calvin

Down through the generations there have been many stories passed down on my maternal lines, but none near as interesting as the stories about Uncle Cal.
Some people try to whitewash their ancestors, but to me, the stories only make them human and not some kind of paper idol.

Calvin Stinnett was the son of Edna Yearout. Father uncertain. Uncle Cal was extremely hard to locate. I had made a promise to the last living daughter, of Aunt Alice (Lillian) that i would locate living kin of all three of the missing brothers, and I did locate those of Uncle Will. We had a nice visit to her, even though it was a 6 hour trip. Lillian also visited with her as well, and we have been in close touch for about 2 years now, exchanging pictures and news. When I finally located living kin of uncle Cal, there was some type of misunderstanding, and they denied kin, even though it is now proven. I am hoping to be able to locate another branch of the line of Calvin Stinnett, someone who is interested in sharing information.
:After a 4 year search, a very gracious lookup volunteer located the gravesite of Uncle Cal. He did indeed use the Stinnett surname and is buried at Westview Cemtery in Northwest Jefferson City, Jefferson County, Tennessee. His date of birth was 27-Jul-1868, death date 30-Jan-1934. The dates for Mary Pendergrass Stinnett, who is buried beside him, are 01-Oct-1882 to 08-Sep-1949. I am truly grateful for these volunteers.
His siblings were, Lemuel Yearout, William Yearout, Mary Alice Yearout, Harriet Stinnett, Lillie Stinnett and Robert F. Stinnett , the latter being my Grandfather. I have seen it posted on the internet and know it is posted in at least one well known book that this is otherwise. Thank goodness that I began my interest in genealogy and was able to locate several cousins, or the facts would have been lost with another generation. We actually remember our own grandparents as well as the stories they told. As far as i know, I am the first to have uncovered most of this information, and only with long trips to Tennessee, many e mails as well as snail mails. The names of the siblings in reinforced with a recently received obituary sent to me by a kind look up. (see below)

Originally the oldest 3 sons left home about 1885 for parts unknown. Reportedly, they did see each other occasionally, but didn't remain in close touch with the younger children . Mildred told me that the last time any of them reported to have seen the youngest brother Bobby was 1912.   I grew up knowing Aunt Alice, Aunt Harriett and Aunt Lillie, but only grew up with the stories of Uncle Lem, Uncle Will and Uncle Cal.
Recently I was able to locate a living descendant of Will. I as well as a dear cousin, made the long trip to Chattanooga, TN just to meet her. She told us many interesting stories. It appears that the older brothers did keep in close touch with one another.

One story about Cal was that he was an ironworker. He once fell from a very high building which meant certain death, except, he was able to grasp something which broke his fall. This story lines up with my discovery when I visited the big Knoxville library. There I located records of Calvin and Mary Stinnett living in Knoxville, he listed as an ironworker. Also, in the census of 1930, Calvin Stinnett is listed as an ironworker.

They say that Uncle Cal was a tiny man. This is most likely true as my Grandfather, as well as Edna were very small in height. Stories go that he had a heart of gold, 'but' he made a formidable enemy. Once, they say he had an ought against someone, and he got the sheets from his mother's bed and hid out in the cemetery, in wait for the man he angered with. The man had to pass the cemetery on his way to work, and when he passed the cemetery, Uncle Cal jumped out, complete with sheet. The man had to return home and change clothes before reporting for work.

According to a statement he made on the trolley in Knoxville, circa 1925, he appears to be the only one of Edna's 7 children to visit her before her death in 1924. However, the medical records of Edney contradict this.

Some information has surfaced about Mary Pendegrass. Mary & Martha Pendegrass were born 01-Oct-1882, in Jefferson County, Tennessee. They were the twin daughters of Walter and C.B. Pendegrass. Walter lists as a farmer. Mary died 1949, and is buried in the Pendegrass Cemetery, Jefferson City, Tennessee.

Children of Calvin and Mary Pendergrass Stinnett:

1. Raymond Stinnett, born 11-Sep-1900, died Nov. 1969, Knoxville, TN (SOURCE: Obituary)
   +Nora
     1. Shirley Stinnett
         +Kestner
     2. Raymond Stinnett
     3. William Boyd Stinnett

2. Clarence Stinnett, born 21-Jun-1909, died May 1982 in Kent, King County, Washington.

3. Mary Aileen Stinnett 1928
    +Leonard Ward

4. George Walter Stinnett 30-May-1921 to 08-Mar-1992
    +Lucy McGinnis
      1. George Walter Stinnett -2-Dec-1965 to 18-Apr-1966 (SOURCE: Jefferson Co. Deaths)

5. Brofford Stinnett, born 20-Sep-1915, died April 1978, Marion, Oregon.

6. Hattie Ruth Stinnett, born 20-Sep-1915, died 14-Dec- 1998, Malaga, Washington.
     +Finchum

7. Mildred Bertie Stinnett 1913
    +Jake Russell
       1. Earl Lee Russell 17-Sep-1948 to 07-Jun-1994
    +Gordon Prince

8. Gertrude Stinnett, born 21-Feb-1909, died in Maryville, TN. (SOURCE: Jefferson Co. Deaths)
    +Dewitt Bailey

9. William Stinnett

I am currently in process of requesting obituary and burial record lookups from the many kind volunteers on the net. Hopefully more living kin will be discovered and at long last the family will be reunited.
Anyone with any info please contact.

New info:

Someone kindly sent me the 1920 and 1930 census of Jefferson County, Tennessee, District 4.

1930

Calvin Stinnett - head - age last birthday, 62 - Both parents born TN - Occupation: Steel Worker, buildings
Mary - wife - age last birthday, 49
Bertie 19
William 17
Buford 14
Hattie R. 11
George 8
Mary 2

All in the household could read and write.

1920 was same except 10 years difference in ages. I find it extremely interesting that he was listed as a steel worker, which goes along quite well with the story told to me by my cousin, Mildred Boydstrom Nix.

I have also received a copy of the marriage certificate for Calvin and Mary Pendergrass Stinnett. He is listed as Mr. Cal Stinett (spelling correct) she as Miss Mary Pendergrass. They were married 18-Oct-1899 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Cannot make who solemnized the rites of matrimony, looks like J.E. Naff

Obituary of Uncle Cal:
08-Feb-1934

JAMES CALVIN STINNETT
James Calvin Stinnett age 66 years died at his home near Jefferson City Tuesday night, January 30 at 11 o'clock, following a stroke of appoplexy suffered about 4 p.m. the same day. Mr. Stinnett is survived by his wife, five sons and four daughters. The sons are Raymond, William, Broford, George, all at home and C.W. residing at Richmond, California. The daughters are Mrs. Gordon Prince, Mrs. Dewitt Bailey, Miss Hattie and Mary, all of Jefferson City.
He leaves one brother, Robert Stinnett and three sisters, Mrs. Hattie Rutledge, Mrs. Lillie Romines, and Mrs. Alice Willix, all of Knoxville.
Funeral service was held at the jefferson City M.E. Church, Thursday at 2:30 p.m. by Rev. W.L. Roberts, the pastor.
This obituary proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Calvin Stinnett who was married to Mary Pendergrass and had the listed children was indeed my Uncle Cal.

Mrs. Mary P. Stinnett
67, passed away 6:15 p.m. Thursday, after a short illness. Survivors; daughters, Mrs. Jim Finchum, Lavenworth, Wash.; Mrs. Bertie Prince, Knoxville; Mrs. D.T. Bailey, Mrs. Leonard Ward, both of jefferson City; sons, Clarence, William, both of Richmond, Calif.; Brafford, U.S. Air Force, George, Washington; and Raymond, Detroit, Mich; sisters, Mrs. R.H. Broman, Knoxville, Mrs. Reece jones, Jefferson City; Mrs. Roy Clevinger, New Market; great-aunt, Mrs. S.B. Householder, Knoxville. Funeral arrangements later.

Update
I finally received a copy of the death record of James Calvin Stinnett
File #736
Place of death: Jefferson city, Jefferson County, TN
White, male, Married
Born: 27-Jul-1868
Occupation: farmer
Parents: James Stinnett (b. TN) & Edna Yearout (b. TN)
Cause of death: Apoplexy

I recieved a reply from a post on genforum concerning Calvin Stinnett. At long last a cousin a found! However, when I wrote back, it was denied that the Calvin Stinnett I had was the same they had. I later sent census and obituary to Mr. Terry Ward which proved we were cousins, but a reply was not sent. He said that his mother had said that Uncle Cal's family was "airhart" which sounds to me like Yearout. Mr. Ward was however helpful in sending me the dates of bith and death for the children of Calvin & Mary Pendergrass Stinnett.