1930 Census, Knox County, Tennessee

Mollie I. Cole age 56 was the daughter of my second great grandparents William Cole and Vesta Clay England.  As such, she was the sister of my great grandmother Sallie Jane Cole who married Alva Edward Peters.  Family members still living who remember Mollie refer to her as Aunt Mollie.  Joseph E. Fraley age 59 was Mollie's second husband, and they were married about 1926.

The census enumerator first wrote Mollie as head of household with Joseph second, and then crossed through the names and reversed them.  Unfortunately, the enumerator did not correct everything.  It was Joseph E. Fraley and his parents who were all born in North Carolina.  Mollie I. Cole and her parents were all born in Tennessee.  Elmer Peters was Mollie's son, and he and his parents were all born in Tennessee.  The other mistakes made by the enumerator caused Elmer's mother's place of birth to be listed incorrectly as NC.  Finally, it was Mollie rather than Joseph who owned $6000 of real estate.  The enumerator got this one wrong all around.

William Elmer (Elmer) Peters age 34 was the son of Mollie I. Cole and her first husband Robert A. Peters.  Robert was the brother of Alva Edward Peters.  So Mollie's children with Robert A. Peters, including Elmer Peters, were double first cousins of my grandfather Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters.

Arthur Oscar Livingston age 15 married Anne Maude (Annie) Johnston on 14 Aug 1946 in Fort Oglethorpe, Catoosa County, Georgia.  Annie was the daughter of Ernest Madison Johnston and Febry Ellen Bray.  Febry was the daughter of Robert Henry (Henry) Bray and Maude Elizabeth Hinds, and the granddaughter of my second great grandparents Joseph A (Joe) Bray and Ferriba Salina (Salina) Moore.  As such, Febry was the niece of my great grandmother Mary Mahala Jane (Mahala or Haley) Bray.

Arthur was born Arthur Oscar England, son of Jessie Harrison England and Anna Belle Livingston age 31.  Jessie and Anna were married on 17 Jan 1915 in Knox County.  They were divorced, and both Anna and her son Arthur subsequently used the Livingston surname.  Anna married Robert S. Fielden age 35 on 25 Dec 1920 in Knox County.  Jessie Harrison England does not appear to have been a member of my England family.

Cleo Bryan Underwood age 21 was the daughter of John Amos (Amos) Underwood and Clauda Lee Bryan.

Amos Underwood was the son of Rufus White Underwood and Sarah A. Pollard, and the grandson of John (Monkey John) Underwood and Ellen Henry.  Monkey John was the brother of my third great grandfather William Ramey Underwood.

Clauda Lee Bryan was the daughter of Joshua C. Bryan and Lucinda Adaline (Addie) Mynatt.  Joshua was the brother of my second great grandfather William Allen (Will) Bryan.  Will's wife Malissa E. Underwood was the daughter of the aforementioned William Ramey Underwood.

Burl J. Kyte age 18 was the son of James A. Kyte age 53 and Emma Mary Wilson age 52.

Burl and Cleo were married on 12 Oct 1929 in Knox County.

Burl's birthplace of Oregon looks a little strange, but I believe it is correct.  The Kyte family was enumerated in the 1910 census in Oregon, shortly before Burl was born.

Mack Alger Carman age 7 later married Trula Rebecca McCampbell.  Trula was the daughter of Walter Bryan McCampbell and Ollie C. Free.

Walter Bryan McCampbell was the son of Horace Parrott McCampbell and Minerva Amanda (Mandy) Bryan.  Mandy was the sister of my second great grandfather William Allen (Will) Bryan.

Ollie C. Free was the daughter of Joseph Haskel (Haskel) Free and Rebecca Slaton.  Rebecca was the niece of my second great grandmother Susan A. Slaton.

William Francis (Frank) Kyle age 28 married Willie Josephine (Bill) Bryan in 1933.  Aunt Bill was also working in the knitting mill, and it seems likely that Uncle Frank and Aunt Bill met at work.  Aunt Bill was the sister of my grandfather Emmert Oral Bryan.

Charles Milton (Mitt) Bryan age 40 was the son of my second great grandparents William Allen (Will) Bryan and Malissa E. Underwood.  As such, Uncle Mitt was the brother of my great grandfather William Harley (Harley) Bryan.

Uncle Mitt's wife was Faye Louise (Louise) Coy age 25.  Their first daughter was Barbra Lou Bryan, rather than Barbara.

John Harvey Cline (Cline) Cox Sr. age 27 was the son of William Nelson Cox and Mary Ella (Ella) Cline.  William Nelson Cox was the son of my second great grandparents John Tivis Cox and Nancy Ann Pierce.  As such, he was the brother of my great grandfather George Jackson Cox.  So Cline Cox Sr. was the first cousin of my grandmother Ruby Priscilla Cox.

Daisy B. Miller age 26 was the daughter of John Miller and Margaret Moore.

Pauline (Polly) Bryan age 28 was the daughter of George Steward (Steward) Bryan and Mattie Rymer.  As such, Pauline was the niece of my second great grandfather William Allen (Will) Bryan.

I have a bit of inconsistent data associated with this couple.  For example, I have their marriage listed as 7 Jun 1937.  I'm confident that this is the correct couple.  Perhaps their marriage date was really 7 Jun 1929, or even 7 Jun 1927.  Also, Brooke was born in 1900 and Pauline was born in 1898, so their ages are off a little more than is usual for census ages.

Ruby Childress age 27 was the widow of John Henry Peters.  They were married shortly after the 1920 census, and he died in 1927.  So there was no census in which they appeared together as husband and wife.

John Henry Peters was the son of James Harvey Peters and Sarah Ellen (Sallie) Messamore.  As a Peters, John was the second cousin of my great grandfather Alva Edward Peters.  As a Messamore, John was the third cousin of my grandmother Lola Ethel Williamson.

There seems little doubt that the names of Ruby's landlords were reversed, so that the husband was T. A. Watson and the wife was Amanda Watson.

Nell Emma Underwood age 22 was the daughter of Alexander Andrew (Alex) Underwood and Ollie Frances (Frances) Bryan.

Ollie Frances (Frances) Bryan was the daughter of John Greenwood/Greenberry Bryan and Sarah Elizabeth (Sally) McMahan.  As such, Frances was the niece of my second great grandfather William Allen (Will) Bryan.

Alexander Andrew (Alex) Underwood was the son of Enoch Pleasant (Pless) Underwood and Susan M. Pollard.  As such, Alex was the nephew of my second great grandmother Malissa E. Underwood.

Will Bryan and Malissa Underwood were husband and wife, so Alex Underwood and Frances Bryan were respectively the nephew and niece of my second great grandmother and my second great grandfather.

Nell's first husband was William Ladd age 27.  Nell and William had no children.

Hiram Aubra (Jake) Taylor age 8 married Thelma Jean (Jean) Wells about 1948.  Jean was the daughter of William Hancher (Bill) Wells and Anna P (Ann or Annie) Burton, and the granddaughter of Phillip Hancher Wells and Ida Rhoda Cole.  Aunt Ida was the daughter of my second great grandparents William Cole and Vesta Clay (Vestie) England.  As such, Aunt Ida was the sister of my great grandmother Sallie Jane Cole and Bill Wells was the first cousin of my grandfather Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr.

Jake was the son of Hiram Taylor who died in 1927 and Hattie V. Branson age 44.  Ira Mae Taylor age 23 and Garfield Proffitt age 35 were married on 13 May 1928 in Knox County.

Charles Lafayette Logan age 54 married Mary Amanda Bryan on 23 Dec 1930 in Knox County, Tennessee.  Mary was the daughter of Thomas Allen (Allen) Bryan and Ida Bell Cate.

Thomas Allen (Allen) Bryan was the son of William Enyard Bryan and Mary Jane Drinnen.  William Enyard Bryan was the son of my fourth great grandparents Thomas C. Bryan Sr. and Nancy Cate.  As such, William Enyard Bryan was the brother of my third great grandfather Peter Hubbard Bryan.

Ida Bell Cate was the daughter of Elisha Porter (Porter) Cate Jr. and Mary Jane Drinnen.  Porter Cate's ancestry is a little complicated because he actually had two Cate lines and I'm related to both of those lines.  Porter's father was Elisha Cate Sr., his paternal grandparents were John Cate Jr. and Mary Ann Koontz, and his paternal great grandparents were John Cate Sr. and Mary who also were my fifth great grandparents.  Porter's mother was Mary Elizabeth Newman and his maternal grandparents were Joseph Newman and Caty Cate.  Caty's parents were my fifth great grandparents William P. Cate and Mary Enyard.

Charles Logan's first wife was Alice Belle Chitwood, and they were married in 1898.  Alice died sometime between 1920 and 1930, and I have not yet determined exactly when and where she died.  Ruby Logan age 20 was Alice's daughter.

Audrey Tindell age 35 later married William Elmer (Elmer) Peters.  Elmer was the son of Robert Asbury Peters and Mollie Caroline Cole.  As such, Elmer was the double first cousin of my grandfather Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr.

Audrey was the daughter of William Lafayette (Lafayette) Tindell and Cordelia Weaver.

Presley George (Press) Harrison age 40 was the son of my second great grandparents Joseph Harrison and Susan A. Slaton.  As such, he was the brother of my great grandmother Nancy Virginia (Nannie) Harrison.

Uncle Press's wife was Ruth Morie age 33.

Uncle Press's name is one of the strongest clues I have for the parents of my third great grandmother Rebecca Frances George who married my third great grandfather Thomas Fielden Slaton.  Uncle Press's parents were my second great grandparents Joseph Harrison and Susan A. Slaton, and Rebecca Frances George was Uncle Press's maternal grandmother.  Joseph Harrison and Susan A. Slaton seem to have named all their children after their ancestors.  For example, one of Uncle Press's brothers was named Thomas Slaton Harrison, clearly having been named after Thomas Fielden Slaton.  The conclusion is that Presley George (Press) Harrison was most likely named for Presley George, and that Presley George was most likely the father of Rebecca Frances George.

William Luther (Luther) Messamore was the son of William T. Messamore and Catherine J. Lacy.  Luther was the great grandson of James Messamore and Sarah (Sary) Heath.  James Messamore was the brother of my third great grandmother Anna F. Messamore.

Luther was enumerated as a boarder with the Swaggerty family in both the 1910 and the 1930 censuses.  In the 1920 census, he was living with his wife and daughter in Fulton County, Georgia.  In 1930, his census entry should have listed him as divorced rather than as single.

Charles W. (Charlie) Black age 15 later married Clara Kathleen (Kathleen) Cox.  Kathleen was the daughter of Robert Elmer (Elmer) Cox and Lydia (Ethel) Bryan.

George E. Black was Charlie's father.  I do not know what happened to his mother between the 1920 census and the 1930 census.  Her name was Jessie Campbell Dew.

Ethel Bryan was the sister of my grandfather Emmert Oral Bryan.  Elmer Cox was the nephew of my great grandfather George Jackson Cox.

William Daily (Will) Peters age 63 was the son of my second great grandparents John Henry Peters and Hulda Asberine Cross.  As such, he was the brother of my great grandfather Alva Edward Peters.  Cordelia A. (Delia) Weaver age 59 was the daughter of George Weaver and Malinda Hunter.

Mabel Bray age 25 was the daughter of George Samuel Bray and Lucille (Lou) McDaniel.  As such, Mabel was the niece of my great grandmother Mary Mahala Jane (Mahala or Haley) Bray.

William F. (Willie) Davis age 28 was the son of George L. Davis and Susan L. (Susie).

William H. (Bill) Wells age 35 was the son of Phillip Hancher Wells and Ida Rhoda Cole, and the grandson of my second great grandparents William Cole and Vesta Clay (Vestie) England.  As such, Bill was the nephew of my great grandmother Sallie Jane Cole and the first cousin of my grandfather Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr.

Anna P. (Ann) Burton age 32 was the daughter of William Burton and Sarah (also known as Sallie).  I have not found a marriage record for William Burton and Sarah or any other record that would indicate Sarah's surname.

George Samuel Bray age 56 was the son my second great grandparents Joseph A. (Joe) Bray and Ferriba Salina (Salina) Moore.  As such, George was the brother of my great grandmother Mary Mahala Jane (Mahala or Haley) Bray.

Lucille (Lou) McDaniel age 53 was the daughter of Alfred F. McDaniel and Elizabeth Loudy.  Lou and George were married on 17 Apr 1896 in Loudon County.

Delsie Capitola (Cap) Bray age 16 was the daughter of Lou and George, and John Hubert Clotfelter age 20 was Cap's husband.  Cap and John were evidently married about 1929, but I have not yet located their courthouse marriage record.

Robert Joseph (Joseph) Bray age 15 was not enumerated with the family in the 1920 census when he would have been 5 years old.  I believe he might have been adopted, or possibly was simply being raised by George and Lou.  I do not know who Robert Joseph's birth parents were.

Cecil Burgess Lovelace age 34 was the son of George W. Lovelace and Mary Jane (Molly) Crass.  Cecil's grandmother was Louise Elizabeth England.  Louise was the first cousin of my second great grandmother Vesta Clay (Vestie) England.

Cecil's wife was Ollie M. Hamblen age 26.

George Spoon age 29 married Cliffie A. Williamson on 30 Aug 1930 in Loudon County.  Cliffie was the daughter of James Alexander Williamson and Margaret Adeline Duggan, and the granddaughter of my second great grandparents Alexander L (Alex) Williamson and Margaret Ann (Maggie) England.  As such, James was the brother of my great grandfather John William Williamson and Cliffie was the first cousin of my grandmother Lola Ethel Williamson.

George was the son of Joseph B. (Joe) Spoon age 62 and Eveline (Eva) Thornhill age 58.  We might speculate on how George met Cliffie Williamson with her living in Loudon County and him living in Knox County.  I would only note that the Spoon family was enumerated in the 1920 census in Loudon County.

Beulah Mynatt age 38 was the daughter of Frederick Alonzo (Fred) Mynatt and Martha Cordelia (Delia) Bryan.  Delia was the daughter of my third great grandparents Peter H. Bryan and Mary Ann (Polly Ann) Cate.  As such, Delia was the sister of my second great grandfather William Allen (Will) Bryan.

Martha Cordelia (Delia) Bryan age 74 was the daughter of my third great grandparents Peter H. Bryan and Mary Ann (Polly Ann) Cate.  As such, Delia was the sister of my second great grandfather William Allen Bryan.

Delia married Frederick Alonzo (Fred) Mynatt on 23 Oct 1873 in Sevier County.   Fred died on 3 Jan 1930, about three months before the 1930 census.  In the 1930 census, Delia was living with her son P. Lee Mynatt age 41 and her grandson Carroll Bryan Mynatt age 21.

I believe that Delia's daughter Addie J. Mynatt age 45 was married about 1902 to an unknown spouse.  However, she was listed as single and with the Mynatt surname in the 1910, 1920, and 1930 censuses.  Perhaps my information that she was married in 1902 is not correct.

Some of the places of birth in this census entry are incorrect.  It's not possible, for example, for P. Lee Mynatt to be listed as TN TN TN and for his sister Addie to be listed as TN KY KY.  Both of them should have been listed as TN TN TN.  Also, Delia herself definitely should have been listed as TN TN TN.

Hubert Edward Wolback age 1 11/12 married Barbra Lou Bryan, daughter of Charles Milton (Mitt) Bryan and Faye Louise (Louise) Coy.  It's not totally clear from available records if the correct spelling of Hubert's surname is Wolback or Wolbach.

Uncle Mitt was the son of my second great grandparents William Allen (Will) Bryan and Melissa E. Underwood.  As such, Uncle Mitt was the brother of my great grandfather William Harley (Harley) Bryan.

Louis Charles (Louie) Truan Jr. age 10 married my father's sister Lena Maude Bryan.  Uncle Louie was known both as Louie Truan and as Junior Truan.

William D. Truan was known as "Dee".  I do not know if Dee was his actual middle name, or if Dee was a nickname.

The immigrant ancestor was Uncle Louie's grandfather James\Jacque David (David) Truan.  The 1900 census says that David Truan was naturalized in 1849 and that he had been living in the United States for 51 years.  Also, David Truan's birth tongue was French.  So he must have been born in the French speaking part of Switzerland rather than the German speaking part.

The census enumerator abbreviated Tazewell Pike as Tazel Pike.  I believe that the dairy farm where the family was living in 1930 was the same farm where Uncle Louie lived for many years and raised his own family.  I knew the farm extremely well.  The farm has since been made into a subdivision, but the farm house itself is still there and occupied, although it is no longer in the hands of the Truan family.

Mattie was known almost universally as Granny Truan, even by non-family members.

Lela Bray age 20 was the daughter of Robert Henry (Henry) Bray and Maude Elizabeth Hinds.  Uncle Henry was the son of my second great grandparents Joseph A (Joe) Bray and Ferriba Salina (Salina) Moore.  As such, Uncle Henry was the brother of my great grandmother Mary Mahala Jane (Mahala or Haley) Bray, and Lela Bray was the first cousin of my grandmother Lola Ethel Williamson.

Lela married Omer Jenkins on 22 Oct 1927 in Loudon County.  The Beverly Sanatorium was a tuberculosis hospital.  It was still a tuberculosis hospital when I was a kid, and I remember it being called the East Tennessee Tuberculosis Hospital.  Lela was one of dozens if not hundreds of people who were enumerated in the hospital in 1930, and I didn't transcribe the rest of them.  Omer Jenkins was enumerated in Hamblen County in 1930.

John C. Messamore Sr. age 49 was the son of George D. Messamore and Drucilla Ellen (Ellen) Conner, and the grandson of James Messamore and Sarah (Sary) Heath.  James Messamore was the brother of my third great grandmother Anna F. Messamore.

I do not yet know Maud's surname.  Alberta's full name was Vonnie Alberta (Alberta or Bertie) Messamore.

Alta Melzena (Attie) Peters age 41 was the daughter of James Harvey Peters and Sarah Ellen (Sallie) Messamore.  James Harvey Peters was the son of William F. Peters and Susannah Yarnell.  William was the son of my fourth great grandparents Thomas Peters and Sarah (Sallie) England.  As such, William was the brother of two of my third great grandparents - Zipporah Peters and Jane (Jenny) Peters.

Allyn Peters was the daughter of John Henry (Johnnie) Peters and Ruby Childress.  Johnnie Peters had died in 1927, which is no doubt the reason why Allyn was living with her Aunt Attie.  Allyn was also enumerated in the 1930 census in the home of her grandfather James Harvey Peters.  I am by no means certain of the spelling of Allyn's name.  In the listing with her grandfather, her name was spelled Annalyn.

Sada P. Kitchen age 20 married Samuel Lee Peters after 1930.  That's about all I know about the Kitchen family.  Samuel Lee Peters was the son of Samuel Tobias (Sam) Peters, and the grandson of Tobias Peters Jr.

(Note: Sarah's birthplaces were all spelled out as "Northern Ireland", but I abbreviated in them in transcription to keep them from walking off the right side of the screen.)

Howard Eugene Adams age 5 married Anne Maud Johnston on 14 Dec 1942 in New Jersey.  Anne was the daughter of Ernest Madison Johnston and Febry Ellen Bray, and the granddaughter of Robert Henry (Henry) Bray and Maude Elizabeth Hinds.  Uncle Henry was the son of my second great grandparents Joseph A (Joe) Bray and Ferriba Salina (Salina) Moore.  As such, Uncle Henry was the brother of my great grandmother Mary Mahala Jane (Mahala or Haley) Bray.

Howard was the son of Charles H. Adams age 33 and Lucy H. Dockery age 33.  Charles and Lucy were married on 20 Dec 1919 in Knox County.  Howard's maternal grandmother was Sarah A. Rankin age 67.  At the time of the 1930 census, Sarah was the widow of Millard B. Dockery.

Helen Lamar Warwick age 7 married my mother's brother Ernest Lester (Bud) Peters Jr. on 30 Jun 1948.  Uncle Bud was the son of my grandparents Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr. and Lola Ethel Williamson.

Aunt Helen's parents were Trece Conley Warwick age 33 and Reva Jane Grubb age 33.

Ella Mae Peters age 27 was the daughter of my great grandparents Alva Edward Peters and Sallie Jane Cole.  As such, Aunt Ella was the brother of my grandfather Ernest Lester Peters Sr..

Aunt Ella's first husband was Bayard Earl Yadon age 34 who died in 1933.  Uncle Bayard's name is pronounced as "Baird". He was the son of David Jasper Yadon and Mary Elizabeth McDonald.

The Yadon family was enumerated twice in the 1930 census.

Lynn Nathaniel Blackburn age 18 married Dorothy Gladys (Dot) Cox on 1 May 1944.  Dot was the daughter of John Anderson Franklin Cox and Mary Jane Slaton.

John Anderson Franklin Cox was the son of my great grandparents George Jackson Cox and Clarissa Loretta (Rett) Nichols.  As such, John Anderson Franklin Cox was the brother of my grandmother Ruby Priscilla Cox, and Dot was my father's first cousin.  Also, Mary Jane Slaton was the daughter of Francis Marion (Frank) Slaton and Mary Anne Moore.  As such, Mary Jane was the niece of my second great grandmother Susan A. Slaton.

Lynn was the son of Louis William Blackburn age 42 and Lona Popejoy.  Lona had died before the 1930 census.

Elza Cordelia (Elzie) Peters age 28 was the daughter of my great grandparents Alva Edward Peters and Sallie Jane Cole.  As such, Aunt Elzie was the sister of my grandfather Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr.  William Birchell (Birchell) Peters age 30 was known to me as Uncle Birchell.  He was Aunt Elzie's brother, and also my grandfather's brother.

Samuel Mabry (Sam) Letsinger age 30 was the son of William Johnson Letsinger and Elizabeth Frances (Fannie) Meade.  A year or two after this census was taken, Uncle Sam and Aunt Elzie moved back out to Anderson County where they had been born and raised.  The idea was that despite the Great Depression, by living on a farm they would at least be able to grow food for their family.  Their farm in Anderson County was adjacent to the farm of my grandfather Lester Peters.  Lester and Sam each had one mule.  When a job on either farm was too big for one mule, they would hitch the two mules together.

Nancy Virginia (Nannie) Harrison age 54 was my great grandmother.  She was married at the age of 22, and was widowed when my great grandfather William Harley (Harley) Bryan died in 1915.  Nannie Harrison was the daughter of Joseph Harrison and Susan A. Slaton.  This census entry correctly identifies that Joseph Harrison was born in Virginia and that Susan A. Slaton was born in North Carolina.

The two daughters still living at home in 1930 were Edna Omage Bryan age 22 and Willie Josephine (Bill) Bryan age 19.  I always thought it was strange to have an Aunt Bill.

Jacob William (Jake) Harrison age 24 was the son of John David Harrison and Lillie May Moore.  Notwithstanding the fact that he was listed as a boarder, he was the nephew of Nannie Harrison.  Ester H. Moore age 26 was the son of John Robert (J. Robert) Moore and Harriet S. (Hattie) Harrison.  Notwithstanding the fact that he was listed as a boarder, he was the nephew of Nannie Harrison.  Jake Harrison and Ester Moore were double first cousins, being cousins both as Moores and as Harrisons.

Thomas Richard (Richard) Carr age 8/12 later married Elizabeth Melzina Bryan.  Elizabeth was the daughter of George Lee Bryan Sr. and Minnie Ruth (Ruth) Morie.  George Lee Bryan Sr. was the son of Silas Amberson Bryan and Amanda Melzina (Mandy) Slaton.

Uncle Silas was the son of my second great grandparents William Allen (Will) Bryan and Malissa E. Underwood.  As such, Uncle Silas was the brother of my great grandfather William Harley (Harley) Bryan.  Aunt Mandy was the daughter of Francis Marion (Frank) Slaton and Mary Anne Moore, and the granddaughter of my third great grandparents Thomas Fielden Slaton and Rebecca Frances George.  As such, Aunt Mandy was the niece of my second great grandmother Susan A. Slaton and the first cousin of my great grandmother Nancy Virginia (Nannie) Harrison who married William Harley (Harley) Bryan.

Emmert Oral Bryan age 31 was my grandfather.  Ella Kate (Kate) Nottingham age 30 was his second wife, and they were married in 1927.  My grandmother, Ruby Priscilla Cox, died in 1925.  The three children were Ruby's children, and Ruby was born in Tennessee.  Kate Nottingham was indeed born in Virginia, but the enumerator made in error in recording the birth place of the children's mother as Virginia.

The children were William Jackson (Jack) Bryan age 8, Lena Maude Bryan age 6, and Robert Elmer (Bob) Bryan age 4 8/12.

George W. Cross age 71 was the son of John E. Cross and Nancy A. Letsinger.  John E. Cross was the nephew of my third great grandfather Alfred Carter Cross.

Victor Dale Sherrod age 9 married Wilma Fern (Fern) Cox on 15 Jun 1947.

Fern was the daughter of John Anderson Franklin Cox and Mary Jane Slaton.  Uncle John Cox was the son of my great grandparents George Jackson Cox and Clarissa Loretta (Retta or Rett) Nichols.  As such, Uncle John was the brother of my grandmother Ruby Priscilla Cox.  Aunt Mary was the daughter of Francis Marion (Frank)Slaton and Mary Anne Moore, and the granddaughter of my third great grandparents Thomas Fielden (Tom) Slaton and Rebecca Frances George.  As such, Aunt Mary was the niece of my second great grandmother Susan A. Slaton.

Victor Dale Sherrod was the son of Tobias Cumberland Sherrod age 52 and Willie Belle Tyson age 41.  Tobias was the son of James Madison Sherrod and Sarah Jane Cate, and the grandson of Madison Cate and Martha A. Underwood.  Madison Cate was the son of my fourth great grandparents Joshua Cate and Elizabeth (Betsy)Wilhite/Wilhoit.  As such, Madison was the brother of my third great grandmother Mary Ann (Polly Ann) Cate.  Martha A. Underwood was the daughter of George Underwood and Elizabeth Kymes, and the granddaughter of fifth great grandparents John Underwood and Mary Kirby.  As such, Martha was the niece of my fourth great grandmother Nancy Underwood.

The somewhat strange looking ages of first marriages for Tobias and Willie are correct.  They arise because Tobias married first Emily Castillo and Willie was his second wife.

Lavator Ben Roberts age 53 was the son of Thomas S. Roberts and H. Elizabeth Bryan.  Elizabeth was the daughter of my third great grandparents Peter H. Bryan and Mary Ann (Polly Ann) Cate.  As such, Lavator Ben Roberts was the nephew of my second great grandfather William Allen (Will) Bryan.

Bettie A. Emmert age 14 married William Raymond (Bill) Underwood on 2 May 1936 in Jefferson County.  Bill Underwood was the son of John Amos (Amos) Underwood Clauda Lee Bryan.

Amos Underwood was the son of Rufus White Underwood and Sarah A. Pollard, and the grandson of John (Monkey John) Underwood and Ellen Henry.  Monkey John Underwood was the brother of my third great grandfather William Ramey Underwood.

Clauda Lee Bryan was the daughter of Joshua C Bryan and Lucinda Adaline (Addie) Mynatt.  Joshua Bryan was the brother of my second great grandfather William Allen (Will) Bryan.

Bettie Emmert was the daughter of Charles P. (Charlie) Emmert age 51 and Mollie Mulvaney age 45.

Glen Williams age 6 married Nelrose Bray on 24 Dec 1946 in Knox County.  Nelrose was the daughter of Robert Henry (Henry) Bray and Ola M. (Ollie) Lewis, and the granddaughter of my second great grandparents Joseph A. (Joe) Bray and Ferriba Salina (Salina) Moore.  As such, Uncle Henry was the brother of my great grandmother Mary Mahala Jane (Mahala or Haley) Bray, and Nelrose was the first cousin of my grandmother Lola Ethel Williamson.

Glen was the son of Henry Clay Williams age 38 and Anna (Annie) Pratt age 32.

A Lillian (Leona) Griffey who was born on 10 Oct 1925 in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee married Wilburn Hal (Hal) Cate.  I believe that this Lillian F. Griffey age 4 5/12 was the one who married Hal Cate.

Wilburn Hal (Hal) Cate was the son of Peter Walker Cate and Lena Vesta (Vestie) Bryan.  Aunt Vestie was the daughter of my second great grandparents William Allen (Will) Bryan and Melissa E. Underwood, and the sister of my great grandfather William Harley (Harley) Bryan.  Also, Peter Walker Cate was the third great grandson of my fifth great grandparents John Cate Sr. and Mary.

Dale E. Carter age 11/12 later married Mary Lee Kyte.  Mary was the daughter of Burl J. Kyte and Cleo Bryan Underwood, and the granddaughter of John Amos (Amos) Underwood and Clauda Lee Bryan.

Amos Underwood was the son of Rufus White Underwood and Sarah A. Pollard, and the grandson of John (Monkey John) Underwood and Ellen Henry.  Monkey John Underwood was the brother of my third great grandfather William Ramey Underwood.

Clauda Lee Bryan was the daughter of Joshua C. Bryan and Lucinda Adaline (Addie) Mynatt.  Joshua was the brother of my second great grandfather William Allen (Will) Bryan.

Dale Carter was the son of Frederick (Fred) Carter age 30 and Katie Karnes age 25.

Drucilla Ellen (Ellen) Conner age 78 was the daughter of James V. Conner and Hetty Karns.  In 1930, Ellen was the widow of George D. Messamore.  George was the son of James Messamore and Sarah (Sary) Heath.  As such, George was the nephew of my third great grandmother Anna F. Messamore.

Cassie E. Messamore was the daughter of the aforementioned George D. Messamore and Drucilla Ellen (Ellen) Conner.  In 1930, Cassie was the widow of Fred L. Pelleaux.

Samuel Jasper (Jasper) Messamore was the son of George D. Messamore and Drucilla Ellen Conner.  As such, Jasper was the grandson of James Messamore Sarah (Sary) Heath.  James was the brother of my third great grandmother Anna F. Messamore.

Jasper's wife was Bertha A. Aultum.

Seldon Wallace Clabough age 14 married Wilma Mae Wells on 11 Oct 1939 in Knox County.  Wilma was the daughter of William Hancher (Bill) Wells and Anna P (Ann or Annie) Burton, and the granddaughter of Phillip Hancher Wells and Ida Rhoda Cole.  Aunt Ida was the daughter of my second great grandparents William Cole and Vesta Clay (Vestie) England.  As such, Aunt Ida was the sister of my great grandmother Sallie Jane Cole, and Bill Wells was the first cousin of my grandfather Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr.

Seldon was the son of Mitchell McCown (Mitch) Clabough age 58 and Vinia Roena Loveday age 37.

Ruth Elizabeth Hall age 10 was the daughter of Austin Moore Hall and Dossie Cordelia Tindall.  Ruth later married Thomas Robert Elmer (Elmer) Lane.  Elmer was the son of Lester (Buck) Lane and Janette Hazel (Nettie) Peters.  Nettie was the double first cousin of my grandfather Ernest Lester Peters.

I don't recognize the name Valley Road.  The house is located on what is now called Cunningham Road in the Halls Crossroads community (usually just called Halls these days).  The Halls Crossroads community was named for this Hall family.

Mary Katherine (Kay) Wade age 2/12 later married Marion Clyde (Clyde) Letsinger.  Clyde is the son of Samuel Mabry (Sam) Letsinger and Elza Cordelia (Elzie) Peters.  Aunt Elzie was the sister of my grandfather Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr.

Kay is the daughter of Clarence Edward Wade Sr. and Katherine Millet.

Samuel M. Prosise was the son of Benjamin Franklin (Frank) Prosise and Jemima Jane (Jane) Peters.  Jane was the daughter of William F. Peters and Susannah Yarnell.  William was the brother of two of my third great grandmothers -- Jane Peters who married John England and Zipporah Peters who married Alfred Carter Cross.

Lela Mae Williamson age 18 was the daughter of my great grandparents John W. Williamson and Mary Mahala Jane (Haley) Bray.  As such, she was the sister of my grandmother Lola Ethel Williamson.  Aunt Lela married James Allen (Allen) Underwood age 23.

It turns out that Uncle Allen was a distant relative.  Four Underwood brothers moved from Rowan County, North Carolina to East Tennessee.  They were William Underwood, John Underwood, Thomas Underwood, and George Underwood.  I am descended from both John and Thomas.  Uncle Allen was descended from George.  Uncle Allen was my fourth cousin three times removed.

Uncle Allen was the son of James Harvey Underwood and Sarah Catherine Hickman.  Mary Snider was Mary Hickman, sister of Sarah Catherine Hickman.

Joseph Daniel Bray age 61 was the son of John H. Bray and Margaret Messamore.  John H. Bray was the son of my third great grandparents Edward Payne Bray and Anna F. Messamore.  As such, John was the brother of my second great grandfather Joseph A. (Joe) Bray.  Margaret Messamore was the daughter of James Messamore and Sarah (Sary) Heath.  As such, Margaret was the niece of Anna F. Messamore.

Joseph's second wife was Julia K. Manning age 51.

Ida Rhoda Cole age 60 was the daughter of my second great grandparents William Cole and Vesta Clay England.  As such, she was the sister of my great grandmother Sallie Jane Cole who married Alva Edward Peters.  Aunt Ida had a twin sister named Cordie.

Phillip Hancher Wells age 70 was the son of Jesse Jackson Wells and Susan Magdalene Johnson.  Phillip married first Sarah J. Minge.  After Sarah died in 1889, Phillip married Aunt Ida on 21 Sep 1890 in Knox County.  Ernest Clifton Wells age 26 and Ruth I. Wells age 18 were Phillip's two youngest children with Ida.

Ward 23, Dist. 8, Knoxville City, Knox County, Tennessee, 10 Apr 1930
p.12a, 1155 Morris Ave., HN 220, FN 223
Peters  Earnest L.       35 head  m m@22 w  foreman stove foundry  rents $16/month  TN TN TN
        Lola E.          29 wife  f m@16 w                                          TN TN TN
        Eva L.           12 dau   f s w                                             TN TN TN
        Beatrice R.       7 dau   f s w                                             TN TN TN
        Earnest R.   2 8/12 son   m s w                                             TN TN TN

Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr. age 35 and Lola Ethel Williamson age 29 were my maternal grandparents.  Eva Lucille (Lucille) Peters was the daughter of Lester Peters and his first wife Amy Etta Buckner.  Amy Buckner died in a flu epidemic in 1920.  The other two children were Beatrice Ruth (Ruth) Peters and Ernest Lester (Bud or Ernest) Peters Jr.  Uncle Bud died in 1983.

There is an error in the ages of the first marriages.  Lester was first married at age 21, although he was almost 22 as the census suggests.  So that's not really a full blown error.  However, Lester was 26 when he married Lola, and Lola was 21.  The census enumerator seems to have determined that Lester was six years older than Lola.  The enumerator then seems to have taken Lester's age of 22 at first marriage and assumed that Lola was Lester's first wife.  Finally, the enumerator seems to have calculated that Lola was first married at age 16.

Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr. was the son of my great grandparents Alva Edward Peters and Sallie Jane Cole.

Lola Ethel Williamson was the daughter of my great grandparents John W. Williamson and Mary Mahala Jane (Mahala or Haley) Bray.

Mary Mahala Jane (Mahala or Haley) Bray age 53 was my great grandmother, always referred to by people still living who remember her as Nother Mama.  In the 1930 census, she was the widow of my great grandfather John William Williamson who had died in 1927.  He died in Lenoir City, so Nother Mama moved to Knoxville to be closer to the rest of her family.  Nother Mama was the mother of my grandmother Lola Ethel Williamson from HN 220.

Nora Lee Williamson age 24 was my grandmother's sister.  Aunt Nora never married.  Willie Ragin (Bill) Williamson age 21 was my grandmother's brother.  Uncle Bill didn't like his name, so he changed it to William Raymond.  He married Elma Florine (Ene or Florine) Monger age 21 on 27 Jul 1929 in Danville, Virginia.  Florine was the daughter of James Hand Monger and Bertie Hinds.

I don't know who Elsie Messamore age 5 was.  But she was probably a member of my Messamore family.

Carl Edward (Eddie) Wallace age 33 was the son of Alex Wallace and Adda Jane (Addie) England.  Addie was the daughter of James William (William or Wilburn or Bill) England and Fannie Lea.

Bill England was the son of my third great grandparents John England and Jane (Jenny) Peters.  As such, Bill was the brother of my second great grandmother Vesta Clay England.

Adda Jane (Addie) England age 26 was the daughter of James William (William or Wilburn or Bill) England and Fannie Lea.

Bill England was the son of my third great grandparents John England and Jane (Jenny) Peters.  As such, Bill was the brother of my second great grandmother Vesta Clay England.

Samuel B. (Sam) Messamore age 42 was the son of Stephen E. Messamore and Elmira J. (Ella) Yarnell.  As such, Samuel was the great grandson of James Messamore and Sarah (Sary) Heath.  James was the brother of my third great grandmother Anna F. Messamore.

William Houston (Houston) Jones age 56 was the son of Margaret Jones and Mr. Howard.  Margaret Jones married James William (William or Wilburn or Bill) England, and Bill England was the stepfather of Houston Jones.  However, in the 1880 census Houston Jones was enumerated with his grandparents, living next door to his mother and stepfather rather than actually living with them.

Bill England was the son of my third great grandparents John England and Jane (Jenny) Peters.  As such, Bill England was the brother of my second great grandmother Vesta Clay England.

Houston Jones's second wife was Mary Louise (Louise) Hall age 39.  Leonard Jones age 26 was the son of Houston Jones and his first wife Nancy Ann Howard.

Mildred Alene Faulkner age 11 later married Samuel Dexter (Jack or Dexter) Letsinger.  Dexter was the son of Samuel Mabrey (Sam) Letsinger and Elza Cordelia (Elzie) Peters.  As such, Dexter was the nephew of my grandfather Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr.

Mildred was the daughter of Walter Faulkner Sr. and Clara, but I do not know Clara's maiden name.

Elizabeth Watson age 4 7/12 later married Hal Denton Underwood.  Hal was the son of John Amos (Amos) Underwood and Lola Helen Bryan.

Amos Underwood was the son of Rufus White Underwood and Sarah A. Pollard, the grandson of John (Monkey John) Underwood and Ellen Henry, and the great grandson of my fourth great grandparents Enoch Underwood and Nancy Underwood (first cousins who married).

Lola Helen Bryan was the daughter of my second great grandparents William Allen (Will) Bryan and Malissa E. Underwood.  As such, Lola was the sister of my great grandfather William Harley (Harley) Bryan.

Elizabeth Watson was the daughter of Gardner William Watson age 48 and Bettie Davis age 46.

Ella Mae Peters age 27 was the daughter of my great grandparents Alva Edward Peters and Sallie Jane Cole.  As such, Aunt Ella was the brother of my grandfather Ernest Lester Peters Sr.  Aunt Ella's first husband was Bayard Earl Yadon who died in 1933.  I have heard the family pronounce Bayard's name as "Baird".

The family was counted twice in the 1930 census.

Thomas Clyde (Clyde) Cole age 20 later married Ella Mae Peters.  Aunt Ella was the sister of my grandfather Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr.  At the time of the 1930 census, Aunt Ella was living six houses away from Uncle Clyde, and she was married to her first husband Bayard Earl Yadon.  Uncle Bayard died in 1933, and Uncle Clyde and Aunt Ella were married in 1936.

Uncle Clyde was the son of Sampson David Cole age 63 and Nancy Isabella Crawford age 52.

Martha Bell Webb was the daughter of William Thomas Webb and Eliza Harriet Cunningham.

Nettie Wilma (Wilma) Tindell age 10 was the first wife of my uncle William Jackson (Jack) Bryan.  Uncle Jack was my father's brother.

Wilma was the daughter of Samuel Frank (Frank) Tindell age 38 and Nettie age 36.

Mary Aileen Murphy age 1 married my uncle Howard Raymond Peters, and I knew her as Aunt Mary.  Uncle Howard was my mother's brother.  Sometimes Aunt Mary was known as "Mary Howard" to distinguish her from the other Aunt Mary Peters in the family.  The other Aunt Mary Peters was Mary Hudson who married Robert Earl (Bob) Peters.  Just as Mary Murphy Peters was sometimes known as "Mary Howard", Mary Hudson Peters was sometimes known as "Mary Bob".

Aunt Mary's parents were James Carl (Carl) Murphy age 23 and Rose Hampton age 23.  Carl Murphy died fairly young.  My mother's parents were Lola Ethel Williamson and Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr.  After my grandmother died, my grandfather Lester Peters married Rose Hampton.

I do not remember Carl Murphy, but I do remember Carl's father Ira Murphy age 52.  There were a couple of summers where I mowed his yard.  He was very old and very stooped at that time.

Albert Edgar Harrell Jr. age 1 married Thelma Joyce (Joyce) Yadon on 4 Jul 1950.  He was known as "A. E.", and the census enumerator incorrectly listed his name as J. E.

Joyce was the daughter of Ella Mae Peters and Bayard Earl Yadon.  Aunt Ella was the sister of my maternal grandfather Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr.

A. E. was the son of Albert Edgar (Edgar) Harrell Sr. age 21 and Reba Hamilton age 22.

Taylor B. Tadlock age 47 and Rhoda Hill Koontz age 33 were the parents of Bobby Lynn (Bob) Tadlock who married my mother's sister Helen Lorieta (Lorieta) Peters. Bob was born after the 1930 census.

Mr. and Mrs. Tadlock attended my church, and Mr. Tadlock was always the one who walked down to the church first thing on Sunday morning, unlocked the church, and rang the church bell.  His death occurred when he was hit by a car while walking to the church.  Mrs. Tadlock was one of the best friends of my grandmother Lola Ethel Williamson who married my grandfather Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr.  Mrs. Tadlock was born and raised in Lenoir City, just like my grandmother was, and they were friends from early childhood until old age.

Addie Bray age 25 was the daughter of Robert Henry (Henry) Bray and Ola Maud (Maud) Hines.  Uncle Henry was the son of my second great grandparents Joseph A. (Joe) Bray and Ferriba Salina (Salina) Moore.  As such, Uncle Henry was the brother of my great grandmother Mary Mahala Jane (Mahala or Haley) Bray.

Addie married F. Howard Miller age 28 on 15 Apr 1922 in Knox County.

Fred Messamore age 39 was the son of William T. Messamore and Catherine J. Lacey.  William was the son of James Messamore (Jr.) and Susannah/Susan Ann (Annie) Altum, and the grandson of James Messamore (Sr.) and Sarah (Sary) Heath.  The elder James Messamore was the brother of my third great grandmother Anna F. Messamore.

Mary E. Yarnell age 27 was the daughter of Samuel V. Yarnell and Sarah L. E. France.  Fred and Mary were married on 25 Dec 1913 in Anderson County.

James Fred (Fred) Messamore age 15 was listed simply as James in the 1920 census.

My paternal grandparents were Emmert Oral Bryan and Ruby Priscilla Cox.  Lydia Ethel (Ethel) Bryan age 28 was Emmert's sister.  Robert Elmer (Elmer) Cox age 29 was Ruby's first cousin.  However, Ethel and Elmer themselves were not related.

Ethel and Elmer Cox raised my father for several years because Ruby died shortly after my father was born.  Emmert gave my father to his sister Ethel to raise because she was the only one he could trust to return my father in case he called for him back.  As I was growing up, I treated the Coxes as a third set of grandparents.

By the time of the 1930 census, my father was no longer living with the Coxes because Emmert had remarried and had indeed called back for my father.

Lydia Ethel (Ethel) Cox was the daughter of my great grandparents William Harley (Harley) Bryan and Nancy Virginia (Nannie) Harrison.  Robert Elmer (Elmer) Cox was the son of James Harmon Cox and Ola Maud Cline, and the grandson of my second great grandparents John Tivis Cox and Nancy Ann Pierce.

William Rufus (Rufus) Bryan age 26 was the son of Thomas Allen (Allen) Bryan and Ida Bell Cate.  Thomas Allen (Allen) Bryan was the son of William Enyard Bryan and Amanda Keener.  As such, Allen Bryan was the nephew of my third great grandfather Peter H. Bryan.  Ida Bell Cate was the second great granddaughter of my fifth great grandparents John Cate Sr. and Mary (Ida Bell's direct paternal line).  Ida Bell was also descended from my fifth great grandparents William P. Cate and Mary Enyard.

Rufus Bryan's wife was Ethel May Lowrey.

Neva R. Cox was the daughter of James Harmon Cox and Ola Maud Cline.  As such, Neva was the niece of my great grandfather George Jackson Cox.

Thomas P. Bray age 100 was the son of Joshua J. Bray and Anne M. (Annie) Hall.  As such, Thomas was the grandson of my fourth great grandparents John Bray and Jane, and the nephew of my third great grandfather Edward Payne Bray.

The birth dates for Thomas vary all over the place, all the way from about 1828 to about 1840.  I believe he was born in 1835, and therefore that he was really 95 years old in 1930 rather than 100 years old.  He was born in Kentucky, but his parents were born in Tennessee rather than in Ireland.  Also, I believe the family immigrated originally from England rather than from Ireland.

Samuel (Sam) Bray age 45 was the son of the aforementioned Thomas P. Bray and Thomas's third wife Anna (Annie) Crowder.  I do not know the surname of Sam's wife Florence age 36.

Alvis Granville (Granville) Hatcher age 19 later married Laura Bray.  Laura was the daughter of Robert Henry (Henry) Bray and Ola M. Lewis.  Uncle Henry was the brother of my great grandmother Mary Mahala Jane (Mahala or Haley) Bray.  So Laura Bray was the first cousin of my grandmother Lola Ethel Williamson.

Granville Hatcher was the son of Albert Walton Hatcher and Harriet Malinda McCroskey.