When you’re asked to name some famous people from Tate County, you probably know about James Earl Jones, the actor, who was born in Arkabutla or Al Hibbler, the baritone vocalist who sang with Duke Ellington’s orchestra, born in Tyro or Cameron Lawrence, who played for the Dallas Cowboys, who attended Magnolia Heights or Hoyt B. Wooten, the broadcasting pioneer who started the first commercial radio station in Coldwater and later was head of Channel 3 TV in Memphis or C. Damon Moore from Coldwater who was a Rhodes Scholarship recipient and became a respected physician.
While they have achieved prominence, anyone who has roots in Tate County is important. Most of us haven’t achieved any kind of greatness and our names aren’t likely to be remembered by anyone but those in our family or close acquaintances. Still, each person left a mark on the history of Tate County. One of my ancestors was an Irish immigrant and the family did nothing more glamourous or exciting than farming. Until the 1900’s most of them had little education.
Yet, they lived and worked and raised their families in Tate County. Whether your ancestor was someone prominent or someone as ordinary as mine, their lives unfolded here. As I search census records, I find where they live. When I look at the marriage records, I find how families became intertwined with one another. Military records show me who accepted the call to protect our country. Tax records show me the property they owned and where it was in the county. Obituaries and wills tell me what family members were alive at the death of a certain ancestor and who inherited their property and what the next generation did with their inheritance.
I know the stories of my ancestors and their connection to Tate County. DO YOU? Would you like to know about them?
TCGHS has the resources and experience to help you navigate the history they were a part of in Tate County. We can help you travel back in time to find their ancestors in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia or whatever area they came from.
We invite you to visit the library located in the Crockett Building, 107 Court Street (second floor). We are open on THURSDAY and FRIDAY (except prior to a holiday) from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (please call if you’ll arrive after 3 p.m.). You may contact us at tatehistory@hotmail.com or call 662-562-0390 and leave a message on voice mail with brief details of your request and we will answer. Check out our public page on Facebook.
