Martha Louise Jarrett/Peacock was the daughter of Cynthia Minerva Linder/Jarrett and Zadock Jarrett. Martha was full blood Native American (Cherokee) but we have been unable to track the line in the Dawes records. She was one of 10 children who reached adulthood. There were also two infants who did not survive.

She was born in Spartanburg,South Carolina, but lived most of her life in South Pittsburg, Marion County, Tennessee. Martha began working during her teenage years to earn money, as their family struggled to make ends meet. Martha married Francis Marion "Jack" Peacock on 5/14/1871 in Jackson County, Alabama. The picture to the left (2nd picture down) was made the day they married in 1871. It hangs in my living room.

Martha and Jack had 7 children who reached adulthood and 3 infants who did not survive. Afer Jack's death in 1895, she ran a boarding house and was known as "Granny P". Two of her children were still little girls at the time of this death. What he died of is unknown.

Martha had two sons, Thomas Jackson Peacock and James Henry Peacock. Tom's wife, Sallie A. Cowan, died at age 20 from childbirth (the child died also) and he never remarried. He lived with his mother a number of years and ran the livery stable in town.

Henry was married to Beatrice Jane Newton and they had four children of their own. Tom had a child out of wedlock and eventually Henry and Beatrice adopted and raised him. Both sons lived near their mother in South Pittsburg, Marion County, Tennessee.

Martha also had four daughters, Helen Juanita, Mary Leah, Effie Mae and Lillian Jeanette Peacock.

Helen married Miles Cowan, Sallie Cowan's brother (Tom's wife) and they moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama and raised their family.

Mary Leah married in 1899 and lived nearby. She married Charles Tatum. They had 5 children. Mary Leah died of cancer in 1929, three years before her mother.

Effie Mae married Claude Wright, who owned a meat market. They only had one child, a son, who died at birth. Effie died in 1948 and is buried here with her parents.

Lillian met a man named William Luther Smith, who came to live at her mother's boarding house. He came from Daisy, Hamilton County, Tennessee to South Pittsburg, to work at the cement plant. He fell in love with Lillie and they married in 1910. Lillie and Luther were my grandparents. They were married for 58 years, until his death in 1968.

Martha lived in South Pittsburg, on the road going to Bridgeport, Alabama and you could see the Alabama State Line sign from her front yard. The picture of her and Tom in front of her house is the one on this road.

Martha played a pump organ and it sat just inside her front right door (there were two doors). The organ has been handed down to me and I treasure it, although it is in pieces.

Martha died of severe bronchitis, just two days before her 80th birthday. She had a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren at that time. She was a small woman, gentle and kind and good to all. My aunt still speaks of how very sweet she was. Martha was my Great Grandmother. We all miss her.

She was, indeed, a grand old soul.
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MRS. MARTHA PEACOCK PASSES AWAY DECEMBER 30

Mrs. Martha Peacock, age 80 years, passed away Friday morning, December 30, at her home in Richard City at 3:30 o'clock. Funeral was held from the home Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock with Rev. L. B. Morgan, assisted by Rev. J. H. Scissom, in charge of the service.

Deceased is survived by the following children, Tom and Henry Peacock, Mrs. Claude Wright, Mrs. Luther Smith and Mrs. Nora Smith (she was actually a granddaughter, but mostly raised by Martha) & Helen Juanita Peacock/Cowan. Her other daughter, Mary Leah Peacock/Tatum died just three years earlier in 1929.)

Grandsons acted as pallbearers.

Those here to attend the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Claude Wright, of Dalton, Georgia, Mr. and Mrs. Luther Smith and family, of Atlanta; Mrs. Houston Bowers of Chattanooga;, Mrs. Dix Tatum of Chattanooga, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Peacock and family, of Bridgeport; J. J. (Jens Jens)Oxford, of Cleveland.
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CARD OF THANKS Through the columns of the South Pittsburg Hustler, we wish to thank Mr. and Mrs. James Heiskell, and our other friends and neighbors who were so kind and thoughtful of us during our recent bereavement in the sickness and death of our mother and grandmother.
Tom Peacock
Henry Peacock
Mrs. Claude (Effie) Wright
Mrs. Luther (Lillie) Smith
Mrs. Nora Kate Smith (Ewing's wife and Tom Peacock's daughter) and children
Mrs. Herbert (Nell) Collins
Mrs. M. J. (Helen Juanita) & (Miles Jefferson) Cowan
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IN MEMORY

Mrs. Martha Peacock, of South Pittsburg, Tennessee, mother of Mrs. C. K. Wright, aged 80 years, died at her home, December 29, 1932. She was born January 1, 1853 and became a member of the Baptist Church at the age of seventeen. The funeral services were held at her home at Richard City, Tennessee, Rev. L. B. Morgan and Rev. J. H. Scissom officiating. Interment followed in Mount Carmel Cemetery.

She was a most devoted Christian and loving mother. Not only was she devoted to her family, but was helpful to any one with whom she came in contact. Her beautiful Christian life was an inspiration to all who knew her. A great sufferer, but with patience, she resigned with never a murmur but with a heart full of praises.

To mourn her loss are three daughters, Mrs. Claude (Effie Mae) Wright of Dalton, Georgia, Mrs. W. L. (Lillian Jeanette)Smith, of Atlanta, Ga; Mrs. J. H. (Helen Juanita)Cowan of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; two sons, Tom (Thomas Jackson)Peacock of South Pittsburg, Tennessee and Henry (James Henry) Peacock of Bridgeport, Jackson County, Alabama. She leaves a host of grandchildren, among whom were selected pallbearers, Jr. Smith (Ewing W.), W. K. (s/b L - Wm. Luther) Smith, Jr., France (s/b Francis Andrew "Pete") Smith, Edward Parker, Robert Peacock and Frank Parker.
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Ewing W. Smith Sr. was the brother of Wm. Luther Smith, Sr., - these are their two sons (Jr. Smith and W. L. Smith), Francis Andrew Smith is also the son of W. L. Smith, Sr., Edward Parker is the husband of Vesta Mae Smith/Parker - she is the granddaughter of Martha Louise Jarrett/Peacock.
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This day recalls the memories,
Of a loved one gone to rest
And those who think of her today
Are the ones who loved her best.

She will never be forgotten
Through on earth she is no more
But in memory she will be with us
As she always was before.

Soft and bright the stars are shining,
Spreading over a lonely grave,
Where lies the one we loved so dearly,
Whom we tried so hard but could not save.

Although it is true she has passed on
To lands clear and fair,
I am sure she'd love to know
That we remember still and care.

So just to bless her precious name
With homage fond and true,
This comes in memory of one
That friends loved dearly, too.
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Much love to my GGrandmother, Martha Louise Jarrett/Peacock.
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Marriage record
Name: Martha L. Jarret
Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 14 May 1871
Marriage Place: , Jackson, Alabama
Spouse: Francis M. Peacock
FHL Film Number: 1018434 V. B-C
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Martha Louise Peacock
[Martha Louise Jarrett/ Peacock]
[Martha Louise Janett]
[Martha Louise Jarrett]
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 78
Birth Date: 1 Jan 1854
Birth Place: Tennessee
Death Date: 30 Dec 1932
Death Place: Richard City, Marion, Tennessee, USA
Father: Zadock "Doc" Jarrett, Sr.
Mother: Cynthia Minerva Linder/ Jarrett
Certificate Number: 26853
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The marker (next to last picture) was mostly buried, as it had sunk into the earth. I dug it out, filled the large hole in with a little dirt and lots of creek pebbles, then placed the old marker back on top of the earth where it could be read again. I feel that there is probably also one for her husband, but it is completely buried, if so. It will have to wait until another day.