Burwell sisters

I have been learning more and more about my Price family over the past six years. After slowly adding sibling after sibling to my great- great- grandfather, Thomas Rees Price, I have also learned about their descendants as well. Last year I met a second cousin of my grandfather's (from the Abraham Price family) and I saw a paper she had with information that did not seem like it went with our mutual family. So I investigated the names and found that this was another sibling of Thomas. Here I was believing that I had found all the living ones and I learn about another one, who also lived in the Knoxville area where Thomas and other siblings lived. This was his sister Mary Price Burwell. She had married William G. Burwell in the early to mid 1860's. They had five children: Elizabeth (1864-?), Ann(ie) B. (1868-?), Mary Harris (1871-1949), William (1874-1895), and John S. (1878-?). Mary Harris Burwell married Clay Brown Atkins in 1894 in Knox County, TN. Well, after I have been going through some old pictures I came across this picture and was shocked to see the name on the back - Mary Burwell (Mrs. C.B. Atkins) and sister! Now I knew who they were! I know I had no idea who they were before and my father probably did not either, but now I can tell you who they are. So this picture is of Mary Burwell and one of her two sisters, Elizabeth or Ann(ie). I would like to know which is Mary and also which sister it is.

Unknowns Part 4

I was told that this is from the Campbell side of the family.

Unknowns Part 3 (Updated!)

This is a picture from Rhodees Lane's photo album. I am not sure who the men are, but I think that the one on the far left is Rhodees' brother, Paul.

(Update 30 Jul 2012. My cousin, Barbara, told me that this was taken at her great-grandparents' house in Brooklyn, NY. From L-R: Paul Lane, Nils William Person, Mr William Mushlitt, Nils Person) 

Click image to see large picture

Andy and Gracie (Gourley) Pilkington

This is Gracie Gourley who is the sister of my grandmother, Eula. Gracie was born about 1909 in Monroe County, Tennessee. The family lived in the Rafter area. Gracie was the last of the eight children of Robert "Bob" Gourley and Ellen Caroline Butler. Bob died in January of 1909, so I believe that he had died before his daughter was even born. In 1924 Gracie married Andy Pilkington in Monroe County. Around the end of 1928 they had a daughter named Hazel. In the 1930 Census they are living on Spruce Street in Knoxville (last name as Pilky). I was told that around the 1960's Gracie lived in the Vestal area in Knoxville. So far this is all I know about Andy, Gracie and Hazel.

Unknowns Part 2

This picture might be from the Campbell family. The lady on the far right is my grandmother, Rhodees. The lady standing beside her looks like her cousin, Lois McKay Watson. Lois was the daughter of Rufus Z. McKay and Flora M. Campbell.


(Updated 7/30/2012 - My cousin, Barbara, said this is taken in Brooklyn, NY at her great-grandparents' house. From L-R: Dorothy Person, Frances Nushlitt, Nils Person Jr, Lois McKay, Rhodees Lane and in front is Edna Person)

Click image to see a larger image

Unknown Pictures

I have many pictures that I do not know who the people are and our possible relationship. I am thinking that I might post them here so that I can share them with others in the hopes that someone else might be able to tell me who they are. Since I am fresh from my Lane family reunion I have decided to post a picture from my grandmother's photo album. Her maiden name was Amelia Rhodees Lane. This album was probably family from Marion County, SC and surrounding areas. The main family names are Lane and Campbell. I would appreciate any help!

The lady on the far right is my
grandmother, Rhodees (born in 1917).
You can click on the image to enlarge it.

Research Help

I am offering my services to help those who need help with their genealogy research. I have been doing my own family research for seven years now. I do most of my research at the East Tennessee History Center, which holds the Knox County Archives and the McClung Historical Collection. I can do look ups with several resources. (I will have a more detailed list soon)

From The Archives:
Knox County Births 1881-early 1900's
Knox County Marriages mid 1800's- early 1900's
Knox County Death Records late 1800's- early 1900's
Knox County Wills

The McClung Collection:
Obituaries (Knoxville)

Mary Annie Pressley

This is a post especially for a new cousin I have received an e-mail from. I thought I would add a picture on here to show some common relatives. This picture has my great-grandmother, Ellen Caroline (Butler) Gourley, as well as my two aunts, Della and Gracie Bivens. There is also a daughter-in-law of Ellen's, Edith, who married Bill Gourley. The boy and girl in front of Edith are two of her and Bill's children, Junior and Pauline. The older girl is Ellen's granddaughter, Mary Annie Presley, who is the daughter of Lady and William M. Presley.

Back Row: Mary Annie Presley, Ellen Caroline (Butler) Gourley, Edith (Williams) Gourley holding Gracie Bivens
Front Row: Della Bivens, Junior and Pauline Gourley

James Wesley Orr

I am going to go back to the Orr side of the family in this post. Earlier you were introduced to my grandfather, Price Orr. I had mentioned that Price and his twin brother, James, were both named after their grandfathers (Price-mother's, James-father's). Here is the man that great-uncle James was named after.

James Wesley Orr was born on July 19, 1841 in Lee County, Virginia. He was the tenth child (of thirteen) born to David and Rhoda (Ely) Orr. James served in the Civil War and was a First Lieutenant in the 37th Virginia Infantry Regiment Co. E. During the war he suffered an injury to his shoulder, which resulted in the loss of his arm. That did not slow James down after the war was over. He served one term as a sheriff in Lee County, was county clerk in 1871, became a county judge in 1889, served as a representative of Lee County in the Virginia Assembly for eight years, (by special appointment) a county judge of Scott County, Virginia for two years, and also representing Lee County in the Constitutional Convention for Virginia in 1901. In the article written on the event of his death it was said of James, "He was one of the best known and highly respected men in Southwest Virginia, and his span of life reached across almost a century of progress for Lee County." James also wrote Recollections of the War between the States, which all proceeds were to go to a fund to erect a memorial to the men who fought and died as Confederates from Lee County.

James was married twice. First to Martha Pattie Vermillion on November 9, 1865. After living as a widower for three years he married again to Olivia "Ollie" (Johnson) Morison in 1910. The picture to the left is of James and Ollie.

Generation No. 1

1. JAMES WESLEY² ORR (DAVID¹) was born 19 Jul 1841 in Sugar Run, Lee County, Virginia, and died 08 May 1931 in Jonesville, Lee County, Virginia. He married (1) MARTHA PATTIE VERMILLION 09 Nov 1865, daughter of WILSON VERMILLION and SALLY MATLOCK. She was born 14 May 1840 in Virginia, and died 26 Feb 1907 in Jonesville, Lee County, Virginia. He married (2) OLIVIA OLLIE JOHNSON 10 Jun 1910 in Bristol, Virginia.

Children of JAMES ORR and MARTHA VERMILLION are:

i. (daughter) ORR³, born and died 26 Aug 1866.

ii. WILLIAM EMMET ORR, b. 15 Jun 1868; d. 15 May 1946; m. (1) ANNA LOUISE CROWELL; b. 1874; d. 1907; m. (2) MARY VIRGINIA SHELBURNE; b. 1878; d. 1939.

iii. ELIZABETH VERMILLION ORR, b. 14 Aug 1870; d. Mar 1948; m. BENJAMIN HOUSTON SEWELL.

iv. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ORR, b. 23 Jan 1873, Sugar Run, Lee County, Virginia; d. 05 Dec 1959, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee; m. (1) MARY PRICE, 17 Oct 1905, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee; b. 20 Sep 1885, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee; d. 26 Sep 1965, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee; m. (2) CAROLYN FRENCH, Aft. 1940; b. 27 Dec 1889; d. 13 Jul 1969, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee.

More About BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ORR:

Burial: 09 Dec 1959, Fort Lincoln Cemetery, Brentwood, Prince George County, Maryland

More About MARY PRICE:

Burial: 28 Sep 1965, Old Grey Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

More About CAROLYN FRENCH:

Burial: Fort Lincoln Cemetery, Brentwood, Prince George County, Maryland

v. GEORGE W. ORR, b. 01 Aug 1875; d. 21 Nov 1955; m. (1) GOLDEN BARTON; m. (2) MAUD PET MORGAN, 14 Jun 1905; b. 16 Jun 1882; d. 04 Nov 1912.

vi. HENRY ORR, b. 15 Jan 1878; d. Abt. 1888.

The Sons of Joseph Richards

This is a picture of the four Richards sons.
Standing are David (on left) and Joseph (on right).
Seated are John (on left) and William (on right).

Joseph Richards

Joseph Richards was born on August 11, 1826 in Wales to John and Ann (Evans) Richards. He was one of the five children born to John and Ann. On October 3, 1847 he married Ann Thomas. This union produced twelve children (and one adopted daughter), though only six lived to see their adult years. They settled in Pennsylvania where they lived, though in several different locations, until the 1860's. After the Civil War ended the family moved to Knoxville, Tennessee where Joseph along with his brothers and a Mr. Hiram Chamberlain started a firm which later was called the Knoxville Iron Company. Joseph stayed in Knoxville until the late 1870's and spent a brief time in Chattanooga, Tennessee as well as Portland, Maine before moving to Oliver Springs, Tennessee. Here is where he and Ann had a hotel by the mineral springs. The first hotel had thirty rooms, though the one that was later built after Joseph had died was a larger 150 room structure. Joseph died on December 31, 1888 in Oliver Springs, Tennessee.

Generation No. 1

1. JOSEPH² RICHARDS (JOHN¹) was born 11 Aug 1826 in Wales, and died 31 Dec 1888 in Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee. He married ANN THOMAS 03 Oct 1847, daughter of DAVID THOMAS and ANN WILLIAMS. She was born 30 Sep 1826 in Wales, and died 14 Dec 1916 in Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee.

More About JOSEPH RICHARDS:

Burial: Oliver Springs Cemetery, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee

More About ANN THOMAS:

Burial: Oliver Springs Cemetery, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee

Children of JOSEPH RICHARDS and ANN THOMAS are:

i. JOHN³ RICHARDS, b. 22 Aug 1848; d. 06 Sep 1849.

ii. DAVID WILLIAM RICHARDS, b. 05 Aug 1851; d. 11 Aug 1852.

iii. JOHN WILLIAM RICHARDS, b. 06 Dec 1852.

2. iv. ANN MARIA RICHARDS, b. 16 Jul 1854, Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania; d. 16 Mar 1941, Jonesville, Lee County, Virginia.

3. v. WILLIAM D. RICHARDS, b. 15 Jan 1856; d. 1931.

4. vi. JOHN ROBERT RICHARDS, b. 15 Oct 1857, Danville, Pennsylvania; d. 1934.

5. vii. DAVID C. RICHARDS, b. 20 Aug 1859.

viii. JOSEPH RICHARDS, b. 30 May 1861; d. 30 May 1861.

ix. MARY RICHARDS, b. 30 May 1861; d. 30 May 1861.

6. x. MARY RICHARDS, b. 01 Mar 1863; d. 11 Jan 1935, Oliver Springs, Tennessee.

xi. MARTHA RICHARDS, b. 03 Feb 1865.

7. xii. JOSEPH J. RICHARDS, b. 06 Apr 1866.

8. xiii. SADIE THOMAS RICHARDS, b. 29 Sep 1869, Portland, Cumberland County, Maine; d. 23 Feb 1951; Adopted child.

Generation No. 2

2. ANN MARIA³ RICHARDS (JOSEPH², JOHN¹) was born 16 Jul 1854 in Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania, and died 16 Mar 1941 in Jonesville, Lee County, Virginia. She married THOMAS REES PRICE 15 Sep 1874 in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee, son of JONATHAN PRICE and ELIZABETH JONES. He was born 26 Aug 1851 in Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania, and died 04 Mar 1906 in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee.

More About ANN MARIA RICHARDS:

Burial: 18 Mar 1941, Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

More About THOMAS REES PRICE:

Burial: Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

3. WILLIAM D.³ RICHARDS (JOSEPH², JOHN¹) was born 15 Jan 1856, and died 1931. He married MARGARET WILLIAMS. She was born Jul 1860, and died 1939.

More About WILLIAM D. RICHARDS:

Burial: Oliver Springs Cemetery, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee

More About MARGARET WILLIAMS:

Burial: Oliver Springs Cemetery, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee

4. JOHN ROBERT³ RICHARDS (JOSEPH², JOHN¹) was born 15 Oct 1857 in Danville, Pennsylvania, and died 1934. He married HANNAH DAVIES 16 Aug 1879 in Portland, Maine. She was born 15 Nov 1857 in Aberystruth, Wales, and died 04 Jun 1946.

More About JOHN ROBERT RICHARDS:

Burial: Oliver Springs Cemetery, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee

More About HANNAH DAVIES:

Burial: Oliver Springs Cemetery, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee

5. DAVID C.³ RICHARDS (JOSEPH², JOHN¹) was born 20 Aug 1859. He married ETHEL BROWN. She was born 1878, and died 1961.

Child of DAVID RICHARDS and ETHEL BROWN is:

i. HELEN⁴ RICHARDS, b. Abt. 1906.

6. MARY³ RICHARDS (JOSEPH², JOHN¹) was born 01 Mar 1863, and died 11 Jan 1935 in Oliver Springs, Tennessee. She married ASA KELLEY SHELTON. He was born 15 Jan 1857, and died 07 Apr 1941 in Oliver Springs, Tennessee.

7. JOSEPH J.³ RICHARDS (JOSEPH², JOHN¹) was born 06 Apr 1866. He married NETTIE SIENKNECHT. She was born Feb 1871, and died Bef. Mar 1951.

8. SADIE THOMAS³ RICHARDS (JOSEPH², JOHN¹) was born 29 Sep 1869 in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine, and died 23 Feb 1951. She married EVAN D. PHILLIPS, son of THOMAS PHILLIPS and MARY PARRY. He was born 31 Jan 1868 in Hirwain, Wales, and died 10 Jun 1957.

More About SADIE THOMAS RICHARDS:

Burial: Oliver Springs Cemetery, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee

More About EVAN D. PHILLIPS:

Burial: Oliver Springs Cemetery, Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee

Ann Maria Richards

Ann, or Annie, was the wife of my great-great-grandfather, Thomas Rees Price. She started her life as the fourth of twelve children born to Joseph and Ann Richards. She was born on July 16, 1854 in Danville, Pennsylvania, USA. She was in the first generation of my Richards family to be born in America. She spent her younger days in Pennsylvania. By the early 1870's the family had moved to Knoxville, Tennessee. After becoming a wife and mother of four children Annie became a widow at the age of 51, but remained in the home she shared with Thomas until a few years before her death. She was said to be a smart business-minded woman and nothing if a little stubborn. She died on March 16, 1941 while with her daughter, Mary, in Jonesville, Virginia. She was buried in the Thomas Price family plot in Old Gray Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Look Out For The Boys!

Price Orr
The next generation descending from the Price line no longer carry the Price name. Mary (Price) and Benjamin Orr had twin sons, Price and James. These were the only children of Mary Price. The boys were born in March of 1908 in Knoxville. They split their time between Jonesville, VA and Knoxville, TN. Both boys attended Knoxville High School and graduated in 1927. Both also attended the University of Tennessee Knoxville.

Mary Price

My Price line continues through the only surviving daughter of Thomas Rees Price. Mary Price was the fourth child born to Thomas Rees Price and Ann "Annie" Maria Richards. On October 17, 1905 she married Benjamin Franklin Orr in Knoxville, Tennessee. Benjamin was a dentist who was from Jonesville, Virginia. Benjamin and Mary made their home in Knoxville, though they would later have homes in both Knoxville and Jonesville. On March 7, 1908 Benjamin and Mary had twin sons, Rees Price and James Wesley. Both boys were named after both their maternal and paternal grandfathers (Thomas Rees Price and James Wesley Orr). In the 1940's Benjamin and Mary divorced. She married a man named Bruce "Bill" Williams. Mary died on September 26, 1965 in Knoxville, Tennessee. She is buried in the family plot of her father, Thomas Rees Price, in Old Gray Cemetery.

Thomas Rees Price and family

I am continuing my Price family line from the previous post. My line continues from Jonathan and Elizabeth Price through their ninth child, Thomas Rees Price. Thomas was born August 26, 1851 in Danville, PA. He started working in coal mines, but later left that profession to pursue cabinet making. In the early 1870's he moved from Pennsylvania to Knoxville, TN. In 1874 he married Ann Maria "Annie" Richards in Knoxville. They had four children, though two died in infancy. In 1880 Thomas started the Knoxville Furniture Company of which he held the office of President for the company until his death in 1906. Thomas also held many other positions in the Knoxville area, i.e. an incorporator and Director of the Knoxville, LaFollette and Jellico Railroad, Vice-President of the Logan-Maphet Lumber Company, and was a Director of two area banks.

Generation No. 1

1. THOMAS REES³ PRICE (JONATHAN², REES¹) was born 26 Aug 1851 in Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania, and died 04 Mar 1906 in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee. He married ANN MARIA RICHARDS 15 Sep 1874 in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee, daughter of JOSEPH RICHARDS and ANN THOMAS. She was born 16 Jul 1854 in Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania, and died 16 Mar 1941 in Jonesville, Lee County, Virginia.

More About THOMAS REES PRICE:

Burial: Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

More About ANN MARIA RICHARDS:

Burial: 18 Mar 1941, Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

Children of THOMAS PRICE and ANN RICHARDS are:

i. ANNIE⁴ PRICE, b. 1875, Knox County, Tennessee; d. 1876.

ii. JOSEPH R. PRICE, b. 15 Sep 1877, Knox County, Tennessee; d. 02 Oct 1878, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee.

More About JOSEPH R. PRICE:

Burial: 03 Oct 1878, Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

iii. JOSEPH J. PRICE, b. Jan 1879, Knox County, Tennessee.

iv. MARY PRICE, b. 20 Sep 1885, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee; d. 26 Sep 1965, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee; m. (1) BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ORR, 17 Oct 1905, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee; b. 23 Jan 1873, Sugar Run, Lee County, Virginia; d. 05 Dec 1959, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee; m. (2) BRUCE BILL WILLIAMS, Aft. 1940; b. 05 Aug 1886, Columbia, Lexington County, South Carolina; d. 10 Aug 1953, Oak Ridge, Anderson County, Tennessee.

More About MARY PRICE:

Burial: 28 Sep 1965, Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

More About BRUCE BILL WILLIAMS:

Burial: 13 Aug 1953, Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

More About BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ORR:

Burial: 09 Dec 1959, Fort Lincoln Cemetery, Brentwood, Prince George County, Maryland

Jonathan Price and family

Since my last post was about my g-g-great-grandfather, Jonathan Price, I thought I would post a little information on Jonathan and his family.

Generation No. 1

1. JONATHAN² PRICE (REES¹) was born 30 Nov 1811 in Wales, and died 20 Jun 1857. He married ELIZABETH JONES. She was born 17 Oct 1816 in Wales, and died 10 Apr 1885 in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee.

More About ELIZABETH JONES:

Burial: 11 Apr 1885, Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

Children of JONATHAN PRICE and ELIZABETH JONES are:

i. ANN³ PRICE, b. 30 Aug 1835, Pennsylvania; d. 02 Feb 1915, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee; m. EDWARD P. ROBERTS; b. 25 Mar 1826; d. 11 Dec 1896, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee.

More About ANN PRICE:

Burial: 03 Feb 1915, New Grey Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

More About EDWARD P. ROBERTS:

Burial: New Grey Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

ii. MARGARET PRICE, b. 10 May 1837; d. 12 Aug 1838.

iii. DAVID PRICE, b. 25 Sep 1838, Pennsylvania; d. Bef. 1900; m. AMELIA; b. Oct 1840, Wales.

iv. MARY PRICE, b. 19 Jun 1840.

v. HANNAH PRICE, b. 12 Mar 1842, Scranton, Pennsylvania; d. 03 Nov 1906, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee; m. JOSEPH DAVIES; b. 06 Aug 1842, Wales; d. 10 Dec 1887, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee.

More About HANNAH PRICE:

Burial: 04 Nov 1906, Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

More About JOSEPH DAVIES:

Burial: Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

vi. ELIZABETH PRICE, b. 28 Dec 1843.

vii. JONATHAN EDWARD PRICE, b. 26 Jan 1847, Pennsylvania; d. 19 Aug 1918, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee; m. ELIZABETH, Abt. 1872; b. Dec 1849, Wales; d. 19 Jan 1910.

More About JONATHAN EDWARD PRICE:

Burial: 21 Aug 1918, Forest Hills, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee

viii. WILLIAM HENRY PRICE, b. 18 Dec 1848; d. 13 Sep 1850.

ix. THOMAS REES PRICE, b. 26 Aug 1851, Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania; d. 04 Mar 1906, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee; m. ANN MARIA RICHARDS, 15 Sep 1874, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee; b. 16 Jul 1854, Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania; d. 16 Mar 1941, Jonesville, Lee County, Virginia.

More About THOMAS REES PRICE:

Burial: Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

More About ANN MARIA RICHARDS:

Burial: 18 Mar 1941, Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

x. ABRAHAM JONES PRICE, b. 06 Sep 1854, Pennsylvania; d. 11 Nov 1916, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee; m. ANNIE RICHARDS, 09 Jan 1879, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee; b. 15 Dec 1859, Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania; d. 22 Dec 1928, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee.

More About ABRAHAM JONES PRICE:

Burial: 13 Nov 1916, Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

More About ANNIE RICHARDS:

Burial: Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

xi. CATHERINE PRICE, b. 06 Sep 1854.

xii. LEVI JONES PRICE, b. 12 Apr 1856, Pennsylvania; d. 18 Aug 1897, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee; m. ELLA CATHERINE CALDWELL, 28 May 1879, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee; b. 03 Dec 1859; d. 03 Mar 1953.

More About LEVI JONES PRICE:

Burial: New Grey Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

More About ELLA CATHERINE CALDWELL:

Burial: 07 Mar 1953, New Grey Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee