Charlie Cole

Kenton Tennessee History: As I remember and heard By Mrs. Willie J. Cole Moore


Years ago, prior to 1905 several black families? lives in what was the Long House located on the street where First Baptist Church was formerly located. Families living in the Long House as I remember hearing my parents say were Bob and Ida Hunt parents of the late Manor Hunt and Mrs. Nora Scates of St. Louis, Mo. William and Sophia Col, Laura Williams, Robert and Henrietta Williams grandparents of James Williams, Louise and Ellaulse Cole were born on what is now 105 Cole St. also are the rest of the Cole children, other families lived at Long House until they could build or buy a house. The lot at 105 Cole St. cost $50.00 and was a wedding gift William and Sophia Cole from Laura Williams, late mother of William Cole, the house was built by Dan Gant, grandfather of Mrs. Clara Akins he had one arm but was a good carpenter. The Coles lived at this address until 1944 when William Cole retired from the Shatz Produce House with forty years of service. The lot at 305 S. Poplar St. was given to him by the Shatz Co Guy Exton of Dyer, Tn built the house. The lot was formerly owned by Sue Ennix, owner of the Kenton Hotel. Gllhert Sinclair, grandmother of A.W. Lovelace had a strawberry patch there.

Kenton black homeowners were:
Robert Hunt, William C. Cole, John Mitchell, Haywood Johns, Mollie Taylor, Robert Williams, Gracie Walls, Jack Goodman, George Griffin, Sal Trice, Edward Calhoun, Emmel Jackson, John Jackson, Ida Wilson, Jim Wilson, Brown Eskew, B. Eskew, Hannah Thompson, Robert & Henrietta Williams, Tom Elem, Army Bates, Harrison Webb, Charlie Cason, Bill Mc Derman, Gilbert Sinclair, Winnie Hill, Henry Akins, Frank Watson, Isaiah Williams, J.T. Lane, Dunk Atkins, Jim Brown, Milton
Douis, Alan Dold, Louis Thompson, Willie McGee, Israel Taylor, and Alex Lett.

Property now owned by:
William C. Cole ---- The Cole Family 305 S. Poplar St.
Robert Hunt --- Unknown
John Mitchell Cole St. William Edmonds
John Mitchell?s Caf? Bobby Bardwell
Haywood Johns Ronnie Simpson
Haywood Johns Clasper Warren
Mollie Taylor --- James Swift
Israel Taylor --- Geraldine Belmont
Robert Williams L.M. Bardwell
Alex Lett --- Emily Edmonds
Gracie Walls --- William Edmonds, Poplar St., 308 & 310
Jack Goodman Mrs. Harris, Tilghman St.
George Griffin Shellie Akins
Sol Trice Unknown Hall St.
Masonie Hall Greer Chapel
Edward Calhaun --- Carl Caihaun
Emmet Jackson Bobbie Bardwell?s daughter
John Jackson Mamie Young?s son
Ida Wilson --- Unknown
Jim Wilson --- Melvin & Ann Brooks
Brown Eskew --- Unknown
Basic Eskew Unknown
Hannah Thompson John L. Mitchell
Tom Elem Unknown
Army Bates --- Unknown
Harrison Webb --- Unknown
Charlie Cason Sam Young
Bill McDerman -- Clara Akins (burned)
Annie L. Watson --- Her Children
Winnie Hill --- Mrs. Nannie M. Banks
Alan Dodd and Henry Akins --- Charlie White
Frank Watson Thelma Eskew
Isaiah Williams Charlie White
J.T. Lane William Edmonds Tilghman St.
Dunk Atkins Unknown
Milton Davis Unknown
Louis Thompson --- Behind St. Paul Unknown
Willie McBee Rev. Henry M. Banks
Jake Mosley Annie & RB. Haynes
William C. Cole Cole St. Harold Banks
Jim Brown --- Mrs. Susie Ervin
Cordelia Edmond Beautrix St --- Unknown
Frank Jones Unknown
Dan Gant--- Unknown

Cordelia Edmond worked for the Tom Wade family. She is the grandmother of Rev. Willie Roach, Mrs. Ann Brooks, and Ms. Geraldine Grice. She died in St. Paul at a service.
Della Maze, a St. Paul member fell dead at the M & 0 Railroad Station.
Alonzo Walls, husband of Gracie Walls and father of Elnara and Bevma Walls, was burned alive in Arkansas. Winnie Hill dies on M&O Railroad near the station.

The Polls for voting was where Wade?s Gin is located.

Our School had two teachers, for first four grades, for the four higher grades we had no lights, coal stoves, the children did the janitor work. When the new school was built we had lights no water. We had coat closets and outside toilets.

?We?ve come this far by faith leaning on the Lord.?
Kenton was a quiet town, but not too many criminal offences. Jay Bird was the black area around Greer Chapel. Aszoo was the black area north on Beautrix.

Teachers who taught for Kenton
Prof Ball was my father?s teacher, J.F. & Maggie Lane, Charlie Cole,
Mariah Dodson, Katie Bell Parker, Prof George Weddles, Prof William C.
Bryant & wife, Prof. R.J. Butler, Mrs. Mattie Munds, Mrs. Coatie, Prof.
Columbus Farris, Prof. James Elrod, Shellie Cole, Emmerson Shynne,
Manor B. Akins, and Katherine Mitchell.

Bar-be-que
The men would dig a pit, put poles across and coat a whole hog, or goat. They would coat all night in Bogle?s field north on Beautrix St.

Kenton also had a Baseball team. All are deceased.
William C. Cole, Manor Hunt, Charlie Johns, Earl Thompson, Tommy
Goodman, Boast Bobbit, Will Elem, Robert Edmond, Alvin Edmond, WI.
Cole, Elmer Hunt, James Williams, Fred McLia, James McLia, and Dallas Akins.

This is all I can think of. Hope you have some idea of Kenton, a nice little town.