From: Roots of Roane County, TN, by Snyder E. Roberts, page 145
All of the old Tedder family lines in Roane County descend from THOMAS and SELVIRAH BROWN TEDDER of Greene County (formed from Dobbs in 1791), NC. Thomas’ birthdate is not known, but he was probably the son of GEORGE TEDDER listed in the Beauford County, NC 1755 tax list. The Dobbs County 1790 census shows GEORGE TEDDER, THOMAS TEDDER, MARY BROWN and JAMES GLASGOW living as neighbors. SELVIRAH BROWN (1758-1836) was a sister to Capt. JOHN BROWN who was the father of the powerful JOHN BROWN who was the first Sheriff of Roane County, and later a Colonel in the War of 1812. Selvirah was related to, or a very close friend and neighbor of the politically strong JAMES GLASGOW, SR. who was Secretary of State for North Carolina. His office issued grants for lands in Tennessee. North Carolina issued to JAMES GLASGOW a grant for 5,000 acres located near the mouth of Emory River. JAMES GLASGOW, JR. lived on this Emory River tract, and later his widowed sister, NANCY GLASGOW, who had married WILLOUGHBY WILLIAMS, SR. came to Roane to live, where she married secondly (1816) JOSEPH MCMINN, Governor of Tennessee. THOMAS TEDDER died in Dobbs county, NC in 1799, leaving Selvirah a widow with five children.
Between 1800 and 1810, Selvirah brought her five children to Roane, and evidently made her home with, or close to, her relatives the BROWNS, or possibly James Glasgow, Jr. family. As her sons came of age, they bought land from the Browns in Cardiff Valley, and on Emory River. Thomas and Selvirah Tedder had five children as follows:
JAMES TEDDER, the son of Thomas and Selvirah Tedder, was born in Dobbs County, NC, 18 May 1789 (his Bible). He married (1821) ELIZABETH B. TODD (abt 1800) who was a sister to Williamson Todd, above. As James came of age, he bought from Thomas Brown a tract of land on Emory River, and additional acreage from James Glasgow, Jr. This placed him across Emory River from the COOPERS. James was a farmer, and a good citizen. Elizabeth died in February of 1838, and was buried in the old Tedder Cemetery on Circle Drive near Emory River in Swan Pond. James died 15 January 1878, and was buried beside his wife. James and Elizabeth Tedder had five children as follows:
- THOMAS JEFFERSON TEDDER (1822) married (1847) MARY E. WILSON, daughter of JOHN E. WILSON and granddaughter of MICHAEL WILSON. They were living in Johnson County, MO in 1878.
- JOHN GRAY TEDDER (1824) married (1847) SARAH ANN DICKEY, daughter of SAMUEL DICKEY. They were living in Henry County, MO in 1878.
- WILLIAM ALFONSO TEDDER – see below
- JAMES PLEASANT TEDDER – see below
- MARIAH J. TEDDER (1837) married (1863) MORGAN B. HAWKINS.
Jane Cofer Tedder, date of photo
unknown, but she appears to be wearing widow's veils
contributed by Don Defoe
WILLIAM ALFONSO TEDDER (1828-1884), the son of James and Elizabeth Tedder, married (1851) LOUISA JANE COFER (1831-1918) who was the daughter of ABRAHAM and FRANCIS WILLIS COFER. William A. was an active and highly regarded citizen. He served as a member of the Roane County Court. The high esteem in which he was held was shown by the large number of people attending his funeral, and as expressed in his published obituary which is as follows:
"William A. Tedder, Esq. died at his residence Saturday May 17, 1884 at 7:22 P.M. Mr. Tedder was confined several months ago with pneumonia fever which settle on his lungs and terminated in that dreadful disease, consumption, which caused his death.
The deceased only lacked a few weeks of being 57 years of age, and has always been considered one of Roane County’s best and most honorable citizens. He was a consistent member of the church and during his illness expressed himself that he believed he was going to die, and that he was prepared to go. The remains were interred in the family burying ground (Bowers-Geasland), on Big Emory River on Sunday at 4:00 P.M. with a Masonic funeral ceremony.
When we express our regrets in losing such a noble and good man from our midst, we are responding for all who ever knew him, for to know him was to respect him.
There were about 300 persons in the procession which followed the remains to the grave, quite a number of whom were Masons and friends from Kingston. To the bereaved family we extend our heartfelt sympathy."
William A. and Louisa J. Tedder had the following children:
JAMES P. TEDDER FAMILY
JAMES PLEASANT TEDDER (1832-1868), the fourth son of James and Elizabeth Tedder, married (1857) SUSAN CATHERINE COFER. They had four children: (1) WILLIAM STEPHEN TEDDER (1858) (2) GEORGE—see below—(3) JOHN PURRIS TEDDER, (4) SUSAN ALICE TEDDER (1868) married (1884) W. B. LITTLETON.
GEORGE WASHINGTON TEDDER (1861) married (1885) JULIA A. DENTON. They had the following children: Della 1886, Charles D 1891, Ralph (see below), Edith C. 1896, Sue M. 1898, George W, Ray, Bruce
RALPH TEDDER (1893) married first, REECE PARKER, and secondly, EVA CROUCH. After Ralph’s death, Eva married, secondly, nationally-known attorney, Ray Jenkins. Ralph Tedder was one of Rockwood’ leading citizens. He was one of the most prominent attorneys in Roane County and enjoyed a wide and successful practice.