Esther Marie Davis

Esther Marie Davis, daughter of John Grant Davis and Jennie F. Church, was born on August 13, 1913, likely in Clarksburg, Harrison County, West Virginia. John and Jennie had four children: Chester Leo Davis, Lavester Otto “Vester” or “Speck” Davis, Esther Marie Davis, and an unnamed daughter.

Esther is my husband’s 1st cousin 1x removed. Their nearest common ancestors are Robert Church and Lucinda Murphy—Esther’s grandparents and my husband’s great-grandparents.

In 1911, the Davis family lived in Clarksburg, where Lavester was born. By August 2, 1915, they had moved to Smithfield in Wetzel County, where five-year-old Chester died of diphtheria. A daughter was born in Smithfield on August 18, 1917. The Wetzel County General Index and Register of Births lists a female child born alive to John G. and Jennie Davis, identified only by the surname “Davis.” She apparently did not survive.

By September 1918, the family was living in Littleton, Wetzel County, when John registered for the World War I draft. He worked as a driller for the South Penn Oil Company in Mannington, Marion County. He was described as medium height and slender, with grey eyes and brown hair.

In November 1919, John had Jennie institutionalized at Weston State Hospital in Weston, Lewis County, West Virginia, for reasons unknown to the family. She remained there for the rest of her life, leaving Esther without her mother’s care. By December, John and the children had relocated to Hood County, Texas, where he enlisted Sarah Isabelle “Belle” (Black) Mitchell to raise Esther and Lavester. Initially, I was unsure of Belle’s connection to the family, but I have since confirmed she was the wife of Charles Marion Mitchell. More on her family ties will follow.

On January 14, 1920, Esther and Lavester were living with Belle in Justice Precinct 6 of Hood County. Both were listed as adopted daughters (an error in Lavester’s case), recorded as “Vesta” (8) and “Esta” (6). Belle, age 63, owned her home and worked as a washwoman. She was literate and shared the household with Uria C. Hidd (or Kidd), his wife Anna E., stepson William M. Davis, and mother-in-law Ellen Johnson.

At some point, John moved to Ranger in Eastland County. The Granbury News reported in July 1928 that Esther and “Vester” were visited by their father. Granbury is about 90 miles from Ranger.

In February 1930, Esther and Belle traveled to Dallas to visit relatives. By April 10, 1930, Esther and Lavester were still living with Belle (enumerated as Sara Mitchell), now a 74-year-old widow, in Hood County. The census listed Esther as 16 and Lavester as 17. Esther was not attending school and was unable to read or write; Lavester was in school and literate. No one in the household was employed. Belle’s home appeared on the census sheet just after the household of William “Will” N. Mitchell, Belle’s son, whose family included Thail Mitchell—later Lavester’s wife. Thail essentially grew up alongside Esther and Lavester.

Esther was 17 or 18 when she was institutionalized at Abilene State Hospital in Taylor County, Texas, a facility originally founded to treat epileptic patients. The Abilene State Hospital was later renamed the Abilene State School. According to the Granbury News on April 17, 1930, “Vester and Ester left Thursday to go to Abilene where they will be near their father.” While her exact admission date is unknown, it likely occurred shortly after their arrival. The hospital, later renamed Abilene State School, operated as an epileptic colony until the late 1940s.

In October 1930, John and Lavester returned to Granbury to visit Belle, who then accompanied them to Abilene to see Esther. Ranger is about 55 miles east of Abilene and 90 miles west of Granbury.

With Esther institutionalized and Lavester now an adult, Belle moved in with her son Will in Thorp Spring in July 1935. She died there on April 5, 1936.

The 1940 census showed Esther, age 27, still a patient at Abilene State Hospital. A sidebar noted that the 40 women listed were all inmates of the hospital for epileptics. Esther had never attended school and had worked three hours the previous week.

On October 23, 1944, Lavester married Era “Thail” (Mitchell) Long in Fort Worth, Johnson County. Their father John lived with them for much of their second year of marriage before eventually relocating to California.

Esther remained a patient at the hospital as of April 22, 1950. She was 37 and had never married. In 1957, the facility was renamed Abilene State School and transitioned into a residential center for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Jennie (Church) Davis, Esther’s mother, died from a cerebral hemorrhage and arteriosclerosis at Weston State Hospital on February 26, 1963, following more than four decades of institutionalization. It is likely that Esther never saw her mother again after Jennie’s commitment in 1919—a separation that spanned nearly Esther’s entire life. Jennie was laid to rest at Thomas Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Littleton, West Virginia.

Around 1965, Thail was notified that Esther was her responsibility, as she was her only living relative. In a 1966 letter to Esther’s uncle Ralph Murphy, Thail explained that John had informed the hospital before becoming too ill to continue caring for Esther. He believed Thail would love Esther enough to ensure her well-being—a commitment she and her father had upheld for most of Esther’s life. Thail wrote that her father treated Esther as one of his own children.

Esther became seriously ill in March 1969 and was visited by her sister-in-law Thail in Abilene. 

She passed away on October 7, 1973, at the Abilene State School, where she had lived for 43 years. Her death was attributed to bronchopneumonia caused by aspiration of vomit, a complication of a congenital brain disorder—the exact nature of which was never identified. Before entering the institution, Esther had lived in Granbury, Hood County. She was buried on October 9 in Colony Cemetery on the school grounds, following a service led by Rev. Don Cauble, the school chaplain. Esther was survived by her brother Lavester and several nieces and nephews. She was 60 years old and had never married. Her mother’s name was listed as “Unknown” on her death certificate. Like her mother Jennie, who spent over four decades at Weston State Hospital, Esther lived most of her life within the walls of an institution.

Photo by HuntCoTx, Find A Grave member 46918649

Esther’s life was shaped by early separation from her mother, years of institutional care, and the absence of meaningful support from her father. She spent more than four decades at the Abilene State School, largely isolated from her family. Her passing in 1973 marked the close of a long and often solitary journey—one that unfolded quietly, far from the attention of those who might have offered comfort. Though much of her life was lived in silence, Esther’s story deserves to be remembered.

References

• Abilene State School: History and Services for the Intellectually Disabled, Texas State Historical Association, Handbook of Texas Online; https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/abilene-state-school. 
• Abilene State School; https://www.asylumprojects.org/index.php/Abilene_State_School. 
• Chester Leo Davis, General Index and Register of Deaths—Wetzel County, West Virginia.
• Esther M. Davis Services Tuesday, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas, October 8, 1973.
• Esther Marie Davis, State of Texas, Certificate of Death 80995, Taylor County, 1973.
• Jennie F. Davis, Register of Deaths—Lewis County, W. Va., 1963.
• John Grant Davis, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007.
• John Grant Davis, United States, Military Records 1917–1918, FamilySearch.
• Lavester Otto Davis, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• Letter from Era Thail (Mitchell) Long Davis to Ralph Junior Murphy, October 26, 1966.
• Obituaries, L. O. "Speck" Davis, Hood County News, Granbury, Texas, November 25, 1984.
• Personal memories of Murphy family members.
• September 4, 1944 letter to L. S. Hall of New Martinsville, West Virginia from Thail Long of Thorp Springs, Texas. 
• Thorp Spring News, Hood County News-Tablet, Granbury, Texas, March 6, 1969, July 20, 1928, and April 10, 1930.
• Thorp Spring, The Granbury News, Granbury, Hood County, Texas, February 21, 1930, April 17, 1930, October 30, 1930, and July 19, 1935.
• U.S. Federal Census, Abilene State Hospital, Abilene, Taylor County, Texas, 1940, 1950.
• U.S. Federal Census, Justice Precinct 6, Hood County, Texas, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, Precinct 6, Hood County, Texas, 1930. 

Thomas Harris bequeaths Quawguar, Ephraim, Suke, and Jenny

This post is part of an ongoing project to record names of enslaved people of Greene County, Georgia I find in historical records. 

Last Will and Testament of Thomas Harris

In the name of God Amen, I, Thomas Harris of the County of Greene and State of Georgia, being sick in body but of perfect mind and memory do constitute and order this my last will and testament.

And first of all, I commend my soul to God who gave it, and my body to the dust to be buried in a decent Christian manner of the discretion of my friends. And as lacking such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to give me, I bequeath in the following manner is to say …..

I bequeath in the following manner that is to say to my beloved wife Jeney Harris, I give and bequeath one negro man named Quawguar together with all the property which I have received as dower with her and all that may be coming to her as her share of her father’s estate.

To my beloved son John W. Harris, I give and bequeath one negro man named Ephraim.

To the child with which my wife is now pregnant, I give and bequeath one negro woman named Suke and one negro girl named Jenny, the remainder of my property including all that is or may become due me from my father’s estate to be equally divided between my two children after all my just debts are paid. Lastly, I ordain and appoint James Harris and John Bethune executors of this my last will and testament.

Tho. Harris
Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presents of this 5th day of November 1807.
Test.
Price Bird, John McGuire

Note: Quawguar is a best guess of the transcription.

Reference

Thomas Harris, Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742–1992. 

Reuben McDaniel Tuck

In the spirit of Halloween, I searched for a family member born on October 31. What I found was a remarkable man who led a full and distinguished life—highly educated, a veteran of World War I, and a pillar of his community.

Reuben McDaniel Tuck, son of James William Tuck Jr. and Ida Cynthia Watson, was born on Halloween in 1887 on his father’s plantation in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia. James and Ida were among the early settlers of Walton County, and Reuben was the eldest of 10 children: Reuben McDaniel Tuck, Troy Chester Tuck, Benjamin Luther Tuck, Clara “Alice” Tuck, Eula Mae Tuck, Mary Lou Tuck, James “Jim” Robert Tuck, John Almand Tuck, Maggie Ruth Tuck, and an unknown child.

Reuben is my 2nd cousin 2x removed. Our nearest common ancestors are Claiborne Tuck and Frances Moore, married in 1827—his great-grandparents and my third great-grandparents.

Although I have not been able to locate the Tuck family in the 1900 U.S. Census, records show that by April 23, 1910, they were residing in the Buncombe District of Walton County, Georgia. James and Ida had been married for 23 years, and Ida had given birth to 10 children, 9 of whom were still living. James owned and operated a general farm. Troy, age 21, worked as a farmer, and Benjamin, age 20, was a laborer on the home farm. Reuben’s widowed grandmother, Lavina Watson, also lived with the family. She had given birth to eight children, five of whom were still living, and her father had been born at sea. Everyone in the household except James, John, and Maggie could read and write. Reuben, age 22, was a full-time college student. Troy, Clara, Mary, and James were attending school, while Benjamin and Eula were not.

Reuben’s early education took place in Monroe, but his academic ambitions led him to the University of Georgia in Athens, Clarke County. There, he joined the Demosthenian Literary Society, a student organization devoted to public speaking and debate. He also played on the university’s football team, though it was later said he did so “more from a sense of duty, perhaps, than desire.” At the time, he was living in Loganville, Walton County. He graduated in 1912 with a Bachelor of Laws degree.

Reuben “Reub” McDaniel Tuck (1912)

After graduation, Reuben briefly practiced law in Winder, Georgia, before moving to Washington, D.C., where he served as secretary to Congressman Samuel J. Tribble from January 1, 1913, to September 14, 1914. Tribble, a fellow Demosthenian and University of Georgia alumnus, had earned his law degree in 1891 and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1910. Their shared academic and rhetorical background likely fostered a natural mentorship between the two men.

Upon completing his work in Washington, Reuben returned to Monroe and joined the law firm Dean & Tuck in 1916, working as the junior partner alongside the Hon. William O. Dean. Their office was located in the Star Building in Monroe.

On June 5, 1917, Reuben registered for the World War I draft in Walton County. He was a single attorney of medium build and height, with blue eyes and dark sandy hair. He listed prior military experience as a private and musician during his three years at the University of Georgia.

 

World War I draft registration card

Reuben was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army after being accepted into the second officers’ training camp at Fort Oglethorpe, which began on August 27, 1917. He was officially called to active duty on November 27 and assigned to the Supply Company of the 52nd Infantry Regiment, part of the 6th Infantry Division. At the time, newly commissioned officers like Reuben were often referred to in newspapers as “embryo officers”—a term that captured their recent transition from trainees to active-duty leaders. A December 1917 report noted his assignment to Chickamauga Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he served alongside other young officers from Georgia and South Carolina. On July 6, 1918, Reuben boarded the White Star Liner SS Belgic at the Port of New York with 43 fellow officers bound for Europe. After arriving in Liverpool on July 17, the group traveled by train to Winchester, a known staging area for American forces. Reuben was listed as a Second Lieutenant IRC—likely indicating an Infantry Replacement Center—and named his father as his emergency contact.

Reuben on the S.S. Belgic passenger list (July 1918)

Reuben’s military service took him to several key locations, including Chickamauga Park and Camp Gordon in Georgia, Camp Upton in New York, and staging areas in Hoboken and Camp Merritt, New Jersey. From July 6, 1918, to June 5, 1919, he served overseas in France and Germany. He returned to the United States aboard the USS Leviathan, arriving in Hoboken, New Jersey, on June 12. Reuben was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on July 8, 1919.

Reuben’s World War I service card

Shortly thereafter, Reuben entered into a law partnership with Colonel James R. Rogers, forming the firm Rogers & Tuck. Their office, located in the Covington courthouse, placed them at the center of the local legal community. Reuben was in distinguished company—Col. Rogers was widely respected for his sharp intellect, disciplined work ethic, and professional success. As a practicing attorney, Reuben frequently appeared in local newspaper announcements related to his legal career.

The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, April 7, 1921

The 1920 census was unreadable in available records. However, a transcription on Ancestry.com suggests that Reuben, listed as “Rublin Luck,” was living in Covington, Newton County, Georgia, as a boarder in the home of W. W. Childs. Despite the transcription error, the details align closely with his known whereabouts and age at the time.

The engagement of Reuben to Louise Littleton Gheesling of Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia was announced by her mother in The Atlanta Constitution on August 15, 1920. Louise was the daughter of Joshua Hillman Gheesling and Emma D. Goodwin. Their wedding took place on October 21 in Greene County, officiated by Charles C. Davison—a minister who was married to Louise’s sister, Elizabeth May Gheesling.

Marriage license

Reuben and Louise had two children: Goodwin “Tuck” Gheesling Tuck, born in 1923, and Reuben McDaniel Tuck Jr., born in 1930. Goodwin was born in Greensboro, Greene County, and his middle name honored both his maternal grandmother’s maiden name and his uncle, Goodwin H. Gheesling. Sometime after Goodwin’s birth, the family relocated to Covington in Newton County, Georgia, where Reuben Jr. was born. Covington, located just under 50 miles from Greensboro, became the family’s long-term home. The Tuck boys attended school in Covington and joined the Covington First Baptist Church.

In early November 1922, Reuben attended a Masonic Convention in Macon, Georgia. That same month, his law partner, Colonel James R. Rogers, passed away at his Floyd Street home. Reuben assumed full responsibility for the firm Rogers & Tuck.

Reuben was an active member of the Newton County Democratic Executive Committee, serving as chairman from June 1924 until at least January 1940. In June 1925, Covington hosted what was described as its biggest and best Chautauqua yet—an educational and cultural event featuring lectures, music, drama, and civic programming. Reuben was among the prominent citizens who pledged financial support to bring the program to town.

On December 16, 1926, Reuben spoke on the future of the Golden Fleece Lodge during the Masonic Lodge’s Centennial Celebration in Covington. He served as secretary of Golden Fleece Lodge No. 6, a position he held until at least July 1958.

In August 1927, Reuben, Louise, and their son visited his mother, Ida, who was gravely ill. She passed away at age 60 on December 13 at a private sanitarium in Atlanta and was laid to rest at Bay Creek Cemetery in Loganville two days later.

In October 1928, the Tuck home on Floyd Street hosted a lively gathering in honor of Louise’s sister, Samuella Gheesling McGibony of Greensboro. The Night Bridge Club and other guests enjoyed an evening of cards and camaraderie, with the home adorned in vibrant garden flowers and refreshments served after play.

By April 20, 1930, Reuben, Louise, and their son Goodwin were still living on Floyd Street. Reuben owned the home, valued at $10,000, and continued practicing general law. Goodwin, age 6, was attending school.

In January 1931, Reuben was elected to replace Senator R. P. Lester on the Covington Board of Education. By September 1932, he was practicing law independently out of the N. S. Turner Memorial Building.

The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, September 2, 1932

In January 1933, Reuben attended a possum dinner hosted by Dr. S. L. Waites. Out of respect for two preacher friends, the host served sparkling ginger ale instead of the customary highball. Guests exchanged jokes and stories of days gone by.

Reuben was a charter member of Covington’s Civitan Club, organized in September 1933. The club focused on community service and civic improvement, especially in response to the Great Depression. Dr. Waites was elected president.

On January 30, 1935, Reuben joined a group of citizens from Covington and Newton County in signing a telegram to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in honor of his birthday. The initiative raised funds for the Warm Springs Foundation, which supported the fight against infantile paralysis—a cause closely associated with the President. The telegram read:

Jan. 30, 1935

The President

Whitehouse, Washington, D.C.

Happy birthday, Mr. President, I am proud to participate in the sending of this personal greeting to you and thereby help in the fight against infantile paralysis to which you have given such notable leadership.

Just two years later, on March 10, 1937, Reuben’s father, James, passed away at Reuben’s home in Covington following a brief illness. He was 74 years old and was laid to rest beside his wife at Bay Creek Cemetery in Loganville after a funeral service held at his church near the Youth community.

By April 3, 1940, the Tuck family—Reuben, Louise, and their two sons, Goodwin and Reuben Jr.—continued to reside in their Floyd Street home. In June 1942, Goodwin registered for the World War II draft, and by June 1943, he was stationed at the Medical Replacement Training Center at Camp Barkley in Texas.

Goodwin served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in the Philippines during World War II. After his military service, he pursued a medical degree, eventually becoming a doctor and completing his internship in Louisiana. He spent Christmas 1943 at home with his parents before returning to Fort Sam Houston in Texas.

In December 1944, Reuben was elected to the Covington City School Board. The election was quiet, with only 21 ballots cast, as all candidates ran unopposed. Despite the low turnout, the elected officials were respected civic leaders, and their contributions were expected to be significant. Reuben went on to serve as secretary and treasurer of the School Board for 20 years.

In June 1945, Goodwin—now a Staff Sergeant—was awarded a bronze service star for his role in a mandated island campaign, where he performed specialized laboratory work on Saipan.

Reuben remained active in the Masonic community. At a convention of the Eighth District Masonic Lodges held in Covington in August 1946, he was elected deputy warden. In October 1949, he attended a Golden Fleece Lodge meeting that featured a festive program following a picnic-style supper. The evening included music, remarks (including some by Reuben), a roll call, and the presentation of silver pins to members with 25 or more years of service. Reuben was one of 33 members honored. Over the years, he had served as secretary of the Lodge for at least 18 years and held the position of Worshipful Master for five terms—a role similar to that of a president.

By March 31, 1950, Reuben and Louise were still living on Floyd Street in Covington. Reuben continued practicing law, while Louise maintained the home. In June 1951, they attended their son Goodwin’s graduation from the University of Georgia Medical College in Augusta. Following graduation, Goodwin returned to Newton County, where he became a founding physician at Newton County Hospital. That same summer, Reuben Jr. attended the University of Georgia’s summer session in Athens.

The family experienced a series of losses in the years that followed. Reuben’s brother James passed away at an Atlanta hospital on May 15, 1952, and was laid to rest at Melwood Cemetery in Stone Mountain. After the death of his wife Annie in December 1953, Reuben’s brother John moved in with Reuben and Louise. Then, in January 1954, Reuben’s sister Eula passed away and was buried at Corinth Christian Church Cemetery in Loganville. 

That February, Reuben Jr. returned home for a weekend after completing paratrooper training at Fort Benning. He was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg and visited again in October and during the Christmas holidays.

In late August 1956, Reuben was hospitalized at Newton County Hospital but recovered in time to attend a family reunion in Loganville. On May 12, 1958, Reuben Jr. married Penelope “Penny” Pegues Irby at Winder Presbyterian Church. The newlyweds settled in Covington, where Reuben Jr. joined his father’s law practice.

Reuben’s brother Troy died at age 70 on January 7, 1959, at his home in Almon, Newton County. He was buried at Lawnwood Memorial Park in Covington following a service at Shiloh Methodist Church.

In April 1960, Reuben spoke at a supper meeting of American Legion Post 32, which he had helped found decades earlier. He reflected on the Post’s early days, recalling the challenges of operating without a permanent meeting place and the determined three-year effort to build the Legion hall. He reminded younger members that the legacy of the older Legionnaires was now theirs to carry forward. Reuben had served as Post Commander from 1927 to 1930 and advised the Newton County Selective Service Board for at least 15 years.

Reuben was honored by the Covington First Baptist Church congregation following his retirement in January 1962 from his long-held position as church treasurer. A member of the church for 42 years, he had served as treasurer for 35 of them. The celebration was a surprise, arranged so that Reuben himself would unknowingly begin the event. As a member of the choir, he opened the ceremony with a solo performance of “How Great Thou Art,” inviting the congregation to join him in the chorus. After the hymn concluded, he was welcomed to the dais alongside his successor and other church leaders, where a formal resolution was read in recognition of his decades of service.

A former Board Chairman then offered remarks, reflecting on Reuben’s unwavering loyalty and contributions to the church. In addition to his role as treasurer, Reuben had served as a deacon since around 1919, taught Sunday School, acted as superintendent, and participated in numerous committees. As a token of appreciation, the church presented him with a silver serving tray. Near the end of the celebration, someone was overheard saying, “To us, you two are Mr. and Mrs. Covington Baptist Church”—a tribute to both Reuben and Louise’s enduring presence and impact. 

Louise and Reuben Tuck (photo from The Covington News,
January 18, 1962)

Reuben’s brother Benjamin passed away in Boynton Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, on January 24, 1964. He was laid to rest at Palm Beach Memorial Park in Lantana.

In April 1964, Reuben was elected president of the Covington Bar Association, which had recently been reactivated after a decade of inactivity. He was re-elected in 1966, continuing to serve as a respected leader in the local legal community.

Photo used with permission of Royce Patch Smith

On January 30, 1965, Reuben’s wife Louise passed away at age 71 in Newton County, following a stroke she had suffered 10 days earlier. A native of Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia, Louise was a graduate of the Georgia Normal and Industrial College—now Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville. A gifted musician, she taught music in both Greensboro and Covington schools, was a member of the Covington Music Club, and served as pianist and organist at Covington First Baptist Church for nearly 30 years. Her funeral was held at the church and officiated by Rev. Edgar Callaway. She was laid to rest at Southview Cemetery, also known as Covington Cemetery, on February 1.

For Reuben’s 80th birthday in 1967, the First Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir hosted a surprise celebration with coffee and cake. The entire congregation was invited to gather in the church’s educational building following a Sunday evening service, just ahead of his October 31 birthday.

Reuben was a patient at Newton County Hospital during the week of February 12–18, 1968. That summer, the Tuck family gathered for a reunion at the Lions Club Pavilion in July—an occasion captured in a photograph published in The Covington News on July 18, 1968.

Tuck family (left to right): Dr. Goodwin Tuck, Reuben M. Tuck Jr.,
Joanne Ruth (Tuck) Wasdin, John A. Tuck, Clara Alice (Tuck) Gower,
Col. Reuben M. Tuck, Mary Lou (Tuck) Smith, Charlotte (Tuck) Branham,
James Taylor Tuck, Holland Briscoe Tuck, and Harold Gower
(photo from The Covington News, July 18, 968)

On March 2, 1968, Reuben was honored for his 25 years of service as secretary and 7 years as Master of Golden Fleece Lodge No. 6 at a Family Night supper at the Masonic Hall. He was also informed that an annual $500 scholarship for a qualified student from Newton County High School had been established and would be called “The Reuben M. Tuck Scholarship Fund.” Scholarship eligibility was not limited to students attending college, but was also open to those for any training beyond high school, such as nurses training or technical school. 

Less than a year later, on February 5, 1969, Reuben’s brother John passed away at Reuben’s home in Covington. He was laid to rest on February 7 at Melwood Cemetery in Stone Mountain, following a funeral service officiated by Rev. Edward Callaway at Ward’s Glenwood Chapel in Decatur.

Just three months later, on May 20, 1969, Reuben himself passed away peacefully at home. His funeral was held the following day at Covington First Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Edgar Callaway, with the Masons serving as honorary escort. He was laid to rest at Southview Cemetery. Reuben was survived by his sons, Goodwin and Reuben Jr.; sisters Maggie, Mary, and Alice; and sisters-in-law Vecilia (Webb) Tuck Cowan, Rubye (Tanner) Tuck, and Mrs. Gene Amos—whose exact relation remains uncertain.

Photo from Larry Carter, Find A Grave ID 47629977

Throughout his life, Reuben was deeply committed to civic service. He was the first president of Covington Little League, serving for 15 years, and also led the city’s Board of Parks and Recreation. He served as Covington’s city attorney for approximately 25 years. In addition to his involvement with the American Legion and the Masonic Lodge, he was a member of the Knights of Pythias.

Reuben was known for his love of walking and never owned a car. He was often seen taking three-mile strolls around Covington, using the time to reflect, enjoy nature, and connect with neighbors. His quiet presence and steady leadership left a lasting imprint on the community he served so faithfully.

References

• Assignments for Embryo Officers, The Augusta Herald, Augusta, Georgia, November 28, 1917.
• Bar Association Turns Down Jury Recommendation, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, December 15, 1966.
• Benjamin L. Tuck, The Palm Beach Post, West Palm Beach, Florida, January 24, 1964.
• Call Meeting Democratic Executive Committee of Newton County, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, June 12, 1924.
• Charter Members Honored by Legion: Past Commanders Share Plaudits at Supper Meeting, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, April 7, 1960.
• Choir Honors Col. R. M. Tuck, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, November 2, 1967.
• Christopher Pegues Irby III, U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1898–1929.
• Citizens Cooperate in Sending Telegram, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, February 1, 1935.
• Civitan Club is Organized in Covington, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, September 29, 1933.
• Col. and Mrs. Tuck Entertain in Honor House Guest, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, October 5, 1928.
• Col. J. F. Rogers Died Monday Night, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, November 30, 1922.
• Col. Reuben M. Tuck, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, May 20, 1969.
• Col. Reuben Tuck Honored at First Baptist Ceremony: Served Local Church as Treasurer for 35 Years, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 18, 1962.
• Col. Reuben Tuck in 43rd Year as City Attorney, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, October 28, 1965.
• Col. Tuck Heads Reactivated Bar Assn. in City, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, April 9, 1964.
• Committee Sets Regulations for Coming Primary, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 25, 1940.
• Compton, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, January 11, 1954.
• Covington Lodge Observed Family Night as Tuck, Dearing Honored, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, March 7, 1968.
• Covington Lodge Observed Family Night as Tuck, Dearing Honored, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, March 7, 1968.
• Covington to Have Chautauqua in June, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, December 25, 1924.
• Demosthenian Literary Society, About Us; https://www.dlsuga.com/about. 
• Demosthenian Literary Society; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demosthenian_Literary_Society. 
• Dr. S. L. Waites is Host to a Number of Friends at Possum Dinner on Thursday, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 27, 1933.
• Final Tribute Was Paid Mrs. R. M. Tuck Monday, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, February 4, 1965.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/249982370/rubye_lucille-tuck: accessed October 1, 2025), memorial page for Rubye Lucille Tanner Tuck (16 Sep 1892–14 Jan 1975), Find a Grave Memorial ID 249982370, citing Palm Beach Memorial Park, Lantana, Palm Beach County, Florida, USA; maintained by George S. Ellington (contributor 15672281).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/249982307/benjamin_luther-tuck: accessed September 30, 2025), memorial page for Benjamin Luther Tuck (16 Dec 1889–24 Jan 1964), Find a Grave Memorial ID 249982307, citing Palm Beach Memorial Park, Lantana, Palm Beach County, Florida, USA; maintained by George S. Ellington (contributor 15672281).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110382235/james_robert-tuck: accessed September 30, 2025), memorial page for James Robert “Jim” Tuck (23 Dec 1901–15 May 1952), Find a Grave Memorial ID 110382235, citing Melwood Cemetery, Stone Mountain, DeKalb County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Linda Davis (contributor 46609907).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/96704224/troy_chester-tuck: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for Troy Chester Tuck (30 Oct 1888–1959), Find a Grave Memorial ID 96704224, citing Lawnwood Memorial Park, Covington, Newton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Larry Carter (contributor 47629977).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44902155/alice_clara-gower: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for Alice Clara Tuck Gower (21 Oct 1891–12 Feb 1983), Find a Grave Memorial ID 44902155, citing Bay Creek Cemetery, Loganville, Walton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by TangerineTree (contributor 50855436).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21478289/eula_t-compton: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for Eula T Tuck Compton (8 Jul 1894–10 Jan 1954), Find a Grave Memorial ID 21478289, citing Corinth Memorial Gardens, Loganville, Walton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Sarah Locklin Taylor (contributor 46921363).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/112315911/mary_lou-smith: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for Mary Lou Tuck Smith (12 Sep 1899–10 Jun 1988), Find a Grave Memorial ID 112315911, citing Melwood Cemetery, Stone Mountain, DeKalb County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Family Finder (contributor 47978310).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110382235/james_robert-tuck: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for James Robert “Jim” Tuck (23 Dec 1901–15 May 1952), Find a Grave Memorial ID 110382235, citing Melwood Cemetery, Stone Mountain, DeKalb County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Linda Davis (contributor 46609907).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/249979982/maggie_ruth-hawkins: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for Maggie Ruth Tuck Hawkins (8 Oct 1908–10 Sep 1984), Find a Grave Memorial ID 249979982, citing Resthaven Cemetery, Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia, USA; maintained by George S. Ellington (contributor 15672281).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72962885/james_william-tuck: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for James William Tuck (1864–10 Mar 1937), Find a Grave Memorial ID 72962885, citing Bay Creek Cemetery, Loganville, Walton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by SDG (contributor 46878874).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/148970656/reuben_mcdaniel-tuck: accessed September 29, 2025), memorial page for Reuben McDaniel Tuck Jr. (14 Nov 1930–4 Dec 2011), Find a Grave Memorial ID 148970656, citing Lake Eunice Seventh-Day Adventist Cemetery, Detroit Lakes, Becker County, Minnesota, USA; Maintained by Annette (contributor 48158744).
• Gheesling-Tuck, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, August 15, 1920.
• Golden Fleece Names Officers Next Tuesday, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, December 21, 1944.
• Goodwin Gheesling Tuck, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• Graduating Class, University of Georgia, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, June 9, 1912.
• Here is List of Georgians Who Have Been Accepted for Second Training Camp, The Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, August 12, 1917.
• Hospital Notes, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, February 22, 1968.
• J. R. Tuck, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, May 16, 1952.
• James W. Tuck Dies at Covington, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, March 11, 1937.
• James W. Tuck, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, March 12, 1937.
• James W. Tuck, U.S., Army Transport Service Arriving and Departing Passenger Lists, 1910–1939.
• John A. Tuck, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, February 13, 1969.
• Knight, Lucian Lamar, A Standard History of Georgia and Georgians, vol. 4, pp. 2205–2206, Lewis Publishing Company, 1917.
• Legion to Cite Selective Service Officials Tuesday, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, April 2, 1964.
• Local News Items, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, July 31, 1919, September 4, 1919, November 2, 1922.
• Masonic Convention Attracts 300, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, September 5, 1946.
• Masonic Members Given Pins for 25-Years Service, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, October 27, 1949.
• Miss Irby’s Marriage to Mr. Tuck Announced, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, June 25, 1958.
• Miss Irby’s Marriage to Mr. Tuck Announced, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, June 25, 1958.
• Mrs. Jas. W. Tuck, of Logansville, Dies, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, December 14, 1927.
• N. S. Turner Memorial Building, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, September 2, 1932.
• News Notes from Newton County Hospital, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, August 30, 1956.
• Obituary for Dr Goodwin G. Tuck, Wheeler Funeral Home, Covington, Georgia, 2018; https://wheelerfuneralhome.store.helloflowers.com/obituaries/goodwin-tuck/#!/Obituary. 
• Personals, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, June 3, 1943, December 30, 1943, May 31, 1951, June 14, 1951, February 25, 1954, October 21, 1954, December 16, 1954, and August 30, 1956.
• Professional Cards, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, July 7, 1921.
• Programme, Centennial Celebration Golden Fleece Lodge (December 16, 1926), The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, December 17, 1926.
• R. M. Tuck, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, May 21, 1969.
• Reuben M. Tuck, Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Reuben McDaniel Tuck and Troy Chester Tuck, U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918.
• Reuben McDaniel Tuck, Georgia, U.S., World War I Service Cards, 1917–1919.
• Reuben McDaniel Tuck, U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 1912.
• Roll Call Feature of Masonic Meet, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, July 24, 1958.
• Samuel J. Tribble; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_J._Tribble. 
• Senator Lester Resigns from School Board, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 9, 1931.
• Sergeant Goodwin Tuck Awarded Service Star, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, June 28, 1945.
• Smith is Elected Masonic Lodge WM, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 10, 1946.
• Social and Personal Mention, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, August 19, 1927.
• Storied Windows, Yearbook, Westminster School, Atlanta, Georgia, 1954.
• Three Councilmen, 3 Board Members Named in Election, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, December 7, 1944.
• Troy C. Tuck Dies at His Home, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 8, 1959.
• Tuck Family Reunion Held Sunday, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, July 18, 1968.
• Tuck Funeral Held at Almon Church, Friday, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 15, 1959.
• Tuck, Col. Reuben M. Tuck, Sr., The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, May 21, 1969.
• Tuck, Mrs. R. M., The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, February 1, 1965.
• Tuck, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, February 6, 1969.
• U.S. Federal Census, Buncombe, Walton County, Georgia, 1910.
• U.S. Federal Census, Covington, Newton County, Georgia, 1920, 1930, 1940, 1950.
• U.S. Federal Census, Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia, 1920.

Thomas Ligon sells Uriah and Milly to Thomas Cartwright

This post is part of an ongoing project to record names of enslaved people of Greene County, Georgia I find in historical records.

Proceedings of Greene Superior Court, September Term 1816

Thomas Ligon of the County and State aforesaid on the twenty-fifth day of December in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eleven, two negro slaves, the one a man named Uriah and a woman named Milly for and in consideration of the sum of nine hundred dollars and on the sale and delivery aforesaid the said Thomas Ligon made his certain bill of sale in writing signed with his own hand being date the day and year aforesaid therewith shown to the Court, by which he acknowledges to have received of your Petitioner nine hundred dollars for which sum he had sold two negroes (viz), one a yellow fellow by the name of Uriah and one negroe woman named Milly – which negroes he warranted to be sound and healthy and also warrants and defended the right and title unto your Petitioner against all and every person. And your petitioner avers and charges that the aforesaid negroe woman named Milly was at the sale and delivery aforesaid and for a long time before and has ever since been deemed unhealthy, unsound and grievously afflicted with fits so as to be entirely useless and a charge to your petitioner, all of which was well known to said Thomas Ligon at the sale and delivery aforesaid by which fraudulent, illicit and deceitful conduct of said Thomas Ligon. Your petitioner has been injured and sustained damage nine hundred dollars wherefore he prays process may issue.

Archibald Martin, Plffs. Atty.

Georgia, Greene County. Thomas Cartwright vs. Thomas Ligon.
To the Sheriff of said County, greeting.
Case in Nature of Deceit
The Defendant is hereby required in person by attorney to be and appear at the next Superior Court to be held in and for said County on the first Monday in September next then and there to answer the plaintiffs demand in an action on the case in nature of deceit to his damage nine hundred dollars as in default thereof said Court will proceed thereon as to Justice shall appertain.

Witness the Honorable Peter Early, Judge of said Court this 11th July 1812.
John Bethune, Clk.

27th July 1812 Served a copy of this personally on the Defendant.
A. Rogers D.S.G.C.

Reference

Greene County, Georgia, Court Records 1815–1817, image 158, FamilySearch. 

John McClelland Athya

John McClelland Athya, son of Isaac Athya and Elizabeth McClelland, was born on February 20, 1898, in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was one of 11 children born to Isaac and Elizabeth: Elizabeth (Lizzie) Athya, Isaac James Athya, Andrew McClelland Athya, Jane (Jeannie) Wylie Athya, William McClelland Athya, Robert McClelland Athya, Mary Ann Galbraith Athya, John McClelland Athya, Margaret “Peggy” (twin) Athya, Hugh McClelland (twin) Athya, and one unnamed child.

John is my husband’s 1st cousin 2x removed. Their closest shared ancestors are James Athya and Jane Wylie, who were my husband’s second great-grandparents. Another family connection will appear later in the sketch.

At the time of John’s birth, his father Isaac was employed as a lampman at a colliery—a coal mine. A lampman was responsible for maintaining and distributing safety lamps to miners, a critical role in preventing underground accidents. Given the family’s location near Orbiston, Isaac likely worked at the Orbiston Colliery, operated by the Mossend Iron Company. Prior to this, he had worked as a coal miner.

Birth register for John (1898)

Tragedy struck the Athya family before John was born. On Christmas Day 1891, his brother William died in Bellshill from bronchitis after suffering for 14 days. His burial location remains unknown. The informant listed on the death register was Jemima (Durie) Athya, William’s aunt-in-law—wife of James Wylie Athya, who were my husband’s great-grandparents.

Another devastating loss followed when John was just 18 months old. On September 22, 1899, his six-year-old brother Robert was fatally struck by a train on the Caledonian Railway line near the Bellshill police station. Two months shy of his seventh birthday, Robert suffered a compound skull fracture. It’s believed he was walking along the tracks when a passing train hit him, the wind preventing him from hearing its approach. His body was moved to the Bellshill station waiting room and then returned to the Athya home. His burial location is also unknown.

By 1901, the Athya family was living at 59 New Orbiston Rows in Bellshill. Isaac continued working as a colliery lampman, while his wife Elizabeth was listed as a lampman’s wife. Lizzie worked as a domestic servant, and Andrew was employed as a pit pony driver—a demanding job guiding ponies through underground tunnels to haul coal. The family lived in a two-room home with one or more windows.

New Orbiston Rows, built in 1892, housed coal miners and their families. The community included one three-room dwelling and 74 two-room homes, rented annually for £9 19s, roughly equivalent to $48 to $50 USD at the time. These single-story stone structures had brick backs and lacked damp-proofing, though the walls were generally sound. Interiors featured wood flooring and ventilation, and while there were no gardens, residents had access to shared wash houses, coal cellars, and basic sanitation facilities—four ashpits and eight privies. Water came from four standpipes, and outdoor sinks served every four homes in the front row. Drainage channels ran behind the buildings, and the area was cleaned daily as part of a designated sanitary district.

1901 Scotland census

In 1911, the Athya family remained at New Orbiston. Isaac was still a lampman, and Mary worked as a pit head worker—one of the “pit brow lasses” who sorted coal and removed debris at the mine’s entrance. John, Hugh, and Margaret were attending school. Isaac and Elizabeth had been married for 29 years; Elizabeth was listed as having had 11 children, with 8 still living.

1911 Scotland census

Athya children, circa early 1900s: John is the second boy
from the right; the smaller child beside him is his younger brother Hugh.
(Image used with permission from John Sproat.)

On May 27, 1918, John’s sister Mary married her first cousin George Durie Athya, son of James Wylie Athya and Jemima Durie and my husband’s grandfather. George, was a 25-year-old riveter and Corporal with the Cameron Highlanders. The marriage later ended in divorce, and George immigrated to the U.S., where he married my husband’s grandmother, Bertha Edna Smith.

By 1921, John (age 23) was living in a two-room home at 13 Mauldslie Place in Bellshill with his parents, brother Isaac (age 37), and sister Mary (age 26). John worked as a coal miner for the Wilson and Clyde Coal Company. His father and brother were employed there as a lampman and boiler foreman, respectively. Mary and Elizabeth maintained the home. Interestingly, Mary was listed as single despite her earlier marriage to George.

1921 Scotland census

On July 14, 1922, John departed Scotland aboard the RMS Tyrrhenia, bound for Quebec and Montreal. He traveled alone. The ship had just completed its maiden voyage a month earlier and was later renamed Lancastria in 1924 due to pronunciation difficulties. 

RMS Tyrrhenia (back center with tall dark stack).
Photo from Marine Photo Service (Waterline Collection), public domain,
via Wikimedia Commons.

John declared himself Protestant and intended to settle in the U.S. He was a miner seeking work as a farmer, had never lived in Canada, and paid for his own passage. He listed his father at Mauldslie Place as his nearest relative and confirmed he was not tubercular or physically impaired.

John’s entry on the RMS Tyrrhenia passenger list

John’s youngest sister Margaret (Peggy) married Robert Bryson Curran in Toronto on July 31, 1925. The ceremony was held at the Church of God on Albion Street and officiated by Elder Robert Murray.

In May 1928, John traveled third class aboard the S.S. Letitia from Montreal to Glasgow, arriving on May 14. He listed his address as 55 Bain Street in Glasgow, his father’s home. He was employed as a laborer and was 30 years old. His country of last permanent residence was Canada. 

Passenger manifest for the Letitia (May 1928)

He returned to Canada aboard the same ship on August 10, arriving in Quebec on August 18. Records show he had lived in Canada from July 1922 to July 1928, residing in Brantford, Ontario with his sister Mrs. Jean Law at 41 Laurence Street. He listed his father Isaac at 55 Bain Street in Calton, Glasgow as his nearest relative. He had no physical or mental impairments and was not infected with tuberculosis. His passport had been issued in Ottawa on February 5, 1928, and he arrived with $200 in hand.

John’s mother Elizabeth died on June 7, 1928, at age 68, at their Bain Street home. Her cause of death was pernicious anaemia—a fatal condition caused by the body’s inability to absorb vitamin B12. Her burial location remains unknown.

On August 25, 1929, John crossed the border into Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. He listed his sister Mrs. Law as his Canadian contact and his brother Hugh as his U.S. contact. He was traveling alone, recorded his nationality as Canadian, and his race as Scotch. His last permanent residence was Brantford, and he was destined for Detroit. He paid his own passage and had never been in the U.S. before. He was joining Hugh at 2550 Bewick Avenue and planned to stay permanently. He was 5’8”, with a medium complexion, brown hair, and gray eyes, and worked as an underground linesman.

Manifest card the Port of Detroit, Michigan

On October 4, 1929, John filed a Declaration of Intention in Detroit. He was living with Hugh on Bewick Street and was still employed as an underground linesman. He was 31 years old, single, and weighed 145 pounds. His last foreign residence was Brantford, and he had entered the U.S. via the Detroit & Windsor (D & W) Ferry under the name of John Athya (spelled Athaya on the form).

Certificate of Arrival (September 1929)

On June 15, 1929, Hugh married Mary Ellen “Nellie” Balfour in Detroit. John was one of two witnesses. Hugh had also reversed his name, using McClelland as his surname and Athya as his middle name.

John was in the wedding party for his brother Hugh
(image used with permission from John Sproat)

John does not appear in the 1930 U.S. Census, though the Detroit city directory lists him, Hugh, and Mary all living at 2550 Bewick Avenue. John was employed as an electrician, and Hugh as a sub-foreman at Detroit Edison Company. John continued using the surname Athya.

John’s sister Jeannie died on June 15, 1933, at age 44, at her home at 41 Abigail Avenue in Brantford. She likely died from a stroke caused by a cerebral embolism linked to chronic rheumatic heart disease. Her funeral was held at home and conducted by Rev. G. Deane Johnston of Central Presbyterian Church. She was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery on June 17. John and Hugh were among the six pallbearers.

Just three months later, on September 19, 1933, John’s father Isaac died at age 76 at his Bain Street home. He had retired from work as a colliery lamp cleaner. His cause of death was gangrene of the feet and broncho-pneumonia. His burial location is unknown.

By 1934, John, Hugh, and Mary had moved to 4721 Belvidere Avenue in Detroit. John worked as an electrician, and Hugh continued at Detroit Edison. By 1935, they had relocated to Ward Street.

On March 25, 1937, John formally declared his intention to become a U.S. citizen. He stated he had lived continuously in Michigan since August 25, 1929, and was residing at 13217 Ward Avenue, working as an auto worker. He was 39 years old, single, and childless, with gray eyes, brown hair, and a fair complexion.

In the 1940 U.S. Census, John (age 43) was living with his brother Hugh (age 39) and Hugh’s family at their home on Ward Street in Detroit. Hugh’s household included his wife Mary (age 39), daughters Mary (9) and Jean (8), and son Hugh (5). At the time of the census, John was unemployed and had reportedly been out of work for 140 weeks. He was seeking employment as a punch press operator in wheel manufacturing. In 1939, John had worked only 12 weeks and earned $270, while Hugh had worked the full year and earned $1,800. Both brothers had completed four years of high school, suggesting they had graduated. All three children were attending school.

By February 16, 1942, John had moved to 14400 Lauder Street in Detroit and registered for the World War II draft. He listed Hugh, still residing on Ward Street, as his next of kin. At the time, John was employed by Detroit Edison Company, located at 2000 Second Avenue in Detroit. He was described as 5’ 8½”, weighing 150 pounds, with gray eyes, gray hair, and a light complexion.

World War II draft registration card

In March 1942, while still living at the Lauder Street address, John petitioned for U.S. citizenship in Detroit. He was single and had no children. His petition was supported by two witnesses—Leland Yost and Charles Cummings—who attested to his good character and continuous residence since 1937.

That same year, on April 24, 1942, John’s sister Margaret (Peggy) passed away in Victoria, British Columbia. Her burial location remains unknown.

On May 12, 1942, John formally swore the Oath of Allegiance and renounced prior loyalties. 

Oath of Allegiance (1942)

On that same day, he legally changed his name from John McClelland Athya to John Athya McClelland, reversing his middle and surname in a manner like his brother Hugh, who had done so as early as 1930. John’s naturalization petition was approved in open court.

Naturalization Certificate Stubs certifying John’s name change

 

Naturalization Petitions Recommended to be Granted (May 1942)

Despite extensive searches, John does not appear in the 1950 U.S. Census. His brother Hugh was still living at 13217 Ward Avenue in Detroit—the same address John listed as his residence on an air passenger manifest later that year. However, John was not recorded in the household; only Hugh, his wife, and their three children were enumerated. Since the census was conducted in April, it’s possible John was in Scotland at the time.

Supporting this theory, John appears on an air passenger manifest dated June 29, 1950, traveling from Prestwick, Scotland to Montreal aboard Trans-Canada Air Lines flight 2211-29. He listed his home address as 13217 Ward Avenue—the same address he had used in 1929.

John passed away in Michigan on December 30, 1965. He was laid to rest at Glen Eden Memorial Park in Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan. No evidence has been found that John ever married.

Image used with permission of S. L. Iglesias,
Find a Grave member 46812202

John’s story was particularly challenging to research due to his name change and the many variations in spelling across records. Searches must include Athya, McClelland, McClellan, McLelland, and McLellan, and span records from Scotland, Canada, and the United States.

References

• 1137682, RG 21, Naturalization Petition and Record, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, Detroit: Wayne. Petitions for Naturalization 1942, images 442–446, FamilySearch.
• 18222300, RG-21, Naturalization Certificate Stubs, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, Detroit: Wayne. Naturalization Final Certificates, 1942, image 1133, FamilySearch.
• 18462267, RG-21, Naturalization Court Order Books, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, Detroit: Wayne. Naturalization Records Sep 16, 1941–May 29, 1942, image 707, FamilySearch.
• Boy Killed on the Railway, Daily Record, Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, September 23, 1899.
• Deaths, Curran, The Expositor, Brantford, Ontario, Canada, May 2, 1942.
• Detroit, Michigan, City Directory, 1930, 1934.
• Elizabeth Athya, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/3 239, National Records of Scotland, 1928.
• Fatal Accident on Caledonian Railway, Hamilton Advertiser, Hamilton, Strathclyde, Scotland, September 23, 1899.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/183324329/john_athya-mcclellan: accessed September 3, 2025), memorial page for John Athya McClellan (20 Feb 1898–30 Dec 1965), Find a Grave Memorial ID 183324329, citing Glen Eden Memorial Park, Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan, USA; maintained by S. L. Iglesias (contributor 46812202).
• George Durie Athya/Mary Ann Athya marriage, Statutory Registers Marriages 644/10 1036, National Records of Scotland.
• Housing Conditions of Miners, Bothwell Parish, Scottish Mining Website; http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/236.html. 
• Hugh A. McClelland, Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867–1952. 
• Isaac Athya, Census 098/33/13, National Records of Scotland, 1901.
• Isaac Athya, Census 625/112/124, National Records of Scotland, 1891.
• Isaac Athya, Census 625/310/2, National Records of Scotland, 1911.
• Isaac Athya, Census 625/311/26, National Records of Scotland, 1921.
• Isaac Athya, Statutory Registers Births 625/1 45, National Records of Scotland, 1884.
• Isaac Athya, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/3 227, National Records of Scotland, 1933.
• Isiac Athya, Census 625/314/16, National Records of Scotland, 1901.
• Jane Wyllie Athya, Statutory Registers Births 625/1 555, National Records of Scotland, 1887.
• Jeannie Wylle Law, Province of Ontario, Certificate of Registration of Death no. 306, 1933.
• John Athya McLelland, Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895–1956.
• John Athya, Canada, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1865–1935.
• John Athya, Canada, Ocean Arrivals (Form 30A), 1919–1924.
• John Athya, Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865–1935.
• John Athya, Detroit Border Crossings and Passenger and Crew Lists, 1905–1963.
• John Athya, Detroit, Michigan, U.S., Border Crossings and Passenger and Crew Lists, 1905–1963.
• John Athya, Michigan, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1887–1931.
• John Athya, Statutory Registers Births 625/3 107, National Records of Scotland, 1898.
• John Athya, U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• John Athya, UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878–1960.
• John Athya, UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890–1960.
• Lizzie Athya, Census 625/314/17, National Records of Scotland, 1901.
• Married, Curran-Athya, The Expositor, Brantford, Ontario, Canada, August 1, 1925.
• Mrs. John D. Law, The Expositor, Brantford, Ontario, Canada, June 16, 1933.
• National Coal Mining Museum for England, “Pit Ponies and Their Drivers,” accessed September 2, 2025; https://www.ncm.org.uk/news/voices-in-the-coalshed-pony-drivers/.
• New Orbiston Rows, Housing Conditions of Miners, Scottish Mining Website; http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/236.html. 
• Our Records: Irregular Marriage in Scotland, ScotlandsPeople; https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/article/irregular-marriage-scotland. 
• RMS Lancastria; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Lancastria. 
• Robert McClelland Athya, Statutory Registers Deaths 625/3 193, National Records of Scotland, 1899.
• To the Grave: Mrs. John Law, The Expositor, Brantford, Ontario, Canada, June 19, 1933.
• U.S. Federal Census, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, 1940.
• Victoria Genealogical Society Burial Index Part 2, Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria BC, 2016; https://www.interment.net/data/canada/bc/van_island/vancouver-island-burial-records-royal-oak-burial-park.pdf?highlight=WyJKYW1lcyBEZWFyaW5nIl0=.
• William McClelland Athya, Statutory Registers Births 625/1 313, National Records of Scotland, 1891.
• William McClelland Athya, Statutory Registers Deaths 625/1 453, National Records of Scotland, 1891.