Dresden Enterprise Apr 24 1896 - The Illustrated Edition Part 22 "The Harper-Detrick Company"

This is the twenty first 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, 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.

It was recently pointed out to me that John W. Moran owned an opera house in Dresden.  This was news to us and another interesting fact to add to the family history. 

In 1889 Jonathan B. Jeffery's published a Guide and Directory to the Opera Houses, Theatres, Public Halls, Bill Posters of the Cities and Towns of America.  In addition to listing Moran's Hall we know there were two hotels, a Friday paper, C.B. Travis was the bill poster and the baggage agent was R.D. Hart.

The Harper-Detrick company, under the management of Mr. W.N. Cross, closed a week's engagement at the opera house last Saturday night.  They appear all this week at Martin and next week at Huntingdon.

The engagement of this company in Dresden has been a series of most enjoyable treats for the theater goers and lovers of the dramatic.  The cast is made up of first class talent, and that their work here was thoroughly appreciated was evidenced by their reception each night.

As an emotional actress Miss Harper needs no other recommendation than the tears shed by the audience on the night of her appearance in "East Lynne," when her acting, as Lady Isabel at the deathbed of her son, was so natural that it seemed almost doubtful that it was really acting.  They are all refined, quiet, sociable people, and gained many friends during their stay here.

Manager Cross, while a young man in years, has had a wide experience in the show business, having crossed the continent several times with strong companies, and he seems to thoroughly understand the management of shows.  He states that will book only companies that he knows to be first-class, and for next season the opera house promises to be a source of much pleasure and enjoyment to our citizens.  Mr. Cross will close this season at Martin on the 23 of next month, and at Dresden immediately following that date with a good company in a three night's engagement.

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.

Death of Dr. Benjamin Busey Gilbert 1867

Most information posted on the Moran blog is based on information that came directly out of Moran Place.

However, today that is not the case.  I was looking through old Memphis Daily Appeal's online and came across an obituary for Dr. B.B. Gilbert, formerly of Weakley county.

DIED

Gilbert--of yellow fever, at McKinzie's (sic) Station, on the Memphis and Ohio railroad on the night of Saturday, the 12 th October inst, Dr. B.B.Gilbert, formerly of Weakly (sic) county, Tenn., aged about forty-two years.

Our Bro. and Comp. Dr. Gilbert had been for ten years engaged in the commission business, as one of the firm of Gilbert, Harris & Co., 286 Front street, and was well known to and esteemed by the community and the Brotherhood.  A gentleman in every sense of the word, true to the sublime teachings of Free Masonry, he practiced in all the walks of life the cardinal virtues inculcated by it, and especially Temperance, Justice, Fair-dealing and Truth. He hath the Master's Word, and has gone to that land beyond the dark river where he shall receive Master's wages.

His funeral, in connection with his mother's will take place at McKenzie on the 27th inst.  The Fraternity generally invited to attend.  Services by the Rev. A.E. Cooper. From the Memphis Daily Appeal Oct. 20 1867.

I knew there were Gilbert's in the Moran family tree so decided to find out exactly who was Dr. B.B. Gilbert.  His full name was Benjamin Busey Gilbert, a son of Jonathan Moore Gilbert Sr and Francis Busey. He was one of many children!  In addition to Benjamin there was Lucy Pernecia Gilbert.  Lucy married Albert Gallatin Harris, the brother of Harriet Harris wife of James Henderson Moran who just happened to be the parents of John Williamson Moran!  Benjamin's other siblings were James Monroe, Randolph, Alfred Gardner, Zillah Miranda, Jonathan Moore Jr, Frances Mariba, Agnes Marietta and Elizabeth Portia.

Benjamin married Mary Eliza Allen in Carroll County on October 28, 1857.  To my knowledge they had no children and she died about 1858.  Perhaps in childbirth?  But that's just speculation on my part.

I found various references on ancestry, rootsweb and other online resources to his mother's death placing it at 1867 to 1869.  I think it's safe to say that she died in 1867 about the time of her son Benjamin since the obituary references his funeral in connection with hers.

On a side note I located an intriguing entry in the September 12 1867 edition of the Memphis Daily Appeal, a month before the death of Benjamin.  This is in regards to Mr. S. Harriss (sic) of the firm of Gilbert & Harriss.  

Mysterious Disappearance--Mr. S. Harriss of the firm of Gilbert & Harriss, No. 282 Second Street, disappeared on the night of the 9th, immediately after supper, and has not since been heard from. Mr. Harriss is about forty-five years old, six feet high, of spare build, no whiskers, dark hair, had on light pants and vest, black sack coat and dark hat.  It is feared by his friends that he has been the victim of foul play.  Any information concerning him will be gladly received at 282 Second street.  From the Memphis Daily Appeal Sept 12 1867.

I don't know who Mr. Harris/Harriss was or if he was ever found but according to an Administrator's Notice that appeared in the Public Ledger on Nov 25, 1867, the firm of Gilbert, Harris & Co. was dissolved by mutual consent on September 16, four days after Mr. Harris went missing.

 

The executor of Benjamin Gilbert's estate was J. M. Gilbert Jr.  I'm assuming that to be his brother Jonathan Moore Gilbert Jr.  

Many of the Gilbert's can be found at Gilbert Cemetery in Weakley County.

Dresden Enterprise Apr 24 1896 - The Illustrated Edition Part 21 "The Hon. Seid Waddell"

This is the twenty-first 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, 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.

Hon. Seid Waddell

It is about a foregone conclusion that the above named gentleman will succeed Col. W.P. Caldwell as our next state senator, the latter gentleman having expressed himself as not wanting to be returned. Besides this, it has been customary to let the counties alternate in joint representatives and Obion county is therefore entitled this year to the nomination, which, with so good a man as Mr. Waddell, means a big Democratic majority in November.  Mr. Waddell, who is one of the leading members of the Union City bar, was the representative last year from Obion county, and as such took front rank among the working members.  He is a Democrat, true and tried, and has never been found sulking when needed by his party, and THE ENTERPRISE knows of no one whom it would prefer to see represent us in the state senate than Mr. Waddell.  Mr. Waddell is a man of exceptionally pure private character, and can be relied on always to take a positive stand in favor of moral or political reforms.  While this is true, he is conservative in his views, without being weak, and ever has proper regard for the opinions of people who may not agree with him.  He is very popular in his home county, and will bring out a fine vote there should he be the nominee.  We commend him to the Democrats of Weakley county as a man of sterling worth, both in private and public capacity, and bespeak for him their careful consideration.

The following information comes from the The History of Obion County Tennessee published by Goodspeed in 1887:

Seid Waddell, attorney at law, was born in Somerville, Tenn.,, May 2 1849, son of John C. and Elizabeth D. (Bugg) Waddell, and is of Scotch-Irish descent.  John C. Waddell was born in Carroll County, Tenn., about 1819, and died in Union city in 1884. The mother was also a Tennessean, and died in Arkansas.  Seid Waddell began the study of law in 1873, and in January, 1874 entered the senior class of Lebanon University and graduated the same year.  he came almost immediately to Union City, and here has since continued to reside and practice law, being a co-partner of Hon. Rice A. Pierce.  Mr. Waddell was one of the organizers of the Bank of Union City in 1879, and was made president of the same in 1884, and as such now continues.  He is a Democrat, and in 1885 was elected mayor of Union city by the city council, and re-elected in 1886 by the people.  In 1877 his marriage with Miss Eva P. Waddell was celebrated.  She was born in Hardeman County, Tenn., in 1856, and is the mother of three children:  Lizzie D., and Belle M. and Birdie M., (Twins).  Mr. Waddell owns a fine farm of 200 acres, on which he raises Holstein and Jersey cattle.  He is a K.of P., and he and Mrs Waddell are members of the Swedenborgian or New Church.

He served as Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee from 1899-1901.  He served as Speaker of the House, again from 1899-1901.   He was also one of the attorneys representing the West Tennessee Land Company during the Reelfoot Night Riders Trial.

The death certificate lists the following information:  His parents were John Calvin Waddell and Elizabeth Dickens.  The informant was E.P. Waddell.  His occupation was Banker and Lawyer at the Old National Bank.  Cause of death was Organiz Heart Lesion and mitral stenosis.  He, his wife and several of his children are buried at East View Cemetery in Union City.

His father, Dr. John Calvin Waddell, was the inventor of Waddell's Broadcast Seed Sower.

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.