Thomas Herbert Elliott

Narrative:

     Thomas Herbert Elliott was born on 3 Aug 1834 in Warren Co., Mississippi.^8,9,10
     He moved to Montgomery Co., Tennessee, with his parents before 1840. He was probably the male age 5 to 10 listed in the household of his father, William Henry Elliott, in the 1840 Federal Census of Montgomery Co., Tennessee.¹⁹ He appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Montgomery Co., Tennessee, in the household of his parents.^20,21
     Thomas married first Elizabeth Mariah Tuck, daughter of Dr. Davis Green Tuck and Elizabeth M. Toot, on 9 Apr 1856 in Christian Co., Kentucky.^11,12,8
     Thomas and Elizabeth appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Hopkinsville, Christian Co., Kentucky, enumerated 15 Aug 1860, reporting real estate valued at $10,000, personal estate of $10,000 and 11 slaves in 3 slave houses. Their children Quintus and Sarah were listed as living with them.^22,23 Thomas bought 350½ acres on little west fork Red River near the Tuck farm in Christian Co. from his father in Sep 1861, for $5 "and the affection he has for his son."²⁴
     Thomas then purchased additional land nearby, part of the Cooper estate, in a series of transactions. He purchased 180 acres on 28 Jul 1862. In a second deed of the same date he purchased one acre, for $42.25. Then, on 27 Feb 1864 he purchased an additional 120 acres next to his existing property, for $42.25 per acre.²⁵ On 9 Nov 1867 Thomas purchased 45 acres from estate of Thomas Joiner from his daughter Elizabeth and her husband, Jazon Ezell, for $1,500.²⁶

Managing the Tuck Estate --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Thomas was named an executor, jointlly with his brother-in-law, Richard Watson Tuck, in the will of Dr. Davis Green Tuck, his wife's father, dated 25 Mar 1861.²⁷
     Thomas became the guardian of his wife's younger sister, Virginia A. Tuck, following the death of her father.²⁸
     On 5 Sep 1867 Thomas accepted a two-part mortgage from his brother-in-law, Richard Watson Tuck. Richard mortgaged his interest in his father's estate in exchange for Thomas acting as security for a note for $3,094 to Mathen Downey, and he mortgaged all his property in Christian Co. as security for a note for $739 to Thomas.²⁹ Richard filed for bankruptcy on 26 Feb 1868, and on 16 Nov 1868 W. D. Ritter, assignee under bankruptcy, transferred Richard's interest in his father's estate to Thomas and his neighbor Permelia S. Walton. No details were provided as to why the transfer was made. For reasons not now clear, on 8 Mar 1893 Thomas paid Richard and his wife $385 for a quit claim deed to ratify this transaction.³⁰
     On 16 Nov 1868 Thomas bought his brother-in-law Adam Paul Tuck's share of his father's estate at his bankruptcy sale on the courthouse steps in Memphis.^31,32 Thomas sold half of that interest to Permelia S. Walton on 9 Aug 1869, for $2,250.³³
     On 12 Aug 1874, Thomas bought from Virginia A. Tuck, now his former ward, her interest in her father's estate, for $3,100.³⁴
     With Thomas and Permelia S. Walton now each owning half of the rights to the Dr. Davis Green Tuck estate, and his widow having died, they had commissioners appointed to divide the property, according to value. The Commissioners decided the property should be divided by a north-south line into a parcel of 517½ acres on east and one of 457½ acres on west. On 27 Aug 1874 they executed a deed in which he took the west part, nearest his existing property, and she took the east part, nearest her property. A second deed was required 19 Feb 1880 to correct an omission in the first.³⁵
     Thomas and Elizabeth, and their children Quintus, William, Walter, Pauline and Josephine, appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Hopkinsville, Christian Co., Kentucky, in the household of her mother Elizabeth M. Toot. He reported real estate valued at $19,000 and personal estate of $2,000.³⁶
     Thomas and Elizabeth appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Lafayette, Christian Co., Kentucky, enumerated 5 Jun 1880. Their children William, Walter, Pauline and Josephine were listed as living with them.³⁷

The Perennial Trustee --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Thomas was named an executor in the will of Dr. Davis Green Tuck, his wife's father, dated 25 Mar 1861.²⁷ He was also was named an executor in the will of his brother-in-law, Quintus C. Atkinson, dated 7 Jan 1864 in Shelby Co., Tennessee.³⁸
     Thomas became the guardian of his wife's younger sister, Virginia A. Tuck, receiving $4,500 from her father's estate 18 Apr 1868, and $2,000 from her mother 1 Apr 1869, and an additional $1,500 from her 1 Jun 1870. He purchased four $1,000 US bonds for her account, paying premium and expenses of $379.50, and two more 1 Sep 1896, at a cost of $415.50. Virtually all the remaining cash was used for other expenses, and cash payments to her of $555.²⁸
     He was named in the will of his wife's sister, Sarah Elizabeth Tuck, dated 22 Jul 1882, to act as trustee for her bequest of $1,000 to her niece Lulie May Tuck, until the girl married or achieved age 21.^39,40 Nevertheless, he and his wife joined with a number of her siblings, their spouses, and the children of her deceased sister, in filing a contest to the will, on 20 Oct 1883.⁴¹
     Thomas bought two parcels totaling about 520 acres in Christian Co. from the estate of Elizabeth John A. Smith, widow of his wife's brother Henry under an order in her probate dated 7 Dec 1889, for $11,401.94. Her grandson, Davis Henry Tuck, never received the share due him. When his guardian was appointed he sued Thomas for the balance supposedly due the child. Thomas responded that the sale of his share of the land remaining after payment of her debts should not have been allowed, and that part of the sale was void. The guardian prevailed in the lower court, but Thomas appealed successfully, in a complex split decision taking 25 pages when printed. The case was sent back to the lower to resolve the details, the result if which have not been found.^42,43
     He became guardian of his wife's nephew, Dr. Robert Linah Cobb Jr., after the death of the child's father in 1895. A total of $19,000 was deposited with Thomas between 30 Aug and 15 Oct 1895. With interest earned of $8,217, less expenses of $8,224, Robert received $18,993 when he achieved age 21 on 27 Apr 1903.^44,45

Supporting Education --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     After the opening of Vanderbilt University in 1875, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, under whose auspices it then operated, saw the need to establish training schools to prepare boys to enter the university. Three such schools were established by the Church's Louisville Conference. The one at Elkton, Kentucky, opened 16 Sep 1892 in rented quarters, with 19 students. A new building was completed the following year. Thomas was an active supporter; his presumably substantial donations resulted in two buildings being named for his deceased children. Josephine Elliott Hall, built between 1903 and 1908, was the first dormitory. Walter Elliott Hall, built between 1909 and 1916, had a gymnasium on the ground floor and dormitories on the upper floors. Walter Elliott Hall continued in use into the 1980's.^46,47,48,49
     After the separation of Vanderbilt University from the Church, the name of the school was changed to John Locke School, after the English philosopher. About 1922 the Church decided to elevate the school to a junior college, and renamed it Morton-Elliott Junior College, "honoring the original founders and benefactors." The school closed in 1924 and the site was acquired by the county and used for a public school.^50,51,52
     Thomas and Elizabeth appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Christian Co., Kentucky, enumerated 25 Jun 1900. Their son Quintus was listed as living with them, as was his wife, Emma Jane Cooper, and Elizabeth's nephew, Robert Linah Cobb.⁵³
     His wife died on 16 Apr 1904 in Christian Co., Kentucky.^54,16
     Thomas appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Christian Co., Kentucky, in the household of his son Quintus and his wife, Emma Jane Cooper.⁵⁵

Eloping at Age 75 --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     According to a newspaper report Thomas and Adeline Ledbetter "eloped" to St. Louis to be married, with him at age 75 and her 65. He was described as a "millionaire tobacco grower" and "rich banker and tobacco planter." She was described as worth more than $1,000,000 and "owns half the town of Murfreesboro, Tenn." It was reported that they had been sweethearts for 15 years.⁵⁶ Before their marriage, they signed an "Ante Nuptual Contract" in which they each waived any claim on the other's property during or after the marriage or at the death of the other.⁵⁷
     Thomas married second Adeline Ledbetter, daughter of William Ledbetter and Eliza Adeline Wellborn, on 27 Apr 1910 in St. Louis, Missouri, at the home of her niece, Mrs. J. E. Graves, with Rev. Dr. C. C. Wood, assoicate editor of the Christian Advocate officiating.^13,14
     Thomas and Adeline appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Lafayette, Christian Co., Kentucky, at Lafayette Rd., enumerated 9 Mar 1920, reporting that they owned their farm, mortgage free.⁵⁸
     His second wife died on 19 Oct 1924 in Nashville, Davidson Co., Tennessee.^59,60,61
     Thomas appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Christian Co., Kentucky, enumerated 18 Apr 1930, reporting that he owned his farm, valued at $20,000. His son Quintus was listed as living with him, and his wife, Emma Jane Cooper.⁶²

A Planter and Business Man --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     He was a farmer, apparently on a substantial scale.^63,64,65 He was also one of the most substantial businessman in the county. He was one of the founders of the Bank of Lafayette, established 1 Jul 1898, where his son Quint was president for over 30 years.⁶⁶ It appears he tried to retire by 1900, at age 65, and turn the farm over to his son, Quintus. Thomas reported his occupation as landlord and Quint, living in the same dwelling, was listed as a farmer renting his farm. In 1910 Quint was shown as the farmer, owning the farm, with his father living in his household, reporting his occupation as "own income."^67,68 But the situation had changed by 1920. Thomas had remarried, and Quint cannot be found. Thomas was shown as a farm owner. In 1930 Thomas was shown as a farmer, and Quint is again living in the household, now listed as a farm manager, and an employee, presumably of his father.^69,70
     Thomas died on 22 Oct 1933 in Nashville, Davidson Co., Tennessee, at age 99.^15,16 He was buried on 23 Oct 1933 in the Tuck-Elliott Family Cemetery, Lafayette, Christian Co., Kentucky.^17,18