yesterday's tennessee

THE LUTON FAMILY IN DECATUR COUNTY TENNESSEE

Chapter XIV

Kenneth Luton

Lemuel Lee Luton came to that part of West Tennessee that is now Decatur County, in the early 1800's. He came from South Carolina. Lemuel married Sarah White daughter of Jonathan White and they had six children, Henry who died at birth or in infancy, Tempy, Nancy, Martha Ann, Jonathan and Narcissy.

Jonathan, named for his grandfather Jonathan White, was the only surviving male Luton. He became a teacher, merchant, lay preacher, and served as a Captain in the Confederate Army, Company H, 31st. Tennessee Infantry Regiment.

Jonathan Luton was married to Jane McCall from Huntingdon, Tenn. There were three children born to them, Joseph, Nannie and Monnie Luton. Jonathan's second marriage was to Cynthia Clementine Anderson. They had eleven children, Sarah Elizabeth, Sally, Ora, Lemuel, Gideon, Arthur, Annie, William Oliver, Stella, Lillie, Clementine, the third marriage was to Addie Reece a school teacher from Hohenwald, Tennessee by whom he had no children. The Luton children who lived in Decatur County and reared their children there were Monnie who married Washington Smith, Stella, who married John Hay, Sally Rainey, Arthur, Annie Luton, Lillie who married W. L. Wheat and Clementine who married Wesley Harrell.

The Last male Luton born in Decatur County was Dr. Frank H. Luton eldest of the six sons of William Oliver Luton and Corrilla Harper Luton. Dr. Luton was the first registered Psychiatrist in the State of Tennessee.

Jonathan Luton, it is said was the donor of the land on which the Concord Church and emetery, United Methodist, are located. The old home place at McKendree was moved from the original location up to the state road where it was renovated by Dr. Leon Hay of Memphis, Tn. Dr. Hay is a great-grand son of Jonathan Luton. There are no Lutons or Luton heirs who are permanent residents of Decatur County at this time.

Compiled by Kenneth Luton of Knoxville