Dillard Family On Center Point Road in Hendersonville (Sumner), Tn. 1800’s and forward
The following information about the Dillard Family on Center Point Road in Hendersonville (Sumner County) Tennessee, was prepared by John Roy Dillard in 1979. He did extensive research at the Sumner County Archives and used various other sources to compile this history of our family. It is being transcribed by Christy Chapman. Some parts are Not Verbatim - I have also added some additional information.
Enjoy the History………cc
Gabriel Dillard B 1798 D.1857
Harriet Frazor Dillard B.1803 D.1880’s
Children:
Mary Jane Dillard B.April 2, 1841 D.May 11, 1915
William James Dillard B.May 1842 D.1917
Martha Elizabeth Dillard B Sept. 7, 1844 D.Feb. 1, 1929 }twin
Margaret A. Dillard B.Sept. 7, 1844 D.1918 }twin
Owen Lee Dillard B.March 1846 D.1920
Gabriel Dillard Age 43 Head of Household
Harriet Dillard Age 37 Wife
Gabriel Dillard, or Uncle Gabe as he was called, was first married to Miss Sarah Jones on May 31, 1820 when he was 22 years old. The wedding took place at Hendersonville and was performed by magistrate Hugh Kirkpatrick and Ezekiel Crain listed as the bondsman. Gabriel taught school in and around Center Point during his marriage to Sarah..and on into his second marriage with Harriet Frazor. It is not known if Gabriel and Sarah had any children . The marriage lasted for a few years and then was terminated by divorce.
Gabriel and Harriet, who was also a school teacher, did not marry until late in life, possibly around 1838, making Gabriel 40 and Harriet 35 year old when they married. Harriet gave birth to twin daughters, Martha Elizabeth and Margaret A., when she was 41 years old. The 1840 Census lists one child under the age of 5 in the household of Gabriel and Harriet Dillard. It is assumed that this child died in its infancy since Mary Jane, their oldest child, was not born until 1841, one year after the census was taken.
Gabriel Dillard Age 52 Head of Household
Harriet Dillard Age 47 Keeping House
Children:
Mary Jane Age 9 Daughter
William Age 8 Son
Margaret Age 6 Daughter
Martha Age 6 Daughter
Owen Age 4 Son
The 1850 Census lists Gabriel Dillard’s occupation as a shoe and boot merchant. Since he and his second wife Harriet were both school teachers in their earlier days, it is assumed that Uncle Gabe put in a shoe store at either Goodlettsville or Hendersonville after he left the teaching profession.
Harriet Dillard 58 – Head of Household
Children:
Mary Jane 20 Daughter
William J. 19 Son
Margaret A. 16 Daughter
Martha E. 16 Daughter
Owen L. 14 Son
Gabriel Dillard died in 1857. Gabriel became an alcoholic during the latter years with his first wife, Sarah Jones, and his drinking problem continued on through his marriage to Harriet Frazor, who also liked the bottle.
At one time Gabriel and Harriet owned a vast tract of land that extended for miles along the Center Point Road and all the way over to the Old Shackle Island Road. They soon lost it all except the little lot where the old log house stood due to their heavy drinking and gambling.
The 1860 Census lists Harriet’s occupation as “Weaver” and her personal property value at $90
Harriet Dillard 67 Head of Household
Children:
Mary 29 Daughter
Margaret 26 Daughter
Martha 26 Daughter
Jesse 6 Grandson
Henry 4 Grandson
Marion 3 Grandson
John Edward 1 Grandson (census shows name as Owen -?)
The 1870 Census lists Harriet as a housekeeper and head of household. She did weaving and sewing to help earn a living. She lived with her three daughters and their sons in the old log house on Center Point Road.
William Jesse and Francis Marion are children of Margaret, Henry Lee is child of Mary Jane and John Edward is child of Martha, these children were born out of wedlock. William James and Owen Lee worked and boarded on farms in 1870. William James who was 28 years old in 1870 worked on the farm of Elizabeth Turner.
Harriet Dillard 78 Head of Household
Mary J 38 Daughter at home *
James 36 Son, farm labor *
Martha E. 34 Daughter at home *
Margaret A. 34 Daughter at home *
Owen Lee 32 Son, farm labor *
Henry Lee 13 Grandson at home
Francis M. 13 Grandson at home
John E. 11 Grandson at home
Rufus M. 3 Grandson at school
· * Cannot read or write according to this census
-
William Frazor 58 Head of Household
Mary A. 44 Wife
Alexander 25 Son
Jesse Dillard 13 Hired Labor
The Dillard family was a very close knit family. They were very poor money wise, but according to their neighbors and friends; they were rich where it counted: Kindness, honesty and good workers.
William James and Owen Lee were both bachelors and worked at various farms around Shackle Island. They would walk to work (often 5 or 6 miles away) on Monday morning and spend the week working away and then return home for the weekend. William Jesse Dillard was working on the farm of William Frazor at this time, he was 13 years old.
The Three Dillard sisters, who were slightly small in stature, also walked back and forth to work each day. They would walk along Center Point Road in single file, one behind the other, and always keeping the same position in line. Occasionally one of two of the boys would fall in line at the rear and walk with them.
William James Dillard 48 Head of Household
Mary Jane 49 Sister
Martha E. 46 Sister
Owen Lee 44 Brother
Henry Lee 24 Nephew
John Edward 21 Nephew
Rufus Monroe 12 Nephew
William Meyers 6 Nephew
The census records for 1890 were destroyed by fire. It is easy, however, to reconstruct the Dillard census for 1890 by knowledge already known and by other research in the Tenn. State Archives Bldg. Harriet Dillard died in 1880’s, thus elevating her oldest son, William James as head of household.
Margaret A. Dillard, the twin sister of Martha E., left home before the 1890 census and in 1893 she married Henry Harrison Williams at the age of 49. Margaret’s two sons, William Jesse and Francis Marion, were already out on their own. Rufus Monroe was attending Center Point grade school in 1890
He later attended Old Beech school some while working on the farm of Daura Averitte. William James, Owen Lee, Henry Lee and John Edward all worked on various farms in 1890. William James and Owen Lee also cut firewood and worked with horses.
Henry Lee Dillard 33 Head of Household
Mary J. 59 Mother
Martha E. 57 Aunt
John E. 31 Cousin
Rufus M. 28 Cousin
Willie M. 16 Cousin
James W. 58 Uncle
The entire Dillard family were farm laborers. In 1900 John Edward Boarded and worked on the farm of Martin Montgomery. Rufus Monroe boarded and worked on the farm of Daura Averitte. William Meyers (Babe) boarded and worked on the farm of Ben Hurt. Babe later went to work for Martin Montgomery and he and his brother John stayed there off and on for several years. It was their second home.
William Jesse boarded at the home of Mr. Edward B. Moore in 1900 and did Blacksmith work along with farming. Francis Marion along with Henry Lee and their uncles, William James and Owen Lee, worked at various farms in 1900. Henry Lee Dillard became head of house in 1896 when he purchased the old log house from William James for the sum of $28.
Originally the house was a one room log house with an upstairs. Henry Lee built another room and upstairs to the original house and left an open hallway (dogtrot) between the two log rooms. In each room was a large fire place where they did their cooking and heating.
Also on the 1900 census the two households above the “Henry Dillard” and family are:
1. Henry H.(Harrison) Williams 58 Head of Household
Margaret A. 57 Wife
2. Marion F. Dillard 33 Head of Household
Allie 60 Wife
See page 18 for Rufus M. Dillard-1900 census-
Henry Lee Dillard 42 Head of Household
Mary Jane 79 Sister (s/b Mother)
William James 67 Brother (s/b Uncle)
Marthy (s/b Martha) 60 Sister (s/b Aunt)
Margarett 60 Sister (s/b Aunt & not listed here)
Owen Lee 59 Brother (s/b Uncle)
John Edward 40 Brother (s/b Cousin)
William Meyers 25 Nephew (s/b Cousin)
This census is really “messed up”-spelling is incorrect, ages and relationships are incorrect. The census taker spelled Tennessee as “Tennisee” and spelled April as “Aprial”. But, this is not unusual…….
Next Household in line is:
Harrison Williams 69 Head of Household
Margaret 60 Wife
The information shows that they have been married for 12 years, making their marriage date 1898 (not 1893 as shown on the 1900 census)
Francis M. Dillard 42 Head of Household
Dovie N. 38 Wife
Ida Rogers 16 Stepdaughter
Beverly E. Rogers,Jr 13 Stepson
Robert W. Boyd 67 Father in Law
Information shows married within the year
Jesse Dillard 45 Head of Household
Minnie 29 Wife
Information shows married within the year
Owen Dillard 65 Head of Household
Martha 70 Sister
This is at the original homestead – Can’t find Henry Lee Dillard in 1920 Census
John Edward Dillard 50 Hired Hand
Meyers (Babe) Dillard 35 Hired Hand
at home of Martin Montgomery 55 and wife Maggie 52 on Shackle Island Road
Jesse Dillard 55 Head of Household
Minnie 38 Wife
John 9 Son
Elby (L.B.) 7 Son
Buest (Buist) 1 Son
Cornelia Cunningham 68 Mother in Law
Frank Dillard 57 Head of Household
Dovie 50 Wife
Rufus M. Dillard 37 Head of Household
Emma 28 Wife
Lewis 7 Son
Gilford 5 Son
Lilburn 3 Son
Rubie 2 Daughter
Mary Jane Dillard, the mother of Henry Lee Dillard, died May 11, 1915. Shortly after, on June 21, 1915, Henry Lee purchased a parcel of land, said lot containing 10x 40 feet for the purpose of a burying lot for the Dillard Family. Said lot is situated in Beech Cemetary and cost $5.50.
Mary Jane was 74 years old when she died and was the first of Gabriel and Harriet’s children to be buried there. Buried next to Mary Jane was William James who died in 1917 at the age of 75, followed by Owen Lee who died just after the 1920 Census was taken. Owen Lee was 74 years old at death.
All of Gabriel and Harriet’s children are buried in Beech Cemetary except Margaret A. who died in 1918 and is buried in Saunders Cemetary. The Dillards are buried in order in which they died.
Mary Jane Dillard 1915 -Has Headstone
William James Dillard 1918 - Has Marker
Owen Lee Dillard 1926 - Has Marker
Martha Elizabeth Dillard 1929 - Has Marker& Foot Marker "Grandmother"
Henry Lee Dillard 1929 - Has Marker
John Edward Dillard 1953 - Has Headstone Dbl with Wm Meyers Dillard
William Meyers Dillard 1971 - Has Headstone
Where are Gabriel and Harriet Dillard buried ?
Or Owen Dillard and Polly Dillard?
Jesse W. Dillard 65 Head of Household
Minnie M. 48 Wife
John 20 Son
L. B. 17 Son
Buist 11 Son
Cornelia Cunningham 80 Mother in Law
Rufus Dillard 50 Head of Household
Emma D. 40 Wife
Gilford 15 Son
Lilburn 13 Son
Ruby 11 Daughter
Willis 9 Son
Roy 7 Son
Rufus, Jr. 3 Son
Can’t find John Edward Dillard or William Meyers Dillard in 1930 Census.
John Edward Dillard became head of house when his mother, Martha Elizabeth Dillard, and cousin, Henry Lee Dillard, both died in 1929. John and Willie lived together in the old log house until John died in 1953 at the age of 84.
Willie or “Babe” continued to live there alone after John’s death and in 1964 with failing health he moved into the home of Truman Nash. He soon became disabled and was bed ridden for the last few years of his life.
Mr. Nash nursed Babe for almost seven years and he died in 1971 at the age of 87. He also nursed John before he died. The old log house along with 2.5 acres of land was deeded to Mr. Nash in appreciation for his faithfulness in taking care of John and Willie.
Nickname: “Puss”
Born April 2, 1841 Died May 11, 1915
Children:
Henry Lee Dillard
Born Jan. 28, 1866 Died Oct. 7, 1929
Mary Jane Dillard was the first of five children born to Gabriel and Harriet Dillard. Harriet was 38 years old when Mary Jane was born in 1841. Mary Jane was an old maid, but in 1866 at the age of 25 she gave birth to a baby boy, Henry Lee.
Henry was a bachelor and worked on farms in and around Shackle Island.
He also liked to trade on miscellaneous items and deal in the buying and selling of horses. Henry and his mother, along with all of other Dillards, lived in the old log house on Center Point Road until death.
Mary Jane was 74 years old when she died in 1915.
Henry’s bank book shows that he had a high of $350 in the Bank of Hendersonville on December 17, 1918.
Henry was born out of wedlock.
Nickname: “Pune”
Born September 1844 Died February 1, 1929
Children:
John Edward Dillard Born March 9, 1869 Died July 7, 1953
Rufus Monroe Dillard Born Feb. 10, 1878 Died Oct. 1, 1951
William Meyers Dillard Born April 1, 1884 Died Aug. 14, 1971
Nickname: “Babe”
Martha Elizabeth Dillard was born in 1844, the twin sister of Margaret A. Dillard. In 1869, at the age of 25, she gave birth to her first child, a son John Edward.
Nine years elapsed before her second son, Rufus Monroe was born, Martha was 34 years old.
Six years later, at the age of 40, she gave birth to another son, William Meyers, better known as Babe or Willie.
All three of these children were born out of wedlock.
Martha Elizabeth, who smoked a pipe most of her adult life, died in 1929 at the age of 85. John and Willie, both bachelors, grew up and remained close to home all their life.
In 1905 Rufus Monroe got a job with the Nashville Spoke and Handle company, after working for several years on the farm of Mr. Daura Averitte in Shackle Island. In 1908 the mill moved to Brotherton, Tennessee and Rufus went along with it. It was at Brotherton that he met and married Emma Dee Keith, the oldest daughter of Mr. And Mrs. James Madison Keith. The wedding took place in 1910 at the home of Mr. Porter Judd, a Justice of the Peace who performed the ceremonies.
Nickname: “Mag”
Born September 1844 Died in 1918
Children:
William Jesse Dillard Born Sept. 1864 Died Aug. 28, 1932
Francis Marion Dillard Born Mar. 13, 1867 Died Mar. 10, 1928
One Child Died
Margaret A. Dillard was born in 1844, the twin sister of Martha Elizabeth Dillard. The 1900 census lists Margaret as the mother of three children, two of which are still living. It is assumed that one of her children died in infancy since there is no listing of another child in any of the censuses.
Both children were born out of wedlock.
Margaret left the old log house on Center Point Road shortly before 1890 and in 1893 she married Henry Harrison Williams (born Jan. 1842) after her two boys, William Jesse and Frances Marion, were grown and out on their own.
The Williams did not raise any children as Margaret was 49 years old when she married. Margaret died in 1918 and is buried in Saunders Family Cemetery. She is the only child of Gabriel and Harriets that is not buried in Beech Cemetery.
Born Sept. 1864 Died Aug. 28, 1932
~ Married in approx. 1909 ~
Minnie Mae Cuningham
Born Aug. 21, 1881 Died Dec. 1969
Children:
John William Dillard Born 1911 Died Nov. 5, 1965
Leonard Buford Dillard (L.B.) Born Sept. 8, 1912 Died May 1987
Buist Garner Dillard Born July 3, 1918 Died Sept. 13, 1995
William Jesse Dillard was the oldest son of Margaret A. Dillard had one brother, Francis (Frank) Marion. William Jesse left home at an early age of 13 year old, and went to work on the farm of *William Frazor for his room and board.
*William Frazor was Jesse’s Uncle and Harriet Frazor Dillards Brother.
The 1880 Census lists him as a farm laborer. On October 10, 1889 at the age of 25 William Jesse professed religion and joined the Beech Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In 1900 William Jesse was employed on the farm of Edward B. Moore and had taken up blacksmith work after a fling at farming.
William Jesse eventually put in a Blacksmith shop in Goodlettsville where he worked and lived until his death in 1932. William Jesse married Minnie Mae Cunningham after he was almost 40 years old and they reared three sons. One of their sons, John William, a bachelor, was in World War II.
L. B. and Buist live in Goodlettsville now (1979). Buist, a bachelor, works at Dupont and L. B. is retired from Tennessee Dept. of Transportation. L. B., the only one of Jesse’s boys to marry and raise a family (he is currently unmarried).
Born March 13, 1867 Died March 10, 1928
~ He married in approx 1897 at 33 yrs ~
Allie (unknown) 60yrs Born March 1840 Died Unknown
They had No Children
Then…
~ He married in approx early 1910 at 42yrs~
Dovie N. Rogers (Boyd) 38yrs Born 1872 Died Unknown
They had No Children
Francis Marion Dillard was born in 1867, the second son of Margaret A. Dillard. Francis Marion left the old log house on Center Point Road at the age of 15 and went to work on various farms around Shackle Island. In 1897, Francis Marion married Allie (last name unknown) from Cross Plains, Tennessee; who was 27 years his senior. They resided in Sumner County and near the log house.
Then in 1910 (not sure if Allie passed away), Francis married Dovie A. Rogers and according to the 1910 census, lived in Dist #15 in Cottontown, Tennessee. Dovie was previously married to Beverly Rogers according to the 1900 census and they had three children together. Two of the children were living with Francis and Dovie after they were married.
Francis Marion passed away in Cottontown, Tn. And was buried in the Boyd Cemetery (behind the Boyd Home) on the Louisville-Nashville Pike.
Daura Avaritte 29 Head of Household (born Feb.13, 1871)
Mary V. Avaritte 29 Wife (born Aug. 1871)
Lucy Ann Avaritte 74 Mother (born Oct. 8, 1826)
Rufus M. Dillard 22 Farm Hand (born Feb. 16, 1878)
Daura was an adopted son by Lucy Ann and M. D. Lafayette (Fate) Avaritte. Fate Avaritte was born June 6, 1825 and died May 18, 1900, shortly before the 1900 census was taken. Fate and his wife Lucy are buried in the Avaritte Cemetery next to the Avaritte farm in Sumner County. Fate was 75 years old at the time of his death. It is not known when Lucy died.
Daura married Mary in 1900, but the marriage did not last very long. It is not known whether they were divorced or if Mary died. Daura married his second wife Minnie around 1917. Minnie was born May 19, 1897 and died Dec. 22, 1929 at the age of 32. Daura died March 19, 1936 at the age of 65.
Daura was 46 years old when he married Minnie who was 20 years old. Daura and Minnie are buried in the Whittaker Cemetery in Monterey, Tennessee.
In 1893 Rufus Monroe Dillard left home on Center Point Road at the age of 15 and went to work on Fate Avaritte’s farm for his room and board. In 1899 Daura gave Rufus Monroe a horse, saddle and bundle for his 21st birthday. Rufus stayed on and worked at the Avaritte farm until about 1904.
~ Married on November 6, 1910 ~
Emma Dee Keith Born June 28, 1892 Died Dec. 9, 1965
Children:
Louis Monroe Dillard Born Oct. 9, 1912 Died April 2, 2001
Gilford Lee Dillard Born July 16, 1914 Died Jan. 8, 2004
James Lilburn Dillard Born Apr. 23, 1916 Died Nov. 28, 1997
Rubye Mae Dillard Born Apr. 12, 1918 Living
Willis Eugene Dillard Born Apr. 21, 1920 Died Aug. 2, 1999
John Roy Dillard Born Sept. 23, 1922 Died Dec, 26, 1991
Anna Ruth Dillard Born Jan. 8, 1925 Died Aug. 16, 1926
Rufus Edward Dillard Born Mar. 19, 1927 Living
Daisy Catherine Dillard Born June 6, 1931 Living
Rufus Monroe Dillard and Emma Dee Keith were married November 6, 1910 at the home of Mr. Porter Judd in Brotherton, Tn. Mr. Judd, a Justice of the Peace, performed the wedding ceremonies. Rufus Monroe was 32 years old and Emma Dee Keith was 18 years old, a 14 year difference.
Rufus Monroe was 73 years old at the time of his death in 1952. Emma Dee was 73 years old at the time of her death in 1965. Rufus Monroe and Emma Dee are buried in the Whittaker Cemetery as is their daughter Anna Ruth who died in 1926 with infantile paralysis.
More Information for Dillard's of Sumner County :
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