Hannah Beaman Duggan (1854-1937) kept a notebook of family vital records, housekeeping notes and recipes, and favorite poems.
Hannah Rhodelia Beaman was born November 28, 1854 in Malone, New York to William and Harriet Beaman and died December 9, 1937 in Sevier County, Tennessee. On April 27, 1871, she married Tennessee State Senator Wilson L. Duggan Jr. He was born July 28, 1848 in Sevier County, Tennessee and died February 9, 1936 in Knox County, Tennessee. They are buried in the Duggan Memorial Cemetery in Sevier County. They had nine children, eight of whom survived to adulthood.
Their children were:
- Walter Elmer Duggan, 1872-1873
- Lillian Lou Duggan Murphy, 1873-1959 m. Robert Nelson Murphy, 1873-1962
- Laura Jean Duggan Redfearn, 1879-1931 m. William Clyde Redfearn, 1878-1928
- Claude Vernon Duggan, 1880-1968 m. Fannie May Garrison, 1884-1944
- Ralph Beaman Duggan, 1882-1944 m. Devena Duggan, 1892-?
- Viola Rhodelia Duggan Vineyard, 1884-1960 m. Ulysses Samuel Vineyard, 1873-1943
- Orton Loraine Duggan, 1886-1983 m. Frances Elizabeth Clemens, 1893-1984
- Zella Myrtle Duggan King, 1888-1931 m. Frank Wilson King, 1890-1970
- Morton Blaine Duggan, 1890-1975 m. Esther Donoghue, 1896-1977
Mrs. Duggan’s obituary from the Sevier County Republican & Sevier County Record, 1937
Mrs. Hannah Beaman Duggan, aged 83 years and 11 days, widow of the late Hon. W. L. Duggan, of East Fork, Sevier County, died Dec. 9, 1937 at the home of her daughter Mrs. U.S. Vineyard at Riverdale, Knox County.
She was the mother of nine children, the first of which died in infancy and two daughters in the early part of 1931. She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. R.N. Murphy of Knoxville, Mrs. U.S. Vineyard of Riverdale, Knox County; four sons, Ralph B. Duggan of Sevierville, Claude V. and Orton L. Duggan of Knoxville, and M. Blaine Duggan of Chicago. There are also 35 grandchildren and great-grandchildren living.
Mrs. Duggan’s maiden name was Hannah R. Beaman. She was the daughter of William Beaman of Malone, N.Y. At the age of three, her father moved to Leroy, Minnesota. In 1869 at the age of 14 Hannah Beaman came to East Tennessee to attend a private school taught by her uncle Prof. Fernando Beaman of Knoxville. The school was located in the vicinity of Riverdale only a few miles from where she died. It was while attending her uncle’s school that she met Wilson Duggan whom she married April 27, 1871. Within a few years after her marriage during which time her husband taught private schools, they went to the old Duggan homestead at East Fork where they resided until the death of her husband after which she spent most of her time with her two daughters.
She served as postmaster at the East Fork post office during the Arthur administration. During her active life she was always ready and willing to administer to the sick.
Funeral services were conducted at the home at East Fork last Sunday afternoon at 2:30 conducted by the Rev. J. Lacy Basham and Rev. W. F. Pitts. Internment was in the family cemetery.
Music was rendered by a quartet composed of G.H. Wynn, Louis Trotter, Charles Franklin, and Mrs. Charles Franklin.
A transcription of Hannah’s notebook follows the digitized version below.
