Shannon Family (includes family letters)
Harvey SHANNON Birth: 4 Nov 1800 Robertson, TN Death: 11 Oct 1895 Sumner, TN Father:
Michael SHANNON Mother: Margaret HOPKINS. Other Spouses: Delilah LUCAS
Misc. Notes: Sumner Co., TN Cemetery Records. Shannon Cemetery. At Hendersonville 1 3/10
mi north on Center Point Road. Cemetery is approximately 100 yds north of road. Marriage:
15 Jan 1827 Sumner, TN spouse: Mary (Polly) TOWELL Birth: 6 Aug 1796 Sumner, TN Death:
6 Apr 1880 Goodletsville, Davidson, TN Father: Isaac TOWELL (1764-1845) Mother: Sarah
McADAMS (1775-1851) Other Spouses: John GIBB. For more information on the Towell line,
see the Family Album contribution Towell Family.
Children of Harvey Shannon and Mary Polly Towell are:
Sumner County Tennessee Jany 25/58
To Saml & Nancy Towell
Letter addressed to Mrs. Nancy P. Towell Cabben Creek Johnson County Ark
Clarksville July the 8th 1850
To Harvey Shannon and Mary
To Samuel and Nancy Towell
Envelope addressed to: Samuel Towell Esq, Piney Ark
Dear Uncle & Aunt
Sumner County Tenn Jany 4/58
© 1999
Misc. Notes: Sumner Co., TN Cemetery Records. Shannon Cemetery. At Hendersonville 1 3/10
mi north on Center Point Road. Cemetery is approximately 100 yds north of road.
Misc. Notes: Lived on Drake's Creek Jany 25/58.
Misc. Notes: Dr. Harvey Shannon while visiting his daughter Alice in Nashville, TN was stricken
with pneumonia and died shortly thereafter. He died at the home of his daughter. The 1860 MS
census of Vicksburg, Warren, MS lists - Dr Harvey Shannon age 20, Physician, born TN.
Misc. Notes: I. N. Shannon is listed as Pvt. E Co., Ist Confederate infantry. He joined the
'Whitworth Rifle Sharpshooters" of Cheatham's Division a few days after the battle of
Chickamauga which occurred on Sept. 19 & 20, 1863. (Info taken from muster roll at
Greensboro, NC) Enlisted in Co. E Ist Consolidated Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers on 23 May
1861 at Jackson, TN and paroled at Greensboro, NC I May 1865, Quote from Pension
Application #3504 in TN Archives: Isaac Newton filled this application out personally in 1901.
"Enlisted at Union City, TN in May 1861 in Co. E (Capt. Epperson) 9th Tenn Regt Infantry (Col
Douglas) which was then in Cheathams, afterwards Maney's Brigade.' Further in application, 'I
was struck in the stomach and an collar bone at Shiloh, shot across right knee and through hat at
Perryville, struck on foot at Jonesbourgh, Ga and shocked by shell at Franklin, TN but had no
bones broken and no very serious results at the time except for a few days soreness from bruises.'
Quote from letter from Maggie Shannon to Mrs. B. Boyd, "Isaac Newton Shannon had typhoid
fever (1859) at the home of Dr. Isaac Towell (his uncle). Dr. Towell cared for and nursed him
back to health and then he went to Reelfoor Lake for 18 months where he regained his strength,
then in May 1861 he enlisted in the army at either Union City or Jackson, TN. Bettie Lee and
children moved from George to Center Point 11 November 1875. Isaac Newton arrived I March
1876. See letter written by I. N. Shannon.
Misc. Notes: Fountain is buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Fountain and wife died of Yellow Fever
in New Orleans in 1883. Lewie was a Sea Captain and Ida and Mary Katherine were missionaries
to Japan for many years.
Dear Brother & Sister
We received your kind Letter of August last, and have
neglected to answer it until Now. It is a wet Day I am in the House. In looking over Some papers
I found on a small Table I came across your Letter and concluded to redeem the time by Writing I
have nothing very Interesting to write now, but will try to give you something. First my health is
Tolerable. Pollys is not so good, She is getting very clumsy & unable to get about, Suffers a good
deal from Pains & aches at Times In fact we are both gong down to our long Home . . . . Our
children are Scattered Margaret is living on drake's Creek has 3 children a Clever Husband &
plenty to do. Harvey is or will be in Vicksburgh in Miss soon to try his hand vs allopathy Isaac N
has been in Georgia two or Three years is at home now trying to recruit his health he expects to
Start for Texas Soon. Fountain P. is still with us he started to school this morning. Mary C. wants
to go to school this year no arrangement made for it yet. Orpha Lost her Husband last June a year
ago came and lived at our house a few months went back to Ky where she had Lived formerly
Married again and still lives near the same place. Betsey Williams health is not very good, Nancy
has pretty good health of late years. Rogers has Sallys children all at home Now. some of them
have been with Nancy Most of the time since Sallys death We received a letter from John Gibb
since we heard the report of his Death. we saw another written to John Rogers latterly in
which he said he wondered who could have started that report. I have thought it might have
sprung from a notice I saw in the papers of a Capt Gibbs who was said to have been killed or
wounded in a skirmish with the Indians near Santa Fe some months ago. perhaps not.
We are living on the same place you left us, I think sometimes
it is silly to sit down and stay so long in one place but then I see so many people Dissatisfied afer
breaking up. and moving perhaps it is as well to stay if one is only
comfortably situated. we can live here our Iifetime (which will not probably be long) then our
children can do as they Like. You say in our letter that "Religion seems to be at a low ebb" that I
suppose is the case generally it is so here we had a refreshing season last summer in our vicinity a
goodly number Joined the church, but when Christmas came Some Danced for Joy thereby
manifesting their gratitude to God for the Gift of his son by serving themselves and the Devil a
while, Strange infatuation This. But so it is and will be until man "Sees with other eyes than his',
or until his Spiritual eyes are opened.
There is a case before the public to which many look with
solicitude it Family Group Shoot is this Doctr Elliot an Elder in the Methodist church who has
charge of the Female Academy in Nashville has Dancing Taught as a science in said Academy 'for
excercise & recreation he says' the case came up before the Quarterly meeting last fall and after
much Deliberation was referred to the presiding Bishop at the Annual Conference & Through him
to the College of Bishops to meet in Nashville next May
We hope for the Honor of the Church and cause of Christ
They will act Discretely in the premises.
You seem to think the Separation in the M. E. Church has
done an injury to the cause well it may be so, If so woe to by whom the offence came. But it
seems other Churches are involved as well as the Methodist. the Truth is it (is) hard to bear
everything imposed upon us in this day of usurpation and agitation. It seem the North have taken
it into their heads to ride over the South at all hazards hince agitation agitation has been the sine
gua non of their political & Ecclesiastical Existence for many years. how this thing will end is
known alone to him who sits in the Heavens & Hold the Destiny of Nations as well as individuals
at his control. we can only hope for the best and Devouitly pray Almighty god to Avert the Stroke
that seems Lowring over us as a nation and so dispose the hearts of the people that they may
follow the leadings of providence & continue a prosperous and happy people Amen farewell
Harvey & Mary Shannon
P. S. I forgot to mention some things in the body of my letter which I think might be interesting to
you Several of the old people you left here are gone to Eternity and some young ones too Mr.
John Savely & Wife have died Caleb Willis his two single Sisters & Danl W. Willis are all Dead
Mrs. Robt Harper & one of her sons are Dead Doctr Graham is dead Danl Montgomery is dead &
wife too Gabl Dillard is dead Doctr Cuffman & son Benjamin & Jas(?) the spurrier have been
Dead several years My own parents are both dead Jack Harper Kizzy & Leroy and Eveline byson
are all dead There has been two dearful occurences in our immediate neighbourhood in about
Two years first some men were killing hogs one Isaac Moore (Franks son) had a rifle in his hand
it went off unexpectedly & shot Wm Jourdan through the head Killing him instantly. the other a
son of Darby H Cantrell had his gun barrels out of the stock Cleaning them was blowing in one
when it fired with only powder wadding they say and tore his head wide open some parts they
found some distance from the place next morning some parts they never found
Adieu H Shannon
(The original of this letter is in the possession of Mary Lee Page.)
Sumner Co Tenn Apl 10/80
Dear Sister Nancy It is with feelings that I have no words to express I sit down to let you know
that my Dear companion has closed her eyes on Earthly Things and gone to the Spirit Land She
has been helpless most of the time for about 14 Months and for the last few weeks she suffered a
good deal at times until Tuesday the 6th Inst when she Took her exit at half past Eight P.M. It
seems hard to realize the fact that She is Dead, we have lived together for more then 53 years in
which she proved to be a good patient and affectionate wife and Mother but she is gone. peace to
her ashes. I am now berift of my best friend I feel that Earth has few charms for me, I don't
Expect to stay much longer here, for I am now in the 80th year and feel that the outward man is
perishing, and that soon I may be called to pass the same ordeal where I hope to meet my Friends
that have gone before. if I may but hear him Say Enter, it will compensate for all the Toils and
disappoint- ments of this Life and then will we Sing to him that loved us and washed us from our
Sins to him be glory forever and ever Amen, If we should miss this our lives will be a Sad Failure .
. . . O let us strive to enter in at the straight gate that it may be well with us when we go hence
you may send this to William if convenient or to any one of our friends you please Farewell
Harvey Shannon
1879 has been remarkable for its mortality amongst our old men in this Vicinity Beginning on
Novr 11th:78 we lost Eleven Old Citizens in Ten Months in a circle of a few miles round Since
that time Several younger persons have Died
I think it a little remarkable that 6 out of 9 or 10 Servants that left us after the war are Dead and 5
out the 6 were young when they left us. Surely there was Something wrong Somewhere
If you get this write to me Soon as convenient Direct to me at
Goodletsville Davidson County Tenn
H Shannon
(The original of this letter is in the possession of Mary Lee Page.)
Dear Uncle and aunt,
I received your kind letter of the 10th of April self and the
connexion are all well at this time so far as my knowledge extends. Mr. Rogers is getting along
slowly with his eyes. They continue to improve slowly. He has been afflicted ever since the ... day
of August 1848. The cholera is very bad a Nashville. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last
there were an average of 500 . . . a day. But I understand it is somewhat subsiding. It has not yet
visited this place and I hope it will not. mother received a letter from brother John a few weeks
since, and it came to my hands a few days since, and I send you a copy of it which is as
follows.
Sacramento City Cali March 23rd 1850
Dear Father and Mother
I take this opportunity of informing you that I am well at
present and I am living in Sacramento City at this time & injoying a suit of Law, about a lot which
I paid four thousand dollars in gold dust for. Though I am safe whether I gain or lose this suit.
The lot is worth six thousand dollars. I have seen several acquaintances this winter & have rec'd a
letter from Isaac P. Shannon that I ought to answer. He must excuse me for another month as I
have started on a voyage of discovery, and rec'd. it by accident at San Francisco. Our intention
was to explore the coast between here and Oregon. but on being out to sea 2 days, the wind in the
S. E. & brought on a storm that lasted 14 days, which was so hard that we could not carry no sail
by close reef top said & sometimes nothing at all except a while of a morning. During the time our
ballace shifted about 18 inches, all hand was standing by with axes to cut away the mast to let her
right again, she righted again & for 2 hours afterward the hands were busy putting oil on the sea
so as to keep the seas from breaking, the oil spreading over the water apparently smooths it. 18
hours afterward all hands was called on deck for a wrack at 12 o'clock in the night on some rocks
laying about 30 miles off shore of Green Bay north of the mouth of Columbia ..., after .... all
hands was called again for a wreck on Vancoauver Island. It was barely light but they put on all
(sail?) seeing no other chance than a wreck & squared her for the shore which appeared to be
rocks, with some small rocks a short distance from the shore. But passing through those rocks,
we discovered that we were in the entrance of a bay & in five minutes more was at anchor in a
good harbor in 15 fathom water in latitude north 49 deg 53 minutes. We waited a change of
weather and returned without difficulty.
I have had good health since I was there & have made some
money, though my expenses has been about $1500.00 this winter as I have been travelling most of
the time. My daily expenses is five dollars per day. For breakfast $1.00, dinner $2.00, supper
$1.00 and bed $1.00. Money is very plenty, produce is cheap, flour from 6 to 12 dollars a
hundred, barley from 7 to 15 cents per lb, brown sugar from 20 to 50, loaf from $1.00 to $1.50
per lb, bacon shoulders from 20 to 50, hams from 40 to 70, beef cattle from $40.00 to $60.00 per
head, sheep from $8.00 to $12.00 per head, horses and mules from $100.00 to $400.00 work
catttle from $200.00 to $400.00, egs from one to $2.00 a dozen, cabbage from one to $3.00 a
head, American milch cows from one to $150.00 a head. that is as near the market price as I can
get of this place, every place has its prices and this about the lowest prices. Everything except
horses is about the same everywhere. I will send you a paper soon & let you have the news
regular. our city is about one year old and is about the size of Clarksville with 3 times the number
of inhabitants. Last fall there were about 3000 men to a woman as there was only 3 women in the
city. That sight has seldom been seen a city of men. I must hunt up something else now. I have
not seen but (one?) Sumner County boy. That was the Widow Reed's son Hubbard. He told me
that there was several of the boys and that Mr. Walton had a letter for me but could not fine him
but Wm Clift told me that he got it and sent it to this place but I cannot find it. Wm Clift was from
Sumner & I saw him and knew him though I had not seen him for many years. Also I because
acquainted with Dr. Guinn, my big cousin. he told me that old Aunt Guinn is yet alive and well.
He is Senator from California. society is not very good yet though it is getting better. Any person
coming from the States had better come by water as there is too many coming by land & they will
come in six weeks anyhow. Give my respects to all that ask about me, Wm Whitworth and
Family, Wm Rogers and family, F Williams and family, all of them. Also Margaret and Mary must
write to me and the boys must write also and I will answer all the letters that I received. I am so
bothred with company in the room that I can't think of anything. But a man can make money at
anything almost as I suppose you have heard that there is plenty of gold. I cleared $4000 in four
months last season & I must close.
Your son with respect
John Gibb
I shall reply to John in a few days. Tell cousin Susannah and
Cousin Mary Ann Eliza that I would be very glad to receive an answer from them to the letter I
wrote them on the 30 of April. Perhaps they may induce me to come through Arkansas on my
way to Texas this Fall or next Spring. Tell them to write for I would like very much to get a letter
from them. Mr. Rogers and family send their respects to all of you and say they would like to see
you very much. give my respects to all, the same to yourselves, and believe me ever your friend
until death. Write, all of you write.
Harvey Shannon
(Note from Mary Lee Page - The copy of this letter is only a typed copy. When Mary Lee
Pinkerton sent it to me ca.1975 she said that some would not photocopy and that she typed them
out.)
Henderson Tennessee March 13th 1850
Dear Uncle & Aunt
I embrace this opportunite of writing you a few lines, to
inform you that we are all still in the land of the living, I am now at Wm Whitworths. I left
Clarksville a few days since on a visit to old Sumner county to see my old Friends. Mr r\Rogers
had Received your letter, which we were glad to receive but we were sorry to hear that you had
no late word from John Gibb. The only letter we have had from him, was written some 15 or 20
days after he arrived in California, he states that he had enjoyed good Health ever since he left. He
had been in the Gold Mines for Five days & got five hundred Dollars. He also states that he had
left the mines and was going to live in the City of "Sanfrancisco" that he could double his Money
in 30 days & that it was safer for him That is his life would not be in half as much danger as it
would be in the Diggiins, he got there about the 5th day of September 1848. Mr. Rogers has been
affected for more than 12 months with the Sore Eyes amounting to total blindness at times, he is
now on the mend (or was when I left) he can almost see his map. I am in hopes he will be entirely
restored during this Summer. Sally is Well. the children are all well, they have 4 Catherine, John
Gibb, Mary & Julia, Kate, John & Mary are going to school, Father & Mother are still living at
the old Place. They are in good Health. Margarett was Married on the 4th of July last to William
Hutchinson son of Old William Hutchinson who lives on Drakes Creek. They are living at the old
Place. Mr. Williams & Elizabeth are well they have 4 Children 3 Girls & I boy the youngest is
named Robert Williams about 2 Months Old. Old Grandmother Shannon is Still living, she is
living with Father. She is Very Old & very Much afflicted.
Margarett has been Very sick, but is at the present time up
and about still moving.
I would like to see you all very much. I will write more fully
when I return to Clarksville which will be in a few days. Please write me at Clarksville as soon as
you Receive this. give my respects to all the children & receive a due portion to yourselves. Yours
tilll death
To Saml Towell Harvey
Shannon Jr
Nancy Towell
I drop you a line to inform you that we are well, We have
got no children. we had one about 4 years ago but it died at 5 Days Old. We are living at the same
place and expect to stay her as long as I live my health has been very Bad for two years untill
about 4 months ago at that time I only waid 147 lbs now my wait is 170 lbs Nancy health is very
good to what it has been she sayes 130 lbs we haint Paid a doctor Bill in two years I have a notion
to go to Virginia or Maryland this Summer if my health keep good to buy Some negroes you just
write to us on the reseite of this I have no appology for not writing to you sooner only neglect not
because I haven't wanted to hear from you so you must write to me and I think will do Better than
I have done all the connection is well except Widen(?) Byram his health is vary bad with
Consumption he can't live but a short time nothing more but Remaines yours till death &
S N Towell Wm Whitworth
Nancy Whitworth
(The original of this letter is in the possession of Mary Lee Page.)
Samuel Towell Esqr
Piny Johnson County, Arkansas
Dear Uncle and Aunt.
Your very highly esteemed favor to Father & Mother came to
hand in due season, and let me assure you that we were all glad indeed to hear form you and that
it will aford us very pleasure to hear from you often.
I have nothing of a special or stirring nature of interest to
write you, but will confine my letter to family statistics, principally which may interest you.
Father and Mother are enjoying as good health as we can
expect for persons of their age, though they are both getting grey, and breaking. I think, however,
that they enjoy as good or better health and look better than the majority of persons at their
age.
Sister Elizabeth Williams health is not good nor has been for
several years. Mr. Williams health has not been good recently. They lost two of their small
children some time ago with scarlet Fever, (Nannnie & Johnny). they now have (Sarah, Courtney,
Lenora & Bascom) four children.
Nancy and Mr. Whitworth are enjoying pretty good health.
They have no children of their own, but have taken Sister Sally Rogers youngest two girls to raise
& educate and Keep, (Mary & Julia). Kate & John Rogers are at Clarksville with their Pa & Step
Ma. Mr. Rogers has now his third wife, who is swelling the number of the Rogers family
considerably.
Margarette & Mr. Hutchinson have three children, Sarah
Ann, William & Harvey. Mr. H's health is not very good in the summer. He is subject to brain
fever & Margarette's health of tolerably good, she has three as likely children as any one ought to
desire.
Harvey has been living with Dr. H. H.. Harrison the past year,
they were associated in the practice of medicine. He was up on a visit a few days ago, he will
practice in Vicksburgh Miss this season & will very probably make that his home.
Fountain & Mary are at home & I reckon will live with the
old Folks all the time or until one or both of them marry.
I have been at consierable expense & study to qualify myself
for a mercantilers life, but find to my sorrow, that just as I was finishing it, my health failed, and
from necessity, in order to restore my health will have to live a more active life, in order to
prolong my existence, and not being stout enough for hard & heavy labor, have procured
employment that will me to travel through almost every county in Texas. I think the trip will
restore my health. I have been sick since last August with chills & Fever, have had a hard time of
it.
We received a letter from Brother John Gibb last July. It
contained nothing of special interest - He was at the same place mentioned in your letter - I will
write to him in a day or two.
Crops here are about an average yield for a good season - but
the season being uncommonly late caused many persons along the prominent water course to
sustain losses as their corn was not matured well enough to keep if gathered, before an early great
rise of the waters covered it -
A good many persons have sustained heavy losses in having
their Hogs die before killing time - the disease confined itself principally to Whites Creek near
Nashville, but is now prevailing generally throughout the county generally - it is spreading & may
visit us soon - It is a strange disease & many are the conjectures with regard to it cause & cure,
but no one has offered any satisfactory disanosis or remedy.
I may start for Texas in two months, but it is entirely
uncertain - should I conclude to go to Shrevesport by water & buy my Horses & Carryall in Texas
I will start by or before the Ist March or if I buy them here, I will start from Memphis, Tenn as
soon as the roads will permit which may be in April - I would like to pass by & see you if I can
find you near the Memphis & Little Rock road - I guess I will leave here in one month & go down
& See Uncle Isaac & Jessee Towell in Tipton County then go to see Dr. Harrison (who married
cousin Matt Towell ) a Brother Harvey, & start from there.
I will be glad if you will write to me at Holly Springs Miss or
have some of my Cousins to write to me as I would like to get acquainted with them in this way if
I cannot visit them. Also write to Father & Mother at Goodlelttsville, Tenn.
Wishing you success, and much happiness I am with much
respect your well wishing Nephew.
I. N. Shannon
Since writing the above we have received a letter from John Giffs written to John G. Rogers. he
was well & doing well his letter was dated Nov Ist 1887 from Isaac D. towel. Tell you son to
write to me and I will answer them.
Write soon, yours truely,
F. E. P. Shannon
(The original of this letter is in the possession of Mary Lee Page.)
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