Person Page 272

Biographical Information (Tracy DeVault research):

From The Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions of North Carolina

(Sixty-fifth Regiment, page 683):

The Assistant Surgeon was Dr. Leon F. Sensabaugh, a talented gentleman, who died soon after the war. His home was Franklin, Macon county, N.C.

From Haywood County Heritage North Carolina Vol. I, 1994 pg 78, 79

(From sketch #204 Sarah Starr and Samuel Fitzgerald......)

"In his "Recollections," the Rev. Oscar F. Sensabaugh, son of Leonidas Franklin Sensabaugh and his first wife, Mary Caroline Fitzgerald, recalled that as a child he often visited Grandfather Fitzgerald's home. The families were close. Mary Caroline (Fitsgerald) Sensabaugh died 7/30/1860 when he was one year, 20 days old. He and his father lived with Grandmother Sensabaugh (widow of the Rev. Joseph R. Sensabaugh) on her farm east of Waynesville.

His father met Susan Day Reeves in Jonesboro, TN, while serving in the Confederate army. They were married 10/10/1867 and had one child, Mary Leon. He came home sick, never really regained his health, but resumed his medical practice in Waynesville, then moved to Webster in Jackson County.

"Mother Sudie" visited her father in Jonesboro while he was building their house and drugstore in Webster. When he came for her and the baby, he became violently ill (Bright's Disease) and died 5/27/1869. Grandfather Fitzgerald took Oscar to his father's deathbed. L. F. was buried at Jonesboro (his first wife, Mary Caroline's grave is in Waynesville's Green Hill Cemetery.)

Oscar lived with Grandmother Sensabaugh until she died, then boarded with the family that took over her house. He was about 14 when he became a member of "Uncle Long's" family in the Long home and attended Richland Institute. Following in the footsteps of Grandfather Sensabaugh and Uncle (J. R.) Long, Oscar became a highly respected Methodist minister." submitted by Adam Henley, Macon, GA.

1910 Eastland County, Texas Census shows he's been married twice, currently married for 20 years.

NOTE: (Tracy DeVault research):

THE JOE SIMMS STORY (In 1966 the following article appeared in several papers)

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - Billings Gazette (Billings, Montana); Thursday, February 10, 1966; page 23; column 1; :

118 Years Old, Joe Simms Dies

BRISTOL Tenn. (AP) - Joe Simms, at 118, listed by the federal government as the second oldest man in the nation, was buried in his native Sullivan County Wednesday. Only a handful of persons were on hand to mourn him.

The white-haired Negro died at a nursing home here this week from complications resulting from a two-week bout with pneumonia.

According to Social Security administration records, Simms was the nation's second oldest centenarian. records show that Charlie Smith, age 124, of Polk County, Florida, has outlived Simms.

Simms, a former slave spent his entire life in Sullivan County and had worked as a janitor for a combined 60 years at Speed College at Johnson City and Sullins College in Bristol.

He still had the first dollar he ever earned.

Simms said he was born on April 19, 1847, while his parents were slaves on the farm of Isaac Devault here. He said his family (he had five brothers) was split up when he was about 10 because his mother was traded away by Devault.

Note: Although this is an interesting article, it appears to be a hoax. Joe Sims/Simms did live and work for the Isaac DeVault family for awhile. He is listed as living with the family in the 1880 Census. His age is given as nine years old. That would make him born about 1871, well after the end of the Civil War. He is not shown as one of Isaac's slaves in the 1860 Slave Schedule nor is he living with the Isaac DeVault family in the 1870 Census. The Social Security Death Index lists the birth date of the Joe Sims that died in February of 1966 as April 1, 1859. The Hannah family lived originally at Roanoke, Virginia, on a farm where the city is now located. They decided to sell out and move west. The story is told that they were traveling west in a big covered wagon when they came to DeVault's Ford in the late afternoon, where they decided to pitch camp for the night before crossing the river. My great-grandmother, Susan (Range) Davault, lived on high ground, back from the ford near where the large brick house now stands. My great-grandmother sent word down to the Hannah wagon for the mother and the two little girls to come up to the house and sleep that night. The next morning my great-grandmother was teasing the little Hannah girls that she would let them marry her two sons, Valentine, Jr. and Isaac. As it happened the Hannah family located in that neighborhood rather than going west. Afterwards the two sons married the two Hannah sisters. Great-grandmother Hannah was born 1808, died 1904 and is buried at DeVault's Ford graveyard, as were her two daughters, Edna and Mary Elizabeth, and another daughter, Nancy."

Story told by Harry Faw, Johnson City, Tennessee.

Obituary -- The Comet, September 22, 1891:

An Old Citizen Gone

Peter M. Reeves, father of Col. E. C. Reeves, of this city, died yesterday at 10 a. m., aged 84 years, 8 months and five days. Mr. Reeves has been in a critical state of health for a long time, and his death was not unexpected. The funeral services will occur at the old homestead, two and a half miles from this city, today at 10 o'clock.

The following information provided by Peter Miller Reeves' granddaughter, Myra Gaines Reeves Hardin (via Tracy DeVault):

Peter Miller Reeves was my paternal grandfather. There is not a great deal that I can tell about him that is not in "Ancestral Sketches", by LeRoy Reeves.

He married Matilda DeVault and they were the parents of two girls and four boys besides a baby that is mentioned in the book. I have heard that there were also two "blue babies" that died.

Grandfather was a strong man and I have heard the story often about the load of bricks he carried up the scaffolding, but like LeRoy, I forgot how many.

In many ways he was a good man, seeming to keep all the kin who did not have a home, until they died. I have heard that they used to bake 100 huge hand-made-out biscuits for breakfast, and that Grandfather would butter a plateful while they were hot and lay out four on Grandmother's plate. They had a slave boy, Joe, that they were very fond of, and Joe had a small table in the corner of the dining room, and whatever his masters had, he had too.

When Grandfather was a young man he and others of the kin went to a wedding at the old DeVault place down on the Watauga River. That was at the time of what is called the Cold Friday and Saturday. My father used to have the date on a piece of paper he kept in his old clock. They all had to spend two or three days at the DeVault place and it was so bitterly cold that they kept roaring fires day and night. No one could stay outside long, and a stout young man would wrap up and dash out to the wood pile and chop furiously for a few minutes, and as my father used to say, "break and run back to the house," to be replaced by another chopper. The next morning they had to break the ice from the horses' mouths before they could eat, where their breath had frozen.

But Grandfather had a seamy side, too. His disposition was stormy. I have heard my father laugh about how he used to dump anything on the floor that he found on a chair, including the women's bonnets. The Sabbath Day was strictly kept, and when my uncle's wife was first married, she opened the piano one Sunday to play and he told her that it was one of the rules of the house that the piano not be played on Sunday. Aunt Rhoda closed it and said that if such were the rules of his house she would abide by them, but that having her play and sing to him on Sunday was one of her father's greatest pleasures. Her father was Rev. Taylor, father of the two brothers who were governors of Tennessee.

Several of his children lived there for some time after they married. My father and mother lived there six years, then built a house just across the fields from him and moved to it. By then Grandfather was getting a little childish, and he was always very proud of their early garden -- so was my father proud of his. One Sunday Grandfather went out to spend the day at his son's and found my mother was cooking green beans for dinner. His garden had not yet produced any, so he decided it was wrong to cook beans on Sunday and went home in a huff, to their great amusement.

But he was highly respected by his children, as well as both feared and loved. And they copied him to a great extent. For one thing, none of his children would eat chocolate in any form. As a child I was not allowed to read a book on Sunday or to write letters. Nor could I play what we called the organette, a sort of hand organ that played a sheet almost exactly like that used in a player piano. I used to say that it did look to me like they should have copied his better traits.

Grandfather had a dream one night and in it he saw himself and all his daughters-in-law laid out for burial, in the order in which they died, and on each breast was a cross. He saw himself first, then Aunt Addie, Aunt Alice, my mother, and Aunt Rhoda last. They died in that order. The cross of flowers was on each breast -- some accidentally and some because they remembered and put them there -- all but Aunt Rhoda. They forgot hers, because the ones who knew about it were most of them dead or away.

In Grandfather's big old house was a room, still there, called the Haunted Room. Back when Grandfather entertained all the preachers who came his way, some of them begged not to be put in that room. I don't know what they heard, but I have heard my father tell that one night Aunt Addie -- Uncle Fred's* twin sister -- and a friend of hers, a Miss Carr, were sleeping up there. In the night he heard terrible screams and was sure they were being murdered and ran as fast as he could to the rescue. Both were hanging out of the window screaming for help. It seems a mysterious force insisted on pulling the covers from their bed -- which would make most people faint instead of scream. My brother and a cousin once spent the night in that room, after they were grown, and they lay awake all night listening to breathing in the other bed.    It was a huge upper room. I remember there was a tree near the north window and I used to watch the flying squirrels leap from roof to tree.

I slept in the room many times, but I never saw or heard anything unusual. The ghost never walked for me, and strange to say, I never gave it a thought. But now I often dream of that room and of being terribly afraid.

Grandfather and his brother, William, both had cataracts, but I don't think either went entirely blind. Grandfather died of old age that took the form of softening of the brain.

Uncle Fred's wife, Addie Boring, was Grandfather's favorite. He requested that she help lay him out.    This she did, although she was pregnant at the time.

(Peter Miller Reeves, son of Edward Prothero Reeves and Mary Miller, was born 16 Jan 1807 near Jonesboro, TN, and died 21 Sept 1891 near Jonesboro.)

Note: George Alexander Reeves was called Fred.

Notes for ELBERT CLAY "EB" REEVES (via Tracy DeVault):

LETTER - Elbert Clay Reeves to Eva Dawalt, dated January 26, 1923

"Dear Miss Dawalt:

"Yours of Dec. 29th to Mr. A. Beverly DeVault, of this city, has been turned over to me for answer.    I fear I cannot assist you much in tracing the "Dawalt" ancestry.

"About the last of the year 1700, or near the beginning of the year 1800, one Henry Devault of York County, Pennsylvania, came to this (Washington) county, Tennessee, and located four sons, Frederick and Valentine in this county and Henry and Gabriel in the adjoining county of Sullivan.

"Valentine had four sons: Isaac, John, Jacob (grandfather of A. B. DeVault) and Valentine. Also there were three girls; Elizabeth married Rev. James Miller; Mary married W. P. Reeves; and Matilda (my mother) marred P. M. Reeves in 1836. One daughter of Henry DeVault, Mary, who came from the said county of York, had married Martin Kitzmiller, who came from York County, or from Maryland, near Pennsylvania, and my memory fails me which.

"That you are "mixed up" with our Devaults here, I have no doubt. I have a theory and give it to you for what it is worth: Henry Devault of York County, Pennsylvania, was your great-great-grandfather. The trouble is with the name for I never heard of a "Dawalt" in my life until I read your letter.    There are Dewalds, full Germans, in North Carolina, and I went to the Public Library in Washington and sought to ascertain if Devault and Dewald came from the same name. The librarian said, "No, Dewald is German, and Devault is French, originally 'DeVaux'." Then I remembered that my Uncle Valentine had told me, "Our people came originally from France near the German line, in Alsace-Lorraine, half and half in blood, though they spoke the German language." When I returned home and reported the "DeVaux", then our Devault or Davault kin (for some wrote it one way and others the other way; even brothers differed in the writing of their names) fell on to DeVault, and took on the capital V.

"All in all, I take it that we are of kin.

Very sincerely,

Your supposed kinsman,

E. C. REEVES (Signed)"

EXCERPTS FROM LETTER --   Elbert Clay Reeves to Eva Dawalt, dated May 17, 1923:

"You are a kind, good cousin. Your letter of the 3rd with the history of the ancient Dawalts is indeed interesting. The facts stated, along with the facts in a former communication, show conclusively that your lineage, mine and a host of other descendants date back to Henrich Dewalt (Henry DeWalt, German; Henri DeVaux, French; Henry Dawalt, English - take your choice).

"The Sullivan County farms, given to Gabriel and Henry, I have seen, and while my mother often spoke of "Uncle Gabriel", and I knew some of his descendants here in Tennessee, I don't remember her referring to "Uncle Henry". He must have left these parts and gone west before her day, or when she was very young. [Note: Mrs. Reeves was born in 1812, Henry Dawalt built the third house in Salem, Indiana, in 1803.]

"My grandfather, Valentine, was the largest farmer in Washington County (Tennessee), the largest slave owner in the county, and keeping up the habit formed in Pennsylvania, owned a distillery. Some of his slaves, I suppose he brought with him from Pennsylvania, for one old Negro woman, said to have been kidnapped and brought from Africa, who was believed to have been over one hundred years of age when she died, use to speak to me, when I was a small boy, of things that happened in "York". I had no idea then where "York was. When old "Aunt Clara" became incapacitated, she just lived around among the "kin". She claimed the white folk as her "kin".

Your kinsman,

E. C. Reeves (Signed)"

Note (Tracy DeVault): Some of the facts in the above letters are not entirely accurate.  In particular, the embedded note that Eva Dawalt wrote about Henry Dawalt building the third house in Salem, Indiana in 1803 appears to be an error, at least to the date. I suspect Eva passed this misinformation on to Newland DeVault. Newland, in his report, also said that Henry Dawalt moved to Washington County, Indiana about 1803, however, information has come to light that shows that Henry and family did not move to Indiana until about 1811. It is now believed that from about 1803 until 1811 the family lived in Claiborne County, Tennessee. Henry's first five children always reported in census records that they were born in Tennessee. (The last of these five, Elizabeth, was born in 1809.) It was only the last two children that said they were born in Indiana.

Obituary – Johnson City Chronicle, Johnson City, Tennessee; Wednesday, 25 SEP 1929, page 4 (Newspapers.com):

ELBERT C. REEVES

Col. Elbert C. Reeves, 88, died at 4:35 o’clock Tuesday morning, in a hospital in East Radford, Virginia, following an illness of a few weeks.

With arrival of the remains in Johnson City on Southern train No. 25 Tuesday afternoon, it is announced that funeral services are to be conducted Thursday afternoon at three o’clock, from the Munsey Memorial church, and will be in charge of Dr. C. K. Wingo, pastor of that church, and Rev. E. E. Wiley, presiding elder of Morristown. Pending the funeral, the body will be in state at Appalachian Funeral Home, Road street, until noon Thursday.

Burial will be in Monte Vista Burial park.

Active pall bearers named are A. H. Abernathy, B. B. Snipes, Sam Bailey, J. A. Vines, Pal B. Carr and C. P. Faw.

Honorary pall bearers, who are trustees of Munsey Memorial church, recent associates of Col. Reeves in that body, are to be James A. Martin, H. H. Dyer, E. C. Lockett, S. S. Crumley, S. C. Williams, C. L. Marsh, George S. Hannah, J. C. Campbell.

Col. Reeves was one of those who should be termed foundation stones of the civic, religious and commercial development of Johnson City and the vicinity. Born near Johnson City on March 2, 1841, he spent his entire life here, and was actively connected with the public and social life of the city to a degree given to but few. His chosen profession as lawyer was carried on in a way which won an outstanding position in the bar. He was an active member and officer in the Methodist church during his long life.

He was a direct descendant of original setters of this section.

He was the first mayor of Johnson City, following its incorporation as a town, and more than once held that office. He also served as county court clerk, as representative to the state legislature, as magistrate, and later held other appointive and elective public offices.

He was a graduate of Emory and Henry college, and of the Lebanon Law school. His passing removes another of the dwindling ranks of Confederate veterans, he having served as an ofifcer in the Confederate Army during the Civil war.

He is survived by four children: Maj. Leroy Reeves, now in Honolulu, H. I.; Raymond F. Reeves, Montgomery, Ala.; Stanley Reeves, Richmond, Va., and Miss Willie Reeves, Atlanta, Ga.

Obituary -- from Willie Reeves (Hardin) Bivins' collection of East Tennessee Letters, via Tracy DeVault):

ELBERT CLAY "EB" REEVES

After lying in state at the Appalachian Funeral Home, until noon Thursday, the body of the late Elbert C. Reeves, was taken to Munsey Memorial church for funeral service at 3 o'clock. Burial followed in Oak Grove cemetery, with Masons in charge.

Before a filled auditorium, the pastor, Dr. C. K. Wingo, read a eulogy that was as eventful as it was interesting. Dr. John M. Crowe, Nashville, and former pastor of the Munsey Memorial church assisted Dr. Wingo.

The ceremony for the deceased was a simple one, yet impressive, the songs inspiring.    Many were the beautiful floral tributes. Numbers sang by the Munsey Memorial quartette were: "Jesus, Lover of My Soul," "My Faith Looks Up to Thee,"; "How Firm a Foundation," and as the bier was removed, soft strains of Mendelssohn's "Funeral March" came from the organ.

Col. Reeves' passing occurred at St. Albans hospital, East Radford, Virginia, September 24, following a lingering illness of several months. The body arrived in Johnson City on Southern train No. 25 Tuesday afternoon.

Pall bearers were: A. H. Abernathy, B. B. Snipes, Sam Bailey, J. A. Vines, Paul Carr and C. P. Faw.

Honorary pall bearers, recent associates of Reeves, and now trustees of Munsey Memorial church were: James A. Martin, H. H. Dyer, E. C. Lockett, S. S. Crumley, S. C. Williams, C. L. Marshall, George S. Hannah, J. C. Campbell.

The deceased was married to Alice Robeson September 23, 1875. Five children were born to this union. His wife, mother and one of the children preceding him to the grave.

Surviving Col. Reeves are three sons and one daughter. Major LeRoy, United States Army in Hawaii; Raymond P., Montgomery, Alabama, Stanley, of Richmond, Virginia, and Miss Willie R. of Johnson City.

A varied career, carrying the deceased through a long and useful pioneer and a devout Christian.

In a civic way the life of Col. Reeves was outstanding, he being the first mayor of this city, supreme court clerk, magistrate, editor, and secretary to Ex-President Andrew Johnson at Greeneville, Tenn.

Note: Elbert's father also died before him.

Obituary -- (unknown newspaper) Mrs. Alice Robeson Reeves, wife of Col. E. C. Reeves, of Johnson City, Tenn., who is one of the members of the Book Committee of our Church, died at her home there after a very brief illness on March 17. So sudden was the call that not one of her four children nor of her brothers and sisters reached her bedside in time for a parting word. Mrs. Reeves was a lifelong Methodist, the daughter of an itinerant Methodist preacher, and, like many another of that parentage, a woman of exceptional personal charm. For a quarter of a century she had lived in Johnson City, identified with its social and religious life and loved as widely as known. For more than thirty years she had taught in Sunday school, and for nearly that long had been connected with the Woman's Missionary Society, long as President of the Holston Conference Society. She leaves three sons and a daughter to mourn with their father her going away. She was fifty-seven years of age. "Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her."

RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT

By the Munsey Memorial Sabbath School to the Memory of Sister Reeves.

Whereas, On March 17, 1900, our friend and teacher, Alice Robeson Reeves, went to her Heavenly home to live forever with Jesus and the angels; and,

Whereas, She was a teacher in this Sabbath School for more than a quarter of a century; and,

Whereas, She was always faithful and true in the service of her Christ,

Therefore be it resolved by this Sabbath School, That in the death of Sister Reeves we have lost our best and most faithful teacher; that in the many years of her service as a teacher it was always her pleasure to teach the young under her care the beauties and attractiveness of the Christian religion. With watchful care and solicitude she instilled into their hearts and lives those eternal principles of truth and righteousness that make them worthy to live and ready to die.    She was a great woman, a great character and a true follower of Jesus Christ. In all these characteristics she stood out preeminently among her fellows. It was her's to speak the kindly words, to do the noble deeds, to elevate mankind. Her life was a benediction and the world was made better by her having lived in it, and Heaven has received one of its brightest jewels and there are many, many stars in her crown, and as the years go on her influence for the good will continue in this Sabbath School until we all have answered the last roll call, and then if we are faithful as she was we will meet with her around the throne of God.

Be it further resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the records of this Sabbath School and a copy be given to Col. E. C. Reeves, her bereaved husband, and that a copy be given the newspaper of the city for publication.

J. C. King,

S. B. White,

J. B. Cox,

Committee.

The Comet, Johnson City, Tennessee, April 8, 1909, Page 3:

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR MRS. REEVES

At the Munsey Memorial Church Sunday at 3:p.m. service was held in memory of the late Mrs. E. C. Reeves, who was known over East Tennessee. Mrs. E. E. Wiley, of Greeneville Orphanage, read memories of Mrs. Reeves. Mrs. W. H. Fulton told of her life as president of the Missionary society. Mrs. S. B. White spoke of her labors in the Juvenile societies. Mrs. S. C. Williams read resolutions offered by the Missionary societies of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Miss Isabel Wade read resolutions from the Juvenile societies. J. S. Anderson presented resolutions from the Young Men's Bible Class, which was taught by Mrs. Reeves. Four girls from Greeneville Orphanage sang a sweet song. Rev. S. B. Vaught spoke of her as a typical Christian.

(unknown newspaper), Knoxville, Tennessee; 27 SEP 1915:

Knoxville, Tennessee, September 27, 1915

Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Baker is entertaining as their week-end guests at their home, 1115 Gratz avenue, Mrs. Rhoda Reeves and daughter, Miss Love Reeves, of Johnson City. Mrs Reeves who is a sister of the late Senator Robert L. Taylor, has recently returned from Rochester, Minn., where she underwent an operation from which she is now recuperating.

OBITUARY - Kingsport News, Kingsport, Tennessee; Monday, 22 November 1943; page 1 column 5; (Ancestry.com):

Sister Of Two Taylor Brothers Dies In Virginia

Abingdon, Va. -- AP -- Mrs. Rhoda Taylor Reeves, 88, sister of the late Bob and Alf Taylor of Happy Valley, Tenn., famous brothers who each became governor of Tennessee and are especially noted in history for their "battle of roses" campaign, in which they toured the state together and spoke on the same platform as opposing candidates, died at 8:35 o'clock Sunday night at Abingdon Hospital. She had been ill since Thursday.

Mrs. Reeves, the last surviving member of the noted Taylor family is survived by four sons and three daughters, N. D. Reeves, Glendale Cal., E. C. Reeves, Prospect, Oregon, John D. and Paul Reeves, Johnson City, Tenn., Mrs. J. W. Sensabaugh, Knoxville, Tenn., Mrs. G. C. Simcox, Bulls Gap, Tenn., and Mrs. Roland Craig, Abingdon.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Funeral Notice -  Kingsport News, Kingsport, Tennessee; Tuesday, 23 NOV 1943; image 3 column 4; (Ancestry.com):

Ex-Governors' Sister Dies

Abingdon, Va., -- AP -- Funeral services for Mrs. Rhoda Taylor Reeves, 88, will be held at Abingdon Methodist church at 11 a.m. Tuesday to be followed by another service at Munsey Memorial church in Johnson City, Tenn., at 3 p.m. Interment will be in the family cemetery in the Knob Creek section near Johnson City.

She was a sister of former Governors, Bob and Alf Taylor of Tennessee. She died Sunday.

Obituary -- Kingsport News,Kingsport, Tennessee; Monday, 22 November 1943; page 1 column 5; (Ancestry.com):

Sister Of Two Taylor Brothers Dies In Virginia

Abingdon, Va. -- AP -- Mrs. Rhoda Taylor Reeves, 88, sister of the late Bob and Alf Taylor of Happy Valley, Tenn., famous brothers who each became governor of Tennessee and are especially noted in history for their "battle of roses" campaign, in which they toured the state together and spoke on the same platform as opposing candidates, died at 8:35 o'clock Sunday night at Abingdon Hospital. She had been ill since Thursday.

Mrs. Reeves, the last surviving member of the noted Taylor family is survived by four sons and three daughters, N. D. Reeves, Glendale Cal., E. C. Reeves, Prospect, Oregon, John D. and Paul Reeves, Johnson City, Tenn., Mrs. J. W. Sensabaugh, Knoxville, Tenn., Mrs. G. C. Simcox, Bulls Gap, Tenn., and Mrs. Roland Craig, Abingdon.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Kingsport News (Kingsport, Tennessee); Tuesday, 23 November 1943; image 3 column 4; (Ancestry.com:

Ex-Governors' Sister Dies

Abingdon, Va., -- AP -- Funeral services for Mrs. Rhoda Taylor Reeves, 88, will be held at Abingdon Methodist church at 11 a.m. Tuesday to be followed by another service at Munsey Memorial church in Johnson City, Tenn., at 3 p.m. Interment will be in the family cemetery in the Knob Creek section near Johnson City.

She was a sister of former Governors, Bob and Alf Taylor of Tennessee. She died Sunday.

Her daughter, Rhoda Beatrice (Reeves) Simcox wrote in the family Bible:

My Dear little momma died 8:35 eastern wartime

She died Nov 21 1943. Age 88 4 months 21 days. Young in spirit, enjoyed life, wanted to live for her children, interested in everything, Mind Bright, looked for the beautiful, never lost her pride, and was greenly. A wonderful friend so cheerful and gracious and a wonderful mother and pale to her children from childhood on down through the years. It seems it can't be true, just a horrible dream, we miss you momma. Our hearts are broken. Beatrice Reeves Simcox.

Obituary -- Johnson City Press-Chronicle, March 25, 1951

MEMBER OF PIONEER FAMILY, GEORGE V. DeVAULT, IS DEAD

George V. DeVault, third generation member of a Washington County pioneer family, and the first mayor of Umatilla, Fla., is dead.

The 89-year-old former bank president died Friday morning in the city he helped to build. He had suffered a heart attack in February and never completely recovered.

Funeral will be this afternoon in the Methodist Church of which he was a charter member. He will be buried in that city.

DeVault, who left here in 1883 for Florida, was the son of the late Valentine DeVault, II. It was his grandfather, Valentine DeVault I, who settled here with his brother, Henry (sic Frederick), in the early part of 1700 (sic 1800). They came here from Pennsylvania, and established residence on a 1400 acre tract of land granted them by the government (sic 635 acre tract purchased by their father) along Watauga River.

DeVault's two brothers, William Weldon and R. D., died a few years ago.

Members of the present generation are William Weldon, Jr., Robert Valentine DeVault, George Edward DeVault, Mrs. Elizabeth Burke, Weldon Walton DeVault, and Mrs. Shelia Qualls.

All the descndants but Robert DeVault and Mrs. Qualls live in this area. The man lives in Asheville, N.C., and Mrs. Qualls lives in Charlotte, N.C.

DeVault, who remained active until his heart attack February 1, at one time owned most of the land comprising Umatilla. He reportedly donated most of it to the city.

Biographical sketch (Tracy DeVault):

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - The Comet; Johnson City, Tennessee; September 21, 1893 (Website: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/)

Mr. and Mrs. Geo. V. DeVault have been spending a few days with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Valley DeVault. Mr. DeVault was married the 30th of August to a Miss Embry, a Kentucky belle. They took in the World's Fair on their bridal tour and stopped a few days on Watauga. They will return to their Florida home, where Mr. DeVault is engaged in the orange and vegetable business.

Note: The World's Columbian Exposition was held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the new world in 1492.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - The Comet; Johnson City, Tennessee; October 1, 1914; Image 1 (Website: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/)

JONESBORO

Mr. and Mrs. George DeVault of Umatilla, Fla., were the guests of Mrs. W. W. Devault this week. George Valentine DeVault and Barbara E. Higginbotham had children in No Children.1 George Valentine DeVault, son of Valentine and Edna (Hannah) DeVault was born on February 23, 1856 at DeVault's Ford in Washington County, Tennessee. His father was a very successful farmer in that community.

George followed in his father's footsteps as he can be found on the 1900, 1910, and 1930 Umatilla, Lake County, Florida Census Record where his occupation is listed as a orange grove farmer. The town of Umatilla came into being when the St. Johns and Lake Eustis Railroad was constructed in 1881. George arrived in the town about 1883. Among the first businesses in Umatilla was a citrus packing house (perhaps this is the Umatilla Fruit Company?). After the Big Freeze in the mid-1890s, the town diversified. Vegetables were grown and shipped to northern markets and cattle ranches and turpentine extraction helped the changeover. During the beginning of 1900s peaches and oranges were grown. It is not known what attracted George to this community or to the fruit trade business, however, in 1908, George DeVault, along with Mr. Charles Turner and Mr. H. A. Wilson, established the Umatilla Fruit Company which came to be one of the largest organizations of its kind in the state.

George Valentine DeVault married Margaret "Maggie" Embry on August 30, 1893 in Kentucky. She was born about 1874 in Jessamine County, Kentucky. It is not believed that they had any offspring. She can be found on the 1900 and 1910 Umatilla Census Records along with George. No others are listed in the household. Florida death records, ancestry.com, list Margaret's death in 1920.

George married a second time, before 1930, to Barbara H. Higginbotham. They can be found in the 1930 Umatilla, Lake County, Florida Census records as well as one other ancestry tree. In fact, Barbara Higginbotham was the widow of William Valentine DeVault, George's cousin, from Washington County, Tennessee. Again, no others reside in their household but records indicate that Barbara had three children from her previous marriage. Barbara Higginbotham died on July 19, 1932 in Florida.

George married a third time, in February 1935, Mildred Crim (Tainter) Moore. She was born is 1897 and was thirty-five years younger than George.

At one time George Valentine DeVault owned most of the land comprising the city of Umatilla. His obituary indicated that he served as bank president in that community. He also served as

the first mayor of Umatilla. He died on March 23, 1951 in Umatilla, Lake County, Florida and it is reported that he left most of his property to the city. There is a street and several subdivisions named for him.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - Tampa Sunday Tribune; Sunday, June 26, 1927; Part 1, Page 7 (Ancestry.com)

NEW CHURCH BODY TO FIGHT ATHEISM

Methodists Organize To Keep "Faith of Fathers'

JACKSONVILLE, June 25, -- (A.P.) -- "The Faith of Our Fathers" must be kept, so resolved a group of ministers and laymen attending the recent Florida annual conference, Methodist Episcopal church, south, here in forming the Florida division of "The League for Faith and Life."

Declaring itself to be "girded" for combat against "all teachings of infidelity and atheism, especially as it may be found within the borders of our own church," the league resolved itself to "particularly combat any form of the doctrine of evolution which implies the theory of transmutation of species and which denies the Bible doctrine of God's immediate creation of all forms of life."

While not an officil orgainzation of the conference, some 50 of the clerical and lay delegates became charter members of the "league."

The officers of the organization, which is to meet at every conference session and "in mid-year at the time and place designated by the president" are: president, Rev. R. F. Hodnett, DeLand; vice president, Rev. G. S. Roberts, Jacksonville; connectiional secretary, Rev. E. H. Crowson, Silver Palm; secretary, Rev. L. B. Overstreet, Tampa, and treasurer, George V. DeVault, Umatilla banker.

Obituary -- Johnson City Press; Johnson City, Tennessee; Tuesday, March 4, 1947; Page 10 (Newspapers.com):

Robert D. DeVault, Active In Early Businesses, Dies

Robert Drew DeVault active in some of the earlier business enterprises of Johnson City died Sunday night at his home, 507 East Unaka avenue after a lingering illness.

In recent years Mr. DeVault, son of the late Valentine DeVault and Edna Hannah DeVault, was a distributing agent for the J. R. Watkins Company. His earlier associations included a partnership with George Hannah in the firm of Hannah and DeVault and with C. P. Faw in the firm of Faw and DeVault.

He was born and reared in the old brick house at DeVault’s Ford on Watauga river, a land mark, being one of the first brick homes built in this section. Mr. DeVault’s grandfather came from Yorktown, Pa., and was the son of Henry DeVault, a Revolutionary soldier, who was a native of France.

Mr. DeVault was a steward in Munsey Memorial Methodist Church for 20 years. He was educated at Buffalo Institute (now Milligan College) and studied under the late Professor Josephus Hopwood. Later he attended University of Tennessee, then a military school.

Survivors are his wife, Cathryn F. DeVault and three children: Mrs. A. G. Qualls of Johnson City, W. W. DeVault of Johnson City, and Mrs. James R. Kroff of Nashville.

Funeral will be held Tuesday at 3 p. m. at Munsey Memorial Church with the Rev. Paul Worley the pastor in charge. Dr. William R. Rigell, pastor of Central Baptist Church and the Rev. S. P. DeVault will assist.

Pallbearers: Harry Faw, William DeVault, Beverly DeVault of Elizabethton, Joe McCormick, W. T. Martin and Frank Dial.

Obituary -- (unknown newspaper); Tennessee; October 1979;

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tnwcobit/devaultadelaidegresham.jpg

Mrs. DeVault Dies At 100

Mrs. Adelaide Gresham DeVault, 100, Rt. 4, died Sunday morning at her residence.

Mrs. DeVault was a daughter of the late William M. and Mary Kennedy Gresham, who were pioneer Washington County residents. She was the widow of William Weldon DeVault who died in 1910. Mrs. DeVault had attended Holbrook College in Knoxville and in earlier years had taught music at Piney Flats and Boones Creek. She was a member of Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, a charter member of the Garden Lovers Club and a former member of the John Sevier Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.

Mrs. DeVault was preceded in death by a son, Robert V. DeVault, who died in 1969.

Survivors include two sons, William W. DeVault Jr., Johnson City, and George E. DeVault, Bristol; one daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Poteat of the home; three grandchildren, one step-grandson, several nieces and nephews.

Morris-Baker is in charge

FUNERAL NOTICE

Mrs. Adelaide Gresham DeVault

Graveside services for Mrs. Adelaide Gresham DeVault, age 100, Rt., 4 Johnson City who died early Sunday morning at her residence will be conducted 11 a.m. Tuesday from the Monte Vista Burial Park with Rev. Richard Looney and Dr. Paul Brown officiating. Burial will follow in the cemetery. Active pallbearers, who are asked to meet at the grave site at 10:45 a.m. will be: Heyward Sell, Willard Lawson, At Marshall, Jeff Cassens, Arthur Gray, Val DeVault. Honorary pallbearers will be: Harry Ford, Giles Crowder, Ferrell Torbett, Joe McCormick, and Larry Seaman. For those who wish, Memorials may be made to the Library Fund of the Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday. Arrangements by Morris-Baker Funeral Home, 2001 Oakland Ave.

OBITUARY:

Mrs. Virginia Smith Loyd died at her late residence near New Florence on the 7th day of October, 1895, at the age of 79 years, 2 months and 11 days.

She was born in Fleming County, Ky., July 26, 1816, and was the daughter of Elijah and Polly Maughs, who in the year 1821 moved west and settled in St. Louis County, where they lived until 1832 when they came to this county.

Mrs. Loyd was the only living sister of G. B. M. Maughs whose prominence as a state senator about the beginning of the war and as mayor of Kansas City, as well as his high standing in medical circles, makes him a distinguished figure in the history of the state. At her death she left but one child, Mrs. Mary M. Powell, wife of one of Montgomery's oldest and best known citizens, Col. Thomas J. Powell of New Florence.

Mrs. Loyd was twice married. The husband of her girlhood choice was Henry Davault, Esq., to whom she was married in 1834; Mrs. Powell was born of this union. On the 5th of April, 1849, Mr. Davault, a member of the distinguished family of that name still so well and favorably known in north Missouri, died, and left his widow living on the same farm on which she so recently died.

In 1851 she again married, this time giving her hand to Mr. Willis Loyd, who died in 1880, leaving no living children; and thus she again was left a widow in the same old home where she continued to reside until her death, cared for and protected by her grandson, Wm. L. Powell, who lived with her during her old age and, with the assistance of her daughter Mary and her son-in-law, Thos. J. Powell, made her last years comfortable, peaceful and happy.

At her bedside during the last days and last hours of her life were her daughter and Col. Powell, and her brother, Dr. Maughs and thus surrounded she passed serenely away, without pain or struggle, a landmark of the olden times and a type of character that the early days of this western country have made historic and marvelously grand. She was the last of the associates of her young days, for her almost four score years had witnessed the passing away of all with whom her girlhood formed friendly ties. And yet she died "a mother in Israel," who had blessed the world with her own life and left, to weep over her grave and hold sacred her memory, thirteen living grand children -- all the children of her daughter, Mary M. Powell -- and twenty-six living great grand children.

Mrs. Loyd was a woman on unusual strength of mind and character and while kind and affectionate she was a fine example of the woman of decision and firmness of purpose. A half century before her death she joined the Methodist church and during all those years she lived a consistent, christian life -- a splendid type of true christian womanhood -- and passed to the land "beyond the river" without a fear, leaving brother, daughter, grand children and great grand children full of sorrow, but hoping for an eternal reunion.

May God in his great love and mercy be with them all and may his kindest, tenderest care gather around the aged brother who stands now alone of his family, watching and waiting for his call to rejoin them beyond the grave.