Shelby County TN Biographies

Dr. SHELTON HINSON

Submitted by Brenda B. Watson

 

Dr. Shelton Hinson (March 19, 1829 VA – June 7, 1912 Memphis) practiced dentistry in Memphis before the Civil War and encouraged many future generations of dentists in Memphis. The family story told of Dr. Hinson carrying his dental equipment on his back as he crossed over the mountains from Virginia. The Hinson-Wright legacy remains strong in Shelby County today. Most of the Hinsons listed below are buried in the Hinson lot at Forest Hill Cemetery, Memphis, developed by his granddaughter Maggie’s 1st husband, Henry Riner Eslinger. (Shelton’s ancestors cannot be researched easily because he may have changed his name from James, Joseph or William to Shelton due to similarities of family names in Fauquier County, VA.)

 

Shelton married (1) Kate Neill (ca. 1840 MO – July 1867 Memphis) on 21 Jun 1855 in Saline County, Missouri. They moved to Memphis by 1854, migrated to Caddo Parrish, Louisiana by 1860 and lived permanently in Memphis by 1870. Shelton and Kate’s first child, Leon Shelton Hinson, was born (ca. 1861) in Louisiana. Later two sons were born in Missouri, where the parents may have visited her family.  These sons were: James L. Hinson (ca. 1862 MO - 7 Dec 1901 El Paso, TX) and Dr. William Hunter Hinson (18 Dec 1864 MO - 23 May 1902 Memphis), dentist. William Hinson married Etta Knell.  William and Etta’s Issue: Clyde Shelton Hinson, James Hunter Hinson and Carl Lee Hinson. Clyde moved to Waterloo, Iowa and built a successful manufacturing plant. Clyde's issue: James Nelson Hinson and William Henry Hinson.

 

Both widowed, Dr. Shelton Hinson, Sr. married (2) Margaret J. Wright (Mrs. John H. Brooks) (18 Aug 1840 MS - 17 Aug 1904 Memphis) shortly after Kate’s death in 1867. Margaret raised Shelton’s three young sons, Leon, James, and William, along with her own boys, Wyatt Brooks and Walter Brooks. Together, they had one child, Shelton, Jr. Shelton, Sr. practiced dentistry in downtown Memphis and survived Memphis' second Yellow Fever epidemic in 1878. He was a Mason. Shelton’s obituary in 1912: “Was a resident of this city (Memphis) for 59 years, coming here before the beginning of the Civil War. He was a native of VA. Surviving him are his son, Shelton Hinson, Jr. and his stepchildren, Dr. W. W. Brooks and W. L. Brooks.” Issue: Shelton Hinson, Jr. (19 Dec 1871 Memphis - 18 Aug 1952 Memphis.)  (See Wright)  

Shelton Hinson Jr. married Mattie Daisy Fletcher (13 Dec 1875 Fisherville - 8 Jul 1925) on 29 Aug 1893 in Memphis. She was the daughter of A.J. Fletcher and Mary Elizabeth Brooks. They lived in Memphis where he was a building contractor in Memphis. He also designed and built furniture as a hobby. Daisy taught her daughters intricate tatting, knitting, embroidery and crewel. They both died in Memphis and are buried in Forest Hill. Issue: Ardenne, Henry, Margaret, James, and Arlene.  (See Fletcher and Brooks)

Issue of Daisy Fletcher and Shelton Hinson, Jr.

Dr. Mary Ardenne Hinson  (18 Aug 1894 Memphis – 13 Dec 1979 Memphis) graduated from the Memphis Normal School (college) and became a school teacher before entering dental school. She tutored many of her fellow dental students at the University of Tennessee for which she received life-long appreciation. She initially practiced dentistry with her aunt, Dr. May Brooks (nee Peyton), and then her nephew, Dr. Robert Black. She was a charter member and president of the Memphis Zonta Club (Women Professionals), an avid photographer, an accomplished artist and hand-crafter, and traveler. She remained single and lived with her father and sister, Margaret.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Henry Riner Hinson  (6 Dec 1895 Memphis – 1 Nov 1968 Memphis) married Estelle Lucarini  “Stella” (11 June 1896 Memphis – 9 Mar 1966 Memphis) whose family emigrated from Italy in 1881. He was a Marine in WWI and was a Station Master for the IC Railroad. Issue: Malcolm Vincent Hinson (1921-1996) married Florence Harris (1925-1999), daughter of Milton Harris (b. 1892 MS) and Roberta Oliver Boyd (1902-1985).  Estelle Marie Hinson.

 

Margaret Fleda Hinson  (22 Aug 1897 Memphis – 18 Dec 1987 Memphis) attended the Memphis Normal School. She married (1) Robert Overton Black, Sr. (1890 Greencastle, Putnam Co., IN – 1970 Wood, WI) in 1918 in Memphis and (2) Cornelius Milton Whitaker (1893 Como, Panola Co., MS – 1976 Memphis) in 1938. Margaret was a portrait and landscape artist, worked between her marriages with the YWCA and Red Cross, and was a member of Memphis’ Nineteenth Century Club.

 

 

 

Issue of Margaret and Robert: Robert Overton Black Jr., DDS “Bob” (13 May 1920 Oakland, Coles Co., IL - 12 Jun 1964 Memphis). In 1943 Bob married Memphian Harriet Howe (1924-1999), daughter of Harry Northrop Howe of NY and Ethel Frank Warner of Canada and Colorado. Issue: Diane Ardenne Black (1946), Brenda Lynn Black (1948), and Margaret Warner Black (1951). Brenda married Everett Howard Watson (b. 1943) of Arkansas.

 

 


James Fletcher Hinson (26 March 1899 – 25 December 1907)

Arlene Hinson (26 Dec 1906 Memphis – 29 Jan 1992) married Russell Oliver Nye, D.V.M. (29 Feb 1908 Cambridge, Henry, IL – 28 Aug 1980) on 26 June 1930 in Iowa. They graduated from Iowa State. They died in Geneseo, Henry Co., Illinois.  Issue: Linda Ardenne Nye (b. 14 Sep 1939 Kewanee, Henry Co., IL)

 

 


 

LEONARD LAWHORN

Submitted by Brenda Black Watson

Word Count 453

 

Leonard Lawhorn (1842 - 22 Jul 1929 Memphis) married Margaret L. Brooks “Maggie” (Jan 1849 Memphis - August 2, 1895 Memphis) on 12 Sep 1867 in Shelby County, TN. Margaret was the second daughter of James Monroe Brooks and Mary Ann Kingston. According to Leonard’s obituary, he “was orphaned at an early age and rose from newsboy to head of what was the largest wholesale grocery company south of the Ohio, L. Lawhorn and Co. (Estab. 1864). He enlisted in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, served 3 years, was captured at Corinth, and was taken to the Union prison at Cairo, IL.  He escaped and returned to Memphis as a stowaway on a Union Troop ship. Unable to break through the Union lines, Leonard was forced to remain in Memphis during the remainder of the war. He was a Memphis Alderman and member of several sportsman's clubs, Angerona Lodge, F and AM, St. Elmo Commandery, Knights Templar, and Loyal Order of Moose. During Memphis' Yellow Fever epidemic Leonard was involved in rehabilitation work.”  He is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Memphis. Margaret is buried at Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis. (See Brooks)

 

 

Issue of Margaret Brooks and Leonard Lawhorn

 

Julia Valerie Lawhorn   (26 Jun 1868 Memphis, Shelby, TN - 7 Feb 1962 Memphis, Shelby, TN) married John Gray Blount (6 Aug 1866 Washington, DC - 8 Dec 1940 Memphis, Shelby, TN) on Aug 1892 in Memphis. He was the son of John Gray Blount and Elizabeth Watkins Perry. Julia and John were buried in Forrest Hill Cemetery, Memphis.  Issue:

 

 

 

 

Julia Valerie Blount (1893-1994)

Margaret Louise Blount (1895-1989)  School teacher.

John Gray Blount (b. 1897)

Elizabeth Perry Blount (1900-1990)

William Augustus Blount (1909-1981) married (1) Margaret Elivira Simkins (1906 Salem, OR - 1951) in 1939 in Memphis.  He married (2) Lucy Ann Tate (b. 1922 Bartlett, Shelby, TN), daughter of Lemuel Hall Tate and Lida Chester Hammontree, on 27 Feb 1954 in Memphis. Tate County, Mississippi is named after Thomas Simpson Tate, father of Lemuel. Lucy Ann Tate married (1) William Frederick Niedringhaus Randolph of St. Louis, Missouri.

May Pearl Lawhorn  (1870-1953 Raleigh, Shelby, TN) married in 1892 Henry Wyatt Bayliss (1863 Clarksville, TN - 1930 Memphis), son of William G. Bayliss.  Issue: Basyl Bayliss (1892- 1909) and Henry W. Bayliss.

Leonard A. Lawhorn (b. 1873) married an Unknown Pigeon from Memphis.

Leon Lawhorn (1875 Memphis - 1934 Memphis) married Minerva Rogers.  Issue: Margaret Louise, Lillian M., Roger, Leon, Clarence, Julian R., and Paul Geriach.

Dr. Cecil Claine Lawhorn (1878-1971 Milwaukee, WI) married Julia Elle (b. 1876) in 1898.

Brookes Lawhorn  (b. 1879)

John F. Lawhorn  (b. 1881) married Agnes Towers in 1900.

Julian Lawhorn married Rachel.


 

PRESLEY ROSS PEYTON

Submitted by Brenda Black Watson

991 Words

 

Presley Ross Peyton “P.R.,” 20 years old, lived with his 45 year old, widowed mother, Sarah Peyton, in Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee by 1850 (5th District). (The 1840 Shelby County, Tennessee Census lists Sarah Peyton with several children.)  Presley was born 14 Nov 1828 in Kentucky and died bef. 1870 Shelby County, Tennessee. He married (1) Indiana Leake and (2) Martha Brooks, both daughters of early settlers to Shelby County.

 

Presley Ross Peyton married (1) Indiana Herodine Leake 31 Jan 1854. She was born ca. 1823 in Goochland Co., Virginia to Richard Leake (ca. 1794 VA – July 1850 Shelby Co., TN) and Sophie T. Anderson (24 Jan 1797 - 27 Oct 1830). Richard, his second wife/sister-in-law, Mary T. Anderson, and his brother, Col. Samuel Leake, migrated to Shelby County ca. 1833. Indiana died bef. 1867 in the Morning Grove (Richard’s property) / Morning Sun area (Col. Sam’s property). Issue: Ellen S. Peyton (1857 Shelby, TN - 12/30/1931 Memphis) and India Leake Peyton (b. ca. 1859 Shelby, TN).

 

Indiana H. Leake married (1) James W. Lenow (25 Oct 1809 Southampton County, VA – 1850, Louisville, KY) ca. 1842. Issue: Josephine Lenow (b. ca. 1844 Shelby, TN) and James Horace Lenow (b. ca. 1850 Shelby, TN).  James W. Lenow married (1) a Virginian, Elizabeth Babb, bef. 1837. Issue: Frances Louisa Lenow (b. ca. 1837 VA) and John Henry Lenow (b. ca. 1839 TN).

 

Presley R. Peyton married (2) Martha A. Brooks “Mattie” (6 Jan 1847 Memphis – 15 Aug 1940 Memphis) bef. Nov 1867 and died shortly after their marriage. Mattie was the oldest daughter of James Monroe Brooks and Mary Ann Kingston of Memphis and Fisherville, TN. She attended St. Agnes Academy and Calvary Episcopal Church. Widowed early in marriage, Mattie lived with her parent’s family from 1870 to 1920 and never re-married. In 1863 she witnessed the property confiscation by Union soldiers on the Brooks’ plantation and testified to the Southern Claims Commission in 1872 in Memphis. She is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Memphis. (See Brooks)

 

 

 

 

Issue of Martha Brooks and Presley Peyton

 

Walter R. Peyton (18 Nov 1867 – 22 Apr 1938 Memphis). A produce merchant for George Bloom Produce Co., he was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Memphis.

 

Dr. May L. Peyton (22 January 1869 Fisherville, Shelby, TN – 23 July 1948 in Memphis) was the 1st woman dentist to practice in the city of Memphis (1903-1938). She married Dr. William Wyatt Brooks before 1897 in Memphis and entered dental school after their marriage. She graduated from Northwestern University in Chicago with 2nd honors in a class of 300 men. She was a lifetime member of the State Dental Society and the American Dental Association. “Aunt May” was described small woman who always wore black. Fiercely independent, assertive, and demanding respect, those who visited her dental chair remained quiet and compliant. She and her husband, Wyatt, divorced after which time May lived at the luxurious Gayoso hotel with her parents and remained there after their deaths. They are buried in Forest Hill Cemetery.

 

May’s husband, Dr. William Wyatt Brooks (3 May 1859 – 18 March 1927), son of John H. Brooks and Margaret J. Wright, was the foremost pyorrhea specialist in the south. Wyatt’s step-father, Dr. Shelton Hinson, one of Memphis’ first dentists, inspired Wyatt, May and others to enter the field of dentistry. May mentored her younger cousin, Dr. Ardenne Hinson, who, in turn mentored her nephew, Dr. Robert Black, in shared dental practices. Their only child, Dr. Ruth Brooks (ca. 6 Jan 1897 Memphis – ca. 15 Dec 1971 CA), attended Randolph Macon, the University of Chicago, and the University of Tennessee to become a dentist. She met Dr. John H. A. Campbell, D.D.S., Ph.D. at the University of Chicago and married in Memphis. They moved to Los Angeles and had a daughter, Mary L. Campbell.  (See Wright and Hinson)

PEYTON ANCESTRY

This line descends from Capt. Valentine Peyton of Virginia (1687-1751) and Henry Peyton of Lincoln's Inn, London (1590-1656).

Presley Ross Peyton was the son of Craven Peyton (1794 Jefferson Co., KY - 1833) and Sarah Fleming Payne (1795 VA – 1853 Memphis) who married in Shelby County, KY in 1813.  Craven Peyton’s (1794) parents were William Peyton (1753 Loudoun Co., VA - 18 Aug 1811 Bullitt Co., KY) and Mary Ross (21 Nov 1769 Loudoun Co., VA - 25 Dec 1841 Hartford, Ohio Co., KY).  William Peyton’s parents were Craven Peyton (b. 1732 Aquia Creek, Stafford Co., VA) and Ann West.  Mary Ross’ parents were Lawrence Ross and Susannah Oldham. Craven Peyton’s (1732) parents were Col. Valentine Peyton and Frances Linton. Sarah Fleming Payne’s parents were Dennis Payne and Nancy Combs.  Dennis Payne’s parents were Cuthbert Combs and Sarah Evans.

Presley Ross Peyton’s older brothers were Dr. William Peyton (b. 1817), Dr. Craven Peyton (b. 1821), and Dr. Thomas Fleming Peyton (10 May 1823 Mount Vernon, KY - 14 Feb 1878 Shelby, TN). Thomas married Martha Custis Woolsey (1832 Brunswick County, Virginia – 1892 Shelby, TN) and lived in Shelby County. The 1860 Shelby, TN Census lists Thomas F., 37, b. in KY, Martha, 27, b. in VA, Emma, 4, b. in TN, James, 24, attorney, b. in VA, and Virginia, 20, b. in MS.  By 1870 the children listed were: Emma, 12, Fanny, 9, Sally, 6, Anna, 4, and Ashby, 2. “During the Civil War when medicine was so scarce, Martha Woolsey Peyton slipped through the Yankee lines in Memphis to secure some badly needed quinine for her husband’s patients. She was able to get the medicine which she put in the hem of her petticoat but was caught by the Yankees and put in jail. Martha was forced to pledge allegiance to the U.S. Army before they would release her.” 

Sources

Edna Barney, “Peytons Along the Aquia Genealogy”

Shirley Sigler Chamberlin, “A History of Cuba, Tennessee with Family Accounts and Genealogy,” Millington, TN

The Peyton Society of Virginia, “The Peytons of Virginia II”