Hello, I am looking for information on my great-grandfather, George W. Short. He was born 8/13/1867. What I know of him is from an article written in February of 1890: He is but 22 years of age but his head is planted squarely upon his young shoulders. George W. Short first saw the light near Knoxville, Tenn. He was born on a farm where he spent his time until he was 12 or 14 years of age, when he began his apprenticeship in the Roland Iron Company at Rockwood, Tenn. I know that Rockwood is about 50 miles from Knoxville, so it's possible that this Pittsburgh, PA paper called that "near Knoxville". The 1880 census has one George Short of the right age: 1880 Census, Rockwood, Roane County, Tennessee, page 390C: John Short, Self, M, M, W, 35, Engineer, TN, TN, TN. Rhoda Short, Wife, F, M, W, 36, Keeping House, TN, TN, TN. George Short, Son, M, S, W, 13, At Home, TN, TN, TN. Fredric Short, Son, M, S, W, 3, At Home, TN, TN, TN. He also had a sister, likely born after 1880, listed in his obit as surviving him. The obit lists her as Mrs. L.L. Lyell of Tennessee. I can't find this John Short anywhere else in census data. Can anyone give me any advice on how to track him or any information available? Thanks.

Eric, I have looked at the SHORT family a little, in an effort to determine the parents of Mary Short who married William Holland in 1808 Roane. She was from SC. I did not have any success in finding her parents, but I SUSPECT she is sister to Willis Short, born abt. 1796 in SC. Anyway, in 1860 Roane, Willis Short is listed in the 11th District, as 64, wife Nancy 59, and some young adut children--oldest 22. (#1529-1423) He has big bunch of kids in 1850 census. In the 14th District (1664-1538) is George W. Short 43 TN, farming & tanning & Iron-making. He has wife Eliza 41 TN, and Rebecca 16, JOHN 14, Geo, 11, Alx. 8, Chrisman 6, Lottie 5, Mary 3, James 1, and also listed with them is Geo. W. Frazier 25, physician. I can't find this family in 1850 Roane. I do not find a marriage record for this couple, but in 1870 Roane 13th District, #318-314, John Short 23, keeper furnace, Rheoda 25, and G. W. 3. If you have not checked out the George W. Short family, I think you might want to do so. I also suggest you try to find some history of Rockwood. It is interesting little town. Pat McDonald > Hello, I am looking for information on my great-grandfather, George W. > Short. He was born 8/13/1867. What I know of him is from an article > written in February of 1890: > > He is but 22 years of age but his head is planted squarely upon his young > shoulders. George W. Short first saw the light near Knoxville, Tenn. He > was born on a farm where he spent his time until he was 12 or 14 years of > age, when he began his apprenticeship in the Roland Iron Company at > Rockwood, Tenn. > > I know that Rockwood is about 50 miles from Knoxville, so it's possible > that this Pittsburgh, PA paper called that "near Knoxville". The 1880 > census has one George Short of the right age: > > 1880 Census, Rockwood, Roane County, Tennessee, page 390C: > John Short, Self, M, M, W, 35, Engineer, TN, TN, TN. > Rhoda Short, Wife, F, M, W, 36, Keeping House, TN, TN, TN. > George Short, Son, M, S, W, 13, At Home, TN, TN, TN. > Fredric Short, Son, M, S, W, 3, At Home, TN, TN, TN. > > He also had a sister, likely born after 1880, listed in his obit as > surviving him. The obit lists her as Mrs. L.L. Lyell of Tennessee. > > I can't find this John Short anywhere else in census data. Can anyone give > me any advice on how to track him or any information available? Thanks. >

Eric, Here is what little I can add to your research of your SHORT family. Hope it will be of some help. Ken Parks 1830 Roane Co. TN census: (National Archives microfilm M19 roll 180 written page 2) [Note: This is the only SHORT family in Rhea or Roane Co. TN in the 1830 census.] SHORT, Willis 04-01001 (4 males 5-10 yr, 1 female 5-10, 1 female 20-30) [Note: printed census index lists the above numbers--a viewing of the actual microfilm image shows part of this page torn and missing, including the part of the page where Willis would appear, i.e. the 30-40 yr category, so the actual census would most likely read: 040001-01001] 1840 Rhea Co. TN census: (National Archives microfilm M704 roll 535 printed page 42) SHORT, Geo. W. 20001-00001 (2 males under 5yr, 1 male 20-30, 1 female 20-30) George W. SHORT married Eliza PARKS 11 Aug 1836 Rhea Co. TN, A.G. Wright, J.P. (Marriages of Rhea County, Tennessee 1808-1859, compiled by Edythe Rucker Whitley, Baltimore: 1983 (Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.) p 31 In the 1850 Rhea Co. census: (National Archives microfilm # M432 roll 893, written page 543, printed page 272, dwelling & family 66) 1st Civil District SHORT, George W. 35, Eliza 27, Robert P. 10, Miller E. 9, Nancy R. 6, JOHN H. 4, George G. 2, Joseph A. 2/12, Joseph PARKS 1--all born in TN, occupation of George W.: tanner [Note: 1st Civil District in Rhea Co. was the northernmost district adjoining the southern boundary of Roane Co.] Eliza PARKS (c1818-aft 1880) was a daughter of Robert PARKS (c1780-aft 1850) & Nancy EASLEY (6 May 1783-19 Dec 1847-buried in Bean Cemetery, Rhea Co.). This family is found in records of both Rhea & Roane Cos. at various times, as they lived in the area near Whites Creek, which forms the border of Rhea & Roane Cos. 1860 Roane Co. TN census: You have this information from Pat McDonald, I believe. One note: George W. SHORT family 1664-1538 is found in the 12th Civil District, not the 14th. (National Archives microfilm M653 roll 1269, written page 219, printed page 211, dwelling 1664 family 1538) [Sidenote on this: P.O. listed on this page is Eagle Furnace. Rebecca PARKS, older sister of Eliza (PARKS) SHORT married a much older George GORDON in 1839. George GORDON established the Eagle Furnace, the first ironworks, I believe, in Roane Co.] 1870 Roane Co. census: You have this information (John SHORT household) also from Pat McDonald. 1880 Roane Co. TN census: [Note: These three families are living adjacent to each other. This would be Geo. W. & Eliza, parents of JOHN H. SHORT, and two of his brothers, George G. & James P. SHORT] Census Place: District 12, Roane, Tennessee Source: National Archives Film T9-1275 Page 367A Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace George G. SHORT Self M M W 32 TN Occ: Farmer Fa: TN Mo: TN Ella SHORT Wife F M W 23 TN Occ: Keeping House Fa: TN Mo: TN Cordela SHORT Dau F S W 5 TN Fa: TN Mo: TN L. J. SHORT Dau F S W 3 TN Fa: TN Mo: TN Eliza R. SHORT Dau F S W 1 TN Fa: TN Mo: TN Laure STEPHENS Niece F S W 12 TN Fa: ENG Mo: TN Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace James P. SHORT Self M M W 20 TN Occ: Farmer Fa: TN Mo: TN Ellin SHORT Wife F M W 23 TN Occ: Keeping House Fa: TN Mo: TN Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace George W. SHORT Self M M W 63 TN Occ: Farmer Fa: TN Mo: TN Eliza SHORT Wife F M W 62 TN Occ: Keeping House Fa: TN Mo: TN