Lincoln County TN Archives History - Letters .....Family History Of J.A.C. Emmons By His Son July 1954 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tn/tnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: cheryl anderton cherianderton@mac.com November 30, 2011, 1:14 pm Family History of J.A.C Emmons & wife Lucinda Powell Emmons (by) JWE (James Walter Emmons ) Huntsville, Alabama July 1954 In writing this history I make no claim to correct or professional literary style nor am sure that every statement of facts is absolutely correct because accuracy or truth in this story is subject to error in memory both upon my part an of those from whom I gleaned such facts as occurred prior to my own knowledge, however I have here recorded such data as I remember it. This is written in the hope that it will be of interest to those of the family younger than I and to those yet unborn. Paternal My father J.A.C. Emmons was christened James Archie Christopher in honor of a Primitive Baptist Minister who made and kept a promise to give him a suit of clothes when he had attained the age to wear it. My father told me the suit faded after wearing it for a short time. “Jim” Emmons , as my father was called ,was the oldest child and only son of Anthony ( called Antn’y) Emmons, the oldest son of Elder Stephen M. Emmons, a Primitive Baptist minister, farmer and local money lender. “Elder” Emmons my father’s grandfather and my Great grandfather was born in 1810. Just where I know neither heard or could get such information from either of two of his daughters whom I remember best, Aunt Eliza and Aunt Fannie. I remember only two other of his children , Aunt Hailie and Uncle Mark. My father James Archie Christopher Emmons was born July 22, 1858,my mother Lucinda Powell ( known by the nickname “Cinnie ( these were aunts of my father). I only saw Aunt Hailie a few times as she married Tom Twitty of Marshall County ,TN and I remember Uncle Mark only upon his visit back to his Mother’s home from Texas. I was too small to think of seeking family information from Aunt Hailey & Uncle Mark . Aunt Eliza married Jim McAfee & lived about 3 miles from the old Emmons’ place . Aunt Fannie married Wm F, ( Piper Bill because he made pipes) Gunter and lived at the old Emmons’ place and as I spent the first 15 years of my life almost in sight of them and after moving away , I made many visits thru the years following prior to his death,I knew them well and it is from them , my father & mother cousins Len Twitty, Effie Davis and Winfred McCracken, that I obtained such information. I have no information regarding the Emmons family farther back than my Gr. Grandfather Stephen M. Emmons . As stated above he was born in 1810 ,place unknown. I only know that he married ( yr unknown) Madaline Hogan, lived and reared a family in the 15th civil district of Lincoln County, western border of the county within 1 1/2 miles of Giles County line in a house which stood upon the foundation of a house now owned & occupied by Effie & Floyd Davis. Effie the daughter and only Child of Fannie Emmons Gunter, the granddaughter of Stephen M. Emmons. On the night of March 10th 1886 , the home of Elder Emmons burned , and he was burned so badly that he died 4 days later March 15th 1886 at my father ‘s house 1/2 mile away . He was 76 yrs. old , buried at Wright’s cemetery between McBurg and Boone’s Hill on Hwy. 64. A house was built upon the foundation of the burned structure and was the home of the widow until she died Feb. 1894. Great grandfather Emmons had 5 daughters and 3 (?) sons. The daughters were Sophia, Hailey, Eliza , Fannie and Orlina. Sophie and Eliza were married twice- first they married brother (s) named Robison (Robinson?). Both served in the Confederate army and were battle casualties in that war. Both had a son each, Aunt Sophia named her son LaFayette (called Fate) who died in Texas an aged man. Aunt Eliza’s son was named Billie and died as a child. An unusual incident connected with this child was while out playing one day he came into the house to say to his mother, “Papa is dead” which proved true as information came late that he was killed that day. Aunt Sophia married a second time to Nerot ? (or Herot) Smith and reared a family. The family moved to Texas and all died there except cousin Addie Cole who survives at this date July 1954. She lives in Abeline and is near eighty years old. I have seen her only once while she was visiting Len Twitty, that was her 70th birthday and several years ago. Aunt Eliza married a second time to Jim McAfee and reared a large family 3 of whom live but now are old, Aunt Hailey married Tom Twitty of Marshall County and reared a a large family. Aunt Fannie married WF Gunter had only one child Effie Davis who now lives at the old home place. Orlina married Winfred McCracken and had 4 children 3 sons and 1 daughter. Only one of the sons now lives, Winfred McCracken Jr. Aunt Orlina died yeas and years ago. I am informed that my Grandfather was prospering when the Civil (war) broke out. He owned a farm and slaves and was keeping additional land. Aunt Sallie first married Billie Wilson and moved to Texas. After Uncle Billie died she married Joe McCracken. She had children by both men all of whom live in Texas. Aunt Sallie died in 1949 around 90 years old. Aunt Fannie married Buck Trautham but died soon afterwards and was the first dead person I ever remember seeing. She died before I was 3 years old but I remember 2 or 3 incidents in her life that concern me as a child which seems uncanny and unreasonable, I being so young. I can explain it no other way except that Aunt Fannie was unusually fond of me as a baby and naturally it must have been that which caused me to be so susceptible to impressions so young. My father married at the age of 19 to Lucinda Powell of Lawrence County Tenn. Some might wonder how he met her for back then there were no good roads as we now know them, much of traveling was horseback riding and the circles of good acquaintanceship was usually limited to from 5 to 10 miles around. His Grandfather , as previously mentioned was a Baptist Minister and my father was an excellent song leader. so it happened that his grandfather (Stephen M. Emmons )studied at a baptist association near the Powell home and they “put up” with the Powells at that time. And the 3rd time he visited that home they were married. I can get no further information of my great grandparents on my mother’s side.My Grandfather was James Madison Powell & my grandmother’s maiden name was Pullen. They had 9 children-3 boys and 6 girls. Sons Mose,Ben,&taylor, daughters Jane,Sarah,Ballie, Mallissie,Lucinda & Matt. Taylor was the first to die -his death occurring when but a lad and during the Civil War. Uncle Ben died when in the prime of life with “dropsy” (diabetes) I do not remember him. I never remember seeing Aunt Sarah who has been dead many years. No do i remember Aunt Ballie, the reason being, she moved to Texas many,many years ago. All the rest I knew -Uncle Mose died in Aug. 1926 at age 82. I think aunt Ballie died in the same year.Aunt Matt died early in 1927 ,Aunt Jane but a year or two later Aunt Malissie in the early 1930s and Mother the last to die Dec.24 1934.Uncle Mose had 2 sons ,Danny and Taylor-both dead. Cousin Danny had only one child Florene who now lives in Lawrenceburg Tenn, married . She is a Mrs. Crawford, schoolteacher. Taylor had several children some now live around Minor Hill,Tenn. Uncle ben had several children some still living. I do not remember but one, George who died several years ago near West Point Tenn. Aunt Jane married Buck Murrell, no children- Aunt Sarah married Dan Corner, I don’t know how many children but one I do Eddie Johnson east of Loretta Tenn. I know nothing of Ballie’s children all of whom live in Texas. She married Bill Springer. Aunt Malissie married Rias Wilburn- 9 children 5 boys and 4 girls- Ed,Eaf,Geo,Jack,& Blaine-Ada, Annie, Laura and May. Ed,Jack Blaine,Laura & May still live. Aunt Matt married Tom Gabel-4 children 1 son &3 daughters. Willie the son married & living on the old home place except he built him a house. The 3 girls Mildred,Myrtle,& Sarah neither of whom ever married live in the old home. My father James Archie Christopher Emmons as born July 22 1858, my mother Lucinda Powell ( known by nickname in her family as (“Cinnie”) was born Sept 9 1857. They were married St Valentine’s day Feb 14 1877. My father died in Henderson Tenn Aug 9 1917 after a long lingering illness of diabetes before insulin was used in that disease. My mother died at Nashville, Tenn Dec 24 1934. Her death came suddenly -she had a slightly enlarged heart but I think of her death as old age. She was physically worn out. Father’s death occurred just past the midnight hour ,therefore early morning. Mother’s death was 8:45 am. They had 6 children. The first a boy unnamed , born dead while both father and mother had typhoid fever. Mother was never certain whether this child was premature or not. It is buried in Wright’s cemetery between Boone’s Hill and McBurg, Lincoln County.Their third son Arthur born May 12 1893 died the same year Nov, 10 1893 is buried by the side of this first baby. Of the 4 of us who were fortunate to live to maturity & beyond - Anthony Elbert was the oldest born June 28 1880. I was next, James Walter , born Dec. 31 1887. Then Era Irene, born April 19 1896 and Lora Evelyn born Sept 12 or 13 1899. She was born almost exactly at midnight and we could never be certain whether it was before or after. Of us 4 only Elbert (known as Jack) is dead. He died just at sunrise Easter Morning april 14 1941 at Savannah Tenn. and is buried at the cemetery at Henderson, Tenn where our father and mother are buried. Elbert married Florence Mc Alister of New Albany Miss. in July 1910.They had 3 sons and 2 daughters all of whom are married and have children . His first born , a son was born on his birthday June 28 1911 and named after his father Anthony Elbert Jr. The next , a son was named for both of his grandfathers James Thomas and called Jim Tom. Then came Mary Paul & last Alice (or Alene) Lou named for their grandmothers. Era has not married , Lora married Byrne Puckett and has no children. I have been married 4 times and will discuss my marital experiences later on. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Here is an entire 2 pages pg 10 & 11, of Walter describing life as a child in McBurg at the turn of the 20th century . I will transcribe this at a later time .It is charming , but of little genealogical interest. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My Paternal grandmother married after my grandfather died, Sam McCracken . There were 2 sons from this union, Uncles Thee and Lee, half brothers of my father. Uncle thee married laura Luna , they had 3 children. The first a son who burned to death when very young, The next was a son Eugene who died in 1905. The last was a daughter Edna who lives in Nashville Tenn,, married to E.K. Smith and reared 5 children. Eugene was born Jan 19 1889 and was 19 days over a year younger than I. We had the same grandmother ( *Amanda) who we both loved devotedly and often visited together. He was perhaps my first choice among playmates. My own brother Elber was 7 1/2 years older (? word) and my older sister was 8 years younger than I , so in a sense I was reared very much as a lone child. Therefore my playmates and buddies were others. Close up in regard was Howard Spivey especially from time I was 12 years old because he was my closest neighbor & a farm up. Good buddies - However I had many playmates & schoolmates of whom I (? word) alot and remember them kindly to this day. I mention some, there were Clarence & Brice Alsup, Bruce Rees, John & Clay Jackson, Sam Bass, Knox Smith, eugene Williamson,Tom Dale, Charlie Rambo, Giles Evans, Tom Grimes, Matt West, Hatch Sawyer, Grigsby Robinson , Grover Gunter, Alvis & Floyd Braden, Johnnie jones, Charlie Luna, Jim& Aug Bland& Frank Abbott. Also there were some older young men with whom I played Baseball , hunted etc. Mentioning some , Tillman Jacobs, John Warren Wright, Dave Dale & others. I know that about half of these are dead & others whose whereabouts , if living, I do not know. Of course all of the older men of that time are dead. Like practically all teen-age boys i had my choice among girl schoolmates but I had no serious sweetheart. ( I felt a childish love for Maggie Reed, but never a date with her. She was 2 or 3 years older than I - she later married John Warren Wright and she has now been dead for a few years. Perhaps the most serious of all was Lutie Partin with whom I corresponded for some time after. We moved from Lincoln County & her folks moved to birmingham Alabama. Finally that correspondence ended- She has been dead for a long time. My father was not a quick motion man but a steady worker - He was an exceedingly strong and active when young. His nickname was Limber Jim often called Limber for short - This was suppleness and active exploits etc. in jumping and other such physicals-He once walked up a ladder -like steps with 8 bushels of wheat on his shoulder, that’s 480 lbs. He was an industrious man while reared as a farm boy he did not like to work on the farm, but instead was a blacksmith and wood worker back when hand tools were used & no engine or electric power and such work was hard. Prices were low. For years he made horse shoes , furnished nails and shod a horse or mule all around for a total of 60c (cents ) for the complete job. Like me my father never cared much for fishing but didi like to hunt with a gun & was a real good marksman- my mother was quick timed in her work and a dynamo of energy - a light eater and sleeper (?) and never weighed over 120 lbs. in her life . My father was a big boned man 6 foot 2 in height and weighed around 200 lbs. with any surplus fat whatever. My brother worked on the farm and helped father some in the shop until he went to college qt age 21. Most of this time I was too young to do so much on the farm but began some work at 11. Making one crop alone at age 14. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Here is another paragraph of a tale of young boyhood . I will not transcribe * ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My copy ends at this page 14, with no other information regretfully especially that of his promised information about his 4 marriages. The original document is written on stationery of the “ Yarborugh Hotel Huntsville Ala. U.S. 72 -U.S. 241 highways.” It is the personal collection of my first cousin Donald Closson, Nashville ,TN I have transcribed to the best of my ability this letter word for word in its original language, spelling and style, with the exceptions noted in the body of the work. Edna Cheryl Hill Anderton November 29, 2011. 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