Russell, Hickman, Witt and Montgomery history in Rhea and Hamilton Counties, Tennessee

Russell, Hickman, Witt and Montgomery history in Rhea and Hamilton Counties, Tennessee Because of an email re-connection to a Wayne Hickman from far Eastern Tennessee, who s a distant cousin, this writer has delved back into his Eastern Tennessee roots. There, Elizabeth Malinda Russell married Hiram M. Montgomery in 1849 in Rhea County, next to Hamilton County. Hamilton and Rhea are on the Tennessee River, an important waterway in history there. Documented below in this history, the Russell lands were on the north bank of the Tennessee River on the Rhea/Hamilton border. In addition, though perhaps of no later connection, the Lewis Montgomery in Hamilton in 1830-1840, last living four houses away from Widow Anna Russell in 1840, also owned land on the river. To digress back to a bit of earlier history, Rhea County was formed in 1807, apparently the year John Russell had arrived. He is named a Justice of the Peace there on December 7, 1807 and bought 250 acres there on the 15 th of December. He s the known father of Matthew Russell, lost on the Trail of Tears in 1837, and John had two daughters; Elizabeth and Ibba. Here s a story headline regarding them: 2 WILLIAM HICKMANS MARRIED RUSSELL S DAUGHTERS IN 1800s 1 By John Wilson Pioneer Families Chattanooga Free Press, TN: Sunday, 21 June 1998, pg. B5 Those two daughters, this authors 3rd great grand-aunts, apparently married Hickman cousins, who will be known by and shown as, Sr. and Jr., though not a father and son. The interesting part is their marriage bonds/licenses/recordings with the Russell girls were back up the Tennessee River in Jefferson County, Tennessee in the 1820 s? That has yet to be fully understood; was their father John from there? I ll get back to the deeds stories later, but for now some interesting history on the Russell s and Hickman s there in both Rhea and Hamilton counties. The reason these two counties tie together is that Russell lands were on the county border, and twice were moved from Rhea to Hamilton, finally back to Rhea. Initially, John Russell had land in Rhea, some of which went into the newly formed Hamilton County in 1819. In 1821, the county lines were re-defined and some of John s land s, were now in Hamilton. As stated above, his two daughters marry William Hickman cousins in the 1820 s. 2 1 http://www.ajlambert.com 2 Emailed 1825 Jefferson County marriage bond courtesy of Wayne Hickman 1

Discovering their collective land entries on Sale Creek in Hamilton County; first was in 1827 on 100 acres, then 1828 on 200. The Hickman s moved along with the Russell s to Sale Creek the Hickman cousins obtained a grant for 100 acres at 12 cents an acre on Walden s ridge on the waters of Sail Creek and adjoining the lands of John Russell, Charles Gamble and William McGill. 3 Here s the 100 acre deed: John s two daughters, with husband s, plus John and son Matthew, are in the 1830 census in Hamilton; apparently the two William Hickman s and their Russell wives, have not only gotten land together, but are living together in that 1830 census. Multiple same age males and females are in age brackets under William Hickman. Those two will later be identified as William H. Hickman, with wife Elizabeth Russell, and William A. Hickman, who married sister, Ibba Russell. The following is from a 1998 article on Hickman s written in the newspaper, Chattanooga Press: When the election districts in Hamilton County were redistricted by the Legislature in 1835, one of the places for holding elections was at William Hickman Sr s; When the Ocoee Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church met at Harrison in October 1844, William [H.] Hickman of Sale Creek was one of the delegates. 4 5 3 http://www.ajlambert.com 4 Ibid 5 Ancestry.com; North Carolina and Tennessee, Early Land Records, 1753-1931; Warrant Number 15675 2

The next major event for the Russell/Hickman clan there is that of direct ancestor, Matthew Russell, disappearing by 1837 on the Trail of Tears, the forced removal of the Cherokee s to Oklahoma. Why he goes, leaving a wife and several children at home ranging from teenagers to three under age five is unknown. Was he conscripted to go along as a Federal guide taking them, or, was he going with possible family, from his unknown mother s side? Was she a part Native American, or some family full natives? Matthew is apparently known to be dead by November 17, 1837, as his father John deeds 250 acres to the heirs of Matthew Russell. By 1840 Widow Anna Russell and her children heirs, will be living there. Family losses have yet to be filled, as in 1847, the grandson of John Russell, his name-sake son of Matthew and Anna (Witt) Russell, John Russell (b. 1821+) will die in the Mexican War. From what is known, partly from cousin Maud (Lockett) Tennyson (daughter of Amanda Montgomery) family notes is that he was buried at sea. He received a discharge on a Surgeon s Certificate while at Camp Placedo near Port Lavaca, Texas. It appears he may have died at sea en-route from there, by boat, to New Orleans. Camp Placedo was a Mexican War encampment twelve miles west of Port Lavaca in Victoria County. It served as a rendezvous for troops and as a temporary military supply depot. Military units that used the camp were Col. Jonas E. Thomas's regiment of Tennessee Volunteers. Accounts describe the site as low, swampy ground where disease was common and conditions were barely tolerable. 6 In April 1847 his property is inventoried and sold with his mother acting as Administratrix of the estate. Both she as Ann Russell and her daughter as Malinda Russell bought every item of John s. Malinda bought three head of sheep and two books; Ann bought hogs, a horse and various farm items. 7 6 TX Handbook of History; TX State Historical Assoc; http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qcc44 7 Tennessee Probate Court Books 1795-1927; Rhea; Administrations Wills, 1841-1852; www.familysearch.org 3

Returning now to Lewis Montgomery owning land on the Tennessee River, there are two deeds for him in Hamilton County, Tennessee in 1830-31. On the one he made entry in Sept 1830 for 75 acres "on the Tennessee River," it states being, "the place where Lewis Montgomery now lives." 8 The one in 1831 for 6 or 10 acres (?) says it is, "on the north bank of the Tennessee River." Lewis is several census pages away in 1830 from the Russell's/Hickman's. However, note the 1830 land entry above was in Sept 1830, so he could have made entry after the June 1830 census, while living elsewhere but still in Hamilton. Then by 1840, both Matthew and now his father, John Russell, are deceased, but not before John deeds the 250 acres on Nov 17, 1837 to the "heirs of Matthew Russell." That would be where Widow Anna (Witt) Russell is living "on the north bank of the Tennessee River" by 1840 with her children still at home, and Lewis Montgomery four houses away, presumably still on his 75+ acres on the river. Lewis Montgomery is 30-39 years old in 1830 with a 20-29 year old female, plus a 60-69 year old female, who is probably either his, or his wife's, mother. However, found in 1850 just across the state line in Murray, Georgia, is Lewis Montgomery, then he s in Arkansas thereafter. Whether or not this Lewis Montgomery is Hiram's father is unknown. However, where there's smoke there's fire as they say, so it s believed this Lewis, plus the Pleasant Montgomery in Rhea in 1850 with father James, then living next to Anna in 1860, plus referenced in a Southern Claim (more later), are both kinfolk, somehow. Having previously connected with a lady who had a Montgomery male kin tested for DNA who was in the Lewis Montgomery direct line, she said this writer s Montgomery uncle's DNA didn t match the other male? 8 Ancestry.com; North Carolina and Tennessee, Early Land Records, 1753-1931; Warrant Number 17515 4

Anna is still there on the river on 250 acres in 1850, and, that's where Hiram, Elizabeth and baby Amanda Montgomery are living with Anna, and Elizabeth's two siblings still at home, Ibba Jane (future wife of George W. Spivey), and William M. Russell (future husband of Minerva Spivey, sister of George). The Civil War was building up by 1850 and 1860, and Hickman s had slaves on those censuses; Elias and Alexander (older Hickman kin), and one of the William Hickman s. It appears William H. Hickman is the only one of the two Williams who had slaves. Anna Russell had no slaves. Sons of both William Hickman s, plus William M. Russell, joined the war. Elias, William A. (younger one) and Alexander, sons of William H. and Elizabeth (Russell) Hickman, joined as did the only known son of William and Ibba (Russell) Hickman, James A. Hickman. Ibba was already deceased by 1860 so never knew her only known living son went to war. All the Hickman s joined the Union, eventually, although it appears from records and dates, that Elias first joined the Confederacy in 1861 but deserted in June, 1862 and joined the Union two weeks later. It may be William H. Hickman opposed the war and released his slaves before, during, or certainly after. All soldiers who joined the Union went up the Tennessee River, to Kentucky. In the 1860 census, Anna, Ibba and William Russell are still living on that Tennessee River. That's where in 1863 the Union soldiers took food from them that created an 1872 Southern Claim. Based on statements by Jane (Ibba Russell) Spivey therein, Anna died in 1870, obviously before the census. We only knew Anna died before 1870, but in her daughter Jane s deposition, we learn that Anna (Witt) Russell died that year. Anna is not in that census, nor, unfortunately, is there a Federal 1870 Mortality Schedule for Tennessee, which would have named those who died in Rhea County within the previous twelve months from June 1, 1870. As the census was to be taken by June, and Rhea s was done in August, we can assume Anna died between January and August 1870. Her burial place is unknown. 9 Jane also divulged two more items; her mother s land was now all in Rhea, and, on the Tennessee River. 10 Following is the enactment that moved Anna s land from Hamilton County back into Rhea: THE ACTS OF 1867-1868 Included in Rhea County the farm of Mrs. Ann Russell, the farm of the heirs of John Gray, deceased, the farm of Mrs. Nancy McGill, the farm of Alexander Hickman, and the farm of F.M. Bowers, all formerly located in Hamilton County. 11 9 Southern Claims; South. Claims Comm. Approved Claims; Rhea, TN; Wm Russell #16541; pg 30; www.fold3.com 10 Ibid 11 TNGENWEB Rhea County; Formation of Rhea County; http://tngenweb.org/rhea/formation-of-rhea-county/ 5

Now for more on the two extremely interesting family Southern Claims; enacted by Congress on March 3, 1871. Still during Reconstruction, in Southern States if you had property taken from you by Union forces without compensation during the Civil War, and could prove you remained loyal to the United States, or, served in the Federal Army, you could get reimbursed for your losses. Here s how it worked; there were forms to be filled out officially and depositions to be taken. Then it was eventually submitted to the House of Representatives in Washington, DC. If they approved, then all or part of your request could be paid. However, it was a time-consuming process taking years in some cases. Even back then, bureaucracy being what it was, politicians were in no hurry to give you money. Both Russell and Hickman families presented two such claims that were eventually approved in part, with the most interesting aspect being the inclusion or divulgence of previously unknown family information. While much of its testimonies are redundant, elements of family are given throughout. Both claims were started in 1872; one in September for William A. Hickman, husband of now deceased Ibba Russell, sister to Matthew; then another in November for William M. Russell, younger brother to Elizabeth Malinda, son of Matthew and Anna. The first was made from Hamilton County where Widower William A. Hickman lived on North Chickamauga Creek. His wife, Ibba (Russell) Hickman had died before the Civil War in September of 1859 of the flux, meaning some type of fluid or blood loss. 12 William M. Russell s claim was made in Rhea County, where, though the Union took items in 1863 while the land was still in Hamilton, as stated above in 1867-68 his mother Anna Russell s lands were entirely taken back into Rhea County. Her lands were those granted by deed to the heirs of Matthew Russell by their grandfather John in 1837. Anna s 250 acres was further north than the Hickman s, at one time splitting the county border with Hamilton. Hickman s were closer to Sale Creek, just below the border. However, by 1863 William A. Hickman reported he resides near Chickamauga and his farm contains five hundred seventy five acres of which two hundred (200) was under cultivation and the balance was woodlands. He says, My farm is situated on Chickamauga Creek in Hamilton County East Tennessee. 13 12 Ancestry.com; U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885; ibbey Hickman; Hamilton, TN; 1859 13 Southern Claims; South. Claims Comm. Appr d Claim; Hamilton, TN; Wm Hickman#18821; pg 14; www.fold3.com 6

14 14 Hamilton County Tennessee Watersheds online 7

Both events took place after a major battle of the Civil War, known as Chickamauga, occurring just across the state line from Hamilton in Northern Georgia. In September, the Union was defeated there but renewed battles for control of Chattanooga in November, proved, at least for then, the deaths knell of the Confederacy. 15 However, from September through November of 1863, with the Union for the most part on the north side of the Tennessee River, some camped on William A. Hickman s land; wagon trains scouting for provisions went north along the river to Anna, or William M. Russell s, farm. Soldiers need food and other supplies, especially during or after a major battle or battles, when their own supply lines may have been cut off. Locals provide the means to get what they need, and if in a hurry or rush, no time to properly account or pay the locals for their items taken, thus Southern Claims. As stated, William A. Hickman s lands, being closer to Chattanooga, were actually camped out on by Union soldiers. While camped there, they took 36 hogs, a steer, a mare, sheep and both Sweet and Irish Potatoes and corn for food. In addition, because of fall cold weather, they took up his wooden rail fencing for either camp fire s to cook on, or just to keep warm. The mare taken has a funny story; a soldier rode up on a sick horse that died on the spot, so the soldier removed his bridle and saddle and put it on the gray mare, nine years old, 15 hands high, and rode off, according to William A. Hickman. His son, James A. Hickman, who fought for the Union, testified on his father s behalf as did his son-inlaw, Robert A. Hunter, married to Sarah Jane Hickman, daughter of Ibba (Russell). Others also testified, including one man who lived on the south side of the Tennessee River, occupied by the Confederates, so as a Union supporter, he came across the river to William A. Hickman s and witnessed what was taken. William A. Hickman, in his own deposition in 1872, stated he had been the Postmaster after the war at Chickamauga (former town) in Hamilton. That was found online, as was the fact that before the war he was Postmaster in Merry Oaks (another former town) in Hamilton. His nephew, John R. Hickman, oldest son of William H. and Elizabeth (Russell) Hickman, was Postmaster at Sail Creek, also before the war. U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971 Name: John R Hickman Post Office Location: Sail Creek, Hamilton, Tennessee Appointment Date: 16 Apr 1853 Name: William A Hickman Post Office Location: Merry Oaks, Hamilton, Tennessee Appointment Date: 21 Dec 1856 Name: Wm A Hickman Post Office Location: Chickamauga, Hamilton, Tennessee Appointment Date: 11 Jan 1866 16 The sad part of William A. Hickman s attempt to get reimbursed was that it fell on time-laden bureaucracy. By 1882 his claim had not been settled, when his son-in-law divulged William A. Hickman had died either in May or June, 1877 or 1878, he couldn t remember. Following is an extraction from the claim showing the death date range, signed by R. A. Hunter and dated 25 th day of August 1882. 17 15 National Park Service Chattanooga; http://www.nps.gov/chch/index.htm 16 Ancestry.com; U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971 17 Southern Claims; South. Claims Comm. Appr d Claim; Hamilton, TN; Wm Hickman#18821; www.fold3.com 8

18 The 1872 claim of William M. Russell fared better as it was approved in 1876, but with only about half of his original claim figure. His sister, shown married then as Jane Spivey, was known before her marriage to George W. Spivey, as Isabelle or Ibba Jane Russell, named after her Aunt Ibba. Jane, a teacher in 1860, was still living at home then with mother Anna and her brother William M. Russell, and she still there in 1863 when the Union wagon train arrived. William had left already being piloted by boat up the Tennessee River all the way to Kentucky in order to join the Federal Army. He later married Minerva Spivey, sister to George. Items taken from Anna, William and Ibba included hogs, corn, oats and rye. The corn was still in the field and the Union drove their wagons there to pick it. In William M. Russell s testimony, he had to show complete Union allegiance and report any activities between him and the Rebels. He was captured once by rebels in an attempt to conscript him into the Confederacy but he escaped at Smiths Cross Roads (today s Dayton, Rhea county seat). He had to divulge that his uncle, Charles Witt (Anna s brother next door in 1860) joined the Rebels. Charles, quite old to soldier (b. 1805), was found wounded and captured in November 1863 after the Battle of Missionary Ridge, and died February 22, 1864 in prison (has a stone) at Rock Island, Illinois, as follows. 19 Testimony for William M. Russell also included a William H. Hickman, age 36, which was also Jane and brother William s reported ages. However, a detailed analysis uncovered that while this William H. is probably kinfolk to the older William H. Hickman, who married Elizabeth Russell, this one s father was older Elias Hickman, and this William H. Hickman lived then in Rhea, and did so the remainder of his life. 18 Ibid 19 Ancestry.com; U.S., Burial Registers, Military Posts and National Cemeteries, 1862-1960; Charles Witt 9

Then a most surprising name was referred to in a testimony. It mentioned that a Pleasant Montgomery was leasing part of Anna s lands in 1863 when the Union arrived. A neighboring land owner, James Pierce, rented part of Anna s lands along with Pleasant Montgomery. Ironically there is a Pleasant Montgomery named in a direct family line, whose father was H. M. Montgomery who married Anna s oldest daughter Elizabeth Malinda Russell in Rhea in 1849. In the 1850 census they are living with Anna Russell and daughter Ibba Jane and son William Russell. The Pleasant Montgomery from the 1860 census is unmarried in 1850 and living at home in Rhea with his father, James Montgomery. There simply has to be a Montgomery family connection here; maybe close-in-age cousins, H. M. and Pleasant. While the depositions are somewhat impersonal, they are statements made by family, just as though they were writing a letter we might have today. The claim papers are certainly worth reading, though the one has over 80 pages, the other over 100, and both contain redundancy, for obvious truth reasons. One thing we must remember in history, is how during the Great Depression, the Tennessee Valley Authority was created providing, navigation, flood control, electricity generation, fertilizer manufacturing, and economic development 20 to specifically the Tennessee River. That means, especially those with lands along the river, that dams would flood all or some of their lands under water; even whole towns submerged in the Chattanooga area, such as Dallas, Merry Oaks and Chickamauga. This means family lands lost. Today, because of Chickamauga Dam, one may not actually see any former family lands along the river or lakes along it, created by TVA dams. TVA purchased the land from property owners in the Harrison and Dallas areas and all the land to be covered by water was cleared of buildings and trees. 21 Post offices at Merry Oaks and Chickamauga closed, the previous before the Civil War, the latter after. They, too, may have eventually been flooded but Harrison remains. Here s a map: 22 20 Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/tennessee_valley_authority 21 Hamilton County, Tennessee; Nostalgiaville; http://travel.nostalgiaville.com/tennessee/hamilton/hamilton.htm 22 TNGENWEB Hamilton County Tennessee; http://tngenweb.org/hamilton/ 10

Dallas and Chickamauga are underlined and either do not exist, or, are under water today. Also, the underlined Smiths Cross Roads at the top of the map in Rhea County is today s Dayton, county seat. However, in William M. Russell s claim it s written on paperwork as, Smith s X Roads. Harrison, referred to above, remains as a town today and is on the south side of the Tennessee River. All the known surnames in this family line in Rhea or Hamilton Counties Tennessee show up in early 1800 s there; Rhea as early as 1800-1810, Hamilton after formed from Rhea in 1819. Not kin to this writer (except their descendants) are the two William Hickman s who married Russell 3 rd great grand aunts. The men may have their middle names and parents identified; William Henry Hickman s father may be Henry Hickman who died in Jefferson County, Tennessee about 1829. Henry s wife was Arbella. The William Anderson Hickman s father may be Elisha Hickman. He was in Jefferson Co., TN in 1830. Ironically, to this author as a Texan, it was discovered three sons of William H. and Elizabeth (Russell) Hickman came to Texas; William A., Alexander C. and Samuel Clawson Hickman. They came to Wise and Jack Counties Texas and all married and had children, so there are distant Russell/Hickman cousins here. While there was and is more to know about the Russell, Witt, Hickman and Montgomery ancestor s in these two counties, for now it s satisfying to know either the expanded or new items uncovered above, including; a political appointment, deeds, newspaper articles, the Trail of Tears, Mexican War (and property inventory), Southern Claims, Mortality Schedule, Postmaster appointments, Civil War records, maps old and new, re-connecting family names, and, last but not least, connecting with distant cousins. One already named, Wayne Hickman, from Ibba (Russell) Hickman s line through James A. Hickman, the other, Brenda (Clift) Craig, whose another from Ibba Russell s line but through Sarah Jane Hickman. Wayne lives in Maryville in far Eastern Tennessee; Brenda lives in Hamilton County in a town northeast of Chattanooga there that one can love to hear and say Soddy Daisy! There s still more to know... Historically yours, Duane Helweg Author of: Lone Survivor At Shiloh Available online at: eparks.com Book web site: RimrockWritings.com May 27, 2014 11