Helen, Following is a little bit on Emmersons. David JAMES L. SMITH FAMILY (his 2nd marriage) After death of husband, Eli, Margaret (Hawk) Emerson, mother of Mary E. Polk, married widower James L. Smith, County Clerk, Hardin Co, TN, whose name appears on settlement papers of Eli, who died intestate. By first wife, he had 5 children: James M., William J., Daniel N., Pleasant M., and Sarah C. (Smith) Young, widow of Issac Young. In will, but not on the 1850 census is James M. Smith. Initial "M" appears on third page of will but we have not found the initial "M" otherwise. The will, in Will Book 2, page 37 was written 9 November 1859, probated at Savannah, Tennessee on 4 August 1862, Book "C". Executors named: P.M. Smith, William Hawk and John H. Smith, eldest child of his father's 2nd marriage. In her letter to daughter Mary E. Polk, Margaret Smith tells of the death of Mary's half-brother John "b. Mar. 6, 1841, enlisted in Confederate forces, was shot and killed by two Union soldiers, one a neighbor also named John Smith, on Jan. 17, 1864." When the will was probated, it was stated "It appears that John Smith is not within the State of Tennessee," and another executor, David H. Merriman, was named to replace him. In her letter, Margaret referred to one of the executors, her brother, William Hawk, when she said "William Hawk is a strong Union man." Mary Emerson, age 15, is on the 1850 census of the Smith household; also, on the census is Redding W. Reynolds, age 20, laborer. Pleasant Smith's wife, Nancy, is mentioned in the letter as being in poor health. In Deed Book "J", page 410, Pleasant and wife Nancy, together with Redding W. Reynolds, conveyed Indian Creek property on December 28, 1853 to William Goldberry for $500.00. In his will, James L. Smith requested Daniel N. Smith to take and care for his sister, Sarah C. Young and son, James, until James reached 23 years of age. On the same p. 37, Hardin County Will Book "C" appears request of Pleasant M. Smith to be appointed administrator of the estate of brother-in-law Isaac Young who d. intestate. Bond of $3,000 was given with W.J. Smith and D.N. Smith as securities. Appointment granted. Pleasant M. Smith: His 2nd marriage was to Mrs. S.I.A.T. Harris on May 12, 1868. On Jan. 19, 1869 he married Mary A. Milana. On the 1870 census (3rd C.D.) Pleasant's age is given as 41 and that of Sarah, housekeeper, as 19. Children of Pleasant by first wife, Nancy: (1870 census age) James, 1854; John W., 1857; William H., 1859. Middle initial for son George appears to be "M" on 1850 and 1860 census sheets. On some deed entries it is "W" - George W. Smith and wife Clare, Book "S", page 200. Daughter Margaret is known by middle name, "Tennie". We do not know to which of the Mark Hardin families her husband George belongs but assume it is as in the 1850 census: (2nd C.D. - Hardin County, Tennessee): page either 56 or 516: Mark Hardin, 36; Mailinda, 36; Arthur M., 13; Martin G., 12; Henry H., 8; Thomas J., 7; George W., 5; William M., 1. Tennie married George Hardin in Jan. 1866. She was born 1849 ca. Margaret Smith, in her letter of Mar. 1866, said that Tennie and her husband George Hardin were living with her. The 1870 census shows Alice, 18 and Andrew, 15, living with Margaret; and "Lenelk" Hardin, age 20 and Cornelia Hardin, age 3, with her; but no George. We know that George Hardin died for Tennie's name appears with husband Solomon Brewer in 1878. The use of Lenelk as a given name on the 1870 census is puzzling. Tenn. Archives: Hardin Co., Minute Bk. "C", page 234, 3 Sept. 1838: "Eli Emerson is dead... having made no will... Application made by Terrance Emerson and John Hawk (brother- in-law) to have letters of administration granted." Page 237, October 1, 1838. Above admin. file inventory report of yearly allowance to widow. Margaret's brothers were William Hawk "a strong Union man" and John R. Hawk, listed as a physician, living in household of William Hawk, 1870 census of Hardin Co. A photocopy from Swinn's reference quoting Willliam Harrison Polk's "Polk Family & Kinsmen" 1912 ed. pg. 350, gives the one bit of news we have of Mary Emerson's brother, J.D. Emerson listed in the family Bible as such, b. Mar. 18, 1833. (Margaret Smith inquired in her letter to Mary and husband, William Harvey Polk Arkansas, 1866, if they had any word of "Duncan" whom someone had thought might be dead. In the Randolph Co., Ark. census, 1860, Josiah D. Emison, age 27, b. in Tn., is shown in household of William H. and Mary E. Polk. Also, in the household is Margaret Alice, age 5, b. in Tn., and "Perby Isophene," age 2, b. in Arkansas. The photocopy, copied by W.D. Polk 5/27/80 in Nashville, tells of a Captain Chas. K. Polk of Iron Co., MO who met William Harvey & Mary, and also Mary Emerson Polk's widowed sister-in-law, Rhoda Whitlow Emerson, who had one child, Corelia. Captain Polk was of 3rd Mo. Calvary - Gen. Marmaduke's Brigade- and ordered to Ark. Nov. 1, 1863. He married Rhoda in July, 1864. He and Rhoda had two children: Christina Lee b. 5-6-1866 and John William b. 2-10-1868. Rhoda died Dec. 14, 1868 (?). This Captain Charles Polk's grandfather, William Wesley Polk (pg. 349) came from Georgia and settled in Madison Co., Mo...... There is so much more in the report about his parentage and his descendants in Missouri. Capt. James K. Polk was a great-grandson of William Polk IV. The research on the branch of the Polk family was completed by Mr. Emory Murphy in 1982. Husband: James L. Smith Birth: 1806 ca. Death: 7 May 1862 Place: Hardin Co., TN Other Wives: Margaret (Hawk) Emerson b. 1813, d. after 1870 CHILDREN 1. James M. Smith 2. William J. Smith - b. 1830 3. Daniel N. Smith - b. 1832 4. Pleasant M. Smith - b. 1829, m. (1) Nancy (2) Mrs. SIAT. Harris 5-12-1868 (3) Mary A. Milana 1-18-1869 5. Sarah C. Young - b. 1837 (widow of Isaac) CHILDREN (by Margaret Emerson Smith) 1. John H. Smith - b. Mar. 6, 1841, d. Jan. 1864 in Civ. War 2. George W. Smith - b. 1843, m. Clara L. 3. Isabel J. Smith - b. 1847, m. David Robertson* Jan. 1866 4. Margaret Tennessee Smith - b. 1849, m. (1) Geo. Hardin., Jan. 1866, (2) Solomon Brewer 5. Alice Smith "Babe" - b. 1854, m. John B. Jerroll 6. Andrew J. Smith - b. 1856, m. Manila A. * Robertson or Robinson on Turkey Creek Husband: Eli Emerson Birth: 8 Nov. 1810 Death: 13 Sept. 1838 (Ltrs. of Adm. Granted) Place: Hardin Count, Tennessee Wife: Margaret Hawk - bro. Dr. John Hawk b. ca. 1813 and William Hawk b. ca. 1809 Birth: 28 June 1813 Other Husbands: (2) James L. Smith, County Clerk, Hardin County, TN (b. ca. 1809) CHILDREN 1. Josiah Duncan Emerson - b. 18 Mar. 1833, TN, m. Rhoda Whitlow - 1864 Randolph Co., Ark. 2. Mary Emerson - b. 25 Sept. 1834, TN (?), m. (1) William Harvey Polk 23 Mar. 1854, Hardin County, TN (2) James M. Stephens, 1872 Arkansas d. 4 Aug. 1892, Hett Cem., Clay Co., Ark. 3. Fredony Jane Emerson - b. 23 Nov. 1836, TN (Copy of letter written to Mary Emerson Polk - Mrs. William Harvey Polk - by her mother, Margaret Smith, widow of James L. Smith, whose first husband was Eli Emerson) Hardin County, Tenn March 12, 1866 Dear Son and Daughter: Wanting to hear from you so bad and I will try to send you a letter informing you how we are all getting along. The connection all well so far as I know, except Nancy, Pleasant's wife. She is in very bad health. Sarah Reynolds died last summer with consumption. Myself and family are all in tolerable good health a present, hoping you the same blessing. Times are tolerable peaceful here now, as much so could be expected. George is not staying at home much now. He is fearful he cannot stay with safety. William Hawk and family are well. He has been a strong Union man all the time. I heard lately from your uncle, John Hawk. He and family are well. He has been all right through the war. My husband died May 7, 1862. He had made a will and willed me four negroes and plenty of stock to carry on my farm and answer my purposes tolerable well. I have three children living with me now, Andrew, my baby, and Alice, my youngest daughter, and Tennessee and her husband are living with me. Tennessee married George Hardin in Jan., last and living in about 5 miles of me, son of William and Matilda Robinson on Turkey Creek who send you their compliments. Your brother John Smith is dead. He was born March 8, 1841, entered the Confederate Army Oct. 1861, was arrested by the federal forces Dec. 30, 1863 after being confined 16 days. He was brought at 6 o'clock on Sunday Eve on the 17, 1864 and was shot and buried without a coffin at Chaulk Bluff. He was taken up by his friends brought home and buried. He was buried decently Jan. 27, 1864. Isabell went and found his grave and learned for certain it was him and then obtained a permit from the authorities to move him. She then got help and brought him home. He was shot twice, first by John Smith, son of Hiram Smith who lived above us. He was shot the second time by a captain by the name of Phillips. He is buried at home in the orchard about one hundred yards above the house. Your father is buried up at Mr. Bailey's. Harvey, your mother's health is very bad at this time. She has removed back to Mike Poke's a few days ago. We have heard that Duncan was killed but do not know if he is alive. We all send our compliments to him and family and request him to write to us. I want you to be sure and write to me and want you both to come and see me as soon as you possibly can. It would be great pleasure to me to see you all together once more in life. Me and Newt has sold out. Newt wants you to let him know the price of land out here. He has rented old lady Poke's place and living on it. Isabell and her husband and Tenn and her husband and all the children send their best love and respects to you and request you to write them. Give my respects to all the connection and receive a double portion to yourself. Hoping to hear from the soon, I am respectfully your affectionate Mother till Death. Margaret Smith Direct your letters to Savannah, the County Seat. Postal card addressed to Mary E. Stephens (widow of W.H. Polk), Corning, Randolph Co., Ark. stamped at Corning, Ark. May 18, 1886. Dated May the 17, 1886. It reads: My dear Cousin, I am in receipt of yours of the 12th. Glad to hear from you again and learn of your welfare and prosperity. We are all in excellent health here. We are having excellent fine growing weather and everything looks beautiful. Our country is fine. Grain and Grass country and puts on its most beautiful appearance at this season of the year. We would be pleased to have your picture and see how you look. I thought you most beautiful when in your younger days. I will write you a letter sometime soon. Our best love to you all and also to Mrs. Reynolds and family. I am truly yours, Cousin C.C. Cook. (Card headed "Cook's Station". No state marked). helen.seaton@asu.edu wrote: > I am new to the list and would like to know if anyone else is researching the > EMBERSON/EMERSON/EMMERSON and/or MC DANIEL(S) in Hardin County during the > period of about 1820 to 1840. My oldest known ancestor was James EMMERSON, > born SC in 1789. He mar. Susannah McDANIELS who was also born in SC. Haven't > found a marr. record but I assume it was in SC since that is where their first > son was born in 1809. This son, Williams, mar. a Mary (Polly) FUNDERBURK who > was born in Hardin Co. TN. Their 3rd son, Henry Harvey, was born in TN in 1820 > > Several people have said they think James was the son of Isaac EMMERSON who > lived in Hardin Co. TN but I have only been able to find a couple of mentions > of an Isaac and an Eli in Hardin Co. on early records. I also noticed some > McDaniels living in Hardin Co. I have quite a lot of information on James and > family after they moved to Johnson Co. IL about 1840 but nothing about him > while he lived in TN. If anyone has any info. on either families, I would very > much like to hear from you. I would like to either prove or disprove this > story about James being the son of Isaac Emmerson. Thanks in advance. > Helen helen.seaton@asu.edu