Frank Nelson Tinsley and His Family
By: Mrs. Gracie P. L. Tinsley
Edited by Bob Chope
Frank Nelson Tinsley standing with his first cousin, William G. Tinsley
in front of William's house in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Cousin Frank Nelson Tinsley was born on June 15, 1921 in Lynchburg, Virginia. He was the only child of Edward Dawson and Frances (nee Scott) Tinsley. Frances Scott is a descendant of Patrick Henry through her father, Francis Alexander Scott. Frank's lineage on the Davies side continues as follows: Nelson Ottoway Tinsley (b. Jan. 10, 1859 - d. March 1, 1930) married Willie Ann Noell (b. 1862 - d. December 29, 1929); Emily M. (H?) Davies (b. about 1815 - d. about 1900) married Martin Dawson Tinsley (b. November 15, 1805 - d. August 17, 1869); Francis * Kempis Davies (b. about 1792 - d. May 3, 1832) married Elizabeth Rucker McDaniels (b. about 1792 - d. July 5, 1862); Nicholas Clayton Davies (b. February 27, 1769 - d. June 17, 1811) married Elizabeth Crawford (b. about 1764 - d. April 2, 1820); Henry Landon Davies (b. about 1745 - d. late in the year 1807) married Anne Whiting Clayton (b. about 1747 - d. about 1785) {Note: Anne was Henry's first wife and first cousin and of this line. He married second Anne's sister who obviously was also his cousin, "Lucy Whiting Clayton"}; and Nicholas Davies (b. about 1709 - d. September 30, 1794.
Frank's father, Edward Dawson Tinsley, met his future wife, Frances Scott while she was teaching at the "Brodie School" in 1920. The Brodie School was located near the Mount Gihead Methodist Church on Route 501(Holcomb Rock Road) near Boonsboro, Virginia. This school closed in 1928 and the students attended the Boonsboro School. As for her education, Frances graduated from the New London Academy, New London, Virginia.
Edward Dawson Tinsley graduated from the Fork Union Military Academy, which is located near Richmond, Virginia. Edward served in the U. S. Army Expeditionary Forces in France during World War I. He married Frances Scott on June 6, 1920. Following his being mustered out of the Army Edward secured a position with the Electro Metallurgical Company on Holcomb Rock Road as a plant maintenance man. He worked for this company until it closed in 1955. During his employment at the Electro Metallurgical Company the Tinsleys lived in a Company house near the plant. It was while living in this Company owned community that the only child of Edward and Frances was born.
Following the closure of the plant, Edward took a job in Lynchburg at the Allied Arts Building on Church Street. Following retirement, he sold the family house on Holcomb Rock Road, which was formerly an Electro Metallurgical Company house. He then moved to a house located at 118 Bon Ton Road in Lynchburg, where his son, Frank and his wife presently reside.
A little more should be mentioned about Frank's mother's ancestry. Frances (nee Scott) Tinsley was born at "Seven Islands," across from "Brookneal" in Halifax County, Virginia. She is the daughter of Francis Alexander and Mary C. (nee Pleasants) Scott. It is through the line of Francis Alexander Scott that Frances (nee Scott) Tinsley descends from the notable American Revolutionary statesman, Patrick Henry. Seven Islands was one of several estates owned by Patrick Henry. Following Henry's death, Seven Islands was inherited by his second daughter, Sarah Butler Henry. Eventually, the estate came into the hands of Patrick Henry Scott and remained in the Scott family until it was finally sold to the Glass family.
The estate of Seven Islands was named for seven islands situated in the Staunton River that separates Seven Islands from Brookneal. At one time each of these islands were cleared and farmed.
Returning to Frank Nelson Tinsley, he grew up in the Tinsley home on Holcomb Rock Road. He initially attended a school owned and operated by the Electro Metallurgical Company called "Seward School." This school was named after the principal hired by the Company to run it. After the Seward School closed, Frank transferred to an elementary school in Lynchburg. He attended and graduated from the Boonsboro High School in Bedford City, Virginia.
Frank pursued his higher education at Presbyterian Junior College in Maxton, North Carolina (the school has changed its name since Frank attended). Following attending Presbyterian Junior College, Frank went to Phillip Business College in Lynchburg, Virginia. After graduating from Phillip Business College he was hired by the Newport News Ship & Drydock Company in New Port News, Virginia. He was employed working in the mold loft making patterns for ships. Because of his job, Frank received a deferment from the draft when World War II broke out.
The time came when Frank felt that he had to contribute more to the war effort. He enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1942, serving through 1946. He attained the rank of Sergeant in an Air Engineer Squadron stationed on Guam. He worked on and flew in B-29 bombers. There is more to be told about his service during World War II, but this will have to wait for a future article.
After being discharged from the Army and returning home to Virginia, Frank secured a job as a Chemical Laboratory Technician with the Mead Paper Company in Lynchburg. He remained with Mead until he retired, putting in thirty-eight years of loyal service. Following Frank's retirement, he and his wife moved to the house his father built on Bon Ton Road. Bon Ton Road was named after the old "Bon Ton Supper Club" that was located on the corner of Boonsboro Road in Lynchburg.
Among Frank's fondest memories are those growing up in the Electro Metallurgical company village. There were actually three villages all situated around the plant. The first one was called "Turkey" and consisted of five houses (one that also served as the post office), the company store, the school and the plant. The second village also had five houses and was where the chemist, maintenance man and his helpers resided. Frank no longer recalls the name of this village. The last village called "Mexico" had seven or eight houses and was where the plant workers lived. One benefit of this arrangement in a rural area was that Frank had many children to play with.
Perhaps the most vivid memories that Frank has are of those summers long ago. His days were spent swimming, fishing, hunting and working with this cousin William "Bill" Tinsley on the old Tinsley farm. The Tinsley homeplace was across the James River from Holcomb Rock. It is interesting to note that in the late 18th century and early 20th century all of this land was owned by Nicholas Davies "Old Nick" and his son, Henry Landon Davies. The Tinsleys purchased their farm from the Davies family.
Now a little about Frank's wife, Gracie Pendleton Lohr Davis. She descends from Benjamin Franklin Davis who married Susan Ellen Carden. They had Benjamin Franklin Davis, Jr. who married Annie Grace Lohr. Her Davis family lived in Greene, Madison and Orange Counties, Virginia. Part of the Davis plantation in Orange County was purchased from President Madison.
Gracie's mother's family came from Germany. The Lohr's were Mennonites who settled in the Shenandoah Valley. The family would simply refer to the place as "the Valley." Gracie clearly remembers her mother speaking about attending the foot washing' services, which was a ritual re-enacting Christ washing the feet of his disciples. This ritual has special meaning to the Mennonites. As with most Mennonites in the Valley, the Lohrs were farmers.
Gracie's mother told her much about what it was like living on a Mennonite farm in her youth. In addition to the regular field crops, such as corn and hay, the Lohrs raised sheep and had dairy cattle. Apparently one of the staples on the farm was mutton, which Gracie's mother on a number of occasions made a point of saying she did not like.
Gracie's grandfather Lohr lived to be 99. After the death of his wife, he moved in with Gracie's family. He enjoyed gardening and maintained beautiful flower gardens. He also owned a 1929 Model A Ford and would take the Lohr family for rides in this marvelous machine. Gracie recalls wanting to attend church on Sundays just to hear her grandfather Lohr sing. He had a beautiful voice.
Gracie attended Rochelle Elementary school, Rochelle, Virginia, from the first through the seventh grade. She attended high school at Madison County High School, Madison, Virginia. Following graduation from high school, Gracie went to the Phillips Business College in Lynchburg, Virginia.
After graduating from college, Gracie got a position as a Secretary at the Holcomb Rock Plant. This is where she met Frank Tinsley. According to Gracie it was love at first sight. They were married in Charlottesville, Virginia on March 28, 1952. They have one son, Edward Franklin Tinsley, born on August 12, 1954. Edward married Mary Etta Wilborn on June 10, 1975 and they have two children: Zachary Cameran Tinsley and Savannah Arlene Tinsley.