CANNON COUNTY, TN - BIOGRAPHIES - R.A. Dennis Manuscripts, Part 4 --------------¤¤¤¤¤¤-------------- WALTER HANCOCK I now come to the intellectual, venerable son of Richard Alexander Hancock. By way of fondness his parents named him Walter. I have often thought that Page 21 the prayers of his sainted mother and the sacred songs she often sang around the hearth stone of her home was a sure stepping stone to his achievements. Walter’s environments have always been comfortable and pleasant. He was born on Sycamore Creek in the tenth civil dist. of Cannon Co. on Thurs. Jan 21, 1869. In 1873 we met each other and have been fast friends since. We went to our first school, taught by Miss Elvira Gassaway in a rude log cabin near the Jerry Mullinax residence. We sat upon the same split log backless bench. We ran foot race across the play ground. We wrestled upon the verdant green. We plucked apples and peaches off the same trees. We drank fresh apple cider from the same crooked handle gourd. We enjoyed the same grape vine swing. We cooled and refreshed ourselves in the big pond up in the hollow back of the blue grass lot. When sent to the hill for stove wood we cried. When dinner was ready, we smiled Ah'. God knows the bountiful feasts we enjoyed at our mothers tables. We are gray headed men now. We are making our last stand upon the battle field of this earthly life. We hope to cross the river where angels cross. etc. Zack Keaton married Susan Adams in Patrick Co., Va. Susan was a sister of Jacob Adams, Sr. They came to Tenn in Oct 1809. They entered a large farm over in what is known as the Keaton Hollow. It lies west over the hill from Adams Branch. Zach built good houses of logs hewed on both sides. Zach and Susan worked hard. They raised a family of five children. Bill and Neal were the sons. Morning, Lyda, and Jencie were the daughters. Lyda married Robert King. Their home was on the King Branch, a tributary of Sycamore Creek. Robert owned the entire land on the branch. Robert and Lyda had five sons and five daughters. William, James, Abe, Jake and John King. The dau. were Alamenta, Nancy, Elizabeth, Lucinda and Mary. Alamenta married Allen Vandygriff. They had one heir: Will. Will married Rhoda Campbell. Nancy King, daughter of Robert and Lyda, married Jesse McGee. Elizabeth married G. C. Keaton. The girls are all dead and have been for many years. The sons are all dead. ROBERT KING'S SONS WHO ARE GRANDSONS OF ZACK KEATON William, the first son of Robert King, was born ca 1812. He married Nancy Kelley. To William and Nancy five sons and five daughters were born. Robert Jr., the eldest son married Frances Mahaffa. Their children were Will, Manny, Jasper, and Oscar the sons. The daughters were Tenny, Sarah, Martha, and Norah. Tip King married Miss Mathis. One son graced their home. John is his name. William and Nancy King's third son Jake, married Tabitha Bratcher. Two sons and one daughter were born to them. Allen and Pete were the sons. Ardelia was the only daughter. She married R. A. Dennis, the author of this manuscript. Taylor King died unmarried. John, the youngest son, married Lucy Barrett. Five sons and two daughters were born to them. William King's daughters were Lize, Lyda, Mary Ann, Morning, and Emma. Lize married Harve Dodd. Lyda married Joe Knight. Mary Ann married Monroe Haley. Morning married Jackson King. Emma married John Campbell. Robert King's second son, James, was born 1812. James married Agnes Strickland, born Oct. 31, 1809. Five sons and three dau. were born to them. Alex married Sarah Ann Bogle. James, Jr. married Nancy Parton. Jordan married Martha Bogle. She died and he married Martha Haley. The Haley wife died and Jordan married Cynthia Allen, formerly Cynthia Fuson. Jackson King married Morning King, Henry King married Amanda Keaton. Lyda King, dau of James and Agnes King, married James Knight. Knight died and Lyda married Daniel Bryson. Cynthia married Sam Keaton. Cynthia died and Jane King married Sam Keaton. Page 22 Abraham King, Robert's son, married Sally Keaton, dau of Larkin Keaton. They removed to Carroll Co., West Tenn. I only saw two of their children Nelson and Mary. I don't know the other children. James King was born 1812, died 1905. Agnes Strickland, wife of James King was born Oct. 31, 1809. Died Oct. 31, 1884. Jake, one of Robert King's sons, married Lunnie Williams. To them three sons and two dau. were born. Bob married Maggie Jaynuay. Bill King married Al Groome. Alexander married Tenny Keaton. Mary married Neal Bogle. Martha married Jim Womack. John King, Sr., son of Robert King, married Mary Caroline Hancock, dau. of Alfred Hancock. No children were born to them. Robert King and Jake Kelley came to Tenn when Zack Keaton and the Adams family emigrated here. They married Zack Keatons daughters. Robert King married Lyda and Jake Kelley married Morning Keaton. They had children. Jake, Jr. was one of the sons. Jake married Laura Fitchpatrick. One dau. was born to them. Paralee was her name. She married Auntna Stanley. In the year 1844, in Aug. on Sunday, Jake Kelley was walking across the house floor singing a sacred song and whetting his razor. A vivid flash of lightning, a keen clap of thunder, and Jake Kelly was no more. William Kelley, a son of Jake Kelley, Sr. and grandson of Zack Keaton & Susan Adams Keaton, married Lucinda King, a dau of Robert King. William & Lucinda had two sons and three daughters. Bethel Kelley, the oldest son married Lucy Ward. They raised a large family. Sam Kelley married a Miss Archer. They went to Kentucky many years ago & they are both dead. The daughters were Alamenta, America and Paralee. She married Jonathan Summar. They had four sons and two girls. Will, Hatton, Andrew and Robert were the boys. Ethel and Alta were the girls. America and Paralee Kelley were William and Lucindas other dau. they were feeble minded and are dead. PETER KEATON P. A. Keaton was born Nov. 5, 1810, died July 20, 1892. He married Jane Keaton, dau. of Zack Keaton & Susan Adams. Born Sept 9, 1812, died Jan. 2, 1888. Peter and Jane had four sons and four dau. Gabriel C. Keaton son of Peter, married Mary King daughter of Robert King. They were first cousins. Hayman married Eliza Davis. Bill married a Miss Reedy. N. J. married Tenney McGee. Sarah Keaton married Parker Tedder. Lyda married Mr. Hammons. Mary married Jerry B. Collins. Martha died unmarried. Peter Keaton lived at the head of Sycamore Creek. He owned three or four hundred acres of land and lived comfortable and easy. He was singularly turned but he was sure a fine man and stood to and by his promises. The world is better for him having lived in it. P. A. Keaton born Nov. 5, 1810. Died July 20, 1892. Jane, wife of P. A. Keaton; born Sept. 9, 1812. Died Jan. 25, 1888. ABRAHAM, A SON OF JACOB ADAMS, SR Abe Adams was born Jan. 16, 1790. Died Sept 9, 1867. He married Nancy Adams a sister of Captain Billy Adams, Jan. 7, 1811. Nancy Adams was born April 9, 1790. She died Feb. 1, 1852. Abe was a son of the first Jacob Adams who emigrated here in 1809. Abe and Nancy raised a large family. There were three sons born to them, William, Peter, and Jacob, Jr. There were several dau. born to them. Susan Jane Adams; born Apr 30, 1821. Mary W. Adams born June 10, 1819. Hannah Leean Adams born June 22, 1817. Fanny married John Allen. Mr. Lewis married one of Abrahams dau. William Turney married Jane Adams. William Turney born Mar. 9, 1814. Died May 22, 1857. James Fuson married Abe Adams sister, Elizabeth Adams. Lewis Hancock married Frances Adams, sister of Abraham Adams. Page 23 ABE'S DAUGHTERS **JANE ADAMS She was a dau. of Abe Adams & grand dau. of Jacob Adams, Sr. and sister of Peter and Jake Adams, Jr. and William Adams. She married William Turney. There were born to them five sons and married, Cyntha Adamson? two dau. Dr. Joe Turney married, a dau of Bill Sellers, the widow of W. J. Hale. I. G. Turney born April 22, 1852, died Oct 14, 1926. He married John C. Johnson's dau. Dr. J. T. Turney born June 10, 1856. Died Nov 9, 1912. Vicy wife of Dr. J. T. Turney, and dau of the venerable Joseph Carter lives at Auburn home. John Turney married Anna Fite. She died and he married Emma Estes. They reside on Sanders Fork Creek two miles south of Auburntown. Jasper Turney married Hiram Fite's dau. One of Jake Turney's dau. married James Ford. The other one married Will Truett. The Turney family are all dead except John. Peter Adams, a son of Abe Adams and grandson of Jacob Adams, Sr. was born Apr. 9, 1813. He died Oct. 15, 1884. He grew up on his fatherŐs farm & became a useful citizen. Peter was a stock raiser & stock trader. He drove hundreds of hogs south and sold them. Peter was a merchant for a long time. He sold goods at Round Top upon Purtles Creek for a long while. Peter Adams married Eliz. Baker. They had no children. Elizabeth’s first husband was Pleas Crowley. The late Judge W. G. Crowley of Smithville, Tn was their son. Eliz. Baker was the widow Crowley when she married Peter Adams. Eliz. Adams was born April 16, 1806. Died Sept 4, 1867. Peter Adams born Apr 9, 1818. Died Oct. 15, 1884. Williams Adams was born Dec 20, 1811 died 1861. William was the brother of Peter & Jacob Adams, Jr. William born Dec. 20, 1811. Died 1861. Jacob, Jr. a son of Abe Adams and grandson of Jacob Adams, Sr. born May 13, 1815. Died 1887. He married Lucretia Sellers. She was formerly Lucretia Braswell. She married Nathan Sellers and gave birth to two sons and one dau. Samp and Will Sellers were the sons. Jayne the dau. Jacob, Jr. & Lucretia Adams had four sons & three daughters. The sons were Lee, who died in his 18th yr. Frank died unmarried; Pleas married Babe Overall. Both are dead. Jim B. Adams married Nola Overall. The dau. of of Jake Adams, Jr. Are Caroline, who married James Owen; Priscilla married John Overall. Priscilla died Aug. 1884. Susan Adams, the youngest one of Jacobs girls mar. Alfred Ewel Hancock. They raised one son only. Valter Hancock is his name. He is a fine type of humanity. Valter is industrious, a good financier, and is in fine circumstances. He is devoted to the church and gives freely of his means to support the church and other good things. William Hays mother was a dau. of Abe Adams. The Hays home was upon Purtle's Creek where the late Wes Jennings lived and died. William's father died and he, William bought the farm and sold it to Wes Jennings. William Hays bought a farm one mile east of Alexandria and died there. Hannah Adams married Mr. Lewis. Mary W. Adams married a Brazzel. Susan Jane Adams married William Turney. Fanny Adams married John Allen Aug. 20, 1825. ZACK KEATON'S SONS Zack Keaton & Susan Adams, his wife raised two sons, Neely & Billy. The boys came with their parents to this country when the Adams colony came in 1809. Neely was 19 years of age when he came here. Having been born 1783. Neely entered into a covenant with a Miss Harris while preparing to go west. He promised her to come back & take her as his bride when he became twenty-on years of age. Neely did as he said. He made two crops here, bought himself Page 24 a fine mare, and went for his bride. She rode all the way from Va. back home on that mare behind him. They lived on their father's farm all their lives. They raised a family of sixteen children. The sons; Isom married Polly Adkins. Wes married Sally Keaton, John married Ann Fuson. Mathew married Tabitha Bratcher. Sam married Nell O'Connor. Buck married Julia Keath. Henry married Ellen Derting. James died unmarried. Neely Keaton's sons that married and raised families. Neely's children are dead. Caroline, a dau of Neely Keaton & granddaughter. of Zack Keaton & Susan Adams, his wife married Henry Hatley. Julia, Cynda, Amanda, & Elizabeth died unmarried. Patsy married Bill Whiteside. Puss married Dave Rogers. Tilda never married. The children, of Henry Hatley & Caroline Keaton Hatley: Christopher, the eldest died in 1883. Charity married James Allen Grooms. James is dead, so is their only child. She was the wife of Joe Champion. Sally died unmarried. So did Tennie. Dillard died in 1940. Robert is living at the home place with his sister Charity Grooms. John Hatley was Henry Hatley’s son. He married Mary King, dau. of Abe King. John is dead. Billy Keaton was a son of Zack & Susan Keaton. Billy married a Miss Holland. Their children: Thomas Keaton married Betsy Fuson. Robert Keaton married Allochie Wilson. Billy Keatons daughters: Susan married John Davis. Frances married Will Adamson. Another died unmarried. Thomas Keaton's sons were James, Samuel, Horace & Lee. The daughter Tenny married James Dull Jennings. Leandrew Hays married one of them Rebecca. So did Pony Jennings & Jim Sharp Jennings married Thomas Keaton's girls. Jane the youngest daughter married an Allsup. JACOB ADAMS, SR. HIS DAUGHTERS James Fuson married Elizabeth Adams Feb 6, 1820. To this union one son and six daughters: Leroy, the son, married Lucinda Hass. Betsy married Thomas Keaton. Anna married John Keaton. Tilda married Jasper Ruyle. She was his second wife. Cyntha married James Allen. He died & she married Jordan King. One married a Wright. Patsy died unmarried. James Fusons home was up the Anderson Hollow, over across the mill dam from Cottage Home. James Fuson sold his farm to Allen Wilson & removed to Liberty, DeKalb co., Tennessee and engaged in the hotel business the remainder of his life. Leroy Fuson raised three sons and four daughters. James died in the War between the States. Andy died in 1882. John A. Fuson resides at the home place in Wilson Co. Sarah married Henry Barrett. Molly married Thomas Groom. Laura married Steve Robinson. James Mullinax married one of Leroy Fusons daughters. JACOB ADAMS SR HIS SISTERS Mary’s first husband was Christopher Cooper. Her second husband was Richard Hancock. Barbara Adams married Dr. Sam Tittle. Susan Adams married Zack Keaton, Ruth Adams married Mr. Cummings. Warren and Thomas were the sons. Their girls married and located out in Missouri near Carthage. JACOB ADAMS SR. HIS DAUGHTERS Frances Adams married Lewis Hancock 1811. Susan Adams, Jr. married Robert Johnson, July 15, 1812. Isaac McKee, bondsman. Elizabeth Adams married James Fuson Feb 6, 1830, John Adams, bondsman by Abner W. Bone, J. P. Mary Adams married John Allen, August 20, 1825. Zachariah Summers bondsman, by Joseph Fite, J. P. RUFUS ALONZO DENNIS SON OF HENRY DENNIS manuscript written 1940 Rufus born June 18, 1868. [Rufus mother Palona Frances Eeynolds Dennis she was reared by Peter Adams - Peter & Richard Hancock 1st cousin] Page 25 ALAMENTA HANCOCK AND FOUNTAIN OWEN Alamenta Hancock was the only daughter of Richard Hancock and Mary Adams Hancock. She was born about 1813. She married Fountain Owen and their home was above Gassaway upon Clear Fork Creek. James Grizzle owns the home place at the present time. Fountain Owen was in possession of several acres of fine land, probably two thousand acres or more. They had several children but I do not know all of them. I just know what I have been told by my folks and others. Alfred was one of the sons of Fountain and Alamenta Owen. He married Lucinda Fuson. They had two sons and one daughter. Fate, the oldest son married Babe Goyrd. They move to Gibson county in West Tenn. A man struck Fate on the head with a cotton hoe and he died in a day or so from the effects of the blow on the head. Josiah Owen, second son of Alfred and Lucinda Owen, married Nola Campbell. Their children were as follows: Maggie, Will, Gertrude, Ocie, Alva, Oscar, Nelma, Alfred and Lena Owen. Josiah is dead. Nancy Owen was the only daughter of Alfred and Lucinda Owen. She married a Mr. Thompson of Gibson county and I think he is dead. Kansie is living yet, I believe. Fate Owen, son of Fountain and Alamenta Owen, married and reared a family of several children. I do not know who his wife was. Fate moved to Warren County and died there, somewhere near Daylight, Tennessee. Josiah C. Owen born 1834 son of Fountain and Alamenta. Fountain and Alamenta Owen had four daughters and there may have been some that I have never heard of. Puss Owen married Archamme Markum. {Arch Markum married A. H. Owen, May 8, 1864 in Cannon County, TN} They had no children. Their home was across the creek opposite A. J. Smithson's residence. A. J. Smithson owns the farm now. Eliza Owen married James Odom, called "Gentlemen Jim". They had children but I do not know how many. Albert Odom is one of their boys. Caroline Owen married H. A. Overall. They brought up a large family, two sons and five daughters. Alletha married James Keaton of Cottage Home. Babe Overall married P. C. Adams. They had the following children: Claude, Prestiss, Frank, and Myrtle. Myrtle, the only grown daughter married Marshall Groome. Alice Overall married A. J. Smithson. They had three children: the first one dying in infancy. A son, Willie Horace Smithson, died as a young man somewhere in his twenties. The only daughter, Carmine Smithson, married Robert Stone. They live in Woodbury. Alice is dead. A. J. Smithson still resides at his home on Clear Fork above Gassaway. A. J. Smithson owns nearly three thousand acres of good land. Page 25 Nola Overall, a daughter of H. A. and Caroline Owen Overall, married Jim B. Adams. They had two daughters, Gracie and Una. Gracie died very young. Una married Will Robinson of near Round Top. They are now living at Chattanooga. Grady is the only son of J. B. Adams and his second wife, Lockie Hays. Ernest Overall, the youngest daughter, married Jeff McKnight. They had one son that I knew, Delta. He is living I think down in Maury county. All of H. A. and Caroline Owen Overalls children are dead. Lee Overall, the oldest son of H. A. and Caroline Owen Overall, was born in 1864. Lee was a fine useful man. He married Ada Spurlock, the youngest daughter of J. C. Spurlock. Lee was a merchant for years. He was elected to the office of trustee of DeKalb county two terms. He moved to Kentucky to engage in the asphalt business and died there some few years ago. Herschel Overall, the youngest son and the youngest of all the children, on the Stokes farm, I think. Herschel and Jennie are both dead. Nancy Owen, a daughter of Fountain Owen and Alamenta Hancock Owen, married John Marcum. {John Markum and Nancy Owen were married September 12, 1853 in Cannon County, TN}John and Nancy had four girls and one boy. Johnny Marcum, Jr. died in his 15th year. The daughters were as follows: Anthem, married Robert McGee; Helen married L. Evans. Dillard Warren killed L. Evans years ago. Delia married "Black" Bill Grizzle. They raised a large family. Bill and Delia live in Stringtown on Sycamore Creek. Frances Marcum's husband was a Mr. Redmond. They moved to Williamson County. Frances is dead. I do not know about Mr. Redmond. John Marcum died soon after the Civil War. Nancy Owen Marcum became the wife of Monroe King. {Wm M. King married Nancy Owen, December 14, 1873 in Cannon County, TN} Monroe and Nancy had three children. Monroe King and Nancy, his wife, the Widow Marcum, and daughter of Fountain Owen and Alamenta Hancock Owen, had three children: Edna King married John George. They live on Blair Branch. Idella King married Joe Melton. Joe is dead. Idella, Joe's widow, lives on Wilmouth Creek. Fountain King, the only son of Monroe and Nancy (Marcum) King, married Jennie Vandygriff. They live in Nashville at present. I have recently heard that Fountain King is near unto death. I have not heard anything more of him. The Owen children are dead long ago. Page 27 CONTENTS TO A HISTORY OF SYCAMORE CREEK Sycamore Creek The Right Side of the Creek The Haley Branch, Bill King and the Kelly Hollows Bobby King Branch Spout Spring Branch Richard Hancock Farm The Sellers Farm Larking Keaton's Farm P. A. Keaton’s Farm Old, or First Settlers Christopher Cooper's Land ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Pat Spradley patspradley@yahoo.com ___________________________________________________________________