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Notes for Lewis B. Reeves: The 1910 Campbell Co. TN census lists Lewis as head of household, age 58, married 3 times, current marriage 6 years, himself and parents born in TN, speaks English, employed at general farm work. Adaline, wife, age 53, married twice, current marriage 6 years, 12 children born to her with 9 currently alive, herself and parents born in KY, also listed as a farm laborer for home farm. Thomas Mays, stepson, age 22, single, himself and parents born in KY, no occupation [Thomas was retarded]. Doxie Mays, stepdaughter, age 15, single, born in KY along with her parents, occupation farm laborer for home farm. In the 1920 Campbell Co TN census Lewis was listed as a farmer, having a truck farm. In the 1850 Campbell Co. TN census the list was as follows: William age 24 Nancy age 23 John L. age 5 William K. age 2 Lewis B. age 5/12 Caroline Woods age 25 Joseph Woods age 4 John Woods age 1/12 By the 1860 Campbell Co. TN census Caroline Woods and her children were no longer listed. William age 29 (an obvious error in age in one census or the other) Nancy age 32 John L. age 14 Willam R. age 12 (note different middle initial) Lewis age 9 Lucy Ann age 8 Sarah E. age 6 Franklin R. age 4 Mary E. age 2 They were not found in the 1870 or 1880 Campbell Co. or Scott Co. TN census listing. |
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Notes for James Dick Mays: James Dick Mays died when the children were young. Adaline married Lewis Reeves about 1904 and they lived in Highcliff, TN, close to her daughter's, Nannie (Mabel Anna (Mays) Balsinger) house. In Barbourville KY, Dick and Adaline were members of the Little Poplar Baptist Church (by 20 Nov 1874). Excerpt from MOUNTAIN ECHO 1874: "November 20, 1874 Little Poplar, Nov. 9, 1874 BIG MEETING A meeting was begun by the Baptist at Little Poplar School house on the 15th inst., and will continue till the 20th. It has been conducted by Reverands Powell, Davis, Main, McKeehan, Bray, hart, Lawson and Evans. "Up to the night of the 18th, 15 had professed religion, Viz., Mrs. Pleas McKeehan, GILLIS MAYS, R.M. Cobb and wife, John Girdner, J.B. Evans, RICHARD MAYS AND WIFE, Mrs. Jno. F. Evans, Rice Lewallen, Jas. Gibson, Miss Emily Cappes, Miss Kitty Ore, Miss Mollie Owens, Miss M.J. McKeehan; and others are expected today." Their son John was shot and killed by a neighbor during an argument on the farm in KY. Tom continued to live with his mother after she married Lewis Reeves as he was retarded. Their daughter, Ellen, died young (age 30 - August 9, 1909) and is buried at Highcliff TN. 1880 Knox Co. KY census #502-516 lists: James D. Mays age 26 Adaline age 26 Mary E. age 8 John age 5 Ellen age 3 (Matches with the Ellen Mays, age 30, died in Highcliff, Campbell, Co. TN 9 August 1909.) Sarah C. age 1 Also, on the 1910 census Adaline was listed as having had 12 children, with only 9 alive as of that date. In the Knox Co. KY marriage book Dona Robertson found the following: 1872 James D. Mays to America A. Wilson by: (unreadable) Powell at: (unreadable) wit: William Wilson and John Golden Note: William Wilson could possibly be Adaline's father or brother. In the same book, on March 23, 1871, Andrew Mays married Martha A. Wil(l)son, residence Knox Co. KY (Note in Marriage book says: age 18, occupation farmer Martha A. Mays) born Knox Co. KY, residence Knox Co. KY female born age: 18 male born Knox Co. KY f.b./m.b. Knox Co. KY by: Thomas L. Peace at: Enoch Wilson's Witness: W.M. Brays, John Adams and M.D. Mays Pri. & sur: Andrew Mays and M.D. Mays |
| i. | Mary E. Mays, born Abt. 1872. | |||
| ii. | Sarah C. Mays, born Abt. 1889. | |||
| iii. | Child Mays. | |||
| iv. | Child Mays. | |||
| v. | John Mays, born Abt. 1875; died Bet. 1910 - 1925 in KY. |
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Notes for John Mays: John stayed in KY when the family moved to TN. He was shot and killed by a neighbor during an argument on the farm. Maude Balsinger (b. 1910) was a child at the time. |
| vi. | Riney Mays, born Abt. 1877; died Aft. February 1956 in (Probably) Barbourville, Knox, KY; married Dick Davis. | |||
| vii. | Ellen Mays, born Bet. 1877 - 1878 in KY; died August 09, 1909 in Highcliff, Campbell, TN2. |
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Notes for Ellen Mays: On the Campbell Co. TN, Death Certificates 1908 - 1912, they list Ellen Mays, Death Certificate #4314, died August 9, 1909, age 30, High Cliff TN, cause of death Arciphes, and born in KY. Maude (Balsinger) Vitt had been under the impression that she had died young, perhaps because she was dead by the time Maude 'Nannie' was born (1910) and Adaline would have thought 30 was young for her daughter to die. |
| viii. | George Matt Mays, born Abt. 1879. | |||
| ix. | Tom M Mays, born Abt. 1888. | |||
| x. | Mabel Anne 'Nannie' Mays, born July 20, 1892 in Barbourville, Knox, KY3; died October 22, 1975 in Madisonville, Monroe, TN4; married John James Balsinger Abt. 1909 in Highcliff, Campbell, TN. |
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Notes for Mabel Anne 'Nannie' Mays: REMEMBRANCE OF GRANDMA BALSINGER Grandma Balsinger was loving toward me, and my memories conjure her up as a devout and austere religious person; a proud, intelligent, and forceful personality. Her long, drawn-out wailing prayers were masterpieces. If God never heard the prayers of my grandma Balsinger HE just never got around to listening to anyone. There we would be, my mother, my sister, my Aunt Bessie, my Grandpa, Uncle Carl, Uncle Stanley and whoever else might have been visiting, all kneeling on the floor of the living room, listening to Grandma yelling between heavy tears to the lord about our sinning ways, our lack of faith, our repentance, HIS precious forgiveness, and HIS eventual coming for us. My Grandma Balsinger was one of a kind, a true original. She always showed kindness and love to me. In the back of my mind, I remember Grandma sometimes carping on Grandpa for something or another. It was something she needed to do, I guess, but I always felt sorry for Grandpa ... after all, he was my saint. I especially remember Sunday afternoons, sitting out front or the side yard, cranking the ice cream maker and eating ice cold watermelons. All the family would be there, making it so beautiful, together, peaceful ... like there was nowhere else I wanted to be. There was a sanity and a stability to them at a time of my life when I especially needed it - one those Sunday afternoons. I loved Grandma Balsinger, and, in her way, I know she wanted the world to be a better place for her family. Billy R. Chitwood Nannie (Mays) Balsinger could be a hard woman, and often made John's life difficult although he never complained or spoke against her. Nannie Mays received a delayed birth certificate from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Knox Co., Barbourville, signed 9 April. 1956. It lists her parents as Richard Mays (age 32 b. KY) and Adeline Wilson (age 32 b. KY). Her sister, Rinie Davis (age 79 as of 2/18/1956) and W.H. Steele (non-rel) signed affidavit. Nannie died of malignancy of the left lung with an onset of about 8 months. Carl Balsinger, her son, was the informant on her death certificate. He listed her birth date as 20 July 1892, age 83, parents as Richard Mayes and Adaline Wilson. Nannie died at home, Highway 411 North, Madisonville, Monroe, TN and F. Social Security number was 411-84-5381. Houston Lowry, Jr., M.D. was the attending physician. Her burial took place on 25 October 1975 the the Sunset Cemetery in Madisonville, by Kyker Funeral Home. She was a widow at the time of her death, John having died eleven years previously. In the 1920 Campbell Co. TN census it shows her name as Anna, on the 1910 census it is listed as Nannie. On her daughter's, Maude, birth certificate her given name is listed as Mabel. No one in the family appeared to know her given name as she was called Nannie all her life. |
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More About Mabel Anne 'Nannie' Mays: Fact 1: July 20, 1891, Birth Certificate Fact 2: October 22, 1975, Death Certificate |
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Notes for John James Balsinger: John Balsinger was regarded as a saint by his family. He was born in KY shortly after his parents arrival from Switzerland. His mother, Rosie, retreated to a sanitarium and his father, Sam, was a tyrant. John ran away from home, after being tied to a tree, at a young age. He started working for the railroad as a water carrier at age 16. He was eventually promoted to Section Foreman and moved to Highcliff, Campbell, TN when that section opened. Nannie Mays and her sister both vied for John's attention, with Nannie winning out. Doxie always loved him and treated his children as her own. John and Nannie's children were: 1. Maude Inez married (1st) Ray B. Chitwood. 2. Rosie married Tom Perkins. They lived in Highcliff, moving into a home left to him by his aunt. After he died, Rosie moved to the Detroit area to be near her daughter, Delila. 3. J.T., who was named after J.T. Walker, the supervisor and friend of John's. J.T. Walker always had a special Christmas present for his namesake. 4. Bessie, who was devoted to her parents, caring for them in their later years. She lived with them, only seeing her husband on weekends. Her husband, Wright, died in the 1990's. Bessie was named after one of Tom Egner's daughters. 5. John Jr. served in the Second World War and was injured during the war in a motorcycle accident at Fort Bragg NC. 6. Carl also served in WWII as a Navy Flagshipman. He went into Japan at the end of the war. Carl owned the drive-in movie theater in Madisonville along with other real estate. He had problems with the government over his refusal to pay taxes, which he felt were unjust and too high. He worked for the L&N Railroad for 28 years and also owned Balsinger Real Estate. 7. Margaret Adalee committed suicide. Her son was retarded. 8. Stanley - he was murdered during a robbery at his Gulf gas station in Knoxville. A black man took Stanley into the men's room during the robbery and shot him. The man was caught and has been on death row ever since. Stanley was very much like his father, very sweet tempered and beloved of the family. Two of John's favorite expressions were: "Hot Damn" and "Dog gone, ol Miz Mitchell". He also used to peel apples for his grandchildren and give them his change. One time his wife, Nannie, hit him over the head with a piece of wood, causing him to bleed. Nannie had quite a temper, which she didn't tend to keep under control. John, on the other hand, rarely lost his and the way you could tell he was mad is that he would whistle. On John's death certificate his mother's maiden name is listed as Batzinger. It could either be a misspelling of Balsinger or her actual maiden name. Most likely a misspelling. Letter from C.E. Stoecker, Division Engineer, of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company: "Office of Division Engineer at Knoxville, Tenn., Dec. 30, 1955 "Subject Section Foreman J. Balsinger "Mr. G.C. Wendling: "Reference my letter to you of Oct. 24. At which time, I advised that I presented service certificate and Hamilton watch to Mr. Balsinger. "Attached hereto please find photograph of my congratulating Mr. Balsinger day of presentation. I suggest this picture be sent to the Editor of the L&N Magazine for publication. Track Supervisor B.L. Haney of Etowah, Tenn., is the third party in the picture. "Mr. Balsinger entered the service of this railroad as a laborer Aug. 1, 1905 [age 21]. He was promoted to Asst. Foreman on Sept. 1, 1907 [age 23], and Section Foreman on Jan. 1, 1914 [age 29]. He has worked in this capacity since that date. Mr. Balsinger has received three commendations; namely, discovering brake rigging down on car in train 8-22-19 and also 2-19-20 and discovering broken wheel under car in train 7-30-29. C.E. Stoecker, Division Engineer. "blind cy - J.B. "Attached find second picture taken for your keeping. I again congratulate you on having obtained 50 years service with this company." BALSINGER RITES TODAY - Madisonville, May 18 [1964] "Funeral services will be held here tomorrow for John Balsinger Sr., 80, of Madisonville, who died in a hospital here late Saturday night. Balsinger was a retired Louisville & Nashville track foreman and had served the railroad for 55 years. A longtime resident of Madisonville, he began working for L&N at the age of 16. He lived in London, KY., and Jellico before coming here and was a member of Crouches Creek Baptist Church, Jellico Lodge No. 527, F&AM, and Moolah Shrine. "Balsinger is survived by his wife, Mrs. Nannie Mayes Balsinger, Madisonville; four daughters, Mrs. Bessie Maxwell, Madisonville, Mrs. Maude Vitt, St. Louis, Mo., Mrs. Rosie Perkins, Detroit, Mich., Mrs. Margaret Sells, Knoxville; four sons, J. T. Balsinger, Maryville, John Balsinger Jr., and Stanley Balsinger, both of Knoxville, Carl Balsinger, Madisonville; 17 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. "Funeral services for Balsinger will be held at 2 P.M. tomorrow at Sweetwater Methodist Church. Kyker Funeral Home, Madisonville, is in charge of arrangements." Clipping from a newspaper: "L&N Veteran Dies MADISONVILLE, May 18 (Special) -- John Balsinger Sr., longtime resident here and a retired L&N track foreman, died at Lowery-Henshaw Hospital at Sweetwater late Saturday night. "Balsinger, 80, had been with the railroad for 55 years, starting at 16. He leaves his wife, Mrs. Nannie Myers [sic] Balsinger; daughters, Mrs. Maude Vitt, Mrs. Bessie Maxwell, Mrs. Rosie Perkins and Mrs. Margaret Sells; and sons, J.T., Stanley, Carl and John Jr.; and 17 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. "He was a member of Jellico Masonic Lodge and Moolah Shrine. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Methodist Church. The family will receive friends tonight at Kyker's." |
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More About John James Balsinger: Fact 1: May 16, 1964, Death Certificate |
| xi. | Doxie Mae Mays, born November 28, 1894 in KY; died October 31, 1980 in Jellico, Campbell, TN; married (1) _____ Martin; married (2) William D. Overton Bet. 1914 - 1917. |
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Notes for Doxie Mae Mays: Aunt Dock has a daughter or granddaughter who lives in Highcliff TN. Also her son, John, married a Miss Faulkner, the sister of Leonard Faulkner. It would appear from the 1920 census record that Doxie had first married a Mr. Martin, the father of Arneth Martin, prior to marrying William Overton. Doxie was buried in the Huddleston/Crouches Creek Cemetery in the Jellico TN area, while her husband, William Overton, was buried in the Douglas I Cemetery in the Jellico, Crouches Creek area. Since William died quite a few years before Doxie it would be reasonable to assume that the Douglas I Cemetery had been filled. |
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Notes for William D. Overton: The 1920 census, Highcliff Village, TN lists the Overton household as follows: Overton, W.D. Head; home rented; age 40; able to read & write; born in TN; parents born in US; labor on rail road. Doxie Wife, age 28; read & write; KY; KY; KY. Martin, Arneth Stepdaughter, age 6; read & write; TN; TN; KY. Overton, Paul Son, age 3 1/2(?); TN; TN; KY. Anna Daughter; age 1 6/12; TN; TN; KY. Their listing is four households away from Lewis and Adaline Mays. Adaline was Doxie's mother. |
| xii. | Dick Mays, born Bef. 1910. |
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Notes for Dick Mays: Stayed in KY when the family moved to TN. |
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