The Elusive Elise D.A

Unidentified young lady,
taken by H.Y. Darnell 
Dyersburg & Ripley TN
Maybe Elise Deberry Arnold?

In a previous blog entry dated Nov 10, 2014, title The "Hoops" Letter from Elise to Brud Moran, January 1898, I talked about an elusive letter writer who signed herself as "Elise D.A." I ended that entry with the hope of someday discovering who Elise had been. 

Today, while looking at an article about the wedding of Ida Moran to William Gilmer Timberlake in the Nov. 27 1902 Memphis Commercial Appeal, the name Elise Arnold of Dyersburg popped out at me. Elise was one of Ida's bridesmaids.  My spidey senses started tingling.  Even though it's been 9 years since I had thought about Elise and her letters, I felt this was the day Elise had revealed herself to me.

The Commercial Appeal June 14 1902 detailed the "Grisham-Gentry Wedding" in which Elise appeared as a bridesmaid again. This bride and groom were Benjamin F. Grisham and Martha Blaine Gentry of Newbern, TN.  Martha Gentry was the daughter of Joseph Collins Gentry and Belle Shumate.  Belle Shumate was an aunt of Virginia Shumate who, in 1911, would marry James H Moran III.  After the death of Virginia's parents, she and her sisters moved to Newbern from Kentucky to live with their uncle Quincy Shumate and his wife Louise McLean.

Elise Deberry Arnold was born Aug 21 1880 in Jackson TN to Dr. Willis Johns Arnold and Susan Rebecca Meriwether. Elise married Henry Adam Klyce in 1904. They had five children: Henry Arnold Klyce, Walter Brigham Klyce, Willis Rice Klyce, John Meriweather Klyce and David Jere Klyce.

Here is another chatty letter from Elise to Brud dated Dec 30 1898.

Dear Brud, Don't I get terribly mixed up about my presents from you? You see the trouble is that as I never hear from you in between times I naturally conclude you have forgotten all about me and tis such a pleasant surprise to find that you haven't. 

The stationary is as dainty and sweet and pretty as it can be and I can't wait to tell you how much I appreciate it.  Please accept my sincere thanks.  I am so glad that you instead of Ide (this would be Ida Moran who married Will Timberlake and is Brud's sister), who sent it because I know she thinks of me often and you--well if it were not for your sweet Christmas remembrance, I might doubt that you ever do.

Every Christmas is always my happiest, and this one is no exception to the rule. We had our house full of company and all enjoyed the fine weather and numerous entertainments we have attended.  D.B. (Dyersburg) has certainly been gay and I have been so naughty.  I danced until four o'clock (Wednesday morning and until two last night.  I mean this morning. Tell Ide I met Mr. Roy Martin Tuesday night. Please don't think I'm so perfectly terrible because that is the first ball I ever went to and I suppose will be my last.  There is another entertainment tonight which I suppose will wind up one holiday amusement (?) anyway for my mother has laid down the law that this is the last week I shall go out more than twice and I'm going to settle down and be good ever afterwards.

I was so sorry I couldn't spend the holidays with Ide, but I'm looking forward to a visit to her soon. I'd rather see her than any  body else on earth and I think its awful we can't be together more.  Why don't you all come to D.B. to live? Wouldn't that be lots of fun? Well I must thank you again for your nice present and say Goodbye.With many wishes for a happy New Year.

Sincerely your friend

Elise D.A.

Dec. 30th 98

Ria, Nathan and Kent

Today I thought I'd share a couple of pictures from a more recent generation of the Moran Family.

These first two pictures were just negatives.  I really like how they turned out simply by inverting the scanned image.

This is Ria with her son Kent.  The family was living in Japan because that's where Nathan Moran was stationed at the time.  It's also where Kent was born!

By the time the next picture was taken the family had moved back to the states, first living in Kansas City, and then moving back to the family home in Dresden after the deaths of James, Virginia and Uncle Brud.  

It looks to me as if this picture was taken when Kent became an Eagle Scout.  Ria has a nice smile but Kent and his Dad share that same tight lipped, no nonsense look!

Moran Brothers Sell Big Farm, 1918

Moran Bros. Sell Big Farm

Messrs. Harrell and James Moran sold their farm, near Greenfield this week to Messrs. Blue and Will Irvine.  The farm consists of 238 acres, all fine second bottom land, and is considered one of the best tracts of land in the entire county.

Source: Dresden Enterprise & Sharon Tribune

Nov. 15, 1918

Will and Blue Irvine are our 1st cousins twice removed.  Their mother, Agnes M. Moran, was a sister of John W. Moran.  She married Benjamin D. Irvine.

Originally posted in the Dresden Enterprise, October 11 1895

"Brummitt-Jones

Last Tuesday night Mr. Horace Brummitt, of Gleason, was united in marriage to Miss Helen Jones at the residence of her aunt, Mrs. Mattie Rogers, three miles west of town, with whom she had made her home since a child.  The ceremony was performed by Rev. A.J. Meaders, of this place.  The wedding march was played by Miss Lucile Rogers.  The ushers, Messrs. Edwards and Brummitt, the latter a brother of the groom, were preceded to the parlor by little Miss Valda Boyd.  The bride and groom stood under a heart of flowers, pierced by Cupid's arrow, and made, indeed, a handsome couple.  The house was beautifully decorated with potted plants and evergreens and added much beauty to the joyous occasion.  Supper was served in superb style, and consisted of many substantials and delicacies.  The bridal presents from admiring friends were numerous and handsome.  Mr. Brummitt is a popular young grocer man of Gleason and is well worthy of the charming lady he has won as a life companion.  To both we extend best wishes for a long life of happiness and prosperity.

A dining was given to the bride and groom on Wednesday at the residence of the grooms' grandparents, Mr. Geo. W. Simmons and wife, in the 6th district, which was pronounced a nice affair by those who attended."

Horace Brummitt was born July 15 1872 and died Nov. 6 1922. He was the son of J.B. Brummitt and Anna Simmons Brummitt. He and Helen had one child, Rogers Simmons Brummitt.  

Helen Marie Jones was the daughter of Edward and Mary Jones. She was born Mar 28 1877 and died Nov. 8 1964.

The article indicates she lived at the residence of her aunt, Mrs. Mattie Rogers.  The Moran tree has a Mattie Rogers and I'm wondering if this is the same person.  The only problem is our Mattie Rogers married George Scott Boyd in 1879 so at the time of the Brummitt-Jones wedding she would have been Mrs. Mattie Boyd.  Mattie and George Boyd had a daughter named Valda Boyd who was part of the Brummitt-Jones wedding procession.  So it does make me lean toward the idea that perhaps the Enterprise meant Mrs. Mattie Boyd and not Mrs. Mattie Rogers.  

After the death of Horace in 1922, Helen married William Montgomery on Dec. 4 1924.  The 1930 Census shows that Helen and William were living in at 404 Cedar Street, just two doors down from the Moran family.  She and William were residing in the home of William N and Inez L. Christian. William was a lumber clerk and Helen a dressmaker working at a "burial dress shop." She and William appear in the 1940 Census for Weakley County. William worked as a clerk in a retail lumber store and Helen was a dressmaker.

Helen has a memorial in Sunset Cemetery on findagrave but I wonder if she's really there.  She is entered as Helen Marie Jones Brummitt rather than Helen Montgomery.  None of the family trees I've seen on ancestry.com list a place of burial nor a place of death for her or her second husband and since they both died after 1960 their death certificates are not available as public record yet. 

Bacon Ham Receipt from J. M. Glass, 1878

It's January 1878 and John W. Moran has purchased 73.5 lbs. of bacon hams at 7 cents a lb.  He paid J. M. Glass $5.15. I haven't figured out the exact family relationship but the Glass, Underwood, Martin surnames appear in the Moran family tree.  John Glass also served with the Confederacy during the Civil War.   He appears in the Civil War Confederate Pension Applications Index as serving in the 20th (Hollis') Calvary. Service records show him as a private with Co. I 20th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Russell's)

John M. Glass was born December 27 1843 and died February 18 1937.   He was the son of Thomas Glass and Malinda R. Martin Glass.  He married Sarah "Sallie" J. Underwood March 17 1868 in Weakley County TN.  She was the daughter of Nelson O. Underwood and Nancy Ann Hollis. John and Sarah Glass had one child, Thomas O. Glass.  He was born Nov 22 1869 and died Aug 16 1925. He married Laura Moore and they had two children. Fannie T. Glass and John Bailey Glass. 

Census Records

The Glass household in 1860 looks like this:

Thomas Glass, age 34, Farmer, real estate valued at $118,000, personal estate valued at $6600. Native of Virginia

Malinda Glass, age 34, Virginia

Thomas D. Glass, age 20, $20,000 real and personal estate, Tennessee

May D. Glass, age 15, TN

John M. Glass, age 14, TN

Nancy Glass, age 11, TN

Susan Glass, age 9, TN

James Glass, age 8, TN

William Glass, age 7, TN

Turner Glass, age 3 months, TN

J. M. Glass appears in the 1870 Census, District 7, of Weakley County Tennessee.  He was 26 years old and per the death certificate, was born Dec. 27 1843 which makes him a contemporary of J.W. Moran. He was a farmer.  His real and personal estate was valued at $6500.   Also in the household were his wife, Sarah J age 20, and their son Thomas O age 7 months.  The Glass household also included two domestic servants James and David Glass, ages 19 and 18 respectively. 

In 1880 John M. Glass is still farming and is now 36 years old.  His wife Sarah J is listed as 32 years of age, 2 years off from the previous census.  Son Thomas is 10.

The 1900 Census finds John and Sallie Glass living one household away from their son's family in Civil District 08, District 0121, Weakley County Tennessee.  John's occupation is listed as "capitalist."  Thomas O. Glass is a farmer, age 30.  His wife Laura is 24 and had two pregnancies and two live births.  Their children are daughter Fannie T, age 4, and son John B., age 2.

In 1910, John, Sarah and their grand daughter Fannie are living in Sharon, District 0146, Weakley County TN.  John is 66.  Sarah is 62. The census indicates Sarah had two pregnancies and one living child, Thomas O. Glass.  This is the first indication that I've seen that John and Sarah had more than one child.

I haven't located the 1920 Census for John so we skip to 1930.  Sarah died in 1928 and John M. Glass is now living with his grandson, John B. Glass and his wife Virginia.  John M Glass is 86 years old. John B. Glass is 31 and his occupation is listed as "oil truck."  His wife Virginia M. Glass is 24

I haven't seen John M. Glass listed with a middle name.  I like to think that he was named John Martin Glass, the Martin being his mother's maiden name.  Just my own theory. Your mileage may vary.

Sources for the information come from Census records, death certificates, Findagrave and family trees on ancestry.com.  As always, information is subject to error.  If you find an error just leave a message and I'll get it corrected.

Dresden TN Sesquicentennial and "Saga of Seven Hills" 1975

Front side of the Dresden Sesquicentennial brochure

I'm in the midst of revamping my genealogy/history room at Moran Place Redux.  To say it looks like a tornado came through is an understatement but today I came across items from the August 8-17 1975 Dresden Sesquicentennial Celebration.  I don't have access to my scanner right now but I did want to post a few of the items so grabbed my digital camera since today, August 17th, marks the last day of the celebration.  Later I will go back and scan the entire documents.

Back side of the Dresden Sesquicentennial brochure (left) and on the right is a working copy
of the play "Saga of Seven Hills"

Official Souvenir Program for Dresden Sesquicentennial Celebration
August 8 - 17, 1975

Mary Kay Killebrew Conaway, The Dresden Connection

We think it's possible that the Confederate Officer is Thomas Leroy Killebrew and the man on the right could be his
son William Thomas Killebrew

These pictures did not come out of Moran Place in Dresden but from an estate sale in Memphis. However they do have a Dresden, TN, connection and now reside in our home, Moran Place Redux. :)  We hope you enjoy this discovery as much as we do and one we are still researching.

In case you hadn't noticed, Kent and I like history and genealogy.  A lot.  That means we frequent estate sales almost every weekend. Sometimes, just like the people in Northwest Tennessee who visited the estate sale at Moran Place we go just to see the interior of homes we would never have the opportunity to see.  We always go looking for bargains just like everyone else and sometimes we find them, sometimes we don't.   But we always go with an eye toward historical items and on random occasions serendipity occurs.

Yesterday, such a "fortunate happenstance" came into play when we visited 440 S. Greer St. in Memphis.  I noticed a drawer with pictures and some empty frames.  I sat down on the floor and pulled the drawer out hoping to find something of interest.  My first find was a tintype of a baby and it was annotated on the back "Bill Killebrew" with the following information: "Connie Lodice, P.O. Box 2563, W. Helena, AR. 3 Print to Prints from orig."   The Killebrew name piqued my interest.  I came across three other pictures of interest: 1) a framed copy of a Confederate Officer in uniform, two stars at his collar and carrying a sword, 2) a loose copy of a post-civil war man, possibly the same man who is in uniform and 3) a framed picture of an unidentified man ca 1880-1900.

We know this is "Bill Killebrew" but which "Bill Killebrew?"  We think this baby picture is of the man in the red
oval frame.  We think he might be William Thomas Killebrew.

I asked how much for the pictures and was told "we don't usually sell pictures, we sell frames."  Um, yes you do sell pictures, we attend estate sales all the time by this company so we know they do sell pictures.  But I wasn't going to argue so I said how much for the frames??  He didn't know which made me laugh.  We wandered down to ask the check out person and was told he could go $8, I said how about $5?  He said no but then promptly knocked off $2 on another item we bought.  Go figure.

Could this be William Thomas Killebrew, son of Thomas Leroy Killebrew and grandfather of Kay Killebrew Conaway?

A quick search of property records told me that Lawrence S. Conaway owned the bungalow style home built in 1920.  My next search was marriage records for Shelby County which told me that Lawrence Stephen Conaway married Kay Killebrew (bingo!) on March 10 1967, the service was performed by Loyal O. Hartman, Jr.   A google search for Kay Killebrew Conaway led me to the obituary of her brother, William Kenneth Killebrew Sr who was born January 4, 1938 in Dresden, TN!!    According to his obituary, their parents were William Thomas "Captain Bill" Killebrew and Marie Buckley Killebrew of Memphis.  This branch of Killebrews moved to Memphis in 1943.  Kay was born June 17 1941 and passed on November 20, 1005 per the SSDI.

Is the perhaps the Confederate Officer in a post-war picture? 

Kay Killebrew's grandparents were William Thomas Killebrew (1869-1943) and Alice Ruth Moore (1877-1862), both interred at Sunset Cemetery in Dresden.  We believe that the "Bill Killebrew" in the baby picture might just be Kay's grandfather, William Thomas Killebrew, and to us, the baby picture bears a resemblance to the man in the red oval frame.  Kay's great-grandfather was Thomas Leroy Killebrew (1839-1907).  He married Martha Ann Kennedy (1841-1928).  They are also interred at Sunset Cemetery.

We believe there is a strong possibility that the Confederate Officer is Thomas Leroy Killebrew. There are two stars on the officer's collar which indicates he was a lieutenant.  Thomas Leroy Killebrew served in Co. H, 33 Reg. Tennessee Infantry. He was promoted from Brevet Lieutenant May 8 1862, to 1st Lieutenant.   Killebrew tendered his resignation January 12 1863 however he appears on a roster for Jan and Feb 1864 as a a private and teamster with Co. H 33rd Infantry. Oddly enough, in May 1864 he appears on a register of patients at Ocmulgee Hospital at Macon Georgia with chronic diarrhea  His rank was Captain at that time.

Initial research leads us to think this just might be Thomas Leroy Killebrew, Co. H 33rd TN Infantry

A search for person named on the back of Bill Killebrew's baby picture, Connie Lodice of West Helena Arkansas turned up the following information.  She is the daughter of Peggy Craig and Raymond Eugene Tucker.  She married Thomas Joseph Lodice.  Connie's sister, Pamela Jo Tucker married Stephen M. Conaway who, if I'm correct, is the son of Lawrence and Kay Killebrew Conaway.   I am still researching the Conaway family

If I've mangled any of the family information let me know and if anyone can confirm our suppositions regarding the identity of the men in the photographs we'd like to hear from you.

Louise Moran Fashions, ca 1930

This beautiful matching hat & coat is made of velvet and is edged with fur.  It belonged to the very fashionable Louise Moran, youngest child and only daughter of James and Virginia Moran.  It was packed away in a cedar chest with other pieces of Moran clothing including some Trousseau pieces that belonged to Virginia Moran and a baseball uniform belonging to Louise's brother, Nathan "Bub" Moran.  Although Moran Place was packed to the gills with "treasures" I believe the items in that chest may have been some of the most treasured items of all.

Here is Louise at the fair wearing another lovely hat.

19th century Ledger Books, Dresden Tennessee

Being bankers and bookkeepers you can just imagine how the Moran's loved ledger books!

Letters to Jim from his little sister Louise, 1932-1933

These letters were written by a young (8-9 year old) Louise Moran to her oldest brother, Jim Moran, who was at the Naval Academy in Annapolis Maryland.  She focuses on kittens, puppies, schoolwork, friends and illness. Some of you may recognize a few of the folks she's writing about including Billy Mangum, Ila Ruth Moore, the math teacher Mrs. Pritchett, Dan Smith, and Louise Ferguson. Over the years the address of Moran Place went through some number changes.  Back in the 1930's it was 310 Cedar St. I think it's interesting that in 1932 she signed her full name, Marion Louise Moran, but in 1933 she drops the Marion and is now Louise Moran. 

Dresden Tenn

June 1932

310 Cedar St.

Dear James

I miss you a lot and everyone loves (you), even Bobby.

The kittens are growing and their eyes are blue also pretty.  I named the one like Bobby Dinks and the other one Puff.

I recived your letter this morning and I am glad that your like Annapolis.

We are going over to see Mrs. Holdman to-night.

Mother made some delicious nectar yesterday and I wish that you could have some.

Mr. Brock is working in Milan.

Joan is going to Martin this afternoon for a visit.

The puppies are growing a lot and are cute.

Bubby Brock stepped on a bee and hurt his foot bad.

I am nearly over with whooping.

How are you?
All of us well (over)
I hope that you can understand the boy that you that room with you better now.
Love to you from every one.
Your little sister,
Marion Louise Moran
kiss the . please
.........................

Dresden, Tennessee

June 15 1932

Mr. J.H. Moran

U.S. Naval Academy

Washington DC

Dearest Admiral:

Bobby was just had a fit and she scared Mother and I very much.  We were eating supper yesterday and Mother jumped up in a chair and I did too.

Louise Ferguson and her baby came Sunday at noon, and her baby is very pretty.

Mildred brought your book home yesterday.

Mr. Ellis is better now, night before last Uncle Brud stayed out there all night.

How are Daddy and Harrell, p.s. and you?

Did you see the Commercial Appeal picture? and the Banner one? I thought the one in the C.A. was better than the one in the Banner.

How are You?

Love to all and all

Your little sister

Marion Louise Moran

Dresden Tenn

Jun 10 1933

Dear James, 

I am sorry to hear that you are sick, & hope that you will soon recover.

Again I thank you for the ring which I am crazy about.

Yesterday Billy Mangum, Ila Ruth Moore, James Whartion, Dan Smith, and I were chosen to write a talk on Lindbergh.  As I was first to read mind which I did got everything the others had & more too. James got his from a book in the library, I got my story from your book "We".

To-day we are taking test.  This afternoon Mrs. Pritchett gave us Arithmetic test & she did not ell us anything about it she just took up our papers as she always does.  (We are subtracting fractions)  & counted off "five" five left out an * sign or - sign.  When she read out the grades my face became hot & my hands cold, I shivered & shook until she said "Louise Moran, 100".  Dan made 30 & yet he didn't miss a problem.

I getting sleeping so must close,

Love & Kisses,

Louise Moran

Marion Louise Moran, 1923 - 2014

Photo of Louise Moran taken by
Linton Godown of Union City TN.
Linton married Louise's cousin, Carolyn Cobb.

We learned recently of the death of Louise Moran.  She was the last of the "older" generation of Morans of Dresden Tennessee.

Louise was the only daughter and youngest child of James H. Moran III and Virginia Shumate which means she was most likely extremely spoiled!  She was born September 24, 1923, and given the name Marion Louise Moran. Like her two older brothers, Jim IV and Nathan "Bub", Louise was born at the family home, Moran Place, in Dresden, Tennessee.  When Louise was born she inherited a Moran family trait of having one leg about an inch or so shorter than the other.  It never held her back from her goals in life.

Birth Announcement

Her name most likely a nod to two of her aunts: Marion Moran Cobb and Louise Shumate Durway.

Lock of hair from a
five year old Louise

Louise Moran & Joy Jones

Her best friend when she was growing up was Joy Jones. That lock of hair from above was probably snipped about the same time this photo was taken of her.  You can see she has a hint of red.  Her grandmother, Sophia Gunn Moran, had red hair too.

Louise was an exceptional student and after graduating from high school she attended Southwestern College in Memphis, Tennessee earning a Bachelor of Arts.  A big Moran family reunion was held in 1945, not long after her graduation.  A lot of family pictures from that reunion can be found here. She next attended Case Western Reserve in Ohio where she received her Master of Science in Social Administration in 1949.  

Marisa Horton (L) and Louise Moran (R)
Jacksonville FLA, Jan 1947
Marisa Horton may have been a classmate/roommate.

After graduation Louise moved to New York to pursue a career.  While in New York she met her future husband, Dr. Robert Wrisley Atkins.  In 1954 she published "Some Emotional Responses of Patients' Husbands to the Psychotherapeutic Course as Indicated in Interviews with the Psychiatric Caseworker", American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, v. 24, #2.  

Ria Moran, Kent Moran, Louise Moran Atkins and
Mary Moran.

On November 12 1961 she became the second wife of Robert Atkins.  They were married back in her home town of Dresden Tennessee. After the wedding they returned to their home and careers in Rochester, New York.  Having no children of her own, she was a step mom to Bob's children.    

In August 1995, Aunt Louise came back to Tennessee to attend the funeral of Sophia Eleanor Ezzell Dobson in Nashville, Tennessee.   Aunt Sophie, the grand-daughter of J.W. Moran, was a grand old dame in the finest southern tradition. She is the one who gave Kent and I the task of chronicling the Moran family.  The group photo was taken at the get together after the funeral and includes Ria Moran, Kent Moran, Louise Moran Atkins and myself, Mary Moran.

Louise had an interest in family history and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Bob died on September 28, 2003.  Aunt Louise passed on September 15, 2014.

Baseball Team, ca. 1905. Cobb and Nichols School, Dresden TN

The American College and Private School Directory, vol. 8, 1914, listed the Cobb and Nichols School of Dresden, TN as a non-sectarian school.  Charles H. Cobb (husband of Marion Moran) and J.W. Nichols were the principals.

This photo of the baseball team dates to about 1905.  I don't know the names of any of the players, perhaps someone will recognize a relative, but the two men in suits are J.Walter Nichols (left) and Charles H. Cobb (right).

Charles H. Cobb was the son of Thomas D Cobb and Elizabeth Adeline Johnston.  He was born June 27, 1876, in Tennessee.  He lived most of his life in Union City with some time spent in Dresden. In 1900 he was teaching school and living at home with his father and a sister, Birdie.  Cobb and Nichols attended Vanderbilt University together. About 1904 they formed the Cobb and Nichols School in Dresden.

Dresden Enterprise, July 29 1904
Miss Pearl B. Matthews of Trenton has been elected to Conduct the primary dept. of Cobb and Nichols school here in Dresden.

Cobb married Marion Agnes Moran, youngest daughter of J.W. Moran and Sophia Gunn, October 3 1905 at the Methodist Church in Dresden.

Dresden Enterprise, June 1 1906
The Dresden Dramatic Company had receipts amounting to $67 at Greenfield last Friday.  The money will be applied to payment of a new piano at the Cobb and Nichols School building.  They performed at Huntingdon Monday to a full house also.

Dresden Enterprise, June 8, 1906
Miss Pearl Mathews, primary teacher at Cobb and Nichols, gave her students a picnic which was hugely enjoyed by the little fellows.

The Hickman Courier, Aug 3 1906
The Cobb and Nichols School of Dresden, Tenn.
Every citizen of Dresden is justly proud of having in this community an institution so ably managed, doing a class of work so superior, possessing an unexcelled faculty, as the Cobb and Nichols Training School, Chas. H. Cobb and J. Walter Nichols, principals.  Both these young men are graduates of Vanderbilt university, where they were specially prepared for training school work, and that is just what their school here is--a training school in the fullest and most complete sense of the term.  This has been clearly demonstrated by the work of this school during the past two years and today we are rejoiced to say to the public that the outlook for a successful opening this fall is most encouraging.
The pupils that have gone out from the Cobb and Nichols school are its best advertisement, if any it need other than its high-class, thorough work.  The boys and girls who come to Dresden to attend school are taken care of by the faculty and are admitted into the best homes of our town; they are made to feel welcome and at home, as it were, and the faculty sees to it that they do not loaf around the streets neither night nor during the day.--Dresden Enterprise.

The Hickman Courier, Aug 10 1906
The students of the Cobb & Nichols School are required to stay in their rooms at night to study, nor are they allowed to loiter on the streets during day.
The Cobb & Nichols School is a training school, pure and simple, no catchpenny methods, no (ab)normal courses.

In 1907 Charles and Marion Cobb had a child, daughter Carolyn Elizabeth Cobb born April 27 1907.

From Volume 8, Vanderbilt University Quarterly:
'04--Charles H. Cobb, B.A., who has been for three years with J.W. Nichols, of the same class, in the Cobb and Nichols School at Dresden, Tenn., has entered upon the practice of law in Union City, where he has become junior partner with Judge Swiggart in the firm of Swiggart and Cobb.

Cobb continues practicing law but by 1930 is listed as the proprietor of a rain coat factory.  His wife Marion committed suicide in 1934.   In 1936, Cobb married Ottis Leone Luton. Their son, Charles H Cobb Jr, was born in 1937.   Charles Sr died in 1951.

Walter B. Delbridge, "Deaf and Dumb Photographer" 1880's

Once again we have a photograph of an unidentified individual.  The picture itself is not in the best of shape and is extremely faded.  Even using photo manipulation software I was only able to bring the image out just a bit.  It had obviously been cut and inserted into an oval frame at sometime but that was long ago.  

What I can tell you is that the photographer was Walter B. Delbridge, born about 1846 in Virginia.  He was a son of James D. Delbridge and his wife Martha J.  I believe that Martha was actually Martha J. Collier as I found a North Carolina marriage bond dated Feb 28 1839 between James D. Delbridge and Martha J. Collier.  Also, in the 1870 Census for Oxford Mississippi there is a B.W. Collier and family living nextdoor to the Delbridge clan.  You will also notice that James and Martha have two sons that are labeled as "Deaf and Dumb"

You can see that W. B. Delbridge was listed as an artist in 1870.  In the 1880 Census he has moved to Milan Tennessee and is a photographer.

On May 6 1880 the following advertisement appeared in the Milan Exchange:

We are pleased to receive a visit from Mr. W. B. Delbridge, a deaf and dumb photographic artist, who intends opening a gallery in Milan at an early day.  He exhibited some of his work to us, and from the specimens we are sure he will give entire satisfaction to those who wish a good picture.

On  July 9 1881 the Milan Exchange reported that Delbridge was leaving Milan and now was a good opportunity to get photographs taken.  

Since the back of the photograph says he was a traveling photographer he may have just been going to visit other towns or it's entirely possible he made the move to Dresden since the following notice appeared in the Dresden Democrat on October 21 1881:

"W.B. Delbridge, our popular photographer, has gone to Memphis"

So maybe his photography studio had moved to Dresden.  What the paper fails to report is that Delbridge went to Memphis to marry Miss Maggie Wright!

The next notice I find is a death notice for his wife Maggie.  Less than a year after their marriage, Maggie died in McKenzie TN.  It appeared in the Memphis Public Ledger August 9 1882:

Mrs. Maggie Delbridge, formerly Miss Wright of this city, and married in october last, died of malarial fever at McKenzie, Tenn, last Monday. 

It is unknown where she is buried.

I don't know what happened to Walter Delbridge however he does appear in findagrave and is interred at Oxford Memorial Cemetery with his parents and a few siblings.  If he had a full headstone it is no longer there with only a foot marker to note his initials W.B.D. and his life.

James A. Scott, Gainesville Texas 1891

James A Scott was the son of Dr. George Lackey Scott (born in Dresden Tennessee) and Mary Applewhite Manion.  His grandfather was William Shanks Scott who is interred in the Scott Family Cemetery in Weakley county.  

In this letter James mentions Uncle Rufi and Aunt Mat.  Rufi was Rufus Franklin Scott, George Lackey Scott's brother, who married Martha Helen Moran, John W. Moran's sister.  You may remember that Rufus and Martha made the move to Texas in 1858.  James also mentions Bettie Watkins, a girl he danced with and apparently had been sweet on but was too slow to take action since he says another man moved in and took her.  That's actually kind of sad considering that his death certificate indicates he was single.  It also tells us that he was Court Clerk at the Court of Civil Appeals and that he died from pneumonia with contributing factors being a fractured hip and diabetes.  He was born March 24 1864 and died January 23 1942.  James A Scott is interred at Fairview Cemetery in Gaineseville Texas with his parents and many other Scott relatives.

Gainesville Texas

June 4 1891

Miss Fannie Moran,

      Dresden Tenn.

My Dear Cousin,

You did not keep your word old girl, you promised to send me one of your pictures when I sent mine, and you had better start it down here or I will come over there and make things pretty warm for you.  (So he sent Fannie a picture which means we might actually have him here but he's not identified)

Cousin Fannie I appreciated your nice and interesting letter very much, was glad to know my Coz would answer my letter.

Uncle Rufi and Aunt Mat are in Kansas City and everything seems very lonesome up at his house now.  I was up to see Cousin Annie yesterday evening a little while made a fashionable call something like the one I made in the evening when you were here and left without any on knowing I was going.

The young people had a picnic yesterday and the Christian Church one to day, up on Washita River in the

Indian Territory had a special train and just think of it I did get to go to either one of them, had to work as usual, have not been any place since you left here.

Say Coz Fan, did my Tennessee Cousins think I ought to have horns? because I was raised in Texas well anyway I suppose you have convinced them that Texas people look like any other people have you not?

What do you think Miss Bettie Watkins (the girl I danced so much with) has gone back on me, I let another fellow get ahead of me, as usual I was too slow.

Well give my kindest regards to Cousin S- and little Marion and your father and write soon to your

Texas Cousin

  James A Scott

The Scott Family Cemetery is located near Martin Tennessee on private property.

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.