David Watts - Death of a Young Man

David Watts was just 21 years old when he was killed during the Battle of Hartsville, Tennessee on 7 December 1862.   Born 11 February 1841, he was laid to rest in the Watts family plot high on the hill in Smithland Cemetery, Smithland, Kentucky.

David would never know the joys of marriage or the love of children and grandchildren.  As a member of a large family, however, he was likely surrounded by brothers and sisters who were  his friends and confidants.  The 1850 census shows Joseph and Lucinda Watts with eight children, ranging in age from 22 to three with David being fifth oldest child at 10 years of age.[1]

David’s father, Joseph, was born in Orange County, North Carolina in 1794 and, about 1804, left that state with the family of Joseph Moore, to whom he had been apprenticed. They first went to Nashville, Tennessee, where they obtained a flat boat, later landing at the mouth of Red River.[2] The Moore family and Joseph Watts eventually settled on the present site of Springfield, Robertson County, Tennessee.

Joseph Watts later settled in Smithland, where he died in 1869.  Joseph married Lucinda D. Haynes 11 July 1827 Livingston County.[3] Lucinda outlived her husband by a number of years, dying in Memphis, Tennessee 30 July 1892 at the age of 80. Both Joseph and Lucinda are buried in Smithland Cemetery.

When the war began, David Watts enlisted in Capt. Cobb’s Company, Kentucky Light Artillery (CSA) as a private.  Following the Battle of Hartsville, Tennessee, his death was briefly noted. “David Watts, a private of this battery [Cobb’s Battery], who was killed, was an intelligent and promising young man, the son of a well known merchant of Paducah.”[4]

David Watts was another of those young men who was denied a life that might have helped shape the future of his family and his community.

David Watts

Son of

J. & L. Watts

Born

Feb. 11, 1841

Died

Dec. 7, 1862

Smithland Cemetery

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[1] 1850 Livingston County, Kentucky Census, Roll M432_210, p. 382A, Image 455, Ancestry.com.

[2] “William Courtney Watts” by A.V. Goodpasture, The Leaf-Chronicle (Clarksville, Tennessee), Thurs., 17 Sep 1936, p. 2, Newspapers.com.

[3] Kentucky County Marriage Records 1783-1965, Livingston County 1827, Ancestry.com.

[4] “The Battle of Hartsville,” Memphis Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee), 24 Dec 1862, p. 2, Newspapers.com.

Published 30 April 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

In the News 27 April 1905

Below are deaths and other events listed in the Thursday 27^th of April  1905 issue of the Crittenden Press, Marion, Kentucky:

Rodney News:   Wm. Byrd, the ferryman at the mouth of Cypress who was shot last week, died Thursday from the effects of the wound.

 The 2  year old child of Thomas Chandler was severely burned last week while playing near the fire.

               

Chapel Hill:   John Long, son of Mr. J.C. Long, has left old Crittenden County and gone to Washington to make it his future home.

In Memoriam:   Clara, wife of R.L. Wood, was born 31 March 1880 and died 16 April 1905. Buried Shady Grove Cemetery.

Obituary:    Miss Annie Belle Hunt, daughter of George Hunt, of Sugar Grove community, died Sunday morning at her father’s home 2 miles east of Tribune, near W.B. Crider’s, age 19. Buried Pleasant Hill Sunday morning.

         

Mrs. Lula Carrington, daughter of I.B. Hodges and relict of the late Dr. Carrington, died at her father’s residence 20 April 1905, in her 40^th year. Born 4 May 1865; married Dr. Carrington 1883 and he died soon afterward. She lived a widow ever since. She was born on  the farm on which she died. Survivors: father, four brothers (Robert, Thomas, Dr. Will and Don).

Died:   Mrs. Jennie Shervey, aged lady of View neighborhood, died from the effects of a fall last Thursday.

                               

Published 27 April 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Naturalization of Adam Zollinger

A person became a naturalized citizen of the United States after having first filed his intention to do so and disavowing all allegiance to a foreign power. In Kentucky, the intention was filed in county court or circuit court and recorded in the court order books (court minutes). The information in the declarations might vary, but usually included the name of the person, date he filed his petition for naturalization and to whom he formerly vowed allegiance. Here is an example of a petition for naturalization:

“To the Honorable the Judge of the Lyon County Court  from petitioner Adam Zollinger, a native of Germany  State of Seittzien [?] and now under the dominion of Prussia, would respectfully state he was born in the state Country of Germany State of Seittzien, that he emigrated to the United States of America in the year 1842 and landed at Baltimore in the State of Maryland in the year 1842, that he is 57 years of age and has resided in Kentucky about 28 years last past, that it is and has been for three years last past bona fide his intention to become a citizen of the United States of America and absolutely and entirely renounces and [illegible] all allegiance and fidelity to any and every foreign Prince, Potentate, State and Sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly to King William now having dominion over Germany and Prussia to whom he now owes allegiance. [signed] Adam Zollinger. 

Subscribed and sealed before me by Adam Zollinger this August 26, 1872.  J.L. Stubbs, Clerk Lyon County Court.”[1]

Perhaps Adam Zollinger forgot that he had already filed his naturalization intention in another county, but at the next term of court, just a few days after filing the above intention, he withdrew his intention and report and stated he had filed an earlier petition for naturalization at the June 1844 term of Caldwell County, Kentucky Circuit Court. Since almost 30 years had passed sine the first petition was filed, two citizens of Lyon County made oaths that Zollinger had resided in Kentucky during that time and that had “behaved as a man of good moral character…”  Zollinger was then granted all the rights and privileges of a naturalized citizen of the United States of America. [2]

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[1] Lyon County, Kentucky Court Order Book B, p. 438, Monday, 26 Aug 1872, Naturalization Intention of Adam Zollinger.

[2] Lyon County, Kentucky Court Order Book B, p. 444, Monday, 23 Sep 1872, Naturalization Record of Adam Zollinger.

Published 23 April 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Livingston County, Kentucky Physicians 1895

The following article is dated 18 Nov 1895, Salem, Ky and appeared in the Crittenden Press 21 Nov 1895. It provides information likely not found elsewhere on "Some of the Physicians Who Have Grown Prominent and Rich" in Livingston County, Kentucky. The very wordy article has been abstracted for presentation here.

 The most skillful and successful physician that ever lived in Livingston county was Dr. Thomas Linley; he was born in 1806 in Mason county, Ky. He practiced medicine in Mason, Lewis and McCracken counties;  in 1840 he came to this county, where he remained until his death in March, 1880.[1] He was in every sense of the word a self made man; his parents were very poor people ... but when very young, Thomas Linley showed a great desire to get an education, and at age 12 he began to work for his neighboring farmers at 20 cents per day; he worked during the spring and summer, saved his money and paid his way to school during the winter months. At the age of 18, he began teaching school in Hamilton county, Ohio and while teaching he read medicine.  His practice extended over whole of this county and a large part of Crittenden county. He was as skillful in surgery as in medicine ...  He was a graduate of Transylvania University at Lexington, Ky, also graduated at the Miami Medical College, Cincinnati.

 Dr. J.V. Hayden was born in 1850. He began the practice of medicine in  Pope county, Ill.; he graduated in the Miami Medical College of Cincinnati in 1878 and in 1879 located in Salem. He formed a partnership with Dr. J.D. Threlkeld in the practice of medicine and in the drug store business under the firm name of J.V. Hayden & Co. ... the firm being worth about $80,000. Dr. Hayden has attended medical lectures several times since he graduated in the winter of 1893; he attended the New York Polyclinic, a post graduate school of medicine. For the benefit of any young lady who may be looking out for a husband, he is yet a single man.

 His partner, Dr. J.D. Threlkeld, was born in Crittenden county in 1851; he graduated at the Louisville University in 1874 and located in Salem in 1875. He had nothing when he came to Salem, except his horse, and now he is one of the wealthiest men in the county.

 Dr. C.L. Harris, of Carrsville, is the oldest physician now living in this county. He was born in Virginia in 1821; he located at Carrsville and soon went to the front of his profession. He is a fine conversationalist.

 Dr. H.H. Duley, of Smithland,  has always enjoyed a very large practice. In the last 15 years many people have left Smithland for Paducah to live, yet all those who have gone to Paducah still send to Smithland for Dr. Duley when they get sick. He has been a friend to the poor, he has never been known to ask any man to pay his medical bill, those who desire to pay him do so when they get ready.

We have several young physicians who are fast coming to the front.

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[1] Livingston County, Kentucky Homemaker Clubs. Livingston County, Kentucky Cemeteries 1738 - 1976, (Smithland, KY: n.p., 1977) 13. Mills Pioneer Cemetery, 723 South, just outside Salem: Dr. Thomas Linley, born Mason Co, Ky., 17 July 1806 - 29 Mar 1880 in the 74th year of his age.

Published 16 Apr 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Courthouse Builder's Son Was An Arkansas Senator

At the time the post on Preston Grace was written for this blog, I wasn't aware of a son who lived in Arkansas. Preston Grace became known as the builder of the old Livingston County, Kentucky courthouse in 1845. Preston's supposed son, however, achieved  fame as a lawyer and later as a Senator, although in a different state. Recently I came across this son's obituary[1] and from it we learn about his life after he left Kentucky.  See the previous post on Preston Grace  Here

The son's name was William P. Grace, born in Caldwell County, Kentucky on 22 November 1822, "being one of six children." Although never named in the obituary, all signs point to Preston Grace as William's father. Both men were brick masons and worked together until William was age 22. William decided he wanted a different vocation, began to read law with local attorney, Livingston Lindsay, and was admitted to the bar in 1847.

A short stay in Florida convinced William he did not want to remain there so he turned around,  went north and settled in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas.  There he married Harriet Boyd on 27 May 1851.[2] Harriet drowned near Paducah, Kentucky in December 1863.[3] He then married Mrs. Emily Hudson in April 1868. She died about 1888 and there are no surviving children.

After arriving in Pine Bluff, William formed a partnership with Robert E. Waters and in 1852 he was elected prosecuting attorney and served one term, during which time he entered into a partnership with Judge John C. Murray of the circuit court for three years.  William was elected by Democrats to the secession convention and, in 1861, he was appointed as commissary of the military staff of Arkansas. He was also at the battle of Oak Hill.  Ill health, however,  forced him to retire from the army.

Upon being discharged from the army, he went to Philadelphia for medical treatment. When he returned to Pine Bluff, he resumed his practice, which he continued until his death. William was well known throughout the halls of justice in Arkansas and had a good reputation as a criminal attorney.  He also represented the 11th Senatorial District and, if he had survived, he would have served until 1901.

William P. Grace died 24 June 1898 and was buried in Bellwood Cemetery, Pine Bluff, Arkansas.[4]

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[1] "Senator Grace Dead," Arkansas Democrat, Little Rock, Arkansas, 25 June 1898, p. 3.

[2] Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1951, Ancestry.com, W.P. Grace and Harriet Boyd married 27 May 1851 Jefferson County.

[3] Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1951, Ancestry.com, William P. Grace and E.V. Hudson married 3 Apr 1868 Jefferson County.

[4] Find A Grave Memorial #42558285, William P. Grace, buried Bellwood Cemetery, Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

Published 9 Apr 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Events of the Day - 6 April 1910

From the Paducah Sun:

Engagement of Mr. Jefferson Hayes Davis, grandson of the late President Davis, of the Southern Confederacy, and Miss Doree DeWitt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Theo DeWitt, recently of New York, announced at a tea party at the DeWitt residence in Broadmoor, Colorado. No marriage date set yet. Young Davis is a Columbia College student. He is a son of Mr. James Addison Hayes and wife, who was a daughter of President Davis. His name was changed by an act of the legislature on his grandfather’s death in order to perpetuate the name.

Tornado in Central City, Kentucky caused loss of $5000 to houses, barns and outhouses, but no one injured.

Cold snap called “Dogwood Winter.”  “Blackberry Winter" due last of April.

Published 6 Apr 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Do These Names Make You Dizzy?

An article about a married couple with Caldwell County, Kentucky connections appeared in several newspapers in 1880. [1] The parties were Drury Mitchuson Kevil and his wife, Lucretia Kevil Mitchuson. The article stated they were about to celebrate their 50^th wedding anniversary and lived in Milan County, Texas.  Their names were very similar, but the article says they were not related.   

Drury M. Kevil was born in 1808  in Kentucky[2] and named for the father of his future wife. She was born in South Carolina in 1810[3] and  was named for the mother of her future husband. When she married Drury Mitchusson Kevil, her name became  Lucretia Kevil Mitchussson Kevil.   Are you dizzy or confused yet? I will let you try to figure it out if the couple was related..

On the 11^th day of September 1830, Drury M. Kivell and Miss Lucretia Mitchusson married in Caldwell County. Giving consent for the bride was Jonathon Stevens, her guardian. [4] They lived in Caldwell County through 1870, at least, and then are found on the 1880 Milan County, Texas census. [5]  

In 1880, Drury M. Kevil was age 70 and living with his son, Uriah Kevil. Drury’s wife, Lucretia, was not listed in this household, but was listed as living near by with another son, Jesse P. Kevil.[6]

Lucretia Mitchusson Kevil died 5 February 1896[7] and Drury M. Kevil died 18 October 1898.[8] Both are buried in Old City Cemetery, Rockdale, Milam County, Texas.

          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Original Marriage Bond and Consent of Drury M. Kevil and Lucretia Mitchusson. Click on Bond for an enlarged view.                                                                                                                      

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[1] One newpaper in which the article appeared was the Evening Visitor in Raleigh, North Carolina, Wed., 6 October 1880, p. 4.

[2] Find A Grave #124712918, Drury M. Kevil. The newspaper article gives his birth year as 1778, which would make him 52 when he married Lucretia, very likely incorrect.

3.  1850 Caldwell County, Kentucky census, Dist., 2, Roll M. 432_194, p. 377B, Ancestry.com.

[4] Original Marriage Bond and Consent note for marriage of Drury M. Kivell and Miss Lucretia Mitchusson, Caldwell County Clerk’s Office, Princeton, Kentucky, accessed 2019.

[5] 1880 Milan County, Texas census, Rockdale, Roll 1319, p. 269 B, E.D. 104, Ancestry.com.

[6] 1880 Milan County, Texas census, Dist. 103, Roll 1319, p. 261A, E.D. 103, Ancestry.com

[7] Find A Grave #124712949, Lucretia K. (Mitchusson) Kevil.

[8] Find A Grave #124712918, Drury M. Kevil.

Published 2 April 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blog.spot.com/