Bub Moran, Group Football Photo, mid/late 1930's

We know Bub Moran played football at Dresden High and at the University of Tennessee at Martin. He also attended Bethel College and may have played there as well.    We think the buzz haircut gives him a really intense, ferocious look.  Very different from his other pictures!

Bub Moran
No. 4
front row, 4th from the left

Fire, Latin, Macbeth and Thank you for the Money Feb 14 1899

Jim Moran III
St Albans School 1899

Gustave Toutant Beauregard
St Albans School 1899

As much as I enjoy Moran letters I love it when they are written on letterhead giving additional information. For instance, this letterhead tells me Jim was an associate editor with his friend Gustave Toutant Beauregard on Promus '99 which might be the yearbook for St. Albans School.

page 1

Malcolm J. Taylor, Editor-In-Chief
Ray Jones, Business Manager
PROMUS '99
Associate Editors:
Henry G. McCall
Charles S. Brent
James H. Moran
James B. Faulkner
Gustave T. Beauregard

Radford, VA    Feb 14, 1899

Dear Papa:

Your letter with the check enclosed was received a few days ago and I was very glad to hear from you.  The check could not have reached me at a better time, for it will now come in very handy.  Last night one of the main buildings caught fire from the furnace and it took us over an hour to put it out.  I never saw such a cold night in all my live, the water would freeze in ten steps of the fire.  I ruined my shoes and pants but otherwise come out alright.  The weather is moderating somewhat and I think it will be a great deal warmer tomorrow.

page 2

page 3

Tell Sister (Fannie) that the book which I wrote for was the Latin book Livy and if yo she can find it to please send it at once, she can also send me her notes on Macbeth.  I must bring this letter to a close.  Write soon, with much love to all.

Your son,

J H Moran

page 4

School Days With Sophia Gunn, 1870

Sophia Riley Gunn

Before she became Mrs. John W. Moran at the tender age of 18, Sophia Riley Gunn was living in Nashville with her prominent father, Dr. Lyman Taft Gunn.  Dr. Gunn was reputedly one of the first if not the first dentist to open up shop in Nashville.  

Sophia's School Bell
ca. 1870

It is reputed that Sophia came to Dresden TN, probably in the late 1860's, as a teacher and that J.W. Moran fell in love her with at that time.  They were married December 27, 1871 in Weakley County, Tennessee.

Sophia rang the school bell to call the children to class each morning.  Education was of great importance to Sophia and John and this importance was passed down to their children.  Jim went on to become a lawyer and would take the position of Bank President at the death of his father in 1912.  Charles (Brud), attended business college and was the head cashier at the bank and though he didn't have the title of President, he was  responsible party of the two sons.  Their daughter Fannie followed in her mother's footsteps and upon graduating from college became a school teacher and later was heavily involved in civic activities and politics.  She was Tennessee's first Democratic National Committee woman and for a time an associate social editor on the Nashville Banner.  Ida had a love of music and her educational pursuits were along the lines of furthering her abilities as a pianist.  Marion, the youngest, was dedicated to educational pursuits and was a founding member of the Delta Beta Sigma Sorority.

Sophia's School Bell
ca. 1870

Spirit of 1929, Dresden Tennessee

This is a class picture from 1929, Dresden Tennessee.   This is probably the first grade class because Marion Louise Moran was just 6 years old when this picture was taken.  The annotation on the back does not include names of all the children but I'll post the names that we have.

Front row:  Billy Stokes, Charlie Taylor, Carrol Adkin/Akin, Billy Mangum

Second row: Louise Eaves, Mary Sue Baldridge, Mary King Webb, Modeni Puckett, Mary Evelyn Yates, Mary Nelle Garner, Annie Bell Lainey

Third row:  Virginia Brooks, Mavis Nelli Eaves, Mildred Eaton, Dan Smith, Eleanor Estes, Eugene Allen, Telma Terrell, Ida Ruth Moore and Wayne Travis

Fourth row: James Thomas, Louise Moran, James Wharton, Mary Jones

Mrs. Evans School, Class of 1887/88

Mrs. Evans School

Weakley County, Dresden, Tennessee

Class of 1887/88

I've transcribed the names that were written in pencil on the backside of the picture.  Even though the writing has faded it was possible to get a list of most of the students names.

Front Row, seated, left to right
Carl Finch, James Moran III, Eugene Boyd, Lee(?) Gardner, Percy Scott, C. Harrell Moran, Gerald Scott

Second Row, Right to left
Ben Edwards, Metta(?) M. Gardner, Bessie Ross(?), unknown Lockridge, Mary G. Little, Stella Reavis,
Mollie Lockridge, Lillian Gardner, unknown Evans/Evers, Ida Moran, Annie Crane(?)

I wasn't able to determine at this time which direction the names went for the other two rows.  Also, one corner is missing which makes those names lost to us forever.  Here are the rest of the names listed in the order they appear on the back of the picture:
Lulu Eskridge, unknown Evans/Evers, Maud Little, Mildred Larkins, Wiley Blakemore, unknown Irvine, Charlie Ewing, B. King, L. Evans, R. Harris, Lulu Jenkins