The Story of Oliver Springs, Tennessee, and Its People Vol IV by Snyder E. Roberts (1985) Page200-203.
Thomas A. Brummette served as Marshal of Oliver Springs several different times. His longest service of record was from March of 1914 until November of 1916, but he also served one short period as late as June of 1917. A glance at the Court Docket for this period reveals at least two significant facts. First, judging from the number of arrests, Tom was one of the most active Marshals in the town's history. Secondly, Tom Brummette showed no favors because he arrested the high, the low , and the mean, consistent with his line of duty. Some of those arrested later became Mayors of the Town. Doctors were listed among those arrested. Tom was evidently fearless because among his arrests were men known to be tough for police officers to handle, including: Shirley Pass, Tom Vance, Bus Lynch, Bob Martin, Albert Edwards, Bill Riggs, Hood Liles, Chester Nolin, Nick Seibers, John Simpson, Dutch Hall, Hurley Foster, and others. Of course, Tom was serving while Squire Cox was City Judge, and no doubt Squire encouraged the enforcement of the law.
Tom Brummette was a powerful, stockily built man who could physically over-power an offender without resorting to billy sticks or a gun. Tom was a likable fellow, but he had a little mean streak in him which in his younger years ran him afoul of the law and Squire Cox's Court, but this knowledge of the other side of the law served him well in apprehending criminals when he was Marshal.
The ancestry of Thomas A. Brummette may be of considerable interest to many people in the Roane area because of many intermarriages with other large families many of whom still reside in the area.
The known Brummette family line begins with Revolutionary War Soldier, Thomas Brummette who was evidently born in VA in 1754 and died in Anderson County November 11, 1842. He served in the Tenth Virginia Regiment and fought in the Battles of Brandywine, Guilford Courthouse, etc. He received a pension October 17, 1818. Thomas married Mary Burris. They has the following children:
1.Hannah b. 1794, 2. Delila b. 1796, 3. Belinda b. 1798,4.William b. 1800, 5. Elijah b. 1802, 6. Sarah b. 1804, 7. Anna b.1806, 8. Rhoda b. 1808, 9. Syntha b. 1810, 10. James A. b.1812, 11. Thomas b. 1814.
James A. Brummette, No. 10 above, was born in Anderson County, July 31, 1812 (census shows 1816). He married Serelda Brown (b. about 1813). James A. was a Baptist preacher and lived in the area now known as Marlow. He was killed near the end of the Civil War. Jasper Smith wrote, "Uncle Jim Brummette while sitting in his home feeding a child on his lap an unknown man entered the room, poked a pistol in his side and shot him dead. He was buried in the Walker Long Cemetery in Dutch Valley." Reverend James A. Brummette and Serelda Brown Brummette had at least ten children:
1. Caroline Brummette married Marion Justice. They were the parents of Judge Houston Justice and Serelda Justice, wife of R. A. Sisson . 2. Wiley E. b. 1837 served in the Civil War. He was bushwhacked on New River, and was buried there. 3. Thomas G. b. 1839, 4. Moses W . B. b. 1841, 5. William R. (1844-1929), 6. Tabitha b. 1846, 7. James A. b. 1848, 8. Martha J. b. 1851, 9.Rufus J. b. 1852, and 10. Mary E. b. 1856.
Reverend William R. Brummette (No. 5 above) was born March 23, 1844 in the present Marlow community. He served in the Civil War. Bill Brummette was a well-known Baptist preacher, and was the pastor of many local churches including Beach Park which he helped to found. Reverend Brummette married first, Sarah E. Ketchum (buried in Russell Cemetery at Scandlyn). He married, secondly, Mary Lula Arp (1874-1955) who is buried in the Oliver Springs Cemetery.
William R. and Sarah E. had at least nine children:
l. Mary Elizabeth b. 1869 married James A. Sheldon, 2. Thomas A.(1873-1930) see below, 3. Martha E. b. 1880, married William R. Davis and reared a large family in Oliver Springs, 4. Marie Magdalene "Mamie" b 1888 married William Campbell, 5. Minne b 1889 married S. H. Hammonds, 6. Lennie P. b 1892 married Joseph Chitwood, 7, Callie married Leonard Roberts from Vonore, 8 John* married a Bennett. Their children were: Frank, Stella, John, Leola and Flora, 9 Herbert married first, Blanch Kidwell, second Lula _________.
*Jesse K. Moore, jkmoore@usa.net, a descendant, has kindly added to this line: He submits--John William Brummette married Margaret Elizabeth Bennett on 30 April 1891 in Roane County, TN. They had: Ada Gertrude (Jesse's line), Stella Grace, Frank Bernard, Flora A., John William (Jr.?), and Leola Mae Brummette.
Reverend William R. Brummette died May 22, 1929, and is buried in the Oliver Springs Cemetery.
Thomas A. Brummette was probably born in or near Oliver Springs, April 6, 1873. He died October 16, 1930, and is buried in the Oliver Springs Cemetery. Tom followed the trades of barbering and meat cutting. He had shops in Oliver Springs in addition to serving as Marshal before moving to Knoxville. He married Florence "Flora" C. Davis (6/3/1877-8/7/1926) who was one of thirteen children in the widely-known family of James R. and Lucinda Coker Davis. [Dorothy Woods, cokrwood@mail2.quiknet.com has expanded our information that her name was Elizabeth Cinda Coker]. Tom and Florence had four boys and two girls:
1. Richard Hobert (12/26/1897) was a twin to William M. "Hobe" started playing baseball in Oliver Springs and was in professional baseball as a player or manager for 30 years, fifteen of which were on championship teams. He played with, or managed, teams at Johnson City, Bristol, Knoxville, Memphis, Durham, Asheville, Rocky Mount, Greensboro and Elizabethton. Hobe is retired and lives in Knoxville [1985]. Married Gee Barns
2. William McKinley (12/26/1897-13/8/1959) was a Sergeant in Company D, 36th Infantry, 12 Division with his brother Hobe in World War I. Bill played baseball for a few years but mainly followed the meat business in Knoxville. He is buried in the Oliver Springs Cemetery. Married Lora Ward
3. Claude Rosevelt b. 1902 was a baseball pitcher, and played throughout the Kentucky coal mine fields. Wife's name Mary.
4. Charles Joseph b 1904 was one of the most remarkable athletes to ever play baseball in the Oliver Springs-Knoxville area. The lack of a left hand and wrist from a birth defect earned him the nickname of "One Arm Charlie" mainly to distinguish him from a cousin, Charlie "Runt" Brummette, also a baseball pitcher. Charlie started pitching at Oliver Springs, and later became one of the all-time great players at old Knoxville High School. He was a nice looking, fine physical specimen with tremendous strength in his right arm. He swung a wicked bat with the one arm and fielded his position flawlessly. He also played football at Knoxville High School. Charlie's life career was in the insurance business. He is now retired and lives in Knoxville.[1985] Wife, Helen.
5. Gretchel Elizabeth b 1907 married Casper Hobbs, and now lives on Clinton Highway near Wallace Fruit Market.
Three children died in infancy. Ethel Lee, Helen Loreen, and Annie May.
6. Tommie Kathleen b 1915 on last report lived in Knoxville.