Marion Moran and doll, ca 1890

The photo's of Marion Moran are always so sweet.  Notice the doll she's holding is wearing a bonnet that looks just like the one that Marion is wearing.  Adorable. 

The photo was taken by R.S. Patterson of Nashville Tennessee.

Turn of the Century Souvenirs

We know for sure that the parrots are a souvenir from a trip to Mexico and belonged to Marion Moran.  The trip was probably before 1900 making this souvenir over 110 years old!

The woodblock may have belonged to Marion.  No clue if it's pre or post 1900 but either way it's another surviving piece of Moran history from Moran Place that's at least 100 years old.

Marion Moran and Friends, circa 1900

This wonderful picture was taken in the late 1890's or possibly very early 1900's.  Marion Moran is the girl in the center wearing the dark skirt.  There was no writing on the back so we have no idea if this was a ladies club or just some of her many friends posing together. Marion married Charles H. Cobb of Union City in 1905 and they had one child, Carolyn Elizabeth Cobb.  Tragically, Marion's life ended when she jumped from a bridge near Camden Tennessee in 1934.  We will never know why she jumped but whispers down the years said she was extremely unhappy with her home life.  

Marion Agnes Moran, circa 1886/87

Marion Agnes Moran was the youngest child of John W. Moran and Sophia Riley Gunn.  She was born in 1885 in Dresden Tennessee.   This picture was taken about 1886/87 and the notation at the bottom says "Marion, To Grandpa with a Kiss."  Take note on the right side of the picture and you'll see an arm reaching across the back of the chair most likely holding Marion by the dress so she doesn't tumble out of the chair!

The Grandpa note would be referring to Lyman Taft Gunn, her maternal grandfather because her paternal grandfather, James Henderson Moran, passed away in 1843.  Lyman Gunn was born in Massachusetts and was a prominent dentist in Nashville.  Many of the Gunn's are buried in Nashville's City Cemetery although most of the headstones are missing.  Lyman Gunn and his second wife, Mary Ann Hall, were living in the Moran home in Dresden at the time of his death.  After his death Mary Ann Gunn moved to Boston and is buried in Forest Hills Cemetery in Suffolk County Massachusetts.  Lyman passed away in 1890, just a few short years after this photo was taken and is buried in Nashville's City Cemetery.

I've posted the photo as we found it but I also did some touch up work to get rid of some of the black spots and stains that are on the original and I've included the "after" image as well.

Picture as it was found Oct, 2011.

Marion, To Grandpa with a kiss.

Photo touched up a bit.

Mrs. Charles H. Cobb (Marion Moran) Union City TN

These newspaper clippings and appreciation card were found among the papers of Virginia Shumate Moran.

 The first Mrs. Charles H. Cobb was born Marion Moran abt 1884 which places her death in 1934 since the article states she was about 50 when she died.  She was one of the daughters of John Williamson Moran and Sophia Riley Gunn Moran of Dresden TN.  She was married to Charles Henry Cobb of Union City TN and was the mother of Carolyn Elizabeth Cobb Godown, the second wife of Joseph Linton Godown. (link to wedding invitation).

Body of Woman Found in River

Camden, Tenn -(SPL)--The body of Mrs. C.H. Cobb, about 50, wife of the clerk and master of Union City, was found floating on the surface of the Tennessee River here this morning near a bridge from which officers believe she jumped late yesterday. The body was ordered removed to Union City immediately.  Funeral arrangements were to be announced this afternoon.  Mrs. Cobb's automobile was found parked on the bridge about 5:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon.  A purse in the auto contained identification cards and personal effects of Mrs. Cobb. Searching parties dragged the river near the bridge throughout the night.  The body was found by John Divinity, apparently immediately after it rose to the surface.No motive for suicide by the woman was established. 

Tennessee River Dragged for Body of Missing Woman

Mrs. C.H. Cobb's Auto Is Found Parked on Span Near Camden.

Camden, Tenn, Oct 1-(SPL)

A searching party tonight was dragging the Tennessee river near here for the body of Mrs. Charles Henry Cobb, about 50, wife of the clerk and master of Union City, Tenn., whose automobile was found parked on the toll bridge over the river late today.  The search was started after Mrs. Cobb's husband, her daughter, Miss Caroline Cobb, and her two brothers, Jim and Hal Moran, arrived here tonight.  The husband had been notified soon after the parked automobile was discovered by Trabue Lewis state highway patrolman.  Patrolman Lewis said the missing driver of the automobile was identified by a visiting card found in a purse she had left in the machine.  The automobile was parked at a point on the bridge about midway over the river.  Upon his arrival here from Union City, Mr. Cobb expressed fear that his wife had plunged into the stream but said he could not account for such action.  He said she left home about noon today with a bundle of clothes she said she was going to take to a Union City laundry.  The automobile was noticed on the side of the bridge this afternoon between 5:30 and 6 o'clock, Patrolman Lewis declared.  The officer immediately got in touch with Mr Cobb after he had searched the car and found the card in a purse that contained about $2 in change.  Partolman Lewis said between 15 and 20 mussel diggers had joined a searching party led by John Wiley Lashlee of Camden, representative in the state Legislature farmer and ferry owner, and they planned to drag the river in an all night search for the body.  Assisting in the search also were Sheriff Jim Westbrook and Deputy Sheriff Dorsey McCann of Humphreys county.