Rembering Family: Martha Elizabeth White

 

 

When Martha Elizabeth White was born on April 10, 1882, in Rheatown, Tennessee, her father, James, was 30 and her mother, Mary Ann Emily Good, was 23. She married James Ruble Bailes on August 16, 1903, in Greene, Tennessee. They had 13 children in 20 years. She died on December 4, 1957, in Knoxville, Tennessee, at the age of 75, and was buried there.

When she died, she left a valuable legacy to her family.  Was she famous? No  Was she rich? No  Then what was her legacy to her children.

Martha Elizabeth Bailes left her children:

A deep appreciation of the importance of family.

Our family gathered at their home in times of joy and times of sorrow.  We celebrated Christmas at their house every year, even when we were literally packed wall to wall.  I do not remember any complaints.  It was a joyous time of seeing all of your Aunts, Uncles and of playing with you cousins.

Even though our family has become too large to get together every year, we are still close.  I would like to think that as we gather with own families, that we still remember those wonderful times.

A shared belief in the importance of Church and Community

 Many of worshipped together at Lincoln Park Methodist Church.  Many of our parents and grandparents were married there.  Next to their home, this church was our most popular place to see family. Lincoln Park Methodist Church was the center of our community.

Some her family came to America to escape religious persecution in England.  They were Quakers, who settled in West Jersey in the late 1600's.

After the Revolutionary War, the family became part of the Methodist Church.  The Milburn family had the first Methodist ministers in our family and many of their descendants became ministers.

A long history of service to our country.

 She had four sons; Walter, Carl, H. L. Frank and Robert, who served during WW II.  She had two brothers; William Isaac and Jmes Henry who served in World War I.

Her Grandfather, Hartsell Good served in the Civil War, her G Grandfather, David Good served in the War of 1812 and her GGG Grandfather, John Milburn, was a Revolutionary War Patriot.

About Martha Elizabeth White:

In 1900, Lizzie White was 17 years old and lived in Greene, Tennessee with her father, mother, 3 brothers: Isaac, James Henry and Elbert and 2 sisters, Lula and Frankie.

Elizabeth White married J.R. Bales on August 16, 1903, in Greene, Tennessee.  They were married by Thomas D. Rowe, M.G.

In 1910, Martha E. Bailes was 28 years old and lived in Rheatown, Tennessee with her husband, James,  2 sons, Walter and William Howard and daughter Minnie Eva.

This was a difficult time in her life.  Two of her children died, Mary Ellen in 1911 and Lynn in 1912. Her brother, Elbert Carl died in 1915 and her brother, James Henry White was killed at Chateau-Thierry, France, while serving with the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I.

In 1920, Martha E. Bales was 36 years old and lived in Knoxville, Tennessee with her husband, James, 4 sons: Walter, Howard, Kenneth and Carl, and 2 daughters: Eva and Geraldine.

Her Mother, Mary Ann Emily Good, who was called Mollie, died in 1926.  The inscription on her monument is one of my favorites, " She was a Kind and Affectionate Wife, a FOnd Mother, and a Friend to All." Mollie's father, Hartsell Good died during the Civil War.  Her Grandfather, William Elbert Milburn served in the Civil War too. 

In 1930, Martha E. Bailes was 47 years old and lived in Knoxville, Tennessee with her husband, James, 7 sons: Walter, Howard, Kenneth, Carl, Hartsell (H. L.),Frank and Robert, and 3 daughters: Eva, Geraldine and Eleanor.

Her father, James Randolph White, died on September 4, 1935 in Reatown, Greene County, Tennessee.

On April 1, 1940, Martha Bailes was 58 years old and lived in Knoxville, Tennessee with her husband, James, 4 sons: Carl, Hartsell, Frank and Robert, and 3 daughters: Eva, Geraldine and Eleanor.

Her sons: Walter, Carl, Frank and Robert served during World War II.  Her son Howard died in 1942.  H.L. was killed on May 30, 1945 in Luzon, Phillipines.

 

Family Marker in Lynnhurst Cemetery

Martha Elizabeth White Bailes' marker