Virginia Barrs

The Dismukes Family in Tennessee, Part 2 Virginia Barrs

Explore the lives of Paul Dismukes' (1762-1838), two oldest sons John Thompson Dismukes (1791-1846) and George Richardson Dismukes (1793-1835) and their descendants. The story of their childhood began in Virginia Barrs' book "The Dismukes Family in Virginia" continues here. On the eve of adulthood, these boys moved with their family to Middle Tennessee near the village of Nashville. There each son would establish themselves, marry and father many children. John and George were part of the western movement that would convert wilderness into plantations and small farms. They witnessed Marquis d'Lafayette on his tour of America as he greeted Revolutionary War veterans including father and uncle. John Thompson Dismukes (1791-1846) would become an attorney. He would marry twice; first to Sarah Miller Royster, a first cousin who he had known since childhood. They married in 1820 but Sarah died not long after giving John his first son. John married again in 1825 to Ann Munroe, a recent emigrant from Scotland. With Ann, John would have eleven more children. However, John died suddenly before their last child was born. After several years of widowhood in Tennessee, Ann moved with her younger children to Quincy, Florida to be near her brothers. Included here are the stories of John's surviving sons: Dr. John Frederick Dismukes (1821- ) who lived in Wilson County, Tennessee, renowned riverboat captain Robert Logan Dismukes (1827-1893), the merchant Thomas Crutcher Dismukes (1829-1904), merchant, banker and state senator Elisha Paul Dismukes (1839-1918), merchant George Woodson Dismukes (1845-1876) and John Thompson Dismukes, Jr. (1847-1925). Each son survived the Civil War and most of them lived to the Industrial Age of the late 19th century. As a young man George Richardson Dismukes (1793-1835) served under Andrew Jackson during the Creek War. When he returned home he bought land from his father and was the first of his siblings to marry. With his wife, Jane Porter (1795-1858) he fathered four known children. George died at the relatively young age of forty two. Jane educated of her children; she guided into marriage and was rewarded with many grandchildren. Included is the story of George' only son, Paul Dismukes (1826-1884) became an inventor and manufacturer of agricultural machinery. Thorough Paul's sons the name George Richardson Dismukes perpetuated; carried first to Texas and later to Oklahoma. This volume is replete with sources and photos of documents prior to 1870. There are copious notes clarifying fact from fiction as well as offering suggestions for future research.