I am seeking information on David Spain, father of Robert Lee Spain, Grandfather of Otha Monroe Spain. David was married to Jess McAlexander Hickman in l869. I would like to know who his parents were and if he lived with Doc Ben Clark in Cedar Grove Tn. and why. Any information is appreciated.

robert lee spain was my great grandfather, my grandmother was ola spain. it is my understanding that david spain (dave) was the son of david t. spain born in north carolina in 1806. david t. was married to elisa also of north carolina and born in 1808. dave spain was the father of robert lee. he and his wife (name unknown) and all of their children except for robert lee and his sister mary died in an epidemic. those two were raised by "old" dr. jim clark (james monroe clark).

Thanks for your reply. I think my husband might be your cousin. He is Donald Spain, son of Otha and Verda. Robert was his grandfather. Aunt Ola was his father's sister. We have been trying to get info about Dave's parents. Was he married to Jess McAlexander Hickman? The only reference I could find to him is on an 1850 census from Carroll Co. His father is listed as Joseph, mother Sarah, brother John H. This doesn't agree with what you wrote. I may have the wrong Dave T. The age and location are right, though. Do you have any other information? If you want to e-mail, I am at rkspain@bellsouth.net

I am the great-great of David T. Spain of Henderson County, Tennessee. My great was Theophilus Spain and my grandfather was William Cornelius Spain. Theophilus (he was called "The" with a long e) was killed by runaway horses when my grandfather was age two. My great grandmother (Sarah Jane Smith Spain Willis) remarried a John H. Willis (Pa Willis) when my grandfather was age 10. I have photos of Sarah Jane Smith Spain Willis and also my grandfather if interested. Sarah Jane Smith Spain Willis died July 1918 and is buried in Spain Cemetery not far from the family farms. William Cornelius Spain died in 1931 and is buried in Shiloh Cemetery near where he was living, which is now the Milan Army Ammunition Plant. David T. Spain's great granddaughter, my mother, is alive and is now age 90. I do not have the name of David T.'s father, but believe his name was Thomas.

Brenda Pollard Scoville (Polly)

I think that I attended the Cedar Grove Presbyterian Church with Donald and Gerry Spain. I posted earlier that my great-great grandfather was David T. Spain. My great grandfather was Theophilus Spain and my grandfather was William Cornelius Spain. My mother is still alive and is age 90. David T. Spain married the widow of his brother (Hugh Spain died during the Civil War). Susan, Hugh's widow and David T. were found on the 1880 census and David died after this census. Susan and David T. were raising a grandchild, Susan Josephene, and after David died, Susan and her grandchild moved to Texas to be near a son. We believe David T. is buried in Spain Cemetery near the family farms. David T. and Hugh Spain obtained their land in Henderosn County near Cedar Grove from Government Land Grants and moved from North Carolina. At one point, David and Hugh owned 1,700 acres. David T. was a Jutice of the Peace and Hugh was the Postmaster of the Town of Spain for several years. I have photos of Hugh's family that I obtained from a cousin in Chattanooga just recently if you are interested.

Brenda Pollard Scoville (Polly)

Hi Brenda: Yes, I remember you. Is your Dad Alma Gordon Pollard? Don Spain

Hi Don:

Yes. Dad's name is spelled Almer. You have a good memory. He passed away in 1989 and became sober about 10 years before his death and enjoyed a wonderful relationship with my daughter before his death. He was an amazing person in that he stopped drinking without medical intervention or AA. Mother is living in McKenzie with my sister, Judi, and we had a 90th birthday party for her in October. At least 20 nieces and nephews out of a total of nearly 50 attended. It reminded me of the Spain reunions that we would have every Sept. Mother is the last of 12.

Your mother was a lovely person inside and out. I got to see her again at Milan Hospital when I was with a family member. Have you been involved with geneaology research very long? I started about 25 years ago when I worked in downtown Nashville. My work was relatively easy in that the Spain's and Smith's lived next to each other - farm after farm. I found that David T. and Hugh Robert Spain owned at least 1,700 acres. I found the land grants that brought them to the area from North Carolina. I recently received photographs of Hugh's family and was excited to get them since I knew nothing about that line. Hugh Spain's widow traveled to Texas after the death of David T. our great-great (she married David T. after Hugh died) and I received her obit from 1903 last week. Let me know if you are searching for anything from the Spain line. Not sure I could help, but I would be happy to try. Good to hear from you.

Brenda Pollard Scoville (Polly)
Nashville, TN

MY GREATGRANDFATHER WAS ROBERT LEE SPAIN,FATHER OF OTHA MONROE SPAIN AND HUSBAND OF ELIZABETH MCALEXANDER. DAVID OR "DAVE" SPAIN AS HE WAS KNOWN DID NOT LIVE WITH DOC CLARK. IT WAS MY GREATGRANDFATHER ROBERT LEE AND HIS SISTER WHO LIVED WITH DOC AFTER DAVID, HIS WIFE AND ALL OTHER CHILDREN DIED FROM INFLUENZA. THIS IS THE STORY MY GRANDMOTHER OLA, SISTER TO OTHA TOLD ME AS A CHILD. I'M CURIOUS AS TO THE SAME LAST NAME OF ROBERT'S WIFE AND THE MIDDLE NAME OF DAVID'S. I WONDER HOW THOSE TWO WOMEN WERE RELATED. HOPE THIS INFO HELPS, JUDY SPELLINGS LAVENUE

I HAD NO IDEA THERE WAS EVER A TOWN OF SPAIN. I WOULD LOVE TO OBTAIN ANY PICTURES OF THE SPAIN FAMILY. I AM WONDERING IF PERHAPS YOUR GREAT GRANDFATHER THEOPHILUS WAS A BROTHER TO "DAVE" MY GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER.

Polly and Judy, My husband, Don is actually the one who responded to Polly and I am the one who does the research. I have been working on it about 3 years since his cousin, Margaret Elizabeth sent me a copy of a letter written in 1838 by one of the first McAlexanders to settle in Carroll County. They came from Virginia and she was writing to a son asking him to join them and actually giving him directions and advice about the trip. That gave me the bug. I was happy to get confirmation of the info I had about Dave's family being almost wiped out in an epidemic. I had heard it was yellow fever. I think his sister Patty told me that. Anyway, I can't go back any farther than Dave. I found a Joseph and Sarah who could be his parents as their birthdates are in 1823 and 1829 but have no confirmation on that. Does anyone know who his parents were? Its great to connect with family this way. Roseanne