William John "John" Bess

William John "John" Bess

Male 1883 - 1966  (83 years)

Personal Information    |    Media    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name William John "John" Bess 
    Nickname Johnny 
    Birth 11 Oct 1883  DeKalb County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2
    Gender Male 
    Residence 1930  DeKalb County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Residence 1954  Tanyard Springs, McMinnville, Warren County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Death 25 Dec 1966  Warren County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    • of suspicious circumstances...
    Burial Mount View Cemetery, McMinnville, Warren County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Person ID I14892  The Hennessee Family
    Last Modified 24 Dec 2018 

    Father William Henry "Wild Bill" Bess,   b. 4 Jun 1858, DeKalb County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 5 Aug 1937, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 79 years) 
    Mother Aretta "Eda" George,   b. 1848, (Wilson County) Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Aft 1910, (Tennessee) Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 63 years) 
    Marriage 9 Jan 1881  DeKalb County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [5, 6
    • by P. C. Bluhm, JP
    Family ID F11475  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Martha Ella "Ella" Hale,   b. 9 Sep 1885, (DeKalb County) Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 15 Sep 1936, Warren County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 51 years) 
    Marriage 26 Mar 1905  Liberty, DeKalb County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    • by James A. Ewell, Elder
    Children 
     1. Gaston Glade Bess,   b. 5 Apr 1906, DeKalb County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 Apr 1985 (Age 79 years)
     2. Minah Belle "Minie" Bess,   b. 20 Oct 1907, (DeKalb County) Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 12 Dec 1992, McMinnville, Warren County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 85 years)
     3. Madie Lurine Bess,   b. 17 Dec 1909, DeKalb County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 12 Oct 1992, Warren County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 82 years)
     4. Emma Lucille "Lucille" Bess,   b. 23 Mar 1912, DeKalb County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 25 Jul 1990 (Age 78 years)
     5. John David Truman "Red" Bess,   b. 17 Sep 1914, (DeKalb County) Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 16 May 1990, Warren County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 75 years)
     6. Robert Ferman Bess,   b. 26 Jun 1917, Liberty, DeKalb County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 2 Mar 1990, Warren County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 72 years)
     7. Vivian Bess
     8. Hughie Denver Bess,   b. 17 Dec 1922, Warren County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 5 Jan 2010, Warren County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 87 years)
     9. Ella Mary Bess
    Family ID F5321  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 30 Apr 2023 

    Family 2 Ruby Mildred Johnson,   b. 13 Sep 1926, Cannon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 28 Feb 2016, Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 89 years) 
    Marriage 1 Feb 1941  Alabama Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 8
    Divorce 17 Mar 1965  Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Children 
     1. William Joseph "Willy" Bess
     2. Walter Larry "Larry" Bess
     3. Mildred Magdalene Bess
     4. Jewell Moses "Moses" Bess
     5. Clementine Bess
     6. John Abraham Bess
     7. Charles John Daniel "Dan" Bess
    Photos
    John & Ruby Bess
    John & Ruby Bess
    Photo provided by his son, Dan Bess
    Family ID F12306  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 30 Apr 2023 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 11 Oct 1883 - DeKalb County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 26 Mar 1905 - Liberty, DeKalb County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1930 - DeKalb County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 1 Feb 1941 - Alabama Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1954 - Tanyard Springs, McMinnville, Warren County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDivorce - 17 Mar 1965 - Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 25 Dec 1966 - Warren County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Mount View Cemetery, McMinnville, Warren County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    John & Ella Bess
    John & Ella Bess
    William John Bess (1883-1966)
    Martha Ella Hale Bess (1885-1936)
    William John Bess (1883-1966)
    William John Bess (1883-1966)
    Father & Son
    Father & Son
    John Bess (1883-1966)
    "Wild Bill" Bess (1858-

    Photo provided by Dan Bess

  • Notes 
    • 2 Dec 2007 - Elusive subject as there is no 1890 census available...

      Could not locate him in 1900 DeKalb census. Only one BESS listed, "Henry J.", born 1829 and he is unidentified...DAH

      1900 Warren census by Robert A. C. Hills, p. 167, family 238, household of Andrew BESS;

      "Willie 13 Nephew "

      6 Feb 2012 - He with his young family are enumerated in the 1910 DeKalb census, page 29...DAH

      Enumerated as "Johnny" in the 1910 DeKalb Co. Census... https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MGX1-LNQ

      9 Oct 2012 - According to Pearl Byars Bess Fults, John had a brother, Wiley, who lived in Bon De Croft, White Co.,TN. Am having difficulty locating any records on him as he is a major clue to identifying their father...DAH


      Spoke to Aunt Pearl this morning and she confirms the fact that John's father's name was, "William Henry Bess" [4, 9]
    • Enumerated in the 1900 Warren Co. census, in the household of Andrew J. Bess, b. 1855;

      Rufus, brother, b. 1850

      John Bess, nephew, [Rufus' son] b. 1892 [probably not John as this person is 10 years older}

      Assa G. Bess, nephew, [Unknown] b. 1894

      Willie Bess, nephew, [Unknown] b. 1886 [10]
    • Lived on 721 Salem Road, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

      Shot Fred Vaught in the left shoulder as Fred was found in bed with John's wife, Ruby.

      Pistols drawn at his funeral. [2]

  • Sources 
    1. [S7] "Warren County,Tennessee Cemetery Book 3 - Macedonia Cemetery to Mullican, p. 133.

    2. [S47982] Dan Bess | Telephone Interview | 22 Feb 2013 | 478.288.1837 | danbess00@yahoo.com.

    3. [S47985] https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MNP2-GZQ.

    4. [S47984] Aunt Pearl | 22 Feb 2013 | Telephone Interview.

    5. [S36386] "Marriages Recorded In DeKalb County Tennessee 1848-1900",by Jorene Washer, 108.

    6. [S13462] Aretta (George) Bess (1848), Profile, https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/George-6574, abstracted by David A. Hennessee, info@.

    7. [S7902] DeKalb Co.,TN Marriage Book:1901-1950, compiled by Jorene Washer Parsley, p. 11 (Reliability: 3).

    8. [S46039] Christine Bess Cornett | Interview | 5 Oct 2012 | homeinspect@blomand.net.

    9. [S30] David A. Hennessee, HENNESSEE Researcher & Compiler, 626 Biscayne Drive,West Palm Beach,FL 33401, 561.832.6612, info@c.

    10. [S45975] https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MSZN-LTM.