documenting my very southern genealogy from the plantation to the frontier
I recently visited my family in Nashville, which gave me an opportunity to visit the Tennessee State Archives. I wanted to see some some deeds which are not yet available online at Family Search. I was primarily looking for additional information about Thomas Butler (1792-1862), and his wife Lavinia (1796-1859) who are my 4th great-grandparents … Continue reading Lavinia Butler, who’s your daddy?
The Butlers of Carroll County, Tennessee were a long-lived and exceptionally prolific clan. They were also fond of repeating names, making sorting Butlers almost as difficult as sorting Dickens. "My" Thomas Butler lived near at least three other Thomas Butlers, two in Carroll County and one more for good measure in neighboring Madison County. There … Continue reading Thomas Butler, 1792-1866
Five wives, nine lives, and an understated obituary.
The family story was always that my great-grandparents, Carzy Clifford Cole and Ruth Esther Dickerson, both from Carroll County, Tennessee, were some how related. In fact, as the story goes, Carzy, one of the multitudinous Cole clan, told Ruth shortly after they started "walking out" he was so glad that he'd found someone in the … Continue reading The Right Butler!
Several years ago, I had researched the family of Ruth Ann Duncan, my great-great-great grandmother. I thought I had easily located her as a "Ruth M Duncan" in the household of a Jonathan Duncan in Henry County, Tennessee in 1850. This Jonathan Duncan was frankly a pain to research, since he wandered all over three states … Continue reading The Wrong Duncan!
Unknown newspaper (probably Carroll County Democrat), April 1944. Mrs Jeannettie B. Cole Again the Angel of Death has visited a home and taken one who we all loved. Jeannettie Butler Cole, daughter of William and Jane Butler, was born December 10, 1872–died April 14, 1944, age 71 years, four months, four days. She was married … Continue reading Arena Jeannette Butler Cole’s Obituary
Carroll County Democrat, June 27 1902 A.T. Butler Dead After a Long Illness and Much Suffering, He Passes Away A.T. Butler died at his home in Huntington last Wednesday afternoon about 6 o'clock. Mr. Butler had been sick with some chronic ailment for a long time, and his death had been expected for several days. … Continue reading Alexander T Butler’s Obituary
My family's oral tradition has always been that my great grandparents were cousins, both descending from Butlers. Lately, I've been trying to figure out just how they connect. And have succeeded only in narrowing things down a bit! Here are some notes, for my own reference and to share. My great-grandfather, Carzy Clifford Cole, was … Continue reading Those Dang Butlers
A Long Way to Tennessee 