Armstead Cheatham

According to his family, Armstead was born in Nashville but sold at a young age along with his mother. They were taken to Virginia. Following emancipation, the pair moved to Maury County before he eventually moved back to Nashville. [“Statement of the Family” University of Tennessee manuscript #1649]

1878 – 1879 - The Nashville City Directory lists him living and working downtown.

1880 – Census records list Armstead living at Belmont at age 35 and as born in Tennessee. He likely started working at Belmont in late 1879 or early 1880.

1883 – The Nashville City Directory once more lists him in the city, residing on Hamilton Street at the corner of Watkins.

1886 – October 28 – Armstead marries Fannie Watkins. The ceremony was presided over by Reverend J. M. Gilmere/Gilmore. Most likely Fannie was the daughter of Alice and Henry Watkins. The couple moves into a house she already owns at 304 Morgan Street.

1888 – The Nashville City Directory lists him as a driver at 175 North Market, with a residential address of 304 Morgan Street.

1890 – The Nashville City Directory lists him as a sick nurse.

1891 – The Nashville City Directory listing for him remains the same.

1900 – Census records list his age as 45 (which would mean a birth date of 1855). At the time of the census, he had been married for 13 years, and worked as a porter. He could read, write, and owned his house. He lived with his wife Fannie (born in August,

1850, age 49 who could not read or write) and Alice Watkins, age 7.

1904 – The Nashville City Directory lists him as a porter, still on Morgan Street.

1909 – The Nashville City Directory lists him as an expressman, still on Morgan Street.

1910 – Census records list him as age 50, married 22 years, and living with his wife Fannie, age 63, who now was listed as being able to read, but not write. The Nashville City Directory record Armstead as an expressman, living at 304 13th Avenue North. The family has not moved. Morgan Street was renamed 13th Avenue.

1914 – The Nashville City Directory record remains the same as in 1910

1915 – The Nashville City Directory lists him as a driver for Warner Drug Co.

1922 – The Nashville City Directory records him as a porter, still living at 304 13th Ave.

1923 – March 26 – Armstead passed away at his home at the age of 75 survived by his wife Fannie. His funeral was at the Presbyterian Church corner of Gay Street and North Eighth Ave. The Rev. Jackson conducted the service. He was buried at Mt. Ararat Cemetery. [Nashville Banner 3/27/23 page 18] He was also survived by his half-brothers on his mother’s side John P. Rhines, Lewis P. Neill and James L. Neill of Washington, D.C. As well as half sisters and brothers on his father’s side Jennie Cheatham Lee of Tuskegee, Alabama, Gutie Cheatham Anderson and Marshall Cheatham of Nashville and Dr. Andrew Cheatham of St. Louis. [“Statement of the Family” University of Tennessee manuscript #1649]