Annie L. Lewis, Oct 1882, Knoxville, Tennessee

Annie L. Lewis
Oct 1882

The subject of this picture is Annie L. Lewis.  It was taken in October, 1882.  We know this because she was very thoughtful and wrote not only her name on the back of the picture but the city, Knoxville, TN and the month and year, Oct. 1882.  In addition she noted the photograph was "for Sweet Sophie".   The Sophie she is talking about is Sophia Riley Gunn Moran, the wife of John Williamson Moran.  

  

I don't know if Annie was a distant relative of Sophia's or if she was just one of her many friends.  Census records indicate that there was an Annie Laurie Lewis who was born in 1863 in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Her parents were Joseph Flavius John Lewis and Laura Mitchell.  Annie died December 6, 1948 in Knoxville.

Ladies Club, Dresden TN, ca. 1890's

Socializing with friends and family was an important part of Victorian life.  One form of socializing was the club.  Clubs were formed around things such as books, music and philanthropy.  People with common interests came together to talk about and share information as well as to see and be seen.  Clubs and churches were good places to find like minded people and sometimes even life partners.

Here is a group photo of one of the local ladies clubs in Dresden Tennessee.  Most likely it was taken sometime in the mid-late 1890's.  I haven't been able to make out the name of the club even though it is written on the back of the photo, along with the names of the people in the photograph.  Ida Moran is listed as a member and many of the other names that are listed were her relatives or later they became her relatives through marriages such as Mrs. George Jeter, Mrs. James Irvine and Miss Mary Gray Little.

I've done some research and have included the maiden names and other information of the women listed if available. The names in red are relatives of the Morans, either blood or by marriage.

"??" Club

Mrs George Jeter (Maud Little)- President

Miss Lula Jeter (Maud's sister-in-law)- Vice

Mrs. Joseph E. Jones (Ella Hill) - Her husband wrote an article for the Dresden Enterprise on the death of John Williamson Moran, they were nextdoor neighbors

Mrs. Shobe Smith (Mattie D. Wooldridge)

Mrs. Frank Hall

Mrs James Irvine (Marie Rogers)

Mrs R.E. Maiden 

Miss Nannie Drewry

Mrs Ida Basta (SP?)

Mrs. L.E. Holliday

Mrs Lula Woods (Lula Reavis married a Woods. After he died she married Thomas M. Little who was the brother of Maud and Mary Gray Little)

Mrs R.T. Lewis

Miss Mary Gray Little 

Mrs Charles Ferguson (Sophia A. Irvine)

Ida Moran

My Dear Brother Charlie...Apr, 1897

This letter was written in April, 1897, by 13 year old Marion Moran to her brother Charles Harrell Moran who was away in Nashville.  I can imagine her sense of loneliness at being in the huge Victorian that the Moran's called home.  J.W. Moran had it built for his wife Sophia but she died in 1895 before the house was completed.  Marion mentions the "old house" which was on the same lot and was being moved.  Fannie had gone to Union City and Teatot (Ida) was in Jackson TN.  Quite possibly, Jimmie, the eldest Moran child, was away at college in Virginia.  So the young Marion was left at home with her 57 year old father and a few servants.  

Dresden, Tenn

April 29, 1897

My Dear Brother Charlie,

Sister went to Union city this morning and to night I am here alone, no one here but Papa.  I am very lone-some, so lone-some that I thought I would write to you, although you never answer my letters.  Mr. Webb is going to put a water closet in the down-stairs bath-room to-morrow. Sister will come back to-morrow morning.  I don't

remember if I ever told you that little Jessie Gibbs has been sick for a long time.  Mr Gibbs is up but not well by a long means.  Shelah Paschal has a cycle and Annie Neal has ordered one, but I do not want one, but I do want a pretty little cart and harness.  Mr. Esman has commenced to move the old house.  I have planted me a little garden, and the things in it will soon be ready to eat. In a day or to I will have radishes to eat and I can say "These came out of my garden."  Mrs. McCutchen's son has been about to dye die but is getting better, so the paper said today. Give my love to Teatot when you see her, and keep some your self.  I will tell you good night.  I am your little "Sis"  

Envelope

Marion Moran