Quintus C. Atkinson

Narrative:

     Quintus C. Atkinson was born about 1810 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.^8,9
     He was probably one of the two males under age 10 listed in the household of his father, Thomas Walton Atkinson, in the 1810 Federal Census of Columbia, Adair Co., Kentucky.²⁰ He was probably one of the two males under age 10 listed in the household of his father in the 1820 Federal Census of Montgomery Co., Tennessee.²¹ He was probably the male age 15 to 20 listed in the household of his father in the 1830 Federal Census of Montgomery Co., Tennessee.²²
     Quintus married first Arabella C. West, daughter of Robert J. West and Nancy Dortch, on 17 Dec 1835 in Dickson Co., Tennessee, with Rev. Parrish officiating.^10,11
     His wife died on 25 Nov 1837.^23,24

In the Iron Business with his First Father-in-Law --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Just when Quintus moved to Memphis is not clear. A brief biography written after his death says he moved there in 1836, but that seems to have been in error. When he sold half interest in a lot in Memphis in 1838 he was shown as "of Montgomery Co.^25,26 He apparently had business interests in Memphis before he established a residence there. J. R. Wray, who came to Memphis about 1837, said he managed Quintus' store there, and when Quintus came to town he stayed with Wray.²⁷
     Quintus married second Sarah Elizabeth Tuck, daughter of Dr. Davis Green Tuck and Elizabeth M. Toot, on 24 Sep 1842 in Christian Co., Kentucky, with Rev. Sam B. White officating.^12,13,14
     Quintus was issued letters of administration on 6 Jul 1846 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee, for the estate of his half-brother Joshua, who had died intestate (without leaving a will). Quintus posted a bond of $5,000, with their father and George C. Boyd as surities. In that bond Quintus stated he was a citizen of Montgomery Co.²⁸
     Quintus was engaged in a partnership with his first father-in-law, Robert J. West, for "some years" before the partnership was dissolved on 1 Jul 1848. They jointly owned the Sailors Rest Furnace on Yellow Creek in Montgomery Co. and Dickson Forge, formerly Jackson Forge, on Yellow Creek in Dickson Co. Those ventures included about 15,000 acres in some 32 parcels in Montgomery, Dickson, and Stewart Counties, mainly for use as ore beds. There were also 43 slaves, a store, wagons and teams, carts and oxen, cattle and hogs, and a leather-tanning yard. The partnership also owned three lots in Memphis and an agency there for the sale of iron castings and merchandise. That venture included two more slaves. Under the agreement to dissolve the partnership, West kept all the furnace and forge business, including all the land, slaves, livestock, goods on hand, and debts owed the firm. Atkinson kept the Memphis property and business, including stock on hand, the two Negroes, Hastings and Simeon, and debts owed to that business.²⁹

An Able Businessman --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     A contemporary biography described Quintus' business abilities in glowing terms, in the fashion of of the period. One says of him "His sagacity was marvelous, industry tireless, and habits of economy remarkable. He accumulated wealth very rapidly." Then it continues to describe his character: "In religious practices he was even more earnest than in pursuits of everyday life. His generosity to the poor and unfortunate, and to the church, was perhaps without parallel in Memphis." At his death he was "especially esteemed and beloved by the Methodist Church, of which he was a devout and active member."³⁰
     But it appears that he was not always so religious. Dr. Watson, of the First Methodist Church in Memphis, described his conversion. "While preaching on Christmas day, I observed tears flowing freely down the cheeks of Mr. Q. C. Atkinson. I mentioned it to Brother Trezevant on our way from the Church, and he remarked the he was one of the most wicked men in Memphis." Shortly afterward Atkinson was converted and joined the Church. "He was ever after a zealous, devoted, liberal member of the church, on to the day of his death. He has given more to the Church than any member we ever had." But apparently not without some conflict, as he left the Church for a time after a dispute over pew rentals, and went to Asbury Chapel in South Memphis, despite living on 2nd St. next to First Church.^31,32,33
     He seems to have regarded himself primarily as a merchant after the partnership with his first father-in-law was dissolved. In an advertisement in the 1850 city directory he describes his business as follows:^34,35
     He later became a private banker, and clearly continued to deal in real estate – records have been found for some 15 purchases of lots in Memphis and South Memphis between 1850 and 1858. In the 1859 city directory he was listed as a note broker, still located at 56 Front Row.^36,37,38

Quintus and Sarah in Memphis --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Quintus and Sarah appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, enumerated 4 Sep 1850, apparently living in a hotel kept by James B. Ferguson and his family. Quintus was listed as owner of one male mulatto slave, aged 25 years.^39,40
     Quintus bought the lot where they were living in Logan Co., Kentucky, from his sister Elizabeth and her husband, Dr. John E. Trabue, on 12 Jun 1851. It consisted of 4 acres and 60 poles, and he paid $910.⁴¹
     He purchased the property on Poplar St. Blvd, Memphis, that would become the family home on 16 Aug 1857, from the estate of William Lawrence. The property totaled about twenty acres, subdivided into various lots. The main house sat on about nine acres fronting on the main street, with ten smaller lots behind of one-third acre or a bit more each, and additional larger lots behind those. The Common Law Court proceeding for the Lawrence estate was later drawn into question, complicated by the papers of that proceeding being lost or mislaid. In 1872 Sarah, then his widow, obtained a quit claim deed from the Lawrence heirs to quiet the title.^42,43
     Quintus was named executor and an heir in the will of his father, dated 24 Apr 1858. He was to receive an equal share of his father's slaves and other property with his six siblings and half-siblings who were living or had living descendants.^4,44
     Quintus was appointed administrator of the estate of his wife's eldest brother, Dr. William J. Tuck, in the fall term of the Shelby Co. county court. Selling of his books, settlement of debts, and collection of amounts due took until 2 Jun 1860.⁴⁵

A Very Detailed Will --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Quintus left a will dated 7 Jan 1864, in Shelby Co., Tennessee, directing first that he be buried in his lot in Elmwood Cemetery, next to his brother-in-law, Dr. William J. Tuck, in a metallic burial case. He appointed his wife as executor, together with her sister's husband Thomas Herbert Elliott of Kentucky, and N. D. Elliott , Marshall S. Brooks, Edgar McDavit, and James Elair of Memphis, asking that his friends take the oath common in such cases, then aid his wife in closing his estate. He then added Robt. W. Clements of Somerville and Jno. W. Farris, and authorized his wife to add more. Saying his friends will think he wants "a great deal of help to do a little business," he notes that some may be unable or unwilling to serve, but hopes "a board of 2 or 3" could always be available. He directs that after the board is organized they should appoint a secretary and decide upon compensation. They are to buy a well-bound 4-quire (a quire is 24 pages) book in which to record each receipt, payment, and sale, and meet every three months, or at least every six, and when all new transactions are to be read.
     He left his widow their home on State line road with 20.35 acres and all the furnishings, fixtures, carriages, etc; the brick store adjoining Madison St. and Front Row; and $10,000. He left $500 each to his half-sisters Sarah Cates and Quintilla C. and to his half-nephew Quintus Cincinnatus Atkinson. He left his sister Elizabeth the house and land where she lived, which she and her husband had previously deeded to him, $3,000, and canceled the debts she owed him. He left her children, Susan, Arabella, Jane, Quintus, Sarah, Charles and Barbara, $2,000 each, less the amounts some of them owed in his account books, excepting Arabella who received $1,000. He left Thomas W. Mason and David Mason, the sons of his deceased sister Frances, $2,000 each less amounts they owed him, and two of her granddaughters $2,000 spit between them, less amounts owed by their parents to improve their place near Keysburg, Kentucky. Any surplus or shortfall is to be divided between the Trabue and Mason children, unless the executors find the amount left his widow insufficient, in which case additional amounts can be given to her.
     He notes that in previous wills he had left bequests to servants, but now feels "restrained by a power I cannot resist" from doing so. He advises his widow to treat kindly those who stay with her, and give them comfort and aid if they become diseased or crippled. He asks his wife, should she die soon after him, to "bear in mind" the children of his two sisters, taking the liberty of "making discrimination among them any that are wasteful, or extravagant." He notes that he is without "cabinett paper" and his health being too poor to go to the city for paper, he has cut pages from a book to write the will. He notes his father's will has not been settled because of "the unsettled state of the country" and directs his friend Joshua Elder and his half-nephew to take to take his place in settling it.³

The Fatal Trip to Montreal --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     In Oct 1864 Sarah and Quintus undertook a trip to Montreal, Canada. In Louisville they encountered her sister, Martha, who was there as part of a bridal trip for their brother Richard, and persuaded her to join them. They reached Chicago, where Quintus became ill, developing into pneumonia.⁴⁶ They were eventually able to return is remains to Memphis, where he was buried in Feb 1865.⁴⁷
     Quintus died on 7 Nov 1864 in probably, Chicago, Illinois.^15,16,17 He was buried on 10 Feb 1865 in Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, in his own lot in Chapel Hill section, one of the oldest in the cemetry. The reason for the delay in burial is unknown.^18,19
     A substantial monument was erected in his lot in Elmwood Cemetery. It is described as a "costly and tasteful monument" in an 1874 publication by the cemetery, which includes a lithograph of it. Apparently it caused quite a stir when it was erected. A newspaper reported that the 1200-pound block of Italian marble for the base, imported for the project, was hauled past its offices. The public was invited to see the impressive block at the marble yard of Maydewell & Anderson, who were creating the piece. The completed monument was to be twenty-two feet high.^48,49,50 (See aerial view.)

Probating His Estate --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     His will was filed on 3 Jan 1865 in Shelby Co., Tennessee. Initially the many executors named in his will declined to serve, except for N. D. Elliott, who was qualified and proceeded to manage the estate. Some time later the widow and Edgar McDavit joined him as executors.^51,52 The estate was considerable. A 19-page inventory of claims due the estate totaled over $144,000 in notes from a large number of individuals, as well as corporate and public bonds. A supplemental inventory listed over $50,000 more. By Jan 1866 some $52,000 of that had been collected and most of it disbursed as expenses or to the heirs. Elliott asked the Court to set his compensation at that time, but apparently he never closed the probate. In Sep 1870 the Court ordered him to appear and show why he had not settled the proceedings; the sheriff reported he was not to be found. A second summons in Feb 1873 brought the report that he was then living in Kentucky. A third summons issued in Feb 1876 brought the report that he was dead. Nothing further appears in the file.⁵³
     His widow, Sarah, together with Edgar McDavitt and R. W. Clements, all acting as executors, continued to manage his real estate interests for some years. For example, on 10 Apr 1868 they took a mortgage from George Weidt on a lot in South Memphis to secure his note for $3,180. On 4 May 1968 they took a mortgage from Michael Larkin on a lot on Vance and Orleans St. along with 16 mules used in his stables on 2nd St. in Memphis to secure a note for $3,100. On 4 Apr 1866 they obtained a judgment from the Law Court of Memphis for $5,307.20 in favor of the estate, and another on 9 Nov 1866 for $7,218.72. In settlement of those judgments they and others received a lot and brick tenement house in Memphis near the Memphis and Charleston Rail Road depot at Adams & High Sts.⁵⁴ On 6 Apr 1870 they offered a store house on Front St., or Mississippi Row, in Memphis, at public sale. It was purchased by Matthew Lyddall Bacon, husband of Sarah's sister, for $20,000.⁵⁵
     On 6 Jul 1891 Paul Tuck, brother of Quintus's widow, filed a petition with the Probate Court of Shelby Co., Tennessee, asking for special letters of administration for Quintus's estate for the purpose of recovering the U. S. Direct tax due the estate. The direct tax had been collected under an act of Congress passed on 5 Aug 1861 designed to raise revenue for the Civil War. It was eventually ruled unconstitutional and an act of Congress approved 2 Mar 1891 provided for reimbursement of the amounts collected. A total of $412.88 was recovered, for which the administrator collected a 10% fee. There is no record of how the proceeds were disbursed.^56,57,58