1923 Letter from Pastor S.L. Jewell to Brud Moran

Letter to Charles "Brud" Moran from Samuel L. Jewell, pastor, M.E. Church, South.  

S. L. Jewell was born about 1860 in Kentucky and served as a pastor in several towns including Dresden, McKenzie, and Trenton.  You can see a picture of him here when he was pastor at Trenton. In April of 1923, the Dresden M.E. Church, South, had purchased an organ from a church in Memphis.  Letters and bill of sale can be seen in an earlier blog post.  He appears in the 1900 Census for Mayfield Kentucky, age 43, married 12 years, occupation Minister.  His wife was Daisy Redd Jewell, age 32.  They had two sons: William Redd Jewell age 10 and Samuel L. Jewell Jr age 5.  The family appears again in the 1910 Census living in Clinton, Kentucky.  By 1920 Samuel Sr and Daisy were living in Barlow Kentucky.  A nephew, Allan Redd age 15, was living with them.  Samuel and Daisy move to Memphis and appear in City Directories for 1932-1935 living at 1779 Glenview Ave. Their son Samuel Jr was the sales manager at Kirkpatrick Coal.

William Jewell married married Ida Porter Clark of Hickman Kentucky.  William died in Ohio in 1979 and is interred at Spring Grove Cemetery.

Samuel Lewis Jewell Jr married Rowena Wyatt.  He died in 1995 and is buried at Forest Hill Midtown in Memphis.

Daisy Redd Jewell died in 1939 in Evanston Illinois and is buried at Oakland Cemetery in Trenton.

In addition to their two sons, Sameul and Daisy had a daughter named Vivian who died at the age of 4 from burns received in a fire.  She is buried at Oakland Cemetery with her mother.

It is unknown at this time what happened to Rev. Samuel L. Jewell.

Conway Ark.

June 21 1923

Dear Brother Moran

I have Dr. Jones's telegram informing me that you have let the contract for the church at satisfactory price.  I am certainly happy to know it.

I am writing you in regard to the organ committee. Would it not be well to suggest to the committee to get their funds in at once so as to enable the good women to pay their subscription immediately?

Dr. Jones gave me no details of the contract.  When they begin to gravel the lot, please have the concrete side walk removed in unbroken squares. We will need that at one side of the building.  I think they can prize it up and shove it into the ditch and we can have it moved.

I am revolving in my head some plans to enclose the subscription list to enable us to finish the auditorium. Will lay them before you when I get home.  We are well and enjoying our visit.  Hope you are well.

Cordially,

S. L. Jewell

Courthouse At Dresden TN pre-1919

This picture of the Courthouse in Dresden Tennessee was taken prior to 1919 since there aren't any "wings".  Those were added in 1919 by L.E. Wingo. For more information about the courthouse and 1948 fire that destroyed it be sure to visit the earlier blog post from 2011.

Happy 95th Birthday, Nathan H. Moran

Bub Moran
age 16
1934

We couldn't let the date pass without acknowledging the birthday of Nathan Harrell Moran.  He was also known as Nate and Bub.  Born April 8, 1918, he was the middle child of James and Virginia Moran.  He was a rough and tumble kind of guy who enjoyed the outdoors, sports, mechanics, and the military.  He would be 95 years old today.  Feel free to stop by and leave a virtual flower on his memorial.

<---- here's a school picture from 1934 when he was 16 years old.  It's amazing how much our own son resembles his grandfather and on many occasions we refer to him as Bub too.

For more information and pictures about the life of Nathan check out his birthday blog from last year.

From Bank President to Farmer

J.H.Moran III
President, Bank of Dresden

Prior to the depression the Moran family owned the Bank of Dresden and Jim Moran III was the president while Harrell (Uncle Brud) Moran was the chief bank clerk. Jim was the youngest bank president in the State of Tennessee.  He invested heavily in the Dresden bank and other banks too.  

Brud diversified his interests and one way he did that was buying land.   Sharecroppers worked the land owned by Brud.   We don't know what he drove prior to 1929 but many people remembered Brud driving his 1929 Dodge to check on the land and the sharecroppers.   

When the Bank of Dresden failed in 1927 Jim was devastated financially and while Brud was hit hard it didn't wipe him out.  Due to Brud's financial savvy the Moran's were able to keep Moran Place and all of the property together but not enough money to maintain it forever.

One of the family stories about Jim and his "good time attitude" is that prior to the bank failing he had the opportunity to buy a beautiful house on Linden Street that eventually was purchase by Ned Ray McWherter.  But he didn't.  He chose to buy a sports car to the deep disappointment of the family.  

So what happened after the bank failed? They did whatever they had to, to survive.  Jim, who had been elected to the state legislature in 1925, probably used his political connections to secure a position as a bank examiner for the Federal Housing Authority.  He worked in Memphis and would commute back to Dresden on the weekends.  He also spent time in Little Rock for the FHA.  Brud continued taking care of the land holdings.  Most of the servants and workers were let go but a few were retained.  Kitty was the cook and housekeeper and we think she may have been an Irvine.  Some of the other Irvine's were retained and there are memories of one of the Irvine's visiting Moran Place in the 1980's to visit Nathan Moran prior to his death.    Jim's wife, Virginia, began canning the crops that were raised in the garden.  Their sons Jim the IV and Nathan were put to work farming as well.  Nathan continued having a rather large garden up until his death in 1982 and Kent remembers working that garden as well as canning.

This photograph was taken in the 1930's and shows Jim plowing the Moran Place garden.  The small out building behind him is the old smokehouse which was originally an ice house or storage building, it's been called both through the years.  It was built using soft bricks, the same bricks used in Moran Place which would cause problems throughout the years because they crumbled.  The white on the smokehouse is where Nathan Moran had begun stuccoing the building in an attempt to keep the bricks from deteriorating further.  The ice house was converted to a smokehouse after the depression so that they could smoke their own hams.  In addition to growing their own food they also had cows and pigs.  They also were given the occasional pig by some of the sharecroppers.

Jim Moran III, plowing at Moran Place ca 1930's

Everyone settled into their new way of life.  They may not have been rich in money but they were rich in family and friends.  And of course, they still had Moran Place. 

The Yellow Kid, A Lock of Hair & Minnie Cowden Yowell - 1897

Today I dug into a box and picked up an envelope from Yowell & Williams, State Agents, Union Central Life Insurance Company, Under Capitol Hotel, Little Rock, Ark.  It wasn't addressed to anyone but it had a few things inside which means to me it was personally hand carried and hand delivered to the recipient.

The Yellow Kid

On the back of the envelope is an odd little metal figure who Kent immediately identified as  "The Yellow Kid".   Kent's a fountain of trivia like that but for me, I had to google it and discovered he was a cartoon character that ran from 1895 - 1898 in the New York World and later in the New York Journal.  I don't know if he was supposed to be stuck to the back of the envelope or if it was put on later or perhaps it was something that just accidentally stuck to the paper. I do think he's ugly!

Inside the envelope I found a calling card, a train ticket, and a lock of hair.

The calling card reads "Miss Minnie Cowden Yowell" and on the back is written:

Back side of Minnie's
calling card

"Do you remember the 5 July 1897?  I do.  Dream of the girl that's still in the swing/ring.  You ought to have been here at the wedding."

I don't know what happened July 5 1897 but I know that Fannie Moran and  James Ezzell were married on Oct. 19, 1897 and that the train ticket for Minnie Yowell  expired October 30, 1897 and it's a ticket going from Nashville to Dresden.  Perhaps Minnie was attending Fannie's wedding.

Minnie's Train Ticket

Back of Minnie's train ticket.

This is the backside of the envelope and you can see where the Yellow Kid is attached.  I also used the envelope as the backdrop for the enclosed lock of hair tied with a pale pink or lavender ribbon.







I don't know if Minnie was a distant cousin or just a close friend but I did a bit of research and found the following information.

Minnie Cowden Yowell was born in 1876 to Joel George Washington Yowell and Elizabeth Prudence Rector.  Minnie Cowden Yowell married Robert Leathan Lund August 16 1899 in Washington County Arkansas. They had at least four children: Robert Leathan Lund Jr., Jowel Yowell Lund, William Rector Lund and Dorothy Talbot Lund.  Minnie and Robert moved to St. Louis and are listed in the 1933 city directory where Robert was the executive vice president/treasurer of the Lambert Pharmaceutical Company.

Minnie died in 1953 and Robert followed her to the grave in 1957.  According to family tree's they both died in St. Louis Missouri.

If you're really interested in Minnie's lineage I found her sister, Mamie Snow Yowell Ledbetter, listed in volume 46 of the Lineage Book- National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Updated September 19, 2013
I came across another letter today from Minnie Yowell to Harrell Moran.

The envelope is dated June 16 1897:
My dear Mr. Moran:  Ida asked me to let you know when I passed through Nashville.  She thought that perhaps you would like to go down to Dresden as I do.  I arrived last evening and will leave to-morrow (17th) at 3 o'clock.

I am stopping at Mrs. Matthews no. 400 Belmont ave.  would be glad to see you sometime.  Perhaps we ?could table? it over and you will go down to Dresden as I do.

In haste
Your friend
Minnie Yowell

Dr. and Mrs. Shobe Smith Sr.

I came across an envelope that contained a small piece of stationery engraved with the name Mrs. Shobe Smith, Sr.  

On the inside the following note is written:

This was written by Miss Ida Moran. President of Dresden Music Club.  Reading it at Club meeting in Her Home- Dresden

Maybe some day I'll come across what was read at the meeting!

In the meantime I was curious about the Smith's and who they were.

Before she married Dr. Shobe Smith, Sr. she was Mattie David Wooldridge, daughter of  David Hinds Wooldridge and Martha Jane Senter.  According to the death certificate David Wooldridge died in Nashville and was buried in Gleason, Tn.  

Shobe Smith was the son of Rebecca Shobe and Alexander Hannibal Smith of Smiths Grove, Warren County, Kentucky.  A good biographical profile of A.H. Smith can be found at Rootsweb.  According to Census records Shobe was born Moses Shobe Smith.  He and Mattie were married September 26, 1894 in Weakley County.  James A."Bump" Irvine was a witness and bondsman for the marriage.  He is also our 1st cousin twice removed!   A picture of  "Bump" can be found on an earlier blog post.  The 1910 Census shows the following children of Shobe and Mattie: Raymond age 13, Wooldridge age 10, Frank G. age 7, Shobe Jr age 3 and Clarence was under the age of 1.

Dr. Shobe Smith was a dentist in Dresden.  Here's a scan of an advertisement from the Dresden Enterprise dated October 11, 1895 for his dental practice:

Shobe Smith,
Dentist.
Office in rear John R.
Thomason's law Office.
All Kinds of
DENTAL WORK
Done in first-class Style, and at
reasonable prices.
Oct 11 1 y.

The Death of Mrs. J.W. Moran, 1895

Sophia Riley Gunn Moran
Most likely painted after her death. 

This is the obituary that appeared in the Dresden Enterprise.  Another tribute appeared later written by Mary D. Duval of Clarksville TN.  It was published in the paper October 25, 1895.

Death of Mrs. J.W. Moran

Dresden Enterprise

October 11, 1895

  Last Monday afternoon, just before five o'clock, after an illness of eight weeks from malarial fever and brain trouble,  Mrs. J.W. Moran breathed her last, surrounded by her family and other relatives and many friends, who had come from far and near to see the last of one who had been so inexpressibly dear to them in life.  Among the throng gathered about her dying bed was her brother Mr. Lyman C. GUNN, of St. Louis, the last surviving member of a large family.  Dr. WRIGHT, of Huntingdon, was called to see her Saturday, but death had placed his seal upon her, and medical aid was powerless to release her from his grasp.  All that love and money could do was done to save her, but no power was strong enough to restore her to life and health.

  Mrs. Moran, who was formerly Miss Sophia R. GUNN, was born in Nashville in 1852, and was educated principally in Leavenworth, Kansas, where, as here, she had many close friends.  Her education was quite thorough, and especially in music, she taking up the latter as her avocation.  In 1870 she came here a stranger to all, and commenced a class in music which she taught up to the time of her marriage with Mr. Moran a year later, this event, which linked two loving hearts and congenial lives as one, occurring at the home of Col. Jno. A. GARDNER, of Gardner Station, whose wife was a relative of Mrs. Moran.

First paragraph of the obituary
that appeared in the Dresden Enterprise

  Soon after coming to Dresden Rev. B.F. BLACKMAN held a revival which resulted in the conversion of many, and the addition of forty to the church, many of them young people, some of the quite old.  The deceased was one of the additions to the church at that time, and ever after was a consistent member and conscientious Christian.  Her work in the church bore much good fruit, and it will sadly miss her aid and influence.  she was for a long time the competent organist of this church, and her voice has been greatly missed from the choir during the past two years.

  It is seldom we find a wife and mother who so happily combines the many estimable qualities that Mrs. Moran possessed.  While she was for years known and felt in every public work, her home life remained a model system of perfection.  Although for a number of years her life companion was not a Christian, at least not by confession, (though always a man of the strictest moral living), yet from the first she erected the family alter, and every night her little children, ere they could hardly lisp the name of Jesus, were prayed for and with by her.  Her children, each giving promise of a career of usefulness and influence in the religious world.  Mrs. Moran was ever an industrious woman, and though she always had wealth at her command, she never ate the bread of idleness, but was ever employed in some way, at times teaching classes in music after her marriage.  Her home has been open to many for entertainment, and all can testify to the perfect system that was plainly visible in her home, showing that as a housekeeper she lacked nothing as to qualifications.

   Tuesday afternoon her remains were carried to the church where the funeral service was held by Rev. A.J. MEADERS, pastor of the church.  In the congregation were many from distant cities and surrounding towns--in fact the largest crowd that ever attended a funeral was out the, thug giving visible evidence of the high esteem in which she was held.  The casket, which was borne by the following pallbearers, Messrs. J.E. JONES, Dennis BRASFIELD, Will TUGWELL, S.P. SCOTT, all of Dresden, G.W. MARTIN, of Martin, and W.B. WASHINGTON, of Nashville, was literally covered with handsome floral offerings from friends. The music, with Mrs. W.W. BROWN at the organ, was very appropriate, being furnished by Mr. Arch TRAWICK, of Nashville, and Mr. WRIGHT, of Huntingdon, and Mrs. AYRES, of Box Station, assisted by the church choir.  A solo by Mrs. AYRES, "Only Remembered by What I Have Done," a favorite song of the deceased, was sung.  After the services closed the remains were taken to the Moran burying ground, north of Dresden, for interment.

  We all will miss Mrs. Moran from society and the church, and when the hand of charity is needed, for to the poor she was ever a responsive friend.  She is gone from among us, as have so many others during the present year, but let us hope that her good deeds may live after her and find fruit in the relatives and friends who are left to mourn her loss. To the broken-hearted and lonely companion we know how to extend a deep sympathy.  The greatest sorrow that can come into the life of man has been his.  With the children, who are grieving for a loving mother we can also sympathize, for we, too, have suffered the same loss; to the brother left so bereft of kin our heart can also go out in condolence, and for one and all we ask the richest benedictions from a kind, heavenly Father, whose will it has been to take their cherished one.  We say farewell to Mrs. Moran, but in that other life we know we will meet her where others have gone before, and that there all will be peace, love, and joy without separation.

1848 Odd Fellow of the Day: Dr. Isaac Calvin Reavis

June the 16 1844
Mr. C. Revis Dr to H. Moran 124 at 6 1/4 cts per pound, 29 Sept Calvin Revis Dr to H Moran for 25 bls lard at 6 1/4 Received cash in hand for 120 bls lard.

The H. Moran is Harriet Harris Moran.  She was the wife of James Henderson Moran the first who died in 1843.  Her parents were Williamson Harris and Elizabeth Battle Perry, both originally from North Carolina and removed to Carroll County Tennessee.  J.H. Moran the first was a merchant and it seems apparent from this receipt that Harriet continued operating the business after his death.  Harriet died in 1848.  Both she and her husband are buried in Moran Cemetery.

We believe that Calvin Revis is Dr. Isaac Calvin Reavis whose parents were John Hannah Reavis and Elizabeth Parham of North Carolina.  It appears that Calvin was first married to a woman named Mary and he married his second wife, Jane Castleman/Cassilman, on Nov. 3, 1861. Calvin and his parents are interred at Parham Cemetery.

In addition to the 1844 receipt Dr. I.C. Reavis appears in the 1848 Ledger Book for the Independent Order of the Oddfellows which is another treasure from Moran Place.  Dr. Reavis paid his quarterly dues and paid into the Orphans fund in 1848 but doesn't appear to have made any more payments after that which might explain why he was expelled from the order in December 1850. In 1873 he was appointed Postmaster of Dresden.

I would be happy to do look ups in the Odd Fellow book for anyone who is interested.  Drop me a line here or send me a message on the Moran Place Facebook page.

Brasfield-Thompson Lumber Co. Nov 4, 1910

Letter to J.W. Moran from
George M. Brasfield
Note that "answered" is written on the letter.

George Moore Brasfield was born in Weakley County Tennessee August 18, 1868.  His parents were George Robert Brasfield and Sarah Ellen Moore.  George married Virginia Elder January 13, 1892. He and Vergie had one child who they named George Frederick Brasfield.  This George married Minna Booker.  I haven't figured out all of the Brasfield/Moran connections but there are Brasfield's in the Moran family tree.

When George M. Brasfield wrote this letter to John W. Moran he was living and working in Tacoma Washington in 1910.  He was the president of the Brasfield-Thompson Lumber Co, manufacturers of hardwood lumber, specialties in oak, ash and gum.  His vice president was J.W. Thompson, who might've been the same J.W. Thompson who was born in Weakley County in 1859 and died there in 1924. A.L. Foster was the company secretary and J.N. Penrod, treasurer.

In addition, George had a lumber camp on the Cache River in Arkansas and the Brasfield post office in Arkansas was named after him.  He had lived in Memphis for a time and on the letterhead Memphis is listed as the Office for the company.

In his letter George is specifically asking for a loan of  $5000.  We don't know if it was a personal loan from J.W. Moran or if he was asking for a bank loan which was possible since J.W. Moran was the President of the Dresden Bank.  I lean toward the side of it being a request for a bank loan since at the end of the letter George Brasfield is also sending his regards to George Boyd who was a cashier at the Bank of Dresden and was kin to J.W. Moran too.  If it had been a personal loan I don't think he would've mentioned George Boyd.

George goes on to indicate that his mother and "John" would most likely endorse the note for him.  I can't say for certain but it's possible that he is referring to his brother John Coke Brasfield who moved his family to California where he formed John C. Brasfield Publishing Co and was the founder of  Architectural Digest.

On the envelope someone has written "answered".  It could've been J.W. Moran, George Boyd or even J.W.'s son Charles Harrell Moran since all three of them worked at the bank.  We'll never know for certain if George M. Brasfield received his loan but my intuition tells me it was granted.  J.W. Moran was an astute businessman and there is a clear indication that this was not the first time George had asked for money and it had previously been granted.

Mr. J.W. Moran
Dresden, Tenn
Nov. 4th, 1910

Dear Mr. Moran

I am making some deals out here in timber and land and the prospects of coming back look mighty good but I am shy of enough cash. Can you loan me 5000 for a year at 10%.  I do not want to lose this deal because it is a good one and absolutely safe.

Mother and John I expect will endorse the note.  Its all right I assure you I haven't sold any of my Memphis and Miss. Land.  Pretty nice Country out here growing fast and many opportunities for good investments in timber and growing city property especially.

I hope you will accommodate me again.

With regards to yourself & Geo. Boyd
Very Respectfully,
Geo. M. Brasfield
(over)

P.S.  I have no expectation of making this my permanent home.  Only out here temporarily, about a year I think.  I do not have to have this money for 30 or 40 days but need letter to him about it soon.

Very Respectfully
Geo. M. Brasfield
1218 Fidelity Bldg
Tacoma Washington

To me it's amazing that this letter was sent on Nov 4 1910 from Tacoma Washington
and arrived Nov 8 1910 in Dresden Tennessee.  Just four days!

"You May Fire When Ready Gridley"

Admiral George Dewey defeated the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Manila in 1898.  Dewey fever ran rampant after that with Dewey being feted numerous times.

On Saturday, September 30, 1899, he was presented with a Loving Cup by the City of New York.  This invitation is part of the Moran family personnel collection of documents, letters, photo's, etc.  The envelope was not with the invitation so we don't know which person/s in the Moran family were invited to attend.

The Moran, Irvine, Ferguson, Little Connection

On the back is written Richard M. Little "Dr. Ted", age 16 yrs.

I came across the picture of Richard M. Little a few months ago but he was set aside as my focus was on the main family of Morans.  But a few days ago I picked up a box of pictures and letters to take another look at them and there was Richard, again.  Since all of the material I work with is not related to my family I had to ask my husband, hey, you ever heard of a Richard M. Little?  He said the only "Little" he knew was his Aunt Tommie Little who was married to his Uncle Ferg.

*blinks*  A few months ago that information would've meant nothing to me.  I had no idea how a Ferguson was related to the Moran's, much less how a Little was related to a Ferguson.  Fast forward a few months of researching and the prospect of connecting the Little leaf to the Moran tree wasn't as daunting.

Flashback to 1987, that's when my husband and I started dating.  I never had the pleasure of meeting Uncle Ferg but I do remember the name.  When Kent and I first started seeing each other his Uncle Ferg was still alive and living in Greenfield, TN.  He was one of the extended family who would come to Thanksgiving every year at the Moran home in Dresden.  Thanksgiving was a large affair for the Morans.  Dresden was the family home and the center of Moran life, family would gather there for get togethers but the large gathering was at Thanksgiving.  By the time I met Kent a lot of his family had died off, moved away, or were too elderly to make the trip each year.  Sadly, Uncle Ferg passed away in December 1990.  

Moran Place, Dresden, TN, circa 1910

I don't have all of the dates and will fill those in later but for now I can add the leaves to the family tree! Let's begin.

Richard M. Little was born about 1879 in Tennessee, probably Dyer or Weakley County.  He was the second born in a family of seven children and his parents were Thomas and Sarah Little.  Richard attended medical school and by the time he married Ina Allen Bobbitt (b 1883) on November 12, 1902 in Weakley County, he was already a doctor. The wedding announcement appeared in The Journal of the American Medical Association, volume 39 pt 2, 1902.  Richard was also known as "Ted", hence the notation "Dr. Ted" on the back of his picture.

Richard and Ina Little had three daughters: Sarah E. Little (b. 1906), Thomas (Tommie) R. Little (b. 1908) and Mary H. Little (b. 1910).  Please note that their child Thomas R. Little is a girl and is the very same Aunt Tommie that Kent talks about.  

Tommie Little grows up and meets Forrest Ferguson.  They are married July 30, 1935.  

Marriage record of Forrest Ferguson and Thomas (Tommie) Little.
Also, Albert G. Ferguson, Forrest's brother, is listed on the record as well.

Now it's time to connect the leaves of the Ferguson family to that of the Moran tree.

Forrest Ferguson was born April 17, 1899, most likely in Dyer or Weakley County.  He was the son of Charles A. Ferguson (born abt 1876, probably Dyer County) and Sophia A Irvine (born abt 1876 Weakley County).  Charles and Sophia were married November 28, 1895 in Dresden, TN.  They had two other children in addition to Forrest:  Albert Granville Ferguson (b. 1903) and Harry Ferguson (b. 1906).  Note that Albert G Ferguson's name appears under Forrest's name on the marriage record above.

Sophia A. Irvine was the daughter of Benjamin D. Irvine (1832-1916) and his wife Agnes Moran (1838-1932).  You may remember that I blogged about another child of Agnes and B.D. Irvine, Florence Irvine, who died tragically from severe burns she received in a fire in the Irvine home.  Florence is buried in the Moran Family cemetery while her parents are buried in Sunset Cemetery in Dresden.

Agnes Moran was the daughter of James Henderson Moran (1796-1843) and Harriet Harris (1813-1848).  She was also the sister of John Williamson Moran (1840-1912) who was responsible for building the Moran home in Dresden; James Henderson Moran Jr (1843-1864) who died at Bryce's Crossroads Fight during the Civil War as well as Martha Helen Moran (1833-1901), Eliza Jane Moran (1835-1852), and Marion Miller Moran (1842-1861).  

No slight is intended toward Martha, Eliza and Marion.  I just haven't had a chance to do much research or blog about their individual stories.  I do know that Martha married Rufus Franklin Scott and they moved to Gainesville, Texas founding a rather large Scott family dynasty in the Lonestar State.  Eliza Jane Moran never married and despite having the name Marion, Marion Miller Moran was a boy.  More information will come later.

And now you know who Richard M. Little was and his connection to the Moran family.