Perhaps it is OK to call Middle Tennessee "Hillbilly Country" for the sake of tourism, but the people whom I have met while visiting in the area could not be more removed from "Hillbillies." From the motel maids to the town mayors, all have been well spoken and gentile. So far I have not met anyone who met the stereotype of a Hillbilly. For those of you who are doing research electronically, etc., please do not make the mistake of believing that the people of this area are the uneducated backwoodsmen so often portrayed on the screen as Hillbillies. I am very proud that one/half of my roots are from Middle Tennessee. There may be a hillbilly there somewhere, but I think we must have buried him long, long ago! LOL! Missy [looking for Bates, Taylor, Wood, Curry and Conover (SP?)] Email - [email protected]

Researching: #1 generation William Finch b 1781 SC d Decatur, TN (1850-1860?) m Mary G."Polly" Roberts b 1792 SC (father Evan Roberts) they had 15 children all born Decatur and Perry CO, TN. #2 generation One dgt. Elizabeth Finch b 1829 d Lamar CO,TX m Samuel Jacob Condor. Her 2nd husband John Tudor. #3 generation Mary A. Condor b 1848 Decatur CO,TN d 1920 Lamar CO, TX m Thomas Jackson. Thank you, Melba TX

Dear Linda, I didn't study TN but I lived there for a year and as a former teacher I am curious about these things too. I think it is a geographic thing. The TN river runs across the state but does not divid it. The 3 geographic regions are, the mountains, the hilly country, and the flat land that leads to the Mississippi. I know that a lot of the tourist brochures are divided along this way. NC is divided too, the flat ocean shore, the piedmont or rolling foothill, and the Smokey Mtns. Betty

What is the complete name of the Decatur Co. Cemetery Book? Who is the author? Is it still in print? Thank you. Linda Fuller Long, Yorba Linda, CA

I want to thank all of you who emailed answers to my questions about the 3 grand divisions of Tennessee (West, Middle, East). It was interesting to learn that the 3 grand divisions are only recognized as West, Middle, and East depending upon who is the current Governor. To the person who asked his friend or family member who is a TN history teacher to email me, would thank him for me. I believe he emailed his answers, too, but didn't identify himself as a history teacher. Thanks again. Linda Fuller Long, Yorba Linda, CA (but formerly from West TN)

I hope someone can answer a few questions for me. CURRENTLY, is it the Tennessee River that divides the state into the 3 grand divisions? Then, is Decatur County considered to be in West TN? When was TN shown on a map as divided into 3 grand divisions? Is it an official designation? I just know someone is either a historian or a teacher on this list and will have the answer. I took TN history in junior high, but that's been a while back. Thank you. Linda

If you recognize the below family, would email me directly. Thank you. Linda Fuller Long, Yorba Linda, CA [email protected] 13. Samuel M.[3] Houston (Jefferson Perry, 3). Born, circa 1851. He married Latta C. (Kate) Crowder, daughter of James Alsup (Jim) Crowder and Serena Effie Rains, 20 Jun 1872, in Decatur Co., TN. Born, 1856. Died, 1889. Burial in Bunches Chapel, Decatur Co., TN. Children: 55 i. Eliza[4] Houston. 56 ii. Viola Estelle Houston. iii. Emery L. Houston. Born, 7 Apr 1885. Died, 9 Oct 1885. Burial in Bunches Chapel, Decatur Co., TN. iv. James P. Houston. Born, 1888. Burial in Parsons Cem., Decatur Co., TN. Census: 1910, in Decatur Co., TN. He married Lillie Dunkle, 2 May 1914, in Henderson Co., TN. In 1910 he was in the household of Charlie F. Abston and listed as brother-in-law. v. Walker Houston. He married Pink Wallace. vi. Jewel Houston. Born, 1889. Died, 1966. She married William Hurst Jennings, son of William Perry Jennings and Rebecca Ann (Beckie) Quinn. License, 20 Jul 1906, in Decatur Co., TN. vii. Maggie Houston. She married Richard Snyder.

If you have any information on the below GRAVES family, would you please email me directly. Of particular interest is the son Roscoe Hugo Graves, who married Kathleen Dunkle. Roscoe is the last child listed. The below information comes from the website address w ww.gravesfa.org/gen547.htm I decided to leave the numbers to the side of each name as is. This may be from the main page of the Graves Family Association? Thank you, Linda Fuller Long, Yorba Linda, CA [email protected] CHILDREN OF ARCHIBALD D. GRAVES (10) AND SAPHRONA C. ------ James Madison ("Pete") Graves (41) was born 6 June 1853 in TN. He first married Nancy Malesa Roberts. She was born 4 June 1856. All their children were born in Decatur Co., TN. He secondly married Arbell ------. (R-3, R-5) Children - Graves 61. Molly Q. Graves, b. 23 July 1874, m. George Mange Haynes. 62. James Maurice Graves, b. 9 Feb. 1877, m. Ruthette Emaline Wood. +63. James Franklin Graves, b. 14 Sept. 1879, m. Mary Belle Miller, 16 Sept. 1897, d. 1918. +64. William Ebb Graves, b. 4 Feb. 1882, m. Liza A. Norden, d. 1922. +65. Emma Aselee Graves, b. 1 March 1884, m. John Richard Young. 66. Jerrusha ("Rushie") Gertrude Graves, b. 19 Sept. 1886, m. Poly Gibson. 67. Benjamin Harrison ("Ben") Graves, b. 4 March 1889, m. Ida Mae Still. 68. Roscoe Hugo Graves, b. 5 March 1898, m. Kathleen Dunkle, d. 1947. He was bur. in Mt. Tabor Cem., Decatur Co., TN.

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I am looking for the names of the children of Allen Jordan Dowdy III and wife Martha Nemigle Berry. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you. Marietta

Is anyone researching James Madison GRAVES who married Nancy DUNKLE 1853? Children: Roscoe William (called Ebb) James Franklin Emma Rushie Maris Ben Mollie I am particulary interested in information on son Roscoe GRAVES. Who did he marry? Above information comes from the Decatur County TN 1846-1996 book done by Historical Society. I don't have this book, someone gave me these names. Above names could be on page 78 of the book. My notes from telephone conversation are disorganized. I appreciate any help. Thank you. Linda Fuller Long, Yorba Linda, CA

If Clyde E. Gotcher and Roxie Wallace are still on this mail list, would you please email me directly? I would like to discuss your emails posted to this list in March 1999 about Clarkie Ann Williams Britt (Mar 1878) who married Savage Britt in Henderson County, both buried in Palestine Cemetery, outside of Lexington, Henderson County, TN. I aplogize to this list about this posting on Henderson County, but since these 2 people originally emailed to the Decatur mail list, I thought I should post here first. Thank you. Linda Fuller Long Email: [email protected]

Does anyone have information on William HAY or his wife Martha ENGLAND? See below. Thank you. Linda, Yorba Linda, CA >From Online Texas Handbook: HAY, SAMUEL ROSS (1865-1944). Samuel Ross Hay, Methodist bishop, the son of William and Martha (England) Hay, was born on October 15, 1865, in Decatur County, Tennessee. He moved to Texas about 1881. He attended Centenary College, Southwestern University, and Southern College, Lakeland, Florida, and was licensed to preach in the Methodist Churchqv in 1886. In 1887 he joined the North Texas Conference, where he held numerous pastorates, and in 1900 was transferred to the Texas Conference to become pastor of Shearn Church, Houston. On August 21 he married Margaret Gulick in Corsicana; they had three children. At various times Hay served as presiding elder of the Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Amarillo districts, and in 1906-07 he was pastor of Centenary Church in St. Louis. On May 16, 1922, he was elected bishop and placed in charge of all Methodist missionary work in China. From 1924 to 1934 he presided as bishop over areas including Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Alabama, Florida, and the Pacific coast. He helped organize the Methodist Church in Mexico and was president of the Board of Missions in 1932. He was a member of several general and international conferences on Methodism before he retired from active service in 1938. He died in Houston on February 4, 1944. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Emory A. Bailey, Who's Who in Texas (Dallas: John B. McCraw Press, 1931). Isabella Margaret Elizabeth Blandin, History of Shearn Church, 1837-1907 (Houston: Dealy, 1908). Houston Post, February 5, 1944.

Thanks everyone for telling me what C.S.A. means. Guess you can tell I haven't researched the Cilvil War. Linda, Yorba Linda, CA

Does anyone know if Kittie DENNISON McMillan is related to the Dennison/Denison family of Henderson County TN or to any of Dennison/Denison family that moved to Texas? The Dennison/Denison group that migrated to Texas were connected to Teague of Henderson Co. Kittie DENNISON was the wife of Dr. John Gilbert McMillan. She was the daughter of C.P. and Mrs. N.J. Dennison. Dr. John Gilbert McMillan was the eldest son of John and Mary HAY McMillan. Thank you. Linda, Yorba Linda, CA

Can anyone tell me what C.S.A means? It is written at the end of John McMillan's name throughout the book "John W. McMillan and His Descendants" by Dennis Charles McMillan. Thank you. Linda, Yorba Linda, CA

Does anyone have photograph(s) of John McMillan and his wife Mary A. HAY? John McMillan was deputy sheriff in 1848. In 1852, he was elected as the 2nd Sheriff of Decatur Co. He was known as "Capt. Jack." John McMillan was the son of Gilbert W. McMillan and Eleanor Nichols. John married Mary A. HAY, the 1st of nine children of Methodist Minister, Reverend Thomas Hay. John and Mary married 30 March 1851 in Decaturville. Mary A. HAY was born 24 Jan 1833 in Decatur County. They had 4 children. John died 1 Oct 1899, Mary died 6 Oct 1883. Both buried in Decaturville Cemetery. The source of the above information is "John W. McMillan and His Descendants" by Dennis Charles McMillan. I am trying to go in the backdoor to get information on my ancestor Reverend Thomas Hay of Ireland. Finding the book by Dennis McMillan at the LDS Family History Library in Orange, CA, is my biggest breakthrough on Reverend Hay. Thank you, I appreciate all help. Linda, Yorba Linda, CA

My grandmother, WILLIE LEE HOUSTON, and her first husband, JOHN MCKENDREE LEDBETTER, were married in 1907 Perry co. Both were photographers . If anyone has any information on the photographers of the early 1900's in Perry co, or any family photographs that may have been taken by them, please email me. This could also include the Dickson and Wallace family of Perry-Decatur co. Dolores

Hello, Here are my notes on census records for Reverend Thomas Hay, a methodist minister from Ireland who settled in the Decatur County area. I am hoping that someone out there might have some information to share on him. Also, I know that there is at least one other researching on this list (hi Linda!) who is interested in him. He seems like he was prolific enough, perhaps someone on the list is a descendant. Also, I would love to know if anyone has seen any newspaper or other resource references to this Rev. Thomas Hay. Thank you, Amy ***************************** 1830 Census, Henderson County, TN page 78 HAY, Thomas 1 male 20-29 1 female under 5 1 female 20-29 ***************************** 1840 Census, Perry Co. TN Thomas Hay 2 1 0 0 0 1 - 1 1 1 0 1 ************************** 1850 Census, Decatur Co. TN, District 7 page ?, dwelling72, family 72 HAY, Thomas 48 M Methodist Minister $600 Ireland Sarah 30 F Tennessee Mary A. 16 F TN William 14 M TN Huldah 12 F TN Thomas 10 M TN Elizabeth 8 F TN Isaac 7 M TN Jane 5 F TN George W. 3 M TN Emily 1 F TN ******************* 1860 Census no information ********************** 1870 Census, Decatur Co. TN District 1 page 12, dwelling 82, family 82 HAY, Thomas 68 M W Farmer $1000 $1000 Ireland, North Amanda 44 F W Keeping House TN George W. 21 M W Farm Laborer TN Emely 20 F W 2 At home TN Martha 18 F W At Home TN Henry 16 M W At home TN Ellen 14 F W At home TN Cordelie 11 F W At home TN Margaret C. 6 F W At home TN ********** 1880 Census, Decatur Co. TN District 1 page ?, dwelling 305, family 369 HAY, Thomas W M 78 Farmer & M. G. Ireland Ireland Ireland Mary D. W F 51 wife, Keeping house TN NC NC George W. W M 31 son, works on farm, deformed? TN Ireland Ireland Emily W F 30 daughter, at home TN Ireland Ireland Cordelia W F 20 daughter, at home TN Ireland Ireland ********** Decatur County, Tennessee HISTORY AND FAMILIES 1846 - 1996. "Capt. John McMillan married Mary A. Hay in 1851 - four children: Leora, John Gilbert, William Isaac and Ella Mary. His father-in-law was the Rev. Thomas Hay, a Methodist minister and well respected merchant in Decatur County." _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

I just posted a request for a lookup in the 1860 Decatur County census for R. J. Goodman. Sorry but put the wrong page, should be R. J. Goodman, District 7, page 051. Thank you again, Betty Kokal