The following 1829 letter is from Margaret Morrison McCorkle to her grandson Addison Locke Roach [Sr.], who as an adult spelled his surname Roache. The footnotes I've added are embedded in Microsoft Word software.

 

Verdant Plain^[6]                    May 27^th 1829

 

My dear little son,

 

            Your favor of April 23 came to hand last week.  I am exceedingly well pleased with it, although it produced a gust of conflicting passions or feelings resembling a whirlwind at the first reception and reading of it, yet at this present moment my mind is perfectly tranquilized into a pleasing calm full of the idea that my dear little Addison still remembers me with affection.

 

[¶ ] As it respects news I cannot pretend to do more than barely sketch what I would wish to relate if I could see you.  Suffice it to say that I live very comfortably.  Your uncle Robert^[7] purchased the half of this place.  Gave me his note for 200 dollars & answered Jehiel’s ^[8] claim for moving your Pa ^[9] & family.  I take my half on the west, but I hold a reserve of the unmolested use of half of all the present improvements during my life, I also have another obligation on Robert [Andrew Hope McCorkle] to have me well provided for during life.  I occupy the large house, your uncle [RAH McCorkle] lives in the kitchen.  He has built his new house in the same yard with us, but will not have it fit to live in before next fall.  He is accommodating and his wife [Tirzah Scott McCorkle[10]] makes herself very agreeable amongst us.

[¶] Franklin H. Dixon [Franklin K Dixon ?] [Franklin Dickson ?] has lived with us ever since last fall, he is a good boy, I think I love him almost as well as any of my grandchildren, whenever I get him taught to write, I intend he shall send you a letter.

[¶] Polly Cox^[11] [Polly Cos?] [Mary Cox?]  was a long time getting well of the ague, but she is very hearty now, and grows fast.  Your Aunt Pamela [Margaret Permelia McCorkle, Mrs. Lemuel Locke Scott]^[12] enjoys health & passes time pleasantly with her new sister.^[13]

 

[¶] I have enjoyed much better health through the last winter and spring than usual.  I live easy and contented, very often I lie abed till breakfast is ready then rise without a blush and spend the day in moderate exercise or reading just as my inclination dictates.  I can card and spin and knit right smart yet, and cook a little, but I don’t offer to go to the cow-pen though we have six cows with young calves and an abundance of milk.

 

[¶] Jane M. Thompson^[14] has grown to be a great fine likely young woman and is as blythe and merry as a lark, [Jane M. Thompson was to marry Benjamin Williams. This granddaughter of Margaret Morrison McCorkle was to die in 1850, too young, and she is buried as "Jane Williams" in the McCorkle Cemetery in Dyer County.]

 

[¶ ] Cousin John McCorkle^[15] [I think John was a son to Margaret’s brother-in-law James McCorkle] is raising a crop here this summer and intends moving down again fall. I expect he will keep  Thomas Jr. [I think Thomas Jr. was a son of James McCorkle’s son Thomas McCorkle.]

 

[¶ ] We have had a very cold dry winter and spring, crops are backward, People generally healthy in this country, no musketoes nor gnats nor flies to torment our poor brutes this spring.

[¶ ] Cousin Nancy^[16] has a fine son, your aunt Jane [Jane Maxwell Thomas, Mrs. Edwin Alexander McCorkle] ^[17] a fine son.  Your aunt Betsy [Elizabeth Smith, Mrs. Jehiel Morrison McCorkle] ^[18] a fine daughter.  All healthy thriving children.

 

[¶] I suppose Jane Thompson [to grow up and become Mrs. Benjamin Williams] will write to you sometime and tell all about her spinning and weaving etc etc etc.   Give my kind respects to your pa. & ma.^[19]  Tell them I love them dearly and pray for them every day.  I wish likewise to be remembered to Mr. Travers[1] and his wife.

 

[¶] Tell [your siblings] little Quincy & Elmira howday for me. 

 

Oh Addison avoid bad company as you would a mortal foe.  Language fails me when I would express my desires that you may excell in steady habits of moral rectitude, so as to become an ornament to society and a comfort to your parents.  With these reflections I bid you adieu!

 

                                                            M a r g r e t Mc C o r k l e              

Addison L. Roach.

 

 

[In the above letter, Margaret McCorkle did not even spell her own name “Margaret.” She later consistently spelled it Margaret).  It seems people were very casual about the spelling of names, even their own.  --It is possible that what I think is an original is merely a copy of a letter written by Margaret McCorkle—I don’t think so, though.]

 

Margaret Morrison McCorkle was herself of McCorkle blood, according to her daughter Elmira Sloan McCorkle Roache.  Margaret Morrison McCorkle's mother, Elizabeth Sloan (Mrs. Andrew Morrison), was a daughter of a McCorkle woman who became Mrs. Sloan.  Thus, Margaret Morrison McCorkle (Mrs. Robert McCorkle) was a first-cousin-once-removed to her husband Robert. [But see adjacent footnote no. 20 or thereabouts on this kinship issue.]

 

Generation I.    Alexander McCorkle..d. 1800. [=siblings=]  ..... A sister of  Alexander McCorkle named   __?___McCorkle (Sloan).  She married a Mr. ___?__ Sloan.   [One of her children was Elizabeth Sloan (Mrs. Andrew Morrison).] Perhaps the McCorkle woman married the Sloan man in Northern Ireland, or perhaps in Pennsylvania, or Virginia, or even North Carolina.

[One version is as stated immediately above.  Another version I’ve  read somewhere has it that it was Alexander McCorkle’s father to whom Elizabeth Sloan (Morrison)’s mother was a sister. I do not know which version is correct.]

 

Generation II.         Robert McCorkle, son of Alexander .........   [1^st cousins] .........   Elizabeth Sloan (Morrison), a child of the above sister of Alexander McCorkle.  Elizabeth Sloan(e)  became Mrs. Andrew Morrison, and Mrs. Andrew Morrison was the mother of Margaret Morrison (Mrs. Robert) McCorkle.

  

 

Here's an earlier, 1827 letter from young Addison Locke Roache, born in 1817, whose family had moved up north, to I think at this particular time Indiana. This letter is also in Chapter One, the introductory chapter of this compilation.  Young Addison writes to his maternal uncle Edwin Alexander McCorkle in Dyer County, Western District of Tennessee.  Edwin's sister Elmira was mother to the very young writer:   

 

 "Dyer Co. Ten  1827

"Dear uncle        we are well in common health, father has had the ague, he had three very severe shakes, at first we thought it was the influenza for 4 or 5 days

We have moved up to Andrews Creek and are living in the house that Humphrey Tome-

llson [Tomlinson? Tomelson?] used to live in.  James Franklin [Elmira & husband named one son Franklin Roach) & myself are going to school to Mr. Absolam Knot [Absalom Knox?], James can read tolerable well and father has promised to give him a penknife if he will get to the pictures and I am sure he will get to the pictures

[Jane M. Thompson (later Mrs. Benjamin Williams) was a 1^st cousin to Addison, Jane being one of the orphaned daughters of Addison’s mother, Elmira’s sister Rebecca Cowden McCorkle (Mrs. Gideon Thompson & husband Gideon Thompson).] 

 Jane M. Thomson [Thompson] is going to school to Mr Alamer Hill to learn the grammar the short way.

 I must close my short epistle.

Give my respect to [your wife] Aunt Jane & all who may inquire after me.

 

                        Yours sir with affection

                        A d d i s o n L R o a c h

                        May the 14^th 1827

___________________________________________________________________________________________

And here is part of a later letter, also presented in Chapter One of this compilation--I've not yet transcribed the whole thing-- from Margaret Morrison McCorkle (Mrs. Robert McCorkle) in Dyer County, Western District of Tennessee, to her daughter Elmira Sloane McCorkle Roache (Mrs. Dr. Stephen Roach, Jr.), presumably in Indiana:

Dear Elmira,

Your letter to Quincy and myself dated January 26^th [18[?3][?]] came to hand in due time.  I feel glad to hear that you enjoy health, peace, and competence in your new residence, and it gives me still greater pleasure to have reason to hope that you bear the absence of your children with fortitude.----------I have some knowledge how a mother feels to be parted from one or more of her children, but I have not realized that odd situation you mention you are in, viz, that of having none to call you mother.--------I suppose the thought of having them qualified for acting in a high sphere of life; that is that forthcoming great, and respectable men, buoys up your mind, and enables you to bear with [firmneß ? ] [finesse?] the present privation-----

     Well I suppose this is a laudable wish, and therefore, I say, may fortune favor your most sanguine anticipations.  I need  not hardly remind you of the neceßity of always striving to impreß upon their minds, that in order to be truly great, they must be good.  However this piece of advice by the way, is more to evince my anxiety about their welfare, than to excite you to duty-----for in reality a desire to have them become worthy cizitenz, lies near my heart-----and my decided opinion is, that the most expanded intellects, and splendid acquirements, must be united with goodness of heart, and a strict adherence to moral rectitude in order to form an eminent character-------And now my dear child, will you suffer your mother to give you a word of [to page 2] exhortation.  

  _________________________________________________________________________

Letter, 1832,  from Margaret Morrison McCorkle (Mrs. Robert McCorkle) in Dyer Co, TN, to her daughter Elmira Sloane McCorkle (Mrs. Stephen Roach):

                                                                                      August the 16^th 1832

Dear Elmira,              

 

¶ It is with difficulty that [your sister] Pamela [Margaret Permelia McCorkle, Mrs. Lemuel Locke Scott] has prevailed on me this morning to write you a few lines.  my infirm state of health, and lack of practice in writing, is all the apology I can make for my backwardness.  I love you as tenderly as ever I did, and have always an anxious desire to hear of your welfare.

 

¶ I need the consolations of kindness and friendly sympathy of my children to comfort me under my bodily afflictions.  suffice it to say that they are all very kind and good to me.  As to {?} my prospects for futurity I feel an unshaken confidence in the fulness, freeness, and sufficiency, of the gospel offer to everyone that will accept it, but I do not as fully realize my own acquiescence in the offer as I want to do.  I feel myself on the verge, and I want my sun to set in, that I may venture down without fear. 

 

¶ I think it is a light matter to appear religious before the world, and be a strict observer of all the moral duties, but I can never rest satisfied till I feel a living principle in my heart, of love to God constraining me to willing obedience.  This I think must be what is meant by the a kingdom of righteousness, peace, love and joy in the Holy-Ghost set up in the heart, when I look at my short comings I cannot help feeling difficulties.  I would be glad to know your prospects for eternity.

 

¶ I refer you to Tirzah [the addressee Elmira’s sister-in-law and Margaret’s daughter-in-law, Mrs. Robert Andrew Hope McCorkle, née Tirzah Scott] for family news.  Remember my love to all the family.

¶ Pamela [Mrs. Lemuel Locke Scott, daughter of Margaret Morrison McCorkle] says she intends writing to you when the rest come home again.

Margaret McCorkle.

Elmira S Roach.

 

1836 Letter from Margaret (Peggy) Morrison (Mrs. Robert McCorkle) in Dyer Co., Tennessee, to her daughter Elmira Sloane McCorkle Roache, who had moved on up to Indiana.

 

            ...“Possibly you will smile at my infatuation when I attempt to enumerate some of my joys, but would you not rather hear of my being pleased, and thankful for the good things I do enjoy than to hear that I grieved and repined at the want of things out of my reach.  good philosophy answers yes.”...

 

Verdant Plain,   April 26       1836

 

Dear child,

 

Short as time may seem, since I have seen you it might neverthele¶ occupy pages, to relate all that you would feel interested in hearing from me in that time.  Suffice it to say that, that same kind Providence in which I have long trusted has not yet failed me.  I think I may venture to say that I enjoy the good things of this world to a degree of satisfaction perhaps rarely experienced by old people.  when I thus think and speak, I mean present enjoyment, humbly trusting my future destiny in the hand of unerring wisdom and Goodne¶.    Possibly you will smile at my infatuation when I attempt to enumerate some of my joys, but would you not rather hear of my being pleased, and thankful for the good things I do enjoy than to hear that I grieved and repined at the want of things out of my reach.  good philosophy answers yes.

 

[¶ ]  My children^[21] are all without exception affectionately kind to me, and as far as I can di¶cern friendly and obliging to each other, industriously trying to provide for their families, and I flatter myself that they po¶e¶ steady principles of moral rectitude.

 

[¶ ] My granddaughters [through my deceased daughter Rebecca Cowden McCorkle (Mrs. Gideon Thompson)] are fine promising girls^[22] and I hope will make respectable wemon. [My son] Edwin [Alexander McCorkle] and [Edwin’s wife] Jane [Maxwell Thomas (McCorkle)] are exceeding kind to [Edwin’s niece] Jane [Thompson] and I think she is well satisfied to stay with them, although she expre¶es a great desire to go and see you all.  The rest of my grandchildren are all lovely blo¶oms.  they afford me a great deal of pleasure with their sweet smiles and innocent prattle[.]    [My son] Robert [Andrew Hope McCorkle] has been very fortunate in the choice of a companion.  She [Tirzah Scott McCorkle] has been particularly kind to me and if I dare not say that she is the most perfect of women, thus far I will venture to say that hitherto she has supported an uniform line of conduct that fairly entitles her in my estimation, to rank with the most amiable of her sex.

 

[¶ ] With respect to my circumstances I have joy to observe, that I am generally healthy, I am content, and feel like having an independent claim to a welcome home with my son Robert [Andrew Hope McCorkle] during life.  I have entirely given up with the perplexing cares of providing for a family.  I am still able to work, but I don’t feel as if nece¶ity drove me on, for I consider my income entirely adequate to my demands.

 

[¶ ] Give my kindest respects to Dr Roach.      tell [your son] Addison [Roach] I would be glad to see a friendly line from him.   tell [your children] [Robert] Quincy & Elmira  howday  from grandma.

 

                                                                        From your affectionate mother

 

                                                                                    Margaret McCorkle

 

 

 

            ... I feel daily admonitions of my frailty.  the pins of the old tabernacle are loosening perceptibly and I must soon descend to the pale regions of the dead ... . 1837

                                                --         Margaret [Peggy] Morrison McCorkle to her daughter Elmira Sloane McCorkle Roach

_____________________________________________________________

 

            Dyer County               March 24                1837

 

My dear child,

 

I think often of you, and though I write but seldom I try generally to fill my paper when I do, and that is my excuse for not writing oftener to you.  There are many things that frequently occur here, that would do very well for you and I [sic.] to amuse ourselves to chat about if we were together, that I don’t think worth while writing about, therefore will confine myself to write what I think will be most interesting to you.

 

[¶ ] My own health in the first place, I generally enjoyed moderate good health for about a year past lately I have had a little touch of the influenzy though I was not entirely confined to bed but two days yet I continue weak and my head a little disordered There is pestilence in our country Some call it the cold plague some the influenzy and others it operates on as pleuresy, in this last form it attacked our friend L:  Scott [presumably Margaret's son-in-law Lemuel Locke Scott, 1804-1866);  if so, the husband of the writer’s daughter Margaret Permelia McCorkle Scott] and brought him almost to the borders of the grave.  Thanks to our kind preserver who has spared him a little longer, he is recovering slowly.

 

[¶ ]  The rest of our friends here are well.  I have nine grandsons and five granddaughters here, all active thriving pretty children. [My daughter] Pamela’s [Mrs. Lemuel Locke Scott ’s] young son was born Jan: 18^th.  She was up and about in three or four days and is remarkably healthy and stout.

 

[ ¶ ]  [Granddaughter] Mary [Thompson, later Mrs. Matthew Dickey] is gone to Mr. Holmes ’s to learn the taylor trade She expects to stay 2 years perhaps longer   [Mary’s sister] Jane [M. Thompson, Mrs. Benjamin Williams] had a son about two weeks before Pamela [McCorkle, Mrs. Lemuel Scott] had hers, she calls it John Gideon [Williams].

 [Mary and Jane Thompson’s parents were Rebecca Cowden McCorkle and John Gideon Thompson, who both died in Middle Tennessee, Rutherford County, near Murfreesboro, leaving the two little girls to the care of their uncles Edwin and RAH McCorkle and wives Jane Maxwell Thomas and Tirzah Scott.  Jane M Thompson became Mrs. Benjamin Williams. Jane died in 1850 and is buried in Dyer County in the McCorkle Cemetery. Jane and husband Benjamin Williams in 1850 joined Lemalsamac Christian Church but he moved on --  where?  -- after death of Jane.]

I am informed that Jane has recovered health and looks hearty and well and has a beautiful babe.  I am told that Mr. [Benjamin] Williams and Jane are both extremely fond of it.  I would be vastly glad to see it myself though it makes me count one generation older.  They did not move as far off, as we expected them to do.  his father has given him land within three or four miles of himself.

 

[ ¶ ] We have got a schoolhouse built by a spring on Mr Hendricks land, the same that cousin Montgomery uses to carry water from, and all our children that are large enough are attending it.

[Presumably “Mr Hendricks” refers to Daniel Hendricks, 1784-1865, originally from Rowan Co., NC.  This Daniel Hendricks came from Mocksville, Davie County, North Carolina, and was a son of an elder DANIEL HENDRICKS, variously spelled Daniel Hendrix, & wife Mary Roland (Hendricks).  Mary Roland Hendricks of NC was a daughter of Frenchman Gaspar Roland.  The "Gaspar" became anglicized to "Casper."

The Daniel Hendricks who married Isabel Pendry (Hendricks), both of whom are buried in the McCorkle Cemetery, was a great-great grandfather of Joyce Cope Huie through her paternal grandmother Narcissus Elizabeth Hendricks, alias Mrs. Wilson Newberry Cope.   By my math, the Daniel Hendricks who married Isabel Pendry (Hendricks) was seven years her junior, which makes me wonder if she was a widow when she married Daniel, but that's pure speculation.    In the environs of Mocksville, Davie Co., NC, in the old land and legal-transactions records one finds the names of McMahans (Uriah C. Hendricks married, seriatim, two MacMahan or McMahan or McMachan sisters, first Mary "Polly" McMahan (Hendricks), and second  Temperance.  -- Burial Places: Daniel Hendricks & wife Isabel Pen(d)ry Hendricks and their son Uriah C. Hendricks are buried in the McCorkle McCorkle Cemetery, Dyer County, as is a brother of Uriah C. Hendricks: Daniel Roland Hendricks.    We need to get these Hendricks folks new grave markers.   

And Margaret Morrison McCorkle is probably referring to what became UNION GROVE SCHOOLHOUSE, right there on Daniel Hendricks' land, and his son Uriah C. Hendricks' land, later his granddaughter Narcissus Hendricks Cope's land, and then Ira Mitchell Cope's land, and today Joyce Cope Huie's.

[   --Regarding “cousin Montgomery,” it may be Samuel MONTGOMERY McCorkle, a son of Robert McCorkle's brother WILLIAM McCORKLE.  But I do not KNOW who this is. Margaret Morrison’s father-in-law Alexander McCorkle married (1^st) Nancy Agnes Montgomery; and Margaret’s own mother, Elizabeth Sloane (Mrs. Andrew) Morrison, was a niece-by-marriage of Nancy Agness Montgomery.  These people were hopelessly intermarried!] 

 

[ ¶ ] We had an earthquake the 21^st inst; the hardest that I have felt since I have been in the district.  I received your kind letter of Feb. 26 by last mail.  we got all the letters you mentioned in it except one of Addisons. [grandson Addison Locke Roach ’s.]  I am sorry to hear of your ill health but I rejoice exceedingly in the goodness of God in raising you up kind friends in a strange country that minister to your necessities they have bestowed on you, I feel like it was kindness shewn to me, and I hope the Lord will recompense them abundantly agreeably to his own words Matth: 25-45 and 10-42 together with several other parallel scriptures.

 

[ ¶ ] I have lately heard that my sister Rachel [presumably Rachel Morrison who according to records other than ours in West Tennessee became Mrs. Robert Brown--that is, Rachel Morrison Brown] died the 1^st of July year [18]35 but I cannot tell anything satisfactory about the rest of my brothers & sisters.  probably brother Andrew [Andrew Sloan(?) Morrison ] has moved into the state of Virginia in order to be convenient to attend an old law suit there

[Anonymously placed genealogical records, found in the Statesville, Iredell County, NC, public library family history room,  state that this brother Andrew Morrison became a minister of the gospel and moved to Indiana; I do not know.]

 [One of Margaret’s sisters was, without cavil, Mary Morrison Morrison, who lived at the end of her life--evidently quite sadly in penury--near Hillsboro, Coffee County, Tennessee, with a  /son (?) / nephew (?)/  young cousin (?) /  named James C. Morrison.  Mary Morrison Morrison (a daughter of Elizabeth Sloan Morrison & Andrew Morrison, as was the writer Margaret Morrison McCorkle) married a 1^st cousin, JOHN MORRISON, a son of their uncle Patrick Morrison. (This Patrick Morrison was a brother to the Andrew Morrison who married Elizabeth Sloan; & they--Patrick & Andrew--were sons of the William Morrison, 1704-1771, who called himself the "first inhabitor" of Third Creek area of Iredell Co., NC.)  Mary Morrison Morrison lived at the end of life in Coffee Co., Tenn., not too far from today's Chattanooga, with Rebecca Morrison, who was her sister.  I've about 98% decided that Rebecca Morrison was a never-married sister of Margaret Morrison McCorkle, & of Rachel Morrison Brown(e), & of Mary Morrison Morrison, inter alia. 

           The Coffee County, Tenn., census records show:  Mary Morrison was aged 68 in 1850 census and Rebecca Morrison aged 78; but the 1860 census shows only Mary, aged 79, in the 1860 census.  Rebecca Morrison died some time between 1850 & 1860; so I list her death as "circa 1855."]  [ I used to wonder from these letters if Margaret had a sister who married a COWDEN; or a sister-in-law née COWDEN --and the reason I used to suspect this is that Margaret Morrison McCorkle named a daughter Rebecca Cowden McCorkle (known later as Mrs. Gideon Thompson, the mother of Jane Williams & Mary "Polly" Dickey).  --But now, since the summer of 2007 when I visited the History Room of the Public Library in Statesville, Iredell County, NC, I feel fairly comfortable that I have a list of Margaret Morrison McCorkle's siblings; and evidently REBECCA MORRISON is one of them.]

 

[ ¶ ]   Mr [Thomas] Anderson[23] wrote to us this winter, says [his daughter] Martha [Anderson (Mrs. James T. Leath, I think, but this "James T. Leath" information is not in our West Tenn. records] has three fine sons and has moved to the district, and located in Memphis.  the old people expect to visit them next fall, and have it in contemplation to call upon us.  I think I shall be truly glad to see them[2]

 

 

 [ ¶ ]      I think I begin to run scarce of news however I will turn back and tell you some more about myself a theme that I expect you won’t easily tire with [.]   I staid with [my daughter and the addressee Elmira’s sister] [Margaret] Pamela [McCorkle Scott] about two months this winter [.]  I went the day before Christmas and staid till her babe was near 5 weeks old[.]  little William [ Scott ][1] slept in my bosom almost every night while I was there, and became very fond of me, as likewise I did of him, I brought him home with me kept him ten days but he got sick, teething & worms, so his pa carried him away[.] I took sick in a few days after and have not got to see him since[.]   I have not worked any in along time except to mind the to feed them and darn their stockings & such like[.] I read my bible a good [bit] and like it still better the longer I read it[.]

 

[ ¶ ]      I find that temperance in diet is my best medicine, vegetables don’t agree with me but I can eat a little meat and eggs milk butter and coffee moderately without injury.  nevertheless I feel daily admonitions of my frailty.  the pins of the old tabernacle are loosening perceptibly and I must soon descend to the pale regions of the dead [.]

 

 [ ¶ ]     if I were in the habit of apologising I would say excuse my crooked lines and bad writing, my eyes are dim and my hand trembles, my strength fails.

 

                        I am ever your affectionate mother

                                                                                                                                   

Margaret McCorkle

 

Elmira S Roach

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

[1837 -- Margaret Morrison McCorkle’s note to her grandson Addison Roache is written in a spidery hand on the same page as the foregoing letter to her daughter Elmira Sloane McCorkle Roach:]

______________________________________________________________________

Dyer              March 25                1837

 

            My son Addison

I claim you as such, though I address a  line to you with diffidence [.] I fear you are like some young people I have seen who say that old grandmas dont ever know how young people feel [.]   my child I tremble when I think over the slippery scenes of youth and what you may be exposed to lest you get seduced and turn from the virtuous course you have been taught from your infancy  [ . ]      I  know that your good education your polished manners and your social turn will gain you a great many acquaintances  and perhaps a good many of them not virtuous                            

_____  ___  _________  ______  _____  _____  _______  ____________   

 

            No more is extant of the above letter to Addison Locke Roache, Sr., who became a judge in Indianapolis, Indiana., and joined the Indiana Supreme Court, resigning to become president of the Indiana lines of the Illinois Central Railroad Company.

Addison Locke Roache, Sr., married Emily Wedding[s]. They had children.

Aunt Katie Pearl McCorkle Fox’s hand-written record states the following:

“The Tennessee relatives looked on the Roaches as their Wealthier kin.  Once Cousin Quincy [Robert Quincy Roache, brother to Addison Locke Roache, Sr.] brought all the West Tennessee male relatives a pocket testament and the females a silver thimble on which was engraved R Q R.”

 

 [(Quincy Roache was president of the Moniteau [County] Bank in the town of California, State of Missouri.  He started out in business in Dyer County with McCorkle & Roache. I'm not sure but I think he was in business with his mother's brother Edwin Alexander McCorkle; it may have been some other McCorkle cousin, though.)]

 

“Addison’s children:

1          Mary Roache married     _______   Gillespie

2          Emma Roache married   _______   L [Lamma?]

3          Janie Roache, died 1941 in Alhambra, California. [Jane Roache DePuy or DuPuy?]

 

·        4          Randolph Roache [this must be the one who died just after beginning to practise law in Indianapolis]

·        5          Addison [Addison Locke Roache, Jr., who died testate in California. Addison Locke Roache Jr. established by testamentary trust a lectureship in his father’s name at the University of Indiana, Bloomington]

 

“Robert Quincy Roache married Rebecca Sunderland &[then her sister] Isabel Sunderland. 

Quincy Roache had no child but reared at least two: Carrie Stephens &  her sister Emma Stephens.  I think they were his wife Rebecca Sunderland’s nieces. 

“Howard H. Roache  – killed at Shiloh.”

 

                       [End of Katie Pearl McCorkle’s record on this point.]

 

 [ Howard Harris Roache is buried in the McCorkle Cemetery, Dyer Co., TN, with two stones:  the smaller one, John Shelton and I strapped against the other, tall-spired one in 1984. I think I’ve read that his mother, Elmira Sloan McCorkle Roache, also erected a memorial stone for Howard Harris Roache up in Missouri where “QUINCY” Robert Quincy Roache, another son, was a banker, Moniteau Bank, city of California, State of Missouri.]

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Elmira Sloane McCorkle Roach  – was born in 1797 in Iredell County, North Carolina, and died in 1890.  She married Dr. Stephen Roach in 1816 in Rutherford County, Tennessee, at her parents’ home, before the parents lost their land near Murfreesboro, TN, and received a land grant in lieu thereof in the newly opened Western District of Tennessee.  Elmira recorded in a letter that her parents, Robert and Margaret Morrison McCorkle, had lived on Stone’s River, then on Bradley’s Creek, in Rutherford County, Tennessee, before removal to Dyer County, Tennessee.  Her son Addison  Locke Roache, Sr., had become a judge in Indianapolis.   Elmira died in 1890 residing with her son Quincy, who was a bank president [Moniteau County Bank] in California, a town in Missouri.  Our McCorkle family oral history holds that Elmira and Dr. Roach moved to Indiana so that their boys could attend the University of Indiana.  Sure enough, Addison graduated from the University of Indiana, Bloomington, in 1836, and his brother Robert Quincy Roache graduated in 1845.  [Elmira's aunt, Mary Morrison Morrison who married a 1st cousin John Morrison, this John being a son of Patrick Morrison, wrote that she once lived, also, at Bradley's Creek; and that she, Mary Morrison Morrison, remembered Quincy Roache's having been there at Bradley's Creek as a precious little boy.]

            The following information about Elmira’s children is from John Hale Stutesman’s unpublished manuscript which I read in year 1983  – At that time, 20 years ago now, this was his address:  John Hale Stutesman, 305 Spruce Street, San Francisco, California: 

Elmira Sloane McCorkle Roach’s children:

Addison Locke Roache, Sr.

            born 1817 in Rutherford County, Tennessee; died after 1901 in Indiana; please see below. [Added by Marsha Huie:  Again, we should note the LOCKE name.  The Revolutionary War general Matthew Locke or Francis Locke lived around Thyatira Presbyterian Church in Rowan Co., NC, near Salisbury-Mooresville, NC.  And a Richard W. Locke [Dick Locke] moved westward to the Yorkville-Newbern area; I’ve always presumed he was a kinsman of the North Carolinian General Locke. One of Dick Locke’s wives is buried in the Old Yorkville C P Cemetery, and another wife, Sallie L. Scott (widow of John A. Rodgers) (then Mrs. Richard W. Locke), granddaughter of Margaret Morrison McCorkle through Margaret & Robert McCorkle’s daughter, Margaret Permelia McCorkle Scott, is buried  in the McCorkle Cemetery. [Sade Scott Huie, my paternal greatmother kept a photograph of Dick Locke in her photo album.]  Now that the Old Yorkville Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery has been restored, we can search those records for LOCKE people buried therein. Dick Locke was a trustee for the McCorkle Cemetery, as he buried one wife there, but has no marker there that I know about.]

Franklin Stone Roache, 1820-1827

James Travers Roache, 1821-1827  –  [One of Margaret Morrison McCorkle’s letters to Elmira implores that she be remembered to Mr. Travers.]

Robert QUINCY Roache, 1824-1908. 

Born in Rutherford Co., TN, and died in town of California in Missouri. [I don’t think Quincy Roache had issue, but Aunt Kate McCorkle thought Quincy raised 2 of his Sunderland wife’s nieces. For a brief time, Quincy Roache and his uncle Edwin Alexander McCorkle (1799-1853) (I think it was Edwin) ran a store in Newbern called McCorkle & Roache.  Then Quincy went to Missouri to be a banker.]

Stephen McCorkle Roache, 1826-1827

Elmira Jane Roache, 1828-1830

Latina Elmira Roache, 1831-1833

[Edwin A. McCorkle & wife Jane Maxwell Thomas named one of their daughters Margaret Latina McCorkle (Mrs. John T. Gregory). Had Elmira’s daughter born in 1831 & named Latina lived, that daughter and “Tina” McCorkle Gregory would have been 1^st cousins.]

 

Margaret Joanna Roache, born and died June 1834, Monroe County, Indiana.

Howard Harris Roache, born 20 May 1838 in Monroe County, Indiana.  [Died from wound received in battle at Shiloh in 1862 (April 10, 1862).  Why, oh why, did he come down to Tennessee to fight for the Confederacy?]

[The Battle of Shiloh in West Tennessee occurred on April 6^th and April 7^th of 1862.  Howard’s date of death is listed on his tombstone as the 10^th, and his uncle RAH McCorkle writes the mother that he died not in battle but very soon afterwards. I (Marsha Huie) think Howard may have been born in 1836.  His tombstone in the McCorkle Cemetery, Dyer Co., TN., will tell. Actually Howard H. Roache has 2 markers there: a make-do but respectable marker placed there during the Civil War by his uncle Robert Andrew Hope McCorkle, and a grander, taller marker later erected after the war by, presumably, his parents.  One wonders why Howard went south from Indiana to West Tennessee to fight with his McCorkle 1^st cousins, some of whom would have been the sons of Elmira’s brother Edwin Alexander McCorkle, namely:  Finis A. McCorkle; Hiram R. A. McCorkle; John Edwin McCorkle; and Anderson Jehiel McCorkle.

Three other 1^st cousins to Howard Harris Roache would have been these three sons of “Jem” Jehiel Morrison McCorkle, viz., Locke McCorkle, killed at the Battle of Atlanta; and H.C. or Clay McCorkle (Henry Clay McCorkle, buried at Brice’s Crossroads, also called the battle of Guntown, Mississippi). And one record lists an E J McCorkle [Ed] as another, third (! !),  son [of Betsy Smith & Jehiel Morrison McCorkle] who was killed in the war. 

[– I don’t know if John Edwin McCorkle and Hiram and Anderson’s other brother David Purviance McCorkle enlisted in the Confederate army, but presume he did as he was a legislator to the CONFEDERATE CONGRESS.  I think also that he was in the State Legislature of Tennessee after the war, from Obion County.  David Purviance McCorkle and a whole passel of his progeny are buried just north of Dyer County, in Obion County, at Mount Moriah Cemetery; I found the cemetery by going from Newbern the "back way" toward Reelfoot Lake.]

 

            John Hale Stutesman’s above list of Elmira Sloane McCorkle Roach’s children would seem to contradict Elmira’s statement in the letter below: “[I have] moreover the skill of my husband to depend on, who has borne me through, successfully three times already.”  But perhaps Mr. Stutesman’s list is correct; perhaps Elmira is not counting in her correspondence the children who failed to live to adolescence.  I just don’t know the truth of it. I do know the reason I came into these wonderful old letters is that Elmira Sloan McCorkle’s Roache line died out in California.  As mentioned, her Roache descendants turned the letters over to Casey McCorkle (Bowden Cason McCorkle) in San Leandro, California, a grandson of Finis A. McCorkle.  Then in turn Casey McCorkle entrusted these precious old documents to me, Marsha Cope Huie.

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

Rockville          April 28            1838  [possibly the date is 1836?]

                                                                                                                                               

My dear Mother

 

            This may be the last time I ever will have the pleasure of addressing you by letter.  I have delayed writing from time to time either from a sense of bodily or mental inability but will put it off no longer seeing life is uncertain, and my situation at present critical.  You doubtless will be astonished when you hear, I am again in a state of pregnancy, the issue of which I expect about the fifteenth of May, which will be past before this reaches you.

 

 [ ¶ ] I confess my situation casts a shade of gloom over me which all the philosophy I can muster up, cannot dispel.  Oh: what a comfort it would be to have my dear Mother and sisters around at such a season.  I feel how deeply they would enter into my sorrows and alleviate my sufferings by their sympathy and kindness.  But why trouble you with words of unpleasant import, or consume time either in thinking or writing of impossibilities, I ought rather to be thankful that my prospect is no worse, that I have the necessaries of life around me, no fear of want either of food or clothing, a girl with me now, who does all my drudgery, and has promised to stay while I need her, kind neighbors, who have ever been true in sickness [,] moreover the skill of my husband to depend on, who has borne me through, successfully three times already.  I gather strength from these [ ??????].   a   ray of hope gleams through my troubled mind and imparts comfort, I love to indulge and cherish it.

 

There is a promise made to the woman in child bearing but I confess I do not understand it well enough to derive much comfort fom it, but the Lord has promised to be with those who trust in him, in dire troubles, and in seven [?? times seven ???] he will not forsake them.

 

 [ ¶ ] [Robert] Quincy [Roache] has been at home several weeks, and will remain a week yet, it will be a great trial for me to part with but we must submit to present ills for the sake of future good [.]   he is called a regular, attentive, and moral student, as far as I can learn.  The greatest objection I have to his being absent from home is the danger of contracting immoral habits without a friend to watch over and guide his path.

 

 [ ¶ ] Addison [Roache] left home on Tuesday and has not returned.  I am looking for him every minute.  The time has arrived when business will often call him from home, and I can expect to enjoy but little of his company.  he boards and lodges at home but reads [law] at the home of his Preceptor, to whom he is strongly attached, and I believe with good reason.  I rejoice that we were so fortunate as to be able to place him under the care of one so well qualified to guard him through the slippery paths of youth.   he appears to take great interest in his welfare and advancement [ . ]  Addison took license at the last circuit court but has not practiced any yet, nor will not, I presume untill his term of tuition expires.

 

 [ ¶ ] The Dr had a letter from Uncle James

                                                            [James McCorkle? Less likely, James Morrison?]

not  long since, he stated he had written to you, I hope you have received the intelligence

so much desired.  The old gentleman seems contented and happy and strong in the path

 of the Gospel.      

            {– This would almost certainly be Elmira’s Uncle James M^cCorkle, brother to Robert McCorkle and therefore brother-in-law to Margaret Morrison McCorkle. [Or maybe – pure speculation-- it could be to Elmira an Uncle James Morrison? ]  One person named James McCorkle, known to have been a brother to Robert McCorkle, was born 4 May 1768 and moved to Ohio, but died when residing in Frankfort, Indiana, on 2 December 1840.  – How far was Rockville from Frankfort, Indiana? }

[

 [ ¶ ] Montgomery’s [probably Elmira’s 1^st cousin Samuel MONTGOMERY McCorkle, a son of William McCorkle] family are well at present, but have had sickness occasionally for some three or four years past, he has become so exasperated at the ignorance, and vice of his neighbors, and tired out with sickness in his family, that he has resolved to hunt a new home if he should meet a lion in the way.  if he could find a place where he could make his quill support him, it would be a happy circumstance.

[I'm not 100% certain who this “Montgomery” is.  Robert McCorkle’s brother William McCorkle had a son named  Samuel Montgomery McCorkle, born 1785 in Rowan Co, NC.  Montgomery McCorkle would have been Elmira Sloan McCorkle Roach’s first cousin.  In any event, Elmira’s paternal grandmother was Nancy Agness MONTGOMERY McCorkle, Mrs. Alexander McCorkle, who is buried in Thyatira Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Rowan Co., NC.  (Her husband, Alexander McCorkle, lived circa 1722-1800      More on (Nancy) Agness Montgomery: Harriet McCorkle McGinn [Mrs. Amzi McGinn, a daughter of Samuel Eusebius McCorkle] wrote that Agness (Nancy) Montgomery‘s brother was Dr. Joseph Montgomery, 1733-1794, a Presbyterian minister; and that Agness (Nancy) Montgomery McCorkle’s mother was Martha?  Finley (Montgomery), the daughter of  John Finley.  With the Montgomery-Finley line there’s a Princeton University connection, as Princeton began as a seminary for Presbyterian ministers.  – A letter in these Roache-McCorkle papers dated 1948 in Ala. and addressed to a Mr. [or Mrs.?] Walter L. Montgomery of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, states that “one Samuel McCorkle and John Montgomery from Scotland came together settling in Pa., I think in Lancaster Co., previous to 1735.” But the author of this letter includes, in that one letter, several errors about the McCorkle genealogy, so the above quoted statement is suspect.

 

 [ ¶ ] The Dr [Stephen Roach] received brother Edwin’s [Edwin Alexander McCorkle’s]

favor of the 4^th Feb [.] he [Edwin] speaks of having been in middle Tennessee

[in or near Murfreesboro] and seeing our friends.

[Deed records in Rutherford Co., TN, show that certain land deeds made to Robt. McCorkle, grantee, were “delivered to [Robert’s son] Edwin McCorkle.” Edwin A. McCorkle’s wife was Jane Maxwell Thomas.]

 

[ ¶ ] I am sorry my Aunts are not more happily situated particularly Aunt Rebecca.

[Margaret Morrison McCorkle had a sister named Rebecca Morrison.  It must be that "Aunt Rebecca" was a never-married sister to Margaret.  This is undoubtedly the Rebecca Morrison on the census in Coffee County, Tennessee, in 1850, near the town of Hillsboro; and in that same home, very uncomfortable and in penury as evidenced by her correspondence, some of which is reprinted herein, was MARY MORRISON, who was a decade  younger than Rebecca Morrison.   Rebecca Morrison died some time between 1850 & 1860  Before I went to Statesville, NC, in 2007, this series of correspondence raised in me speculation about who REBECCA MORRISON was.  Margaret did name one of her daughters Rebecca Cowden McCorkle (Mrs. Gideon Thompson).  And so I wondered until 2007: Is this a clue: could Margaret’s sister-in-law have been Rebecca Cowden Morrison? This was pure speculation; I had no such record. 

 – Margaret’s letter reveals that she, Margaret Morrison, did have a sister named Rachel Morrison, and I have found from others' records that this Rachel Morrison became Rachel Morrison Brown (Mrs. Robert Brown).  Margaret wrote to her daughter Elmira in 1838, “I have lately heard that my sister Rachel [ Rachel Morrison Brown] died the 1^st of July year 35 but I cannot tell anything satisfactory about the rest of my brothers & sister.   probably brother Andrew [Morrison] has moved into the state of Virginia in order to be convenient to attend an old law suit there.”  www.Ancestry.com lists a  Robert Brown as the husband of a Rachel Morrison, but I do not know if this is the correct Rachel Morrison: Rachel Morrison, born 18 April 1772, Mecklenburg, NC.

 

Aunt Mary [Morrison] would not be happy in any situation

  [It is now beyond cavil that Margaret Morrison had a sister named Mary Morrison. Ms. Jean Morrison of Cincinnati, Ohio, has kindly placed a letter on the internet from Mary Morrison Morrison to her nephew, Joseph Pinckney Morrison, the recipient later becoming a Cumberland Presbyterian minister in California.  This Mary Morrison Morrison was living in 1857 with a son? nephew? young cousin? near Hillsboro, Coffee County, Tennessee. The letter placed on the internet by Jean Morrison is dated 29^th July 1857, almost a decade after the 1848 death of Margaret Morrison McCorkle, and reports that she, Mary Morrison Morrison, had heard no word from the McCorkles since Robert [Robert Andrew Hope McCorkle] had last written to her.]  And in another letter written by Mary Morrison to her nephew Robert Andrew Hope McCorkle, Mary notes that she had recently received a one-dollar bill from her nephew Edwin Alexander McCorkle. This letter, too, is written from near Hillsboro, Coffee County, Tennessee, to RAH McCorkle in Dyer County, Tennessee.

 

I know her better than she knows herself.  Aunt Rebecca may also have become fretful from age, and long listening to the others complaints.  I never could learn whether it was uncle Patrick’s son she married or not, if it was, what became of the poor children.

[It was Uncle Patrick's son, John Morrison, whom Mary Morrison had married; Margaret Morrison McCorkle's responsive letter to her daughter Elmira confirms this.  I have not yet transcribed Margaret's letter that answers Elmira's question, as I unearthed it only in the winter of 2007 at my mother's old house in West Tenn.  Margaret Morrison McCorkle's father Andrew Morrison had an brother named Patrick Morrison. Again, this Andrew Morrison and this Patrick Morrison were sons of the William Morrison, 1704-1771, who called himself the "first inhabitor" of Third Creek, Iredell Co., NC.]

 

I never can hear of Uncle Andrew, nor any of his family. 

[Andrew Sloan Morrison was Margaret’s brother (I think his middle name was Sloan); & we know Margaret’s father’s name was Andrew Morrison as well.  It is NOT our West Tenn. records that indicate Andrew Sloan Morrison removed to western Kentucky and/or Indiana. I just don't know.  I think he became a Presbyterian or Cumberland Presbyterian preacher but am not certain about this.--I think the Morrison Family of Montgomery County, Tennessee, entry on the Internet picks up the line of this Andrew Sloan Morrison; but I don't guarantee it.]

 

April 29

Addison has just returned.   is well.  Changed his clothing and putt off for the Presbyterian Church.  The Dr and Quincy have also gone, and I am alone except the girl who lives with me.  The morning is cold, but the sun shines cheerily on the face of nature and gives encouragement to budding vegetation which the chilling winds seem disposed to check.  The month of March came in like a lion according to the old Dutch Saying but after a few days of blustering and cold, exchanged the angry frown for the lamblike aspect, and continued dry and warm; we had no sugary season at all, consequently will be dependent on Orleans this year.  Vegetation budded forth delightfully, bloomed out beautifully, but April has been rather chilling throughout, we have had several fine falls of snow, the last on the 6^th.  I presume the peach and apple orchards have suffered, but our little garden, which is liberally set with fruitshrubs and vines, seems unscathed.   the gooseberry, currant, and strawberry present a mantle of bloom.

 

 

[ ¶ ] Jonathan Nichols was lying at the point of death on Wednesday: his family will be left destitute indeed.

 

[ ¶ ] Sister Elizabeth’s [Elmira's half-sister Elizabeth McCorkle Anderson ’s] daughter Elizabeth is married to Mitchell McMurray and old Aunt Anna and the Calhouns are at loggerheads about the property of her defunct son, who married Thomas Calhoun’s daughter, you know the old lady, itching palm for gold.

[The Cumberland Presbyterian website mentions a Thomas Calhoun, early C.P. minister. No doubt that’s the connection. --Elizabeth Anderson McMurry, granddaughter of Robert McCorkle by his 1st wife Lizzie Blythe (McCorkle), was wife of a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, John MITCHELL McMurry, who died in 1875 in Lebanon, Tennessee. He had long preached at McMinnville, Tennessee.]

 

May 4^th

The weather has been wet and cold all this week, quite discouraging to farmers.  The Dr would have started with Quincy to Bloomington to day if the rain and deep waters had not prevented.  Tell Robert [the author’s brother Robert Hope Andrew McCorkle] to write to Addison, he is constantly looking for an answer to his last; I cannot give up all hope yet of seeing him in Rockville this spring or early in the summer.  Give my love to all my brothers, sisters, and their children, tell them that time and space does not in the least abate my affection for them, but I have given up all hopes of ever seeing them in Tennessee.

 

Yours affectionately

                                                                               [signature] Elmira S Roach.

 

                   Below is a copy of the letter placed on the Internet by Jean Morrison of Cincinnati, Ohio.  In 1857 Mary Morrison Morrison (Mrs. John Morrison, wife of her 1st cousin John Morrison, who was a son of Patrick Morrison and a grandson of William Morrison, 1701-1771) wrote to her nephew Joseph Pinckney Morrison.  Mary Morrison's husband John Morrison was a son of Patrick Morrison, Patrick being a son of the William Morrison, 1701/4-1771, who referred to himself as the "first inhabitor" of Third Creek area, Iredell County, NC.  Reprinted with kind permission, with many thanks to Jean Morrison for first guiding me into my Morrison research….

 Joseph Pinckney Morrison was a son of William Hays Morrison, 1767-1837. (William Hays Morrison was brother to Margaret Morrison McCorkle and the writer, Mary Morrison Morrison, and other siblings, and William Hays Morrison is buried in the McCorkle Cemetery in Dyer Co., Tennessee.) 

Many, many thanks to Jean Morrison for providing the above-quoted information about the children of Andrew Morrison & Elizabeth Sloan (Morrison), parents of the 2^nd wife of Robert McCorkle.

 

 

Below is a letter from Mary Morrison, daughter of Andrew & Elizabeth Sloan Morrison of Rowan County, NC, and a sister to Margaret Morrison McCorkle, dated 1851, after Margaret’s death in 1848 and before her nephew Edwin Alexander McCorkle’s death in 1853. This letter is addressed to Robert Andrew Hope McCorkle:

 

Carol McCorkle Branz in August 2006 sent me the following letter from Mary Morrison Morrison (Mrs. John Morrison) [and, Mary adds, from Rebecca Morrison] to Robert Andrew Hope McCorkle and his daughter Sarah Elmira McCorkle (Algea), the first part of which is addressed to RAH’s daughter Sarah Elmira McCorkle (Algea):

 

I think (but am not certain) the date is 1851, and the inside address is Hillsboro, Coffee County, Tennessee:  Sure enough, as Elmira Sloan McCorkle Roache wrote to her mother in the letter immediately above, her Aunt Mary Morrison was not happy.

 

                                                                                                                                                                   November 29^th 18 ?51?

Dear Niece [Sarah E. McCorkle, alias Mrs. Jno. Algea]

 

          Your kind letter has lain so long unanswered perhaps you will think we neglect you:  if you do you are mistaken.  I have not been able to write much in many years, last summer your Aunt Rebeccca became so entirely debillitated [sic.] both mind & body that she could not write.  for a long time my constant tho’t was that a few more days would dismiss her from this world of pain; when the season cooled her strenth [sic.] appeared to re-connect [reconceit? recur?] & I hoped she would be able to write again but that hope is perished.  Enjoying the warm spirits of youth & the society of your dearest friends you can-not realize how soothing & sweet the sympathy of a relation falls on the heart of helpless old age living among strangers.

 

          We are much gratified that our dear sister [Margaret Morrison (Mrs. Robert) McCorkle] lives in the remembrance & heart of her grandchild & trust you will live an honor to her memory & joy of your parents.  We are greatly pleased with your style of writing and would like to read letters from you frequently.  You mention your present as small [but] it is great to us & we gratefully thank you for it.            My sight & memory are both failed so much I am afraid my writing will be troublesome to read.  A few days  ago we recieved [sic.] a letter from your Uncle Edwin [Edwin Alexander McCorkle, 1798 - 10 Jan. 1853] enquiring about our situation.

 

 [The date of this letter cannot be 1857 or 1858, for Edwin A. McCorkle died 10 Feb. 1853.  Nor can the date of the letter be 1831 or ‘37, for the writer’s sister Margaret Morrison McCorkle did not die until 1848.  So, Sarah E. McCorkle Algea’s “Uncle Edwin” referred to here must be Edwin Alexander McCorkle.  The date has to be 1851.]

 

I have a pain in my breast that prevents me from writing much so I will address [sic.] your Father & give such accounts as I may be able & he can read or show them to your Uncle [Edwin].  Dear Niece there is a better world than this let us all try to obtain inheiritance [sic.] there. 

 

                    We remain your affectionate Auntβ

                   Rebecca & Mary Morrison s

 

[addressee:]  Sarah E. [Sarah Elmira] McCorkle (later Mrs. Jno. Algea)

 

December 5^th     Dear Nephew [Robert Andrew Hope McCorkle]

          We were much gratified to receive a letter from you & would have answered it long ago if we had been able but I think your Aunt [Rebecca] will write no more.  often I am not able & often I have not time.  Your Aunt is very helpless sometimes suffers much pain needs constant attention if I sit one half hour without rising it is a remarkable circumstance  I am very weak & sickly frequently I am oblidged [sic.] to lye [sic.] every minute I can leave your aunt  she can help her self very little  she can’t even draw up the bed clothes about her neck when she is too cold  she has not sat up any in a long time  she is subject to bowel complaint sometimes I am up with her five times a night; since the season cooled her appetite is good but I can’t observe her strength increase any in several weeks.  I am distressed with cramp pains thro’ my whole system & often so sleepy I hardly know that I [am] alive. 

[page 2]

 

Last spring was wet & very cold hard frosts in April destroyed the meat and most of the fruit in this neighborhood, corn was late planting at the time

 [Who is this person James to whom the writer refers immediately below:  James C. Morrison ? Was he Mary's son? I just do not know.   It is known that a Joseph Pinckney Morrison was a son of the writer’s brother WILLIAM HAYS MORRISON, 1767-1837, as well as a son named William Morrison; and although Mary's brother Wm Hays Morrison is buried in the McCorkle Cemetery in Dyer County, his wife née Haynes who predeceased him (Wm Hays Morrison) is buried in Bedford County, Tennessee.]

James’s corn needed work he was taken with whooping cough   I never saw a grown person suffer as he did for six weeks  I almost despaired of his life, he tried to work every day  I tho’t that hurt him  he frequently said he [would] have no corn this yeare  he worked as well as he could; in August I think, we had rain three weeks in succession, about as much each week as would have made one good rain then JAMES said if the season continued he would have some corn but the rain ceased & corn was shortened early frost oblidged [sic.] him to cut down some that would have been good if the frost had been a few weeks later.  JAMES remained in a weak unhealthy condition thro’ the summer & fall.  I do not think he has fairly recovered his natural vigor yet  Corn is said to sell from one & a half to [two] dollars per barrell [sic.]  James did raise some corn but meat was scarce & t has taken it nearly all to fatten our meat:   in the fall JAMES traded apples for corn to the amount of three bushels    a few days ago the man that got the apples was here & bargained six more for a last spring’s calf & half one if JAMES woud take it home which he did  These nine and half bushells is all  that we have engaged yet.  We had a good crop of apples but they rotted so we could not keep them so JAMES sold out for two dollars & three quarters in money but he has not got it all yet  I am not sure he ever will.  Last fall your Aunt had a steer butchered the hide was sold for leather  I think we have enough to keep us shoes this year.  We sold all the flesh but one half quarter for money & sent that with a neighbor (Mr. Ham) to Nashville & got some salt & coffee  we have some of both these articles yet. we  also got some flour but that is done.  Our cabbage all died    a company of deer went into the corn field & eat [sic.] all our peas  an insect destroyed our irish potatoes & injured our sweet ones so then the drought made them very few.           We have a few very good neighbors & some we do not like.  There is preaching once a month at pondspring but I cannot go  I think religion is little attended at this time.

[page 3]

We got a letter from [nephew] Edwin [Edwin Alexander McCorkle] written in October We had one from him in the summer enclosing a one dollar bill and would have written to him then but could not.

I can give you no adequate idea of the distorted condition in which I live. Sometimes when I sit down to eat I have to rise three times before I have an [tiny hole in letter]k.  I am much distressed with saint Antonys fire in my [arms? ankles?] and palsy in my [wrist?]; yet hitherto the Lord has enabled me to wait on my more helpless sister.

Dear Nephew when I saw you last I tho’t my journey nearly ended but I have wandered among the briars & thorns of this wilderness several years & prospects seem darker now than then but those days of trial will shortly end & then if Jesus will recieve [sic.] me into his heavenly kingdom the miseries I endure here will distress me no more. 

The drought continues   the springs are almost all gone dry in this neighborhood   our well still supplies us with strict economy    we have cold weather sometimes & sometimes a light rain   one warm evening rained in the night snow came on the ground melted it all the time it was falling but it was four inches deep when it ceased falling.  My memory & sight are both failed very much & I have to write in the apartment with all the family  one of the number an active child 15 months old that often in her playfull gambols comes to me to be noticed so you will have to read & study out my writing the best way you can.  I must quit writing for this time.  And now, loved child of my sister, may you & I and all our dear friends obtain a part in the resurrection of just. 

We had a letter from your uncle George’s daughter Mary Amanda.  [Mary's brother GEORGE MORRISON, born 10th Aug. 1771-died in 1854, who remained in the homeplace of Iredell Co., NC.]  She wrote that they were all in common health   her Father is failing very fast & her Mother afflicted with pains. 

Tell Quincy   [Robert Quincy Roache, son of Elmira Sloan McCorkle Roache and a nephew of the addressee RAH McCorkle] we remember the sweet little boy that used to play about us when we lived on Bradleys creek [in Rutherford County, Middle Tennessee]

December 18^th  Last sabath [sic.] we had a light snow & terrible cold ever since.  We join in sending our kindest love to your family & all enquiring friends. [The writer’s sister, Margaret Morrison McCorkle used this exact phrase in her own correspondence.]   and remain your affectionate Aunts

                                                                                                                             Rebecca & Mary Morrison s

[addressee:] Robert A H M^cCorkle

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Evidently  Mary Morrison Morrison refers above to Bradley’s Creek, in Rutherford County, Middle Tennessee, where it is known that Robert McCorkle & Margaret Morrison McCorkle, with children and some grandchildren, once lived also.   I had not known some of the Morrisons were there, too; but Aunt Mary Morrison Morrison says she was there, and I believe her.

 

 

Well, now we understand what Elmira Sloan McCorkle Roache wrote her mother Margaret Morrison McCorkle about the complaints of  Elmira’s aunt, Mary Morrison:  “Aunt Mary would not be happy in any situation….”

___________________________________

Evidently, Rebecca  Morrison --dau of Andrew & Elizabeth Sloan Morrison--died some time between 1851, when Mary Morrison wrote a letter to her nephew RAH McCorkle, and 1857, when Mary Morrison wrote a letter to her nephew Joseph Pinckney Morrison.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

In the 1930 census, Addison Locke Roache, Junior, lived in Gabriel Township, Alhambra, California.  California Death Index lists him thus: Born 23 June 1861 in Indiana; died 22 January 1945 in Los Angeles, California.

 

Indianapolis City Directory 1889:  Addison Locke Roache [Senior]

Addison L Roache
Location 1:		5 and 6 Talbott Block
City:		Indianapolis
State:		IN
Occupation:		Lawyer
Year:		1889
Location 2:		593 N Penn
Addison L Roache, Jr
Location 1:	5 and 6 Talbott Block
City:	Indianapolis
State:	IN
Occupation:	lawyer
Year:	1889
Location 2:	b 593 N Penn

The following is on ancestry.com  about Dr. Stephen  Roach [Junior], husband of Elmira Sloan McCorkle Roach. Evidently his father’s name was Stephen Roach d. 1816

“·  ID: I2124

“·  Name: Stephen Roach   ·  Sex: M   ·  Birth: in NC

“·  Death: Jan/Feb 1816 in Davidson Co, Tn

“·  _UID: 16C2BF8A50EED411BC4A9E59C39B256D31F8

“Based upon the Davidson County probate records we can be certain that our Stephen Roache Sr. died in Davidson County circa. January/February 1816 because an inventory of his estate was filed there on March 1, 1816 by Lydia Roach and John McCain, administrators of the estate [Will Book 4, page 430]. We also know from those probate records that his children were Polly Dickson, Stephen Roach Jr., Jesse, Eli, Sally, Aaron, Anna, Selah, and Jane [Will Book 10, page 588]. Again, from those records, we know that Sally married John Penix [WB 10, p. 588; and Deed Book 5, page 93]; Selah married John W. Sanders [WB 10, p. 588; DB 2, p. 77], and Jane married a Blackaby [WB 10, p.588].

Father: William Roach b ca. 1750. Mother: Cecilia Bridgett Bryan b: ? n  Bertie Co, NC
Marriage Lydia Lovett b: ca 1771

Children  Polly Roach 

Stephen Roach [Junior]; this is the one who married Elmira Sloan McCorkle and became a medical doctor

Jesse Roach  Eli Sanders Roach   Sally Roach   Aaron Roach   Anna Roach   Selah Roach   Jane Roach 

 

About Elmira Sloan McCorkle Roache’s son “Quincy” Robert Quincy Roache:

·  ID: I1266  ·  Name: Robert Quincy ROACHE  ·  Sex: M

·  Birth: 16 JUN 1824 in Tennessee ¹ –cemetery inscription

·  Death: 21 SEP 1908 in California, Moniteau Co., Missouri
Father: Stephen ROACH b: 1796 in North Carolina
Mother: Elmira Sloan MCCORKLE
Marriage 1 Rebecca Page SUNDERLAND b: 29 MAY 1826 in Parke Co., Indiana

·         Married: 26 NOV 1845 in Parke Co., Indiana ²

·  ID: I1329  ·  Name: Elmira Sloan McCORKLE  ·  Sex: F  ·  Death: AFT 1880 ¹  Marriage 1 Stephen ROACH , M.D., b: 1796 in North Carolina

Children

1.     Sarah ROACHE

2.     Addison Locke ROACHE [Senior] b: BEF 1823

3.     Robert Quincy ROACHE b: 16 JUN 1824 in Tennessee

4.       Howard H. ROACHE b: 20 MAY 1838 [Battle of Shiloh]
Sources: Type: Census Text: Census records; and Text: “1880-Living with Robert Quincy Roach and Rebecca”      

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

                                                                                                                                                M^cCorkle – Anderson – McMurry –  Leath  Excursus                                

 

Robert McCorkle by his first wife Elizabeth ( Lizzie)  Blythe (McCorkle) had a daughter named Elizabeth McCorkle, who according to our family records married Thomas Anderson in Sumner Co., Tennessee [Middle Tennessee, north of Nashville].  Elizabeth McCorkle was a half-sister to Elmira Sloane McCorkle Roach, whose correspondence appears here.  Elizabeth McCorkle (Anderson) was raised in Middle Tennessee by her maternal grandmother Blythe.  –It was Elizabeth Blythe McCorkle’s sister, Margaret “Peggy” Blythe,  who was the 1^st wife of William McCorkle, brother to Robert McCorkle.

Thomas Anderson through Elizabeth McCorkle (Anderson) begot at least four children:

 

C           Elizabeth “Lizzie” Anderson McMurry

                   [Elmira Sloane McCorkle Roach wrote that Elizabeth Anderson married J. Mitchell McMurry:  “Sister Elizabeth’s [Elizabeth McCorkle Anderson’s] daughter Elizabeth [Anderson] is married to Mitchell McMurray and old Aunt Anna and the Calhouns are at loggerheads about the property of her defunct son, who married Thomas Calhoun’s daughter.   you know the old lady, itching palm for gold.”

                   The Cumberland Presbyterian inernet web site lists a Rev. J. M. McMurry who long preached in McMinnville, Tennessee, but retired with his wife Elizabeth Anderson McMurray to her original home in Lebanon, Tennessee, and died in 1875. At one time, Elizabeth McCorkle Anderson, Elizabeth Anderson McMurry’s mother, is recorded as living with her in Lebanon, Tennessee.]

C        Martha Anderson (Leath) [Surname looks more like Keigh or Leigh or Leith in Elmira Sloan McCorkle Roache’s letter to her nephew James Scott McCorkle, M.D., of Newbern, Tennessee, but could be Leath]. Martha had three sons and removed from Middle Tennessee to Memphis.

                      --I, Marsha Huie, think Martha Anderson married a Mr. James T. Leath, an attorney.    Source: the 1850 Memphis census, in which a Martha D. Leath appears as wife of James T. Leath, attorney.

                     By the time of the 1860 census, James T. Leath had acquired a new wife, listed as having been born in New Jersey, so Martha Anderson Leath almost certainly died sometime between 1850 and 1860, as almost no one divorced back then. 

 

                     –I recently learned that the mother of James T. Leath was Sarah Leath, member of the First Presbyterian Church of Memphis, founded in 1828, who founded what became the Porter-Leath Home, still a charitable organization in Memphis today.

[Who is the Hatton Leath of Henrietta, Texas, whom Hiram McCorkle mentions in a post-Civil War journal entry? Uncle Hiram R. A. McCorkle records that Hatton Leath was visiting in Newbern.]

C           Julia Anderson  --  who never married, according to her aunt, Elmira Sloan McCorkle Roache; and

 

C           Robert Anderson, who, Elmira Sloan McCorkle Roache wrote, might have moved to Alabama.  --  The following is yet unproven: One person named Robert Anderson appears as an attorney in Mississippi: in the towns of Lexington and Durant, Mississippi (Holmes County).[24]  Source:  The ff. entry is on  www.ancestry.com about Robert Anderson’s father’s family:  that is, about Thomas Anderson’s family. The entry is from a James Lawler:  [email protected] .  I do not vouch for its veracity, but cannot gainsay its contents. It is the only lead I have found regarding our Robert McCorkle’s grandson Robert Anderson: 

·  Thomas ANDERSON  , born circa 1774 in Orange Co., NC  ·  Died 1842 in Tenn. 

Father: James ANDERSON, b: 19 Mar 1731 in Lancaster Co., PA; later of Orange Co., NC.  Mother: Elizabeth MEBANE, b: circa 1740 in Pennsylvania; of Orange Co., NC.
Thomas Anderson’s Marriages: 1^st  Sarah ATKINSON, b: ca.1780 in Orange Co., NC.--married ca.1802 in Orange Co., NC.

2^nd marriage:  Elizabeth McCORKLE, b: ca 1785 in Tennessee. Thomas Anderson & Elizabeth McCorkle married circa 1809 in Sumner County, Tennessee.  [See Early Sumner County, Tenn., marriage records online]

 

2007 update:  Robert A. Anderson, attorney, is buried in the Mizpah Cemetery, Holmes County, Mississippi.  Evidently, he was a grandson of Robert McCorkle by Robert's 1st wife Elizabeth Blythe McCorkle (evidently this Robert A. Anderson was a son of Elizabeth McCorkle Anderson & Thomas Anderson).

 

The following is not my work, but is taken from the Internet, Sumnet County, Tennessee, pages. Mr. Rusty Kleine in the year 1999 placed this of record.  Words in brackets are added by me, Marsha Cope Huie:

“Anderson Bible Record  Contributed by Rusty Kleine  [email protected] 1999

“NOTE:  Copied from Bible dated 1851 owned by Mrs. Kate Miller, East Main Street, Gallatin, Tennessee, Copied by Mrs. Alice Guthrie. Information taken from LDS film #0024840

“Alexander Anderson married Phoebe Hall May 30, 1787
James Anderson married Elizabeth Nemo March 1815
William Anderson married Asenath McCorkle June 1815
Elizabeth Anderson married Samuel Wilson Sept. 7, 1820
T.C. Anderson married R.A. McMurry June 5, 1834  [Robert & Elizabeth Blythe McCorkle’s granddaughter, Elizabeth Anderson [McMurry] , married Mitchell McMurry in Sumner County.—Marsha Huie]
David E. Anderson married Laura Moore Sept. 5, 1871

Alexander Anderson born Oct. 10, 1764
Phebe Hall born May 17, 1762
Elizabeth Anderson born Mar. 30, 1788  --[Check to see if this is Robert & Elizabeth Blythe McCorkle’s daughter, Elizabeth McCorkle Anderson.]
James Anderson born Oct. 9, 1789
Miller Anderson born Sept 28, 1791
Mebane Anderson born Aug. 25, 1795  [Thomas Anderson’s mother was neé Mebane; Thomas Anderson married Elizabeth McCorkle [Anderson].
Mary Anderson born July 12, 1793
Margaret Anderson born Jan 23, 1798
John Anderson born Jan. 3, 1800
Thomas Anderson born Oct. 21, 1801  [Check to see if this if Robert & Elizabeth Blythe McCorkle’s son-in-law, the Thomas Anderson who married their daughter, Elizabeth McCorkle [Anderson]. 
Jane Anderson born Mat. 5, 1804
David McMurry born Feb. 1778
Ann Blythe McMurry born Feb 29, 1777
James B. McMurry born Jan 18,1 1803
John M. McMurry born Sept. 30, 1804       [I’m almost certain this is John MITCHELL McMurry, who became a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, long preaching in McMinnville, Tennessee, and who married Elizabeth Anderson [McMurry], granddaughter of Robert & Elizabeth Blythe McCorkle. Rev. Mitchell McMurry & wife Elizabeth E. Anderson McMurry retired back to Lebanon, Tennessee.]
Elizabeth E. McMurry born Apt. 19, 1806  [I’m almost certain this is Elizabeth Anderson [McMurry], a granddaughter of Robert & Elizabeth Blythe McCorkle.]

Mary A. McMurry born Aug. 22, 1808  [sister to Rev. John Mitchell McMurry?]
Rachael McMurry born June 6, 1811          [sister to Rev. John Mitchell McMurry?]
David Blythe born May 25, 1827
Ann E. McMurry born Jan. 12, 1840
Mitchel Donnell born Nov. 30, 1835      [“Donnell” is a name of prominence in the early records of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, founded 1810 in Middle Tennessee.]
Asenath Donnell born Aug. 25, 1841
George Donnell born Nov. 1844
Amanda A. Anderson born Nov. 1, 1836
Alexander? Anderson born Nov 23, 1838?
Phebe E. Anderson born Jan. 15, 1837
David B. Anderson born July 19, 1842
Mebena D. Anderson May 12, 1845
James M. Anderson born Feb. 17, 1848

Rev. Alexander Anderson died Feb. 1804
Phebe Hall , his wife
Mrs. R.A Anderson died Dec. 6, 1849
Mebane Anderson 1954  [1854?]
Jimmie W. Anderson - 1865
Michael A. Anderson died July 3, 1863
Rev. T.C. Anderson died Feb. 3P 1862 ”  [End of Anderson Bible records quoted from the Internet….] 

 

      The following is a copy of a copy of a letter written in 1838 by Mrs. Robert McCorkle, née Margaret Morrison.  At the end of the copy someone has written, “Copied for Elmira S[loan] [McCorkle] Roache, by S.E. Algea [Sarah E. McCorkle Algea] March 15^th 1857. 

Margaret Morrison McCorkle’s son Robert Andrew Hope McCorkle through wife Tirzah Scott McCorkle begot Sarah E. McCorkle (Algea), who married Dr. Jonathan Algea.  --  In a letter I once read, RAH McCorkle wrote during the Civil War a letter to his brother-in-law Dr. Stephen Roache:  that Sarah E. McCorkle’s husband Jonathan Algea wandered around the countryside [RAH didn’t say whether Jno. Algea was in the army and had to be on the move], and dropped in only occasionally to visit his wife and even then stayed only a few minutes.  --  And at the end of his life, RAH McCorkle in his  last will and testament, made provision for Sarah to have rooms in his house for her lifetime; RAH pointedly referred to his daughter as “Sarah E. McCorkle” but called her two children by the surname Algea. A letter recently discovered in her old family trunk, way out in Spokanne, Washington, by Carol McCorkle Branz, a descendant of RAH McCorkle through his son Joseph Smith McCorkle, Carol’s father being Robert Frazier McCorkle, solves the mystery.  This letter from Joe McCorkle about his sister Sarah’s husband Jonathan Algea, whom he brands a rapscallion, is reproduced later in this text.

  -- 

At the end of the copied letter by Margaret Morrison McCorkle, yet another hand has written about Margaret Morrison McCorkle: 

“Born N. Carolina, Aug. 11, 1770.  Died Tennessee Nov. 21, 1848.”

The reader should see her tombstone in the McCorkle Cemetery, Dyer Co., Tennessee. 

Provenance of this letter: Sent in Sept. 1984 by Bowden Cason McCorkle of San Leandro, California, to Marsha Huie.  “Casey” (now deceased) was a great-great grandson of Margaret Morrison McCorkle, his grandfather being Finis A. McCorkle, brother to inter alia our John Edwin McCorkle. 

 

 

                                                                                                [1838]

                                    Dear Brother;  

 

            I was glad to receive your kind favor of January 2d, glad I say to receive a friendly line from the only living branch of a once numerous, dear very dear family to me.  It is with a mournful recollection that I look back on former times, the companions of my youth in whose society I once delighted, where are they now?  gone, some dead, the rest far away, so that my former connections are broken up, & I left in advanced life to form new acquaintances.

 

            However I feel that I am only a passenger who will soon have to quit this vale of sorrow & pass into an untried state of existence & I trust in the promises of the gospel to support me through the little remainder of my life & cheer me through the dark vally & shadow of death.  – I am becoming very frail particularly so this spring season, but I am amongst my children who are all very kind to me.  I have no worldly care of my own, my children provide for & are very tender of me.

 

            My sons are all married into respectable families & located each on a small piece of land left them by their father.  They are not wealthy but are honest, industrious farmers & provide comfortably for their families.  They are men of unimpeachable upright character & conduct as far as I know.  They & their wives are mostly all professors of religion.  My daughter Pamela [Margaret Permelia McCorkle Scott] is married to a man named Lemuel [Locke] Scott[25] a very respectable man.  They live within five miles of her brothers.  I suppose you have as good a chance to know how my daughter Elmira is coming on perhaps better than I have.  Rebecca’s [Rebecca Cowden McCorkle, Mrs. Gideon Thompson] oldest daughter is married & lives near the southern boundary of Tennessee, the other, a young woman, lives amongst us.

 

            My children are all raising children.  I have twelve grand sons, one great grandson & eight grand daughters living, & number sixteen more of them amongst the dead.  The rest of our friends live at such a distance from me that I have no personal knowledge of them.

 

            With respect to the state of society here I have nothing very flattering to tell you.  speculation & the pride of life, I think generally carry the sway, but I am so old & know so little of the world that I perhaps am not a competent judge.  – I think you do me injustice to imagine me opposed to the abolition scheme at least I know that I am unfriendly to slaveholding amongst us.  I am not sufficiently acquainted with the politics of the times to judge of the measures pursued by the abolitionists therefore I wish them success only just so far as they are trying in a right manner to do what I believe to be a good work, one thing I can say with certainty that it would truly rejoice me to see all my dear posterity settled in a free state.[3] 

 

            [Concerning the controversy between Old Lights and New Lights in the Presbyterian Church:]  As respects New schoolmen & measures I am not well enough acquainted with them to hazzard an opinion on the merits of their proceedings so I will say nothing about them only wish them God’s speed if they are doing his work faithfully.  I think there is great need of reformation even amongst professors at least they need to be stirred up.

 

            My reading is mostly confined to reading the bible & though accustomed to read & hear it from my childhood yet even now in old age I find that it is an inexhaustible mine that I have scarcely begun to explore.  I discover new beauties every time I peruse the good book, knowing that my time here at most is short & uncertain, I incline to spend it in searching the scriptures in preference to any other kind of reading particularly controverted doctrines.

 

            If I live to see the eleventh of next August I will count my threescore & eight, little more than two years behind you.  of course I don’t expect ever to see you in this world perhaps we may yet rejoice together in a better world, be that as it may I congratulate you now, on the felicities you enjoy in that happy land of light & liberty.  I moreover rejoice to hear that your children all respectable characters in society, tell them I love them for the sake of their worthy ancestors.  I hope they will continue to imitate their virtues.

 

My love to all inquiring friends.[4]

 

Margaret M McCorkle.

                                                                                               

                            ]

James McCorkle ].

 

            James McCorkle was the last child to be born to Alexander and (Nancy) Agness Montgomery McCorkle, who are buried in Thyatira Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Rowan County, NC.  James McCorkle was born in 1768 in Rowan County, North Carolina.  He married two women named Elizabeth Hall,.  The first was a daughter of an Elizabeth Sloan (Hall) and the 2^nd was a daughter of Hugh Hall and Margaret King (Hall).  He moved to Miami County, Ohio, where he married a third wife, I think.  The 3^rd wife’s maiden name was Hanna and she was the Widow Johnson.

            James McCorkle died in 1840 at the home of a child who lived in Boone County, Indiana, and is buried in the Thorntown Cemetery there.

            John Hale Stutesman Jr’s unpublished manuscript of 1983 states the above facts and speculates that James moved north, like his brother Joseph McCorkle, to escape the institution of slavery and live in “free” territory.  Though his sister-in-law Margaret Morrison McCorkle evidently shared his sentiments, she remained in Dyer County, Tennessee, living out her last years in a slave-holding territory. 

 

            Though many of the graves are unmarked and time, if not outright vandalism, has misplaced what markers there once were, the McCorkle Cemetery in Dyer County, Tennessee, contains a section reserved for Negroes – it used to be the section in front of the fence, before the mowing people tore down the fence –   Many of these African Americans buried there were, according to family oral tradition, once slaves. For example, Hiram R.A. McCorkle, on Sept. 12, 1901, recorded in his journal the funeral services and burial of Frelinghuisen McCorkle at the McCorkle Cemetery, a freed slave.  For another example, my mother, Joyce Cope Huie, born Nov. 11, 1915, is almost certain that Jeff Bean is buried there. She knows that either her Meemaw’s mother or aunt [either Mary McMahon Hendricks, the mother, or Temperance McMahon (Mrs. Bean)  Hendricks, the two Mrs. Uriah C. Hendricks-es, respectively] brought Jeff Bean with her to West Tennessee. Jeff Bean, an African-American, was a respected farmer in the Churchton community of Dyer County.

 

 

                                                Dyer County W: T:         April 2  1839

                                   

Dear child,

 

I am yet spared to address you a few lines

I feel as though this may be my last attempt to write not so much from any new intimations of a decline of health, as from the certain fact that I am on the very verge of threescore and ten,

 

I enjoy wonderful good health for one of my age, and not often afflicted with akes and pains as formerly, I cannot judge so well about the decline of my mental powers as that of my body, but so it is and it is to be expected, that what is called dotage is drawing on, and I have been told that I am hard to humour, if so you know that I need all the kindness and affection of my best friends to bear with me, and help to steer me into a smooth passage towards the grave.

 

I have not attained to the assurance of faith but I have become most feelingly sensible of the necessity of the witness in my heart that I am a child, in order to lay down my clay tenement in peace.  Not that death is so terrifying but I wish to feel more of a growing conformity to the Divine likeness in order to be meet for the inheritance of the saints in high

 

Our friends here are all enjoying health peace and competence as far as I know, Pamela received yours of Feb. 10^th

Old friend Scott [James Scott, 1777-1853?] is married again to a very respectable old lady [Mary Landers?] to the satisfaction of all his friends.[2]  The last let-

ter I got from you is dated September 19^th 1838

I don’t recollect of writing to you since July 20 18 [??]

 

Give my kind respects to the Dr.   kiss the babe for me

                        I remain your ever affectionate Mother             Margaret McCorkle

                         

Elmira S Roach. )

 

 

My dear little son,

 

            Although absent in body I am never the-less present in mind with you   

I rejoice to hear that you are progressing in your studies

I flatter myself that you wont rest satisfied with the attainment of

a finished scholar in human literature but that

you will make the book of Gods revealed will your

chiefest study, read it by day and meditate on it by night.

Think of it as a pure revelation from the true [illegible word] fountain of light

apart from which, all your attain-ments in science and knoledge may serve to polish the outside but can never subdue the power of evil in your heart

I say again read the bible treasure it up in your memory and watch and see that you are

bringing forth the correspondendet fruits that are therein required

We have school in our neighborhood kept by a very good teacher

Ten of your little cousins Scholars four from Edwins three from Jehiels three from Roberts including little John Scott[5] who boards there, he makes a fine start to learn well, and in fact there is not one dunce amongst all my grandchildren.

            Mary Thompson [Mrs. Matthew Dickey] is in Hardeman [County, Tennessee], Jane [Thompson Williams, Mrs. Benjamin Williams] had a daughter born about Christmas, we hear from them but seldom, they were all well a few weeks ago

            Another written to Elmira 3 days later

 

[Robert & Morrison McCorkle’s daughter Rebecca Cowden McCorkle (Mrs. Gideon Thompson) left two orphaned daughters: Mary Thompson, later, Mrs. Matthew Dickey, and  Jane M. Thompson, later Mrs. Benjamin Williams.  I've not yet searched for them in the Hardeman County, Tennessee, census records.....]

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 



† † † † † † † † † † † †   † † † † † † † † † † † †   † † † † † † † † † † † †   † † †

 

            [Margaret Morrison McCorkle died on November 11, 1848, and she lies in a grave beside her husband, Robert McCorkle, under a monument erected by her grandchildren in the   McCorkle Cemetery, Dyer County, Tennessee.                                                                       

The grave on the other side of Margaret Morrison McCorkle is that of her brother,                 

William Hays Morrison, 1767-1837.  Gone now, the brother's tombstone used to say: "Sacred to the memory of William Morrison, 1767-1837."

Margaret’s fluent pen and loving heart were stilled by death in 1848.

_________________________________________________________________________

 

† † † † † † † † † † † †   † † † † † † † † † † † †   † † † † † † † † † † † †   † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †

 

Margaret Morrison McCorkle’s son Robert Andrew Hope McCorkle (March 1807- Sept. 1873) and wife Tirzah Scott (daughter of James Scott & Sarah Dickey Scott) sustained many losses by death.

RAH and wife Tirzah Scott McCorkle  (Sept. 1806 – August 1865) buried several children, viz.,

Margaret P, McCorkle  -- who had died before RAH’s brother Edwin A. McCorkle’s death in 1853: Margaret P. McCorkle, born 11 August 1831; died 02 May 1832, and is buried in the McCorkle Cemetery.  [This makes Margaret P. McCorkle’s the 2^nd grave in the McCorkle Cemetery, as far as I know, after her grandfather Robert McCorkle and before her paternal grandmother’s brother William Hays Morrison in 1837. I suspect that William Hays Morrison has the 3^rd-oldest grave in the McCorkle Cemetery.

Addison Alexander McCorkle (1834- Jan. 1854) who was to die the next year (January 1854) after his uncle Edwin A. McCorkle’s death in 1853.  A letter from Addison’s father RAH McCorkle that I remember once reading said, “Addison’s flesh mortified.”  -- No, sad to say, I cannot put my hands on that letter but hope the reader will trust me.

Robert Eusebius McCorkle (1841- Jan 30 1861);

Parley Pratt McCorkle (28 August 1845-Feb. 12. 1865)  -- HRA wrote his nephew Quincy Roache that he “recon”ed they would name this son Hyrum Pratt McCorkle.;

[Children surviving RAH were:

Sarah E. McCorkle Algea (Mrs. Jno. Algea).  Her disastrous marriage to Dr. Algea is chronicled herein in an Affidavit made by her brother “Joe” Joseph Smith McCorkle;

“Willie” W.L.A. McCorkle—his dad referred to him as “Willie” sometimes in correspondence, and WLA’s brother Joseph Smith McCorkle referred to him as “William.” William Leander A. McCorkle ;

James Scott McCorkle [named after his Scott grandfather James Scott, 1777-1853];

Joseph Smith McCorkle; and

Susan McCorkle (McNail).  – RAH’s Last Will & Testament was to leave the piano to son WLA but his early letter to his sister Elmira Sloan McCorkle Roache says he had bought the “piana” for Susan.] 

[End of children of RAH & Tirzah Scott McCorkle; more descendants added later herein….]

 

The Death of Edwin Alexander McCorkle, a son of Robert & Margaret Morrison McCorkle: 

Robert McCorkle & Margaret Morrison McCorkle’s son Edwin A. McCorkle died on 10 January 1853.  January and February are usually bitterly cold months in northwestern Tennessee. Edwin’s brother “RAH” Robert McCorkle writes their sister Elmira about Edwin’s death. -- 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

January 11, 1853, letter regarding the death of Edwin A. McCorkle:

                                                Dyer Co Tenn    ^Jan _..  11 1853

Beloved Sister [Elmira Sloan McCorkle Roache]–

 

            It has ever been my constant delight to correspond with you. Through all the shifting scenes of 24 years of separation none has been more prompt to inform you than I, of the paßing events or dispensations of Providence in our circle of relations either prosperous or adverse–like a faithful mirror I think I have reflected with all that moral honesty that characterized me when quite a child.

 

             To you it is only necessary to speak of actions in our little circle, to bring your mind into lively exercise, and you are yet enabled to look back and view at one glance, more than I could communicate through the dull medium of pen ink and paper in a whole volume.

 

            For several of the first years of our separation it was my highest pleasure to inform you of our prosperity and the all=most uninterrupted health of our country even tho then it fell to my lot a few times to record the fact that death had [swiped? mixed? ?not mißed?] some of our tenderest offspring.  at a more recent date [1848] it was revealed to you that our mother [Margaret Morrison McCorkle] had bid adieu to time.  A little later, our next brother [“Jem” Jehiel Morrison McCorkle] left the living circle. Still later our niece and now I am called on to communicate the solemn fact that Edwin is gone.  ––– 

 

             It never was my disposition to inflict sorrow on any being. Therefore I will forbear to describe my solitary sensations. [page break]

 

It is enough to say I am your only living brother, but when we reflect that all our friends have died in hope of a better life, we should feel thankful, and I humbly trust that you and I shall have formed characters that will with our departed relatives, enjoy eternal felicity.  ––

 

            Edwin’s health has been infirm for near 3 years– he had to attend to some busineß in Trenton [county seat of Gibson County, Tennessee] better than 2 months since.  The weather was inclement then, and there it was he took his death sickneß.  Has never been able to be about since.  never complained of pain but once or twiste.  The D^r. calld his disease Typhoid Pnewmonia.  he expired yesterday at 1 ^oclock and will be interred to day about that time –– 

 

            Jane [Edwin’s widow] says he has left a will tho I do not know its arrangement.

 

––        The family are now enjoying moderate health tho David [David Purviance McCorkle, a son of Edwin and Jane & nephew of the writer], Anderson [Anderson Jehiel McCorkle, also a son of Edwin and Jane & nephew of the writer] & Elizabeth [Elizabeth McCorkle (Reeves), a daughter of Edwin and Jane & niece of the writer] have all been sick this fall & winter ––––

 

and Hiram [HRA McCorkle, a son of Edwin and Jane & nephew of the writer] is lying low with the same disease at this time.  I fear he will not live, tho he appeared some better day before yesterday evening tho at that time I thought [our brother] Edwin was getting well. [Hiram R. A. McCorkle survived this illness, to die some 54 years later, in the next century, in 1907.]  ––– I intend to go up and see him as soon as his Pa is buried ––––

 

            Addison [Addison A. McCorkle[3][1] was a son of RAH & Tirzah Scott McCorkle, as was Robert E. McCorkle a son] and Pamelia’s [our sister Margaret Permelia McCorkle Scott, Mrs. Lemuel Locke Scott’s son: ] Leander [Scott] are off at school.  I think I will send for them to be at the burial.  They are only five miles off   ––– 

 

[Lemuel Locke Scott was the brother-in-law of the writer through the writer’s sister Margaret Permelia McCorkle. Lemuel & Margaret Pamelia McCorkle SCOTT had a son named Lemuel Scott—who was to marry 1^st a Cowan woman and then 2^nd Addie Fernandez or Fernandes.:]

 Lemuel’s health is not good tho he was able to come and see [his brother-in-law] Edwin Sunday.  The balance of his family are in good health.  –––– 

 

 [Elmira, the addressee’s, son] Quincy and [Quincy Roache’s wife] Rebecca [née Sunderland] are well ––

[Robert Quincy Roache was destined soon to move up from Dyer County to the town of California in Missouri and to become president of the Moniteau [County] Bank in California, Mo. Quincy’s mother Elmira Sloan McCorkle Roache when elderly lived in Quincy’s home in California, Missouri, as did Elmira’s husband, the retired Dr. Stephen Roache ]

 

Wednesday the 12^th at night:

            At 1 [one o’clock] yesterday we assembled at the grave, a solemn scene to me.  There lies my Father [Robert McCorkle, died 1828, son of the Northern Ireland Scots immigrants Alexander McCorkle & Nancy Agness Montgomery McCorkle, the latter buried at Thyatira Presbyterian Church, Rowan County, North Carolina], Mother [Margaret Morrison McCorkle, died 1848] , Daughter [Margaret P. McCorkle ] , Two brothers [Jehiel Morrison McC & now Edwin A. McCorkle] with some of their tender ones.  Oh if you could be here to comfort Jane.  Lemuel [Lemuel Locke Scott] and [Lemuel’s wife] Pamelia [née Margaret Permelia McCorkle] said with her last night.  She [Jane] went with them up to see [her]  poor  [son]  Hiram.  she had not got back late this evening.  I must go to see him in the morning  ––––  

 

             I am thankful to know Jane [Maxwell Thomas McCorkle] has a family of good children.  David [David Purviance McCorkle]  is boarding at home but works in a black smith shop about 300 yards from the house.  His boß lives on David’s place––– Anderson [Anderson Jehiel McCorkle] is an uncommon good man   timid [turned?] industrious man he is very large weighs 200.  will manage the farm.  Rebecca [née Rebecca McCorkle, then Mrs. John C. Zarecor] is living in a half a mile and can be with her mother often.  she has a sweet little daughter   ––––

 

             Brother Edwin was our most efficient Deacon and will be much mißed in our worshiping aßembly.  we have been in the habit of meeting on Lords days for three years.  Reading the Scripture, singing psalms, hymns & spiritual songs, prayer and breaking the Loaf has generally been our order of worship and contribution for the poor saints was not forgotten.  We seldom have preaching.

 

            I got a letter to day from [presumably: a son of our father’s brother: ] John M ^cCorkle    he said he had seen Addison [Addison Roache, Sr., eldest son of the addressee Elmira Sloan McCorkle Roache] a few days before.  they were all well  ––––

 

                                                                           Your affectionate brother

                                                                     R. A .H.  M ^c C o r k l e  

                                                                                         ––––––––—          

To the above letter from her last brother RAH McCorkle, Elmira appended this note:

Yorkville, Tenn.     )                                              Robert McCorkle

January 15                )

                                                Mrs. Elmira S. Roache

                                                Oskaloosa

                                                Iowa

 Edwin A. McCorkle was a son of Robert McCorkle (1764-1828) and “Peggy” Margaret Morrison McCorkle (1772-1848).  Edwin Alexander McCorkle was a paternal grandson of Alexander McCorkle (1722-1800) & Nancy Agness Montgomery McCorkle, Scots immigrants from Northern Ireland to, first, Harris’ Ferry, Pennsylvania, who married in 1745.  And Edwin Alexander McCorkle was a maternal grandson of Andrew Morrison & Elizabeth Sloan Morrison, Scots-Irish Presbyterians, also, last of Rowan County, NC. Edwin Alexander McCorkle, born about 1799 in I think Rowan County, North Carolina,  is buried in the McCorkle Cemetery east of Newbern, Dyer County, Tennessee; but in 1853 the closest town of any consequence was Yorkville.  

† † † † † † † † † † † †   † † † † † † † † † † † †   † † † † † † † † † † † †   † † †  ––––––––—  ––––––––—  ––––––––—  ––––––––—  ––––––––—  ––––––––—  –––––––

More siblings of Edwin Alexander McCorkle, father of Hiram R. A. McCorkle; David Purviance McCorkle; Anderson Jehiel McCorkle; Rebecca "Becky" McCorkle, Mrs. John C. Zarecor; Elizabeth McCorkle Reeves of Gadsden near Humboldt;  John Edwin McCorkle; and twins Finis Alexander McCorkle & Margaret LATINA McCorkle GREGORY (Mrs. John T. Gregory):

(3) JEHIEL MORRISON McCorkle, who m. Elizabeth "Betsy" Smith in North Carolina .  He died in 1849, too young.  Some of JEM or Jehiel Morrison McCorkle's papers lie in the University of Tennessee at Martin Archives.  They don't seem to know who he really was, but speculate he was the 1st county court clerk of Dyer County.  In truth, he was appointed by the governor to sit on the first county court; perhaps he did keep the judicial records himself. I don't know.l

       (4)           Margaret Permelia or Pamelia McCorkle (Mrs. Lemuel Locke Scott)  --  she died at the end of 1853, after the death of two of her children; and after the death in January 1853 of her brother EDWIN A. McCorkle.;

(5)           Robert Andrew Hope (RAH) McCorkle m. Tirzah Scott. Tirzah was a daughter of James Scott & wife Sarah Dickey (Scott), each of Tirzah Scott’s parents having been born in 1777.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

 

                 The above 1853 letter is written by the deceased Edwin Alexander McCorke’s brother, Robert Andrew Hope McCorkle (RAH McCorkle) in Dyer County, Tennessee, to RAH and Edwin’s sister, Elmira Sloan McCorkle Roache (Mrs. Dr. Stephen Roache). Elmira had been born in Rowan County, NC, but moved with her parents and siblings to the area of Murfreesborough, Tennessee (Stone’s River, Rutherford County), to take up Alexander McCorkle’s Revolutionary War land-grant. (Alexander McCorkle’s NC will left the land-grant to only two of his sons, Robert and William).   The land in Rutherford County (Middle Tenn.) was lost in title-dispute litigation. Thereafter Robert & Margaret and their children and grandchildren, including Elmira Sloan McCorkle & husband Dr. Stephen Roache, moved on to Dyer County, part of the newly opened Western District of Tennessee.  Elmira Sloan McCorkle Roache and husband Stephen did not linger long in Dyer County, moving on northward from Dyer County circa 1829.  For a while their son “Quincy” Robert Quincy Roache (wife née Rebecca Sunderland) operated a store in the Newbern area.  Quincy and his oldest brother Addison Locke Roache, Sr.,  graduated from the University of Indiana Bloomington.

 Generation One. Alexander McCorkle m. 1^st “Nancy” Agness Montgomery (McCorkle), the mother of his children, and they are buried in the Thyatira Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Rowan County; and Alexander m. 2^nd Rebecca Brandon (McCorkle).

Generation Two.  Robert McCorkle by his 2^nd wife Margaret “Peggy” Morrison (McCorkle).  Robert and Peggy are buried in the McCorkle Cemetery, Dyer County, Tennessee.

Generation Three.  Edwin A. McCorkle who m. Jane Maxwell Thomas (McCorkle).  I think Edwin was born in Rowan County, NC, and know he and Jane are buried in the McCorkle Cemetery, Dyer County, Tennessee.  Edwin died in 1853 and Jane died in 1855.

Edwin Alexander McCorkle left upon his death 10^th January 1853 a widow, Jane Maxwell Thomas McCorkle, the daughter of Elizabeth Purviance and William Thomas. [William Thomas was a son of Jacob Thomas and Margaret Brevard Thomas of  NC.] Soon, in 1855, the widow Jane would follow her husband Edwin into death.

Generation Four.  Edwin A. McCorkle & wife Jane Maxwell Thomas McCorkle had the following surviving children. I’m not sure I have them in the correct birth order. My direct ancestor, John Edwin McCorkle, came late, just before the twins Finis and Tina.

            IV.(1)        “HRA” Hiram Robert A. McCorkle; m. 1^st Margaret Cowan, mother of all but one of his children, the 1^st being Winfield Purviance McCorkle. Margaret suffered severe depression after the accidental death of son Tolbert and died in hospital in Nashville; Hiram’s 2^nd wife was Janette Menzies, the mother of only one, Edwin Archibald McCorkle.  More on Hiram:       HRA McCorkle (Hiram), born 6^th November 1827 and died in Newbern, Tennessee, in 1907, married (1^st wife) Margaret A. Cowan, born 3 JAN 1833 in NC: The 1850 Census  of Dyer County, Tennessee, 9^th District, lists the following 2-month-old male child, born in 1850 in Dyer County, but whom I had never heard of until reading the old census records: O. F. MCCORKLE.  I had always thought Winfield Purviance McCorkle (buried Eminence, Ky.) was Uncle Hiram’s first child; evidently erroneously.  --Parenthetically, I just sense that Margaret A. Cowan McCorkle, born 1833, was somehow kin to the 1^st wife of Benjamin Huie (1798-1879), namely Lavinia Cowan, but I cannot find any records to help me.  [End of HRA McC] ;

            IV.(2)        a son who died young, I think named William Thomas McCorkle.

           IV.(3)        David Purviance McCorkle m. 1^st Margaret Scott; 2^nd Elizabeth Jackson.  Margaret Scott was a daughter [I think but am not certain] of James “Jimpse” Scott & wife Violet B. Roddy (Scott), so his children will be listed in the Scott section.

           IV.(4)        Rebecca Elmira McCorkle m. John C. Zarecor; they lived in the Yorkville area, in Gibson County.

            IV.(5)        “AJ” Anderson Jehiel McCorkle m. 1^st Martha Scott, a dau. of Violet B. Roddy & James “Jimpse” Scott, Martha Scott McCorkle a granddaughter of James & Sarah Dickey Scott, each b. 1777; Martha Scott McC was a sister to Sarah (Mrs. Julius M. Huie). Anderson Jehiel McCorkle m. 2^nd Lou Fox.  He kindly raised several of his Scott wife’s nieces/nephews.  Martha Scott’s sister Tirzah “Clementine” Scott (Trimble) left a daughter Bettie Trimble (Mrs. Hundley) and Bettie Trimble (Hundley) had sons Boss” Elmo Hundley and Bryan Hundley.  Also, Clementine’s husband (Trimble) and at least one son (Trimble) lived with Anderson Jehiel McCorkle

            IV(6)    Elizabeth Jane McCorkle (Mrs. Wyatt Reeves), of Gadsden near Humboldt, Gibson County, Tennessee.

            (7)        John Edwin McCorkle m. 1^st “Tennie” Tennessee Alice Edwards Scott, a granddaughter of James & Sarah Dickey Scott, each b. 1777; and 2^nd Mary Elizabeth Cotton of Botland near Bardstown, Kentucky.

            (8a)      “Tina” Margaret Latina McCorkle (Mrs. John T. Gregory) and

            (8b)      Tina’s twin Finis Alexander McCorkle.

Misspellings in the above letter of RAH McCorkle are the author’s (Robert A. H. McCorkle, 11 January 1853) not the scrivener’s (Marsha Cope Huie, 11 February 2006).

 _________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

 

            Yorkville Tenn.  June 24^th 1862.

 

Beloved Sister,

 

            Our paths have been strewn with trials from our childhood to gray hairs.  When you and I parted last, little did we then think that our beloved country would be plunged into fratricidal war in our life time.  but fates have decreed it otherwise.  We were taught to love our country and reverence its constitution and laws.   we ever believed no other nation on the habitable globe had such institutions.  but alas!  alas!  we are ruined.  We have suffered demagogues to lead, and ru-

in our happy country.  I can but believe there are thousands of honest hearts who have ever been for peace, altho evils did exist, yet they could have been cured without so much blood shed and misery.  But ‘tis usele¶ for me to dwell on this part of our woes.

 

            On the 11. day of January last Howard [Howard Harris Roache, son of Elmira the addressee] came to my house.  I knew him and was glad to see him tho weary and worn.   we made him some new warm clothes, and he spent several weeks with us, seemed truly happy in passing among his relations, tho I observed he often thought and sighed for home.  at leangth James came home [the writer’s son James Scott McCorkle].  They enjoyed themselves very much together–visited around generally.

[Page Two]

 

When James went back he went with him, though I dident know he intended to stay until I got a letter fom him stating that he had concluded it was best to remain, from too considerations, first the Mississippi was so full he couldent get back to Gen.l Parsons til late in the spring.  The other was he was permited to join Col Wright’s Reg.t with the promise of being released the 2. [?] of June with the Reg.t   he intended then to rejoin Prices command.  Susan got a letter from him the morning he started into the Shiloah battle.  it was full of thought, expressed confidence in his Redeemer tho “before night he might be cal d to eternity.”   he esca=

ped unhurt Sunday. but Monday he was struck with a musket ball above the right eye.

The first sugeon pronounced it slight, but when he returned to camp on re examination it was thought dangerous.  On Thursday James [James Scott McCorkle] was detailed to go with him and many others.  I went Wednesday to Trenton [Tennessee, in Gibson County] to meet the wounded, some came, but our boys dident get there til Thursday night.  he died before he got to Trenton.   in Trenton, James had him neatly dressed, and a good coffin for him, and procured a hearse and got home Friday.  when I saw the hearse coming I was shocked.  Aa wounded neighbor drove up in front.  I ask him who it was.  his reply was “a friend of mine” oh!  how my heart throb.d.   he then said it was “Howard.”  I cant express my feelings.

 

                                                            [Page Three]

 

we kept him in the parlor that day and night.  Then I took him and laid in Our rowe beside [my 20-year-old son who died recently, in 1861] Robert.

[Our old family records list a Robert E. McCorkle as a child of RAH & Tirzah Scott McCorkle, Robert E. McCorkle having been born in 1841 and dying on Jan. 30, 1861 *]

Amidst all the sorrows of the case I feel gratified that we were permitted to thus care for him, for many of our near friends lie bleaching on the plains of Shiloah.

Billy Cowan was one who fell there.  Cap t. Wilkins was mortally wounded there.  Old Saury [Saury?] Grier’s [Greer’s?] son was wounded, taken prisoner, and has not been heard from since.  After the reorganization under the Conscript law, ** many of our boys came home.  nor do I

think they will ever go back.

 

            The Federal army is south of us.  They hold all Tennessee.  The Mobile & Ohio R.R. is being fixed to run the trains in a day or too.  The Federals hold the Memphis & Charleston RR. and the mississippi Central.  They hold Hernando, Holly-Springs, and many other places in that state.

 

Yorkville is quiet tho the Federals have visited it several times.  They havent mistreated us at all. tho there is a Reg.t of “Jay Hawkers” who are waking up many along the R.R.  – Gen.l Quimby’s head qrter is Trenton. The Officials there denounce the conduct of the J.Hawkers.  They propose to restore the union and protect the loyal.  Many are flocking to the old Union Flag that wavers over Trenton.   indeed from every appearance I am conscienciously of the opinion that the unfettered voice of Tennessee spoken out, would be for the Union as it was.

 

___________

            * Howard Harris Roache, who was mortally injured at the Battle of Shiloh yet lived a brief while afterwards, has two tombstones in the McCorkle Family Cemetery in Dyer County, Tennessee.  One is a decent but ordinary rock placed there by his uncle, the above writer R.A.H. McCorkle.  The other is a tall, spired monument erected later by his parents, Dr. & Mrs. Roache.  In the summer of 1985 we affixed the more modest one, which had for years been lying in neglect against the old iron fence, to the second, more elaborate marker.

 

            ** This letter helps restore the honor of my Huie great-grandfather, Julius M. Huie, who would have been about thirty-four years old in 1862.  Julius’ daughter “Aunt Phronie” always maintaned, “Paw hid out from the conscript in the corn bin.”  Probably that means from the Southern Confederacy conscript, but I don’t know; it could have been just as easily from the Federal conscript.  My mother, Joyce Cope Huie, says my father, Ewing Huie, didn’t like his aunt, Sophronia Huie Thompson, to tell that story about his Grandpa Julius Huie. Now it looks as if it might have been the “Federals” whom Grandpaw Julius Huie managed to evade.  The Federals and the “Confederals” each roamed in and out of Dyer and Gibson Counties throughout the war, exchanging a few volleys with no major battles; and each side, when it could, tried to “conscript” the men of the community.  – I was raised on the story that a “Yankee” was, and is, buried in our front yard, down toward Highway 77, between our house and the highway.  He is supposed to have been killed there, and buried in what was then a cow pond. 

                                                [Page Four]

We are all in moderate health.  hot weather, good crops.  Legrand Whary is dead.  so is Bill Shaw. & Green Holmes. [***]   J.J. Scott is still very feeble, he is at his uncle billies.  Jno. McCorkle very feeble.[[27]****]   Leander[28] has got home from the army, Locke & Ed havent got back yet.[29]

                                                May 2

Brother’s last letter about Howard

__________________

M rs Elmira S. Roache

     ..

California

     Mo.

 _________________

[RAH McCorkle wrote the following on the outside of the letter after folding it:]

            There has been no chance hitherto to communicate to you since Howard came here.   he said he sent you a letter by private conveyance from Columbus [Kentucky].  Tirzah [wife Tirzah Scott McCorkle] and I went to Union City while they were there.  Their Reg.t was ordered away while we were there.  We all came together to Rutherford Station.  There Howard gave us the parting hand at mid night the 15^th March.

Tho. dark, we could see the boys weep----

I trust the way will be open for this to reach you.  If so you will write immediately to Rutherford Station Mobile and Ohio R.R. Tenn----I hope to write again.  Farewell

                                                                        R A H M.Corkle                              

Elmira S. Roache._________________

 *** Green Holmes is buried in the Old Yorkville Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery. Or I should say, I thought I saw his marker there before restoration of the cemetery, but his name does not appear on the new Internet listing of cemetery graves for Gibson County, Tennessee.  --In 1983 when I received these McCorkle-Roache papers from Casey McCorkle, the old cemetery was abandoned and overgrown with brush.  Fortunately, in the late 1990s, I think because of the efforts of Congressman Ed Jones to have the cemetery declared historic, the cemetery has been restored. –“Miss” Llew Wyatt Jones just told me that Hamilton Parks of Trimble, Tennessee, contributed greatly to her husband’s efforts for restoration.