Richard B Viles (1844 - 1899)

Born 1844 in Hawkins, Tennessee, United States

Husband of Mahalah (Hancock) Viles — married 26 Dec 1866 in Hawkins County, Tn.

Descendants

Died 4 Aug 1899 at about age 55 in Kingsport, Sullivan, Tennessee, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: John Johnson [send private message]

This profile is part of the Viles Name Study.

Biography

Richard was born in 1844 in Tennessee.

In 1850, Richard Viles (indexed as Vials), lived with his parents, Sam and Mary, and four siblings in Kingsport, Sullivan, Tennessee.^[1]

In 1860, Richard R. Viles, a farm laborer, lived with his parents, Samuel and Mary Viles, and 6 brothers and sisters in Civil District No 12, Sullivan, Tennessee.^[2]

During the American Civil War, Richard "Vials" served on the Union side. He enlisted in the 13th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry on 15 Sept 1863 and served in Company K until he was mustered out on 26 Jan 1864^[3][4] or 5 Sept 1865.^[5]

Mahaley Hancock and Richard Viles were married on 27 Dec 1866 in Hawkins county, Tennessee.^[6] they had at least the following children:

• Griffith R., b. ca. 1867
• Berry T., b. 1869
• Henry Walker, b. 27 Oct 1867; d. 29 Jan 1971
• Sarah E., b. 16 Aug 1871; m1. John C. Higdon, m2. James Edward Johnson; d. 8 August 1911 SEE Research Notes below
• William, b. ca. 1872
• Mary Ann (Mollie), b. 13 Nov 1875; m. -- Light; d. ^[7]
• Nancy Emmaline (Nannie), b. 1880; m. David Churchwell; d. 1959^[8]
• Ada, b. March 1885
• George Washington, b. 07 Mar 1886 (or March 1881^[9]); d. 15 Jul 1944^[10]

In 1870, Richard and Mahala Viles lived in District 6, Hawkins, Tennessee, with three children, including Henry. A Nancy J. Viles is living with them.^[11]

In 1880, Richard Viles (indexed as Viol), worked as a laborer and lived with his wife and four children in District 6, Hawkins, Tennessee.^[12]

On the 1890 US Census of Veterans, Richard is shown living within the Kingsport Post Office area. He was helpless due to rheumatism.^[5]

Richard Viles died on 4 Aug 1899. On before 7 Sept 1899, Mahala Viles applied for widow's benefits on Richard's Civil War pension.^[13] (On the 1900 US Census, Mahala is shown as a widow. She has had 8 children, seven of whom are living.^[9]) Richard was buried at the Cloud Cemetery, Kingsport, Sullivan, Tennessee.^[14]

• See "Decisions Relating to Pensions, page 486 US Dept of the Interior, Decisions on Pensions and Bounty Land Claims" - it contains Richard's death death and other pertinent info.

Research Notes

Notes by Vic Watt 00:10, 19 November 2015 (EST): I question whether Richard and Mahala had a daughter Sarah/Sadie.

• There is no Sarah/Sadie/Sallie living with Richard and Mahala in any US Census.
• I can find no record of a Sarah/Sadie/Sallie Viles marrying either a Johnson or a Higdon. Or a Higdon marrying a James Edward Johnson.
• The only Caucasian Sarah/Sadie/Sallie Viles born in about 1871 in Tennessee is Sallie, the daughter of Samuel and Eliza.^[15]
• On the 1900 US Census, Mahala said that she has had 8 children, 7 of whom are living. Sarah/Sadie/Sallie would make 9 children.

Death records establish that an unnamed Higdon and James Edward Johnson had a son J R Johnson, b. 06 May 1908 in Sparta, White, Tennessee,^[16] but neither her first name nor the name of her parents is given.

In 1900, Sarah Higdon, 29 year old widow b. Feb 1871, lived in the 11th Civil District, White County, Tennessee, with three children and her brother Johnnie Higdon.^[17]

In 1910, Sarah Johnson, a divorced woman who worked at farm labor, lived in Civil District 11, White, Tennessee, with three children: two Higdons and one Johnson.^[18]

Notes from John R. Johnson, 2 May 2017:
My father, John Roy Johnson, told me that Sarah Viles Higdon Johnson's 1st husband was known by friends and neighbors as "uncle John" Higdon who had already lost his 1st wife and two grown sons to some sicknesses and was about 30 years older than Sarah when they married and their photo shows it. They had three girls before he died and the oldest was Lillie May Higdon born 14 Feb 1894 (see Higdon-306) and married her stepbrother Fred William Johnson on 24 Nov 1911 at Clifty, Tn.; the second was Annie Higdon born about 1896 and died about 1902. The third daughter, Millie Emmaline Higdon (see Higdon-304) was born 15 Jan 1899 and married Charles Blaze Blaylock about 1919. When John C Higdon died in 1904, Sarah took her remaining two girls and found her way from Giles county, Tn to White county, Tn where on the 20 May 1906 she married James Edward (Ed) Johnson who was also a widower with eight children and they had one son, my father, John Roy Johnson (see Johnson-19159).

John Roy Johnson was born 06 May 1908 in White county, Tn. After some spousal abuse by sitting on her belly while beating her face and head with his fists she left and divorced him as per the 1910 US census shows her to be divorced and my Dad as young as he was said he still remembers her screams while he witnessed the beating she endured. She and her girls were taking in laundry to wash in a large cast iron pot over a wood fire and then hung them out on a clothesline to dry and then iron them with manually heated irons heated on a wood burning stove, put them on hangers or fold them (towels, washcloths, etc) and deliver them back to their customers. She was wearing a petticote and dress and backed up too near to the iron kettle fire catching her skirt tail on fire and badly burning the backs of her legs and buttocks before putting the fire out with well water. Dad said the only thing she had for the burns was some butter the girls smeared on her and she went to bed, took pneumonia and died in a couple of days time. He went back to his father and her family from Sullivan county came got her body and took her to the Cloud cemetery near Kingsport, Tn. for burial with her Viles family. See Findagrave.com memorial # 101998305 for photo of her tombstone, and her picture with her 1st husband, old "uncle John" C. Higdon of which I have the original .

This profile is a collaborative work-in-progress. Can you contribute information or sources?

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12116-79055-32?cc=1401638 : accessed 19 November 2015), Tennessee > Sullivan > Kingsport > image 5 of 8; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). Stamped page 13

   Sam Vials, a 36 year old farmer b. South Carolina; Mary Vials, 32 b. Virginia; Martha Vials, 11 b. Virginia; Nancy J Vials, 9 b. Tennessee; Judith Vials, 7 b. Tennessee; Richard Vials, 6 b. Tennessee; Mary Vials, 0-1/12 b. Tennessee.

2. ↑ "United States Census, 1860," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8T5-TQB : accessed 19 November 2015), Richard R Viles in household of Samuel Viles, Civil District No 12, Sullivan, Tennessee, United States; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing p. 62, household ID 436, NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 805,275.

   Samuel Viles, 49, a farm laborer b. North Carolina; Mary Viles, 44 b. Virginia; and 7 children b. Tennessee: Martha Viles, 22; Nancy J Viles, 20; Judy Viles, 18; Richard R Viles, 16; Sarah Viles, 12; Mary Viles, 10; Nathan Viles, 5.

3. ↑ History of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, U.S.A.. Philadelphia : P.W. Ziegler & Co., 1903. Open Library Page 478
4. ↑ "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FS38-825 : accessed 19 November 2015), Richard Viles, Private, Company K, 13th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry, Union; citing NARA microfilm publication M392 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 15; FHL microfilm 821,903.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "United States Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-16936-15859-17?cc=1877095 : accessed 19 November 2015), Tennessee > Sullivan > All > image 17 of 28; citing NARA microfilm publication M123 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
6. ↑ "Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5HH-4PC : accessed 19 November 2015), Richard Viles and Mahaley Hancock, 27 Dec 1866; citing Hawkins, Tennessee, United States, Marriage, p. 104, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville and county clerk offices from various counties; FHL microfilm 972,789.
7. ↑ "Tennessee Death Records, 1914-1955," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NSLQ-MRS : accessed 19 November 2015), Dick Viles in entry for Mallie Light, 30 Jan 1929; citing Clouds Cementery Cemetery, Kingsport, Sullivan, Tennessee, cn 3649, State Library and Archives, Nashville; FHL microfilm 1,876,749.
8. ↑ www.FindAGrave.com; Created by: Nancy Trent; Record added: Sep 11, 2009; Find A Grave Memorial# 41834071
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSZD-WNJ : accessed 19 November 2015), Ada Viles in household of Mrs. Richard Viles, Civil District 12, Sullivan, Tennessee, United States; citing sheet 3B, family 61, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,601.

   Mrs. Richard Viles, 51 b. July 1848; Wm Viles, divorced, 27 b. July 1872; George Viles, 19 b. March 1881; Ada Viles, 15 b. March 1885; son-in-law Richard Light, 30 b. 1869; daughter Mollie Light, 24 b. Nov 1875; granddaughter Nellie M Light, 2 b. April 1898; son-in-law John Handcoc, 53 b. May 1847. Mahala has had 8 children, 7 of whom are living.

10. ↑ "Tennessee Death Records, 1914-1955," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NSC3-74Y : accessed 19 November 2015), Richard B. Viles in entry for George Washington Viles, 15 Jul 1944; citing City Cemetery, Kingsport, Sullivan, Tennessee, cn 15944, State Library and Archives, Nashville; FHL microfilm 2,137,349.
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDD7-75L : accessed 17 November 2015), Henry W Viles in household of Richard Viles, Tennessee, United States; citing p. 8, family 55, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 553,034.

    Richard Viles, 22; Mahala Viles, 21; Griffith R Viles, 4; Henry W Viles, 2; Berry T Viles, 0-9/12; Nancy J Viles, 30. All were born in Tennessee.

12. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD76-Z82 : accessed 19 November 2015), Richd Viol, District 6, Hawkins, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district 79, sheet 233D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1261; FHL microfilm 1,255,261.

    Richd. Viol, 36; Mahala Viol, 32; Henry Viol, 12; William Viol, 8; Mollie Viol, 4; Nannie Viol, 1. All were born in Tennessee.

13. ↑ "United States General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDP-BK99 : accessed 19 November 2015), Richard Viles, 1887.
14. ↑ FindAGrave.com; Created by: Nancy Trent; Record added: Sep 11, 2009; Find A Grave Memorial# 41833839
15. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDWQ-RX8 : accessed 19 November 2015), Sallie Viles in household of Samul Viles, District 1, Roane, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district 221, sheet 282B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1275; FHL microfilm 1,255,275.
16. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KSB5-Z63 : accessed 19 November 2015), Higdon in entry for J R Johnson, 13 Jun 1969; citing certificate number 43517, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,137,445.
17. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSZK-1YX : accessed 3 May 2017), Sarrah Higdon, Civil District 11, White, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 156, sheet 8A, family 139, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,604.

    Sarrah Higdon, 29; Lillie Higdon, 7; Annie Higdon, 3; Emma Higdon, 1; brother Johnie Higdon, 21. All were born in Tennessee. Sarah's parents were born born in North Carolina.

18. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGNV-7CL : accessed 3 May 2017), Sarah Johnson, Civil District 11, White, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 196, sheet 6B, family 117, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1526; FHL microfilm 1,375,539.

    Sarah Johnson, 45; Roy Johnson, 2; Lillian M Higdon, 18; Emma Higdon, 11. All were born in Tennessee. Sarah has had 5 children, 3 of whom are living. She was enumerated immediately below the Lorenzo D. Higdon family. Here father was born in North Carolina and her mother in Georgia, as were Lorenzo's parents.