MEARS: Goldsborough Mears Descendants

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KEDEY/KIDDY - MEARS - MELTON - SHARP -YOUNG

Children of Goldsborough Mears - Amanda M. Stone

-Those Who Survivied the typhoid epidemic-

First Cousins to my Gt Grandfather, G. W. Mears

Children of Goldsborough 'G. B.' Mears and Amanda Melvina Stone


Thomas Hart Benton Mears

Nov 19, 1840 Cannon Co., TN - May 12, 1913 Cannon Co., TN

Background Information

Thomas, or Bent as he was known, lived his entire life in and around Woodbury, Cannon Co., TN. He is on the 1850 census with his parents as age 9 and on the 1860 census census with his widowed mother as age 19, unmarried at the time.

Being 18 when his father and 4 siblings died of the typhoid epidemic, I have to feel for this young man. It had to be basically his responsibility to see that everyone managed to get buried and graves erected. Couldn't have been an easy task and I'm sure that he was also sick himself.

Most of what we actually know about Thomas Benton's life, comes from The Home Place, Booklet and Bible Records of Goldsbrough Mears by Eva Lancaster written around 1983. Unlike most of the Mears which we have read about so far, Thomas Benton Mears, somehow managed not to enlist with either the Confederacy or the Union. From Eva's booklet, we are given this bit of insight as to his actual participation in the war:

"The oldest son of Goldsborough and Malvina. Thomas was a trader and merchant all his life. . . During the Civil War Uncle Bent did not take sides but he sold and traded merchandise with the soldiers of the to both sides.It was reported during one of the chandestine trading session--- that one night he bought his own horse. The horse had been stolen the night before--- him not knowing. Several times a night he would slip between the lines of both armies to visit mother and sisters. One time during the war , a soldier came to the house borrowing some rags and a bucket to treat a lame horse, The next day it was learned the soldiers had used the borrowed rags and bucket to rob F. Lawson's bee hives."

Bent's occupation has been listed as trader, merchant, and bank teller. He married Sarah Elledge, d/o James Elledge, on April 19, 1876 in Cannon Co., TN. They had one son, that I'm aware of that died as a child. Listed as Thomas B., he and Sarah appear on the 1880 Cannon Co., TN census and then as Thomas Benton Mears on the 1900 Cannon Co., TN Census. No children are listed on either census. They are buried at the Wilie Cemetery on Doolettle Road in Woodbury, Cannon Co., TN. I've personally seen his grave when I visited Woodbury back in 1970.

In his later life, Thomas spent his winters in Florida - much like the 'snowbirds' here in Canada do today.

Tombstone of Sarah (Elledge) Mears
Buried Wile Cemetery, Doolettle Rd, Woodbury, Cannon Co., TN
Photo - Courtesy of Nelda Conant

Sarah (Elledge) Mears Tombstone

Special Thanks

For this family's information, I must thank Cindy Mears and Eva Lancaster (1983)! Also, back in the early 1970's, Craig Mears sent some information on this line.

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Children of Bent Mears and Sarah Elledge


  1. Eugene Mears

    --(July 17, 1877 Cannon Co., TN - bef 1880)


John Calhoun Mears

July 1, 1845 Cannon Co., TN - April 30, 1921 Cannon Co., TN

Background Information

When his father and siblings died of the typhoid epidemic, John was 14 so I'm sure that he helped his brother, Thomas, with the burials. Like his brother, John spent his entire life in and around Woodbury. John is shown as age 5 with his parents on the 1850 Cannon Co., TN census and age 15 with his widowed mother on the 1860 Cannon Co. TN Census.

From Eva's booklet, we are given this bit of insight as to his actual life during the civil war:

"During the war his older Brother Bent could not stay at home. Which left John being the oldest one at home. At the age 15-19 he ran the farm and took care of his mother, aged grandmother, brothers and sisters."

Lizzie (Fuston) Mears John married Frances Elizabeth Wherry on Dec 20, 1866 in Cannon Co. TN. Like John, Elizabeth had lost her father at an early age. John and Elizabeth bought out the Wherry heirs in 1867 and built a home in 1872. They also had a store on Stone's Creek. The Mears family had to stop using their spring and fill it in as it was the source of the typhoid fever which took several of the family. As a result, John would haul water from the Wherry's spring and this would be where he would meet Elizabeth and eventually a courtship developed. Their house was on Highway 53 in Woodbury, TN, on the right side of the road right before you across Stones River going to Liberty. Cindy took this picture of their house in the early 1980's when she met Ruby (Mears) Howell. It is believed to still be standing.

He is also buried at the Wilie Cemetery on Doolettle Road in Woodbury, Cannon Co., TN. I've personally seen his grave when I visited Woodbury back in 1970.

Official Records

Special Thanks

For this family's information, I must thank Cindy Mears and Eva Lancaster (1983)! Also, back in the early 1970's, Craig Mears sent some information on this line.

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Children of John Calhoun Mears and Frances Elizabeth Wherry


  1. Thomas Benton Mears

    --(January 5, 1868 Cannon Co, TN - December 8, 1953 Cannon Co., TN)
    ----buried Doolittle Cemetery, Woodbury, Cannon Co., TN


  2. James Dallas Mears

    --(April 22, 1871 Cannon Co., TN - Sept 20, 1958 Cannon Co., TN)
    ----buried Doolittle Cemetery, Woodbury, Cannon Co., TN
    --m. Sarah Unknown
    ----(February 7, 1880 - July 28, 1962 Cannon Co., TN)
    ------buried Doolittle Cemetery, Woodbury, Cannon Co., TN


  3. Elijah Jackson Mears

    --(Feb 8, 1874 Cannon Co., TN - Nov 1952 Cannon Co., TN)


  4. Hattie Patton Mears

    --(Aug 20, 1877 Cannon Co. TN - Dec 1952 Ft. Worth, Tarrant Co., Texas)
    ----buried Idabell, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma
    --m. Raden SEALS
    August 4, 1897 Cannon Co., TN
    ----(February 1872 Cannon Co., TN - 1928)
    ------buried Fairview Cemetery, Shawnee, Pottawatomie Co., Oklahoma)


  5. Sarah Brown 'Sallie' Mears

    --(Feb 7, 1880 Cannon Co., TN - June 24, 1962 Cannon Co., TN)


  6. Drew Brewer Mears

    --(Feb 9, 1884 Cannon Co., TN - Sept 17, 1959 Cannon Co., TN)
    --m. Nina LEFEVER
    ----(December 11, 1892 - December 31, 1979)


  7. Nora Ann Mears

    --(July 10, 1888 Cannon Co., TN - Jan 10, 1962 Cannon Co., TN)


Elijah Mears

Aug 4, 1849 Cannon Co., TN - Oct 4, 1894 Cannon Co., TN

Background Information

Lizzie (Fuston) Mears Elijah 'Lidge' Mears was 9 when his father and siblings got typhoid and died. I'm sure that he was aware of the saddness that was around him and had to be living his life in fear as most 9 year olds would be under the circumstance.

Lidge married Mary Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Fuston Nov 12, 1877 in Warren Co., TN. Lizzie was the d/o William Jasper Fuston and Sarah Catherine Neal. Her sister, Bell, also married a brother of Lidges.

From Eva's booklet, we are given this bit of insight as to his actual life:

"Uncle Lige lived in the bottom across from Cap Young presently place this was evidenly part of William and Goldsborough Place, which he gave each boy a portion. Uncle Lige was a Church of Christ preacher, who rode his horse for many years each Sunday to Goosepond to preach. He was also a preacher at New----. He wouldn't take any money whatsoever for preaching the gospel. Aunt Lizzie and Uncle Lige owned not clocks of any kind. And she couldn't not understand how Uncle Lige could get to church on time."

Elijah and Lizzie are both buried at the Wiley Cemetery in Woodbury. I've also seen their graves back in 1970.

Official Records

Special Thanks

For this family's information, I must thank Cindy Mears and Eva Lancaster (1983)! Also, back in the early 1970's, Craig Mears sent some information on this line.

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Children of Elijah Mears and Lizzie Fuston


  1. Mollie W. (Mears) Wharton

    --(August 18, 1878 Cannon Co. TN - November 23, 1957)
    ----buried Riverside Cemetery, Cannon Co., TN
    --m. Sam W. WHARTON October 28, 1902 Woodbury, Cannon Co., TN
    ----(June 4, 1879 - October 23, 1958)
    ------buried Riverside Cemetery, Cannon Co,. TN


George B. Mears

Aug 28, 1853 Cannon Co., TN - Aug 28, 1929 Rutherford Co., TN

Goldsborough 'George B' Mears Dora Belle (Fuston) Mears

Background Information

Though his name was actually Goldsborough Mears, he was known as George B. and listed as George on the census records. He was not quite 6 when he lost his father and siblings to typhoid. For a young boy of this age, he must have had quite a few fears and very little security - not knowing what was happening and would would be gone next. On the 1860 Cannon Co., TN Census, he is listed with his mother as age 7.

By the 1880 census, he is listed as age 26, unmarried and was living with his brother Elijah Mears, and also his widowed mother. George married Dora Bell Fuston, a sister to Lizzie Fuston, his sister-in-law. I'm sure that he got to know her while living with his brother, Elijah - though in 1880 while Elijah was 26, his future wife was only a child of 8.

Official Records

Special Thanks

Thanks to Craig Mears who in the early 1970's sent me several records on these families and to my family who took me to visit Cannon Co., TN and the cemetery where many of this family are buried.

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Children of Elijah Mears and Lizzie Fuston


  1. Minnie Lee Mears

    --(Nov 22, 1886 Cannon Co. TN - Unknown)


  2. Sallie Bell Mears

    --(Oct 19, 1889 Cannon Co. TN - Unknown)


  3. Lela Hessie (Mears) Jernigan

    --(Oct 1, 1892 Cannon Co., TN - Jan 12, 1980 San Diego, CA)
    --m. John JERNIGAN


  4. William G. Mears

    --(June 24, 1895 Cannon Co., TN - July 1874 Davidson Co., TN)


  5. Charles Benton Mears

    --(Feb 5, 1898 Cannon Co., TN - Unknown)


  6. Daughter Mears

    --(Jan 5, 1901 Cannon Co. TN - Unknown)


  7. James Clarence Mears

    --(Jan 5, 1902 Cannon Co., TN - Oct 5, 1992 Cannon Co., TN)
    ----buried Gilley Hill Cemetery
    --m. Dollie HIBDON March 17, 1935
    ----(March 23, 1911 - May 6, 1994)
    ------buried Gilley Hill Cemetery


  8. Helen Rosy Mears --(March 4, 1905 Cannon Co., TN - Unknown)


  9. Frances Amanda Mears

    --(1907 Cannon Co. TN - Unknwon)


  10. Addie Mears

    --(1911 Cannon Co., TN - Unknwon)


  11. Isaac Mears

    --(1914 Cannon Co., TN - Unknwon)


Frances Ann (Mears) Miller

Nov 27, 1858 Cannon Co., TN - ? Texas

Background Information

Frances Ann was only an infant when her father and siblings died. She married Frank P. Miller Feb 18, 1877 in Cannon Co., TN. Sometime in the early 1890's she and Frank moved to Texas like many of the folks that lived in this area of Tennesseee.

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Children of Elijah Mears and Lizzie Fuston


  1. Oscar B. Miller

    --(Nov 1878 Cannon Co. TN - Unknown)
  2. William R. Miller

    --(Sept 1879 Cannon Co., TN - Unknown)


  3. Floyd E. Miller

    --(Jan 1882 Cannon Co. TN - Unknown)


  4. Myrtle Miller

    --(Jan 1886 Cannon Co., TN - Unknown)


  5. Hattie Miller

    --(April 1887 Cannon Co., TN - Unkwnon)


  6. Cleveland Miller

    --(Sept 1888 Cannon Co., TN - Unknown)


  7. Luther Miller

    --(Oct 1891 TN or TX -Unknown)


  8. Claude Earl Miller

    --(Aug 19, 1894 TX - May 16, 1938 TX)
    --m.Pearl Racine HOOD April 3, 1916 Collin Co., Texas


  9. Maude Miller

    --(Aug 19, 1894 TX - Unknown)


  10. --(Jan 1897 TX - Unknown)


Continue to - Zadock Mears and Elizabeth Sharpe

Progenitor of My Mears Lineage

William Mears - William F. Mears - George Washington Mears
Minnie Lee (Mears) Jobe - Earl Frederick Jobe - ME


Ann (Jobe) Brown ***Contact US*** Cindy (Cantrell) Mears

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