Monroe Masterson
1820 - 1890

Prepared and submitted by Martha Odom

historianna@att.net
 

     

Monroe Masterson was born on 19 May 1820 at the Masterson farm in southeastern Knox County, TN (in the area now known as Topside).  His father was Aaron Burr Masterson, son of Patrick Masterson and Sarah Jane Cunningham McKemy Masterson, and his mother was Lucinda Ritchie.

 

Patrick Masterson was born about 1750 in Antrim, Ulster (Northern Ireland) and came to the American colonies as a boy.  It is not know whether or not his entire family emigrated, but he is said to have accompanied at least one brother, settling first in Augusta County, Virginia before moving on to Charleston, South Carolina.  In 1775 he married Sarah Jane Cunningham McKemy, widow of Robert McKemy, in Charleston.  Sarah’s children by her first marriage were:

 

  1. John McKemy (b. about 1764 – d. 1834)

  2. William McKemy (b. unknown – d. unknown)

  3. Robert McKemy (b. about 1768 – d. 1825)

  4. Andrew McKemy (b. May 1772 in Augusta County, Virginia – d. December 1852 in Oliver Springs, Tennessee)

  5. James McKemy (b. about 1773 – d. unknown)

 

Sarah’s father was Samuel Cunningham (b. about 1719 in Augusta County, Virginia – d. before 27 August 1747 in Augusta County, Virginia), and her mother was Mary McKemy (b. about 1723 in Augusta County, Virginia – d. unknown).  Sarah’s siblings included: Andrew Cunningham (b. unknown – d. 25 April 1815 Knox County, TN); and Margaret Cunningham (b. about 1745 in Augusta County, Virginia – d. 3 June 1837 Knox County, TN).  Sarah and Margaret were probably twins.  Patrick and Sarah Jane had the following children together:

 

  1. Thomas Masterson (b. 1779 in South Carolina – d. 18 November 1867 in Lawrence County, Alabama)

  2. John Patrick Masterson (b. 1784 in South Carolina – d. 1835 in Lawrence County, Alabama)

  3. Aaron Burr Masterson (b. 1786 in South Carolina – d. before 1827 in Knox County, Tennessee)

 

Sometime around 1790, Patrick moved his family from South Carolina to Anderson County, Tennessee.  Also making the move was Sarah’s brother Andrew and her sister Margaret Cunningham Armstrong.  It is said that the family was opposed to slavery and moved west to escape its terrible effects.  Patrick died sometime before 1817, and Sarah accompanied her sons, Thomas and John Patrick, to Lawrence County, Alabama.  She died there in 1817.

 

Aaron Burr Masterson purchased land in Knox County, Tennessee on 21 July 1797, along with his older brothers, Thomas and John Patrick.  This was probably the land where he built his farm (in present-day Topside) overlooking the Tennessee River.  He married Lucinda Ritchie (b. about 1787 in Virginia – d. before 1870 in Knox County, Tennessee) about 1807 in Roane County, Tennessee.  Aaron also owned land in Roane County, appearing on the 1805 tax list there.  Aaron and Lucinda’s children were:

 

  1. Aaron W. Masterson (b. about 1810 in Knox County, Tennessee – d. 18 April 1842 in Knox County, Tennessee – m. Ann Burnham 18 April 1842 in Knox county, Tennessee)

  2. Malinda Masterson (b. 2 August 1813 in Knox County, Tennessee – d. 5 January 1904 in Logan County, Arkansas – m. Volney Willoughby on 26 November 1840 in Knox County, Tennessee)

  3. Nancy Masterson (b. about 1815 in Knox County, Tennessee – d. 1890 in Knox County, Tennessee – m. Boaz Burit Ford 31 December 1840 in Knox County, Tennessee)

  4. Monroe Masterson (b. 19 May 1820 in Knox County, Tennessee – d. 3 July 1890 in Hamilton County, Tennessee – m. Leatha Rowan Igou 13 October 1842 in Hamilton County, Tennessee – m. Mary Francis McCoy 22 July 1875 in Hamilton County, Tennessee)

  5. Lucinda Masterson (b. about 1826 in Knox County, Tennessee – d. after 1880 in Knox County, Tennessee – m. William Jones 19 September 1844 in Knox county, Tennessee)

 

Aaron Burr Masterson died sometime before 1927 and is buried in the Masterson-DeArmond Cemetery at the old farm.  After his death, Lucinda married Richard Johnson DeArmond.  She and Richard are also buried in the family cemetery, but the headstones have deteriorated so that they cannot be read.

 

Monroe Masterson left his home in Knox County on 4 July 1836, when he was mustered into the United States Army at Athens, Tennessee.  He served as a Private in the Cavalry Company commanded by Captain James Morrow (also of Knoxville) under the command of Colonel N. Smith in the war with the Creek Indians.  He served for a term of twelve months and was honorably discharged at Calhoun, Tennessee on 4 July 1837.  From there it is said that he went to work on the river, eventually earning a license as a steamboat pilot on the Tennessee, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers.

 

This may be what would eventually bring him to Hamilton County, where he met and married Leatha Rowan Igou, the fifteen year-old daughter of General Sam Igou, a wealthy landowner at Dallas.  On 26 July 1842 Samuel Igou sold to Monroe, for the sum of $600, “one negro girl Betsy and other personal property.”  Monroe and Leatha married on 13 October 1842 at her father’s farm and one year later, on 3 November, 1843, their only child, Mary Ann, was born.  However, Mary Ann died on 26 January 1844 and is buried in the Igou Family Cemetery on what is now the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant reservation.  On 21 June 1847 Samuel Igou sold, for the sum of $400, “one hundred and twelve acres of land in the Seventh Civil District where said Masterson now resides…”  This was apparently the land beside the Tennessee River where the original family home was built.  He would later build another house approximately one mile from the river in which lived with his second wife and children.  On 14 November 1852 Monroe purchased an additional 150 acres from Samuel Igou; on 27 December 1855 he purchased 66 acres from William Clift; on 11 December 1861 he purchased 2 acres from his brother-in-law, A.C.S. Igou; on 2 November 1865 he purchased 60 acres from Thomas Layman; on 17 December 1868 he purchased 105 acres from Robert C. McRee, Sr.; on 26 June 1869 he purchased 100 acres from Daniel Yarnell; and on 30 Mar 1872 he purchased 145 acres from James Watkins.  It is not know if all the land was contiguous, but in total he owned 740 acres.

 

At the outset of the War Between the States Monroe was a member of a delegation from Hamilton County who met in Knoxville on Thursday, 30 May 1861, to protest the Tennessee Legislature’s decision to secede from the Union.  Unfortunately, this convention proved ineffective and the secession held.  Monroe elected to serve in the United States Army once again, enlisting in the 5th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry, Company C with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant on 25 February 1862 at Harrison, Tennessee.  He enrolled for a period of three years and was mustered in at Barboursville, Kentucky on 29 March 1862.  Monroe was promoted to the rank of Captain on 3 August 1862.  However, after contracting a fever during the Murfreesboro Campaign in the spring of 1863 he was given a medical discharge and returned home soon after.  His resignation and the accompanying letter from the Company Surgeon are transcribed below:

 

 

Camp near Murfreesboro Tennessee

March 11th 1863

 

To Brig General Garfield, Chief of Staff

Headquarters, Army of the Cumberland

 

Dear Sir,

 

I hereby tender my resignation as Captain of Co. C 5th Regt. East Volunteers owing to the following circumstances.  I have been unfit for duty for some time past on account of general debility and a general failure of health.  I ask that this resignation be accepted.

 

Respectfully yours,

 

Monroe Masterson

Captain, Co. C, 5th Regt. East Tennessee Volunteers

 

 

Captain Monroe Masterson of the 5th Regt., East Tennessee Volunteers, having applied for a certificate on which to ground an application for resignation.  I do hereby certify that I have carefully examined this officer and find that he has hoemorrhoids and has been afflicted with them for some 9 months.  He is also very subject to diarrhea and in consequence of the two diseases his general health is very much impaired.  He is also predisposed to (unreadable).  Out of consequence thereof he is unfit for duty.  I further declare my belief that he will not be able to resume his duties in a lesser period than four months.

 

Signature unreadable,

Surgeon, 5th Regt. East Tennessee Volunteer Infantry

Examined and Approved

R.A. Rogers, Acting Medical Director 2nd Division 14th Army Corp

 

Monroe first applied for a disability pension on 5 June 1880.  In his application he stated that he was discharged from duty due to blindness, piles, and diarrhea contracted near Murfreesboro, Tennessee on 15 March 1863.  His discharge date was given as 6 April 1863.  A transcription of Monroe’s affidavit follows:

 

State of Tennessee, County of Hamilton

On this 5th day of June, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty,

 

Monroe Masterson, who was enrolled on the 25th day of February 1862 in Company E of the 5th Regiment of Tennessee Infantry, US Volunteers commanded by Colonel James T. Shelley was honorably discharged at Carthage, Tennessee on the 6th of April 1863; that his personal description is as follows: Age 60 years, Height 5 feet 11 inches, Complexion fair, Hair brown, Eyes blue.  That while a member of the organization aforesaid, in the service and in the line of his duty at or near Murfreesboro, Tennessee on or about the 15th day of March 1863, he contracted blindness and became so blind that he was not able to discriminate black from white, that he also had piles and dysentery and that he was so badly afflicted with all the above named afflictions that he became unfit for duty and was discharged upon surgeon’s certificate of disability.  And that he is now and has been continuously afflicted ever since his discharge and that he is unable to perform manual labor.

 

Claimant further states that on the move from Nashville, Tennessee, he is of the opinion that they were ordered to Harpeth Shoals to intercept the enemy, who was then aiming to cut off their river supplies—but owing to the high water, they did not get further than Dog Creek—we were on the march about four days as well as now remembered.  During all of this time we were poorly clad and the weather was extremely cold and bad.  And on the march I took a tremendous bad cold.  On Dog Creek was the worst night I ever put over my head.  If it had not have been for Lt. (unreadable) Dearing, I think I should have froze to death.  The cold fell into my eyes and has continuously affected them ever since, at times they are so bad I can hardly see my way.  When we came back to Nashville, the snow was about knee deep and the weather desperately cold; frozen and bad   We were then ordered to Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  We remained there about one month as well as now remembered   The command then moved forward to Carthage, Tennessee.  I remained with the command there a few days.  Then my general health was so impaired and bad from the various spells of sickness and exposure that I knew that I could not remain in the service and make a soldier and live much longer.  I sent up my resignation while at Murfreesboro as before stated and was discharged the 6th day of April 1863.  I then went into Kentucky as I could not come home on account of the trouble with the Rebels. I left Kentucky and came back to the front in August to Winchester, Tennessee and remained there a few days and the army moved forward to Chattanooga, Tennessee near my home.  General (unreadable) had me hauled all the way from Winchester to Chattanooga.  During all the time herein stated, I have never felt myself able to perform manual labor to make a living for myself and family—these are the reasons why and on which I claim pension.  I never was in any hospital.

 

Andrew Jackson Penney, age 44 (on 30 June 1884), of Igou’s Ferry, Hamilton County, Tennessee, appeared before the Justice of the Peace and signed an affidavit that he had served under Monroe during the war and that during the time they were stationed at Dog Creek, all the men “like to have froze to death” and that they had no protection—no blankets or anything to protect them from the severity of the cold except their blouse coats.

 

Leatha Rowan Igou Masterson died on 28 May 1875 and is buried in the Igou Family Cemetery.  On 22 July 1875, at age 55, Monroe married 18 year-old Mary Francis McCoy.  The ceremony was performed by Wilson Hixson, Justice of the Peace.  The following children were born to this union:

 

  1. Thomas C. Masterson (b. 27 July 1876 in Hamilton County – d. 1 January 1933 in Hamilton County – m. Eva C. Davidson 22 May 1898 in Hamilton County)

  2. Granville W. Masterson (b. 13 October 1877 in Hamilton County – d. October 1940 in Hamilton County – m. Martha Ellen Smith 14 November 1900 in Hamilton County)

  3. William B. Masterson (b. 2 November 1879 in Hamilton County – d. After 1920)

  4. James Campbell Masterson (b. May 1881 in Hamilton County – d. 24 January 1937 in Bradley County – m. Lillie Mae O’Neal about 1903 in Hamilton County)

  5. Joseph H. Masterson (b. October 1882 in Hamilton County – d. 26 November 1942 in Hamilton County)

  6. Alice Wagie Masterson (b. 10 May 1884 in Hamilton County – 3 November 1924 in Hamilton County – m. James Walter Nelson 7 June 1903 in Hamilton County)

  7. Grover C. Masterson (b. June 1886 in Hamilton County – d. After 1920)

  8. Floyd Masterson (b. 24 March 1889 – d. 17 April 1889)

 

On 15 August 1869 Monroe was initiated into the Harrison Lodge (No. 114) of the Masonic Order and raised to the level of Master Mason on 6 December 1869.  He withdrew from the Harrison Lodge on 16 May 1872 to help form Soddy Lodge No. 418.  He served as Treasurer of the Soddy Lodge from 1872 until 1875.  He was a member in good standing at the time of his death on 3 July 1890 when he was buried with full Masonic rites.

 

Monroe Masterson died on 3 July 1890.  Due to ill health, he was unable to farm most of his land himself, so he leased sections to various tenant farmers.  One of these tenants, a young man named James Carden, shot and killed Monroe in a dispute over the price of some crops.  Newspaper accounts of the murder have been transcribed below.

 

From the Chattanooga Times, 4 July 1890:

 

M. MASTERSON KILLED

A PROMINENT AND WEALTHY FARMER MURDERED YESTERDAY

James Carden Deliberately Shoots Him With a Double Barrel Shotgun—Quarreled Over a Field of Oats—Officers in Pursuit of the Fugitive--$200 Reward Offered

 

Monroe Masterson, a prominent farmer in the First District, was shot and instantly killed yesterday by James Carden.  Intelligence of the shooting reached this city last night.  The information brought down by a citizen of that neighborhood is that the difficulty arose from a dispute over some land leased by Carden from Masterson, and the growing of some oats on the same.  Carden declared that the poor crop was due to the poverty of the soil and he would not take the oats, and upon Masterson rejoining that he would have to take them, Carden went for his shotgun and deliberately killed Masterson.  Masterson and Carden were down along the river a few miles from Soddy or Rathburn, the nearest railroad station, and at the time were on the former’s ground.  Carden had a double-barreled shotgun, and emptied the contents of one barrel into the breast of Masterson, who fell instantly.  It is said that several neighbors were present, and upon an attempt on their part to arrest Carden, he drew his gun on them and threatened to shoot.  He then made good his escape and had not been heard from up to the time the messenger started for this city to inform the Sheriff.  The shooting occurred yesterday morning at 10 o’clock.  Carden was supposed to have been making tracks for this city where he has some relatives.  Deputy Sheriffs Hassett, Cate, Smith and others mounted their horses last night as soon as the message reached here and went in the direction of the route Carden was supposed to have taken.  Monroe Masterson was one of the best known farmers in the Northern part of the county, and was a man of marked character and integrity.  By economy and hard work he had amassed quite a competency.  He was a leading Democrat and has a large circle of acquaintance in the county to whom the news of his murder will be quite a shock.  Mr. Masterson leaves a wife and several children, mostly grown.  He is about 53 years old.  Nothing could be learned as to the origin of the difficulty that led to the fatal shooting.  A telegram was received from the widow last night offering $200 reward, as follows:

 

$200 REWARD FOR THE APPREHENSION OF JAMES CARDEN.  I will pay two hundred dollars ($200) reward for the arrest of James Carden.  He is 5 feet 6 inches high, 28 years old, light hair, blue eyes and light mustache.  He walks quick.  He is wanted for the murder of Monroe Masterson.  Mary Masterson, Rathburn, Tennessee, July 3.

 

 

From the Chattanooga Times, 4 July 1890:

 

THE MASTERSON MURDER

A CORRECT VERSION OF THE SHOOTING IN THE FIRST DISTRICT

Carden Provokes the Quarrel—The Murder Premeditated—His Brother Arrested as an Accessory, but Discharged—Carden Still at Large

 

Deputy Sheriff J.P. Smith, of the First District, gave the following account of the murder of Mr. Masterson by James Carden on the 4th.  James Carden and his brother Hiram are tenant farmers on Masterson’s place, farming on shares.  The poor crops this year failed to be remunerative and the Carden boys were much dissatisfied.  Desiring to come to the Reunion at Chattanooga on the Fourth they had asked Masterson to loan them the money, which he declined to do.  This so embittered James Carden that the morning of the killing he provoked a quarrel with Masterson who sent his boy for a gun, to protect himself.  James Carden left and went to the home of Ross Clift and asked for his gun requesting that it be loaded heavy saying he wanted it to go for deer, with the gun he returned to the field with his brother, Hiram, and went to hoe.  They talked over their grievances with Masterson and James picked up the gun and said he was going back to Masterson and make him take back what he had said early in the morning.  Approaching Masterson, who with two men named Gunn and Sperry was down in the field loading a wagon, he walked to within fourteen steps of Masterson, who, seeing the gun, said: “Jim, don’t shoot me.”  The report of the gun rang out on the air and Masterson fell dead.  The two workmen started for Carden and he leveled the gun and threatened to shoot if they followed him.  Carden at once went over the river to where his sweetheart lived and gave her good-bye.  Returning, he was met about three hours after the killing in company with his brother Hiram.  To an inquiry from several who met him, he said he had been out shooting possum.  Deputy Sheriff Smith, hearing of the killing started out with a posse but was unable to run him down.  The next day Hiram Carden was arrested as an accessory to the murder and taken before Squire H.J. Springfield, but no proof sufficient to hold him being produced, he was discharged from custody.  Smith believes that Carden is in hiding in the neighborhood and in communication with his friends and relatives.  Masterson was buried Friday with the rites of the Masonic Fraternity of which he was a member.  He leaves a wife and eight children, six boys and two girls, all under 16 years of age.

 

 

From the Chattanooga Times, 5 July 1890:

 

CARDEN STILL AT LARGE

MASTERSON’S ACTIONS SAID TO HAVE INVITED THE SHOOTING

Carden a Prominent Member of the Methodist Church—Inquest Over Masterson Held by Squire Rogers—No News from the Sheriff’s Posse

 

James Carden, the murderer of Monroe Masterson, was still at large up till 10 o’clock last night.  Nothing had been heard of him, nor of the Deputy Sheriffs who left Chattanooga on Thursday to take up the pursuit of him.  Further information about the affair is that Masterson and Carden had a dispute at the latter’s house over the condition of a poor field of oats.  Some high words passed between them and Masterson told his son to go and get the gun for him when Carden left the place very angry.  In a few moments he returned from his own house with a double-barreled shotgun and fired the fatal shot.  Carden is represented as a young man of hitherto good character and was considered an exemplary member of the M.E. Church and possessed of no little religious fervor.  The inquest was held by Squire Rogers and the verdict was “deceased came to his death from a gunshot wound inflicted by James Carden.”  Nothing could be heard about Masterson’s funeral, which was to have occurred yesterday.

From the Chattanooga Times, 6 July 1890:

 

THE MASTERSON MURDER

STILL NO MOTIVE FOUND FOR THE TRAGIC ACT

The Lad Deliberately Walks Two Miles, Secures a Gun, and Kills the Old Man—Fruitless Search of Deputies in the First District Mountains

 

The tragic murder last Wednesday near Soddy of Monroe Masterson by James Carden still remains a profound mystery, as far as assigning a cause for the act is concerned.  Masterson was a man of about 60 years of age, and most highly respected by everyone who know him, and especially in the first district, where he lived.  He was not inclined to quarrel with his neighbors, and in fact, was regarded as a true Christian gentleman.  The murderer was about 23 years old, hot and impulsive in disposition.  It has been hinted that “there was a woman in the case,” but no facts are found to substantiate that theory.  The facts as ascertained are that Carden and Masterson had a quarrel about a field of oats.  Carden went away, secured a gun about two miles distant, returned and deliberately shot and killed the old man.  Carden then made his escape to the mountains, and is thought to be hiding about near Soddy, where he has a host of relatives.  A posse of Deputy Sheriffs who have been hunting for him returned to the city yesterday after a fruitless search, and another posse was sent out last night.  A reward of $200 is offered for Carden’s capture.

 

 

NOTE:  James Carden was never apprehended or tried for murdering Monroe Masterson.  However, a man named James Carden did turn up in Knoxville in 1903, and on 13 February of that year, got into a dispute with a street-car conductor and opened fire on the street-car which was loaded with passengers.  The police were called out and returned his fire, shooting him dead.

 

 

After Monroe’s death, temporary guardianship of the children was given to John Skillern (a relative of Monroe’s first wife), which he relinquished back to Mary Francis Masterson on 19 September 1900.  Affidavits were also filed on behalf of the children so that they could continue to receive Monroe’s pension.  Andrew Jackson Penney, Elisha Gann, Monroe Parrott, Tennessee C. Igou, A.C.S. Igou, Paulina Penny, and Dr. J.T. Bell all attested to the legitimacy of Monroe’s and Mary’s marriage and the children’s births.  No death date has been found for Mary Francis McCoy Masterson, but Monroe’s pension was discontinued on 19 June 1902 because of legal limitation.  Then in the summer and fall of 1903, the farm was divided among the seven living children.  So it can be assumed that she died prior to that.

 

Submitted by Martha Odom
historianna@worldnet.att.net