Advertisement for C.W. Cottrell's Dry Goods Store 1895

I came across a copy of the Dresden Enterprise dated October 11, 1895.  I plan on scanning it all and posting it over the next few weeks but for today I picked this advertisement for Charles W. Cottrell's Dry Goods store. While doing research I came across a biography for him and am including that as well.

At one point, Cottrell was in the dry goods and general merchandise business with several Moran relatives including Benjamin D. Irvine, Stephen Preston Scott and George Scott Boyd.  According to the death announcement in the Dresden Enterprise he retired from that business and became the president of the Weakley County Bank.  I'm sure he and J.W. Moran had much in common since J.W.Moran also started out in dry goods and branched out into banking with the Dresden Bank!

Biography of the Charles W. Cottrell family taken from The History of Weakley County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed in 1887:

"C.W. Cottrell, proprietor of a general merchandise store at Dresden, Tenn., was born in Granville County, N.C., December 4, 1840.  His father, Samuel Cottrell, was born in the same county and State, August 7, 1820, and was a farmer by occupation.  He immigrated to Tennessee in 1844, locating in Weakley County, and died in the Tenth District of that county, October 29, 1847.  The mother, whose maiden name was Catherine Hicks, was born in the same State and county as her husband, February 8, 1819. After her husband's death she married C.E. Baxter, and after his death she united her fortunes with those of W.R. Ross, who is also deceased. For the past eight years she has been living with our subject.  Mr. Cottrell was educated in the schools of Dresden and became a salesman in the general merchandise store of M.D. Cardwell, in Dresden, at the age of sixteen.  In 1859 he began clerking for E.J. White, with whom he remained until 1865, when he became a partner in the business, the firm consisting of E.J. White (his son) J.M. White and Mr. Cottrell.  In 1868 E.J. White died, and from that date until 1879 Mr. Cottrell and J.M. White continued as partners.  In 1879 Mr. Cottrell disposed of his interest in the stock to his partner, and in 1880 formed a partnership with B.D. Irvine, S.P. Scott and G.S. Boyd, under the firm name of Cottrell, Irvine & Co., starting a large dry goods and general merchandise establishment, and building a fine flouring-mill, saw-mill, etc.  In 1883 Mr. Cottrell sold his interest in the mills and bought the entire stock in the store, and from that date until the present, has successfully managed the business.  April 25, 1866, he married Mary E. Johnson, who was born near Murfreesboro, February 14, 1841, daughter of Joseph M. Johnson, who was, at one time, sheriff of Rutherford County.  They have no children.  Mr. Cottrell is a Democrat and belongs to K. of H. Lodge, No. 312.  His wife and mother are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South."

From the Dresden Enterprise, April 1, 1904:
"Sudden Death.  The entire populace of Dresden was shocked on last Saturday night shortly after 7 o'clock to learn that Mr. C.W. Cottrell had very suddenly expired at his home.  Mr. Cottrell had been at the bank all day and apparently in robust health, but was taken suddenly ill that evening and expired in ten minutes time.  Dr. Baxter, his half brother, arrived a few minutes before he died and administered medical aid.  Mr. Cottrell came to this county from North Carolina overland with his parents when he was six years of age, and has resided here ever since.  for a number of years, he engaged in the mercantile business here and enjoyed a very extensive patronage, but retired in 1896 and devoted his entire time to the presidency of the Weakley County Bank, one of the strongest financial institutions in the county, to the time of his demise.  He was a man of few words and slow to express an opinion on current questions; he attended strictly to his own affairs.  He had gained what earthly possessions he had by hard toil and shrewd management, and was at the time of his death one of the wealthiest men of the county.  A large number of prominent and influential men from this and many adjoining counties attended his funeral Sunday afternoon.  He leaves, besides an aged wife, a sister, Mrs. Bettie Freeman, of Paris, and a half brother, Dr. G.I. Baxter of Dresden.  There were no children.  Funeral services were conducted Sunday at the residence by Rev. Russell.  Interment took place at Dresden cemetery."

Charles Cottrell and his wife Mary E. Johnson Cottrell are interred at Sunset Cemetery.  In addition, his mother Catherine Hicks Cottrell Baxter Ross  and half brother George Isaac Baxter are there as well.

Dresden Men in the News, July 1879

If the state debt is compromised and the property taxed to pay the interest who will it fall upon--the owners of taxable property.  We have seen and conversed with quite a number of this class of men--for instance, A.M. BOYD, G.R. BRASFIELD, B.D. IRVINE, G.W. MARTIN, M.P. MARTIN, Alfred GARDNER and J.W. MORAN--worth in the aggregate about $600,000 and owning about 30,000 acres of land.  These men are all warm supporters of the compromise measure, and if such men, who pay largely of the taxes, are willing to vote this tax upon themselves, ought not the poor man who will not pay one dollar of the taxes (for the poll tax goes to the school fund) vote for the compromise?  Can you find ten men in the county worth as much as the seven above named who will vote against the compromise?  We think not.

--Dresden Our Country

Posted in The Milan Exchange July 17 1879, page 1.

Irvine and Gleeson Land Transactions 1875

I came across receipts for land purchases between Agnes and B.D. Irvine and Mrs. Elizabeth C. Gleeson

$1000.00 Rec'd of Mrs. Agnes Irvine
one thousand dollars on this note June 1st 1875
E.C. Gleeson Jo. H. Travis
Rec'd of Mrs. Agnes Irvine balance payment
in full this note June 25th 1875 E.C. Gleeson

and Joseph H. Travis

Agnes Irvine was John W. Moran's sister and the wife of B.D. Irvine.  

Elizabeth Clary Travis (Gleeson) was the daughter of Major Edward Travis, who fought in the Revolutionary War, and his first wife Lucy Jones Worsham.  Elizabeth was born about 1807 and died 1890.  She was first married to Gaines F. Clark, M.D. about 1829.  After his death she married William W. Gleeson. The Gleeson name appears in different sources as Gleason/Glisson/Gleeson.   

$1000.00 Twelve months after date we promise
to pay to the order of Mrs. Elizabeth C. Gleeson one
thousand dollars for value received in land
This July 26th 1875
Agnes Irvine B.D. Irvine

This was not the first marriage for William Gleeson either.  His first wife was Mary Amelia Pulliam. Their children were: Mary Amelia Gibson who married Calvin Job Rogers, Margaret E. Gleeson who married Andrew Maloan.  William Gleeson was not a poor man. He was the recipient of numerous land grants in the 1830's.  In 1844 he was appointed U.S. Postmaster at Dresden Tn.  In 1850 his value is listed at $12,000 and he owned 15 slaves ages 1 to 80.  In the 1860 slave schedule census he is the owner of 22 slaves ranging in age from 1 year to 55 years old.  William died in 1867.

$1000.00 Rec'd of Mrs. Agnes Irvine One
Thousand Dollars as payment in full of this note
this Oct. 4th 1875
E.C. Gleeson
Jo. H. Travis

In the 1870 Census Elizabeth was still residing in Weakley County, District 7.  This time her name appears as E.C. Gleason. Her real estate and personal estate are valued at a total of $5000. Elizabeth is 60 years old and widowed.  She has no children but she is by no means alone. The Civil War is over and it seems that many of the former slaves stayed in the Gleeson household:

William A. Gleeson, age 30, black, farm laborere

Analiza Gleeson, age 20, domestic servant

Marha M. Gleeson, age 10, black, domestic servant

Lucy F. Gleeson, age 5, black, at home

Charles A. Gleeson, age 2, blacks, at home

Caroline Gleeson, age 45, mulatto,  domestic servant

Mary E. Gleeson, age 20, mulatto, domestic servant

Katie S. Gleeson, age 17, mulatto, domestic servant

Adline H. Gleeson, age 14, mulatto, domestic servant

Callie L. Gleeson, age 10, mulatto, domestic servant

$1000.00 Two years after date we promise to pay
to the order of Mrs. Elizabeth C. Gleeson One
Thousand dollars for value received in land.
This July 26th 1875
Agnes Irvine B.D. Irvine

In 1880 Elizabeth is living with her sister-in-law Amanda Hicks Travis and several niece's and nephews in Henry County.  Amanda was the wife of Elizabeth's brother Robert Ludson Travis who died in 1869.

Side notes: Joseph Hutching Travis' name appears below that of Elizabeth on the receipts. Perhaps he was helping her or was a partner in the land deal. Joseph was her younger brother.  Martha Maria Travis is the half sister of Elizabeth and was married to Tennessee Governor Isham G. Harris. Isham is a Moran 1st cousin 5 times removed which means that Elizabeth Clary Travis Gleeson is also a distant cousin through the Harris family.

Dresden Enterprise Apr 24 1896 - The Illustrated Edition Part 6 "Weakley & the Tennessee Centennial"

This is the sixth 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.

Today's post covers page 3.  The top half of the page is an advertisement for something called the "Cash Racket Store" and the bottom section is dedicated to the Tennessee Centennial.

Transcription of the Tennessee Centennial article:

Beckersteth in his beautiful poem, "Yesterday, Today and Forever," speaks of anniversaries as white stones in the journey of life.  They are set up to comemmorate what i past, and to give strength and inspiration for the further journey.  They mark both a burial and a birth.

Tennessee is completing the circle of years that marks her stone one hundred.

All the hands that placed the first stone have mouldered back to dust.  The men and women of the old heroic days belong now to history.  In camp, in forts, in the humble home, in legislative hall, in foreign courts, anywhere and everywhere, the men who fought our battles and laid the foundation of our state and plead for her recognition were such as posterity delights to honor.  Their praises have been sung in poetry and written in books and inscribed on stone.  It is eminently proper, then, that the state should herself celebrate her Yesterday by a Today that will make her famous forevermore.  This notable event should be a great gathering in which every county, every citizen, every woman, every child is suitable represented.  The mother, venerable in years and usefulness, deserves a token from all who claim her care--who share her protection.  A long absent son writing from a foreign field said, "Mother, I cannot be with you, but I send my love and my offering."  There are ninety-six counties in Tennessee ? is able to send love and an offering worthy of the occasion.  some of the counties--through the county court--have devised liberal things. When the courts refuse an appropriation more remains to be done by individual action.

Weakley, so rich in resources, will surely send some gift for the birthday of the state.  Right here in Dresden we have one of the best mills in West Tennessee.  It runs regularly, working from ten to fifteen hands, with a capacity of 100 barrels of flour, fifty barrels of meal and fifty barrels of chopped feed.  It is owned and operated by home men--S.P. Scott and B.D. Irvine, with a capital of thirty thousand dollars.  In tobacco the showing is just as creditable, while the growth of small fruits and tomatoes yields a heavy income for the money and labor invested.  All in all, Weakley County is a good county and one that has honored the state in nearly every deppartment. (sic)  Why should not Weakley take some part in the erection of that white stone to mark the Mother's birthday into a fuller and more glorious future.  I know that there are difficulties in the way of the Woman's Board.  It is a hard matter for the wives, mothers and children to do anything or to go anywhere without help from the husbands, the fathers and the brothers--yes and the old bachelors, for on these Rome used to put a double tax for all public enterprises.  however, despite discouragements, the members of the Woman's State and County boards appeal to one and to all for help in securing suitable means for a creditable county exhibit.  They earnestly desire that the exhibit of woman's work from Weakley shall not be a whit behind the chiefest.  To this end, they urge upon sub-committees throughout the county, or in each civil district, and upon all women to put forth their best efforts to secure specimens of handiwork of every kind, fine needle work, painting, embroidery, crocheting, knitting, leather work, dairy products--anything from the home or from a farm or garden managed by women.  Then we must have money or the exhibit cannot be transported and mounted.

Now, in some neighboring counties the farmers are helping by donation of hams, flour, corn, cotton, tobacco, meal and the women donate the money from a pound or more of butter, the sale of so many dozen eggs.  The hams are cooked and made into dainty lunches by the women and sold for the Centennial fund.  The articles donated all go to the treasury.

Who will be the first to help our county board with such things as he or she can spare from the farm and from the dairy and the orchard?  Will not each help to make the mother's birthday an occasion of great rejoicing?
           Mrs. S. F. Mooney
-------
Why suffer with Coughs, Colds and LaGrippe when Laxative Bromo Quinine will cure you in one day.  Does not produce the ringing int he head like sulphate of quinine.  Put up in tablets convenient for taking.  Guaranteed to cure, or money refunded.  Price, 25 cents.  For sale by G.I. Baxter.

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.

Robert Lee Irvine, Final Rites 1956

Robert Lee Irvine was one of the many children of Benjamin Dabney Irvine and Agnes Marion Moran. He married Bertie King in 1893.  They had four children: Erastus/Rastus, Beulah, Catherine and Mary Lee.

Final Rites Held Sunday for Bob Lee Irvine
Services were held April 8 (1956) at the Methodist Church for Robert Lee Irvine, who died April 6 at his home near Dresden.

Mr Irvine had been ill for some time, but his death was unexpected.  He was a retired farmer and painter.  He was 85.  His parents were the late Ben and Agnes Moran Irvine.  He was a member of the Methodist Church.

Rev. J.F. Moore, Rev. George H. Douglas and Rev. Lacey Freeman conducted the services, with burial in Sunset Cemetery.  Bowlin and Riggs in charge.

Mr. Irvine's wife, Mrs. Birtie King Irvine, preceded him in death.  Also one daughter, Miss Catherine Irvine.

He leaves one son, R.B. Irvine and two daughters, Mrs James Hamlin (Beulah) and Mrs. Houston Smith (Mary Lee), all of Dresden; two brothers, Will Irvine, St. Cloud, Fla., and Jack Irvine, Fort Worth, Texas, and one sister Mrs. Sophia Ferguson, Dresden.

Pallbearers were John Jeter, H.H. Cook, Ellis Vaughan, Shortie Pettie, Earl Flint and Blake Pentecost.

1888 Demon Alcohol Leads to Murder

Picture was added April 18, 2013
The right image is the original scan.  The left I tried using color
correction software.  Neither is great but it's better
than nothing!  ca. 1880

While researching some of the Irvine relatives I came across Harry Clinton Irvine, the first born son of Agnes Moran and B.D. Irvine.  His nickname was Buck.   The Irvine branch of the family seemed to be full of piss and vinegar as my own mom would say.  They were a wild bunch.  In an earlier post I related the story of Sid and Tom Irvine and the murder of J.W. Kerr in Bowie Texas.  Tom did the actual killing but he left the state leaving Sid at the mercy of the law.

Back to Harry.  Harry was born Oct. 9 1857.

In regards to Harry, I came across the Hamilton Daily Democrat of March 5, 1888.  It seems that Harry and Tabe White were quarreling over a jug of whisky.  Harry shot and killed Tabe.  I've not found anything else regarding this crime.

The last thing I know about Harry is that he died at the age of 39 on May 7, 1897 and is buried in Moran Cemetery, Dresden Tennessee.  Cause of death is unknown.

Updated September 14 2019.

I came across the following newspaper article in the Memphis Daily Appeal, dated Mar 6 1888, which sheds more light on the Whisky incident. 

Killed a Negro

Tobe White, a Desperate Character, Shot by Harry Irvine at Dresden.

Special Dispatch to the Appeal

Dresden, Tenn., March 5--On Saturday afternoon at 5 o'clock Harry Buck Irvine, white, shot and killed Tobe White, colored, at this place.  The difficulty originated at the depot in the afternoon over a jug of whisky.  White and a white man were fighting, when Irvine tried to separate them.  This enraged White, who assaulted Irvine with Brickbats.  Soon afterward Irvine went to his father's residence, got a pistol, came down to the square and shot him through the left side, the ball ranging downward into the bowels and causing death about midnight.  White was the most notorious and daring negro in this section.  He it was who defied the four-mile law of the town for two years until he was sentenced to jail for twelve months by Judge Swiggart.  Public sympathy is with Irvine.

I can also update information regarding his death.  Here is the obituary that appeared in The Tennessean on May 8 1897.

The Tennessean

May 8 1897

Deaths

Dresden, May 7-(Special:) Death visited the home of Mr. D.D. Irvine and wife last night, taking therefrom the oldest son, Mr. Harry Irvine, aged about 40 years.  He was ill for about three weeks with malarial fever.  The remains were interred this afternoon at the family cemetery north of town.

History of Moran Cemetery, Dresden TN

If one goes by the remaining headstones in the Moran Cemetery it's very fitting that the two oldest graves belong to James Henderson Moran the first (1796-1843) and his wife Harriet Harris Moran (1813-1848).

But originally the land that became known as Moran Cemetery belonged to Benjamin Dabney Irvine, or B.D. to his friends.  B.D. Irvine was in the mercantile business in Dresden Tennessee and he married Agnes Moran, one of James H. Moran's daughters. 

The Irvine and Moran families were exceedingly close not just in proximity to each other but within the bonds of familial love. So it's not surprising that B.D. Irvine deeded the cemetery land to the heirs of James H. Moran Sr.

Another interesting note about the land.  There is a chain link fence and a concrete fence.    John W. Moran set aside part of the land for other families in the area who needed a place to be buried.  Those families are interred in the section surrounded by chain link and some of the surnames are:  DeRossett, Grubb, Insco, Dunn, McDaniel, Ooten and Radford.  The Moran's are buried in the section surrounded by the concrete fence.

B.D. Irvine to heirs of James H. Moran Sr.

Deed Book 18 Page 148.

And in consideration of the love and affection I have for the heirs of James H. Moran Sr. Deceased to wit, My wife, Agnes Irvine, formerly Agnes Moran, Martha H. Scott, wife of R.F. Scott formerly Martha H. Moran, and John W. Moran and their heirs forever have this day given and hereby convey in fee simple unto them a certain tract of land expressly for burial purposes situated in said county and State, 7th Civil Distrist and about one mile north east of Dresden known as The Moran burying ground and bordered as follows:

Beginning at the center of James H. Moran Sr.s grave runs thence North, East, South and West one hundred feet in each direction from the center of said grave.  I also give and convey to said heirs 15 ft. of land off the North side of the land owned by me to extend from the Dresden and Boydsville road to said burying ground in the line between me and E.J. Sanderfer as a passing to and from said graveyard and I warrant the title to said land to the heirs of said J.H. Moran Sr. and their heirs forever against the claims of all persons whatever.  Witness my hand and signature on the 17th day of May, 1894. 

B.D. Irvine

Oldest Resident of Dresden Succumbs to Pneumonia, 1932

Agnes Marion Moran was one of the daughters of James Henderson Moran and Harriet Harris.  She was born in 1838 in Dresden, Tennessee.  She married Benjamin Dabney (B.D.) Irvine in 1856 and together they had twelve children.  She remained very close to her Moran relatives.  It was not unusual for John Williamson Moran's children to be living with the Irvine's.  Her husband, B.D. Irvine, even gave the Moran's a tract of land specifically designated for them to use as their own private cemetery.

B.D. Irvine and Agnes Marion Moran Irvine

She had many sorrows in her life including the death of Florence who died tragically from burns she received in a fire in their home. Her sons Thomas and John Irvine moved to Texas and became involved in a murder which Thomas committed, but Thomas fled and came back to Tennessee leaving his brother John to face the consequences.  After four years and four trials John was found innocent.  In 1918 Thomas was stabbed in the abdomen which resulted in his death.  His death certificate says it was homicide.  He may have fled the scene in Texas but justice of another kind caught up with him.

Agnes Moran Irvine
Age 94 years old
born October 7, 1838
died October 11, 1932

Transcription of obituary:

Mrs. B.D. Irvine Dies After Brief Illness
Oldest Resident of Dresden Succumbs to Pneumonia

Dresden, Tenn., Oct. 12 --(Special)--
Mrs. Agnes Irvine, 95, a revered figure in Dresden and the oldest resident of town, died Tuesday after a brief illness of pneumonia.  She was the widow of B.D. Irvine and a sister of the late J.W. Moran, being a representative of one of the most prominent connections in the county.

Mrs. Irvine was a daughter of James Henderson Moran and his wife, Harriet Harris Moran, who were prominent in the early affairs of Dresden.  She was a member of the Methodist Church, and very active in its work and about the home until the very end of her life. The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon.

Mrs. Irvine was the mother of twelve children, six of whom survive: J.A. Irvine; Mrs. Sophia Fergusen with whom she made her home, and R.L. Irvine, of Dresden; Moran Irvine of Rutherford; Forrest D. of Fort Worth Texas, and William Irvine of Atlanta.  She was an aunt of Mrs. James B. Ezzell of Nashville.