It has been passed down through the generations that the Warnick family was of Cherokee Indian descent. There are no known documents to prove this true or false, but my research within this family and the Benton Co., TN Melton family has led me to agree.

There are several inconsistencies among the registering of the marriages. This pattern appears more often among the families of known Indian blood. I have tried to make excuses and claim the weather or time played a factor but have always come back to my original conclusion that for some reason they weren't always registered among known husbands & wives.

Also I've noticed the difficulty in finding pictures of the early generations, lack of written Wills and the difficulty in tracking them through the census. Not to mention how certain families will marry certain families for no apparent reason such as land or money. But a pattern of people grouping with other surnames. And not marrying within their own families as others were known to do.

And last but not least, most of the graves are unmarked, some by request.

Again I tried to dismiss this as lack of money, relocating, just coincidence etc. but these are only a few of the things I've noticed that stand out from all the research that I've done on many different surnames. I realize this doesn't prove anything but things I wanted to point out to you.

As you will read the Warnick family married into the Melton family through another known but not proven Indian bloodline. I hope you will enjoy this story and feel a little richer for knowing more about the Warnick family.

Doris M. Hightower, 1-3-98

David Warnick was born about 1790 in North Carolina to James Warnick. David Warnick died between 1860 and 1870, probably in Benton Co., TN.

(Ref: Stewart Co., TN Deed Book C, makes notice of various property from James Warnick to so David Warnick, Feb.1809.) We believe it is possible this is the David Warnick this story is about.

David married Elizabeth (unknown) sometime prior to 1818, possibly somewhere in Tennessee as their first known child is born within the state.

Elizabeth was born about 1794 in Virginia; she died between 1850 and 1860. It is unknown where they were buried.

The first census that David and family first appear in Benton Co., TN is the 1850, bk.page 39.

David Warnick and Elizabeth (unknown) had eight known children.

(Due to the large gap in the birth in the first known child and their second, there is reason to assume more children were born between those years and have grown & married prior to the 1850 Benton Co., TN census was taken. Active research is being done on these families.)

1. Hiram Warnick was born in 1818 in Tennessee. He married Charity Melton on Oct.28, 1848 in Benton Co., TN. (Note: Their marriage license was issued but not returned.) (More complete info. is available for Hiram & Charity on page 2.)

2. William Warnick was born in 1829 in North Carolina or TN, the census varies. He married Mary A. Presson on March 27, 1851 in Benton Co., TN by James F. Presson, JP.

(More complete info. is available on William & Mary A. on page 3.)

3. Eliza Warnick was born in 1831 in Tennessee. She married James W. Davis on May 8, 1851 in Benton Co., TN by Jas. F. Presson, JP. (More complete info. is available for Eliza & James on page 4.)

4. Panlina Warnick was born in 1833 in Tennessee. (She was living at home in 1850 age 17, but was not in 1860. Nothing further is known at this time.)

5. Catherine Warnick was born in 1835 in Tennessee. (She was living at home in 1860 age 23. Nothing further is known at this time.)

6. Rebecca Warnick was born in 1837 in Tennessee. (She was living at home in 1850 age 13. Nothing further is known at this time.)

7. Nancy Warnick was born in 1840 in Tennessee. (She was living at home in 1860 age 18. Nothing further is known at this time.)

8. Sarah was born in 1844 in Tennessee. (She was living at home in 1860 age 16. Nothing further is known at this time.)

The HIRAM WARNICK Story Page 2

Hiram Warnick was born in 1818 in Tennessee. He married Charity Melton on Oct.28, 1848 in Benton Co., TN. (Note: Their marriage license was issued but not returned.)

Charity was born in 1822 in Tennessee to Sion Melton and Lucretia Farmer.

(Note: Sion Melton is believed by Melton researchers to be the Indian half-breed son of Joseph Melton. My connection is through Sion's half-brother, Etheldred Melton.)

Hiram died sometime after 1880 and is buried in an unmarked grave in the Melton Cemetery in the Harmons Creek Community in Benton Co., TN. Charity also died sometime after 1880 & is also buried in an unmarked grave in the Melton Cemetery.

Hiram Warnick & Charity Melton had only one child.

1. Araminta (Minta A.) Warnick was born in April of 1849 in Benton Co., TN. She died sometimes after 1900 and is buried in an unmarked grave in the Phifer Cemetery in Benton Co., TN.

She married Elijah Phifer on Nov.26, 1867. (Note: Their marriage license was issued but never registered.) Elijah was born in April of 1850 to John Phifer Sr. & Sally Warrick. He died about 1904 and was buried in an unmarked grave in the Phifer Cemetery. Elijah was a farmer in Benton Co., TN.

Araminta & Elijah had seven children.

1. William Phifer was born in 1869 in Tennessee.

2. Sion J. Phifer was born in 1872 in Tennessee. He married Lou Aider Phifer.

3. Lou F. Phifer was born in 1874 in Tennessee. She married William Sexton.

4. John D. (or) H. Phifer was born in 1876 in Tennessee. He married Eva Myers & Myrtle Bursey.

5. Marion L. Phifer was born in 1879 in Tennessee.

6. Vidona Phifer was born in Feb. of 1883 in Tennessee.

7. Henry Phifer was born in July of 1890 in Tennessee.

The WILLIAM WARNICK Story Page 3

William Warnick was born in 1829, he stated in the 1850 census he was born in North Carolina. But in the 1860 census he stated Tennessee.

He died between 1880-1900, his buried place is unknown.

He married Mary A. Presson on March 27, 1851 in Benton Co., TN by James F. Presson, JP. Mary was born in March of 1829 in Tennessee. Note: I can't be certain at this time, but she appears to be the daughter of Matthew Presson. Mary died sometime after 1900. She was living with her daughter, Mary E. & son-in-law Martin Cole in 1900 in District # 8 in Benton Co., TN.

William Warnick & Mary A. Presson had seven children.

1. Margaret Warnick was born in 1851 in Tennessee. She married John David Davis on Jan.9, 1878 in Benton Co., TN by Meredith S. Corbitt, MG. They had eleven children. They were living in District # 5 in 1880 & 1900 in Benton Co., TN.

2. Malinda J. Warnick was born in Dec. of 1853 in Tennessee. She married Jefferson W. Holland on March 15, 1874 in Benton Co., TN by M.S. Corbitt, MG. They had six known children.

In the 1900 Benton Co., TN census they were living in District # 8.

3. Mary Elizabeth Warnick was born on Aug.6, 1858 in Tennessee. She married Martin C. (Warren) McGill on Mar.8, 1883 in Benton Co., TN by W.S. Brewer, MG. She later married Martin P. Cole on Sept.11, 1892 in Benton Co., TN by James N. Alsup, JP. She had four known children with Mr. Cole.

4. Lizzie Warnick was born in 1861 in Tennessee. Nothing further known at this time.

5. John W. Warnick was born on Jan. 24, 1864 in Tennessee. He died on Nov.11, 1957, his burial was in the Bakers Chapel Cemetery. Nothing further is known at this time.

6. David Warnick was born in 1866 in Tennessee. Nothing further is known at this time.

7. Lucy A. Warnick was born on Dec.29, 1869 in Tennessee. She married Robert Lee George on Dec.25, 1890 in Benton Co., TN. They later divorced. (It has been stated that Robert was a Cherokee Indian.)

She then married John Harrison Greer on Aug.6, 1896 in Benton Co., TN by James T. Sparks, MG. Lucy had one child with Mr. George and two with Mr. Greer.

The ELIZA WARNICK Story Page 4

Eliza Warnick was born in 1831 in Tennessee. She married James W. Davis on May 8, 1851 in Benton Co., TN by James F. Presson, JP. James W. Davis was born in 1830 in Tennessee to John Davis. James died between 1880-1900. Eliza died between 1880-1900.

They had eight known children.

1. Sara Ann Davis was born in 1851 in Tennessee. She was not at home in 1870. Nothing further is known at this time.

2. John David Davis was born in March of 1854 in Tennessee. He married Margaret Warnick on Jan.6, 1878 in Benton Co., TN by M.S. Corbitt,MG. (Ref: Page 3, William Warnick's daughter.) John D. Davis & Margaret Warnick had eleven children; Ola Jane in 1879, Felix Milton in 1881, Florence B. in 1883, W. Richard in 1885, John W. in 1888, Mallie Mae in 1889, Charles A. in 1890, Earnest Fry in 1892, Moses U. in 1894, Myrtle J. in 1895 and Elmer Davis in 1898.

(Birthdates are from 1900 Benton Co., TN census.)

3. Betsy A. Davis was born in 1856 in Tennessee. She was not at home in 1880. Nothing further is known at this time.

4. Mary C. Davis was born in 1859 in Tennessee. She was not at home in 1880. Nothing further is known at this time.

5. William Davis was born in 1861 in Tennessee. He was not at home in 1880. Nothing further is known at this time.

6. James Richard Davis was born in 1867 in Tennessee. He was age 13 at home in 1880. Nothing further is known.

7. Nancy Davis was born in 1870 in Tennessee. She was age 10 at home in 1880. Nothing further is known at this time.

8. Jane Davis was born in 1874 in Tennessee. She was age 6 at home in 1880. Nothing further is known at this time.

Page 5.

Panlina Warnick, Catherine Warnick, Rebecca Warnick, Nancy Warnick and Sarah Warnick were the last five children of David Warnick & Elizabeth (unknown).

Nothing further is known about these children at this time.