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Volume 35, Issue 5 Sandra J Stacey, Editor May 2012

THE CORNSHELLERNewsletter of the Montgomery County

Historical Society

LOCATION

L&N Train Station

10th & Commerce Streets

Clarksville, TN 37040

931.553.2486

Officers:

President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sandra J Stacey

Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jim Moore

Recording Secretary . . . . . . . . . . Linda Nichols

Correspondence Secretary . . . . . .Molly Cook

Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glenda Angus

Historical:

County Historian . . . . . . . . . . . . .Eleanor Williams

County Archivist . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jill Hastings Johnson

County Genealogist . . . . . . . . . . .Gail Longton

Members at Large:

Rachel Pace

Cleo Hogan

Marjorie WadeImmediate Past President: . . . Billyfrank Morrison

2012 HISTORICAL SOCIETY PROGRAMS

All programs meet on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m.Unless otherwise stated.

May 21 ROSS HUDGINS, author/editor“Maggie”, Civil War Diary

* * * JUNE 15 Friday * * * SUBJECT TO CHANGESPRING ADVENTURE? (under consideration)A trip in cars to Ashland City to the (put-back-together-after-flood) RIVERVIEW RESTAURANT overlooking the Cumberland. Buffet is served on Fridays, $10 for seniors (plusgratuity), ALL YOU CAN EAT! 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.We can engage a guest speaker to give us the history of ourclose neighbor, Ashland City as well as the county ofCheatham (once part of Montgomery).

OR

* * * JUNE 16 SATURDAY * * * SUBJECT TO CHANGE

SPRING ADVENTURE (another consideration)Tour of FONTANEL MANSION($17.00 per person, group price)4217 White’s Creek Pike, Davidson County TNMansion built by Barbara Mandrell.Added cost for Lunch or Supper at Farm House Restaurant atFontanel

July16 CHUCK RENDER, Author“Brandy: Portrait of an Intelligence Officer”

August 20 JILL HASTINGS, Montgomery Co. Archivist“Interesting things I’ve encountered while researching”

* * * SEPT 15 SATURDAY * * *FALL ADVENTURENoon lunch (optional) under $10.00 2 Kates Restaurant, on the squarein Elkton, KY From I-24 overpass on Wilma Rudolph Blvd, Total mile-age to Elkton square is approx. 22 mi?2:00 p.m. JEFF DAVIS MONUMENT in Fairview, KY seven milesfrom Elkton, off Hwy 68 toward Hoptown. Park Ranger: Ron Syndor,will speak to us in the pavilion about Jeff Davis, the man. $2.00 each(group price) to go through the museum including going up in the mon-ument.

(Continued next column)

(Society programs continued)

October 15 WADE BOURNEAuthor & Public Speaker“Oral History Up Close and Personal:Stories of Old St. Bethlehem”

November 19 ROXY,History old and new by John McDonald

DecemberTo be announced later.

The meetings will be held at the Civic Center locatedin the Veterans’ Plaza on Pageant Lane.

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COMMENTS FROM THE PRESIDENT“PRESERVING THE PAST FOR THE FUTURE”

sandra.stacey@charter.net

I want to thank everyone who helped with the April program dur-ing my absence:

Vice-President Jim Moore for presiding at the meeting and fromwhat I have heard he did a great job!

Dr. Harold Vann for volunteering the use of his laptop and fortaking the time to get trained on the audio equipment. Dr. Vannand Cal worked together to ensure that Cal’s PowerPoint presen-tation would work on Dr. Vann’s equipment.

Billyfrank Morrison for volunteering to take Cal and his wife out todinner and bring them to the meeting.

I did enjoy my trip to the TN Easter Star Grand Chapter, but Icould tell age is catching up. I came home and went to bed andslept and slept and - - - . I am looking forward to next year whenit will be held in Nashville, TN.

The Program Committee is working on finding an alternative tripfor June. The chosen two are not gathering enough interest tomake it feasible to do. When a vote was taken at the past meet-ing only about 10% of the membership voted for either event. SoI have asked Rubye Patch, Chair of the membership Committeeto see what else the committee can come up with. It will be an-nounced at a later date.

SPEIGHT FAMILY

This month I am featuring the Speight family. The progenitor I ambeginning with was William Speight. William was born in WakeCounty NC and died in 1829 in Dickson County TN. William had sonAlbert S. Most of the family lived in Dickson County TN.

Albert S. Speight son of William Speight was born in NC and diedJun. 1851 in Dickson County TN. Albert S. married Delilah Ann Wil-ley. Albert S. and Delilah Ann had children: Elizabeth, Serena, Wil-liam F, James Arthur, Martha A., Mary P. and Wesley.

Elizabeth daughter of Albert S. and Delilah Ann was born 2Oct. 1824 and died 23 Nov. 1887 in Dickson County TN.Elizabeth is buried in Mt. Liberty Cemetery, Dickson CountyTN. She married George Washington Scott.

Serena daughter of Albert S. and Delilah Ann was bornabout 1826 in TN.

William F. son of Albert S. and Delilah Ann was born about1829 in TN.

James Arthur son of Albert S. and Delilah Ann was born 30Jun. 1830 and died 14 Oct. 1899 at the age of 69 in DicksonCounty TN. He is buried in Speight Cemetery Dickson Coun-ty TN. James Arthur was found in the 1870 and 1880 cen-sus living in White Bluff, Dickson County TN. James Arthurmarried Mary Violet McCaslin 10 Jan 1855 in Dickson Coun-ty TN. She was born 14 Apr. 1835 in TN and died 21 Dec1927 in Dickson County TN. Mary Violet is buried in SpeightCemetery, Dickson County TN.

Mary Violet’s Death Certificate

James Arthur and Mary Violet had children: John M., ClydeA., Albert Franklin, William A., Benjamin W., Sarah E.“Sallie”, Edgar Carol, Hiram Curen , A.Z. and Clyde A.

(Continued on page 3)

MY MOTHER KEPT A GARDEN

My Mother kept a garden,

a garden of the heart,

She planted all the good things

that gave my life it's start.

She turned me to the sunshine

and encouraged me to dream,

Fostering and nurturing

the seeds of self-esteem...

And when the winds and rain came,

she protected me enough-

But not too much because she knew

I'd need to stand up strong and tough.

Her constant good example

always taught me right from wrong-

Markers for my pathway

that will last a lifetime long.

I am my Mother's garden.

I am her legacy-

And I hope today she feels the love

reflected back from me

Author Unknown

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

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MAY 2012VOLUME 35, ISSUE 5

Mr. Speight was first married to Miss Amelia Jonesin 1889. She died three years later, leaving her hus-band with one small son, John Arthur Speight whonow resides at Dickson. In 1893, Mr. Speight wasmarried to Miss Caroline Simpson who survivesalong with three sons born to the second union.They are Clarence W. Speight, Clarksville architect:Albert B. Speight, Washington D.C.: and Carl E.Speight, Memphis. He is also survived by a brother,Clyde A. Speight, of Texas, and a sister, S.P. Dendy,Cumberland Furnace.

Albert Franklin Speight’s Death Certificate

William W. son of James Arthur and Mary Vio-let was born 22 Jul. 1860 in TN and died 28Oct. 1922 in Charlotte, Dickson County TN.He married Minnie last name unknown. Minniewas born 11 Apr. 1872 and died 16 Oct. 1934in Charlotte, Dickson County TN. William W.and Minnie are buried in Saint Paul Cemetery,Charlotte, Dickson County TN. They had sonJames W. James was born and died the sameyear.

Benjamin W. son of James Arthur and MaryViolet was born Jan. 1863 in White Bluff,

Dickson County TN. He married Dolly C. J.Dodson 14 Nov. 1894 in Dickson County TN.Benjamin and Dolly had the following children:Lyman D., Eury Brown, James Frank, Law-rence H., Percy W., Edna M. and Mary V.

Sarah E. (Sallie) daughter of James Arthur andMary Violet was born 19 Jan. 1868 in TN anddied 28 Dec. 1948 in Dickson County TN. Sheis buried in Speight Cemetery Dickson CountyTN. Sarah married S.T. Dandy 16 Sep. 1913 inDickson County TN.

(Continued on page 4)

(Speight Family continued from page 2)

John M. son of James Arthur and Mary Violet was born 7Jan. 1856 in TN and died Mar. 1930. He is buried in TheSpeight Cemetery in Dickson CO TN. John M. married Eu-dora A. Nicks 30 Apr. 1882 in Dickson County TN. Eudorawas the daughter of Barton Warren Stone and America Ag-nes McGraw Nicks .

Clyde A. son of James Arthur and Mary Violet was born 11Feb. 1880 in TN and died 4 Aug. 1947. He is buried in Ft.Sam Houston National Cemetery, Clyde A. served as aCapt. in the US Army in WW I. enlisting at the age of 28.Clyde married Mary V. Berry 12 Apr 1911 in Dickson CountyTN. Clyde was married to Kathleen Anderson. Andersonwas not her married name. She had been married beforeand her children lived under Clyde’s household in the 1930census record.

Albert Franklin son of James Arthur andMary Violet was born 14 Dec. 1857 inWhite Bluff, Dickson County TN and died22 May 1939 in Clarksville, MontgomeryCounty TN. He is buried in GreenwoodCemetery, Clarksville, MontgomeryCounty TN. Below is his obituary:

May 22, 1939--A.F. Speight dies atage 81, rites Tuesday. Albert FranklinSpeight, prominent Clarksvillebuilding contractor for nearly half a century, died at11:35 o'clock Sunday night at his home, 231 WestAvenue, at the age of 81. Mr. Speight had been sick forfour weeks. However his condition was not regarded ascritical until Sunday when he suddenly took a turn forthe worse.

Funeral services will be conducted at four o'clocktomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon at the First BaptistChurch by the pastor, Dr. Richard N. Owen. Burial will be inGreenwood Cemetery.

Mr. Speight was born at White Bluff, Tennessee, on December14, 1857, a son of the late James A. and Mrs. Mary VioletMcCaslin Speight. He began his career as a builder at anearly age in Nashville, coming to Clarksville in 1895. He builtmany of the finest homes here as well as business houses. Hefounded the firm of A.F. Speight & Son.

Kind and considerate, Mr. Speight was noted amongClarksville carpenters for his keen sense of fairness toall of his employees. He was quiet and unassuming andwas beloved by hundreds. Mr. Speight took an activepart in the religious, civic, and social life of Clarksville.He was a member of the First Baptist Church and wasprominently connected with the Masonic Lodge. He was amember of the Commandary of Knights Templar, theKnights of Pythias, and the old Royal Arcanum Lodge

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Clyde A. son of James Arthur and Mary Violet was born11 Feb. 1880 in TN and died 4 Aug 1947 in BexarCounty TX. Clyde is buried in Ft. Sam Houston NationalCemetery. Clyde served as a Captain in the Army duringWWI. Clyde married Mary V. Berry 12 Apr. 1911 inDickson County TN.

(Speight Family continued from page 3)

Death Certificate of Sarah Speight Dandy

Edgar Carol son of James Arthur and Mary Violet wasborn 31 Dec. 1870 in TN and died 14 Feb. 1931in Nashville, Davidson County TN. Edgar Carol is buried in theMt. Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, Davidson County TN.On his death certificate Edgar Carol’s occupation islisted as mechanic. Edgar Carol married Rosie lastname unknown. They had sons Jack and Paul E. Belowis Edgar Carol’s death certificate:

A.Z. daughter of James Arthur and Mary Violet wasborn abt. 1876 in TN. She was found in the 1880census in District 12, Dickson County TN.

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April Program

Many thanks to those who helped make our April program a suc-cess.

Below are those who helped host the very informed and interest-ing Cal James, our April program, and his wife, Elise, who camefrom Columbus, OH to speak just to us on the "Irish Skirmishes".

Their hosts were:

Charlsie Lankford, proprietor of Riverview Inn (2 nights gra-tis lodging for Cal & Elise)

Ron Smithfield who picked up early Monday morning, Cal andElise to show them around town AND for bringing and displayinghis pertinent artifacts

Frazier Allen of F&M Bank who showed them the spectacularview of our town from the Franklin Room

Frank Lott and Billy Ruth Nanney whoshowed them downtown Regents Bank where the murals of ourhistoric town are beautifully portrayed.

Don Shelton who gave a tour of Trinity Episcopal and a talk onthe phenomenal restoration of the church after the tornado

Billyfrank and Evelyn for their graciousness in hosting supperfor Cal & Elise.

Elwyn and Rubye for lunch at Tip Top

Dr. Vann for his willingness to be of digital service

Many Others who helped digitally and otherwise

Rubye Patch

MEMBERSHIP

Welcome new members:

Kenneth Dean and Sherry Griffy3328 Lylewood Rd.Woodlawn, TN 37191griffyracing@aol.com

Society Membership booklets are now available at the trainstation for members. The cost is $2.00 to cover printingcosts. If you can’t make it to the train station, I will try tomake them available at the regular stated meetings.

William Turner will hold a Book Signing May 4th in Hop-kinsville from 4-7pm for the “Kitty League”.

Author Larry Matthews will hold a book signing May 26thfrom 1-3 at the Train Station, Clarksville, TN. Larry Mat-thews is publishing books on every cave system in Tennes-see, and is now working on a second book on Dunbar Cave.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Applications are still being accepted for the Saturday, June 2nd Genealogical Seminar to be held at Stewart County Visi-

tors Center from 9:00 am – 3:30 pm. 117 Donelson Parkway (Hwy. 79) (Doors open at 8:00 am) Dover, TN . For fur-

ther information see April’s “Cornsheller”.

Send this completed form with your check for $35, payable to Stewart County Archives

Mail to: Stewart County Archives, P. O. Box 367, Dover, TN 37058

Questions? Email the Archives at stewartcountyarchives@yahoo.com

Name __________________________________________________________

Street Address ___________________________________ City/State/Zip ____________________________

Phone ___________________ Email _______________________________________

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Montgomery County Historical Society

P.O. Box 262

Clarksville, TN 37041-0262

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION/RENEWAL FORM

MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

NAME: ______________________ ________________________ ____________________________( First) (Middle) (Last)

ADDRESS _______________________________ ______________________ ________ _____________(Street) (City) (State) (Zip)

PHONE: ___________ EMAIL: ___________________________________ DATE: ___________________

Please check type of membership

***(Membership period is January to December)***

Please make checks payable to MCHS

Individual $20 Family $30 Student (K-12) $5 Life $200

Corporate $250 Institutional $500 Preservation Society (2 years) $2,000

New Member Renewal Member Changing Membership