Thomas Reed was born in the eastern part of Tennessee about 1800 to John and Nancy Reed. The family moved briefly to Buncombe County, North Carolina and then either moved or returned to Cocke County, Tennessee.
It was a difficult life and by the time his father passed away in 1807, only Thomas and his brother, Elijah, had survived out of a total of five children. It is assumed that they stayed with family members the next four years until their mother married a man by the name of John Martin. She then had thirteen more children, only five of whom survived.
Thomas probably lived in this same area while he was growing up. Cocke County borders on Jefferson County, Tennessee which is where Thomas was married to Mary Chilton in 1821. Since this is also the same year that his brother, Elijah, went to Blount County, it seems most likely that Thomas moved after he was married and Elijah went with them.
In 1836, Thomas took his family to Missouri and was the first Physician in Shannon County.
This is as far as I am right now. Comments need to be added about:
---losing 3 sons in the CW
---one of his half sisters was living nearby. the mystery is that we don't know her name! I think she was married to Charles somebody.
---he lived in Roan County,where does this fit in
The following chart shows what has been found:
1800 Thomas Reed born in Tennessee (1860 Shannon County, Missouri Census)
1801 Thomas Reed born in Tennessee (1850 Shannon County, Missouri Census)
1805 Elijah Reed born in Buncombe County, North Carolina
18?? Thomas & Elijah moved to Roan County Tennessee
1819 Monroe County, Tennessee formed entirely out of Roane County
1821 Thomas Reed married in Jefferson Co., Tennessee to Mary Chilton
1824 Elijah Reed married in Jefferson County, Tennessee to Sally Cox
1825-1835 Thomas's children born in Tennessee
1836 Thomas moves to Missouri
The letters state that both Thomas and Elijah moved to Roan county and boarded there. There are several reasons to assume it was before either brother was married. If their father had died, it would have been necessary for them to earn a living. They were not necessarily tied to staying in any place and another family might not have been able to take everyone in.
Thomas was the first physician to move to Shannon County, Missouri. It was probably in the old Roan county in Tennessee that he first learned his trade. The town of Maryville is in Blount County, which is on the way from Jefferson County down to the town of Madisonville. The people he mentions knowing in this area all seem to be doctors.
Madisonville was in Roan County until 1819 when it became the center of Monroe County. This may explain his statement that 'Oald Sam Martains...stayed with me a short time since from Roan County that gave me the hole gosip of oald Tennessee.' The 'oald' Tennessee appears to be a reference to Madisonville when it was still in Roane County.
Once his apprenticeship was up, Thomas would have been more comfortable returning to the area he grew up in and feeling secure in supporting a family. Perhaps it was these thoughts that seem to have directed Thomas and Elijah back to Jefferson County.
Thomas was married in 1821 to Mary Chilton in Jefferson County, Tennessee. She was the daughter of Charles Truman Chilton. Truman, as he was later known, evidently ended up divorced from his wife who then remarried. Truman shows up in the 1830 census for Wayne County, Missouri. He was probably the reason Thomas and Mary later moved to Missouri.
It appears that Elijah may also have been married in Jefferson County within the next few years. An Elijah Reed was married to Sally Cox on October 13, 1824. A question arises because the 1850 and 1860 Censuses list Elijahs wife as Justin(e). In a third variation, Thomas writes in 1857 addressing her as Sarah. It is difficult to tell if Sally had passed away or if the usage of her name had changed. Though Alabama has not been searched, no other marriage record for Elijah has been found in Tennessee.
An article published in the Current Local (January 26, 1933) states that Thomas Reed came to Missouri in 1836 from Knox County, Tennessee. The census reports verify the date through the birthplaces of his children.
The local deed records have not been searched to see if Thomas purchased any land from other individuals. At this point it does not appear that he purchased any land until after the Homestead Act was passed in 1854. With the price of land dropping from $1.25 per acre to 12 1/2 cents, the family couldn't afford not to buy it. The majority of the land was purchased within the next few years. They would have been forced to buy it just to protect their own interests. The following are purchases he made from the Federal Government:
Thomas Reed Mch 19, 1856 147.10 acres S2SE & SESW Sec 33 29N 2W
(Left Bank River) S2SW Sec 34 29N 2W
Thomas Reed Apr 1, 1857 114.15 acres (Left Side) SWSE Sec 21 29N 2W
NWSE & W2NE Sec 28 29N 2W Charles T. Reed Dec 23, 1858 160.00 acres
LETTERS TO ELIJAH
It is fortunate that a number of letters have been saved that Thomas wrote
to his brother Elijah in Mississippi. They were published on pages 873-881 of
The Chiltons Their Ancestors and Decendants by Charles L and Marjory Orchard:
Elijah H. Reed Received the 26 July 1852
Mississippi State
Choctaw County Alamade
Bankston Post Office Mo. June 29th.
Shannon County, Missouri
Dear Brother June 24,1852
We Rcd your letter dated 9 May the 16 June - With so much pleasure &
satisfaction That I can scarcely write you one word.
It seemes so much like writing to the Ded that I cannot express my
feelings to you.
for the last Eight years we had give you up for Ded never expecting to see
you or heare of you or your Children in this life.
We are so glad to heare that you are on this side of the Eturnal World -
that our feelings are beyond expressing.
It seemes from your letter that you thought it uncertian whether you ever
saw aline from me or not, but when you get this communication you can see the
marks of your Brothers fingers and no doubt, but my voice sill sounds in your
years.
Relative to my Family affares, I come now to tell you that we are all
well, at this time; that I have with me -- Rachal was married when you was
heare - Laughlin & Family was well the 22 of Jan 1852. They have 3 Children
living & 4 ded. Laughlin is doing well - getting along in the World fast.
John Reed Died --Jan 15, 1843 --little Mary the next July after you left
here.
Patric is single & with me at home. Clinton was Married December 31,
1847, & him & his wife lived together until the 7 of October 1851 when she
Died - & left him with 3 little Boys - to feel the charity of this cold world
- as you & my self, has felt. Clinton married a East Tennessee girl from
White County by the name of Fancher - &Emaline was afine girl & belonged to
the Chirch -- (turn over). Thos. Reed married, the 31 December 1851 he
Married Tennessee Fancher, a sister of Emalines. Thos. & Tennessee is well at
this time. Clinton lives with Thos.
Malinda - Charles - Alexandria - George _juvaline Tennessee _ & William
Penn - are all with me and the oald Woman & William was 4 years oald the 3 of
last January, the Baby for ever I expect - for we are oald & well stricken in
years.
Pollys Father Died not long after you was heare - he got kicked by his
Horse & died some time after wards. Martha Reed Married a man by the name of
Whitset & is Ded. Shade Robertson Married John W. Whitsets sister & lived
together until they had 3 or 4 Children, & then his wife & all of his Children
Died - and he Shade had Reeds 2 Children the last we heard of them. this nuse
we got from Calfee.
Thos. Chilton, Pollys Brother, mooved to missouri the mext spring after
you was heare and lives 20 Miles up this River & him and Family is well and
are doing very well. him & his Wife has 4 Children living & one Ded, it died
in this Country.
Calfee still lives in pore oald Tennessee in Monroe County by Madisonville
- but he has always been coming to Missouri & I got a letter from his afew
days ago, & he is coming to Missouri this fall he wrote. they was all well -
grate improvements in oald Tennessee since we left there. The Rail Road from
Nashville & one from Charlestown, South Carolina crossing each other in 9
miles of Madisonville brings Makit (?) to that oald wore out hilly Country.
Calfees oaldest son is in Illinois & I think Calfee will go there if he
leaves -but Calfee is by Madisonville like Lot was by Sodom - thre Angels
carried Lot out, but I think it will take four to pack Calfee out of
Madisonville. (turn over)
Our Country for the last 4 or 5 years has been very healthy but previous
to that it was about like it was when you lived in Missouri. We thank God we
have had tolerable health for the last 4 or 5 years.
Great Emigration from Tennessee to Missouri last fall - to S. W. Missouri.
When you was here I lived Riply County - now in Shannon County. To let you
know something of the settleing of Missouri I will tell what Ripley has done
since your was here. She has been divided into Shannon, Reynolds, Oregon, &
part of Ozark & part of Texas & part of Butler & part of Dent Countys & she
will have some triming yet & some of the County she has made will have triming
- so when you get these lines write to me quick and direct you letter
Eminence, Shannon County.
Relative to our Worth connection that we left in Tennessee - I know
nothing of them.
I must come to the painful part of my note. I have plenty to write one
weak to you. there has so many things happened since I saw you last & I am so
glad to think that I am not in the World by my self That if I could see you
one more time I woud almost be like good Simeon of oald almost ready to die.
I want you to write to us as soon as you get these lines & let us no how
it fares with you. We want to know ale about you & yourn.
Relative to your living We live on the same place we was on when you was
here.
Direct your letter to Shannon County Eminence P. O. Your sister and all
the Children want to see you & we want you to come & see us as soon as
posable.
Your friend til Death
Thomas. & Mary Reed.
El. H. Reed
Mississippi
Choctaw County Missouri Shannon
County
Bankston P. O. August 10 1856
Dear Brother & Sister
We thank God - we are all well at this time - We hope you are all well two
- We have nothing of very grate importance to write to you at this time -
ondley our Country is healthy for this season of the year. We have had but
little sickness this year since Winter in time of the deep snow - which was 22
inches deep. I was very sick myself - I had the Winter fever - bad.
Relative to times in this Country they are dull as it regards crops - our
prospects for Corn in this part of missouri is bad - almost as bad as they was
two years ago in 1854 - and in some parts of the State worse - some Countys
West of us is burnt up for the want of rain - and Washington county and some
of the adjoining Countys are burnt up - both Wheet oats and grass. Shannon -
Ripley - and a few Countys just round here - will make grane to live one -Say
half crops of corn - Wheet tolerable and oats bad.
We have had no general rain for near 2 Months some little showers to wet
our corn and then the sun blaze out to scortch everything up.
Relative to other things in this Country they are very good. Money is
plenty - and everything High - porke last fall & Beef - beef is High yet from
$6 to 7 per Hundred - Horses in this Country are worth what any man has the
conscience to ask and milk cattle is worth from $20 to 25 per head here on the
River and in St louis from $25 to 45 per head everything is up to the top of
its value - our great misfortune is we have not enough to sell no want of
Market in this Country Market at the sellars dore - and some to sell but not
enoughf for our good -----
Political fever is the greatest fever we have in this Country - We have as
many types of fever growing out of politicks as there are of all other fevers
in the World and we have them from the mildest type up to the most Malignant
type of fever ever herd of from the days of Hipocrats down to this present
time some of burns with such vehemiancey - that they forget all truth all
Honor - all that is sacred or dear to Rights of liberty - and almost to human
life.
I cannot undertake to name the splits and parties in politicks in this
Country - I will ondley say to you that the Nonothings are the young swarm -
out at this time - that has swarmed out of the different political factions -
for the purpose of uniting the parties - and to sustain the union So the
Nownothings say in the Country. We will have to do like the great men of oald
said - When in conversation relative to the coming of our Saviour - we must
wait and see.
It is to be hoped that the American people are not so corrupt as to do
rong long at at atime. We are the happiest people on Earth our government has
out groad the World and deceived oalder nations - until the World ar Jelious
of their governments and long for ours. So no more on politicks at present.
Now then Relative to our affares here at home - the graduation law you
know has took place - under that law myself and Boys has entered 7 or 8
Hundred (647.32 that I can find) acres of land - and if I live this fall I
want to enter 180 acres more Joining afarm I have Bought up the River above
me. it has been along time since we heard from you and it has been as long
since you heard from us.
I must tell you about the Boys. D. C. Reed and wife has 2 children one
girl and one Boy Clint lives on the Stengall place over the River and he
Clint is Elected to to the legislator this year from Shannon County - he Clint
beet Joshua Chilton, so you can see how me and my Brotherinlaw Thos. Chilton
gets along with the other Chiltons me and tom are one people and the other
Chiltons are another people - and we shall remain so while Tom and me lives.
Our Boys has growed up - and we are doing as well as the other Chiltons - and
because The Chilton and family and me and my family will not knock und (?) to
them they have took sides against us in politicks and we are too hard for them
so fare Tom is Clerk of the Court - Clint has been Sheriff 4 years. Toms
family is all well at this time. George Chilton is here
P.V. Reed and Wife is well - they have had on Child it Died. T. C. Reed
and Wife and Children are well - they have 2 children one girl and one Boy.
Laughlin and family was all well a few weaks ago. Our best Respects until
Death.
Write soon when you get this letter.
Thos. Reed & family
To El. H. Reed & family
Shannon County Mo.
January 19 1857
Dear Brother & Sister
We imbrase the present oportunity of writing you afew lines - to let you
know that we are well at this time. We thank God for all of our prosperity in
this World, and we hope for better Blessings in the Eturnal World than any
Blessings we have ever Rcd in this World of troubel and sorrow. Allmost 57
years has passed over my Head - and nothing but trouble from my Cradle to the
preasant time.
Still my lot in life has not been so hard as some peoples - God has
speared my life and the life of my Companion - that is matter of Joy to any
man and family - no blessing so grate to Children as to keep Father & Mother
until they are all grown & Married. Well do we both know what it is to lose a
father when Children.
We have nothing of great importance to write. true our country is very
Healthy - that mutch good. the St. louis Christian Advocat Reports last year
for the healthiest year ever in Missouri.
Hard times about corn in Missouri its scarse Worth from 75 cents to
$1.00. Cattle fare price Oxen from $50 to 75 pork worth from $4.75 to 6.00
per Hundred. Money rather scarse - some California Catl Byers in Missouri
Bying Cattle - Will leve some Money I do not know what sort of prices they
will give but they will have to give agood price or they will not get many
Cattle, people is not in distress for money yet in Missouri.
Our hard time in this part of Missouri has not come yet, the pressure of
our Rail Roads has not fell on us yet but will. the State has to pay
$8,000000 and tax is the way States gets money (turn over)
We hope and trust when you get these lines you may all be well and doing
well. I do know no Man on top of the ground wishes you and your Children any
better than I do and I would be glad to see you or any of you family - but
long ways to Mississippi.
There was aman stayd allknight with me from your Country last fall a
Tennessee Man he dont like Mississippi. he thinks it apore country for apore
man - he was going out West of me to see the Country. he promised tocome back
this way, but has not come yet.
My Boys and Familys are all well at this time. Clint is up at Jefferson
City We got aletter from his afew days since he was well then. I have had
no nuse from Tennessee since I wrote to you before.
Thos. Chilton got a letter a short time ago telling him his Fatherinlaw
was ded-and him and Family is shapeing up to go to Tennessee as quick as the
weather brakes.
You wrote me something about politicks. I said nothing nothing, to you
for Dialoge I want every Man in the world to vote Just as he likes but
knownothingism was so filthy that even good honest Whigs could not stomach Mr.
Millard Fillmore out of 296 votes he got 8 - 3 votes less then any other
man ever got since we was anation. So nothing more at present but remain you
affectionate Brother until Death.
Thos. & Mary Reed and all of our Children
To E. H. & Sarah Reed and Children
Dear Brother & Sister May 1, 1858
We again write you a fiew lines to let you know we are on this side the
Eturnal World - and all well at this time _ and we hope when you get these
lines you all may be well. We have nothing special to write to you.
Relative to times in theis Country property is at a fare price but Money
rather scarce.
Land in this Country has gon up to the high water mark. The Rail Roads in
Missouri has rased the price of land 2 or 3 Hundred per cent.
We are all well at this time and has been well for the last year and our
Country has been Healthy for the last 2 years.
This year is our stormy year again the year of our Elections - but the
Death of Colonel Benton will to some degree moddyfy our warfare in Missouri
about Elections. the grate political questions - it is to be hoped will die -
in this Country. We have the knownothings to contend with - then our own
County judes (?).
Relative to our affares - We are geting along after the oald sort. This
year in Missouri is a year of plenty of every thing to eat - pork & Beef -
corn & wheet in abundance and the best prospects for Wheet at this time I ever
saw in Missouri if Wheet can escape the rust & spot we will have wheet in
abundance - and the finest prospect of sweet mast that has been for several
years in this Country.
The boys that is Married are all doing very well - they are makeing plenty
to live on and some to spare - and they are making Children as fast as they
can. Laughlin on White River is doing well - he has ondly 2 Children 2 boys
William & Cliford.
Malinda & her Man Esquire Elis is liveing with the oald man Elis yet the
oald man has but 2 Children and is living on _____ _____ (not decipherable)
and has plenty of land and money and 2 negroes.
I got a letter from Calfee ashort time since stateing them all well. His
oaldist son John is suddying Medicine with Dr. Upton in Madisonville. Calfee
is doing very well for that oald country.
Oald Sam Martains - soninlaw of Campbells Station - stayed with me a short
time since from Roan Country that gave me the hold gosip of oald Tennessee.
William Jackson, that boarded you and me when we moved down to Roan
County, is Ded. Said Doctor Isaac Anderson of Maryville is still living - so
is our Doctor tom Anderson. that General Anderson is mooved to Origen or
California.
Thos. Chilton is still liveing here and doing well. Him and Family is
well - he has but 3 Children 2 of them Marryed. oald Coot Chilton and wife is
still living and well.
I must come to a close - all that we can say to you & family is we sould
be glad to see you all one more time in this world and if we never meet in
this we are sure to meet in the next. so God keep you all. Write as fast as
you can - so many lettes get lost - we cannot tell whitch letter will come to
hand.
Our best respects to you and Family.
Thos. Reed
To his ondley Brother E. H. Reed.
To E. H. Reed
State of Mississippi
Choctaw County
May 16th, 1960
Shannon Missouri
September 25, 1858
Dear Brother & Sister
We Rcd your favor of 26 Au. yesterday with pleasure to heare you are well
and on this side the Eturnal Portal - where friends can still hold interocrse
with each other and comunicate our friend ship to each other.
We have sad news to tell you - since our last letter to you - we have lost
2 Members of our family Alexander - and William - our Baby - Alexander Died
22 Ar. and William Died 28 Au. 1858. With flux - the flux has scurged our
country this year severly. Charles and your sister had the flux and Charles
has got well but the oald Woman is still confined to her bed but is on the
mend. Patric had along hard spell and Clint and Clints Wife and 2 of his
children, and one of his children Died - and agrea many Deaths in this Country
with flux - the ballance of us are well at present.
Relative to our Country - aside from sickness about as usial Money scarse
and bad crops. Bad corn crops no oats - Wheet tolerable good. We have a
fine Mast this year, boath sweet and bitter, that will fatten our meet - which
will strech our corn crops.
They flux this year in this country was connected with conjestive of
sinking chills - which made the flux so much worse than any flux we ever had
in this country before. Thos Chilten and family is well at presant. We heard
fromm Calfee a short time since they was well - but Tennessee was suffering
with flux bad as many as 7 in one family had Died with flux and Hundreds and
thousands in the State.
We heard from White River yesterday from Laughlin and family They was all
well Laughlin and Rachal has had 10 children and has but 2 living bad luck
with children but good luck in the end - gon to the good World.
Relative to your Disease it is rather novel or new - still that does not
disarme it of its fatality - nor revele the secret of its cure. I suppose we
may call it paralitic or palsy of lip. Now the cause, Reading (?) or Tobacco
I woud think Reading (?) not very injurious - but Tobacco mite have some
effect in paralising the nerves of the lip tobacco you know is a nacotic
poison that woud dedon a nerve when applied immediately to a nerve or any
other parte of the Body - so I woud think it prudent of you to discontinue the
use of the article for a while - or at any rate to keep the stuff on the under
side of the Mouth - and use as little as posable - there are many causes for
palsy, coulds (?) and other things not nesasary to mention here the ondly
prospect of cure is counter eritation on the part and around the part - which
can be done by blisters - to the part and blisters in the back of the neck -
clensing of the Bowels with salts or if the discharges should be gray some
Calomel and if the systim is full of Blood bleeding will proper. lite or
abstemious living will be prudent. i woud try Bleeding - if the systim is
full - clense the Bowels, Blister - then use the tartar Emetic oint which is
made mixing - say teaspoonfull of Tarter Emetic in half teacup of lard or
Butter then rub the part 3 or 4 times per day - untill sores brake out then
discontinue.
Be sure to pay strict attention to the Bowels keep them open - and
discharges of agood Cholor and of the right consistancy - and if this all
failes it mite be propper to institute a drane in the back of the neck -by the
use of asection (?) - and keep sores in the temples by Blisters or ointment.
the object of all this is to gurd the brane from inflammation.
Write me soon again and let me heare how your disease is and how you all
are doing We like to heare from you often - We would like to see you all but
the distance is so grat and I am so oald and nocount I cannot think of
starting to the State of Mississippi.
Often we must content ourselves with writing.
Write in your next wheather or not you did luse your land
So your Brother until Death
So God keep you all
Thos. & Mary Reed & Children to
E. H. Reed & family
Best Respects.
July 29, 1859 Shannon County
State of Missouri
Dear Brother & Sister
We Rcd your favor with pleasure to heare you and yours was all well.
We thank our Heavenly Father that we can say to you at this time we and
all of our connection in this country are well. We hope these lines will find
you all well.
We have nothing of importance to write you at this time. We had from the
22 of June to the 22 of July Drouth that hurt our corn - but since then 22 of
July we have had rane plenty and the corn seems to come on finely. We think
we will make corne for Bred - Wheet is not good in this country & oats has
failed in Missouri last and this year. We have no Mast this year.
Relative ot our country Missouri is Driving on after the oald sort -- the
State of Missouri is rich but yet pore - The State of Missouri has fine health
at this time - and Money is plenty. Stock of all kind is high and ready sail
our politicks in Missouri is now as they always was they are all in a furment
- no dependence ondly to get the money that is short
We had along law suit in our legislature last Winter that was put off till
the first of June which was tried by the sinaite of the State. Judge Jackson
of our District was appeached (?) of Misdeamenior in office but was not Broke
- which has cost our State some $30 or 40,000.
I donte know that it is worth while for us to be talking about visiting
each other - our time in this World is short at least my time is short. I
would not like to start to Mississippi now in my oald age I shoud not expect
to get back. the Road is long and I am oald and this Bottoms Country is
sickley. We woud like to see you all nothing in the World coud give us more
pleasure than to visit you at your one House and see you and Wife and
Children - but the distance.
Our best Respects to you and family. Write when quick.
Thos. & Mary Reed & Children
To E. H. Reed & family
Your Brother untill Death Thos. Reed
To E. H. Reed