Tipton County, Tennessee

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True Crime Stories

True crime stories! There is something extremely intriguing about these tales of tragedy.

Consequently, people who watch true crime shows are often focused on the threat to their own wellbeing. In fact, women in particular seam to love true crime. Psychologists believe this is largely due to women seeking tips on how to survive in dangerous situations.

Whatever your reason for being drawn to these murderous tragedies, I’m sure you will find the crimes in Tipton County intriguing.

1869 Feb - The Vendetta in Tennessee

1869 Feb – The Vendetta in Tennessee

VENDETTA IN TENNESSEE | From the Tipton (Tennessee) Record we learn the particulars of the following story of vengeance and murder: In the year 1852 Dr. Walton, a citizen of Tipton County, living about four and a half miles from the county town, was killed by a man named Yarbro. Shortly afterward Captain Smith, who was ...

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1875 Jun - The Yarborough Murder

1875 Jun – The Yarborough Murder

YARBOROUGH MURDER | Memphis, June 22–The Ledger has information concerning the killing of Brad Yarborough, near Covington, Tennessee, last Saturday, by his brother-in-law, William Kinley. It appears that one had sued the other, and they had been to Covington to attend the trial. On the road home, Yarborough, who was on horseback, passed Kinley in ...

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1881 Aug - Hanging of Andrew Sanders

1881 Aug – Hanging of Andrew Sanders

Andrew Sanders, (colored) was convicted of murdering Michael Miller earlier this year. Consequently, he was hung yesterday, August 26, 1881, in Covington, Tennessee. (Daily Evening Bulletin, (San Francisco, CA) Saturday, August 27, 1881) Additional Information by John Shaw Regarding the hanging of Andrew Sanders at Covington, and the vain efforts of attorney John Boyd to win his ...

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1897 Aug - The Murderer of Walter Boyd Confesses the Deed

1897 Aug – The Murderer of Walter Boyd Confesses the Deed

CONFESSES – The Murderer of Walter Boyd Confesses the Deed — Confesses Also to Robbery and Arson Investigation We published last week an account of the murder of Walter Boyd, near Idaville, which occurred Thursday morning, August 5th, about 6 o’clock, while he was feeding chickens. Will Johnson, a young negro man of the neighborhood, has confessed ...

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1897 Aug - Walter Boyd Assassinated

1897 Aug – Walter Boyd Assassinated

Background Mr. Walter Boyd, of No. 7 was assassinated yesterday morning, Aug. 5th, at about 6 o’clock. His brains were shot out while he was in the lot feeding chickens. Mr. Boyd was a cousin of Dr. J. C. McQuiston, and recently purchased the Baird farm. His residence was burned last Friday while he, with his ...

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1897 Dec - Died with a Smile on Face

1897 Dec – Died with a Smile on Face

DIED WITH A SMILE ON FACE – William Johnson Hanged for the Murder of Farmer Boyd Covington, Tenn., December 17- William Johnson died on the scaffold at 12:10 o’clock this afternoon with Sheriff Lauderdale officiating. The condemned man walked quietly from his cell to the scene of the hanging. He made a full confession and ...

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1898 Aug - Tipton County Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary

1898 Aug – Tipton County Inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary

What is the Tennessee State Penitentiary The Tennessee State Penitentiary opened on February 12, 1898 outside of Nashville, TN. Built on 1,200 acres, the construction took several years because each stone was carved by hand. Inmates Worked while Incarcerated Every inmate worked in a designated area of the prison. For example, some of the inmates work ...

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1902 Jan - Jilting of Mr. York

1902 Jan – Jilting of Mr. York

Enraged at Being Jilted by Prospective Ninth Wife – York Begins Shooting Nashville, Jan. 28 — K. P. York, a Tipton County farmer, arrived at Covington today with his six children for the purpose of marrying Mrs. Pimm. The woman told him when they met that she had changed her mind. York began shooting indiscriminately. He ...

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1911 Dec - Christmas Whiskey

1911 Dec – Christmas Whiskey

Effects of Jug Of Christmas WhiskeyMemphis, Tenn., Dec. 27 — James Glover, a white farmer of the Ninth district of Tipton County, shot and instantly killed his son-in-law, Andrew Smith, at Glover’s home. Both were under the influence of mean whiskey ordered for a Christmas celebration. Ben Matthews, a farmer, constable, and deputy sheriff of ...

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1917 Aug - Whisky Seized from Bootleggers

1917 Aug – Whisky Seized from Bootleggers

WHISKY SEIZED FROM BOOTLEGGERS | Sheriff B. E. White and four of his deputies were called to the assistance of United States Marshal Trezevant Saturday to raid a party of bootleggers at Walt’s Landing on the Mississippi river. Upon receiving the message Sheriff White and deputies departed and joined the Shelby county posse of officers ...

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2010 Jan - Vandals in Poplar Grove Cemetery

2010 Jan – Vandals in Poplar Grove Cemetery

VANDALS IN POPLAR GROVE CEMETERY | On January 11, 2010, Action News 5 made reports of vandals in the cemetery. Accordingly, the residents, of the area, were upset justifiably upset because two monuments were knocked over and one was pushed out of the ground. Another monument was completely stolen off its base. According to Vernon ...

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A Moonshiner in Hoe

A Moonshiner in Hoe

A MOONSHINER IN HOE | MAGNOLIA, Ark., Oct. 16. – Drew Short, 70 years old, was yesterday arrested and brought in town by Deputy United States Marshal Dumas, charged with illicit distilling. Short has been running a blind tiger for some time, but has successfully evaded the officers of the law until now. ...

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A Sad and Melancholy Affair - Collier

A Sad and Melancholy Affair – Collier

Family A melancholy occurrence happened near Wesley, Tipton county, Tennessee, day before yesterday. Two brothers by the name of Collier and of respectable and wealthy parents. Their ages were respectively twenty and twenty-one years got into a disputed about a pony, when the younger brother stabbed the other and killed him. Details The particulars are ...

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Anderson and Ewing Feud

Anderson and Ewing Feud

A Feud Between Two Negro Farmers Nearly Results in the Murder of One of Them Officer J. M. Saunders (c.), of Tipton county, arrived in the city last night by boat with Nelson Anderson (c.), charged with shooting with intent to kill. Anderson and a negro named Wm. Ewing live on Walter Stockton’s farm, about thirty ...

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Baskin, Wayne

Baskin, Wayne

Covington – WAYNE BASKIN, 72, former Sheriff of Tipton County, died Saturday evening, December 31, 2005, at Baptist Hospital Tipton in Covington. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 3, at 11 a.m. at the Covington Funeral Home chapel with interment to follow in the Helen Crigger Cemetery in Munford. Visitation will ...

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Ben Cross - Lucien Hartsfield Murderer Captured

Ben Cross – Lucien Hartsfield Murderer Captured

$250 Reward The above reward is offered for the capture of BEN CROSS, COLORED, who shot and killed L. H. Hartsfield, near Ft. Pillow, Lauderdale County, Tenn., on March 12, 1919. Cross is a light “ginger-cake” color, about 40 years old, weighs between 160 and 180 pounds; one eye squints; when last seen had small moustache; about 5 ...

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Blind Tigers and Blind Justice

Blind Tigers and Blind Justice

The Arkansas Raid on Island 37, Tennessee by Richard S. Daniels 1Memphis, Tennessee BLIND TIGERS AND BLIND JUSTICE: THE ARKANSAS RAID ON ISLAND 37, TENNESSEE: The Mississippi River has ...

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Bond set for Munford High Graduate Hannah Burrows in Murder Case

Bond set for Munford High Graduate Hannah Burrows in Murder Case

A $50,000 bond was set yesterday for Hannah Burrows, a 2018 Munford High graduate and former band member who has been charged with murder in Alabama. Jesse Parker, her 31-year-old alleged accomplice who is also facing a murder charge, had his bond set at $100,000. As of 11 a.m. today Burrows, 18, and Parker were still ...

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Bradley, George aka Butch Bradley

Bradley, George aka Butch Bradley

It Rests with His PeersButch Bradley’s Fate in the Hands of the Jury IT RESTS WITH HIS PEERS | The fate of Butch Bradley is now in the hands of twelve of his peers, and he is anxiously awaiting the verdict. The case was given to the jury at 4:20 o’clock yesterday afternoon, but no ...

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Bullets Fatal to Mother of 3

Bullets Fatal to Mother of 3

Woman Wounded by “Lover” Dies in Hospital Shot twice by her alleged lover because she refused to take him for a ride in her new car. Mrs. Hugh T Rodgers, 38, widowed mother of three children, died at 3 a.m. Saturday at Baptist Hospital. H. Clifton King, manager of Mrs. Rodgers’ farm near Rosemark, shot himself ...

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  1. *The author is working toward a master’s degree in history at Memphis State University. He is assistant administrative engineer, Division of Public Works, at Memphis. [↩]
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Welcome!

Mary Lynne Williams with Kenny Faulk at Bozos Bar-B-Q in 2018
Mary Lynne Williams with Kenny Faulk at Bozos Bar-B-Q in 2018

My name is ML Williams. I am a hiking, fossil hunting, God loving, coffee drinking, hot fries eatin' middle school math teacher! I love researching my family history and, since my family is from Tipton County, I love researching the people and areas of Tipton.

Thanks for visiting my site and good luck in your quest!

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© 2018-2021 Tipton County, Tennessee
Mary Lynne Williams

Shelley, Barbara June Abbott

BARBARA JUNE ABBOTT SHELLEY | 52, of Drummonds, Tenn., clerk for Abbott Jewelry, died Thursday at Baptist Memorial Hospital – Tipton in Covington, Tenn. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Munford (Tenn.) Funeral Home with burial in Poplar Grove Cemetery in Drummonds.  She leaves a daughter, Kimberly Ann Douglas, and a son, James D. Shelley, both of Atlanta; her parents, John and Reamonia Millican Abbot of Drummonds; a brother, Paul Abbott of Memphis, and five grandchildren.

[Barbara June Abbott Shelley; The Commercial Appeal; Memphis, Tenn; 14 Dec 2003; Pg 29]

Janie Reamonia Rann

JANIE REAMONIA RANN, 17, of Drummonds, Tenn., clerk for Abbott Diamond Enterprises, died Thursday at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Munford (Tenn.) Funeral Home with Burial in Poplar Grove Cemetery in Drummonds. She was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church. She leaves her great-grandparents who raised her, Reamonia and John Abbott of Drummonds; a half-brother, John Abbot Peak of Texas, and her grandmother, Barbara Shelley of Drummonds.

[Janie Reamonia Rann; The Commercial Appeal; Memphis, Tenn; 20 Sep 2003; Pg 15]

John A Murrell Death

Lillian Oreed Smith

Lillian was born August 22, 1903, in Tipton County, Tennessee and died June 22, 1992, in Covington, Tennessee.  She married William Austin Rhodes, May 25, 1924.  William was born July 18, 1894, and died September 17, 1980.  Lillian taught school in the schoolhouse at Bethel as a very young woman.  Then she went to Memphis where she met and married Austin.  They operated drug stores, sometimes one and sometimes two, in north Memphis most of their adult lives.  One of the stores was on Leath Street very near Humes High School and the other was on Manassas Street.  Rather late in life, they bought the old Smith family house and four acres from Lillian’s mother, Della, and moved back to Tipton County.  They put in a hen house for laying hens and sold eggs until retirement.  Austin and Lillian never had any children.  They both are buried in the “New Part” of Bethel Cemetery.

[ from An Illustrated History of the People and Towns of Northeast Shelby County and South Central Tipton County, page 178]

Lillian Oreed Smith Rhodes Obituary

ATOKA – Lillian Smith Rhodes, 88, retired merchant, died Monday at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Tipton after a long illness.  Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Munford Funeral Home with burial in Bethel Cemetery.  She was a member of Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Home Demonstration Club.  Mrs. Rhodes, the widow of Austin Rhodes, leaves a sister, Carmen Smith of Memphis, and two brothers, A. T. Smith of Atoka and Richard Smith of Gautier, Miss.

[Rhodes, Lillian Smith; The Commercial Appeal; Memphis, Tenn; 24 Jun 1992; Pg 11]

Delayed birth certificate Lillian Oreed Smith
Delayed birth certificate Lillian Oreed Smith
Lillian Oreed Smith and W A Rhodes Marriage License
Lillian Oreed Smith and W A Rhodes Marriage License
Lillian Oreed Smith Rhodes
Lillian Oreed Smith Rhodes
Richard Arnold Smith

Richard was born on June 29, 1912, and died in Pascagoula, Mississippi on June 3, 1994.  He married Zelma Wright on October 19, 1940.  Richard attended college at Georgia Tech in Atlanta.  I do not know if he got a degree or not.  After college, he went to work for Continental Gin Company as a sales engineer in Birmingham.  He and Zelma lived there for a long time.  He finally did transfer to Memphis and lived there for several years.  During his years with Continental Gin Company, he traveled a lot, even to India for several months to install a cotton gin there.  After a long career with Continental, they bought a small tourist court in Pascagoula and moved down there to operate it.  This facility consisted of several individual cottages scattered through a pine grove.  They did most of the work themselves, just hiring people to supplement in areas that they could not see after twenty-four hours per day.  Most of their clientele were extended stay types who worked on the shrimp boats that fished out of the Pascagoula harbor and construction workers who were there for several months at a time.  Of course, they did do some overnight business, too.  Later in life, when the work became too difficult, they sold the tourist court and retired to Dolphin Island where they lived until Richard died.  It is assumed that both Richard and Zelma are buried in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

[An Illustrated History of the People and Towns of Northeast Shelby County and South Central Tipton County]

Jackson County Memorial Park

Iva Electa Smith

Iva Electa was born April 20, 1901, and died December 24, 1991, in Savannah, Hardin County, Tennessee.  She married Lenvil Gordon Beaver on March 30, 1925.  He died February 21, 1949.  They lived in the community that was named after his family, Beaver, or sometimes referred to as Beaver Town.  There was a store and cotton gin, both of which he owned.  They lived in a house that sat across the road from the store.  They had five children: Lenvil Oneda, Iva Shirley, Steve, Carmen Theo, and Lemuel Gordon Beaver.  Gordon and Iva Electa are buried in Ravencroft Cemetery in Tipton County, Tennessee.

[An Illustrated History of the People and Towns of Northeast Shelby County and South Central Tipton County, page 178]

After the death of Gordon in 1949, Iva Electa married Jesse Ray Blakey on 21 Aug 1970.  Both the bride and the groom were 69 years of age.

Iva Electa passed away on 24 Dec 1991.  Her obit is below:

BRIGHTON – Electa Smith Beaver Blakey, 90, former teacher, died Tuesday at Hardin County General Hospital in Savannah.  Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Munford Funeral Home with burial in Ravenscroft Cemetery.  She was a member of Beaver Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School and the Women’s Bible Class.  Mrs. Blakey, the widow of Gordon Beaver and J. R. Blakey, leaves three daughters, Lenvil Leadbetter of Savannah, Shirley Dyer of Clinton, Ill., and Carmen Harshfield of Somerville; a son, Gordon ‘Lem’ Beaver Jr. of Brighton; two sisters, Carmen Smith of Memphis and Lillian Rhodes of Savannah; two brothers, A. T. Smith of Atoka and Richard Smith of Gauthier, Miss., 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Electa Smith Beaver Blakey; The Commercial Appeal; Memphis, TN; 26 Dec 1991; Pg 29
Electa Smith Beaver Blakey; The Commercial Appeal; Memphis, TN; 26 Dec 1991; Pg 29

 

Gordon and Electa Beaver's Headstone in Ravenscroft Cemetery
Gordon and Electa Beaver’s Headstone in Ravenscroft Cemetery
Delayed Birth Record Iva Electa Smith
Delayed Birth Record Iva Electa Smith
Electa Smith marriage to Lenvil Gordon Beaver
Electa Smith marriage to Lenvil Gordon Beaver
Electa Smith Beaver Marriage to Jesse Ray Blakey
Electa Smith Beaver Marriage to Jesse Ray Blakey
Carmen Theo Smith

Carmen was born on 24 Oct 1898 in Tipton County, Tennessee.  After graduating high school, Carmen moved to Memphis where she was a bookkeeper and secretary for William G. Smith.  William owned a refrigerator business.  They soon fell in love and where married on 24 Jun 1927.  William had three children from a previous marriage, and he and Carmen did not have any children.  They lived on E. Cherry Circle in Memphis.  According to Wayne Smith, their house was very nice and sat on about two acres of land.  Carmen died on 6 Feb 2000 in Shelby County, Tennessee.  Both William and Carmen are buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee.

Obituary for Carmen Theo Smith

Carmen T. Smith, 101, of Bartlett, retired bookkeeper for Smith’s Refrigeration Co., died of heart failure Sunday at Ave Maria Nursing Home.  Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Memorial Park Funeral Home with burial in Memorial Park.  She was a choir member at Broadmoor Baptist Church, taught Sunday school, and was a charter member at Sunset Baptist Church.  Mrs. Smith, the widow of William G. Smith, leaves a brother, A. T. Smith of Atoka, Tenn. The family requests that any memorials be sent to Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Churchin Atoka.

Carmen T Smith; The Commercial Appeal; Memphis, Tenn; 8 Feb 2000; Pg 14
Carmen T Smith; The Commercial Appeal; Memphis, Tenn; 8 Feb 2000; Pg 14

 

Delayed Birth Certificate
Delayed Birth Certificate
1910 US Census
1910 US Census
1920 US Census
1920 US Census
1940 US Census
1940 US Census
1950 US Census
1950 US Census
Allie Perry Smith

Allie was born about 1865 and died on 10 Aug 1911.  Allie worked as a clerk in  a store in Randolph, Tennessee.  He never married.

There is an old rumor that Allie was shot and killed.  The suspect, a jealous husband, but no one was ever charged with the crime.  It seems, although an interesting story, this cannot be true as his death certificate states he died of Typhoid Fever.

Fannie Smith

Fannie was born in 1867.  She married John W Reeves (1862-1945) on 7 Feb 1889 in Tipton County, Tenn.  The couple had two children:  Baudine and Finis Henry Uric.  The Reeves family was instrumental in the growth of business and church affairs in Atoka.  John was a merchant for many years and he was very active in the civic projects of the town.  They were members of the Methodist Church, where Fannie taught Sunday school.  Their son, Finis, born 6 Aug 1895, was confined to a wheelchair because of a spinal injury he received as a child.  He died on 28 Jan 1924, at the at of 29. Fannie, John and Finis are buried in Bethel Cemetery.  Baudine, who was born 19 Nov 1893, married James C Smith (1891-1981) on 3 Sep 1916 in Tipton County, Tenn.  Baudine died in Dec of 1981 and is buried in Bethel Cemetery.

 

William Richard Smith

William was born February 16, 1863, and died 22 Oct 1900.  He married Lula Victoria Aycock.  The couple farmed between Tipton and Bethel on land they had purchased.  William and Lula had two daughters, Dorcas Smith and Gladys Smith, and one son, William R Smith who was born 16 Feb 1901, and died 25 Feb 1902.  William and Lula are buried in Bethel Cemetery in unmarked graves.  Their son, William, is buried in part “C” of the cemetery.  They are probably buried in that vicinity.

After William’s death, Lula married Walter Lyles. Walter had a child from a previous marriage named Helen.  Walter and Lula did not have children.

Edward Scott Smith

Edward was born 1860 and died in 1932.  He married Laura McCormick who was born 1859 and died in 1945.  They lived in Shelby County near the Tipton County line just south of Bethel Road.  They farmed, but the land was very poor and they did not do very well.  After their children were grown, Ed and Laura moved into a house located on Tipton Road between Tipton and Munford.  They are buried in the “C” section of Bethel Cemetery.  The children of Edward and Laura McCormick were daughter Myrtle and twins Roger B. and Rodney.

John Alexander Smith

John Alexander married Jarusha Dorcas Walker Oct. 28, 1959 in Tipton County, Tennessee.  She was the daughter of John and Frances Walker.  Jarusha was born July 20, 1842, and died April 24, 1917.  John and Jarusha are buried in the “B” section of Bethel Cemetery.

Arthur Theophilus Smith said that he always heard that John and Jarusha did not own the house and property where they were living when John died.  This property was located in Shelby County between Tracy Road and Mudville Road.  Today the road is known as Mulberry Road.  Somehow, Jarusha managed to raise seven children and purchase a portion of the property, at least the house and maybe some land.  The children of John A. and Jarusha Walker Smith were:  Edward Scott, William Richard, Allie, Fannie, Auther Theophilus, Wyatt Andrew and Johnny LeAndrew.