ROUTON HISTORY AND ANECDOTES
BLAZE DESTROYS ROUTON HOME – RURAL LANDMARK
(From newspaper article)
Fire Thursday afternoon destroyed the old Q. E. Routon homeplace, a landmark in the Routon community for nearly a
century. Antiques, family papers, and pictures were lost.
The fire reportedly began when some members of the Elbert Routon family, current occupants of the home,
were burning in the yard. The blaze spread out of control and burned the old house to the ground.
The white frame two-story Victorian home was built in the early 1880’s by Q. E. Routon and his wife, Laura Bowden Routon. Routon was county court clerk at the turn of the century.
Among items lost in the fire were handwork and a large loom belonging to the late Miss Vera Routon, who taught
weaving at Union University in Jackson.
The home, on the old McKenzie highway some seven miles south of Paris, is the second Routon landmark destroyed
by fire. In 1958 just up the lane, the old S. P. Routon home burned. It was the house in which “Mr. Quince” Routon was reared.
HENRY COUNTY HAS FURNISHED EMINENT MAN IN SERVICE OF COUNTRY
(From newspaper article)
WRITTEN BY JOSEPH SENTER
ROUTON
1910
Copy of Original Newspaper Article - From
The Routons of Paris and Henry County, Tennessee
by Stephanie Routon Tayloe
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HENRY
County Has Furnished Eminent Men in Service of Country.
By
JOE ROUTON
Superintendent of Instruction
1910
Henry County is one of the Northern tier of counties of West Tennessee, and was named in honor of Patrick Henry. The first white settlers came to the county in 1819. Some of the early settlers were: Joel and Willis Hagler, James Williams, William Wyatt, the Rev. Benjamin Peoples, the Rev. John Manly, Abraham and William Walters, James Hicks,
William Jones, Johannon Smith, Henry Wall, Reuben Bomar,
William Porter, Thomas Grey, Jesse Paschal, James and R. D. Caldwell,
Samuel Rogers, Adam Rome, Henry Humphreys, Louis and Samuel McCorkle, Alex Harmon, Col. Richard Porter, Hugh W. Dunlap,
John Brown, John Young, James and David S. Greer,
from whom some of our best families have descended.
The county was created by acts of the General Assembly of 1821. The first sitting of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions was held at the house of Peter Wall on the first Monday in December, 1821. The first courthouse was built of logs in 1823.
Henry County embraces nearly 600 square miles of territory, and has a
population of over 25,000, of whom the city of Paris claims about 5,000. The staple crops are corn, wheat, hay, tobacco and cotton, though with proper cultivation, almost any crop known to the temperate zone may be grown successfully. Farmers are taking advantage of new methods and machinery and are giving more care to the
cultivation of paying crops and the breeding of better stock.
The L. & N. R. R. traverses the county from Southwest to Northeast,
the N. C. & St. L. from North to South, crossing at Paris,
where are located at the L.& N. shops.
The school system of the county is controlled by a County Board of
Education, and the present condition and promising outlook of the schools give evidence of the efficient manner in which they have
discharged their duties. The Board at present is composed of Hugh E. Tyson, Chairman; Dr. E. A. Travis, J. W. Stewart,
J. W. Odom, James A. Gates, Joe Routon, Secretary.
The Lee School of Paris, Stanley Wright, principal, has an enrollment of
over 600 pupils. The E. W. Grove High School, A. O. Bowden, principal, is progressing so rapidly that arrangements are under way
to build dormitories to accommodate the increased attendance.
These schools are under the superintendence of S. W. Sherill.
There are at present seven banks in the county:
The Commercial Bank, Bank of Henry and First National Bank of
Paris, the Peoples’ Bank & Trust Co., at Henry; the Cottage Grove Bank & Trust Co., and the Union Bank at Cottage Grove, and the Farmers’ Bank at Puryear, all doing a thriving business.
There are four weekly newspapers, two at Paris, the Post-Intelligencer
published by J. R. Rison and edited by Ross Rogers;
and the Parisian, published by J. Taylor Griffin, and edited by C. T. Crawford; the Henry Progress published at Henry by Dr. J. P. Sims, and edited by Leslie Sims; and the Home Advocate, published at Cottage Grove by R. A. Williams, and edited by Tate Ring.
The first paper published in Henry County was in 1829,
of which Gen. Felix K. Zollicoffer was editor.
Paris, the capital of Henry County, is flourishing city of 5,000
inhabitants, the majority of whom are educated, refined,
culturedand hospitable. It is surrounded by rich agricultural lands, tilled by prosperous farmers, with telephone and rural route conveniences. The city has beautiful and well paved streets, water works and electrical lighting plants, churches, hotels and extensive and progressive business concerns of all kinds. The present city officials are: J. M. Freeman, Mayor; John S. Dunlap, Recorder;
John C. Sweeney, City Attorney; M. W. Younkin, Superintendent of water and lighting plant; W. C. Johnson, Byron Looney, A. B. White,
R. L. Dunlap and W. W. Farabough, Aldermen.
John. W. Crockett, elder son of the famous David Crockett,
was a citizen of Paris, and was a Congressman
from 1837 to 1841. Howell E. Jackson, one of the eminent sons
of Tennessee, also a resident of Paris, after filing other high
and honorable positions, became a distinguished Judge on the
Supreme bench of the United States.
Isham G. Harris, another distinguished son, able orator,
eminent lawyer, became successively Congressman,
Presidential Elector, Governor for three terms,
Volunteer Aide to Gen. A. S. Johnston in the Civil War,
and was for many years, until his death, United States Senator.
John D. C. Atkins, native and long resident of Henry County, successively State Legislator, Presidential Elector, Congressman, 1857, Lieutenant Colonel of the Fifth Tennessee Regiment until elected Confederate Congressman, again in 1872 elected
United States Congressman serving in the Forty-third, Forty-fourth, Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth and Forty-seventh Congresses, in 1884 he was Presidential Elector for the State at large, and in 1885 was appointed by President Cleveland as Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
James D. Porter, one of the Trustees of the George Peabody Education
Fund, whose home is in Paris, was twice Governor of Tennessee,
President of the N. C. & St. L. Railway Co., and Assistant Secretary
of State and Minister to Chili under the respective administrations of President Cleveland. Governor Porter was one time a Judge of his
Judicial Circuit, and also served his constituency in the Legislature, and was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1870. He served as Adjutant General and aided in organizing the Provisional Army of Tennessee. He then Gen. Cheatham’s command and
served during the war as his Chief of Staff.
Dr. E. W. Grove, the millionaire medicine manufacturer,
once lived in Henry County, which is greatly indebted
to him for his many magnificent gifts.
The Rev. Irl R. Hicks, the “storm prophet” of St. Louis, also
lived in Henry County. The present county officials in Henry County are: James S. Aden, County Judge; James Sweeney, County Clerk;
John R. Rison, Chancery Clerk; A. B. Trousdale,
Circuit Clerk; D. T. Spaulding, Register of Deeds; T. H. Whitlock, Trustee; Joe Routon, Superintendent of Schools; R. H. Compton, Sheriff; J. B. Walker, Public Guardian; D. E. Bomar,
Public Administrator; H. L. Lawrence, County Surveyor; Ross Rogers, Ranger; W. T. Snow, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
In the recent Democratic primary, M. H. Goldston and
W. T. Young were nominated respectively for County Judge
and Trustee to succeed the present incumbents whose terms of office will expire Sept. 1, 1910. The Hon. John F. Cole of Paris,
represented this county in the lower house of the General Assembly. The Democrats of this Judicial Circuit recently nominated the Hon. T. C. Rye, of Paris, for Attorney General. The Hon. Dudley Porter, of Paris,
candidate for Congress, was Elector for the district in the last Presidential election. The Hon. John Thomason, State Revenue Agent for West Tennessee, is a resident of Paris.
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HOMEPLACE STORIES
THE HOME OF S. P. AND M. C. ROUTON
From
The Routons of Paris and Henry County, Tennessee
by Stephanie Routon Tayloe
Once lightning struck a large cedar tree in the yard of the
HomePlace. A carpenter by the name of Ollie Watkins came to make
cedar chests from the fallen tree. While doing the work, he fell in love with Miss Grace Routon who was an orphan of Dr. Philip Routon, taken in by Ma Routon and was living at the HomePlace.
My cousin, Vera Routon, who lived nearby with her family told me she well remembered Mr. Ollie asking her father, “About what age is Miss
Grace?.” They were married, and the old cedar tree yielded three nice cedar chests, one that has been restored and is now in possession of my niece, Jill Routon. Q. E. Routon had one, and Mr. Ollie the other one.
Ma Routon’s brothers, Iverson, Felix, and Jim all lived with her at one
time or another. Uncle Jim Haymes lived to be an old man and it was legend that he would sit out under the shade
trees and tell the younger boys of his adventures in the Civil War.
My aunt Catherine said when she was sent to go to the HomePlace for a
visit with Ma Routon, her maternal grandmother, Harriet Sanders, who lived with them would say, “Oh, I can’t let you go out there for a visit without clean clothes”, and she would wash, starch, and iron her clothes, then at the end of that visit her other grandmother would say, “Oh, I can’t let you go back home without all your clothes being clean” and she would wash, starch, and iron them for the return home, each grandmother outdoing the other, but Mamma
Sanders “could not be outdone”.
Uncle Horace who worked hard and was frugal, saved his money and paid $ 700 for a Model T car. He drove it
home and parked it in the shed built onto an outbuilding, and it was stolen quickly with never a trace of it again. He sent runners on foot to Sheriff Breedlove, but no trace was ever found.
Cousin Vera told me that Uncle Horace once saw Shakespearean actor,
Edmund Booth, perform in Memphis and thought that he was grand.
Once when Mr. Joe Routon was a young man, he ran off and went to visit relatives in Arkansas. When he returned he had a bottle of whiskey, a gun and a book. “The Adventures of Jesse James.” Ma was so mad she made him get in a large rain barrel and Uncle Horace pushed him down the hill. The story went that this broke him from drinking and he grew up a fine man. He was Superintendent of
Schools for Henry County for thirty years.
When Mr. Joe Routon married Miss Minnie Wimbish, a distant cousin, the Wimbishes, all high spirited, shot guns and galloped on their horses around the house. At the end of the commotion
the reserved Routons had all stepped inside the house.
Once when my grandfather was writing a letter and my cousin, Vera, a
small girl, was jumping on the floor and shaking the boards, disturbing his writing, he got up, walked over to his small niece and took her hand and said, “When you jump on THIS board, it shakes THIS
(next) board, and when you shake that board it shakes this board…..”, until he reached his position of writing.
She got the message and laughed about the incident as an old women.
Cousin Vera and her brother, Elbert, in their older days, like to talk
about their grandmother’s family and the HomePlace.
Of all the grandchildren they are the only two who spent their entire
lives on the Routon farm, never moving far. They would both talk at the same time about an old gun box smooth from so much handling.
She talked about the wonderful gingerbread Ma Routon made.
On cold winter nights when my grandfather was little they would pop corn or make candy, sit by the fire and make pallets in front of the fire.
The attic was filled with trunks of old magazines, letters and pictures. Cousin Vera salvaged so many of the attic things and passed on so many stories of Ma Routon’s family.
One funny story passed on is the occasion that Dr. George McSwain made a house call in Henry and during a bad rain and thunderstorm got stuck in front of the HomePlace. As was the custom then, he was invited in and as the vehicle could not be unstuck in the dark, he spent the night. He and Uncle Horace stayed up and sat in front of the big open fire while it rained heavily outside, swapping stories and sharing a bottle of bourbon. Aunt Gertie cried and accused the doctor of being the cause of Horace’s lost salvation. The father of the baby Dr. McSwain had delivered could not pay him in money, so he had given him
some corn whiskey which they drank.
From
The Routons of Paris and Henry County, Tennessee
by Stephanie Routon Tayloe
Once lightning struck a large cedar tree in the yard of the
HomePlace. A carpenter by the name of Ollie Watkins came to make
cedar chests from the fallen tree. While doing the work, he fell in love with Miss Grace Routon who was an orphan of Dr. Philip Routon, taken in by Ma Routon and was living at the HomePlace.
My cousin, Vera Routon, who lived nearby with her family told me she well remembered Mr. Ollie asking her father, “About what age is Miss
Grace?.” They were married, and the old cedar tree yielded three nice cedar chests, one that has been restored and is now in possession of my niece, Jill Routon. Q. E. Routon had one, and Mr. Ollie the other one.
Ma Routon’s brothers, Iverson, Felix, and Jim all lived with her at one
time or another. Uncle Jim Haymes lived to be an old man and it was legend that he would sit out under the shade
trees and tell the younger boys of his adventures in the Civil War.
My aunt Catherine said when she was sent to go to the HomePlace for a
visit with Ma Routon, her maternal grandmother, Harriet Sanders, who lived with them would say, “Oh, I can’t let you go out there for a visit without clean clothes”, and she would wash, starch, and iron her clothes, then at the end of that visit her other grandmother would say, “Oh, I can’t let you go back home without all your clothes being clean” and she would wash, starch, and iron them for the return home, each grandmother outdoing the other, but Mamma
Sanders “could not be outdone”.
Uncle Horace who worked hard and was frugal, saved his money and paid $ 700 for a Model T car. He drove it
home and parked it in the shed built onto an outbuilding, and it was stolen quickly with never a trace of it again. He sent runners on foot to Sheriff Breedlove, but no trace was ever found.
Cousin Vera told me that Uncle Horace once saw Shakespearean actor,
Edmund Booth, perform in Memphis and thought that he was grand.
Once when Mr. Joe Routon was a young man, he ran off and went to visit relatives in Arkansas. When he returned he had a bottle of whiskey, a gun and a book. “The Adventures of Jesse James.” Ma was so mad she made him get in a large rain barrel and Uncle Horace pushed him down the hill. The story went that this broke him from drinking and he grew up a fine man. He was Superintendent of
Schools for Henry County for thirty years.
When Mr. Joe Routon married Miss Minnie Wimbish, a distant cousin, the Wimbishes, all high spirited, shot guns and galloped on their horses around the house. At the end of the commotion
the reserved Routons had all stepped inside the house.
Once when my grandfather was writing a letter and my cousin, Vera, a
small girl, was jumping on the floor and shaking the boards, disturbing his writing, he got up, walked over to his small niece and took her hand and said, “When you jump on THIS board, it shakes THIS
(next) board, and when you shake that board it shakes this board…..”, until he reached his position of writing.
She got the message and laughed about the incident as an old women.
Cousin Vera and her brother, Elbert, in their older days, like to talk
about their grandmother’s family and the HomePlace.
Of all the grandchildren they are the only two who spent their entire
lives on the Routon farm, never moving far. They would both talk at the same time about an old gun box smooth from so much handling.
She talked about the wonderful gingerbread Ma Routon made.
On cold winter nights when my grandfather was little they would pop corn or make candy, sit by the fire and make pallets in front of the fire.
The attic was filled with trunks of old magazines, letters and pictures. Cousin Vera salvaged so many of the attic things and passed on so many stories of Ma Routon’s family.
One funny story passed on is the occasion that Dr. George McSwain made a house call in Henry and during a bad rain and thunderstorm got stuck in front of the HomePlace. As was the custom then, he was invited in and as the vehicle could not be unstuck in the dark, he spent the night. He and Uncle Horace stayed up and sat in front of the big open fire while it rained heavily outside, swapping stories and sharing a bottle of bourbon. Aunt Gertie cried and accused the doctor of being the cause of Horace’s lost salvation. The father of the baby Dr. McSwain had delivered could not pay him in money, so he had given him
some corn whiskey which they drank.
LETTER FROM LAURA BOWDEN TO QUINCY EVERETT ROUTON BEFORE THEIR MARRIAGE
Envelope shows the stamp franked in Judsonia, Arkansas Sept. 31,
year indecipherable, addressed to: "Mr. Q. E. Routon, Paris, Tenn. Henry County." Franking on back shows date - 1887?
ORDER OF PAGES OF LETTER CANNOT BE
DETERMINED
Judsonia, Arkansas August 27, 1887 (?)
Dear Mr. Routon:
I perceive from the reading of your recent letter that you were, when writing, by no means in a pleasant state of mind.
I hope I did not say any thing in my miserable letter to give you offence,
or wound your feelings, and am sorry indeed to have
caused you any dissatisfaction in mind.
I never thought you penurious, or very exacting and please don't ask me again to allow you to be sincere as well as myself. It is not only your privilege, but it is your duty (giving yourself justice),to be sincere,
and I shall ....
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....never think hard of you for speaking plainly.
I remember saying that I thought it would be best for papa and sisters to remain at home, provided we were married. I think so yet. You asked me in your letter of Aug. 5th to let you know if our marriage should take place next winter; at my earliest opportunity saying, too, that it would be better to know what would be expected for the other consideration. I
could not have answered in the affirmative without presenting to your views some way of deciding definitely what would be expected,
and I only wished you to consider the matter and say for yourself whether we should be married under such circumstances.
I did not want you to promise anything.
Did you think I wanted you to promise that we take papa?
I don't much believe in promises before marriage; do you?
You are right as to it being papa's misfortune, but don't you think his misfortune proved to be mine too?
I can imagine the young man desiring a home, with the hope of claiming the girl he loves as his wife, and it might do to judge his feelings by hers. Do you think it would?
You speak of papa's being willing, or satisfied with that arrangement.
I have never consulted him about my future; or even told him positively of our engagement, though he trusts me probably farther than you think of; and would not I think, object to any arrangement I should make.
I don't think one of the girls would be disadvantageous, should such a thing ever be.
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Though when I wrote I was thinking more about caring for him and saving further expenses; as very little is necessary or of use to him, being confined to his room.
One of the girls could probably remain in the state if not with us. It would be less inharmonious of course for her to be there. One of us always remains at home with him.
Sister Mollie has always told me that if I ever married she would take the girls, and talks of taking papa, but I don't intend that he shall ever come to these bottoms because he could not stand the malarial.
I don't think Arkansasa very healthy place, especially for persons having weak lungs. I went to church at Judsonia recently. No Southern young people hardly in the place. The young gentlemen of Northern descent are as a rule very gay, though their style don't suit the Southern girls the best.
I also attended a funeral at Searcy Tuesday. The home of the deceased
was at Judsonia. The Search hearse came over after the corpse and was followed back by a very long procession. I dismissed school at noon to join them. It was a slow and dusty drive of near seven miles.
(Later August 28)
Very cool this morning. Am writing on the Sabbath. Is it wrong? I just mean to finish this letter. Wonder what you are doing! Getting off to church?
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I shall remain at home all day. Don't you guess somebody would come if I were at my Shadyglen home in Tennessee. Glad you are having pleasant gatherings. It would seem like old times to me to be there.
Do you attend the revivals?
I suppose our friend, Mr. Neal, doesn't remain with his old friend long.
How do you like Miss _________? I never met her but once. At that literary picnic, when I saw her. Guess you remember her that day. Those were jolly good times, don't you think so?
Those literary meetings and singing were sometimes lively, too. The Arkansas folks pretend to think Tennessee girls sing well.
I don't know what kind of memorandums you wrote; please tell me about it.
Don't let all the folks forget me! I was so unhappy when I read
your letter. I never heard you talk that way before, and couldn't imagine just how those brown eyes looked when you thought hard of me. It is a
hard matter for a pen to convey the ideas like one's self would do it.
Yes, indeed. You have the consolation that you informed me of your financial condition, etc. before now. I have thought that I had the same.
I am in hopes that you will not again be driven to this source of consolation.
Please don't look on the matter so seriously. I hope, as you say, it
is all for the best, and that we may someday be the happier.
Don't think I am hard to satisfy or that I think it a matter of necessity, that arrangements of this kind be made.
You will please be kind enough to correct any thing wrong I say, and be assured that I want to do right.
Here is the piece of hair, will you please give me in return just one of those brown wavy little locks that used to stray out on your forehead in form of a singlet.
Keep too these little flowers! They grew near a large stone at the school-house. The one I sit on when I stray off at noon to have my thoughts - all to myself. I pressed them in my bible. I will over look your long
letter if you will over look this and write another.
Goodby, with tenderest affections, Laura
SIDEWAYS WRITING BETWEEN LINES:
Several days later
I haven't started this yet. Have an attack of chills and fever and have not been well enough to get it off. Hence you will excuse delay. I am much better now and hope to enter school again Monday. Please now my
dear Mr. Routon don't think I did wrong by writing what I have.
Brother is willing to help me provide for them at home or to take care of them with my help. But I never intended for papa to come out here.
Yours affectionately, Laura
SIDEWAYS WRITING
(Sunday night)
I forgot to say I will be sure to send you a picture if I have any made. Brother and I went on a boat ride this eve, went a long way up the river. I gathered some ______ and flowers. You ask about crops here. They are very good but are damaged - some by the drought.
Brother will start gathering cotton in morning.
Good night. Pleasant dreams ..........
MIGRATION OF THE ROUTONS – FROM FRANCE TO HENRY COUNTY, TENNESSEE
NORMANDY, FRANCE
The Fuquas were French Huguenots (Protestants) who lived in Normandy, a province of France. The Routons of today descended from the intermarriages of two French families– the
Routons and the Fuquas.
BUCKINGHAM COUNTY, VIRGINIA
The Routon and Fuqua families emigrated, before 1700, to Buckingham
County, Virginia. Routons fought in the
Revolutionary War and assisted with the war effort.
LOGAN COUNTY, KENTUCKY
Philip and Reuben Routon migrated to Logan County, Kentucky in 1819. November 4, 1819, Philip Routon married Mary Penelope (Polly) Fuqua.
HENRY COUNTY, TENNESSEE
From Logan County, Kentucky, Philip Routon moved in 1825 to Henry County, Tennessee.
The Fuquas were French Huguenots (Protestants) who lived in Normandy, a province of France. The Routons of today descended from the intermarriages of two French families– the
Routons and the Fuquas.
BUCKINGHAM COUNTY, VIRGINIA
The Routon and Fuqua families emigrated, before 1700, to Buckingham
County, Virginia. Routons fought in the
Revolutionary War and assisted with the war effort.
LOGAN COUNTY, KENTUCKY
Philip and Reuben Routon migrated to Logan County, Kentucky in 1819. November 4, 1819, Philip Routon married Mary Penelope (Polly) Fuqua.
HENRY COUNTY, TENNESSEE
From Logan County, Kentucky, Philip Routon moved in 1825 to Henry County, Tennessee.
OUR FAMILY IN WORLD WAR I
From
The Routons of Paris and Henry County, Tennessee
by Stephanie Routon TayloeFrom
Fuqua Routon, 81st Division, U.S. Army; fought in the first trenches in Hindenburg Line. Son of Q. E. Routon. He and two squads of men were led out of the trenches by the officers over the enemy line. The officer was killed leaving Fuqua next in command. On Sunday, the day prior to the day Armistice was signed, he gave up hope of seeing home and family again. He returned home safely. He had a gold watch given him by his Aunt Pearl for good luck which read, “ To Fuqua from Aunt Pearl.” His Aunt Ada Bowden said he could not live with the boys gone to war; she died before he came home.
Ralph Routon
He was sent north for training in the Army and was ready to go abroad when Armistice was signed. Son of Q. E. Routon.
Everett Routon
Son of Joe and Minnie Routon, was an enlisted man who fought in the battles of France.
This letter was written from Everett Routon to Ma Routon:
Everett Routon
Prusly France
March 29th, 1916
My Dear Grandmother,
I received your letter a few days ago and was glad to hear from you. How are you getting along now? Mama wrote sometime ago that you had not been very well lately. I hope you have gotten well by now. I received a letter from Mama today.
Well I guess Uncle Horace has begun to farm quite a bit by now. Have you got a big wheat crop this year?
I met Fuqua a few days ago for the first since I have been in France.
I was in Paris the past week and I certainly saw lots of sights. I saw the tomb of Napoleon and a lot of his works. I visited the place of the King and Queen of France. I went through most all of the rooms which are very grand. I was in the hall where the armistice was signed and had my hand on the table where the papers will be signed. I was also in the Supreme Court room while court was in session and was in other different places of interest that would be too numerous to tell about
now. The trip to Paris was worth more to me than all the rest of France which I have seen.
We are still having lots of rain in France. It seems like it will never cease.
Well, as I haven’t any news much I will close for this time, with love to
all.
Your grandson,
Everett Routon
Ralph Routon
He was sent north for training in the Army and was ready to go abroad when Armistice was signed. Son of Q. E. Routon.
Everett Routon
Son of Joe and Minnie Routon, was an enlisted man who fought in the battles of France.
This letter was written from Everett Routon to Ma Routon:
Everett Routon
Prusly France
March 29th, 1916
My Dear Grandmother,
I received your letter a few days ago and was glad to hear from you. How are you getting along now? Mama wrote sometime ago that you had not been very well lately. I hope you have gotten well by now. I received a letter from Mama today.
Well I guess Uncle Horace has begun to farm quite a bit by now. Have you got a big wheat crop this year?
I met Fuqua a few days ago for the first since I have been in France.
I was in Paris the past week and I certainly saw lots of sights. I saw the tomb of Napoleon and a lot of his works. I visited the place of the King and Queen of France. I went through most all of the rooms which are very grand. I was in the hall where the armistice was signed and had my hand on the table where the papers will be signed. I was also in the Supreme Court room while court was in session and was in other different places of interest that would be too numerous to tell about
now. The trip to Paris was worth more to me than all the rest of France which I have seen.
We are still having lots of rain in France. It seems like it will never cease.
Well, as I haven’t any news much I will close for this time, with love to
all.
Your grandson,
Everett Routon
STEPHEN PALMER ROUTON HOMEPLACE
From
The Routons of Paris and Henry County, Tennessee
by Stephanie Routon Tayloe.
The homeplace was bought by Stephen Palmer Routon in 1852 from the Carter family. It lies in the old Sixth District, Henry County, Tennessee, about five miles south of Paris on the old McKenzie Highway.
It was located on a small sloping hill in a curve of the road.
The white frame house had two large front rooms with fireplaces, and
rooms were later added on the back. Uncle Joe Routon remembers an old grind stone wheel being used as a stepping stone to the front porch.
In the corner of the front room were corner stairsteps, enclosed that
connected to the two rooms upstairs. In the curve of the stairs was a
small door for the cats to get upstairs to catch mice.
This was called the “cat door.”
Vera Routon, a granddaughter of Stephen Palmer Routon, remembers Ma Routon having a long switch she used to run cats out of the kitchen.
At one time the kitchen had been separated from the rest of the house,
but was later moved and attached to the main rooms. The kitchen had a huge fireplace as tall as human shoulders where they could do open
fireplace cooking. There was a trap door to the cellar where they kept butter and milk. Some of the treasures that were in the house were:
a four poster bed, now in possession of Betsy Burton Willis, adopted
daughter of Catherine Routon Burton, and granddaughter of Stephen Palmer Routon; a beautiful pine pie cupboard, handed down to Richard Routon from his father, Stephen James Routon, grandson of Stephen Palmer Routon; an old cannon ball bed and crazy quilt in possession of Stephanie Routon Tayloe, daughter of Stephen James Routon; old bookcases, possession of Joe Routon, grandson of Stephen Palmer Routon; and a long oil painting of a trout stream that Pearl Routon, daughter-in-law of Stephen Palmer Routon, had done and presented to her mother-in-law as a Christmas present in 1904,
now in possession of Stephen James and Val Routon,
which was given to them as a Christmas present in 1953.
Aunt Gertie played the high back organ that stood in the parlor,
and was later stolen from an outbuilding in the 1950’s.
In the back yard was a well and one of the largest pear trees I have ever
seen. I remember climbing it and eating pears, watching out for the flying yellow jackets after the same juicy fruit.
The two upstairs rooms were filled with trunks, old papers and junk in
the 1950’s after the house was left empty. What fun it would be to go back today and go through that wonderful junk.
Vera Routon handed down many interesting family stories.
One was that during the Civil War the Yankees, 30-40 in number, surrounded the house and made“Ma” Routon cook for them. They rewarded them by robbing her smoke house and hen house.
Once Jesse James slept in the front yard.
The old log barn was built at the location because the Routons wanted
to obstruct the view of the nearby Bushart property because the
Mr. Bushart living there had the reputation of being cruel and mistreating his slaves whose cries were audible at times.
After the War, Mr. Bushart killed his wife and then himself. Insanity
and cruelty reportedly ran in the family, into the next generation. Daddy Jim’s first cousin, son of Pertney Hagler, was found dead,
tied to the railroad tracks, and the Routons suspected this was an act committed by a Bushart.
I remember the old wooden gate to the garden.
There were clusters of white star flowers and early buttercups blooming
nearby. There were some tall black walnut trees in the yard.
On the west side of the house, there was a small house, but it was gone
before my birth; but the dug out ground where the root cellar had been, still marked the location. Mary Fuqua Routon, mother of Stephen Palmer Routon, had lived in this little house. She lived on four years after her son’s early death. She gave our Daddy Jim a silver dollar for his birthday and it was passed on to me, then I passed
it to my brother, Richard Routon, who has it in his possession.
I have an old lemon squeezer and sugar bucket that originally were at the homeplace.
After “Ma” Routon died in 1920, the house was left alone and the bachelor son, Horace, and unmarried daughter, Gertie, continued to live there. After their deaths my grandfather bought out the other heirs.
It stood vacant for years, and the month of my grandfather’s death,
the last surviving member of his family, the house burned,
scorching the walnut trees.
The Routons of Paris and Henry County, Tennessee
by Stephanie Routon Tayloe.
The homeplace was bought by Stephen Palmer Routon in 1852 from the Carter family. It lies in the old Sixth District, Henry County, Tennessee, about five miles south of Paris on the old McKenzie Highway.
It was located on a small sloping hill in a curve of the road.
The white frame house had two large front rooms with fireplaces, and
rooms were later added on the back. Uncle Joe Routon remembers an old grind stone wheel being used as a stepping stone to the front porch.
In the corner of the front room were corner stairsteps, enclosed that
connected to the two rooms upstairs. In the curve of the stairs was a
small door for the cats to get upstairs to catch mice.
This was called the “cat door.”
Vera Routon, a granddaughter of Stephen Palmer Routon, remembers Ma Routon having a long switch she used to run cats out of the kitchen.
At one time the kitchen had been separated from the rest of the house,
but was later moved and attached to the main rooms. The kitchen had a huge fireplace as tall as human shoulders where they could do open
fireplace cooking. There was a trap door to the cellar where they kept butter and milk. Some of the treasures that were in the house were:
a four poster bed, now in possession of Betsy Burton Willis, adopted
daughter of Catherine Routon Burton, and granddaughter of Stephen Palmer Routon; a beautiful pine pie cupboard, handed down to Richard Routon from his father, Stephen James Routon, grandson of Stephen Palmer Routon; an old cannon ball bed and crazy quilt in possession of Stephanie Routon Tayloe, daughter of Stephen James Routon; old bookcases, possession of Joe Routon, grandson of Stephen Palmer Routon; and a long oil painting of a trout stream that Pearl Routon, daughter-in-law of Stephen Palmer Routon, had done and presented to her mother-in-law as a Christmas present in 1904,
now in possession of Stephen James and Val Routon,
which was given to them as a Christmas present in 1953.
Aunt Gertie played the high back organ that stood in the parlor,
and was later stolen from an outbuilding in the 1950’s.
In the back yard was a well and one of the largest pear trees I have ever
seen. I remember climbing it and eating pears, watching out for the flying yellow jackets after the same juicy fruit.
The two upstairs rooms were filled with trunks, old papers and junk in
the 1950’s after the house was left empty. What fun it would be to go back today and go through that wonderful junk.
Vera Routon handed down many interesting family stories.
One was that during the Civil War the Yankees, 30-40 in number, surrounded the house and made“Ma” Routon cook for them. They rewarded them by robbing her smoke house and hen house.
Once Jesse James slept in the front yard.
The old log barn was built at the location because the Routons wanted
to obstruct the view of the nearby Bushart property because the
Mr. Bushart living there had the reputation of being cruel and mistreating his slaves whose cries were audible at times.
After the War, Mr. Bushart killed his wife and then himself. Insanity
and cruelty reportedly ran in the family, into the next generation. Daddy Jim’s first cousin, son of Pertney Hagler, was found dead,
tied to the railroad tracks, and the Routons suspected this was an act committed by a Bushart.
I remember the old wooden gate to the garden.
There were clusters of white star flowers and early buttercups blooming
nearby. There were some tall black walnut trees in the yard.
On the west side of the house, there was a small house, but it was gone
before my birth; but the dug out ground where the root cellar had been, still marked the location. Mary Fuqua Routon, mother of Stephen Palmer Routon, had lived in this little house. She lived on four years after her son’s early death. She gave our Daddy Jim a silver dollar for his birthday and it was passed on to me, then I passed
it to my brother, Richard Routon, who has it in his possession.
I have an old lemon squeezer and sugar bucket that originally were at the homeplace.
After “Ma” Routon died in 1920, the house was left alone and the bachelor son, Horace, and unmarried daughter, Gertie, continued to live there. After their deaths my grandfather bought out the other heirs.
It stood vacant for years, and the month of my grandfather’s death,
the last surviving member of his family, the house burned,
scorching the walnut trees.
THE CHILDREN OF PHILIP ROUTON AND MARY FUQUA ROUTON
From
The Routons of Paris and Henry County, Tennessee
by Stephanie Routon Tayloe
Philip Routon was born April 17, 1792, in Buckingham County, Virginia,
the son of John and Hannah Palmer Routon. Philip died 1838 in Henry County, Tennessee.
He married Mary Fuqua November 4, 1819, Logan County, Kentucky. She was the daughter of Stephen Fuqua and Susanna Garrett of Buckingham County, Virginia. Mary was born October 16, 1796, Buckingham County, Virginia and died 1878 Henry County, Tennessee,
buried in Springhill Cemetery.
The children if Philip and Mary Fuqua Routon:
1. Caroline Routon: Born September 13, 1820, Logan County, Kentucky. Married Thomas Penick, Henry County, Tennessee, son of Henry M. Penick and Sarah McGee. Caroline and Thomas Penick had five children.
2. Aaron Fuqua Routon: Born February 6, 1822 Logan County, Kentucky. Married Elizabeth Williams, Benton County, Tennessee, July 11, 1847. Divorced. Died Benton County, Tennessee. Two children.
3. Pernety Hale Routon: Born April 1, 1824, Logan County, Kentucky. Married Felix Hagler, son of John L. Hagler and Joyce Johnson, January 18, 1841, six children. Died 1906 Benton County, Tennessee
4. James Routon: Born June 4, 1827. Died February 6, 1830 Henry County, Tennessee, age 2.
5. Stephen Palmer Routon: Born February 6, 1830 Henry County, Tennessee. Married Mary Catherine Haymes, daughter of William Henry Hayes, Jr., and Mary Frances Walters, June 1, 1858, Henry County, Tennessee, five children. Died August 22, 1874, buried Springhill Cemetery, Henry County, Tennessee.
6. John Henry Routon: Born March 16, 1832, Henry County, Tennessee – Twin. Married February 18, 1855, Martha Hunt Wimbish, daughter of Watson Wimbish and Judith Russell. Martha was born 1834, died 1886. 12 children, 7 lived to be grown. Married 2nd wife, Amanda Anderson, no children of this union. Died June 4, 1921, Henry County, Tennessee, buried Springhill Cemetery.
7. Philip Quincy Routon: Born March 16, 1832 – Twin. Married July 22, 1858, Sarah Wimbish, daughter of Watson Wimbish, 9 children. Died March 13, 1879. (Sarah Wimbish died March 22, 1879, Great Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1878, buried Springhill Cemetery)
8. Mary Porter Routon: Born July 8, 1835, Henry County, Tennessee. Married November 12, 1853, William Sutherlin, Henry County, Tennessee. He was killed in Virginia in the Civil War. Died 1909 Jackson, Tennessee, buried Riverside Cemetery. One daughter.
Note that Child No. 5 was born the same day that Child No. 4 died. What happened?
the son of John and Hannah Palmer Routon. Philip died 1838 in Henry County, Tennessee.
He married Mary Fuqua November 4, 1819, Logan County, Kentucky. She was the daughter of Stephen Fuqua and Susanna Garrett of Buckingham County, Virginia. Mary was born October 16, 1796, Buckingham County, Virginia and died 1878 Henry County, Tennessee,
buried in Springhill Cemetery.
The children if Philip and Mary Fuqua Routon:
1. Caroline Routon: Born September 13, 1820, Logan County, Kentucky. Married Thomas Penick, Henry County, Tennessee, son of Henry M. Penick and Sarah McGee. Caroline and Thomas Penick had five children.
2. Aaron Fuqua Routon: Born February 6, 1822 Logan County, Kentucky. Married Elizabeth Williams, Benton County, Tennessee, July 11, 1847. Divorced. Died Benton County, Tennessee. Two children.
3. Pernety Hale Routon: Born April 1, 1824, Logan County, Kentucky. Married Felix Hagler, son of John L. Hagler and Joyce Johnson, January 18, 1841, six children. Died 1906 Benton County, Tennessee
4. James Routon: Born June 4, 1827. Died February 6, 1830 Henry County, Tennessee, age 2.
5. Stephen Palmer Routon: Born February 6, 1830 Henry County, Tennessee. Married Mary Catherine Haymes, daughter of William Henry Hayes, Jr., and Mary Frances Walters, June 1, 1858, Henry County, Tennessee, five children. Died August 22, 1874, buried Springhill Cemetery, Henry County, Tennessee.
6. John Henry Routon: Born March 16, 1832, Henry County, Tennessee – Twin. Married February 18, 1855, Martha Hunt Wimbish, daughter of Watson Wimbish and Judith Russell. Martha was born 1834, died 1886. 12 children, 7 lived to be grown. Married 2nd wife, Amanda Anderson, no children of this union. Died June 4, 1921, Henry County, Tennessee, buried Springhill Cemetery.
7. Philip Quincy Routon: Born March 16, 1832 – Twin. Married July 22, 1858, Sarah Wimbish, daughter of Watson Wimbish, 9 children. Died March 13, 1879. (Sarah Wimbish died March 22, 1879, Great Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1878, buried Springhill Cemetery)
8. Mary Porter Routon: Born July 8, 1835, Henry County, Tennessee. Married November 12, 1853, William Sutherlin, Henry County, Tennessee. He was killed in Virginia in the Civil War. Died 1909 Jackson, Tennessee, buried Riverside Cemetery. One daughter.
Note that Child No. 5 was born the same day that Child No. 4 died. What happened?
THE HAYMES FAMILY OF VIRGINIA AND TENNESSEE
From
The Routons of Paris and Henry County, Tennessee
by Stephanie Routon Tayloe
William Hames (note the spelling) was born 1682, the son of Randolph and Charity Hames. William married Elizabeth Morris, the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Morris.
The children of William Hames:
1. William b. 1711 m1 Winfred Fann, daughter of John Fann and Mary Stone (from a very old Virginia family)
2. John Hames b. 1713 married Ruth
3. Charles Hames b. 1725 d. 1751 married Lucreasy
4. Charity Hames b. 1719 married John Harris
5. Elizabeth Hames married Richard Jones
6. Mary Anne Hames b. 1722 married William Allgood
William Hames, Jr. (Wm., Randolph Hames) married Winifred Fann, the daughter of John Fann and Mary Stone. The Stone family is one of the oldest families of Virginia and going far back in England. George, Mary’s great grandfather, was in Virginia in 1730, where he married Mary Vernon of an old family of England. There have been many governors named Stone in the South, all from this family.
The children of William Hames Jr. and Winifred Fann:
1. Charles b. 1732 d. 1807 married Catherine Krugg.
2. Edmund b. 1735 b. 1802/03 married Winifred Hightower.
3. Mary Ann b. 1737
4. Rachel b. 1739
5. John Hames
6. Randolph Hames b. 1743 d. 1790 m. Faithful Coldman
Edmund Hames (Wm Jr., William, Randolph Hames) born July 18, 1735 married Winifred Hightower, the daughter of Joshua and Eleanor Hightower of Richmond County, Virginia.
The children of Edmund Hames and Winifred Hightower:
1. Joshua Hames b. 1758 m. Susannah
2. John Hames b. 1760 m. Martha Walker
3. Winifred Hames
4. Mary Hames married Jesse James
5. Nancy Hames m. William Jackson
6. Martha Hames b. 1770 married William Brildgeman
7. William Henry Haymes b. 1779 m. Heneritta Maria Irby
William Henry Haymes (Edmund, Wm. Jr., William, Randolph Hames) was born about 1770. He married Heneritta Maria Irby, the daughter of Charles Irby Jr., of Amelia County, Virginia.
See WILLIAM HENRY HAYMES, JR.
The children of William Hames:
1. William b. 1711 m1 Winfred Fann, daughter of John Fann and Mary Stone (from a very old Virginia family)
2. John Hames b. 1713 married Ruth
3. Charles Hames b. 1725 d. 1751 married Lucreasy
4. Charity Hames b. 1719 married John Harris
5. Elizabeth Hames married Richard Jones
6. Mary Anne Hames b. 1722 married William Allgood
William Hames, Jr. (Wm., Randolph Hames) married Winifred Fann, the daughter of John Fann and Mary Stone. The Stone family is one of the oldest families of Virginia and going far back in England. George, Mary’s great grandfather, was in Virginia in 1730, where he married Mary Vernon of an old family of England. There have been many governors named Stone in the South, all from this family.
The children of William Hames Jr. and Winifred Fann:
1. Charles b. 1732 d. 1807 married Catherine Krugg.
2. Edmund b. 1735 b. 1802/03 married Winifred Hightower.
3. Mary Ann b. 1737
4. Rachel b. 1739
5. John Hames
6. Randolph Hames b. 1743 d. 1790 m. Faithful Coldman
Edmund Hames (Wm Jr., William, Randolph Hames) born July 18, 1735 married Winifred Hightower, the daughter of Joshua and Eleanor Hightower of Richmond County, Virginia.
The children of Edmund Hames and Winifred Hightower:
1. Joshua Hames b. 1758 m. Susannah
2. John Hames b. 1760 m. Martha Walker
3. Winifred Hames
4. Mary Hames married Jesse James
5. Nancy Hames m. William Jackson
6. Martha Hames b. 1770 married William Brildgeman
7. William Henry Haymes b. 1779 m. Heneritta Maria Irby
William Henry Haymes (Edmund, Wm. Jr., William, Randolph Hames) was born about 1770. He married Heneritta Maria Irby, the daughter of Charles Irby Jr., of Amelia County, Virginia.
See WILLIAM HENRY HAYMES, JR.
THE JESSE JAMES STORY
From
The Routons of Paris and Henry County, Tennessee
by Stephanie Routon Tayloe
I have heard the story of Jesse James camping in the
front yard of my great grandmother, Mary Catherine Haymes Routon so many times. Every time it gets a little larger or different.
I remember my grandfather, S. J. Routon, telling me the story in the early 1950’s and he remembered distinctly the
kinds of horses they had some seventy years later.
It was a custom, in the days of my grandfather, for travelers to stop in
the countryside houses and ask for overnight lodging. My grandmother’s house was located in a curve of the road on the Old
McKenzie Highway. Late in the evening several men on horseback approached her house. They asked my widowed great-grandmother if they could camp overnight in her yard. My great uncles took care
of the horses, rubbing them down and feeding them.
The men slept on the grass in the yard. The next morning they paid her and she explained that they had paid her too much.
They then told her they were the James Brothers and had been to Princeton, Kentucky, where they had robbed a bank.
They admitted that the money was stolen, but Yankee money.
They were making their getaway to Dyersburg,
and to cross the river over into Missouri. We have no information as to whether this was reported to the local law enforcement people, or whether there were any attempts to turn these men in.
Many years after Jesse had been killed and Frank had paid his debt to
society he had a wild west traveling show, and it came to Paris.
He went to the court house in Paris and brought a show license from my uncle Quince Routon, who was county court clerk, and had become a man after being one of the boys at the old homeplace who cared for the James boys’ horses the night they had slept in their front yard the years before. He replied they had slept in many front yards and were never turned in to the law. They were treated as southern crusaders and they depended upon the hospitality of the broken south and used it
to get away with their crimes. They paid their way, with stolen money. To some small boys they were heroes, and legends. I still remember the
animation of my grandfather telling me this story. I wish I could remember his description of the horses and guns the James boys had.
I had been told that with the James brothers gang there were
some men with the last name of Younger who had relatives
in Henry County and they helped hide the criminals out at times.
My great-grandmother was a devout Christian woman who would have never taken stolen money without her southern sympathies being aroused. Her father and two brothers were killed in the War.
Another notorious criminal called on the Routons in the 1930’s. In the cold winter someone broke into my grandmother’s greenhouse and slept where it was warm. The next day they found where he had slept and reported back to my grandparents that the intruder was none other than Machine Gun Kelly from Memphis.
THE ROUTON SLAVE FAMILY
From
The Routons of Paris and Henry County, Tennessee
by Stephanie Routon Tayloe
When Philip Routon came to Henry County, Tennessee in the 1820’s, they brought with them a slave family. The slaves were treated so well that they chose to stay on the Routon Place until the 1920’s. Mr. Dick Routon remembers as a child being brought to see his grandfather, Mr. John Routon, and playing with the black children he was told were descendents of the Routon Slave Family, well over half a century after Emancipation.
A story my cousin, Vera Routon, told me was, when she was a small child in the 1880’s playing in the yard of her grandmother,
Mary Catherine Routon, through the back woods appeared an aged black woman and a younger black woman. Ma Routon ran out to greet the old woman, calling her “Aunt Harriet Routon.” Ma was so happy to see “Aunt Harriet” that she invited her into her kitchen and waited on her herself. The two women talked of days long ago when “Aunt Arriet” had been a young girl on the Routon Place, and of her former mistress, Mary Fuqua. When the old black woman left, in a broken voice she told them, “Let Jesus be your doctor and friend”.
Philip Routon died in 1838. An inventory of his estate listed the following slaves and their worth:
One Negro man, Tom, worth $500
One Negro woman, Mary, worth $400
Sarah Ann worth $500
Tom $500
Chana $500
Duey $300
Benan $250
Jane $200
Jeraldiane $100
Harriet $150
The following slaves were sold:
Chaney to George Broach - $350
Sarah Ann to Johnson Martin - $300
Mary Routon kept Lucy and a lame boy, Tom. Judging from her worth, Harriet was about eight to ten years old, in 1838.
A story my cousin, Vera Routon, told me was, when she was a small child in the 1880’s playing in the yard of her grandmother,
Mary Catherine Routon, through the back woods appeared an aged black woman and a younger black woman. Ma Routon ran out to greet the old woman, calling her “Aunt Harriet Routon.” Ma was so happy to see “Aunt Harriet” that she invited her into her kitchen and waited on her herself. The two women talked of days long ago when “Aunt Arriet” had been a young girl on the Routon Place, and of her former mistress, Mary Fuqua. When the old black woman left, in a broken voice she told them, “Let Jesus be your doctor and friend”.
Philip Routon died in 1838. An inventory of his estate listed the following slaves and their worth:
One Negro man, Tom, worth $500
One Negro woman, Mary, worth $400
Sarah Ann worth $500
Tom $500
Chana $500
Duey $300
Benan $250
Jane $200
Jeraldiane $100
Harriet $150
The following slaves were sold:
Chaney to George Broach - $350
Sarah Ann to Johnson Martin - $300
Mary Routon kept Lucy and a lame boy, Tom. Judging from her worth, Harriet was about eight to ten years old, in 1838.
THE ROUTONS
From
The Routons of Paris and Henry County, Tennessee
by Stephanie Routon Tayloe
The Routons of Henry County are descended from two French Huguenot families, Routon and Fuqua of Normandy, France. Both families had been living in Buckingham County, Virginia, long before 1700. Both had fought in the Revolutionary War.
The Routons of Henry County are cultured, educated, and refined people, known for their intelligence and dignity. I have never heard of any being in conflict with the law. The men are loyal family men.
If I had to name one characteristic of the Routons in all branches of the
family, it is their love of books. If it is farming, gardening, art, music or history – whatever their interest, they have stacks of books on the subject. Most often it is history. The Routons are alert and interested in current events.
Another characteristic I have noticed common to the Routon homes is they are collectors, never throwing anything away. Their houses are full of pictures, books and full of the past. I know few Routons who have concentrated on housekeeping.
The Routon men were handsome, most of them six feet or over tall, educated and almost always chose strong women for wives.
Philip Routon came to Henry County in the 1820’s when it was a wilderness and helped carve out a beginning. Six generations later Routons in Henry County bear his name.
This is a story the first three generations of Philip Routon and his
descendents. I hope you enjoy reading about them, and that later generations will find this and read about their ancestors, their stories, their dreams, sorrows and joys.
I could not have filled half these pages without my older cousin Vera, who was a warehouse of knowledge: Her notes, her father’s and brother Ralph’s. My grandfather S. J. Routon who never threw anything away passed on stories and my mother, Val Routon, was an interesting story teller. She would tell us her stories as a child. We listened as drama unrolled the stories that fired my imagination and fostered pride in my
heritage. I thank her for the hours we enjoyed together typing the stories. To Gini and Dickie whom I love more than I can say. Tom, Arthur, Curtis, Jill, Matthew and Joshua, this is for you.
I also want to thank Mrs. W. D. Bond for the information on the Haymes, Walters, Dodson and Stamps; Miss Annie Dudley for help on the Dudleys and Barkers. On the Pattersons, White and Wyatt lines I want to thank Joe D. Patterson, Aunt Susan Edwards and my grandmother.
VII. Philip Routon
Philip Routon was born in Buckingham County, VA, April 17, 1792.
His name first appears on the Buckingham County Personal Property Tax List in 1813. From 1815 to 1819, the Buckingham County Land Tax lists show John Routon’s original 200 acres as being “Philip Routon’s residence.”
Philip left Buckingham County in 1819, the year the John Routon land holdings were sold. He moved to Logan County, KY, joining his brother Reuben. On November 3, 1819, he and Polly Fuqua took out a marriage license and were married the next day. (Polly’s tombstone has the marriage date on it.)
Mary Penelope (Polly) Fuqua was the daughter of Stephen Fuqua and Susanna Garrett of Buckingham County. The Stephen Fuqua property in Buckingham County was adjacent to the Routon property. Susannah died in 1813. Stephen married Nancy Ayres in 1814. The family moved to Logan County (KY) in 1818.
In 1820 Philip was still in Logan County. He is enumerated on the
census for that year next to his brother Reuben. He is on the Logan County Tax Lists through 1824 but not for any later years. So his move to Henry County, TN, must have been in 1825. The first year for the Henry County Tax List is 1827, and Philip’s name is on that. They settled near the town of Manleyville. He had 316 acres of land. The next year (1828) the Henry County Tax List shows Philip with 158 acres and Philip’s brother Stephen with 158 acres. It remained this way
until Stephen’s death in late 1833.
Philip died in late 1838. Henry County Court minutes of November 5,
1838, show:
It appearing to the satisfaction of the court that Philip Routon, late a resident citizen of Henry County at the time of his decease, had died intestate, leaving Mary Routon his widow and next of kin who hereupon appeared in open court and relinquished her right to administer upon the estate of said deceased whereupon on motion it is ordered by the court that James C. Gainer be appointed administrator of all and singular the goods and chattels rights and credits of said deceased who appeared in open court and entered into a bond of nine thousand dollars with Stephen Vancleve, William Fowler, John H. Warren as his securities and was qualified according to law.
1. Monday, December 23, 1833: On motion, It is ordered by the court that Philip Routon be appointed administrator of all and singular the goods and chattels rights & credits of Stephen Routon, late of Henry County deceased, who thereupon entered into bond of six hundred dollars with James C. Gainer as his security and was qualified according to law.
2. Monday, March 24, 1834 (page 148) Philip Routon administrator of all and singular the goods and chattels rights & credits of Stephen Routon deceased this day appeared in open court and returned an inventory and account of sales of the estate of said deceased which was
received and ordered to be recorded.
3. Monday, June 22, 1835 (page 307): Ordered by the court that John H. Randle, William Walters sen. and Robert Debruce be appointed
commissioners to settle with Philip Routon administrator of Stephen
Routon deceased and make their report to the next term of this court.
1. Page 13: Ordered by the court that John E. Warren, Philip Routon,
and Jeremiah Moody be appointed commissioners to settle with James Watkins administrator of Richard Throgmorton deceased and make their report to the next term of this court.
2. Page 15 (October 3, 1836): Ordered by the court that James C. Gainer, Philip Routon,and Robert Jones be appointed commissioners to settle with Hamblin Manley administrator of all and singular the goods & chattels, rights & credits Evelina G. Manley deceased & make their report to the next term of this court.
3. Page 15 (still October 3, 1836): John H. Warrenk, Philip Routon, & Jeremiah Moody who were appointed commissioners to settle with James Watkins administrator of Richard Throgmorton this day appeared in open court & made their report which received & ordered to be recorded
4. Page 18 (November 7, 1836): James C. Gainer & Philip Routon who were appointed commissioners to settle with Hamblin F. Manley administrator of Evelina G. Manley deceased this day returned into court a report of said settlement which was received & ordered to be recorded.
5. Page 56 (February 5, 1838): Ordered by the court that Robert
Jones, Philip Routon, John Morgan, Eli Kendall, Beverly Shankle,
James Lee, Junior, Jeremiah Dumas, Lemuel Boothe, Benjamin Dunn, Thomas Jenkins, Oliver Edwards, William Orr, James Johnson, William Wright, Abria Atkins, Thomas B. Love, James Crawford, John Crittenden, George Atkins, Samuel Wilson, Nathaniel Porter, James Parker, John M. Clark, John M. Hurt, John Atkins & Charles M. White, be summoned to attend as jurors and John Yow and John S. Taylor as constables at the next term of the Circuit Court.
6. Page 72 (November 5, 1838): Ordered by the court that William
Walters Senr, James Watkins & John H. Warren be appointed commissioners to lay off to Mary Routon widow and relict of Philip Routon deceased one years provision out of the estate of said deceased and make their report to the next term of this court.
7. Page 75 (January 7, 1839): James C. Gainer administrator of all
and singular the goods and chattels rights and credits of Philip Routon deceased this day returned into open court an Inventory and account of sales of the estate of said deceased which were received and ordered to be recorded.
William Walters Senr, James Watkins & John H. Warren who were appointed commissioners to lay off to Mary Routon widow and relict of Philip Routon deceased one years provision out of the estate of said deceased this day appeared in open court and made their report which was received and ordered to be recorded.
8. Page 161 (January 3, 1842): On motion it is ordered by the court
that Mary Routon be appointed guardian to the minor orphans of
Philip Routon deceased who thereupon appeared in open court and entered into bond of five thousand dollars with James D. Porter and
Nathaniel Porter as her security.
9. Page 184 (July 4, 1842): Mary Routon guardian to the minor
orphans of Philip Routon deceased this day appeared in open court
and returned an account current of her guardianship to the estate of said deceased which was received and entered to be recorded.
10. Page 187 (no date shown): On motion it is ordered by the court
that Mary Routon be appointed guardian to Aaron F. Routon,
Stephen P., John H., Mary P., and Philip Q., Routon, minor orphans of Philip Routon deceased who thereupon appeared in open court
and entered into bond of six thousand dollars with Nathaniel Porter and Felix B. Hagler as his security.
11. Page 231 (August 8, 1848): This day came William Porter clerk of Henry County & exhibited the following settlements, Viz.…
with Mary Routon guardian of Mary P., Philip Q., Stephen & John Henry Routon, minor orphans of Philip Routon, deceased.
12. Page 261 (April ___, 1844): This day came Constantine Frazier clerk of the county court of Henry County & Estate the following
settlements (Viz:) …… with Mary Routon guardian of Mary P.,Philip Q., Stephen & John Henry Routon, minor orphans of Philip Routon, deceased.
13. Page 266 (July 1, 1844): On motion it is ordered by the court
that Aaron Routon be appointed guardian of Stephen P., John H.,
Mary P., and Philip Q. Routon minor orphans of Philip Routon deceased who thereupon appeared in open court and entered into bond of four thousand dollars with Samuel C. Peay & Felix Bl. Hagler as his securities.
14. Page 277 (September 2, 1844): Aaron Routon guardian to the minor orphans of Philip Routon deceased this day appeared in open court & rendered an account of his said guardianship which was received & ordered to be recorded.
15. Page 278 (September 3, 1844): This day came Constantine Frazier
clerk of the county court of said county &N exhibited the following
settlements Viz: …. With Mary Routon guardian to the minor orphans of Philip Routon deceased.
16. Page 314 (July 8, 1845): This day came Constantine Frazier clerk
of the County Court for said county and exhibited the following settlements (Viz): …. With Aaron Routon guardian to the minor orphans of Philip Routon deceased.
17. Page 360 (July Term, 1846): On motion it is ordered by the court that Aaron F. Routon be appointed guardian to the minor orphans of Philip Routon deceased who thereupon appeared in open court and entered into bond of three thousand dollars with William Moody and Samuel C. Peay as his securities.
18. Page 365 (August 4, 1846): This day came Constantine Frazier
clerk of the county court for said county & produced & executed the
following settlements which was received & ordered to be recorded ……..With Aaron Routon guardian to the minor orphans of Philip Routon deceased.
19. Page 413 (November court 1847): Settlement with Aaron Routon
guardian to the minor orphans of Philip Routon deceased.
20. Page 441 (July term 1848): On motion it is ordered by the court
that Aaron Routon be appointed guardian to the minor orphans of
Philip Routon deceased who thereupon appeared in open court and entered into bond of four thousand dollars with Richard Throgmorton & Stephen Perry as his security.
21. Page 442 (July 4, 1848): This day came Constantine Frazier clerk
of the county court & produced and exhibited the following settlements which was receive & ordered to be recorded ………With Aaron Routon guardian to the minor orphans of Philip Routon deceased.
THE STEPHEN FUQUA HOMEPLACE
From
The Routons of Paris and Henry County, Tennessee
by Stephanie Routon Tayloe
On March 2, 2001, a beautiful spring day, I journeyed with my friend, Fran Abernathy, to Logan County, Kentucky. It was where the Routon and Fuqua families had migrated from Buckingham County, Virginia, about 1818. We went to the Russellville Library and found a book on the county cemeteries that included a Fuqua Cemetery, about four miles from the town square. The early buttercups were blooming and the sky was so blue as we turned up a long farm lane that wound around and
made a turn with a family cemetery on the right. We drove up to the house and the nicest gentleman introduced himself as Rayford Scales.
I asked if the cemetery was the Fuqua cemetery and said it was, and that “This is the Stephen Fuqua House built before 1820.”
I had never dreamed that the house Stephen Fuqua had built for his family still stood. It was here in 1819 that Mary Fuqua left to marry Philip Routon. The oldest part of the house was the two back log rooms, and sometime later the front part was added, along with
clapboard to cover the logs and the gingerbread trim.
Mr. Scales and his son had restored the house. We talked about thirty minutes and he showed us around inside as well as outside. The rolling countryside, the split rail fences and the early spring day were more beautiful than I can describe. It made my heart swell with pride and deep gratitude for people like the Scales who had restored the house and are caretakers of the family cemetery.
The old cemetery was covered with oak and cedar trees 200 years old, and the periwinkle was the lushest I have ever seen.
Resting under the shade was the grave of Stephen Fuqua, 1769-1843.
Alone in the cemetery I stood by the grave of Stephen Fuqua and told him I was the great-great granddaughter of his daughter, Mary, who had married Philip Routon there in Logan County in 1819, that she had a son, Stephen, who had a son Stephen who had been a Tennessee senator and he had a son named Stephen who was an officer in the Navy in World War II, And that my name was Stephanie.
I looked back and my friend was crying.
I wonder if anyone will look for my grave after 160 years.
As we left the place I stopped to look back and thought of Mary Fuqua as a young wife and mother leaving Logan County for her new home in Henry County, Tennessee, in 1824, leaving her family there, and whether she ever saw her father again. I don’t know if she thought of Logan County as her home as she only lived here 9 years.
She lived until 1874. My father lived in Henry County on the
family farm she bought over 150 years ago.
**********************************************************
Showing kinship to Henry L. Fuqua, Governor of Louisiana, 1924-1926.
Henry L. Fuqua was a native son of Louisiana where he rose to the highest position within the gift of the people. He was one of its most representative citizens. He was born in Baton Rouge, LA, November 8, 1865, and came from one of the old and honored families of the South.
- from a book on Louisiana governors -
Guilliaume Fouquet, born 1667 France, died 1698 Henrico County,
Virginia, married Jane Eyre, daughter of Joseph Eyre, born 1638
Henrico County, Virginia and Margaret Humphreys, born 1642.
The Routons of Paris and Henry County, Tennessee
by Stephanie Routon Tayloe
On March 2, 2001, a beautiful spring day, I journeyed with my friend, Fran Abernathy, to Logan County, Kentucky. It was where the Routon and Fuqua families had migrated from Buckingham County, Virginia, about 1818. We went to the Russellville Library and found a book on the county cemeteries that included a Fuqua Cemetery, about four miles from the town square. The early buttercups were blooming and the sky was so blue as we turned up a long farm lane that wound around and
made a turn with a family cemetery on the right. We drove up to the house and the nicest gentleman introduced himself as Rayford Scales.
I asked if the cemetery was the Fuqua cemetery and said it was, and that “This is the Stephen Fuqua House built before 1820.”
I had never dreamed that the house Stephen Fuqua had built for his family still stood. It was here in 1819 that Mary Fuqua left to marry Philip Routon. The oldest part of the house was the two back log rooms, and sometime later the front part was added, along with
clapboard to cover the logs and the gingerbread trim.
Mr. Scales and his son had restored the house. We talked about thirty minutes and he showed us around inside as well as outside. The rolling countryside, the split rail fences and the early spring day were more beautiful than I can describe. It made my heart swell with pride and deep gratitude for people like the Scales who had restored the house and are caretakers of the family cemetery.
The old cemetery was covered with oak and cedar trees 200 years old, and the periwinkle was the lushest I have ever seen.
Resting under the shade was the grave of Stephen Fuqua, 1769-1843.
Alone in the cemetery I stood by the grave of Stephen Fuqua and told him I was the great-great granddaughter of his daughter, Mary, who had married Philip Routon there in Logan County in 1819, that she had a son, Stephen, who had a son Stephen who had been a Tennessee senator and he had a son named Stephen who was an officer in the Navy in World War II, And that my name was Stephanie.
I looked back and my friend was crying.
I wonder if anyone will look for my grave after 160 years.
As we left the place I stopped to look back and thought of Mary Fuqua as a young wife and mother leaving Logan County for her new home in Henry County, Tennessee, in 1824, leaving her family there, and whether she ever saw her father again. I don’t know if she thought of Logan County as her home as she only lived here 9 years.
She lived until 1874. My father lived in Henry County on the
family farm she bought over 150 years ago.
**********************************************************
Showing kinship to Henry L. Fuqua, Governor of Louisiana, 1924-1926.
Henry L. Fuqua was a native son of Louisiana where he rose to the highest position within the gift of the people. He was one of its most representative citizens. He was born in Baton Rouge, LA, November 8, 1865, and came from one of the old and honored families of the South.
- from a book on Louisiana governors -
Guilliaume Fouquet, born 1667 France, died 1698 Henrico County,
Virginia, married Jane Eyre, daughter of Joseph Eyre, born 1638
Henrico County, Virginia and Margaret Humphreys, born 1642.
FUQUA DESCENDENTS
(to Henry Luce Fuqua, Governor of Louisana) William Fuqua - Married Elizabeth William Fuqua – Married Mary Ford Joseph Fuqua – Married Mary Burge Drury B. Fuqua – Married Harried Gosby James O. Fuqua – Married Jeannette Foules Henry Luce Fuqua – 1865 – 1926married Marie Laura Matta Governor of Louisiana, died in office |
FUQUA DESCENDENTS
(to children of Stephen James Routon, Sr.) Joseph Fuqua – Married Anna Sampson William Fuqua - _________ Stephen Fuqua – Married Susannah Garrett Mary Fuqua – Married Philip Routon Stephen Palmer Routon – Married Mary Catherine Haymes Stephen James Routon, Sr. – Married Pearl Sanders Routon Their children: Mary C. Routon Burton S. J. Routon, Jr., WW II Wm. Sanders Routon, WW II Joseph Routon, WW II |
VAL ROUTON'S LETTER - 2012
WILLIAM HENRY HAYMES, JR
From
The Routons of Paris and Henry County, Tennessee
by Stephanie Routon Tayloe
William Henry Haymes was born in Amelia County, Virginia, in
the 1790’s. He was the son of William Haymes and Henrietta Irby.
The Haymes family traced their genealogy back about six generations in
Virginia to Randolph Haymes in the 1650’s.
He married Mary Frances Walters in Halifax County, Virginia, the daughter of Archibald Walters and Katie Stamps. With
several families of relatives they migrated to Tennessee in a covered wagon in 1840. My great grandmother was
only six years old when they made the long journey.
His wife died leaving him with several small children.
His oldest daughter, Catherine, was married at the outbreak of the Civil
War. He was broken hearted after his wife’s death, and restless. Old
by the common soldier’s standards he enlisted at the courthouse in Henry County in the Confederate Army in the stead of his son-in-law,
Stephen Palmer Routon. He had agreed with his daughter that if anything happened to him in the war, she would raise his minor children. He was killed in 1862 at Island No. 10. He died in a church being used as a hospital, with his son with him. Places
of his burial and that of his wife are not known to me.
The Haymes family sent five sons into the
Confederate Army and only three returned.
The Haymes were famous for claiming kin far and hear, typical of their
generation of Southern families. There was not much distinction between aunts, great aunts, uncles and great uncles,
nor was much distinction made between the degree of cousins.
Several of the Haymes were reclusive or “peculiar”, a
continuing characteristic in later generations.
The Routons of Paris and Henry County, Tennessee
by Stephanie Routon Tayloe
William Henry Haymes was born in Amelia County, Virginia, in
the 1790’s. He was the son of William Haymes and Henrietta Irby.
The Haymes family traced their genealogy back about six generations in
Virginia to Randolph Haymes in the 1650’s.
He married Mary Frances Walters in Halifax County, Virginia, the daughter of Archibald Walters and Katie Stamps. With
several families of relatives they migrated to Tennessee in a covered wagon in 1840. My great grandmother was
only six years old when they made the long journey.
His wife died leaving him with several small children.
His oldest daughter, Catherine, was married at the outbreak of the Civil
War. He was broken hearted after his wife’s death, and restless. Old
by the common soldier’s standards he enlisted at the courthouse in Henry County in the Confederate Army in the stead of his son-in-law,
Stephen Palmer Routon. He had agreed with his daughter that if anything happened to him in the war, she would raise his minor children. He was killed in 1862 at Island No. 10. He died in a church being used as a hospital, with his son with him. Places
of his burial and that of his wife are not known to me.
The Haymes family sent five sons into the
Confederate Army and only three returned.
The Haymes were famous for claiming kin far and hear, typical of their
generation of Southern families. There was not much distinction between aunts, great aunts, uncles and great uncles,
nor was much distinction made between the degree of cousins.
Several of the Haymes were reclusive or “peculiar”, a
continuing characteristic in later generations.