From The Story of Oliver Springs, TN and Its People Vol. IV, 1985 by Snyder E. Roberts

William Staples (4/14/1802-5/12/1881) was born in VA, the eighth of fifteen children of RWS, Major JOHN STAPLES (1757-1837) and ELIZABETH UPSHAW (1770-1858). John Staples emigrated to Morgan County, TN about 1810. He was the progenitor of the numerous Staples descendants in Morgan and Roane Counties, many of whom have distinguished themselves in the engineering and legal professions.

This additional FIELDS data was contributed by Sherrell Buchanan  SBuch51371@aol.com 

Melinda Matilda Staples b 1799 NC, was daughter of John Staples and Betsey Upshaw.  She married William D. Fields, b. 16 Jan 1798 in GA.  William was a veteran of the War of 1812, having enlisted from Anderson County TN and served as a private from Capt. James McKarmey's company, Tennessee Militia Reg't.  He also served as a private in the company of militia commanded by Capt. John Underwood and was drafted at Kingston in the month of December 1814, per Pension records via Claim for Survivor's Pension by his wife in 1871.  William is buried in Fields Cemetery near Oliver Springs, TN.  

William Staples was intelligent, strong-willed, and ambitious. He married first, ANNA DAVIS (1802-1865) and secondly, ELIZABETH BRADLEY (1836-1885), all of whom are buried in the Fairview Church Cemetery.

He had a daughter by his first wife named SUSANNAH (1823-1861) who married SAMUEL LONG (1816-1905). Samuel and Susan Long had four children, including: Anna Long  who married a HOGSETT and resided in TX; Joanna and her sister, Matilda Long, married brothers, WILLIAM and MILLARD CROSS, respectively, who were sons of ALFRED CROSS, a former Sheriff of Anderson County.

Joanna and William Cross were the parents of Joel, Nannie Mae, Staples, Amy, Roy and Anna Staples.

Millard and Matilda Cross were the parents of Luther, Sammie Long, Harry Lee, Gypsy, Virgie, and Lawrence.  Joel B. Long (1847-1938) married Lena Crawford.  

William Staples had two children by his second wife. Nancy married a Methodist Preacher but died at the age of 18 years. William "Little Bill" Staples (1869-1929) married BLANCHE M. CROSS.  They are the parents of Mrs. Margarette Staples Justice who lived in a large colonial type home at Dossett. 

William Staples had established himself as a well-to-do farmer, trader, and businessman in Morgan County before he bought from the McGhee heirs in 1855 a 5,000 acre tract. (Roane Book M, p. 510). Bill Staples prospered in farming and extended his operations into lumbering and sawmilling. He erected a large sawmill on the north side of Poplar Creek. At first he utilized slave labor in the operations of his farms, but after the Civil War when he had suffered the economic loss of his slaves, he proved his managerial ability by successfully expanding his farm and sawmill operations.

Town tradition estimates Staples' slave holdings at 150 and his acreage at 5,000, and his granddaughter, Mrs. Margarette Staples Justice thought that estimate about right, but the figure for the number of slaves seems slightly high since records show that in 1860 in all of TN there were only 158 plantations with more than 1,000 acres, and less than 400 persons owned more than 50 slaves.

The William Staples' will dated 16 April 1881 is a well-prepared document. He had previously disposed of a part of his estate by gifts as his daughter and grandchildren married. The will further partitions the estate, but he names his grandson, Joel B. Long, as Manager of the estate and to care for his widow and minor children from the proceeds.

After the partitioning of the estate, Joel B. Long, and later with the help of William Staples, Jr. became more involved in lumbering and saw milling. The ante bellum wooden frame homeplace and home tract of approximately 450 acres was sold to ABE MAY about 1902.

Abe May (1867-1948) was an excellent farmer, but engaged extensively in lumbering operations throughout the area. He married MATTIE MEADE (1868-1945). Their family is well known throughout the Roane area, and consists of the following children: William, Nannie (John Braden), Samuel, Lonnie (Doc), Margaret (Joe Hart), Browder, Jim, Daisy (Buck Wright), and Mamie (Eddie French) May.

Title to the homeplace and home tract passed from the Mays to banker, SAMUEL TUNNELL, and from Tunnell's heirs, CAP and JOHN LEA, to JULIAN and BENTON HOPPER about 1949. The Hoppers, the present [1985] owners, have established a fine reputation in the community and have carried on a successful operation. The Hoppers razed the old Staples homeplace and replaced it with a modern brick building.

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