Descendants of J. Frank Turrentine

Generation No. 1

1. J. FRANK¹ TURRENTINE¹ was born Abt. 1836 in North Carolina, and died 13 Jul 1876 in Probably Tennessee. He married SARAH J. WEST¹, daughter of WEST and ANN BOYETT. She was born Abt. 1840 in Tennessee, and died 09 Jan 1872 in Probably Tennessee.

Notes for J. FRANK TURRENTINE:

1870 Census, Aug. 25

Dist. 8, West of the M & ORR, Obion, Tennessee, Post Office: Kenton Station

78/78

J. F. Turrentine, 25 (35?), Farmer, b. NC

Sarah J., Wife, 30, Keeping House, b. TN

Joanna, dau., 7, at school, b. TN

Margaret A., (Della), 5, b. TN

Emma J., 3, b. TN

Elliott Boyette, 10, Farm Laborer, b. TN

(There are many Boyette and West family members nearby--in Obion & Gibson counties--Sarah J. West's mother was Ann Boyett.)

This census stated that he was 25 (error?) in 1870 (b. abt 1845) which would make him younger than his wife.

My family notes stated he was born abt. 1836 which would make him older than his wife.

1860 Census, Aug. 31, Dist. 11, Obion Co., Post Office, Mason Hall

753/753

J. F. Turrentine, 25 (b. abt. 1835), Farmer, b. NC

S. J. Turrentine, 20, b. TN

M. E. Turrentine, 18, b. NC

(Relationships were not stated in this census. I do not know who M. E. Turrentine was. Possibly J. Frank's sister??)

There are large West and Boyett families in Obion Co.

Both J. Frank Turrentine and his wife Sarah J. West died young and their children had to go into foster homes. My family notes stated they went to neighbors nearby.

J. Frank Turrentine fought in the Civil War, but I have no details beyond that.

Billie Lynn Fazakerly Harrison,

Ancestor

More About J. FRANK TURRENTINE:

Cause of Death: Age at death: 40

Fact 1 (2): Abt. 1865, Fought in the Civil War (Aunt Laverne believed he was a Confederite Soldier, but she wasn't positive about that.)

Medical Information: ¹

Occupation: Farmer

Notes for SARAH J. WEST:

There are many Boyette and West family members nearby--in Obion & Gibson counties--Sarah J. West's mother was Ann Boyett.

More About SARAH J. WEST:

Cause of Death: Age at death: 32

Medical Information: According to Aunt Laverne, Sarah J. West Turrentine was "32 years and 13 days old".¹

Children of J. TURRENTINE and SARAH WEST are:

i. JOANNA² TURRENTINE¹, b. Abt. 1863, Tennessee; m. BRADFORD².

Notes for JOANNA TURRENTINE:

Went into a foster home when her parents died. According to Aunt Laverne, Joe faired better than her two sisters, Emma and Adella.

2. ii. MARGARET ADELLA TURRENTINE, b. 17 Dec 1865, Kenton, on the county line, Gibson Co., Tennessee; d. 30 Jan 1943, Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee.

iii. EMMA J. TURRENTINE³, b. Abt. 1867, Tennessee.

Notes for EMMA J. TURRENTINE:

Went into a foster home after her parents died. According to Aunt Laverne, Emma died at a young age.

More About EMMA J. TURRENTINE:

Medical Information: Believed to have died at a young age.

Generation No. 2

2. MARGARET ADELLA² TURRENTINE (J. FRANK¹)³ was born 17 Dec 1865 in Kenton, on the county line, Gibson Co., Tennessee, and died 30 Jan 1943 in Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee. She married SAMUEL BONE FINCH⁴ 26 Feb 1882 in Kenton, Obion Co., Tennessee; Union Grove Methodist Church, son of AMOS FINCH and SUSAN PIERCE. He was born 07 Apr 1860 in Kenton, on the county line, Obion Co., Tennessee, and died 16 Feb 1937 in Kenton, Obion Co., Tennessee.

Notes for MARGARET ADELLA TURRENTINE:

[FINCHM.FTW]

Margaret Adella Turrentine Finch went by the name, Della.

Kenton TN is on the county line: Obion Co. is on one side and Gibson Co. on the other. She was from the Gibson side and her husband was from the Obion side.

Margaret Adella Turrentine Finch was one of three sisters. Her parents were:

Sarah J. West Turrentine

born about: 1840

died: January 09, 1872. She was 32 years and 13 days old.

married: J. F. Turrentine (Frank)

born about: 1836

died: July 13, 1876. He was 40 years old. He fought in the civil war. (probably a

confederate but unsure. In that awful war you had brother against brother.).

Sarah J. West Turrentine's mother was Ann Boyett West. I believe this was the "blind grandmother West" that moved in with Della when she got married. On one of the lists of family names I received from Aunt Hesta or Aunt Olah, under Sarah J. West Turrentine, there is a note that isn't clear. It is either a name "Farmerey A. West" or the note was meant to be "Formerly a West".

After her parents died (both at a young age) Della, Joe, and Emma went into foster homes. Supposedly neighbors took them in. According to Aunt Laverne, "Aunt Joe seems to have fallen in the best hands". It is believed that Emma died young. Aunt Laverne's mother had to sleep on a mattress stuffed with cornhusks. According to aunt Laverne, her mother had a "pupil pop out" from straining too hard one day. The eye condition was never corrected. Her diet probably was poor at the time. She had a hard life.

(In spite of all that, according to my mother, Martha Louise Finch--Della's granddaughter--Della was a "very beautiful woman" in her younger years.)

What a houseful of people she had to deal with. When she got married she moved into her husband's home with his mother, and Aunt Lisa.

(I'm not sure who this is--unless it is her father's sister, the M. E. Turrentine listed on the 1860 census. Possibly Lisa's name came from M. E. or Mary Elizabeth--if that was her name?).

Also with her was her Grandmother West (Ann Boyett West) who was blind. Then there were all her children, Olah, Augusta, Hesta, Clayborne, Velma, and Laverne. In addition she had Elmer Baldwin, who was "adopted", and Billy (W.F.), a cousin of Aunt Laverne's. Also there were other people, cooks, etc. that helped out. It must have been a rare day when things were quiet.

My brother Chris suggested that i include a section on "Nanny's recipes". I will list a few; but I also wish to include a few recipes from great grandmother finch's recipes that my Great Aunt Laverne sent to me recently. All of us have been very fortunate that we have had such wonderful cooks in the family and that we can carry on their traditions

Aunt Laverne's mother's recipes:

Mama's "lite" bread

cup sweet milk

1/2 cup sugar

lard, size of egg

irish potato.

Cook and mash (the sugar and potato probably take place of yeast)

pinch salt make a soft dough. Let rise, work it down, let rise, and work it down again and then put in pan to rise. Cook in slow fire.

Yeast Rolls recipe:

1 f. Yeast cake (fleischman's)

2 cups water (lukewarm)

3 to 4 tablespoons of sugar

3 to 4 tablespoons of shortening (melted) if homos (homoginized ?) Double your

shortening

tesapoon salt

7 (about) cups plain flour

Put yeast cake in 1/4 cup lukewarm water to dissolve.Warm the shortening, sugar, water, & salt. Pour the yeast mixture in and stir in the flour a cup at a time until you can put mixture on a floured board and keep working with the hands until mixture won't take up any more flour. Then put in a large greased bowl and pat grease on top of it. Cover until it doubles in bulk. Work air out. (pat it out). Make into tiny rolls. Put in well greased pans, pat melted shortening on top of them, cover and let rise till double in size. (oven about 450) bake and smear butter over the tops before serving.

Chess pie

3 eggs well beaten

1 teaspoon vinegar

vanilla

1 stick oleo

1 and 1/2 cup sugar

Lemon pie

3/4 cup of sugar

3/4 cup boiling water

one tablespoon of cornstarch or flour

2 egg yolks

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon butter

Mix cornstarch and sugar. Add boiling water, stirring constantly. Cook three

minutes. Add egg yolks and juice of one lemon and pour in pie pan and bake.

Years ago mama (Martha Louise Finch) tried to tell me about making bread using, I thought she said, the water you boiled potatoes in and the potatoes. I do know that when we lived in Vidalia, Georgia. There was a doughnut shop that made their doughnuts with potato flour. They were incredibly good. People came from all over to get this man's doughnuts and recipe. There was no secret he said--just use potato flour.

I'm very happy to have some recipes in great grandmother's finch's handwriting.

One picture of "Della" that I have shows that she was a very attractive and pretty woman. Standing next to her husband she appears very tiny and petite. I wonder why men as they get older seem to keep their looks--good health or bad, even with some loss of hair--they still manage to look attractive and sometimes distinguished looking as they age. (like Great Grandfather Sam Finch did). As we women age, we tend to lose our looks--good health or not. What a shame.

I want to thank my Great Aunt Laverne (and her sisters, my other great aunts, Aunt Olah & Aunt Hesta) for all their help in making it possible to put this material together for the finch family tree.

Billie Lynn Fazakerly Harrison

1996

May, 2006

1900 census, taken in June, stated her birth date was Nov. 1866 and that she was 33 at the time. Our family records stated that she was born Dec. 17, 1865.

More About MARGARET ADELLA TURRENTINE:

Cause of Death: Cancer: Age at death: 77⁵

Fact 1 (2) 1: Known as Della or Mammie. Aunt Laverne said she was a shy person.

Fact 1 (2) 2: My mother, Martha Finch Fazakerly, said her grandmother, Della, was a beautiful woman when she was young.

Fact 3 (2): Della lived the latter part of her life with her daughter, Olah, in Memphis.

Fact 4 (2): Methodist. Married at the union grove Methodist church and buried there.

Fact 5 (2): Aunt Laverne's notes stated that when Della married she brought Grandmother West (blind) to live with them. (Della's mother, Sarah J. West Turrentine, died at age 32 in 1872, so this was probably her grandmother (Sarah's mother), Ann Boyett West)

Fact 6 (2): Aunt Laverne sent me a few of her recipes in her mother's handwriting. See notes

Fact 7 (2): Della, 43, was pregnant with Laverne the same time Olah, Della's oldest daughter, was pregnant with Mary.

Fact 8 (2): Aunt Laverne said they were all born near Mason Hall, about 6 miles west of Kenton.

Fact 9 (2): Said there was a bathroom with tub; had trouble with running water so it was not used

Fact 10 (2): Aunt Laverne remembers a pan on the stove was used for washing dishes.

Fact 11 (2): Aunt Laverne is about 3 mos. older than her niece, Mary

Medical Information: Colostomy; Died at the home of her daughter, Olah Finch Crain, 848 Poplar (Memphis, Tennessee); Burial, Union Grove Methodist Cemetery, Kenton, Tennessee⁵

Occupation: Housewife

Notes for SAMUEL BONE FINCH:

[FINCHM.FTW]

Kenton TN is on the county line: Obion Co. is on one side and Gibson Co. on the other. Sam was from Kenton on the Obion side and his wife, Della, was from Kenton on the Gibson side.

Years ago, about 1972, after my children were born, I started collecting information for the Finch family tree. Nanny, my grandmother (Gladys Meshew Finch) was able to give me some information she had obtained from Gramp's sister, Olah Finch Crain. She supplied some information from her own memories and I have added a few of my own about the people I got to know.

I have kept this material with me for years, hand written notes, copies of copies of information, letters, etc., and now I would like to put it all together.

Recently, I have been able to rely on Aunt Laverne about most of the material: and, she has been an incredible source. I can't thank her enough for her kindness, swift responses, and amazing memory. She has helped to make this project very interesting. She has also been infinitely patient with my continuous "pestering."

Other sources of information come from lists from Pappy's, Aunt Olah's, and Aunt Hesta's Bibles.

Years ago, I was allowed to copy two pieces of information that were in Samuel Bone Finch's Bible. (My great grandfather) one note stated:

Samuel Bone Finch of Kenton, Tennessee and (as on record, "married D. Turrentine") who was Margaret Adella Turrentine of Kenton, Tennessee; married (as recorded in grove) on the 26th day of February, 1882; married by John Glasgow

Also in front of the bible was a note (from a newspaper article or something) that stated roughly: Widow of Kenton farmer (Margaret Adella Turrentine Finch) dies at daughter's home. (Mrs. W. F. Crain 848 poplar); Union Grove Cemetery. Died at age 77. Member of Union Grove Methodist church; Sister, Mrs. Joe Bradford, Kenton, Tennessee.

A few marriages were also listed and in the family tree section, Bobby's adoption was mentioned.

I believe Mama (Martha) thought that Pappy, as her grandfather was called, was rather well off. Or so it seemed to her. I also got this impression from Aunt Laverne. I remember that mama enjoyed those times that she was at the farm. I remember her talking about a certain mule that was there. (but I can't remember if she was telling me it was good natured or not.) It certainly made an impression on her. Maybe Tom, Aunt Laverne's son remembers some things about Pappy and the farm, though he was young when Pappy died.

I remember that Nanny told me a story about one of the grandchildren of the Finch's (I think it may have been Tom Herriman, Laverne's son). Supposedly, when he was being kept as a baby by his grandmother, Della, (during his very active crawling stage), Della or Sam would set the leg of the heavy bed on the edge of his gown to keep him from crawling away.

I would like to add a few additional notes from a couple of letters I recently received from Aunt Laverne. She mentioned that while her father was traveling from Nashville he passed through a town called Lavergne--and that is how Aunt Laverne got her name. She said that Gramps, (Clayborne) her brother, spelled her name through the years as Lavergne. She also said that her father (she called them Mama and Papa) used to read novels to them while sitting in front of the fireplace. They used coal to burn not wood. One novel she remembers that he read to them was "Girl of the Limberlost". Aunt Laverne said her father had a very distinctive signature but did not write much more than that. He could do math problems in his head. She said that he & his brother Tom were well liked in the community. She mentioned that they had a phone and that their phone number was '2' and that they did most of their talking on the phone early in the day. She also remembers visiting her Aunt Joe--her mother's sister--and Uncle Yank who lived about 4 miles away and each family would come and stay and spend the night with each other occasionally.

I believe Chris Fazakerly, my brother, looks a lot like great grandfather Sam Finch--going by the picture I was given years ago by Nanny and one I recently received from Aunt Laverne that belonged to Aunt Hesta. He appeared to be a large, attractive man, even in old age. I wish I had written down more of the stories I heard from Mama about her grandparents.

Billie Lynn Fazakerly Harrison

1996

Addendum: According to my grandmother, Mr. Finch died of pneumonia as a complication of "Jake's Paralysis"--ill for 5 years--which was caused from drinikng some bad liquor.

Nanny, who was a fabulous cook, wasn't too pleased with her in-laws standards and methods of cooking. They certainly didn't equal her standards.

Updates: May 2006

1900 Census taken in June; Civil District 11, Obion, Tennessee, Enumeration District, 106.

122/399/423

Sam B. Finch, Head of Household, born Apr 1860, age 40, married 19 years, Farmer, b. TN, parents b. TN

Della, wife, Nov. 1866, age 33, married 19 years, 4 children, 4 living, b. TN, parents b. TN.

Olah Mae, b. Nov. 1885, age 14, b. TN

Augusta, Apr 1889, age 11, b. TN

Alberta, Aug. 1891?, age 9?, b. TN

Samuel C., May 1895, age 5, b. TN

Ann Pierce, Aunt, married, born 1814, age 86, b. TN, parents b. TN

*Ann West, Grandmother, married, born 1825, age 75, b. TN, parents b. TN

W. H. Finch, Cousin, Invalid, single, born Nov.? 1848, age 52, b. TN, parents b. TN

Elmer Baldwin, orphan, single, born Nov. 1882, 17, Farm Hand, b. TN, parents b. TN

*"Ann West" may be an error. Sarah J. West is the name I have in the family records.

Next door was the Tom Finch Family

123/400/424

Tom Finch, Head, June? 1857, 42, Farmer, married 17 years, b. TN, parents b. TN

Anetta or Anette, (Loretta?) Wife, May 1865, 35, married 17 years, 4 children, 2 living, b. TN, parents b. TN

Jesse, son, July 1888, 11, b. TN

Mona? Morie? Marie? B., daughter, Nov. 1891, b. TN

1910 Census, June?; Dist. 11, Obion County, TN, enumeration dist. 125

37/37

Sam B. Finch, 50, b. 1860, married 28 years, b. TN, parents b. TN, Farmer

Della M., wife, 43, married 28 years, 6 children, 6 living, b. TN, parents b. TN

Hester (Alberta Hesta), 18, b. TN

Clayborne S., 14, b. TN

Velma Louise, 6, b. TN

S. Laverne, 1, b. TN

W. H. Finch, cousin, 59, single, labourer, Farm. b. TN, parents b. TN

Winsett, Major, 25, single, hired man, b. TN, father b. NC, mother b. TN

1920 Census, Jan. 21?; Dist. 11, Obion, Obion Co., TN

Fm 9/9

Sam Finch, head, 59, owns home, Farmer, b. TN, parents b. TN

Della, wife, 55, b. TN, parents b. TN

Laverne, dau., 11, b. TN

Billy Finch, cousin, 69, widow?, occ., none, b. TN, parents b. TN

Bryant Pullen, Farm Hand, 22, single, b. TN

Nearby:

FM 1/1

T. P. Finch (Tom), head of household, 62, Farmer, b. TN, parents b. TN

Laretta or Loretta, wife, 53, b. TN, parents b. TN

Marie, daughter, 28, single, Teacher, b. TN

1930 Census, April, Dist. 11, Obion, TN

133/134

Sam "Finck", Head, Owns property, 70, married age 21, Farmer, b. TN, parents b. TN, Veteran (no)

Della, wife, 65, married age 16, b. TN, parents b. TN.

More About SAMUEL BONE FINCH:

Cause of Death: ⁵

Fact 1 (2) 1: The farm was bought by Maurice Finch, son of Walter, son of John (Brother of Sam).

Fact 1 (2) 2: Aunt Laverne "Found a professional picture of Uncle John, Tom, & Papa"

Fact 3 (2): Aunt Laverne said "they were three good looking men."

Fact 4 (2): His middle name came from a friend, Dr. Bone. Had a very distinctive signature.

Fact 5 (2): He put almost all of his children through college. "Read & kissed his Bible daily".

Fact 6 (2): Methodist. Married at the Union Grove Methodist Church & buried there.

Fact 7 (2): According to notes from Aunt Olah, Sam lived with his mother until she died.

Fact 8 (2): He also lived in his mother's house until all his children were born.

Fact 9 (2): Cotton was the main cash crop. No tractors then, just wagons & mules. Had a phone.

Fact 10 (2): About the time Aunt Olah got married, he bought about 100 acres of land. He was well liked.

Fact 11 (2): Aunt Hesta & Uncle Herbert "helped" with expenses toward the end and charged 6% interest. (Aunt Laverne didn't seem to be too happy about the amount of interest charged.)

Fact 12 (2): Also grew corn, wheat (mainly for the animals), Sugar cane & popcorn. Had orchards. (My mother, Martha Louise Finch, was prone to eating the apples before they were ripe. bfh)

Medical Information: ⁵

Occupation: Farmer

More About SAMUEL FINCH and MARGARET TURRENTINE:

Marriage date: 26 Feb 1882⁵

Marriage: 26 Feb 1882, Kenton, Obion Co., Tennessee; Union Grove Methodist Church

Marriage Fact: 26 Feb 1882, Married at the Union Grove Methodist Church. Married by John Glasgow.⁵

Children of MARGARET TURRENTINE and SAMUEL FINCH are:

3. i. OLAH MAY³ FINCH, b. 04 Nov 1885, Mason Hall, near Kenton, Obion Co., Tennessee; d. 08 Oct 1978, Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee.

ii. AUGUSTA FINCH⁵, b. 06 Apr 1889, Mason Hall near Kenton, Obion Co., Tennessee; d. 18 Dec 1918, France⁶; m. (1) MAIZE HOLLOMAN⁷, 13 Jan 1907; m. (2) J. BARRETT MELTON⁷, 1918.

More About AUGUSTA FINCH:

Cause of Death: Age at death: 29 years 8 months 12 days⁷

Fact 1 (2) 1: Grew up near Kenton, Tennessee

Fact 1 (2) 2: Attended the Union Grove Methodist Church.

Fact 3 (2): Went to & graduated from Mason Hall High School..

Fact 4 (2): Do not know where she went to college.

Fact 5 (2): Married twice. First husband's name was Maize (Mayse?) Holloman, married Jan. 13, 1907.

Fact 6 (2): Picture of her shows that she was very attractive.

Fact 7 (2): Her second husband was J. Barrett Melton, a lawyer.

Fact 8 (2): She married Mr. Melton in 1918 and died the same year. She was in France when she died.

Fact 9 (2): No children.

Medical Information: Died in France

Occupation: Housewife; Teacher

More About MAIZE HOLLOMAN and AUGUSTA FINCH:

Marriage: 13 Jan 1907

More About J. BARRETT MELTON:

Fact 1 (2): Married and lost his wife in the same year.

Occupation: Lawyer

More About J. MELTON and AUGUSTA FINCH:

Marriage: 1918

iii. ALBERTA HESTA FINCH⁷, b. 10 Aug 1891, Mason Hall near Kenton, Obion Co., Tennessee; d. 02 Sep 1977, Nashville, Davidson Co., Tennessee; m. HERBERT THURMOND HAYS⁷, 24 Dec 1914, Mason Hall, Kenton, Obion Co., Tennessee; b. 1887; d. 29 Nov 1966, Nashville, Davidson Co., Tennessee.

Notes for ALBERTA HESTA FINCH:

[FINCHM.FTW]

I only saw Aunt Hesta a few times that I can remember. She and Gramps were close as brother and sister according to Aunt Laverne. I was not quite as comfortable with her as I was with Aunt Olah and Aunt Laverne. It seemed to me she had a high-pitched voice and seemed a bit flighty. She was nice, though. She liked to wear high heels, even into her old age.

Billie Lynn Fazakerly Harrison

1996

More About ALBERTA HESTA FINCH:

Cause of Death: ⁷

Fact 1 (2) 1: Went to the Union Grove Methodist Church.

Fact 1 (2) 2: Attended & graduated from the Mason Hall High School.

Fact 3 (2): Grew up near Kenton,Tennessee.

Fact 4 (2): Went to college in Martin, Tennessee.

Fact 5 (2): Aunt Laverne, Hesta's sister, says Gramps & Aunt Hesta were close.

Fact 6 (2): Aunt Hesta and Uncle Herbert were married in the parlor of the Finch home.

Fact 7 (2): Aunt Laverne believes Aunt Hesta taught the 6th grade and upward.

Fact 8 (2): No children.

Occupation: Teacher

Notes for HERBERT THURMOND HAYS:

[FINCHM.FTW]

Uncle Herbert apparently raised cattle near Nashville and on one visit he told me once that he had named one of his cows after me. I think I was supposed to be flattered.

I always had trouble remembering Uncle Herbert's name when they came to visit Nanny and Gramps and I think that might have hurt his feelings. The only way I could remember his name was to think of sherbet (for Herbert) ice cream.

Billie Lynn Fazakerly Harrison

1996

More About HERBERT THURMOND HAYS:

Cause of Death: Age at death: 79⁷

Fact 1 (2) 1: Tall, slender man. He and Aunt Hesta seemed a bit haughty at times, certainly not humble like Aunt Olah or Uncle Will.

Fact 1 (2) 2: Had some acreage near Nashville & raised cattle. (Uncle Herbert told me he named one of the calves after me, Billie.)

Medical Information: Emphysema

Occupation: Teacher & Superintendent of County Schools in Nashville, TN

Marriage Notes for ALBERTA FINCH and HERBERT HAYS:

[FINCHM.FTW]

In a letter recently sent to me from Aunt Laverne, she describes the wedding of Aunt Hesta and Uncle Herbert. They were married in the finch home on December

24,1914. The wedding took place in their parlor.

Aunt Laverne states that there "was a bower of flowers (real or paper -don't know). There was a string of them catty cornered in a corner of the room and they stood under them for the wedding." She also states that there was some type of book--a register of the people that attended

Billie Lynn Fazakerly Harrison

1996

More About HERBERT HAYS and ALBERTA FINCH:

Marriage date: 24 Dec 1914⁷

Marriage: 24 Dec 1914, Mason Hall, Kenton, Obion Co., Tennessee

Marriage Fact: 24 Dec 1914, Married in the parlor of her home in Kenton, Tennessee⁷

4. iv. SAMUEL CLAYBORNE FINCH, b. 02 May 1895, Mason Hall, near Kenton, Obion Co., Tennessee; d. 10 Sep 1965, Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee.

v. VELMA LOUISE FINCH⁷, b. 11 Oct 1903, Mason Hall near Kenton, Obion Co., Tennessee; d. 24 Jun 1913, Mason Hall near Kenton, Obion Co., Tennessee.

More About VELMA LOUISE FINCH:

Cause of Death: Age at death: 9 years 8 months 13 days⁷

Fact 1 (2) 1: It was thought that she might have been hit in the stomach or died from something she ate. (Intestinal blockage?, Ruptured Appendix?)

Fact 1 (2) 2: Died at about age 9. Aunt Laverne was about 5.

Fact 3 (2): Went to school at Mason Hall, TN.

Fact 4 (2): Attended the Union Grove Methodist Church.

Fact 5 (2): Gramps, (her brother Clayborne) said that he felt bad because he would not let her follow him around.

5. vi. SUSAN LAVERNE FINCH, b. 03 Jul 1908, Mason Hall near Kenton, Obion Co., Tennessee; d. 27 Dec 1997, Jackson, Madison Co., Tennessee.

vii. ELMER BALDWIN⁸, b. Nov 1882, Probably Tennessee; d. 1903, Kenton, Obion Co., Tennessee; Adopted child.

More About ELMER BALDWIN:

Cause of Death: Age at death: 21⁹

Fact 1 (2) 1: Aunt Laverne remembers his picture and what people said about him. He was good looking.

Fact 1 (2) 2: Aunt Laverne said that Elmer Baldwin was "adopted" by Sam & Della Finch. Exact relationship or connection unknown, but he was an orphan.

Fact 3 (2): Aunt Olah named her son after him--Sam Elmer Crain.

Fact 4 (2): Elmer died at age 21. Cause not stated.

Occupation: Helped around the farm⁹

Generation No. 3

3. OLAH MAY³ FINCH (MARGARET ADELLA² TURRENTINE, J. FRANK¹)⁹ was born 04 Nov 1885 in Mason Hall, near Kenton, Obion Co., Tennessee, and died 08 Oct 1978 in Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee. She married WILLIAM FRANKLIN CRAIN⁹ 24 May 1906 in Probably Kenton, Obion Co., Tennessee. He was born 09 Dec 1877 in Probably Tennessee, and died 21 May 1971 in Memphis, Shelby Co. Tennessee.

Notes for OLAH MAY FINCH:

[FINCHM.FTW]

When I was young I can remember Aunt Olah taking me to places like the dentist and other necessary places I needed to go. She helped out when no one else could get me to these places. I believe we walked or took a bus. I know she had very little money but to me it was an adventure.

The outstanding thing I remember the most about Aunt Olah is that she seemed to be immensely kind. Always had a sweet smile; a very patient person; good with children. One could feel instinctively safe with her. To me she had a gentle, humble, and sweet nature.

She sent me a graduation card when I graduated from central high school. She had bought it from Gerber's department store and in the card was the poem "If" for girls. She liked the poem so much she wrote in a note inside the card that she wanted to go back and buy another one for herself so she could read the "Ifs" when she needed the "patience if". She said she would sign the note and not "mar the card with their signature". To me she was a special person; not one you meet everyday. There were no phony airs about her. She just shined with her genuine goodness.

She would be embarrassed, but I wish I could let her know this. When one is young it's often too easy to take things for granted.

Billie Lynn Fazakerly Harrison

1996

More About OLAH MAY FINCH:

Cause of Death: Age at death: 92 years, 11 months, 4 days⁹

Fact 1 (2) 1: Grew up near Kenton, Tennessee..

Fact 1 (2) 2: Attended Union Grove Methodist Church.

Fact 3 (2): Went to school and graduated from Mason Hall, High School.

Fact 4 (2): Taught first & second grades in the primary school--Mason Hall.

Fact 5 (2): Maurice Elvin Crain, Aunt Olah's first child died 9/08/1908--About 1&1/2 years old.

Fact 6 (2): She had two other children: Mary & Sam.

Fact 7 (2): By the dates it appears that Mary was born within weeks of Olah's son's death.

Fact 8 (2): Aunt Olah's mother was pregnant with Aunt Laverne at the same time-- just months apart.

Fact 9 (2): Samuel Elmer Crain was named after Elmer Baldwin.

Fact 10 (2): Aunt Olah worked hard all her life & took good care of Uncle Will.

Occupation: Housewife; Teacher

Notes for WILLIAM FRANKLIN CRAIN:

[FINCHM.FTW]

According to a letter I received from Aunt Laverne, when Uncle Will and Aunt Olah got married, her father gave them some property "probably less than a 1/4 mile away from home". Aunt Lavern also says that he farmed there for many years and when he quit, he went to work in Memphis for the Colonial Bakery.

Billie Lynn Fazakerly Harrison

1996

More About WILLIAM FRANKLIN CRAIN:

Cause of Death: Age at death: 93⁹

Fact 1 (2) 1: He was very old when I was growing, but it seemed to me that he was a soft spoken & quiet man.

Fact 1 (2) 2: He & Aunt Olah were very nice, humble people.

Fact 3 (2): He later worked for the Colonial Bakery in Memephis, Tennessee.

Occupation: Farmer in Kenton, TN

More About WILLIAM CRAIN and OLAH FINCH:

Marriage: 24 May 1906, Probably Kenton, Obion Co., Tennessee

Children of OLAH FINCH and WILLIAM CRAIN are:

i. MAURICE ELVIN⁴ CRAIN⁹, b. 26 Mar 1907, Kenton, Obion Co., Tennessee; d. 08 Sep 1908, Kenton, Obion Co., Tennessee.

6. ii. MARY MONETTE CRAIN, b. 27 Sep 1908.

7. iii. SAMUEL ELMER CRAIN, b. 24 Feb 1911; d. 20 May 1978.</