MY RIVERSIDE CEMETERY TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS
SCRAPBOOK PART VII
By Jonathan K.T. Smith
Copyright, Jonathan K. T. Smith, 1995(Page 44)
MCCLANAHAN LOT
McCLANAHAN LOT, unnumbered, South Side of 8th Street
[Lots 412-441 in Tombstone Inscriptions]Beginning on east side of large lot
Row 1., north to south:
Sacred to the memory of JOHN CLARK COCHRAN who was born in Abbeville District, South Carolina on the 12th day of July 1826 and departed this life in Jackson, Tenn. on the 18th day of February 1849. He remembered his Creator in the days of his youth and now he rests from his labors. J. White /stonecutter/
(a slab tombstone, flush with the ground)Sacred to the memory of LOUISA W.
Consort of Samuel McCLANAHAN
Born in Abbeville Dist., S.C.
Febr. 7, 1807 Died Oct. 30, 1857
(a slab tombstone, flush with the ground)
Row 2., north to south:
CHARLES ROBERT, Infant Son of
Sam'l. & Laura F. McCLANAHAN
Born Oct. 11, 1859
Died Jan. 6, 1859
(The birth and death dates are obviously "jumbled." The U.S. Census, 1860, Mortality Schedule, Tenn. (Madison Co.), page 60 lists Charles A. McClanahan, 1 month old when died Oct. 1859 from inflammation of bowels)Our Darling Little . . . Infant
SOPHIA JEANNETTE Daughter of
Sam'l. & Laura McCLANAHAN
Born Oct. 18, 1867
Died June 22, 1870EVA, wife of C. E. McCLANAHAN
Daughter of Jas. & M. J. Clift
Born May 3, 1868
Died Apr. 2, 1886
WEST TENN. WHIG, Jackson, Apr. 3, 1886:
Eva D., wife of Chas. E. McClanahan, dau. of Mrs. M. J. Clift, died April 2, aged 17 years; md. only a few weeks.
Row 3., north to south:
In memory of NELSON McCLANAHAN
Born in Lawrence /Laurens/ District,
S.C. May 15, 1821
Died in Jackson, Tenn. May 6, 185_(chipped)
(a slab tombstone, flush with the ground)
See page 51 for a copy of the newspaper obituary of Nelson McClanahan.SAMUEL McCLANAHAN
1801-1873
One of the first Elders of the First
Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Tenn.LAURA FORTUNE, wife of Samuel
McCLANAHAN, 1837-1900
Blessed are the pure in heartGEORGE REID McCLANAHAN, 1866-1898
Son of Samuel & Laura McClanahanJEANNETTE "Nettie" McCLANAHAN
1873-1961
Daughter of Samuel & Laura McClanahan
Row 4., north to south:
In memory of NANNIE LOUISA
McCLANAHAN
Born May 6, 1872
Died Jan. 5, 1898
Asleep in JesusBase only, tombstone missing, but in 1937 Ingram James read it:
WILLIE D. H., son of J. A. &M. A.
McCLANAHAN
Apr. 7, 1875-Dec. 28, 1877SAMUEL McCLANAHAN (September 29, 1801-July 14, 1873), a native South Carolinian, was a prominent attorney, early educator and lay church (Presbyterian) leader in Jackson. More about him is found on page 32 of MY RIVERSIDE CEMETERY TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS SCRAPBOOK, Part I., 1992.
TRIBUNE-SUN, Jackson, Oct. 26, 1878. The potrait of Col. Robert I. Cheater, painted by Mr. Albert McClanahan of this city, is a work of merit. The features and expression of Col. Chester are exceedingly true to life and the shading nearly perfect.
[HTML editor's note: The McClanahan pages appear to have been misnumbered in Scrapbook 7. In the presentation below, the order of pages 45-47 is reversed to place the court records discussed in chronological order. The original page numbers are retained to match the index.]
(Page 47)
U.S. Census, Aug 22, 1850, Jackson, page 450:
Sam'l. McClanahan, 48, lawyer, S.C.
Louisa W. McClanahan, 43, S.C.Hamden McClanahan, 20, Tenn.
Algenian S. McClanahan, 16, Tenn.
Sam'l. C. McClanahan, 16, Tenn.
Edmond B. McClanahan, 12, Tenn.
Louisa J. McClanahan, 8, Tenn.
Mary F. McClanahan, 2, Tenn.
John A. McClanahan, 5, Tenn.U.S. Census, June 9, 1860, Jackson, page 223:
Sam'l. McClanahan, 58, lawyer
Laura V. McClanahan, 25, Ky.
Lou J. McClanahan, 18, Tenn.
John A. McClanahan, 16, Tenn.
Mary F. McClanahan, 12, Tenn.
Nancy Lowery, 61, S.C.
Sam'l. C. McClanahan, 26, doctor, Tenn.U.S. Census, June 2, 1870, Jackson, page 310:
Sam'l. McClanahan, 68, lawyer, S.C
L. V. McClanahan, female, 38, Ky.
C. McClanahan, male, 9, Tenn.
J. McClanahan, male, 7, Tenn.
G. McClanahan, male, 4, Tenn.
Nellie McClanahan, 8 mos., Tenn.U.S. Census, June 18, 1880, Jackson, page 367:
L. V. McClanahan, 43, Ky. (father born Va., mother born S.C.)
Chas. E . McClanahan, son, 19, Tenn.
J. C. McClanahan, son, 16, Tenn.
G. R . McClanahan, 14, Tenn.
Nettie McClanahan, dau., 8, Tenn.Jackson City Council Minute Book Feb. 1877-May 1878, page 249, Sexton's Report, Jan. 1, 1878. Dec. 1877 interment: Willie H. McClanahan, age 9 mos., from diarrhea. (If age 9 mos. is correct then I. James may have read his birth-year incorrectly on his tombstone.)
Some Madison Co. Marriages:
Samuel McClanahan married Laura Virginia Fortune, December 29, 1858
A. S. McClanahan married Laura E. Caruthers, December 18, 1860
William F. Henry married Mary F. McClanahan, December 9, 1868Griffin Funeral Home Burial Book, 1928-1931, page 29:
MARY FENNER HENRY, Dec. 13, 1847-Jan. 20, 1929Robert H. Cartmell, Diary 19, 1901, page 12, February 4, 1901:
Mrs. McClanahan, widow of Sam'l. McClanahan was buried in Jackson today. She was a Fortune, a niece of his first wife. had a no. of children, none of them living here now. a daughter sings well. I believe was in St. Louis at the time of her mother's death. her mother lives with her. died there. brought here yesterday or this morning. There was at one time a large family of McClanahans in Jackson.Madison Co. Court Minute Book 12, page 757:
August 5, 1873. Will of Samuel McClanahan "offered for probate" in this court, but it was "resisted by a part of his heirs." Some of the will was copied but clerk restrained from finishing it by beginning litigation.IBID., page 761. August 5, 1873
Laura Virginia McClanahan v John Albert McClanahan and others. She, LVMc, produced a will in court dated March 8, 1873 of her late husband, Samuel McClanahan, in which she was given as executrix. John Albert McClanahan, Louisa J. Neely and husband, M. S. Neely; Mary Fenner Henry and husband, William F. Henry, son and daughters of Samuel McClanahan contest will. Court ordered litigation to the Madison County Circuit Court.IBID., pages 762-763. August 6, 1873
Samuel McClanahan died in Madison Co., July 14, 1873, leaving personal estate worth about $10,000. His heirs, H. McClanahan, J. A. McClanahan, Lou and M. S. Neely, Fenner and William Frank Henry, opposed to his purported will. County
(Page 46)
Court appointed Laura V. McClanahan administratrix pendente lite.
IBID., page 766. August 7, 1873
Hampden McClanahan, A. S. McClanahan, E. B. McClanahan, John A. McClanahan, Louisa J. and M. S. Neely, Mary Fenner and William F. Henry, heirs of Samuel McClanahan, opposed Laura V. McClanahan and her 4 children being sole beneficiaries of Samuel McClanahan's will. Again, county court allowed appeal to Circuit Crt.IBID., page 798. October 8, 1873
This case was dismissed by county court based on proceedings from the Circuit Court and she was confirmed as adm. pendente lite.Madison Co. Circuit Court Minute Book 1873-1874, pages 116-118. Sept. 2, 1873
Laura V. McClanahan v John A. McClanahan and others. Full transcript of will of Samuel McClanahan dated March 8, 1873.IBID., page 136. September 5, 1873
This case was dismissed. These contesting heirs were allowed appeal to Supreme Court, April 1874 session, if they wished to pursue the case.Madison Co. Court Minute Book 13, page 33. December 1, 1873
In this case, LVMc v JAMc and others, court allowed LVMc until March 1874 to file her inventory of Samuel McClanahan's estate report.
(This case dragged on for several years. )Madison Co. Court Minute Book 14, page 276. March 13, 1877
Laura V. McClanahan submitted inventory and report as adm. pendente lite of Samuel McClanahan's estate but it was continued until next court as exceptions from some of the distributees had been made.IBID., page 298. April 10, 1877
The inventory and report of Laura V. McClanahan as adm. pendente lite of Samuel McClanahan was accepted by county court.IBID., page 409. December 3, 1877
Chancery Court remanded to the Madison Co. Court this case for settlement. On testimony of D. M. Wisdom, one of the will's witnesses, the court accepted the validity of the will, and admitted it into probate.Madison Co. Will Book A, pages 249-251. Will of Samuel McClanahan, executed March 8, 1873 and probated December 3, 1877. Testator left entire estate to wife for life for the benefit of their children, his "minor children:" Charles Eugene, James Clyde, George Reid and Nettie McClanahan; she was to have control over the estate in order to support and educate these children. He had already made provision for his older children.
Evidently, Laura V. McClanahan had reached an agreement with her step-children. Madison Co. Deed Book 35, pages 106, 108, 214, show that she bought the interest in their father's estate from John A. McClanahan, Louisa J. Neely, Mary Fenner Henry and Hampden McClanahan, who had continued to litigate with her. This in September and November 1877.
Madison Co. Chancery Minute Book 9, page 262. January 19, 1878
This case was dismissed in Chancery at request of the complainants in this litigation. With this problem behind her, essentially, Laura V. McClanahan started legal procedures to establish a way to settle debts against her late husband's estate:Madison Co. Chancery Court Minute Book 9, page 213. January 14, 1878
In case styled Laura V. McClanahan V Charles E. McClanahan and others, P. B. Robinson was appointed guardian of Samuel McClanahan's minor heirs. H. C. Anderson was appointed their lawyer.
(Page 45)
IBID., page 290. January 22, 1878
Clerk and Master of Chancery Court to determine what the personal assets of Samuel McClanahan's estate were and how they might be used to discharge debts against estate.IBID., page 352. January 25, 1878
Samuel McClanahan died in July 1873, leaving a will which was probated in December 1877 with Laura V. McClanahan qualified as executrix. In this will she was left a life interest in this estate to help support and educate their four minor children. She had paid some of his debts but $1390 was still to be paid. Considering sale of real estate to meet these debts. He had left a plantation about 3 miles north of Jackson; a lot on Smith Street in Jackson; two business lots on Shannon/Liberty Street in Jackson. Clerk and Master was ordered to sell as much of these properties as necessary to settle debts.Madison Co. Chancery Minute Book 10, pages 117-124, February 6, 1879
Clerk and Master had sold land of late Samuel McClanahan, Dec. 14, 1878 based on decree of court, January 1878. Nine lots were surveyed and sold off the big lot in vicinity of Smith Street, actually near Talbot and George streets; one lot on Liberty Street was sold for $1500. IBID., pages 130-131, Feb. 8, 1879, Lot 1 was sold for $310 rather than $270 as first bid-off. IBID., page 178, July 10, 1879. Lawyers' fees established in this case. IBID., page 206, July 12, 1879. Money raised to pay debts, $2342; with debts totally $4075.84, including these notes: $790.65 each to Lou J. Neely and Mary F. Henry. Court ordered these debts paid on pro-rata basis. IBID., pages 294-296, December 8, 1879. On Nov. 29, 1879 another lot on Liberty Street was sold for $2800, to help pay remaining debts. IBID., pages 359-360, December 17, 1879. A few other debts had come to light and were ordered to be paid pro rata out of real estate sales.Madison Co. Chancery Court Minute Book 11, page 126. April 14, 1881
Chester G. Bond was appointed new guardian for minor heirs of Samuel McClanahan.IBID., page 151, April 25, 1881. The Chancery Court Judge ruled that Laura V. McClanahan "has no power to sell and convey the property for a longer period than her lifetime for the maintenance, education and support of the minor defendants." She was granted an appeal to the State Supreme Court.
West Tennessee Divisjon, Supreme Court of Tennessee: Minute Book 17, 1881-1882, page 127. May 30, 1881.
Laura V. McClanahan v Chas. E. McClanahan and others. #418 C. D. 13th Circ.
This case was "heard upon the transcript of the record" from Chancery Court of Madison Co. with a ruling that "there is a manifest error in the Chancellor's decree in the Court below it is therefore reversed and annulled." It was decreed that Laura V. McClanahan was "fully authorized and empowered to sell and dispose of any of the property" left in the will of her husband, Samuel McClanahan to provide for "the maintenance and education of the minor children of the testator, to wit: Charles Eugene, James Clyde, George Reid and Nettie McClanahan."The legal system allowed Laura V. McClanahan to sell her late husband's property, or most of it, to settle debts claimed against the estate, with the underlying assumption that she could not properly "maintain and educate" Samuel McClanahan's minor heirs unless these debts were settled once and finally.
Madison Co. Minute Book 6, page 146, April 1850.
Upon motion of Charles M. Gibbs, Esq. on behalf of Nelson McClanahan (gentleman) and it appearing to the satisfaction of this court that said McClanahan is twenty-one years of age and of good morel character. It is ordered by the court that a certificate of those facts be granted him preparatory to his application for an examination as an applicant for license as an attorney and counsellor at law in the State of Tennessee.R. H. Cartmell's 1889 Diary, pages 48-49, August 1.
Also heard of the death of Burt McClanahan. He was raised in Jackson. Son of Sam'l. NcClanahan, a lawyer for a long time. He was a very talented young man and might have made considerable character as a lawyer or even more, but he was wanting in those qualities which command respect, in other words he was tricky. He married Bettie Symmonds. /She/ died. /He/ married /second/time in Chicago where he went to after leaving Nashville, to which place he went from Jackson. . . . Only one girl of the older set /of Samuel NcClanahan's children/ now living, Mrs. Fennar Henry living in Jackson.
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