S P O R T S


The Tolley ball team played, and was famous, throughout West Tennessee and Western Kentucky.
Front Row: David Hearington, Joe Hancock, John Tolley,Martin Herbert Tolley
Top Row: William Madison Tolley, Charlie Arthur Tolley, Andrew Jackson Tolley, Felix Wesley Tolley Tolley.
Not pictured were Gordon Tolley, Arthur Tolley, and Aaron Tolley.
Photo contributed to "The Lexington Progress" by Mary L. Essary. Date on paper was writen in as June 5, 96

My resarch has revealed the following....
The obituary of
Martin Andrew Tolley (5 Jan. 1862-22 Feb 1952) reveals six sons, Andrew, William, Charlie, Wesley, Herbert and Gordon.. along with 6 daughters who were Martha Jane (died in infancy) Anna Tubbs, Rachel Blankenship, Neila Mae Carrington, Grace Wilkins and Myrtle Essary.
Martin Andrew was burid at Mt. Ararat Cemetery along with sons, William Madison, (wife Aline Wilson), Charlie (wife Ida Altha), Herbert Madison (wife Zula C.) and Gordon (wife Kathleen). Felix Wesley married Sarah Jane Hearington here in Henderson County, and then they moved to Calhoun MS where they raised their family, and are both buried.

The "Tolley baseball team," which became famous in 1914-18, six of the players were sons of the late Mr. and Mrs. Martin Andrew Tolley. The remaining members of the Champion team were cousins of the Tolley boys. The team not only gained fame in West Tennessee but also in Kentucky. Among the teams they played were Lexington, Scotts Hill, Clifton, Linden, Lobelville, Sugar Tree, Warrens Bluff, Parsons, Bible Hill, and Fulton, Kentucky.

Arthur Tolley, outfielder, not pictured, said, "We played all the good teams and one of the ones was Sugar Tree." "We won many more than we lost," he continued. John Tolley, who played infielder, recalls how proud Mr. and Mrs. Tolley were of their six sons as well as the cousins on the team, of which he was included. "We were the best around," he explained with a twinkle in his eyes, but we really practiced a lot and put our whole heart in the game. Our uniforms were white with the team name 'Tolley' on the front," he concluded.

In the winter the sons also played basketball over a wide area and were known for their great skill and good sportsmanship. The six athletic sons of the late pioneer family were William Tolley, who was a pitcher, however third base was his regular position, Charley, first baseman, Andrew, who played pitcher most of the time, Wesley, shortstop, Herb, catcher, and Gordon, second baseman. The three Tolley cousins included on the game were John Tolley, infielder, Arthur Tolley, outfielder, Aaron Tolley, infielder and Joe Hancock, outfielder, with David Hearington, outfielder. Uncle Mart and Aunt Fronia, as the parents were referred to, were married January 25, 1883. Mrs. Tolley passed away in 1950 and Mr. Tolley followed in 1952. Besides the six sons who composed the baseball team, a younger son, Charles came along. There were also four daughters, Mrs. Larkin Essary, Mrs. Anna Tubbs, Mrs. Rachel Blankenship and Mrs. Nella Carrington. One child died at birth, thus making 12 in the family. The last nine children were born in the same room of the home, which had been the couple's bedroom and living room for exactly 60 years.

Above article was found on "Yesterdays Tennessee" by Brenda Fiddler

Some Family Background -------------
Martin Andrew Tolley (05 Jan 1862 - 22 Feb 1952) Decatur Co TN), married Sophronia Ann Fisher 25 Jan. 1883 in Mt.Lebanon, Decatur Co TN. She was born 24 Sep 1864 Decatur Co - Died 29 December 1949 in Henderson County. All of his sons were on the Tolley Baseball team. Martin & Sophronia were the parents of 11 children: The first two daughters wer born in Decatur Count but the rest of their family was born in Henderson County.

Susan Anna Tolley 30 30 Oct 1885 - 3 Jan 1981 Henderson Co TN
Rachel Sophronia Tolley 8 May 1888 - 1 Dec 1978 Henderson Co TN
Andrew Jackson Tolley Sr 12 Oct 1889 - 6 Oct 1974 Henderson Co TN
William Madison Tolley 6 Aug 1891 - 13 Apr 1967 Coffey Co TN
Charles Arthur Tolley 10 Feb 1893 - 11 Jul 1955 Davidson Co TN
Felix Wesley Tolley 19 Dec 1894 - 6 Nov 1975 Calhoun City MS
Martin Herbert Tolley 21 Oct 1896 - 1 Dec 1966 Henderson Co TN
Neila Mae Tolley 7 Nov 1898 - 14 Nov 1999 Decatur Co TN
Grace Gertrude Tolley 6 Jan 1901 - 2 Mar 1998 Henderson TN
Myrtle Beatrice Tolley 28 Oct 1902 died in Decatur Co TN
James Gordon Tolley 1 Sep 1904 - July 19, 1979 Madison Co TN

Samuel Jackson Tolley was a brother of Martin. He married Edna J. Wallace in Decatur Co TN in 1892. After her death he married Allie Martin. Samuels son John Wesley Tolle 15 Sep 1893 - 24 June 1983 also played on the Tolley Baseball team. John married Ollie Gray Dennison in 1919. He was a WW I Veteran returning to the States July 5, 1919, six months after the Armistice was signed. He was attached to Company B, Military Police, 1st Division. His company took part in the Battles of St. Die and Argonne Forest. His job was to transport the wounded and dead from the front line. At one time he was the Sheriff of Decatur County.

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