The Housley Family

This particular Housley family lineage begins with John Housley born around 1839 in Campbell County Tennessee.  John was the oldest child of Robert Housley and Sarah Cooper Housley.  He was raised in Sugar Hollow in Campbell County.  John married Margaret E. (Peggy) Taylor born August 22, 1837.  Margaret was the daughter of George M. Taylor and Annis Gray. 

John Housley fought for the Union in the Civil War.  He was enrolled on July 12, 1863 at Camp Nelson, Kentucky in Company B, 11th Regiment Tennessee Calvary.  He was mustered in on August 15, 1863 at Camp Nelson as a Sergeant.  

John and Margaret had seven children to wit:   Annis born December 11, 1857;  Sarah born January 13, 1859;    James born May 9, 1862;  Joseph born August 5, 1864;  William R. born September 13, 1866;  and John born September 17, 1868.  Records list George Washington Housley born  August 30, 1850 as John and Margaret’s son but he would have been born when John was 11.  This could be an adopted son who John and Margaret took in.  Their last born son, John Housley, was still in his mother’s womb when his father died.  

John died June 19, 1868 and was buried in Bakers Forge Cemetery in Campbell County Tennessee.  A few years after John’s death Margaret and her children moved to  Lead Mine Bend in Union County Tennessee to live near her brother, James Taylor, who was later to assume the guardianship of the five sons of John and Margaret Housley.  James Taylor was a state representative and his son,  J Will Taylor was a popular United States Congressman.  Margaret died December 17, 1877 and was buried in Taylor’s Grove Cemetery in Union County Tennessee.  

Our family lineage continues with the son of John and Margaret Housley, Joseph (Joe) Housley, who was born on August 5, 1864 in Campbell County, Tennessee.  On March 25, 1886 Joe married Sarelda Sharp, daughter of John Nicholas Sharp and Malinda Ausmus.  Sarelda was born March 1, 1859.  Joseph Housley was a prominent citizen and a member of the County Court in Union County. He was also a law enforcement officer in Campbell County, Tennessee.

The children of Joe and Sarelda were to wit: William Monroe Housley, born February 14, 1887, died September 25, 1936;  Sallie Lorina Housley, born April 10, 1889, died February 28, 1991;  Rispy Catherine Housley, born August 7, 1892, died January 23, 1990;  Emma Margaret Housley, born December 25, 1894, died July 15, 1993;  George Housley, born September 1897, died 1910;  Myrtle Ethel Housley, born March 4, 1901, died September 11, 1982;  The baby of the family was James Walton Housley born November 4, 1902, died October 4, 1971.  

Joseph and Serelda’s last child and my maternal grandfather,  James Walton Housley, was born November 4, 1902 .  He married LouVerne Keck who was born September 24, 1906.  James Walton was known as Jim or JW and my grandfather had quite a reputation, a story I’ll save for later.  His early career had him as a tie buyer for the railroad.  Later his work took him into the Cumberland Mountains on a daily basis where  he started his own lumber business and operated a sawmill in Ivey Dale just outside La Follette.  Jim and LouVerna lost a son at 10 days old and a daughter at 11 years old.  They raised five daughters to adulthood.  They built a home on 13 acres between La Follette and Jacksboro where Jim had a few cows and some pigs at one time.  There was a large barn up the hill from the house where their grandchildren spent many hours playing.