Martha A. Cunningham1

b. 15 May 1824, d. 29 October 1897
Martha (Cunningham) Beattie (cropped)
photo courtesy Bernie Becker
Birth15 May 1824 Martha A. Cunningham was born on 15 May 1824 in Tennessee.2,3 
MarriageJun 1843 She married Madison Beattie, son of William Beattie and Mary Allison, in early Jun 1843 in Lincoln County, Tennessee.1 
Cens-18506 Aug 1850  When the 1850 census was recorded Madison was listed as the head of the household, however he and Martha (and their two young sons) actually lived with Madison's 87 year old father, William, on the old Beattie land William had inherited from his father John. Madison's brother Absalom lived on adjacent land.4 
  Not long after this census was recorded Madison began constuction of his own home, a large structure which according to tradition, burned the day it was completed. The same tradition holds that Madison began rebuilding the next day. That beautiful 8 room home still stands and is now known as "Morningside".5 
Land-Gift7 Jun 1857 On 7 Jun 1857 Madison's father, well into his 90s, deeded Madison "for love and affection" the 775 acres on which William and Madison resided. The neighboring land was owned by Robert B. Edmondson, Dr. Nickerson Snead, Robinson, William Byars, J.W. Sheffey and Absalom Beatie.6 
  The land sat west of Glade Spring and east of Emory. In a north-south direction the bulk of the land sat between present day Rt 609 (Hillman Highway) and present day Interstate 81. The home was constructed on an elevated area of land off of Highway 609 near Deerfield Lane (see link below to page with photos of home and more information). 
Cens-18602 Jul 1860  There Madison (46) and Martha (36), and their 3 children: William (14), George (12) and Mary (6) were enumerated in July 1860. Madison's land was valued at $20,000 and he owned personal property worth $24,000.3 
Cens-1860- Slave10 Jul 1860  This included the 16 slaves who ran the plantation and cared for the family.7 
Cens-187016 Aug 1870  Following the Civil War Madison's land retained much of it's value but his personal property was valued at $2,700 in 1870.8 
  Son George married Emma Louise Williams in the early 1870s. They and their children lived with Madison and Martha for some years then purchased the Robert Edmondson home southwest of Old Baptist Cemetery.9 
Widowed31 Jul 1885  Madison died on 31 Jul 1885. His will left the family home to the couple's daughter however Mary received her dower share in the land. 
  Madison and Martha's daughter Mary married Charles McKinney in 1879 and raised a family of 6 children in the home they inherited. They furnished the home beautifuly and entertained often. At the turn of the century a race track was built in the fields below the house where the family kept and trained race horses. The home remained in the family until 1925.5 
Will5 Oct 1894 Mary wrote her will on 5 Oct 1894. She left her son A. C. Beattie over 1,300 acres of land in Crittenden County, Arkansas along with 240 acres in Cross County, Arkansas. Her daughter, Mary McKinney received about 1,800 acres in Crittenden County with the stipulation that these lands were to pass to Mary's children upon her death.10 
Death29 Oct 1897 Martha died on 29 Oct 1897 at age 73.2 
Burial She was buried at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.2 
Will-Recd25 Mar 1901 Martha's will was recorded on 25 Mar 1901 in Washington County, Virginia.10 

Related Links and Images:

The beautiful home now known as Morningside, built by Madison and Martha Beattie11
Martha's inscription on large monument in Madison Beattie square
Madison and Martha Beattie monument following the 2011 tornado
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery

Family

Madison Beattie b. 6 Oct 1811, d. 31 Jul 1885
Children
Last Edited13 Sep 2013

Citations

  1. [S2327] "Lincoln Co. Tennessee Marriage License Records", Tennessee State Marriages 1780-2002, digital images, Ancestry.com (www.Ancestry.com : accessed Oct. 2009), Madison Beatie and Martha A. Cunningham entry. The exact date in June is smudged however Ancestry indexed it as the 3rd. The license was dated June 1st.
  2. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 175.
  3. [S234] Madison Beattie household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., The Western District, p. 441 (added script), dwelling 536, family 524, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2005, image 79 of 361. Enumeation includes: Madison Beatie, 46, farmer, owns land valued at $20,000 and pers prop of $24,000, b. VA; Martha, 36, b. TN; William, 14; George, 12; Mary 6; all b. VA.
  4. [S367] Madison Beatie household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 88b (stamped), dwelling 301, family 301, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2003, image 42 of 289. Madison Beatie, b. VA, 38, farmer, owns property valued at $14,950; Martha 24, b. VA; William F. 4, b. ?? [Tenn?]; Geo 2, b. VA; William 87, b. VA.
  5. [S952] "Historical Houses of Washington County, Virginia", Historical Society of Washington County, Virginia Bulletin Series II, #6 (Spring, 1968): 30.
  6. [S2181] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 23: 417-419. William Beattie to Madison Beattie, for natural love and affection to son, dated 7 Jun 1857 and recorded 29 Jun 1857.
  7. [S1308] Madison Beatie, owner, 1860 U.S. census, Washington Co., Virginia, slave schedule, p. 6 (original script), line 30, viewed online at Ancestry.com. 16 slaves including: 6 males and 10 females; also 3 slave houses.
  8. [S635] Madison Beattie household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring township, p. 1 (p. 54 stamped), dwelling 2, family 2, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2008, image 1 of 49. Household includes: Madison Beattie, 57, farmer, owns land val at $23,250, pers. prob of $2,700, b, VA; Martha, 45, b. TN; George A.C., 20, b. VA.
  9. [S165] Madison Beattie household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 94, page 15 (60C stamped), dwelling 131, family 132, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 15 of 54. Madison Beattie, 68, farmer, b. VA; Martha, wife, 56, b. TN; George A.C., 31, b. VA, farmer; Emma, 27, dau-in-law, b. TN; Lena, granddaughter, 6, b. TN; William, grandson, 3, b. VA.
  10. [S828] Martha A. Beattie will (recorded 1901), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 27: 13. The will was dated Sept. 6, 1886 and recorded in court on March 25, 1901.
  11. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Carolyn Ryburn.
  12. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 102-6.
  13. [S140] "Ryburn History," compiled by P. Shugart, p. 35. Peggie cites an interview conducted in 1948 with Margaret Breckenridge Ryburn, a great granddaughter of John Beattie and Ellen Gilmore.
  14. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 175. The stone is reported to read: William F. Beattie, 16 Feb. 1846-21 Apr 1881, "son"; stone is adjacent to those for Madison and Martha Beattie.
  15. [S3] Moore and Stephens, Washington Co., VA Birth and Death Records, p. 9. Parents recorded as Madison and Martha Beattie.
  16. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 234. Charles W. McKinney, age 25y, sgl, b. Appomattox Co., resid Washington Co., VA, merchant AND Mary Beattie, age 24y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o M. & Martha Beattie; 10 Jun 1879.