Greene County Obituaries JOHN BRANNAN , Esq., of the 9th Dist. died on last Tuesday morning of apoplexy of heart disease. His death was very sudden and unexpected, he had been in town the day before as well, apparently as usual. This is another of the old citizens of the county gone. Greeneville East Tennessee Thursday March 8, 1883 - contributed by, Pamela Tubbs ROBERT NATHAN BRANNAN died at his home near Timber Ridge, Wednesday. He had been sick for sometime though not confined until a short time before he died. Mr. Brannan had many acquaintances over the county who will regret to learn of his death. Greeneville East Tennessee September 22, 1897 - contributed by, Pamela Tubbs WILLIAM A. CUNNINGHAM - In Greeneville, on the 28th ult., WILLIAM A., infant son of Rev. John W. & Elizabeth Cunningham. The Jonesborough Whig, and Independent Journal, (Jonesborough, TN) Wednesday, October 12, 1842; Issue 22; col D - transcribed by, Amanda Jowers WILLIAM DICKSON - Departed this life, at his residence in Greenville, about 12 o'clock, on Monday the 2nd inst. in the 68th year of his age, WILLIAM DICKSON, a most valuable and excellent man. He was attacked with Apoplexy, on Saturday the 31st ult. and in an instant was rendered helpless, senseless and speechles. In speaking of the worth of this man - a friend with whom we have been acquainted for years, we must confess, that we know not where to begin. Here is another instance in which the territories of Death have been honored with rich spoils - with the last earthly remains, of the noblest work of God - AN HONEST MAN! He was the oldest citizen of Greenville, having been for 48 years an esteemed, useful, and industrious citizen of the place. He was appointed Post Master, during the administration of General Washington, an office he held till the day on which he breathed his last; - and never did any man perform the duties of that office with grater impartiality, promptitude and fidelity. The good heart - clear and penetrating mind - sound and strong judgement - correct religious and political sentiments - calmness of temper for deliberation - invincible firmness and perseverance in what he undertook - temperate and industrious habits - incorruptable integrity and unvarying patrictism, of Mr. Dickson; connected, at the same time, with a long life of valuable services, faithfully and impartially rendered with an exhibition, of his pre-eminent virtues, in all the varied and responsible relations of life, have won for him the respect of thousands, in East Tennessee, and elsewhere, and entitled him to the respect of all. What a legacy the deceased has left his surviving friends and relatives, in that they are proudly concious of his good name, and his many excellent traits of character! Let them not mourn over his death - a loss to them, we allow, but a loss which, to him, is infinite and eternal gain. Had we time, we would say more about the virtues of this excellent man, but the late hour at which we received the intelligence of his death caused us to have to stop the press, even to give to the public, this hasty and imperfect sketch. The Jonesborough Whig, and Independent Journal, (Jonesborough, TN) Wednesday, January 04, 1843; Issue 34; col E - transcribed by, Amanda Jowers NARCISSA EARNEST - Departed this life, on the 3d inst., in Greene county Tenn., and in the 42nd year of her age, Mrs. Narcissa Earnest, consort of Barton L. Earnest, and daughter of Jesse Reeve deceased. Mrs. Earnest suffered much severe and excruciating pain for two months previous to her death, in which time, the Lord, said "suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not." called two infant babes, from this world of tears to rest in Abraham's bosom, making four children who had died before her, and gone to their home in heaven. Mrs. Earnest made a profession of religion in 1822, and lived as worthy and examplary member of the Methodist Episcopal Church to the day of her death. A few hours before she died, she expressed a bright - a full hope of heaven. She was happy and rejoiced in the love of her Saviour and desired to be released from her afflictions, and go and join her children and friends who had gone before her. She retained this state of mind till the moment of her dissolution, and died in the full assurance of a blessed immortality! She has left and affectionate husband and seven children, an aged mother and many relations and friends to mourn their loss, but they cannot mourn as those who have no hope. Soon they will meet her in heaven and hail her the "blessed of the Lord." The Jonesborough Whig, and Independent Journal, (Jonesborough, TN) [Wednesday], [May 24, 1843]; Issue 2; col D - transcribed by, Amanda Jowers MARY ELIZABETH FELLERS - DIED at Greeneville, Ten., on the 26th inst. Mary Elizabeth, daughter of M. G. & Eliza E. G. Fellers, aged 20 months. Tennessee Whig, (Jonesborough, TN) Thursday, October 31, 1839; Issue 25; col D - transcribed by, Amanda Jowers J. T. Fitzgerald and T. A. Fitzgerald Double Funeral Held At Greeneville Greeneville, Tenn., June 19, 1916 The funeral of J. T. Fitzgerald and T. A. Fitzgerald took place at the M. E. church at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon conducted by the pastor, W. R. Oliver, and was very largely attended. In fact no funeral service in Greeneville in a long time has been so largely attended. The church could accommodate only a portion of those present. J. T. Fitzgerald died in Knoxville and his body was shipped to Greeneville for burial. T. A. Fitzgerald, his twin brother, was in Washington and leaving that city almost as soon as the news of his brother's death was received, had arrived in Greeneville before the funeral party had arrived from Knoxville and gone to the boarding house of the Misses Gammon, where he almost at once was taken sick and died within a very short time. The burial was in Oak Grove cemetery and the cortege of automobiles extended nearly from the church to the cemetery which is more than a half mile. [The Kingsport Times (Kingsport, Tennessee) June 22, 1916, submitted by Frances Cooley] MRS. FRENCH - Mrs. French, wife of O. T. French, register for Greene county, died at her home in Greeneville on last Thursday, after a protracted sickness with consumption. Daily Journal and Journal and Tribune (2 Sept. 1889) - transcribed by Marla Zwakman JAMES W. HALE - Died, at the residence of his Father, in Green county, on Friday the 9th inst., of fever, JAMES W. HALE, Esq. in the 32d year of his age. We have been acquainted with the deceased for the last 15 years; and a though we differed with him politically, we knew him to be a gentleman, an honorable man, and a citizen of irreproachable character. He was esteemed by all who knew him, and died leaving behind, few if any personal enemies. Mr. Hale was an Attorney at Law. HALE - Since the foregoing was put in type the following notice has been recieved from a gentleman in Greenville: - "Receeding years proclaim the solemn truth, That death and the grave soon follow youth, That all created things must pass away, Despite the golden dream of minstrels lay." Died, at 12 o'clock A.M. Friday the 9th inst., at the residence of his father in Greene county, JAMES W. HALE, Attorney at Law, of Greenville, Ten., in the 32d year of his age. All nature bears the impress of decay. - The great Creator has so ordained it for wise and good purposes. It's elements are deep fixed in our natures. The beautiful flower which the spring brings forth, lives only for a few weeks, and on the approach of gray autumn withers and dies. The giant oak, the pride of the forest, through whose branches the winds have sighed for centuries and proudly defied the rage of the mad tornado, is at length torn from its roots while the bending sapling by its side remains uninjured. Even man, with all his inventive powers, who has usurped to himself the proud title of "the Lord of Creation.: - he too must yield to the summons of relentless death. In the beautiful and expressive language of Horace: - "Sed omnes una manet nox, Et cadcundo semel via leti." It has been said, "death loves a shining mark," and so it would seem. Let a friend linger for a moment and pay his humble tribute to the virtues of the deceased. Mr. Hale had spent the sunny days of his boyhood in our midst - here he had grown to mans estate, and in youth and manhood had deeply entwined himself around the affections of our people. The villagers miss his glad voice and ever ready smile - and could their heartfelt prayers have prevailed this sad stroke of Providence would have been averted. Early an enthusiast in his great profession, the law; he was said to be, for one of his age a profound jurist - and was just beginning to reap the rich reward of his untiring application, when death threw his dark mantle o'er the bright future. His numerous relations must bitterly mourn his untimely fate. The grass has scarcely grown o'er the grave if a younger brother, e're the gloomy portals of the charnal house are again thrown open. We tender them our sympathy - and hope he was prepared for the great change. Requisee in pace. H___s Greenville, Sept. 10, 1842. And yet another. Just as our paper was going to press, a friend and acquaintance of Mr. Hale's handed us the following just tribute, which we publish with pleasure: Died, at the residence of his father in Greene County Tenn. on Friday the 9th September 1842, of congestive fever, JAMES W. HALE, Esq., Attorney at Law, in the thirty first year of his age. Another melancholy illustration of the uncertainty of human life, and the vanity of all earthly pursuits and expectations has occurred. A brief but severe illness of two weeks, has terminated the mortal career of one whose usual heath and temperate mode of living, seemed to afford the almost certain guaranty of a long and useful career. How visionary and delusive are our brightest prospects; how futile and transitory our fondest hopes. "Man cometh forth like a flower and is cut down; he ?eeth as a shadow, and continueth now." The solemn sentence is every day fulfilled - "dust thou art and unto dust thou return." And while the chastening hand of an inscrutable Being seems to be stretched forth upon all parts of the world; while suffering and death, in every form, are in our midst; while the young and the old are constantly falling around us, "like leaves in wintry weather" - who can say how long his life will be spared and who would not wish to exclaim "let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his?" In the brief space intended for this notice, it is not designed minutely to review the life and character of the deceased. Having selected the law as his profession, his studies were prosecuted with diligence, and he had acquired a fund of information, which promised, at no distant day, a high and honorable rank at the bar. In the legal profession it is well known that the ablest lawyers are often those who are longest in establishing a full practice, but who, in the mean time, are accumulating valuable stores of knowledge. Such was the case with the deceased. Though he had been several years at the bar, he did not, until recently, begin to reap the reward of his industry. He was modest and rather retiring in his deportment, and somewhat juvenile in his appearance; and while these circumstances, in some measure, retarded his advancement, it was well known to his professional brethren, that he was studious in his habits, attentive to his business, and probably as well read as any man of his age in the Circuit in which he practiced. For sometime past, his business had considerably increased, and he had the prospect of being soon amply repaid, for all his toils, in the growing favor and approbation of the community. Mild and unassuming in his disposition, firm and honest in his views of men and things, kind and gentle in his social relations, he was greatly endeared to so extensive circle of relatives and friends, who deeply mourn his loss. The deceased, it is believed, was not a professor of religion, but became deeply excited on that subject a short time before his last illness; and, during the calm and lucid intervals which were allowed him in the fearful and agonizing derangement of disease, he gave satisfactory assurances of his hope of being numbered among the inhabitants of that holy city where "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain." The Jonesborough Whig, and Independent Journal, (Jonesborough, TN) Wednesday, September 14, 1842; Issue 18; col C - transcribed by, Amanda Jowers ANDREW JACKSON PARRY - Died, in Greene county, on the 13th of December, of slow consumption, ANDREW JACKSON PARRY, aged twenty five years, five months, and two days. Of the character of the deceased it is needful for us to say but little. His friends knew his worth and loved him much. He was of an amiable, and affectionate dispositon - kind and affable to all. If he had any trait of character which shone out more conspicously than any other, it was a strong, and an ardent desire for knowledge - he thirsted day and night to learn wisdom. But that which endeared him to his friends, more than any thing else, in his last days, was the strong evidence he gave that he was a child of God' and if a son, then an heir of heaven, and a joint heir with Jesus. He was early seperated from his parents and friends, and thrown amidst the wicked society of Texas, and the South Western frontier of the United States; but through the mercy of God he was preserved from their vices. After a long abscence he returned to his parents roof; but he returned only to die in the bosom of his family, and to be buried with his fathers. He bore with christian patience, and resignation, his acute and protracted sufferings Seldom, if ever, have we met with such an example of complete submission to the soverign will of God. Never was a single murmur heard to escape his lips. He appeared impatient of only one thing, and that was the delay of his Master in calling for him. His constant prayer was that he might lay aside his "tabernacle of clay, and be clothed upon with his house which is from heaven." His soul longed to see the courts of the living God. "where is fullness of joy, and pleasure forever more." One of his sisters speaking of his death, said, "a little after 4 o'clock, in the morning, I was called to his bed, and found that he was dying; and before five my own dear brother had breathed his last. He closed his eyes, and died as calmly as an infant going to sleep." He died in the faith of Christ - in the hope of a blessed immortality. His friends should not mourn as those who have no hope seeing we have good reason to believe that with him, "death is swallowed up in victory;" that he has gone to receive "the crown of righteousness, and to be ever with the Lord." and has had "ministered unto him an entrance abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." The Jonesborough Whig, and Independent Journal, (Jonesborough, TN) Wednesday, January 04, 1843; Issue 34; col E - transcribed by, Amanda Jowers CHARLES "CHARLIE" SIPE was born July 14, the son of Bert Lee and Mamie Alice (Riley) Sipe in Mohawk, Tennessee (Greene County). On August 6, 1976, Charlie married Linda L. Bender in Rogerville, Tennessee. Upon moving to Carroll County, Illinois, Charlie took a job at the Savanna Ice House, the Milwaukee Railroad for 24 years, Kasbohm Custom Drilling in Savanna and owned and operated Charlie's Tavern in Savanna and Charlie¢s II Tavern in Mt. Carroll. Charlie lived and farmed near Mt. Carroll where he and Linda raised five children. He loved his grandchildren, there was nothing that gave him more joy then his grandchildren. He enjoyed sitting around with friends and telling stories, or out moving earth with his bulldozer. He loved a good challenge, truth be told, Charlie wrestled a bear and lived to tell about it. He climbed a telephone pole backwards with out falling. Charlie was a unique, interesting and loving man. Charlie will be dearly missed by his wife, Linda of Mt. Carroll; four sons, Tim Snapp of Greenville, TN; Tom Sipe of Savanna; Donnie (India) Sipe of Mt. Carroll and Charlie (Tonya) Sipe of Mt. Carroll; three daughters, Peggy (George) Grams of Camanche, Iowa; Bobbie Jo (Carl) Bates of Mt. Carroll and Stacie (Robert) Klein of Savanna; six step daughters; twenty six-grandchildren and fourteen great grand children; seven sisters, Lenore "Sis" Cobble, Annie Richer, Peggy (Larry) Wilder, Nancy (George) Tempest, all of Tennessee; Betty Kalal of Minnesota, Ella Bea Horner and Jane (Bill) Atkenson of Wisconsin and numerous step-grandchildren. Charlie is preceded in death by his parents; a step-grandson; four brothers and one sister. Contributed by, Christine Walters MRS. P. A. SLOVER - A telegram received by Hon. M. L. Ross announced the death of Mrs. P. A. Slover, at her home near Almeda postoffice, in Greene county. She died yesterday at 8:30 a.m. and will be buried at Greenville today. Mrs. Slover was well known to many readers of The Journal and was esteemed by all who knew her. She leaves a mother, aged about 80 years, to mourn her loss. Daily Journal and Journal and Tribune (13 May 1896) - transcribed by Marla Zwakman KEZIAH R. VANCE - Departed this life on the 1st inst., Mrs. Keziah R. Vance, consort of W. K. Vance of this village in her 51st year. During the last 25 years of her life she was a member of the Presbyterian church. In society she was esteemed as one of its most venerable members; in her family she was beloved and adorned with the high's parental regard. Here place in society is now vacant, and her place in the family circle is not only vacant, but can never be filled. The family and especially the younger part have sustained an irreparable loss. - A mother they can never have. May God in his goodness favor and protect them. But a short time previous to her death the bloom of health encircled her brow. Her place as a citizen, a wife and a mother was cheerfully and well filled. But in the midst of life, health, peace, social regard and family love, disease made its unwelcome visit. Its attack was immediate and most violent. Soon she was aware that death was approaching - patiently she suffered the most severe affliction for 14 days, when the monster death came, came as a messenger from heaven, came and claimed the victim. It was granted by nature because just, and it was just because it was God's claim. The thread of life was severed and the spirit quit its earthly abode, and took its flight, as there is cause to believe, to realms of heavenly bliss. The Angel's flight that carried it off, by man was not seen; but his presence was known and felt. The voice of God was not heard; but the signs of his presence told that he was there. A loud outbreak of grief was heard from human voices; but in imagination the songs of heavenly joy were heard at the throne of grace. - Friends and relatives were bowed down with reverential awe, on witnessing the certain though silent work of our heavenly father - prayers were sent up and heard at the mercy seat, that the cup might pass away. But God's ways are not those of men - the sands of life had run out - Heaven claimed the soul and the grave the body. She was gone. What heart would not melt or what eye would not weep to hear that cry of anguish "O mother's dead!" It is true we were unwilling to give her up; but he that gave has the right to take away. It was hard but right - it is not for man to complain of thy decrees Oh! Lord but thy will forever by done. Think of this mortal man, that it is God's will that you die. The deceased has left a large family and numerous friends to mourn her departure, but with her go love, hope, esteem, admiration and prayer. What is it that has removed this valuable citizen and mother from our midst? The common enemy to all death! death! death!!! - Greenville Chronicle The Jonesborough Whig, and Independent Journal, (Jonesborough, TN) Wednesday, November 15, 1843; Issue 27; col E - transcribed by, Amanda Jowers HOWARD FRANKLIN WEST , 80, of the Ottway Community in Greene County, died Sunday morning, November 2, 2003 at Laughlin Memorial Hospital. He was well known for his involvement in the carnival business in East Tennessee and was widely known as the "carnival man". Survivors include his wife, Kathryn Harmon West; daughter and son-in-law, Frances and Floyd Bradford, of Elizabethton; two grandsons and a granddaughter-in-law, Howard and Genia Bradford, of Greene County, and Perry Bradford, of Elizabethton; two great grandsons, Sylas Bradford and Tyler Coe; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a great granddaughter, Kelsey Guy. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, November 3, 2003 and Tuesday, November 4, 2003 at Rose Hill Funeral Home, Greeneville. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 5, 2003 from Ottway United Methodist Church with interment in Mountain Valley Cemetery. Courtesy of Memorial Funeral Chapel, Elizabethton. Elizabethton Star, Elizabethton, TN, November 3, 2003 - contributed by, Tina Oneyear SAMUEL WILHITE - Departed this life, in Greene county, on the 26th ultimo, after a short but painful illness, in the 73d year of his age SAMUEL WILHITE. The deceased was a native of Virginia - born in the year 1768, and on the 29th of November. He emigrated to Tennessee, with his parents, Coonrood and Elizabeth Wilhite, when but twelve years of age, where he resided to the day of his death. The deceased was a citizen whose irreproachable life placed him above personal assault, and whose duties as a parent, a neighbor, and a member of civil society, were performed with such strict regard to integrity, and with such a close observance of the rights and immunities of others, that no word of censury was ever uttered against him by any one whose opinions were entitled to a decent regard. Hundreds yet living can bear testimony to the excellence of his character, to the purity of his morals, to the soundness of his principles, and to his understanding of, and attatchment to the great interests of his country. For forty years he lived an exemplary member of the Methodist Episcople Church - and for many years a licensed Exhorter - and finally died in the triumphs of the faith of that blessed Gospel, whose rich rewards he now enjoys in a happier mode of being than this. The Jonesborough Whig, (Jonesborough, TN) Wednesday, December 15, 1841; Issue 31; col C - transcribed by, Amanda Jowers Back to the Main Index Page