Decatur County Genealogy & History

PIONEER FAMILIES
of
Decatur County TN

The Dunavant Family

Samuel David, according to the 1880 census, was born on July 19, 1869. He was the son of William Arch (1827-1906) and Elizabeth "Beth" ? (no last name confirmed) (b. 1835). (I believe the previous information could be wrong as he is the brother of Marshall Walter whose mother was Sally Currin) William Arch and Beth (Sally Currin) had several children: Lucinda R., Marshall Walter, Andrew J., Ephram Frank, M.E., Samuel David and Robert A. There is also a possibility that there were other children who were left behind in North Carolina when the move to Tennessee occurred. Samuel David married (1) Ellen Brown (August 1872—April 10, 1898) and had six children: Annie, Maggie, Mary, Lena, N.A. and S.M. He married (2) Julia Frances (1875-1951). To their marriage were born: Zephyr (who lived only four years), Bobby Alton, Samuel David, Walter Henry, James Bedford, Flossie Mae and Georgia Opal. Julia Frances's dad, George Washington Bartholomew, died on Jan. 7, 1913, as the result of injuries caused when a tornado
* * * * Marshall Walter "Walt" Dunavant was one of five children: Cindy, Sam, Frank and Robert (Nov. 15,1871—Jan. 6,1963). He was the son of William Arch and Sally Currin Dunavant. They were of Indian and Irish descendants. They came to Perryville, TN, from North Carolina and Virginia, then moved to the Campground and Mt. Zion Communities. They made their living by farming and truck patches. They raised tomatoes for market and carried them to the Milan area to be shipped by train to other parts of the United States that did not grow them. Their main source of income was from cotton. They had a molasses mill that was pulled by a mule to get the juice from the cane; they also had a stationary hay baler that was pulled by the same mule. The small bales were tied by hand with wire. They used the wire from the bales to tie gates and fences, that's where the saying "tie it with baling wire" came from. The small children got a thrill riding the mule and making it go around.
"Walt," as he was always called, married Lula Harrington on May 6,1900. They had seven childen, being married only 10 years. She died May 5. 1910. Her mother, Emily Jane Harrington, lived with them and helped take care of the children until her death Nov. 20, 1925. He never remarried, but did a good job raising his children. He lived to be 92. Robert Finner (April 3, 1901—Dec. 15, 1969), his first child, married Veanie Mayfield of Milan, TN—two sons, Lonnie of exington, TN and Harold of Chicago, IL. They are buried at Oakland Cemetery in Milan, TN. Glennar (Aug. 25, 1902—May 13, 1925) was married to Arlis Swafford—son Grady died March 25. 1940, and is buried at Mt. Zion. They are both buried at Campground. Willie Franklin "Will" (Feb. 18,1904—Oct. 5. 1975), married Delah Tillman— seven children: Alene Laster of Lexington, TN; Willie Floyd; Sue Hayes of Millington, TN: June Wyatt of Bath Springs, TN; Franklin D.; Johnny Wayne of Memphis. TN; and Jerl Don. They are buried at Mt. Zion along with three of their sons: Willie Floyd and Franklin D. (died as babies) and Jerl Don was killed in an auto accident atage 18 in 1964. James Clayton (July 18, 1905—Feb. 18, 1989) married Oeda Bright and they lived in the Scotts Hill area. He is buried at Scotts Hill Methodist Cemetery. Ina Mae (Sept. 10, 1907—March 1, 1940) married Will Ward — two sons, Jehu Micheal of Branson, MO, and Bobby Love of Memphis, TN. She is buried at Campground. Jewell (March 22, 1910—January 1969) married Rushing Rains—one son, Thomas Dale, of Decaturville. They are buried at Campground. Ewell was a twin to Jewell and died Aug. 7, 1910. He is buried at Mt. Zion. The farm where Walt lived and raised his family is being farmed by his grandson and great-grandson, Thomas and Ted Rains. The house is still there and owned and lived in by Thomas Rains.