MODE, DOVER, BURGESS, TAYLOR, WOREX CONNECTIONS
We must first step back to McDowell County, North Carolina in order to trace the Modes into East Tennessee. We will start with whom we all have descended from, Mary Jane Dover Mode Dover?, who was born ca. July 1848 in or near McDowell Co. NC. She died on 26 Oct. 1908 in Newport, Tennessee of consumption or TB according to Brown Funeral Home records. Mary Jane is buried at Clay Creek Baptist Church in Bybee according to Lawrence Burgess of Newport. She has no known stone. We do not know the parents of Mary (Jane) Mode. She is said to be of Cherokee Descent, having long, black hair, as did several of her daughters. I have spoken to many members of the MODE, DOVER, BURGESS, TAYLOR, WOREX, and related families who have generally given the same testimony to the fact that someone in the family was Indian. As far as I know the Cherokee portion of our heritage begins with Mary Jane Mode. The characteristics of black hair, high cheek bones, brown eyes and dark complexions is evident in many members of our clan, namely Lou Dover Burgess, Mary Magdalene Dover Taylor, Lea Dover Burgess, Aunt Wilma Mode Massey and kids Tommy and Carole Massey. It was not until I placed a query on a McDowell County forum that I had someone respond to my questions regarding the Modes and Dovers. This response, after nearly twenty years of searching, came from Jim Padgett of McDowell County, North Carolina.
"In answer to your mail, I'll have to do this by memory. Mary Jane Dover Mode Dover was born in McDowell Co. ca. 1848. She was the daughter of William Dover and Margaret Padgett Dover. Mary Jane Dover married John Mode the first time. After he died she married her stepbrother, Augustus (Gus) Dover. Thus, she became Mary Jane Dover Mode Dover. I can't find a marriage certificate on Mary Jane and Gus, but I do know who Mary's parents were. Margaret Padgett was my G.G.Grandfather's daughter and he was not Cherokee, nor was his wife, Susan Ricketts. Although, all the Padgetts have coal black hair and were dark-skinned, even to this day. Margaret Padgett had a son before she married William Dover. He was James Augustus Padgett who was killed at Seven Pines, Virginia during the War of Southern Independence."
In a later letter he stated that "William Dover came from S.C. and his wife Margaret Padgett from N.C. Margaret's parents were Lemeul Augustus Padgett and Susan Ricketts. The Padgetts were all dark skinned with black hair."
These letters date from December of 1999. After many attempts to contact Jim Padgett, who had always been very good to respond to my queries, I found out that he had died. This seems consistent with the ole Mode luck. Regarding his material, said material seems consistent with things I have heard or have researched. I had heard that Mary Jane had married a John Mode and that he had died. Jim's material seems to at least back up the fact that Mary Jane must have been associated with a Mode in order to have given birth to our Great Grandfather John Thomas Mode. If she were a Dover this fact might explain why we can not find her within a Mode family in the 1850, 1860, or 1870 census records. My dad, Bill Mode, said he recalls family members saying that Mary Jane was not married when John Thomas Mode was born.
What Jim Padgett's material does not explain is why John Thomas Mode is not within the William and Margaret Padgett Dover family in the 1870 McDowell County, North Carolina census. Mary Jane and Augustus are found within their parent's household in 1870. There is also an age discrepancy that does not quite fit the bill. Mary Jane should be older than Augustus in the census records but she is not. Jim Padgett's material, though, is the first such material that has ever been presented to me which identifies Mary Jane Mode, John Mode, and Augustus C. Dover being together or related in some way. In other words, the existence of these individuals has never been acknowledged by anyone other than Jim Padgett and I tend to believe that his research is pretty accurate, but I still want more proof. This research may be what I have been looking for which knocks down that brick wall that I have been up against for so long.
Mary Jane Mode married or lived with Augustus C. Dover in McDowell Co. NC beginning around 1871. I have not found a marriage record for them. They left McDowell Co. around 1887, according to Cocke Co. tax lists, and moved to the Newport/Bybee Tennessee area. The following is how this family appeared in the 1900 Cocke Co. Census.
Gus Dover 45 (Aug. 1854) Farmer, NC Rented 53 acres.
Jane Dover 51 (July 1848) NC, NC, NC
Lien/Lou/Lea? 15 (Oct 1884) NC, NC, NC Lou Dover Burgess Smith
Minnie 13 (Feb 1887) TN, NC, NC
Deleitha 10 (Oct 1884) TN, NC, NC
Andrew Leadford 16 (Mar 1884) TN, TN, TN Servant
Gus married 30 years. Jane married 20 years. Mother of 9, 7 living. Could not read or write, but can speak English.
Gus/A.C. Dover and John Mode are found first in the 1889-90 Cocke Co., TN Tax lists in Dist. # 5.
This is the same family in the 1880 McDowell Co., NC Census, Household # 423, Page 384, Marion Township.
Augustus Dover 27 Farmer
Mary J. 30 Wife My 2nd great grandmother, Mary Jane Dover Mode Dover?
William F. 9 This may be Frank Dover.
Mary M. 6 Mary Magdalene Taylor
Joseph M. 4 Joe Mills Dover
Ida B. 1 Ida or Ada Dover who had Downs Syndrom.
John T. 11 My great grandfather, John Thomas Mode, son of Mary Jane Mode.
Margaret 54 Mother
David 21 Brother
Harriet D. 11 Niece
The Dover family in the 1870 McDowell Co., North Carolina census. Household # 69, page 10, Higgins Township.
Margaret Dover 48
Susan 25
Sarah 20
Augustus 18
Jane 16
David 14
Clarisa 12
Harriett 2
William Dover, the father, may have died between 1860 and 1870. Said to have served in the Civil War with
Co. B 22nd North Carolina Confederate Inf.
Sarah Dover married Summa/Summie Mode in McDowell Co. NC.
The Dover family in the 1860 McDowell Co., North Carolina census. Page 658, Marion Township.
William Dover 36
Margaret 36
William 16
John 12
Matilda 10
Augustus 8
Jane 5
Sarah 2
David 4/12
This may be the same William Dover in 1850 Buncombe Co, North Carolina census.
William C. Dover 24
Harriet C. 21
Orra C. 1
The Dover family may have come out of South Carolina.
The following is a compiled list of various census records involving DOVER/BURGESS FAMILIES. Some of the families are known to be related, others I have not identified.
1910 Cocke Co., TN, 6th Civil Dist, ED. 46 1900 Cocke Co., TN, 6th Civil Dist, ED. 163
John Burrell 55 Frank Dover 38 TN, TN, TN Farm Laborer
Harriet 52 Liza (Burrell) 20
Eliza Dover 32 Dau./ Wife of Frank Dover Maud 3 Maudy Dover 13 grandson Estell 1 Estell Dover 11 granddaughter (Frank apparently died between 1900-1910)
Eddie May Dover 5 granddaughter
1910 Cocke Co., TN, District 7
William Burgess 50
Eliza 48
Ella 16
Bruce 14
Roy 10
Julia B. 7 1900 Cocke Co., Tenn.
Lavella 5
Mary (Marietta) 27 Daughter/ w/o Joe Mills Dover John T. Mode Sept. 1868 31 NC (Son of Mary J. Dover)
Jesse Dover 6 Nephew Nancy Mode June 1875 TN
Mary Dover 4 Niece Cora Holt Jan. 1894 TN (d/o Andy Holt)
Joseph W. Mode Mar. 1899 1 TN
1899-1900 Tax List for Cocke Co., TN, Dist. # 5 1889-90 Tax List Cocke Co., TN, Dist. # 6
Bob Dover and Mills Dover listed. Mills Dover listed. (Joe Mills Dover)
J.L. Dover listed in Dist .# 12 for 1889-90
Robert Dover 25 NC May 1875 I do not know who Roberts parents are.
Thula 30 Apr. 1870 TN
Etter 1 May 1899 TN
Cora Nolin 5 May 1895 TN
Robert (Bob) and Thula were also the parents of Author Dover who died at the age of 13 in 1917 in Cocke Co.
Blount Co. TN, 1880 Dist. 17 Cocke Co. TN, 1920
David A. Dover 53 NC Robert Dover 49 NC Do not know how Robert
Mary 42 NC Mary E. 39 or David tie into our lines.
Mary J. 16 NC Virgi 20
Mikeal A.L. 13 TN Ida/Ira 17
David C. 10 " " Benet 13
Linik T.? 7 Willie 13
Margaret 5 Kate 11
John J. 2 Marjorie 9
James T. 20 Son Georgia Bedula? 6
Lucinda J. 20 Dau. in law. NC Iella? 4 5/12
Burnett 8/12
Cocke Co. TN, 1920 Cocke Co. TN, 1920
Estel Dover 21 TN Son of Frank Dover who is Ina Mae Dover 14 TN
Verlin 16 brother to Lou, Joe Mils, Mary Jessie Dover 16 TN
Olimae 2 Magdalene, Lea, and Ada Dover. Listed with their mother Mary Fox.
Elizabeth 2/3 1/2 to John Thomas Mode. They are the children of Joe Mils..
Eddie 16 Niece
Eddie is listed with Jonney Burl also.
She married Hoyle D. Taylor.
Danny Dover said Estel Dover died of moonshine poisoning.
Cocke Co. TN, 1920 Loudon Co., TN 1920
Ada Dover 29 TN C.F. Dover 27 TN
Listed with Chester Holt (His aunt). Sophie? 28
Ada is the daughter of Augustus C. and Jakiny? 8
Mary Jane Mode Dover. Ada had Downs Earl 5
Syndrome. Sister to Lou, Mary M., Lea,
Joe Mils, and Frank Dover. 1/2 sister to
John Thomas Mode.
Monroe Co., TN 1920 Cocke Co., TN 1910
John Thomas Mode 52 NC, NC, NC Rufus Burgess 28
Nancy Belle Green 42 TN Lula (Dover) 26 NC, NC, NC
Joseph Wheeler 20 Cocke Co. Lawrence 7
Thomas/Andrew 18 Marietta 4
Pearl 15 Rob. E. 5/12
Hattie Louise 13 Adee Dover 21 sister-in-law TN,NC,NC
Mildred 10
Robert Lee (Bob) 6
Elmer 4 7/12
John Thomas is the son of Mary Jane Mode? Dover
who married Augustus C. Dover.
Nancy Belle Green Holt Mode is the daughter
of Wade and Fanny Malissa Arms Green of Cocke Co.
Cocke Co., TN 1900, 5th Civil Dist., page 61-A Cocke Co., TN 1910, 3rd Civil District
William Taylor 30 May 1870 TN, VA, VA William Taylor 40
Mary M. (Dover) 27 Jan. 1873 NC, NC, NC Mary (Dover) 37 (4 children/ 2 living)
Ebbin 7 June 1892 TN Ebine 17
Ula 4 Sept. 1895 TN Eula 14
Hobart 2 Jan. 1898 TN
Agusta 6/12 Dec. 1899 TN (Son)
William M. Taylor 50 Eben Taylor 27
Mary (Dover) 47 Grace 27 (wife)
Eben Lawey 3 (son)
Cocke Co., TN 1920, 6th Civil District Cocke Co., TN 1930, 3rd Dist., p. 59B, E.D. 15-16
Chester Holt 32 TN, TN, TN Chester Holt 42 (married at 22 yrs. Canning factory)
Eula (Taylor) 24 TN, TN, TN Eula (Taylor) 34 (married at 15 yrs.
Georgie 5 (b. 18 Feb. 1915 d. Jan. 1995 Dandridge) Paul 13
Paul 3
Ada Dover 29 (Aunt, d/o Augustus & Jane Dover) *Living next door to Chester and Eula is her mother Mary Taylor
age 56, and her grand son-in-law Fred Hartsell, aged 20 and her
granddaughter Georgie Holt Hartsell, aged 15.
Anderson Taylor 38 TN, TN, TN Chemical Co.
Grace 37 TN, TN, TN
Eben 12 TN, TN, TN
Warren 9 TN, TN, TN
Jack 1? TN, TN, TN
(I believe this is Eben Taylor, son of William (Bill) and Mary Magdalene Dover Taylor. Don’t know why he is going by Anderson.)
W.W. I Draft Registration Card for Ebin Edgar Taylor shows him to be 24 years old, resident of Newport, Tenn. Born 14 June 1892, a natural born U.S. citizen, place of birth Bybee, Tenn, employer was Muoro? Tanning Co. in Newport, Tenn. Dependents were a wife and child, married, Caucasian, no military experience. Exemption: Yes, dependent family. Medium height, medium build, dark brown eyes, dark brown hair. Not bald. No physical disabilities. Dated 5 June 1917.
Knox Co., TN 1920 Bradley Co., TN 1900
Laura Dover 35 Mary Dover 60 NC
An APPRENTICE BOND between the employer, ANDREW ELLIS, his apprentice, WILLIAM PRESTON DOVER, who was 10 yrs/6months old and his mother JANE DOVER. Bond made on 12 Oct. 1875 in Cleveland Co. NC. (Not sure who this Jane Dover belongs to. May be Mary Jane Browning Dover.
SOME FAMILY MARRIAGES
The following is a list of marriages between our associated families. Some of the marriages came out of the Cocke Co. marriage register, while others were given to me by individuals during conversations over the phone. If a name is misspelled it is because I was not able to see the name in print, so it was written as it sounded. Some dates were not known to me at this time, but can be filled in as they are found. This list represents only the marriages that I have compiled.
NAME LOCATION DATE
William Dover and Margaret Padgett North/South Carolina ca. 1844
William Dover is said to have been married twice.
Augustus C. Dover and Mary Jane Mode McDowell, NC ca. 1871
Lou Dover and Rufus F. Burgess (1st) Nick Smith (2nd) Cocke Co., TN 3 May 1903- J.T. Robinson, J.P.
Mary Magdalene Dover and Wm. Taylor Cocke. Co., TN 31 Oct 1894
Frank Dover and Liza Burrell Cocke Co., TN 17 Mar. 1896
Joe Mils Dover (23) and Marietta Burgiss (18) Cocke Co., TN 31 Oct. 1902
Lena (Lea?) Dover and Hugh Burgess Cocke Co., TN 18 Nov. 1905- Oscar O’Neil, J.P.
Nancy Belle Green and Andy Holt. (Parents of Cora Ethel Holt b. 28 Jan. 1894) 9 Oct. 1892
Cora Ethel Holt and Nute Ward Cocke Co. TN 3 July 1915
John Thomas Mode and Nancy Belle Green Holt Mode Cocke Co., TN 11 Nov. 1898
Joseph Wheeler Mode and Marguerite Aretta Sliger Blount Co., TN 19 Apr. 1930
William Franklin Mode and Bettye Jean Davis Knox Co., TN 9 June 1956
William Joseph Mode and Patsy Ann Poore Knox Co. TN 17 Aug. 1985
Robert (Bob?) Dover and Thula Holt Cocke Co., TN 26 Feb. 1897
Susan Dover (23) and Rufus Proctor (27) McDowell Co. NC 25 Mar 1873
Her parents: Wm. & Margeret Padgett Dover. His parents: Marcus and Sallie Handcock Proctor.
Clarissa Dover (24) and Milas Hoover (58) McDowell Co. NC ?
Her parents: Wm. & Margeret Padgett Dover (Deceased) His parents: Daniel Hoover
John Dover and Mary Mayes/Mays Cocke Co. TN Bdsm. John E. Dover 28 Nov. 1911- J.S. Padgett, J.P.
Van Dover and Eliza Burrell Cocke Co., TN Frank and Liza Burrell? 17 Mar. 1896
Ina Mae Dover and Dexter Manning Cocke Co., TN ?
Eula Taylor and Charley Holt Cocke Co., TN 25 Dec. 1910 -David T. Hicks, J.P.
Jessie Dover and Hattie/Sarah? Cocke Co., TN ?
Edith Worex and Jessie Ketner Cocke Co., TN ?
Mary Etter Burgess and ???? Worex Cocke Co., TN ?
Roy Burgess and Cynthia ???? Cocke Co. TN ?
Jetta Burgess and W. Inman " " ?
Hattie May Burgess and ???? Spoon " " ?
Will Burgess and Eliza Holt " " ?
Louella Burgess and Dexter Manning " " ?
Eddie Dover and Hoyle D. Taylor " " ?
Fred Dover and Maxine Horton " " ?
INFORMATION REGARDING DEATHS IN THE FAMILY
Most of this information came from various cemetery books, Browns Funeral Home, and the Tennessee Death Indexes. Again, this is only what I have collected and is in no way complete. I hope others will expand on this information. Unless stated otherwise, these deaths occurred in COCKE CO., TENNESSEE. The name variations, such as "BURGIS", is how they are shown in the death records
.
Augustus C. Dover? Lawrence Burgess thinks Gus Dover died ca. 1910.
Mary (Jane) Mode Dover(58) died 26 Oct. 1908 of Consumption. Husband Gus Dover. Buried at Clay Creek Baptist.
Author Dover (13) died 1917. Son of Bob Dover and Thula Holt? Record only says "Holt."
Ina Mae Dover Manning (16) was born on 1 January 1906 and died on 18 February 1921. Daughter of Joe Mils and Mary Burges Dover. Sister of Jessie Dover.
NOTE: Ina Mae was said to have drowned while crossing the Pigeon river on her way to work at the canning factory. The river was swollen and her boat overturned. According to Linda Hux Daniels, her grandmother, Lou Ella Burgess was also in the same boat which overturned when Ina Mae drowned. Ina Mae Dover was the first wife of Dexter Manning.
John Dover (72), born NC. died 1920. Son of Wm. Dover of NC and his mother was also from NC.
Bonnie Cate Burgus (4) died 1918. Daughter of R.F. and Lou Dover Burgis.
Clifford Burgess, b. 1 Aug. 1907 d. 3 June 1935. Son of Hugh and Lena(Lea?) Burgess. Family Cem.
Imogene Dover b. 11 May 1940 d. 14 May 1940. Daughter of Jessie and Hattie Dover.
Lou Dover Burgess Smith (57) died 22 Aug. 1941. Dau. of Gus Dover and Jane Mode. Sisters Mary Magdalene Taylor , Ada Dover. Children: Lawrence, Dewey, John, and Mary Etter. Sick 3 days. Greggs Chapel. Burgess Cem.
Thula Dover died Oct. 17 1908. Probably Thula Holt who married Robert(Bob) Dover.
Ada Dover (57) b. 30 Oct. 1889 Cocke Co. died 27 Feb. 1947. Dau. of Gus and Mary Jane Mode Dover. Buried at Greggs Chap. Sister of Mary M., Lou, Lea, Frank, and Mils Dover. Died at home of Wm. Worex.
Esti Hugh Dover (21) died 21 Aug. 1939. Born in TN. Son of Frank and Eliza Burrell Dover. Frank born in NC.
Mrs Mary Magdaline Dover Taylor (78) b.14 Jan. 1874, NC, died 8 April 1952. Dau. of Gus and Mary Jane Mode Dover. Buried at Clay Creek Baptist Church. Pall-bearers: Ben Dover, Jesse Wood, Truman Nease.
Jessie L. Dover born on 27 Oct., 1903 and died? Record said "No Date."
Hattie Marie Dover b. 8 May 1914 d. 11 Sept. 1967.
Wm. Burgess b. Dec. 1858 d. 1918. Son of Joe Burgess who served during the Civil War.
Eliza Holt Burgess b. 27 July 1863 d. 1930. Wife of Wm. Burgess.
Liza (Burrell) Dover, 40, born Cocke Co., Father: John Burrell, Mother: Liza Burrell. Died 1918.
Joe Mills Dover apparently died between 1902 and 1910.
*The following are children of Wm. and Eliza Holt Burgess.
Rufus Burgess died at the age of 35 of TB
Mary Burgess b. 21 Jan. 1883 d. 27 Oct. 1957. Union Cem/
Winnie Analine Burgess b. ca. 1885.
Hugh Burgess b. 1888 d. 1920.
George William Burgess b. 22 Sept 1889 d. 26 Mar. 1968.
Lillie Burgess b. 1892 d. 1944. Lived in Green Co.? Buried in Burgess Cem. Cocke Co. Tennessee.
Ellie Burgess b. 1894 d. ? Buried at Burgess Cem.
Bruce Burgess b. 1898 d. 20 Mar. 1969. Lived in New Jersey? Buried in Burgess Cem.
Ollie Burgess died at birth?
Roy Burgess b. 5 Apr. 1900 d. 7 Aug. 1981. Buried in Union Cem. Cocke Co. Tennessee.
Juney Burgess b. 13 June 1903
Louella Burgess b. 7 May 1905 d. 11 Oct. 1965.
John Thomas Mode b. 12 Sept. 1867, NC, died 29 Aug. 1936, Maryville, TN. Buried at Morganton Cem. in Greenback, TN. 1/2 Brother to Lou, Mary Magdaline, Lea, Frank, and Mils Dover. Mother was Mary J. Mode
Nancy Belle Green Holt Mode b. 8 June 1875, Cocke Co., d. 8 June 1937, Knox Co. Wife of John T. Mode and daughter of Wade and Fanny Malissa Arms Green. Buried at Morganton Cem. in Greenback, TN.
Joseph Wheeler Mode b. 17 Mar. 1899 Cocke Co., d. 18 Feb. 1937, Knox Co. Buried at Lynhurst Cem. Son of John T. and Nancy Belle Green Holt Mode.
Marguerite Aretta Sliger Mode Caldwell died 25 March 1998 at Hillcrsest South in Knoxville. She was the daughter of William Edgar Sliger and Sarah Louise Cloninger. She is buried at Lynhurst Cemetery. The Sligers are the Sligers of Washington and McMinn County, Tenn. The Cloningers are from the Strawplains and New Market area of Knoxville. Same Cloninger clan as those found in Lincoln County, North Carolina.
* Lawrence Burgess, nephew too John Thomas Mode, said that he was born in Cocke Co., TN ca 1905. He said that he had met his Grandfather Gus Dover and Granny Jane Dover when he was five or six years old. (1910-1911?) I asked if he knew where they died. He said that they were buried at Clay Creek Baptist Church in Bybee, TN. Lawrence's mother was Lou Dover, half sister to John Thomas Mode. Lawrence said that his mother had two brothers, Mils and Frank, plus another sister Lea. Lea married Hugh Burgess. Lawrence said that his Granny Dover (Mary Jane Mode Dover) was full blooded Cherokee and thought that she was born in Cherokee, NC. Lawrence went on to say that all the Dover kids, Ada, Lou, Mary M., Lea, Frank, and Mils were dark skinned with black hair and black eyes. On 1 Sept. 1995 he said that his Granny Dover (Mary Jane Mode) was married twice, once to John Mode? who died, then to Augustus (Gus) C. Dover. He said that he thought that Mils and Frank Dover died ca. 1925. (They appear to have died between 1900 and 1910.)
· Edith Worex Ketner said that her great grandmother was Lou Dover Burgess Smith. Ada, Lou's sister lived with Wm. Worex. She also stated that the children of Frank Dover were Mandy and Estel Dover. The children of Mils Dover were Jessie and May Dover. The children of Lea Dover Burgess were Buster Burgess and Susie Burgess Garrell. The children of Mary Magdaline Dover Taylor were Eula Taylor Holt and Edwin Taylor/ Ebin Edgar Taylor. (Two children died young, Hobart and Agusta Taylor) The children of Lou Dover Burgess Smith were Mary Etter, Lawrence, Dewey and John Burgess. Ada Dover had Downs Syndrome.
· My grandmother said that Mary Magdaline Dover Taylor had long, coal-black hair. She had a daughter named Eula that married Chet Holt. They had a daughter, Georgie Holt who married a Hartsell, and had a son, Paul Holt.
· Jack Burgess, son of Dewey Burgess, said that he can remember his Uncle Lawrence Burgess and his dad, Dewey, saying that their mother, Lou Dover Burgess Smith, was 1/2 or 3/4 Cherokee.
· Paul Manning's line runs through Louella Burgess Manning. His mother's sister, Mary Burgess, first married Mils Dover who had May and Jessie Dover. Her second marriage was to a FOX. The parents of Louella and Mary Burgess was Eliza Holt and Will Burgess. Eliza's father was Tide Holt.
· The parents of Edith, Bill, and Pansy? Worex was Mary Etter Burgess and ? Worex. Their grandmother was Lou Dover Burgess Smith who married Rufus Burgess first, Nick Smith second. Bill Worex stated that his granny Dover looked half indian, had high cheeks, dark skinned, and long black hair. Remembers that his Aunt Mary Magdaline Dover Taylor was kinda dark too.
· Lawrence Burgess married Zollie Holt and Roy Burgess's sister, Mary(Marietta) married Mils Dover.
· John H. Mode of Atlanta said that John Thomas Mode, son of Mary Jane Mode Dover, lived with his mother and her father, who was a MODE.
· Granny Mode, Marguerite Aretta Sliger Mode, said that Joseph Wheeler Mode, son of John Thomas Mode and Nancy Belle Green, "had coal black hair and brown eyes." He had "naturally dark skin, not from a sun tan." Said that Mr. Mode, John Thomas Mode, told her that he was "part or full-bloodied Indian." He was narrow waisted and broad-chested. Said the Modes had "dark hair, brown eyes, and were dark complected."
William Andrew (Tom) Mode, though, had red hair I believe.
· According to Jim Padgett of Marion, North Carolina Mary Jane Mode Dover was actually Mary Jane Dover Mode Dover, step-sister to Augustus C. Dover. She is said to have married John Mode first, had son John Thomas Mode by this marriage and after John Mode died she then married her step-brother Augustus.
· According to my Aunt Betty Jo Mode Butler, John and Nancy Belle Green Mode were very staunch Republicans and were very disappointed that their son, Joseph Wheeler Mode, voted for Roosevelt. Would love to know what they thought about their Grandson, William Franklin Mode, being named for Roosevelt.
· According to Bob Crye, as told by his mother Pearl Mode Crye, the name Mode was a made up name and was taken by an Indian women who was a maid to the governor of North Carolina. Supposedly this maid had a child by this governor. This child was the first Mode and the maid was our great great grandmother. (I do know the Mode name goes quite a ways back and across the big pond, J.Mode)
· Danny Dover of Newport, Tennessee told me that his grandfather Jesse Dover always told him that his great great grandmother was full blooded Cherokee. Jesse Dover, h/o Sara Ogle, was the son of Joe Mills/Mils Dover and Marietta (Mary) Burgess. Danny’s great great grandmother was Mary Jane ?, wife of Augustus Dover. Danny also said that his great grandfather Jesse Dover was nicknamed “Runt.” He once was jumped on by a bully at the train station, was beaten up a bit, and knifed the bully, probably saving him from a worse beating.
· Larry Holt, son of Chester and Eula Taylor Holt, said on 5 July 2007 that Mary Dover Taylor was “real dark skinned and had black hair.” Said that his great grandmother Mary Dover Taylor was part Indian and was buried at Clay Creek Baptist Church along with William “Bill” Taylor. He said that Eula’s brother Ebben moved to Ohio. Eula and Ebben were two of four children born to Bill and Mary Dover Taylor. Two of the children died young. (See census records)
· Linda Hux Daniels wrote to me on 7 November 2007 and told me the following. She also sent me the three accompanying pictures: “ I am Linda Hux Daniels. My mother was Mary Ruth Manning Hux, sister to Paul Manning of Newport. Lou Ella Burgess Manning was my mother’s mother and is in one of the photos with Ina Mae (Dover) Manning and Bessie Manning. Lou Ella (Burgess) was the second of Dexter Manning, who was my grandfather. Ina Mae Dover was the first wife of Dexter Manning. Ina Mae Dover’s mother was Marietta (Mary Etta) Burgess and Joe Mils Dover. Marietta (Mary Etta) was a sister to Jesse Dover and after the death of Mils Dover may have married a Fox? Now this is where I’m confused, but I think Mary (Etta Burgess) Dover Fox is listed in some notes as Mary Etta Burgess Dover. She was a sister to Lou Ella Burgess Manning, Junie Burgess Keeler Fox, and Ella Burgess Shelton. After Lou Ella’s death Dexter married again and he and his new wife had children,
one of which was named
Ina
Mae.”
Mae Dover, Bessie Manning, Louella Burgess
Ina
Mae Manning 
Mae Dover & Mae Manning
This information was gathered and compiled by William Joseph Mode, 2nd great grandson of Mary Jane Dover Mode Dover and great grandson of John Thomas Mode, half-brother to Mary Magdaline, Frank, Joe Mills, Lou, Lea, and Ada Dover. Much more can be gathered and compiled and much more needs to be found regarding the parentage of Mary J. Dover Mode Dover.
Last updated around November 2007. I can be reached at:
Joe Mode
Knoxville, Tennessee 37938
jmode@mindspring.com