James Stewart Shields

James Stewart Shields was born on November 15, 1891, in the Birds Creek area of Sevierville, Sevier County, Tennessee. His parents were Samuel “Cas” or Caswell Shields and Martha Ann Ogle. He went by his middle name, Stewart. Cas and Martha had 10 children: James Stewart Shields, Milas Odell Shields, William Elmer Shields, Walter “Walt” C. Brown Shields, Sallie “Addice” Shields, Albert “Conley” Shields, Blaine Arthur Shields, Melona Jane “Janie” Shields, Pearl Lewcrilly Shields, and Maude Maree Shields. Stewart, my great grandfather, was affectionately called “Pappy” by my siblings and me. Our nearest common relative is his daughter Daisy, my grandmother (Granny). 

Stewart allegedly comes from a long line of the Shields family, centered around Robert and Nancy Stockton Shields, who had 10 sons. These brothers, known as “The Ten Brothers,” were among the early settlers in Sevier County, Tennessee. Their descendants have significantly influenced the region’s history and development. Their journey and contributions are detailed in the book The Shields Family: Particularly the Oldest and Most Numerous Branch of that Family in America by John Arthur Shields, originally published in 1917.

Robert and Nancy Shields also had one son, Ezekial, who did not survive infancy, and one daughter, Jennet (or Janet). I say Stewart allegedly comes from this line of Shields because I have been unable to find a record that connects Stewart’s father to his grandfather, Jesse William Shields.

Twenty-three years ago, when my sister and I connected with Tommy Shields, one of Cas’ grandsons, Tommy shared a piece of family lore that Cas was illegitimate. Cas’ wife, Martha (Ogle) Shields (Tommy’s grandmother), and Lela (Vineyard) Shields (Tommy’s mother and wife of William Elmer Shields’) claimed that Jesse was not Cas’ father. Martha further told Elmer that Jesse had been dead for seven years when Cas was born, and that it was quite a scandal at the time. It was believed that Cas’ father was a Dunlap, a traveling salesman with the Dunlap Tire Company, who sold rubber buggy tires and whips.

Cas appears in the 1870 District 13, Sevier County, Tennessee census with his mother, Mary A. Shields (40), and siblings: Martha (18), Elizabeth (13), Sarah (9), John (6), and William (3). Cas is listed as six months old in this census record. The only record I found with a death date for Jesse William Shields is a Find A Grave memorial, which shows he died in 1869. Unfortunately, the memorial does not provide proof of death, nor do I find a record to prove it, other than an 1890 Veterans Schedule that lists Mary as Jesse’s widow. But if Jesse passed away in 1869, it makes sense that Cas was just six months old, contrary to the seven-year discrepancy mentioned above.

Sadly, until I find a record connecting Cas to Jesse, I am unable to confirm that Stewart belongs to the line of the 10 Shields brothers.

On June 8, 1900, James and his family resided on a rented farm in the 13th Civil District of Sevier County, Tennessee. His parents were listed as 30 years old and had been married for eight years, indicating they married in 1892. The census record noted that Martha had four living children—James, Milas, William, and Walter—all of whom were at home. His father worked as a farmer. The William S. Shields family, who lived two houses away, were Stewart’s paternal uncle’s household.

1900 census Soundex card

Stewart married Hattie Jane Rhinehart, daughter of William Dearnald Rhinehart and Roda Elizabeth “Bettie” Sneed, in Sevier County on March 30, 1909. Hattie’s brother-in-law, Ashley Sutton, and Stewart posted a $1250 bond when they filed for the marriage license on March 29. The ceremony was officiated by the local Justice of the Peace, A. D. Eledge, who lived just seven houses away from Stewart’s family. At the time, Hattie was 14-years-old and Stewart was 17. Following the death of Hattie’s father in 1908, it is possible her mother was eager to see one of her daughters married.

 

Hattie and Stewart had 12 children over a span of 30 years: Daisy Lee Shields, Willie Mae Shields, James B. Shields, Betty Ann Shields, Paul Sam Shields (he went by Paul Sam), Bessie Lucille Shields, Mary Nell Shields, Dorothy Jolene Shields, Bobbie Jean Shields, Charles Dewayne Shields, Loyal Mack Shields, and an infant who did not survive. Unfortunately, I have not been able to pinpoint any dates for the infant.

After their marriage, Stewart and Hattie moved in with Hattie’s widowed mother, Bettie, in the 13th Civil District of Sevier County. The census enumerator found them there on April 29, 1910. Hattie’s sister Ollie and brothers James and Arlie were also living in the home. Bettie was farming on a rented general farm. Stewart and Hattie’s siblings worked as farm laborers, while Hattie was the only person in the household not working. Stewart’s sister-in-law, Malonia, lived next door with her husband Ashley Sutton and daughter Georgia. 

1910 census Soundex card

Two months after the census was taken, on June 24, 1910, Hattie gave birth to their daughter Daisy in Birds Creek, Sevier County, Tennessee.

Around 1910, Stewart’s father, Cas, gathered his wife and children for a family photo. Since Stewart had married in 1909, he was not included in this picture. 

Front: Melona Jane Shields in father Samuel Cas Shields' lap,
Albert Conley Shields, Pearl Lewcrilly Shields in mother
Martha Ogle Shields' lap, Blaine Arthur Shields, Sallie Addice Shields.
Back: Milas Odell Shields, William Elmer Shields, Walter C. Brown Shields.
Oldest son James Stewart Shields is not in the photo.

Sometime between 1910 and 1913, the Shields family moved to north Georgia, where Stewart’s father, Cas, found the farmland to be better and cheaper than the mountainous land around Sevierville. Cas went ahead on his own and bought a farm in Whitfield County, Georgia, situated on a hill with a long driveway between Praters Mill and Deep Springs. He then returned to Sevierville to bring the rest of the family. They traveled to Dalton using two two-horse wagons, each pulled by mules, accompanied by two cows, four dogs, two coops of chickens, and all their furniture. The children alternated between walking and riding in the wagons. The approximately 120-mile trip took 8 to 10 days, with the family camping by creeks and in farmers’ fields along the way.

Sometime after Daisy was born and before their second daughter Willie Mae was born in 1914, Stewart loaded up the wagon and followed Cas and the rest of the Shields family to Whitfield County. Hattie’s mother, Bettie, joined Stewart, Hattie, and their daughters on the move. Around 1914, Hattie’s sister, Malonia, fell ill with what was believed to be cancer. Wanting to be near family for support and care, she and her family also relocated to Whitfield County. Malonia passed away on November 25, 1916, and was buried at Deep Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Dalton, Whitfield County. This cemetery is also the final resting place for several of my direct Holland ancestors. My Granny, Daisy Shields, married into the Holland family.

Stewart, my Granny Daisy, Hattie, and Willie Mae (ca. 1916)

Stewart played the banjo, fiddle, and guitar, while Hattie played the fiddle, banjo, and mandolin. Several of their children were also musically inclined, making music a constant presence in their home. In 1910, Stewart and Hattie formed a band called ‘The Skillet Lickers’ and performed around Sevier County. Music was in their blood, a passion passed down to their children.

Stewart owned 65 acres of land in Tunnel Hill. At some point after his children reached adulthood, he gave one acre each to his daughter Daisy and his son, Paul Sam, both located just down the dirt road. When we were young, we often visited my Granny and would walk down the road to see my great-grandparents, filling buckets with blackberries to make pies later that day. One night, Paul Sam’s house burned down (the exact year unknown). My sister Bonita noticed through the fog one morning that his house was gone, having burned down overnight without anyone hearing the fire truck’s arrival.

Stewart registered for the World War I draft in Whitfield County on June 5, 1917. At that time, he lived in Varnell, near Dalton, in Whitfield County. He worked as an independent farmer near Varnell to support his wife and two children. He described himself as of medium height and build, with blue eyes and light-colored hair.

Stewart’s World War I draft registration card

The North Georgia Citizen published a list of men who had registered in Whitfield County on June 7, which included Stewart and his brother Elmer. On August 30, the same newspaper published an additional 10 names of men who had registered, as well as a list of those who had claimed exemption. Stewart was among those requesting exemption. On September 6, they reported that Stewart had been granted exemption by the local board.

On January 5, 1920, Stewart and his family resided in the Lower Tenth Militia District of Whitfield County. Stewart worked as a farmer on a general farm, while his 54-year-old widowed mother-in-law, Bettie, lived with them and also worked as a farm laborer on the home farm. Stewart, Hattie, and Bettie were all literate. Daisy and Willie were attending school, and their daughter Betty was just three months old.

 

1920 census Soundex card

I recently discovered the family photo below which was posted online by Oliver Cagle, a 2nd cousin once removed. Unlike the family photo I shared earlier, I was thrilled to see Stewart included in this one. Oliver estimates that his ancestor, Melona Jane Shields, was about 13 years old at the time the photo was taken, which would place it around 1920.

Front left to right: Janie, Maude, Pearl. 
Back left to right: Walter, Addice, Conley, Stewart, Martha, and Cas Shields. 
Ca. 1920.

On February 10, 1930, Stewart’s sister Maude passed away in Georgia at the age of 16. Her last name was Horrell, suggesting she was married. It is possible that Maude died in childbirth. She was buried at Grove Level Community Cemetery in Dalton, where her parents and sister Pearl would later be laid to rest beside her.

On April 18, 1930, Stewart, Hattie, and their eight children were living in Dalton, at Prater’s Mill and Deep Springs Roads. Stewart was working as a farmer on a general farm. His father, Cas, his mother, and his brother, Blaine, lived next door. Cas was also a farmer, and Blaine worked as a laborer on the farm. Hattie’s mother, Bettie, had moved back to Sevier County and was living with her widowed sister, Mary Sneed Loveday, and her niece and nephew, Ellen and George Loveday.

Stewart, Hattie, Daisy, Willie, James, and Betty were all literate. Paul and Bessie were not yet able to read and write, but they were attending school. The census enumerator noted that Stewart was 17 and Hattie was 15 when they married.

1930 census Soundex card

By 1935, the Shields family had moved to the Blackstock District of Catoosa County. They were still living there on April 23, 1940. Stewart and his son Paul Sam were both farmers, working a 30-hour week, while Hattie managed the household. Stewart’s highest level of education was third grade; the grade box for Hattie was unchecked. Although Daisy, Willie, James, and Betty had left home, seven children remained: Paul Sam, Lucille, Mary, Jolene, Bobbie, Charles, and Mack. 

Hattie, Stewart, and their son, Mack

Stewart and Hattie’s home in Tunnel Hill sat at the end of a gravel road, just down from my Granny’s house. You passed Granny’s house first; the road seemed to run right into the back of Stewart and Hattie’s house, where everyone would enter. The front of the house featured a porch stretching across its entire length, overlooking a beautiful pasture. Rocking chairs lined the porch, and my oldest sister recalls sitting out there, listening to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio. The back of the house had an overhang, creating a covered porch.

Stewart and Hattie’s home

Life on the farm was bustling. Besides tending to the fields, which were sown with a variety of vegetables, there were also cows and chickens to care for. It was crucial to preserve food for the winter months. Before my Mama and Daddy got married, she would spend summers with Stewart and Hattie. She once told me she thought of Hattie as a mother figure, even more so than her own mother. Several of Stewart’s children were close in age to Mama, and two were even younger than her, so she always had playmates, despite them being her aunts and uncles.

In the late 1930s and early 1940s, the house had an outhouse and likely did not have indoor plumbing. Mama remembers saving corn cobs to use in the outhouse. The beds were made from corn shucks, and there was no electricity or telephone. They washed clothes in a nearby spring using a scrub board and octagon soap, then hung them on a line to dry. Mama spent a lot of time with Stewart and Hattie in the early 1940s after her mother was declared unfit by the courts and left home. Mama’s father, a truck driver, was often away for long periods. Hattie played a key role in Mama’s life.

Stewart’s sister, Pearl (Shields) Hester, succumbed to tuberculosis at the age of 33 on July 26, 1941, at Stewart and Hattie’s farm in Dalton. Her breath could be heard from the porch, and she left behind five children aged 2 to 11. Pearl was laid to rest next to her sister Maude at Grove Level Community Cemetery. On June 30, 1942, Stewart was named as the contact who would always know Paul Sam’s address on his World War II draft registration card. Paul Sam worked on the farm with his father, who resided in Tunnel Hill. Stewart’s mother-in-law, Bettie, died of breast cancer in Sevierville on July 23, 1945, and was buried two days later at Catons Chapel Cemetery.

Again in the late 1940s, after Mama and Daddy separated just one year into their marriage, Mama and my oldest sister Bonita moved to Tunnel Hill to live with Stewart and Hattie. Mama found a job in Chattanooga, and Hattie took care of Bonita while she worked.

On April 18, 1950, Stewart and Hattie lived in Catoosa County with their children Bobbie, Charles, and Mack. Stewart had left farming behind and worked as a scrapper at O. B. Andrews Company, a cardboard manufacturer in Chattanooga, Tennessee. His job involved removing excess material from prescored cardboard carton blanks using tools like an air hammer and chisel, knocking out scored corners or edges, and removing damaged or defective blanks. Also living with them was Stewart’s five-year-old granddaughter, Mary E. Gardner, daughter of Mary. Their address was R.D. 1 in Tunnel Hill. By 1952, Stewart was still employed at O. B. Andrews Company, now working as a stripper. This role involved similar tasks to a scrapper, focusing on removing excess material from cardboard blanks, using an air hammer to strip waste, and ensuring edges were properly trimmed.

Fay Lankford, her daughter Bonita (standing in front),
Willie Mae, Daisy, Hattie, and Stewart in the background (ca. 1953)

In 1954 and 1955, Stewart worked as a janitor at O. B. Andrews Company, continuing to make the 25-mile trip from Tunnel Hill to Chattanooga. While the exact date of his retirement is unknown, he remained with the company until he retired.

Stewart, Hattie, and their son, Elmer

Stewart’s brother, Walter, passed away from heart disease at home in Varnell, Whitfield County, on April 6, 1955. He was buried on April 8 at Red Hill Cemetery in Cleveland, Bradley County, Tennessee. Six months later, on September 26, 1955, Stewart’s father, Cas, succumbed to liver cancer at the age of 85 at his home in Dalton. He was laid to rest at Grove Level Community Cemetery in Dalton. Meanwhile, Stewart’s daughter, Bobbie, married George Ellis Hodges, son of Alfred Price Hodges and Lena Susan Sink, in St. Piqua, Ohio, on April 2, 1955. George worked as a salesman, and Bobbie was employed as a factory worker.

In May 1958, family members came together to celebrate Stewart's mother's 88th birthday. My family made the trip from Atlanta to Dalton for the occasion. The photo below captures that special day. A similar photo was also featured in The Atlanta Journal on May 27. 

Five generations (May 1958)
Front row: Bonita (my sister) and Martha (my 2nd great grandmother)
Back row: Fay (my Mama), Daisy (Granny), and Stewart (Pappy)

The four photos below were also captured during Martha’s birthday celebration. 

Stewart, Elmer and likely one of Elmer’s grandchildren (May 1958)

My sisters Jennifer and Bonita, my mother Fay Lankford, Elmer,
and Stewart (May 1958)

Front: Bonita and Jennifer (my sisters)
Back: Sam Lankford (my father) holding me, Fay, Hoyt Vest
(my step grandfather), Daisy holding Michael (my brother), Stewart,
and Hattie (May 1958)

Addice, Hattie, Lela (Elmer’s wife), Elmer, Stewart, and Blaine Shields
(May 1958)

Stewart and grandson, Chuck Shields (ca. 1960)

Hattie initially believed television was the devil’s instrument. In the late 1950s, she was suspected to have cancer and was sent to a cancer hospital in Rome, Georgia, for a year. Eventually, the doctors concluded it was not cancer and sent her home. During her absence, Stewart purchased a TV for the house. Upon her return, Hattie made him put it in the back room. Despite her initial resistance, Hattie grew to enjoy the TV shows and eventually asked Mama to name one of my sisters after an actress from a soap opera she liked.

On July 10, 1961, Stewart’s mother, Martha, passed away at the age of 91 in Dalton due to bronchial pneumonia due to senility. She was buried on July 12 at Grove Level Community Cemetery in Dalton, resting beside her husband and daughters, Maud and Pearl. Stewart himself died suddenly at the age of 71 on the evening of September 7, 1962, from a heart clot. He was found in the field by his house in Tunnel Hill, where he had lived for 20 years. Stewart was laid to rest at Nellie Head Memorial Baptist Cemetery in Catoosa County, Georgia. He was survived by his wife Hattie, their 11 children, and his siblings Addice, Jane, Elmer, Miles, Blaine, and Connelly. After his passing, Hattie moved in with their son Paul Sam.

 

Stewart and Hattie

Stewart at the old home place

References

• About the Cover, Settler, vol. 3, no. 4, Sevier Printing Inc., December 1986.
• Bobbie Jean Shields, Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774–1993.
• Chattanooga, Tennessee, City Directory, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955.
• Complete List of Those Registered in Whitfield, North Georgia Citizen, Dalton, Georgia, June 7, 1917.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/124853090/jesse_william-shields: accessed November 1, 2024), memorial page for Jesse William Shields (6 Jul 1820–1869), Find a Grave Memorial ID 124853090; burial details unknown; maintained by Sherry G., Genealogical Research (contributor 47340731).
• James S. Shields, Chattanooga, Tennessee, City Directory, 1954.
• James S. Shields, Georgia Deaths, 1919–98.
• James S. Shields, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918.
• James Stewart Shields, obituary, Chattanooga Daily Times, Chattanooga, Tennessee, September 8, 1962.
• John Shields (explorer); https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Shields_(explorer).
• Martha Sue Ann Shields, Certificate of Death no. 16923, Whitfield County, Georgia, 1961.
• Maud Horrell Schields, Grove Level Community Cemetery, Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia.
• Paul Sam Shields, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• Personal memories of Fay Lankford, Bonita Streetman, Jennifer Craine, Denise Murphy, and Tommy Shields.
• Personal visit to Grove Level Community Cemetery, Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia.
• Samuel Cas Shields, Georgia Department of Public Health, Certificate of Death no. 23911, 1955.
• Scrapper: A description for the scrapper job; https://job-descriptions.org/scrapper.html.
• Settler, no. 2, September/October/November 1984.
• Settler, vol. 3, no. 4, Sevier Printing Incorporated, December 1986.
• Ten More Certified, North Georgia Citizen, Dalton, Georgia, August 30, 1917.
• U.S. Federal Census, Blackstock, Catoosa County, Georgia, 1940.
• U.S. Federal Census, Civil District 13, Sevier County, Tennessee, 1900, 1910.
• U.S. Federal Census, Enumeration District 23-14, Catoosa County, Georgia, 1950.
• U.S. Federal Census, Lower Tenth, Whitfield County, Georgia, 1920, 1930, 1950.
• Walter Shields, Georgia Department of Public Health, Certificate of Death no. 16906, 1955.
• Whitfield’s First Honor Men Have Been Selected, North Georgia Citizen, Dalton, Georgia, September 6, 1917. 

Postcards from the past

My sister and I were sitting at the dining room table last week, me on my computer as usual and she working on her stamp collection, when she pulled two postcards out of a box. While showing us the stamps on the postcards, she mentioned not knowing who the writer and recipient were. She also mentioned that our Mama had given them to her. Both postcards were addressed to Mrs. E. F. Steward and signed with initials only—E.F.S. I immediately knew they were written to my Granny, Daisy Lee Shields, by her husband, Edward Finnus Steward, whom was a recent subject of one of my blog posts. 

Both postcards were addressed the same:

Mrs. E. F. Steward
Tunnel Hill Ga.
R.#.1.

Edward was apparently traveling from north Georgia to California in search of work. To the best of my knowledge, Granny never lived in California so I suspect his search was unsuccessful.

8/24/50 Yuma, Arizona

Hello babe O.K. I hope. I’m well and going farther west. I will write again soon. By. E.F.S.

8/25/50 San Diego, Calif.

Dear one, arrived here this morning have looked for work all day. May get a job soon but not for shure as yet. I hope all is well. I will as well get a room in a hotel for the night. I shure hope I can rest. Will try find a place to stay so can hear from you. Don’t worry about me. I will write a letter soon. By for now. Be sweet. E.F.S.

Census records show Granny and Edward lived in Catoosa County, Georgia in April 1950 and Tunnel Hill is part of Catoosa County (and Whitfield County) which tracks with the paper trail. 

It’s always fun to get these small glimpses into our ancestors’ lives. 

William Hoyt Vest

William “Hoyt” Vest, son of Andrew Jackson Vest and Bessie Elliott, was born in Beaverdale, Whitfield County, Georgia, on August 7, 1905. He was the oldest child of six—William Hoyt Vest, Della Mae Vest, Robert Earl Vest, George Luther Vest, Andrew Jackson Vest Jr., and Martha Lee Vest. He was my step grandfather and we called him Hoyt. I last saw Hoyt when I was a teenager so most of my memories of him have faded. I do remember that he was heavyset, tall, and a quiet, sweet man.

William "Hoyt" Vest

I researched and wrote much of this sketch on what would have been his 117th birthday and was anxious to see what I would find. It ended up being quite a few things. My research started out with a bump though. I was unable to find Hoyt in the 1910 and 1930 census records. I spent two days using the Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org search engines, as well as performing manual page by page searches myself. I looked in both Whitfield County and Catoosa County in Georgia, as well as Hamilton County in Tennessee. I searched on his wife and children’s names and found none of them. I finally had to move on but will check back later. This has happened before, and I eventually find them.

On January 19, 1920, the Vest family lived in Blackstock, Catoosa County, Georgia. Hoyt’s father was a farmer on a general farm. He was enumerated as what looks like Harriet, was 14 years old, and worked as a farm laborer on the home farm. Hoyt was attending school and could read and write.

Hoyt married Mary Wells in Hamilton County, Tennessee on November 7, 1925. The Chattanooga Daily Times reported their names on November 8, 1925 in a list of people who had obtained a marriage license. Hoyt’s last name was incorrectly listed as “West” vs. “Vest” in the news clipping. 

One page from the Vest-Wells marriage license (1925)

Vest-Wells marriage license (click to enlarge)

On June 29, 1926, a premature infant was born in Ringgold, Catoosa County, Georgia. It appears the baby was alive at birth vs. stillborn as the doctor certified that he saw her alive on June 29. Sadly, she died at 7 a.m. that morning. The unnamed infant was buried the same day on the home grounds in Ringgold. The death certificate listed the father as Hoyt Vest, born in Whitfield County, Georgia. However, the name of the mother is a mystery. In the box “maiden name of mother,” the name Mary K. Huffacker, born in Knoxville, Tennessee was listed. As you read on, you’ll see that on Hoyt’s World War II draft registration card, his wife was listed as Mrs. Mary Cathern Vest. So, is Mary Wells and Mary K. Huffacker the same woman? Did the “K” stand for Katherine (Cathern)? I don’t find any other records to help solve this mystery so who knows. Any thoughts you might have would be appreciated. 

Cropped image from the unnamed infant's death certificate showing the maiden name of mother

 
Hoyt’s sister Martha Lee Vest was born in Georgia, probably Whitfield County, on May 1, 1927. She died in Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia on February 15, 1928. Her death certificate notes there was no physician present. Instead, a statement from Hoyt’s parents said Martha probably died from measles and influenza. She was buried the next day at Ebenezer Cemetery in Catoosa County.

Hoyt and Mary welcomed a daughter they named Louella Mae Vest on November 7, 1929, born in Chattanooga. Another daughter, Billie Jean Vest, was born in Hamilton County on February 16, 1934. Sadly, she didn’t survive infancy and died at home in Lupton City, Hamilton County, Tennessee on March 26. Lupton City was a suburb of Chattanooga. The cause of death listed on her death certificate was influenza and broncho pneumonia, contributed by congenital heart disease. Billie was buried the next day at Ebenezer Cemetery in Catoosa County, Georgia.

Cropped image from Billie Jean Vest's death certificate showing burial location

 
Martha and Billie’s death certificates were clues that helped me figure out who I believe Mary Wells’ parents were. If I’m correct, that would be James “Glenn” Wells and Amanda Leonard. Both Martha and Billie were buried in Ebenezer Cemetery. Neither death certificate included the cemetery location so I looked for that cemetery in the Chattanooga area. Didn’t find one so looked in Georgia and found one in Catoosa County. Hoyt’s family lived in Catoosa County as did Hoyt and Mary themselves at one point but I still needed a connection. One of the burials listed in Ebenezer Cemetery’s Find A Grave site is Thomas Benton “T.B.” Wells. So now I had both Vest and Wells burials in that cemetery but was still looking to connect Mary to T.B. Wells. I decided to let Ancestry.com do the work for me and started building his family tree. It turns out, T.B. Wells had a son named James Glenn Wells who had a daughter named Mary with Amanda Leonard. The 1910 Blackstock, Catoosa County, Georgia census record shows the Glenn Wells family with daughter Mary (born 1909) and her grandfather “Benton Wells” living in the home. The birth year is off a little but within reasonable numbers. Assuming this is correct, along with the connection to Catoosa County, it makes sense that Mary would bury her daughter at Ebenezer Cemetery. I still need the paper trail to prove the connection, but I feel like I’m onto something here. 

Glenn Wells family, with Mary included, in 1910 census record (click to enlarge)

A son named Hobert McKinley Vest, was born to Hoyt and Mary in Tennessee on December 27, 1937.

On April 3, 1940, Hoyt, his wife Mary, daughter Louella, and son Hobert (enumerated as Hovert) lived in a rental home at 56 Third Avenue in Lupton City. They had been living in the same house since 1935. The highest grade in school Hoyt had completed was the 7th. A 21-year-old white female named Mossie Stepp lived in the home as well. Mossie was enumerated as a servant with the occupation of housekeeper in a private home. She too had been living in the home since 1935. Hoyt was employed as a yarn boy in a cotton mill and had made $789 in 1939. Mary was employed as a reeler in a cotton mill and made $889 in 1939. According to the Hall Genealogy Website: Old Occupation Names, a reeler “received yarn on bobbins or paper tubes and arranged them on a shelf above the machine; guided and attached the end of the yarns to swifts (skeleton reels), which revolved and wound the yarn upon themselves in skein form; controlled the power drive on the machine; mended broken threads; removed the hanks or skeins of yarn from the machine when completed.” Mossie had been paid $156 for her services with I imagine room and board included. 

Hoyt was also enumerated at his parents’ home in the Blackstock District of Catoosa County, Georgia on April 13, 1940. This census record shows that he was married but his wife and children were not listed. Hoyt was employed as a farmer/unpaid family worker and had worked 30 hours during the week of March 24–30, 1940. His father was still a farmer, as was his brothers Andrew Jr., Earl, and George. The record shows that everyone in the house had been living there since 1935, although we know that was not the case for Hoyt.

Hoyt registered for the World War II draft in Hamilton County, Tennessee, on October 16, 1940 at the age of 35. He and his wife, Mary, lived at 56 Third Avenue in Lupton City. His registration card described him as being 6’ 2” tall and weighing 222 pounds. He had a dark complexion, black hair, and brown eyes. Hoyt worked at the Dixie Mercerizing Company in Lupton City. According to Wikipedia, “mercerisation is a textile finishing treatment for cellulose fabric and yarn, mainly cotton and flax, which improves dye uptake and tear strength, reduces fabric shrinkage, and imparts a silk-like luster.”

World War II draft registration card

On April 7, 1950, Hoyt, Mary, Louella, and Hobert still lived in the Third Avenue house in Lupton City. Hoyt worked as an oiler in the spinning department of a textile mill while Mary was no longer employed. Their daughter Louella, age 20, was also working in the textile mill, as a winder. The Chattanooga City Directories for the years 1952 – 1954 showed that they continued to live in the Third Avenue house. In 1954, Hoyt worked as a spinner at the Dixie Mercerizing Company. Sometime after 1954, Hoyt apparently divorced Mary and married my granny, Daisy Lee Shields. I’m told they lived together for several years before they married so it must have been in the late 1950s. Hoyt was Granny’s sixth husband, well technically, fifth—she married one of them twice. 

Hoyt and my Granny, Daisy Shields in the Smoky Mountains

Hoyt, Granny, and my sister Jennifer

Hoyt and Granny

I remember they lived in a house in Tunnel Hill, Whitfield County, Georgia built by one of Granny’s other husbands. I believe the property the house was built on was given to Granny by her father, James Stewart Shields. The house sat up on a small hill and was a short walk down the dirt road from my great-grandparents house. There was no running water inside—it had both a well and an outhouse sitting in the yard. I recall going to the well, dropping the bucket that hung from a rope, and then drinking water from the big ladle that was always sitting in the bucket. Every summer, a couple of us usually spent a week there and we took our baths in a big wash tub in the kitchen. The outhouse sat on the other inside of the driveway on the back side of the house. Granny was a beautician and owned a beauty shop. The two of them would take us to the shop for a wash and haircut. We traveled together to the Smoky Mountains and they spent Christmas with us.

Hoyt washing hair at Granny's beauty shop (not sure which of us this is)

Me with Hoyt in the background

Hoyt and an unknown man. Unfortunately, I never asked Mama who he was.

My sister Bonita, Hoyt, me, brother Michael, sisters Vanessa and Jennifer and Granny

Me, Mama (Fay Lankford), Hoyt, and Granny

Hoyt’s mother Bessie died on September 17, 1959 at her home in Ringgold, Catoosa County, Georgia. By this time, Hoyt had moved from Tennessee and was living in Ringgold. His father Andrew died at Fort Oglethorpe, Catoosa County, Georgia on April 13, 1969. Both were buried at Nellie Head Church in Tunnel Hill.

Hoyt and his mother, Bessie Elliott Vest

At some point, Hoyt and Granny sold the Tunnel Hill house and moved to Calhoun, Gordon County, Georgia after he got a job in the carpet mills. They lived there four or five years and then moved to Cleveland, Bradley County, Tennessee. Somewhere along the way, Hoyt developed diabetes and lost a big toe on one foot. He eventually lost the leg above the knee and then later lost the other leg and was totally dependent on Granny. This apparently didn’t sit well with her and she filed for divorce. After the divorce, Hoyt moved to San Diego, California to live with his son. My sister remembers that he didn’t want to go but Granny was moving on. Other Vest family members had moved to California at some point so perhaps they were all together. Hoyt’s brother George died in El Cajon, San Diego County, California on September 20, 1983. We lost track of what happened to Hoyt after his move but did learn he died in San Diego on April 30, 1987. Unfortunately, we don’t know the circumstances or where he was buried. 

In researching to write his story, I learned that Hoyt had a lot of heartache in his life. And when he needed support the most, my Granny wasn’t there for him. I hope he found peace in life before he died.

Granny, my sister Bonita, Hoyt holding me, Daddy (Sam Lankford)
holding my sister Jennifer in our backyard

References

• California Death Index, 1940-1997, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPV7-8HT:26 November 2014), William Hoyt Vest, 30 Apr 1987; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
• Chattanooga, Tennessee, City Directory, 1952, 1953, 1954.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10966405/thomas-benton-wells: accessed 9 August 2022), memorial page for Thomas Benton “T.B.” Wells (1838–7 Apr 1916), Find a Grave Memorial ID 10966405, citing Ebenezer Cemetery, Catoosa County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Lawrence Wells (contributor 47075545).
• George Luther Vest, California Death Index, 1940–1997.
• Hall Genealogy Website: Old Occupation Names; http://rmhh.co.uk/occup/q-r.html#R. 
• Hobert McKinley Vest, California, U.S., Death Index, 1940–1997.
• Inf. of Hoyt Vest, Georgia, U.S., Death Index, 1919–1998.
• Marriage Licenses, Chattanooga Daily Times, Chattanooga, Tennessee, November 8, 1925.
• Mercerised cotton; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercerised_cotton. 
• Mrs. Bessie Elliott Vest and Andrew Jackson Vest obituaries, newspapers unknown.
• Personal Lankford family memories.
• U.S. Federal Census, Blackstock, Catoosa County, Georgia, 1910, 1920, 1940.
• U.S. Federal Census, Lupton City, Hamilton County, Tennessee, 1950.
• U.S. Federal Census, Rocky Face, Whitfield County, Georgia, 1930.
• Unnamed infant of Hoyt Vest, Standard Certificate of Birth no. 13709, Georgia State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.
• William Hoyt Vest, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947. 

Arlie Mack Rhinehart

Arlie Mack Rhinehart, son of William Dearnald Rhinehart and Roda Elizabeth “Bettie” Sneed, was born on May 5 or 8, 1892 in Sevierville, Sevier County, Tennessee. He was the 4th of 5 children—Sarah “Malonia” Rhinehart, Ollie C. Rhinehart, James Daniel Rhinehart, Arlie Mack Rhinehart, Hattie Jane Rhinehart. Arlie was my great grand uncle with our nearest common relatives being his parents, my 2nd great grandparents.

The Rhinehart family. Arlie is the youngest boy should
is probably standing behind his father.

Following the trail to determine Arlie’s actual birthdate seems impossible. It starts with the 1900 census where the census enumerator recorded the date as May 1892. In both 1910 and 1920, the estimated birth year on Ancestry.com is 1893. Arlie’s World War I draft registration card has the date as 1893. In the 1940 census, it was listed as 1900. The Social Security Death Index lists his birth as May 8, 1892. And finally, his tombstone has the date May 5, 1891 engraved on it. These are the only records I have found to date. So, which is it? If anyone reading this has a record that can prove the date, I’d love to hear from you.

On June 11, 1900, the Rhinehart family lived in the 13th Civil District of Sevier County, Tennessee. Arlie’s parents had been married for 14 years. His mother was enumerated as having had five children, all of which were living. Arlie’s father was a farmer on a rented farm. His brother James, age 10, was a farm laborer. At age 8, Arlie was unable to read or write, nor was he attending school. Arlie lost his father at the young age of 15. William, young himself at 44, died in Tennessee on April 19, 1908. Arlie’s father was buried at Catons Chapel Cemetery in Sevierville. 

On April 29, 1910, Arlie, his widowed mother, and three of his siblings lived in the 13th Civil District of Sevier County. His sister Malonia, now married to Ashley Sutton, lived next door with her husband and daughter Georgia. Arlie’s sister Hattie married James “Stewart” Shields (my great grandparents) in 1909 and they both lived in the Rhinehart home. Arlie’s mother was a farmer on a rented general farm with Ollie and James both being farm laborers on the “home” farm. Arlie and his brother-in-law Stewart were both farm laborers. Everyone except his sister Ollie could read and write. Sometime after 1914, Hattie and her family moved to Whitfield County, Georgia. Their sister Malonia became seriously ill and needed help taking care of herself and her children so they too moved to Whitfield County. About 1915, Arlie married Huldie Cross, the date, her parents, and marriage location unknown to me. By the time their daughter Malonia “Lonia” J. Rhinehart was born on November 17, 1916, they had moved to Georgia. A week after Lonia was born (November 25), Arlie’s sister Malonia died in Georgia, probably Whitfield County. She was buried at Deep Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia, leaving three young daughters behind, ages seven, three, and one. When Arlie registered for the World War I draft in Whitfield County on June 5, 1917, he noted that he had a wife and child who were solely dependent on him for support, claiming exemption from the draft based on these dependents. At age 24, Arlie was a self-employed farmer working in Dalton. He was short and stout, had blue eyes and dark hair. The Rhinehart family didn’t escape the war though. From October 1917 until June 1919, Arlie’s brother Jim Rhinehart served in the U.S. Army during World War I. Shipped to France, Jim served with the 318th Field Artillery as a Wagoner in the Supply Company.

On January 8, 1920, Arlie, Huldie, and Malonia lived at Red Clay and Hopewell Road in Cohutta, Whitfield County where Arlie worked as a general farmer. I can’t find a record to prove it, but Arlie and Huldie must have divorced between 1920 and 1930. 

Huldie and Malonia Rhinehart in the 1930 census (click to enlarge)

Despite extensive census record searches on both the Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org websites, I can’t find Arlie in 1930. I did find Huldie and their daughter Malonia living in Whitfield County’s Militia District 631 where Huldie was enumerated with her last name spelled Reinhardt and widowed. We know that Arlie was still living so I’m not sure what was going on there. Huldie lived two doors from my grandfather, Sam J. Holland, and his first wife Opal. Next door to Sam was Arlie’s future brother-in-law’s uncle, Milas O. Shields (Hattie’s brother). Arlie’s mother lived in the Upper Tenth District of Whitfield County with her brother George Sneed and his brother James lived in Sevierville. So, where was he? The record trail picks back up in 1933 when Arlie married Martha Jane Headrick, daughter of John LaFayette Headrick and Martha Rebecca Cotter, in Sevier County on April 15 in a ceremony performed by L. W. Clark, Minister. No children were born to this union. 

Arlie Rhinehart and Martha Headrick's marriage certificate, 1933

Arlie’s sister Ollie died in Sevierville on July 24, 1934 and was buried at Catons Chapel Cemetery in Sevierville.

On April 26, 1940, I found Arlie and Martha living in District 1109 of Catoosa County, Georgia. The census record notes that they had been living in the same house since 1935. Arlie was working a 40-hour week as a helper on a private farm. By the time the Chattanooga city directory was published in 1942, Arlie and Martha had moved there and lived with my mother and grandfather Sam Holland in a rental home at 1408 Fagan Street. Arlie worked as a helper for Smith’s Transportation Corporation, the same company Sam worked as a driver. Arlie and Martha eventually settled in a house a block from Mama and her father. Sam’s World War II draft registration card, dated February 16, 1942, confirms that Arlie lived in the same house as Sam. It was probably around this time my grandmother Daisy Shields Holland accused Sam of taking Mama across state lines and had him arrested. He didn’t; Mama was safely at home in Chattanooga. It was Arlie, Daisy’s uncle, that bailed Sam out of jail.

Chattanooga City Directory, 1942

Sam Holland's 1942 World War II registration card. You can see he lived at
1408 Fagan Street in Chattanooga and worked at Smith Transfer --
the same as Arlie.

Arlie’s mother Bettie died of breast cancer on July 23, 1945 at the age of 77 in Sevierville. She was buried two days later at Catons Chapel Cemetery in Sevierville.

In 1950, Arlie and Martha lived in a rented home at 1101 1/2A East 14th Street in Chattanooga. Arlie worked as a manager for Silver Fleet Motor Express. In 1955, they lived in a rented home at 509 East 16th Street in Chattanooga. Arlie worked at M. M. Hedges Manufacturing Company.

At age 64, Martha died at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga on October 13, 1961 of a possible heart attack contributed to by coronary artery disease. She also had cecum carcinoma, a form of colorectal cancer. Arlie was the informant on Martha’s death certificate. Martha was buried at Mattox Cemetery in Sevierville on October 15. Arlie and Martha lived at 1610 South Orchard Knob Avenue at the time of her death. 

Arlie’s brother James died in Sevier County on January 29, 1971. He was buried at Shiloh Memorial Cemetery in Pigeon Forge, Sevier County, Tennessee. His sister Hattie died in Chattanooga on April 11, 1982. She was buried at Nellie Head Memorial Baptist Cemetery in Catoosa County, Georgia.

Arlie lived a long life, dying in Chattanooga at the age of 93 on July 9, 1985. He was buried at Mattox Cemetery in Sevierville on July 12 in a service officiated by Tom Salmons. Arlie lived in Chattanooga for over 40 years and retired as a farmer. He was survived by his daughter, two stepdaughters, nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Tombstone photos by Tangled Web Weaver, Find A Grave ID 46967364.

Arlie played a key role in my mother’s life during her early years. Mama and her father Sam Holland lived in Chattanooga, Tennessee when her mother Daisy (my Granny) left the family behind. Daisy was eventually declared unfit by the courts and Sam was granted sole custody of Mama. Daisy’s family were good people though and were there to help Sam raise my Mama. Daisy’s mother, Hattie Rhinehart Shields (a sweet woman we called Grandma Shields), was Arlie’s sister who lived in Tunnel Hill, Georgia, 25 miles from Chattanooga. Every weekend, Daisy’s brother Jim Shields drove to Chattanooga and brought Mama to Tunnel Hill with stay with her grandmother. Mama spent the summer months in Tunnel Hill as well. It was during the summer that Arlie and his wife Martha picked Mama up in their wagon and took her back to their house in Catoosa County for several days. Mama was only 6 or 7 years old at the time but remembers shucking corn. Some of the corn was taken to the grist mill for grinding into corn meal to make cornbread. Arlie had a different type of corn that was used to make popcorn. Mama remembers putting the kernels in a long-handled wire basket and shaking it back and forth over the fireplace until all the kernels popped. The fireplace was the only form of heat in Arlie’s house, he didn’t have electric heat. Apparently, the house didn’t have plumbing either. Mama said they saved the corn cobs for the outhouse to be used along with the Sears Roebuck catalog. Yes, she said they really did that. And then there were the pigs that Mama remembers helping Arlie feed. I’m sure corn was part of their diet. She remembers pulling ragweed and feeding it to them through the fence. She also remembers going to her Grandma Shields house and a group of men shooting a pig. The men tied the pig by its feet and hung it over an oil drum filled with water and then lit a fire underneath the drum to heat up the water. Once the water was hot enough, they dropped the pig into the drum for a short time, then pulled it out and scraped the hair off the skin. Mama, being a little girl, remembers this made her cry. The group of men most likely included Arlie, his brother-in-law James Stewart Shields (we called him Pappy), and brothers-in-law Jim and Paul Sam Shields. Once the pig was cleaned, they cut it up and hung it in the salt house for eating during the winter months, going in and cutting off what they needed for a meal. Mama remembers eating pork tenderloin with gravy and biscuits. 

Paul Sam Shields and Arlie Mack Rhinehart

Every Saturday, Arlie’s wife Martha baked a cake. Mama said Martha made her stay outside while the cake baked in the wooden stove. Martha didn’t want Mama jumping around in the kitchen and cause the cake to fall. I remember Mama used to tell us to not jump around the kitchen when she had a cake in the oven as well. After Mama married and had my oldest sister, she and my Daddy separated. Mama and my sister moved to Tunnel Hill and lived with Grandma Shields. During that time, Mama made an overnight trip to Chattanooga to look for work and stayed with Arlie and Martha. In the middle of the night, she realized the bed was infested with bed bugs so got up and sat on the front porch the rest of the night. Mama was probably grossed out at the time but giggled as she recalled the story to me.

One of Mama’s cousins recalled Arlie being a story teller and said he told the best stories from his youth. She remembers him telling stories of working in a quarry and the technique used to split granite.

Arlie’s middle name has been used in his maternal Sneed line for three generations: his uncle Mack Sneed (1874 – 1900), himself (Arlie Mack Rhinehart), and his nephew Loyal Mack Shields (1938 – 2010).

References

• Arlie M. Rhinehart obituary, Chattanooga Times, July 11, 1985.
• Arlie Rhinehart and Martha Headrick marriage certificate, Sevier County, Tennessee.
• Arlie Rhinehart, Social Security Death Index.
• Arlie Rhinehart, World War I Draft Registration Card, June 5, 1917.
• Chattanooga, Tennessee, City Directory, 1942, 1950, 1955.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed February 7, 2021), memorial page for James D. Rhinehart (16 Mar 1890–29 Jan 1971), Find a Grave Memorial no. 26112000, citing Shiloh Memorial Cemetery, Pigeon Forge, Sevier County, Tennessee, USA; maintained by Liz Olmstead (contributor 46772820).
• H. J. Shields, Georgia Deaths, 1919-98.
• James Rhinehart, U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010.
• Malonia Rhinehart Sutton tombstone, Deep Springs Baptist Church Cemetery, Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia.
• Martha Jane Headrick, Delayed Certificate of Birth no. 511630, State of Tennessee, Dept. of Public Health, Div. of Vital Statistics.
• Martha Jean Headrick Rhinehart, Certificate of Death no. 61-25490, Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Statistics, State of Tennessee.
• Mrs. Ollie Matthews Certificate of Death no. 16503, State Department of Health, Division of Vital Statistics, State of Tennessee.
• Personal memories of Fay Lankford and Evelyn Jenkins.
• Personal visit to Nellie Head Memorial Baptist Cemetery, Catoosa County, Georgia.
• U.S. Federal Census, Civil District 13, Sevier County, Tennessee, 1900, 1910.
• U.S. Federal Census, Cohutta, Whitfield County, Georgia, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, District 1109, Catoosa County, Georgia, 1940.
• U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007.