McMINN COUNTY, TN - BIOGRAPHIES - Dennis-Creighton-Adkins Family
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Contributor's Note:  This is from my web page, but I thought it may help 
some one looking for the Dennis-Creighton-Adkins family. There are family 
pages, and the census from early Tenn. to Laclede Co Missouri.

Thomas Isam Dennis Family

Thomas Isam Dennis born 17 Jan 1883 in Conway Laclede Co Mo.
Passed away the 3 of Jan 1965 in Howell Michigan on a Sunday afternoon. 
Where he was setting in a rocking chair at the home of his daughter, 
Pearl Scott.

Ada Lunsford was born 20 Aug 1884 in Trenton Mo. She married the 15th of 
Oct 1903 to Thomas Isom Dennis. She passed away the 23 Dec. 1959 in Howel 
Michigan at the home of her daughter, Elsie Dennis Hauser.

Children of Thomas and Ada Lunsford Dennis:

All born in Claremore Rogers County Oklahoma

1 Lula Pearl born 24 Oct 1904 in Claremore
2 Stella Jane born 27 Aug 1906 in Claremore
3 Myrtle Gertrude born 11 Sept 1908 in Claremore
4 Mary Belle born 5 Jan 1911 in Claremore
5 Elsa Lucille born 31 Dec 1912 in Claremore
6 Henry Howard born 29 Oct 1915 in Claremore
7 Virgil Thomas born 7 March 1918 in Claremore
8 Ruby Viola born 8 March 1922 in Claremore
9 Glenn William born 4 Jan. 1924 in Claremore

Generation 2

Isam Dennis Family

Isam Dennis
b 1856 Conway Laclede County Missouri
m 6 Dec. 1874 Laclede Co Mo.
d Civil War at Piney Ark. Feb. 1864
Father Charles Dennis
Mother Elizabeth Doty

Mary Jane Melvin
b 6 April 1852
Alamance County N.C.
d 2 Jan 1922
Claremore Rogers County Okla.
Father James Melvin
Mother Sarah Palmer

Back to Mary Jane Melvin Dennis

Children of Isam and Mary Jane Melvin Dennis

1 Mary Elizabeth Dennis
b 19 Jan. 1876 Conway Laclede Mo.
married William Willihoite 21 March 1897
d 1968 Claremore Rogers County Okla

2 James William Dennis
b 2 June 1877 Conway Laclede Mo.
married Myrtle Melton 15 Dec 1898
d 1965 Claremore Rogers County Okla

3 Minnie Elizabeth Dennis
b 18 Dec 1878 Conway Laclede Mo.
married Alpha Griffin
d 16 Dec 1947 Conway Laclede County Mo.

4 Charles Dennis
b 27 Sept 1880 Conway Laclede County Mo
married Lula Brown
d 1975 Claremore Rogers Okla

6 Lewis Dennis
b 5 Dec. 1885 Conway Laclede County Mo
married Cora Epps
d 1963 Claremore Rogers County Okla.

7 Andrew Jackson (Andy) Dennis
b 6 Oct. 1887
married Ethel Epps
d 1969 Claremore Rogers County Okla.

Back to the top

Generation 3

Charles Dennis Family
Family of Charles and Nancy Dennis

Charles Dennis born 16 April 1822 in McMinn County Tennessee
married
1st Nancy Dennis 23 Dec. 1843 McMinn Tenn.
2nd Elizabeth Doty 22 July 1855 Laclede Mo

Charles Dennis
b 16 April 1822 McMinn County Tenn.
m Nancy Dennis 23 Dec 1843 McMinn Co Tenn
Father Isham Dennis
Mother Rebecca

Nancy Dennis
b 8 Dec 1822 McMinn Co Tenn.
d 1853 in Pulaski County Ill.
Father: Allen Dennis born 10 Dec. 1801 S.C.
Mother: Mary Tipton

Nancy died in the lower part of Illinois when the wagon train encountered a
winter storm. They could not move on for several months. Nancy gave birth 
to a son "Creighton" before she died. The young son of Charles and Nancy, 
Newcum, also died in this storm. This story has been printed in the Laclede 
County History Vol. I and in our family records. The Missouri Dennis branch 
of my family found this in a Bible.

Back to Mary Jane Melvin Dennis

Generation 4

Isham Dennis Family

There are two Isham (Isam) Dennis men in early Granger Co. Tenn. One is the
son of James Dennis and Matilda Dennis, he married Rebecca Thompson.
The other is the son of John Dennis and Ann Creighton (my line). They have 
been mixed up for years.
My Isham married Rebecca, had his family and lived in McMinn County Tenn. 
all his early life, moved to Laclede County Missouri after in 1853. This 
date is from the obit. of Samuel Dennis "he was born in McMinn Co. Tenn. 
...came to Laclede Co. in 1853. "

The other Isam Dennis is in the family chart of Darlene Carter. Her line is 
James Dennis, the brother of my Isham Dennis.
My family are buried in Old Pisgah cemetery in Laclede Co. Missouri. The 
other Isam is buried at Lone Mt. in Rhea County Tenn.
He was Born 24 March 1832 and died 24 Feb. 1885. He married Rebecca 
Thompson 1856

Isham, Allen, and James Dennis are in the Will of John Dennis
Will Book McMinn Co. Tenn. 1827
Darlene Carter of Millington Tenn. has a copy

Husband Isham Dennis
Born: 5 July 1800 Newberry S.C.
Married: Rebecca Blankinship
ca 1820 Tn.
Died: 27 July 1888 Laclede Co. Missouri
Buried: Old Pisgah cemetery Phillipsburg Mo.
Father: John Dennis born 1764 Lunenburg Co. Virginia
Mother: Ann (Anne) Creighton (Crayton) born 1764 Lunenburg Co. Va.

Wife: Rebecca Blankinship
Born: 20 Aug 1798 S.C.
Died: 5 March 1879 Laclede County Missouri
Buried: Old Pisgah cemetery Phillipsburg Mo
Father :
Mother :

CHILDREN

1 Name: Polly (Mary) Dennis
born: 1821 McMinn Tn.
married: 19 Aug 1858 Laclede Co Mo Austen Melton
died: Mary was the last person to be
buried Old Pisgah Cemetery.
" - Polly Dennis Melton
husband of Polly - Austin Melton"
daughter of Polly - Nancy Melton Shafer
All buried at Old Pisgah

2 Name: Charles Dennis
born: 16 April 1822 McMinn Tn.
married:
1- Dec. 23,1843 McMinn Co. Tn.
Nancy Dennis
2 -Elizabeth Doty Houseright
July 22, 1855 Laclede Co Mo.
near White Oak Pond

3 Name: James Dennis
born: 1824 McMinn Tn.
married: Sarah Doty 22 July 1861 Laclede Co. Mo.
died:
buried:

4 Name: Betty (Elizabeth) Dennis
born: 1825 McMinn Tn.
married:
died:
buried:

5 Name: William Dennis
born: 7 Dec 1827 McMinn Tn.
married: Catherine Horn Tn.
died: 20 Dec 1883 Laclede Co. Mo.
buried: Old Pisgah Cemetery Laclede Co. Mo.

6 Name: Samuel Dennis
born: 7 Dec 1827 McMinn Tn.
married: 28 Sept 1852 Tenn. Mary Blankinship
died: 2 Aug 1909 Laclede Co. Mo.
buried: Old Pisgah Cemetery Laclede Co. Mo.
new pink granite grave stone for both
Samuel and Mary...by their children, Ralph Dennis was one of them.

7 Name: Brooks Dennis
born: 1838 McMinn Tn.
died:

Back to the top

Generation 5

John Dennis and Ann Creighton Family

John Dennis
born ca 1764
married ca 1783 Ann Creighton
died 1827 in McMinn Co. Tn.
Will in McMinn Court house
lists Isham, James, Allen as sons

Ann Creighton
born ca 1764
died before 1840 McMinn Co. Tn.
Father: Hugh Creighton
Mother: Mary Adkins Creighton

CHILDREN

1 Mary Dennis

2 Joel Dennis
born 3 May 1786
married 1 Unknown in South Carolina
2 Margaret ________
died 3 March 1863 in Cosby Tenn.
buried in Tn, have a picture of his grave

3 Nancy Dennis
born

4 Isham Dennis
born 5 July 1800 Newberry Dist. S.C.
married Rebecca _______
died 27 July 1888
Laclede Co Missouri

5 Allen Dennis
born 10 Dec 1801 Newberry Dist.S.C.
married Mary Tipton
Tenn will Book D page 135 ..."Allen Dennis
guardian to Serena Tipton ...May 15 1842"
d

6 James Dennis
born 1802 S.C
married Matilda Dennis
died

New information about this family:
John Dennis has been very vague in the past. We have found information in 
Virginia that may help us with his date of birth and many other facts.
We have the Halifax County Virginia Heads of Families in 1785.
List of Joseph Haynes Dennis Estate 
0 White Souls
1 Dwelling
2 Other Buildings
As we have seen John Dennis in all our South Carolina records, and have 
found several reports of him being in Lunenburg County Virginia.
Families that lived near John Dennis (Newberry Co. S.C.) were found in 
Virginia also.

>From Early Virginia Immigrants by George Cabell Greer
Page 94
Dennes, John 1639, by John Saines, ______Co
Denine, John, 1635, by Wm. Clarke, Henrico Co.

The “Dennis Estate” date of 1785 is very important. It is the connecting 
link for the Dennis family from South Carolina to Virginia. Also the fact 
that John Dennis married Ann Creighton.

We found a John Dennis Sr. and John Dennis Jr. in the census of South 
Carolina, 1790. Now we see the Will of John Dennis Jr. in Virginia naming 
his father, John Dennis Sr. The son died before the father, giving us two 
generations of our line. This will is in the early Virginia records, giving 
us the reason for a “Dennis Estate”

Military Records from the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the 
William and Mary College Quarterly, and Tyler's uarterly:

23 April 1778:
John Dennis took oath as Captain in room of Capt. Munford.
Item 123 - 4/23/1778 John Dennis produced a commission from etc. appointing 
him Captain in room of Capt. Mumford, and took the oath.
Tennessee Records:
The Old Dennis Burial Ground is located in McMinn Co. Tenn. I have this 
information from the Tennessee Archives, recorded by a group in 1946
"Two brothers, Creighton and Mark Dennis who were born in Cocke County, 
later moving to McMinn County, entered large boundaries of land for this 
cemetery. the first person buried here, was Amanda, daughter of Creighton 
Dennis. One acre has been deeded for the descendants of the two brothers. 
The location is ten miles west of Athens. Follow Athens-Decatur Road to 
Idlewild, turning there to Pine Hill School Road to the farm of Joel 
Dennis. There are fourteen unmarked graves.
The cemetery has an index.

Back to the top

Generation 6

Family of Hugh Creighton and Mary Adkins:

Hugh Creighton and Mary Adkins married before 1763 probably in Lunenburg
Co. Virginia

1 Mary Creighton
b
married ________Ward

Children we know
1a Creighton Ward

2 Ann Creighton
b
married John Dennis
d McMinn County Tennessee after 1830

Back to Mary Jane Melvin Dennis

Generation 7
John Adkins family

>From the Will of John Adkins:
Names his Wife, Mary Adkins

This will was found on Sept 11, 1966 by Adelle Dennis Lockheart in 
Lunenburg Co Va. Will book 2 pg.152
I have a copy of the Will in my files

Children:

1 Francis "my son Francis Adkins"
2 Edward "my son Edward Adkins"
3 Agnes "my daughter Agnes Adkins"
4 Rachel "my daughter Rachel Adkins"
5 William "my son William Adkins"
6 John (Jr.) "my son John Adkins
7 Mary CREIGHTON "my daughter Mary Creighton" ( Craighton)
8 Benjamin "my son Benjamin Adkins"
9 Thomas Adkins " my beloved son Thomas Adkins"
(Hugh Creighton and Mary Adkins were married BEFORE 1763)
This information is From the Will of John Adkins 10 March 1763 Lunenburg 
County Virginia

Thomas Adkins Land Patient _ Lunenburg Co. Virginia, found by Ginger Dennis 
Wallis, 1999

Also we have more information:
Sources:
Tithes of Lunenburg County Va. years records for 1748, 1749, 1750, 1751
found at the Court House of Lunenburg Virginia and the Virginia Historical 
Society.

page 74
Jno. Adkins
Thos. Adkins, Junr.
William Adkins........................4

Page 90 - 1749
Hugh Crighton.........................1

Information for John Adkins found in:
Order Book of Lunenburg Co. Va. ... July Court 1755 .... 384:
John Adkins to John Butler, indenture bargain/sale
John Adkins to Hugh Creighton, indenture bargain/sale

The Vestry Book, 1746-1816 for Cumberland Parish, Lunenburg County Virginia 
page 343
At a Vestry held for this parish the 2nd day of January 1754
"To Due to Hugh Creighton for nursing a bastard child 5 0 0"

>From Early Virginia Immigrants by George Cabell Greer
page 6
Adkins Tho., 1643 by Henry Neale, James City Co.
Adkins Robert, 1649, by John Merriman, ___Co

Also Adkins names Richd., Robt, Elder, Henry, Alice,
Page 94
Dennes, John 1639, by John Saines, ______Co
Denine, John, 1635, by Wm. Clarke, Henrico Co.

To the bottom

Census of Dennis Family

1820 census Overton Co. Tenn.

Isham Denis 000100-00010
p 18

James Denis Overton Co. Tenn.
300010 - 10010
p 9

1830
Isham Dennis McMinn Co. Tenn.
220001-110001
p 146

James Dennis McMinn Co Tenn
10001 21001 pg 146

Allen Dennis McMinn Co Tenn
20001 111010001
p 145

Allen Dennis McMinn Co Tenn
102001-100001

1840 census p 146

McMinn Co., Tenn. pg. 94
Isham Dennis 1022001-111101

1850 census abstract, McMinn Co Tenn.
pg. 478 #258

Charles Dennis born in 16 April 1822, McMinn County Tennessee, was the 
father of Isam Dennis.

Family of Charles Dennis and 
1st Nancy Dennis
married in McMinn Co Tenn.
2nd Elizabeth Doty Houseright
married in Laclede Co Missouri
22 July 1855
Died: Civil War, Piney Ark.
Camp Horsehead
report "sick", in 1864

Charles Dennis moved his family from McMinn County Tennessee to Laclede 
County Missouri. His father, Isham, and mother, Rebecca, had moved before 
Charles and Nancy.

Charles is in the 1850 census of Tennessee:
McMinn Co. Tn. #25- House #445

Charles Dennis age 28 born Tn.
Nancy Dennis age 28 born Tn.
Almira Dennis age 9 born Tn.
Jasper Dennis age 5 born Tn.
Newcum Dennis age 3 born Tn.
Rebecca Dennis age 1 born tn.

1850 Census

Isham Dennis

McMinn Co. Tn. #248 House 478

Isham Dennis age 50 born S.C.
Rebecca Dennis age 52 born S.C.
Polly Dennis age 29
Betty Dennis age 25
William Dennis age 23
James Dennis age 26
Samuel Dennis age 23
Brooks Dennis age 12

We have the Civil War records for Charles Dennis. We also have the land 
deeds to the Mill at White Oak Pond that Charles purchased after moving to 
Laclede County Missouri.

When Charles and Nancy moved to Missouri they took the northern trail, his 
father had taken the southern trail. This was where his wife and small son 
died. They were in Pulaski County Ill. when a winter storm hit the wagon 
train.  They had to stay and camp for several weeks. We do not know how 
Nancy died, but we do know she gave birth to a baby boy before her death. 
Charles and Nancy named the baby "Creighton Dennis". Charles also lost his 
son, Newcum at the same time. Nancy and Newcum are buried some where in 
Pulaski County Ill. Charles and the other children traveled on to Missouri.
Elizabeth Doty is the mother of my great grandfather, Isam Dennis.
He was the first born to them.

1860 census Laclede Co Mo.
abstract by Ellsberry

#6141860 census Laclede County Missouri shows this family.

Charles Dennis age 38
Elizabeth Dennis age 28
Elmire (Almira) Dennis age 19
Jasper Dennis age 15
Rebecca dennis age 11
Crayton (Creighton) Dennis age 8
Isam Dennis age 4
Harvy Dennis age 2
Mary Dennis born May of 1860

Elizabeth Doty's father was Harve Doty. The Doty name is on the list of 
people who sailed on the 'Mayflower"

1870 census Laclede Co Mo.

Union twp., P.O. Lebanon, p. 119

#254
DENNIS, Isham 69 M W Farmer $1000 $895 SC citizen
Rebecca 71 F W Keeping house VA
Rebecca 20 F W works in house TN (could be Charles
daughter b 1849 m 1873)
Elizabeth 18 F W ...TN

In the 1880 census of Laclede county Union Township we find Isam and Mary
Jane with three children.

Union Township page - 910 Film No. 697

House Number Born
187 - 192
Dennis Isam 23 Mo
Mary J 28 N.C.
Mary E 4
James W 3
Minnie E 1

1880 census

Isam Dennis (Isham) 78 yr. old
James A. 22 yr. grandson -
Rebeckay A. 17 yr. granddaughter

Isham's wife, Rebecca, died in 1879