Ancestors of Linnie Francis Tanner

127 Pages·2010·0.62 MB·English

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Some of the Ancestors of Linnie Francis (nee Tanner) Easton
GenerationNo.1
1. LinnieFrancisTanner,born03Dec1877inBooneCounty,Ky;died22Sep1958in8ObliqueSt,Florence,Ky..
Shewasthedaughterof2.HenryLewisTannerand3.CarrieNeomiVaughan.
Shemarried(1)AmbrosEaston08Apr1901inKentonCounty,Ky. Hewasborn19Oct1874inMissouri?,
anddied20Nov1940inFlorence,Ky. HewasthesonofJohnThomasEastonIIIandGeorgeAnnWelch.
NotesforLinnieFrancisTanner:
ThebelowisperPaulTanner'snotesonLinnieFrancisTannerEaston(Ambrose'swife).
BooneCountyRecordernewspaperdatesarelistedas*BCRnewspaper:
(Mynotesareinparenthesis)
1894-August16
FromHopefulChurchRecordBook#1 -ChurchMembersrecordPage53:
Membername: LinnieF.TannerEaston
Admissionmode: Baptised
Admissiondate: August16,1894
1897-October20 *BCRnewspaper
YoungpeoplemetatMrs.W.H.Garnett'sOctober11toorganizeayoungpeoplesChristianEndeavorSociety.
Followingofficers:
President.................D.IrvinTanner
Vice-President........H.C.Beemon
Secretary.................HarryL.Tanner
Corres.Secretary...T.J.Brown
Treasurer.................MissLinnieTanner
Chorister..................EzraK.Tanner
Organist...................Mrs.W.N.Surface
TomeetatHopefulOctober23at7:30
1897-December20 *BCRnewspaper
MissLinnieTannerentertainedquiteafewfriends.
1901-April8 *BCRnewspaper
AmbroseEastonmarriedLinnieFrancesTannerinthecountyofKenton,CertificateofMarriage#4768. Linniewas23yrs.oldand
Ambrosewas25yrs.old
1906-Feb14 *BCRnewspaper
HenryLewisTannerandwifecalledtothebedsideoftheirdaughter,Mrs.Easton,whowasverysick.
1906-November28 *BCRnewspaper
Mrs.HenryLewisTanner(Linnie'smotherCarrie)celebratedherbirthdaySunday, Amongthosefromadistance--Mrs.Seniorand
ElmoVaughnofPleasantRidge,O.,andMrs.andMrs.EastonandtwochildrenofIndependence.(thetwochildrenwiththemwould
havehadtohavebeenTomandNeomi)
1916-April6 *BCRnewspaper
Mrs.AmbroseEaston(Linnie)hasbeenhavingeyetrouble-takingtreatmentinthecityanddoingbetter.
1936-July23 *BCRnewspaper
Mrs.AmbroseEastonofPricePikespentSaturdayafternoonwithhersister,Mrs.T.McHenry(Kittie)ofShelbyStreet.
1936-December10 *BCRnewspaper
Mrs.AmbrosEastonwaspleasantlysurprisedWednesdayeveningwhenanumberoffriendsandrelativesgatheredatherhometo
celebrateherbirthdayanniversary. Theeveningwasspentingamesandatalatehour. Deliciousrefreshmentswereserved. The
guestswere: Wm.Morris,MissMabelMorris,Mr.andMrs.PhilZappandchildren,Mr.andMrs.JessEnglandandchildren,Mr.and
Mrs.JamesTannerandchildren,Mr.andMrs.FredPratherandchildren,Mrs.MildredSnow(Millie),ArnoldEaston. Allleft
wishingMrs.Eastonmanymorehappybirthdays.
1937-January21 *BCRnewspaper
Mrs.AmbroseEastonandMrs.Jas.Tanner(Dooley)andsonsspentTuesdayinCovington,theguestsofMrs.MildredSnow(Linnie's
daughterMillie).
1940-November20
Linnie'shusbandAmbroseEastonpassedaway.
1943-December22
LinniemovedoffthePricePikefarmtoahouseat8ObliqueStreet,Florence,KY. Herdaughter-in-lawDorothyEastonsaidthatshe
wantedtomoveoffthefarmupintoFlorencetobenextdoortohergoodfriendMs.EmmaJaneHambrick.
GrandmaLinnieEastonboughtthehouseandlotat8ObliqueStreetonDecember22,1943fromCarrieL.andJ.M.Rice(Deed
Book81,Page193------ CarrieL.andhusbandJ.M.RiceTOLinnieFrancisEaston------BeinginFish'sAdditiontothetownof
Florence,onObiliqueStreet. BeginningatastakeontheN.E.sideofObliqueStreet;thenceNorth55feettoFlorenceWalker
property;thenceN.E.122feettoanalley;thenceSouth55feettoacornerofHenrySmithandWoodStephens;thencewest122feet
totheplaceofbeginning. BeingthesamepropertyconveyedtotheGrantorsbyWoodL.StephensandEdnaL.Stephenshiswifeby
deeddated21stdayofJuly1941andrecordedindeedbook78,page468)
1944-January27
LinnieEastondeededthe#8ObliqueStreetpropertytoLucilleCottonandthenLucilleCottonimmediatelydeededitbacktoherthe
sameday. (DeedBook81,pages316-318) ThiswasalsodonethesamedaythattheAmbroseandLinnieEastonPricePikefarmwas
sold. SothisdeedingoutandbacktoherwasprobablysomethingtheyhadtodobackthenforsettlementofAmbroseEaston'sestate?
1958-September25 *BCRnewspaper
FuneralservicesforMrs.LinnieEaston,80,nativeofBooneCounty,whodiedearlyMondayatherhome,8ObliqueSt.,Florence,
wereheldat2:00p.m.WednesdayattheStithfuneralhome,Florence. BurialwasinHopefulCemetery. Mrs.Easton,whohadbeen
illashorttime,wasoneoftheoldestlivingmembersofHopefulLutheranChurch,nearFlorence. Sheissurvivedbythreesons,
ThomasH.,andArnoldEaston,Florence,andKennethE.Easton,Blanchester,Ohio;fourdaughters,Mrs.NaomiEnglandandMrs.
MildredMelton,Florence; Mrs.SalliePrather,CovingtonandMrs.LulaTanner,Hebron;abrother,FitshughTanner,Florence;a
sister,Mrs.KittyMcHenry,Florence;16grandchildrenandsevengreat-grandchildren.
1958-October2 *BCRnewspaper
Especiallydowewishtothankthedonorsofthemanybeautifulfloralpieces;allthekindwordsofsympathy;andtoallwhohelped
inanywayinourbereavement;toDr.HarryDaughtertyforhisuntiringefforts;toRev.WilfordButtforhiscomfortingwords,andto
RalphSithforthekind,thoughtfulandefficientwayinwhichheconductedthefuneralservice. MaytheLordblesseachand
everyone. TheEastonFamily
1959-February25
RecordedinMiscellaneousBook12,Page389 (andmentionedinDeedBook81-Page317)
AffidavitofDescentforLinnieFrancesEaston,deceased
StateofKentucky
CountyofBoone
T.H.EastonsaysthatheisaresidentoftheStateofKentucky,andthatheisanheiratlawofLinnieFrancesEastonwhodied
intestateonoraboutthe22dayofSeptember,1958,aresidentofBooneCountyintheStateofKentucky,andthatatthetimeofdeath
ofsaidLinnieFrancesEaston,shewasnotmarriedandleftsurvivingherthefollowingpersonsasheronlyheirsatlawhavingan
estateofinheritanceinherland,towit:
Names......................Ages...........Addresses...............Relationship......Int.Inherited
NaomiEngland........adult............Florence,Ky.............daughter............1/7
SallyPrather.............adult............Covington,KY...........daughter............1/7
MildredMelton..........adult............Florence,Ky.............daughter............1/7
KennethEaston........adult............Blanchester,Oh.......son.....................1/7
LulaMayTanner.......adult............Hebron,Ky...............daughter............1/7
ArnoldEaston...........adult............Florence,Ky.............son.....................1/7
T.H.Easton..............adult............Florence,Ky.............son.....................1/7
IntestimonywhereofIhereuntosubscribemynamethis25dayofFebruary,1959.
(signed) T.H.Easton
I,JohnO.McEvoy,aNotaryPublicinandfortheStateandCountyaboveshown,herebycertifythattheforegoingaffidavitwas
subscribedandsworntobeforemebyT.H.Eastonthis25dayofFebruary,1959.
MyCommissionexpires20dayofNovember,1961.
(signed)JohnMcEvoy
StateofKentucky
BooneCounty
I,C.D.Benson,ClerkoftheBooneCountyCourt,docertifythattheforegoingAffidavitofDescentwasthis27dayofFebruary,
1959at4:00P.M.lodgedinmyofficeforrecord,andthatIhaverecordedit,theforegoingandthiscertificateinmysaidoffice.
Givenundermyhand,this27thdayofFebruary,1959.
(signed) C.D.Benson,Clerk
(signed) byAlbertaO.Greene D.C.
TranscribedfromLinnieFrancisTannerEaston'sBible(withmynotesinparenthesis):
TheHolyBible,NewYork,AmericanBibleSociety,InstitutedintheyearMDCCCXVI. 1908.
(Writtenoninsidefrontpage)
"PresentedtoL.F.EastonDec25th1910byherFather"
(sothisbiblewaspresentedtomyGrandmaLinnieFrancisEastononChristmasDay1910byherfatherHenryLouisTannerwhowas
amemberoftheHopefulLutheranChurchandlivedintheGunpowderCreekarea,Florence,BooneCounty,Kyfrom1857-1931.
HisdaughterLinniewouldhavebeen33yearsoldwhenherfatherHenryLouisTannergavethisbibletoher.)
FAMILYRECORD
MARRIAGES
AmbroseEaston&LinnieFrancisTannermarriedApril14-1901
ThomasHenryEaston-CarrieMayBeemonmarriedDec.23-1922
NaomiFrancisEaston-JessEnglandmarriedAug.28-1930
SallieBellEaston-FredT.PrathermarriedJune25-1930
KennethEarlEaston-EuniceM.ReadnourmarriedAug.2-1930
LulaMaeEaston-JamesL.TannermarriedApril18-1931
LinnieMildredEaston-LestellH.SnowJune30,1934
(the'writing'onalltheabovemarriagesappeartohavebeenwritteninthisbiblebymymotherDorothyEaston;andArnold'Buck'
andDorothyEastonlivedwithdad'sparents'LinnieandAmbrosEastonduringtheirfirstyearsofmarriage)
NOTE: Livingindividualshavebeendeletedfromthebelow
BIRTHS
AmbrosEastonbornOct19,1875
LinnieFrancisEastonbornDec.3,1877
ThomasH.EastonbornJuly8,1902
NaomiF.EastonbornMay26,1905
SallieBelleEastonbornDec.30,1907
KennethE.EastonbornApril25,1910
LulaMaeEastonbornFeb.16,1913
LinnieMildredEastonbornJan.12,1916
ArnoldAmbrosEastonbornJune23,1917
-Grandchildren
CharlesAmbrosEnglandbornAug.22,1931
JesseRayEnglandbornJuly22,1933
NormaJeanEastonbornSept16,1931
NinaJoyceEastonFeb.2,1933
DEATHS
JamesRussellEastonbornJune21-1911,diedFeb.3-1912,age7months14days
AmbroseEastondiedNov20-1940
LinnieFrancisEastondiedSept.22-1958
LinnieMildredMeltondiedJan.19-1980
ThomasHenryEastondiedJune14-1982
NaomiFrancesEnglanddiedMay1-1989
Kenneth(John)EastondiedJuly19-1989
LulaMaeTannerdiedDec.2-1992
DEATHSOFINLAWS
CharlesF.MeltonJan.28-1963
JesseFranklinEnglandSept22-1963
CarrieMaeBeemonEaston
FredT.PratherMay19-1979
JamesTannerJan.11-1988
EuniceEastonAug.10-1989
MoreAboutLinnieFrancisTanner:
Burial:1958,HopefulLutheranChurchCemetery,Florence,Ky.
MoreAboutAmbrosEaston:
Burial:1940,HopefulLutheranChurchCemetery,Florence,Ky.
MoreAboutAmbrosEastonandLinnieTanner:
Marriage:08Apr1901,KentonCounty,Ky
GenerationNo.2
2. HenryLewisTanner,born03Jul1857inGunpowderCreekArea,BooneCounty,Ky;died29Oct1931inFlorence,Boone
County,Kentucky. Hewasthesonof4.WilliamHenryTannerand5.MargaretRouse. Hemarried3.CarrieNeomiVaughan
22Feb1877inAaronZimmerman'shousebyW.C.Barnett,M.G..
3. CarrieNeomiVaughan,born24Nov1858inBooneCounty,Ky;died17May1914inFlorence,BooneCounty,Kentucky.
Shewasthedaughterof6.JohnG.Vaughanand7.TalithaCandaceReed.
NotesforHenryLewisTanner:
Onsomedocuments,HenryTanner'sMIDDLEnameislistedas"LEWIS"andonothersitislistedas"LOUIS"
HisobituaryinthenewspaperlistshisnameasHenryLEWISTanner
HisdeathcertificatelistshisnameasHenryLEWISTanner
HisgravestonehasinscribedH.L.Tanner
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UsualOccupation:Farmer
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NotesperMichaelSchmaltz:
NotesforHenryL.Tanner
Census1860;Petersburg,BooneCo.,Kentucky.LivingwithParents.
Census1870;Union,BooneCo.,Kentucky.LivingwithParents.
Census1880;Union,BooneCo.,Kentucky.Farmer
Census1900;Florence,BooneCo.,Kentucky.Farmer.
Census1910;Florence,BooneCo.,Kentucky.Farmer.
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FromHopefulChurchRecordBook#1 -ChurchMembersrecordPage49:
Membername: HenryLewisTanner
Admissionmode: baptized
Admissiondate: Nov29,1874
Removalmode: death
Removaldate: Nov1931
fromHopefulChurchRecordBook#1,Page154
takenfromElectionofOfficerspagesfromtheminutesoftheJan6,1892eightysixthannualcongregationalmeeting >
Bro.HenryL.TannerwasawardedtheofficeofSextontheensuingyearforthesumof$36.00. MeetingadjournedwithPrayerby
UncleNoahSurface.
Attest,B.A.Floyd,Secy
(note: sextonistheemployeeorofficerofachurchwhoisresponsibleforthecareandupkeepofchurchpropertyandsometimesfor
ringingbellsanddigginggraves.)
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PerPaulTanner'sletterandnotestoSallyPratheronJune24,1994-
ThebelowarehisnotesonpublisheditemsintheBooneCountyRecorderNEWSPAPER:
BCRdate
3-10-1886.....HenryTannergavehissisterMissFrancesabirthdaypartyonthe4thinst. Allhadagoodtime.
2-16-1897.....HenryLouisTannerhadawoodsawingonthe9thand46atedinnerwithhim. Allhadafinetime.
5-26-1897.....H.O.Rouseandwife,J.S.Robbinsandwife,F.BordersandfamilyvisitedHenryL.TannerSunday.
6-2-1897.......HenryL.TannerandfamilyvisitingJas.W.Utz. Attherecentexaminations,D.IrvinTannergrantedcertificatetoteach
school. HopefulSundaySchoolorganized......includesIrvinTanner,Secretary.
6-1-1898.......HenryLouisTannerisrenovatinghisdwellinghouse.
8-3-1904.......TheyoungpeoplefromtheneighborhoodattendedadelightfulpartyatthehospitablehomeofHenryLouisTannerof
GunpowderSaturdaynight. Thepartywasgiveninhonorofhisdaughter,MissEthel,whowillgothethecitythefirstoftheweekto
learnmillinery. (Amillinerisaperson,usuallyawoman,whomakes,trims,ordealsinhats,bonnets,headdresses,etc.,forwomen)
12-7-1904.....HenryLewisTannerisaddingconsiderablewirefencetohisfarm.
6-14-1905.....HenryLewisTannerhasanewsurrey.
6-21-1905.....HenryLewisTanneranddaughterMissKittiewereSundayguestsofA.C.VaughninCincinnati.
7-12-1905.....MissEthelTannerofCovingtonvisitedherparentsHenryLewisTannerlastSaturday.
9-6-1905.......Forsale-20stocksheepandfreshcow. HenryLewisTannernearHopefulChurch.
9-29-1905.....SeveralofHenryLewisTannerfamilyonsicklist.
10-25-1905...HenryLewisTannercontemplatesavisittoGeorgiainthenearfuture.
11-15-1905...GeorgeBarlowandHenryLewisTannerleftTuesdayoflastweekforSpringPlace,Georgia,tovisitH.O.andJohnL.
Rouse.
2-28-1905.....ForSale-SowandPigs. ApplytoHenryLewisTanner,Gunpowder.
6-29-1906....E.H.Surface,Geo.BarlowandHenryLewisTannersoldtheircattleatUnionStockyards.
7-25-1906....HenryLewisTannerlostayoungmule--causeunknown.
8-1-1906......HenryLewisTannerandwifeandsonsLloydandFitzhughwereSundayguestsofJWUtzandwife.
8-29-1906....LightningstruckandsetonfirelastTuesdayalargerickofhayforHenryLewisTannerofHopeful. Therickburnedfor
severaldaysandwasworthabout$40.
11-28-1906...Mrs.HenryLewisTannercelebratedherbirthdaySunday. Amongthosefromadistance--Mrs.SeniorandElmoVaughn
ofPleasantRidge,Ohio,andMrs.andMrs.(Ambrose)EastonandtwochildrenofIndependence.
12-5-1906....HenryLewisTannerandfamily,ClintonandEttieBeemonentertainedatO.E.Aylor'sSunday.
1-9-1907.......HenryLewisTannersoldhistobaccolastMondayat$10.50foronegradeand$8forothers.
1-30-1907.....Mr.andMrs.HenryLewisTannerofHopefulneighborhoodentertainedwithaplaypartySaturdaynightinhonorof
theirsonLonnie. Allpresenthadadelightfultime.
4-24-1907.....HenryLewisTannersoldaloadofhogsatCincinnatistockyardsfor$6.70per100#.
5-8-1907.......HenryLewisTannerandfamilyvisitedJamesW.Utz.
3-27-1924.....Mr.andMrs.H.L.TannerentertainedWednesdayeveningL.C.Acra&wife,TommieEastonandwife,EdClarksonand
wife,ErnestHortonandwife,WillSnyderandwife,ViolaHorton,MinnieBeemon,ShelbyBeemon,EverettHay,KennethRouse,
andRobertClarkson.
4-3-1924.......HenryL.Tannerbrokeaboneinoneofhishands.
6-26-1930.....H.L.TannerspentthedayFridaywithhissisterMrs.FannieUtz,ofnearFlorence.
10-29-1931...HenryLewisTannerpassedaway.
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PerPaulTanner's Notes "SomeofMyKentuckyAncestors" (HenryLouisTannerwasPaulTanner’sgrandfather) :
OnofmyregretsisthatIdidnotbetterknowandunderstand“GrandpaTanner”. HediedwhenIwas19.
Idohaveapictureofthehousetakenabout1910withhe,Carrie,Ethel,Kittie,LloydandFitzhughlinedupintheirSundaybestby
thegrapearbor. Itwasasquareframehousewithahalfupstairs,presumablyawindowateachend. Itwasprobablyunchangedin
lateryears. Thisupstairswaswheremyfathertalkedofsleepingwithhisbrothers,listeningtorainbeatingonthetinroof.
HenryLouisTannerwasbornJuly3,1857intheGunpowderarea. Idonotknowwhere. Itcouldhavebeenatthehomeofeither
grandparent—LlewellynTannerorRolenRouse. Hisparents(WilliamHenryTannerandMargaret)hadbeenmarried15monthsand
mayhavebeenlivingwitheitheroftheirparentsorrentingatthetime. WilliamHenrypurchasedhisfirstland(29acres)in1859. It
waslatersoldandhewasinvolvedinseveralotherlandtransactions. TherecordsuggeststhatWilliamHenryTannerhadfinancial
troublesandHenryLouis’earlychildhoodmayhavebeenmarredbylivinginseveraldifferentplaces.
Inmyearlyyears,Iwasalittleawedbyhim. HewasoneofthetallestpeopleIknew(about6'-3")withablackbeard.
Untilneartheendofhisdays,hewasanimposingfigure.
Workwashismotto. Heworkedhischildrenalso.
Hisson,Alonzo'seducationwaslimitedtothreeorfourgradesbecauseschoolinterferedwithworkonthefarm. Theotherchildren
receivedlesseducationthanmanyoftheirpeers.
Perhapsthisobsessionwithwork–thisdesiretosucceedatfarming,theonlyoccupationheknew—wastocompensateforthe
traumaticeventsofhisadolescence. Hisparents’marriagewasablendingoftwosubstantialneighborhoodfarmfamilies. Butitwent
sour. Thereweretwochildren—Henryandasister,ElizabethFranceswhowasfiveyearsyounger. Henry’sfatherabandonedthe
familyforanotherwomanwhenHenrywasabouttwelve.
HismotherwassoembitteredthatshehadhisfatherindictedthreetimesinBooneCounty. Oneofthechargeswasforstealing
sheep—thereafterhisfatherwasknownas“SheepBill”Tanner.
(SeehisfathernotesunderWilliamHenryTanner)
Sometwenty-fiveyearslater,HenryLouisisreportedtohavevisitedhisfatheratthePenitentiary. Thatmayhavebeentheonlytime
hesawhimafter1873.
At18,HenryLouiswasthesonofafelonandachildofdivorce. Bothwererareinthosedays. Therewerefiveorfewerprisoners
fromBooneCountyinstateinstitutionsadonlythreeorfourdivorcesayearswerebeinggrantedinBooneCounty.
So,at19,onFebruary22,1877,hesetouttomakealifeofhisownbymarryinganeighborhoodgirl,CarrieNaomiVaughn. Shewas
18yearsold. ThemarriagewasperformedatAaronZimmerman’shouseby W.C.Barnett,M.G.,inthepresenceofJohnW.Hogan
andEphraimL.Rouse(hisuncle). ItwasaThursday.
Theyhadatotalof11childrenofwhich8ofthemmadeittoadulthood.
AaronZimmermanwasthenearesttoagrandfatherthatCarrieeverknew.HergrandfatherVaughndiedbeforeshewasborn.
Presumably,also,hergrandfatherReed. HergrandmotherTalithaReedwasawardofAaronZimmermanforyearsbeforeher
marriagetoJohnG.Vaughn. ThereisnorecordoftheZimmermanshavinganychildren.
AaronZimmermanmusthaveapprovedfullyofthetallyoungfarmerwiththetarnishedancestry. Eightmonthslater(Dec.11,1877)
hemadeawillleavinghalfofhispropertytoCarrieandhersisterMartha. HenryL.Tannerwastoappointedexecutor. Thewillwas
unchangedwhenhediedin1893.
HenryLouis’grandfather,LlewellynTanner,diedMarch13,1876. April12hiswidow,Eliza,deededone-halfof51acrestoher
grandchildrenHenryLouis(18)andElizabethFrancis(13). Theyweretopayher$30ayearforlife. ThesamedayWilliamN.Smith
wasappointedguardianforthetwochildren. May1thelandwassurveyedanddivided—29acrestoHenryLouisTannerand
ElizabethF.Tanner. ElizadiedOctober27,1876,withoutcollectingany$30payments.
Theguardianreportedthatallthepropertythathadcomeintohispossessionwas“atractoflandonGunpowderworthabout$1,000,
therentalvalueofwhichisabout$30peryear.”
A“firstsettlement”asofDecember25,1877,showedreceiptsof$61.00andexpensesof$12.25—abalanceof$48.75.
AfinalsettlementasguardianforHenryLouiswasfiledDec.2,1878.
Hehadreached21onJuly3:
½Balance12/1/1877…………………$24.37
Interest12/25/1777to10/11/1778…….... .11
½Rentofland…………………………32.48
Subtotal…………………………………56.96
½billforrepairsandworkonfarm……..4.35
½makingplankfence ………………….18.24
½grassseedandsowing…………………3.37
½allowancetoguardian…………………2.50
½judge’sfee……………………………..1.00
½clerk’sfee…………………………….. .50
Subtotal…………………………………29.96
Total…………………………………….27.00
SettlementBook1Page345
The29acreswasdividedbetweenHenryLouisandhissistersometimeafter1878.
HenryLouismaynothaveenjoyedlivinginhisgrandmotherRouse’shouseholdwhichincludedhisdivorcemother,twomaidenaunts
andseveralgrandchildren. UnmarrieduncleHenryOrinalsolivedthereandoperatedthefarm.
PerhapstheFebruaryweddingdatewaschosentobeanewfarmingventure. March1wasthecustomarydateformovementof
tenants. Wedonotknowwheretheyfirstlived. PerhapswithAaronZimmermanwhowas74andwouldneedhelponthefarm.
Inthe1880censusHenryLouisislistedasheadofhousehold,withCarrieandFrances(Linnie)2andDavidIrvin1.
BydeeddatedNov.3,1882,hesoldhis14-1/2acresinheritedfroLlewellyntohisuncleEphraimLeonardRousefor$725.
March1,1884,hepurchasedthefirstpartofhishomestead,53acresfromBenjaminRousefor$3189.60. Hepaid$1339.60incase
plus6%notesasfollows: $250dueMarch1,1885; $400dueMarch1,1886;$400dueMarch1,1887;$400dueMarch1,1888;and
$400dueMarch1,1889. OnMarch1,1889,allprincipalandinterestwasacknowledgedasbeingpaid.
In1885hepaid$7.75intaxes.
Bythe1888taxrollhehadprospered,beinglistedwiththe53acres,3horses,3cattle,10sheep,6hogs,wagons,2000#tobacco,3
tonsofhay,8acresofcorn,4acresofmeadowsand4acresofwoodland.
HisgrandmotherEllenRousediedin1892. Hisdivorcedmother,Margaret,hadbeenlivingwithEllen,hermother. Aftersome
trading,hismotherMargaretreceived40acresadjoiningherson,HenryLouis. WhileMargaretretainedtitleuntilherdeathin1902,
Henryseemstohavefarmeditforher.
AaronZimmermandiedMay7,1893. Bywill,heleftaquarterofhispropertytoCarrieTanner. Herfather,JohnG.Vaughn,bought
Aaron’slast19acresandbydeeddatedNov23.1893,transferred4acrestoCarrie. HenryLouisincludedthese4acres(and4
adjoiningonesCarrieboughtin1906)aspartofhisfarm.
April11,1902,hissisterLizzeF.(neeTanner)UtzandHusbandJamesW.Utzconveyedherone-halfinterestinMargaret’s40acres
toHenryLouisfor$950. Hisoperationswerenowcomplete—about101acres. Thisremainedintactuntilhisdeathin1931.
HenryLouishadareputationasagoodhard-workingfarmer. Keepinghislandsfreeofweedsandbusheswasalmostaphobia. My
cousinDorothyMcHenrywhovisitedhimoftenasachild,tellsofseeinghimcutouttherootsofasingleBlack-eyedSusanasthey
walkedacrossameadow. Alonzooftentalkedabouthowcleanhisfatherkeptthefarm.
Inthe1900censushehadafullhousewith8childrenrangingfrom2to22plusHattie,thefirstwifeofhisoldestson. Myfathersaid
thatMargaretlivedwiththemalso,althoughitmayhavebeeninaseparatebuilding.
Inadditiontoworkonthefarm,Henryhadtwoimportantinterests:
1. RoadWork
2. HopefulChurch
InspiteofHenryLouisbeingahardworkerandtaskmastertohisfamily,therewasalotofsociallifeatthehousedownbythecreek,
especiallyonweekends. TheBooneCountyRecordernewspaperisrepletewithmentionofpartiesorvisitorsforaday,anight,or
more. Alotofthevisitorswerethechildren,theirfamiliesandCarrie'srelativesfromthecity. Therewasanexchangeofvisitsand
dinnerswithneighborsinthecustomoftheday. Uponhis2ndmarriage,Martha'srelativesandfriendsfromthecitycametovisit.
HenrymadeseveraltripstoGeorgiaandpointsSouthtovisitrelatives.
MostoftheTannerssharedaloveofmusic. Theywouldgatheraroundtheorgan,singinghymnsandfolksongs. Kittiewasan
organistatHopefulChurchbeforeshemarriedandmovedtoCovington. Issuesofthe1910BooneCountyRecordermentionher
effortsatsolicitingfundsforanewchurchorgan. Fitzsangfrequentlyatchurchgatherings. Iamtoldthatmyfather(Alonzo),oneof
thelessmusicalones,wasdirectorofthechurchchoirforoneyear.
Fromabout1850untilafterWorldWarImaintenanceonthecountyroadsotherthanturnpikeswasperformedbyasystemof
supervisorsoroverseers. Eachmagistratewasgrantedfundsannuallytotheoverseersoftheroaddistrictsintheirareas. Overthe
years,thenumberofoverseersrangedfrom30to50.
In1912,forexample,thecountyroadfundof$7500wasallocatedtotheeightmagistrateswhointurnapportioneditamongoverseers
intheirdistricts. TheFlorencemagistratereceived$865. Therewere34overseerscounty-wide--HenryL.Tannerwasappointed
overseerforFlorence#4. In1910hewastheoverseerforFlorence#3.
Someoftherulesforoverseersin1910were:
---RoadstobegradedbyJuly1.
---Metal(rock)tobespreadbyNovember1.
---Overseercouldworkfor$1adayandreceive$1.50adaywhenoverseeingfourormore.
---TheycouldbepaidJan.,Apr.,JulyandOct.forlaborandmaterialused.
---Overseermaydoasmuchworkhimselfashesawfit.
IfeelsurethatHenryLouis,withthehelpofhissons,didasmuchoftheworkaspossible.
IfindthefollowingpaymentstoHenryLewisintheCountyCourtorderbooks:
1909................$157.85
1910..................206.75
1911..................224.20
1912..................208.29
1914...................84.25
1915..................147.60
1916..................144.70
1917..................162.35
1918....................10.15
Inaddition,hissonChesterTannerreceived$13.45in1912; $55.00in1913; $13.50in1914; $40.35in1916;and$13.00in1917.
HenrymayhavebeenlivinginErlangerin1913.(??)
HissonLloydTannerreceived$13.75in1918.
InApril,1916,animprovedroadwasbuiltfromBurlingtonPiketoHopefulChurch. TheconstructioncommitteeconsistedofHenry
L.Tanner,RobertSnyderandEzraO.Rouse.
HenryLewisandhisfamilywereveryactiveinHopefulLutheranChurch. Theyoftenwalkedthemileorsotochurchaffairs. He
wassexton(janitor)foranumberofyears. Ifoundmentionthereofin1896and1911and1912.
InFebruary1896,aseriesofSundaynight'cottageprayermeetings"wasscheduledtorotateamongthehomesofsevenfamilies.
TheyHenryL.TannerhousewastobethesiteonFebruary9.
Foratleasttwentyyearsafter1897thechildrenwereactiveinvariouschurchorganizations(LutherLeague,SundaySchool,etc.)
DavidIrvin,Linnie,ChesterandLonniewereofficersatonetimeoranother. Kittiewasorganistforseveralyearsbeforemarrying
andmovingtoCovington.
Thenextdecade(1910-20)wouldseeprofoundchangesinHenryLouis’life.
Manyofthechildrenmarriedandby1913onlythetwoteenageboysremainedathome.
Henry’sfirstwifeCarriehadbeenthroughelevenpregnanciesinthefirst22yearsoftheirmarriage. Twodiedasinfants;Carlos,next
tomyfather,haddiedattwo;andeightsurvivedher. Shehadbeenthetypicalhardworking,self-effacingfarmwifeoftheera.
OnSunday,May17,1914,hiswifeCarrieof37yearswasstrickenabout8:00pmwhenshebecameillduringaneveningserviceat
HopefulLutheranChurch. ShewascarriedbyfriendsacrossthestreettothehomeofErnestHortonwhereshediedinaveryfew
minutes.
Theoncecrowdedhousenowcontainedonlyawidowerinhislatefiftiesandtwoteenageboys.
SometimebeforeWorldWarI,HenryLouisbeganthesellingofeggs,fruitandvegetablesinCovington. Hewouldmaketheday-
longtripintoCovingtonbywagon,some24milesroundtrip,sellingfromhousetohouseandtopeopleinsomebusinesses.
OneofhiscustomerswasMarthaGuyJohnstonofNewport,Ky.whoworkedintheofficeoftheSingerSewingMachineagency.
ThefollowingJohnstonfamilyislistedinthe1910censusinNewport:
EdwinA.Johnston……….30,millwright
Martha……………………27,wife,borninIndiana,married6years
Aline………………………6,daughter
HarryGuy………………..23,brother-in-law,Pressman
HardenGuy………………21,brother-in-law,Pressfeeder
AllenGuy…………………18,brother-in-law,ClerkforSteamRailroad
MarthaJohnsonfiledsuitforadivorcefromherhusbandEdwinJohnsoninCampbellCountyin1911(Suit#16741). Theirnames
appearas“Johnson”intheCircuitCourtorderbook. ThedecreewasgrantedNov.18,1911. Shewasawarded$2aweekforthe
maintenanceoftheirminorchilduntilsaidchildbecame16.(Alinewas7). Herhusbandpaidthecourtcosts.
Inthenextfewyears,shechangedfromahousewifeforherfamilyandbrotherstoabookkeeperintheSingerSewingmachineoffice
inCovington.
Iknownothingoftheircourtship. Theywereastrangepaid—thetall,beardedcountryfarmerandthemuchyoungercitywoman.
Perhapseachneededtheother—heseekingahousekeeperandcompanionshipandsheseekingsecurityforherselfanddaughter.
TherewerenottoomanyopportunitiesforworkingwomenintheyearsbeforeWorldWarI. The$2aweekchildsupport(ifpaid)
helpedlittle.
KentonCountyrecordsshowthatHenryL.Tanner58,Florence,marriedMarthaJohnson,33,Newport,onJuly26,1916. The
marriagewasperformedbyRev.N.H.Carlisle,633GreenupSt,Covington,KY. WitnesseswereAllenCCurryandAlbertF.Guy.
OnewonderswhyMartha,anattractivepleasantwomanofthirty-three,wouldforsakehercitylifeforanisolatedfarm,withahouse
downbyacreekaboutahalfmilefromalittletraveledroad. Therewasnotanotherdwellingwithinsight. Shewastomoveintothe
housethatCarriehadlivedinevenbeforeMarthawasborn.Shewastomakeahomeforanauthoritativemantwenty-fiveyearsher
seniorandtwoboysintheirlateteens.
Therewasalsothehostility,openorcovert,ofhismarriedchildren—threeofwhowereatleastasoldasshe. Myfatherseemedtoget
alongwithherwellenough. Hecalledher“Marthy”. Icannotremembercallingheranything. Iwasfourwhentheymarried.
Marthamovedin,bringingsomeofherfurnishingsand12-year-oldAline. Shesetouttobeagoodfarmer’swife. Inmanywaysshe
succeeded.
Sons,LloydandFitzhugh,bothmarriedStevensonsistersintheyear1917.
HenryLouisboughta1920Fordtouringcar,buthedidnotdrive. Marthadrovehimaround,includingtotownontheirhuckster
route.
TheJan1,1920BooneCounty,KY.CensusonHopefulLanelists:Henry64,Martha35,andAline16.
Alineleftthefarm,gettingajobinthecityandboardingthere. SoforsomeeightyearsorsoHenryandMarthawereprettymuch
alonedownonthefarm. Hehadoccasionalhelponaday-to-daybasis.
MarthawasawonderfulcookandlovedtoentertainfamilyandfriendswithdeliciousSundaydinners. Icanrememberseveralof
them.
HeandMarthawouldvisitusoccasionally. Ihaveoneveryvividmemory. OnacoldDecembernightin1923or1924,theyarrived
withafloursackofcandy. Wepoureditinadishpaninthemiddleofthelivingroomfloor. Ihaveneverbeforeorsincehadso
manykindsofChristmascandyatonetime.
In1928,therewasconsiderabletensioninthefamilyoverthePresidentialElection. MyfatherremainedDemocraticandsupportedAl
Smith;mostofhisbrothersandsistersboltedtoHooverbecauseofthereligiousissue.
Thefarmdepressionofthe20'smergedintothebigdepression. HenryLouiswasinhis70'sandhishealthwasfailing.Hehadto
dependonhiredhelp. Therewaslittleincome. Isuspecthewasveryunhappy.Beingaperfectionistaboutthefarm,hewasunhappy
aboutthethingshecouldnolongerfixorcarefor.
Therewaslittlereasontocontinuelivingthere. Theroadswerenottoogoodinthewinter. Hewasproneto“heart”spellsatnight.
MarthawouldcalltheMcHenry’s(Kittie)andtheywouldgodowntheretostaytherestofthenight. BymovingtoFlorence,they
wouldbenearthedoctor.
IbegantokeepadiaryonMarch1,1930.
September18,1930,myfatherwenttherewithmyuncleLloyd. HenryLouiswaspreparingtoleavethefarm.
October11,1930,HenryLouis’widowedsister,FannieUtzhadasaleandmovedoffherfarm.
October16,1930,theymortgagedthefarmfor$3500. Itwastorentfor$35amonth($420ayear). Interestwas$210ayear.
Insuranceandtaxeswerenearly$100. Therewasn’tmuchleftforupkeep.
October23,1930,hehadthesale. Theymusthavesoldeverythingpertainingtothefarm. Ihavenorecordofthesale. Itislikely
thattheproceedsfromlivestock,equipmentandsomefurniturehelpedthemlivethroughthenextyear.
AboutNovember20,1930,theymovedtoFlorence. HenryLouiswas73yearsold. TheypurchasedtheMarksberryhouseon
BanklickStreetinFlorence. Thehousetheypurchasedwasonalot48'by100'--scarcelyone-tenthofanacre. Onewondersifthis
confinementaffectedhim--weknowhelivedayear.
Theyhadvirtuallynoincome. Inthosedaystherewasnosocialsecurityoranyprogramtohelptheagedandindigent. Ifhehadlived
afewmoreyears,hewouldhavehadtodependuponhelpfromhischildrenandMartha’speople.Itwasatragicsituationforaproud
manwhohadlaboredsohardformorethatahalfcentury.
November23,1930,Iwalkeddowntovisitthem. GrandpaTannerwasailing. SeveralofMartha’srelativeswerethere. Somehow,I
cameawaywithanuncomfortablefeeling. Mydiaryrecordsthathewasquitesickshortlythereafter,wasdoingbetter(12-11-1930).
MyfatherwentdowntovisithimonChristmasDay.
ByFebruary22,1931,hewaswellenoughtowalkdowntoseeus—adistanceofperhapsthreecityblocks. ItwasaSunday.He
knewthatwastheonlydayoftheweekmyfatherwouldbehome.
August23,anotherSunday,hewalkeddowntoseeus. Itwastobehislastvisit.
October22,1931,ItookBob’swagondowntohisplacetogetsomeapplesthathadcomefromthefarm. ItwasthelasttimeIwasto
seehimalive.
About11o'clockonthenightofOctober29,1931theycalledmyfathertotellhimthatHenryLouishadpassedaway. Myfather
spenttherestofthenightdownthere.
Isawhimthenextday. Helookedquitenatural. Thecasketwassilverfinishmetallic,relativelyexpensive. Thechildreninsistedthat
hebeputawaynice. Marthaknewtherewaslittlemoney,butsheletthemhavetheirway. Thecasketwasextra-lengthbecauseofhis
height. Hewaskeptdownatthehouse. ItwasoverHalloween.
ThefuneralwasSunday,November1atHopeful. Myfather,hisfourbrothersandMartha’sson-in-lawwerethepallbearers. Bob
wassickandheandmymotherdidnotgo. Therewasalargecrowd,manypeoplenotbeingabletogetintothechurch. Thefuneral
noticesaidhewassurvivedby8children,16grandchildren,and2great-grandchildren.
ThenextnightthechildrenmetattheirAuntFannie’stodiscusstheestate. Theydoubtedthattherewaslittleremaining.
November12,1931,J.G.Renaker,CashieroftheFlorenceDepositBank,wasappointedadministrator—therebeingnowill. The
FlorenceDepositBankheldthemortgageonthefarm.
November13,1931,appraisersLuteAylor,JohnL.JonesandEzraRousefiledaninventoryofhispersonalproperty. Itwasapitiable
amountforonewhohadworkedsohardandsolong.
Ruginfrontroom,2smallrugs.................................... 5.00