_____________________
|
_John S. DAVIS _________|
| (1837 - 1877) m 1859 |
| |_____________________
|
_John Wilson DAVIS __|
| (1866 - 1938) m 1891|
| | _Jessee T. CARNEY ___+
| | | (1808 - 1870)
| |_Harriet H. CARNEY _____|
| (1844 - 1928) m 1859 |
| |_Elizabeth __________
| (1815 - ....)
|
|--Vergil Lee DAVIS
| (1892 - 1980)
| _Stephen ELLIOTT ____
| | (1800 - 1870)
| _Stephen ELLIOTT _______|
| | (1852 - ....) m 1870 |
| | |_Sarah ______________
| | (1809 - 1880)
|_Mary Irene ELLIOT __|
(1873 - 1927) m 1891|
| _____________________
| |
|_Margaret J. MCCARROLL _|
(1845 - ....) m 1870 |
|_____________________
[473]
In a small diary/notebook that belonged to her, Vergil often signed her name as Vergil L. Hewgley; there were a couple of entries in which she listed her name as "Vergil Rosale Davis".
From her notebook that she kept the love that she had for her husband Tolbert is clear. It is full of verses and little sayings that she kept, many of which profess the love between the two of them. Tolbert sent her verses as well. Two little note cards were in her belongings after her death:
"Darling Girl
One line is sufficient For Love and memory
Yours for true
T. L. H."
"Sweetheart
When I am dead and out of mind
Look on this page
my name you will find
And if it be to you so Dear
Look on my Grave
And shed a Tear
T. L. H."
During the time that Tolbert was working in Florida in 1917 and separated from his family, he wrote several letters home to her that expressed his love for her and addressed her fears that he would be drafted to fight in WWI.
Both Ruby Hewgley Barnes and Elba Hewgley Oliphant (her daughters) talked about the fact that Vergil "never even looked at another man". She once had a marriage proposal from another man, which she declined.
After Tolbert's death, his former boss and friend, GR Oglesby, wrote the following to Vergil:
"Nashville Tenn 12/22/19
Mrs. Virgel Hughley, Kindly accept xmas box for the children and small check in memory of my Friend Tolbert. You see I am not writing as if Tolbert was dead For he is still living and will live throughout eternity. I hope if you have not That you will commit yourself and children To Tolberts God who tells you that he will be a Father to the Fatherless: You step out on his promise and stand their with your little flock and you will never go down while God reighneth. Then what a beautiful thought - to know that you all will be reunited again In the celestial city. Where sin will never be permited to enter. I will never cease to remember Tolbert's family in my Prayers.
Your Friend and well wishes
GR Oglesby"
After Tolbert died, the family moved to the Davis homestead in a 2 room log house (built by her father and by neighbors) with a "dog trot" running through. Elba slept in the bed with mother, while Ruby and Mildred slept in a bed in the kitchen.
Per Ruby, to support her family Vergil did 'practical nursing' - taking care of women and their homes in the weeks following the birth of a baby. When someone had a family member die and they took the body home, she would sit with the body (which was customary) in the home until the burial.
In 1930 census, she is living in the home of Albert and Ruby Hewgley Barnes, and working as a seamstress in a clothing factory.
According to her daughter Ruby, in Nashville she worked at Kornman's Men's Garment Factory on 1st Street by the Cumberland River. She retired from there.
She lived with Bertus and Mildred at the time that she died. Died of congestive heart failure. Photos of tombstone available.
[2372]
In a notebook belonging to Vergil, she listed a couple of entries regarding her marriage:
"Vergil Rosale Davis and Tolbert Lenard Finnings Heugley was married Dec 25 1907"
"Vergil L. Davis and Tolbert L. Heugley was married December 25, 1907"
"Miss Vergil Davis Mr. Tolbert Hewgley married December 25 1907 at 2:30 oclock at Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Davis's home. Married by G.W. Carney."
© 2005 John Scott , 305 Murphy Court , Macon , GA 31216 , jsscott@tennesseeheritage.com. Permission is granted to copy portions of this document for personal use only. May not be published in paper form, electronically, or by any other means without permission.