LEWIS FRANKLIN CHUMLEY was born in 1806 in Amelia County, Virginia (It has never been proven that Lewis’ middle name was Franklin. Only found on Marriage license and told by family). He died in 1880 in Arthur, Claiborne County, Tennessee. He was buried in Cumberland Gap, Claiborne County, Tennessee (Ely Cemetery on King Bend Road next to grandchild Fannie Chumley, child of James Franklin Chumley and Sarah B Chumley.). He married MARY ELIZABETH “MAE” FREEMAN (daughter of Peter Freeman, Jr and Elizabeth “Betsey” Truelove) in 1830 in Arthur, Claiborne County, Tennessee. She was born on 14 Aug 1810 in North Carolina. She died on 08 Oct 1886 in Condray, Dent County, Missouri.
Lewis initially lived on the property his father, Robert had lived, Tiprell, Tennessee. As mentioned in Robert and Betsy’s chapter, the land was in the close vicinity to Colonial Daniel Huff’s Plantation. In our research, family stories were told how Lewis was a great fiddle player. He had a red one and a black one, and it is said that he played the fiddle at the Huff Plantation on special occasions. We are not sure of the relationship Lewis had with Colonial Huff, but he did name one of his sons, Daniel Huff Chumley. On February 12, 1879, Lewis and Mary sold their land, 114 acres to their son Daniel Huff Chumley for $300.
Deed btn Lewis and Mary Chumley to Daniel Chumley
Deed in Claiborne County Tennessee 12 February 1879 deeded 12 Feb. 1879 and registered 2 Feb. 1880, Claiborne County, Tennessee:
This indenture made and entered into this the 12 day of February AD 1879 by and between Louis Chumley and Mary Chumley his wife of the County of Claiborne and State of Tennessee of the first part and Daniel Chumley of the same state and county of the second part witness that for and in consideration for or by the sum of three hundred dollars to us in hand paid on the 13 day of January 1869 by the said Daniel Chumley of the second part we have this day bargained and sold and do hereby transfer and convey unto the said Daniel Chumley his heirs and assigns forever in fee simple a certain tract or parcel of land containing by estimation one hundred and fourteen acres lying on the head waters of Jordan Branch in the 4 Civil district of Claiborne County in the State aforesaid and bounded as follows. Beginning at the Spanish oak near where a white oak and Black Oak the original corner stood thence S 20 W 54 poles to a white Oak west of Willis Granthams house the nce S 45 W 60 poles to a white oak thence N 50 W 89 poles to a double chestnut thence N 40 E 100 poles to Patterson’s line thence S 68 E 35 poles to a fallen black oak Patterson’s corner thence N 22 E 112 poles to a fallen Black Oak thence 368 E 80 poles to a stake thence S 22 W 30 poles to a cliff or Bluff on Powels river hill thence S 48 W 127 poles to the Beginning to have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land to the said Daniel Chumley his heirs and assigns forever in fee simple and we do covenant with the said Daniel Chumley that we are lawfully signed and _____of said land that we have a good right to convey it and ___the sums in consideration and we in further convent that we will forever warrant and defend the titles of said land to the said Daniel Chumley his heirs and assign against the lawful claims of all persons whomever in testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals the day and date above written.
(Attest Wm. H. Condray (Lewis x his mark Chumley seal)
(George W. Henrger? (Mary X her mark Chumley seal)
This filed in my office in Tazewell February the 2 1880 and registered same day. B. F. Campbell Register [1] Deed Record where Louis and Mary Chumley are selling 114 acres of their land to Daniel Chumley Residence Fact Note: 1840 Claiborne Co., Tennessee Census, page 231 (film page 32)
Lewis lived out his life in Claiborne County, Tennessee. However, all his children save 1 migrated to Missouri between 1860 and 1900, at different times. The 1840 census is the last time we found all his children living in Claiborne County, Tennessee.
His daughters Elizabeth Jane and Mildred Aggie “Mollie” Chumley moved their families to Dent County, Missouri sometime before 1860.
Lewis’ sons, John Marshall and Robert “Bob” and daughter, Sarah Ann “Sally” didn’t arrive to Missouri with their families until later, some time before 1880. John and Robert both were in Rockcastle, Kentucky for a short time before coming to Missouri.
The migration from Cumberland Gap, Tennessee to Dent County, Missouri would have been an arduous journey. The most likely route would have been West across Tennessee, then boat passage in Memphis, Tennessee and traveled up the Mississippi to St. Louis, Missouri. However, they still had over 100 miles to travel on land to reach Dent County, Missouri. We have found no records to support this theory, but it is most likely given other known migration movements and forms of transportation available at that time.
Lewis and Mary’s daughter, Sarah married Thomas Harold Condray in 1855, Claiborne County, Tennessee. They traveled with 7 of their children to Missouri. Thomas and sons John and Robert listed on the 1880 census as working in iron mines. In April 1893, a cyclone hit the town on Condray, Missouri. This was a large mining town, which Thomas was the superintendent and his son worked. The damage was horrific, and we found several newspapers who reported on the damage and loss. Sarah was one of the casualties. She died of blood poisoning from flying glass from the cyclone and died 12 days after the disaster. The following is a transcribed newspaper piece reporting the casualties and losses:
April 12. —A cyclone swept over Crawford and Dent counties last night, and besides doing great damage, killed many citizens. At Hawkins bank, William Asher and three men named Lay were killed. Miss Lay was blown away and has not been found. A small child was also blown away. W. A. Wilson was seriously hurt. Superintendent Condray of the mines and wife were badly injured. All the dwellings and a big store were blown down. At Jabwin’s post office four men were killed. On Dry creek the residence of A. M. Green was destroyed, and an old gentleman killed. Farmhouses and barns were destroyed throughout the county, and reports are coming in every hour of persons killed and damage done. [2] Los Angeles Herald, Volume XL, Number 2, 13 April 1893 SOATTIRID REPORTS. Ravages of the Cyclone In Northwestern Missouri.
Lewis’s daughter, Mildred married Waitsel Nuley Lay, the son of James Newton Lay and Mary Bryant, on 09 Apr 1850 in Tazewell, Claiborne County, Tennessee. He served with the Dent County, Missouri State Militia during the civil war. Mildred filed for a widow’s pension 18 Sep 18(91?) date unreadable, application #463393. On April 24, 1820, land was granted to Waitsel N. Lay, 40 acres in Crawford County, Missouri. The grant was signed by Ulysses S. Grant, our 18th United States President.
His son, John Marshall Chumley served as a teamster in the Union Army under General Burnsides, at the battle of Shiloh in 1862. The two-day conflict was at that point the bloodiest battle in American history, with more than 23,000 dead and wounded. After the war, John was granted 40 acres of land in Crawford County, Missouri.
The Chumley Chumbley Research Project 