Grace, Thanks for the information. My records show that I had corresponded with Brenda Nikirk earlier on this subject. I spent some time in the Courthouse recently researching the property that was the Laden's Mill site. Thomas Winchester received a Patent on a 50 acre tract, signed by the Governor of Tennessee and recorded on the 21 day of July 1837. In 1838, Thomas Winchester sold the 50 acre tract to James R. Russell described as follows: Beginning at a point 100 poles east of the northwest corner of George Cagle's 100 acre Survey; thence running west, 100 poles; thence north 80 poles; thence east 100 poles; and thence south 80 poles to the point of beginning containing 50 acres. Witnesses: Henry Garner and William Wallice, 4th August 1838, recorded 4th December 1838. In 1844, James R. Russell sold 10 acres of the 50 acre tract to Charles H. Almond (Allman). Beginning on the southeast corner of a 50 acre Entry in the name of Thomas Winchester; thence west 40 poles to a dogwood on the south base line of said 50 acre Entry; thence north 40 poles to a stump in a field; thence east 40 poles to a leaning birch on the west bank of Indian Creek; and thence south to the point of beginning containing 10 acres. Witnesses: Thomas M. Russell and John W. Lindsey, 15 January 1844, recorded 16 March 1844. Recorded in the next page in the deed book was a Trust Deed from Charles H. Almond to: Charles C. Freeman indebted in the amount of $123.50 Thomas Callens, $38.875 Josiah G. Lindsey, $181.00 Samuel B. Hargrove, $164.88 All due the first day of March 1845. Attest: Charles M. Polk and Thomas Layton, 16 February 1844, recorded 16 March 1844. On 5 January 1846, James R. Russell sold the the remainder of the 50 acre tract (40 acres) to Thomas M. Russell, with the deed being recorded on 3 February 1846. On 7 April 1849 C. H. Almond sold the 10 acre mill tract to Green H. Polk, and John W. Lindsey. Witnesses: Ezekiel Conley and G. W. Shulds, recorded 23 April 1849. In 1851, Green H. Polk, John W. Lindsey and C. H., Almond sold the 10 acre mill tract, including the Gristmill and Dam to John R. Laden, deed , 3 December 1851. On 29 March 1851, Thomas M. Russell sold the 40 acre tract to James Miller, deed recorded the same day. On 15 January 1853, James Miller sold the 40 tract and an additional 31 acre tract immediately north of said 40 acre tract, to John R. Laden. He also bought a tract from W. H. Cherry in 1853 bringing the total acreage to about 140 acres in the neighborhood of the mill. In 1882, John R. Laden sold the above tract to L. K. Laden. The deed was recorded on 29 September 1883. On 3 February 1890, L. K. Laden sold the 140, acres including the mill site, to A. H. Northcutt. Northcutt's heirs still own the property today, 03 April 1999. The 1860 census shows Saltillo as the Post Office for this area, 1870 shows Savannah, and 1880 lists Laden's Mill P. O. David Grace Rogers wrote: > Dear David, > > Thanks for your letter I received this evening. > > I realize now that I had been told of you earlier by either Brenda Nikirk or Ruth > Ann Godwin....both descendants of Laden/Pool families in your area. One had told > me of your having the old turbine from the mill. Your letter stating that some > of the mill stones are in the yard of John Ross is of interest to me. I must > share that information with my cousin, Billy Laden, retired assistant postmaster > of Savannah, who continues to live there.....on Laden Lane. I told him about the > turbine in your possession. He said he will contact you about photographing it > and sharing the photo with me. He had told me earlier that he thought most of > the mill stones, which he remembered being on the site of the old mill in his > youth, had been removed for use as corner stones in barns and other buildings in > the area. I think he will want to go by and see them again, and perhaps > photograph them, as well. > > I have never seen a picture of the old mill. It anyone has one I suppose it > would most probably be Billy. I feel he would have mentioned it to me if he does > have. > I have inquired about a photo of the old two story log house on the site of the > home stead and never been able to locate one. > > Yes, J. Richard Laden's home was at the end of the road you described, beyond > Russell Chapel. There are HUGE trees around the yard area. There is a brick > home there at this time. I believe I was told they are White Oaks, planted by > Grandpa Laden. > > John Richard's father was George Laden, wife Eady____. George died in Hardin > County late 1838 or the first week in January 1839. His will (dated 28th July > 1838) was probated the 7th of January 1839. Witnesses to his will were Henry > Garrard, Thomas Callon and Archibald Pool. He made Eady executrix (very unusual > in that era) and instructed her to especially try to patent the land on which > they had their home (to satisfy requirements of homestead or land given in > payment for service in War of 1812). I don't know whether that was land later > lived on by his son, J. Richard Laden. There were nine children of George and > Eady; two girls and seven sons. The eldest child, Elizabeth, had married J.S.M. > Anderson prior to her father's death. I know nothing of the Anderson family, but > most of the boys, except John Richard, removed to Dunklin County Missouri, where > many of their descendants remain (though many others have scattered throughout > the nation). > > John Richard Laden's daughter, Ellentine "Tiny", married Eli Russell while they > still lived in Hardin County. In the early part of the century, they relocated > in Erath Co. Texas, in the town of Stephenville where they spent the remainder of > their lives and are buried today in the main city cemetery near downtown. The > Stephenville airport is on land that was earlier their farm. > > The Copelands that went to Titus County before 1900 were Robert and Debbie > (probably "Deborah")....they went to Texas in the early 1890s, then back to > Hardin County for a short time and then back again to Texas. Our family was not > related to them, but they remained good friends throughout their lives, and we > feel close, yet, to their grandchildren. They are buried in Bridges Chapel > Cemetery (the same as my grandparents) in Titus County, about five miles north of > Mt. Pleasant, county seat. > > The Pool family in Texas were friends of my grandparents and my dad, but I don't > remember knowing them personally. Lela Russell, daughter of Eli and Tiny > Russell, married Luther "Luke" Pool (descendant of TN Pools) from Titus County. > There are still people with that surname living in the area, but I'm not sure > they are from the same family. > > There were Haggards in Titus County but not in the community where I grew up. I > graduated from high school with a girl named Marie Haggard (born about 1923-25) > and hadn't remembered in many years until your letter that we knew then that our > fathers were from the same area.....though I don't remember Dad knowing him > personally. > > I don't remember anyone named Burroughs. I keep an old (ten year old) phone book > from Mt. Pleasant and there is no one with that name listed in it. > > David, I have no idea WHEN Grandfather, John Richard Laden, actually bought the > mill, but he was still listed "farmer" on the 1860 census, and we know he was > running the mill at that time. He may have continued to think of himself as, > primarily, a farmer. He told his son, Will, (father of Billy), when he was a > young man, that he 'didn't know how many acres they owned but that as far as they > could see in all directions from their home, belonged to them'. From the site > this is supposed to have been said, in front of their home overlooking the river > valley and numerous hills, that would encompass a LOT OF ACRES! > > Speaking of census: John Richard Laden's family is a good example of not relying > on written works, or transcriptions. I looked at the printed Tennessee 1850 > census (by Sistler, I believe) and no "Ladens". I knew they were there for I had > read it on the microfilm of the actual census. Sometime later I thought to check > "S", since the early script brought the leader up from the line, making it > difficult sometimes to tell an "L" from an "S". Sure enough, there they were, > "SadeR", J. R., Mary Jane and all the young'uns. Just keep telling everyone > never to fully trust the printed word. It ain't necessarily so!!! > > Thanks so much for your letter. I will probably be in touch again. I am still > looking for where Grandpa George and Grandma Eady are buried, and what her name > was before she married. I strongly suspect they may be buried in one of the > unmarked graves in Russell Chapel....just a hunch. > > Sincerely, > > Grace > >