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Isacc Taylor “I. T.” Whitehead

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Isacc Taylor “I. T.” Whitehead

Birth
Sixmile, Blount County, Tennessee, USA
Death
19 Jan 1932 (aged 78)
Cades Cove, Blount County, Tennessee, USA
Burial
Cades Cove, Blount County, Tennessee, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Isaac Taylor Whitehead was the son of James W. and Lucinda "Susan" Martin Whitehead. He was born in the Six Mile community of Blount Co., TN, on the land owned by his father, which was located on "the waters of Six Mile Creek". Deed and census records show that the home place was almost adjacent to the Six Mile Church, and near the Montvale Resort.

Isaac, more commonly known as Taylor, is listed with his family in the 1860 Census in District 8 with the Post Office being Montvale. Court records show that he was orphaned in the 1860's. His father James died in late 1860 and his mother Lucinda died in 1865. An estate sale was held after the death of his father, and another after the death of his mother. From records of that sale and other settlements, it appears that the family was relatively prosperous and that at least some of the children attended school, probably taught by David Miller. They raised sheep, cattle and hogs. Items sold included several books, a clock, a flax wheel and a cotton wheel as well as a loom, and even table glasses. Livestock included at least 1 saddle horse in addition to cattle and oxen. The type of books sold, including "Baptist History and Covenants" and a Baptist hymnal, suggest that Taylor's father James may have been a deacon in the Six Mile Church.

The court appointed Samuel, a brother of James who lived nearby, as guardian for Taylor and his minor brother John T. and sister Hannah. It appears that Taylor and his siblings may have lived with Samuel and his family and they continued to work the land of James and Lucinda, raising corn, hay and oats. However, court records show some confusion in the financial aspects of Samuel's guardianship and by 1875 a final settlement was made that showed that by the time he came of age, Taylor had received a total of $119.95 as his share from the combined estates of his parents.

By the 1870 Census, Taylor and his sister Hannah were living in Cades Cove, in a separate household adjacent to or on the property of his elder sister Lucretia "Creasy", who had married Alfred Potter in 1865. The census taker erred and they are listed as Taylor, Isaac and Taylor, Hannah, with the Whitehead surname completely omitted.

Taylor married Mary Jane Gregory, daughter of Andrew "Drury" and Martha A. Brown Gregory, on Feb. 4, 1875. The 1880 Census places them in Cades Cove with 3 children, near the boundary of the 17th District. A note on the upper part of the census page states "This is the end of the 17th Civil District". Below that note are the first entries for people living in the 16th District, which is Cades Cove. The first name listed is Noah Abbot with wife Nancy; the 2nd family is Taylor's sister Lucretia, by then married to 2nd husband Alexander Wilson. Taylor and Mary Jane are listed as the 3rd family visited by the census taker.

By the 1900 Census, and possibly earlier, Taylor and Mary Jane were living in the large, 2 story house on what is now Forge Creek Road, that was once the home of Dr. Calvin Post and was originally known as Laurel Springs, named for the natural spring found across the road from the house. Near the remains of the house site are 4 small marked graves that show the resting place of the family of Rev. William H.Boring, who lived there until a typhoid epidemic killed his wife Millie, and their daughters, in 1898.

The house was relatively large by Cove standards and the family hosted visitors and boarders, including surveyors who came to mark the land for logging. Among the boarders were the teachers who taught at the nearby Laurel Springs school. One of those teachers was probably Sarah Lela Caylor, who later married Taylor and Mary Jane's son Noah Bunyon (N.B.). Mary Jane Whitehead moved out of the family home place shortly after Taylor's death. It was taken over by Willie and Hattie Myers and was known as the Ekaneetlee Lodge. Eleanor Roosevelt stayed there during her visit to the park in 1937. It was then taken over by the Park Service in 1940 and later destroyed.

Interviews with one of Taylor and Mary Jane's sons, Russell Whitehead (who lived to be 103), describe Taylor as a home farmer, raising just enough to keep a couple of cows and his family fed. His primary occupations were as a carpenter and later as agent and overseer of the Morton, Butler and Post timber lands. It's possible, and even likely, that Taylor helped his cousin Henry Whitehead build the cabin that bears his name and which is still standing as an exhibit in the Park. Music played a large part in the family life. Sons Russell (Russie) and Frank became well known as "Old Harp" (shaped note) singers, and his son Noah (N.B.) and youngest daughter Frances (later married to James Carl Brown) played the fiddle.

By all known accounts, Taylor continued working as an agent for the Morton Lumber Co. until his death in 1932. His death certificate lists nephritis and high blood pressure as the cause of death. His obituary in the Maryville Times on January 21, 1932 is very simple. ""Whitehead - I.T. Whitehead, age 78 years died at his home in Cades Cove Tuesday. Funeral and burial was in Cades Cove today. Mr. Whitehead was the father of Mrs. T.A. Roylston of Alcoa." He is buried in the Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery where his wife was also buried after her death in 1940.

Parents of Isaac Taylor Whitehead:

James W. Whitehead (abt. 1818 - 1860) and
Lucinda "Susan" Martin (abt. 1820 - 1865)
(Their burial sites are unknown. But, because their home place is practically next door to the Six Mile Cemetery, it is probable that they are buried there in unmarked graves.)

Spouse: Mary Jane Gregory (Dec. 16, 1860 - Feb. 11, 1940); dau. of Andrew "Drury" Gregory and Martha A. Brown

Children of Taylor and Mary Jane were:

William "Will" Albert Whitehead (Oct. 4, 1875 - Mar 30, 1957); m. 1st Alice L. Lequire; m. 2nd Mary LNU

Laura A. Whitehead (Apr. 16, 1878 - Mar 3, 1932); m. Moses "Mose" McCauley

John Thomas Whitehead (1880 - 1896)

Martha Lucinda Whitehead (Apr. 21 1882 - Dec 31, 1951);, never married

Mary "Angie" Angeline Whitehead (Mar 17, 1885 - May 16, 1970); m. 1st J. Roddy Smith; m. 2nd William H. Whitehead Jr.; m. 3rd Thomas A. Roylston

Russell Edward Whitehead (Mar 28, 1888 - June 25, 1991); m. Mary Ellen Boring

James "Cal" Calvin Whitehead (July 7, 1892 - 1986); m. Hattie P. Burchfield


Rebecca "Clemmy" Clementine Whitehead (Sep 18, 1893 - Oct 20, 1943); m. Newton "Frank" Franklin Gilmer

Frank Turner Whitehead (July 29, 1896 - July28, 1982); m. Flora "Loma" Salome Boring

Noah Bunyon Whitehead (July 16, 1901 - Feb 8, 1980); m. Sarah Lela Caylor

Hester Frances Whitehead (Dec 27, 1905 - Nov 28, 1996); m. James Carl Brown
Isaac Taylor Whitehead was the son of James W. and Lucinda "Susan" Martin Whitehead. He was born in the Six Mile community of Blount Co., TN, on the land owned by his father, which was located on "the waters of Six Mile Creek". Deed and census records show that the home place was almost adjacent to the Six Mile Church, and near the Montvale Resort.

Isaac, more commonly known as Taylor, is listed with his family in the 1860 Census in District 8 with the Post Office being Montvale. Court records show that he was orphaned in the 1860's. His father James died in late 1860 and his mother Lucinda died in 1865. An estate sale was held after the death of his father, and another after the death of his mother. From records of that sale and other settlements, it appears that the family was relatively prosperous and that at least some of the children attended school, probably taught by David Miller. They raised sheep, cattle and hogs. Items sold included several books, a clock, a flax wheel and a cotton wheel as well as a loom, and even table glasses. Livestock included at least 1 saddle horse in addition to cattle and oxen. The type of books sold, including "Baptist History and Covenants" and a Baptist hymnal, suggest that Taylor's father James may have been a deacon in the Six Mile Church.

The court appointed Samuel, a brother of James who lived nearby, as guardian for Taylor and his minor brother John T. and sister Hannah. It appears that Taylor and his siblings may have lived with Samuel and his family and they continued to work the land of James and Lucinda, raising corn, hay and oats. However, court records show some confusion in the financial aspects of Samuel's guardianship and by 1875 a final settlement was made that showed that by the time he came of age, Taylor had received a total of $119.95 as his share from the combined estates of his parents.

By the 1870 Census, Taylor and his sister Hannah were living in Cades Cove, in a separate household adjacent to or on the property of his elder sister Lucretia "Creasy", who had married Alfred Potter in 1865. The census taker erred and they are listed as Taylor, Isaac and Taylor, Hannah, with the Whitehead surname completely omitted.

Taylor married Mary Jane Gregory, daughter of Andrew "Drury" and Martha A. Brown Gregory, on Feb. 4, 1875. The 1880 Census places them in Cades Cove with 3 children, near the boundary of the 17th District. A note on the upper part of the census page states "This is the end of the 17th Civil District". Below that note are the first entries for people living in the 16th District, which is Cades Cove. The first name listed is Noah Abbot with wife Nancy; the 2nd family is Taylor's sister Lucretia, by then married to 2nd husband Alexander Wilson. Taylor and Mary Jane are listed as the 3rd family visited by the census taker.

By the 1900 Census, and possibly earlier, Taylor and Mary Jane were living in the large, 2 story house on what is now Forge Creek Road, that was once the home of Dr. Calvin Post and was originally known as Laurel Springs, named for the natural spring found across the road from the house. Near the remains of the house site are 4 small marked graves that show the resting place of the family of Rev. William H.Boring, who lived there until a typhoid epidemic killed his wife Millie, and their daughters, in 1898.

The house was relatively large by Cove standards and the family hosted visitors and boarders, including surveyors who came to mark the land for logging. Among the boarders were the teachers who taught at the nearby Laurel Springs school. One of those teachers was probably Sarah Lela Caylor, who later married Taylor and Mary Jane's son Noah Bunyon (N.B.). Mary Jane Whitehead moved out of the family home place shortly after Taylor's death. It was taken over by Willie and Hattie Myers and was known as the Ekaneetlee Lodge. Eleanor Roosevelt stayed there during her visit to the park in 1937. It was then taken over by the Park Service in 1940 and later destroyed.

Interviews with one of Taylor and Mary Jane's sons, Russell Whitehead (who lived to be 103), describe Taylor as a home farmer, raising just enough to keep a couple of cows and his family fed. His primary occupations were as a carpenter and later as agent and overseer of the Morton, Butler and Post timber lands. It's possible, and even likely, that Taylor helped his cousin Henry Whitehead build the cabin that bears his name and which is still standing as an exhibit in the Park. Music played a large part in the family life. Sons Russell (Russie) and Frank became well known as "Old Harp" (shaped note) singers, and his son Noah (N.B.) and youngest daughter Frances (later married to James Carl Brown) played the fiddle.

By all known accounts, Taylor continued working as an agent for the Morton Lumber Co. until his death in 1932. His death certificate lists nephritis and high blood pressure as the cause of death. His obituary in the Maryville Times on January 21, 1932 is very simple. ""Whitehead - I.T. Whitehead, age 78 years died at his home in Cades Cove Tuesday. Funeral and burial was in Cades Cove today. Mr. Whitehead was the father of Mrs. T.A. Roylston of Alcoa." He is buried in the Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery where his wife was also buried after her death in 1940.

Parents of Isaac Taylor Whitehead:

James W. Whitehead (abt. 1818 - 1860) and
Lucinda "Susan" Martin (abt. 1820 - 1865)
(Their burial sites are unknown. But, because their home place is practically next door to the Six Mile Cemetery, it is probable that they are buried there in unmarked graves.)

Spouse: Mary Jane Gregory (Dec. 16, 1860 - Feb. 11, 1940); dau. of Andrew "Drury" Gregory and Martha A. Brown

Children of Taylor and Mary Jane were:

William "Will" Albert Whitehead (Oct. 4, 1875 - Mar 30, 1957); m. 1st Alice L. Lequire; m. 2nd Mary LNU

Laura A. Whitehead (Apr. 16, 1878 - Mar 3, 1932); m. Moses "Mose" McCauley

John Thomas Whitehead (1880 - 1896)

Martha Lucinda Whitehead (Apr. 21 1882 - Dec 31, 1951);, never married

Mary "Angie" Angeline Whitehead (Mar 17, 1885 - May 16, 1970); m. 1st J. Roddy Smith; m. 2nd William H. Whitehead Jr.; m. 3rd Thomas A. Roylston

Russell Edward Whitehead (Mar 28, 1888 - June 25, 1991); m. Mary Ellen Boring

James "Cal" Calvin Whitehead (July 7, 1892 - 1986); m. Hattie P. Burchfield


Rebecca "Clemmy" Clementine Whitehead (Sep 18, 1893 - Oct 20, 1943); m. Newton "Frank" Franklin Gilmer

Frank Turner Whitehead (July 29, 1896 - July28, 1982); m. Flora "Loma" Salome Boring

Noah Bunyon Whitehead (July 16, 1901 - Feb 8, 1980); m. Sarah Lela Caylor

Hester Frances Whitehead (Dec 27, 1905 - Nov 28, 1996); m. James Carl Brown

Bio by: Suzanne Pitt Whitehead



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