GIBSON COUNTY, TN - SKULLBONIA - Dowland Reunion 1961 ==================================================================== 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. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Dixie Lea Wright ===================================================================== DOWLAND REUNION HELD IN SKULLBONE BUILT SHADES' BRIDGE On Sunday, July 30, 1961, the "Tennessee Dowland Society" held its annual Reunion in the Community Building in Skullbone, Gibson County, West Tennessee. Skullbone is located on State Highway 105, between Trezevant and Bradford. Timothy Dowland of Skullbone, photo above, built the first bridge across the South Fork of Obion River, in 1839. He owned much rich land and many slaves. He had his Negro slaves to build Shades' bridge. His "head" slave or Negro foreman was "Uncle" Tom Shade, hence the name. During the Civil War, Shades' bridge and the "Jackson and Dresden" road were very important to the Federals. The "Union" soldiers used this route going to Shiloh battle field and others in the South. Skirmishes were fought there at Shades' bridge for its control. Like here of similar circumstances, Timothy Dowland didn't want to lose his slaves and, therefore, was a red hot Confederate Democrat, whereas most of his children were strong "Union" Republicans. There were two Timothy Dowlands in Tennessee, but, this Skullbone Timothy is the progenitor of most of the Dowlands in West Tennessee and several other states. He was the great-grandson of emigrant Henry Dowland, a naive of Shaftsbury, Dorset County, England/ In 1752, Henry settled on the Yadkin river, eight miles west of where Salisbury, North Carolina was founded among the friendly (?) Saponi Indians, near their Indian village and trading post, which was called "Trading Ford". This Henry Dowland is the progenitor of most of the Dowlands in our United States. Goodspeeds' History of Tennessee, published in 1887 says, quote: "Timothy Dowland is a son of Henry and Susannah (Smith) Howland, who was born and married in Rowan County, N. C. Their family consisted of ten children, nine who lived to be grown. Both parents were active members of the ______ Church, and the father was a gunsmith, carpenter and blacksmith, and continued the latter calling until his seventy-fifth year. He was quite a mechanical genius and very skillful with tools. He was for some time Captain of the State Militia, and was a Magistrate for many years. He was a Whig, and came to Gibson county, Tennessee, in 1839. Here, he died in 1858 and his wife in 1852. Their son, Timothy, was born in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, May 17, 1812, acquired a good common education and distinguished himself as a mathematician. In 1839, he came to Gibson County and built the first bridge of note across the South Fork of Obion River. By his industry he became the owner of 1,100 acres of land and in 1846, married Sarah Mitts, who was born January 19, 1819. To them were born ten children, nine are living and eight are married and settled in the neighborhood. Emerson E., the youngest, is unmarried and resides at home. Mr Dowland has been a staunch Democrat since the death of the Whig party, and he and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church". (Mt. Pleasant Congregation) end of Goodspeed quote. The usual crowd attended the Reunion and no crowd ever enjoyed a program, more. There were "oddles" of music, "professional", non-professional and music by Dowland kin,--- quartets, trios, duets, solos, piano and harmonica,--- to say nothing of talks, dialogues, clan history and genealogy. Rev. Ernest Crider, of Murray, Kentucky, "returned thanks" at "dinner time". Also, prominent Skullbonians and politicians were there, including Magistrates Ben (?) Steekard and Odie Hampton. One of the most important things at the Reunion was that fine "dinner" of Southern style, pit-cooked barbecue, Southern fried chicken, cakes, pies and everything else that a "heavyweight" could desire. And, speaking of heavyweights, about this time, Robert E. Dowland, of Paris, yelled into the door, "look who is coming in, Paul Flowers, of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, ole "Greenhouse' himself, " whereupon the crowd burst forth with applause. As Columnist Flowers ______, "Mayor" Reid Dowland, Master of Ceremonies, exclaimed "Aw no, it can't be true, dear", called for an escort to the microphone where they put in a nostalgic dialogue about home towns, Skullbone, Frog Jump, "Soup Street" in Greenfield, and other interesting and humorous subjects. Now, Paul Flowers is OBVIOUSLY, an authority on good "eats" and he spoke and ACTED interestingly on that subject. One Skullbonian said that "only Fats Everett can empty a feedbag quicker than Paul Flowers." Without bleeding his arm, Indian style, the Dowland tribe, in an official pow-wow, VOTED him their "blood brother", including the right to attend all future pow-wows. Everything was scheduled to radio precision. The doors opened promptly at 10:A.M. The programs started on schedule at 10:30A.M. with the East Prairie Mixed Quartet starting things off. The famed "Gospelaires" Male Quartet of Nashville followed. The business session began at 11:30A.M., which only lasted 15 minutes. Other entertainers were Danny Dowland of Kenton, Dixieaires, Goodwill Quartet, Bradford Sisters, Virgil Hollis and Russell Klett. More about Hollis and Klett later in the report. Both are great "discoveries". In this short time the organization attended to the minutes, treasury report, re- election of officers, established and filled the offices of "Clan Historian", all in 15 minutes. At 11:45A.M., music was resumed until 12 noon, when "dinner" was served 30 minutes early in order for California cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Finis Crockett, to drive to Memphis to catch a jet plane back home, probably taking less time from Memphis to Los Angeles than from Skullbone to Memphis! Believe it or not, the Dowland Clans use Quartets singing "gospel' songs for dinner music, instead of the classical, long-haired variety and so far as we know, are the first to do so. At 1:00p.m. the M.C. called for a show of hands of those who had never attended before. There were so many that their Clan Historian deemed it advisable to let them hear the old, old story, that is, the origins, lines and migratory routes of the Dowland clans all over the world, including Saxony, Germany, England, Wales, Ireland, India and Australia, as well as many states in this Nation. The sketch based on centuries of information, was limited to exactly 10 minutes, the gist of which, follows: "There are 26 different spellings of the Dowland breed. Dowland is the oldest English language name of the breed, the "Dow" pronounced as in Dowery. The other 24 variations were caused by phonetics and, in some cases, just good old-time ignorance on the part of the county records, clerks and others. There are several different pronunciations used. All over the world, Dowland, Dowlan, Dowlane, Dowlen and in all other variations beginning with "Dow", the "Dow" is pronounced as in Dowery. Part of the North Carolina or Skullbone breed pronounce Dowland with "long O" as in Dolan, but, not all of them so pronounce. For instance, the Middle Tennessee Dowlen from North Carolina, the most numerous clan in the world, pronounce it as in Dowery. So do those in England, Wales, Ireland, Australia, Middle Tennessee, Minnesota, Utah, Michigan, Wisconsin and almost everywhere else. As to migrations, the breed came from Saxony during the reign of Alfred the Great, to the coast of Dorset county, 2 miles west of where the town of Lyme Regis, England was later founded. All Dowlands in the world stem from this original English settlement. Dowlands did not come over on the Mayflower in 1620, but emigrant James Dowland did follow on their heels and told them to move over and make room soon thereafter, in 1640, (?) Bowersetshire in Pennsylvania. Emigrants Peter and Edmund Dowland came to Lower Norfolk County, Va. in 1650. These three were progenitors of the breed in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Michigan, Northern Illinois, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Emigrant Henry Dowlands' grandson, Harris Dowlen, progenitor of Middle Tennessee Dowlens, settled near Fort Nashboro in 1795. Timothy Dowland II, and two more sons, Nelson Dolen and Dr. Isaac Dolen moved from N.C. to Sullivan County, East Tennessee in 1825. His wife died, he married again and raised another family in Carroll County, near Vale. David Dowland came to Skullbone, Gibson County, about 1830. Henry III and his son Timothy in 1839. The Central Illinois Clans were started by emigrants Stephen Dowland, from Shaftesbury, England to Chesterfield, Illinois in 1849. Charles and William in 1855. William and George went from London to Los Angeles in 18??. John Albert Dowland came from Woodlands, Dorset County, England to Minnesota about 1860. Graham Dowland went from Southampton, England to Perth, West Australia about 1915, and became a sheep rancher on three million acres. Col. Ryan Dowland was woth the military in India. Ray Dowland of England was Colonial Secretary. James Dowland, his father was Govenor of Trinidad. This Govenor James Dowland was a decendant of John Dowland, the great musician who lived from 1563 to 1626. John is the "Patron Saint" of all Dowlands, just like Davy Crockett is to all the Crocketts. While in England, Reid Dowland visited with one of the musicians decendants, William Dowland-Rangeley, in their thatch roofed home with stone floor. He exhibited old paintings of Dowlands, painted long before cameras were invented. His grandfather, James Dowland, had some of Johns' original manuscripts. He said there is no doubt about Tennessee Dowlands being the same breed. Thus, Skullbone Dowlands get their musical "bent" naturally, and were first in the world to successfully commercialize both Hillbilly and gospel quartet music, attracting crowds of many thousands each year to Skullbone. Melvin Dowland, of Milan, Tennessee brought his handsome young son in his arms and received the plaudits of the multitude as he walked down the aisle, receiving special recognition by the Master of Ceremonies. He was a hero on that day. Not too many boys now to carry on the same name. But, the M.C. quickly gave the girls his blessing. Reid Dowland welcomed the Dowlands, Dowlens and Dolans from everywhere, then recognised them by states, sections and family names other than Dowland, such as Galey from Weakley County, Hampton, Campbell, Crider, Hutchinson, Sellers, Terry, Cates, Mount, Arrington, Blankenship, Scott, Mosely, etc. of Gibson County; Finch, Epsey, Thomas, Wilson, Prince, Smith, Swearinger and the Comptons from Carroll County; the Finis Crocketts, from Los Angeles; the Tollie McClures from Kentucky; the Bud Davenports from Jacksonville, Illinois; the Russell Klett family from Michigan, etc. Space does not permit naming all visitors, but everyone seemed to be pleased with the food and program. Timothy Dowland, Reids' grandfather, came from N.C. to Skullbone in 1839. had only one daughter, Victoria, who married Preston Crider. They are the progenitors of a very large number of Criders living in Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky and other states, many of whom always attend the Skullbone Reunions. Their emigrant ancestor was Rev. Joseph Kreider, near Salisbury, N.C. A talk was made by Robert E. Dowland, Esquire, erstwhile U.S. Consul to Australia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Morocco. Lebanon, Damascus and presently with the Mitcham Corporation of Paris, in charge of International and Overseas Promotion and Sales. He is a public speaker and linguist, including the Spanish and "Arab" (Arabic) languages. Finis Crockett made a few hurried remarks of pleasure and appreciation just before driving to Memphis to catch a jet plane for Los Angeles. Another very interesting talk was given by Mrs. Gertie Dowland, of Jacksonville, Illinois. She related how the mail of C.(?) Dowland of Jacksonville and the mail of C.(?) Dowland of Skullbone got mixed up out in the western states while both were touring them. Without either knowing the others' itinerary, they both visited the same cities for months, about one week apart. They both gave their "folks' and the Postmasters a rough time about their mail getting mixed up, so many times. Reid Dowland has motion pictures, slides and stills of most all ancient Dowlands, towns, homes and churches thereof, of Dowland Musicales, Reunions, etc., both in America and overseas, which he shows in the Skullbone Community Building on the night before Reunions. He displayed over 300 photos on Reunion day. At this 1961 Reunion, Robert E. Dowland showed his slides on the various countries of his Consular activities. Finis Crockett showed slides taken in the Hawaiian Islands during his vacations, there. Gene Cook, Manager of the Gospelaires Quartet, of Nashville, presented two large framed pictures of Christ: one to John Dowland, 87, for being the oldest Dowland present, and one to Mrs. Lyndell Dowland Crockett, from Los Angeles, for being the most distant cousin attending and she, in turn, presented it to her native Church, Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church of Skullbone. The musical portion of the program was enlivened by non-professional kin and "homefolks". Danny Dowland, of Kenton, Tennessee, rendered high class vocal solos, as well as "Rock and Roll" with instruments for the younger set. Margaret Krider, a beautiful cousin of Murray, Kentucky, rendered several beautiful vocal solos. Russell Klett, from Michigan. a very handsome young gentleman, sang several solos with a quality, power, depth and resonance seldom heard. He is a decendant of the Carroll county breed of Dolans. He is a graduate of music, Choir Director in a big Baptist Church in Michigan, and plays most every kind of instrument, including pipe organ, piano, guitar, etc. He made quite a "hit". But the man who "stole the show" was a home boy, Virgil Hollis, the Greenfield Harmonica Wizard who, with some proper management, should soon become the "Harmonica King" of the Nation. Very few on radio can equal him. Paul Flowers agreed with Reid Dowland on one thing, that "Harpo" Hollis is the best harper in the land and requested a tape-recorded audition to send to record companies and radio stations. The officers of the Tennessee Dowland Society are: Jess G. Dowland, President; Cecil R. Dowland, Vice President; Mrs. Odis Hampton, Secretary-Treasurer; John Dowland, Service Chairman; Mrs. Jess Dowland, Hospitally Chairman; and C. Reid Dowland, Clan Historian.