1830-1847 Will Index

FamilySearch has digitized the Works Progress Administration transcriptions of Shelby County Wills.  The images are available online, but below I have typed up the name index for easy reference.


ABBOT, Jane G.HENLY, T.B.RIVES, George
ABERNATHY, ThomasHERING, JoelROBB, James
ALEXANDER, JesseHORN, MossesROBERTSON, Z.T.
ALLEN, AlexanderHOWISTON, Wm.ROYSTER, David
ALLEN, WillieHYNES, WilliamSANDERS, Joel B.
ALLISON, Thos.IRBY, GeraldSANDERS, M.L.
BALCH, AmandaISH, JacobSANDERSON, Elizabeth
BALCH, John K.JAMES, Henry F.SCALES, Joseph
BANGUS, BryantJOHNSON, LucySCRUGGS, Joseph
BELL, AndrewJOHNSON, Wm. I.SHIELDS, E.J.
BELL, Reuben H.JONES, AchellesSHEPHERD, William
BENNETT, PollyJONES, A.G.SKINNER, Benjamin
BEST, JohnJONES, BerthaSMITH, Calvin W.
BIGGS, BenjaminJONES, Eldredge W.SMITH, Joseph
BLOUNT, ThomasJONES, LafayetteSMITH, Sarah I.
BOLTON, Chas.KENNEDY, W.H.SMITH, Susanna
BOSHER, LeonardKEON, M.J.SNOW, John
BOWEN, AbnerKIMBROUGH, Jas.SPICER, Winfred
BOWEN, JohnKIMBROUGH, LydiaSTANTON, Benjamin
BROOKS, JosephKIMBROUGH, Margaret (Mrs.)STEWART, Wm. P.
BROWN, ElizabethKIRK, JosephSUGGETT, Bing
BROWN, John L. LAWRENCE, Wm.SUGGS, Isaacs
BRUCE, Wm. WallaceLEWIS, Charles W.TATE, Jesse C.
CANNON, JohnLEWIS, John N.TAYLOR, James P.
CARR, Martha AnnMACKEY, SamuelTAYLOR, Thos. B.
CARR, JosephMASON, JamesTHOMPSON, Wm.
CHRISTIAN, FredMAY, BenjaminTHURMON, F.C.
CHRISTIAN, WyattMcGEHEE, FountainTINSLEY, Ann
CLARKE, ElishaMcKEON, NicholasTITUS, Robert E.
COBB, Wm. McLEAN, ArchibaldTOSER, Nancy
COCHRAN, LynchMcMAHAN, FrancisTREZVANT, James
COTTON, JosephMcMILLAN, MurdockTREZVANT, L.C. (M.D.)
COX, EdwardMICKLEBERRY, J.S.TRIGG, Lucy
CROP, ShedrickMILLER, Thos.TURNER, John
DAUGHTRY, JamesMOORE, NathVAUGHN, Edmond H.
DUNN, DavidMOORE, CharityWAGNON, John P.
DUNN, SamuelMOORE, William A.WARD, Edward (Col.)
EASON, Howell D.MURRAY, Margaret A.WARD, Elizabeth
EDMONDS, James L.NUTT, ThomasWARE, Robert
EMMEY, FrederickOLIVER, Thomas B.WASHBURN, Thos.
FARIS, JamesPARHAM, SionWENDELL, Wm.
FRASIER, Jas.PARKS, JohnWHEATLY, Leonard
GATEWOOD, JanePATILLO, R.H.WHERRY, Andrew
GOOLSBY, RichardPERSONS, Benj. E.WHITE, Joseph
GREENLAW, GabrielPERSONS, Richard I.WILLIAM, James
GREGORY, WilliamPIRKINSON, JohnWILLIAM, Lewillen
GRIFFIN, ElijahQUENICHET, VivantWILSON, Jane
GRIFFIN, PleasantRASH, Thomas A.WISE, Henry
HADNOT, Brice W.RAWLINGS, Miss JulietWORTHAM, Robert
HARDAWAY, James P. RAWLINGS, IsaacWOODS, John
HARRIS, WilliamREID, John R.YOUNG, Emanuel
HARKLEROAD, DanieREMBERT, Andrew
HATCH, DurantREMBERT, James
HAYNES, HenryRENNOLDS, Fielding
HERRON, Isaac

 

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MARRIAGE: JENNY, P.S. and Jodie E. MILLER (1870)

On the morning of the 4th inst., at the residence of W.N. EAKIN, the bride’s brother-in-law, by Rev. J.W. KNOTT, Mr. P.S. JENNY, of Lawrenceville, Ky. and Miss Jodie E. MILLER, of this city.  No cards. 

Source: Memphis Daily Appeal, 11 Jan 1870, pg. 1.  Available via ChroniclingAmerica.loc.gov.

SMITH, Victoria Francis Brooks (Biography)

Victoria Frances “Vickie” Brooks  (6 Mar 1855 Fisherville, Shelby, TN – Oct 23, 1938 Memphis) was the youngest daughter of James Monroe Brooks and Mary Ann Kingston. She attended St. Agnes Academy and the State Female College while living in downtown Memphis. She later taught with her sister, Mollie, at their private school in Eads, TN near Hickory Withe, Morning Sun and the Brooks’ plantation home in Fisherville.  (See Brooks) 

 

Victoria married, ca. 1881, Joel “Joe” Henry Smith (1843-1844 Tippah Co., MS – Sep 9, 1928 Memphis) and they lived in Hickory Withe, Fayette, TN during the 1880s. Joel and his father were from the Corinth, Tippah, MS area and had come to work on the home at the Brooks’ plantation when he met Victoria. Joel served the Confederacy in the Civil War with Co. F 26th Mississippi Infantry as a Bugler and was taken prisoner several times, including the Battles of Vicksburg and Shiloh. Joel’s parents were probably John M. Smith (b. ca. 1812 GA) and Florenthia Nabors (b. ca. 1816 SC). Joel is buried in Confederate Soldier’s Rest, Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis. Victoria is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in the Hinson Lot with her sister, Mary Elizabeth Brooks Fletcher.

 

Issue of Victoria Brooks and Joel Smith 

Martha “Mattie” Pearl Smith  (Sep 25, 1883 Hickory Withe, Fayette Co., TN – April 29, 1965 Memphis) married Calvin Bruce Powell, comptroller at Mississippi A & M, Starkville, Oktibbeha, MS.  He was born ca. 1889 in Virginia and died bef. 1930 in Kansas City, Missouri. Mattie Pearl graduated from Mississippi State College for Women in Columbus, MS and taught at Macon-Andrew Business and Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges in Starkville. She is buried in Forest Hill. 

Issue: Patricia Powell (b. 1909) joined the Marines during WWII. She became a meteorologist, was appointed Fish and Game Librarian for the State of California, and was sent to Uganda to set up that country’s Fish and Game Library.  Issue: Michael (b. 1945).  

Frances Brooks Powell (25 Oct 1916 Starkville, MS – 17 Nov 2001 Memphis, TN) married (1) Francis Aloysius Corley (1909-1947) of Cleveland, Ohio. He died after WWII as a result of illness contracted during his service in the Army as a communications specialist.  Issue: Patricia Dayle Corley (b. 1944)   Issue: Darian Cristine Corley (b. 1973).  Frances married (2) Colley Burnett of Geneva, NY.  IssuePeter Bruce Burnett (b. 6 Jan 1950)  IssueTonya Denise Burnett. Frances Powell received her B.S. from Memphis State University and her Physical Therapist’s Degree from Duke University. She was Chief of Therapy at Les Passes Developmental Center in Memphis for over 30 years.

 Joel Victor Smith (1886-1978) married Addie H. Atkins and was a Yard Inspector for the IC Railroad. He is buried in Forest Hill, Memphis. No issue.  

Vivian Brooks Smith (31 Dec 1887 Hickory Withe, TN – 21 Feb 1970 Memphis) married Vessie Aline Anthony (21 Sep 1889 Collierville – 1 Mar 1932 Memphis), daughter of William Anthony and Molly Bickers. Vivian worked for the railroad, as a Cotton Classer, and as a Salesman. He is buried in Fisherville Cemetery (Baptist Church). Vessie is buried in Memorial Park. Vessie came from a long line of early Virginia families who were instrumental in the development of our young county: Michie, Pleasant, Randolph, Tarlton, Winston, and Woodson.

 Maj. William Walter Smith  “Willie” (1889–1974) was in the National Guard in WWI and was a Major in WWII, stationed in Alaska.  He was a Shelby County Trustee Officer. He married Emma Miller. No issue. 

Kingston Wyatt Smith   “Wyart” (b. aft. 1890) He was a carpenter and worked as a foreman at a door and window framing company in South Memphis until his retirement. He did not marry. 

 

 

Issue of Vessie Anthony and Vivian Smith 

Mary Victoria Smith (15 Dec 1908 Eads, TN – 27 Jul 1998 Raleigh, NC) married Verble Raymond Peeler (24 Aug 1903 Covington, Tipton Co., TN – 5 May 1964 Alexandria, VA) on 31 Dec 1931 in Memphis. Verble was the son of William Wesley Peeler (17 Mar 1870 – 4 Aug 1937) and Minnie Bell Francis (3 Nov 1873 – 30 Mar 1949) who married 14 Aug 1890 at Bride, TN. William and Minnie are buried in Covington, TN. Verble apprenticed at S.C. Toof and Co. and worked there until the beginning of WW II.  He then trained to be a helicopter mechanic. The family moved to Mobile, AL where they remained throughout the War. He returned to the engraving business and the family lived in Salt Lake City, Utah and Washington, DC.  Issue: Three daughters and one son. 

Henry Wyatt Smith (14 May 1911 – 11 Feb 1979) married Emma Johnson and was in the Army in WWII.  No issue.

Elsie Ray Smith (b. 8 May 1913) married Orville Chester Vann, Jr. (30 Oct 1912 Shelby, TN – 4 Nov 1987 Shelby, TN) on 7 Apr 1934 in Marion, AR. He worked for Memphis Transit Co. Orville Chester VannSr., born in Pleasant View, Cheatham Co., TN, marriedEdna Shaw, born in Big Creek, outside of Lucy/Millington. Edna was the child of Malcolm M. Shaw and Annie Elizabeth Wynn of Big Creek. Annie was the child of Allen S. Wynne, brother of Peter Wynne of Big Creek. The Wynns and the Shaws are buried in Big Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.  Issue of Elsie and Orville:  One daughter and one son. 

Eugene Smith (31 Dec 1915 – 21 Sep 1940)

William Clarence Smith “W.C.” (4 Jul 1918 – 20 Oct 2003) married Eunav Lillian Alsbrook.  Issue: One son and one daughter.

Vivian Brooks Smith (13 Dec 1922 – October 1994) was presented a Bronze Star for service in the Army WW II in Korea. He married Tommy Tyler. No issue.

Patton in Europe.

 

Submitted by Brenda B. Watson

THOMAS, James – Charged with Murder (1870)

A negro man named James THOMAS was arrested yesterday on information given to the police, charged with having murdered another negro named Green MILLER, at Balding’s Landing, in Arkansas, in November last.  At first he denied his identity, even when confronted by a gentleman who thoroughly identified him, but after being rather sharply cross-questioned by Mr. PEARNE, and a reporter, he confessed not only to having been party to the murder of MILLER, but also to having killed Joe ALLEN, another negro, shortly afterward.  He was locked up to await a requisition from Gov. CLAYTON

Source: Memphis Daily Appeal, 1 Jan 1870, pg. 4. Available via ChroniclingAmerica.gov