MY RIVERSIDE CEMETERY TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS
SCRAPBOOK PART VI
by Jonathan K. T. Smith
Copyright, Jonathan K. T. Smith, 1995

LUCKEY/BURKETT

(Page 11)

LOT 205, LUCKEY/BURKETT
[Lot 205-A in Tombstone Inscriptions]

On the north end of this lot, under a large shaft tombstone are buried:

(west side)
SAMUEL LUCKEY
Born/In Iredell Co. N. Carolina
Oct. 23, 1801
Died/in Jackson, Tenn.
March 8, 1870

On the north side of this tombstone is a multi-lined "verse," almost totally illegible.

(south side)
Mrs. H. P. LUCKEY
wife of/Samuel Luckey
Born/In Granville Co. N.C.
April 5, 1815
Died in Jackson, Tenn.
January 5, 1888

Buried on the south end of this lot, under individual tombstones are buried:

J. W. N. BURKETT, 1854-1923

CALLIE BURKETT, 1859-1940

JOHN ROBBINS BURKETT
Capt. Co C, 359th Inf.
1891-1918

See page 54, of this book.

 

LEXINGTON PROGRESS, Lexington, Tennessee, April 7, 1933:

"Another Bit of History"

The city of Jackson, Madison county, never had a worthier nor the South a more outspoken advocate than was Mrs. Holland Lucky who died in that city, possibly some what later than 1884 and left a fortune of several thousand dollars to her nephew, J. W. N. Burkett, who was known for many years as a member of the Jackson grocery firm of Burkett & Fletcher, a firm which long enjoyed a large trade from Henderson county and employed as a salesman, J. S. Teague, a highly respected citizen of Henderson county. Mrs. Lucky was born in North Carolina and her father moved to Cane Creek, Henderson county, daughter of William and Emily Welch, who moved first to near Lexington, and then to Jackson, where Holland married Sam Lucky, and they ran a hotel until the death of Mr. Lucky in 1866 or some later, when Mrs. Lucky sold out and spent the remaining years of her life or a part thereof, in conducting a private boarding house on which she made money — and, by the way there were grave doubts about the will of Mrs. Lucky, as she had near and dear relatives whom she loved and who might have been remembered — for instance, she was a sister of Mrs. Mary Threadgill (wife of George) mother of our esteemed citizen and my historian, Esq. Wyatt Threadgill. Mrs. Lucky was one of 16 children, all of whom reached maturity except one girl who died at the age of 12 years before the family left Cane Creek. The Welch family was one of Highland Scot descent and she had many of the characteristics of that hardy race of people. She was industrious, frugal yet generous, and without much chance to get an education she was able to converse in good english /sic/ — which reminds me that she discharged a doctor because he told her to take so many "draps" of medicine, all of which leads up to the main story I have wished to tell, in which Mrs. Lucky played a leading role, notwithstanding the presence of the United States General Ulysses S. Grant. Mrs. Lucky, who was accompanied on a visit to the 1876 centennial in Philadelphia, by her nephew, Newt Burkett, and her niece, Miss Mary Burke also visited Washington as a representative of the South, Mrs. Lucky was invited to attend a dinner function in the White House, an invitation which Mrs. Lucky accepted and with her niece and nephew she attended the dinner — after spending about $200 for apparel suitable to wear on such an occasion. When seated at the table president Grant was at the head and Mrs. Grant at the foot, or other end and Mrs. Lucky was seated on the left of Mrs. Grant. . . . That particular silk dress purchased for use at that particular dinner, by Mrs. Lucky, was never worn by her but was given to her sister, Mrs. George Threadgill, here in Lexington, who was buried in it. The name of 'Aunt Holland Lucky' was for many years a household word in many homes and even yet she is held in the highest esteem and respect as a woman of keen intellect and the highest sense of honor and honesty." —W. V. Barry

 

(Page 12)

1880 U.S. Census, Jackson, Madison Co., Tennessee, June 17, page 46:
H. P. Luckey, female, 65, born N.C. parents born in N.C.
J. W. N. Burket, male, 25, grocer, nephew, born Ark. Father born in Tn., Mother in N.C.
Callie Burket, 20, niece, born in Tn.; parents in same
J. C. N. Welch, male, 25, nephew, born in Ark.; parents in Tn.
C. C. C. Welch, male, 17, nephew, born in Ark.; parents in Tn.
M. P. Burks, female, 15, niece, born in Ark.; father in Va.; mother in Tennessee
(Household on College Street in Jackson)

 

Goodspeed's HISTORY OF TENNESSEE Madison County, 1887, page 848:

John W. N. Burkett is a native of Woodruff County, Ark., born January 26, 1854, son of Madison and Emily (Welch) Burkett, who were born in Tennessee. John W. N. made his home in Arkansas until nineteen years of age; then came to Jackson, Tenn., where he completed his education, graduating with first honors in 1878. The following October he engaged in the grocery business with G. H. Ramsey, continuing until January, 1883, when he engaged in his present business and has met with good success. November 19, 1879, he married Miss Callie W. Robbins, of Haywood County, Tenn. Mr. Burkett is a Democrat in his political views, and is alderman of the Fourth Ward, chairman of the finance committee and treasurer of the city of Jackson. He is a Mason, Knights Templar degree, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

 

On page 860, biographical sketch of Robert S. Fletcher, mention of business of Burkett & Fletcher, "They began business on the 3d of January, 1883, with a capital stock of $7000; which they have increased to $10, 000."

Madison County, Tennessee Will Book A, pages 368-369:
Will of HOLLAND POPE LUCKEY, executed October 19, 1887; proven June 1888
To nephew, J. W. N. Burkett the residence and lot I live on and business lot and brick storehouse. Niece Mary P. Dilliard $2000. Nephew, J. W. Lee, $1000. Rest to be applied towards buying or building a parsonage for the First Baptist Church in Jackson; $1000 to Southwestern Baptist University. Nephew, J. W. N. Burkett, executor. Witnesses: Hugh Robbins, G. C. Wilkerson. Codicil dated November 21, 1877. Revoke bequest to Southwestern University, having already given it a lot on Lafayette Street in Jackson. Witnesses: G. C. Wilkerson, J. M. Woollard, Hugh Robbins.

Mrs. Luckey's signature on her last will-testament:

A nephew, J. C. N. Welch contested this will so that the case of J. W. N. Burkett vs J. C. N. Welch was heard by a jury in Circuit Court, Madison Co., which determined that this document "be and is established as her /HPL/ last will and testament," May 21, 1888 and was so proven in county court, June 6, 1888.

 

WHIG-TRIBUNE, Jackson, Tennessee, September 2, 1871:
Mrs. Lucky /Luckey/ is erecting two elegant and spacious business houses on Shanon /Shannon/ street, and as soon as finished, will both be occupied.

THE JACKSON SUN, November 19, 1875:
Died. In this city on Wednesday, 17th inst., Capt. Green Regean, aged about 70 years. The deceased had been a watchman at the lower depot for nine years and never lost a day or night up to his final illness. . . .

The location of Captain Regean's grave is unknown to me.

The sexton's report, for Riverside Cemetery, shows that the captain was buried there.

 

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