Decatur Co. TN
From Lillye Younger, The History of Decatur County Past and Present (Southhaven, MS: Carter Printing Company, 1978).
Special thanks to Constance Collett for permission to make these web pages.In Memory of Lillye Washburn Younger 1912-1998.
Thanks to www.tnyesterday.com for contributing this transcription.
According to the 1850 Decatur County Census John Mcllwain was 59 years of age, having been born in 1791. He hailed from South Carolina and real estate is shown at $500. He married Henrietta, maiden name unknown, McIllwain, who came from Kentucky. To this union four children were born, namely; William McIllwain, age 18, John Alexander McIllwain, 14 years of age, Abigale McIllwain Twenty years old, Charlotte E. McIllwain Connell, age twenty-two, Henry A. Connell three years of age and William N. Connell, age seven.
John Alexander McIllwain, born in 1836 died in 1912, married Nancy E. Maiden name unknown, McIllwain, who was listed as thirty nine years old in 1850. She died giving birth to four infants Abner, Sissie, Albert and Rachel McIllwain. Other children of the couples were Mattie Abigale McIllwain Fisher, born in 1860 and died in 1925; John Watson McIllwain, born 12-27-1869 and died 3-25-1919, Tennie T. McIllwain Cain, born in 1866 and died in 1925, James Israel McIllwain, born in 1871 and died in 1934, John Watson McIllwain married Julia Ball Bruce who was born May 30/1 869 and died Jan. 29, 1951.
To this union seven children were born. Terrell Albert, born 1896 and died 8-7-1 952, Mary Elizabeth McIllwain Jernegen, born Nov. 17, 1897; Lelia Gladys McIllwain Conder, born 10-18-1899; Emma Lou Mattie McIllwain Dobson, born 1902; Harold Alexander McIllwain born 1905, Ernest Bruce McIllwain, died when he was 18 months old, Erma Long McIllwain Long, born 1907, a twin of Ernest Bruce.
Terrell married Elizabeth Patton and they children are John Thomas McIllwain, known as Jack, and Cynthia McIllwain Reid.; Mary Elizabeth McIllwain Jernigan married Ervin T. Jernigan and they have a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Jernigan Arnette.
Lelia Gladys McIllwain married Alvin Benjamine Conder, called "Al" and they have a son, John Robert Conder and a son born dead, Don Bruce Conder, 2-25, 1939.
Emma Lou Mattie McIllwain married Lawrence Wilson Dobson and they have a daughter, Emily Elizabeth Dobson and John McIllwain Dobson.
Harold A. McIllwain married Elizabeth Gates McIllwain and they have a daughter, Betty E. McIllwain.
Erma McIllwain Long married Ovid Ray Long and they have two daughters, Julia Lee Long Cherry and Rebecca Long Bledsoe.
John Watson McIllwain was the first principal of Parsons University, which was built in 1908. He served as Trustee of Decatur County for three terms. He was the first agent for the Home Insurance Company in Decatur County.
Compiled by Lelia McIllwain Conder
