1911 "Smoker" for James H Moran

"SMOKER."

On the evening of Nov. 21st (Tuesday) the young men of Newbern entertained Mr. James H. Moran and his out of town friends with a "Smoker."  Covers were laid for nineteen and a most delightful menu was served by Mrs. Delle JONES.  Mr. L.G. NORVELL acted as Toast Master and acquitted himself with much credit.  The following responded to "toasts"; James H. MORAN, Harry JONES and Mr. THOMASON of Dresden, John M. DRANE, Prof. BRIGHT, J.H. GENTRY, F.E. SCOTT, B.F. GRISHAM and Wm. A. SHIBLEY.

A Dyersburg Orchestra furnished the music.  After a four course dinner had been served, all present accepted an invitation to the dance which was in progress at the Opera House.

Among others present at the "Smoker" were Mr. James MORAN, Harry JONES, Harold (sic) MORAN, Mr. THOMASON, J.V. THOMAS, Q. SHUMATE, L.G. NORVELL, N.B. GENTRY, J.H. GENTRY, B.F. GRISHAM, Jno. M. DRANE, T.A. JONES, Kirby MOORE, H. Parks TIGRETT, W.S. RIDENS, Prof. N.H. BRIGHT, F.E. Scott, Wm. A. SHIBLEY and Dr. MAYO.

Newspaper clipping, unknown source.

What is a "smoker" I wondered.  After dissecting the clipping I decided that it had to be something similar to a bachelor party or a "roast" and the HyperDictionary confirmed it for me. James H Moran III and Virginia Shumate were married November 22 1911 in Newbern, Tennessee.  The Smoker was held the evening before and was given in honor of the bridegroom, Jim Moran, by "the young men of Newbern" which just happened to be where the wedding was taking place and where his bride Virginia, lived, with her Uncle Quincy Shumate's family.  Many of the attendee's at the Smoker are also mentioned in the wedding announcement which can be found here. 

I wonder what time everyone made it to sleep that night since they also went on to dance at the Opera House after the Smoker.  It's a good thing the wedding didn't begin until 7pm the following evening!

Dresden Men in the News, July 1879

If the state debt is compromised and the property taxed to pay the interest who will it fall upon--the owners of taxable property.  We have seen and conversed with quite a number of this class of men--for instance, A.M. BOYD, G.R. BRASFIELD, B.D. IRVINE, G.W. MARTIN, M.P. MARTIN, Alfred GARDNER and J.W. MORAN--worth in the aggregate about $600,000 and owning about 30,000 acres of land.  These men are all warm supporters of the compromise measure, and if such men, who pay largely of the taxes, are willing to vote this tax upon themselves, ought not the poor man who will not pay one dollar of the taxes (for the poll tax goes to the school fund) vote for the compromise?  Can you find ten men in the county worth as much as the seven above named who will vote against the compromise?  We think not.

--Dresden Our Country

Posted in The Milan Exchange July 17 1879, page 1.

Unknown Woman by McFadden Studio, Paducah KY

Another unknown woman from Moran Place.  She was immortalized by the McFadden Studio in Paducah Kentucky.  Taken in the early 1900's.

William G. McFadden was a photographer and an artist who worked in oil.  He was born Sept 14 1869 in Shelbyville, KY to William McFadden and Elizabeth Grub.  His wife was named Hattie, maiden name unknown    He died in Paducah at his home on November 6, 1941 and was interred at Oak Grove Cemetery in Paducah.

Obituary-Paducah Sun-Democrat 

November 6 1941

W.G. McFadden, Photographer for 52 years, Dies

Moved to Paducah at age of 7; was once School Board Member.

W.G. MdFadden, 72, Paducah photographer, died at 5 a.m. today at his home, 1413 South Third Street.

Mr. McFadden was born in Shelbyville, KY, September 14 1869, and moved with his family to Paducah when he was about seven years old.  He went into photographic work when he was about 20 years old with the old Hunt Photography studio on the second floor of a building on the northwest corner of Fourth and Broadway.

After obtaining experience Mr. McFadden went to Louisville where he worked for about three years.  He returned here and took over the Hunt studio.  He moved into the Oehlschlaeger building at Sixth and Broadway more than 15 years ago where he has been ever since.  Besides being a photographer, he was also an oil painter.

He was a member of the Theosophlet Church and the and the Paducah Theosophical Society.  At one time he was a member of the Paducah board of education. 

He is survived by his wido, Mrs. Hattie McFadden; two brothers, Dan McFadden, Paducah and Ed McFadden, Lebanon, Mo., a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Lone, Philadelphia, Penn.

Funeral arrangements have not been completed.