he was 87 years old, widowed, born in South Carolina, died in March of 1850, no occupation, cause of death – old age, and lived in Obion County.

William’s son, Jonathan Whiteside (14 Jan 1792 – 6 Sept 1860), who came to Obion County in the 1830’s married Mary _____ (1790 ? – 3 July 1844).  Jonathan and Mary had the following known children.

. . Elizabeth Caroline married George Long
. . James H. married Margaret Harper
. . W.
. . Margaret E. married John L. Guy

Obion Co TN Marriages 1824-1877, John H. Whitesides m. 6 Feb 1845 Mahala H. Calhoun, Surety, James H. Whitesides; Officiant, T. L. Camp, JP

Jonathan remarried after his first wife’s death. He married Margaret Long in 1846 and they had at least one child, Eliza S.  Was Margaret Long the same as Mahala H. Calhoun?   Or do we have another John Whitesides in Obion County?
1850 Census,  Obion Co TN, Dist.6

Johnathan Whitesides, 58, m farmer 1500 SC
. . , Margaret, 37, f ,TN
. . , Eliza, 2, f ,TN
. . , Sylvia Russel, 19, f, TN

Sources: Tennessee State Archives, the Murfreesboro Library, LDS Family Research Center.