Nathan Harrell Moran abt 1920

This little boy is my father-in-law Nathan Harrell Moran aka Bub.  He was born in Dresden Tennessee on April 8, 1918.  His parents were James Henderson Moran III and Virginia Shumate.  His older brother was James Henderson Moran IV and their younger sister is Louise Marion Moran.

While stationed in Germany he met his future wife Maria Franceska Fuhrman (Ria). Their oldest son Charles Scott Moran was born stateside in Alabama while their youngest son, Nathan Kent Moran, was born in Japan.

During the 1960's the family lived in Kansas City.  They returned to Dresden after the passing of Bub's father in 1968 and took up residence in the family home known as Moran Place.

Bub was a devoted husband and a concerned parent and he was a bit of rebel.  In addition he enjoyed sports and fixing mechanical things.  He was a proud member of the Air Force and was a Major at the time of his retirement.  He liked big cars, airplanes, and the occasional beer.  Bub enjoyed watching Sanford and Son but hated Archie Bunker and All in the Family.

He did not dwell on the past nor was he interested in family history and would probably not understand nor care about our interest in genealogy.  Perhaps that comes from living in a home steeped in family history.

Bubs two children grew up.  Both attended college.  Scott received his Master's degree in Education and Kent, my husband, earned his Ph.D in History.  Both men married and have children thus assuring the Moran name continues.  Bub's wife Ria is alive and doing well at the age of 86!  Moran Place is 117 years old and though it's not as grand as it once was it's still hanging in there.

Bub passed away on January 6, 1982, in the same bed and room where he was born at Moran Place. How many of us will be able say that when our time comes?

His birthday is just a few days away.  He would be 94!


Happy Birthday Bub!

.

Martha Belle Baum (Marty)

Dr. Harry Lester Baum with his daughter Martha Belle Baum (Marty).
Taken about 1922 on the porch steps of the Baum home in Denver Colorado

This card was attached to
Marty's birth announcement/
baby calling card.

Martha Belle Baum, affectionately known as Marty, was the daughter of Dr. Harry Lester Baum, a prominent Denver physician and Mason, and his first wife Martha Belle Shumate.

Note the shred of blue ribbon
still attached to the card. Perhaps
Harry and Martha had planned
for a boy and didn't have
pink ribbon on hand!

Marty was born July 28, 1919 in Denver Colorado.   We have the birth announcement envelope and calling cards of Marty and her parents that were sent to Mr and Mrs J.H. Moran (James Henderson Moran III and Virginia Shumate Moran).  Virginia was the sister of Marty's mother.

Envelope addressed to
Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Moran 

Marty married Willis Turner Frank and I believe they had at least one child.  In addition, I think she and Willis divorced. At some point it appears that Marty became involved with Vernon V. Porter as a business partner and as "very good friends" as reported in the 1960 case Quandary Land Development Company vs. Vernon L. Porter but parted ways both as business partners and as friends.



Unlike her mother, Martha Belle Shumate Baum, we know that Marty Frank, Martha Belle Baum, passed away in Pinal Arizona in May 1983 but we don't know where she is buried.







If you are a Baum relative we'd like to hear from you.  Perhaps you can fill in some of the questions we have regarding the death date of Martha Belle Shumate and where she is buried and perhaps we can fill you in on your Tennessee relatives. To contact us leave a comment and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

1926-1927 Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Directory, Dresden Tennessee

The Moran's were very involved in the Methodist Church of Dresden, Tennessee.  In 1869 the church purchased its first organ with the help of a young music teacher from Nashville named Sophia Riley Gunn who was just 16 years old.  She volunteered to solicit funds for the organ and when enough money had been collected she was asked to travel to Nashville to select and purchase the new organ  Sophia became the church's first organist.  Two years later she would marry a local businessman named John Williamson Moran.

With that auspicious beginning the Moran's began a relationship with the Methodist Church that spanned over a hundred years.  However, it takes many more people to build, grow and maintain a religious organization and we thank each of the individuals for their time, money, and devotion to the Methodist Church of Dresden.

Methodist Episcopal Church, South
Dresden Tennessee
1926-1927
Rev E.L. Robinson Pastor