Cousin Annie lived in a nursing home in Franklin after her husband died. William L. Andrews, Jr., his wife and children visited "Cousin Sam and Annie" on their farm next to Hugh Gracie's farm in the late 40s or early 50s.

In 1847, while living in Marshall County, Allen Tucker received a letter from B. N. Bugg, his brother-in-law, and his wife Annis Tucker Bugg. It is a most interesting document and was invaluable for its content referring to family and family affairs. The original was found by Sam L. Tucker about 1940 in an old wallet belonging to his father, Ferdinand Tucker, son of William Tucker.

"August 27th, 1847. State of Arkansas, Johnson City. Dear Brother and Sister. I take the present opportunity of informing you that we received your letter the 19th of this inst. which gave us great satisfaction to hear from you for it has been over 18 months since we heard from you sir. You must excuse me for my weakness at this time for I am not able to sit up long at a time for I am sick with my head – the old desease that has afflicted me all of my life. I have not had but one spell before this in this country. My family is well and in good health. Sarah E. Bugg was born April the 4th, 1836 and weighs 70 lbs. John E. Bugg was born Feb. the 26th, 1838 and weighs 48 lbs. Martha C. Bugg (she weighs 46 lbs.) was born April the 8th, 1840. Nancy A. Bugg was born Feb. the 27th, 1842. She departed this life July the 8th, 1843, aged 16 mo. and 13 days. Thomas W. Bugg was born December the 4th, 1844 and he weighs 37 lbs. The children born in this state is a great deal healthy and stouter than them that is brought here from other states. E.M. Bugg was born April the 19th, 1791. He died January the 18th, 1835, aged 33 years, 8 mo and 30 days. Patsey W. Bugg, wife of Ephraim, was born Sept. the 26th, 1793. B. N. Bugg was born April the 297th, 1915. Sophronia Bugg was born November the 7th, 1817. Elizabeth Jane Bugg was born November 19, 1819. W. L. Bugg was born April 9th, 1822. E. M. W. Bugg was born December 10th, 1824. Annis Bugg was born July 1813, and she weighs 150 lbs.

My leg has not hurt me any since about the first of March last. You wrote me concerning James A. McOhany and John R. Moore. If Mc and me had had a settlement he would have been in my debt and for old Moore I don't owe him one cent. Tell him that I think that he had better come back here and clear up his name that the people has given him about Ozark or at least a little merchant that lived in Ozark told me after John's death that they bore the names of hog thieves. Tell him he had better clear that up before he trys to raise up an account on me and tell him I want him to recollect that I gave John H. Moore a clear receipt of $27 on the account of his mother when I was dead on my feet and he was as harty as a buck and if that won't do tell him to come back here and I will help him to what he wants. I have as the saying is been hell tracked all my life and been a slave for others till I am slaved out. And if that will not do, tell them that peltry sells well in this county and come and take my hide and make peltry of it and sell it.

"Dear Sir. I did not think that I owed more than 75 or one hundred dollars in Tennessee, but when a person gets there business tangled up as I did, they can't tell what they do owe. I did think that I would come and see you all this fall and settle my own affairs but as things turn up as they have at home I can not come. If Annis lives till next Feb. and has no bad luck she will have another heir and so much the worse for us. Corn, cotton, wheat, oats and everything else is better here this season than I ever saw in my life. This season has been so wet that farmers like not plowed there crops over the last time.
Dear Sir. I can't express to you by letter what I could if I could see you face to face which I never expect to in this life. But if we never do, I hope that we will meet in heaven where we shall partno more. This letter is for you and mother and Old Pap and Brother W. L. Bugg and all of my enquiring friends. Dear Mother. I can't answer all of your questions on this paper. I have one splendid Grey mare, two milk cows and no hogs. Since I came on Little Piney, we have more chicks than I approve of and only four ducks. I will tell you with a heavy heart that I will have to leave Little Piney because the land is rich and very healthy and the land is in the market and a poor man can not enter a home without money and therefore poor people will have to back out and get further in the mountains. I add no more, but remain yours until death. So - Farewell

B.N. Bugg and his wife Annis Bugg write to me when this comes to hand.

This letter was addressed as follows: Wednesday after the 3rd Monday in April to Mr. Allen Tucker, Esq. Marshal Coty LewisBurg Tennessee Piney Ark. July 30."

Allen and Elizabeth Jane Tucker lived on Flat Creek until death took Elizabeth Jane about 1854. She was laid to rest in the old family graveyard. She was probably buried during the cold, snowey winter as the cause of death was "cold plaque," our present influenza. She was only thirty-seven years of age and left six children to be cared for by their father. From the records, Allen Tucker appears to have married Zilpha Boyett in Marshall County in 1854. They were married only a short time when Allen died in 1856, predeceasing his father. Again there was a sad, silent procession to the cemetery and the children went home to live with their grandparents. The Tucker home was full again with Allen's children and William's sons, Ferdinand, John Hardeman and George Robert. Looming in the distance was war and the Tuckers were modest slave owners. They had many concerns.

Young Newton Guilford Tucker, son of Allen C. Tucker and Elizabeth Jane Bugg, stretched on the floor in front of the fire. He was sixteen and thirsty for an education. Grandpa William believed in work; and while he worked on the farm, Newton collected pine knots to throw on the fire for light. Grandpa felt he had enough education and did not permit "wasting" a lamp for the sake of education! Newton had much studying and reading ahead. in spite of his youthfulness, he was considered educated at age sixteen and was teaching in the public schools of the county. Subsequently he studied medicine as was the custom, under the direction of Drs. Johnson and McClure in Lewisburg, Tennessee in 1859. He graduated from the University of Nashville Medical School on March 1, 1861. He was married to Mary Ellen Cochran on July 18, 1861 in Marshall County. He was recommended as a surgeon in the Confederate Army.

In addition to Newton, his two uncles, George Robert Tucker and John Hardeman Tucker joined the Confederate Army. Newton was ordered by Governor Harris of Tennessee to proceed to Marshall County, where he was to care for the medical needs of the county. George Robert was discharged in 1862 or 1863 as being "unfit" for service because of a stiff leg from White swelling and chronic bronchitis. John Hardeman Tucker was a confederate soldier until his death in 1864 at the Battle of Stone's River in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. When the family learned of his death, a wagon was promptly sent to Murfreesboro to bring him home. William Tucker was spared the agony experienced by many southern gentlefolk. He died at the beginning of the war, and it was left to the two remaining sons, George and Ferdinand, to manage the farm and care for their mother. His will revealed that William was a caring person, as he directed his sons, among other things, to care for two elderly slaves for the rest of their lives. His will was written in 1860, but was not probated until 1866, after the war. When a final disposition was made of his property in 1936, William had thirty-one known grandchildren and ninety-eight great grandchildren.

George Tucker married twice; first to Emmaline Lanier and second to "Aunt Matt" (Martha Giles. He did not have any children. George lived until 1895 at the old homeplace. He kept a wonderful "Farmer's Register" for many years about the weather on Flat Creek and other information about the sewing of wheat, "first lambs," church, grange affairs and trips to Nashville, mules and the weight and price of bacon.

Ferdinand Blackburn Tucker lived with his family on Flat Creek until his death in 1907. Both Ferdinand and Rebecca Low, his wife, are buried on the farm William Tucker had purchased upon arriving in Williamson County almost one hundred years earlier. headstones mark their graves on the present Luther Edmonson farm.

After the death of Ferdinand Tucker, his son, Samuel Low Tucker continued farming the original farmland until the 1920s, when he moved to a farm on the Franklin-Murfreesboro Road. Cousin Sam had married Annie Ezell in 1900, and while several children were born to them, one son, Frank, was the only survivor. Aunt Becky lived with her son and his wife for the rest of her life.

Sam and Annie Tucker will be well remembered by some residents, who recall the old days on Flat Creek. They would certainly agree that he was a gentle, kind and honest man; tall with a smiling, weatherworn face. Cousin Annie was quick of movement, cheerful and sweet of disposition.

While Sam Tucker was tall and slim, another of William Tucker's grandsons was of medium height with sandy hair and a red beard. He may have resembled that first John Tucker and he still belonged to the Presbyterian Church, blue stocking variety! This was Newton Tucker, the grandson who determined that his life's work would be in the field of medicine. After the war, Newton and his wife Mary Ellen (Mollie) Cochran continued to live in Marshall County for thirteen years. Dr. Tucker became the mayor of Lewisburg, Tennessee, a position he held until he moved with his family to Nashville, where he practiced his profession until his death in 1899. He was a beloved doctor of distinguished reputation. His grandchildren and great grandchildren called him "Grandpa Tucker:; his wife called him "Doctor." He called his wife "Mrs. Tucker." In spite of the formality, Newton and Mary Ellen Tucker were the parents of the following children:

(1) a daughter born 1862, died soon after birth.
(2) Robert Oliver Tucker, M.D., born 1863, died 1945, married first Allie Harlin and second Ada Harlin.
(3) Ellen Bugg Tucker, born 1866, died 1945, married William Thomass Woodring (grandmother of Beverly Barnes).
(4) Annie Maxwell Tucker, born 1868, died 1873.
(5) Margaret Stockton Tucker, born 1871, died 1947, married Charles Henry Yarbrough.
(6) Mark Guilford Tucker, born 1872, died 1938, married Lena Reese.
(7) Blackburn George Tucker, M.D., born 1875, died 1936, married Emma McGowan.
(8) James Gurley Tucker, born 1877, died 1896.

In Nashville, the Tuckers moved to a large brick home on Seventh Avenue North. Here Dr. Newton Tucker and his wife reared their children, and he opened an office of general practice. He continued to be interested in public health and public affairs. He became a City Councilman and president of that body in 1877. He was a member of all appropriate medical societies and taught at Meharry Medical College. Two of his four sons, Dr. R. O. Tucker and Dr. B. G. Tucker, graduated from the University of Nashville Medical School; and a third was attending Vanderbilt University Medical School at the time of his death.

Several of Dr. Newton G. Tucker's descendants have followed him in the practice of medicine to the present generation. These included his grandson, Dr. T. V. Woodring, and a great grandson, Dr. Woodring Pearson. For the past one hundred and twenty-five years, the Tucker family has furnished doctors to serve their country and their communities. Each generation of Tuckers has stepped forward to serve his country when needed, since the time of the Colonial Militia.