The Acuff Family

John H. Acuff was born in Bledsoe County, Tennessee. He and Matilda Billingsley married and had six children: four sons and two daughters. Matilda died in childbirth with the sixth child.

John Acuff moved his children from Bledsoe County to Roane County in 1848. He married Mary Owings and they had two more children.

John Acuff was a prosperous business owner and preacher. He and his brother-in-law shared the leadership of the Post Oak Springs Christian Church. Even though churches split during the war, this church never ceased holding regular services.

After the war, John Acuff led in reuniting the Christian Church. He arranged a communion service and invited people of all creeds and beliefs to partake. His sons, two of whom fought for the Union and two who were Confederates, came forward and sat down together to take communion. Many followed their example, and the wounds of the church were healed.

Eliza Whittenburg

Eliza "Aunt Lize" Whittenburg was born a slave on the farm of Jesse Roddy near White's Creek. When Jesse Roddy's daughter, Charlotte married Samuel T. Whittenburg in 1843, Jesse gave Eliza to his daughter and her name became Whittenburg. Eliza "Aunt Lize" came to Rockwood in 1869 and was the first cook at the Roane Iron Company's black boarding house. She died 29 March 1926 in Rockwood and is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery.