Mary Jane Gregory Whitehead was born on Dec 16, 1859 in Cades Cove, Blount Co., TN. She was the daughter of Andrew ("Druary") Gregory and his 2nd wife, Martha A. Brown. There is some confusion about her actual birth date. Although her headstone lists it as Dec 16, 1860, she was actually born in Dec. of 1859. She is listed with her parents and family on the 1860 Census as "Gregory, Jane "; age 7 mos.; female". The census was enumerated on July 14th, 1860, which makes her birth date in Dec. of 1859.
That census lists her family living next to her father's parents, Russell and Susan Hill Gregory. In 1857, Russell and Druary entered into an agreement that gave Russell and Susan a life interest in their farm, while allowing Druary to work the farm and retain 2/3rds of the harvest and profits for himself. Mary Jane grew up as a farmer's daughter in a large household. Altogether, Druary had 13 children by his 2 wives. The 1870 Census shows 7 children in the household, including Mary Jane, with most of the others living nearby. That census also tells us that she attended school.
Mary Jane married Isaac Taylor Whitehead, son of James W. and Lucinda Martin Whitehead 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, Mary Jane and Taylor were living in the large, 2 story house on what is now Forge Creek Road. It 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 so, in addition to Taylor and their 11 children, Mary Jane also welcomed visitors and boarders, including surveyors who came to mark the land for logging. Among the other boarders were the teachers who taught at the nearby Laurel Springs school. One of those teachers was probably Sarah Lela Caylor, who later married Mary Jane and Taylor's son Noah Bunyon ("Bun").
One of their sons, Russell "Russie" Whitehead (who lived to be 103) was a frequent subject of interviews by local historians and press. He told many stories, including some of his mother. He related that Mary Jane was in sole charge of the family's milk cows as she recognized how important they were in providing wholesome food for her family. Bran sifted from the Hickory King corn they grew and had ground at the mill was fed to the cows that she milked twice a day. On a nearby road that led from Cades Cove to the Happy Valley community, there was a huge chunk of iron ore, weighing several hundred pounds and known as a forge hammer, that the children loved to look at and wonder about. One of Russie's younger brothers said that it resembled the family cow and from that day on, all the children called their cow "Old Hammerhead". But, said Russie, they never used that name in the hearing of their mother. Mary Jane wouldn't allow such disrespect to be shown or spoken, even for the family cow.
Mary Jane Whitehead moved out of the family home place shortly after Taylor's death in 1932. She lived with her daughter Mary "Angie" Whitehead Roylston who, with her husband T. A. Roylston, ran a hotel on Main St. (now Broadway) in nearby Alcoa. Moving from the quiet serenity of Cades Cove to the hustle and bustle of the rapidly growing town of Alcoa must have been a huge change but Mary Jane remained with the family until her death in 1940. Her obituary from the Maryville Enterprise on February 15, 1940 reports: ""Whitehead - Mrs. Mary J. Whitehead, age 79, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. T.A. Roylston Sunday night from pneumonia. She is survived by five sons and four daughters: Will of Arkansas; Russ of Cades Cove; Calvin, Frank and Bun of Maryville; Martha Whitehead and Mrs. T.A. Roylston of Maryville; Mrs. N.F. Gilmer of Nashville and Mrs. Carl Brown of Judson, N.C.""
The house that Mary Jane and Taylor had made their home for over 40 years was taken over by Willie and Hattie Myers and became known as the Ekaneetlee Lodge. Eleanor Roosevelt stayed there during her visit to the park in 1937. Mary Jane was still alive at the time, and even though she no longer lived there, she must have felt proud that her home was the site of such a special visitor. Sadly, the home was later taken over by the Park Service in 1940 and eventually destroyed.
Parents of Mary Jane Gregory:
Andrew "Druary" Gregory(Sept. 7, 1818 - Jan. 16, 1875) and
Martha A. Brown (May 5, 1833 - Dec. 10, 1891); dau. of Jesse Simeon and Mary Proctor Brown
Spouse: Isaac Taylor Whitehead (July 24, 1853 - Jan. 19, 1932); son of James W. and Lucinda Susan Martin Whitehead
Children of Mary Jane and Taylor 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
That census lists her family living next to her father's parents, Russell and Susan Hill Gregory. In 1857, Russell and Druary entered into an agreement that gave Russell and Susan a life interest in their farm, while allowing Druary to work the farm and retain 2/3rds of the harvest and profits for himself. Mary Jane grew up as a farmer's daughter in a large household. Altogether, Druary had 13 children by his 2 wives. The 1870 Census shows 7 children in the household, including Mary Jane, with most of the others living nearby. That census also tells us that she attended school.
Mary Jane married Isaac Taylor Whitehead, son of James W. and Lucinda Martin Whitehead 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, Mary Jane and Taylor were living in the large, 2 story house on what is now Forge Creek Road. It 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 so, in addition to Taylor and their 11 children, Mary Jane also welcomed visitors and boarders, including surveyors who came to mark the land for logging. Among the other boarders were the teachers who taught at the nearby Laurel Springs school. One of those teachers was probably Sarah Lela Caylor, who later married Mary Jane and Taylor's son Noah Bunyon ("Bun").
One of their sons, Russell "Russie" Whitehead (who lived to be 103) was a frequent subject of interviews by local historians and press. He told many stories, including some of his mother. He related that Mary Jane was in sole charge of the family's milk cows as she recognized how important they were in providing wholesome food for her family. Bran sifted from the Hickory King corn they grew and had ground at the mill was fed to the cows that she milked twice a day. On a nearby road that led from Cades Cove to the Happy Valley community, there was a huge chunk of iron ore, weighing several hundred pounds and known as a forge hammer, that the children loved to look at and wonder about. One of Russie's younger brothers said that it resembled the family cow and from that day on, all the children called their cow "Old Hammerhead". But, said Russie, they never used that name in the hearing of their mother. Mary Jane wouldn't allow such disrespect to be shown or spoken, even for the family cow.
Mary Jane Whitehead moved out of the family home place shortly after Taylor's death in 1932. She lived with her daughter Mary "Angie" Whitehead Roylston who, with her husband T. A. Roylston, ran a hotel on Main St. (now Broadway) in nearby Alcoa. Moving from the quiet serenity of Cades Cove to the hustle and bustle of the rapidly growing town of Alcoa must have been a huge change but Mary Jane remained with the family until her death in 1940. Her obituary from the Maryville Enterprise on February 15, 1940 reports: ""Whitehead - Mrs. Mary J. Whitehead, age 79, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. T.A. Roylston Sunday night from pneumonia. She is survived by five sons and four daughters: Will of Arkansas; Russ of Cades Cove; Calvin, Frank and Bun of Maryville; Martha Whitehead and Mrs. T.A. Roylston of Maryville; Mrs. N.F. Gilmer of Nashville and Mrs. Carl Brown of Judson, N.C.""
The house that Mary Jane and Taylor had made their home for over 40 years was taken over by Willie and Hattie Myers and became known as the Ekaneetlee Lodge. Eleanor Roosevelt stayed there during her visit to the park in 1937. Mary Jane was still alive at the time, and even though she no longer lived there, she must have felt proud that her home was the site of such a special visitor. Sadly, the home was later taken over by the Park Service in 1940 and eventually destroyed.
Parents of Mary Jane Gregory:
Andrew "Druary" Gregory(Sept. 7, 1818 - Jan. 16, 1875) and
Martha A. Brown (May 5, 1833 - Dec. 10, 1891); dau. of Jesse Simeon and Mary Proctor Brown
Spouse: Isaac Taylor Whitehead (July 24, 1853 - Jan. 19, 1932); son of James W. and Lucinda Susan Martin Whitehead
Children of Mary Jane and Taylor 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
Mary Jane Gregory Whitehead was born on Dec 16, 1859 in Cades Cove, Blount Co., TN. She was the daughter of Andrew ("Druary") Gregory and his 2nd wife, Martha A. Brown. There is some confusion about her actual birth date. Although her headstone lists it as Dec 16, 1860, she was actually born in Dec. of 1859. She is listed with her parents and family on the 1860 Census as "Gregory, Jane "; age 7 mos.; female". The census was enumerated on July 14th, 1860, which makes her birth date in Dec. of 1859.
That census lists her family living next to her father's parents, Russell and Susan Hill Gregory. In 1857, Russell and Druary entered into an agreement that gave Russell and Susan a life interest in their farm, while allowing Druary to work the farm and retain 2/3rds of the harvest and profits for himself. Mary Jane grew up as a farmer's daughter in a large household. Altogether, Druary had 13 children by his 2 wives. The 1870 Census shows 7 children in the household, including Mary Jane, with most of the others living nearby. That census also tells us that she attended school.
Mary Jane married Isaac Taylor Whitehead, son of James W. and Lucinda Martin Whitehead 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, Mary Jane and Taylor were living in the large, 2 story house on what is now Forge Creek Road. It 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 so, in addition to Taylor and their 11 children, Mary Jane also welcomed visitors and boarders, including surveyors who came to mark the land for logging. Among the other boarders were the teachers who taught at the nearby Laurel Springs school. One of those teachers was probably Sarah Lela Caylor, who later married Mary Jane and Taylor's son Noah Bunyon ("Bun").
One of their sons, Russell "Russie" Whitehead (who lived to be 103) was a frequent subject of interviews by local historians and press. He told many stories, including some of his mother. He related that Mary Jane was in sole charge of the family's milk cows as she recognized how important they were in providing wholesome food for her family. Bran sifted from the Hickory King corn they grew and had ground at the mill was fed to the cows that she milked twice a day. On a nearby road that led from Cades Cove to the Happy Valley community, there was a huge chunk of iron ore, weighing several hundred pounds and known as a forge hammer, that the children loved to look at and wonder about. One of Russie's younger brothers said that it resembled the family cow and from that day on, all the children called their cow "Old Hammerhead". But, said Russie, they never used that name in the hearing of their mother. Mary Jane wouldn't allow such disrespect to be shown or spoken, even for the family cow.
Mary Jane Whitehead moved out of the family home place shortly after Taylor's death in 1932. She lived with her daughter Mary "Angie" Whitehead Roylston who, with her husband T. A. Roylston, ran a hotel on Main St. (now Broadway) in nearby Alcoa. Moving from the quiet serenity of Cades Cove to the hustle and bustle of the rapidly growing town of Alcoa must have been a huge change but Mary Jane remained with the family until her death in 1940. Her obituary from the Maryville Enterprise on February 15, 1940 reports: ""Whitehead - Mrs. Mary J. Whitehead, age 79, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. T.A. Roylston Sunday night from pneumonia. She is survived by five sons and four daughters: Will of Arkansas; Russ of Cades Cove; Calvin, Frank and Bun of Maryville; Martha Whitehead and Mrs. T.A. Roylston of Maryville; Mrs. N.F. Gilmer of Nashville and Mrs. Carl Brown of Judson, N.C.""
The house that Mary Jane and Taylor had made their home for over 40 years was taken over by Willie and Hattie Myers and became known as the Ekaneetlee Lodge. Eleanor Roosevelt stayed there during her visit to the park in 1937. Mary Jane was still alive at the time, and even though she no longer lived there, she must have felt proud that her home was the site of such a special visitor. Sadly, the home was later taken over by the Park Service in 1940 and eventually destroyed.
Parents of Mary Jane Gregory:
Andrew "Druary" Gregory(Sept. 7, 1818 - Jan. 16, 1875) and
Martha A. Brown (May 5, 1833 - Dec. 10, 1891); dau. of Jesse Simeon and Mary Proctor Brown
Spouse: Isaac Taylor Whitehead (July 24, 1853 - Jan. 19, 1932); son of James W. and Lucinda Susan Martin Whitehead
Children of Mary Jane and Taylor 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
That census lists her family living next to her father's parents, Russell and Susan Hill Gregory. In 1857, Russell and Druary entered into an agreement that gave Russell and Susan a life interest in their farm, while allowing Druary to work the farm and retain 2/3rds of the harvest and profits for himself. Mary Jane grew up as a farmer's daughter in a large household. Altogether, Druary had 13 children by his 2 wives. The 1870 Census shows 7 children in the household, including Mary Jane, with most of the others living nearby. That census also tells us that she attended school.
Mary Jane married Isaac Taylor Whitehead, son of James W. and Lucinda Martin Whitehead 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, Mary Jane and Taylor were living in the large, 2 story house on what is now Forge Creek Road. It 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 so, in addition to Taylor and their 11 children, Mary Jane also welcomed visitors and boarders, including surveyors who came to mark the land for logging. Among the other boarders were the teachers who taught at the nearby Laurel Springs school. One of those teachers was probably Sarah Lela Caylor, who later married Mary Jane and Taylor's son Noah Bunyon ("Bun").
One of their sons, Russell "Russie" Whitehead (who lived to be 103) was a frequent subject of interviews by local historians and press. He told many stories, including some of his mother. He related that Mary Jane was in sole charge of the family's milk cows as she recognized how important they were in providing wholesome food for her family. Bran sifted from the Hickory King corn they grew and had ground at the mill was fed to the cows that she milked twice a day. On a nearby road that led from Cades Cove to the Happy Valley community, there was a huge chunk of iron ore, weighing several hundred pounds and known as a forge hammer, that the children loved to look at and wonder about. One of Russie's younger brothers said that it resembled the family cow and from that day on, all the children called their cow "Old Hammerhead". But, said Russie, they never used that name in the hearing of their mother. Mary Jane wouldn't allow such disrespect to be shown or spoken, even for the family cow.
Mary Jane Whitehead moved out of the family home place shortly after Taylor's death in 1932. She lived with her daughter Mary "Angie" Whitehead Roylston who, with her husband T. A. Roylston, ran a hotel on Main St. (now Broadway) in nearby Alcoa. Moving from the quiet serenity of Cades Cove to the hustle and bustle of the rapidly growing town of Alcoa must have been a huge change but Mary Jane remained with the family until her death in 1940. Her obituary from the Maryville Enterprise on February 15, 1940 reports: ""Whitehead - Mrs. Mary J. Whitehead, age 79, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. T.A. Roylston Sunday night from pneumonia. She is survived by five sons and four daughters: Will of Arkansas; Russ of Cades Cove; Calvin, Frank and Bun of Maryville; Martha Whitehead and Mrs. T.A. Roylston of Maryville; Mrs. N.F. Gilmer of Nashville and Mrs. Carl Brown of Judson, N.C.""
The house that Mary Jane and Taylor had made their home for over 40 years was taken over by Willie and Hattie Myers and became known as the Ekaneetlee Lodge. Eleanor Roosevelt stayed there during her visit to the park in 1937. Mary Jane was still alive at the time, and even though she no longer lived there, she must have felt proud that her home was the site of such a special visitor. Sadly, the home was later taken over by the Park Service in 1940 and eventually destroyed.
Parents of Mary Jane Gregory:
Andrew "Druary" Gregory(Sept. 7, 1818 - Jan. 16, 1875) and
Martha A. Brown (May 5, 1833 - Dec. 10, 1891); dau. of Jesse Simeon and Mary Proctor Brown
Spouse: Isaac Taylor Whitehead (July 24, 1853 - Jan. 19, 1932); son of James W. and Lucinda Susan Martin Whitehead
Children of Mary Jane and Taylor 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
Family Members
Siblings
Half Siblings
Children
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William A. Whitehead
1875–1957
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Laura A. Whitehead McCauley
1878–1932
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John Thomas Whitehead
1880–1896
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Martha Lucinda Whitehead
1882–1951
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Mary Angeline "Angie" Whitehead Smith Whitehead Roylston
1885–1970
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Russell E. Whitehead
1888–1991
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James Calvin "Cal" Whitehead
1892–1986
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Rebecca Clementine "Clemmy" Whitehead Gilmer
1893–1943
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Frank Turner Whitehead
1896–1982
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Noah Bunyon Whitehead
1901–1980
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