The following transcribes one of the Several Diaries Kept by John Edwin McCorkle, this one written just before and during the Civil War.  Also, there follows a sampler of his daughter’s, Katie Pearl McCorkle (Fox)’s journals.  Katie Pearl McCorkle was the beloved “Aunt Kate” of my childhood. 

 

Evidently, when John Edwin McCorkle began his journal in this particular little booklet, he was a student at Bluff Springs Academy.  I’m not sure of the location of Bluff Springs Academy but think it was near or in Milan in Gibson County, Tennessee, perhaps at McLemoresville.  John E. McCorkle graduated in 1860 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, then joined the Confederacy from Dyer County and went up to Columbus, Kentucky, where the South had decided, with futility, to place a chain across the Mississippi River to prevent Federal gunboats from plying those waters.

He records below that he joined “the service of Tennessee” on the 11^th of June 1861.  Clearly, the sovereign for which he perceived himself to be fighting was the State, and for States’ Rights.  John Edwin McCorkle did not own any slaves, nor as far as I’ve been able to discern, did his parents Edwin Alexander & Jane Maxwell Thomas McCorkle.  We know that John Edwin McCorkle’s mother’s uncle, David Purviance (who moved from Middle Tennessee up to Bourbon County, Kentucky, to escape Indian Troubles) preached against slavery as a minister, first a Presbyterian “elder,” then a Christian Church-Church of Christ preacher; and that David Purviance advocated abolitionism as a Kentucky then Ohio legislator. By the time of John Edwin McCorkle and the Civil War, though, there were several African-Americans surnamed McCorkle, and John Edwin McCorkle’s paternal great-grandfather Alexander McCorkle, who died in 1800 in Rowan County, North Carolina, and is buried at Thyatira Presbyterian Church, made disposition of slaves in his North Carolina will, even while writing this holographic document “in the name of God, amen.” 

Our McCorkle-Huie family tradition has it that John Edwin McCorkle contracted dysentery at Columbus which rendered him low for some time.  My father Ewing Huie (Howard Ewing Huie), 1907-1971, always told me, “Grandpaw McCorkle got dysentery up at Columbus and had to leave the army, as a First Lieutenant.” Ewing Huie’s sister Aunt Beth Huie said the same thing.  A contemporary letter corroborating Beth and Ewing Huie’s story was sent during the War from the diarist’s uncle, Robert Andrew Hope McCorkle, to RAH McCorkle’s sister, Elmira Sloan McCorkle Roache, reporting that John’s health back in Dyer County, Tennessee, was still “very bad.”

The diarist’s parents were: 

(1)  Edwin Alexander [or is it ARCHIBALD?] McCorkle, born of Robert McCorkle & Robert’s 2^nd wife Margaret Morrison McCorkle; Edwin having been born in Rowan/Iredell County, North Carolina on18 March 1799; removed to Middle Tennessee (Rutherford County, Murfreesboro area); then after the family’s losing the McCorkle Revolutionary War land grant for that Middle Tennessee land, Edwin removed with his family to West Tennessee (to eastern Dyer County, about 5 miles east of Newbern). He died in 1853.;  and

(2) Jane Maxwell Thomas, born 11 June 1802 in Middle Tennessee and died 30 January 1855; Jane was a daughter of Elizabeth Purviance and William Thomas.  She was wife of Edwin Alexander McCorkle.

 

The ff. journal of John Edwin McCorkle was typed, with editorial comments added, by Marsha Cope Huie, a great-granddaughter of the diarist through the diarist’s daughter Sophie King McCorkle Huie and Sophie McCorkle’s son Howard Ewing Huie.

The journalist’s father, Edwin A. McCorkle [was the A for Alexander or for Archibald?], born 18 March 1799 in Rowan County, North Carolina, had died 10 January 1853.  His mother, Jane Maxwell Thomas (McCorkle) had then died 30 January 1855. 

Jane Maxwell Thomas McCorkle:  We know her parents were William Thomas and Elizabeth Purviance (Thomas), and we can go back further to lineal ancestors; but researching that common name “Thomas” for collaterals is difficult if not impossible.  --Uncle Hiram R. A. McCorkle’s diary gives us one Thomas clue. He writes in 1865 that in 1865, James B. Thomas of Wilson County, Tennessee [Lebanon?] visited him (Hiram).  As mentioned, HRA McCorkle was a son of Jane Maxwell Thomas (Mrs. Edwin Alexander McCorkle). 

Uncle Hiram also writes that in Jan. 1865, J T Burrow of Carroll County moved to “the Montgomery Place.”  Recall:  “Nancy” Agnes Montgomery (the first Mrs. Alexander McCorkle) was née Montgomery.

 

Who was “Nobe?”             John Edwin McCorkle was a great friend of “Nobe” Ledsinger and mentions her often in this journal.  This is who she was:   Zenobia F. Ledsinger.  Zenobia was queen of Palmyra in the 3^rd century B.C. and led a revolt against Rome, so I guess her parents were classically aware.  Zenonia F. Ledsinger  married (1^st) George Fowlkes; and (2^nd) Henry Archer Fowlkes.  “Nobe” Ledsinger had these children by her 1^st husband:

            I. Jennie Fowlkes (Mrs. Preston Tipton (Pigtoe) Fowlkes)

            I. Charles Fowlkes

            I. George Anna Fowlkes

            “Nobe” Ledsinger had this child by her 2^nd husband:

I. Hilliard L. Fowlkes who m. Lucy Claiborne and had 2 children, Robert Arch Fowlkes and Walter Nick Fowlkes.

            Parents of Nobe Ledsinger were

Charles H. Ledsinger, born 1813, and Nancy T. Brown,  born 1815.  John Edwin McCorkle's journal refers to Mr. Ledsinger as "C H L."  --Their children as listed in the 1850 Census:

             Mary Elizabeth Ledsinger,    m. (1^st) James A. Norton & 2^nd Col. Alexander Williams of Nashville.– She is the ancestor of Finis Wyatt’s wife, Evelyn Payne (Huffine) (Wyatt), who already had 4 Huffine children but had none by Finis Wyatt.

            T.M. Ledsinger

             Zenobia F. “NOBE” Ledsinger

             R.W. Ledsinger

             J.P. Ledsinger 

            L.J. (Female) 

            J.Z. Ledsinger; and 

            Thomas T. Ledsinger,    who married Mary Louise “Lubie” Ferguson: children of TT and ML Ferguson Ledsinger were: Thad Ledsinger, who m. Kate Crenshaw and they moved to Oklahoma; Nell Ledsinger who m. Will Hudson.

  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - -

[Journal of John Edwin McCorkle]

 

[Frontispiece]   12 Judges

7 Kings 

J.E. M.^cCorkle

[John Edwin McCorkle]                                   [page break]

 

Joseph McCorkle      Hernando         Desoto County Mississippi

                                                                       

(( Rev E Covey Swallow         ))

(( Rev C. Covey                      ))

((Swallow’s Bluff                      ))

((Henderson Co                       ))

((Tennessee                              ))

 

[The issues provoking an imminent Civil War were on his mind in 1860:] 

Separation

Representation         

                                                                        [page break]

One ?ladies’?  Rubber Over Coat  $4.00

I love a bright blue

eyed girl of sweet

twenty one    here name

I will not disclose.

It is sweet to remember

What I have said

to you in the Parlor at Uncle’s.[[34]]

·        I was greatly disap-

pointed in not seeing you when I was up

there, but duty before

pleasure & now I am

confined to the narrow

limits of the school room.                                                                      [page break]

 

Bought one book of J.D. Carns [Karnes]        $          cts.

    Chemistry                                        1           ⁵⁰

^{Paid J.D. Carnes for Chemistry}

[page break]

Baker [Bearer?] will

please come &

give me an acc-

ount of yourself

and of copies [?coffins?] my

visits will be few

but be not mistaken

Think not that my

ardor for you has

abated      J.E.   Sept. 21 [1860]

August the 15^th 1860

J.E. M.^c Corkle

at J.C. Zarecor’s [[35]]

 

Jennie C. W.

B.S.

Tenn. ) ) ) ) ) [[36]]

 

God is just & the justifyer of the

Ungodly.     [Page Break]

 

Matt W____

June the first

1860

Will be remem-

bered by one

(((( J.E. M.^cCorkle ) ) ) ) )

                          

July the 31^st 1860

Stayed with Bro Kindrick

at Sister Sutton’s

last night &

will start to

Oceola[37] today.

(((J.E. M.^cCorkle ) ) ) )   [page break]

 

[On the left of the following page, written vertically is:

James S. McCorkle  [[38]]

            [Then, the following is written horizontally:]

Wade Eaton 

W.B. Sawyer

Double Bridges [[39] ]

Lauderdale Co.

Tennessee

165

155

60

215

6

275

147    [Page Break]

My last day

in school June 25 1860 [[40]]

((J.E. M.^cCorkle  ) ) )

 

Homersville

Horn

ARK

 

Homersville

Ark

Locke & Jim [[41]]

One Dollar

Paid in Full.      [page break]

 

Monday the 25^th 1860

Stayed at

Perkerr’s   [?P e r Kerrs?] [Parkers?]

Friday night

 

Got home

the 4^th of August

I heard some news

this morning from

my second best friend

Nov. 11^th 1863                        [page break]

 

Days lost from school [42]—

Sept. 17^th went heare

the Elections.

Fair. Four days lost—

Election day

 

Jan. Went to see

Cousin Bob  sick

and lost two days. –

 

Fannie

Brought mare

home the 28^th of October                                  [page break]

 

 

 

Loaned T. F. L. [43]–

$9.50  Nov. 21^st 1860

Paid by C.H.L.[Ledsinger]                                                                        [page break]

 

J.S. McCorkle [44]     Dr  [Debtor]

J E McCorkle       Cr  [Creditor]

To Loan of $20.

Oct. 23   By cash     12.70

Nov. 1    By cash       7.30

                                 _____

20.0                                                                                                                   [page break]

 

J.E. McCorkle

To Capt. Wilkins

To one Sword          $50.00

To one Repeater         57.00

Oct. 22     Paid in full                                                                [page break]

 

 

J. Ed. McCorkle was born the 17^th of May 1839

and was mustered into the service of Tenn.

on  the 11^th of June 1861.

We left Jackson the 5^th of June & arrived at Randolph Friday at sunrise.

We left Rand-olph the 26^th of July and arrived at New Madrid the next day.

August the 10^th  We left new Madrid went to fort Pillow   [page]

and did not unload, but came back to New Madrid.

On the 17^th about sun down, we struck tents & started for Saxton [Sikeston, Missouri] marched until 1 Oclock the next day. We got to Saxton & Campbell [Missouri] for the night.

Tuesday have got to Camp Watkins.

Our provision gave out Tuesday night. We lived off beef and roasen ears[45] two days. [page break]

August 27^th 1861

We left Camp Watkins this morning and arrived at Sikestown this eve at sundown & struck up tents or rather pitched tents. -- 

We are ordered to cook one day’s rations.    – Aug. 31^st

We left Sikestown the 2^nd of September at 9 Oclock.

at 12 Oclock 10  miles from New Madrid.

Hot & dusty.                            [page break]

Sept 2^nd 1861

Sit down on the fence to rest.—

We got to New Madrid about dark – Sept. 3^rd We got aboard of the Morrison at 11 Oclock in the night—stayed on the bank of the great Mississippi. [46]  Done by loon light [moon or lunar light].                                                          

[page break]

We had a battle at Hickman [Kentucky].  Two of Lincoln’s gunboats came upon us.  We fired several times.  No one hurt.  August 4^th 1861 There was fifteen guns fired – between the parties --  August 5^th    We left Hickman a while after sun down  --  at least we are at the casons now, to start [me?] [we?] off for Dixie  --  August 5^th 1861.

[page break]

We left Hickman at 8 ½ Oclock & got to Columbus [Kentucky] at four in the morn-ing – rode on a flat [boat? railway car?]    --  camped on the bank of the Miз.  –

We had an a Larm [alarm] this morning

being Sunday.

August 8^th  --

Sept. 12^th  We are all on Guard to day.  Mrs. McCollough & Mrs Wilkins stayed with us last night[47]

Also Mrs. Perch [Penb? Parker?]                                             [page break]

 

We had an alarm to day – Sept 17^th   I got a furlough to go home.

We had a storm on the sixteenth did not quite blow our Tent over  -- I got to the station at daylight.—Got Fannie [horse] & the Buggy and rode home.

In bed Wednesday and Thursday.

Friday --  Still in the house  --  at A J McC[48]

Sept. 28^th /61

I was taken with diarrhea this morn-

ing.  Very bad all day

29^th  I am able to be up a little –Sunday

Sunday Oct 6^th /61  Went with Miз Mollie McCutchen[49] from Mr. Archibald’s.  Finis[50] went with Susan Cawthon

October 7^th  We started to Columbus Ky.  Stopped at the staytion,  saw Cousin Nancy Y. Bone. Got to Columbus safe.  Carter [???????????????????] is praying.    [page break]

The best day’s work of my life. Oct. 12^th 1861

At Columbus Ky was my first effort in publick prain [praying].

I have not been well in eight weeks.  –

Nov. 1^st 1861  I tendered my resignation as

Brevet 2^nd Lieut in Company D 13^th Regiment yes-

terday – Nov. 1^st /61

My ingrading   [resignation?]  was approved by Gid. [?]

I allow [“allow” is Southern for “think.”]  [The rest is not legible: ? resignation to be effective? as of the date of? ] ____ Nov 1^st /61

[Editor’s note:   Col. Tyree Bell of Newbern--who post-war was shrewd enough to escape the devastation and moved to live post-war in Fresno, California--gave John Edwin McCorkle an exemption from further duty in the Confederate Army on the stated ground of Physical Disability. The inelegant translation: dysentery.]

 

[page break]

Started home from Columbus Ky. Nov 2^nd 1861 at half after twelve Oclock A M

Battle at Columbus Ky, Nov 7^th 1861

Four killed of Capt. Wilkins camp,

viz: John H. Shaw

Burwell M. Dozier[51]   W H Polk and A G Zaricor [52]

17 wounded

I saw Shaw to day.  Nov 9^th 1861  [Did he mean he saw the corpse? Or that he saw another Shaw person?]

[page break]

 

Nov. 14^th 1861

I have been sick all day  --  was at Hirams[53] yesterday at a corn husking –

Cousin Jim Scott[54] came to see me to day –

Nov. 16^th 1861

I was in bed half of the day yesterday  --But did not fast owing to the fact that I forgot it until too late –

November 18^th 1861

I got my mixed [mixed?] coat  to day.  No buttons on it—

Nov. 19^th  There is a corn shucking at Uncle Woodss[55] to day—I am going. – J.E. M.^cCorkle

Nov. 19—They are not going to finish the corn to night, it being 9 Oclock  --  J.E. M.^cCorkle

 

 

[New Page]  I went to the general muster on the 30^th of November. The respective companies were ordered to have half detailed as malitia [militia] to [go?] into the service of Tenn.

Hiram [McCorkle, also known as HRA or Hiram Robert A. McCorkle]

Elvin Moore & George Blankingship [Blankenship][56] were selected to say who should stay.  Some excitement — but no fighting.    [signed J.E. M.^cCorkle ]         [page break]

I went to see Nobe Saturday-night the 30^th of Nov. And stay-ed until Sunday evening and left here all alone--  Some good apples to eat.  Decem. the 2^nd 1861  We had a snow to day.  The Moon being one day old, therefore we will have only one snow this Winter. ((((  J.E. M.^cCorkle  ) ) )

[page break]

Dec. 3^rd  1861  I was at Yorkville to day

some excitement.

Green  Holmes[57] was elected Capt. of the Volunteers—Cumings [Cummings?]

1^st Lt.   J. H. Lastley [Lasley?]

2^nd Lt.  Dr. Pearce Broll  [Brolt?][Brioll or Briolt?] [possibly Holt?]

2^nd Lt.  J. C. Holmes

Orderly Sergeant -- 

[It may be that the diarist meant this:

[Cummings elected 1^st Lt.

[J.H. Lastley [Lasley?] 2^nd Lt.

[Dr. Pearce Holt [spelling?] 2^nd Lt.

[J.C. Holmes    Orderly Sergeant.]

 

December 4^th [1861]

Went to aunt Betsys [Elizabeth Smith McCorkle, widow of the journalist’s paternal uncle “Jem” Jehiel Morrison McCorkle]

to take a letter, thence to Zarecors[58] for my dinner.  Thence home via Hirams with Latina.[59]  The malitia [militia]                     [page break]

 

was to have started to day, but the order was countermanded

W^m Woods[60] was detailed to go –

Leander [Scott?][61] & Ab Cowan[62] are going to go to Capt [I? J? A ?] Wilkins Company—I am not well this evening – J.E. M.^cCorkle  -- At home -- 

December 5^th /61

Finis [Finis A. McCorkle, brother of the diarist] and Mr. Franklin[63] here. 

Anderson [a brother, Anderson Jehiel McCorkle] gone to York.  I have

had fever today.—                    [page break]

P.M.  Anderson [brother Anderson Jehiel McCorkle] back from Yorkville

December 6^th

Went to the sale

Bought two Books.

Ab. Cowan and myself went to Mr. Holts and got Elnora [Holt?] and went to Mr. James McCutchens   Stayed all night -- 

December 7^th

Went home with

Elnora, then to York

then to Uncle Bob s[64] 

thence home.

thence to Jim Scotts    [page break]

 

December 8^th /61

Come home and

fixed and went to

church, then to

[brother-in-law] John Zarecors for dinner  -- Back home.

December 9^th 1861   Went to York then to Uncle Lem s[65] for my dinner,

then to Zarecors and found Messrs Cowan, Holt and Scott there.[66]

also Misses Elno [Elnora Holt?]  and Mollie McCutchen.  --  Had quite a fine time

December 10^th 1861                  [page break]

Went to Newbern with Abner Cowan.  [Brother] Finis [A. McCorkle] went home with Elon[67] and J. [J? John?]  Holt went with Mollie McCutchen. –

Back to John’s [John C. Zarecor’s?] for my dinner, then [sister] Latina and myself went to Mr. Strawns[68] and stayed all night  --  (Wy gone) [By? Gone? Something is “gone” but illegible]  --

J.E. M.^cCorkle             

December 11^th 1861

Went to Yorkville and then to [S? J?] Hall[69] & stayed all night.

Got a letter from [1^st cousin] S.S. McCorkle.[70]                   [page break]

 

December 12 1861

Ab Cowan,[71] Jo. Hall,[72] and Jim Archibald started to Columbus [Ky.] and came home in company with Finis [brother Finis A. McCorkle].  Eat dinner by myself.  J.E. M.^cCorkle

December 13^th 1861

Went to York & then back home

December 13^th 1861 [sic.]

Went to Newbern then back home

Dec. 14^th Sunday

Went to Lemalsamac to church then home    [page break]

for my dinner, then to [brother-in-law’s] John C. Zarecor.  Homer Cowan died on Christmas Eve night—and was buried the day after Christmas.

I was at Uncle Scotts [Surely, this was Lemuel Scott and the diarist’s aunt, Margaret Permelia McCorkle Scott] the 25^th of Dec. 1861.  --  Eat dinner at J.C. Zarecors

Dec. 26^th     at Uncle [Eleazor] Woods[73] tonight.  Susan Cawthon & Susan Smith are here. J.E. M.

[page break]

December 31^st 1861

[My sister] Latina and myself stayed at Mr. J.  [J?] McCutchens and on New Years day came to J. C. Zarecors.  Miss Mollie McCutchen came home with us the first day of 1862.

Old Christmas day

I stayed at home nearly

all day, it being

Sunday.  J.E. M^cCorkle            [page break]

 

 

[No pages are missing here in this little book, but some 18 months are missing; the diary begins again on August 20^th 1863]

August 20^th 1863

Went to Uncle Charles Ledsingers   Nobe [Zenobia Ledsinger, who was to become a Mrs. Fowlkes in the Dyersburg area] not at home.

21^st Went to Dyersburg with Sallie Rodgers[74] --back to Uncle John’s.[75]  Went to night meeting with Nobe—

22^nd  Come [sic.] home    23^rd  Meeting at Oak-Grove.  Went to meeting Monday

25^th  Started to Ft. Pillow. Stayed all night at McKnights 2 miles below Dyersburg

26^th  Crossed at Halls ferry.  Traipsed [?] through Ripley & camped at [J?] Gillespies.[76]—

27^th  Got to the Ft and took the oath and come back to Judge Greens saw-mill on Hatchie [River].  28^th  Stayed at Double Bridges   29^th  Got home, being Saturday.

30^th  To [?No?] meeting.     Sunday night singing at Union Grove.[77]  31^st  Started to Tom Harris[78] only got a mile above Trenton.  Come back to Uncle Bobs[79]  [page break]

and stayed all night.  Sept. 1^st  Come home

2^nd  At home  --  Wedding at Mrs. Headdens[80]

3^rd  Mason day at York

4^th Went to H. Parkers & then to [brother] A J’s.  Saw M. & G.

[Polly? Molly? Sally?  Golly?] come [sic.] home with [brother] Hiram.  I went to the exhi-bition with her then home with [sister] Latina.        J E Mc

Aug. 5^th  Joined the Masons.  Stayed at Uncle Woods. 

6^th  to Oak Grove & Jim Strawn & myself to Bethesda  --  to Dr. Cawthon’s[81] then to prayer meeting

7^th  At home

8^th  Come to Hurricane Hill & went to [church] meeting.  Ben McCluskey preached.

9^th   Reed preached

10^th  Capt. Robinson took all between the ages of 18 & 45   [page break]

and carried us home to Bell’s headquarters.  Stayed all night with Dr. Harris.

11^th  Bell released me and I came home.

12^th  Eat dinner with Dr. J T Bone[82] –

13^th  [Brother] David[83] & myself went to Stephen Woods’[84] funeral.

14^th  Went to Weakley [County, Tennessee,] after Jim & Lizzie.[85]

15^th  Come home by Thos. Harris 

16^th  At home

17^th  Cas [Caswell] A. Goodloe and             [page break]

 

eat dinner at Sam Sayne’s  [Payne’s? Saine?] --  then to York.

Federals in Trenton

Rained and turned cold.  18^th  Very cold

Stayed all night with Cousin Mag.[86]  Had a fine conversation about B. and B. Come home.  Mistake about the Fed’s being in Trenton—

19^th Frost last night --  Come to Mr. Ledsinger s.  Miзes [s-tset] Fowlkes, Johnson, and Finch. Ed. Smith and wife here [page break]

Mark Jones and Tommy are here.[87]

20^th Heavy frost last night.  S S McC.[88] [S E McC?]

Went to Hurricane [Hill]  -- Come to C. H. L.’s   Tab. Bettie. Dick and George Segraves here.  --  John Ed. Mc

21^st  Commenced with school—13 scholars—

22^nd  15 scholars—I am mighty lonesome.

23^rd   Dry and dusty

24^th   still dry

25^th    Come home

26^th    Aunt Margaret[89] fixed my coat at [brother] A. J. M [AJ McCorkle’s?]

 

[new page]

Sept. 1863

26^th  Sunday   went to York, then to Lem’s[90] to Nebo with Mag  -- 

27^th  Home to A J M’s then to Lem-alsamac to church—then home in company with A S. [A G ? ] Carter.[91]  Stopped at John’s     Mag and Susan there.  Come to C H’s. Doog gone—

28^th  Monday 1863.  Twenty five students at Dr. Whites to night.

29^th  Heared the fight was still progressing [s-tset] on wednesday --  [page break]

29^th   Commenced Anatomy  [?Pancoast? Pentecost?]  Nat. Tarrant here to night.   

J. Ed. McCorkle

30^th   [Brother] Finis brought my trunk to me

Th Oct. 1^st 1863--  Rained a little last night – clear to day

2^nd Friday   I intend to go home to night.

Come to Newbern Lodge, saw three initiated

3^rd  Took Second degree in Masonry.  Come to Uncle                         [page break]

 

Woods and went to Union Grove

4^th Sunday

Left Uncle Woods’ [Eleazor Woods’] for A J McCorkle’s, to Bethesda [Church] to Union Grove [then, probably then a Cumberland Presbyterian church], to John’s for dinner, then to H.H. [his school at Hurricane Hille]   Sarah Harrison & Kate Booths here.    I am sick with bad cold.

15^th  Heavy frost

6^th Rained

7^th Sick all day.  No school to day

8^th  Martha Hurt here. I am going home after dinner.   [page break]

 

9^th  At [brother] David’s[92]  10^th  Stayed all night with [sister] Latina.[93]  11^th /63.  Come to C H’s 12^th  Rained  no school

13^th  Resumed school

14^th  Heavy fogg 15^th  Dan. HEATH[94] paßed [passed, but what does that mean?] my school house  16^th  Friday  clear and pleasant.

17^th  Went to Dyersburg—a heavy rain.

18^th  Robert Mahan preached at Hurricane Hill.  Caswell A. Goodloe,  James M. Dickey, Addie [page break]

Northern and Salle L. Rodgers at church  went home with us for dinner.  Then Nobe[95] and myself went with them to uncle John R.   I in the buggy with Addie [Northern].  Ben McClusky  Tab. Fowlkes and the widow Cooper there.  --  We all left early the next morning.  19^th  Clear and cold.  I have thirty students.  Cas [Caswell A. Goodwell], Jim, Add., Sallie and Nobe [Ledsinger] got caught in town by Capt.                       [page break]

 

Moon’s command and had to stay until after dinner.

20^th  Cloudy.  C. N Lasby started to Mo.  Miз [Miss] Angeline Johnson here to night.  21^st  I went to Newbern to the Lodge.  Bob Crenshaw stayed at C.H.’s.  2 fellow Craft degrees conferred--Jim Cole and W.J. Scobey.  22^nd  Rained  23^rd  Nobe come [sic.] to the school house & I and her [such grammar, Grandpaw John E. !] went to               [page break]

[brother-in-law] John Zarecor.  John Gregory [destined to become the diarist’s brother-in-law, marrying his sister “Tina “ Latina McCorkle] & Clay come and stayed until bed-time.  24^th  [Friend] Nobe, [sister] Latina & [brother] Finis and myself went to Lem’s.  I and Sallie, Finis & Nobe went to church.  I & Sallie went to Uncle Bobs for dinner.  I went to Presbytern with Miз Agnes C.  [Cawthon? I don’t know.]  With her to church at night.  25^th  Left Bobs for Lem’s.  Went with Nobe to church & back to Lem’s   Miз [page break]

Matt Weakly and Dr. Fryer there.  After dinner Nobe & myself start to H.H. [Hurricane Hill, to the schoolhouse].

26^th  Eighteen S. [scholars] paзed [passed] my school.

27^th  Nothing of note to day.  28^th  Got a letter from Bob Ledsinger.  29^th  Mrs. Hambrick  Lucy Rodgers & McKnight here last night.  Rained last night and to day.  31^st  Nobe and myself went to Tyne [Tline?] Harris &  [page break]

 

stayed all day—November 1^st being Sunday—I went to H.H. [Hurricane Hill] with Nobe—Mark Jones & Tom, Chas. Bewford [Benford ?] here--  2^nd  Bob Crenshaw at my school-house    3^rd  Misting rain   4^th  Nobe started to see her Aunt.  Frank  Nat T. & Tom Jones here.  5^th Waddy Smith here to night.  6^th  I am going home this eve.  Come to J.C. Z’s [John C. Zarecor’s] – Clay here.  [Does he mean his uncle Jehiel Morrison McCorkle’s son Henry Clay McCorkle, who was to die in the Battle of Guntown, Miss., or some other Civil War battle? I don’t know.] 7^th  Went to York &   [page break]

 

took the 3^rd degree in masonry.  Went to Lems.  The York boys cut a tree for a rac-

coon but he got away.  8^th  Went to [brother] A.J.s then to [brother] Hiram thence to Lemalsamac [Church]. Then to AJ’s with Cousin Mag.[96]  Then to U [Union] Grove –then to C.H.s.  Woods afire.  9^th Dick Johnson  at School-house.  10^th  Cold.  11^th  Tom Burk here.  12^th  Burk still here--  13^th  Soldiers come & took John Wynne [John G. Wynne, I think] Wyanie?]-- Ray [page break]

14^th Dickerson  [unclear:  Ray Dickerson?] here for dinner.  Aunt Betsy [Mrs. Jehiel Morrison McCorkle], Sallie [Rodgers] & Lucy here.  Mrs. Peacock and Mr. Menzies[97] Sr. here to night.  Norton and Mary here.  15^th  Sunday  McClusky & Sarah Harrison here for Day [for Day? For din.--short for “dinner?”]  Bob Crenshaw here to night. He repeated all of [the biblical book of] Peter by heart to Nobe & myself.  16^th  Misses [uses s-tset] Hibbits and Alexander here      17^th  Nothing of note

18^th  E.T. Klink to be in town

                                                                                                            [page break]

 

to day—swaped [swapped] buttons with J.G. Wynne.  Nobe [Zenobia Ledsinger (Fowlkes)] sewed the buttons on my coat.

19^th  Heard that 106 of Richardsons’ [Richardson’s]  men were captured at Hamptons. [Hamptons Crossroads?]          [

 20^th  came home.  Met Tom Ledsinger.  22^nd Dr. Buck & myself went to Clements [does he mean to Elizabeth Obedience Clements, Mrs. James Scott McCorkle’s, family in Weakley County?]  by the way of Hunters Ferry—swam the Obion [River].  22^nd  Buck with Agnes & I with Helen & Fannie [Fannie his horse?]

 to Uncle Anthony’s & prayer[98]                                                           [page break]

 

meeting.  Then back to Tom Clements for dinner.  Then home  swam the river.  Got to Uncle Bob’s for supper. Then to Lem’s, then to AJ M [to brother Anderson Jehiel McCorkle’s].  23^rd  started by day light to school  --  Miзes [s-tset] Luby Ferguson and Sallie Rodgers there to night.    24^th  Luby & Sallie still here.  Dab & Sit. [Lit.? “sis” for “Sister”?] here.  (George Segraves & Garrett at the School-house.  Fry’s squad pass –25^th )              [page break]

 

26^th  Neely Johnson passed my school-house.  Hick Doyle & Ples [Tles?] Tipton here to night.

27^th  Tab came by school-house   28^th  Rained & snowed a little.  29^th  Bob Crenshaw here.  30^th  Col. Bell at Enoch’s to night.  December 1^st  Tuesday  Twenty two C.S. [Confederate Soldiers?] paзed [passed].  3 McCluskeys stay. with me 

2^nd  Heard that [brother] Hiram[99] was making a company.  3^rd  Two soldiers came                 [page break]

 

to my schoolhouse to conscript me, but I talked them out of it.

4^th  Road [rode] to school.  Expect to go home to night.  Eat supper at John’s- & went to Davids [brother David Purviance McCorkle, I suppose].  5^th  Went to York.  Saw W H Greer initiated  -  Hall raised.  Come to [brother] Hirams. Stayed all night.  6^th  Soldiers started-- [The diarist’s three brothers:] Hiram, Anderson & Finis.  I & W.T. went to C.H.L. stay-

ed all night.  7^th  [page break]

Capt. F. eat dinner at C.H.L.  Come to [sister] Becca’s[100]--  8^th

Ninth  Went to [brother] Hirams. 

 

 

[Now, there are three blank pages in the little booklet]

[On the fourth page thence, the following accounts have been scribbled through in pencil, but are nevertheless barely legible:]

 

1861

J E M^cCorkles Expences

On the carrg [?] [carriage?]  [credit?]                       $     .95

Mule & buggy                                                              1.25

Lining for coat                                                              2.00

Trimmings                                                                     2.00

Sundries                                                                       1.50

Mending Watch                                                            1.00

Dec. 8^th  Elder Holmes [preacher]                               5.00

  “    11^th  A Letter J.S. M^c                                                            .05

 

[Blank page, next]

 

 

 

 

Killed B.M. Dozier   I H. Shaw  [?J.H. Shaw?]   Wm. H. Polk   A.G. Zaricor

 

The above was done

on the seventh day

of November 1861

at Columbus Ky.

 

[Blank page now, but I think he once had a ribbon placed on this page, because the next page says:]

This ribbon was donated to A.H. Algea[101] & myself

By Miз Mollie E. [G?] Hubbard of Jackson                            [page break]

 

1862  D.P. McCorkle  [brother of the diarist:  David Purviance McCorkle]

To J E McCorkle   Dr [Debtor]

Jan. 6^th  Loan [for?] tax   $  7.90

Jan. 6^th  A.J. McCorkle     12.00

Uncle Bob

Shoes      7.35

Candles   5.60

had         2.36

             15.31

Arch a

 

[end of page]

 

]This following is the last page of the diary, because several pages afterwards have been torn out:]

 

Wm T Cowan [or Wm. F. Cowan] to

1861  J E McCorkle, Dr [Debtor]

Nov. 11  To Pistol    $50.00

Settled by Cash

 

1861 Dec. 9^th

Loaned [brother] D.P. McCorkle  [David Purviance McCorkle]

Ten dollars --  $10.00

Settled by Cash

 

[Brother Hiram] H.R.A. McCorkle to

    J.E. McCorkle Dr [debtor]  

Dec. 11^th  Accounts     $53.00  [Then, amount stricken through]

 

Nov. 11^th  R.E. Holmes

To J.E. McCorkle, Dr

To a 1^st. Sash         $3.00

All of the above

accts are settled

Feb. 15^th 1862

             J.E. M ^cCorkle

 

 

On the inside-back binder, the diarist has written:

Paul Jones

 

 

Isolated Post-Civil War events recorded by John Edwin McCorkle’s brother, the journalist Hiram R. A. McCorkle:

 

In the fall of 1866, Robert Quincy Roache and wife, Rebecca Sunderland Roache, of the town of California, Missouri, came for a visit and remained a week, their first visit since they had left the Newbern area in 1857. Quincy was a son of Elmira Sloan McCorkle & Dr. Stephen Roache.

In 1866 W.L. Woods built a cotton press.

After the war, Hiram wrote:  December 17, 1866: “Very cold.  My place is clean of negroes.” 

And on Oct. 20, 1870, Hiram’s 1^st wife,  Margaret Cowan McCorkle, died at the Nashville asylum, but HRA does not know this, evidently, as he did not record her death.

The railroad came through Newbern after the Civil War, not to Yorkville.  And that helps explain why Yorkville is no longer the “better town” as the Huie emigrants from North Carolina had thought when the western district of Tennessee was opened up for settlement.  Many towns that didn’t accept the railroad and wouldn’t give it a right-away withered, as has Yorkville.  In fact, in the year 2000, there is almost no commerce in the village of Yorkville, only a telephone company and a bank and one store offering general merchandise.  People drive to the Wal-Mart at Dyersburg for provisions, and small retailers cannot compete with the low prices offered.

 

            13 July 1882: the RR began through Newbern to Memphis.  The railroad gave a trial tun to Memphis to the leading citizenry [all male] of Newbern, with a photograph of them in the local paper.  The following boarded the train in Newbern: the diarist Hiram Robert A. McCorkle; Hiram’s 1^st cousin Dr. James Scott McCorkle; Hiram’s brother John Edwin McCorkle; Hiram’s brother Finis Alexander McCorkle; Smith Parks; H.C. Porter; and a Mr. Barrett.  The train reached the Hatchie River, where it stopped and a ceremony was held.  Hiram R.A. McCorkle received the honor of driving the last spike in the R.R. over the Hatchie River, where speeches ensued and the railroad provided dinner.  Then the train then took them all down to Memphis, where they stayed the night at the Hotel Peabody, returning early the next morning and arriving at Newbern at approximately 2 a.m.  --  Somewhere I have a newspaper clipping about this great event for Newbern.

 

 

 

John Edwin McCorkle’s daughter, Aunt Katie Pearl McCorkle (Mrs. Ed Lee Fox), also kept journals.  Aunt Kate had no children but acquired two grown step-children when she married Ed Lee Fox rather late in her life: Lorraine Fox Puckett and Dr. Edward Fox of Miami, Florida.  Aunt Kate died in 1961, when I was 15 years old.  Her last surviving sibling was her half-brother, Errett Cotton McCorkle.  She wanted to be, and was, buried in the Fox Cemetery in Obion, Obion County.

Katie Pearl McCorkle was a daughter of John Edwin McCorkle & 1st wife Tennessee Alice Scott (Tennie Scott) (McCorkle).  My paternal great-aunt Katie Pearl McCorkle (Fox) kept records, as had her father John Edwin McCorkle.   She lived most of her life on the McCorkle home-place about 5 miles east of Newbern, Tennessee; but after her late-in-life marriage to Ed Lee Fox of Obion County, Tennessee, she moved with him for awhile to Sultana, California, and perhaps other places in California of which I’m unaware. He is said always to have had a scheme, just one more plan, for making a fortune, which never quite materialized.

 

Here is Aunt Kate’s list about events in the Churchton-Yorkville-Newbern community.  The list is entitled:

 

U.S. Soldiers 1944

 

M Fred      Banks Jr

Gilbert      Brasfield

                  Crocker

Lonnie        Carroll   ?  not called

Verne         Flatt

Charlie       Flatt

Marshall     Fowlkes

George M.             Gibbons

Carl Ridley             Grills

Herman                  Hare [Haire]

Herschel                 Hendricks

Joe Frank              Jackson

Roy Howell           Kirby

                              McKnight

Joe Harris                 Moore

Leon                        Morgan

Haywood                 Pope

Alvin                        Rose

Ralph                       Rose

Billy Jack Smith                 [Willie T. Smith Newsom’s brother]  

Wilmere Headden               [Baby Boy] Smith

Bill                                     Thomason

James H.                  Williams

Leon                        Worley

Aubrey                     King

A J                           Grills [AJ Grills died circa 2004; his wife Mayme or Mamie predeceased him. Even more than a century ago, I think, there was an AJ Grills in the community.]

_______________________

Major Edward F.     Fox

 [Aunt Katie Pearl McCorkle’s stepson, a medical doctor in Miami]

Edward Campbell     Huie [grand-nephew]

Pat P.                       McCorkle [nephew]

Noble S.                  McCorkle [nephew]

Henry C. Moore  December 31, 1942.

 

What of the year just gone?  Our country is in war. [Nephew] Pat McCorkle, T.L. Caver [then-husband of niece Una DELL McCorkle], David McCorkle (now in German prison)[descendant of Finis Alexander McCorkle’s son Gentry Purviance McCorkle] and a number of others who I know are in the war.  Edward Fox [stepson] is Maj Marine Corps at Camp Forrest.  Bob Messer [father of Tanya Sandlin by Julia McCorkle] is at Ft Myers, Fla.  He married [niece] Julia McCorkle Dec. 12. 1942.

Today I was at [brother] Glenn’s. Annie Glenn McCorkle, Notie Cope, and Joyce Cope Huie there also.

 

For the New Year 1943. May we all live nearer to God our Father than ever before.

1.             Study to show yourself approved unto God.

2.             Be ye kindly affectionate one to another forgiving

3.             Let your light so shine that others may see and

4.             Overcome evil with good.

5.             [blank]

_______________________________________________________________

Jan. 1, 1943             Beautiful day. Ollie Gregory here. [“Cousin” Ollie Gregory was née Ollie Pace (a cousin to Aunt Una Pace, who became Mrs. Will McCorkle and therefore John Edwin McCorkle's daughter-in-law). Ollie Pace married a son of Margaret Latina McCorkle Gregory and so Ollie’s husband was a 1^st cousin to Katie Pearl McCorkle. Glenn [Roache McCorkle] and Fred Banks went with Joe Harris Moore to take his father to State Hospital in Bolivar, Tenn.

Jan 2.       It rained some last night.  Partly fair

Jan.3.       Clear morning. Windy and cloudy p.m.  Maury [Huie], Nell [Huie,] Edward [Huie], Ewing [Huie], Joyce [Huie] and Sophie [Huie][later Sophie Cashdollar] here.  Ollie Gregory and Drucilla Garner [later Huie] here in p.m.  I went to church.  Began reading St. John.

 

[END of one of AUNT Katie Pearl McCorkle’s numerous notebooks]

 

[51] In the 1850 Census for Gibson County, Tennessee, Burwell Dozier was listed as aged 13 and living with Peter  S.  Dozier, male aged 41, farmer, born North Carolina; wife Elizabeth  Dozier, aged 36, also born in N.C.  Children all listed as born in Tennessee: William Dozier, 16; Isaac Dozier, 15  M; Burwell Dozier, 13; Mary Dozier, 8 , F; Joseph Dozier, 6; Amanda Dozier, 5  F; Oscar Dozier, aged 1, male; Adelia Dozier, female, aged 1 month.          

    Next door to the above Dozier family lived Phillip Dozier, aged 63, farmer, born in North Carolina; Annie Dozier, aged 30  F, born in N C; and Phillip Dozier, aged 16.         

[71] Abner Cowan is listed in the 1850 Gibson County, Tennesssee, census.  His father was John F. Cowan, aged 47, born in NC; and mother, Elizabeth  Cowan, aged 40.  I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that John F. Cowan was a brother to Benjamin Huie’s first wife, Lavinia Cowan [Huie] from Rowan Co., NC; but this is speculation.  John F. Cowan did seem, according to adjacency in the census records, to live next door to Benjamin Huie.