These books are being published by the McMinn County Chapter of the East Tennessee Historical Society. All books are beautiful hard-bound copies.

      This undertaking is the result of a joint effort of our Projects Committee initiated at a meeting last September 2004. We have undertaken the task of publishing a book for every funeral home in McMinn County to better preserve the history of people who have lived and died in McMinn County, and to be better able to assist our researchers and the general public. We hope to complete this endeavor by mid-summer.

      Our Funeral Home indexes require from fourteen to nineteen columns to accommodate the information given. These books are a jewel for the genealogist.

New Books Published Since September 2004:

Submitted by Mabel N. Boylston: May 2005

NEW: All Books are Hardbound Copies!

McMinn County, TN Marriage Records: March 1871-December 1885 – by Connie Wilson                                                                                                                        $20.00

McMinn County, TN Marriage Records: 1838 - 1880 – by Connie Wilson                $25.00      

Murphy Funeral Home, Etowah, TN: 1957-1970 – Published by McMinn Co. Historical Society 2005.                                                                                             $ 20.00

The
Dender Funeral Home, Etowah, TN, death index, 1929-1971; two Volumes– Published by McMinn Co. Historical Society 2005.

Volume I: alphabetical index, 376 pages                                                $30 for I Volume

Volume II, death date Index, 376 pages.                                               $30 or 55 for the set

Bordwine Funeral Home, Etowah, TN, death index: 1969-December 31, 2004, two volumes. – Published by McMinn Co. Historical Society 2005.

Volume I: alphabetical index, 325 pages.                                               $30 for 1 Volume

Volume II: death index, 325 pages.                                                       $55 for the set

Quisenberry Funeral Home, Athens, TN: 1931-1954, – Published by McMinn Co. Historical Society 2005.                               233 pages.                                                                           $25.00

Quisenberry-Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home: 1955-Dec. 31, 2004. 508 pages each– Published by McMinn Co. Historical Society 2005.

  Alpha and death date indexed                   Two Volumes: $37.50 each; $70.00 for the set.

Ziegler Funeral Home, death index 1958 – December 31, 2004 384 pages each: – Published by McMinn Co. Historical Society 2005.

 Alpha and death date indexed                            Two Volumes:$32.50 each  or $60 for set

Jerry Smith Funeral Home, death Index 1964 - Dec. 31, 2004: 376 pages each – Published by McMinn Co. Historical Society 2005.

Alpha and death date indexed                                               $ 32.50 each or $60 set.

Tempus Fidgets: Reba Boyer, Autobiography, 195 pages.  – Published by McMinn Co. Historical Society 2005.                                                                                                             $25.00

________________________________________________________________________

Hard Times Remembered: A study of Bradley County and The Great Depression edited by William R. Snell. This book contains selected essays and recollections, indexed and softbound, with 135 pages.      $10.00

Hard Times Remembered: A study of the Depression in McMinn County, edited by Bill Akins and Genevieve Wiggins. This is a softbound book, indexed, 146 pages.                                                              $10.00

“Over Here” and After: McMinn County Tennessee, During World War I and the Twenties, Edited by Genevieve Wiggins and Bill Akins. This is a softbound book, indexed, with 130 pages.                  $10.00

McMinn County, Tennessee, Cemeteries: compiled by Marvin and Samme Templin. This is a nice blue 8x10 hardbound copy containing 674 pages of cemeteries and a 33 page Surname-Index of people buried in McMinn County.   $43.60

                                                                                                            Mailed:             $50.00

Biography of Rex Moses compiled by Mabel N. Boylston. This book contains the Rex Moses Story of over 190 pages and included an autobiography, commendations, memorabilia and past and present achievements on county, state and national levels as well as genealogy. The McMinn Historical Society published it in April 2001 (3^rd Printing).                   $ 20.00

Biography of Rex Moses – Hard-Bound, including tax                                                $27.25

Torment in the Knobs by R. Frank McKinney                                                           $29.95

New Hopewell Baptist Church: The Little White Church in the Dale, 1824-1998. This history book is an 8x10 hardbound book that contains 550 pages with more than 612 photographs and original documents, church minutes from 1880 to 1998, pastor and membership rolls, personal letters to the church and records of members in the military. Also included is the social and economic history of McMinn County during those years and provides and excellent resource for community history and for genealogical research as well. Compiled and Published by Mabel Norwood Boylston.                                                                                                                       $54.00

With an Index of 48 pages: 1,692 names: 60 addendums.               Mailed:             $60.00

RECOLLECTIONS & HERESAYS OF ATHENS, FIFTY YEARS AND BEYOND by J.M. Sharp published in 1933. This is a 2^nd printing (2002) of this “gem” found by our McMinn County Historian, Bill Akins, who brought it to our attention. The McMinn County Historical Society is proud to make available to you a copy of this most interesting booklet of 80 pages. Book includes an Index.                                                                               $12.00

INDIAN SUMMER the Siege and Fall of Fort Loudoun by Joe D. Guy. The book is softbound with 230 pages published in 2001. One of the most interesting books I have ever read. I could hardly put it down until I had read the last page.                                                                                                                            $19.95

TALL TALES And Unusual Happenings of McMinn County, TN. Compiled by R. Frank McKinney and Edited by Bill Akins; published by The McMinn County Historical Society, 1988. Book includes an Index.                    $12.50

MY HEART’S IN THE HIGHLANDS: the Story of a Public School Teacher in Appalachia by Steward Collingsworth – 10/1/03. Pp.167. Steward graduated from McMinn County High School and received a B.A. Degree from Lincoln Memorial University. He grew up in McMinn County between Union Chapel Methodist Church and the New Hopewell Baptist Church about six miles west of Athens, TN. He attended Mouse Creek, Horton’s, and Riceville Elementary Schools. Steward served in the U.S. Navy Corp during 1944- 1946. After teaching for thirty-six years in the Claiborne County school system he has been retired for seventeen years. “The author’s world was revealed as one of peace, naiveté and poverty, a world of neighborly mutual help, vanished folkways, and religious certainty. Transforming the author’s highland heritage into our own, this highly readable life story enriches and offers a comfortingly conservative worldview steeped in the traditions of Appalachia.”                                                $21.50

VIDEOS: Videotaped by Bill Bigham, our video photographer, during our meetings.

All Video’s are $5.00 each; add $2.00 for mailing.

Historical Society Program Speakers:

“Cherokee History” – Bill Akins

“The History of Fort Loudoun” by Will Kenton, Park Ranger          

“Enjoy a Trip from White Cliff to Panther Cave on Starr Mountain” where MASON EVANS lived for forty years. Mason was known as the “Wild Man from Chilhowee.” This is where he lived as a hermit after being rejected by his sweetheart. Narrated by Rex Moses and videotaped by Jim Young. Approximately 45 minutes. Please read “Torment in the Knobs” by R. Frank McKinney published in 1976. These are events of the period between 1820 to the end of the nineteenth century.                                                                                                       

“The Free Hill Community during the Depression Years”: Virginia Lee Cate, abt. 45 minutes.

“Storytelling”: Jeanne R. Williams, L.M.F.T., about. 35 minutes.       

“The Forgotten War-Korea”:  Col. Jack Ramey, abt. 45 minutes.    

“The SULTANA Tragedy”, Norman Shaw, Atty. Approx. 45 minutes.

“Ancestors on Elijah Cate’s Plantation”: by Rev. Arnold Snowden, Sr.,

  McMinn County, TN – 1 hour.                                                          

“Reminiscing” by “The Old Timer”: Chuck Redfern, McMinn County, TN 1 hour.  

“History of Crescent Hosiery Mills, Inc., Niota, TN” by Cathy Burn Allen            

“Memorabilia & Reminiscing of the late Honorable J. Neal Ensminger” by Rev.

      Charles Ensminger, grandson, May 4, 3003. Approx. 1 ½ hrs.

 “First Annual Picnic” held @ historic home of Jim & Marcia Bottenhorn, built in 1838 by John Owens. About 1 ½ hrs.     

“Changes in the Criminal Justice System” by The Honorable Jerry N. Estes, D.A.G., approx 1 hour long.             

“I AM AN AMERICAN” by Lt. Col. Jimmy R. Williams, November 2, 2003. Approximately 1 hour long.   

“Making History in the Workplace” by R.E. Hamilton, Chaplain, December 7, 2003, approximately 1 hr. long.            

“The Science of Astronomy”: by Professor John C. Manonne January 4, 2004, 1 hour         

“Prison Ministry”: by Chaplain Richard Smith, February 1, 2004, 1 hour                  

“McMinn County History”: by John Gentry, McMinn Co. Mayor, 1 hour

“Researching Hidden History”: by Joe Guy, Assist. To the County Mayor, 1 hour

“Gen. John Ellis Wool, Athens, TN early 1800’s”: by Kenneth Langley, 1 hour

“Preservation of Historic Documents & Photo’s” by Mike Jaquish

“Second Annual Picnic” @ Bottenhorn’s, June 200

“Retirement Reception for Rex Moses,” August 29, 2004, approx. 2 hours

“New Market Train Wreck” by John P. Ascher, September 5, 2004. Approx. 1 hour.

“Presidential Campaign Slogans and the Stories behind Them”: by Bill Akins,                                                                                                October 3, 2004, approx. 1 hour.

“Sons of the American Revolution”-Stan Evans-November 2004-abt. 1 hr.

“Old fashion Christmas Celebration” – Society members-December 2004,  1 hr.   

“Cemetery Preservation:” Stewart Dennis, Cemetery Preservationist- Jan. 2005, 1 hr.

“Looking at Legacy”- Ms. Frances Williams – February 2005. 1 hr.

Preservation of old Photographs, by Chris Bindrim of Mouse Works of Athens

Reception for Reba Bayless, April 3, 2005, two hours.

(All profit from purchases goes to the McMinn County Historical Society & Archives)