Biographical Sketch of Dr. William Hugh Moore

Dr. William Hugh Moore

b. 14 Apr 1853, Cannon County, Tennessee

d. 11 Feb 1910, Pensacola, Florida

m. 10 Mar 1881 to Nancy Virginia "Jennie" Witherspoon (b. 18 Sep 1858, d. 26 Jan 1903)

s/o Thomas W. Moore and Nancy Ashley

William Hugh Moore

Dr. William Hugh Moore

Born April 14, 1853 in Cannon County, Tennessee, William Hugh Moore is the son of Thomas W. Moore and Nancy Ashley. William's father, Thomas, is a native of Indiana and presumably moved to Tennessee alone in his early twenties. He worked as a school teacher in Coffee County, and later, as a merchant. William's mother, Nancy, is a member of the prominent Ashley family of Beach Grove, Tennessee, where she was born.

William's family placed a high value on education, which he received at an early age. In 1875, William began studying medicine with Dr. Alexander Smith Norville, and the following year, he continued his studies at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. After graduating, William started a medical practice in the small town of Hillsboro, Tennessee. A few years later, he moved to Viola, Tennessee, where he spent the remainder of his professional career. In Viola, William not only practiced medicine, but he also owned the local drugstore, and it has been said that he conducted a very lucrative business.

William married Virginia Nancy "Jennie" Witherspoon March 10, 1881 in Coffee County, Tennessee. Born in 1858, Jennie is the daughter of Alexander Bond Witherspoon and Jane Neely, both from Rutherford County, Tennessee.

William and Jennie had five boys and two girls. Their oldest child, Ores Witherspoon, or O.W., was born May 10, 1882. Lillie Mae was born May 11, 1884. William Hughes, Jr. was born April 1, 1886, Kate was born March 15, 1888. Charles Hardy was born March 1892. Paul Bryan was born October 25, 1896. And, Audley was born May 1899, but he is thought to have died as a young child.

In 1903, William's wife, Jennie, died at the age of 44. Sometime after, William was remarried to a woman by the name of Lida. Not much is known of her except she became the guardian of the Moore children after William died.

Later in life, William suffered from heath issues and moved to Pensacola, Florida in hopes that the climate would help his ailments. Despite the move, on February 11, 1910, William died of kidney failure in Pensacola at the age of 56. His body was returned to Tennessee, where he is buried in Viola Cemetery next to his wife, Jennie.

William is said to have been one of the best known physicians in the area. He also has the distinction of being included in Goodspeed's biographical history of Warren County, Tennessee, published in 1887.

William Marion Glover: Date of Death

William Marion Glover

b. Mar 1854, Virginia

d. 10 Jan 1925, Bluff City, Tennessee

m. 9 Apr 1870 to Mary Jane Collins (b. 18 May 1854, d. 27 Dec 1925)

s/o William Jackson Glover and Susan Evelyn McCauley

Until yesterday, the only clue that I had to go on for the death date of William Marion Glover was a transcription of his headstone. This information cited 1925 as the death year, but it did not provide an exact date. I became skeptical of this information since I could not find a death record on file in the state of Tennessee that matched this information. Additionally, William's wife, Mary Jane Glover, died in 1925 as well. I considered the possibility that someone had incorrectly transcribed William's headstone and used Mary's death year, instead.

Since the headstone is now in ruins, I was unable to confirm nor refute this theory.

On a whim, I decided to start sifting through issues of The Bristol Herald Courier from 1925 at the Tennessee State Archives. I accepted that I was in for a really long search that may not even produce any results.

Fortunately, and to my pleasant surprise, I came across the news of William Marion Glover's death in the issue published on 12 Jan 1925. After my continued skimming through the other issues that week, I was able to discover three separate articles about William's death.

Transcription of the first clipping (the others contain similar information):

WILLIAM M. GLOVER CLAIMED BY DEATH

Funeral Services Will Be Held Tomorrow At Home In Bluff City

William Marion Glover, aged 73 years, died at 12 o'clock Saturday night at his home [in] Bluff City, Tenn. His death came suddenly and unexpectedly, being due to heart failure.

Mr. Glover is survived by his widow and three children as follows, Mrs. D. M. Harklerod of West Grove, Ga., J. C. Glover of Jonesboro, Tenn., and R. L. Glover of Bluff [City], Tenn. He is also survived by one sister, Mrs. Susan Salts, of Jonesboro, Tenn.

With this new evidence, I was finally able to correctly determine William's death date as 10 Jan 1925. He was buried in the Chinquepin Cemetery. His wife, Mary, died later the same year and is buried in the same cemetery.

It is still a mystery to me why there is not a death record on file for William in Tennessee. The clippings clearly state that he died at his home in Bluff City. Thus, there should be a death record filed as was required at the time. Another mystery for another day.

Obituary: Mary Jane (Collins) Glover

Mary Jane Collins

b. 18 May 1854, Carter County, Tennessee

d. 27 Dec 1925, Bluff City, Tennessee
m. 9 Apr 1870 to William Marion Glover (b. Mar 1854, d. 1925)

After exhausting most research conduits online, I have finally started diving into the microfilm collection at the Tennessee State Archives. While I was spending the day there, I came across the obituary for my 3rd great-grandmother, Mary Jane (Collins) Glover.

Unfortunately, the microfilmed copy of the page was extremely faint, and it took about 10 minutes to fully transcribe to the best of my ability. But, it is always great to find one more piece to the puzzle.

Bristol Herald Courier
Monday, December 28, 1925

MRS. GLOVER WILL BE BURIED TODAY

Services Will Be Held From Church At 11 This Morning

Funeral services for Mrs. Mary J. Glover, aged 71 years, who died at her home near Bluff City Saturday afternoon, will be conducted from the Chinquapin Grove Baptist Church at 11 o'clock this morning. Services will be ____ ___ of Rev. W. Clay Wilson, pastor of the Bluff City Baptist Church. Interment will follow in the Chinquapin Cemetery.

Pall bearers will be Warren H. Dettor, Jim Dettor, Frank Marrell (Mitchell?), Page McClelan, Tom Hodson (Hodgen?).

Flower bearers will be selected from the grandchildren of the deceased.

Mrs. Glover is survived by three children: Mrs. D. M. Harklerod of West Green, GA, J.C. Glover of Limestone, Tenn. and R.L. Glover of Bluff City, Tenn. She is also survived by one brother E.D. Oliver of Johnson City and 14 (13?) grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

One of the tidbits I used was the mention of her daughter as "Mrs. D.M. Harklerod." This allowed me to find out more information about her daughter, Margaret Glover.