1940 Census, Knox County, Tennessee

1940, Knox County, Tennessee, Dist. 2, Enumeration District 47-1A, page 11a

Louis Charles (Louie) Truan Jr. age 20 married Lena Maude Bryan on 23 Apr 1941 in Campbell County.  Aunt Lena was the daughter of my grandparents Emmert Oral Bryan and Ruby Priscilla Cox.  As such, Aunt Lena was my father's sister.

Uncle Louie was also known as Junior.  He was the son of Louis Charles Truan Sr. age 64 and Martha Ellen (Mattie) Harris age 52.  Mattie was known as Granny Truan by nearly everybody, including people who were not related to her.  The Truan farm was on Tazewell Pike, but the 1940 census does not list the name of the road on which they lived.

1940, Knox County, Tennessee, Dist. 2, Enumeration District 97-43, page 529a

Mary Katherine (Kay) Wade age 11 married Marion Clyde (Clyde) Letsinger on 4 Oct 1952 in Knoxville.  Clyde is the son of Samuel Mabry (Sam) Letsinger and Elza Cordelia (Elzie) Peters, and the grandson of my great grandparents Alva Edward Peters and Sallie Jane Cole.  As such, Aunt Elzie was the sister of my grandfather Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr., and Clyde is my mother's first cousin.

Kay is the daughter of Clarence Edward Wade Sr. age 46 and Katherine A. Millett age 39.  Clarence and Katherine were married on 5 Oct 1921 in Knox County.

1940, Knox County, Tennessee, Dist. 2, Enumeration District 97-44, pages 541a and 541b

Mary Mahala Jane (Mahala or Haley) Bray age 65 was my great grandmother. In 1940, she was the widow of my great grandfather John William Williamson. She was living in the household of her brother William Webster (Billy) Bray age 60 and her daughter Nora Lee Williamson age 36.

Uncle Billy had lived in Texas for many years before returning to Knoxville, and liked to refer to himself as "W. W. Bray of Texas". Aunt Nora never married.

1940, Knox County, Tennessee, Dist. 2, Enumeration District 97-44, pages 541a and 541b

Howard Eugene Adams age 15 married Anne Maud Johnston on 14 Dec 1942 in New Jersey.  Anne was the daughter of Ernest Madison Johnston and Febry Ellen Bray, and the granddaughter of Robert Henry (Henry) Bray and Maude Elizabeth Hinds.  Uncle Henry was the son of my second great grandparents Joseph A (Joe) Bray and Ferriba Salina (Salina) Moore.  As such, Uncle Henry was the brother of my great grandmother Mary Mahala Jane (Mahala or Haley) Bray.

Howard was the son of Charles H. Adams age 42 and Lucy H. Dockery age 42.  Charles and Lucy were married on 20 Dec 1919 in Knox County.  Howard's maternal grandmother was Sarah A. Rankin age 78.  At the time of the 1940 census, Sarah was the widow of Millard B. Dockery.

1940, Knox County, Tennessee, Dist. 2, Enumeration District 97-45, page 555a

Several hundred student nurses, physician interns, and other medical students and medical professionals were in residence at Knoxville General Hospital.  The hospital apparently operated as sort of a boarding house for various kinds of medical students in addition to being a hospital.

Clara Kathleen (Kathleen) Cox age 19 was the daughter of Lydia Ethel (Ethel) Bryan and Robert Elmer (Elmer) Cox, and the granddaughter of my great grandparents William Harley (Harley) Bryan and Nancy Virginia (Nannie) Harrison.  As such, Ethel Bryan was the sister of my grandfather Emmert Oral Bryan and Kathleen was my father's first cousin.

One small bit of Kathleen's census entry is almost certainly incorrect.  She was not living in Carter County, Tennessee in 1935.  Rather, she was living with her parents in the Carter community in the far east end of Knox County near the Sevier and Jefferson County lines.

In addition, Kathleen was the granddaughter of James Harmon Cox and Ola Maud Cline, and the great granddaughter of my second great grandparents John Tivis Cox and Nancy Ann Pierce.  As such, James Harmon Cox was the brother of my great grandfather George Jackson Cox, Elmer Cox was the first cousin of my grandmother Ruby Priscilla Cox who married Emmert Oral Bryan, and Kathleen was my father's second cousin.  So Kathleen was my father's double cousin, a first cousin as a Bryan and a second cousin as a Cox.  It's not quite as closely related as being double first cousins, but it's close.

Kathleen married Dr. Charles Wesley (Charlie) Black age 25 on 20 June 1942 in Loudon County.  Charlie was the son of George E. Black and Jesse Campbell Dew.  After completing his medical training, Charlie set up a private medical practice in Knoxville.  He was both a general practitioner and a surgeon.  Kathleen worked alongside him as his nurse.

1940, Knox County, Tennessee, Dist. 2, Enumeration District 97-73, page 888a

Samuel Dexter (Dexter or Jack) Letsinger age 25 was the son of Samuel Mabry (Sam) Letsinger and Elza Cordelia (Elzie) Peters, and the grandson of my great grandparents Alva Edward Peters and Sallie Jane Cole.  As such, Aunt Elzie was the sister of my grandfather Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr., and Dexter was my mother's first cousin.

Mildred Alene (Midge) Faulkner age 20 was the daughter Walter Faulkner Sr. and Clara May Faulkner.  Dexter and Mildred were married on 1 Jun 1938 in Knox County.

1940, Knox County, Tennessee, Dist. 2, Enumeration District 97-78, page 963b

Willie Josephine (Bill) Bryan age 40 was the daughter of my great grandparents William Harley (Harley) Bryan and Nancy Virginia (Nannie) Harrison.  As such, Aunt Bill was the sister of my grandfather Emmert Oral Bryan.

Aunt Bill married William Francis (Frank) Kyle age 39 on 26 Sep 1933 in Jefferson County.  Uncle Frank was the son of William Bartley Kyle and Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Cook.

1940, Knox County, Tennessee, Dist. 2, Enumeration District 97-80, page 1000b

I am not related to Lynn Nathaniel Blackburn Sr. age 28 nor to his wife Hazel Allen age 26. Their son William Lewis Blackburn age 5 later married my mother's first cousin Barbara Jean (Jean) Underwood. In addition, Lynn Blackburn Sr. later married Dorothy Gladys (Dot) Cox who was my father's first cousin.

William Lewis Blackburn was known to me as Bill rather than as Lewis. He was killed by a train.

1940, Knox County, Tennessee, Dist. 5, Enumeration District 47-14, page 277b

Helen Lamar Warwick age 17 married Ernest Lester (Bud) Peters Jr. on 30 Jun 1948 in Knox County.  Uncle Bud was the son of my grandparents Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr. and Lola Ethel Williamson.  As such, Uncle Bud was my mother's brother.

Aunt Helen was the daughter of Trece Conley Warwick age 43 and Reva Jane Grubb age 43.  Just like her sister Ruby, Aunt Helen became a public school teacher.

1940, Knox County, Tennessee, Dist. 9, Enumeration District 97-113, page 1406b and 1407a

Willie Ragin (Bill) Williamson age 31 was the son of my great grandparents John William Williamson and Mary Mahala Jane (Mahala) Bray. As such, he was the brother of my grandmother Lola Ethel Williamson who married Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr.

Uncle Bill married Elma Florine (Florine) Monger age 31 on 27 July 1929 in Danville, Virginia. Aunt Florine was the daughter of James Hand Monger and Berta (Bertie) Hinds age 58.

1940, Knox County, Tennessee, Dist. 9, Enumeration District 47-27, page 507a

Florence Marie Brown age 15 married William Jackson (Jack) Bryan on 17 Jan 1946 in Morristown, Hamblen County, Tennessee.  Uncle Jack was the son of my grandparents Emmert Oral Bryan and Ruby Priscilla Cox.  As such, Uncle Jack was my father's brother.

Aunt Florence was the daughter of James F. Brown age 35 and 35 and Lena Maud (Maud) Russell age 34.  Because the home's value was listed rather than a monthly rent, I suspect that there was an error in the census and that they actually owned the house rather than renting.

1940, Knox County, Tennessee, Dist. 13, Enumeration District 47-33, page 621a

Jarrell Dean (Jerry) Johnson age 9/12 married Bonnie Jo Bryan on 20 Jun 1969 in Knox County.  Aunt Bonnie was the daughter of my grandfather Emmert Oral Bryan and his second wife Ella Kate (Kate) Nottingham.  As such, Aunt Bonnie was my father's half sister.

Jerry was the son of Clarence Dean Johnson age 40 and Leah Kate Ridenour age 26.

Gordon Louis Ridenour age 1 married Nancy Louise Truan on 22 Dec 1965 in Knox County.  Nancy is the daughter of Lena Maude Bryan and Louis Charles Truan Jr., and the granddaughter of my grandparents Emmert Oral Bryan and Ruby Priscilla Cox.  As such, Aunt Lena was my father's sister, and Nancy is my cousin.

Gordon is the son of William L. Ridenour age 31 and Iva Mae Morgan age 28.

1940, Knox County, Tennessee, Dist. 13, Enumeration District 47-33, page 622a

Emmert Oral Bryan age 41 was my grandfather.  Ella Kate (Kate) Nottingham age 40 was his second wife, and they were married in on 27 Nov 1927 in Knox County.  My grandmother, Ruby Priscilla Cox, died in 1925.  The older three children were Ruby's children, and the youngest child was Kate's child.

The children were William Jackson (Jack) Bryan age 18, Lena Maude Bryan age 16, Robert Elmer (Bob) Bryan age 14, and Bonnie Jo Bryan age 4.

1940, Knox County, Tennessee, Dist. 13, Enumeration District 47-33, page 623a

Bobby Lynn (Bob) Tadlock age 6 married Helen Lorieta (Lorieta) Peters on 16 Aug 1957 in Knox County.  Lorieta is the daughter of my grandparents Ernest Lester Peters Sr. and Lola Ethel Williamson.  As such, Lorieta is my mother's sister.

Bob was the son of Taylor Black Tadlock age 58 and Rhoda Hill Koontz age 43.  Cora M. Hill age 68 was Rhoda's mother.  At the time of the 1940 census, Cora was the widow of Charles E. Koontz.

Mr. and Mrs. Tadlock attended my church, and Mr. Tadlock was always the one who walked down to the church first thing on Sunday morning, unlocked the church, and rang the church bell.  His death occurred when he was hit by a car while walking to the church to ring the bell.  Mrs. Tadlock was one of the best friends of my grandmother Lola Ethel Williamson who married my grandfather Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr.  Mrs. Tadlock was born and raised in Lenoir City, just like my grandmother was, and they were friends from early childhood until old age.

Paul Marshall Tarver age 7 married Virginia Irene (Irene) Peters on 28 Jun 1957 in Knox County.  Irene is the daughter of my grandparents Ernest Lester Peters Sr. and Lola Ethel Williamson.  As such, Irene is my mother's sister.

Paul is the son of Fred Russell Tarver Sr. age 39 and Anna Elizabeth Luttrell age 39.  Fred and Anna were married on 20 Aug 1921 in Knox County.

Fred Russell Tarver Jr. age 15 was one of my father's best friends when they were both growing up.  A big field on the Tarver farm was one of the standard locations where the kids played football and baseball in season.

1940, Knox County, Tennessee, Dist. 13, Enumeration District 47-33, page 623b

Nettie Wilma (Wilma) Tindell age 20 was the first wife of my uncle William Jackson (Jack) Bryan.  They were married on 1 Sep 1943 in Knox County.  Uncle Jackk was my father's brother

Wilma was the daughter of Samuel Frank (Frank) Tindell and Nettie.

1940, Knox County, Tennessee, Dist. 13, Enumeration District 47-33, page 635a

Ella Mae Peters age 37 was the daughter of my great grandparents Alva Edward Peters and Sallie Jane Cole.  As such, Aunt Ella was the brother of my grandfather Ernest Lester Peters Sr..

Aunt Ella's first husband was Bayard Earl Yadon who died in 1933.  They were married on 8 Oct 1923 in Knoxville.  Uncle Bayard's name is pronounced as "Baird". He was the son of David Jasper Yadon and Mary Elizabeth McDonald.

Aunt Ella's second husband was Thomas Clyde (Clyde) Cole age 30.  He was the son of Thomas Lamar Cole and Martha Bell Webb.  Aunt Ella and Uncle Clyde were married on 21 Sep 1936 in Marshall, Madison County, North Carolina.

Aunt Ella's children with Uncle Bayard were Ada Louise Yadon age 15 and Thelma Joyce (Joyce) Yadon age 12.  Ada was born in Kentucky because Uncle Bayard was working for a newspaper in Middlesboro at the time.  The family moved back to Knoxville shortly after Ada's birth.  Aunt Ella's child with Uncle Clyde was Thomas Edward (Edward) Cole age 1.

1940, Knox County, Tennessee, Dist. 13, Enumeration District 47-33, page 637a

Mary Aileen Murphy age 11 married Howard Raymond Peters on 22 Sep 1950.  Uncle Howard was the son of my grandparents Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr. and Lola Ethel Williamson.  As such, Uncle Howard was my mother's brother.

Aunt Mary was the daughter of James Carl (Carl) Murphy age 33 and Rose Dell Hampton age 33.  In a curious twist of family history, my widowed grandfather married the widowed Rose Hampton Murphy on 26 Mar 1967 in Corryton, Knox County, Tennessee.  Rose was the daughter of James Wade Hampton and Francis Cornelia Waggoner.

1940, Knox County, Tennessee, Dist. 14, Enumeration District 97-38, page 744a

Roberta Elizabeth Fox age 1 married Glenn Edward Williams on 7 Nov 1961 in Union County.  Glenn was the son of Lon Harrison Williams and Edna Omage Bryan, and the grandson of my great grandparents William Harley (Harley) Bryan and Nancy Virgina (Nannie) Harrison.  As such, Aunt Edna was the sister of my grandfather Emmert Oral Bryan, and Glenn was my father's first cousin.

Roberta was the daughter of William Stanley (Stanley) Fox age 37 and Mary Edith (Edith) Cope age 20.  Stanley's age is a bit misstated in the census as he was born on 7 Dec 1897.

The reference to Highway 33 is not actually on page 744a.  Rather, the reference appears several pages earlier, and subsequent pages then list the name of the road as "continued".  It does make sense because Highway 33 in the north end of Knox County is called Maynardville Highway, and it goes through Fountain City and Halls in Knox County, and then on north into Union County and Maynardville.  It appears that several pages of the census enumeration were all taken along the main highway without doing any of the side roads at the same time.

1940, Knox County, Tennessee, Dist. 15, Enumeration District 47-42, page 813a

Lydia Ethel (Ethel) Bryan age 38 was the daughter of my great grandparents William Harley (Harley) Bryan and Nancy Virginia Harrison.  As such, Aunt Ethel was the sister my grandfather Emmert Oral Bryan, and Clara Kathleen (Kathleen) Cox age 19 was my father's first cousin.

Robert Elmer (Elmer) Cox age 39 was the son of James Harmon Cox and Ola Maud Cline, and the grandson of my second great grandparents John Tivis Cox and Nancy Ann Pierce.  As such, James Harmon Cox was the brother of my great grandfather George Jackson Cox, and Elmer Cox was the first cousin of my grandmother Ruby Priscilla Cox who married Emmert Oral Bryan.  So Kathleen Cox age 19 was my father's second cousin.

Therefore, Kathleen was my father's double cousin, a first cousin as a Bryan and a second cousin as a Cox.  It's not quite as closely related as being double first cousins, but it's close.

In addition, Aunt Ethel and Uncle Elmer raised my father for several years because his mother died shortly after he was born.  As a result, they were my step grandparents.  My siblings and I called them Mamaw and Papaw Cox rather than Aunt Ethel and Uncle Elmer as did other of our cousins.

Kathleen was enumerated twice in 1940.  First, she was enumerated here on the farm with her parents.  Later, she was enumerated at Knoxville General Hospital where she was enrolled as a nursing student and where she was living as a boarder.

The farm was at the corner of Midway Road and Will Merritt Road.  The Coxes rented the farm on Midway Road.  Later they purchased a farm on McCubbins Road where they lived the rest of their lives.  Ethel's mother Nannie Harrison Bryan died at the farm on Midway Road in 1938.  Many extended family members were at the farm canning beans.  Nannie suffered a stroke while working in kitchen and died the next day.

1940, Knox County, Tennessee, Dist. 16, Enumeration District 47-43, pages 830b and 831a

Albert Edgar (A. E.) Harrell Jr. age 12 married Thelma Joyce (Joyce) Yadon on 4 Jul 1950 in Knoxville.  Joyce was the daughter of Bayard Earl Yadon and Ella Mae Peters, and the granddaughter of my great grandparents Alva Edward (Alvy) Peters and Sallie Jane Cole.  As such, Aunt Ella was the sister of my grandfather Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr. and Joyce was my mother's first cousin.

A. E. was the son of A. E. Harrell Sr. age 32 and Reba Jean Hamilton age 32.