Virginia Barrs

The Dismukes Family in Tennessee, Part 5 Virginia Barrs

Using original records, and historical events, come explore the lives of Daniel Dismukes' four sons and their children. George Ellis, Stephen Coleman, John Dudley Dismukes were close in age but were men of very different temperament and interests. Meet George Ellis Dismukes who married twice, having six children by his first wife Harriet Williamson. Two of her three sons would go to Alabama and join the Confederate Army. The third would later be nominated for governor. George would have another seven children with his second wife Lucy Ann Buster. During the Civil War and Tennessee's brief Reconstruction, George served in various local political offices. When federal troops left Tennessee, he was forced to move to Mississippi, where federal troops still offered some protection. After he lost his second wife, he followed his younger children to Southern California. See hard to find records of Stephen Coleman Dismukes who followed a sister and his younger brother down to Alabama, where he married Elizabeth O'Neil and had a daughter. But his first wife died and he evidently left his daughter to be raised by relatives. He returned to Tennessee settling in Henry County, near another sister. There he married Mary Jane Grubbs and with her had two children. Meet John Dudley Dismukes who married first his sister-in-law Nancy Williamson and with her had two children. Her son would move to Illinois just before the Civil War began. John's second marriage with Amanda Gleeves resulted in had eight more children. He was among the leading residents of Cheatham County serving as a Justice of the Peace. Meet the four sons, whose childhoods ended with his death as they were compelled to take responsibility for the family farm, their mother and sisters. Included are many photos of actual documents, a complete list of sources, with copious notes separating fact from speculation and suggestions for future research.