JOHN JAY DREWRY Friday, November 11, 1904 THE DRESDEN ENTERPRISE John J. DREWRY (son of John Drewry, grandson of Richard Drewry) On Sunday night November 6, at 12 o’clock, John J. DREWRY departed this life, having been sick several weeks. Mr. DREWRY was eighty-three years of age and left two daughters, Mrs.Florence BLACKMORE and Miss Nanny DREWRY, and one son, Horace DREWRY, who resides in California surviving him. For many years he had been a citizen of Dresden and he was universally loved. His father was at one time U. S. Marshal in Nashville, and his grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Few men have made better use of their opportunities and amassed a larger amount of general information than he. He had been a reader of history, poetry, and the classics since boyhood and a retentive memory stored away the learning thus accumulated, until he was, up to very recent years, a storehouse of general learning. No man has ever lived in Dresden who enjoyed a joke or more keenly relished good wit than Mr. Drewry. His was a gentle and kindly life, and his love of nature and the beautiful in humanity made him an attractive figure amongst men. Many gems of verse have come from his pen, always to the delight of his friends. On numerous occasions, short poems written by him have found their way into print. His soul bubbled over with music and poetry and love. There were none who knew him but who were fond of his society and his charming stories.
He was a companion to his daughter, and made home happy for her all through the latter’s years of his life, while bereft of others, to whom he was as fondly devoted. At one time he was the Register of Weakley County and made a splendid officer. Again, he did a kindness for the confederate soldiers of Weakley County; while commissioner of registrations after the war, that placed the veterans under great obligations of gratitude to him. There were few men like him, and the ever changing years, as they come and go, will not soon produce such a philosopher and kindly soul as left Dresden when the voice of John J. DREWRY was hushed in the silence of death. The funeral ceremonies were conducted by Bro. RUSSELL at the late residence of the deceased, and in the presence of weeping relatives and friends, and he was buried by the hands of affection beneath a bank of beautiful flowers. The friends of his youth are all gone, and while tracing the shadows of life, the shadows of death fell on him, and his eyes closed to this earth forever. A sweet perfume will still linger about his precious memory, and hundreds who knew him here, and loved him, will be thankful for his life and happiness which he taught and illustrated to others. God bless the children, and especially she who will set by the window and listen for the footfall that will never return, and watch for the sight of that good father who is gone. Submitted by MaryCarol
REV WAR Soldier RICHARD DREWRY Obit. Sept 13, 1950 – Dresden Democrat Another Revolutionary Soldier Gone – Richard Drewry, the subject of this sketch, was born in the county of Southampton, Virginia, on the 8th day of September, 1762, and married the 7th day of December, 1788, in the county of. Sussex, where he settled and remained until the year 1799, when he removed to Davidson county, Tennessee, where he remained until the year 1823, when he removed to Henry county, Tennessee, and remained there until the year 1824, when he removed to Weakley county, where he remained until the 12th of September, 1850, a few minutes before 5 o’clock, A.M., (making him 88 years and four days old), when he breathed his last: leaving four children and a large family of grand children to mourn his irretrievable loss. He made a profession of religion in the year 1795, and attached himself to the Baptist denominaton of christians, with whom he has remained in good standing every since, making a period of 55 years. At an early age he rallied under the banner of his country, and continued in the service until he saw the glorious object of his labors consummated in the acknowdgement of our independence. It is natural the the gratitude of mankind should be drawn to their benefactors. A number of these have passed from the busy scenes of life, leaving nothing to perpetuate their memories, or in the language of the bard of Avon,
“The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones”
There are but few of those brave heart and stout arms abiding amongst us, but of the few that remain, who acted in life as if they were born not for themselves but for their county, and the whole human race, how few alas! Are recorded in the long annals of ages, and how wide the intervals of time and space divide them.
Notes by MaryCarol. This confirms what I had suspected for some time. Richard and his childrens families moved to Henry Co., TN in 1823. This was the year that many of the western Tennessee counties were formed from land the Chickasaw Nation ceded in 1818. It was their hunting lands. For some reason, a number of our ancestors left Nashville area and spent about a year in Henry Co. before settling in Weakley or Gibson counties in 1824. Richard and families must have either squatted or rented before he purchased over 500 acres (later surveyed out over 700) from Adam Huntsman, the peg legged attorney, who beat out Davy Crockett for political office, which prompted Davy to leave Tennessee and go to Texas to fight in the Battle of Alamo where he died. Davy Crockett’s home was in Weakley co. Tennessee and the Richard Drewry families were in Gibson co. Tennessee. In 1836, there was a land swap of the two counties. The South Fork of the Obion River passed through both Gibson and Weakley which made it difficult to cross over when needing to go vote or go to Courthouse etc. By swapping land, neither county had to cross over the river anymore. Thus, Richard Drewry families became a part of Weakley and Davy Crockett family became part of Gibson co. Submitted By MaryCarol
EMILY SMITH DUKE. DRESDEN ENTERPRISE – February 14, 1919 “A NOBLE WOMAN PASSES TO REWARD – Dresden Shocked Tuedsay Morning at the Announcement of the Sudden Death of Mrs. Emily Duke, Ten Children Survive. Dresden was shocked …Mrs. Duke had been puny for several days, but her illness was of so light a nature that many of her intimate friends did not even know of her indisposition until informed on Tuesday morning of her demise….perhaps succumbed to an attack of heart trouble. Mrs. Duke, with her husband, the late W. P. (Press) Duke, move to Dresden some 25 years ago, taking charge of the Cashon hotel on the north side. In the hotel business as in private and social like, these excellent citizens became very popular and for a long while after quiting the hotel many traveling men continued to stop with them at their home, just south of the square. Mr. Duke was gathered home several years ago. He was born May 11, 1833. The suject of this sketch was born Nov. 17, 1846, and was united in marriage to Mr. Duke on March 27, 1864 during the dark days of the Civil war. To this union 12 children were given, ten of whom survive, as follows: Mrs. Emma Hawks, Mrs. Mary Stow, Calvin Duke, Miss Rebecca Duke, Mrs. Ada Smith, Mrs, Agnes Burk, Ben J. Duke, Mrs. Lillie Brasfield, Gilbert Duke and Mrs. Violet Bruce. Besides these, sharing in the affections of Mrs. Duke are Mr. Clanton Duke and sister, Mrs. Nora Williams, both of whom Mrs. Duke reared and who looked upon her as a mother. But mother is gone to that home prepared for the faithful, and while these children are bereaved and anguished, yet they have the sweet consolation that mother was spared to them all these years–to counsel them, to nurture them to man and womanhood and to bless and inspire them to higher and nobler things. And, also, may they not gather consolation from the thought that their dear mother is at rest. Their legion of friends unite in extending condolence. Services were held at the Methodist church Thrusday morning by her pastor, Rev. Caleb L. Smith, and interment in the family burying lot at the Dresden cemetery. Submitted by Sharon Hu
BEN W. FORD Died: Unknown Date. Coal oil claimed another victim this week when Ben W. FORD, 35-year-old farmer, was burned to death Tuesday morning as he attempted to light a fire at his home in Fancy Community near Dresden. Relatives said he was using kerosene to start a fire in a heating stove. The stove exploded, killing him and setting fire to the house. His wife, six children and his mother barely escaped with their lives, fleeing out into near-freezing weather in their night clothes. The home was destroyed. Funeral services for Mr. FORD were held at the Dresden Methodist Church, Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The Rev. Letie CLEMENT and J.L. Thomas officiated. Burial was in Sunset Cemetery, Dresden, with Bowlin and Riggs Mortuary in charge. He leaves his wife and six children: His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben FORD of Dresden; three sisters, Mrs. John INSCOE of Dresden; Mrs. Buddy JONES and Mrs. Arlin WALKER, both of Detroit, and two brothers, Gay NEIL of Peoria, Ill., and Harold FORD of Dresden. Submitted by Ann Westbrook Radcliff
JOSIE E WYATT FORD Josie E. WYATT was born Jan. 21, 1882; died June 12, 1925; age 43 years, four months, and 21 days. She was married to George W. FORD Dec 25, 1901. To this union was born six children – two dying in infancy. She united with the Christian Church some twenty years ago and lived a Christian life until death. She leaves a husband, four children, mother and one brother, besides a host of relatives and friends, to mourn her death. The husband loses a devoted wife, the children a fond mother, but weep not for her. She cannot come back to you, but you can go to her. Services were held at Lebanon Church of Christ on Sunday by Rev. J.L. THOMAS. Submitted by Ann Westbrook Radcliff
LULA FORD 1909. The death angel visited the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cy Ford, residing three miles northeast of Dresden, and took from their home, Lula, their beloved daughter. She was born April 24, 1885, died July 15, 1909; age twenty-three years, two months and twenty-one days. She was sick but a few days. She was a member of the M.E. Church; professed faith in Christ when quite young, and lived a faithful member until death. She leaves a mother, father, five sisters and three brothers to mourn their loss. Written by her cousin, Georgia Reed.
Weep not, dear ones, for Lula has gone to rest, and our loss is Heaven’s gain. Lula was a most lovable character, possessing a sweet and sunny disposition, and was admired and loved by all who knew her. She was indeed a sweet girl.She was a constant reader of her Bible, and seemed to love everybody and treat them as near right as she could. She will be greatly missed by everybody, especially those in her home, for there is a vacant place that can never be filled. Oh, how we do miss her, but don’t grieve, dear parents, brothers and sisters, for Lula has gone to rest where there is no sorrow, trouble or pain. She is through with the troubles and trials of this world. She is not dead, but sleeping, she cannot come back to use, but we can go to her, if we live as she did. During her illness everything that physicians, kind friends and loving hands could do was done. Though her suffering was great, she bore it all without a murmur. Lula was kind and obliging, ever ready to assist those in need. As a sister and a daughter she was loving and affectionate, ready to do anything that would make home pleasant. But alas! she is gone and left her gray haired father and mother in a dark home with no one to comfort them. Oh, how lonesome! But Lula is with us no more; her work is done, she has nothing to do with what goes on in this world. No more will she hear the words of love nor will the load of care of the bitter cut of sorrow come to her again; she is at rest. Flowers will grow from her grave to give forth fragrance to the living world; song birds may sing their sweetest lays and the closing shade of evening as it falls into night will be intervened by the lost notes of the evening songster as it sings the drowsy day to rest. The rain and sunshine of summer will fall upon it, and the snows and bitter blasts of winter will howl around it, yet all this disturbs her not – she is in the hands of Him without knowledge not a sparrow falls and unto whom a thousand days are but as yesterday when it is gone. Submitted by Ann Westbrook Radcliff