Robert Lafayette
Whitus and Julia Ann Carlton
Robert was the eldest son of
James L. Whitus and his wife, Jane McCoy.
He was born on 11 December 1842, probably in Rutherford
Co TN, and died on 19 November 1924 in Rockvale,
Rutherford, TN. On 11 December 1867, he married Julia
Ann Carlton, daughter of William Blake Carlton and Mary
Walker. They had nine children altogether, although only
three appear to have survived to adulthood.
Robert enlisted in the 24th Tennessee Infantry at the
outbreak of the Civil War, ultimately becoming a corporal.
In his pension application, he said he had been involved in
the battles at Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Missionary
Ridge, and battles "from Dalton to Atlanta." He was
captured on 6 August 1864 and held at the POW camp at Camp
Chase, Ohio until being released on 11 May 1865 after
taking the oath of allegiance to the US.
After returning to Rutherford County, Robert became a
farmer, an occupation he maintained for the rest of his
life. He and his family resided in Civil District 10, in
the southwest portion of the county.
Robert
Lafayette Whitus (b.
11 Dec 1842, Rutherford, TN - d. 19 Nov 1924, Rockvale,
Rutherford, TN)
m. 11
December 1867, Rutherford, TN
Julia Ann F.
Carlton (b. 17 Jan
1844, Rutherford, TN - d. between 1920/25, Rutherford, TN)
Children:
i. Martha W. Whitus
("Mattie") (b. 2 Feb 1870,
Rutherford, TN - d. 5 Dec 1954, prob. Rutherford, TN);
m. Washington Comer
("Wash")
ii. Mary Jane Whitus
(b. 1872, Rutherford, TN - d.
after 1919); m. Rollie S.
Holden
iii. Thomas Robert
Whitus ("Tommie") (b.
28 Jan 1874, Rutherford, TN - d. 22 Jan 1963, Rutherford,
TN); m. Nannie Lee
Christopher