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

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.

1853 Odd Fellow of the Day J.C. Stanley

I don't know who J.C. Stanley was but he made an impression on the Odd Fellow lodge back in 1853!  He was expelled and publicly branded as a Villain as can be seen in the IOOF Ledger.  If I'm interpreting the ledger correctly he stole $19.10 from the lodge.  The ledger note for Dec 10, 1853 reads "Lost by the Villain 19.10"

Special Court House Edition, February 17 1950

On the morning of February 19, 1948 the citizens of Dresden Tennessee awoke to find the 90 year old court house in flames.  Although the building couldn't be saved, volunteers worked hard to get most of the records out of the burning building.  Two years later, on February 17 1950, a Special Court House Edition of the Dresden Enterprise & Sharon Tribune was released in anticipation of the opening of the new court house. I've posted selected articles, photographs and advertisements from that very special edition of the newspaper.

New Court House Near Completion
Representing many months of Labor, new building will be
monument to present and gift to generations of the future

Historical Notes About Weakley Court Houses

First was Log Cabin, built in 1827

Discussions incident to the burning of Weakley's old Court House and the building of the new have brought to light some interesting facts about the organization of the county and its Court Houses.

According to old records, the organization of the county was completed in 1825; Dresden was platted and the first court house, a log building, was erected in April, 1827.

The first session of the county court was held in this building in April, 1828.

Previous to this the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions was held at the homes of John Terrell and Benjamin Bondurant in Dresden.  Some of the members of the bar practicing before this pioneer court were A.G. Bondurant, H.A. Sample, John A. Gardner, S.A. Warner, John Grundy (son of Senator Felix Grundy) and, history relates, Dresden was the home of Emerson Ethridge, lawyer, orator and statesman.  The original court house was replaced in 1858 by a new structure, which was a part of the building pictured on this page, which was destroyed by fire.  Additions were made to this structure in 1911.

Weakley county was originally formed in 1823, and named for a pioneer settler, Col. Robert Weakley.  The first settlers of the area are said to have been Reuben Edmonston and John Bradshaw, his brother-in-law, who settled on Mud Creek in the year 1819.

It has been told that in 1822, when Alexander Paschall settled in the north part of the county, he invited neighbors to help erect a house, he could find only 31 helpers in a radius of 12 miles, evidencing that the county was sparsely settled at that time.

The first preaching in the county was done by a negro evangelist, whose name has not been recorded in history.

The first Cabin was built in the county by John Bradshaw.

Weakley, one of the oldest counties in West Tennessee, is located directly along the famous Natchez Trace, along which the Indians traveled in their annual pilgrimages to the "happy hunting grounds" of East Tennessee.

One of the points of interest in early Weakley county was the health giving running springs of northeast Weakley, at what is now Austin Springs, to which people from all sections of the nation flocked to partake of the remedial waters. The famous springs finally played out, but the community there still bears the name.

And today another chapter is added to the history of grand old Weakley County, which in 123 years has developed from a new and sparsely settled area with a log cabin court house to one of the leading counties in the state, with a magnificent Temple of Justice to better serve the needs of its more than 30,000 people.

Construction Men Did wonderful Job

Two men who had the responsibility of seeing that the new court house was built according to the specifications, and who in complete charge of the project for Seth E. Giem & Associates locally, are L.O. Cooper, general superintendent of construction, and W.W. (Bill) Rogers, construction foreman.

These two men went quietly about their direction of this $720,000 project, and even more quietly fitted themselves into this community while doing their job.

They employed many local men, as well as experts in construction work from other places.

They are to be commended not only for the fine job of construction, but also for their conduct and that of their co-workers during their stay in Dresden.

-------

We Are Proud of the new court House....of the Progress the County has made.......and Proud of the Progress that our Business has made and wish to exttend (sic) Congratulations to all of Weakley County in this Fine Achievement and also to add that we are proud of being a business firm in such a progressive county as Weakley.

Frozen Food Locker, James Pritchett, Manager, Dresden, Tennessee

Here, for the first time in 90 years, is a veiw (sic) looking north across the courtyard from a point near the Weakley county Bank.  This picture was taken after the yard was cleared of bricks, etc., and was the only time the north side could look across to the south side of the square, and vice-versa, in 90 years.  Photo by Virginia Brooks.

Like Thousands of Others We are Proud of the NEW COURT HOUSE.  A Real Monument to Progress When Grandpa Was a Boy his mother struggled and slaved over hot wood cokk stoves.  later came the "wood or coal" cook stoves...then ice refrigerators and no convenient sinks with handy hot water.  these are things to be pointed out hesitantly, and something modern women know nothing of, thanks to the progress of the twentieth century, which has brought along with modern buildings such as the new Court house, all types of Home Appliances for Mother's convenience to make life easier and more leisurely.  To use the words of a lady recently, "I have all kinds of time now, with everything electrical, and can enjoy living."  (quoted from Memphis Commercial Appeal)

Hotpoint Ranges...Refrigerators...Washers...Water heaters and other modern day conveniences  Brings all the modern comfort and convenience to the home with an entire family of appliances to make life worth living.

Make Yours a HOTPOINT Family--Throughout

P A R H A M

Refrigeration Service

Dresden, Tenn.

Old Building Burned Just Two Years Ago

It is coincidental that the completion of the new Court House, and the publication of this special issue, is almost two years to the day after the disastrous fire that swept through the old building.  It was on a thursday morning--February 19, 1948--that the old Court house was discovered to be on fire, a disastrous blaze that defied efforts of some five companies, with Demon Fire coming out victorious and consuming the historic 90-year-old temple of justice.

That day remains a memory in the minds of most people, and with the old building went fond recollections of much history that was made through the passing years beneath its roof and around the spacious lawn under the copious shade of its trees.

Now, with the entrance to the new building, comparisons can be made as to the efficiency of the present and the inefficiency of the former building.

-----

We Are Also Proud of Our Contribution To The Construction of THE NEW COURT HOUSE---Having

done the WELDING

which, like all work done by us, will last indefinitely and stand out with the rest of the splendid work on this building as a monument to the present generation.

Demonstrating that we are in position to come to your job, no matter where it is, we offer the fact that OUR WELDING EQUIPMENT WAS USED ALL OVER THE NEW COURT HOUSE, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM--AND EVEN HOISTED TO THE VERY ROOF-TOP FOR QUITE A LOT OF WELDING.

When in need of WELDING, call us--the job doesn't get too difficult, too high or too low.

Moran & Brooks

WELLERS (sic) --AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICS

Phone 3311

Dresden

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Sara Emmah Holt, late of Weakley County, Tenn.  Notice is hereby given that on the 2nd day of Fegruary, 1950, letters testamentary, of administration, in respect to the estate of Sara Emma Holt, deceased, were issued to the undersigned by the County Court of Weakley County, Tennessee, on the 2nd day of February, 1950.

All persons, resident and non-resident, having claims, matured or unmatured, against her estate, are required to file the same with the Clerk of the above named Court withing nine months from the date of the first publication of this notice, other-wise their claim will be forever barred.

All persons indebted to the above estate must come forward and make proper settlement with the undersigned at once.

This 2nd day of February, 1950.

J.T. Holt, Executor

Estate of Sara Emma Holt

by Cayce L. Pentecost, Atty.

----

After Fire Took Its Toll

This is the scene of desolation a day or two after fire-gutted the 90 year old court building.  All that stands is blackened walls, the wood and plaster interior crumbling because of the terrific heat and powerful streams of water poured into the structure in an heroic effort to save the old landmark.  Photo by Virginia Brooks.

Directory of Offices in New Building

In order that the public may know just where to find the desired official, office, court room, etc., we herewith print a directory of the new Court House:

Basement: Janitor room, furnace room, fuel room, sheriff's office, county highway office, AAA office, two storage rooms, county agent's space, and, of course, rest rooms for both white and colored men and women.

First Floor: Register's office, register's records, county judge, public service room, county court room, county court clerk, clerk records, one unassigned room, storage room, private office, and trustee.

Second floor: Circuit court room, circuit judge's office, jury room, three witness rooms, attorney general's office, grand jury room, circuit court clerk, chancery court, clerk and master's office, and an office for lawyers.

Third floor: Soil conservation office, farm replacement office, central library, book rooms, lunch room, supervisor's office, county superintendent's office, veterans service office, Red Cross headquarters, and tax assessor's office.

Plaque In new Building Honors Court Members and Commission

A beautiful plaque that will adorn the walls of the new Weakley County Court house will be emblazoned with the names of all members of the Quarterly Court as well as those of the five-member Court House Commission.  the latter are: Esq. Dean Grooms, who is chairman, Esp. John Hatler, Esq. J. martin Adams, Allen J. Strawbridge and R.A. Nants.

The late Judge R.A. Elkins will be remembered as being very instrumental in getting construction started on the new building, being the first chairman of the Commission, his untiring efforts in this endeavor being cut short by his death.

----

When Grandma Was A Girl

THEN....

Grandpa took her courtin' in a buggy.  they lived in a gas lit house with pumpwater supply.  this was in keeping with the times, when people traveled to and from the antiquated court house in wagons, buggies and horseback.

NOW....

The present new Court House is in keeping with the march of progress of the Twentieth Century--the Golden Fifties, and it is coincidental that the new building should be built and occupied at the turn of the century.

Our firm can boast of the fact that it has been located within sight of the Weakley County Court House for many years, watching the crowds attendant to such a place, and it is with pride that we can point across the street to this newest accomplishment and we want to congratulate Weakley County upon this great step of progress.

E.T. Reavis & Son

Dresden

Congratulations TO ALL THE PEOPLE

It has been my pleasure to work with the magistrates of the county, as well as with members of the court house commission, in the construction of the new Court House; and, as we are advised by the supervising architect that this new and modern building will soon be completed, I take this opportunity to commend to all the people of Weakley County, the untiring efforts and genuine cooperation of every justice of the peace, all members of the court house commission, the finance committee, all county officials, and so far as I am advised, every progressive and public spirited citizen in the county, in planning and building our new court house.  Perfect and unanimous agreement, from the naming of Judge Elkins as chairman, to the writing of this message, and in the expenditure of every dollar going into this building, has prevailed.  Every action of the Quarterly Court has been directed by a majority vote, and only on two occasions have there been two or more magistrates who registered their objections.  I believe I can truthfully speak for every person who has had anything to do in planning, building and furnishing our new Court house--and I assure you that they did the very best they were capable of doing.  I do not believe there is a county in Tennessee that has a better informed, a more representative and patriotic group of magistrates than we have in Weakley county, and they are to be congratulated, along with the court house commissioners, for their untiring efforts in replacing the ninety-four-year-old court house with this new one.

Congratulations to all our people, including the architects, the contractors, the superintendents, the inspectors, the furnishers, and every workman, for a job well done.

CAYCE PENTECOST,

     COUNTY JUDGE

Greenfield Monument works

The Best in Memorials

Large Displays-Prices Right

No Agents--Dependable

Come to our yard

17 years in this Business

J.B. MANESS, Owner

Phone 69                 Greenfield, Tenn

A Disastrous Fire on February 19 1948, destroyed the Weakley county Court house here in Dresden.  Fortunately nearly all the important records were saved.  The county Court in its wisdom decided to rebuild and very wisely arranged for a handsome and substantial structure.  Ample room was provided with additional space for growth.  The building now nearing completion is modern in every respect, fire-proof and air conditioned.  Weakley County moves forward in spite of temporary setbacks.

The position of this bank is somewhat similar.  The Maloan Building on the north side of court square next to the Post Office was purchased for a home for this bank.  Here again a fire occurred and very shortly the bank plans to remodel for occupancy.  This institution takes its place along with other business concerns as part and parcel of Weakley County.  Here you will find a strong institution eager and willing to assist in financial matters.

PEOPLES BANK

Dresden Enterprise Apr 24 1896 - The Illustrated Edition Part 7 "Weakley County Officers"

This is the seventh in a multi-part series featuring the April 24 1896 edition of the Dresden Enterprise.  If you missed the previous posts you can find them here: part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part six.

F.P. Fonville - Weakly county's present trustee, and by the way one of the best we ever had, Mr. Franklin P. Fonville, was born in 1852 in the eight (Sharon) district, when that part of the county perhaps never dreamed that some day that district would have a flourishing little village.  Mr. Fonville was raised on the farm, and remained with his father until he was of age.  Since that time he has been both self-reliant and prosperous.  At one time he was in the dry goods business at Sharon, and for seven years bought and rehandled tobacco, in which he was very successful.  four years ago he became a candidate for the Democratic nomination for trustee and easily won over several worthy competitors.  Two years later he had no opponent in the Democratic primary, and in August was re-elected, having no opponent.  Mr. Fonville this year declined to run for a third term, saying he believed in rotation in office and would step aside for some other Democrat.  He will have a worthy successor in Mr. W. C. Croft, the Democratic nominee.  Today there is not a better man morally in Weakley county than Mr. Fonville, or one who has more friends, both because of his good private character and his unassailable public record.  He is a member of the Baptist church (missionary) and has a very happy family, consisting of a wife and seven daughters.  His wife is a sister of C.D. Bowden, now doing business in Dresden.

John J. Thomason - Mr. Thomason was born in the old Thomason homestead five miles from Dresden, two and a half this side of Gelason.  Mr. Thomason was in the drug business in Texas for sometime, but returned here to take care of his father, who had been stricken with paralysis.  He was his father's deputy until time for another election, at which time he was a candidate, being nominated in the Democratic primary over several very strong men. He makes a good clerk and has in Mr. T.E. Irvine, a splendid assistant.  Mr. Thomason is very popular with people all over the county, and especially so at home, where he is well known.  John is not married, but is counted among the old bachelors who hopes to be this year.  He is a public spirited young man, and is always abreast with the times, when it comes to leading issues of the day.  he is an enthusiastic sound money man, and is very confident that his position is the correct way out of our financial troubles.  He, however, believes in majority rule, and will abide the decision of his party should it be against him.

G.T. Mayo - The information for Mr. Mayo and others will be the topic of the next blog entry.

F.P. Fonville is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Sharon with his wife Emma Bowden Fonville.

William Congrave Croft, Fonville's successor, is interred at Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Weakley County.

A search of John J. Thomason on ancestry.com shows him listed as the son of Joseph Green Thomason and Sarah Caroline Peck.  His date of death is given as March 22, 1899, place of interment is unknown.  His assistant, T. E. Irvine is interred in Sunset Cemetery.

More information about Henry Leake Hill will appear in a subsequent blog post.

The complete list of links in this multi-part series:

part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part six, part seven, part eight, part nine, part ten, part eleven, part twelve, part thirteen, part fourteen, part fifteen, part sixteen, part seventeen, part eighteen, part nineteen, part twenty, part twenty-one, part twenty-two, part twenty-three.

"The Exposition is a fact", January 1, 1896

Tennessee Centennial Exposition Envelop
 and letter  Robert Gates to J.W. Moran

The following letter was sent to John W. Moran from Robert Gates, an Assistant Commissioner of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition.  In addition, he served in the Civil War and was a Colonel on the staff of General Nathan Bedford Forrest.  After the war he made a lot of money helping rebuild the Mobile & Ohio and the Mississippi Central railroads which he later lost in the same line of business.  In 1889 he entered the field of journalism   He worked at the Whig and Tribune and later, with the Hon. B.A. Enloe, he founded the Jackson Sun.  From 1884-1885 he served as the Commissioner of Immigration under Tennessee Governor William B. Bate.  In 1889 he became secretary of the Commercial Club of Memphis.   In 1896 he became the Industrial and Immigration Commissioner for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.  He died October 4 1915 in Jackson Tennessee at the age of 74 and is interred in the Gates Family Plot at Riverside Cemetery.

Jackson, Tenn., January 1, 1898

My Dear Sir:

I hope you have taken steps to have all the Centennial Commissioners of your County present when your County Court meets, on Monday, the 6th, inst.  Please present the Centennial matter to the Court in person, with such assistance from members of your Board, or others as you may desire or be able to command.

The amount to be asked for is left to the discretion of the Commissioners, with the admonition to look well to the importance of the interests involved.

You understand that each County Court making an appropriation is authorized and urged to name one of its members as a Director in the Centennial Company, who in addition to the rights and privileges of the office, will be expected to look specially after the interest of his County--its appropriation, its exhibit and the benefits sure to follow a creditable display of resources at the Exposition.

The Court may also appoint a committee of its own to supervise the expenditure of the money appropriated, in connection with the Board of Commissioners, and make such regulations in the premises as it sees fit.  Each appropriation will be for the exclusive benefit of the county making it.

It is respectfully submitted that the matter should be pressed at the pending term of your County Court unless there are overshadowing reasons to the contrary, for the sooner the work of collecting and preparing exhibits is begun the better; and the counties entering upon this work, by reason of adequate appropriations by their County Courts, in January, will have decided advantage over those acting later.

In any event the matter should be fully and forcibly presented to the Court; and if for sufficient reasons it is deemed best to postpone action the Court should be asked to take it under advisement and appoint a committee, of not more than five (5), to investigate the subject and report to an adjourned session of the Court, or in the last resort to the regular April term.  Such a committee will be afforded every means possible for the investigation.

Impress on your Court the fact that the Exposition is a fact, that a majority of the counties will participate, and that no county with resources, with a history, and with pride, can afford to be conspicuous on the occasion of the State's Centennial by its absence and non-participation.  Material interest; patriotism, the strength and glory of a people; and pride, the evidence and support of character, all forbid the possibility.

Respectully,

Robert Gates,

  Ass't Com'r.

Dresden Enterprise Apr 24 1896 - The Illustrated Edition Part 5 "Battle Abbey"

Published in 1896

This is the fifth in a multi-part series featuring the April 24 1896 edition of the Dresden Enterprise.  If you missed the previous posts you can find them here: part one, part two, part three, part four.

Today's post is about the South's Battle Abbey which would not be completed until 1922.  Two very good history resources are available online.  The first is The South's Battle Abbey, published in 1896, which called for the creation of a Confederate "Battle Abbey" which is most likely the basis for the article in the Dresden Enterprise.  

The second publication was called Sketch of the origin and erection of the Confederate Memorial Institute at Richmond, Virginia 1921. 

Battle Abbey

We desire in this big edition of our county paper, The Enterprise, to appeal again to every old confederate in Weakley county in behalf of the Battle Abbey.  It is to be the historic building of the South, and we wish the name of every man in the county that it may be inscribed in this mural monument to our uncrowned heroes.  The majority of those who enlisted long since laid down their arms, crossed the river and are resting with Stonewall Jackson and others of the immortal company under the shade of the trees.   Some yet remain, but the shadows are longer growing as you face toward the West and the setting sun.  The march for all will soon be over.  It remains, therefore, that what is to be done be done quickly.

Send us your name and one dollar for membership in the Confederate Memorial Association.  Each dollar subscribed entitles the subscriber to a certificate of membership in the Confederate Memorial Association in his or her name, or that of any person designated by the subscriber.  This subscription is made and accepted with the understanding that if not used within one year from this date for the purpose intended it shall be returned to the subscriber.  The undesigned are authorized to solicit subscriptions for the Confederate Memorial Association, subject to the following instructions:  Subscriptions shall be evidenced by printed receipts issued to the various soliciting organizations by the executive committee, which receipt shall be in book form, like a bank check book, with a stub bearing the same number as the receipt and both made to correspond when filled for issuance.   All money collected must be deposited to the order of the United Confederate Veterans, to the use of the Confederate Memorial Association, in a bank or other safe depository of the localities where collected and notice of said deposit must be sent monthly to the manager's office, 44 Perido street, New Orleans, La.

Subscriptions are not limited to members of camps or other confederate associations, but those empowered to obtain subscriptions are authorized and urged to obtain all the outside subscribers possible in their respective localities.  The receipt books must be carefully preserved and when called in be returned with all stubs attached and all receipts remaining unfilled and with all receipts may have been mutilated.  

    J.R. McIntosh,

    Ch'm'n. Ex. Com.

The minimum subscription shall be one dollar, but subscriptions may be made for any amount.  Now, we wish to secure a sufficient sum to make all the old soldiers in Weakley members of the Confederate Memorial Association.  Also their wives and daughters, and the widows of those who fell fighting, or died in hospitals, or in camps, or along the march, or who breathed their lives out sweetly in the re-united home circle.  some alas, are very poor--too poor to pay even the membership fee.  Therefore let the grace of liberality abound in those on whom prosperity has smiled.

Emulate the noble example of Charles Broadway Rouss, now a citizen of New York.  He served as a private in the Clack House cavalry regiment of Virginia, than which no nobler ever leaped into battle.  Mr. Rouss served throughout the war, conspicuous for bravery, and now after the lights and shadows of more than a quarter of a century he immortalized himself and his comrades by the gift of one hundred thousand dollars for the erection of Confederate Memorial Association, A Battle Abbey, in which shall be collected, preserved, and displayed relics of every kind, archives containing records and documents of every kind complying history.  A grand work.

This association is to be composed of confederate soliders, their wives, children and friends, under the control of the confederate veterans.  Mr. Rouss sent his check for one hundred thousand dollars to the re-union at Houston.  It was presented by Col. Robt. C. Wood, and to be delivered to the Confederate Veteran Association, whenever a like sum shall have been raised by our people for an endowment fund, and chartered by the Confederate Veterans' Association.  such in brief is the history of the proposed Battle Abbey.  Its erection is a sacred duty.  Let us have your name and subscriptions before our holy day the first of May, when

"Sad, wistful eyes and braking 

   hearts that beat

For the loved sound of unreturning

   feet.

And when the oaks their leafy

   banners wave

Dream of the battle and un unmarked

   grave."

                      Mrs. Sue. F. Mooney,

                      Miss Mamie Tansil,

                              Committee.

The complete list of links in this multi-part series:

part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part six, part seven, part eight, part nine, part ten, part eleven, part twelve, part thirteen, part fourteen, part fifteen, part sixteen, part seventeen, part eighteen, part nineteen, part twenty, part twenty-one, part twenty-two, part twenty-three.

Dresden Enterprise Apr 24 1896 - The Illustrated Edition Part 1

Mrs. Susan Adelaide "Addie" Cardwell Lewis took over the Dresden Enterprise at the death of her husband, Robert Lewis in 1895 and was the editor of this issue of the Enterprise.   For a more in depth history of the Dresden Enterprise and information about Mrs Lewis be sure and check out this page at Rootsweb.  However, if you want to read what Nannie Drewry had to say about the Cardwell's you should check out her letter to J.W. Moran written in 1910 regarding the prohibition vote and Addie Cardwell's work with the Aid Society.

The Moran's saved a lot of newspaper clippings but we also found a few complete newspapers including some of the Dresden Enterprise.  Considering their age, the newspapers are in good condition except where they were folded.  The plan is to scan them causing as little damage as possible to the papers and to present the information here.

This is the first installment of the Dresden Enterprise dated April 24 1896.

WEAKLEY COUNTY

----

A Brief History of the County from 1819 up to the Present Time--Dresden and Its Enterprising Business Men

We this week present to our readers our illustrated edition of THE ENTERPRISE, the first paper of the kind ever issued in Weakley county.  It is also the largest and handsomest paper ever presented to our people as a local enterprise.  While all of our business men did not see it to their interest to take space, enough have done so to make it a decided success, and there-fore speaks well for the push and thrift of the town.  We send out 3,000 copies, to every part of Weakley county, and hope that we may find in many who read this week's issue constant readers.  There are many people in the county who should be, but are not, Subscribers to this or any other paper.  

THE ENTERPRISE is the oldest paper in the county and the only one in Dresden, and while the editor is not rolling in wealth, our people have given us a handsome patronage for some time, thereby helping themselves to prominence, us to prosperity and the community thus brought before the outer world in an attractive way.  We have received some little advertising outside of this town, but we could have made it a financial success just by the patronage of our Dresden people alone, and when we take into consideration the fact that the illustrations have cost over $100, or $3 for each cut, except the centennial cuts, which were furnished from Nashville, it has been a big undertaking.  

Illustration of the Methodist Episcopal Church South

Unlike other publishers, we have charged nothing for the space occupied by the illustrations, and nothing extra for the write-up of our advertisers.  This has made our profits on the edition small, especially when it is remembered that the public buildings are our expense, unless some of our citizens help foot the bill, to which we assure them in advance we will take no exception.

In this paper we have undertaken to show that Dresden is a far more progressive town than she was years ago, and that there has been a large increase in the values here for the past ten years.  There is now talk of another road running through the town, and if such an opportunity really presents itself we hope our public spirited men will see to it that it comes in reality, for such an investment would greatly add to our already prosperous condition.

Dresden is a good town, and has a financial record that but few towns can boast.  While we have never had to meet the demoralizing effect of inflated booms, there has been a healthy steady increase in value of real estate, that, had it come at once, would have been called a big boom, but it is our normal condition to be prosperous.  it is perhaps the only town in the state that can boast that it has not a family within its borders dependent on the people for charity.  We went through the financial crisis unhurt, and today proclaim to the outside world that Dresden prosperity is here to stay, and we cordially invite people seeking new homes to come and abide with us.

Illustration of Dresden High School.

The complete list of links in this multi-part series:
part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part six, part seven, part eight, part nine, part ten, part eleven, part twelve, part thirteen, part fourteen, part fifteen, part sixteen, part seventeen, part eighteen, part nineteen, part twenty, part twenty-one, part twenty-two, part twenty-three.

Weakley County Election Returns of 1848

This is for all of you history and political buffs.   Among the papers we removed from Moran Place we found this interesting piece of ephemera dated March 4th, 1848.  We think the names across the top are those who were running in the election while the names on the side were the polling stations.  But we could be wrong and as always we welcome the opinion and comments of others.

Some of the names were difficult to read so if we have any wrong let us know.  Names at the top:  Latham, Latham, Roff?, Brooks?, Atkins, Irvine, Etheridge, Landrum, Ridgeway, McNeely, Holder, Givlsley?, Kilgore.  Many of the surnames listed here can also be found on the 1848 Tax List.

Location/Names on the side: Abernathy,Laparrell?, Martins, Lathams, Palmers, Irvins, Dresden, Ships, Kemps, Parks, Smiths, Greens, Dukedom, Bayos?, Crabtrees