Re: Thomas Jefferson Akers 1814-84 KY/TN
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In reply to:
Thomas Jefferson Akers 1814-84 KY/TN
Louis Randall 5/11/99
Z E L L N E RP R 0 F I L E S
http://216.239.41.104/search?q=cache:AyDRBoSlozwJ:freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~zellner/sources/source-pages/arnold2biog.htm+akers+1820+biography&hl=en&ie=UTF-8http://216.239.41.104/search?q=cache:AyDRBoSlozwJ:freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~zellner/sources/source-pages/arnold2biog.htm+akers+1820+biography&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
ARNOLD ZELLNER SR.2
In: Volume One, January 1984, Number One of the "Zellner Ancestors" a quarterly newsletter for the descendants of George Peter Zellner, edited by Shirley Zellner Gall
Contributed by Carlton Measels
ArnoldZellner Sr.2, the first son of George Peter Zellnerl and his second wife, Mary Capehart, is believed to have been born about 1789 in Bertie Co., NC.When about ten years old, his family move south to Lincoln Co., GA and then when about grown, to Monroe Co., Ga.Not much is known about his early years - until he married the first of his four wives on 25 Aug 1811.He married Margaret "Peggy" Holmes in Wilkes Co, GA. (REF.1) and they had five children:
Francis Edward3b. 11 Jul 1812m. Serena Myers
Henry3b. 28 Jan 1814m. 1) Martha Hughes
2) Mary F. Martin
Marion3b. 23 Jul 1817m. l) Helen Whitney
2) Martha Alexander
Mary3b. Dec 1820m. Thomas J. AKERS
Margaret Holmes3b. 3Mar 1823m. John T. Lattin
According to Davidson's "EarlyRecords of Georgia, Wilkes Co.", in 1814-15 Arnold Zellner rented slaves from the William Paschall estate and he is on the 1818 tax list for Lincoln Co., GA.
By 1820, Arnold and his family were in Giles Co., TN. (REF.2)At his first wife's death on 31 Mar 1823 (from childbirth?), he married his second wife Lucinda Elizabeth Barnett."Lucy" was born about 1791.The following children were born to this marriage:
Martha Ann3b. 15 Aug 1824m. William J. Oakes
Sarah Rebecca3b. 1 Jan 1827m. Jeremiah M. Hughes
Lettie Jane3b. 1 Mar 1831m. John Finus Pickens
Albert Barnett3b. 7 May 1835m. Julia E. Erwin
In 1830 they were still residing in Giles Co. but are shown on the Maury Co. records of 1840 (REF.3).In late 1838 his second wife became ill.Arnold put his children in a wagon and started them back to Giles Co. at Pulaski 40 miles away by a young boy he knew.
They had written their father how very sick she was and he had started to see her.Meeting the wagon with the children, he sent them back and made homes for themselves.In dying this mother called Martha Ann to her and told her, "Martha Ann, you and the oldest look after the others, the best you can." (REF. 4)
During this period, Arnold was engaged in raising hemp and
Manufacturing it into ropes.He marketed this rope at Columbia, Pulaski and Nashville, TN.He increased his rope business until many farmers got to raising hemp for him.He also had a factory and it manufactured half-bushel baskets.His products were all hemp, stamped with letter "Z."They were considered a standard basket.He also made looms and spinning wheels for sale.
Arnold Zellner2 was a very ambitious man, an engineer and
mechanical genius.After his success in the rope business, having made all his machinery for crushing the pulp from the stalk, also machinery for winding the hemp into hanks and cords, and finally into the completed rope, he would carry several wagonloads of rope at one time to market.After ten years of manufactoring ropes and baskets, he sold out his factory and farm and moved to Columbia, Maury Co. TN and started installing Columbia's first water works.
Columbia was the oldest city in the state.
With the help of his 3 oldest sons, Francis, Marion and Henry, he built his home on North High Street near the site where he was to build his water works.He located his site on Duck River just below old Greenwood Cemetery where his body now lies today.
He built a dam diagonal across the river heading the water to the side where the big under spot wheel was located.From this wheel he expected to get the power.There was a heavy iron crank on the end of the axle of the wheel, but to get up the bluff was enough to puzzle any man, but not Arnold Zellner!
He made a quarter circle with a radius of 4 feet around it in the bank and fastened one end to the crank and the other end to what people then called a "walking fence."The pole moved 18 inches back and forth for a quarter of a mile, then made a quarter turn, then made another quarter circle, like the first one at the wheel, and then another quarter of a mile to a big spring called White Springs, donated to the city by a Mr. White who had settled in that part of the city.Just below the spring he dug a basin 4 feet square, and 3 feet deep.Here he put the large pump.
Everything working well to this point, the next step was to dig a reservoir on a hill higher up than the city, so when the water was pumped into the reservoir, it would rise by gravity over the city.
The pipe problem was the next question to he settled.He had an idea that he could get cedar poles,split themin half, circle them inside (dig out) and put together with iron bands.
He tried this plan from the pump to the reservoir and found that it wouldn't work.So many seepholes was wasting too much water.
He then, with his three oldest sons, went to Lewis Co., just south of Maury Co., dug the iron ore, ran it into pig iron and then molded his pipes.How he made his forms for the pipes is not known.There being no railroads, this pipe had to be hauled to Columbia across Maury Co. from Lewis Co. in ox carts.The city was piped, plugs put in on many of the public corners and contracts were made for water.Then he sold out the water works to the city of Columbia.(REF.5)
(Note:During the first part of this century, Maury Co. built a new courthouse and in digging out for the basement, they found a piece of the old pipe and this pipe was given to J.W. Oakes4, of Columbia, TN, son of Martha Ann3 and grandson of Arnold Zellner2.
By an act of the Legislature passed 22 Apr 1807 and approved
11Oct 1809, it was enacted by the state of Tennessee,"That Isaac Roberts, John Spencer, William Bradshaw, Joseph Brown, William Berry-hill, William W. Thompson, Simon Johnson, Abraham Whitefield, and L.B. Estis, and their successors in office be and are hereby constituted a body corporate and politic to be known by
the name of the Columbia Water Company, and by that name may sue and be sued, etc."Section 3d provided that they might draw $300 from the commissioners of Columbia, from the sale of lands, the receipt of the company being a sufficient voucher for the money.Additional members were added to the company 30 Sep 1811, viz: John Hodge, William McNiel, Samuel Craig, Jeremiah Cherry, Peter Cheatham, Isaac Harden, and John M. Taylor.Similar powers were extended to these as to the former members.
Water was to be conveyed by some means to the Public Square.
It is believed no material steps were taken to effect a supply of water for the city till between 1825 and 1830, when Arnold Zellner, a practical mechanic, constructed a rather crude system of works.Water was conveyed from White's spring by means of a water wheel to a reservoir placed near the spring.The water being insufficient in quantity a larger wheel was placed at the river.A dam was constructed and by means of a the fall of a large quantity of water sufficient force was obtained to elevate
all the water necessary for the town.The water was at firstconveyed by means of cedar pipes, which were afterwards supplanted by leaden ones and these still later by iron pipes.In winter, and when the river was too high for the wheel at the river to work, the one kept at the spring was brought into use.After doing service for a great many years the old water wheels were supplanted by a steam engine.A reservoir was constructed so as to hold all the water from White's Spring, which by this means
afforded a sufficiency of water. (REF.6)
Arnold married a third time to Clarinda Johnson who was born
about 1814.Three children were born to this union:*
Edwia (Edwina)3b. & d. in infancy
John A.3 (adopted by Potters)b. 10 May 1840m. Maria W.
Grosvenor
Arnold Jr.3b. 4 Jan 1842m. Ann E. Erwin (sister to Julia)
* Editor's note: Question- Is it possible that Edwia/Edwina could have been from second wife, Lucy??
Clarinda died on 18 Jan 1842 (from childbirth?) and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Columbia, Maury Co. TN (REF.7)
By an act of the General Assembly the citizens of Maury Co.
were granted authority to build a new jail.At the February term of court in 1837 James R. Plummer, Joseph Herndon, Tazwell S.Alderson, Patrick McGuire and A. Zellner were made a committee for the erection of a new jail.Lot 46 of the original plan of Columbia was purchased for $1200 as a jail site.A special levy of taxes was laid for the purpose of raising $3000 for jail purposes, but the cost greatly exceeded that amount.The work was completed in 1838.
A common mode of punishment in former days was by placing
prisoners in the stocks.These were erected by the town
commissioners in 1808.They were erected on the Square, and
consisted of timbers cut with a groove, so as to clamp around the wrists and ankles.Thus confined the prisoner was so placed that he could move neither hand nor foot.Not unfrequently the prisoner fainted from stagnation of the blood, caused by the pressure of the clamps.Previous to 1830 the poor of the county were farmed out to the lowest responsible bidder.In that year twelve and a half acresof land were purchased for the purpose of establishing a permanent poor farm.In October, 1841, an
additional thirty acres were purchased from Dr. Smith for $400, since which time the poor farm has become one of the institutions of the county.(REF.8)
Arnold was a jailor according to the following references:
(REF.9)p.51Court paid Arnold Zellner "to keeping Thomas Oliphantin jail...under sentence...for drunkenness...Aug 1842."
p.57 Appropriation made to Arnold Zellner, jailor "to keeping Robert Currin in the jail...five days." 20 Jan 1840-25 Jan 1840.
Arnold married a 4th and last time on 10 (or 12) Jul 1843 to
Meeky Reeves in Maury Co. TN.No issue from this marriage.
Arnold Zellner died on 20 Jan 1852 in Maury Co. Tn in his
early sixties.His sons Henry and Marion and daughters Mary, Margaret, Martha Ann and Sarah Rebecca stayed in TN.Francis and Lettie Jane migrated to TX; Albert to AR; John to CO and Arnold to AR and finally OK.It is interesting to note that Arnold Zellner Sr.2 was born the year that George Washington was inaugerated as 1st President of the US. and died the year that Franklin Pierce was elected the 14th President of the US. (REF. 1O)
REFERENCES:
1. Davidson, "Early Records of GA: Wilkes Co.",p.361.
2. 1820 Giles Co. TN census
Arnold Zellner
4M - 0-10
1M - 16-26
1F - 26-45
Also:
McCallum, James, "A Brief Sketch of the Settlement and Early
History of Giles County, Tennessee"(Pulaski TN: The Pulaski Citizen, reprinted 1928 and 1970), p. 41.
This reference mentions that Indian Creek Church, Primitive Baptist was organized in 1811...Arnold Zellner was prominent
member.
3.1830 Giles Co. TN census
Arnold Zellner
1M - 10-15
2M - 15-20
1M - 40-50
1F -0-5
3F -5-10
1F - 15-20
1F -90-100?
1840 Maury Co, TN census
Arnold Zellner
1M - 0-5
1M - 20-30
1M - 30-40
1M - 40-50
1F - 0-5
3F - 15-20
1F - 20-30
4.Letter from Jane Z. Gladney - 1920s
5.Letter from Jane Z. Gladney - 1920s
6.Goodspeed's "History of Tennessee - Maury Co."p.769.
"Historical Maury", (Maury Co.TN: Historical Society, 1969),p.29
7.Acklin, Jeanette Tillotson, " Tombstone Inscriptions and
Manuscrips - Greenwood Cemetery", 1933, p. 282.
8.Goodspeed's "Historyof Tennessee - MauryCo.",p.752.
9.Garrett,Jill K., "MauryCountyGenealogist",pp.51 and 57.
10. Grun, Bernard, "Timetables of History"(NY:Simon and
Schuster, 1982), pp.366 and 418.
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