Dewey Roosevelt HONAKER

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1920 Census
Name: Dewey Honaker
Age: 15
Birth Year: abt 1905
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1920: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Street: Letrisa River and Contrary Creek Of Levisa
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Son
Marital Status: Single
Father's name: Ezra E W Honaker
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's name: Jennie Honaker
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Native Tongue: English
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Farm Labor
Industry: Home Farm
Employment Field: Own Account
Attended School: Yes
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Ezra E W Honaker 42
Jennie Honaker 32
Dewey Honaker 15
Luther Honaker 10
Mckinley Honaker 8
Fred Honaker 6
Fulton Honaker 3
Arey Honaker 13
Virginia Honaker 11
Rachel Honaker 9 months

1930 Census
Name: Dewey Honaker
Birth Year: abt 1905
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Virginia
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Brother-in-law
Home in 1930: Richmond, Wise, Virginia
Street address: Callahan Creek
Age at First Marriage: 20
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Laborer
Industry: Logging Camp
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker
Employment: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Vernon Bolding 21
Ancie Bolding 23
Dewey Honaker 25
Mattie Honaker 15
Luther Honaker 20

Birth:
Virginia, Births, 1864-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
Name: Dewey Roosevelt Honaker
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 29 Oct 1904
Birth Place: Buchanan, Virginia
Father: Ezra Wiser Honaker
Mother: Jennie Chambers

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=126334319

Died:
Social Security Death Index
Name: Dewey Honaker
SSN: 228-07-0103
Last Residence: 37873 Surgoinsville, Hawkins, Tennessee
BORN: 29 Oct 1904
Died: Apr 1969
State (Year) SSN issued: Virginia (Before 1951)

Dewey married Bertha 24 Dec 1924, Buchanan Co. VA; divorced 09 Sep 1929, Tazewell Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Divorced:
Virginia Divorce Records, 1918-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
Name: Dewey Honaker
Gender: Male
Race: White
Divorce Age: 24
Birth Date: abt 1905
Marriage Date: 24 Dec 1924
Marriage Place: Buchanan Co. VA
Divorce Date: 9 Sep 1929
Divorce Place: Tazewell, Virginia
Spouse: Bertha Honaker
Spouse Gender: Female
Spouse Race: White
Spouse Divorce Age: 18
Number of Children: 0
Divorce brought by wife. Cause: desertion

Dewey married Mattie Marie Brown. Mattie was born 14 Aug 1914, Virginia; died 11 Dec 1998, Fayetteville, Fayette Co. WV. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: 96BCC243B4504B25AA9C50E489A21F11A0C3

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1930 Census
Name: Ezra W Honaker
Birth Year: abt 1876
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Virginia
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1930: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Home Owned or Rented: Owned
Radio Set: No
Lives on Farm: Yes
Age at First Marriage: 27
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Foreman
Industry: Lumber Camp
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker
Employment: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Ezra W Honaker 54
Jennie L Honaker 44
Fred Honaker 14
Fulton Honaker 12
Alafair Honaker 10
Nell Honaker 8
Oma Honaker 6
Carliss Honaker 4 years 4 months

1940 Census
Name: Ezra W Honaker
Age: 60
Estimated birth year: abt 1880
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Virginia
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Farm: Yes
Inferred Residence in 1935: Rural, Buchanan, Virginia
Residence in 1935: Rural, Buchanan, Virginia
Resident on farm in 1935: Yes
Occupation: Farmer
House Owned or Rented: Owned
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 1500
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 5th grade
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 0
Class of Worker: Working on own account
Weeks Worked in 1939: 52
Income: 0
Income Other Sources: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Ezra W Honaker 60
Jennie C Honaker 50
Felton Honaker 21
Owa M Honaker 16
Carlva Honaker 13

Birth:
Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
Name: Ezra Wiser Honaker
SSN: 223302373
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Date: 7 May 1878
Birth Place: Shachs Mills, Virginia
Father Name: David Honaker
Mother Name: Nancy M Compton
Type of Claim: Original SSN.
Notes: Jan 1944: Name listed as EZRA WISER HONAKER

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=42943542

Died:
Virginia, Deaths, 1912-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
Name: Ezra Wiser Honaker
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age at Death: 79
Birth Date: 7 May 1877
Death Date: 22 Aug 1956
Death Place: Richlands, Tazewell, Virginia
Registration Date: 29 Aug 1956
Father: David Honaker
Mother: Margaret Compton
Spouse: Jennie Chambers

Ezra married Jennie C. CHAMBERS 5 Aug 1903. Jennie (daughter of Thomas Douglas (Red Tom) CHAMBERS and Edith OSBORN) was born 9 Jun 1887, Shacks Mill,Buchanan Co.,VA; died 12 Apr 1959, Richlands, Tazewell Co. VA; was buried , Chambers Cemetery, Shortt Gap, Buchanan Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: F7E39051E41C45738AC04ABD71B850F734DB

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1900 Census
Name: Jinie L Chambers
Age: 11
Birth Date: Jan 1889
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Father's name: Thomas D Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's name: Eady Chambers
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Occupation: View on Image
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas D Chambers 47
Eady Chambers 56
John M Chambers 15
Mallee E Chambers 13
Jinie L Chambers 11
Robert G Chambers 9
Irena Chambers 7
Grayson Chambers 4

1910 Census
Name: Jennie Honaker
Age in 1910: 22
Birth Year: abt 1888
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1910: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Ezro W Honaker
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Ezro W Honaker 31
Jennie Honaker 22
Dewey R Honaker 5
Arsie Honaker 4
Virgie Honaker 2
Luther Honaker 2 months

1920 Census
Name: Jennie Honaker
Age: 32
Birth Year: abt 1888
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1920: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Street: Letrisa River and Contrary Creek Of Levisa
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Ezra E W Honaker
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Native Tongue: English
Able to Speak English: Yes
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Ezra E W Honaker 42
Jennie Honaker 32
Dewey Honaker 15
Luther Honaker 10
Mckinley Honaker 8
Fred Honaker 6
Fulton Honaker 3
Arey Honaker 13
Virginia Honaker 11
Rachel Honaker 9 months

1930 Census
Name: Jennie L Honaker
Birth Year: abt 1886
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Virginia
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Homemaker?: Yes
Home in 1930: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Age at First Marriage: 17
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Ezra W Honaker 54
Jennie L Honaker 44
Fred Honaker 14
Fulton Honaker 12
Alafair Honaker 10
Nell Honaker 8
Oma Honaker 6
Carliss Honaker 4 years 4 months

1940 Census
Name: Jennie C Honaker
Age: 50
Estimated birth year: abt 1890
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Virginia
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Home in 1940: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Inferred Residence in 1935: Rural, Buchanan, Virginia
Residence in 1935: Rural, Buchanan, Virginia
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 3rd grade
Weeks Worked in 1939: 0
Income: 0
Income Other Sources: No
Household Members:
Name Age
Ezra W Honaker 60
Jennie C Honaker 50
Felton Honaker 21
Owa M Honaker 16
Carlva Honaker 13


Birth:
1900 Census has her DOB as Jan 1889, but the month could be June.

Buried:
Grave location, biography and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=42943460

Died:
Virginia, Deaths, 1912-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
Name: Jennie Honaker
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age at Death: 71
Birth Date: 1888
Death Date: 12 Apr 1959
Death Place: Richlands, Tazewell, Virginia
Registration Date: 22 Apr 1959
Father: Thomas D Chambers
Mother: Eady Osborne
Spouse: Ezra W Honaker

Other Events:

• _UID: FE44085490FA44E09BCF7BB890F0AE52694F

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1870 Census
Name: Thomas D Elswick
Age in 1870: 14
Birth Year: abt 1856
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1870: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Knob
Household Members:
Name Age
Chapman Elswick 38
Emeline Elswick 38
Elbert W Elswick 16
Thomas D Elswick 14
James B Elswick 11
Buanavesta Elswick 8
Dellie B Elswick 5
Nancy L Elswick 2

Note: He and his brother, Elbert Wade, are using his stepfather's last name, but Thomas and Elbert Wade return to their mother's maiden name for the rest of their lives.

1880 Census
Name: Thomas Chambers
Age: 23
Birth Year: abt 1857
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1880: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Sallie Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Occupation: Farmer
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas Chambers 23
Sallie Chambers 27
Alafim Chambers 5 [Alafair]
Thomas C. Chambers 1

1900 Census
Name: Thomas D Chambers
Age: 47
Birth Date: Feb 1853
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Eady Chambers
Marriage Year: 1880
Years Married: 20
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas D Chambers 47
Eady Chambers 56
John M Chambers 15
Mallee E Chambers 13
Jinie L Chambers 11
Robert G Chambers 9
Irena Chambers 7
Grayson Chambers 4

1910 Census
Name: Thomas W Chambers
Age in 1910: 54
Birth Year: abt 1856
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1910: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Eady Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas W Chambers 54
Eady Chambers 44
Grace Chambers 17

1920 Census
Name: T D Chambers
Age: 64
Birth Year: abt 1856
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1920: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Street: Ridge Between Levisa River And Grassy Creek
House Number: Farm
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Eady Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Native Tongue: English
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Farm Labor
Industry: Home Farm
Employment Field: Own Account
Home Owned or Rented: Own
Home Free or Mortgaged: Free
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
T D Chambers 64
Eady Chambers 54

1930 Census
Name: Thomas D Chamber [Chambers]
Birth Year: abt 1856
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Virginia
Marital Status: Widowed
Relation to Head of House: Father-In-Law (Father)
Home in 1930: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Age at First Marriage: 20
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members:
Nathan W Wade 52
Mallie E Wade 45
Carl Wade 18
Vennie Wade 12
Gladis Wade 7
Rufus Wade 4 years 10 months
Clarie Orsborn 19
Thomas D Chambers 74

PARENTS

Thomas' death certificate is the only one of his three siblings born out of wedlock that give the name of Thomas Gillespie as the father. Alifair Chambers Christian's death certificate gave Chapman Elswick as her father, Elbert Wade Chambers had no names for his parents. For Alifair's descendants, her real father's name was not known, but evidently for the children of Emmeline and Chapman Elswick, the name was known but not talked about outside the family. John McClintock, Jr. told me what the family stories were, but there was no confirmation until Thomas D. Chamber's death certificate.

Buried:
Grave location, portrait, and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10737998&ref=acom

Died:
Virginia, Deaths, 1912-2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia

Name: Thomas Douglas Chambers
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age at Death: 75 years 2 months and 16 days
Birth Date: 2 Feb 1876 [Note: It looks like the registrar wrote in his birth year as 1876, when in should be 1856 according to his age]
Death Date: 19 Apr 1931
Death Place: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia, USA
Registration Date: 20 Apr 1931
Father: Gillespie Thomas [Thomas Gillespie]
Mother: Emmyline Chambers
Certificate Number: 1931009027
Informant: N. W. Wade, his son-in-law.
[Note: Thomas was living with Mollie and Nathan in the 1930 census]

Thomas married Edith OSBORN. Edith was born 10 May 1865, Buchanan Co. VA; died 10 Mar 1928, Buchanan Co. VA; was buried , Chambers Cemetery, Shortt Gap, Buchanan Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: B838C896412F4D798960C7B880C3A38F61F2

Notes:

Her father Chapp Osborne was a guard at the Raven Red Ash Coal Comp and in 1920 he was appointed a Tazewell Co deputy. He was killed in a gun battle near Richlands on 22 March 1927. It is said that he shot 15 men, eight of whom died.

CENSUS RECORDS

1900 Census
Name: Eady Chambers
Age: 56
Birth Date: May 1864
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Thomas D Chambers
Marriage Year: 1880
Years Married: 20
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother: number of living children: 7
Mother: How many children: 7
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas D Chambers 47
Eady Chambers 56
John M Chambers 15
Mallee E Chambers 13
Jinie L Chambers 11
Robert G Chambers 9
Irena Chambers 7
Grayson Chambers 4

1920 Census
Name: Eady Chambers
Age: 54
Birth Year: abt 1866
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1920: Garden, Buchanan, Virginia
Street: Ridge Between Levisa River And Grassy Creek
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: T D Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Native Tongue: English
Able to Speak English: Yes
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
T D Chambers 64
Eady Chambers 54

Buried:
Grave location, portrait, and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10737612

Died:
Virginia, Deaths, 1912=2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
Name: Eady Chambers
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age at Death: 62
Birth Date: 10 May 1865
Birth Place: Buchanan Co. VA
Death Date: 10 Mar 1928
Death Place: Buchanan, Virginia
Registration Date: 26 May 1928
Father: William Osbon
Mother: Mary Keen
Spouse: T D Chambers

Other Events:

• _UID: 39FEB522E5614E62BB57485DB3DA159CF951

Notes:

Several sources have come forward with information that the Emeline's first three children was a Gillespie from Pounding Mill or the community of Gillespie" between Pounding Mill (about two miles to the west) and Cliffield in Tazewell Co. Va.

It seems that Emeline was living in Liberty and the gap or short cut over the mountain leads over to Laurel Gap from the Pounding Mill area and then to Liberty. This would have been been less than three miles by horseback.

A granddaughter of Emeline remarked to her grandson as they were traveling through Pounding Mill that Emeline's first children was fathered by a Gillespie, but did not know his first name. Emeline and this man reportedly traveled to see each other.

Why didn't she marry the father of these 3 children? He possibly was married, unwilling to marry her, or he died before they could marry.

Further research is needed, and the key will be maps of the census districts for Tazwell Co. to see exactly which male Gillespies on the 1850 Tazewell Co. Maiden Spring District were living near Laurel Gap in Pounding Mill or the community of Gillespie.

Thomas married Emeline S. CHAMBERS. Emeline (daughter of Thomas CHAMBERS and Nancy CHRISTIAN) was born 18 Jan 1830, Russell Co. VA; died 2 Mar 1898, Tazewell Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: FFF7D11A2F354377B35F20FA34DF4D6CF7B7

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1840 Census, Russell Co. VA Thomas had two males under 5 [John and Hugh], one male 5-10 [Reese], one female under 5 [Joanna], one female 5-10 [Emeline], and one female 10-15 [Lydia].

1850 United States Federal Census
Name: Emeline Chambers
Age: 19
Birth Year: abt 1831
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1850: District 54, Russell, Virginia
Gender: Female
able to read and write, is living in household number 1250 with her mother Nancy Chambers, along with Emeline's daughter, Allifair, age 6 months.

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Emiline J Chamber [Emiline J Chambers]
Age in 1860: 28
Birth Year: abt 1832
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1860: Western District, Tazewell, Virginia
Gender: Female
Post Office: Cedar Bluff
Household Members:
Emiline J Chambers 28
Euphemia Chambers 11
Elbert W Chambers 7
James B Chambers 1
Chapman Elsick 23 [farm laborer]

1870 United States Federal Census
Name: Emeline Elswick
Age in 1870: 38
Birth Year: abt 1832
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1870: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Post Office: Knob
Household Members:
Chapman Elswick 38
Emeline Elswick 38
Elbert W Elswick 16
Thomas D Elswick 14
James B Elswick 11
Buenavista Elswick 8
Dellie B Elswick 5
Nancy L Elswick 2

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Emaline Elswick
Age: 48
Birth Year: abt 1832
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1880: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Chapman Elswick
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Chapman Elswick 43
Emaline Elswick 48
Bunevista Elswick 18
Nancy L. Elswick 13
Lafayette Elswick 10
Mary Elswick 6

MARRIAGE RECORD

"Tazewell County (VA) Marriages", Register #3, Year 1863, transcribed by Pauline Haga.

Chapman S. Elswick, age 26 yr, 7 mon, 19 days, born in Tazewell Co, VA, son of William and Lucinda Elswick, married on 10 Sep 1863 Emeline S. Chambers, age 21, born in Russell Co, VA, daughter of Thomas and Nancy Chambers. Married by Patton J. Lockhart.

STORIES

It was said she was a "red-headed,full-blooded Irish woman," according to contemporary accounts. While her husband, Chapman Elswick, was fighting in the Shenandoah Valley, his family was facing uncertainty and hardships.

Emeline and another lady by the name of Polly Griffiths, wife of Martin Griffiths (29th VA Infantry CSA) dug coal to fill ox carts, and during the summer months, leaving their children behind, drove the carts pulled by oxen and they came down from the ridge [Pleasant Hill, Reynolds Ridge] between Big Creek and Middle Creek from Stinson Ridge to Cedar Bluff, then up to Frog Level, then across the mountain and down the valley to Saltville, Va. (which would have been 40-50 mile), where they traded the coal for salt.

On the way back they would stop and trade the salt for staples and supplies they needed on the farm. They would trade salt for food and vegetables with neighbors who would be able to tend their farms.

It was a long, arduous trip and demonstrated the fortitude and perseverance of women and what they had to do to survive.

Notes:

John McClintock, Jr., a descendant of Emeline and Chapman Elswick, told me the family stories were a Thomas Gillespie was the father of Emeline's children. Thomas would travel over the mountain to visit "Red headed Emmie" at Liberty.

Until the death certificate of Thomas D. Chambers there was no proof of this. Thomas' death certificate is the only one of his three siblings born out of wedlock that give the name of Thomas Gillespie as the father. Alifair Chambers Christian's death certificate gave Chapman Elswick as her father, Elbert Wade Chambers had no names for his parents. For Alifair's descendants, her real father's name was not known, but evidently for the children of Emmeline and Chapman Elswick, the name was known but not talked about outside the family.

When Emeline married Chapman Elswick, she put her marital status as divorced. More than likely, Thomas Gillespie was a married man and was not free to marry Emeline.

Which Thomas Gillespie could be the father? One researcher has William Thomas Gillespie who was in his 60's during the time Emeline's children were conceived. I think a younger man is more likely since he was traveling over the mountain to Liberty on horseback. Here are the candidates from the Tazewell 1850 Census for Thomas or Thos:

Thomas Harrison Gillespie Nov. 19, 1812-Oct. 14, 1891, husband of Mary Ann Radar. In 1850 Thomas was 38 years old.

Thomas Simpson Gillespie 13 Dec 1807-1857,1862 or 1866, husband of Mariah Peery. In 1850 he was 43 years old. Thomas moved to Genry Co. MO in 1854, but later returned and died in Tazewell Co. This Thomas is a possibility based on the ages of Emeline's children. Alifair and Elbert Wade are three years apart, but there is about a 3 year difference between Elbert Wade born in 1853 and Thomas Douglas born about 1856. So it's possible Thomas Douglas was conceived when Thomas Gillespie returned from Missouri. Why did he return to Tazewell leaving his wife and children in Missouri?

Until DNA tests are done, this is all speculation as to which Thomas Gillespie is the father of Emeline's first three children.