THE THOMPSONS OF TURNBULL CREEK

THOMPSON

Neil Thompson married Elizabeth "Betty" Gentry

ca1760 - 1814 ?????

William Thompson married Mary "Polly" Scott

1781 - 1872 1788 - 1870

Silas A. Thompson married Ann Gentry

1822 - 1900 1823 - 1906

Aris Bowden Luther married Eudora Thompson

1858-1926 1858-1935

Horace Norman Luther Sr. married Nellie B. Jordan

1889-1960 1890-1983

Horace Norman Luther, Jr. married Marjorie Elizabeth Neal

1913-1989 1916-1984

Joseph Neal Luther

1943-

Neil and Betty Thompson apparently settled at the confluence of Turnbull Creek with the Harpeth River near what is now Kingston Springs. Their property ownership extended up the Turnbull on the north side and included what was known as Hurricane Creek. Several old family letters give clues as to the possible location of the graves of Neil and Betty Thompson.

Laban Montgomery Stroud (born 1822), son of Thomas and Sara (Thompson) Stroud, visited Kingston Springs following the Civil War. He wrote, "I went down the Big Harpeth, a considerable stream, to the mouth of the Turnbull where the old Thompson family was raised; my mother Sallie was one of them. Here I found several of the younger generation still on the same lands. Among others, the most prominent was Wilson Thompson, 69 years ----Uncle Sam was then living----. Cousin Wilson T. took 2 horses and started up old Turnbull the roughest country I ever saw, to the old homestead. I saw the graves of my grandparents. They had two sets of monuments to their graves; one was of live red cedar, and the others were of stone. The cedar was standing the straightest. They took dinner with Jesse Beck whose mother is still living. We went to see her and she told us many things about the old settlers and could tell to a day when they left Virginia and settled where they are now 50 years ago."

A letter of E.D. Welch, dated 1 May 1972, to Mrs. Pyle, regarding "the Tompson place" sates, "I have an old deed to that farm dated in 1846[?] and a grant some years before that to some other people... The semitary that is shone on the map is on the old Young farm about 75 or 100 steps from the Tompson farm that I did own. There is 4 or 6 graves in the corner of this farm. I ofered to fience the graves off if Pearl Tompson would buy the wire but she never did and she is deseast now."

Apparently, this Thompson cemetery belonged to James Madison Thompson and his family. He was a son of Neil Thompson. This is about one mile west of Kingston Springs. Houston Thompson later owned this land, son of James Madison Thompson.

Neil Thompson died around 1814 in Davidson County , Tennessee . His will was dated in that county in May 1814 and was probated July 1814 and recorded 29 August 1814 . Elizabeth "Betty" (Gentry) Thompson must have died prior to 1814 as she is not mentioned in this will. [Will Book 4, page 296]

NEAL THOMPSON. His last will and testament. Recorded August 29th 1814 , Davidson County , State of Tennessee . May the 16th 1814 . In the name of God amen, I Neal Thompson being in a very weak and frail State of Body but perfectly sound in mind and memory, thanks be to God for the same, but calling to mind that it is appointed unto all men once to die. I have thought fit and proper to make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, To Wit, first of all I commit my body to the dust and my soul to God who gave it and as for such worldly goods as it has been please God to bless me with, all, I give and dispose of as follows. First of all paying all my just debyts, I give and bequeath my five last boys David, Sherrod, Lewis, Samuel and Jesse all to have a good horse to be worth fifty dollars, sadle and bridle, my will is that David Thompson shall have possession of my plantation Negroes stock and furniture to raise and school himself and the four boys with him above mentioned and collect my out lying debts and after complying with the above and Jesse my youngest child comes of age, for everything to be sold and equally divided with all my children and I do hereby appoint my Trusty son David Thompson my Executor of this my last will and Testiment and I do hereby revoke and disannul all other Wills Testiments Devises or bequeath heretofore made and devised or witnessed either verbally or in writing declaring this and this only to be my last will and Testiment. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my name in presents Test: William Anderson, John E. Clark, Daniel Sullivan.

Neil and Betty Thompson had eleven children, as noted in the wills of Neil Thompson and Simon Gentry, as well as family letters and records. The papers of Laban Montgomery Stroud name all eleven of these children.

1. William Thompson. Born 13 April 1781 . Married Mary Scott who was born on 16 January 1788 in Virginia . See Scott group. Ancestor - see later.

2. Allen Thompson, born November 1785 (tombstone record) in Cumberland County , Virginia . Married 23 March 1812 in Davidson County , Tennessee to Susannah Hannah Kellum (1785-1866), daughter of Joseph and Betsey Hannah and widow of William Kellum. Died 20 April 1852 in Cheatham County , Tennessee . Both are buried in the Thompson Cemetery along the Harpeth River near Pegram and Kingston Springs.

Susanna Hanna Kellum Thompson's sister, Ann Hanna, married Thomas Scott, brother of Mary Scott who married William Thompson, Allen Thompson's brother.

Allen Thompson and his descendants were among the dominant families of the lower Turnbull Creek valley. These descendants included the following.

Sherrod D. Thompson, John H. Thompson, Wilson Neal Thompson, Susan E. Thompson, Meredith Thompson, Benjamin P. Thompson, Mary Ann Catherine Thompson, Adeline T. Thompson, and Samuel A. Thompson. Born 1833.

3. Elizabeth "Betsey" Thompson, born circa 1787. Married first John Simmons on 20 January 1807 . He died in 1815 and she married second Dr. William Arant on 7 November 1816 . Note that William Thompson, her brother, and she, witnessed the inventory of John Simmons on 22 August 1815 in Davidson County . Her sister, Mary "Polly" Thompson married Charles Simmons in 1801. John Simmons was in the same 1812 Militia Company as Neil, Allen and William Thompson. The orphan's settlement record of 19 March 1822 for John Simmons notes that William Arant was appointed guardian to the orphans of John Simmons, deceased. There is a note, "...to cash received of Stephen Cantrell for pension from United States to the orphans of John Simmons, decsd ... $165.75." There is also a payment to William Thompson of $115.15. Of these children by John and Betsey Simmons, nothing else is known. William Arant was also in the War of 1812 and may have first married Jeanette Nicholas on 16 December 1814 . He died in Tazewell County , Illinois on 18 April 1837 . He is buried in Tremont Cemetery , Tazewell County , Illinois . Issue of William and Betsey Arant:

Harriet Arant, Jesse T. Arant, Samuel Weakley Arant, and Matilda Arant. (?) May have been child by William Arant's first marriage.

4. Sarah "Sally" Thompson. Born 21 September 1789 . Married Thomas Stroud, on 1 February 1812 in Davidson County . Died 20 February 1827 in Morgan, Logan County , Illinois . Thomas Stroud, born 27 August 1791 , was the third son of Jesse and Naomi (Hicks) Stroud. Jesse Stroud was the son of Peter Stroud and was born in Burke County, North Carolina. Other children of Jesse and Naomi Stroud were Eckels, Isaac, Jesse, Peter, Becky and William. Thomas Stroud moved from North Carolina to Tennessee in 1806, at age 15. He served in the War of 1812 under General Andrew Jackson.

Thomas and Sally (Thompson) Stroud moved to Illinois in 1830. Family history by Laban Montgomery Stroud says this couple came through with ox teams from Tennessee , stopping at the home of Moses K. Anderson. In August of 1830, Thomas and Sally Stroud moved to Tazewell County , now Logan County , Illinois where they settled 160 acres on "a vast sea of unbroken prairie land." Sallie Stroud was one of the charter members of the Old Morgan or Sugar Creek Christian Church in June 1838, having been baptized in Tennessee in what is now known as "Hard Shell" Baptist denomination.

Thomas Stroud died 7 March 1858 on his original land claim in Logan County , Illinois .

All but one of the children of Thomas and Sally Stroud were born in Tennessee . Laban M. Stroud says, "Thomas Stroud's children were born in sight of the Hermitage, General Jackson's home." But other records show that this Stroud family was in Dickson and Cheatham counties. Issue: Cassa Riller Stroud, Fanetta Ellen Stroud., Obedience Lee Stroud, Mourning Tilford Stroud, Laban Montgomery Stroud, Artimissa Stroud, and Milton Petiller Houston Stroud.

5. Mary "Polly" Thompson. Born 1791 in Cumberland County , Virginia . Married first on 6 April 1801 in Davidson County , Tennessee to Charles Simmons. Her sister, Betsey, married John Simmons.

6. David Gentry Thompson. Born 26 November 1794 in Cumberland County , Virginia . Married first Polly Anderson on 12 January 1827 in Davidson County . She died around 1828 and he married second Elizabeth Stafford Thompson McElwain on 15 April 1830 in Tennessee . She was the widow of his brother, Jesse Turnbull Thompson and also the widow of John McElwain. Moved to Logan County , Illinois around 1830. Elizabeth Thompson died 11 October 1876 . David Gentry Thompson gives us a clue as to his ancestry. David Gentry is probably his maternal great grandfather. David Gentry Thompson died 19 October 1851 in Logan County , Illinois . Issue: Elvinia Jane Thompson, Mary H. Thompson, Anne Thompson, Sarah Thompson, and Charlotte "Lottie" Imo Thompson.

7. Nancy "Nanny" Jane Thompson. Born circa 1795. Married first 21 December 1812 in Davidson County to John Stafford, Jr., brother of Catherine and Elizabeth Stafford who married Nanny's brothers. Married secondly on 25 May 1817 in Davidson County to Lawrence "Lorre" Byrn. Issue: Montgomery Thompson Byrn.

8. Sherrod Duke Thompson. Born 14 March 1797 in Cumberland County , Virginia . Married Catherine "Katie" O. Stafford (1799-1865), daughter of John Stafford and Elizabeth Quinn. Sherrod D. Thompson died 31 October 1833 in Logan County , Illinois . Buried in the Thompson Cemetery , Eminence Township . She married secondly Samuel Emmett. Note his brother, Allen Thompson, named a son Sherrod Duke Thompson. Issue: Melinda Crisenburo Thompson, Elizabeth "Betsey" Ann Thompson, Sinia Valentine Thompson, Priscilla Brewer Thompson, William Neal "Neal" Thompson, Marthy Susan Thompson, John Isum Thompson, and Ruth Thompson.

9. Lewis Dunbar Thompson. Born 19 January 1799 . Married circa 1824 to Anna Ragsdale (1806-1870). Died 22 December 1845 in Logan County , Illinois . Buried in Thompson Cemetery in Eminence Township . Issue:

Caroline Yates Thompson, William Ragsdale Thompson, Louisa "Liza" Ann Thompson, Nancy B. Thompson, Shared Dunbar Thompson, Samuel M. Thompson, Wesley Jesse Thompson, and Lewis Thomas "Tom" Thompson

10. Samuel McNairy Thompson. Born 12 February 1801 , "18 miles west of Nashville in Davidson County , Tennessee ." Moved to Springfield , Illinois in 1827. Returned to Tennessee and married first 17 February 1831 on Turnbull Creek in Davidson County to Cynthia McCrary who died in 1 November 1842 near Burlington , Iowa .

In Illinois , Samuel M. Thompson was a builder and carpenter. Samuel McNairy Thompson was elected Colonel of the 4th Regiment of the Illinois Volunteers in the Black Hawk War. Lt. Abraham Lincoln was in one of his companies. This is documented in Abraham Lincoln's Deposition made for additional bounty land dated 21 August 1855 in Sangammon County . In that deposition, Lincoln declares that, he “... was Captain of a company in the regiment of Illinois Mounted Volunteers, commanded by Col. Saml. M. Thompson, in the war with the British band of Sacs and other Tribes of Indians on our Northwestern Frontier in A.D. 1832 known as the Black Hawk War". See Basler, R.P. [ed.] The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume II. Page 319.

The muster roll of this company and other service may be found in Whitney, E.M. [ed.] The Blackhawk War 1831-1832. Volume I - Illinois Volunteers. Page 126, 129, 171, 176.

Members of the original Company of Captain Abraham Lincoln in 1832 included Lt. Samuel M. Thompson, as well as Ep Sullivan, Charles Sullivan, James Simmons who may have been relations.

Colonel Thompson also served in the Mexican War. After this, he moved to Mabaska County , Iowa where he resided for some twenty years. There he married second in 1855 to Nancy (Sullivan) Waldon of Davidson County, Tennessee. From Iowa , he moved to Jackson County, Missouri where he lived for two years. He then moved to Miami County , Kansas . In 1876, Samuel M. Thompson was living near Williamsburg , Osage County , Kansas . In 1885, he moved to Minneapolis , Kansas where he is probably buried. Information about this family is taken from old newspaper accounts and family records. Issue: Alethia Alice Thompson, Zane Emeline Thompson, Adeline Thompson, Lovinia Thompson, and Luther Flory Thompson.

11. Jesse Turnbull Thompson. Born 28 May 1803 . Married 13 December 1821 to Elizabeth Stafford, sister to Catherine Stafford who married Sherrod Thompson and daughter of John Stafford. Jesse Turnbull Thompson died 13 December 1821 . She married secondly John McElwain and thirdly David Gentry Thompson, brother of Jesse Turnbull Thompson. Elizabeth Stafford Thompson McElwain Thompson died 11 October 1876 in Logan County , Illinois and is buried in the Thompson Cemetery in Eminence Township . Issue: Loviey Greenville Thompson and Matilda Gentry Thompson.

William Thompson. Born 13 April 1781 in Cumberland County , Virginia . He married Mary Scott who was born on 16 January 1788 in Virginia . Mary Scott was the daughter of William Scott and Mary Pegram. The maiden name of Mary Scott is probable only, based on the marriage of a William Scott and Mary Pegram in Virginia and the near proximity of her closely related members of the Pegram family in Cheatham County and the proximity of the town of Pegram to Kingston Springs and the location of this Thompson family. See the Pegram group.

William Thompson apparently lived with his family at Kingston Springs and the Hurricane branch of Turnbull Creek. He appears in several legal transactions of the time. William Thompson fought in the War of 1812 and was in the militia company of Captain Moses and Trigg, along with his brother Allen Thompson and his father, Neil Thompson. His brother-in-law, John Simmons was also in this militia company. Some history of William Thompson's involvement in the Battle of New Orleans may be found in his grandson's civil war testimony found in Tennessee Civil War Veterans Questionnaires, page 2050 and the oral history testimony of this grandson.

Family history notes that William Thompson lived near the New Hope Church at Fairview in Williamson County . The graves of William and Mary (Scott) Thompson were found in the summer of 1990, approximately 3 miles southwest of New Hope ( Fairview ) on the Little Turnbull Creek on a plot of land which had been owned by his son, William Carroll Thompson. William Thompson died on 12 March 1872 and Mary "Polly" (Scott) Thompson died on 18 December 1870 .

The children of William and Mary (Scott) Thompson were given in a testimony by James Bollin Thompson in September 1935, three weeks before his death. This testimony was recorded by Marguerite Brown Adams, granddaughter, and witnessed by his daughter, Mattie Thompson Howell, who was Mrs. Adam's aunt. A notarized statement by Mrs. Howell, dated 9 November 1966 , records the information from James B. Thompson's statement.

1. James Madison Thompson. Born circa 1808 in Davidson County . married 27 October 1831 in Davidson County to Mary "Polly" Clark, daughter of Henry and Betsey Clark. He was a Justice of the Peace. Lived and died in Kingston Springs, Cheatham County . Buried on the old Thompson farm, one mile west of Kingston Springs. They had 10 children, as noted in Census records and the deposition of his son, James B. Thompson: Andrew J. Thompson, Joseph "Joe" B. Thompson, Francis "Fannie" Thompson, William Neil "Neil" Thompson, Mary E. Thompson, James Bollin (or Bouldin) Thompson, Arizona Thompson, Huston L. Thompson, Samuel K. Thompson, Nancy F. "Nannie" Thompson, and probably John Thompson.

James B. Thompson served in the Civil War in Baxter's Light Artillery Company. See Tennessee Civil War Veterans Questionnaires, page 2050. In September 1935, James B. Thompson provided an oral history testimony to his granddaughter, Marguerite Brown Adams. This testimony reveals much about the experiences of those from Tennessee in the Civil War and is provided here in appreciation of their service. The following is an extract from the notarized statement she gave regarding her grandfather's oral history testimony:

Grandfather told his mother he wanted to join the Army. But she asked him to wait until she got his blankets and clothes ready. She spun the yarn and wove him a blanket, and knitted him socks and a helmet. He went into detail about how she made the helmet to cover his head, neck and chest, only his face was exposed to the wind and cold weather. She got his clothes and everything ready a month before he left. When the day came for him to leave, his parents gave him "the best horse they had on the place" and helped him pack the horse with his "new army gear."

He left Kingston Springs and rode to the Turnbull Creek bridge in Dickson County where he joined the Confederate States Army in the fall before he was eighteen years of age in January 1, 1862. He said that over a hundred (100) boys and men joined at the same time. He said they left the Turnbull Bridge and went to Cainey Springs , Tennessee "for the Captain to look them over." He said the Yankees had Nashville and Franklin before he joined the Army, but they went through the woods by way of Franklin . He said he was riding his horse but most of the boys were walking. He said they appeared to be having so much fun walking together, laughing and talking, that he rode up to a farm house near Franklin and gave his horse away so he could walk along with them. His Captain was Ed Baxter and grandfather was in Baxter's 4-Gun Artillery. John Marshall from Franklin was the lst Lieutenant. They fought under General Williams and General Gracey.

When they left Cainey Springs , Tennessee they tamped to Cowan, Tennessee , and caught the train and rode a fast car to Chattanooga . He fought in the Battle of Missionary Ridge and the Battle of Chickamauga . He explained how he carried forty-two (42) shots to one gun on Missionary Ridge . The Yankees had them out-numbered but they hurried and ran up and down the Ridge with shots, and fired their gun so rapidly that they "fooled them" and they thought that we had many more guns and ran.

He left Chattanooga and went by train to Knoxville . They went from Knoxville to Cumberland Gap . He said they spiked their cannon in the mountain tops and the Rebels drove the Yankees off. At Bean Station, Tennessee , near Cumberland Gap , all of their company came down with typhoid fever. They would not give the boys a drop of water to drink and many were dying of thirst. One night the guard went to sleep and grandfather crawled around to the water tub and "drank all the water he could hold." He also crawled among the men and told them to get some water while the guard was sleeping. He said there were eighteen (18) of them in this group and that all who drank the water were better the next morning, and all who didn't died within a few days. Naturally he thought he was going to die, so after drinking the water he said he brushed his hair back and crossed his hands on his chest because he "wanted to make a nice looking corpse."

He stated they had few clothes and their shoes had worn out and they were a "sad looking bunch."

They started back to Chattanooga , but the Yankee had Chattanooga so they went to Atlanta ,

Georgia

. When they arrived there they built a pine log shanty. He said they roofed it with boards and that he made them as he was the best hand in the bunch at making boards because he knew how "to drive them the bastard way" (irregular). They stayed there for nine (9) or ten (10) months.

While in Atlanta , they had a feint - the Yankees came up on the South side against their breastworks, they poured on the lead and jumped over their breastworks - Baxter ordered them to take musket. Grandfather had one and they fought it out almost hand to hand and drove the Yankees off.

They were sent from Atlanta to Savannah ,

Georgia

and from there to Macon ,

Georgia

. While in Macon he said he saved three men's lives. The City was surrounded by Yankees. These three men were walking along going back to camp when a Yankee drew his gun on them and was ready to fire. Grandfather saw him and yelled "don't shoot - they are just going to camp" and the Yankee held his fire.

Their camp was on the Okmulgee River near Macon . Matt Combs found himself a girl friend in Macon and she gave him a Valentine and he gave it to grandfather. Grandfather described it at length - the size, the color was red, trimmed in white lacy trimming, with several small hearts, etc. - sounded very fancy. It was the first Valentine grandfather had ever seen, and he must have been greatly impressed. (Matt Combs was a buddy of his).

Grandfather said he was in the Confederate States Army for over three (3) years.

When the War ended they were mustered out in Macon on April 8, 1865. They did not have paper to write on, and the men did not receive normal discharges. They were so anxious to get home, and so happy to be on their way, they didn't give it a thought.

On the way home, the train wrecked between Macon and Athens and so they walked to Atlanta . The Yankees had burned Atlanta when they got back, and it was a pile of burned brick. They went from Atlanta to Chattanooga and returned to Nashville by way of Red Boiling Spring and Murfreesboro .

2. Lewis T. Thompson. Born circa 1810. Married 1 January 1851 in Dickson County to Cornellia Nesbitt. She may have been his third wife. Issue by this last marriage included: Robert L. Thompson, Nathan A. Thompson, and Martha A. Thompson.

3. William Carroll Thompson. Born 22 March 1816 . Married 28 January 1844 in Williamson County to Almira C. Buttrey, daughter of John and Molly Buttrey. William C. Thompson died 2 May 1893 . Almira died 12 March 1869 . Both are buried in the Thompson family cemetery on Little Turnbull Creek. They had seven known children: Ann Jane Thompson, Woodson M. Thompson, C.W. Thompson, N.E. Thompson, William J.W. Thompson, Julie A. Thompson, and Jefferson Davis Thompson.

4. David T. Thompson. Born 1819. Married 29 August 1844 in Williamson County to Susan E. Aden. Died prior to 1890 at Thompson's Station in Williamson County . They had six children: Cornelius Thompson, Martha M. Thompson, Tilmon T. Thompson, Alford A. Thompson, D.W. Thompson, and William B. Thompson.

5. Silas Agibb Thompson. Born 27 January 1822 . Married Ann Gentry, daughter of William Gentry and Lucy Carr, on 20 March 1844 in Dickson County . Ancestor - see later.

6. Preston V. Thompson. Probably the Preston Thompson who married 22 June 1838 in Maury County to Mary Rains. Preston V. Thompson is included in the estate sale of his grandmother, Mary Scott, on 17 December 1822 in Davidson County . A "Press" Thompson is noted as having died in Nashville on 15 April 1870 .

Silas Agibb Thompson was born 27 January 1822 , in Dickson County , Tennessee . Note one of his descendants has a middle name spelled the same. Married Ann Gentry, daughter of William Gentry and Lucy Carr, on 20 March 1844 in Dickson County . See the Carr group.

Silas Thompson ran a grist mill and water mill on Beaverdam Creek, near Burns. He is shown on the 1850 Census of Dickson County with his wife Ann and 3 children. On the 1860 census this family has 7 children. He is also shown on the 1870 Census for Dickson County on page 114, number 120. His wife, Ann, and 5 children are listed. He is noted as a farmer. This family appears in the 1880 Census of Dickson County at #290. Silas Thompson, along with his wife Ann and daughter Agnes, is shown on the 1900 Census of Dickson County, dwelling #113. His occupation is then listed as farmer. He is noted as being able to read and write.

He died on 3 October 1900 in Dickson County . Ann (Gentry) Thompson died on 7 September 1906 in Dickson County . Both are said to be buried in the Welch/Luther Cemetery southeast of Burns, although no such marker is found in that cemetery. Silas Thompson described as "a small man who always wore a stove pipe hat." He was a farmer, a miller and a cabinetmaker. He is reputed to have been a bushwhacker during the Civil War.

1. William Tazewell Thompson. Born 1845 in Dickson County . Married first on 2 September 1868 in Dickson County to Martha E. Yates. Married second to Mary Josephine Anderson. William Tazewell "Taz" Thompson died on 25 July 1925 and is buried in the Anderson family cemetery at Hurricane Mills in Humphreys County . This is now the site of the Loretta Lynn Dude Ranch. Cemetery is behind the Anderson House which is now the ranch headquarters.

2. Missouri E. "Zou" Thompson. Born 13 February 1848 in Dickson County . Married 13 February 1867 in Dickson County to Joab Levi Shelton. Died in 1925 in Cleburne , Johnson County , Texas . Issue: Suetta Dee Shelton, Silas Edward Shelton, Dorcus Eudora Shelton, Josephine Agnes "Aggie" Shelton, Wayne Brewer Shelton, Coleman J. Shelton, and Mary Adeline "Addie" Shelton.

3. Tennessee "Tennie" Thompson. Born August 1850. Married 9 October 1870 in Dickson County to Bartholomew "Batty" Richardson, son of Bartholomew "Battie" Knox Richardson and his wife, Susie Patterson. Buried on the old Bartholomew Richardson farm, four miles north of Burns. Issue: James Whitson Richardson, Cora Elizabeth Richardson, Anna Laura Richardson, Mary Etta Richardson, Bertie Ethel Richardson, Tillman Richardson, and Olivia Richardson.

4. Virginia Agnes "Aggie" Thompson. Born September 1852. Did not marry. Living with her parents in 1900 Census of Dickson County. Died 21 January 1928 . Buried in the Welch/Luther Cemetery in Burns, Tennessee .

5. Julia E. Thompson. Born 1855. Married 1 November 1876 in Humphreys County to Joel B. Potter. Went to Texas in 1893. Made a family history deposition in 1938 in Hillsboro , Texas . Had 8 children, names unknown. In 1938, she provided the following history to the Dickson County Herald newspaper:

I was born and reared in Dickson County , Tennessee and was eighty-three years old the tenth of last February, having been born in 1855.

My parents were Silas and Ann Gentry Thompson. They reared seven children, five girls and two boys. I am the only one living now.

My father ran a grist and sawmill by waterpower on Beaverdam Creek, near Burns, Tennessee . We lived there until 1874; my father sold out and we moved to Humphreys County where I met and married Joel Benjamin Potter on November 1, 1876 . ...

7. Mary Eudora "Dora" Thompson. Born 6 November 1858 . Married 12 January 1878 in Dickson County to Aris Bowden Luther (1858-1926), son of John and Laura ( Anderson ) Luther. Died 2 December 1935 in Burns. Buried in Williams Cemetery near White Bluff. Issue: William Herbert Luther, Silas Emory Luther, Lillie Luther, Lela Luther, Horace Norman Luther, Annie Laura Luther, and Lafayette "Fate" Luther. Ancestor - see the Luther group.

Garrett, Jill K. (1984) Dickson County Handbook. Easley , South Carolina : Southern Historical Press.

Goodspeed Publishing Company (1896) History of Tennessee - Montgomery , Robertson, Humphreys, Stewart, Dickson, Cheatham, and Houston Counties .

Davidson County , Tennessee ( 1822) January County Court Session. pp. 6, 14.

Kelley, Sarah Foster (1987) West Nashville ...Its People and Environs. Nashville .

Richardson, Robert S. - Richardsons of Dickson County , Tennessee . Nashville : The Parthenon Press.