land ownership along van cleve lane—a cultural landscape project

Angela SmithRichard WhiteKristen Baldwin Deathridge

Executive Summary

Tennessee, forever was changed. The Battle of Stones River, where

there were nearly 23,517 Confederate and Unions casualties in

four days in one of the Civil War’s bloodiest clashes, would secure a

place for this small town in the collective history and institutional

memory of the nation. The dead were soon buried, however,

and the armies moved on, leaving a desolate battlefield on the

miles of large and small farm tracts where they had fought. By

1870, however, census records show that several different African

American families had settled in the area – in their eyes it was a

place of triumph because of the Union victory and the willingness

of the federal government to protect them – and they established

a community called Cemetery.

This study, a group project in Public History, examines land, tax,

and census records of one street in the Cemetery community,

Van Cleve Lane, to shed light on the residents of Cemetery and

their land ownership patterns. Drawing from census records, it is

clear that the community was predominantly African American

and grew until at least 1900, perhaps longer. The land would be

continually inhabited until the late 1920s and early 1930s when

the federal government began purchasing and condemning

land to create the Stones River National Battlefield Park. Until

recently the focus of the park dealt with the momentous events

surrounding the Civil War, but now the Park Service has begun a

project to reevaluate the historic significance of the landscape.

The project follows up on that initiative with research that can

add not only historical but also cultural dimension to the body of

knowledge about that landscape.

Table of ContentsExecutive Summary ………………………………………………1

Table of Contents …………………………………………………2

Introduction and General Methodology …………………………3

Findings ……………………………………………………………7

Deeds ………………………………………………………7

Tax Records …………………………………………… 14

Census Records ………………………………………… 15

Court Records ………………………………………… 18

Secondary Sources …………………………………… 19

Archelogy ……………………………………………… 20

Conclusions and Suggestions for Further Research …………… 23

Bibliography …………………………………………………… 26

Appendix ……………………………………………………… 27

A. Charts ………………………………………………… 28

B. Maps ………………………………………………… 35

C. Data Sheets ………………………………………… 42

D. Photos ……………………………………………… 67

E. Court Record Copies ………………………… attached

F. Deed Copies ………………………………… attached

Van Cleve Lane, Stones River Battlefield Archive, Stones River Battlefield, Murfreesboro, TN.

3

Introduction and General Methodology

When the smoke cleared on January 3, 1863, the landscape surrounding Murfreesboro,

Tennessee, forever was changed. The Battle of Stones River, where 23,517 Confederate and

Unions soldiers died in one of the Civil War’s bloodiest clashes, would secure a place for this

small town in the collective history and institutional memory of the nation. The dead were soon

buried, however, and the armies moved on, leaving the miles of large and small farm tracts

where they had fought a desolate battlefield and an unstable political climate as well. In her

dissertation, “The Politics of Memory: Remembering the Civil War in Rutherford County,

Tennessee,” Miranda Fraley discusses the difficult situation in which local African Americans

found themselves after the battle. If another battle broke out and the Union lost, they could lose

their newfound freedom or even their lives. Thus the safest strategy for the newly freed slaves

was to stay as close as possible to federal troops for protection. Given this dynamic, it is not

surprising that by 1870 an African American community called Cemetery developed near the

National Cemetery, which was controlled and maintained by the United States Government.1

Census records show that several different African American families had settled in the area – in

their eyes a place of triumph because of the Union victory – and established the small

community. Drawing again from census records, it is clear that the community grew until at least

1900, perhaps longer. The land would be continually inhabited until the late 1920s and early

1930s when the federal government began purchasing and condemning land to create the Stones

River National Battlefield Park.

1 Miranda L. Fraley, “The Politics of Memory: Remembering the Civil War in Rutherford

County, Tennessee,” PhD Dissertation, Indiana University, 2004, 23.

4

Until recently the focus of the park dealt with the momentous events surrounding the Civil

War, but now the National Park Service has begun a project to reevaluate the historic

significance of the landscape. It was not until 1988 that the agency formally identified cultural

landscapes as part of its mission and began recognizing and preserving these important

resources.2 The Park Service classified Stones River Battlefield as a historic site – “landscape

significant for its association with a historic event, activity, or person.”3 The historic Cemetery

community is certainly a historic vernacular landscape, that is, one whose “use, construction, or

physical layout reflects endemic traditions, customs, beliefs, or values; expresses cultural values,

social behavior, and individual actions over time.”4 The research undertaken here is a small

portion of the General Management Plan and Site Development that the Park Service plans to

pursue to reevaluate the landscape and add another layer of historic significance to the

battlefield. This research group, charged with tracing land ownership since the Civil War, found

the land along Van Cleve Lane changed hands frequently during the period in discussion. This

was surprising because we had assumed land ownership was fairly stable during this period.

People in general became more mobile, however, so that new transience might well have been

present around Cemetery, which could explain the unexpected property transfers. The land along

Van Cleve Lane appears, from preliminary research, to have been transferred occasionally from

Caucasians to African-Americans and vice-versa in the years following the Civil War until the

1930s.

2 Robert R. Page, Cathy A. Gilbert, and Susan A. Dolan, A Guide to Cultural Landscape

Reports: Contents, Process, and Techniques (Washington: US Department of the Interior, 1998), 7.

3 Ibid., 12.

4 Ibid.

5

Our group researched the parcels along Van Cleve Lane to determine the history of land

ownership since the Civil War. The lane, formerly called either Old Bowen Lane or McFadden

Lane, came to be called Van Cleve after the Civil War.5 It apparently was named for Union

Brigadier General Horatio Van Cleve.6 Van Cleve Lane was one of the main thoroughfares of the

so-called Cemetery community that sprang up on the Stones River Battlefield in the years after

the war. One goal was to examine the shift from Caucasian to African-American land ownership.

We also hoped to gain an understanding of when the community of Cemetery began. Also our

team was to write a plan for the archaeological investigation of the Cemetery community.

The group of MTSU graduate students in public history taking on this task included Richard

White, an MA student, and Angela Smith and Kristen Baldwin Deathridge, both in the PhD

program. White spent several days in the Tennessee State Library and Archives and the

Rutherford County Deeds Office researching the chain of deeds for the parcels along Van Cleve

Lane. Deathridge started with the same list of names and traced them through the tax records at

the Rutherford County Archives, as well as served as the group archeological expert. Smith

traced those names through U.S. Census records and court records; read the Center for Historic

Preservation’s files on the Cemetery community; conducted secondary resource research; and

created the digital images for this project. The three did a casual fieldwalk in the Van Cleve

vicinity at the national battlefield to get an idea of the parcel spacing and potential for

archaeological research. Each wrote up a section of this report on the line of inquiry we

completed. Smith compiled all of our data and organized it for submission. Deathridge composed

the archaeological plan for the Cemetery area. All group members worked on some of the other

5 Sean M. Styles, Stones River National Battlefield Historic Resource Study, ed. Mary O.

Ratcliffe and Robert W. Blythe (Atlanta, GA: National Park Service, 2004), 41. 6 Ibid.

6

sections of the report. We wrote the executive summary and conclusion together and each of us

reviewed this report for errors.

7

Findings

DEEDS

The following section contains a general summary of the deed trail on several properties

along Van Cleve Lane. While deeds exist to show how the government acquired several

properties around 1930, including the tracts of Ellis Anderson, William Waller, John Mason,

Giles S. Harding and Ed Orr, we were not able to uncover earlier property transfers of those

tracts.7 Partial deed traces have been undertaken on the tracts known as Sam Gresham, Dora

Bowen, Golena Anderson, Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, J. A. Ransom and Overall, Working

People’s Labor and Aid Society, and G.H. Minter, and summaries are contained herein. The

Louis Hickman property is currently the only land that has been traced back to the time of the

Civil War. Research and information thus far gathered and undertaken has led to no discernible

pattern of land transfer. Both Caucasian and African-American inhabitants seem to have

transferred land rather freely and there does not seem to be a discernible pattern or period in time

for predictable land transfer. All dates referenced are the listed dates of registration with the

Rutherford County Deeds Office.

No Deeds Located Thus Far Ellis Anderson, William Waller, John Mason, Giles S. Harding, and Ed Orr tracts

7 John Mason explained how he acquired the property in a deposition in 1932. See the Court

Records section of this report.

8

Partial Deed Traces Golena Anderson:

Golena Anderson owned several properties in the Cemetery community, one bordering Van

Cleve Lane. Anderson sold the land to the government, United States of America being the

grantor, and registered into court June 5, 1929, for 2.3 acres.8 Anderson received the same tract

of land on December 13, 1898, from H.H. Kerr; the earlier deed registered the land as containing

2.5 acres bordering Van Cleve Lane.9 This is as far back as the deed has been traced. It is

interesting to note there are several court deeds that reference property Anderson conveyed. The

first appears as land conveyed to the United States through court action, the deed noting that this

property is the same conveyed by H.H. Kerr to William Waller in about 1881 and for which

there is no deed on record.10 The next court deed references a 1-acre plot Anderson conveyed to

the government and notes that this property is the same tract sold by E.P. Leach to I.W.

Anderson.11 The United States obtained another piece of property from Golena Anderson on July

7, 1934, noting it was the same tract owned by Margaret Lillard and mentioned in deed

conveying adjacent property from H.H. Kerr to Golena Anderson.12 Anderson appears to have

8 Golena Anderson, grantor to USA, grantee, June 5, 1929, Rutherford County Deed Book

75, pgs. 85-86.

9 H.H. Kerr, grantor to Golena Anderson, grantee, December 13, 1898, Rutherford Country Deed Book 39, pgs. 397-398.

10 Golena Anderson, grantor to USA, grantee, July 7, 1933, Rutherford Country Deed Book 78, pgs. 252-253.

11 Golena Anderson, grantor to USA, grantee, July 7, 1933, Rutherford Country Deed Book 78, pgs. 254-255.

12 Golena Anderson, grantor to USA, grantee, April 28, 1934, Rutherford County Deed Book 79, pgs. 130-131.

9

owned or managed several properties in the surrounding area, but the court deeds need to be

examined further to identify the properties and their changes in ownership.

Gresham Property:

Sam Gresham conveyed his property to the United States Government on April 28, 1934.

Gresham’s relatives owned adjacent properties, some bordering Van Cleve Lane and others not,

and he seems to have divided his property among his heirs.13 Sallie Gresham Harlan conveyed

two tracts of land, both along Van Cleve Lane, one being 5.0 acres and the other 1.5 acres on

April 26, 1934, two days before Gresham’s transaction.14 These are the only references located

to date for tracts of land bordering Van Cleve Lane. The appendix contains references to other

Gresham properties adjacent to these, but not bordering on Van Cleve.15

The Working People’s Labor and Aid Society Property:

The Working People’s Labor and Aid Society conveyed its property, approximately 1.0

acres, to the government on April 26, 1934. The deed notes that this was same property

conveyed to the society by the Nashville, Murfreesboro and Shelbyville Turnpike Company,

13 Samuel Gresham, grantor to USA, grantee, April 28, 1934, Rutherford County Deed Book

79, pgs. 131-132.

14 Sallie Gresham Harlan, grantor to USA, grantee, April 26, 1934, Rutherford Country Deed Book 79, pgs. 119-120.

15 A court action divided the Gresham estate among his children after Samuel Gresham died. See the Court Record section of this report.

10

with no reference to the date of conveyance; the previous reference refers to Deed Book 47, and

either page 546 or 526, the number being indiscernible.16

G.H. Minter:

G.H. Minter 11-acre tract, one of the largest along Van Cleve Lane, was conveyed to the

United States on July 8, 1933. The deed notes that this property is tract Number 1 of the W.T.

Henderson, Division A plat referenced in Book 54, page 250.17 This property needs to be

addressed in greater detail as the Rutherford County Archives has a genealogical file on the

Minter family, and their son, Percy Minter, still resides in Murfreesboro and is the subject of one

of the oral history interviews.

Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church:

The Unites States obtained title to the property owned by Mount Olivet, January 20, 1931,

and the deed notes that this tract was the same land conveyed by H.H. Kerr.18 It is interesting to

note at this point that Kerr appears to have been a land speculator involved in land purchases and

sales throughout Rutherford County. An interesting note on the deed lists Alec Malone as being

the head deacon; John Hugle, deacon; Georgia B. Tillage, secretary; and Nora Clark, the Mother

of the Church. The Mount Olivet Trustees acquired this land from H.H. Kerr on July 23, 1884.

16 WPLAS, grantor to USA, grantee, April 26, 1934, Rutherford County Deed Book 79, p.

125.

17 Rowena Minter, grantor to USA, grantee, July 8, 1933, Rutherford County Deed Book 78, pgs. 259-260.

18 Mt. Olivet Missionary Baptist Church, grantor to USA, grantee, January 20, 1931, Rutherford County Deed Book 76, pgs. 62-63.

11

The property was deeded to numerous trustees of the Church, however, and further research is

required to discern who previously deeded the property.

J.A. Ransom and R.F. Overall Property:

This land was not included in the original boundaries of the national park and no reference

was made to the land being acquired by the federal government. The two men appear to be

partners, and there are several deed references contained on data sheets in the appendix; at least

part of the large tract is traced back to 1898. The deeds are not referenced here in detail because

the government land did not acquire the land to be included in the original park boundaries.

William Waller Estate:

While no deeds have yet been located for the property, the will of Golena Anderson

references the estate. Anderson apparently oversaw the estate as she makes reference to it,

leaving it to her two sons, Sam and J.D. Anderson, noting, “I have paid taxes on this land for

seventeen years.”19

Dora Tharp Bowen:

The Bowen property was conveyed to C.N. Haynes from Dora Tharp Bowen, October 11,

1929.20 It appears that Haynes then conveyed the property to the U.S. government. No deed has

been located thus far on this stage of the property conveyance, although there is a reference to

19 Golena Anderson, Will, January 13, 1930, Rutherford County Archive, Will Book 3, pg.

146.

20 Dora S. Bowen, grantor to C.N. Haynes, grantee, October 11, 1929, Rutherford County Deed Book 74, pg. 501.

12

deed location.21 It is interesting to note the federal Land Acquisition Map references Bowen as

transferring land to the government. More research is needed to determine why Haynes was

actually the conveyor to the United States.

FULL DEED TRACE

Louis Hickman Property:

The Hickman property was the most logical tract to begin tracing back in the deed index, as it

is bordered by the railroad and the National Cemetery, making the borders easier to discern in

the deed references. The property was conveyed to the United States government from Louis H.

Hickman on April 3, 1930, referencing it as the same tract owned by Nathan Mason.22 The land

Hickman acquired came from an African-American named Nathan Mason. Mason acquired the

land from a Mrs. V.A. Henderson on February 8, 1911, she being the executrix of the last will

and testament of W.T. Henderson.23 The deed references W.T. Henderson as the Rutherford

County deputy surveyor, noteworthy only because Henderson is supposed to be dead at the time

of sale; there are no references to this being a son or other relative. Another interesting side note

is that the Hendersons appear numerous times in the deed indexes. It is worthy of note that the

deputy county surveyor would be involved in land speculation all over the county. Several more

references are made to W.T. Henderson in the appendix. On January 4, 1894, Henderson

received title from W.F. Cooper to a tract of land containing 192 acres and bordered by the

21 C.N. Haynes, grantor to USA, grantee, Rutherford County Deed Book 75, pgs. 330-332.

22 Louis H. Hickman, grantor to USA, grantee, April 3, 1930, Rutherford Country Deed Book 75, pg. 83.

23 V.A. Henderson, grantor to Nathan Mason, grantee, February 8, 1911, Rutherford Country Deed Book 53, pg. 468.

13

railroad and the National Cemetery.24 The property conveyed at this point is much larger than the

tract acquired by the government; however, at least a portion is the same conveyed to establish

the park. The next reference has the aforementioned land being transferred by the sheriff, R.

Ransom. The property is the same in description and the previous deed made reference to this

deed. Further research is required to discern just how the sheriff ended up with the title; it was

possibly a legal matter that required the land to be turned over to the county. Sheriff Ransom

acquired the title from R.T. Tompkins, executor of the last will and testament of James M.

Tompkins, December 16, 1871 and the property borders the Nashville Turnpike, National

Cemetery and the railroad.25 James M. Tompkins obtained the property bordered by the railroad

and the National Cemetery from Edward L. Jordan, the Assigner of E.B. Hunt, bankrupt, on May

14, 1868.26 The deed makes reference to a court seizure of land because Hunt was bankrupt.27

The deed references the boundaries as the railroad, turnpike, National Cemetery, and an oak

tree.28 The deed books for the war years do not exist, and no references are made to E.B. Hunt in

previous indexes up to the war. The conclusion, therefore, is that E.B. Hunt owned the property

at the time of the Battle of Stones River. It makes sense that he was bankrupt, as most Southern

landowners had lost financial security by the close of hostilities. This completes the deed trail on

24 W.F. Cooper, grantor to W.T. Henderson, grantee, January 4, 1894, Rutherford County

Deed Book 35, pgs. 179-182.

25 R. Ransom, Sheriff, grantor to R.T. Tompkins, December 16, 1871, Rutherford County Deed Book 20, pgs. 448-450.

26 Edward L. Jordan, Assigner of E.B. Hunt, Bankrupt to James M. Tompkins, May 14, 1868, Rutherford County Deed Book 16, pgs. 137-138.

27 Ibid.

28 Ibid.

14

the Louis Hickman property with at least one confirmed African-American owner during the

period from 1865-1933.

TAX RECORDS

The tax record books for Rutherford County were reviewed, starting with the 1928 book for

taxes paid in 1929. The National Park Service acquired most of the land for the Stones River

Battlefield Park in 1929 and the years immediately following. In general, tax record books list

the name of the person who paid the taxes, acreage he or she paid for, and a listing of the

bordering properties to the north, south, east, and west. This can only be followed loosely as we

have not uncovered a record of how boundaries were recorded in the rolls. In a section following

the property tax listing, the books list those who paid the poll tax (usually – sometimes the poll

taxes of those who paid property tax are listed with the property, and sometimes Caucasian non-

landowning voters are listed among property taxpayers).

The names on the 1929 land acquisition map (see Appendix B) of the residents along Van

Cleve Lane provided the starting point for investigation. For the first few books, only properties

in District 9 were reviewed until it became clear that properties were being listed as borders to

those in the district but not included in it. Then searches of District 13 yielded results. One of the

most interesting is that Dora Tharp Bowen is never listed in the tax record books, but the

property listed for C. Bowen has the same boundaries. This, combined with the deed research on

the William Waller estate, indicates that someone often paid taxes on a property that continued to

be listed under a different name. Once our group understood that much of the property along Van

Cleve Lane had connections to H.H. Kerr, the Leach family, the Ransom family, and the Overall

family, notes were made of the acreage these people owned in many of the years from 1913

back.

15

The tax books do not go all the way back to the Civil War; the oldest is for 1877. That book

shows that Sam Gresham, listed as African-American, already was paying taxes on forty acres of

land within what became the Cemetery community. In addition, that book shows that Ellis

Anderson, John Mason, and Ed Orr registered to vote in 1885. That shows those four families to

be among the earliest African-American participants in voting and paying property tax in the

area of the Cemetery community. The books are inconsistent with labeling taxpayers as African-

American. On the table in Appendix A, a ‘c’ is listed by the names of taxpayers if it was so oted

even once in the books. This is based on the assumption that a Caucasian would rarely be

mistakenly identified as African-American. The continuity of family lines is significant for an

understanding of the character of the Cemetery community. As African-American property

taxpayers in the area increased, Caucasian ones decreased, but in 1929 it was not an exclusively

African-American community so far as land-ownership is concerned. However, one should

remember that land ownership and place of residence could be very different matters.29

CENSUS RECORDS

The federal censuses taken between 1870 and 1930 provided additional evidence regarding

the people who lived along Van Cleve Lane in the Cemetery community. It is not useful for this

study to go back before 1870 because African American names were not generally listed. Slaves

were noted only by age and number owned by the head of household. By beginning in 1930 and

working back, we found several families were living in District Nine when the 1870 census was

taken. These records do not note exactly where the families lived or if they owned their property,

but from them we know they were in the vicinity.

29 Rutherford County Tax Record Books 1877-1914, 1917-1928.

16

The Anderson, Orr, Mason, and Gresham families had a presence in the district in 1870.

Walter Anderson, the husband of Golena Anderson who owned Plot 26 on the War Department’s

1929 plat map, was then four years old. Samuel Gresham was listed as a three-year-old living in

the home of his father, Henry Gresham, a farm laborer. A father and son, both named Ed Orr,

appeared in the 1870 census. John and Nathan Mason were 14 and 17, respectively, in a large

family. Their father’s occupation was farm laborer.30

In the 1880 census, the same four families are present. Isaac W. (Walter) Anderson was listed

as 14 and mulatto. His father was a farm laborer, and he had one younger brother. At that time,

Ed Orr was married to Josephine and they had one son, Charley Orr. Samuel Gresham was a

blacksmith born about 1820 in Virginia, and married to M. Gresham, 39. They had eight children

at the time. John Mason, by 1880, was married and living with his in-laws. Nathan was not

present in the 1880 census, though he reappeared again in 1900.31

The next census was taken in 1900, and it is oddly silent about some of the families present

in previous records. There are notes on the margins indicating streets, Dixie Highway families

are present, but Van Cleve is peculiarly missing, as are listings of the families that have lived

there (although they will show up again in the 1910 census). That said, there are some families

that appear for the first time in this census as heads of their households, including the Mason

families – brothers John and Nathan – and the William Waller family. One could make an

30 United States of America, Bureau of the Census, “District 9, Tennessee,” in Ninth Census

of the United States, 1870 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1870), http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=1870usfedcen&recid=36017127 (accessed December 6, 2007).

31 United States of America, Bureau of the Census, “District 9, Tennessee,” in Tenth Census of the United States, 1880 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1880), http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=1880usfedcen&recid=15864587 (accessed December 6, 2007).

17

educated guess that the Anderson, Gresham, and Orr families were still present because they

appear again in the 1910 census.32

The 1910 census revealed some significant change. By that time, Samuel Gresham, Ed Orr,

and Walter Anderson had died. John and Nathan Mason, Ellis Anderson, and Golena Anderson

were still present. The 1920 census listings are similar to those of 1910. Nathan Mason’s sale of

property to Louis Hickman is reflected in that sentence, Mason still lived in the district. Other

than that, the records mirror the same families. In 1930 the Minter family appears, while the

other families remain the same.33

It is important to note the white families that owned land along Van Cleve lane do not live in

District 9. They live in District 13 or in Murfreesboro, and the land they own in District 9 is

farmland. They are not listed in any of the District 9 census listings. See Appendix A for a chart

depicting the District 9 census findings.

32 United States of America, Bureau of the Census, “Civil District 9, Tennessee,” in Twelfth

Census of the United States, 1900 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900), http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=1900usfedcen&recid=66115402 (accessed December 6, 2007).

33 United States of America, Bureau of the Census, “Civil District 9, Tennessee,” in Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900), http://search.ancestry.com/cgi bin/sse.dll?db=1910USCenIndex&indiv= try&h=27432342 (accessed December 6, 2007); United States of America, Bureau of the Census, “Civil District 9, Tennessee,” in Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900), http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1920USCenIndex&indiv=try&h=27432342 (accessed December 6, 2007); and United States of America, Bureau of the Census, “Civil District 9, Tennessee,” in Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900), http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1930USCenIndex&indiv =try&h=27432342 (accessed December 6, 2007);

18

COURT RECORDS

Several court cases yielded useful information for this study. As the War Department was

acquiring land, several owners did not have suitable deeds for their property. To sell, they they

had to petition the court and provide evidence and testimony to support their ownership of the

land. These records are useful for researchers to determine how land was acquired when deed

evidence was missing.

There are three court cases that shed light on property owners along Van Cleve Lane, the

John Mason property, Samuel Gresham Estate, and the Working Peoples Labor and Aid Society

case. John Mason testified in 1932 that although he did not have a deed, he came into possession

of the land in March 1902 when Margaret Lillard passed the land off to him. He lived and

worked on the land until the government purchased it.34 The Samuel Gresham property was

divided among his children after his death in 1902, and it had to go through the court because he

did not have a will. This document notes that Sam Gresham bought the property from “Harry

Kerr a number of years ago.”35 Finally, the Working Peoples Labor and Aid Society did not have

a deed, court records indicate how the organization acquired the property. Alex Malone,

president of the organization, noted in a 1933 deposition that he obtained the property in 1908

from J. H. Reed of the Murfreesboro/Shelbyville Turnpike Company.36 See Appendix E for

partial copies of these court case records.

34 United States v. Golena Anderson, et al, 1932 in Free at Last exhibit files, Center for

Historic Preservation, Murfreesboro, TN, (2007). 35 John Gresham v. Lizzie Woodson, et al., judgement 3381-1/2, Rutherford County Archive,

(1908). 36 United States v. The Working Peoples Labor Aid Society, 1932 in Free at Last exhibit files, Center for Historic Preservation, Murfreesboro, TN, (2007).

19

SECONDARY SOURCES

A small number of secondary sources were discovered in the process of researching this

project, the most useful being an 1989 MTSU honors thesis by Janet H. Goodrum, Profile of

Black Landownership in Rutherford County During Reconstruction. The thesis, supervised by

Dr. David Rowe, is a wealth of useful information. Goodrum examined data on African

American heads of households between the 1870 census. Using statistical methodology, she

found that 10 percent of African Americans listed as head of household were also landowners.

Of the 2804 total household heads, 140 owned property in 1870.37 Ninety percent of the black

landowners listed in the 1870 census lived in either the 9th, 13th, 18th, or 21st, civil districts.38 She

provides a picture of the racial makeup of the Rutherford County, reflecting the striking

difference to the place we know today. The county was equally divided ethnically between white

and black in 1870, with the number declining to 45 percent in 1880, 24 percent in 1930, and 10

percent in 1980.39

These statistics help create a picture of the county during the mid to late nineteenth century.

In 1850, Rutherford County had 11,978 slaves, and ranked sixth among Tennessee counties.

There were 16,476 blacks listed in the 1870 census. Of these households listed in the 1870

census, 90 percent were farmers or farm laborers. “Generally speaking, farmers owned property

and farm laborers did not,” she said. “Only 10 percent were employed outside the agricultural

sector, and 4% of these were blacksmiths.”40 She explains that blacksmith made up 9 percent of

37 Janet Hudson Goodrum, “Profile of Black Landownership in Rutherford County During

Reconstruction,” Honors Thesis, Middle Tennessee State University, 1989, 5. 38 Ibid., 14. 39 Ibid., 8-9. 40 Ibid., 9-10.

20

the black land-owning population, while they were just 4 percent of the population at large,

reflecting the value to African Americans of having a marketable trade during the period.41

Finally, her research revealed that the most common way African Americans purchased land was

to save money and buy with cash.42

ARCHAEOLOGY

Some archaeological investigations have been made in the Stones River Park and into

non-park owned contributing structures.43 Most of this investigation has been concerned with

structures used or noted during the actual battle. The purpose of future investigation should be to

help assess the use of land and memorialization done on the battle site before the park was

established.

The lands of the National Battlefield Park were expanded in the late 1980s and early

1990s.44 Part of this expansion includes the land to the east of Van Cleve Lane. When

fieldwalking that area, one can clearly see the land is literally littered with debris. It must have

been used as a local garbage dump. One toy found on the surface bears a date of 1967 (see

Appendix C, plate 8174). Reviewing the 1929 War Department plat map in combination with the

information that the landowners on that side of the lane were Caucasian, leads us to conclude

that this area is of little value for archaeological investigation. Should oral histories reveal that

sharecroppers who also lived on the land farmed this land as well, perhaps this conclusion would

be revisited. Separating the 1960s refuse from the 1920s and earlier Cemetery community

41Ibid., 12. 42Ibid. 43 Styles, Stones River National Battlefield Historic Resource Study, 17. 44 Page, Gilbert, and Dolan, A Guide to Cultural Landscape Reports, 17.

21

evidence might yield little information about the community that cannot be gleaned elsewhere.

Therefore it would hardly be worth the time such an effort would require to investigate most of

the lands east of Van Cleve Lane. However, there are a few exceptions to. The plot marked "11"

on the 1929 map was used by the Working People's Labor and Aid Society and has already been

excavated. The tollhouse for the Dixie Highway is also believed to be on this property and it

would prove interesting to learn more about the transition of the property from one use to

another. The Historic Resources Study references a report done on the tollhouse site, noting that

archaeologists identified it positively as the tollhouse and that it was destroyed in the battle by

artillery fire.45 Without looking at the report, there is no way to validate that conclusion or to

look at evidence for the Working People’s Labor and Aid Society structure. The property

belonging to Ellis Anderson, located between the railway and the Dixie Highway, should prove

worthy of investigation. Anderson was one of the earliest residents of the community, and

investigations of his property could yield information about prosperity of the residents as well as

to help resolve the question of how one family made use of their property. Did the five-acre plot

have a garden? Several home sites? Archaeology could answer those questions.

As for the properties to the west of Van Cleve Lane, many are worthy of investigation.

As one can see through a comparison of the 1938 aerial photograph and a more recent one from

GoogleEarth (Appendix B), the current park trail cuts through several of the properties. This

modern disturbance, although definitely impacting the information to be gleaned from

archaeological investigation, does not prevent meaningful evidence from being uncovered

archaeologically. The next steps in investigation would be to conduct a new survey of the land

acquired by the National Park Service in the late 1920s and early 1930s, and to establish a new

45 Styles, Stones River National Battlefield Historic Resource Study, 78.

22

permanent datum from which to plot GPS points. Once the datum is established and the

outermost limits of the community plotted, or perhaps before, an archaeological survey should be

conducted, working westward from Van Cleve Lane at thirty-yard intervals, from the railway to

Manson Pike. Archaeologists should undertake shovel tests every thirty yards as well as

photographing and sketching any structural evidence. On the basis of shovel test results, areas

should be chosen for further excavation. It is my suggestion that, regardless of test results, two or

three entire plots should be excavated to learn more about land use in the community over time

as well as to uncover artifacts to describe family life. As mentioned above, the Ellis Anderson

plot would be a solid candidate for this. Other options are the Working People's Labor and Aid

Society, either of the church properties, one or more of the smaller properties lining the two

interior roads for the community, and/or the Golena Anderson and John Mason properties.

Further documentary investigation should be made into the Virginia H. Earthman Estate and the

Hickman and Henderson properties. There is limited evidence from tax and census records that

one or more of the people associated with these properties were doctors. Presuming these were

medical doctors, investigation of their properties could generate significant evidence of the

character of the Cemetery community.

With a goal to learn more about the establishment, character, and evolution of Cemetery

community, archaeological investigation of the site could prove invaluable. If the artifacts on the

surface prove representative of those below, much can be learned about the habits of the

members of the community (see Appendix D for photos of surface finds from our fieldwalk).

However, all archaeological investigation within the parkland must subscribe to the standards of

23

the Secretary of the Interior, as noted in the Park Management Plan.46 As a part of the National

Park Service’s goal to preserve the character of the battlefield for reflection and contemplation of

the actual Battle of Stones River, it is not suggested that any sort of reconstruction or restoration

of structures from the Cemetery community era of the parkland be undertaken.47 Perhaps the best

way to interpret any findings of archaeological investigation would be to integrate them into the

interpretation of the park by any or all of the following: placing a case with interpretive notes in

the visitor center; integrating more discussion of the Cemetery community into the tours led by

park rangers and the self guided audio tour; and/or placing interpretive displays with information

about the community around the battlefield, either integrated into the current tour stops or as a

separate tour.

46 Janney, Elstner Associates Wiss and John Milner Associates, Stones River Battlefield

Cultural Landscape Report (Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Interior, 2007), 151. 47Ibid., 150.

24

Conclusions and Suggestions for Further Research

The land ownership research exposed rich information that had not been uncovered

previously. That said, however, there is not enough information to reach many definitive

conclusions. We know African Americans generally inhabited the land along Van Cleve Lane.

Dixie Highway near the Van Cleve area had many white inhabitants, as well as African

Americans. The Van Cleve Lane lands that whites owned did not have dwellings on them, but

were farmland. These landowners lived in other districts. Some of the African Americans who

became homeowners by the time the War Department purchased their property between 1929

and 1932 were present as early as 1870, while most of the others appeared in the area by the

1910 census.

Additional research could yield more definitive answers. Additional deed research is slow

and tedious; agricultural census research would also produce land use information. This might

begin a process of determining the physical location of dwellings along Van Cleve Lane, as well

as to determine land use patterns. Expanding Janet Goodrum’s thesis on patterns of black

landownership research in census records through 1930 would also produce some interesting

results.

With all of the information available in Rutherford County concerning the Cemetery

community, it would be an interesting place to start with a study of sharecropping patterns. The

majority of the Cemetery community residents did not live on enough acreage to do much more

than subsistence farming. It also seems from preliminary research that at least a couple of the

Caucasian landowners in the area also had houses in town. It would be useful to track the

Caucasian landowner names through the other districts in the county to determine their places of

residence. It may also prove helpful to return to the tax books with the information gathered from

25

deeds or later tax book information. For example, it was not known until near the end of our

period of research that the John Mason property was sometimes listed in the tax rolls under

Margaret Lillard. This could explain the gap for the John Mason property, but until either deeds

or tax listings are checked, this solution remains an educated guess rather than a confirmed fact.

Another question for future researchers would be to explore why the government purchased

all the land at roughly the same time? Land was acquired for other battlefield parks, notably

Gettysburg, as it became available, not all at one time. It would be interesting to determine why

the government felt compelled to acquire all the Stones River land essentially at once. Did it

have anything to do with bias based on the dominance of African-American landowners there at

the time, or was it simply the best way to quickly establish a park without waiting long periods to

obtain land parcels? The Historic Resources Study notes that a commission reviewing proposed

park purchases in the 1920s said all of the structures from the community should be removed.48

It was not deemed they had any relevance to commemoration of the battle.

Archaeological investigation may yield interesting information about the Cemetery

community. It could determine the roadbeds and historic fencerows for the community. There

would also be some evidence for structural footprints. The material culture uncovered with

archaeological investigation could shed light on the economic and cultural patterns of the

community.

From the research this group has completed to date, there appears to be no specific pattern

for the transference of landownership from Caucasian to African-American. Both owned land

near one another from the period just after the Civil War until the National Park Service

purchased the land. Whether or not they lived side by side remains to be discovered.

48 Styles, Stones River National Battlefield Historic Resource Study, 67.

26

Bibliography

Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Ninth Census of the United States, 1870. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1870.

Ancestry.com. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1880.

Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900.

Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1910.

Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1920.

Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930.

Fraley, Miranda L. “The Politics of Memory: Remembering the Civil War in Rutherford County, Tennessee.” PhD Dissertation, Indiana University, 2004.

“Free at Last” Exhibit Files, Center for Historic Preservation, Murfreesboro, TN.

Goodrum, Janet Hudson. “Profile of Black Landownership in Rutherford County During Reconstruction.” Honors Thesis, Middle Tennessee State University, 1989.

Page, Robert R., Cathy A. Gilbert, and A. Susan Dolan. A Guide to Cultural Landscape Reports: Contents, Process, and Techniques. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Interior, 1998.

Rutherford County Tax Record Books 1877-1914, 1917-1928.

Stones River Battlefield Archive, Stones River Battlefield, Murfreesboro, TN.

Styles, Sean M. Stones River National Battlefield Historic Resource Study, ed. Mary O. Ratcliffe and Robert W. Blythe. Atlanta, GA: National Park Service, 2004.

TSLA Map and Photo Collection, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, and John Milner Associates. Stones River Battlefield Cultural Landscape Report. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Interior, 2007.

APPENDIX

28-Appendix CHARTS

CHARTS

29-Appendix CHARTS

Present in District 9 in Census Year: 1930 1920 1910 1900 1880 1870

Anderson, Ellis

Anderson, Golena/Walter

Bowen, Dora Tharp

Grisham, Samuel

Harding, Giles S.

Hickman, Louis H

Mason, Nathan

Mason, John

Minter, G.H. /Rowena

Orr, Ed ,

Overall, R.F.

Ransom, J.A.

Waller, William

White

Black

Census data for residents along Van Cleve Lane

30-Appendix CHARTS

19231922

19211920

19191917

19131910

19051900

18871885

18781877

An

derso

n, B

allard

An

derso

n, B

ob

by Lee

An

derso

n, B

urto

n

An

derso

n, Ellis

An

derso

n, Ellis, Jr.

An

derso

n, Len

a

An

derso

n, M

agg

ie

An

derso

n, Sam

Gresh

am, Jo

hn

Hard

ing, G

reen

Hard

ing, G

eorg

e

Hard

ing, Sylvia

Hard

ing, W

ill

Maso

n, B

us

Maso

n, D

ave

Maso

n, Eu

gen

e

Maso

n, N

athan

Maso

n, Jo

hn

Maso

n, A

lberta

Min

ter, Hen

ry

Min

ter, Ro

wen

a

Orr, C

harlie

Orr, C

has

Orr, Ed

Orr, So

l.

Orr, Su

sie

Ran

som

, Ed

Ran

som

, Jack

Ran

som

, Joh

n H

enry

Ran

som

, Sam

Wallers, Ed

ward

& w

ife

Colored poll data for residents along Van Cleve Lane

31-Appendix CHARTS

district col. ?*acres in

1928name alter. & relatives w

same property 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1914 1913 1910 1909 1908 1905 1904 1903 1900 1899 1898 1897 1895 1887 1885 1884 1878 1877

Anderson, Ellis 9 c 5 Elvis x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Anderson, Golena 9 c 3 Galena, Lena, Goldina x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Bowen, C** 13 42 Cephas x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Gresham, Sam 9 c 30 Grissom x--e x--e x--e x--e x--e x--e x x x--e x x x--e x--e x x x--e x--e x x x--e x x x x x x

Harding, G.S. 13 Giles, Giles S, x x x x x x x x x x x x x--e x x x x x x

Harding, G.S. Jr. 13 x

Harding, Lou 9 c x x x x

Harding, Will 9 c x

Hickman, Louis 9 10 Luie, Lima x x x x x x x x x x

Hickman, Dr. J.P 9 c x x

Mason, John 9 cMargaret Lillard

(1908)x x x x x x x

Mason, Nathan 9 c 10 x x x x x x x x x

Minter, G.H. 9 c 17 Rowena, Henry x--e x--e x--e x x x x x x x x

Orr, Ed 9 c Josephine, Josie x--e x--e x--e x--e x--e x--e x--e x--e x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Overall 9, 13 AM, LC, KD, ND,RF,etc x x x x x x x x

Ransom WA, Sam, Jas H, GW x x

Ransom Bros 13 x x x x x x x

Ransom & Overall 9 100 x x x x x

Waller, William 9 3 x--e x--e x--e x--e x--e x x x x x x x x

e=estate

Property tax data for residents along Van Cleve Lane, part 1

32-Appendix CHARTS



same property 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1914 1913 1910 1909 1908 1905 1904 1903 1900 1899 1898 1897 1895 1887 1885 1884 1878 1877








Harding, Will 9 c x




(1908)x x x x x x x









e=estate



same property 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1914 1913 1910 1909 1908 1905 1904 1903 1900 1899 1898 1897 1895 1887 1885 1884 1878 1877








Harding, Will 9 c x




(1908)x x x x x x x









e=estate


33-Appendix CHARTS



same property 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1914 1913 1910 1909 1908 1905 1904 1903 1900 1899 1898 1897 1895 1887 1885 1884 1878 1877








Harding, Will 9 c x




(1908)x x x x x x x









e=estate



same property 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1914 1913 1910 1909 1908 1905 1904 1903 1900 1899 1898 1897 1895 1887 1885 1884 1878 1877








Harding, Will 9 c x




(1908)x x x x x x x









e=estate


34-Appendix CHARTS

districtcol. ?*

acres in 1928

name alter. & relatives w

sam

e property1928

19271926

19251924

19231922

19211920

19191918

19171914

19131910

19091908

19051904

19031900

18991898

18971895

18871885

18841878

1877

Anderson, Ellis9

c5

Elvisx

xx

xx

xx

xx

xx

xx

xx

xx

Anderson, Golena

9c

3G

alena, Lena, Goldina

xx

xx

xx

xx

xx

xx

xx

Bowen, C**

1342

Cephasx

xx

xx

xx

xx

xx

xx

xx

Gresham

, Sam9

c30

Grissom

x--ex--e

x--ex--e

x--ex--e

xx

x--ex

xx--e

x--ex

xx--e

x--ex

xx--e

xx

xx

xx

Harding, G

.S.13

Giles, G

iles S,x

xx

xx

xx

xx

xx

xx--e

xx

xx

xx

Harding, G

.S. Jr.13

x

Harding, Lou

9c

xx

xx

Harding, W

ill9

cx

Hickm

an, Louis9

10Luie, Lim

ax

xx

xx

xx

xx

x

Hickm

an, Dr. J.P

9c

xx

Mason, John

9c

Margaret Lillard

(1908)x

xx

xx

xx

Mason, N

athan9

c10

xx

xx

xx

xx

x

Minter, G

.H.

9c

17Row

ena, Henry

x--ex--e

x--ex

xx

xx

xx

x

Orr, Ed

9c

Josephine, Josiex--e

x--ex--e

x--ex--e

x--ex--e

x--ex

xx

xx

xx

xx

xx

xx

xx

Overall

9, 13A

M, LC, KD

, ND

,RF,etcx

xx

xx

xx

x

RansomW

A, Sam

, Jas H, G

Wx

x

Ransom Bros

13x

xx

xx

xx

Ransom & O

verall9

100x

xx

xx

Waller, W

illiam9

3x--e

x--ex--e

x--ex--e

xx

xx

xx

xx

e=estate

Property tax data for residents along Van Cleve Lane (full chart)

35-Appendix MAPS

MAPS

36-Appendix MAPS

1878 Beers Map

37-Appendix MAPS

1938 aerial photo from Stones River Battlefield archives

38-Appendix MAPS

1929 War Department Platt Map

39-Appendix MAPS

1929 Digital Platt Map

White property owners

Black property owners

40-Appendix MAPS

Current map from Google Earth

41-Appendix MAPS

Google Earth map overlay of 1938 aerial map

42-Appendix Data Sheets

DATA SHEETS


White property owners

Black property owners

Data sheet reference map


Name:Census info Virginia H. Earthman estate

Name: Vernon K Stephenson EarthmanSpouse: Virginia HendersonBirth: 25 Feb 1872 - Attala, MSDeath: 8 Aug 1944 - Murfreesboro, Rutherford, TNMarriage: 22 May 1892 - Rutherford, TN

1900 CensusVirginia HendersonHome in 1900: Civil District 13, Rutherford, Tennessee; Age: 50; Estimated birth year: abt 1850; Birthplace:Tennessee; Relationship to head-of-house: Head; Race: WhiteHousehold Members:Virginia Henderson 50; Will Henderson 17; Harrold Henderson 15; Katurah Henderson 13; Matt Henderson 10Virginia Earthman 22; Harrold Earthman 1.12; Ed Whitaker 37; Amanda Windrow 17; Malissa Oden 52; PleasantT Henderson 83

1910 censusVernon is listed as a physician in 1910 census, living on Maple Street.Virginia Earthman; Age in 1910: 31; Estimated birth year: abt 1879; Birthplace: Tennessee; Relation to Head ofHouse: Wife; Father's Birth Place: Tennessee; Mother's Birth Place: Tennessee; Spouse's name: Vernon K; Homein 1910: Murfreesboro Ward 4, Rutherford, Tennessee; Marital Status: Married; Race: White; Gender: FemaleHousehold Members:Ada B Hyde 53; Katie R Bell 49; Sarah G Bell 8; Vernon K Earthman 38; Virginia Earthman 31; Harold Earthman10

1920They are living in Dallas, Texas, Vernon is a major in the US armyVirginia M Earthman; Home in 1920: Justice Precinct 1, Dallas, Texas; Age: 40 years ; Estimated birth year: abt1880; Birthplace: Tennessee; Relation to Head of House: Wife; Spouse's name: Vernon K; Father's Birth Place:Tennessee; Mother's Birth Place: Tennessee; Marital Status: Married; Race: White; Sex: Female; Able to read:Yes; Able to Write: YesVernon K Earthman 47Virginia M Earthman 40Harold H Earthman 19

-------Ancestry.com. U.S. Army Historical Register, 1789-1903, Vol. 2 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: TheGenerations Network, Inc., 1997. Original data: Heitman, Francis B.. Historical Register and Dictionary of the UnitedStates Army, 1789-1903. Vol. 2. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1903.

pg. 208 *Earthman, Vernon K., 1 lt asst surg 4 Tenn inf.--------

Vernon files for pension in 1928noted on form: son, Harold registered while in college at Southern Methodist

1910 CensusHarold H. Henderson was 25 years old and a real estate agent in Jefferson Co. /Birmingham Alabama. He lived on16th avenue with wife, Mattie, and William R. Major, 28.

1930 CenusHe is still in Birmingham, now 45 and lives on Cliff Road.--now president realty and insurance company.Harold M HendersonBirthplace: Tennessee; Relation to Head of House: Head; Spouse's name: Mattie; Race: White; Harold MHenderson 45; Mattie Henderson 42; Martha Henderson 19; Griffin Henderson 14


Name:Census info Ed Howard1930 Census

1930 United States Federal Census; about Edd Howard; Name: Edd Howard; Home in 1930: District 9, Rutherford,Tennessee; Age: 65; Estimated birth year: abt 1865; Birthplace: Tennessee; Relation to Head of House:Father-in-law; Race: Negro (Black); Bracy Tillage 36; Bertha Tillage 38; Sammie Tillage 16; Preston Tillage 10;Edd Howard 65; ; View; Original; Record;

Name:Census info Evelyn H. JordanSocial Security Death Indexabout Evelyn H. JordanName: Evelyn H. JordanSSN: 408-16-9075Born: 4 Dec 1912Died: 15 Feb 1990State (Year) SSN issued: Tennessee (Before 1951 )

Note: Not sure if Mamie Jordan is related to Evelyn Jordan. Mamie lives on Lebanon Road in District 9. In 1910census she is listed as childless.1920 United States Federal Census; about Mamie Jordan; Name: Mamie Jordan; Home in 1920: Civil District 9,Rutherford, Tennessee; Age: 51 years ; Estimated birth year: abt 1869; Birthplace: Tennessee; Relation to Head ofHouse: Wife; Spouse's name: Rufus; Father's Birth Place: Tennessee; Mother's Birth Place: Tennessee; MaritalStatus: Married; Race: White; Sex: Female; Able to read: Yes; Able to Write: Yes; Image: 111; Neighbors: Viewothers on page; Household Members: ; Name Age; Rufus Jordan 60; Mamie Jordan 51

1910 United States Federal Census; about Rufus L Jordan; Name: Rufus L Jordan; Age in 1910: 50; Estimatedbirth year: abt 1860; Birthplace: Tennessee; Relation to Head of House: Head; Father's Birth Place: Virginia;Mother's name: Locky; Mother's Birth Place: Tennessee; Spouse's name: Mamie C; Home in 1910: Civil District 9,Rutherford, Tennessee; Marital Status: Married; Race: White; Gender: Male; Neighbors: View others on page;Household Members: ; Name Age; Rufus L Jordan 50; Mamie C Jordan 41; Locky Jordan 79

Name:Census info Nannie Bell Black1880 Census InformationNannie L. Black; Home in 1880: District 9, Rutherford, Tennessee; Age: 6M; Estimated birth year: abt 1879;Birthplace: Tennessee; Relation to head-of-household: Daughter; Father's name: W. N.; Father's birthplace:Tennessee; Mother's name: Rosy R.; Mother's birthplace: Tennessee; Neighbors: View others on page; MaritalStatus: Single; Race: White; Gender: Female; ; W. N. Black 33; Rosy R. Black 24; Wm. I. Black 1; Nannie L.Black 6M;

1900 Census InformationV Nannie Black; Home in 1900: Civil District 9, Rutherford, Tennessee; Age: 20; Estimated birth year: abt 1880;Birthplace: Tennessee; Relationship to head-of-house: Daughter; Father's name: N William; Mother's name: JRossie; Race: White; ; N William Black 53; J Rossie Black 43; J William Black 21; V Nannie Black 20; L LucyBlack 16; E Evie Black 12; A Lockie Black 6father is a farmer.

Not sure if these are the same folks--could Nannie Bell Black be white?


Name:Census info Eliza Avent1880 CensusEliza Avent Home in 1880: District 9, Rutherford, Tennessee Age: 23 Estimated birth year: abt 1857 Birthplace:Tennessee Relation to head-of-household: Wife Spouse's name: Andy Father's birthplace: Virginia Mother'sbirthplace: Virginia Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Keeping House Marital Status: Married Race:Black Gender: Female

Andy Avent 25Eliza Avent 23George Avent 3James W. Avent 2M

Does not appear in district 9 for other census'

Andy Avent Voting Record in 1891State: TN County: Rutherford County Township: Dist. 9 -Male Voters- Year: 1891 Page: 235 Database: TN 1891Voters List

1870 CensusName: Andy Avent Estimated birth year: abt 1853 Age in 1870: 17 ; Home in 1870: District 9, Rutherford,Tennessee Family and neighbors: View Results Race: Black

Name:Census info Elnora Peyton1880 CensusCould Elnora Edwards be Elnora Peyton? She could have married someone--and Peyton could be her marriedname.1880 United States Federal Census; about Elnora Edwards; Name: Elnora Edwards; Home in 1880: District 9,Rutherford, Tennessee; Age: 6; Estimated birth year: abt 1874; Birthplace: Tennessee; Relation tohead-of-household: Granddaughter; Father's birthplace: Tennessee; Mother's birthplace: Tennessee; Neighbors:View others on page; Marital Status: Single; Race: Mulatto; Gender: Female; Cannot read/write:; ; Blind:; ; Deafand dumb:; ; Otherwise disabled:; ; Idiotic or insane:; ; View image; Household Members: ; Name Age; MaryRankin 56; Fanny Edwards 20; Grant Edwards 30; Elnora Edwards 6; Joseph Edwards 5; Golissa Edwards 3;

Name:Census info Isabella Burke1920 Census1920 United States Federal Census; about Isabelle Burke; Name: Isabelle Burke; Home in 1920: MurfreesboroWard 3, Rutherford, Tennessee; Age: 60 years ; Estimated birth year: abt 1860; Birthplace: Tennessee; Relation toHead of House: Head; Father's Birth Place: Tennessee; Mother's Birth Place: Tennessee; Marital Status: Widow;Race: Black; Sex: Female; Home owned: Rent; Able to read: Yes; Able to Write: Yes; Image: 291; Neighbors:View others on page; Household Members: ; Name Age; Isabelle Burke 60; Florence Tilford 28; Lewis Burke 21;Thaddeus Cowan 56; ; View; Original; Record; ; View original image;


Name:Census info Golena Anderson1910 censusesShe was head of household, widowed in with 6 children and the youngest is 2.-working as farmer and able to read and write.

1910 Census data:Dolena Anderson[Golena Anderson]Age in 1910: 34; Estimated birth year: abt 1876; Birthplace: Tennessee; Relation to; Head of House: Head;Father's Birth Place: Tennessee; Mother's Birth Place: ; Tennessee; Home in 1910: Civil District 9, Rutherford,Tennessee; Marital Status: Widowed; Race: Mulatto; Gender: FemaleDolena Anderson 34Samuel Anderson 16Bob Anderson 10Fannie M Anderson 8Golena Anderson 6Bruce Anderson 4Jinnie Anderson 2

1920 Census data:Golena AndersonHome in 1920: Civil District 9, Rutherford, Tennessee; Age: 45 years ; Estimated birth year: abt 1875; Birthplace:Tennessee; Relation to Head of House: Head; Father's Birth Place: Tennessee; Mother's Birth Place: Tennessee;Marital Status: Widow; Race: Black; Sex: Female; Home owned: Own; Able to read: Yes; Able to Write: Yes;Image: 112Golena Anderson 45Sam Anderson 25Fanny M Anderson 17Golena Anderson 15Bruce Anderson 13Duncan Anderson 11

1880 Census (golina's husband) He died before 1900Name: Isaac W. Anderson; Home in 1880: District 9, Rutherford, TennesseeAge: 14; Estimated birth year: abt 1866; Birthplace: Tennessee; Relation to head-of-household: Son; Father'sname: Sam'l; Father's birthplace: Tennessee; Mother's birthplace: Tennessee; Neighbors: View others on pageOccupation: Farm Laborer; Marital Status: Single; Race: Mulatto; Gender: Male

Sam'l Anderson 41Mary Anderson 40Isaac W. Anderson 14William B. Anderson 12

1870 Census-Walter AndersonName: Walter Anderson; Estimated birth year: abt 1866; Age in 1870: 4; Home in 1870: District 9, Rutherford,Tennessee; Race: Black; Gender: Male

Isaac Walter Anderson may have died between 1908 and 1910 because the youngest child was born in 1907-08 andGalena is a widower by 1910.


Name:Census info Harold M. Henderson

1910 CensusHarold H. Henderson was 25 and a real estate agent in Jefferson Co. /Birmingham Alabama. He lived on 16thavenue with wife, Mattie, and William R. Major, 28.

1920 Census-live on 12th Ave.--- works in Real EstateH M Henderson; Home in 1920: Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama; Age: 34 years; Estimated birth year: abt 1886Birthplace: Tennessee; Relation to Head of House: Head; Spouse's name: Mattie; Father's Birth Place:Tennessee; Mother's Birth Place: Tennessee; Marital Status: Married; Race: White; Sex: Male; Home owned:Own; Able to read: Yes; Able to Write: YesH M Henderson 34Mattie Henderson 32Martha Henderson 8

1930 CenusHe is still in Birmingham, now 45 and lives on Cliff Road.--now president realty and insurance company.Harold M HendersonBirthplace: Tennessee; Relation to Head of House: Head; Spouse's name: Mattie; Race: White; Harold MHenderson 45; Mattie Henderson 42; Martha Henderson 19; Griffin Henderson 14; Elsie Evins 37

SS Death Indexdied June 1969 in BirminghamBirth: April 25, 1885

Registered for the draftHarold Madison Henderson

Name:Census info William Waller1900 United States Federal Censusabout William WallerName: William WallerHome in 1900: Civil District 9, Rutherford, TennesseeAge: 49Estimated birth year: abt 1851Birthplace: TennesseeRelationship to head-of-house: HeadSpouse's name: FannieRace: BlackOccupation: View imageNeighbors: View others on pageHousehold Members:Name AgeWilliam Waller 49Fannie Waller 49Duncan Waller 17L Robert Waller 12Porter Waller 8


Name:Census info Robert Avent, et al1920 CensusName: Robert Avent Home in 1920: Civil District 9, Rutherford, Tennessee Age: 25 years Estimated birth year:abt 1895 Birthplace: Tennessee Relation to Head of House: Brother-in-law Father's Birth Place: TennesseeMother's Birth Place: Tennessee Marital Status: Single Race: Mulatto Sex: Male Able to read: Yes Able to Write:Yes

Albert Smith 25Mary Smith 23Joe W Smith 5Cassie Smith 4Robert Smith 1 3/12Robert Avent 25Roewena Avent 20

1930 CensusRobert Avent Home in 1930: District 9, Rutherford, Tennessee Age: 33 Estimated birth year: abt 1897 Birthplace:Tennessee Relation to Head of House: Head Spouse's name: Maidie Race: Negro (Black)

Robert Avent 33Maidie Avent 30Mary Belle Avent 9Arthur Avent 6Robert Avent 3

Name:Census info John Swift1880 Census1880 United States Federal Census; about John Swift; Name: John Swift; Home in 1880: District 9, Rutherford,Tennessee; Age: 38; Estimated birth year: abt 1842; Birthplace: Tennessee; Relation to head-of-household: Self(Head); Spouse's name: Bettie; Father's birthplace: Tennessee; Mother's birthplace: Tennessee; Neighbors: Viewothers on page; Occupation: Farm Laborer; Marital Status: Married; Race: Black; Gender: Male; Cannotread/write:; ; Blind:; ; Deaf and dumb:; ; Otherwise disabled:; ; Idiotic or insane:; ; View image; HouseholdMembers: ; Name Age; John Swift 38; Bettie Swift 27; Joseph Swift 13; John Swift 7; Lee Swift 5; Violette Swift3; Thomas Swift 8M; Charity Blackman 70


Name:Census info Sallie Bass1920 Census

Sallie Bass Home in 1920: Civil District 9, Rutherford, Tennessee Age: 44 years Estimated birth year: abt 1876Birthplace: Tennessee Relation to Head of House: Wife Spouse's name: Percy Father's Birth Place: TennesseeMother's Birth Place: Tennessee Marital Status: Married Race: Black Sex: Female Able to read: Yes Able toWrite: Yes

Percy Bass 43Sallie Bass 44Mary Wade 65

1910 CensusName: Sallie Bass; Age in 1910: 27; Estimated birth year: abt 1883; Birthplace: Tennessee Relation to Head ofHouse: Wife Father's Birth Place: Tennessee Mother's Birth Place: Tennessee Spouse's name: Percy ; Home in1910: Murfreesboro Ward 4, Rutherford, Tennessee Marital Status: Married Race: Black Gender: Female

Percy Bass 31Sallie Bass 27

1900 Censusin district 7Name: Sallie Bass Home in 1900: Civil District 7, Rutherford, Tennessee Age: 23 Estimated birth year: abt 1877Birthplace: Tennessee Relationship to head-of-house: Daughter Parent's Name: Millie Race: Black

Millie Bass 56Sallie Bass 23Henry Bass 17Millie Bass 15Ellen Bass 2

1870 United States Federal CensusName: Sallie Bass Estimated birth year: abt 1870 Age in 1870: 2/12 Home in 1870: District 9, Rutherford,Tennessee Family and neighbors: View Results Race: Black Gender: Female Value of real estate: View imagePost Office: Murfreesboro

Name:Census info Thadeus Cowan1920 Census1920 United States Federal Census; about Thaddeus Cowan; Name: Thaddeus Cowan; Home in 1920:Murfreesboro Ward 3, Rutherford, Tennessee; Age: 56 years ; Estimated birth year: abt 1864; Birthplace:Tennessee; Relation to Head of House: Brother; Father's Birth Place: Tennessee; Mother's Birth Place:Tennessee; Marital Status: Single; Race: Black; Sex: Male; Able to read: Yes; Able to Write: Yes; Image: 291;Neighbors: View others on page; Household Members: ; Name Age; Isabelle Burke 60; Florence Tilford 28; LewisBurke 21; Thaddeus Cowan 56

1880 Census1880 United States Federal Census; about Thadeious Cowan; Name: Thadeious Cowan; Home in 1880: District 9,Rutherford, Tennessee; Age: 14; Estimated birth year: abt 1866; Birthplace: Tennessee; Relation tohead-of-household: Son; Father's birthplace: Tennessee; Mother's name: Elizabeth; Mother's birthplace:Tennessee; Neighbors: View others on page; Occupation: Farm Laborer; Marital Status: Single; Race: Mulatto;Gender: Male; Cannot read/write:; ; Blind:; ; Deaf and dumb:; ; Otherwise disabled:; ; Idiotic or insane:; ; Viewimage; Household Members: ; Name Age; Elizabeth Cowan 40; Thadeious Cowan 14; Isablla Cowan 16; LouisaCowan 3


Name:Census info Ellis Anderson Estate1920 CensusEllis Anderson; Home in 1920: Civil District 9, Rutherford, Tennessee; Age: 63 years ; Estimated birth year: abt1857; Birthplace: Tennessee; Relation to Head of House: Head; Spouse's name: AddieFather's Birth Place: Tennessee; Mother's Birth Place: Tennessee; Marital Status: Married; Race: Black; Sex:Male; Home owned: Own; Able to read: Yes; Able to Write: Yes; Image: 96

Ellis Anderson 63Addie Anderson 56Burton Anderson 20Augusta Bell Anderson 18Maggie Anderson 5/12Richard Anderson 13Sallie Mary Coldwell 18Evalina Coldwell 8/12Huston Quarles 8

1910 CensusEllis Anderson; Age in 1910: 50; Estimated birth year: abt 1860; Birthplace: Tennessee; Relation to Head ofHouse: Head; Father's Birth Place: Tennessee; Mother's Birth Place: Tennessee; Spouse's name: Addie; Home in1910: Civil District 9, Rutherford, Tennessee; Marital Status: Married; Race: Mulatto; Gender: Male; Neighbors: ;

Ellis Anderson 50Addie Anderson 46Ellis Anderson Jr 22Bob L Anderson 19Everlina Anderson 17Bertin Anderson 10Sallie M Anderson 8Alexander Anderson 3

1880 CensusEllis Anderson; Home in 1880: District 9, Rutherford, Tennessee; Age: 20; Estimated birth year: abt 1860Birthplace: Tennessee; Relation to head-of-household: Self (Head); Father's birthplace: Tennessee; Mother'sbirthplace: Tennessee; Neighbors: View others on page; Occupation: Farm Laborer; Marital Status: Married;Race: Black; Gender: Male; Cannot read/write:

Ellis Anderson 20Adline Anderson 18Frank Anderson 2

Tennessee Census, 1810-91Name: Ellis AndersonState: TN; County: Rutherford County; Township: Dist. 9 -Male Voters-Year: 1891Page: 209Database: TN 1891 Voters List


1929-Golena AndersonCensus info1930 Golena Anderson willJan. 13, 1930Will book 3, page 146Rutherford County Archive

Left to sons, Sam Anderson, and J.D. Anderson the Waller Estate. "Ihave paid the taxes on this land for 17 years."

To Sam Anderson, Bruce Anderson, Walter Anderson, J.D.Anderson, I.W. Anderson, and my daughter Fannie Mary Mansonthe tract of land known as the I.W. Anderson place."

Witnesses: Rowena Minter, and Maggie R. Minter

She knows the government is buying her land. She notes the moneyfirst goes to pay debts and funeral arrangement, the rest goes to herdaughter, Golena.

Court Deed: USA from Golena AndersonBook 75, pg. 85-86; June 5, 1929 2.3 acres (same tract)

Court deed: Anderson from H.H. KerrBook 39, pg. 397-398; Dec. 13, 1898, 2.5 acres

Court Deed: USA from Golena AndersonBook 78, pg. 252-253; July 7, 1933, 3.2 acres-Notes that it is same tract of land sold by H.H. Kerr to WilliamWaller in about 1881 for which no deed is recorded.

Court deed: USA from Golena AndersonBook 78, pg. 254-255; July 7, 1933, 1.0 acres-Notes that it is the same tract of land sold by E.P. Leach to I.W.Anderson as shown in Book 73, pg. 492

Court deed: USA from G. AndersonBook 79, pg. 130-131; April 28, 1934-notes same track owned by Margaret Lillard and mentioned in deedconveying adjacent property from H.H. Kerr to Golena AndersonBook 39, pg. 397

Deed: USA from Galena AndersonBook 75, pg. 85-86; April 4, 1930-same tract conveyed by H.H. Kerr-- Book 39, pg. 397

Deed: G. Anderson from H.H. KerrBook 39, p. 397-398; Dec. 13, 1898-no previous reference

Tax information: 3 acresGolena Anderson paid taxes in 1928, 1927,1926, 1925, 1924, 1923, 1922, 1921,1920,1918, 1917,

1910 censusesShe was head of household, widowed in with6 children and the youngest is 2.-working as farmer and able to read andwrite.

1910 Census data:Dolena Anderson[Golena Anderson]Age in 1910: 34; Estimated birth year: abt1876; Birthplace: Tennessee; Relation to;Head of House: Head; Father's Birth Place:Tennessee; Mother's Birth Place: ;Tennessee; Home in 1910: Civil District 9,Rutherford, Tennessee; Marital Status:Widowed; Race: Mulatto; Gender: FemaleDolena Anderson 34Samuel Anderson 16Bob Anderson 10Fannie M Anderson 8Golena Anderson 6Bruce Anderson 4Jinnie Anderson 2

1920 Census data:Golena AndersonHome in 1920: Civil District 9, Rutherford,Tennessee; Age: 45 years ; Estimated birthyear: abt 1875; Birthplace: Tennessee;Relation to Head of House: Head; Father'sBirth Place: Tennessee; Mother's BirthPlace: Tennessee; Marital Status: Widow;Race: Black; Sex: FemaleHome owned: Own; Able to read: Yes; Ableto Write: Yes; Image: 112Golena Anderson 45Sam Anderson 25Fanny M Anderson 17Golena Anderson 15Bruce Anderson 13Duncan Anderson 11


1929-GreshamCensus infono Gresham in Rutherford County will book

Court Deed: USA from Lucy Gresham FowlerBook 78, pg. 249-252(2 deeds)

Deed: USA from Sallie Gresham HarlanBook 79, p. 119-120April 26, 1934-two tracts, both along Van Cleve5.0 acres + 1.5 acres

Deed: USA from Lucy Gresham Fowler & Elizabeth GreshamWoodsonBook 79, p. 129-130, April 28, 1934-Two tracts, not sure they border Van Cleve (Richard's note)

USA from Samuel GreshamBook 79, pg. 131-132, April 28, 1934

1880 Rutherford County, district 9 census,Samuel Gresham-original property owner,listed as a blacksmithborn about 1820 in VirginiaFather birthplace-VirginiaMother's Birthplace-Virginiamarried to M. Gresham, 39;children:John Gresham, 19; Rufus Gresham, 14;Rebecca Gresham, 13; Daniel Gresham, 18;Lucy Gresham, 10; Lizzie Gresham, 9; MaryGresham, 7; Martha Gresham, 4; SallieGresham 2; Samuel A. Gresham 10M.

1880 death index-Paul Gresham, son of Samuel18 years oldfarm laborer who died from typhoid fever;born in TN, mother born in Miss. and fatherwas born in Virginia.Doctor listed: Dr. J.E. Manson

1870 Civil District 9, RC CensusHenry Gresham, 33, farm Laborer,Hannah, 32; Marcha, 21 female; Les?, 19male; Ada, 13; Miller, 11, female; Isham, 9,male, Sam, 3, Hannah, 1


1929-Giles S. Harding EstateCensus info1920 Census, Civil District 13, RCGiles S. Harding, 65, born in TNLarena Harding, wife, 57able to read and writewhiteson, Medicus, 28, single,general farmerAll were born in TN.Owned homeCephas and Dora Bowen lived on one side andThomas Burris on the other

1910 Census, Civil District 13, RCGiles S. Harding, 55, born in TNLarena Harding, wife, 47Jessie Harding, 23Lalah M. Harding, 20Madiens Harding, 18Giles G. Harding, Jr. 5

1900 Census, Civil District 13, RCGiles Harding, 45,Larena, 37Jessie Harding, 14Lallah M. Harding, 10,Madicus Harding, 8

Does not appear in same are in 1880, thoughanother Giles Harding appears in Warren countyaround McMinnville. The ages don't match up.


1929-HickmanCensus infoMrs. V.A. Henderson is buying and sellingland all over Rutherford County prior tobeing executrix of estate.

-she is referred to as executrix in 1903.When did this guy die?

1920 Census, RC Murfursboro Ward 2Louis Hickman, 40, mulatto, Illi., Ill., Ill.,Jammie Hickman, 35, TN, TN, TN

1930 US Census, District 9, RCNathan Mason, 70, TN,TN,TNwidowed, 21 when married,negro, owned home

1920 US Census, District 9, RCNathan Mason, 60, TN,TN,TNIsabella, 48,Eugene Mason, 20,negro, owned homeable to read and write

1910 US Census, District 9, RCNathan Mason, TN,TN,TNwidowed, 21 when married,negro, owned homeOscar Mason, 17; Eugene Mason, 14;Alberta Mason, 6;

1870 US Census, District 9, RCNathan Mason, 14, TN,TN,TN

Richard Mason, 40, blackCaroline, 30,John, 17Nathan, 14Miney, 6,Mandy, 3Jack 15Bill 16

Louis M. Hickman

1. Deed: USA from Louis H. HickmanBook 75, pg. 83, April 3, 1930-notes same property conveyed by Nathan Mason in Book 59, pg.445

2. Deed: Louis H. Hickman from Nathan MasonBook 59, pg. 445, Sept. 17, 1917-same land conveyed by Mrs. V.A. Hendersonreferences book 53, pg. 468

3. Deed: Nathan Mason from V.A. HendersonBook 53, pg. 468, Feb. 8, 1911-V.A. is executrix of last will and testament of W.T. Henderson (willhave to look in index for W.T.)-note on release of debt in book RR pg. 86-no leads from here, need to find W.T. Henderson.-W.T. Henderson is Deputy County Surveyer in 1911; don'tunderstand because he is supposed to be dead; may be a differentperson, but there is not junior; can't tell if he is the same person.

4. W.T. Henderson from W.A. Ransom & OthersSept. 18, 1891; 32/585

5. W. T. Henderson from Chattanooga Brewing CompanyApril 5, 1892 or 93; 33/433-referenced as same property conveyed to W.M. Perry and wife fromStandard Oil Company as in book 32/445? can't discern, couldn't find the previous reference.

6. WT Henderson from W. F. CooperJanuary 4, 1894; 35/179-182-bordered by RR & National Cemetery, contains 192 acres; sayssame conveyed by R.T. Tompkins and Peter Lowry; I think this island based on boundaries.

7. R.T. Tompkins from R. Ransom, SheriffDec. 16, 1871; 20/448-450-bordered by Turnpike & Cemetery, same tract conveyed by N.C.Collier-Tompkins is executer of James M. Tompkins

8. N.C. Collier from James M. TompkinsJuly 10, 1868; 16/145-146

9. James M. Tompkins from Edward L. Jordan, Assigner of E.B.Hunt, BankruptMay 14, 1868; 16/137-138-court seized and sold land, Hunt bankrupt; prop. borders Turnpike;think it is the same, reference culp?, oak in previous deeds.

- it appears E.B. Hunt owned property at time of war.


1929-John MasonCensus infoCourt RecordDistrict Court of the US for the Nashville Division of the MiddleDistrict of Tennessee[found in Center for Historic Preservation files on Cemetery]No. 2108-October 18, 1932H.L. Doak, Clerk

US vs. Golena Anderson, et al.Depositions of John Mason and Nathan Mason, July 1932

Q. State your name, age, and residence.A. John Mason, aged 79, I reside on the Asbury Lane, near theNational Cemetery.

Q. Do you know the property described in the pleadings in this case,which is said to belong to the heirs of Margaret Lillard?A. Yes, I do. In the year of the big flood, in 1902, I went onto thisplace. It was right after that big rain, and the ground was stillcovered with water. I had to ride a horse to get to it. I went onto thisplace and took possession of it.

Q. What work have you done on this place, and when?A. Right after I went there in 1902, I began to get up rocks off of theplace, and I took these rocks and built a fence all around it. It tookme two or three years, working at odd times, to build this fence. Iwould get up the rocks, and roll them to the place in a wheelbarrow,and then build them into the fence.

Will Harding was also interviewed in this document.Q. State your name, age, and residence.A. Will Harding, I was born the year after the Stones River fight[1864]. I live at the Cemetery.

Q. Do you know the property claimed by John Mason, and how longhave you known it?A. Yes, I know it. I have lived there at the cemetery all my life.

Q. Do you know when John Mason first went upon this place?A. Yes it was right after the flood in 1902. About the first of April.

Q. Did you know Margaret Lillarde family or children?A. Yes, I knew her and her two oldest children. They used to live onthat place, but they left there before he moved onto it. They have notbeen seen or heard from since, that I know of, any how they havenever been back to the Cemetery.

There is a John Mason 9th district nearGolena Anderson in the 1910 census.He is a 58 year old black man with a son,daughter and grandson that lives in in thesame dwelling. He has a border, MaryAnderson, aged 72.The affidavit would confirm this is the sameJohn Mason. Nathan Mason was alsointerviewed for the court case. He is 72 andresides near the National Cemetery. Heconfirms John Mason's story about hisacquisition of the land.In the same lawsuit record appears thisnarrative: "And it appearing to the court fromthe proof that the tract of land described inthe pleadings in this cause was deeded toMargaret Lillard by H.H. Kerr and wife atsome date prior to March, 1902 and that saiddeed was never put to record but ismentioned in another deed of record in book39, page 397, RO for Rutherford County,Tennessee, conveying certain property toGolena Anderson. And it further appearing tothe court from the proof that the saidMargaret Lillard on or about March, 1902 byparol gave said tract of land to John Masonand the the said John Mason on or about thefirst day of April, 1902 entered upon saidtract of land and proceeded to occupy thesame as his own..."

Margaret Lillard shows up in 1880 RC district9 census; Age 24, born about 1856;husband: John W. Lillard, 22; child: JohnLillard; also in dwelling: Quil Wade, 26-lives next door to John Mason

In 1900 census, found a widowed MargaretLillard living in Nashville with a white family,the Baskette's, as a cook. She has onechild, a son, Walter. Could John W. be JohnWalter?


1929-People’s Labor and Aid SocietyCensus infoWPLAS to USABook 79 (?) p. 125April 26, 1934-referenced as same property sold by Relief Union of AmericaLodge No. 1 to Nashville, Murfreesboro and Shelbyville TurnpikeCompanyBook 47, p. 546 or 526


1929-MinterCensus info

G. H Minter= George Henry MinterRowena's husbandson=Percy Minter, still alive and oral history group is scheduling aninterview.

John Lodl has file of genealogical info at the Rutherford CountyArchive.

Deed researchUSA from Rowena MinterBook 78 p. 259-260, July 8, 193311.0 acres (notes it is tract no. 1 of the W.T. Henderson Division Aplatt referenced in Book 54, p. 250

1930Rowena Minter-negro, 44, female, with 3daughters and a son, plus 2 grandchildren indistrict 9, ancestry.com.


1929-Mt. Olivet Missionary Baptist ChurchCensus info

USA from Mt. OlivetBook 76 p. 62-63January 20, 1931same tract sold by H.H. Kerr, Book 27, p. 378

Mt. Olivet Trustee from H.H. KerrBook 27, p. 378July 23, 1884-no further reference, property deed to several trustees of church

NOTE: separate reference Mt. Olivet from W.A. HopkinsBook 76, p. 163-164 March 11, 1931*not sure how this relates.

[Alec Malone, head deacon; John Hugle, deacon; Georgia B.Tillage, sec.,' Nora Clark-Mother of the Church]


1929-J.A. Ransom & R.F. OverallCensus infoRobert Floyd Overall died Oct. 28, 1941 with a will-Will book, Book 3, page 470, Rutherford County ArchiveIt is a short will that left everything to 3 nephews, Robert, John, andJesse Overall

Deed: J.A. Ransom to Overall & Avent et. allBook 74, pg 424, July 1, 1929

Deed: Albert M. Leach to J. A. RansomBook 73, pg. 529, March 30, 1929

Deed: E.P. Leach & wife to Albert M. LeachBook 50, pg. 121, December 1, 1908

Deed: C. B. (Charlie) Hill to E. P. LeachBook 39, pg. 411, December 12, 1898

1850 slave census, Rutherford County atWilkinsons CrossroadsIsaac Overall-slave owner23 slaves, 12 females and 11 males11 of them are 16 and under


1929-William Waller EstateCensus info

1930 Golena Anderson WillJan. 13, 1930Will book 3, page 146Rutherford County Archive

Left to sons, Sam Anderson, and J.D. Anderson the Waller Estate. "Ihave paid the taxes on this land for 17 years."


Tax InformationStones River Research Project—Group 1Land Ownership along Van Cleve LaneKristen Baldwin Deathridge

1929 plots along Van Cleve, according to USPS map:

Anderson, Ellis (plot 2)Anderson Golena (plot 26)Bowen, Dora Tharp (plot 38)Gresham estate (several plots)Harding estate Hickman, Louis (plot 1)Mason, John (plot 27)Minter, G.H. Estate (plot 10)Mt. Olivet Missionary Baptist Church* (plot 21)Orr, Ed estate (plot 33, 39)Waller, William estate (plot 20)Working People’s Labor and Aid Society* (plot 11)Overall, RF & Ransom, JA (plot 12)

*these are not included in the below information

1928 tax book (taxes paid in 1929)

Anderson, Ellis—5 acresAnderson, Golena—3 acresBowen, Dora Tharp—not listed, though listed as border for Ransom and Overall; need to go back and check district 13Gresham estate—30 acres; says Johnson is Western borderHarding estate—not listedHickman, Louis H—10 acresMason, John—not listedMinter, G.H. estate—listed as Minter, Rowena, 10 acres; Minter, Brother listed in colored pollsOrr, Ed estate—listed as Orr, Josephine estate, paid by Charlie Orr, 17 acresWaller, William estate—3 acresRansom & Overall—100 acres

1927

Anderson, Ellis—5 acresAnderson, Golena—3 acresGresham estate—30 acresHarding, Giles, S.—listed as border but not as payerHickman, Louis, H—10 acresMason, John—not listedMinter, G.H. estate—same as 1928, without payer info—hwy, Anderson, rd, Huddleston (overlooks Waller estate which is between minter and Anderson)--Minter, Henry on colored pollsOrr, Ed—listed as Orr, Josephine estate—7 acres: Avant, Grissam, rd, Cowan (overlooks burke & black, plots 31 & 32)--10 acres: RR, hwy, cemetery, Henderson (not on our map??)

Ransom & Overall—100 acresWaller, William estate—3 acres—rd, rd, rd, church—same as 28 (leaves out where Mt. Olivet should be)

district 13Bowen, C—42 acres—overall, pike, pike, rd

1926

Anderson, Ellis (c)--5 acres—leach, hwy, Gannon, rdAnderson, galena—2 acres, listed as LenaGresham estate—34 acresHarding, Giles, s—still not listed but listed as border to GreshamHickman, Louis h—10 acresmason, john (c)--1 acre—Anderson, rd, rd, AndersonMinter, G.H. estate (c)—listed under Rowena—11 acres, Henderson, Anderson, rd, Howard—Minter Rowena & Roberta in colored pollsOrr, Ed—listed under Josie—10 acres: RR, hwy, cem., Henderson—7 acres: Avent, Gresham, rd, CowanRansom & Overall—100 acres—hwy, Bowen, tedder, rdWaller, William estate—3 acres—church, rd, rd, church

district 13Bowen, C. 42 acres—each, pk, Fite, lane (van Cleve?)

1925

all the same as 1926made note of Hickman borders—RR, hwy, rd, cemetery

possible year of death for G.H. Minter

1924

Overall, Sam—130 acres—bell, Washington, rd, creekMason, John—1 acre—no boundaries listedMinter, Henry—same boundaries as 23 and 25All others same

1923

Hickman, luie—8 acres—RR, hwy, Anderson, cemeterymason, john—not listedminter, Henry—10 acres—hwy, reed, rd, earthmanOrr, Josephine—10 acres, Gordon, johns, Murphy, SullivanOrr, Ed estate (handwritten)—7 acres (+3 from 1922)—boundaries not listedoverall, Sam, n.—130 acres—bell, Washington, rd, creek

col. PollsAnderson, EllisAnderson, Lena

District 13Harding, m.r. at al—280 acres—pk, overall, smith, hunter 40 acres—Harlan, pk, rd, HarrisonHarding, Mrs. G.S.—no land listed


1922

Anderson, Ellis—5 acres—RR, pk, Gannon, HickmanAnderson, galena—3 acres—Waller mason, RR, wadeGresham, Sam—34 acres—Orr, Hardin, pk, KirkManson, john—1 acre—Anderson, Orr, pk, AndersonMinter, Henry—11 acres—pk, Rankin, pk, HendersonOrr, Ed estate—10 acres—RR, pk, cem, wade 4 acres—Avent, Gresham, pk, Cowanoverall, Sam n—130 acres—Washington, bell, pk, bondWaller, wm—3 acres—leach? church?, rd, lane, church---*earliest recordHickman, L—8 acres, cemetery, pk, RR, pk

colored pollsAnderson, SamHarding, SylviaMason Eugene Mason AlbertaMinter RowenaWallers, Edward and wife

District 13Bowen, c—42 acres—leach, pk,_____ , rdHarding G.S.—400 acres—Harrison, creek, smith, Gresham

1921

Anderson, Ellis, c—5—RR, pk, Gannon, HickmanAnderson, galena—3—Waller, mason, RR, wadeGresham, Sam—34—Orr, Harding, pk, hurtHickman, l—8—cem, pk, RR, pkManson, john—1—Anderson, Orr, pk, AndersonMinter, Henry—11—pk, Rankin, pk, HendersonOrr, Ed estate—10—RR, pk, cem, wade 4—Avent, Gresham, pk, Cowan *death year?Overall, Sam—130—bell, Washington, pk, bond

White pollsHarding, SylviaMason, Eugene

Colored pollsAnderson, EllisAnderson, MaggieAnderson, SamMinter, RowenaOrr, ChasOrr, Susie

District 13Bowen—sameHarding, G.S.—400 acres—Harrison, creek, smith, Gresham

1920

Anderson, galena—3—ward, mason, rd, rd

Anderson, Ellis—5—lane, dannon, rd, pikeGresham, Sam—34—Orr, rd-rd-HardinHickman, Lima—8—cem, rd, rd, pkMason, john—2—Anderson, lane, rd, AndersonMinter, Henry—11—pike, Huddleston, rd, earthman (G.H. = Henry?)Orr, Ed—10—wade, cem, rd, pike 4—hutch, Gresham, Manson, Anderson

colored pollsAnderson, EllisOrr, Chasransom, Sam

district 13Bowen, Cephas—42 acres—leach, pk, Fite, rdHarding, Giles—360 acres—pk, Hoover, jetton, rd

1919Anderson, Ellis, col–same as 1918Anderson, Gallna–same as 1918Gresham, Sam, col.–same as 1918Harding, Will, col–2 acres–smith, lane, pk, laneHickman, Dr. J.P.–same as 1918Mason, Nathan, col–same as 1918Minter, Henry–same as 1918Orr, Ed–same as 1918

colored pollsAnderson, Ellis, JrAnderson, BurtonAnderson, SamMason, DaveOrr, CharlieRansom, John Henry

District 13Bowen, C.–42 acres–leach, pk, Fite, hardyHarding, GS (p)–same as 1918Overall & –same as 1918Overall, AM–430 a– rd, jakes, rvr, rd 70–___, rd, Sanford, HarrisOverall, SN Admr (p)–13 a–Odom, rd, Alex, Odom–“error”Overall, KD–44 a–rvr, rd, Harrison, overall 47–hard-, rd, Hoover, buoyOverall, LC–13–Thompson, rd, ____, CovingtonRansom Bros & Co–same as 1918

1918

Anderson, Ellis col.—5—Malone, Gannon, RR, pkAnderson, gallna—2—ward, mason, rd, rdGresham, Sam col.—40—Orr, Selph, rd, BagwellHickman, dr. j.p. col.—10—pk, Henderson, earthman, HendersonMason, Nathan col.—3—pk, lane, crutch-, CrouseDitto marks for Nathan mason, but Louis Hickman written in—10—RR, pk, rd, cemMinter, Henry col.—11—lane, rd, pk, HuddlestonOrr, Ed col.—4—Anderson, _____, rd, Manson


10—Henderson, cemetery, RR, pk

dist. 13Harding, g.s.—300—pk, Hoover, Gresham, jettonransom bros & co—2—pk, Harrison, black, rvr 1—Thompson, pk, RR, shearinOverall & Avant—town lots 6, 1

1917

Anderson—both same as 1918 but n border for Ellis is lane instead of Malone Mason, Nathan col—3—pk, lane, Crutcher, Crouse 10—RR,pk,rd,cemOrr—same as 1918

colored pollsAnderson, ElyAnderson, SamMason, bus

District 13Bowen—same as 1920Harding, gas—365—pk, Hoover & o, Bagwell, GreshamRansom bros & co—2—pk, Harrison, love rvr, _____ 1—Thompson, pk, RR, shearin

*gap until 1914

1914

Anderson, Elvis (col)--5 acres—rd, wade, RR, pikeGrissom, Sam estate—40 acres—Orr, Selph, rd, MansonOrr, Ed (col)--10 acres—RR, pike, cemetery, Henderson

district 13Bowen, C—42 acresRansom Bros—2 acres: pike, Harrison, love, river—1.5 acres: Thompson, pike, pike, shearin

1913

Anderson, Golena c–2–rd, Manson, rd, wadeAnderson, Ellis c–5–mason, pk, RR, pkGresham, Sam estate–40–Orr, Selph, leach, MansonOrr, Ed–15–Anderson, ok–gr, rd–RR, pk-bagwell

Colored PollsOrr, Ed

District 13Bowen, C.–42–leach, overall, Fite, HardingHarding, GS AGENT–40–Harding, Harding, Harding, HardingHarding, GS–360–Selph, Hoover, overall, GreshamOverall, AM–485 & 150Overall, LC–134Overall, KD–50–10–70Overall, Jesse col.–1 town lot

Overall, ND–45–75–14Overall, AM & RF–4 lots in king ragland addition

1910

Anderson, Ellis col.–5–RR, n pike, wade, rdAnderson, Goldina col.–2–Waller, Lillard, rd, wadeGresham, Sam col.–40–Orr, self, rd, ransomHarding, Lou col.–1–Henderson, Kerr, Avent, HowardOrr, Ed col.–5–Anderson, Gresham, rd, KerrWaller, wm–2–Henderson, Anderson, rd, church

Colored pollsAnderson, bobby leeAnderson, Ellis Jr.Gresham johnHarding willHarding greenMinter, HenryOrr, EdRansom, Ed

District 13Bowen, C–42–leach, m pike, Fite, HardingHarding, GS–360–m pike, overall, overall, GreshamOverall, ND–68–2–10–10Overall, KD–25–8–5Overall, KD & BF–50 (same as KD alone in 1913)Overall, KD & ND–25–20–8–50Overall, LC–234Overall, AM–450--150–same as 1913Overall, Miss Eudie–1 town lotOverall, JH–125Ransom, Jim–1 town lotRansom Bros–12,5

1909

Anderson, Ellis c–same as 1910*Golena not listed*others same as 1910

District 13Bowen, Cephas–43–leach, m pk, Fite, lane

1908

Anderson, Ellis c–same as 1910Gresham, Sam c estate–same as 1910Harding, Lou c–same as 1910Kerr HH estate–14–hend-, Howard, Howard, MansonLeach EP & Anthony–72Leach EP–30–172Leach, GI–165Mason, John c–1–and-, Orr, leach, and- --handwritten note “see Margaret

Lillard” she has c and same acreage and border info–taxes only paid once

Orr, Ed–same as 1910Waller, Wm c–same as 1910


District 13*no Bowen

1905

Anderson, Boyd c–4–Scruggs, muse, Atkinson, sikesAnderson, Ellis & Wade, Quill (sp?) C–7–leach, pk, hazen mnmt, HendersonAnderson, CW–12–miles, stockard, stockard, milesAnderson, Walter c–3–Waller, Lillard, rd, wadeGresham, Sam estate c–40–rd, Harding, rd, MansonHarding, Lou c-1-henderson, Rankin, Kerr, KerrKerr, HH–32–Henderson, Orr, rd, MansonLeach, EP–180–river, leach, river, rdLeach, GL & AM–72–Henderson, wade, pk, rdLeach, GL–165–Leach, RR, river, rdLeach, AM–125–early, freeman, river, freemanMason, Nathan c–2–burrus, rd, crutcher, CrouseOrr, Ed c–5–Anderson, Gresham, rd, CowanWaller, William–2–Henderson, Anderson, rd, Kerr

Colored PollsAnderson, BallardHarding, GreenHarding, WillOrr, Sol.Ransom, Jack

District 13Harding GS–460–Gresham, hill, overall, overallNashville, Murfreesboro & Shelbyville Turnpike Co (gates) 2Overall, ND–70–90–210Overall, AM–22–1068Overall, Walter C–1 town lotOverall, Albert–1 town lotRansom & Bilbro–Mill property–1 acre

1903Anderson, Ellis col & Wade Quill col–7–leach, ph, h. mnmt, Henderson

1903*no Ellis AndersonAnderson, Boyd–same as 1905Gresham, Sam c–40–Orr, self, rd, MansonKerr HH–32–Henderson, Orr, rd, MansonLeach EP–65–30Leach, EP & LJ–117Leach, GL & AM–72Leach, AM–125Mason, Nathan c–2–burrus, syer, rd, CrouseOrr, Ed–same as 1905 except for the north is n. BlackmanWaller, Wm c–3–church, Anderson, rd, church

1900

Grisham, Samuel estate—40 acres—arr (Orr?), selph, rd, MansonMason, Nathan (col)--2 acres—burrus (?), leoman, rd, leomanOrr, Ed (col)--5 acres—Blackman, Gresham, rd, leoman

Colored polls:Anderson, EllisOrr, Solomon & Orr, CharlieRansom, Sam

District 13Bowman, Wm—1/2 acreHarding, G.S. Estate—40 acres: Harding, Harding, wood, Harding—90 acres: pike, Harding wood, Gresham—70 acres: pike, arnall (?), arnall (?), wood—60 acres: wood, Gresham, arnall (?), GreshamRansom, W.A., Sr.--20 acres, ½ acre, 1 acreRansom, Sam—40 acres—rimfox (??), rd, rRR audmay (?)Ransom, Jas. H.--3/4 acre: pike, Hudson (?), ransom, ransom—36 acres: pike, Harrison, pike, hill

1899

Mason, Nathan c–2–burrus, rd, Crutcher, courseOrr, Ed c–5–Blackman, Gresham, rd, CowanWaller, Wm c–3–ch, Blackman, rd, ch

1898

Mason, Nathan col–same as 1899Orr, Ed col–same as 1899Waller, Wm col–same as 1899

1897

*no Mason, Orr, or Waller

1895

Gresham, Sam col–40–Cowan, leach, rd, KerrKerr, HH–80–cooper, collier, selph, MansonLeach, GL–165Leach, EP & TA–117Leach, AM–12Leach, AM & GL–72*no Mason, Orr, or Waller*–this is what sent me to books 1899, 98, &

97–I only looked for those names in those books because Gresham was essentially the same

Ransom, Jas A–30–pk, leach, leach, leach

District 13

Harding, GS estate–40–Harding, Harding, wood, HardingHarding, GS, Jr–90–pk, Harding, wood, Gresham 70–pk, overall, overall, wood 60 wood, Gresham, overall, Gresham

1890Gresham, Sam col—40—no boundaries listed this year for any propertyKerr, H.H.—80Leach, AM & JA—53Leach, AM—40Leach, EP—63Leach, Geo L—149


Leach, EP & JA—117Leach, EW—57Ransom, Jas A—30Ransom, Geo—52Ransom, Jas A & Bro—40

Colored PollsAnderson, EllisMason, JohnMason, NathanOrr, EdOrr, Solomon

District 13Harding GS Sr—40Harding GS Jr—90, 70, 60

1889—same as 1890

1888—same as 1890 except:District 13Harding, GS—70 (no Jr)

1887

Gresham, Sam (col)--40 acres—Cowan lands, Manson, p. road, KerrRansom, James A—30 acres—pike, collier, collier, collierRansom, JA & Bro—40 acres—pike, hill, McKnight, collierRansom, GW—52 acres—leach, Mcuin, Maney, Leach

Colored PollsAnderson, EllisHarding, George (?)Mason, JohnOrr Solomon & Orr, Edward

District 13Bowman (T or F). W.J.--1.5 acre—ransom, ransom, pike, ransom (later became Bowen??)Harding, Giles S.--363 acres—pike, Gresham, Lytle, Gresham

1885

Gresham, Sam—40—no boundaries listed for any propertiesKerr, HH—80Ransom, JA—30Ransom, JA & Bro—40

Colored PollsAnderson, EllisAnderson, SamMason, JohnMason, NathanOrr, EdOrr, Solomon

District 13Harding GS—362

1884*no GreshamKerr HH—120Several Leachs

1878Leach JT—116Leach, George

Colored PollsAnderson, SamuelMason, JohnOrr, EdOrr, Solomon

District 13Harding GS—363

1877

District 13Harding, GS—363

67-Appendix PHOTOS

PHOTOS

68-Appendix PHOTOS

Caption on back of photo: #4 of article, The Battle of Stone’s River one black woman and two children on steps of cabin. Stones River Battlefield Archive, Stones River Battlefield, Murfreesboro, TN.

Nashville Pike out of Murfreesboro, looking north-west toward the rise of ground which was the site of Fortress Rosecrans, con-structed after the withdrawl of Bragg, from a photograph in 1884.Stones River Battlefield Archive, Stones River Battlefield, Murfreesboro, TN

69-Appendix PHOTOS

Van Cleave Lane just across the RR tracks

WPA WorkO.E. Camp

Spring

“Van Cleve Lane, across from the railroad tracks,”

Murfreesboro, TN, Stones River Battlefield Archive,

70-Appendix PHOTOS


71-Appendix PHOTOS


72-Appendix PHOTOS


73-Appendix PHOTOS


74-Appendix PHOTOS


75-Appendix PHOTOS

Stones River Battlefield Ar-chive, Stones River Battle-field, Murfreesboro, TN.

76-Appendix PHOTOS FIELD PHOTOS

77-Appendix PHOTOS

78-Appendix PHOTOS

79-Appendix PHOTOS

80-Appendix PHOTOS

81-Appendix PHOTOS

82-Appendix PHOTOS

83-Appendix PHOTOS

84-Appendix PHOTOS

85-Appendix PHOTOS

land ownership along van cleve lane—a cultural landscape project

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