I am a retired elementary school teacher. History has always been a passion for me. I am my church's and family's historian.
Both my maternal and paternal sides are from Tennessee.....Coal Creek (now Rocky Top), Briceville, Oliver Springs, Mossy Springs. The men were mostly coal miners. They had a hard life....one grandfather's back was broken by falling slate and suffered from black lung. Another grandfather lost a leg in a coal mine car accident and died at an early age from black lung. Still another great grandfather died along with 83 others in the Cross Mountain explosion of 1911. A great uncle in the same mine disaster was one of only five who survived. Another great uncle was one of the peaceful leaders of the miners during the Coal Creek War of 1891. I'm proud to call the Branscoms, Irish's, Edwards, Whites, and McCarty's my ancestors. They worked hard as farmers and coal miners in the mountains of Tennessee to make a better life for their families.
I live in northern Indiana but have visited Tennessee many times, traipsing through the cemeteries of Anderson and Union Counties.
All the while wishing my ancestors could walk with me and answer my many questions about their lives. Though they had such hard lives, I hope they were able to find peace in the beauty of the Tennessee mountains as I have.

I am a retired elementary school teacher. History has always been a passion for me. I am my church's and family's historian.
Both my maternal and paternal sides are from Tennessee.....Coal Creek (now Rocky Top), Briceville, Oliver Springs, Mossy Springs. The men were mostly coal miners. They had a hard life....one grandfather's back was broken by falling slate and suffered from black lung. Another grandfather lost a leg in a coal mine car accident and died at an early age from black lung. Still another great grandfather died along with 83 others in the Cross Mountain explosion of 1911. A great uncle in the same mine disaster was one of only five who survived. Another great uncle was one of the peaceful leaders of the miners during the Coal Creek War of 1891. I'm proud to call the Branscoms, Irish's, Edwards, Whites, and McCarty's my ancestors. They worked hard as farmers and coal miners in the mountains of Tennessee to make a better life for their families.
I live in northern Indiana but have visited Tennessee many times, traipsing through the cemeteries of Anderson and Union Counties.
All the while wishing my ancestors could walk with me and answer my many questions about their lives. Though they had such hard lives, I hope they were able to find peace in the beauty of the Tennessee mountains as I have.