Daniel Tuel (Tewel, as I have found on marriage documents) was born about 1774 at Bull Run, Virginia and married Sally Coates born in 1774 Newberry, South Carolina. He died in 1862 at Fly, Monroe, Ohio. They gave birth to Daniel Tuel born about 1792 Bull Run, Prince William, VA. He married Mary "Polly" Magdalene Main born 1791 Long Reach, Tyler, W  Virgina.  Documents show that Daniel Ran a ferry service on the Ohio River between Fly, OH and Sisterville, VA.  Daniel died  in 1877 in Monroe, Ohio. They gave birth to Presely. Mary died in 1877 and rests at the Tuel Cemetery, Fly, Monroe, Ohio. Mary's father was Daniel Main, born about 1760 in Gernany and died about 1841 Ripley Co. Indiana. Her mother was also Mary Magdalene born in Germany. Presely Tuel was born  in 1831 Monroe, Ohio. He married Nancy Amarilla Morrison from New York. Presely died in 1913 Homer, Minnesota, and Amarilla died in 1925 Dysert, Benton, Iowa. They gave birth Hiram Wilson. Minnesota Civil War Records show Presely Tuel’s regiment as 1st Minnesota Light Artillery Battery, St. Paul between 1861-65. Hiram Wilson Tuel was born in 1857 Winona, Minnesota. He married Martha Georgetta Steele born 1865 Wisconsin. Hiram died at Forest, Wisconsin - his grave is at Forest Hill Cemetery, Wabeno, Forest, Wisconsin. Hiram and Martha gave birth to my Great Grandmother Gracie Mae Tuel. Hiram’s marriage to  Martha Georgetta Steele didn’t last long. As the story goes he had disappeared after Gracie Mae was born, and apparently started a new life. Martha didn't know what happened to him and after many years, he was declared dead. Martha then married into the McBee family. (no relation to us). Hiram’s 'other life' was discovered much later. He married Lelia Fairchild and lived in Minnesota, having 5 children. He changed his name to William Hiram Tuel. Census records show he died March 9, 1917. Gracie May Tuel was born in 1884, Iowa and died in 1978 in Lakeport, Lake County, CA. Her residence census records show she was living in North Jone, Morrow, Oregon in 1910 - and in Kelseyville/Lakeport, CA. in 1920.  My Great Grandmother married Samuel “Wiley” Wattenburger (Son of Jacob Harmon Wattenburger), and gave birth to my Grandma Welsh, Dec. 4, 1902. Wiley’s first marriage was to Harriet Elizabeth Wood. They had two daughters before she died.  This photo above is of his ‘other’ family with my Great Grandmother Gracie Mae Tuel Wattenburger who became step mother to Little Grace and Rosetta Mae. Together they had seven more children. Martha's father, George W. Steele born in New York, 1839, and died before1920. Census records show he had two daughters: Martha Georgetta and Charolotte D. Other family members record Clarence E. Tuel, Grandson; Warren A. Blackman, Grandson; Charlot B. Appleby, Mother-In-Law.  Census show that he spent 47 years in New York. Her mother, Henrietta E. Boyd, was from Georgia, Franklin, Vermont. She was born about 1844, and died about 1920. Census records show she lived in Plains, Sanders, Montana. Her mother, Charlotte Gilder, born in 1827 in Georgia, Franklin, Vermont and died in 1912, Britten, Marshall, South Dakota. Her father, Robert S. Boyd, was born in Vermont in 1814, and died in South Dakota 1876. Martha remarried into the McBee family. This is Gracie Mae Tuel/ Wattenburger's Mother and Step Father McBee. My Grandmother, Elsie Evelyn Wattenburger daughter of Samuel Wiley and Gracie Mae Tuel Wattenburger Elsie Evelyn Wattenburger Welsh, daughter of Samual “Wiley” Wattenburger and Gracie May Tuel Wattenburger of Lakeport, California - my Grandmother. She was born in Oregon on December 4, 1902. She married John Alton Welsh from Ontario, Canada and gave birth to my Mother, Norma Jean, in Lakeport on December 21, 1932. My Great Great Great Grandfather, Adam Wattenbarger, born April 30, 1820 (father of Jacob Harmon), married Sally Sarah Smith  on 24 April 1838 in Greene County, Tennessee (born Jan. 8, 1819, GreenCo, TN, died February 22, 1891 in Bickleton, Klickitat County, Washington). She was the daughter of Frederick Smith and Hannah Morelock. Hannah’s father, George Morelock’s Will and Testiment. Her Mother was Elizabeth Baughman, daughter of Samuel Baughman, son of John George Boughman born 1699 in Lucerne Switzerland. He died on 22 Nov 1753 in Bucks Co., Pennsylvania. Great Great Grandfather Jacob Harmon Wattenburger (above), born June 9, 1840 GeeneCo, TN, he died Nov. 22, 1922, established their first home in Missouri where they lived until 1862. - My Great Great Grandmother Mary Ann Hatcher Wattenburger, born on May 25, 1837 in Knoxville, Tennessee. She is said to have died in September of  1919 in Oregon of Illness resulting from a broken hip. **“The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912” Wattenburger’s In Oregon** My Grandmother, Elsie Evelyn Wattenburger Great Grandma and Grandpa Wiley Wattenburger My Mother says her Grandfather was not called Samuel, he was known as Wiley. Grandpa and Grandma Howell My Grandfather Wiley Wattenburger died Feb. 24, 1943 and my Great Grandmother remarried John Lee Howell 1946. He was from Savanah, Floyd, Kentucky. (no relation to us) but he’s the only great grandfather I knew growing up. My mother married Russell George Baker Jr. and together had three children: Russell George Baker III, John Dennis Baker, Judith Ann Baker (my two brothers and myself). The photo to the above is of my father and mother, Aunt Gracie and Uncle Tommy, my Mom’s sister. The photo to the right is of five generations from Gracie Mae to my first born Lea Ann.

My Grandmother Elsie Welsh - My Mother’s Mother   

From The Crowson’s To The Hatcher’s To The Wattenburger’s

Pvt. William, Sr. Crowson, born 1740, died in Sept.1814 (son of John Crowson) Jones county, North Carolina, and died April 1, 1814, Elkton, Giles county, Tennessee.  He married Mary Thomas (daughter of Jordan Thomas), born 1752, Jones county, North Carolina, and died about 1820, Giles county, Tennessee. Pvt. William Sr. Crowson and Mary Thomas gave birth to Mary (Polly) Crowson, born 1769, North Carolina.  Mary "Polly" was the sister of Aaron Crowson, of Crowson Cove (known as Wear Cove). She married William John Hatcher in 1769.  Good info here ... Crowsons in America Crowson/Wears Ccove Peter Brickey House

Sevier County, Tennessee is home to the Crowson’s and Hatcher’s. This photo is of Wears Valley, in the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains.

Many family members were from the adjacent Green County, such as Great Great Great Grandfather Wattenburger. This picture gives you a sweeping view of the area.

Click the photo to see the first school built and read about its history.

William and Mary 'Polly" gave birth to William J Hatcher, born about 1815, he died in 1894 having served in the U.S. Civil War in the years of 1861-1865 on the Union side - 18th Regiment, Missouri Infantry.  William J Hatcher married Margaret Ann Taylor, born Sept., 11, 1814.  She died March 5, 1886.  They gave birth to Mary Ann Hatcher, born May 25, 1837 SevierCo, TN, she died Sept. 25, 1919.  Mary Hatcher married my Great Great Grandfather Jacob Harmon Wattenburger, born June 9, 1840 GeeneCo, TN, he died Nov. 22, 1922.

From the Hatcher papers 1793 William Henderson, a Lieutenant in the Jefferson Regiment of Militia, Do certify that William Hatcher hath performed a tour of duty under my command from the 190th day of Mary to the 19th day of June 1793, both days included, and is now discharged, given under my hand at Jefferson this 28th day of Marth 1793. From "The Connections in East Tennessee": The descendents of William and Mary are not in dispute, merely the parentage of William. William Hatcher married Mary Crowson and they came to Sevier Co. early and settled on a large farm in Wears Cove. William Hatcher's private papers have been preserved. Among them is his discharge from the Jefferson Regiment of Militia showing that he served from 19 March 1793 to 19 June 1793. Although there are no copies of his will in existence. his heirs can be deduced from the documents relative to the estate settlement. Note: William Crowson and Samuel Wear were found in the 1783 GreeneCo, TN Tax List. They were not there in 1786 and it is being assumed that they had removed to SevierCo before 1786. SevierCo was actually created by the old State of Franklin in 1785, the State of Franklin ceasing to function in 1788. In 1792 JeffersonCo was formed and in 1795 the current SevierCo was formed from JeffersonCo. So it is not clear where William Hatcher married Mary since between 1788 and 1792, "SevierCo" was in a state of limbo. William Hatcher served in the Jefferson Regt of the NC Continental Line and it is being assumed that this regiment was formed in JeffersonCo which in 1793 would still likely be considered part of NC. Tennessee did not become a state until 1796. ---------------------------- From "The Hatcher Papers (1793-1898)" abstracted and edited by Olga Edwards, 1964: The Hatcher Papers, in possession of Glen Hatcher of Gatlinburg, Tenn. cover the period between 1793 to 1898, a span of 105 years. For the first 58 years, each year is represented by at least one document. The papers are well preserved and on most of them the ink bright and readable. Much of the writing is hard to decipher. They can be roughly divided into tax receipts, accounts, notes, deeds and contracts. Many of the early papers were signed by "mark" with two witnesses attesting the signature. This resulted in a wide variation in the spelling of the surname. An example is the many spellings of this name: Magloughlin, MagLowgerton, McGlaughton, McLawton, etc. The barter system is shown in these papers. For example if John Huskey made rails for Reuben Hatcher, he might be given a note for $5. Huskey would trade the note to the store keeper for $5 worth of supplies. The store keeper in turn would buy $5 worth of corn from Reuben Hatcher and pay him with the original note. Reuben Hatcher would then tear off the signature, showing it had been paid. Some of these notes passed through many hands before they were paid and took the place of currency. The notes alone provide an excellent cross section of business as it occurred in early Sevier County, Tenn. It is interesting that up to 1819 debts were sometimes paid in pounds, shillings and pence. The land owned by William Hatcher was in Wears Cove. Apparently he settled there about the same time as did his brother-in-law Aaron Crowson. He was a resident there in 1793 when it was still a part of Jefferson County. The name of this Cove has changed with the years. Inez Burns in her "History of Blount Co." says that the original name was "Crowsons Cove". This is verified by the Hatcher Papers. On the survey plat of Col. Samuel Wear's plantation made in 1807, the road up river is labeled "to Wears Cove". In the map of Tennessee made by Matthew Rhea published in 1832 in Columbus, Tenn., it is given as "Weirs Cove". By 1898 it was called Wears Valley. In 1941 the highway sign read "Weirs Valley", however, a recent map lists it as Wears Valley. The Hatcher Papers help to clear up some vague points in the early history of Sevier County. Fred Matthews in his pamphlet entitled "History of Sevier Co." states that Thomas Buckingham, the first sheriff of Sevier County lived with his brother Alexander on Boyds Creek. He says the initials T. B. and A. B. are carved on their old home occupied in 1950 by Paul Trundle. In the Hatcher Papers there are tax receipts signed by Thomas Buckingham, sheriff and by Nath. B Buckingham deputy sheriff. A carved "N" and a carved "A" would look very much alike. Evidently the Alexander was in reality Nathaniel or else there was another brother. The earliest census of Sevier County was made in 1830. One value of the Hatcher Papers lies in the fact that they give us pages of many of the residents prior to that date. They threw some light on the early subscription schools. Many of the aspiring teachers could hardly write a receipt for the dues. The results of their teaching, however, are evident as after 1850 very few people signed by mark. It is known that there was an early Baptist Church in Wears Cove but a removal letter, in the Papers, verifies that there was a fully organized Church there in 1800. Research by Robert Nave of Compton, California indicates that William Hatcher of Sevier County was the son of Edward Hatcher of Bedford County, Virginia. Edward's will is dated 1781 and was probated in 1782. In the will he mentions his wife, Sarah, and the following children: Reuben, Lucy, Edward, Josiah (perhaps this is Elijah. The actual will was not seen), William, Rhoda, Elizabeth and Farley. Records of this estate are probably on file in Bedford County, Virginia. Relationships within the Hatcher and Crowson families of Wears Cove are clearly defined by letters and the estate settlement of William Hatcher and his wife Polly Crowson Hatcher. Wm. Hatcher made a will but it was lost when the Sevier County Court House burned in 1854. From the deeds we learn that the estate was divided into eleven parts and was kept intact until the death of William Hatcher's widow, or the youngest heir became of age. Their children were: Elijah, Reuben, John, Nancy (wife of Spencer McBryant of Blount Co), Rachel, Mary, Richard, William, Cally Elizabeth, Rebecca (wife of Jesse Renfrow who lived in Cole Co., Missouri), the wife (name not known) of John Husky. The Hatcher Papers go on to identify the children, birth and death dates, spouses, and other miscellaneous facts relating to this family through the many records kept for over 100 years.

Jacob Harmon and Mary Ann gave birth to Samuel Wiley Wattenburger, born 1863, died 1943.  Samuel married my Great Grandmother Gracie May Tuel, born Dec. 8, 1884, Cherokee Co. Iowa.  Samuel Wiley and Gracie May gave birth to my Grandmother Elsie Wattenburger.

Grandmother Elsie Wattenburger married John A Welsh, born 1899, Ontario, Canada, though census records show he was born in Montana. He had two brothers: Gardner and Nelson. There is no information I have found on him. John and Elsie gave birth to my Mother, Norma Jean Welsh Dec. 21, 1932 - Lakeport, Clear Lake, CA. (where I was born in 1953). My Mother married Russell George Baker Jr., son of Russell George Baker Sr. however, Baker is not our name. My Grandfather Baker was adopted by the Baker’s as a baby and raised him until he married my Grandmother Estelle Cecil. They gave birth to my dad. My dad never talked about his father. I know he was a Merchant Marine Ship Builder on the Oakland Pier, CA and fell overboard and drowned. I do know some about his Mother, my Grandmother Estelle Cecil’s side... from the Bay Area. More will be unfolding on this side on another page.

*My Father’s Side - The Baker’s and Cecil’s

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