Descendants of William Gerding
George Frederick Gerding - photo scanned from referenced book
Generation No. 1
1. WILLIAM1 GERDING
Child of WILLIAM GERDING is:
2. i. GEORGE FREDERICK2 GERDING, b. July 1800, Osnabrook, Hanover, Germany; d. 1884, Oliver Springs, TN, bur. KY.
Generation No. 2
Notes for GEORGE FREDERICK GERDING:
From: "the Story of Oliver Springs, TN, and Its People, Vol. IV" by Snyder E. Roberts, pub. 1985, beginning page 124
The Story of George Frederick Gerding, successful New York businessman, is of prime importance to the history of Wartburg and Morgan County, TN, for the period immediately preceding the Civil War. This man who had rubbed elbows with the Rosevelts, Astors, and other prominent New Yorkers, and knew his way around in the royal circles of Europe, staked his fortune in the establishment of the German-Swiss colony of Wartburg in Morgan County in the 1845-60 period. He sold his interest in the remains of the colony after the Civil War, and moved to Oliver Springs, TN, at the age of 84. Although he lived there only a few years, and only a few members of his large family ever lived there, the life story of this remarkable man and the contributions of his descendants who did live there, warrant space in Oliver Springs history.
George F. Gerding was orphaned at an early age when his father, WILLIAM GERDING, died. He was reared by a maternal uncle. George attended local schools at Lage, and was later sent to Heidelberg to complete his school work.
He came to New York City in 1825, and found employment with Casper Myer and Co., for whom he worked four years. He then entered into a partnership with George H. Simon in the export-import business which specialized in cut-glass and chinaware from Germany and France. Gerding had read glowing accounts by a German traveler named Bromme who had passed through Morgan, Anderson and Roane Counties in 1828 in which Bromme painted a most flattering picture regarding the fertility and cheapness of the land, and the healthy perfect climate. When in 1839 large tracts of land on the Cumberland Plateau were offered for sale in New York City, George F. Gerding was among the first buyers. In 1842, he joined with J. C. KUNCKELMANN to found a packet-ship line which operated four sailing vessels between New York City and Antwerp. This enterprise brought him in contact with immigrant societies.
In 1844, Gerding and Kunckelmann joined with THEODORE DE COCK, a wealthy Belgian, to organize the East TN Colonization Company with DeCock as President and Gerding as Vice President. As a first step, on August 23, 1844, the Company sent FREDERICK B. GUENTHER to Morgan County as its resident agent. In 1845, the first immigrants reached Morgan County where the Company now had approximately 167,000 acres of land. In the meantime, Gerding was made a Minister to Belgium and Consul to Baden-Baden for the period of 1845-46. He seemed to be able to carry on his duties and to promote the interest of the Colonization Company with a minimum amount of conflict of interest. See Ironworks
After returning from Europe, Gerding experienced the grief and misfortune of losing seven of his fourteen children by death and subsequent burials in Greenwood Cemetery in New York. The Wartburg colony was floundering, and in consideration of his family's health, Gerding decided to take his remaining family to Wartburg and to take personal charge of the Colony in 1849. In addition to the problems related to hewing homes from a wilderness, he found the Colony wracked with problems concerning the Doctors and medical services, and divisive problems among the various religious groups of the 475 members of the Colony. Although the Colony made progress under the strong leadership of Gerding, by the 1860's it became highly disorganized over the on-coming Civil War.
When President deCock decided to dissolve the Immigration Company, Gerding was forced into lengthy litigation in the New York courts with other members of the defunct firm.
Gerding was a strong Confederate sympathizer, and soon became a refugee from Wartburg to Louisville, KY, where he waited out the War. After the War, he returned to inspect the Colony, but found it in ruins. Gerding sold his interests in the town and contiguous areas in 1865 to the New York City market. The Morgan County 1850 census shows George F. Gerding's land value as $100,000. the Morgan County 1876 Tax List shows George F. Gerding with 18,494 acres of land which he sold to the English Colony at Rugby in 1879.
Gerding and part of his family moved to Oliver Springs in the latter part of 1872, or the first part of 1873, to take possession of the Kobbe farm, formerly the RICHARD OLIVER brick mansion and farm they purchased in March 1872. George F. Gerding disposed of parts of his estate in a business-like manner including transactions within his own family.
The seven children, with names and ages mainly taken from census records:
The George F. Gerding will and codicil dated May 15, 1884 and probated October 6, 1884, may be found in Anderson County Court Minute Book page 228.
Gerding's daughter, Lillie, describes his death as follows:
"At this old brick house, after his eventful career of 84 years, in August 1884 (sic 7/12/1884), Mr. George F. Gerding called his children and grandchildren near him, and after looking long at the picture of his beloved wife, he remarked, "I will be with you, Eliza, soon." Then winding the chain of his watch about its stem, he handed it to his young grandson, HARVEY H. HANNAH, adjusted himself in his accustomed armchair, and fell into an eternal peaceful sleep. His remains rest in Cave Hill Cemetery at Louisville, KY, safe from the wilderness, war and woe."
Of the fourteen children of George F. and Eliza Lowe Gerding, the names of only seven are recoverable from the records. These seven will be discussed below, with emphasis on those who lived in the Oliver Springs community.
Children of GEORGE GERDING and ELIZABETH LOWE are:
3. i. FREDERICK W.3 GERDING, b. October 18, 1830, NYCity; d. August 08, 1922, Roane Co, TN, bur Oliver Springs Cem..
ii. JOHN G. GERDING, b. 1834, NY City; m. VICTORIA VANN.
Notes for JOHN G. GERDING:
John G. Gerding worked as a clerk for his father as shown in the Morgan County 1850 census. Little is known of his life except that he married Victoria Vann, and that they had two daughters, one named FLORA. He was mentioned in his father's will as being deceased by 1884, and the widow and two daughters were living in CA at that time. The daughter, Flora, married HERBERT THOMAS. Their son, Herbert Thomas, Jr. became a Canadian Mounted Policeman.
iii. CAROLINE W. GERDING, b. 1839; m. JOHN PEARCE.
Notes for CAROLINE W. GERDING:
Lived in Knoxville, and were the parents of Dr. CHARLES PEARCE who practiced medicine in Knoxville for many years.
iv. EVANNAH GERDING, b. 1842, NY City; m. JOSEPH PLUMADORE.
Notes for EVANNAH GERDING:
Their home in Oliver Springs was the former Booth place on Staples Mill Road (Strutt Street), or the present Nick Edmonds home. She was named as an heir in her father's will. They removed to Knox County in the Concord area. They had one son, GEORGE PLUMMADORE, who was a cabinet maker. A descendant is Bobby Plumadore plumadore@netzero.net
4. v. ELIZABETH "LILLIE" LOUISA GERDING, b. 1846; d. 1923, Oliver Springs, TN.
vi. EDWARD GERDING, b. 1848.
Notes for EDWARD GERDING:
Edward appears as a child in the Morgan County TN 1850 census. He is not mentioned in his father's will of 1884, and was evidently deceased by that time, and was without heirs.
5. vii. CHARLOTTE J. GERDING, b. June 17, 1852, Wartburg, TN; d. October 02, 1914, Oliver Springs, TN.
Generation No. 3
Notes for FREDERICK W. GERDING:
Fred W. Gerding received his education in New York City and came to Wartburg, TN in 1849 with his father's family. The Morgan County 1850 census lists Fred W. as a piano maker by trade. He evidently assisted his father in the business of the colony until the outbreak of the Civil War when the family left for Louisville, KY. Later, Fred W. was engaged in the wholesale liquor business in Louisville. He met his wife, LORA MONTAGUE, in Demopolis, AL. she was of French descent.
Fred came with, or soon followed, his father to Oliver Springs, and bought 167 acres of land on Black Oak Ridge from his father in 1883. Fred and his wife evidently first lived in a log house, but built an imposing home on the present (ca 1975] Milton Jones home site after her parents settled $50,000 on her according to an unconfirmed report. The home overlooked the Oliver Springs-Robertsville highway with a full view of the Cumberland Mountains. The house was actually of wooden construction, but it was painted red to look like brick. The Milton Jones family miraculously escaped when the house burned in 1938 in the middle of the night.
Fred W. was an excellent farmer, and specialized in vineyards, berries, etc., and the making of quality wines. In his advanced years, he retired and lived on Spring Street in the present Lawrence Shoopman home. He died August 8, 1922, and is buried in the Oliver Springs cemetery. Frederick W. and Lora were the parents of three children.
Children of FREDERICK GERDING and LORA MONTAGUE are:
i. FREDERICK4 GERDING, JR..
ii. GEORGE GERDING.
iii. LORA GERDING.
Notes for ELIZABETH "LILLIE" LOUISA GERDING:
Lillie Gerding was born in New York City and was brought to the pioneer living conditions of Wartburg as a baby. she learned later that sheets were hung over the uncurtained windows to assuage the children's fear of the flickering shadows caused by the tossing boughs of the giant trees. Her early years were occupied with school work which was interrupted later by the Civil War.
Romance came early in her life. As the Confederates were retreating after their defeat at Fishing Creek in KY, a Captain and five Lieutenants were sent to the Gerding home for the night. They were met at the gate by Lillie, the 14-year old daughter, who said, "No Yankee can come in here!" The Captain said, "We are not Yankees." Mrs. Gerding came and made the officers welcome. Little did Lillie realize that one day one of these handsome officers would be her husband, but the young officer, JOHN H. HANNAH, noting the beauty of this courageous girl vowed to himself that some day she would be his wife.
Lillie's father placed her in a school at Vallahalla, SC, where she remained until 1865. During this time, she tried every way possible to join her father who had refugeed to Louisville, KY. Lillie's mother, with the aid of some New York City friends, finally obtained General Sherman's permission to pass through his lines. She and her brother passed hundreds of poor rebel boys going home, starved and tattered. The road traveled was partly along the route of General Sherman's march to the sea. Dead bodies half buried, and dead animals were strewn along the roadside. At last they reached what was left of Atlanta which had been burned like Columbia, SC. They finally reached Chattanooga and stopped at the Crutchfield Hotel. The brother was most relieved when he delivered Lillie safely to their mother in Louisville.
The smoke of the War had settled, and Lillie had blossomed into young womanhood when Mjr. Hannah came calling at her Louisville home in a courtship that culminated in their marriage on June 1, 1867.
Notes for MAJ. JOHN H. HANNAH:
Major Hannah was the son of JOHN FRUIT HANNAH, who had raised a Company of volunteers, including five of his sons, who joined the Confederate Army. The father was elected Captain of the Company, but due to his advanced age, resigned in favor of his son, John H., who succeeded him as Captain of Company F. of the Old Nineteenth Tennessee. John H. was wounded in the Battle of Shiloh, but served for the duration of the War. He was promoted to the rank of Major in 1864.
Major Hannah and his wife, Lillie, resided in Louisville, KY, where he was engaged in the wholesale commission business. Their first child, HARVEY HORATIO HANNAH, was born there. They came to Oliver Springs with, or shortly after the arrival of, her father, George F. Gerding. As noted above, they bought 77 acres of land from her father, but in 1877, Major Hannah and Lillie entered into a five year lease agreement with JOSEPH RICHARDS for the use of a part of the Mineral Springs and associated buildings. (Anderson Book A-2, p.412). The Hannahs lived in the Richards' house located at the rear of the former Union Peoples Bank Building. The lease was terminated when Hannah died January 1, 1880 as a result of his war injury, and the Joseph Richards family moved from Knoxville to occupy this house and to assume charge of their property.
Major Hannah's will dated November 1879 is on file at Clinton. His wife was entrusted with his estate which was for the benefit of his sons, Harvey and Gerald, and W. A. Henderson and Dr. R. A. McFerrin were to act as advisors.
Notes for DR. ROBERT A. MCFERRIN:
Lillie married secondly, Dr. ROBERT A. MCFERRIN, who was a native of Greene County, TN. Dr. McFerrin is remembered by oldtimers for his medical practice, and for his coal mining business.
Lillie received one-sixth of her father's estate in 1884. On December 12, 1866, she bought from Ellen W. Scott of St. Louis (Anderson G-2, p. 508) the house at the corner of Main and Spring Streets, and lots 10 through 39. This house, presently the home of her granddaughter, MRS. VAUGHAN BLANTON, is where Lillie reared her sons, Harvey and Gerald, her daughter Bernice McFerrin, and an orphaned Cuban girl, LORENA MARIA LACARADA PARDRONE, whom she had brought from Cuba after visiting her son, Col. Harvey Hannah in Cuba following the Spanish-American War.
This home on National Register. See Lewis Rector
It was in this home in her advanced years that her sister, Lottie, brother Fred, and sometimes her cousins, Mrs. Benjamin Bradford, Charles Gerding, Sr., and Charles Gerding, Jr. came for lunch followed by long talks while seated on lawn chairs. These talks were often conducted in the German language. Lillie was a person of strong character. She was not only a strong influence on her children, she made a deep imprint on all that she met. Lillie Hannah McFerrin is buried in the Oliver Springs Cemetery.
Children of ELIZABETH GERDING and MAJ. HANNAH are:
i. HARVEY HORATIO4 HANNAH, b. August 30, 1868, Louisville, KY.
ii. GERALD G. HANNAH, b. March 03, 1876, Oliver Springs, TN.
Child of ELIZABETH GERDING and DR. MCFERRIN is:
iii. BERNICE4 MCFERRIN, b. 1883; m. N. F. POWEL.
Children of CHARLOTTE GERDING and ROBERT TRIPLETT are:
i. FANNIE "PALMA"4 TRIPLETT, b. 1875; m. WILLIAM CRAWFORD.
ii. ROBERT S. TRIPLETT, JR., b. 1877; d. 1898.
iii. ELIZA "LILLIE" TRIPLETT, b. 1878; d. October 02, 1914; m. (1) WILLIAM LEWIS, Bef. 1890; d. Abt. 1901; m. (2) CLEM JONES, 1900.
Notes for WILLIAM LEWIS:
Was in the coal business. He is probably buried in Knoxville.
Misfortune struck in 1893 when the brick mansion burned during the so-called "Coal Miner's War" at Oliver Springs. Rumors flew because the Lewises had entertained some of the officers from the state militia during the uprising.
Lottie built an ornate three-story frame structure with a cupola on top at the same site as the burned mansion. This wooden house was later razed by Allen and Ruth Moore to build a home.
Notes for CLEM JONES:
He was a lawyer, and served as Mayor of Oliver Springs and Athens, TN. They lived in the old Carrie Mitchell home on Main Street.
See also, Oliver Springs Historical Society web site - Articles about Harvey Hannah, and Historical Sites http://www.oshistorical.com