McDOWELL COUNTY, NC - BIOGRAPHIES - Mary Jane Mode and Augustus C. Dover ----¤¤¤¤---- MODE, DOVER, BURGESS, TAYLOR, WOREX CONNECTIONS In order to understand our family lines we must first step back to McDowell Co., North Carolina, where many of our kith and kin originated from before coming to Cocke Co., Tennessee. We must start with our progenitor, the one who we all basically originated from, MARY JANE MODE. She was born in or around McDowell Co. NC ca. July 1848-50 and died at the age of 58, according to Brown Funeral Home records, on 26 Oct. 1908 in Newport/Bybee Tenn. of consumption, better known as tuberculosis. She is buried, according to Lawrence Burgess of Newport, at Clay Creek Baptist Church in Newport/Bybee. There isn't a marker for her grave.(See Jim Padgett information at end regarding Mary Jane Dover Mode Dover) We do not know the parents of Mary (Jane) Mode. She is said to be of Cherokee Descent, having long, black hair, as did several of her daughters. I have spoken to many members of the MODE, DOVER, BURGESS, TAYLOR, WOREX, and related families who have generally given the same testimony to the fact that someone in the family was Indian. As far as I know the Cherokee portion of our heritage begins with Mary Jane Mode. The characteristics of black hair, high cheek bones, brown eyes and dark complexions is evident in many members of our clan, namely Lou Dover Burgess, Mary Magdalene Dover Taylor, Lea Dover Burgess, etc. Mary Jane Mode married or lived with Augustus C. Dover in McDowell Co. NC beginning around 1871. I have not found a marriage record for them. They left McDowell Co. around 1887, according to Cocke Co. tax lists, and moved to the Newport/Bybee Tennessee area. The following is how this family appeared in the 1900 Cocke Co. Census. 1900 SOUNDEX, COCKE CO., TN DIST. # 5 Gus Dover 45 (Aug. 1854) Farmer, NC Rented 53 acres. Jane Dover 51 (July 1848) NC, NC, NC Lien/Lou/Lea? 15 (Oct 1884) NC, NC, NC Minnie 13 (Feb 1887) TN, NC, NC Deleitha 10 (Oct 1884) TN, NC, NC Andrew Leadford 16 (Mar 1884) TN, TN, TN Servant Married 30 years. Mother of 9, 7 living. Could not read or write. Gus/A.C. Dover and John Mode are found first in the 1889-90 Cocke Co., TN Tax lists in Dist. # 5. This is the same family in the 1880 McDowell Co., NC Census. Page 423, Marion Township. Augustus Dover 27 Farmer Mary J. 30 Wife My 2nd great grandmother, Mary Jane Mode. William L. 9 Mary M. 6 Joseph M. 4 Ida B. 1 John T. 11 My great grandfather, John Thomas Mode, son of Mary Jane Mode. Margaret 54 Mother David 21 Brother Harriet D. 11 Niece The Dover family in the 1870 McDowell Co., North Carolina census. Page 69, Higgins Township. Margaret Dover 48 Susan 25 Sarah 20 Augustus 18 Jane 16 David 14 Clarisa 12 Harriett 2 William Dover, the father, may have died between 1860 and 1870. Said to have served in the Civil War with Co. B 22nd North Carolina Confederate Inf. Sarah Dover married Summa Mode in McDowell Co. NC. The Dover family in the 1860 McDowell Co., North Carolina census. Page 658, Marion Township. William Dover 36 Margaret 36 William 16 John 12 Matilda 10 Augustus 8 Jane 5 Sarah 2 David 4/12 This may be the same William Dover in 1850 Buncombe Co, North Carolina census. William C. Dover 24 Harriet C. 21 Orra C. 1 The Dover family may have come out of South Carolina. The following is a compiled list of various census records involving DOVER/BURGESS FAMILIES. Some of the families are known to be related, others I have not identified. 1910 Cocke Co., TN 1910 Cocke Co., TN Adee Dover 21 Eddie May Dover 5 Gr. Dau. With Rufus Burgess Elizabeth Dover 32 Daughter His sister-in-law. Estell Dover 11 Gr. Dau. Mandy Dover 13 Gr. Dau. With John Burrell. 1910 Cocke Co., TN 1900 Cocke Co., TN Jesse Dover 6 Nephew John T. Mode Sept 1868 31 NC Mary Dover 27 Daughter Nancy Mode June 1875 TN Mary Dover 4 Niece Cora Holt Jan 1894 TN With William Burgess Joseph W. Mode Mar 1899 1 TN 1899-1900 Tax List for Cocke Co., TN, Dist. # 5 1889-90 Tax List Cocke Co., TN, Dist. # 6 Bob Dover and Mills Dover listed. Mills Dover listed. J.L. Dover listed in Dist.# 12 for 1889-90 Cocke Co. TN, 1900 Dist. 5 Robert Dover 25 NC May 1875 I do not know who Roberts parents are. Thula 30 Apr 1870 TN Etter 1 May 1899 TN Cora Nolin 5 May 1895 TN Robert (Bob) and Thula were also the parents of Author Dover who died at the age of 13 in 1917 in Cocke Co. Blount Co. TN, 1880 Dist. 17 Cocke Co. TN, 1920 David A. Dover 53 NC Robert Dover 49 NC Do not know how Robert Mary 42 NC Mary E. 39 or David tie into our lines. Mary J. 16 NC Virgi 20 Mikeal A.L. 13 TN Ida/Ira 17 David C. 10 " Benet 13 Linik T.? 7 Willie 13 Margaret 5 Kate 11 John J. 2 Marjorie 9 James T. 20 GA Son Bedula? 6 Lucinda J. 20 NC DIL Iella? 4 5/12 Burnett 8/12 Cocke Co. TN, 1920 Cocke Co. TN, 1920 Estel Dover 21 TN Son of Frank Dover who is Ina Mae Dover 14 TN Verlin 16 brother to Lou, Joe Mils, Mary Jessie Dover 16 TN Olimae 2 Magdalene, Lea, and Ada Dover. Listed with their mother Mary Fox. Elizabeth 2/3 1/2 to John Thomas Mode. They are the children of Joe Mils. Eddie 16 Niece Eddie is listed with Jonney Burl also. She married Hoyle D. Taylor. Cocke Co. TN, 1920 Loudon Co., TN 1920 Ada Dover 29 TN C.F. Dover 27 TN Listed with Chester Holt (His aunt). Sophie? 28 Ada is the daughter of Augustus C. and Jakiny? 8 Mary Jane Mode Dover. Ada had Downs Earl 5 Syndrome. Sister to Lou, Mary M., Lea, Joe Mils, and Frank Dover. 1/2 sister to John Thomas Mode. Monroe Co., TN 1920 Cocke Co., TN 1910 John Thomas Mode 52 NC, NC, NC Rufus Dover 28 Nancy Belle Green 42 TN Lula 26 NC, NC, NC Joseph Wheeler 20 Cocke Co. Lawrence 7 Thomas/Andrew 18 Mar 4 Pearl 15 Rob. E. 5/12 Hattie Louise 13 Adee Dover 21 sister-in-law Mildred 10 TN, NC, NC Robert Lee (Bob) 6 Cant read/write Elmer 4 7/12 Don't know who this family is but it looks like the Rufus and Lou Dover John Thomas is the son of Mary Jane Mode Burgess family. who married Augustus C. Dover. Nancy Belle Green Holt Mode is the daughter of Wade and Martha Green of Cocke Co. Knox Co., TN 1920 Bradley Co., TN 1900 Laura Dover 35 Mary Dover 60 NC An APPRENTICE BOND between the employer, ANDREW ELLIS, his apprentice, WILLIAM PRESTON DOVER, who was 10 yrs/6months old and his mother JANE DOVER. Bond made on 12 Oct. 1875 in Cleveland Co. NC. (Not sure who this Jane Dover belongs to. May be Mary Jane Browning Dover. SOME FAMILY MARRIAGES The following is a list of marriages between our associated families. Some of the marriages came out of the Cocke Co. marriage register, while others were given to me by individuals during conversations over the phone. If a name is misspelled it is because I was not able to see the name in print, so it was written as it sounded. Some dates were not known to me at this time, but can be filled in as they are found. This list represents only the marriages that I have compiled. NAME LOCATION DATE William Dover and Margaret Padgett North/South Carolina ca. 1844 William Dover is said to have been married twice. Augustus C. Dover and Mary Jane Mode McDowell, NC ca. 1871 Lou Dover and Rufus F. Burgess (1st) Nick Smith (2nd) Cocke Co., TN ??? Mary Magdalene Dover and Wm. Taylor Cocke. Co., TN 31 Oct 1894 Frank Dover and Liza Burrell Cocke Co., TN 17 Mar. 1896 Joe Mils Dover(23) and Marietta Burgiss(18) Cocke Co., TN 31 Oct. 1902 Lena (Lea?) Dover and Hugh Burgess Cocke Co., TN 18 Nov. 1905 Nancy Belle Green and Andy Holt. (Parents of Cora Ethel Holt b. 28 Jan. 1894) 9 Oct. 1892 Cora Ethel Holt and Nute Ward Cocke Co. TN 3 July 1915 John Thomas Mode and Nancy Belle Green Holt Mode Cocke Co., TN 11 Nov. 1898 Joseph Wheeler Mode and Marguerite Aretta Sliger Blount Co., TN 19 Apr. 1930 William Franklin Mode and Bettye Jean Davis Knox Co., TN 9 June 1956 William Joseph Mode and Patsy Ann Poore Knox Co. TN 17 Aug. 1985 Robert (Bob?) Dover and Thula Holt Cocke Co., TN 26 Feb. 1897 Susan Dover(23) and Rufus Proctor(27) McDowell Co. NC 3-25-1873 Her parents: Wm. & Margeret Padgett Dover. His parents: Marcus and Sallie Handcock Proctor. Clarissa Dover(24) and Milas Hoover(58) McDowell Co. NC ?????? Her parents: Wm. & Margeret Padgett Dover(Deceased) His parents: Daniel Hoover John Dover and Mary Mayes/Mays Cocke Co. TN Bdsm. John E. Dover 28 Nov. 1911 Van Dover and Eliza Burrell Cocke Co., TN Is this Frank and Liza Burrell? Ina Mae Dover and Dexter Manning Cocke Co., TN ??? Eula Taylor and Chet Holt Cocke Co., TN ??? Jessie Dover and Hattie/Sarah? Cocke Co., TN ??? Edith Worex and Jessie Ketner Cocke Co., TN ??? Mary Etter Burgess and ???? Worex Cocke Co., TN ??? Roy Burgess and Cynthia ???? Cocke Co., TN ??? Jetta Burgess and W. Inman " " ??? Hattie May Burgess and ???? Spoon " " ??? Will Burgess and Eliza Holt " " ??? Louella Burgess and Dexter Manning " " ??? Eddie Dover and Hoyle D. Taylor " " ??? Fred Dover and Maxine Horton " " ??? INFORMATION REGARDING DEATHS IN THE FAMILY Most of this information came from various cemetery books, Browns Funeral Home, and the Tennessee Death Indexes. Again, this is only what I have collected and is in no way complete. I hope others will expand on this information. Unless stated otherwise, these deaths occurred in COCKE CO., TENNESSEE. The name variations, such as "BURGIS", is how they are shown in the death records. Augustus C. Dover? Lawrence Burgess thinks Gus Dover died ca. 1910. Mary (Jane) Mode Dover(58) died 26 Oct. 1908 of Consumption. Husband Gus Dover. Clay Creek Baptist. Author Dover(13) died 1917. Son of Bob Dover and Thula Holt? Record only says "Holt." Ina Mae Manning(16) died 1922. Daughter of Mils and Mary Burges Dover. Sister of Jessie Dover NOTE: Ina Mae was said to have drowned while crossing the Pigeon river on her way to work at the canning factory. The river was swollen and her boat overturned. John Dover(72), born NC. died 1920. Son of Wm. Dover of NC and his mother was also from NC. Bonnie Cate Burgus(4) died 1918. Daughter of R.F. and Lou Dover Burgis. Clifford Burgess, b. 1 Aug. 1907 d. 3 June 1935. Son of Hugh and Lena(Lea?) Burgess. Family Cem. Imogene Dover b. 11 May 1940 d. 14 May 1940. Daughter of Jessie and Hattie Dover. Lou Dover Burgess Smith(57) died 22 Aug. 1941. Dau. of Gus Dover and Jane Mode. Sisters Mary Magdalene Taylor , Ada Dover. Children: Lawrence, Dewey, John, and Mary Etter. Sick 3 days. Greggs Chapel. Burgess Cem. Thula Dover died Oct. 17 1908. Probably Thula Holt who married Robert(Bob) Dover. Ada Dover(57) b. 30 Oct. 1889 Cocke Co. died 27 Feb. 1947. Dau. of Gus and Mary Jane Mode Dover. Buried at Greggs Chap. Sister of Mary M., Lou, Lea, Frank, and Mils Dover. Died at home of Wm. Worex. Esti Hugh Dover(21) died 21 Aug. 1939. Born in TN. Son of Frank and Eliza Burrell Dover. Frank born in NC. Mrs Mary Magdaline Dover Taylor(78) b.14 Jan. 1874, NC, died 8 April 1952. Dau. of Gus and Mary Jane Mode Dover. Buried at Clay Creek Babt. Church. Pall- bearers: Ben Dover, Jesse Wood, Truman Nease. Jessie L. Dover born on 27 Oct., 1903 and died? Record said "No Date." Hattie Marie Dover b. 8 May 1914 d. 11 Sept. 1967. Wm. Burgess b. Dec. 1858 d. 1918. Son of Joe Burgess who served during the Civil War. Eliza Holt Burgess b. 27 July 1863 d. 1930. Wife of Wm. Burgess. *The following are children of Wm. and Eliza Holt Burgess. Rufus Burgess died at the age of 35 of TB Mary Burgess b. 21 Jan. 1883 d. 27 Oct. 1957. Union Cem/ Winnie Analine Burgess b. ca. 1885. Hugh Burgess b. 1888 d. 1920. George William Burgess b. 22 Sept 1889 d. 26 Mar. 1968. Lillie Burgess b. 1892 d. 1944. Lived in Green Co.? Buried in Burgess Cem. Cocke Co. Tennessee. Ellie Burgess b. 1894 d. ? Buried at Burgess Cem. Bruce Burgess b. 1898 d. 20 Mar. 1969. Lived in New Jersey? Buried in Burgess Cem. Ollie Burgess died at birth? Roy Burgess b. 5 Apr. 1900 d. 7 Aug. 1981. Buried in Union Cem. Cocke Co. Tennessee. Juney Burgess b. 13 June 1903 Louella Burgess b. 7 May 1905 d. 11 Oct. 1965. John Thomas Mode b. 12 Sept. 1867, NC, died 29 Aug. 1936, Maryville, TN. Buried at Morganton Cem. in Greenback, TN. 1/2 Brother to Lou, Mary Magdaline, Lea, Frank, and Mils Dover. Mother was Mary J. Mode Nancy Belle Green Holt Mode b. 8 June 1875, Cocke Co., d. 8 June 1937, Knox Co. Wife of John T. Mode and daughter of Wade and Martha Green. Buried at Morganton Cem. in Greenback, TN. Joseph Wheeler Mode b. 17 Mar. 1899 Cocke Co., d. 18 Feb. 1937, Knox Co. Buried at Lynhurst Cem. Son of John T. and Nancy Green Holt Mode. Marguerite Aretta Sliger Mode Caldwell died 25 March 1998 at Hillcrsest South in Knoxville. She was the daughter of William Edgar Sliger and Sarah Louise Cloninger. She is buried at Lynhurst Cemetery. The Sligers are the Sligers of Washington and McMinn County, Tenn. The Cloningers are from the Strawplains and New Market area of Knoxville. Same Cloninger clan as those found in Lincoln County, North Carolina. NOTES AND MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION * Lawrence Burgess, nephew too John Thomas Mode, said that he was born in Cocke Co., TN ca 1905. He said that he had met his Grandfather Gus Dover and Granny Jane Dover when he was five or six years old.(1910-1911?) I asked if he knew where they died. He said that they were buried at Clay Creek Baptist Church in Bybee, TN. Lawrence's mother was Lou Dover, half sister to John Thomas Mode. Lawrence said that his mother had two brothers, Mils and Frank, plus another sister Lea. Lea married Hugh Burgess. Lawrence said that his Granny Dover(Mary Jane Mode Dover) was full blooded Cherokee and thought that she was born in Cherokee, NC. Lawrence went on to say that all the Dover kids, Ada, Lou, Mary M., Lea, Frank, and Mils were dark skinned with black hair and black eyes. On 1 Sept. 1995 he said that his Granny Dover (Mary Jane Mode) was married twice, once to John Mode? Who died, then to Augustus (Gus) C. Dover. He said that he thought that Mils and Frank Dover died ca. 1925. · Edith Worex Ketner said that her great grandmother was Lou Dover Burgess Smith. Ada, Lou's sister lived with Wm. Worex. She also stated that the children of Frank Dover were Mandy and Estel Dover. The children of Mils Dover were Jessie and May Dover. The children of Lea Dover Burgess were Buster Burgess and Susie Burgess Garrell. The children of Mary Magdaline Dover Taylor were Eula Taylor Holt and Edwin Taylor. The children of Lou Dover Burgess Smith were Mary Etter, Lawrence, Dewey and John Burgess. Ada Dover had Downs Syndrome. · My grandmother said that Mary Magdaline Dover Taylor had long, coal-black hair. She had a daughter named Eula that married Chet Holt. They had a daughter, Georgie Holt who married a Hartsell, and had a son, Paul Holt. · Jack Burgess, son of Dewey Burgess, said that he can remember his Uncle Lawrence Burgess and his dad, Dewey, saying that their mother, Lou Dover Burgess Smith, was 1/2 or 3/4 Cherokee. · Paul Manning's line runs through Louella Burgess Manning. His mother's sister, Mary Burgess, first married Mils Dover who had May and Jessie Dover. Her second marriage was to a FOX. The parents of Louella and Mary Burgess was Eliza Holt and Will Burgess. Eliza's father was Tide Holt. · The parents of Edith, Bill, and Pansy? Worex was Mary Etter Burgess and ? Worex. Their grandmother was Lou Dover Burgess Smith who married Rufus Burgess first, Nick Smith second. Bill Worex stated that his granny Dover looked half indian, had high cheeks, dark skinned, and long black hair. Remembers that Aunt Mary M. Dover Taylor was kinda dark too. · Lawrence Burgess married Zollie Holt and Roy Burgess's sister, Mary(Marietta) married Mils Dover. · John H. Mode of Atlanta said that John Thomas Mode, son of Mary Jane Mode Dover, lived with his mother and her father, who was a MODE. · Granny Mode, Marguerite Aretta Sliger Mode, said that Joseph Wheeler Mode, son of John Thomas Mode and Nancy Belle Green, "had coal black hair and brown eyes." He had "naturally dark skin, not from a sun tan."Said that Mr. Mode, John Thomas Mode, told her that he was "part or full-bloodied indian." He was narrow waisted and broad-chested. Said the Modes had "dark hair, brown eyes, and were dark complected." · According to Jim Padgett of Marion, North Carolina Mary Jane Mode Dover was actually Mary Jane Dover Mode Dover, half sister to Augustus C. Dover. She is said to have married John Mode first, had son John Thomas Mode by this marriage and after John Mode died she then married her half brother Augustus. · According to my Aunt Betty Jo Mode Butler, John and Nancy Belle Green Mode were very staunch Republicans and were very disappointed that their son, Joseph Wheeler Mode, voted for Roosevelt. Would love to know what they thought about their Grandson, William Franklin Mode, being named for Roosevelt. This information was gathered and compiled by William Joseph Mode, 2nd great grandson of Mary Jane Mode Dover. Much more can be gathered and compiled and much more needs to be found regarding the parentage of Mary J. Mode Dover. I can be reached at 3725 Terrace View Rd., Knoxville, TN 37918 (423-687-6646) E-mail At: jmode@mindspring.com ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joe Mode jmode@mindspring.com ___________________________________________________________________