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

Destructive Fire in Dresden Tenn 1868

The following article first appeared in the Hickman Courier on November 28, 1868.  It seems that John Moran's home was damaged in the amount of $2,800. His brother-in-law, B.D. Irvine suffered damages in the amount of $2,500 and cousin Robert M. Irvine suffered $3,000 in damages.

Destructive Fire--A destructive fire occurred in Dresden, Tenn., on Tuesday morning last, totally destroying the West-side of the public square.  The loss is estimated at $50,000.  It was the work of an incendiary and originated between Meadows' store and an old doctor's shop, used by him as a warehouse.  The following is an estimate of the losses incurred:  S. M. White, dealer in dry goods; J.M. Meadows, dealer in dry goods, $4,000; James Lumkins, grocery merchant, from $500 to $1000. Mr Lumpkins succeeded in saving most of his stock.  B.D. Irvine, owner of one of the buldings, $2,500; Jesee Givvs, owner of house an elegantly furnished saloon, $2,500; McKennan & Yates, $500; John Moran, owner of a house, $2,800; Gleason's two brick offices, occupied by Zachery, harness-maker, $300, and Archer, dealer in jewelry, $1,750.  Heirs of Jas. Summers,house on the south-west corner of the Square, $2,500.  Robert M. Irvine, house, $3,000.  J.A. Prestwood, $150. There was very little insurance on the buildings.

Dr. Walter H. and Mrs. E.J.M. Drane

I haven't found a family connection between the Moran and Drane families but they were definitely friends.   Here is an article I found among Moran family papers posted in the Nashville Banner June 10, 1934.

WERE CLARKSVILLE LEADERS

Clarksville, Tenn., June 9--(Special)

Prominent surgeion and physician, Dr. Walter Harding Drane was one of Montgomery County's philanthropists and leading public spirited men.  Dr. Jane and his wife, Mrs. Eliza J. McClure Drane, were both descendents of leading families and their descendents are today playing important roles in the life of this community.

Dr. Drane was a leader in the movement to build the old Hopkinsville Turnpike and the covered bridge at Ringgold.  He advanced $20,000 for the construction of the old covered bridge and when the tolls failed to pay dividends the span was finally deeded to him.  He sold it for $2,500 to the late H.C. Merrit who in turn sold it to the county which freed it.

Dr. Drane not only aided by his influence the building of the Louisville & Nahsville Railroad, through Clarksville, but paid $10,000 in cash to the enterprise.

In 1843 Dr. and Mrs. Drane moved to the beautiful county home the Hopkinsville Turnpike which is still standing today, though time has dealt unkindly with it.  In addition to being an outstanding surgeon of his day, he had extensive connections in the tobacco business, holding large stocks both her and in Europe.  It was in the tobacco business that the bulk of his fortune was made.

Walter Drane was born in 1798 and died in 1865.  During the Civil War he  was Surgeon of the 14th Tennessee Infantry Regiment, Confederate States of America.  Eliza J. McClure Drane was born in 1808 and died in 1889.  They are both interred at Greenwood Cemetery in Clarksville, Tennessee.

A Christmas Carol, 1868

This version was published in 1868 by the R.W. Carroll and Company publishers in Cincinnati Ohio. It included A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, The Goldmakers' Village by H. Zschrokke, Rasselas Prince of Abyssina by Samuel Johnson and other gems of select literature.

The book was owned by John Williamson Moran.  He signed and dated the inside and it was found in a steamer trunk with other books and paperwork at the Moran family home.

Title page
Publishers date, 1868

J.W. Moran
Dresden Tenn
April 23, 1870 or possibly 1890

Invitation to the May Ball 1890, Dresden TN

This invitation was most likely for Fannie Moran.  Several of her Scott and Irvine cousins are listed among the committee members and floor managers.  The proofreader in me can't help but notice that the word committee is spelled "comnittee" for the committee on reception.

TN House of Representatives, 1925, 64th General Assembly

Search for the Tennessee House of Representatives at Amazon!

James Henderson Moran III, Representative from Weakley County
Fifth Row from the top, seventh person from the left.

This is a composite picture of the Tennessee House of Representatives, 64th General Assembly, 1925.  James Henderson Moran III was the Representative from Weakley County.  For a complete list of the 64th General Assembly be sure and visit the Tennessee General Assembly website.

Record of the Morehead Family, 1870, by Charles Robert Morehead

Search for Morehead Family Genealogy at Amazon!

This gem was found among the papers belonging to Virginia Shumate Moran.  The cover isn't much to look at but the information this book contains is priceless for those of us who are into family history.  The Moran's are connected to the Morehead family via Lyman T. Gunn (one of the first dentist's in Nashville and a very interesting person in his own right) and his first wife, Caroline M. Morehead.  Lyman and Caroline had four sons and one daughter.  It was their daughter, Sophia Riley Gunn, who married John Williamson Moran.  

This history of the Morehead Family was published 1884 in Nashville, TN, and written by Charles  Robert Morehead.  At the time of the writing many of the people I am researching were still alive as was the case with Dr. Lyman T. Gunn.  C.R. Morehead even indicates that  Dr. Gunn's first wife Caroline Morehead had passed away and that he believed Dr. Gunn was living in Nashville with his second wife and they had no children.  There is no mention as to Caroline's cause of death but I believe it was related to the birth of her son Charles M. Gunn.  He was born in 1855 and she died in 1855 and dying in childbirth or because of puerpural (childbed) fever was a common occurrence.

In my research I have found that Caroline Morehead's mother was Mary (sometimes called Polly) Ann Hewitt Hooe.  At least that's the name I've seen on several sites and in other family trees.  However, Mr. Morehead says her name was Polly Ann Hewitt Hove and since the author was her son, I tend to believe that the name is Hove, not Hooe..  Now I just have to prove it. 

I've only skimmed the book and hope to have it scanned into pdf files so that the original document does not deteriorate any more than it already has.  Till that time we don't handle it very often.

Record of the Morehead Family by Charles Robert Morehead,
Leavenworth City, Kansas, 1870.

Preface page from the Morehead Family History.

Theatre Vendome, Tennessee Centennial 1897

I blogged previously about the Moran family and their involvement in the Tennessee Centennial.   Obviously they were very interested in the Centennial and had a good time because we found this four page flyer among the papers they kept.

The advertising flyer was printed by Gray Printing Co located at 317 N. Cherry St, Nashville, TN to promote Nashville businesses during the Tennessee Centennial which opened May 1st, 1897 and ran through November 1st, 1897.  Although the other pages are intact I couldn't get good scans of them so for now I give you the front page leading off with Nashville's Theatre Vendome which was built in 1887/1888 and had a seating capacity of 2000 with ticket prices ranging from 25 cents to $1.00.

The House Where Time Stood Still

We spent the better part of today in Moran Place rescuing items from the past to be preserved for the future.  I realize even more the daunting task before us of trying to preserve what we have, catalogue it, and share it with those who have an interest in West Tennessee history.

Stained Glass in the formal dining room.

1937 West Tennessee Sweet Potato Festival - Dresden TN

Before there was a Tennessee Iris Festival, Dresden hosted the West Tennessee Sweet Potato Festival September 22-24, 1937 - "The First Event of Its Kind in History of Nation" according to the front cover of the program!  Charles Harrell Moran was on the Board of Directors and held the position of Chairman for this event.  Why a sweet potato festival?  Because at that time Weakley County Tn was the second largest grower of sweet potatoes in the United States!  There's also another post and a letter from George Washington Carver wishing Charles Moran every success on the Festival.

1937 Dresden Sweet Potato Festival

   use the scroll bar to the right to view the entire program.

Honored guest speakers included Memphis Mayor Watkins Overton, Tennessee Governor Gordon Browning, and others.  The Festival included a horse show, beauty revue, Queen's Ball, Grand Float Parade and more!

Here is the official press release and program sheet for the Festival:

News Matter for immediate release.

With Mayor Overton of Memphis having accepted an invitation to be the honor guest of the West Tennessee Sweet Potato Festival to be held in Dresden on Sept. 22-24, and with plans complete for the various forms of amusement and entertainment, the committee in charge feels that the public can now be assured an event of more than the usual character.

A resume of the three days features follows:

First Day, Sept 22 ---1:30 pm band concert; 2 pm grand march to school campus and exhibit hall; 2:30 formal opening of Sweet Potato Festival; welcome address by Edward Maiden, Jr; 2:45; introduction of hostess queen; 3 pm broncho breaking by the Rev. L.M. Real, pastor Greenfield U.S.A. Presbyterian church; 4 p.m. Boy Scout Soap Box Derby, Night session: Annual festival horse show, Tennessee's classics, with $250 in awards.

Second Day; Sept 23: Band Concert by several bands and bugle corps.  Drill by Boy Scouts and Eagle Corps.  Free act on festival grounds; expert and fancy shooting by Herbert Persons, representing Winchester Arms co; 4:30 pm Concert by Swift's Jewel Cowboys; 5:30 pm, address by Mayor Watkins Overton of Memphis and Governor Gordon Browning. 7 pm Concert at school auditorium by Jewel Cowboys.

Third Day: Sept 24; 7:30pm selection and coronation of new queen for West Tennessee who will be the official "Miss Nancy Hall" for 1937-38.  10 pm Festival Queen's hall, high school gym.  Music by Husk O'Hare's Ochestra.

The fact first prize of $25 in case on best grade hamper of sweet potatoes will be awarded is attracting wide-spread attention.  Competition is open to all sweet potato growers of West Tennessee.  The complete premium list follows:

Judging will be done according to score card worked out by Division of Extension and Marketing Service.

Class 1.  For best peck of graded Sweet Potatoes, any variety-- $25.00, $12.00, $7.50, $5.00, $2.50, $1.50, $1.00-By F.A. Nants, Gleason.

Class 2. Best bushel of graded Sweet Potatoes (hamper) any variety--$25.00, $12.00, $7.50, $5.00, $2.50, $1.50, $1.00-By F.A. Nants, Gleason.

Class 3.  Best peck of graded Sweet Potato seed, any variety--$5.00, $4.00, $3.00, $2.00, $1.00.

Class 4.  Best Community Display showing improved method of selecting seed, keeping fields free from disease, practices for maintaining soil fertility--1-2 arrangement, 1-3 educational value, 1-3 display--$25, $12.50, $7.50

Class 5.  Best display of Flowers (as a community or individual, for amateurs only)--$10.00, $5.00.

Prize winning Potatoes will be claimed by the Sweet Potato Festival and will not be returned to the owners.

The Swift Jewel Cowboys appeared in concert on Sept 23 1937 and gave a special night time performance, for a small admission fee, that evening. To get a feel for their music and what people were listening to click on the MP3 link below to hear the Swift Jewel Cowboys in all their glory. My favorite is the Coney Island Washboard, I think it might be the third song that plays.

After the beauty revue came the highly anticipated Queen's Ball with "music by Husk O'Hare, the Genial Gentleman of the Air, and his 10 musicians and entertainers".  According to O'hare's bio in the Festival Program "he once taught Prince of Wales to play drums"!

Here is Husk O'Hare playing Milenberg Joys.

Husk O'Hare & His Footwarmers - Milenberg Joys by kspm0220s

Other items of interest from the festival:

Compliments of the Dr. Pepper Bottling Co, one free Dr. Pepper

Official envelope of the Festival

Official letterhead of the Festival