MY RIVERSIDE CEMETERY TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS
SCRAPBOOK PART VII
By Jonathan K.T. Smith
Copyright, Jonathan K. T. Smith, 1995

(Page 22)

NOTES BY LOT

LOT 216-East, ELLINGTON
[Lot 215½ in Tombstons Inscriptions]

south to north:

(double tombstone)
A. H. ELLINGTON, 1843-1919
NANNIE P. His Wife, 1847-1891

EDNA ELLINGTON AGNEW, 1875-1956

A. WALTER ELLINGTON, 1872-1956

VIOLA MAE Daughter of A. H. & A. H. & N. P. ELLINGTON, 1879-1880

INFANT OF A. H. & N. P. ELLINGTON (no dates)

1. THE MEMPHIS APPEAL-AVALANCHE, March 6, 1891:
   "Mrs. A. H. Ellington died here /Jackson/ this evening /March 5/ of pneumonia."
2. CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY, vol. 10, Extended, Wilmington, N.C., 1987, pages 463-464:
   "Albert H. Ellington, born in Newton Co., Ga., 1843; son of James Ellington. Married Nannie P. Easley, 1867; secondly, 1892, to Lola Neely. Railroad conductor. Jackson, Tenn."
3. The death certificate of A. H. Ellington shows that he was born Oct. 26, 1843, Ga. Died Dec. 21, 1919, Jackson. Son of Joel and Ellen Ellington.
4. In 1937, Ingram James noted two unreadable tombstones on this lot, apparently the infants' tombstones which were replaced with new tombstones (as their appearance attests).

 

(Page 23)

LOT 52-E, CARTER
[Lot 52 in Tombstone Inscriptions]

Buried in this lot is a lady whose tombstone is off its base; it reads:

ADDIE L., wife of J. T. HIGGASON
Born Dec. 5, 1850
Died Sep. 8, 1904

 

RANDOM TOMBSTONE

In the assorted collection of tombstone fragments near the cemetery maintenance building is part of a tombstone bearing only the death date: Feb. 9, 1869.

 

LOT 114½ (part of original Lot 115), BOTTS

south to north:

An ornate tombstone:
JOHN T. BOTTS
Born in Mt. Sterling, Ky.
Aug. 8, 1845
Died in Jackson, Tenn.
Oct. 2, 1893

LYDA T. BOTTS, 1850-1934

ROBERT L. BOTTS, 1874-1874

JOHN T. BOTTS, JR., 1876-1878

Double tombstone:
JAMES M. ROBBINS, 1865-1922
EMMA BOTTS ROBBINS, 1870-1960

1. GOODSPEED'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE (Madison Co.), 1887, page 844:

John T. Botts, of the firm of Robertson & Botts, was born in Montgomery County, Ky., August 8, 1843, and is the son of Seth and Emily (Campbell) Botts, natives of Virginia and Kentucky. John T. was reared in his native State, and at the age of fourteen years began clerking in the mercantile business, continuing until after he had attained his majority. In April, 1866, he came to Jackson and entered into partnership with Mr. Robertson, and has continued thus until the present. December 1, 1868, he married Miss Lyde Tomlin, daughter of Hon. J. L. H. Tomlin, who has borne him three sons-two of whom are dead-and two daughters. Mr. Botts is a Democrat, a member of the Encampment of Odd Fellows, is Noble Grand of the subordinate lodge at Jackson, is a member of the K. of P., the K. of H., the A. O. U. W., and is a Knight Templar of the Masonic order, and one of the leading and substantial business men of Jackson.

 

2. Robert H. Cartmell "Diary" 12, Jan. -Dec. 1893, page 108:

October 2, 1893. J. T. Botts died last night. to be buried tomorrow morning. He was for many years of the firm of Robertson & Botts, merchants. They came to Jackson soon after the close of the war 1866. Botts had been out of business for several years. drank a great deal, constant. don't see how he has lived as long as he has. married Lida Tomlin, a daughter of John L. H. Tomlin. leaves I think 3 children. one a married girl.

 

3. Madison County Court Minute Book 19, page 302:
   October 7, 1893. "J. T. Botts died Oct. 2, 1893; his widow, Lyde T. Botts, adm. James M. Robbins appointed guardian of Lyda M. Botts, minor daughter aged 15 of late J. T. Botts."

 

LOT 57-W, TOLSON
[Lot 57 in Tombstone Inscriptions]

north to south:

BLANEY TOLSON
Apr. 11, 1888-Oct. 22, 1888

IDA RITCH TOLSON
1867-1953

BLANEY B. TOLSON
1860-1937

MARY A. RITCH
1835-1924

1. U.S. Census, June 1, 1900, Jackson, Tenn. Supervisor's Dist. 8, sheet 1:
   Blaney B. Tolson, b. Apr. 1860, Miss.; parents born in Alabama. He was a RR yardmaster
   IDA TOLSON, wife, b. March 1867, Miss.; parents born in Alabama; married 16 yrs.; 4 children, 3 still living
   Maymie E. Tolson, dau., b. June 1886, Tenn. (age given as 14)
   Fannie L. Tolson, dau., b. Dec. 1886, Tenn. (age given as 13)
   William W. Tolson, son, b. Aug. 1889, Illinois

 

(Page 24)

2. U.S. Census, April 26, 1910, Jackson, Tenn. Enum. Dist. 175, sheet 11-A:
   Blaney B. Tolson, 50, Miss. (parents born N. C.) Train-master
   Ida Tolson, wife, 43, Miss. (parents born in Ala. ); md. 26 yrs. 4 ch, 3 living
   Fannie E. Tolson, dau., 23, Tenn.
   Edith Tolson, dau-in-law, 20; md. 1 year; 1 child
   William W. Tolson, son, 20, clerk
   William W. Tolson, grandson, one month old
3. Griffin Funeral Home Burial Register, 1933-1937, page 588:
   B. Tolson's remains were brought from Murphysboro, Illinois for burial; listing only with date May 15, 1937.
4. Griffin Funeral Home Burial Register, 1949-1954, page 563:
   Mrs. Ida Aletha Tolson, who died Nov. 12, 1953, aged 86 years, 8 mos., 5 days

 

LOT 158-W, GAFFENEY

NICHOLIS ARTHUR, son of P. J. & S. M. GAFFENEY
Nov. 9, 1883-Aug. 7, 1884

1. St. Mary's Roman Catholic (Jackson, Tenn.) Parish Marriage Book, 1869 -1974, page 17:
   Peter J. Gaffney and Sarah Watkins married Jan. 29, 1883. She was a daughter of William and Thesta Watkins, non-Catholics.
   Madison Co. Marriage Book G, page 627:
   P. J. Gaffeney married Sarah Watkins, Jan. 29, 1883.
2. IBID. Parish Baptismal Book, 1867-1909:
   page 103, Nicholas Arthur, son of Peter James Gaffney and wife Sarah Watkins, b. Nov. 9, 1883; baptized Jan. 13, 1884. No death record.
   page 119, William Oswell Gaffney, son of same, born Aug. 25, 1885; baptized May 30, 1886.
   page 136, James Thomas, son of same, born July 1, 1888; baptized Sept. 2, 1888 (His tombstone in Calvary Cem., Jackson, states that he was born June 30, 1888.)
   page 157, Peter Cartmell, son of same, born Aug. 29, 1891; baptized Sept. 13, 1891.
   Not recorded in these baptismal records is John Joseph Gaffeney whose tombstone in Calvary Cem., Jackson, gives a birth date: January 3, 1895.
3. Buried in Calvary Cemetery, Jackson, Tenn. are the following with tombstone data:
   
   PETER JAMES GAFFENEY, Apr. 4, 1860-Nov. 9, 1930
   May his poor soul rest in peace.
   
   SADIE W. GAFFENEY, Mar. 2, 1866-Dec. 17, 1946
   May her soul rest in peace.
   
   Others of their family are buried in this family plot.
4. Griffin’s Funeral Home Burial Book, 1928-1931, page 490:
   Peter J. GAFNEY, b. Apr. 4, 1860; d. Nov. 9, 1930. Son of John Gaffney and Jane Leary, both born in Ireland.

 

UNKNOWN GRAVE SITES, REGEAN-REGION

1. 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 /of work/ up to his final illness. . . ."

 

(Page 25)

2. U.S. Census, June 9, 1870, Jackson, Tenn., page 58:
   G. B. Regien, age 46
   J. Regien, female, age 45
3. Madison County Marriage Book F, page 418:
   James R. Vann married Mrs. Jane Region, February 25, 1877.
4. TRIBUNE-SUN, Jackson, Tenn., June 7, 1878:
   "Died. In this city on Monday /June 3/ of pneumonia, Mrs. Jas. R. Vann, formerly Mrs. Region. The husband and friends have our sympathies. . . .

 

LOT 123, KEITH

The inscriptions on tombstones on this lot were published in MY RIVERSIDE CEMETERY TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS SCRAPBOOK, Part VI., page 48. An additional item for John Y. Keith, 1838-1919, appears here, from THE FORKED DEER BLADE, Jackson, Tenn., January 7, 1888:

Hon. John Yancey Keith.

No man in Madison county, or probably in West Tennessee, is better or more favorably known than the subject of this sketch. John Y. Keith was born in Lincoln county, Tennessee, in May, 1838, was reared in Middle Tennessee, and was educated in the best schools in that section of the state. He read law for a year and a half in the office and under the direction of Col. W. M. Inge, of Corinth, Miss., until the breaking out of the war. In March, 1861, he enlisted as a private and served with distinction in the Confederate army throughout the war, with the rank of Captain the last three years. He came to this city in 1865 and engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1875 when he retired to his farm four miles west of town. For five years, and during its era of greatest prosperity, Captain Keith was president of the W. T. A. & M. Association. He was elected to the State Senate in November, 1882, and re-elected in 1884, in which body he ranked as one of the safest and most brilliant members, filling the position of Chairman of the Committee on agriculture the first term, and Chairman of the re-districting committee the second term. He is a forcible and pleasing speaker, a logical reasoner, a sound and safe adviser.         Capt. Keith is now living in retirement on his splendid farm; he is considered one of, if not the very best, farmers in the county; pays strict attention to scientific agriculture, fine stock and improved methods. In his private life he devotes his time when not employed in the management of the farm, to literary studies. He is one of the Executive Committee of the Agricultural Wheel of the State.         Capt. Keith is a scholarly man, an affable and polished gentle man, and is deservedly popular with all who know him. His splendid abilities are in demand, and the people will not long allow him to live in retirement.

 

U.S. Census, June 7, 1900, Jackson. Enum. Dist. 109, sheet 9:
John Y. Keith, b. Jan. 1845
Virginia Keith, wife. b. Dec. 1844; wife; md. 34 yrs. 6 ch.
Lottie Keith, dau.. b. May 1881
Grace Keith, dau., b. Feb. 1883

 

(Page 26)

John Yancey Keith's death certificate data (Madison co.) gives his birth date as May 22, 1832. Death date, Jan. 4, 1919. Parents: W. Keith; Latucia Dora Keith.

 

LOT 110, McDONALD-PERRY

south to north:

NANCY McDONALD
Born Oct. 15, 1810
Died Feb. 15, 1898
She has gone to her home
in heaven and all her
afflictions are o'er.

DAVID J., son of D. J. & L. D. PERRY
Born May 10, 1873
Died Aug. 19, 1906

LUCY A. PERRY
Born Jan. 18, 1848
Died Feb. 28, 1907

A grave-length concrete slab, without inscription; probably that of Lucy A. Perry's husband, David J. Perry, born Dec. 1844, in Georgia, according to the U.S. Census, June 15, 1900, Jackson, E. Dist. 109, sheet 11. At that time he and Lucy A. had been married 26 yrs. and had five children.

WILLIAM THOMAS PERRY
March 21, 1877
Oct. 18, 1903

 

LOT 260, GATES
[Lots 259½ Gates and 260 Murphy in Tombstone Inscriptions]

south to north:

W. J. MURPHY
Apr. 21, 1860-Dec. 28, 1905

FRANCES G. GAINES
Aug. 16, 1970

GEORGIA L. GATES
Nov. 15, 1955

HARRY B. GATES, 1886-1952

GEORGIA B. GATES
1845-1930

JOHN W. GATES
1841-1904

CARRIE P. GATES
1888-1892

WILLIAM W. GATES
1876-1878

1. THE WEEKLY TIMES, Jackson, Feb. 13, 1891:

John W. Gates, Mayor Was born in Huntington, Carroll county Tennessee May 11, 1841. In 1842 his father came to Jackson. Here our subject gained an education by attending the private schools and west Tennessee College. Leaving them in 1859 he taught school for eleven months and on the 15th of May, 1861, he joined the Sixth Tennessee, serving during the entire war until its close. For thirteen months he remained a prisoner at Alton and Fort Delaware. At the close of the war he assumed the local editorship of the West Tennessee Whig until 1871, when he became deputy chancery clerk, serving six years. In 1877 he commenced clerking in the dry goods and clothing business until 1888. January 1889 he was elected mayor, and June 1890, re-elected; out of a total vote of 560 receiving 506 votes. He has made an efficient officer. He is a Knight Templar and Knight of Honor and a prominent member of the Oriental Order of Humility.

 



JOHN WARD GATES

2. U.S. Census, June 17, 1880, Jackson, Enum. Dist. 100, page 43:
   John W. Gates, 39, Tenn. Va. Tenn.
   Georgia A. Gates, wife, 34, Tenn. N.C. N.C.
   Henry B. Gates, son, 13, Tenn.
   John W. Gates, Jr., son, 9, Tenn.
   Isham B. Gates, son, 7, Tenn.
   Georgia Gates, dau., 5, Tenn.
3. TRIBUNE-SUN, Jackson, Dec. 14, 1877:
   "Mr. John W. Gates has taken the position of local editor on the staff of the West Tennessee Whig. He is a graceful and forcible writer, a big hearted, high minded gentleman. . . ."

 

 

(Page 27)

4. CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY (Tennessee), 1899 (Reprint, Wilmington, N. C. 1987), volume 10 Extended, pages 495-496:

John W. Gates, of Jackson, was born at Huntington, Tenn., May 11, 1841, son of W. W. and Ann McCutcheon Gates. His father, who died in 1891, was a man of prominence in western Tennessee, and in association with Gen. Felix K. Zollicoffer, publisher of the first whig newspaper in that region, called "The West Tennessean." John W. Gates was educated at the West Tennessee college, Jackson, then taught school for a year and engaged in the study of law. This pursuit he abandoned to enlist for the Confederate service, becoming a private in Company H, Sixth Tennessee infantry, under Col. William H. Stephens. In December, 1861, he was honorably discharged on account of bad health, but before he had fully recovered he re-enlisted and served for about one year in the quartermaster's department. He was then transferred to Henderson's scouts, with whom he did faithful and dangerous service until, while on a mission to Memphis to discover the strength of the force that had left that city with Sherman, after he had forwarded the information by a comrade, he was captured south of the city. This ended his service, for he was held at the Old Irving block prison at Memphis, at Alton, Ill., and Fort Delaware, until the close of hostilities. Amidst the miseries of prison life he recalls an incident at Alton which caused much amusement at the time. Small-pox was prevalent, and it was noticed that when those infected were sent to the island near by, none ever returned. So Gates and several others agreed to stand by each other, and if one should be taken by the disease he should be cared for by his comrades. Bob Rutherford, of Georgia, was the first victim, and they arranged that he should take the place of the first corpse that was sent out of the camp. All went well until the colonel in command, a Kansas "jayhawker," came up and noticing the lid of the coffin loose, ordered it nailed down. This Rutherford had not bargained for, and he promptly kicked off the lid and revealed himself in a very lively condition. The colonel and drayman fled precipitately, and the Georgian was sent to the lockup. But the joke was too good to keep him long confined. Such are the humors of war, ghastly enough to recount in times of peace. On his return from prison, Mr. Gates found employment on his father's newspaper, and began a civil career full of honor and usefulness. He has been chancery clerk of Madison county eight years, mayor of Jackson four years, and is now register of the land office of west Tennessee and secretary of the Jackson board of trade. He also conducts an insurance business. Of the John Ingram bivouac, he has served as secretary. By his marriage in October, 1865, to Georgia, daughter of Isham Boyce, he has five children: H. B., J. W., Jr., Isham B., Georgia L., and Fannie P.

 

5. U.S. Census, June 8, 1870, page 52, Jackson.
   W. W. Gates, 58, Va., ed. of W. T. Whig
   A. M. Gates, fem, 49, Tenn.
   J. W. Gates, male, 29, asst. editor
   G. Gates, fem, 25, Tenn.
   H. B. Gates, male, 4, Tenn.
   C. Gates, male, 24, Tenn., a travel agent
   W. Gates, male, 22, Tenn., a printer
   C. Gates, fem, 14, Tenn.
   F. Gates, fem, 13, Tenn.
6. Griffin Funeral Home Burial Register, 1928-1931, page 393:
   Georgia Boyce Gates, July 29, 1845-June 4, 1930. Father, Isham Boyce born North Carolina. Mother, Elizabeth Tharp, born Tennessee.
   IBID., 1919-1954, page 369: Henry Boyce Gates, Sept. 11, 1866-Apr. 15, 1952. Father, John W. Gates. Mother, Georgia B. Gates.
   IBID., 1954-1959, page 200: Miss Georgia Gates, Nov. 4, 1874-Nov. 15, 1955. Father, John W. Gates. Mother, Georgia Boyce.
7. WEST TENNESSEE WHIG, Jackson, Oct. 28, 1865:
   "John W. Gates married Georgie, daughter of Isham Boyce, last Sunday."

 

(Page 28)

8. MADISON COUNTY COURT MINUTE BOOK 23, page 280:

RESOLUTIONS ON THE DEATH OF JOHN W. GATES         The Committee appointed to draft Resolutions on the death of John W. Gates, Esq. expressive of the feelings of the /County/ Court presented the following. IN MEMORY OF A BELOVED BROTHER AND COWORKER JOHN W. GATES.         When our roll was called this morning/April 5, 1904/ one of our members failed to respond. His tongue has been stilled in death. The immortal spirit of our friend, colaborer and fellow member, John W. Gates, has forsaken its tenement of clay and has answered the roll call above where the Great Judge of the universe decides without error the cause of humanity.         For several months Esq. Gates was afflicted and all knew that he could not recover. Yet, he continued to discharge his duties as a member of this Court, even when suffering great pain and never ceased to take much interest in the county's affairs. He was one of the best and most watchful members of this Court. He was indeed and in truth a Justice of the Peace. He held the scales of justice with even hands, as God gave him the ability to do so. He always tempered justice with mercy, and sought rather to reform than to punish the guilty. Esq. Gates was a man of great ability. He was a scholar, an orator, a good citizen in time of peace, a brave soldier in time of war. His nature was one of sunshine and his heart was ever filled with sympathy for the poor and disconsolate. On Thursday March 31st 1904 at 12:30 PM in full hope of a better life beyond the grave, with his faith firmly fixed in the strong Lion of the Tribe of Judah, he went out on the angels wings to dwell with God and the loved ones on the other shore through an endless eternity.         Resolved: That this tribute to the memory of our departed brother be spread on the minutes of this court, a copy be sent to the family, and the city papers be requested to publish it. Resolved Further, that we extend to the family of the deceased our sincere sympathy in the great loss that has befallen not only them but also this Court, the City, the County and the State. J. V. Reed R. A. Hurt Com't. M. D. Fly         Which Resolutions were on motion were unanimously adopted by the Court and spread upon the minutes.

 

LOT 279½, BUTLER

north to south:

THOMAS T. BUTLER, 1848-1916

EUGENIA G. BUTLER, 1851-1919

MARY ELLIS BUTLER, 1883-1963

ANNA GATES BUTLER, 1881-1973

U.S. Census, June 8, 1900, Jackson, Enum. Dist. 108, sheet 11:
Thos. T. Butler, b. Oct. 1848, Tenn.
Eugenia Butler, wife, b. Sept. 1851; md. 30 yrs. 5 children
Thos. T. Butler, son, b. May 1878, Tenn.
Anna G. Butler, dau., b. April 1881
Mary E. Butler, dau., b. Dec. 1883
William P. Butler, son, b. Sept. 1886, Tenn.
Frank M. Butler, son, b. Jan. 1891, Tenn.

Thomas T. Butler married Eugenia Gates, daughter of W. W. and Ann Gates, on June 11, 1870.

 

LOT 278, GATES
[Lot 259½ in Tombstone Inscriptions]

north to south:

WILLIAM WARD GATES, 1848-1927

CAROLYN P. GATES, 1849-1920

HEWITT P. GATES, 1875-1914

CAROLYN H. GATES, 1912-1914, Dau. of Mr. & Mrs. W. W. Gates, Jr.

MARY GATES, no dates

WILLIAM W. GATES, JR., 1883-1937

ETHEL MAUDE GATES, 1886-1976

 

Griffin Funeral Home Burial Register, 1923-1927, page 273:
William W. Gates, Oct. 10, 1848 April 23, 1927. Father, W. W. Gates, born in Virginia. Mother, Annie McCutchen, born in Tenn.

 

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