Rev. James Ashley Moody, 1854-1928

The search for Rev. Moody began with an annotated photograph in an old cdv photo album belonging to the Moran family:

Rev. Moody

A quick google search for "Rev. Moody" and Weakley County didn't bring up anything.  So I tried different combinations, again with zero results.  And then I remembered we have a copy of the history of the Dresden First United Methodist Church 1833-1983 and on the inside front cover I found an entry for a circuit rider named J.A. Moody, 1884.

Back to google I went and found an entry in the Dresden Enterprise, April 29 1892 that said "Rev. J.A. Moody of Sharon circuit visited the family of Mr. J.L. McGlothlin last week" and with that information I was off to the races.

Rev. James Ashley Moody was born to D.S. Moody and Caroline Midget/Midyett in Brownsville Tennessee on April 22, 1854.  That much is listed on his Texas Death Certificate.  In the 1880 census he is a boarder at the home of Ike Bell in Henderson TN.  His occupation is listed as D.D., Doctor of Divinity, his age was 26.  His mother Caroline died in 1903 according to the Christian Advocate: "wife of D.S. Moody born Mar 25, 1827; married Nov 27, 1851; died Oct. 26 1903; 2 daus., 1 son (Rev. J.A. Moody, Memphis Methodist Conference)."  A year later his father passed away, "David S. Moody born May 19, 1826, married (1) Eleanor Mydgette, Dec. 21, 1848; (2)Caroline Mydgette; died Oct 26, 1903 had 2 daus and one son, Rev. J.A. Moody." 

I thought his first wife was Elizabeth McGlothlin because I found the marriage record which says Lizzie McGothlin and James Ashley Moody were married in Weakley County on July 21, 1885.  But then I came across a death notice in the Christian Advocate dated August 25, 1883:

"Fannie Moody, nee Young, born Louisiana, Sept. 27, 1860; about age one year moved with family to Miss. where her mother died when she was five years old; moved with her father to Fayette Co., Tenn. where he married his first wife's sister.  She married James A. Moody, Sept 27 1882; died in home of her father-in-law, D.S. Moody, Crockett Co., Tenn, July 13, 1883."

So it seems that James was perhaps not so lucky in love.  His first wife died less than a year after they were married.  His second wife was Elizabeth McGlothlin.  Elizabeth was the daughter of Henrietta M. Fonville and Judge Joseph L. McGlothlin of Dresden.  Elizabeth died a year and a half after the couple were married. From the Christian Advocate: "Mrs. J.A. Moody born Jan 19, 1862; died Jan 15 1887.

After the death of Elizabeth James married Mary Susan Cason.  Although I wasn't able to confirm the marriage year family trees on Ancestry.com say they married in 1888 and they do appear in the Newbern Tennessee 1900 Census. The couple had five children: Cason Ashley, Carrie , Margie Nell, DAvid Shelton and Marion Lee.   By 1910 they have moved to Morris County Texas.   The 1920 Census has them living in Alvin County Texas and in 1928 the Reverend James Ashley Moody passes away on March 31, 1928, in Houston Texas.  His wife passes away in 1953.

Sophia Gunn Moran was a deeply religious woman and very active in the Methodist Church of Dresden.  It's possible we have the photo simply because Rev. Moody was a good friend of the Moran family.  Or possibly, was a distant relative through his marriage to Lizzie McGlothlin.  Her mother was a Fonville and there are Fonville's in the Moran tree.  I haven't explored that branch very much but perhaps now I have a reason.

Will C. Cantrell, 1866 - 1944

This obituary of Will Cantrell was among the papers of Virginia Shumate Moran.  This branch of the Cantrell's were from Sumner County, Tennessee and made their way to Texas in 1877.  The story reminds me very much of the trip made by Martha Moran and her husband Rufus Scott when they made the arduous trip to Texas in 1858.

I know Will married a woman named Bessie M.  My best guess is that her last name is McLean because one of their sons was named William McLean Cantrell and in the 1920 Tarrant County Census the family is living next door to the A. McLean family.  On an interesting side note Quincy Shumate married Louise Elizabeth McLean so perhaps that's family connection. 

Will's brother was Robert Caruthers Cantrell and is listed in the "Makers of Fort Worth".  Like his brother Will he was an avid horse lover and was in business with Will at the Forth Worth Undertaking Company.

August 12, 1866 -
March 3, 1944

Will Cantrell, Noted Horse Judge, Dies
Will C. Cantrell, 77, one of the Southwest's most beloved horsemen and a resident of this county since frontier days, died Friday afternoon at his home, 2300 Primrose.  He had been ill about three months.

Known widely for his keen judgment of horses, he was in frequent demand as a horse show judge and for approximately a decade was manager of the horse department of the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show.

This year's exposition will be the first he has missed since the start of the institution in a hodge podge showing of livestock under a tree nearly a half-century ago.  He was a familiar figure as ringmaster for many years.

For 45 years, Mr. Cantrell was manager of the Alta Vista farm, north of the city and moved to the Primrose Street home after the sale of the farm a few years ago.

At the turn of the century he operated the Cantrell Brothers Livery Stable, at Third and Throckmorton, with a brother, the late R.C. Cantrell.  Renting fancy carriages and fine horses, the business thrived until advent of the automobile in numbers.  An effort to turn the livery stable into a garage business was made, but motors were not horses, and the venture was short-lived.

Another business in which he engaged was the old Fort Worth Undertaking Company, Texas and Lamar, nearly 20 years ago.  But livestock was his interest, and horses were his love, and it was in that field that he was most widely known.

Son of a Tennessee horseman of note, Henry Cantrell, he came to Tarrant County with his father in 1877, as a lad of 10, in a covered wagon party comprising 19 men and boys.  The Cantrells settled near Birdville.  His birthplace was Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee--Aug. 12, 1866.  As a boy he attended classes at the old Birdville school.

He was a 32nd degree Mason, a Shriner and member of First Methodist Church.  Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 4. p.m. at Ray Crowder Funeral Home.  Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Survivors include his widow; two sons, R.A. Cantrell and W.M. Cantrell, all of Fort Worth; a sister, Mrs. A.R. Schell of Tulsa, Okla; a brother, G.S. Cantrell Sr.; a half-brother, C.C. Cantrell; two half-sisters, Mrs. Clyde Helm and Mrs. Lizzie Gibson, and a grandson.  Robert Cantrell Jr., all of Fort Worth.

O'Bryan Washington, Oct 1894 Letter from Nashville

O'Bryan Washington was born in Nashville, Tennessee on July 20 1870 to Allen Hall Washington and Sallie Ewing Garner.  He was married to Martha Lanier Scruggs about 1910. Her mother Martha Lanier was living with them when the 1910 census was taken but she died later that year on Oct 26 1910.  The couple had two children: Martha E. and O'Bryan Washington Jr.

O'Bryan is listed in many Nashville City Directories during the 1800's and his occupation was salesman.  The 1920 Census lists him as secretary at a hosiery mill and in 1930 he had moved up to become proprietor of the mill.  He and his wife are listed in the Nashville Social Directory, 1911-1915 as living at 110 16th Ave. S.

This information comes from the Sons of the American Revolution Magazine, volume 17:

O'BRYAN WASHINGTON, Nashville, Tenn. (37451).  Son of Allen Hall and Sallie (Garner) Washington; grandson of Francis Whiting and Eliza Mason (Hall) Washington; great-grandson of Warner and Mary (Whiting) Washington; great2-grandson of Francis Whiting, Lieutenant in Thurston's and Baylor's Regts., Virginia Cont'l Dragoons.

O'Bryan had a good lineage and was on the Nashville social register but on this date in 1894 he was just another friend or potential suitor of Fannie Moran.  There are a few holes in the letter and some staining which make a few words impossible to fill in.    He mentions Mrs. Moran, that would be Fannie's mother Sophia Riley Gunn Moran.  Sadly she died the following year.  He mentions Sousa and he wants Fannie to attend a Musicale the following month with him in Nashville.  He also mentions a trip to Texas that he had been putting off but had renewed his interest in going.  Possibly because Fannie and some of the other Moran's were going to visit their Texas cousins.

The Nicholson
Rates $2.00, 2.50 & 3.00

Nashville, Tenn. Oct 28, 1894

Dear Miss "Fannie",

Mr.______ - he is to be pitied.  Him yesterday and he looks as if he has been run through a grist mill, and your friend ______ I understand contemplated suicide.


I have such pleasure of informing all their_____ of their youthful appearance and you can consider me as your debtor.  Please just draw on me for any amount and the draft will be honored.

Have at last met your friends from Columbia, and like yourself, enjoyed my chat with him very much.

Mrs. Moran will tell you what a treat you missed in not meeting(?) Sousa and I will not attempt to tell you how disappointed I was, when I received your telegram.  Thought you understood you need not worry to wire unless you were coming and when  boy came in, my expectations were above par, but in a few moments there was a decided drop in the markets.  There will be a very swell "Musicale" here Nov. 27, and if you are here, am very anxious for you to go.

For some time have been wanting to put off my Texas trip, but lately have for some reason, taken new interest in it.  Can you account for it?  Please let me know when you intend coming and please if you can, come this week, as I will be here, and I am anxious for you to meet some of my friends.  If the Texas trip should be abandoned consider yourself engaged of foot-ball Thanksgiving.

Love to your family,
O'Bryan Washington












 The letter is written on stationery from The Nicholson Hotel which was built in 1894 in Nashville.  It replaced a boarding house of the same name that dates from the 1860's.  The Hotel was later renamed The Tulane and has a very interesting history including the Tennessee Centennial Exposition and Suffragettes.

Rose of Texas & the Violet of Tennessee, 1900

This article was among the papers of Fannie Moran.  James Moran III, was the "Gallant Son of Tennessee" who gave the speech prior to the concert given by Miss Effie CHISUM and Fannie.  He covers everything and everyone from the Alamo, Davy CROCKETT, Sam HOUSTON and James K. POLK.   I'm sure all of you Texans out there feel indebted to us Tennesseans since we "furnished most of the blood and iron that carved that splendid empire from the wilderness" known as Texas.  But, let's be fair.  James H. MORAN III was a lawyer and it's a lawyers job to put together a bunch of fancy words.  He certainly did that.  So much so that it pretty much overshadows Miss CHISUM and Miss MORAN.   However, at the end he did seem to remember those two "true representatives of that noblest womanhood that ever trod the earth."

The Weekly News - 
Paris, Texas June 15 1900

BEAUTIFUL WORDS

Were Those Spoken by a Gallant Son of Tennessee.

The following are the remarks of a brilliant young lawyer of DRESDEN, Tennessee, in introducing Miss Effie CHISUM, of PARIS, upon the occasion of a recital given there by herself and Miss MORAN, whom she is visiting:

Ladies and gentlemen:

Tennessee loves Texas.  Next to the smiling valleys, the sun-tipped hills, and the great green mountains of our own native state, perhaps the dearest land on earth to the hearts of all Tennesseeans (sic) are the blossoming plains that spread beneath the blended blue sunny skies of happy, hearty, wholesom Teexas (sic).

We love to boast that we furnished most of the blood and iron that carved that splendid empire from the wilderness; we love to tell that Tennessee blood was shed in her behalf, that Tennessee gave her sons to be broken on the wheel of war in order that the flag of Texas might float free in the Heavens; love to tell how that empire was cemented with the blood of our sons and the tears of our daughters.

We of this section are especially wont to tell how Davy CROCKETT, a pioneer of our county, went from the halls of the national congress where he represented our district, out into the wilderness and poured out his rich life blood at the ALAMO in behalf of Texas Freedom and Texas glory.  We are proud to boast of how Sam Houston, who had resigned the governorship of Tennessee, crossed into the wilds and led the magnificent fight that gave to Texas a station among the nations of the earth and gave to the flag of the single star an immutable glory and immortal place in history.  And then we love to tell how that distinguished Tennesseean (sic) became the first president of that new republic, how he founded and grounded its liberties, how he dominated its institutions and how he brought it as an offering to the United States--how he gave to this nation a broad empire; and how under the influence of the election of James K. POLK, another distinguished Tennesseean (Sic), as president of the United States, the offering was accepted and that splendid star was placed in its proper position amid the galaxy of bright stars that beamed and twinkled and gleamed in the ensign of the republic, how that people became our people, and our flag became their blood, and our spirit became their spirit.

And then we love to tell how hosts of Tennesseeans (sic) crossed the rolling river that sings its way to the shimmering sunlit summer sea and reclaimed the wild and conquered the wilderness, making it blossom as the rose, how they cultivated the loamy land and made the white cotton flourish on the plains and the green corn to tremble in the valleys, how they founded splendid cities and builded beautiful temples, and erected magnificent institutions of learning to shed their light upon civilization and illumine the pathway of the race.  And greater than all, how they founded and builded happy homes around which cluster the roses of purity and love, where culture and refinement thrive and bravery and beauty are bred.

And on account of our love for Texas and our chivalric regard for its sweet, noble womanhood, we are delighted to welcome among us tonight a charming daughter of that fair, dear land, whose mind reflects the culture of noble institutions of learning and the refinement of exalted society, whose eyes reflect the blue of her native Heavans (sics) and whose cheeks reflect the beauty and bloom of her own sweet prairie blossoms.

If Texas owes Tennessee aught for services rendered in establishing her eternal glory, then our little city as an integral part of Tennessee is justly due a portion of that obligation, and tonight this fair daughter will pay at least the interest upon that indebtedness.  Doubtless when she shall have finished we will all feel that the balance should be struck and the ledger closed, for she will have paid the debt, principal, interest and cost.

But I for one am opposed to closing the account.  I favor keeping it open that she may come again and again and make payments, and if she refuses to do so, then I favor sending some one to the state of Texas to sue.

Let her be "sued" under Texas statutes, for there we may collect 12 percent interest whereas, here the law will allow but 6 per cent.  Surely she would not plead the "Statute of Limitation" in a matter of this kind.

Side by side with her I have the pleasure to present also a fair daughter of our own dear Tennessee--one whom we all know and appreciate for her rare beauty, for her accomplishments and talents, for her nobility of character and for her splendid virtues.

I might present one as the Rose of Texas, the other as the Violet of Tennessee, or one as the Blossom of the Prairie, the other as the Lily of the Valley, but this dignifies the flowers too much.  I prefer to present them as what they really are--true representatives of that noblest womanhood that ever trod the earth with dainty foot--sweet southern womanhood that hath exalted us and made us great and placed us in the vanguard of the world's development and progress.  The sweet southern woman who sits upon a pedestal of honor erected out of a nation's love and around whom clusters chivalric knighthood and the tender touch of her white hands, the tender prayer of her pure soul, the tender influence of her sweet love, makes that knighthood worthy to wear the whitest rose.

I present these young ladies with pleasure, and I say unto you that if Eve were half so fair and half so gracious as either of these, the I fancy Adam sighed but little, though in gaining her he lost the Paradise of Eden.

Ladies and gentlemen, Miss CHISUM, of Texas; Miss MORAN, of Tennessee.

The Wedding of Margaret Frances Harris, August 1940

Wedding Invitation

Transcribed from the Fort Worth Star Telegram
Sunday Edition
August 18, 1940

Margaret Frances Harris

WEDDING PARTIES AND VACATIONS HOLD INTEREST AS FALL SEASON NEARS
by Mary Sears

Late Summer weddings, parties for visitors, vacation trips, plans for college and the approaching club season hold the social interest as August goes into the second half.

Among the weekend weddings that of Miss Margaret Frances Harris, daughter of Mrs. Temple Harris, 1010 South Jennings Avenue, to Mr. Curtis Gail Smith of Bloomington, Texas, which took place in the garden of Mrs. W.B. Paddock's home on Sixth Avenue, was of wide-spread interest.  The bridegroom is the of Mr. and Mrs. D.W. Smith of DeLeon.  Rev. W. Douglas Hudgins read the ceremony at 7 p.m. in Mrs. Paddock's garden in a natural setting of greenery and flowers.  Miss Gene Roberts, accompanied by Mrs. A.M. Campbell sang "Ich Liebe Dich" (Grieg) and "At Dawning".  Mr. H.L. Spencer of Waco played the wedding marches, and "Traumerei" during the ceremony.

Left to right
Helen Wilson, Madelon Campbell, Harriet Dee Rushing Harris,
Maibelle Shumate Harris (Mother of the Bride),
Margaret Frances Harris (The Bride), Betty Harris,
Martha Ingram and Gene Roberts

Martha Ingram and Joe Brint Harris, cousin and brother, respectively of the bride were the ribbon bearers.  Miss Helen Wilson and Miss Betty Lou Harris of San Antoino were bridesmaids and Mrs Temple Harris Jr. of Houston was matron of honor.  Mr. Cleland Early of Stinnett was best man, and Mr Temple Harris Jr. of Houston gave his sister in marriage.  Miss Wilson wore a pink frock made with a bouffant skirt and tight bodice, and carried pink gladioli.  Miss Harris wore yellow net and carried orchid gladioli.  Martha Ingram wore a full skirted blue taffeta frock and Joe Brint Harris wore a white suit.  Mrs. Harris Jr. was gowned in blue marquisette, made with puffed sleeves and a full skirt over taffeta.  She carried an armful of peach gladioli.  Each of the bridal attendants wore a strand of pearls to match her gown, the gift of the bride.

Margaret Francis Harris Smith

Margaret Francis Harris Smith

The bride, whose "something borrowed" was a double strand of pearls, wore a white chiffon gown trimmed at the square neckline and sleeves with duchess lace.  She wore Chantilly lace mitts and her illusion veil fell from a starched lace halo caught with orange blossoms.  The bridal bouquet was of white rosebuds and tulle, and her "something old" was a point lace handkerchief made by Mrs. E. L. White.

The mother of the bride,
Maibelle Shumate Harris. The bride
Margaret Frances Harris and her
brother, Newton Temple Harris Jr.

The refreshment table, set in the garden, was a glass-topped white wrought iron table centered by a bouquet of white blossoms and marked at one end by a three-tiered wedding cake topped by a miniature bridal couple.  Mrs. Donald McFarland and Miss Anne Campbell  served punch from a crystal bowl at the other end of the table.  Mrs. Burton Paddock presided at the cake, and Miss Elizabeth Martin at the bride's book.

After a trip to South Texas, the young couple will live in Bloomington.  The bride traveled in a shocking blue redingote crepe romaine ensemble having a navy velvet collar on the coat, with navy accessories and a corsage of white rosebuds.  Mr. Smith, who is athletic coach in Bloomington, and his bride are graduates of Texas Christian University, where he was a member of the T Association.

The Happy Couple
Curtis Gail Smith and Margaret Francis Harris

At the wedding, the bride's mother (Maibelle Shumate Harris) was gowned in white dotted swiss trimmed with black velvet, with a sweetheart rose corsage.  The men of the wedding party wore white suits with navy ties.  Mrs. Paddock and the bride's three aunts, Mrs. H.L. Spencer of Waco, Mrs. E.B. Ingram and Miss Virginia Harris, received the wedding guests.
---------

Sadly, the father of the bride, Newton Temple Harris Sr, passed away January 14, 1940 due to a cerebral hemorrhage.  Margaret and Curtis G. Smith had one child, Curtis G. Smith Jr. He was born December 4, 1946.

Margaret Francis Harris is our 1st cousin once removed.

1908 Letter, Doubtless You will be Surprised...

Even in 1908 people were interested in genealogy.  This letter is from Willie W. Moran of Boswell, Oklahoma.  He was the Assistant Cashier at the First National Bank in Boswell, the identical position that Charles Harrell Moran held at the Dresden Bank in Dresden, TN.  Willie came across Charles name in the bank directory and thought they might be related.  I haven't done extensive research but what I've found seems to indicate these two Moran's may share a last name but they don't share the same family line.  There is an extensive genealogy page devoted to Willie Moran's line if you are interested.  

Willie's grandfather was Madison Moran and he was the son of James Edwin Moran and Mattie C. Brown.  He was "borned" close to Water Valley, Mississippi in 1868.  Interestingly enough some of his family ended up in Lonoke County Arkansas which is where many of my Billings relatives lived.  As a matter of fact, according to the 1920 Census these Morans were on page 17 and the Billings were on page 32.  There's a good chance that they knew each other.  Later Willie and his family moved to Honey Grove Texas.  When he was about 37 they moved to Boswell, Oklahoma.  He doesn't mention having a wife or children and he makes no reference to being a preacher which according to the history of his family he was married three times, to sister, and he was a preacher.

May 4th 1908

Mr C.H. Moran,

Dresden, Tenn.

Dear Sir:-

Doubtless you will be surprise to get this letter form me, but looking through the Bank Directory, I found your name as Ass't. Cashier, of the Dresden Bank, and as you xxx spell your name same as mine thought I would write and see if we were related.

My grandfathers name was Madison Moran, and would be something over 90 years old if he was living.  He died when he was about 60 years old.  I know one of his brothers name but never did see him, his name was John.  He died close to Arkadelphia Ark.  Grand Pa died close to Little Rock Ark.  Grand Pa mooved from near Water Valley Miss. when he came to Arkansaw.  My Fathers name is Edwin Moran, and is living now close to where Grand Pa died.  I was borned close to Water Valley Miss., and we mooved to Arkansaw when I was five years old and I lived there till I was 23 years old and went from there to xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Honey Grove, Texas, where I lived for nearly fifteen years and then came from there to this place and have been here nearly three years.I was 40 years old this past January,and, my Father, was 62 loast month.  I am the Ass't. Cashier, of the First National Bank, of this place as you will see from the heading of this letter.  I have been with these people little over one year xxx.Business is very quiet here now as we made a complete failure on cotton last year.  Corn was good.  The prospect is very gloomey for the time of year for a crop.  The timber business is quite an item with us in this country.  Trusting to hear from you soon, I remain, 

Yours very truly,

Willie W. Moran

Captain Adam C. Irvine, 1841-1908, 3rd Reg't TX Cavalry

Adam C. Irvine was born in Madison County Kentucky in 1841, the son of Albert G. Irvine and Ann Howell Brown. He married Mary Frances Moss in 1869.   His daughter Annie F. Irvine married Oscar Frank Scott (see picture below for the Scott family).  Oscar's mother was Mary Helen Moran, the sister of John W. Moran.  John W. Moran is my husband's great grandfather.  That's the Irvine/Scott/Moran connection in this instance. Of course this does not even begin to address the fact that another of John W. Moran's sisters, Agnes Moran, married Benjamin Dabney Irvine.  I don't know if Adam C. Irvine is related to Benjamin Irvine or not.  What I do know is that there were a lot of marriages taking place within the Irvine/Scott/Moran families just as there had been in the Gunn/Boyd/Moran families.

I also wonder about the surname Moss.  Adam's wife was Mary Frances Moss, we have a picture of J.Moss Jr from 1870.  The picture was taken in Leavenworth Kansas.  Is related to Mary Frances Moss?  Obviously more to research there!

Adam Irvine's daughter Annie, married Oscar Scott.

In the Civil War service records you will see Adam's name spelled several ways: Irvine, Irvin, Irwin, Irwine. There is also some question about whether his middle name is Charles or Copeland. He was a 1st and 2nd Lieutenant with Co. K, 3rd  Regiment Texas Cavalry.

This article comes from the March 1908 Confederate Veteran:
Capt. A. C. Irvine. (I've not seen where he was a Captain, he was listed as a private, 1st Lieutenant, and 2nd Lieutenant)

After several weeks of illness, Capt. A.C. Irvine passed away January 12, 1908, at his home in Gainesville, Texas.

Adam C. Irvine came from a long line of distinguished citizens of Virginia and Kentucky.  His grandfather was a hero of the early struggles in the "dark and Bloody Ground."  His uncle was a major in the War of 1812 and became a prisoner of the English when General Winchester was defeated at the battle of River Raisin, on January 22, 1813.  After the war he served as a member of the Kentucky Legislature.  Another uncle, David Irvine, was County Clerk of Madison County Kentucky for forty years.

His father, Albert G. Irvine, removed to missouri in 1835 and in 1837 married Mrs. Ann Howell Brown, who had returned from Texas as the widow of Capt. John Brown, who came to Texas in 1824.  Captain Brown was a prisoner among the Indians for eighteen months, and was afterwards a merchant in San Antonio.)  The father of Captain Irvine was a pious man and filled a local Methodist pulpit in Kentucky; but he was game, and would brook no insult.  He was once insulted in Cincinnati by a burly policeman and quickly throwing off his ministerial coat, he administered a good thrashing to the minion of the law.

At the age of twenty Adam C. Irvine enlisted in Troop K, 3d Texas Cavalry, and served throughout the war without ever returning home (He did request a leave of absence in Dec. 1863 but apparently it was denied).  Of his Texas commanders were Whitfield and Ross.  Later he was with W. H. Jackson, while in the latter part of the war he was with Forrest.  His first battle was Oak Hills, Mo.  In 1862 he was in the battle of Elkhorn, where Generals McCulloch and McIntosh fell.  He crossed the Mississippi with Gen. Van Dorn.  In the reorganization at Corinth he was elected lieutenant, and soon afterwards became first lieutenant.  He was with Beauregard in the retreat from Tupelo, and was in the battle of Iuka.  In Van Dorn's great raid on Holly Springs he commanded the scouts.  In the fight at Middleburg he was highly complimented for his work and was promoted to a captaincy.

As a captain in Ross's Brigade, he saw service day and night for four weeks on picket duty, as his command covered the retreat to Jackson.  The hard service in sandy bottoms caused Captain Irvine to lose his sight, and he was in the hospital for some time; but he recovered in time to lead the raid on Bolton Depot and the capture of the place with many prisoners.  He next encountered seventy-four negroes while in a flanking party near Vicksburg, and it is state that only two of the and one of their white officers escaped alive.  Under General Forrest Captain Irvine participated in the battles of Franklin and Murfreesboro.  Later he went West with Ross, and his command surrendered at Clinton, LA., on June 22, 1865.

After the war he returned to Texas, and in 1870 returned to Tennessee, where he again met Miss Moss; and on October 11, 1870, they were married. (Actually, the Tennessee state license says the marriage took place Oct 11, 1869)  They lived for ten years in Pulaski, and then returned to Texas.  He had been in Gainesville for many years, and was a man who was loved by all who knew him.  At the time of his death he was Quartermaster General of the Third Division of Forrest's Cavalry, United Confederate Veterans.

Captain Irvine is survived by a widow and one daughter, Mrs. Oscar F. Scott, of Gainesville."

The next entry is from Texans Who Wore the Gray by Sid S. Johnson:
A.C. Irvine
Adam C. Irvine, of Gainesville, Texas, is a native of Kentucky, removed to Texas in 1858, and settled in Tyler.  He enlisted at Tyler, Texas, in Company K, 3rd Texas Cavalry, and served four years with great gallantry.  He was with Whitfield, Ross, W.H. Jackson and Forrest.  He was First Lieutenant of his company and sustained the good reputation of being always ready for active duty.

Col. Irvine participated in the following battles:  Oak Hills, Mo., Pea Ridge, Ark. thence crossed the Mississippi River with Van Dorn and Price, at Farmington, Iuka, Corinth, Holly Springs, Thompson's Station, Tenn., Jackson, Miss.; Rome and Jonesboro Ga., and many other lesser engagements.  He was with Gen. Joe Johnston from Dalton to Atlanta; with Hood in Tennessee and bore a conspicuous part in the fated battle of Franklin.  Fought around Mobile and with Forrest at Murfreesboro where a supply train was captured with one hundred and fifty prisoners.  He was a dashing cavalry officer in Ross' Texas Brigade.

Dr. Arthur Carroll Scott Sr. renowned Cancer Specialist

Martha Helen Moran was one of John Williamson Moran's sisters.  She married Rufus Franklin Scott and they moved to Gainesville Texas.  She and Rufus had five sons: William, Moran, Arthur, Oscar and Berry. Arthur Carroll (also seen as Carrell) Scott was born 1865 and died in 1940.

Arthur Carroll Scott Sr.  packed a lot into that 85 years.  He graduated from Bellevue Medical College in 1886 winning an internship to Western Pennsylvania Hospital.  He returned to Gainesville and married Maud M. Sherwood and began private practice in 1889.  He was appointed Chief Surgeon in 1892 of the Gold, Colorado and Sante Fe Hospital in Temple Texas.  He and Dr. Raleigh R. White Jr formed a private partnership in 1897 and in 1904 they founded they Temple Sanitarium which the directed together.  Dr. White died in 1917 and Dr. Scott established a partnership with Dr. B.V. Brindley Sr and Dr. M.W. Sherwood.  The hospital became the Scott and White Hospital in 1922.

Dr. Scott was in internationally respected authority in the diagnosis and treatment of Cancer.  In 1933 Scott and White Hospital received accreditation from the American College of Surgeons as a cancer treatment center, the first in Texas.  Dr. Scott was active in local organizations and numerous medical organizations. The hospital he helped co-found became a multi-specialty treatment facility and is renowned throughout the United States.  Dr. Scott even has an historical marker dedicated to him by the Texas Historical Survey Committee.

Here is a Christmas card from Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Carroll Scott Sr., to his Moran cousins in Dresden, TN.  The envelope is missing but we know it pre-dates 1940 as that's when Dr. Scott passed away.

Belle Shumate and Joseph Collins Gentry Reunited

 Today I wanted to reunite Belle Shumate and her husband Joseph Collins Gentry.  Belle Shumate was the daughter of Champ Shumate and Martha J. McClary.  She and J.C. were married November 20, 1878, in Garrard County Kentucky.  Their daughter, Belle Gentry, was born in 1879 in Kentucky.

They moved to Abilene Texas and over the course of the next 5 years had four sons: Blain 1880, Richard 1881, Joseph 1882, and Nathan 1884.  In 1884, Joseph Collins Gentry sold 105 acres on the Rush Branch Turnpike near Stanford Kentucky for the sum of $45. *From Semi-Weekly Interior Journal, April 22 1884.

At the time of his death, his family was living back in Kentucky.   Joseph died suddenly from hemorrhage and his death was reported in the Semi-Weekly Interior Journal, Stanford KY, April 10, 1888.  He was buried in Abilene, Texas.

At some point, Belle and her children left Kentucky and moved to Newbern, Tennessee, most likely to be near her older brother Quincy Shumate and his family who also lived in Newbern at that time.

Belle never remarried and she survived her husband by about 52 years.  She died at the home of her daughter after being sick for several months.  Belle was buried in Newbern, Tennessee.

Semi-Weekly Interior Journal, Stanford KY, April 10, 1888.  

Joseph Collins Gentry's tombstone.

Obituary of Belle Shumate Gentry, unknown newspaper.

 Clipping found among the papers of Virginia Shumate Moran.

Tombstone of Belle Shumate Gentry.

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

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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.