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MAP – Alexander Cemetery
Todays map called Tomlinson Cemetery
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ALEXANDER – Tomlinson Cemetery
The Angus Alexander Cemetery -Later known as Tomlinson.
Possible names buried in cemetery are:
Alexander
Jackson
Murphy
Lee
This info and jpgs were sent to me while I was researching the MURPHY family of Weakley who were on the ill fated Donner Party in California 1846-1847. See MURPHY FAMILY of Weakley and info on other related families.
This is one Alexander Cemetery – first known as Alexander Cemetery as was part of Angus Alexander’s land. Then the land went to a kinfolk of his, a Tomlinson, and as I understand it, was then known as Tomlinson Cemetery.
We know by Mary Murphy’s letter of 1847 that Jeremiah Burns MURPHY is buried there 1839 and later Angus Alexander, etc. The stones from the early years probably were sandstone which has melted back to the earth.
The cemetery may have been in good shape when the DAR did their surveys of Weakley Cemeteries…but that was many years ago. Paul sent me this email…..In May we were talking about the Tomlinson family cemetery and the Angus Alexander headstone. In the emails someone mentioned that they had tried to find the cemetery unsuccessfully. In June 2001 we located it by a set of unusual coincidences and documented the location out in the middle of a cornfield north of the Ore springs/Como vol. fire dept and community center building……..MaryCarol
CLICK HERE TO SEE
1. The landmark building.
2. A view from the road of the jungle that contains the cemetery
3. One of the headstones that we did find in the cemetery – Sarah Maddox 1832-1888
CLICK HERE TO SEE
4. A survey map showing the location of the cemetery.
The Thompson Creek Baptist Church shown on the map apparently burned down in the 60s and was replaced by one in Como.
Web Design & Graphics by MaryCarol
Mary Covillaud 1849 letter
The Murphy Family of Weakley County, part of the Donner Party 1846-47.
Mary Murphy Covillaud’s letter of 1849, sent to her Weakley County, TN kinfolk, telling about the life in California.
Transcribed by MaryCarol from copy of original letter in Tennessee State Archives in Nashville.
1849 California
Mary MURPHY COVILLAUD
letter written to her Weakley County, TN kinfolk
“this is to all my relations
Dear Aunts, Uncles and cousins I take this opportunity to let you know that I have not forgotten you although I have greatly neglected to write to you and it is my _________to my beloved Mother for if she was living she would be sure to write but believe me it was not because I had forgot you for I have been thinking of you all the time and I have often made up my mind to write to you but it is enough to break a _________heart _____________to think of all that has happened to us since we left our unhappy house for my poor Mother was very unhappy I wish that that home could have been more happy for her or that I by enduring all torture could have prevented her suffering but I need not try to tell my ___________to you you know that my Mother had a strong mind she would have went ___________ her children have inherited the same or I should have died heart broken long before this I wrote to you once before but I don�t know wheather you received it or not those that we lost was Mr. Pike my Mother Landrum Lemuel George and little Catharine They are at peace and a great deal better of than we are but I shall always wish that it had been gods will for me to die with my Mother yet I could give them up more freely if they were laying in Uncle Anguses garden by the side of my own dear Father I think we will all be back there before many years for I want to see all of you again and perhaps I may lay by _________Father__________I had as …..page torn off……lie my bones were in the mountains as any where else William and Simon are large healthy boys and are like the other boys was William can ride wild horses like a Spaniard they can talk spanish and indian to[too] Harriet is married to Mr. Nye he is a very wise man and he loves Naomi as well as if she was his own child and he loves Harriett very much my husband�s name is Charles Covillaud and he is as good a husband as any body need want he is of French his Mother is in France and we will go to see her I expect we and Sarah and Harriett are all living close together it is about 75 miles from each other but we have plenty of ____________and we can ride to see each other in on hour and a half very ____________husbands are all partners they have thousands of cattle and horses and other kind of stock Mr. Nye stays at the rancho and ________ cattle and takes care of the farming and Mr Foster and Charles stays in the gold mine they make a great deal of money but there are ___________ men coming from every part of the world that ___________is not so good as it has been but any man that can work hard and take care of what they makes they can make twenty thousand dollars in a year but the most of the people that come here are sailors and the very __________of people and in a short time it will be very dangerous to live in California there has been several miners committed already we live on _________River in the side of the mountain we are camped out in tents but we have them very comfortable with everything that money can buy there are a great many indians here but they are just like __________ they go without any clothing atall the most of the …..page torn……..perfectly harmless and as agreeable as can be but they will work very well sometimes there is every kind of people here that there is in the world and more coming in every day by the hundreds I think we will stay in this country long enough to receive a letter from you all if you will write as soon as you receive this My beloved Aunts I have wrote all that I can think of that you might want to hear I wish that I had a letter a piece for each of you but this will be enough to let you know that we are alive and well it seems to me it has been an age since I saw yu all and I was almost afraid to here from you for fear some of yuo are laid in the graves but may god have mercy on you all and shield your hearts from all sorrow Charles sends his love to you all Dear Aunts, uncles and cousins I _____how much I love you and how bad I want to see you all once more I have nothing more to say at present but I remain forever your loving and faithfull
Mary A. M. Covillaud
to Simpson Alexander and Delilah Alexander and Green Lee and Harriett Lee
P.S. Write as soon as you receive this and write about every thing that has happened since I left there.”
Web Design & Graphics by MaryCarol
DONNER PARTY-MURPHYS
13 of Murphy Family – from Weakley County, TN.
Members of the ill fated Donner Party 1846
Trapped in 22 feet of snow over the winter of 1846-47 in High Sierras of California. 6 perish, 7 survive.
By MaryCarol
CLICK here for PHOTO COLLECTION
It is with reverence to their plight and admiration to their survival that I pay tribute to The Murphy Family of Weakley County, TN who were part of the ill-fated Donner Party of 1846/47. They were caught in the record high snows of 22 ft at today’s Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California for 5 months. 6 of the 13 Murphy family members perished, 7 of the 13 Murphy family members survived.
When I was a young girl we spent summers camping and hiking the Eastern side of the High Sierra Mountains. This was before hiking, camping, and condos were big so it was unspoiled land. Cold clear streams meandered through lush green meadows from the snow melting down the almost barren mountains. The lakes were full of trout, and if you climbed to a lake high enough, you could catch the prized Golden Trout. Daytime was warm in July, night was cold and windy. According to George, the goldminer, who had a cabin tucked away up above 8,000 ft, snow often started falling in August. He said that sometimes he had to ski out to get back down the mountains where he spent the winters. I cannot imagine trying to cross the High Sierras on foot in November.
Growing up in San Diego, CA, I remember finding a book in the Special Collections section of the Library written in the late 1800’s about the Donner Party. I was particularly moved by the account of a family stranded in the snow, boiling hide and bones for soup and sharing a potato for Christmas.
When Cousin Wylodean told me Weakley County had a connection to a family of the Donner Party, I was compelled to check it out. The following information was gathered from Weakley County Census, Marriage Records and Cemetery Listings, Archives of Weakley Mailing List, Cousin Wylodean Bruff Rogers who shared misc. tidbits, Kristin Johnson who has made the Donner Party a special research project – visit her fabulous detailed Donner Party web site under Donner Party Links – Georgia Walsh who shared background on the Jackson, Murphy, and Alexander families, Sue Bowers for input on the Lee family, cousin Terry Coats for jogging my memory and visiting the TN Archives for copy of the 4th letter sent back to Weakley County in 1849, written by Mary Murphy Covillaud, John Geobel who shared data on Green William Murphy and put me in touch with Charlotte Covillaud of France who let me use the photos of Charles & Mary Murphy Covillaud. Thank You all. MaryCarol.
What was the Donner Party of 1846-47
A Wagon Train of 87 men women and children were trapped in the harsh winter snows of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in 1846-47. 41 perished. 46 survived. 2/3 of the men perished, 2/3 of the women and children survived. The Donner Party is known for some of the people surviving by getting nourishment from those that had perished. There were heroes and heroines within the party despite their tragic circumstances.
In November of 1846, only 3 miles from the summit of what is now Donner’s Pass, the emigrants lost the trail in 5 feet of snow. They turned back but when they retuned the next day the pass was blocked by 10 foot drifts. They kept trying to get over the pass but each time had to turn back.
Snows were the heaviest in the High Sierra’s that year than any before or since, reaching a record depth of 22 feet. The shacks and lean-tos of the emigrants were buried in snow for over 5 months.
Desperate to get help, 15 of the strongest people were selected (10 males and 5 females), calling themselves the “Forlorn Hope” Group. The group left on Dec 16, 1846, swearing to get across the mountains or die trying. Somehow, 7 (2 men – 5 women) of them survived the 33 days of travel which brought them to Johnson’s Ranch 35 miles east of Sutter’s Fort on Jan 17, 1847. 5 members of the Murphy family were part of the Forlorn Hope group. William had to return to camp within a couple of days because he had no snowshoes but 3 of the remaining 4 members of the Murphy family survived.
The 1st rescue party from Sutter’s Fort reached the snow bound emigrants in February, bringing out 27 of Donner’s Party including 17 children. 3 Other rescue parties followed. The last man was brought out on April 21, 1847 with rescuers reporting snow 6 to 8 feet deep.
The trail these emigrants were taking as they headed from Nevada into California is todays Hwy 80, a little north of Lake Tahoe.
They traveled from todays Reno, NV, along the Truckee River, by todays Donner Lake, over Donner Pass, and into the Scaramento Valley of Capt. John Sutter’s Fort. This was in fall 1846 to spring of 1847- 2 years before Gold was discovered on John Sutter’s land in 1849.
1846 Weakley County, Tennessee
13 Murphy Family members leave for California in 2 wagons
Matriarch and widow, Levinah W. JACKSON MURPHY, age 36
Her 7 children, 3 Grandchildren and 2 sons-in-law
A little background on the Murphy Family
Who was this woman who traveled across the country without a husband??
She was born Levinah W. JACKSON, daughter of a prosperous Union County. South Carolina family on 15 Dec 1809. Said to have acted as her Father’s secretary, married in Union County, S.C in 1824 to Jeremiah Burns MURPHY b. 3 March 1805 in SC, son of Mark Murphy and Holly Duke.
Kristin Johnson says, “Documents dating from her lifetime give her name as “Levina” or “Levinah” (pronounced luh-VINE-uh). Her son William spelled the name “Levinah”; Wilford Woodruff’s 1836 daybook gives the name as “Levinah W. MURPHY,” as does a transcription of a family Bible”.
In the early 1830’s Jeremiah and Levinah moved with 5 of their children to the Dresden area of Weakley County, TN along with their JACKSON, ALEXANDER, MURPHY and LEE kinfolk. Their last 2 children, William Green. and Simon Peter Murphy, were born in Weakley County, TN.
Although raised as Baptists in South Carolina, Jeremiah and Levinah join the Mormon faith about 1836 while living in Weakley County. Jeremiah’s brother, Emmanuel Masters Murphy also joined the Mormon Church about the same time and went on to become a prominent leader of the Morman Church as they moved to Utah. It was their cousin, Randloph Alexander, who first allowed a Mormon missionary to preach on his land next to the Thompson Creek Baptist Church after he was not allowed to preach in the church. Randolph Alexander was a believer from that day on and must have influenced Jeremiah and Emmanuel.
3 years later, on Oct 5, 1839, Jeremiah Murphy died in Weakley County, TN. He was only 34 years old. Brother-in-law, Green T. LEE, was appointed guardian of Jeremiah’s minor children in 1839 – remember in those days, even if the Mother was alive, a guardian was appointed for minor children – [1845-1846 page 100-104 Guardian Book A ] He also stood surety for a bond when Levinah purchased two town lots in Dresden. Jeremiah left his widow, Levinah, with 7 children to raise. She never remarried.
MURPHY – JACKSON – ALEXANDER – LEE
Families of Weakley County, Tennessee
Formerly of Union County, South Carolina and Virginia
.
3 JACKSON sisters
Levinah W. JACKSON – m. Jeremiah B. MURPHY.
Harriett Charlotte JACKSON – m. Green T. LEE.
Delilah M. JACKSON – m. Simpson ALEXANDER
.
1 JACKSON aunt
Sarah JACKSON – m. Angus Alexander
So the MURPHY family had plenty of kinfolk in the Thompson Creek area of Weakley County.
The families of MURPHY, JACKSON, ALEXANDER, and LEE were intermingled by marriage. Not only did the men have the same first names over and over again, but the women did as well, making it very confusing to sort them all out. Levinah W. JACKSON and husband, Jeremiah Burns MURPHY were 1st cousins, once removed. Their common ancestors were Simon MURPHY II & Sarah DUKE, grandparents of Jeremiah and great grandparents of Levinah.
None of these families are listed on the Weakley County 1830 Census but must have arrived shortly after as according to Georgia Walsh’s research, “On the third Saturday in August, 1831, Angus ALEXANDER helped to found the Thompson Creek Baptist Church in his home. The congregation continued to meet there until their building was erected in the small community of Ore Spring, Weakley Co., Tennessee.” It was common in those days for extended families to migrate together so we are assuming they traveled by wagon train from Union Co., South Carolina.
Angus Alexander was married 1st to Unity Murphy, kinfolk of Jeremiah Burns Murphy. She died young and Angus married Sarah Jackson, Levinah’s Aunt and sister of Levinah’s Father, Frederick Jackson. Sarah and Frederick were children of Ralph Jackson Jr. and Delilah Murphy.
In 1849, Mary Murphy Covillaud wrote back to her Aunts, Uncles, and cousins in Weakley County, Tennessee …..”those that we lost was Mr. Pike, my Mother, Landrum, Lemuel, George, and little Catharine They are at peace and a great deal better of [off] than we are but I shall always wish that it had been gods will for me to die with my Mother yet I could give them up more freely if they were laying in Uncle Anguses garden by the side of my own dear Father I think we will all be back there before many years for I want to see all of you again ”
Today the Alexander Cemetery is called the Tomlinson Cemetery. – see photos and map.
Simpson Alexander was married to Delilah M. Jackson, sister of Levinah
Green T. Lee was married to Harriett Charlotte Jackson, sister of Levinah
One of their sons, William Pinkney “Pinkney” Lee 1840-1924 served with his cousin, Simon Murphy (son of Levinah), during the Civil War in Co L 6th Cav USA.
Joining the Mormons in Nauvoo, Illinois
After Jerimiah’s death, Levinah moved to Nauvoo Illinois in 1841, which was the home of the Morman church at that time. It was this connection that would eventually lead Levinah and her children into joining the ill fated wagon train to California in 1846. However, by fall of 1842 she is returning to Weakley County.
Kristin Johnson writes: ” Late that fall of 1842 the family left Nauvoo, Illinois. They boarded a steamship for St. Louis at Warsaw, Illinois, but didn’t get very far as the ship became icebound on the opposite shore of the river. On December 29th the two eldest daughters, Sarah and Harriet, were married on board the ship to William M. FOSTER and William M. PIKE by a justice of the peace. [both men were part of the ships crew].
After the ship was freed it continued on to St. Louis, where the PIKES and FOSTERS took up residence. Levinah and her 5 younger children continued on to Weakley County, Tennessee – back with her kinfolk. After about 1 year, the PIKES joined Levinah in Weakley County.”
3 years later….
In 1845 Levinah is planning her trip to California. It was also about this time frame that the Mormon Church was planning on relocating in California. Some took a ship out of New York to San Fransicso and others were going overland to California. However, since Levinah had already moved back to Weakley County for a few years before the big trip out west, it is not clear if she was still within the Mormon fold.
March of 1846 – Westward Ho!
Levinah W. Jackson Murphy, 36, widow of Jeremiah Burns Murphy traveled with her seven children and two Sons-in-law, leaving Weakley County in 1846. Five of the children were young: John Landrum, 16, Meriam Marjory “Mary” 14, Lemuel B. 12, William Green 10 and Simon Peter 8. Her two eldest girls were married with children of their own: Daughter, Sarah Ann Charlotte 19, and her husband William McFadden FOSTER, 30, had a son Jeremiah George Foster, 1 . Daughter, Harriet Frances 18, and her husband Willam Montgomery PIKE abt. 32, had two little girls, Naomi Levina Pike 2, and Catherine Pike abt.1.
According to William G. Murphy, in a 1896 speech he gave in Marysville, CA, marking the 50th year since the 1846 snowbound winter, the Murphys had two wagons.
He said, “In 1845 we heard wonderful stories of a wonderful country in the far West, between the Pacific ocean and the Rocky mountains, a country of sulubrious climate, perrenial spring time indeed, of deep and inexhaustible soil, why, they said that wheat grew wild higher than a man’s head, and the Mexican Government that exercised some kind of control over it, would grant land to settlers; So my mother, as a widow, with seven children, two sons-in-law and three grand children, suggested that we emigrate to the far off fairy land. She ordered a suitable wagon to be manufactured, a son-in-law did the same, and early in 1846, we started out with two ox teams from West Tennessee, crossed the State of Kentucky, the Ohio river below Paducah, up through Illinois, to Ballville, opposite St. Louis, crossed the Mississippi there, taking a family of three of ours who lived there [The Fosters], completing our number to thirteen. Across the State of Missouri to Independence, then the great entry port of the overland trade of Northern Mexico and Santa Fe; here we learned that the great overland caravan for Oregon and California had departed. We concluded to overtake them, which we did at the Big Blue [River], in Kansas, where they were water bound. Here we first met the Donners.” This would be end of May of 1846, three months after leaving Weakley County.
After awhile on the trail as part of the big wagon train, part of the group split off, including the Murphy Family. They join the Donner Party led by George Donner, his brother Jacob and James Frazier Reed, all of Springfield, Illinois. This group was looking for a Short Cut….called the Hastings Cut Off….but it turned out to be the Long Cut , as it cost them over 1 month in added travel time.
It was late October 1847 when they reach todays Reno, Nevada.
Before starting up the East side of Sierras, they take a time out to give their animals food and rest time. It is now into November as they start up the mountains and get caught in the first of many snow storms. Some of the animals run off in the blinding snow, many are never found.
Within the Murphy family, 6 of the 13 perish – 7 survive including sons William and Simon who are returned in 1849 to live with their Weakley kinfolk.
6 of 13 perish
1. Levinah MURPHY...she took care of the little ones and was remembered affectionately by other wagon train members, according to Georgia Donner. She had insisted her daughters go with the Forlorn Hope group. Levinah became blind for awhile during the winter, was too feeble for the 3rd relief party to take out. As the 3rd relief was getting ready to go it is reported, “As we were ready to start, Mrs. Murphy walked to her bed, laid down, turned her face toward the wall. One of the men gave her a handful of dried meat.–She seemed to realize that we were leaving her, that her work was finished..” She was not alive when the 4th relief returned in April.
2. William M. PIKE – accidentally shot on the trail near Reno, NV Oct 1846. He and brother-in-law, William Foster had volunteered to go to Sutter’s Fort for supplies in late October when a gun Foster was cleaning accidentally went off…yes, it WAS an accident.
3. Lemuel B. MURPHY passed away at Camp of Death during Forlorn Hope Group attempt to get over the mountains Dec 1846.
4. John Landrum MURPHY passed away in the Murphy Cabin. Jan 1847.
5. Catharine PIKE, baby of Harriet Murphy Pike passed away in the Murphy Cabin Feb 1847.
6. Jeremiah George FOSTER, son of Sarah Murphy Foster passed away in the Murphy Cabin March 1847
7 of 13 survivors
1. Sarah Ann Charlotte MURPHY FOSTER- She survived the ordeal of the Forlorn Hope group.
2. William McFadden FOSTER- He survived the ordeal of the Forlorn Hope group, returned with the 3rd Relief to get his son, George, who had already perished. William Foster returned once more with the 4th relief, to bring out his Mother-in-law, Levinah Murphy, but she had perished.
3. Harriet Frances MURPHY PIKE – She survived the Forlorn Hope group.
4. Naomi Levina PIKE – left with her grandmother, Levinah Murphy, while her Mother traveled with the Forlorn Hope group. Naomi was rescued by the First Relief.
5. Meriam Marjory “Mary” MURPHY – Rescued by the First Relief in Feb 1847
6. William Green MURPHY – Rescued by the First Relief in Feb 1847
7. Simon Peter MURPHY – Rescued by the Third Relief in March 1847. He was the last of Murphy family to come out of the mountains.
By April of 1847 the 7 survivors of Murphy family are all living in California
May of 1847, 3 letters written by Harriet Murphy Pike , Sarah Murphy Foster, and Mary Murphy addressed to their uncle, Green T. Lee, were sent back to Weakley County kinfolk telling of their ordeal.
CLICK HERE to read the 3 letters
- Harriet marries Mr. Nye
- Mary 1st marries JOHNSON, and then Charles COVILLAUD.
- The 2 brother-in-laws become prosperous in ranching and gold mining.
- Mary Murphy COVILLAUD sends another letter back to Weakley County kinfolk in 1849. She tells about their colorful life in California, and the beginning of the gold rush.
- Marysville, California was named after Mary Murphy Covillaud.
CLICK HERE to read Mary’s 1849 Letter
Looking for more in depth accounts of the Donner Party?
Check these out…
Book by Kristin Johnson….She is a librarian who has done a remarkable job of tracking down the truths of the Donner Party, covering ALL of the families of the Donner Party. She wrote a book in 1996, Unfortunate Emigrants: Narratives of the Donner Party.
Survivors stories gathered by C. F. McGlashan. His book, History of Donner Party – A Tradgedy of the Sierra.Published 1879.
See TEXT OF BOOK online.
Diary of PATRICK BREEN online. He had suffered a leg injury, making him unable to help with the vigorous camp chores but he started a diary in November of 1846 which has been helpful in painting a picture for us of the ordeal these people endured.
Web Design & Graphics by MaryCarol
Murphy Letters 1847
Weakley County’s connection to the ill fated Donner Party of 1846-7
The 3 letters of 1847 by 3 Murphy Sisters
By MaryCarol
May 25, 1847 the 3 Murphy sisters sent back letters to their Weakley County Kinfolk
| Handwritten transcription of the 1847 letters by Thomas W. Lee Placed in both the Martin, TN Public library and in the Marysville, CA Public Library. Photocopies sent to the Tennessee State Archives To: Green T. LEE, Irwins Store Post Office [ district #6], Weakley County, Tennessee California Teritory May the 25th 1847 Letter #1 Dear Uncles Aunts and Cousins, I take my pen in hand to say a few words to let you all…. I will give you a small sketch of our travels. After we left there we went on to St. Louis and Foster and Sarah came with us and then we came on to Independance and there we wrote to you and then we left the United States and in about six hundred miles from there to Sweetwater River and there wrote again and then crost the Rocky Mountouns and took Hasting new rout by the big Salt Lake and had to make our road which kept us behind about two or three weeks and we got out of provisions and had to kill our oxens. There was about 85 persons in our company. Mr. Foster was going to go ahead and come back with provisions but in loading the six shooter it went off and shot Mr. Pike in the back he died in about one half hour and in that time he suffered more than tongue can tell. It was on the last day of October. We was then about 2 hundred miles from the settlements that evening it commenced to snowing. In three days we got to the dividing ridge of the Sierra Nevada or snowy range of the California Mountains. It was snowing so that we could not find the road and we stopped by the mountain lake. It snowed 2 weeks. It was beyond hope almost for us to go so we killed what few cattle we had left. We made several attempts to go on foot but the snow was soft and we would almost sink to our neck. After we had been there 2 or 3 months a company of ten men and five women went over on snow shoes. Foster, Sarah, Harite [Harriett] and Lemuel was in this company. They ware thirty days coming 100 miles. They starved till they ware so weak that they could not stand up and they lived on thare friends that ware dying every day. Lemuel died among the rest. There was but 2 men got through. Foster was one that got through. All the women got through and a company went out after the rest that were in the mountains. When they got there half the company had starved to death and Landrum, George and little Catherine, Harriettes baby and my poor ill fated and persecuted Mother was all dead. William, Simon, Naomi and myself came through but as for me I have nothing to live for, a poor orphan, Motherless and almost friendless. Charlotte, you have been the companion of all my thoughts now just think of me in a strange country and to think on my poor Mother and brother that are dead, their bodies to feed the hungry bears and wolves for there was no burying them the snow was so deep. This is a very small sketch of what we have sufard [suffered] but I hope I shall not live long for I am tired of this troublesome world and want to go to my Mother. I know that she is in a better world. I must close these few lines. This is for all my friends and relations. I have not mind enough to word a letter. I will bid you all a long and perhaps a last farwell.Mary A. M. Murphy ——————— Letter #2 Dear Freinds and connections, as Mary has told all of the peticulars I will say a few words to let you know that I have not forgot you. We are all living together heare [here] in a strange cuntry [country] with very few friends. Thare [There] is know [no] one that knows how to simpathise with me left a widow in a strange country with one poor orphant childe to take care of. I have not had the hart nor mind to word all my suffering since I saw you so I must close by giving my love to you all. Give my love to Uncle Angus and Aunt Sarah and Cousin Deila [Delilah] and receive a portion your selves. I remain you afectionate relative Harriet F. Pike Uncle Green, Aunt Harriet, Uncle Simpson, Aunt Deliliah my love to you all a long farewell ——————- Letter #3 Dear Friends, as Mary and Hariett has told you of a few of our sufferings I will leave the ——–ful subject tho I can not think of anything else. We do not no yet where we will live. Foster is gone now to look for land he likes. This country is thinly settled. It is from ten to 15 and twenty and forty miles to any neighbors and half of them are Spanyards and French. There is plenty of Indians the old seters [settlers] of this contry is very rich they have form 5 to 10 thousand head of cattle and the same amount of horses. The grass is green the hole year round and the stock is wild as the deer. They have Indians drive them in a field and then they throw a loop on their heads and legs and then they brand them with there oners name when they are calfs. The land is as good as it is there and anything that is planted will grow such as wheat, corn and potatoes and onions and any kind of vegitables and fruit of all kinds and the wine is plenty in some parts and will grow any where in this country but all this doze not suply the plase of poor Mother and Brothers and my poor little George and Mr. Pike and little Catherine. I think that if the road was not so long that we should go back but to think of going the same road back again. We left home the 26 of March and we got here the 19 of Febrary but if we had got throu in time it would of been in the last of September. If any of you ——–ever come out heare you must have lite too horse wagons and 3 yoke of good oxen and be sure to leave everything but yore clothes and provision and as few cooking things as possible and no earthen ware and don’t have but one thousand pounds in one wagon. If you do not follow this you will have to leave all yore wagons. We lost our wagons and everything else but what we had on our back. I must close My love to all my friends and relations fare well Aunt Tee [Lee], Uncle and Aunt Alex [Alexander] Sarah A. C. Foster |
Web Design & Graphics by MaryCarol
MAP of GARDNER
Map – Gardner area roads – buildings
| Home site #18 on Gardner, TN 1912 map was the home of Col John “Jack” Almus Gardner from 1874 until about 1887 when he moved to Gainesville, TX where he died, He was the last child living when his brother, Joshua died in 1887. Gardner School burned and school was held in his home after he moved. The school was soon re-built before 1900. Submitted by Louise Arnold |
Web Design & Graphics by MaryCarol
Colonel Gardner’s Home
| Standing in the picture of Col John Almus Gardner’s home were: On the front porch by the front door is Col John standing by his second wife Agnes Cowardin. The boy on steps was probably a grandson? Their sons, Almus Howard was born in 1851; Ernest was born in 1852 and Percy was born in 1857 would have been older. Lady in coner on porch? Some slave folk on the balcony. The home stood on the west end corner of Academy Dr. and Route 22 Rd. going Southwest. Submitted by Louise Hester Arnold. |
Web Design & Graphics by MaryCarol
GARDNER TRAIN SHELTER
| The Gardner, TN Nashville Chattanooga and St. Louis train shelter. Submitted Terry Coats |
Web Design & Graphics by MaryCarol
LAURA A. GARDNER
Laura Adelaide Gardner, daughter of John Almus Gardner. Wife of James Franklin Gardner.
Submitted Louise Arnold
Web Design & Graphics by MaryCarol
James F. GARDNER
James Franklin (Frank) Gardner, son of Joshua Gardner. He was the first school teacher in the first “log” school in Gardner. His wife was Laura Adelaide Gardner, daughter of John Almus Gardner.
Submitted Louise Arnold
Web Design & Graphics by MaryCarol
PEEPLES -THOMAS home
The Peeples home in Gardnerville
| The Samuel Peeples home on Gardner Road in Gardnerville, north of present day Gardner. It was built between 1841 and 1860. The Price Thomas family is shown in the front yard sometime after 1861. Submitted Louise Arnold |
Web Design & Graphics by MaryCarol
GARDNER CHURCH
Gardner Methodist Episcopal Church South
| The Gardner Methodist Episcopal Church South. (Later The United Methodist Church) on Gardner Road in Gardner. The land was given by John A. Gardner and W. P. Caldwell and was organized in 1877. The building was torn down sometime after 1965. Submitted Louise Arnold |
Web Design & Graphics by MaryCarol
GARDNER SCHOOL
| The picture of the last frame Gardner School was painted from a combination of memory and pictures showing parts of the school. It was built after the previous school were destroyed by fire in 1893. Submitted Louise Arnold |