Guardianship of Leroy T. Holland’s Children

In last week’s post, I shared a court document revealing that Amanda (Hall) Holland petitioned the court on May 23, 1892 for a year’s support following the death of her husband, Leroy Thomas Holland (my 2nd great grandfather), on May 4, 1892. As it turns out, that was not Amanda’s only involvement with the court regarding Leroy’s estate. In April 1893, a legal case titled Geo. P. Brownlee vs. Amanda Holland et al was filed in Whitfield County, Georgia. 

Just two years earlier, in January 1891, George Brownlee—a friend of Leroy’s—had played a key role in helping the Hollands relocate from Anderson County, South Carolina, to Dalton in Whitfield County. As part of that move, Brownlee sold Leroy a tract of land, and Leroy also purchased an adjoining 80-acre parcel. While they awaited the arrival of their household goods, the Holland family stayed with Brownlee at his home in the Deep Springs area of Dalton.

At the time of the court case, Amanda’s six children—Aaron, Lawrence, Joseph, Elijah, Andrew, and Charles—were still minors. In 1893 Georgia, anyone under the age of 21 was legally considered a minor and could not own property, enter into contracts, or represent themselves in court. Although Amanda was their mother and daily caregiver, Georgia law in the 19th century typically did not allow a parent—especially one with a financial interest in the estate—to serve as the children’s legal representative in court. Instead, the judge appointed J. C. Norton, the county Ordinary, as guardian ad litem—a neutral third party tasked with protecting the children’s legal rights. Norton formally accepted this role on April 19, 1893.

While I have not yet uncovered any additional court records related to the guardianship, this document revealed new information about my Holland line that I did not have before.

Geo. P. Brownlee vs. Amanda Holland, et al.
Equitable petition
Ordered by the Court that J. C. Norton be and he is hereby appointed guardian ad litem for the minor children Aaron, Lawrence, Joseph, Elijah, Andrew, and Charles Holland upon his signifying his acceptance of the trust and upon his acceptance that the course proceed. April Term, 1893.

Thomas W. Milner, J.S.C.C.C.

I accept the above appointment. April 19, 1893.
J. C. Norton

Geo. P. Brownlee vs. Amanda Holland, et al.
Equitable petition
This case having been settled it is ordered by the Court that plaintiff recover of defendants Twenty-four and 05/100 dollars for costs. This June 15, 1894.

Thomas W. Milner, J.S.C.C.C.

References

• Hall/Holland family history, Aaron Hall Holland letter, May 15, 1964.
• Whitfield County, Georgia, Court Minutes 1892–1897, images 64, 148, FamilySearch. 

Amanda (Hall) Holland petitions court for support

I recently uncovered a court document revealing that Janie (Dove) Holland petitioned the court for a year’s support following the death of her husband, Elijah Jeffers Holland, who passed away at just 42. A month later, I found another court record—this one dating back to 1892—showing that Elijah’s stepmother, Amanda (Hall) Holland, had once done the very same thing after losing her husband, Elijah’s father, Leroy Thomas Holland (my 2nd great grandfather).

In 19th-century Georgia, when a husband died, state law entitled his widow and minor children to receive enough of the estate to cover their living expenses for one year. Just weeks after Leroy’s death on May 4, 1892, Amanda submitted a petition to the Whitfield County, Georgia Ordinary Court (the local probate court), requesting financial and property support for herself and the six minor children Leroy left behind.

Three of those children—Aaron, Lawrence, and Joseph—were hers with Leroy. The other three—Elijah, Andrew, and Charles—were from his earlier marriage to my 2nd great-grandmother, Amanda Elizabeth Scott. Amanda also asked for basic household furniture and goods to meet their day-to-day needs. At the time, no estate administrator had been appointed, which added urgency to her appeal.

Amand Holland, widow of Leroy T. Holland
Application for years support. Filed in office May 23, 1892. 
J. C. Norton, Ordinary 
State of Georgia, Whitfield County.
To the Honorable Court of Ordinary of said County. 
The petition of Amanda Holland respectfully showeth that Leroy T. Holland late of said County departed this life on the 4th day of May 1892 leaving your petitioner his widow and six minor children surviving him, to wit, Aaron, Lawrence, and Joseph Holland, the children of your petitioner and Elijah, Andrew, and Charles Holland, the three last named are the children of deceased by a former marriage and she prays your Honorable Court in conformity with the statute in such case made and provided to appoint five discreet and proper persons to act as appraisers in setting apart to your petitioner and her six minor children as aforesaid the sum necessary in their judgement for support and maintenance of your petitioner and her children for the space of twelve months from the 4th day of May 1892 either in money or such property as may be selected by your petitioner at a fair valuation to be made by said appraisers. And also to set apart a sufficient amount of household furniture for the use of your petitioner and her children, and further to require said appraisers to return to you for record their proceedings. Petitioner shows that there is no administrator on said estate. And your petitioner will ever pray. 

Amanda H. Holland, petitioner

The court responded by appointing five local men as appraisers, charging them with assessing the estate and determining what assets should be set aside to support Amanda and the children for 12 months. 

Whitfield Court of Ordinary at Chambers
Upon the foregoing application of Amanda Holland, the widow of Leroy T. Holland deceased for the appointment of appraisers to set apart to said widow and her six minor children a sum necessary for their support and maintenance for the space of twelve months out of the estate of said Leroy T. Holland deceased and also to set apart for the use of said widow and children a sufficient amount of household furniture. It is ordered that George P. Brownlee, Samuel R. Hackett, Joseph B. Hays, Andrew J. Womack, and John Ledford be and they are hereby appointed appraisers for that purpose and that a warrant issue to them. Further ordered that said appraisers return to me for record all their proceedings in the premises. Ordered further that this order operate as a warrant to them for so doing. Given under my hand and official signature this 23d day of May 1892.

J. C. Norton, Ordinary 

Their findings, submitted on June 4, set apart a share of household items, farming tools, livestock, and 80 acres of land for Amanda and her three children—on the condition that she pay $100 toward the estate’s debts. The three children from Leroy’s first marriage were also allocated a selection of livestock, tools, and partial land interests.

Georgia, Whitfield County 
To the Ordinary of said County. 
We the undersigned appraisers appointed by your honorable Court to assess and set apart a sum necessary for the support and maintenance of the widow and minor children of Leroy T. Hollard deceased for twelve months either in money or such property as the said widow may select, do report that we find there are two sets of children, to wit, three by a former wife, and three by the said widow and after considering the condition of the estate and the family, we have set apart as being necessary for the support and maintenance of the said widow and her own three children to wit: Aaron, Lawrence, and Joseph Holland the following to wit: One wagon $25, one keg 75 cents, one cross cut saw 50 cents, plow stocks and harness $3, 3/4 bushel grass seed 40 cents, one set buggy harness $1, one garden rake 25 cents, 2450 feet of lumber $12.25, one wash pot 50 cents, mattock 25 cents, grind stone 40 cents, 5 jugs $1, 2 kegs 75 cents, carpenters tools $3, one cow and calf $15, 8 hogs $12, two bureaus two trunks $3, one chair $1, 3 bedsteads $4, one clock $1,4/7 of $150 in lots of land no. 213, ½ of 184 (80 acres of land lot no. 184) tenth district and third section $100. We give her said 80 acres of land provided she pays outstanding debts against the estate to the amount of one hundred dollars. And we also set apart for the support and maintenance of the three minor children by the former marriage to wit: Elijah, Andrew, and Charlie Holland, aged respectively 19, 17, and 15 years, the following property, to wit: One mule $40, two yearlings $6, 2450 ft. of lumber $12.25, 1 evaporator pan $5, 1 safe $3, 3/7 of $150 interest in lots of land no. 213 and one half of no. 184, tenth district and third section.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this June 4th 1892.

G. P. Brownlee
J. L. Ledford
J. B. Hays
S. R. Hackett

After the appraisers completed their assessment of Leroy’s estate and recommended what support should be set aside for Amanda and the six children, the next step in the legal process was to notify the public. On the record for the July 1892 term, the Whitfield County Court of Ordinary ordered that a citation be issued and published—as required by law. This meant the court was now legally required to let others know that Amanda’s claim had been filed and that the appraisers’ report was available for review.

The notice read:

Whitfield Court of Ordinary 
July Term 1892

Ordered that citation issue and be published as the law requires. 

J. C. Norton, Ordinary

The notice was published publicly in The Dalton Argus on September 3, 1892 and served as a formal invitation for anyone with legal interest in the estate to object. That could include creditors, other family members, or anyone who believed the division of property was unfair or overlooked their rights. The publication fee was listed as $2.25.

GEORGIA, Whitfield County,
Notice is hereby given that the appraisers appointed to set apart to the widow and minor children of Leroy T. Holland deceased a year support from the estate of said deceased, have filed their report and all persons concerned are required to show cause if any they have on the first Monday in September 1892, why said report should not be confirmed, pf$2.25

J. C. Norton, Ordinary

The Dalton Argus, Dalton, Georgia, September 3, 1892

In Amanda’s case, no one stepped forward to contest the report. When the court reconvened in September, her petition was officially approved.

Whitfield Court of Ordinary 
September Term 1892
Notice having been lawfully published requiring all persons concerned, to show cause of any they have why the report of the appraisers appointed to set apart a years support from the estate of Leroy T. Holland, deceased, for the maintenance of Amanda Holland widow of said deceased and her six minor children, should not be confirmed at this term of the Court, and now, there being no objection presented and the Court believing the report just and reasonable, it is hereby ordered to record and made the judgement of this Court. This September 5, 1892.

J. C. Horton, Ordinary

This glimpse into 19th-century probate law shows how widows like Amanda had to not only hold their families together after loss but also navigate a system more focused on property than people. These records reflect the strength it took for the women who came before us to simply endure and survive.

References

• Notice, The Dalton Argus, Dalton, Georgia, September 3, 1892.
• Whitfield County, Georgia, Probate Records 1865–1935. Images 205–206, FamilySearch. 

Janie (Dove) Holland petitions court for support

While researching my great-grandparents, Elijah Jeffers Holland and Cornelia Jane “Janie” Dove, I uncovered a court document that reveals new details about their lives. I’m sharing it here as an extension of their story, rather than a traditional timeline sketch (I’ve already created one for each of them). If you’d like to learn more, click their names above to read their earlier sketches.

Elijah and Janie (Dove) Holland

Elijah and Janie married in 1894. After a brief stay in Hart County, Georgia, they made their home in Whitfield County, Georgia, where they farmed the land, attended church, and surrounded themselves with family and friends, becoming respected members of the community. They were blessed with three children: Roy Holland (1897), Nellie Holland (1898), and Samuel “Sam” Jackson Holland (1904). A fourth child, sadly, did not survive.

On March 4, 1915, their lives were forever altered. Elijah passed away in Dalton, Georgia, at just 42 years old, leaving Janie, 43, to navigate an uncertain future. Their three children—Roy (17), Nellie (16), and Sam (10)—were still too young to shoulder the burden of their loss. For Janie, the passing of her husband also meant the loss of the family’s sole provider.

In the early 20th century, widows like Janie endured immense hardships. With no breadwinner to support them, they turned to the courts for relief—a provision allowed under Georgia law at the time. On April 1, 1915, Janie petitioned the Whitfield County Court for 12 months of financial and property support for herself and her children, along with household furniture to help sustain their lives.

The court appointed five appraisers—G. L. Broadrick, A. L. Rollins, C. N. McAllister, George W. Cline, and W. N. Richardson—to evaluate the estate and allocate resources for Janie and the children. Their assessment concluded Janie required $890 for support and maintenance. She chose to receive her allotment in this form:

• Land: Elijah’s equitable interest in 33 acres (lot 305) and 35 acres (lot 272), valued at $700
• Livestock: One mule ($100), one cow ($25), and two pigs ($5)
• Tools and furniture: Farming tools and wagons ($10), and household furniture ($50)

This allocation provided much-needed support, but with a stipulation: Janie would be responsible for settling all outstanding debts associated with the estate.

This court document offers a small window into the challenges Janie faced after Elijah’s untimely passing, while also shedding light on the struggles women endured during that era. I can’t imagine standing in her shoes, forced to petition the court simply to secure the means to support my family. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come.

References

E. J. Holland, Whitfield County, Georgia, Probate Records 1865–1935, images 325–326, FamilySearch. 

New Shields Family Photos

While going through online trees recently, I found the two photos featured in this post—one of the Samuel Cas Shields family and one of my grandmother, Daisy Lee Shields. Both photos were posted on another Shields family researcher’s online family tree. That researcher, Oliver Cagle, and I are 2nd cousins once removed, and we are both descendants of Cas and his wife, Martha Ann Ogle. Oliver’s grandmother was Cas and Martha’s daughter, Melona Jane Shields, and a sibling of my great-grandfather, James Stewart Shields. Years ago, Oliver, my sister, and I exchanged Shields family information and photos, but he did not have these particular photos back then. After discovering the photos, I reached out to Oliver to inform him of my intention to use them on my blog and asked where he found them. He replied that they came from either his grandmother or her daughter Betty, both of whom have since passed away. 

The family photo features (from left to right) Melona Jane Shields, Maude Maree Shields, and Pearl Lewcrilly Shields in the front row. Jane, also known as Janie or Dicie, later married, moved to California, had four children, and lived to the age of 95. Maude married young and sadly died at age 16, likely due to childbirth complications. Pearl’s life was particularly tragic. She married a man who struggled with alcoholism and was unable to support their family of five children (four sons and one daughter). Pearl contracted tuberculosis and died at the age of 31. After her death, her husband abandoned the children, who ranged in age from 2 to 11. They spent some time with their grandparents, Cas and Martha, but due to financial constraints, the four youngest children were eventually placed at Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. The sons were placed in one home and the daughter in another, through their church, where they stayed until they turned 18. The oldest son, being old enough to work, lived with an uncle (Elmer Shields) for a short time and then with an aunt (Addice Shields). Despite their tragic beginnings, all five children grew up to lead good, productive lives.

In the back row are (from left to right) Walter C. Brown Shields, Sallie Addice Shields, Albert Conley Shields, James Stewart Shields, and Martha and Cas Shields. Walter, a farmer in Whitfield County, Georgia, married and had eight children before he passed away at age 57. Addice, the mother of six children, was married three times. She lived to age 87 after taking care of her mother and brother Blaine Arthur Shields following Cas’ passing. Conley, who lived to age 72, married and had one daughter and worked in construction. Stewart, my Pappy, married and had 12 children. He passed away at age 70 after working as a farmer for many years in Whitfield County, Georgia, and then at a cardboard manufacturer in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Martha and Cas Shields, farmers in Sevier County, Tennessee, before moving to Whitfield County, Georgia, raised 10 children before their deaths at age 91 and 85, respectively.

Oliver estimates that his grandmother was about 13 years old at the time the family photo was taken, which would place it around 1920.

Samuel Cas Shields family (ca. 1920). Photo from Oliver Cagle.

The second photo features my granny, Daisy Lee Shields, the eldest child of James Stewart Shields and Hattie Jane Rhinehart. I believe Daisy was in her late teens or early 20s when this photo was taken on the back porch of Cas and Martha’s home in Tunnel Hill, Georgia. Daisy was married six times and had one daughter. She worked as a beautician and lived to the age of 77. If you would like to learn more about Daisy’s life, click here.

Daisy Lee Shields (ca. 1930). Photo from Oliver Cagle.

Although I titled this post “New Shields Family Photos,” these photos are not new in the traditional sense—but they are new to me. It was thrilling to discover these photos, as I had never seen either of them before. I do have one photo of Cas and Martha Shields, taken around 1910, with all but two of their children—my great-grandfather Stewart, who had already married and left home, and Maude, who had not been born yet. I am thankful Oliver took the time to post these photos. 

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. 

Amanda (Hall) Holland sells Georgia land

This legal record is a deed documenting the transfer of property ownership—80 acres described as the north half of land lot number 184 in the Tenth District and Third Section of Whitfield County, Georgia—from Amanda Holland to W. R. Hammontree. Amanda (Hall) Holland was the second wife of my 2nd great-grandfather, Leroy Thomas Holland, who passed away on May 4, 1892, in Beaverdale, Whitfield County, Georgia. Leroy purchased the land after moving from Anderson County, South Carolina, to Whitfield County around January 1891. I descend through Leroy’s first wife, Amanda Elizabeth Scott.

This deed corroborates what Leroy and Amanda’s son, Aaron Hall Holland, shared in a 1964 letter to my grandfather detailing Hall/Holland family history. I included some of what he wrote in a sketch about Amanda that I wrote in 2015. You can read that here. Essentially, Aaron mentioned that in 1894, the Holland family (Amanda and her sons Aaron, Lawrence, and Joseph) were ordered off land owned by their friend George Brownlee in Whitfield County, where they had lived since moving from Anderson. Following this, Amanda moved the family to 80 acres of land Leroy had purchased adjacent to Brownlee’s land. Amanda worked hard to make the land viable for them, but after much encouragement and an offer from her brother she could not refuse, she sold the 80 acres and moved to Alief, Harris County, Texas. Aaron believed she sold the land for $100, but it appears it was $150. She was already in Texas when she signed the deed over to Hammontree on December 6, 1899. This deed ensures that Hammontree legally owned the specified property in Whitfield County and that Amanda Holland transferred all her rights to him.

Amanda Holland, Deed to Wm. R. Hammontree.

N. 1/2 N. Lot No. 184 10th & 3rd.

State of Texas, County of Harris. 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: 

That I, Amanda Holland, of the County of Harris and State of Texas, in consideration of the sum of one hundred fifty ($150.00) dollars cash in hand paid by W. R. Hammontree, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged have granted, sold, and conveyed, and by these presents do grant, sell and convey unto the said W. R. Hammontree of the County of Whitfield and State of Georgia, all that certain tract of land, viz: The North half of land lot number one hundred and eighty-four (184) of land in the Tenth District and Third Section containing eighty (80) acres, more or less. 

Said land being situated in the County of Whitfield and State of Georgia. 

To have and to hold the above described premises together with all and singular the rights and appurtenances thereto in anywise belonging unto the said W. R. Hammontree, his heirs and assigns forever. And I do hereby bind myself, my heirs, executors, and administrators to warrant and forever defend all and singular the said premises unto the said W. R. Hammontree, his heirs and assigns against every other person whomsoever lawfully claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof. 

Witness my hand at Alief, Texas this 6th day of December A.D. 1899.

(R. S. 50) Amanda Holland.

State of Texas, County of Harris. 

Before me A. M. Smith, Notary Public in and for Harris County, Texas, on this day personally appeared Amanda Holland known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument and acknowledged to me that she executed the same for the purposes and consideration therein expressed. 

Given under my hand and seal at office this 6th day of December 1899.

(Seal) A. M. Smith, Notary Public, Harris County, Texas.

Filed, recorded, and certified for June 20th, 1902. 

Clerk.

This was the second time I found a record that corroborates the family history Aaron Holland shared with my grandfather in 1964. In 2016, I wrote about two news articles I found in the Anderson Intelligencer. The first article described how Amanda and her boys survived the historic 1900 Galveston hurricane. The second article detailed a fire in Whitfield County that destroyed their livelihood when their corn, cotton seed, and fodder were lost in a fire on George Brownlee’s land. You can read about both articles here.

Reference

• An Appeal to the Charitable. Beaverdale, Whitefield [sic] Co., GA, The Anderson Intelligencer, Anderson, South Carolina, December 20, 1893.
• Former Resident Dies in Texas, The Anderson Intelligencer, Anderson, South Carolina, January 3, 1915.
• History of Aaron Hall and Clementina Ann (Norris) Hall, letter written by Aaron Hall Holland to Samuel Jackson Holland, May 15, 1964.
• Mr. Lee Holland, The Intelligencer, Anderson, South Carolina, May 12, 1892.
• Sad Letter from Texas, The Intelligencer, Anderson, South Carolina, September 19, 1900.
• Whitfield County, Georgia, Land Records March 1901–December 1903, image 198, FamilySearch.

Matilda C. Ogle

Matilda C. Ogle, daughter of Perry Ogle and Martha Lucinda McMahan, was born on March 4, 1892 in Tennessee, most likely Sevier County. There were 12 children in this family; I can document 10—Richard Ogle, Matilda C. Ogle, Mary Ethel Ogle, Harrison Gilbert Ogle, John Walter Ogle, Cam Andrew Ogle, Otis Ogle, Frank Daniel Ogle, Elizabeth Mae Ogle, and Winston “Lawson” Ogle. She went by Tilda and is my 1st cousin 3x removed. Our nearest common relatives are my 3rd great-grandparents, William Cleason Ogle and Rosanna Chasteen Watson.

Tilda on left, daughter Veryl behind her, Issac on the right, and Bruce in the front.

On June 4, 1900, Tilda and her family resided in Civil District 13 of Sevier County, Tennessee. Her parents had been married for 14 years, and her mother was recorded as having given birth to seven children, five of whom were still alive. Tilda’s father worked as a farmer, while her brother Richard worked as a farm laborer. Richard, the oldest at 12 years old, was the only child in the household who had attended school; he could read but not write. The five-year age gap between Richard and Tilda, who was 7 years old, likely explains the loss of two siblings.

On September 2, 1909, the State of Tennessee legally bound Print Valentine and H. L. Valentine for a sum of $1250, ensuring that there were no legal impediments to the marriage of Tilda and Arthur Printes “Print” Valentine. Tilda and Print were married by Joe Williams, a Sevier County Justice of the Peace, on September 4, 1909.

Ogle-Valentine marriage bond and license

Tilda and Print were blessed with six children—Valaria Valentine (born in 1911), Ronald Valentine (born in 1913), Veryl Anna Valentine (born in 1915), Ola “Gladys” Valentine (born in 1918), Isaac “Ashley” Valentine (born in 1923), and Bruce L. Valentine (born in 1930).

On April 18, 1910, Tilda and Print, recorded as Arthur P. Valentine, lived on a rented farm in Civil District 13 of Sevier County. They were recorded on the top of page 4 for that census; their parents were at the top of page 1. It was the 1910 census that I learned Tilda’s mother had 12 children, 11 of them alive at the time. This census record shows that Tilda and Print were both 17-years-old, newlyweds, and childless at this stage of their marriage. Arthur worked as a farmer on a general farm. Both could read and write, but only Tilda had attended school. 

It appears Tilda’s brother Lawson was just a toddler when he died on April 3, 1912. I say “appears” because I have not found a death record to confirm his parents, but the age is correct. I did find a birth record for Winston L. Ogle, born April 4, 1909, whose parents were Perry and Lucinda Ogle. The birth date is the same as the Lawson Ogle buried at Shady Grove Cemetery in the Richardson Cove community of Sevier County. This cemetery would have been in the vicinity where they lived. He was one day shy of his third birthday. 

Winston L. Ogle birth record

Tilda and Print, a farmer, had three children when he registered for the World War II draft in Sevier County on June 5, 1918. Tilda gave birth to their fourth child, Gladys, in July. Print claimed an exemption from the draft based on inflammatory rheumatism. At the time, they lived at 10 R.F.D. in Sevierville.

On January 13, 1920, Tilda, Print, and their four children—Valaria, Ronald, Veryl, and Gladys—continued to live in Civil District 13 of Sevier County. Print, worked as a farmer on a general farm. Both Tilda and Print were able to read and write. Valaria, Ronald, and Veryl were attending school, but not Gladys who was just an infant. Tilda and her family lived on a farm in the community of Richardson’s Cove in Sevier County in August 1923 when son Isaac was born. According to Isaac’s December 2023 obituary, his father Print “was one of three preachers in the county at the time” and Tilda, his “mother was a 5th generation Ogle of the original Ogle family that is considered to be the first settlers of Gatlinburg, Tennessee.”

On April 14, 1930, the Valentine family lived on Evan’s Chappel Road, Route 10, in Civil District 13 of Sevier County. Print was recorded as Arthur P. Valentine. There were still four children living in the home; the two oldest, Valaria and Ronald, had moved out of the home. Print continued to work as a farmer on a general farm. The census enumerator noted that Tilda was 18 and Arthur was 16 when they married, different than the 1910 census which showed them both as age 17. Veryl, Gladys (enumerated as Ola), and Isaac were attending school. Bruce, the youngest, was 10 months old. Print’s 75-year-old widowed father, William R. Valentine, was also living in the home. He worked as a laborer on a farm. William was able to read and write. Neither Print or his father were veterans.

On April 23, 1940, Tilda and her family lived on Richardson Cove Road in Sevier County. Print, a farmer, was enumerated as Print A. Valentine. Their inferred residence in 1935 was Pigeon Forge, also in Sevier County and was the same home they lived in when this census was taken. A 23-year-old male named J. D. Proffit lived in the home as a lodger; he too was a farmer. Both Print and J. D. had worked 50 hours during the week of March 24–30, 1940. When Tilda’s son Isaac registered for the World War II draft on June 30, 1942, he listed his father as the person who would always know his address. At the time, Print’s address was Route 9 in Sevierville, Tennessee. Tilda’s son Ashley served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. Tilda’s father Perry passed away on January 13, 1943, in Whitfield, Georgia, at the age of 77. He was buried at Good Hope Baptist Church Cemetery in Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia.

On April 21, 1950, Tilda, Print, enumerated as Arthur P. Valentine, and their son Bruce lived in District 13 of Sevier County. Tilda worked as a grocery store clerk, Print as a farmer, and Bruce, age 20, a farm helper. Tilda’s mother Martha passed away on May 20, 1957, in Georgia at the age of 88. She was buried with her husband Perry at Good Hope Baptist Church Cemetery in Dalton.

Tilda’s son, Bruce, married Shirley Fay Markem on June 15, 1963, at Knob Creek Baptist Church in Seymour, Tennessee. This was the very same church where Tilda herself was a member. During that period, Tilda and Print resided in Maryville, Blount County, Tennessee.

Print, a retired farmer and respected Baptist minister, passed away at the age of 79 on Christmas Day, 1973. His commitment to the Baptist church spanned an impressive 55 years, no doubt leaving behind a legacy of faith and service. Tilda, his devoted wife, shared 64 years of marriage with Print. Tragically, less than two months after Print’s passing, Tilda also passed away at the age of 81 on February 17, 1974, in the home of her daughter Valaria in Maryville. Both Tilda and Print’s funerals were officiated by Revs. Fred Self, Ben Webb, and Andy Ball at Atchley’s Chapel in Sevierville. Print’s funeral took place on December 29, followed by Tilda’s on February 19. Together, Tilda and Print were survived by their six children, who in turn blessed them with 16 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren. Tilda was also survived by her brothers Harrison, Otis, John, and Cam, and her sisters Ethel and Elizabeth. Tilda and Print were both buried at Providence Baptist Cemetery in Blount County, Tennessee. 

Tombstone photo by S. Sill, Find A Grave member 46979876

References

• Arthur Printes Valentine, U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918.
• Cam Andrew Ogle, U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1898–1929.
• Deaths, The Knoxville News-Sentinel, February 18, 1974. 
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/168733781/mary-ethel-dixon: accessed 15 January 2024), memorial page for Mary Ethel Ogle Dixon (12 Aug 1894–28 Aug 1980), Find a Grave Memorial ID 168733781, citing Good Hope Baptist Cemetery, Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Melinda Painter (contributor 47917313).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7826341/lawson-ogle: accessed 21 January 2024), memorial page for Lawson Ogle (4 Apr 1909–3 Apr 1912), Find a Grave Memorial ID 7826341, citing Shady Grove Cemetery, Richardson Cove, Sevier County, Tennessee, USA; maintained by Virgil and Deanna Hancock-Cooley (contributor 36950484).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6341248/tilda-valentine: accessed 21 January 2024), memorial page for Tilda Ogle Valentine (4 Mar 1892–17 Feb 1974), Find a Grave Memorial ID 6341248, citing Providence Baptist Cemetery, Blount County, Tennessee, USA; maintained by Virgil and Deanna Hancock-Cooley (contributor 36950484).
• Isaac Ashley Valentine Obituary, Atchley Funeral Home, December 2023; https://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Isaac-Ashley-Valentine?obId=30230724. 
• Isaac Ashley Valentine, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• John Walter Ogle, Frank Daniel Ogle, Tennessee, Delayed Birth Records, 1869–1909.
• June date set by couple, The Birmingham News, Birmingham, Alabama, May 26, 1963.
• Obituary, Mrs. Tilda Ogle Valentine, The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Knoxville, Tennessee, February 18, 1974.
• Obituary, Rev. A. P. Valentine, The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Knoxville, Tennessee, December 27, 1973.
• Personal memories of Tommy D. Shields, December 2000.
• U.S. Federal Census, Civil District 13, Sevier County, Tennessee, 1900–1950.