COCKE COUNTY, TN - BIOGRAPHIES - Mary Jane Mode, Augustus C. Dover and Their Descendants ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joe Mode risstaff@ris-corp.com ==================================================================== 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, 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. 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. 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 in Dist. # 5. Cocke Co. Tax lists This is the same family in the 1880 McDowell Co. 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 ggrandfather, John Thomas Mode,s/o Mary J. 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, died between 1860 and 1870. Sarah Dover married Summa Mode. The Dover family in the 1860 McDowell Co., North Carolina census. Page 658, Marion Township. William Dover 36 Margaret 36 William 16 Matilda 10 Augustus 8 Jane 5 Sarah 2 David 4/12 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. 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 Mary 42 NC Mary E. 39 this family. 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 Son Georgia Bedula? 6 Lucinda J. 20 Dau.-in-law.,NC Iella? 4 5/12 Burnett 8/12 Cocke Co. TN, 1920 Cocke Co. TN, 1920 Estel Dover 21 TN S/O Frank Ina Mae Dover 14 TN Verlin 16 Dover Jessie Dover 16 TN Olimae 2 Listed with their mother Mary Fox. Elizabeth 2/3 These are Joe Mils Dovers kids. 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. Jakiny? 8 And Mary J. Mode. Sister of Lou, Lea, Earl 5 Mils, and Frank Dover 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 this family but it may be Rufus and Lou Dover Burgess. John Thomas is the son of Mary Jane Mode who married Augustus C. Dover. Nancy Belle Green Holt Mode is the daughter of Wade and Martha Green of Cocke Co. 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,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 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 ? North/South Carolina ca. 1844 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 B. Green Holt Cocke Co., TN 11 Nov. 1898 Joseph Wheeler Mode and Marguerite A. 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 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. From NC. Clay Creek. 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.. 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 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 Mannig. 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." * 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: risstaff@ris-corp.com Wade Green(e) is my 2nd great grandfather. He was born on the 6th of August 1833 in Cocke Co. and died on 15 July 1905. He is buried at Clay Creek Baptist Church near Bybee. Wade's parents were John and Martha Maria Hampton Green, who came to Tennessee from South Carolina. I discovered that Wade had fought during the Civil War with Co. C, 8th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry. Not only did he fight, it also seems that four brothers may have fought as well. Brothers Joseph and Wesley fought with the same regiment and company. Another brother, John, may have fought, but with a different regiment, and brother William may have fought in the same regiment but with a different company. The following is a brief account of the history of the 8th Tennessee and Wade's experiences during his term of service. Wade Green mustered into service on 15 May 1863 at Camp Dick Robinson, Kentucky. According to company muster rolls Wade was "sick in hospital at Crab Orchard, Kentucky" during July and August of 1863. The May and June roll indicates that he was "at hospital, Chattanooga Tenn. Wounded in action at Resaca, Georgia May 14, 1864." According to his pension records, Wade lost his little finger during this battle. He complained of how this wound hurt, cracked and bled during the winter. Wade's brother Wesley was wounded on the 4th of August at the battle of Utoy Creek, Georgia. Wade was again "sick in hospital, Knoxville, Tenn. Since May 14, 1864." Being sick was a typical experience for the Civil War soldier. His regiment was stationed at various places throughout the war such as Nicholasville and Lexington, Kentucky, Greenville, Jonesboro, Strawberry Plains, and Knoxville, Tennessee. An inspection report during their stay in Knoxville on 27 Feb. 1864 stated that the 4th and 8th Tenn. Regiments were "in bad condition as regards appearance, discipline, and drill." The 8th moved by train on the 26th of April to Red Gap, Georgia for the beginning of the Atlanta Campaign. The regiment was heavily engaged at Resaca on May 14 where Wade was wounded. Although almost constantly engaged for the next three months, the heaviest fighting for the regiment came with its attempt to cross Utoy Creek on the 6th of August 1864. Brigadier Gen. Reilly wrote " Where all behaved so gallantly, it is very difficult to give special mention to any, but I cannot, in justice, neglect to bear official testimony to the gallant and heroic conduct of the 8th Tennessee Infantry Officers and men. The list of casualties, however, is their best eulogy, when it is known that the regiment went into the charge with but 160 muskets." Captain James W. Berry stated that " The regiment entered this charge with 223 men, lost 26 killed, five mortally wounded, 36 wounded, and 16 missing, making a total of 83 casualties. In this serious charge the officers and men of the regiment exhibited in the highest degree the bravery, discipline, presence of mind which characterizes veteran troops." The regiment moved on to Decatur, Georgia September 8th where it stayed for a few months. The regiment moved into Chattanooga, Pulaski and then took part in the fighting from Pulaski, to Columbia, to Spring Hill, to Franklin, and finally to Nashville. The 8th suffered seven casualties at Franklin. During the battle of Nashville on December 16th, 1864 the regiment made a charge and captured four pieces of artillery and about 200 or 300 prisoners. Early in 1865 the regiment helped take Wilmington, North Carolina and occupied this city until it moved on to Newbern, Goldsboro, and then to Raleigh, North Carolina. Wade and his regiment were mustered out of service at Company Shops, North Carolina on the 30th of June 1865. No mention is made as to Wades return trip back to his home in Cocke Co. Also, it is not really known why he decided to fight with the Federal Army. Many fought to save the Union, others fought to protect their homes and family, some fought because they would be deemed cowards if they didn't, still others joined up for the adventure and excitement and to escape the boredom of farm life, and some actually believed that slavery was wrong. Many were enticed to join by the promise of a bounty and had no particular allegiance to anything but their monthly pay. For whatever reason Wade Green fought, I am proud of him, regardless of the side he chose to fight for. It is his courage, strength, and determination that I honor. We are not likely to see such displays of shear bravery and undying loyalty to ones country and homeland as was exhibited by these men who fought during our American Civil War. I have reenacted many of the battles that Wade and the 8th Tennessee were involved in and have experienced first hand what they experienced and how they suffered. Though my experiences and sufferings are laughable compared to those of my Civil War ancestors they are plenty enough to make me appreciate their sacrifices. It would be well that we should all have to live these experiences for just one weekend. Family tradition has it that while Wade was away three of his daughters where raped by confederate soldiers. Atrocities such as this, in addition to brutal guerrilla warfare, political differences and opinions regarding slavery and secession were common and extreme in East Tennessee. Wades family: Wade's Children: John and Martha Maria Hampton Green 1. Mary b. 1822 m. Pleasant O'neil 1. Malissa 2nd wife? 2. Maria b. 1824 m. Preston D. Bibee 2. Jailey 3. Elizabeth b. 1826 m. Maxwell M. Bibee 3. Mary 4. John b. 1828 m. Catherine 4. Cariline 5. Sarah b. 1830 m. Wm. Riley Brooks 5. Nancy 6. William b. 1832 m. Harriet 6. Salli 7. Wade b. 1833 m. Martha ( married twice ) 7. Harriet(Hati) 8. Jaily b. 1835 m. John Redic 8. Minnie 9. Alfred ? b. 1837 m. Lucinda 9. 10. Joseph b. 1839 m. ? Jailey and Mary were 11. Wesley H. b. 1841 m. ? from first marriage. 12. Martha b. 1842 m. ?