RUFUS COLEMAN CROCKER
BIOGRAPHY

Notes by
3/31/2008

I am Max Aldon Crocker, Sr. (b 1936 Dyer County, TN), son of George Ethelbert Crocker (b. Gibson Co, TN) (1905-1960), Son of Thomas Fred Crocker (1878-1958) son of Thomas Monroe Crocker (1851-1890) son of Rufus Coleman Crocker (1824-1895).

I have been chasing this genealogy bug around since shortly after the Alex Haley book Roots came out in the early 1980’s. I have been intrigued by the life of my grandfather’s grandfather, R. C. Crocker. He was appointed to be Administrator for a brother Edwin H. Crocker and their father Mark Crocker. I kept thinking about the numerous times he had ridden a horse about eight miles from Idlewild to the Gibson County Court House in Trenton to take care of all these transactions. His name came up often in the court records. I think that now I have most of the picture. I could not find death dates for him and Martha, or any Wills. I was puzzled that there was not will after he had been Executor for a brother and their father, and none for him. Gradually I collected copies of deeds and other items at the court house.

I do not know where they were buried. I guess that they were buried either in the Crocker Cemetery or the Mt. Pisgah Church Cemetery. I have several references to the Crocker Cemetery but there are NOT any Crocker tombstones there. A short distance away the Mt. Pisgah Church land was given to the church by R. C. & Martha Crocker on March 22, 1882. This is listed on a cornerstone of the present Mt. Pisgah Church. They were also some of the original members when the church was organized. There is a note on the Mt. Pisgah Church Cemetery web site that states the oldest date on a tombstone there is 1911 although there could be some older unmarked graves. I have personally searched that cemetery and have not found any Crocker names of my ancestors. My best guess is that R. C. and Martha Crocker probably were buried in the old Crocker Cemetery a few hundred yards away.

And then one day I ran across a lawsuit with M.L. Crocker as plaintiff and the defendants were my grandfather, Fred Crocker and his younger siblings. That was news to me.

After pursuing all the documents I have found, R. C. Crocker died intestate in 1895 and one of their sons, Marcus Lafayette Crocker, served as Administrator and my grandfather and his younger siblings had a Guardian ad litem appointed to look after their interest in their grandfather’s estate. Their father, Thomas Monroe Crocker had died at age 39 in 1890 about six months before the youngest son, T.M. Crocker, was born.

So when R.C. Crocker died in what appears to be 1895 with his wife Martha previously deceased, he had at least six minor grandchildren who had a claim on part of his estate. Thus all the court proceedings listed below. This now makes sense to me, after working out the puzzle. But, I have yet to find if any of the R. C. Crocker Estate, procedes from the selling of land, was passed down to my grandfather and his siblings.

For reference in some of the text are the names of R.C. and Martha Crocker’s children and their spouses.

Rufus Coleman Crocker, b 1824, d.1895 m. Martha Walker 1848
Newton A Crocker b.1849 d. 1915, m. Sarah J M Williams
Thomas M Crocker b16 Mar 1851, m. Sarah Jane Moody
Marquis de L Crocker b.20 Nov 1853, m. T.E. (Bettie) Goodman 11 Jan 1975
Marquis de L Crocker m. Sallie J. Baird 26 April 1894.
Marquis de L Crocker m. Della White 1900
Calvin S Crocker b.1856 m. Prudence Thetford 2 June 1878
Calvin S Crocker m. Myrtle F. Elinor.1909
Martha J. Crocker b.1866 m. J.E. Paris 3 April 1886
George W Crocker b.1868, d. 1953, m 1 Sept. 1888 Georgia A. Lemons
Robert (Rufus) Crocker b.1869, m. 11 Mar, 1889 Lizzie Thetford
Albert L Crocker b.1874

Marquis de L Crocker was sometimes written as Marcus Lafayette Crocker.

I have listed the dates and specifics that I have found on R. C. Crocker and tried to interpret the gaps in information. I have copies of almost all the transactions listed. I still want to get to the microfilmed newspapers at the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville to see if I can find more information.

The first problem is what Rufus C. Crocker’s middle name was; he signed documents as R. C. or Rufus C. Crocker. The Coleman name, (/tngibson/Bibles/clyde_crocker_bible.htm) was found in a family Bible owned by one of his grandsons, Clyde Lafayette Crocker, who I knew when I was a boy at Fowlkes, Dyer County, Tennessee. My daddy called him cousin Clyde, but he was actually my grandfather Thomas Fred Crocker’s first cousin. The Bible inscription of family members has the Rufus Coleman Crocker name spelled out. Also one of his great grandsons was named Arliegh Coleman Crocker, born 19 Feb 1919 and died February 1920, son of Hervey Wilson Crocker and grandson of Marcus Lafayette Crocker, so the Coleman name persisted in the family.

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DATES AND ACTIVITIES LISTED BELOW:

1924 Born, Spartanburg County, South Carolina, son of Mark and Martha Bates Crocker.
1930 Mark Crocker Family moved to Gibson County, Tennessee
1846 July 2: RC Crocker was Bondsman for his sister Irena M. Crocker who married E.H. Hancock, with L.G.H. Pittman, J.P.
1848 March 16: Rufus Crocker married Martha Walker, daughter of Eleanor McDougal and Thomas Walker, bondsman Miles H. Travis.
1853 March 21 Bought land in Gibson County from Thomas Hampton of Hardin County, TN 53 acres for $150.00
1858 April: Named co-executor of his father Mark Crocker’s will, who died 4 May 1858.
1858 August 9: Named a co-executor by his brother Edwin H. Crocker who died shortly in 1859.

1858 November 3: Deed of Trust from F.M. Crocker, brother, for his Part of Estate of Mark Crocker, Dec’s. For debts and trust for his wife Lydia
1858 November 15: Deed of Trust from A. P. Crocker, brother, for debts, his part of Estate of Mark Crocker.
1858 November 16: R.C. Crocker and A. G. Crocker, brother, bought land from John Waldrop, 427 acres for $848.00 and later $1897.00 more.
1859-February 8: Deed of Trust from W. L. Crocker, brother, to R. C. Crocker for debts from his part of Estate of Mark Crocker.

1860 April 8: RC Crocker was Bondsman for O.L. Morris who married Letha A. Pearce, with John Ford, J.P

1860 November 19: R. C. Crocker to Wm. Stone $1 dollar as Surety for debts included Mark Crocker Estate and one slave.
1860 November 20: R. C. Crocker sold to Gov. Belew 200 acres for $1260.
1860 December 1: Bought half of 424 acres for $1272.00 from brother A. G. Crocker who had moved to Greene County, Arkansas.
1861 October 11: W. H. Crocker married M.J. Reagan with R. C. Crocker listed as J.P.

1861 December 30: Deed of Trust to H.W. Wallace for $1 dollar and other consideration, for a still house, two stills and boilers, twenty still tubs, two ? stands, and a bucket and can and a trough. This was surety for a debt of $300 that R. C. Crocker owed H.W. Wallace. [Note: I found one note that moonshine started to be taxed after the Civil War. MAC]

1862 May 22: R. C. Crocker, Executor for Mark Crocker, Deed to Harvey Belew for 333 Acres for $4003.31.
1871 January 19: D. B. Crocker and wife Mary, Deed to R. C. Crocker for $200. for 1/7th part of Estate of Edwin H. Crocker and interest of Cynthia Crocker of 270 acres land. D. B. and Mary Crocker lived in Dyer County, he was son of E. H. & Cynthia Crocker.

1873 April 5: Deed from R. C. Crocker to Miss. Central RR 3.4 acres, for $1, from South boundary at station1532+50 to North Boundary at Station 1547+36 100 feet wide right-of-way for railroad. Registered August 22, 1874.

1877 June 2: RC Crocker and Wm. Stone as Executors under the will of E. H. Crocker sold 50 acres to Wm M. Lemonds for $500.00 to pay remaining debts on the E. H. Crocker Estate, as authorized in his Will.

1880 June
1880 GIBSON COUNTY TN CENSUS DISTRICT NO. 22
ENUMERATOR: J.W. Vick June 1880
TRANSCRIBED BY Vicki Shaffer
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PAGE # FAMILY# NAME RACE SEX AGE RELATION STATUS
==============================================================

17 Rufus C. CROCKER W M 56 Head M Farmer
Marthey CROCKER W F 49 Wife M Keeps House
Martha J. CROCKER W F 14 Dau S
George W. CROCKER W M 12 Son S
Rufus C. CROCKER W M 11 Son S
Albert L. CROCKER W M 6 Son S

1882 March 22: Deed from R.C. and Martha Crocker to Baptist Church, Mount Pisgah for love and affection two acres.
1882 April 17: Deed from R. C. and Martha Crocker to School Directors 22nd Civil Dist.
District 0.875 acre for $8.75. One of the boundaries of this lot is the Mount Pisgah Church land.

1882 August 22: Deed from R.C. and Martha Crocker to N.A. Crocker 227 acres for $15.00, interest is 2/7ths. This was apparently Newton Azro Crocker, their son.
1883 January 30: R. C. Crocker, Executor, of E. H. Crocker Deed to M. L. Crocker 14 acres for $165, their son.
1883 May 16: Crocker, R. C. to Arnold, W. J., Deed Book 27, Page 307 as Executor for E. H. Crocker 3 acres for $15.
1883 August 22: Deed R. C. Crocker, Executor of E. H. Crocker, $200 for 40 acres to Haywood Kincy.
1892 May 13: Deed Book 24, page 617. From R. C. Crocker to Martha Crocker, as executor of Will of Edwin Crocker, 40 acres. [I HAVE NOT FOUND A COPY OF THIS]
1893 May 16: R. C. Crocker, Executor of E. H. Crocker, to W. J. Arnold 3 acres for $15.

END OF R C CROCKER TRANSACTIONS.

R.C.CROCKER ESTATE TO FOLLOW.

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RUFUS COLEMAN CROCKER ESTATE

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1895 December 23: M.L. CROCKER appointed Administrator.

Gibson County Court Dec’m Term 23 day of December 1895
On motion M L Crocker was this day appointed Administrator of all and singular the goods and chattels rights and credits of the estate of RC Crocker decd. Thereupon he entered into bond in the sum of one hundred dollars with Jno R Walker & M R Browning as his sureties, which bond was duly acknowledged in afore court received & approved by the court and ordered to be recorded. Whereupon he took the Oath required by law and the court doth order that letters of administration issue.

1 January 1896 ]`
Gibson County Tennessee Insolvent Estates, Book A,
R. C. Crocker, Dec'd, page 151-152

1896 January Declared Insolvent
STATE OF TENNESSEE, GIBSON COUNTY
M.L. Crocker, Administrator of the Estate of R. C. Crocker, deceased, having this day suggested to me the insolvency of said deceased’s Estate, it is therefore ordered that publication be made for four consecutive weeks in the Tenn. Populist paper published in the town of Trenton notifying all persons holding claims against said Estate to file them with the said Clerk of County Court, properly authenticated as required by law, on or before the 1 day of May, 1896, or they will be barred.
Witness my hand, at office, Jan. 1896. G. W. Foster, County Clerk

1896 March 9: Guardian ad litem Appointed for Minors

Minutes Gibson County Court March term 9th Day of March
Be it remembered that on this the 9 day of March 1896, Court met free??? And adjournment, present and presiding his worship Wm. Jetton, Chairman duly elected commissioner and quailed to hold said Court and present A. W. Foster Clerk of said Court and F. L. Hess Sheriff of said County, when the following proceedings were had, to wit:

M. L. Crocker Adm vs. Fred Crocker et als
Order apptg G.A. (Guardian ad litem)
Be it remembered that on this day this cause came on to be heard before the Worshipful Wm.Jetton Chairman, etc, where It appears appearing to the Court that from the bill which is sworn to that Fred Crocker, Joe Crocker, Katie Crocker, Geo.E. Crocker, T. M. Crocker are minors under the age of twenty one years, without regular guardian, & that they were regularly served with copy & process more than five days before the first day of this term; it is therefore ordered that R. P. Raines, Esq. An attorney of the Court be and he hereby is appointed guardian ad item to defend said suit for the minors above named; and said R. P. Raines accepted same & appeared in open Court & filed his answer, which is sworn to. All of which is adjudged and decreed.

[Note by Max Crocker: Marcus Lafayette Crocker was the third son of Rufus Coleman and Martha Walker Crocker. His brother Thomas Monroe Crocker had died in 1890 supposedly of pneumonia at age 39. Since these motions were filed in December 1895, I believe that Rufus Coleman Crocker had just recently died, and that his wife Martha Walker Crocker had died before him, as referenced in one of these documents. Fred Crocker was my grandfather, born 1878 and was the oldest living child of Thomas Monroe Crocker and the other siblings are listed in order of ages. T. M. (no other name) Crocker was born in October 1890 after his father had died 18 March 1890.]]

1896 July: Questions about Assets of R.C. Crocker Estate
Minutes Gibson County Court July term 6th Day of July
State of Tennessee
Gibson County Court July Term 6th Day of July 1896

M. L. Crocker Adm et al vs. Fred Crocker et als
Be it remembered that on this day this cause came on to be heard before the Worshipful Wm. Jetton Chairman, and it appearing to the court that the defendants J. D. Powell, J. D. McKenzie and J. A. McKenzie have accepted Service of the process issued in this cause and waived a copy of the bill more than five days before the first day of this term and that they have failed to appear and make defense within the time required by law either by plea answer or demurrer: it is therefore ordered by the court that said bill be taken as confessed by them and the same set for hearing Expartee, and thereupon this cause came for further hearing and on motion the same is referred to the clerk to take proof and report to the next term of the court.
1st What assets if any have come into the hands of M.L. Crocker Administrator of R. C. Crocker, deceased and what should have come into his hands as such.
2nd What disposition the said M.L. Crocker has made of said assets if any.
3rd What debts are owing the estate of R. C. Crocker deceased.
4th Whether it will be necessary to sell real estate to pay the said debts due by the estate of R. C. Crocker deceased.
5th What debts if any are due by the estate of Mrs. Martha Crocker and what assets there are to pay the same, and whether it will be necessary to sell the real estate to pay the same. All of which is ordered adjudges and decreed.

(Answer to #1 question)
Gibson County Court August Term 1896

Inventory of the personal assets which have come into the hands of M.L. Crocker, Adm. Of R. C. Crocker, Decd:

Sale of Harrow $.35
“ “ One Hog $3.25
“ “ 2 Saws & vice 0.35
“ “ 14 Bbl of Corn 10.75
“ “ one Wagon 6.00

Total amt received from the sale of the personal assets $20.60

The above are all the assets which came into my hands as said Administrator or which should have come into my hands as such.

Sworn to and subscribed
Before Me July 6, 1896
W.W. Harrison D. C.
M.L. Crocker, Adm
Of R. C. Crocker, Deceased

1896 CLAIMS AGAINST R. C. CROCKER, DECEASED ESTATE

STATE OF TENNESSEE, GIBSON COUNTY

M. L. Crocker Administrator of the Estate of R. C. Crocker deceased, having this day suggested to me the insolvency of said deceased’s Estate, it is therefore ordered that publication be made for four consecutive weeks in the Tnn. Populist paper published in the Town of Trenton notifying all persons holding claims against said Estate to file them with the said Clerk of County Court, properly authenticated as required by law, on or or before the 1 day of May, 1896, or they will be barred.

Witness my hand, at office, Jan. 1896.
A. W. Foster, County Clerk

1896 CLAIMS MADE

January 28 J.L. Crocker, et als account OK $25.45 allowed
February 3 Josiah Vick, date Nov. 5th, 1965, interest from 1859 16.00 “
March 26 Smith & Powell Note bal. OK $2.43 allowed
March 26 Powell & Aslin Note OK $9.00 allowed
March 26 Powell & Aslin Acct OK $2.00 allowed
April 20 T. N. Cochran Acct OK $28.50 allowed
May 13 J.H. Hedgecock Acct OK $8.85 allowed
June 17 J.D & J.A. McKenzie Acct 9.00 allowed OK $20.35 allowed
Sept 16 Thetford & Thetford acct. not passed on $1.32 allowed
Oct 12 Bill Wheeler acct not passed on $.75 allowed
Nov 10 M. C. Boone acct not passed on $8.00 allowed Dec 7 J. W. Crider & Co. not passed on $10.55 allowed

1897
Jun 4 C. F. Smith Judgment $70.41 & cost $2.15 $12.56 disallowed


1896 November 4: PROPERTY SOLD

M.L. Crocker admr. Et als Vs Fred Crocker Et als
Report of the Clerk
To the Decr Term 1890
To The Hon. Wm. Jetton, Chairman, Trenton, Tennessee
The Undersigned would respectfully report that in obedience to the interlocutory decree rendered in this cause at the Oct Tern 1896, of this court, after giving notice by advertisement as required by law printed posters he proceeded on the 14th Day of Nov 1896, to sell at public sale to the highest and best bidder at the Court house door in the town of Trenton Tenn. upon the terms directed in said decree the tract of land therein mentioned to-wit; lying and being in the 22nd Civil District of Gibson Co. Tennessee , and bounded on the North by the lands of D. B. Williams, on the South by the lands of J. F. Holder; on the East by the lands of J. H. Holder and on the West by the lands of G. P. Jamerson, containing 70 acres more or less, where R. C. Crocker (b.1869 and son of R.C. and Martha Crocker) became the purchaser thereof at the price of four hundred dollars that being the highest and best bid for the same and executed his three separate notes each for one hundred and thirty three and 33 1/3 dollars with M. L . Crocker & G. W. Crocker (his brothers) his securities payable at 6, 12 & 24 months from date thereof for the balance of the unpaid purchased money, and a lien was retained on said land for the same.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
This 4 day of Nov 1896.
A. W. Foster Clerk.
And said report being regular and unexcepted to is in all things confirmed, and it appearing to the Court that R. C. Crocker became the purchaser of the tract of land described in the bill and the report of sale and that he has complied with the terms and conditions of said sale by executing his three promissory notes for the sum of $144.33each due 6 months, 12 months & 24 months after date to-wit, Nov, 14, 1896 with M. L. & G. W. Crocker securities thereon it is therefore ordered adjudges and decreed by the Court.

1896 December 7: BIDS RAISED, MARTHA CROCKER’S BILLS APPROVED

W. L. Crocker et als vs. Fred Crocker, et als
Report of Clerk on raised bids.

In the above cause the undersigned reports that pursuant to the order made on the 7th December 1896 reopening the bidding on the following described tract of land heretofore ordered to be sold in this cause, which tract is bounded as follows; situated in the 22nd Civil District of Gibson County, Tenn., and bounded on the North by the lands of N. A. Crocker, on the South by River, on the West by the lands of J. F. Holder and on the East by the lands of Wm. Arnold’s heirs, containing 35 acres more or less. The biddings remained open until 3 o’clock P.M. this day at which time they were closed and he reports that R. C. Crocker made the highest bid offered for said land he bidding one hundreds twenty four and 85/100 dollars for said land and the same was struck off to him at said price and the said R. C. Crocker has complied with the terms of sale by paying in cash $41.60 and executing his two notes each for 41.60 dated this day and due at 12 & 24 months from the 14th day of Nov. 1896 with M. L. & G. W. Crocker his securities, all of which is respectfully submitted, this the 7th Day of Dec. 1896.
A. W. Foster, clerk

And said report being regular and unexcepted to is in all things confirmed and it is therefore ordered adjudged and decreed by the Court that all of the right interest and title of all the parties to this suit, to the tract of land described in the report above ? and the same hereby are divested out of them and each and all of them and the same are vested in the purchaser R. C. Crocker, subject to a lien for the unpaid purchase money, and it further appearing to the court that the purchaser R. C. Crocker, appeared in open court and offered to pay his notes executed in payment of said land if a discount of 6% on their face be allowed him and by consensus of all parties the same was allowed and said R. C. Crocker paid off notes to the Clerk, which is accordingly adjudges and decreed – and it further appearing to the Court that Mrs. Martha Crocker owed at the time of her death no debts except her funeral expenses, and a small Doctor’s bill, and that no administrator was ever appointed for her said estate and that she had no personal property and estate and that the proceeds of the tract of land above described was all of the property or estate left by her, therefore it is adjudged and decreed by the court, that said Dr’s bill & said funeral expenses being proper charge against said estate, that the same should be first paid out the assets of the said estate, before the same is partitioned among the several heirs, therefore this cause of said funeral expenses and doctor’s bill and to whom the same is now due; This cause is also referred to the Clerk to take proof and report, 1st What would be a reasonable fee for Walker & Biggs for their services in this cause, 2nd What would be a reasonable fee for R. P. Raines, Guardian Ad litem for minors in the cause, the Clerk will hold the funds in his hands until further ordered by the Court.

State of Tennessee, Gibson County.
I, A. W. Foster, clerk of the County Court do hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a prefect and true copy of Diary ? in the foregoing styled cause as appears o record in My office the Minute Book 4 pages 35 & 36. Witness my hand and seal of office at office Dec 28, 1897.
A. W. Foster, clerk
By W. W. Harrison, D. C.
Filed Jany 3rd, 1898
At 4:35 o’clock P.M.
G. W. Ingram, Register
By J. R. Foster, D. R.

1897 January: FEES APPROVED

Minutes Gibson County Court January term 4th Day of January 1897
State of Tennessee
Gibson County Court March Term 4th Day of January 1897

M.L Crocker, et als vs. Fred Crocker et als

Be it remembered that on this day this cause came on to be heard before the Worshipful J. H. Hunt Chairman &et and the same was heard upon the report of the Clerk of this court files of 22nd Dec 1896 said report being in words & figures as follows:

M.L Crocker, et als vs. Fred Crocker et als
Report on reference.
The undersigned to whom this cause was referred at the present term of this court to take proof and…
1st The amount of funeral expenses, and doctors bill and to whom the same as now due.
2nd What would be a reasonable fee to Walker & Briggs for their Services in this cause.
3rd What would be a reasonable fee for R.P. Raines Guardian ad litem for services in this cause would respectfully report to wit:

1st The amount of burial expenses is $15.25 and due M.L. Crocker he having paid the same.
2nd That from the proof on file Twenty-five Dollars will be a reasonable fee for Walker & Briggs for their services in this case and the undersigned so reports,
3rd And he would report from the proof on file that Five dollars would be a reasonable fee for R.P. Raines guardian ad litem in this cause, all of which is respectfully submitted.
Dec 21st 1896 A W Foster Clerk,

Which report being unexcepted to is in all things confirmed. It is further ordered adjudged & decreed by the Court that the clerk will pay out the funds in this cause to the parties entitled to receive the same and in paying the fees of Walker & Briggs attys as shown by the above report he will pay seven dollars & fifty cents out of the funds in this case and the remainder of said as shown rep0ort he will pay out of the funds in the case in this court of M.L.Crocker et als vs. Fred Crocker et als, when said funds is paid in.

1898 February 15 Registered: LAND RE-SOLD AND SWAPPED FOR HOUSE IN ARLINGTON, KY

R. C. Crocker (B.1869)
To Deed
J. A. Vanllandingham
For and in the consideration of the sum of Eight Hundred Dollars to us paid as below stated one House & lot situated in the town of Arlington, KY on the I.C.RR. and the further consideration of J. A. Vanllandingham agrees and assures to A. W. Foster Clerk of the County Court at Trenton, Tenn., the payment of two notes excepted to said A. W. Foster as clerk for the same of one Hundred & thirty three 1/3 dollars each making 266 2/3 said notes was executed by me was executed by me for the land sold in case M.L. Crocker Administrator et als vs. Fred Crocker et als to the said A. W. Foster, Clerk, now in consideration as above state, We R. C. Crocker & Wife Lizzie (Thetford) Crocker have this day bargain, sold and transfer to J. A. Vallendingham the following tracts of land situated in the 22 Civil District of Gibson Co, Tennessee one tract containing 70 acres, which is bounded as follows on the land by the D. B. Williams on the South by land J. F. Holder on the East by land of J. F. Holder & on the West by land of G. P. Jamerson, containing in the tract 70 acres more or less, the other tract is situated in the 22 Civil District and bounder as follows: on the North by M. A. Crocker, on the South by the river on the East by J. F. Holder on the West land of Wm Arnold containing 35 acres more or less in this tract the same being the two tracts of land purchase by me that all the right interest and title of all the parties to this suit in and to the above described tract of land, be and the same are hereby are divested out of them and each of them & the same is vested in the purchaser, R. C. Crocker subject to a lien for the unpaid purchase money, and the clerk is further ordered to pay out the funds arising from said sale as fast as the same is collected or any funds coming into his hands prorate on the debts filed in this court against the estate of R. L. Crocker, deceased and previously reported to this court and allowed as just debts and charges against the same, Which is accordingly adjudged. And the Clerk is ordered out of the first funds coming into his hands as assets of the estate of R. L . Crocker to pay the debt tilde in favor of M. L. Crocker the same being the funeral expenses which is accordingly adjudged & decreed. And this cause is referred to the clerk to take proof and report:
1st What would be a reasonable fee for M. L. Crocker for his services as Adm. Of R. C. Crocker deceased.
2nd What would be a reasonable fee for Walker & Biggs Attys for their services in this case and as Attys for the Adm of the estate of R. C. Crocker, deceased.
3rd What would be a reasonable fee for R. P. Raines Guardian ad litem.
4th From the proof on file or any additional proof that may be required or offered to report who are the heirs of J. L. Crocker deceased and what is their respective shares or interest in said estate of R. C. Crocker deceased.

State of Tennessee, Gibson County

I, A. W. Foster Clerk of County Court of said County do hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true and perfect copy as appears of record in Minute Book 4 pages 45 & 46 in my office in Trenton Tennessee, Witness my hand and seal of office at office This Dec 28, 1897.
A. W. Foster, clk
By W. W. Harrison D. C.
Filed Jany 3, 1898
At 4:30 o’clock P. M.
G. W. Ingram Register
By J. R. Foster D.R.

END RUFUS COLEMAN CROCKER ESTATE
 

RUFUS COLEMAN CROCKER  ADDENDUM TO BIOGRAPHY

By Max Crocker

In April 2008 I had a biography on my ancestor Rufus Coleman Crocker published on the Gibson County site.  There one other “rock to turn over” and that was checking the Tennessee State Library and Archives microfilm collection of old newspapers in Nashville.

I spent most of a day last year and did NOT find anything more about Rufus.

The Tennessee Populist was the newspaper to publish the Insolvency of his estate for four weeks.  This was the January term of  Court in 1896 with any claims to be submitted by May 1896.

The Tennessee Populist appears to have been published from 1893 to 1897.  On the microfilm TSLA HOLDINGS: Mr 8 1894 a few excerpts of news were found but nothing referred to Rufus Coleman Crocker.  The pages that had been scanned were random pages that someone had kept personally.

There were about two dozen references to Trenton and Gibson county, I checked them all with all negative results.

Max Crocker, Lexington, KY