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| Lewis Elbert & Mary Jane Yearout Williams |
| Lemuel Yearout |
| I cannot claim to have the complete story behind Lewis Elbert and Mary Jane Yearout Williams, but do have some of it in part. Mary Jane was sister to my own GGreat Grandmother, Harriett, and Lewis Elbert Williams was her first cousin, son of Joel & Susannah Yearout Williams. Cousin marriages are not that rare, especially in early genealogy and in areas as remote as the Appalachian mountains, but for reasons one can only ponder about, Lewis & Mary did not have children of their own. In the census of 1910, Knox County, Tennessee they are listed with the following: Lewis E. Williams - 75 Mary J. - 78 Isabella Kidd - servant Stella Hensley - Lodger 1880 Census: Lewis E. Williams - 45 - Miller Mary J. - 48 Lemuel Yearout - 15 - nephew Lizzie Hankins - 21 - servant Though both Mary jane and Lewis E. Williams figure close kin to my own direct line, they were made more interesting in the fact that they raised my great uncle Lem. Lemuel was born to my great grandmother, Edna Yearout , he was her firstborn as well as a child of rape during post Civil War, Tennessee. I like to think that my brave granny did not give him up easy, but perhaps will never know that full story. I do know that she was listed as his mother on his death record dated 1930. Family legend states that Lewis and Mary Jane did the best they could for their young charge. They sent him to Maryville College and gave him a house when he married Maggie Norris. According to family stories, Lem was somewhat the "blacksheep" of the family. Later, after raising him, they went on and founded the Williams/Henson Boys Home in Knox County, Tennessee. Upon invite, I visited the Boys Home this past year. Due to new Tennessee laws it no longer exists as such but has changed hands several times. There have been several deaths there, sudden deaths, perhaps Lewis still rules with what the place was originally set out to be. I have many pictures that will be posted here, so please return, as well as several more items of interest. 1. The whole area flooded once, Mary Jane was sick in bed and had to be taken out by boat. 2. At one time, Lewis Elbert Williams had over 40 slaves.\ 3. TVA took a lot of the former property in 1915 due to bankruptcy. 4. I took a picture of a stone right outside of the walkway of the Williams mansion. Mary jane stood on it to load the buggies as they were sending things out. My own Great granny was only 4' 9" tall, looks like this petite size ran in the family. 5. 19-Nov-1912, Knox County, TN Lewis Elbert Williams took out a marriage license to marry Margaret I. Kidd. Marriage was solemnized 20-Nov. |
| Family Legend abounds that perhaps Lewis Elbert Williams fathered the last 3 of Edna's children. I have a cousin who states that her grandmother, Harriett Stinnett Rutledge talked often of visiting her father who lived at the Old Williams Homeplace. I must admit, the resemblance to him and my Grandfather and Aunt Harriett is striking, but this is something we may never be able to prove or disprove. |
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| The first boy brought in after establishment |
| Inside the Boys Home when it was in operation under Lewis. |
| The Boys Home before restoration |
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| Lewis & Mary Jane are buried in a small family cemetery, located on property and just across the road from the old Boys Home. These stones are located there as well as a few other burials. Uncle Lems marker is hand cut and has no dates. His wife and children are buried there as well |
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