The Ancestors and Cousins of Tracy Lynn DeVault

Samuel Emmitt Akard had reference number 27590. He was enumerated on the census in Sullivan County, Tennessee (1920.) He was a Salesman - department store (1920); employed by the Wood-Nickols Company of Bristol, Sullivan Co., Tennessee.^2,3 NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - The Kingsport Times, March 14, 1926

Society Locals
Mr. Sam Akard of Bristol spent the day here yesterday on business.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - The Kingsport Times, March 16, 1926

SEVEN SUICIDES IN 6 WEEKS OCCUR IN OR ABOUT BRISTOL
Two Tragedies Yesterday, One at Bristol and Another at Norton, Sets New Suicidal Record
NO MOTIVES ASSIGNED FOR LAST THREE DEATHS
Ngress Drinks Poison -- Mrs. McLemore and Sam Akard End Lives By Hanging
(Special to The Times)
Bristol, Va. - Tenn., March 16 -- Two more suicides in and near Bristol, making the third in two days, occured yesterday. The first was that of Hattie Delap, Negress of Lee street, Bristol, Va., who died 3:10 o'clock yesterday afternoon, following her statement to the family about noon that she would be dead 6 o'clock last evening. Her death was attributed to drinking nearly two ounces of carbolic acid.
The other suicide occured at Norton, Va., when Mrs. Jesee McLemore, one of the most prominent women of that city and section, met her death at her own hands by hanging.
Late Sunday evening, Sam Akard, prominent Sullivan countian, and resident of Holston avenue, Bristol, ended his life by hanging himself in is garage in the rear of his home. Funeral services for Mr. Akard were conducted this afternoon.
Total of Seven
With these three as the climax, the total of suicides in the vicinity of Bristol in the last weeks has mounted to seven beginning with the tragic death of Miss Edna Marie Thomas, pretty 19 year old stenographer, on the night of February 5. Following this, Miss Viola Orfield, another beautiful Bristol young woman, drank a poisonous substance and died, leaving a message of love to a young man, a resident of Abingdon, Va. Soon after, Miss Bessie Hawk, also of Bristol; died from drinking carbolic acid. Last Week, a man at Elizabethton died from self-inflicted gun wounds.
No motive whatsoever has been assigned for the last three suicides. Mr. Akard was in Kingsport on Business Friday and on Saturday he was in the best of spirits, according to his friends. He was formerly connected with the Wood =-Nickels company of Bristol and had only recently resigned and took a position as a traveling agent for a shoe firm. He had intended starting on a two weeks trip Monday, but Sunday evening he was found suspended from a rafter in his garage.
Neither did the negress, Hattie Delap leave any reason for her deed. She was 26 years of age and married. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
The death of Mrs. McLemore was a shock to the entire community of Norton. She was a prominent church and social worker. Though she had been in failing health, no definite motive was assigned for her suicide. Funeral arrangements had not been announced last evening.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - The Kingsport Times, Kingsport, Sullivan Co., Tennessee, March 21, 1926

BLOUNTVILLE
Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Barr and family went to Bristol on Tuesday to attend the funeral of Mrs. Barr's nephew, Samuel E. Akard.

Citations

[S5213] Genealogy prepared by Anna Mae (Phillips) Bays
[S1447] 1920 Census, Tennessee, Sullivan County
[S9268] Newspaper Article - The Kingsport Times, March 26, 1926

Family Explorer

Bertie May Akard¹

F, #27299, b. 5 September 1882, d. 7 October 1905

Parents

Father	Joseph Henry "Henry" Akard (b. 4 February 1853, d. 22 December 1937)
Mother	Sarah Adeline Smith (b. 17 December 1855, d. 7 April 1887)

Pedigree Link

Family: Wiley R. Hall (b. 8 April 1874, d. 3 June 1959)

Son	William Emmit Hall+ (b. 22 September 1905, d. 18 February 2000)

BASIC FACTS

Bertie May Akard was born on 5 September 1882.¹ She and Wiley R. Hall were married on 7 August 1904.¹ She died on 7 October 1905, at age 23.¹ She was buried in Blountville, Cemetery, Blountville, Sullivan Co., Tennessee.

Bertie May Akard had reference number 27591.

Citations

[S5213] Genealogy prepared by Anna Mae (Phillips) Bays

Family Explorer

Wiley R. Hall^1,2

M, #27300, b. 8 April 1874, d. 3 June 1959

Pedigree Link

Family: Bertie May Akard (b. 5 September 1882, d. 7 October 1905)

Son	William Emmit Hall+ (b. 22 September 1905, d. 18 February 2000)

BASIC FACTS

Wiley R. Hall was born on 8 April 1874.² He and Bertie May Akard were married on 7 August 1904.¹ He died on 3 June 1957, at age 83.² He died on 3 June 1959, at age 85, in Sullivan Co., Tennessee.³ He was buried in Blountville Cemetery, Blountville, Sullivan Co., Tennessee.⁴

Wiley R. Hall had reference number 27592. Apparently Wiley was married a second time and had three children by this second marriage.

OBITUARY - Kingsport News (Kingsport, Tennessee); Thursday, June 4, 1959; image 16 column 4; (Ancestry.com)

Wiley R. Hall
BLOUNTVILLE -- Wiley R. Hall died at his home here at 1:15 Wednesday.
He was an active member of Blountville Presbyterian Church and had been an elder of the church for 25 years.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. F. E. Sanders of Bristol and Mrs. J. R. Holt, Indian Springs; two sons, Herman and Emmett Hall, both of Bristol; and seven grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 4 p.m. Friday at Blountville Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Fred Walker will officiate, assisted by the Rev, Dan Graham. Burial will be in the Blountville Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Sullins Cartwright, Carey Hall, Early Smith, J. C. Akard, D. G. Rodefer, Paul Anderson, Hal Massengill, Dr. S. R. McDowell and Roy Elsea.
The body will be taken to the church one hour before the funeral. Until then it will remain at the Akard funeral Home in Bristol.

Citations

[S5213] Genealogy prepared by Anna Mae (Phillips) Bays
[S8708] Letter from Verna Bouton dated April 12, 2005
[S4023] Death Records - Tennessee, Tennessee State Archives (Internet), Source Medium: Book
[S12102] Obituary - Wiley R. Hall