The Florence Hotel, Montreal Quebec ca. 1896

Brud Moran did a lot of traveling so I feel safe in saying that this bit of hotel ephemera is a souvenir of a trip he made to Montreal.   I found a reference to Benjamin Trudel which said he was the proprietor of The Florence in 1894 and an article about the death of his wife in 1889 which took place at The Florence. Benjeamin Trudel died in August 1897 which means Brud visited Montreal about 1896.  Brud ticked off the site's he visited.

THE FLORENCE
Quebec Canada
Benj. Trudel Propl & Manager

 "The Florence" is the most pleasant, attractive and comfortable house for tourists that can be found on this continent.  Its location unequalled and the panoramic view to be had from the Balcony is not even surpassed by the world renowned Dufferin Terrace, as it commands a full view of the River St. Lawrence, the St. Charles Valley, Montmorency Falls, Laurentian Range of Mountains and overlooks the largest part of the City.

Rooms with bath and en-suite, elegantly furnished and well ventilated, and the Cuisine FIRST CLASS.

Street cars pass the door every five minutes.

Telephone communication--Electric light and bell in every room.

Iron balconies and Iron stairs from very floor. Perfect safety assured.

For Souvenir of your visit secure copy "Illustrated Quebec"

 Places of Interest in Quebec.
Citadel (height 350 ft.)     Wolfe's Monument
Grand Battery                  Montcalm's Headquarers
Place D'Armes                 English Cathedral
Esplanade                        The Basilica
Martello Towers               Ursuline Convent
Durham & Dufferin Terrace  Notre Dame de la Victoire
Governor's Garden and Church (built in 1688)
Joint Monument to Wolfe   Laval University
and Montcalm                    Parliament Buildings
House where Montgomery  Montmorency Falls 275 Feet
 was laid                             Natural Steps

DRIVES
St. Louis and St. Foye Roads
Indian Village of Lorette and Falls
Lake St. Charles and Lake Beauport

Memorabilia

Jacques Cartier landed on the banks of the St. Charles...Sept 14 1535
Quebec founded by Samuel de Champlain July 3 1608
Quebec surrendered to Admiral Kirk  1626
Quebec returned to the French 1632
Death of Champlain, first governor, Dec. 25, 1635
Quebec besieged by Admiral Phipps  1690
Battle of the Plains of Abraham  Sept 13 1759
Capitulation of Quebec Sept 18 1759
Battle of St. Foye - a French victory, April 28 1760
Canada ceded by treaty to England 1763
Blockage of Quebec by Generals Montgomery and Arnold Nov 10 1775
Death of Montgomery Dec 31 1775
Retreat of Americans from Quebec May 6 1776

On the back of the backside is a picture of the George Bishop Engraving and Printing Co. of Montreal.

Tragic Death of Mrs. B. Trudel, Accidentally killed by a Fall

A sad accident has cast a gloom over the Florence Hotel on John Street.  the proprietor's wife, mrs. Benjamin Trudel, who was walking around, apparently in the best of health yesterday morning, today lies in the grasp of death, the result of a fall on the front steps of the hotel during last night.  The news quickly spread through the town and shocked our citizens.  The first report was that death had resulted from a broken neck, caused by an accidental fall, but this was subsequently corrected and it was said that death was due to failure of the heart, or some other internal organ, and was not caused by the fall.  The circumstances of the accident are as follows:--Mrs. Trudel was about leaving the Florence at seven o'clock last evening, when she either slipped on the first step of the front stairway or fell in a fainting fit, is not authentically known, but the unfortunate lady when picked up on the sidewalk below was in an unconscious state.  She was conveyed into her home and Rev. Mr. Laplant, vicar of St. John's Church, immediately summoned.  The latter arrived just in time to administer the last sacrament of the church to the dying woman, who never uttered a word from the time of the casuality.  Doctors Verge and Paquin were early in attendance and all that could be done was done to bring Mrs. Trudel back to consciousness, but their efforts were in vain, as she passed away about ten minutes after her fall.  Deceased was contemplating a trip to Montreal to see her two children, Mrs. Resther and a little boy who is studying at the Jesuit college.

Quebec Daily Telegraph Dec 23 1889

Death of Mr. Benj. Trudel
Quebec's Popular Hotel Proprietor Passes Away
At an Early Hour This Morning 

His Career as a Business Man
We regret to announce the death of an active and enterprising citizen of Quebec, Mr. Joseph Benjamin Trudel, which occurred this morning, at 7:30, in the 57th year of his age.  Mr. Trudel had been for some time past suffering from Bright's disease, which, a few days ago, entered on a more serious stage and last night it was thought advisable by his medical attendants, as the only chance for life to perform an operation, which was accordingly done by Doctors  Ahern, Catellier an dHamel, but without producing the results desired.

Mr. Trudel was born in St. Roch, January 26, 1840, and started out for himself in life at the early age of 14.  He first went to Toronto, and obtained employment in the printing office of Messrs, Hunter, Rose & Co, remaining in that city till the firm obtained the contract for the Government printing in Quebec, when he returned to his native place.  He was still in the employ of the firm when one of the partners died, and the sisters of the deceased sold their interests in the concern to Mr. Trudel, who subsequently resold them to Mr. Desbarats, who carried on the business here till the removal of the seat of government to Ottawa.

On quitting the printing business Mr. Trudel brought his business faculties to bear on different successive occupations.  He started a hardware store; a manufactory of steel carriage springs, and a distillery, which last he left to become Chief of the River Police, and office which he filled for ten years.  He then built and operated the Florence Hotel in St. John's suburbs, which, under his management acquired a high reputation, and was for some time the fashionable hotel par excellence.  After this he acquired the Hotel Victoria on Palace Hill, which he enlarged and embellished, fitting it up with the latest modern improvements, providing an admirable cuisine, and making it a popular place of resort  for comercial men, as well as pleasure seekers.  His latest enterprise was the founding of the Turkish baths, immediately opposite the Hotel, an enterprise which was nearly completed at the time of his death, and will be of great and important benefit to the city.  He leaves a brother, Mr. Xavier Trudel, a son, Benjamin Trudel, and two married daughters, Mrs. A. Restor, of Montreal and Mrs. Z Drolet, of Quebec.

Mr. Trudel was a man of great enterprise and energy, and his loss will be deeply felt.
The Daily Telegraph August 16 1897.

You Are Cordially invited to a Cake-Walking "Festible" 1891

The cake walk was held at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. F.M. Kennedy aka Francis Marion Kennedy and his wife Elizabeth Summers.  F.M. Kennedy was born January 2 1830 and died February 3 1906 in Memphis.  He had been in Memphis just 10 days with his usual residence being Martin.  He was interred at Forest Hill Cemetery.  He married Elizabeth Summers in 1848.  Elizabeth died in 1907 and was interred at the Yellow Fever Cemetery in Martin.  The family spent a lot of time in Kentucky and the 1870 Census lists the following in the household:

F. M. Kennedy age 40, occupation Grist Saw Mill

Elizabeth Kennedy age 36

William Kennedy age 17

Eliza Jane Kennedy age 16

Mary J. Kennedy age 15

James E. Kennedy age 10

John Bell Kennedy age 9

Charles M. Kennedy age 5

Virginia Kennedy age 2

He and B.F. Bondurant were the first elders at the Church of Christ in Greenfield. The April 22 1881 Dresden Democrat says of Mr. Kennedy that he is "one of the most enterprising men in Weakley county.  He now has 3 stave factories in operation in this county, one at Martin, one at Greenfield, and the other four miles west of that place."

He was obviously a successful man in business but on this day, Nov 10 1891, he and his wife were hosting a cake walk.

The committees:

Arrnagements: - J. Shipp, B. Claggett, A. Crawford, T. Taylor, L. Payne

Reception:-B. Hall, M. Duke, C. Scott, J. Cashon, W. McClanahan, J. Alexander.

Invitation:- E. Hutcherson, B. Parker, J. Carnel, E. Roberts, T. Christopher, H. Pearce

Floor Managers:- J. Wash, J. Kennedy, R. Richardson, H. Wilson, T. Ryan, K. Wood.

Pressed, Cut and Crackled Glass

From cut glass vases to pressed glass candlesticks the Moran family enjoyed collecting glassware.  On a trip to New York they visited the Corning Museum of Glass.  I've included postcards from the trip as well as a photograph of a few items that graced the curio cabinets at Moran Place.

The Hall of Science at the Corning Glass Center.

Winged Wince Glass 17th C.

Spanish Cantir 18th C.

"In the Swim" with Robert Collier 1917

Robert "Bob" L. Collier and Mary "Mollie" Tatem Collier of Crab Orchard Kentucky took care of the Shumate girls quite a bit after the death of their parents in the late 1890's.   The Collier's kept in touch with Virginia Shumate Moran and the families visited each other up till the death of Bob and Mollie.  This postcard was sent to Virginia June 1 1917.  Bob was showing Virginia the type of car he was driving so I think this is just a postcard that anyone could have purchased rather than being a group of people that they knew.  He also mentions a "big blow out" on the 23rd of June.  The 1900 Census indicates he was born in June 1863 so I'm going to take a leap here and assume the big blow out is his birthday party! 

June 1 1917

Dear Virginia, I will try to leave here about the 8th and stop off for a day with you.  Had a letter from Mollie to-day and she wants me to bring you home with me.  Why can't you be ready to go and be there for the big blow out on the 23rd of June?  Look on opposite side and see the kind of car I am driving now.  You know I will drive just any old car and with any Lady just so I am in the swim.  Am feeling good, and hope to improve more before I leave here.  

Love Uncle R.L. Collier

Merry Christmas from Moran Place 2013

Virginia Shumate Moran bundled these Christmas memories together many years ago.  When I unraveled the ribbon that had tied them together I found that most of the names on the gift tags were of her close family.  Sisters Louise Shumate Durway passed away in 1921 and  Maibelle Shumate Harris passed on in 1960, both in Texas. 

After the death of their parents, Nathan M. Shumate and Margaret Jane Adams, the three sisters went to live with their Uncle Quincy Shumate in Newbern TN.  The Quincy Shumate family became the girls second family and they thought of their cousins as siblings.  Hattie Mai Shumate Kingry died in 1956 in Colorado. Martha Belle Shumate Baum also lived in Colorado, date of death is unknown but about 1959. 

The tag to from Virginia from Aunt Mollie is most likely from Mollie Tatem Collier, wife of Robert L. Collier, of Crab Orchard Kentucky.  The Collier's didn't have children of their own and the Shumate girls spent a lot of time with the Collier's after the death of their mother.  Mollie died in 1938 and Robert in 1942.

The tag from "The Cobb's" would be from Virginia's sister-in-law, Marion Moran Cobb.

Snowy Day at Moran Place 1897 & 1979

 Moran Place 1979 and 1897

Moran Place in 1979.  View from down the street.

 Moran Place in 1979.  View from the driveway entrance.

 Moran Place ca 1897.  View from near the carriage entrance.  

Stereo Images by Ebenezer Elijah Henry, 1870

Though not in the best condition these pictures were found in the trunk of Sophia Gunn Moran located in the attic at Moran Place.  The pictures are dated June and July 1870.  The photographer was Ebenezer Elijah Henry of Leavenworth Kansas.  These photo's prove the stories that say the Gunn family was in Leavenworth for a brief time.  One of the photo's shows a line through Leavenworth and is penned Independence Missouri.

Happy Holidays from Ned Ray McWherter

Ned Ray McWherter was the Governor of Tennessee from 1987 - 1995.   He lived in Dresden and Kent has some funny stories and good memories to tell about Ned Ray, who owned the local beer distributorship.  The closest I ever got to Ned Ray McWherter was the library at the University of Memphis which was named for him.  I worked there from it's opening in 1994 till I moved on to Business and Finance in 1997.  Ria Moran saved holiday card and since it's the Christmas season I decided to post it in remembrance of Governor McWherter.  A son of Weakley County Tennessee.

Governor McWherter was born October 15, 1930 and died April 4, 2011.   He is interred at Sunset Cemetery in Dresden.

Piano Nook and Front Staircase

I took this picture March 2012.  Even covered in dust and water stains the beauty and elegance of Moran Place can never be questioned.  A grand lady to the end.  Be sure to visit our Facebook page and like us.

Texas Oil Fields ca 1920

These photographs are annotated on the back with "Eastland Co Good Roads," "Dugger #1 PO & GC,"  "Emma Terrell Ranger," "Cathey Putnam," "Comanche" and "Eastland."   A bit of research revealed that Eastland was Eastland County Texas,  the "Emma Terrell" was an oil derrick at Ranger Texas.   Just as there was a derrick named "Cathey" at Putnam and a Dugger #1 and that Comanche was also a county in Texas.  In addition to the photographs I've included a page from the San Francisco Chronicle dated March 29 1919 which tells the story of black gold being found in the Eastland area of Texas and the rush that ensued in the area to drill.  I'd also like to point out that there was another place not far far away that was also bringing in oil, the Moran Fields in Shackleford County Texas which is also mentioned in the article.

Unidentified men, Eastland County Texas

Unidentified men, Dugger #1

Dresden Enterprise Apr 24 1896 - The Illustrated Edition Part 23 "Sharon and Gleason Communities"

This is the twenty-third and final (unless I come across the rest of the paper) in a multi-part  series featuring the April 24 1896 edition of the Dresden Enterprise.  If you missed the previous posts you can find them here: part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part six, part seven, part eight, part nine, part ten, part eleven, part twelve, part thirteen, part fourteen, part fifteen, part sixteen, part seventeen, part eighteen, part nineteen, part twenty, part twenty-one, part twenty-two.

SHARON

There is not a better community in all of Weakley county than Sharon, and the country surrounding it.  Twenty-three years ago there was no town there-only a house here and there- a closely built neighborhood.  the editor's first visit there was when the Illinois Central railroad, then called the Mississippi Central, was being surveyed.  Today it is one of the most enterprising towns in the county, and has a growing population and business.  Today the population is said to be from 800 to 1,000 which we consider a reasonable estimate.  There are five dry goods houses, some of these buildings handsome bricks; two drug stores, eight groceries, two hotels, one livery stable, two planing mills, one cotton gin, two barber shops, four leaf tobacco houses doing a good business, one newspaper, one roller mill, two brick churches, Methodist and Cumberland Presbyterian, and one brick school house.  The people of Sharon are a moral, religious, industrious, progressive people, and never allow an opportunity to pass they may have to further the moral and material interests of their community.   Sharon for years has had no saloons, and, like Dresden and other places in the county, has found their absence to be a blessing, both morally and financially.  By their removal they have never lost any trade that they would have been bettered by keeping.

GLEASON

Our first recollection of Gleason was thirty years ago.  It was then called Oakwood, situated on the N.C. & St. L. Ry., running between McKenzie and Dresden, and surrounded by very fertile lands, but rather sparsely settled.  A large portion of the country was in woods at that time.  There were only about two or three small store houses here, no churches, no schools and no society.  During the next ten years several small business houses were built, the most of which were used for saloons.  There were very few residences and a small church house.  The moral status of the town was very low, there being at one time as many an nine saloons in town, all doing a thriving business.  Very little attention was paid to the Sabbath.  We had religious services only once a month, and but little attention was paid to education.  Drinking, gambling, horse-racing, fighting and brawling were the order of the day, and Gleason thus very deservedly earned an unsavory reputation away from home.

While our growth has not been phenominal (sic), so far as numbers go, as some other towns, it has been substantial.  But from the standpoint of morality, we claim it is unsurpassed by any town in the county.  We have between 400 and 500 inhabitants; 8 general stores, all of which carry good stocks and do a good business; 2 blacksmiths and wood-working shops; livery stable, grist and saw mill, stave factory, three good church buildings, and a two-story brick school building, and no saloons.  A large percent of our people are members of the various churches, and seem to be making a united effort to elevate the standard of Christianity.  We have two good Sunday schools, with an enrollment of about 100 each and a good average attendance.  It is nothing uncommon to see 150 or more children and young people attending the Sunday schools.  Gleason is proud of her churches and Sunday schools.

Our school was chartered as the Masonic Male and Female Institute, early in the '70's, since which time we have had, nearly all the time, a good school interest.   We call especial attention to the work done by this institution while under the presidency of Prof. J.W. Huey, now president of Springfield Male and Female college.

----

And that is where our paper comes to an end.  We know there is another section.  It may be among the papers we've not yet uncovered or it may just be all we have.  It's been entertaining and enlightening to see what was of interest to the community in 1896.

The complete list of links in this multi-part series:

part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part six, part seven, part eight, part nine, part ten, part eleven, part twelve, part thirteen, part fourteen, part fifteen, part sixteen, part seventeen, part eighteen, part nineteen, part twenty, part twenty-one, part twenty-two, part twenty-three.

Jim Moran III ca 1893 Elkton Kentucky

This photograph of James Henderson Moran III was taken about 1893 when he and his brother Harrell Moran were attending Vanderbilt Training School at Elkton Kentucky.  The photographer, George W. Bellar, was born in Kentucky in 1867.  He married Madeline "Maddie" Wilkinson in 1891 in Muhlenberg Kentucky.  In 1900 he and Maddie were living in Jackson TN.  In 1910 he's moved to Fayetteville Arkansas and is listed as single.  He died in Denton Texas in 1933.  Maddie went on to marry John Thomas Westmoreland.  She died in 1959 in Tampa Florida.

Report cards and a letter from Principal R.E. Crockett were posted in an earlier entry and may be viewed here

 

Jim Moran III and Nashville Group ca 1896

Ebenezer and Peter Calvert were painters and photographers in Nashville.  The Calverts were born in England and studied art there prior to moving to the United States.  They made their way to Nashville about 1870 and worked in several studios before setting up shop for themselves. Both taught art and worked in several mediums such as oil, watercolor and pastels.  Miniatures were exceedingly popular at that time, a medium in which Peter excelled.  They formed a partnership with Sam Taylor in 1896 to form Calvert Bros. & Taylor.  The partnership lasted just four years and they reverted back to the name Calvert Brothers.  Although they were accomplished artists their bread and butter came from photography, specifically class photographs like the one from Moran Place.  Middle row, seated, second from the left is Jim Moran III.

If you're visiting this page and happen to recognize any of the people pictured here please drop me a line so I can add their name.

Here's a closeup version.  Jim is seated in the center of the two rows.  Some of the people look vaguely familiar, perhaps I've seen them in other photo's but I don't know who they are.

Here is a larger version of the middle section.

And of course the right side folks.

Irvine and Thomas Wedding Photograph by Watson, Martin TN 1946

The only person I can identify in this photograph is Louise Moran, second from the left.  I've enlarged the photo into three segments. Perhaps someone will recognize a relative among the faces.  The photographers mark is "Watson, Martin Tenn."

Updated Dec 8, 2013.  Thanks to Tommy Moore and Paula Provine Thomas we know this is the wedding of Mary Sue Irvine and George Connor Thomas Jr.  and can identify a few more people.  Sue and George were married in 1946 at the First United Methodist Church in Dresden, Tennessee.  George was born in 1918 in Dresden, Tn, the son of George C and Georgia Shannon Thomas.  He served in World War II and was awarded a Bronze Star for bravery in combat.  He received his law degree from the University of Tennessee, first in his class.  He had a prosperous law practice in Dresden and also served as Weakley county Judge for 8 years during the 1950's.  Mary Sue passed away in 1985.  In 2003 George served as the Grand Marshall for the Iris Parade.  You can read a really wonderful Senate Joint Resolution by Roy Herron recognizing the life and contributions of George Thomas and congratulating on him on being the Grand Marshall.  George passed on in 2009.

The best man is standing next to George and his older brother William Shannon Thomas.  Shannon married Irene James in Gibson County, Tennessee on March 31, 1933.

The man on the far left is Phil Barton Harris, a future Circuit Court Judge. He married Marilyn Alexander on Jan 23 1943, Weakley County.  Phil Barton Harris passed away February 13, 2013.

Marguerite Joy Jones is the daughter of Marguerite and Harry E. Jones, born about 1925.   I know she married a Garrett and will try to fill in more information later.

Louise Moran was born in Dresden on Sept. 24 1923.  She attended Southwestern College, later to become Rhodes College, in Memphis.  She pursued a nursing career and moved to New York where she met her future husband, Dr. Robert Wrisley Atkins.  They were married in Dresden on Nov 12 1961.  Her husband died in 2003 and she continues to reside in Rochester, New York

Unidentified Young Woman by H.Y. Darnell ca. 1900

We don't know who this young lady might be but I know the photographer was H.Y. Darnell of Dyersburg and Ripley Tennessee.

Henry Y. Darnell was born in Indiana in 1852 to Isaac Darnell and Emeline Roland.  Henry married Orah A. Riggs on May 16 1878 in Indiana.  The couple appear in the 1880 Census for Richland, Green County, Indiana.  His occupation was photographer.  By 1900 the couple had moved to Dyersburg and Henry had a prosperous photograhy studio. The 1900 Census listed an adopted son for the couple, Egbert Algernon Rucker, age 6.  In the 1910 Census Egbert is listed as a boarder. 

Egbert and his adopted parents Henry and Orah are interred at Fairview Cemetery in Dyersburg.  Interestingly enough Henry and his brother Rowland's name appear on a headstone in Indiana with their parents.  Rowland was the President of the Darnell-Love Lumber company in Memphis. He died in Memphis in 1945 and was interred at Forest Hill Cemetery Midtown. 

Dresden Enterprise Apr 24 1896 - The Illustrated Edition Part 22 "The Harper-Detrick Company"

This is the twenty first in a multi-part series featuring the April 24 1896 edition of the Dresden Enterprise.  If you missed the previous posts you can find them here: part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part six, part seven, part eight, part nine, part ten, part eleven, part twelve, part thirteen, part fourteen, part fifteen, part sixteen, part seventeen, part eighteen, part nineteen, part twenty, part twenty-one.

It was recently pointed out to me that John W. Moran owned an opera house in Dresden.  This was news to us and another interesting fact to add to the family history. 

In 1889 Jonathan B. Jeffery's published a Guide and Directory to the Opera Houses, Theatres, Public Halls, Bill Posters of the Cities and Towns of America.  In addition to listing Moran's Hall we know there were two hotels, a Friday paper, C.B. Travis was the bill poster and the baggage agent was R.D. Hart.

The Harper-Detrick company, under the management of Mr. W.N. Cross, closed a week's engagement at the opera house last Saturday night.  They appear all this week at Martin and next week at Huntingdon.

The engagement of this company in Dresden has been a series of most enjoyable treats for the theater goers and lovers of the dramatic.  The cast is made up of first class talent, and that their work here was thoroughly appreciated was evidenced by their reception each night.

As an emotional actress Miss Harper needs no other recommendation than the tears shed by the audience on the night of her appearance in "East Lynne," when her acting, as Lady Isabel at the deathbed of her son, was so natural that it seemed almost doubtful that it was really acting.  They are all refined, quiet, sociable people, and gained many friends during their stay here.

Manager Cross, while a young man in years, has had a wide experience in the show business, having crossed the continent several times with strong companies, and he seems to thoroughly understand the management of shows.  He states that will book only companies that he knows to be first-class, and for next season the opera house promises to be a source of much pleasure and enjoyment to our citizens.  Mr. Cross will close this season at Martin on the 23 of next month, and at Dresden immediately following that date with a good company in a three night's engagement.

The complete list of links in this multi-part series:

part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part six, part seven, part eight, part nine, part ten, part eleven, part twelve, part thirteen, part fourteen, part fifteen, part sixteen, part seventeen, part eighteen, part nineteen, part twenty, part twenty-one, part twenty-two, part twenty-three.

Death of Dr. Benjamin Busey Gilbert 1867

Most information posted on the Moran blog is based on information that came directly out of Moran Place.

However, today that is not the case.  I was looking through old Memphis Daily Appeal's online and came across an obituary for Dr. B.B. Gilbert, formerly of Weakley county.

DIED

Gilbert--of yellow fever, at McKinzie's (sic) Station, on the Memphis and Ohio railroad on the night of Saturday, the 12 th October inst, Dr. B.B.Gilbert, formerly of Weakly (sic) county, Tenn., aged about forty-two years.

Our Bro. and Comp. Dr. Gilbert had been for ten years engaged in the commission business, as one of the firm of Gilbert, Harris & Co., 286 Front street, and was well known to and esteemed by the community and the Brotherhood.  A gentleman in every sense of the word, true to the sublime teachings of Free Masonry, he practiced in all the walks of life the cardinal virtues inculcated by it, and especially Temperance, Justice, Fair-dealing and Truth. He hath the Master's Word, and has gone to that land beyond the dark river where he shall receive Master's wages.

His funeral, in connection with his mother's will take place at McKenzie on the 27th inst.  The Fraternity generally invited to attend.  Services by the Rev. A.E. Cooper. From the Memphis Daily Appeal Oct. 20 1867.

I knew there were Gilbert's in the Moran family tree so decided to find out exactly who was Dr. B.B. Gilbert.  His full name was Benjamin Busey Gilbert, a son of Jonathan Moore Gilbert Sr and Francis Busey. He was one of many children!  In addition to Benjamin there was Lucy Pernecia Gilbert.  Lucy married Albert Gallatin Harris, the brother of Harriet Harris wife of James Henderson Moran who just happened to be the parents of John Williamson Moran!  Benjamin's other siblings were James Monroe, Randolph, Alfred Gardner, Zillah Miranda, Jonathan Moore Jr, Frances Mariba, Agnes Marietta and Elizabeth Portia.

Benjamin married Mary Eliza Allen in Carroll County on October 28, 1857.  To my knowledge they had no children and she died about 1858.  Perhaps in childbirth?  But that's just speculation on my part.

I found various references on ancestry, rootsweb and other online resources to his mother's death placing it at 1867 to 1869.  I think it's safe to say that she died in 1867 about the time of her son Benjamin since the obituary references his funeral in connection with hers.

On a side note I located an intriguing entry in the September 12 1867 edition of the Memphis Daily Appeal, a month before the death of Benjamin.  This is in regards to Mr. S. Harriss (sic) of the firm of Gilbert & Harriss.  

Mysterious Disappearance--Mr. S. Harriss of the firm of Gilbert & Harriss, No. 282 Second Street, disappeared on the night of the 9th, immediately after supper, and has not since been heard from. Mr. Harriss is about forty-five years old, six feet high, of spare build, no whiskers, dark hair, had on light pants and vest, black sack coat and dark hat.  It is feared by his friends that he has been the victim of foul play.  Any information concerning him will be gladly received at 282 Second street.  From the Memphis Daily Appeal Sept 12 1867.

I don't know who Mr. Harris/Harriss was or if he was ever found but according to an Administrator's Notice that appeared in the Public Ledger on Nov 25, 1867, the firm of Gilbert, Harris & Co. was dissolved by mutual consent on September 16, four days after Mr. Harris went missing.

 

The executor of Benjamin Gilbert's estate was J. M. Gilbert Jr.  I'm assuming that to be his brother Jonathan Moore Gilbert Jr.  

Many of the Gilbert's can be found at Gilbert Cemetery in Weakley County.

Dresden Enterprise Apr 24 1896 - The Illustrated Edition Part 21 "The Hon. Seid Waddell"

This is the twenty-first in a multi-part series featuring the April 24 1896 edition of the Dresden Enterprise.  If you missed the previous posts you can find them here: part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part six, part seven, part eight, part nine, part ten, part eleven, part twelve, part thirteen, part fourteen, part fifteen, part sixteen, part seventeen, part eighteen, part nineteen, part twenty.

Hon. Seid Waddell

It is about a foregone conclusion that the above named gentleman will succeed Col. W.P. Caldwell as our next state senator, the latter gentleman having expressed himself as not wanting to be returned. Besides this, it has been customary to let the counties alternate in joint representatives and Obion county is therefore entitled this year to the nomination, which, with so good a man as Mr. Waddell, means a big Democratic majority in November.  Mr. Waddell, who is one of the leading members of the Union City bar, was the representative last year from Obion county, and as such took front rank among the working members.  He is a Democrat, true and tried, and has never been found sulking when needed by his party, and THE ENTERPRISE knows of no one whom it would prefer to see represent us in the state senate than Mr. Waddell.  Mr. Waddell is a man of exceptionally pure private character, and can be relied on always to take a positive stand in favor of moral or political reforms.  While this is true, he is conservative in his views, without being weak, and ever has proper regard for the opinions of people who may not agree with him.  He is very popular in his home county, and will bring out a fine vote there should he be the nominee.  We commend him to the Democrats of Weakley county as a man of sterling worth, both in private and public capacity, and bespeak for him their careful consideration.

The following information comes from the The History of Obion County Tennessee published by Goodspeed in 1887:

Seid Waddell, attorney at law, was born in Somerville, Tenn.,, May 2 1849, son of John C. and Elizabeth D. (Bugg) Waddell, and is of Scotch-Irish descent.  John C. Waddell was born in Carroll County, Tenn., about 1819, and died in Union city in 1884. The mother was also a Tennessean, and died in Arkansas.  Seid Waddell began the study of law in 1873, and in January, 1874 entered the senior class of Lebanon University and graduated the same year.  he came almost immediately to Union City, and here has since continued to reside and practice law, being a co-partner of Hon. Rice A. Pierce.  Mr. Waddell was one of the organizers of the Bank of Union City in 1879, and was made president of the same in 1884, and as such now continues.  He is a Democrat, and in 1885 was elected mayor of Union city by the city council, and re-elected in 1886 by the people.  In 1877 his marriage with Miss Eva P. Waddell was celebrated.  She was born in Hardeman County, Tenn., in 1856, and is the mother of three children:  Lizzie D., and Belle M. and Birdie M., (Twins).  Mr. Waddell owns a fine farm of 200 acres, on which he raises Holstein and Jersey cattle.  He is a K.of P., and he and Mrs Waddell are members of the Swedenborgian or New Church.

He served as Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee from 1899-1901.  He served as Speaker of the House, again from 1899-1901.   He was also one of the attorneys representing the West Tennessee Land Company during the Reelfoot Night Riders Trial.

The death certificate lists the following information:  His parents were John Calvin Waddell and Elizabeth Dickens.  The informant was E.P. Waddell.  His occupation was Banker and Lawyer at the Old National Bank.  Cause of death was Organiz Heart Lesion and mitral stenosis.  He, his wife and several of his children are buried at East View Cemetery in Union City.

His father, Dr. John Calvin Waddell, was the inventor of Waddell's Broadcast Seed Sower.

The complete list of links in this multi-part series:

part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part six, part seven, part eight, part nine, part ten, part eleven, part twelve, part thirteen, part fourteen, part fifteen, part sixteen, part seventeen, part eighteen, part nineteen, part twenty, part twenty-one, part twenty-two, part twenty-three.