Tip Chesney, Jr. Left us March 21, 2011 for glory, and reading his obituary brought back many memories. Tip, Jr. is the great grandson of Pharoah Chesney of Union County. Pharoah, or “Uncle Ferry” as he was fondly referred to. Pharoah Chesney was the freed slave of John Chesney of Union County, who lived in the Bull Run community of Union County. Uncle Ferry is best remembered for his long life. He is said to have lived to 120 before getting poisoned on a mess of wild greens that caused his death.

When I was researching for Our Union County Families I spoke with the late David Babelay several times; and we really tried to pull together a genealogical summary for Pharoah’s descendants. The following is the result of that research:
Chesney, Pharaoh (Uncle Ferry), b. ca. 1785; d. July 14, 1902, m. Onie___.

A. Chesney, Peggy, m. ___ Jones
B. Chesney, Henry, b. 1841; d. 1909, m. Narcissus (Sis) Hammett, b. 1842; d. 1927, buried
Kelly Cemetery in Union County.
1. Chesney, Samuel, 2. Chesney, Julia, b. 1878, m. George Easterly, a. Chesney, Goldie, b. Chesney, Tip, c. Chesney, Melvin, d. Chesney, William, e. Chesney, George, f. Chesney, Mabel, 3. Chesney, Salie, b. 1880, m. Russell Stewart ,a. Chesney, Helen, b. Stewart, Carl, c. Stewart, John, d. Stewart, George Lee, 4. Chesney, William, b. 1882, m. Mayetta McFeeters, b. 1884; d. 1917, a. Chesney, Yonia, b. Chesney, Goldie, c. Chesney,William, d. Chesney, William Ralph, e. Chesney, Roberta Jane, f. Chesney,Nancy, g. Chesney, Edith Mae, h. Chesney, Aline, i. Chesney, Edward, 5. Chesney, Tip, b. 1883; d. 1943, m. Uretha Bell McFeeters, b. 1886; d. 1974, a. Chesney, Lucinda, m. Cornelius G. Mason, 1. Mason, Katherine, 2. Mason, Cornelius G. , Jr., 3. Mason, Ervin, b. Chesney, Viola m1 William Todd Jordan, m2, John H. Marisette, 1. Jordan, William Todd, Jr., c Chesney, Dewey Ector, d. Chesney, Paul Henry, b. May 9, 1911, m. Almeta Walker, 1. Chesney, Lula Bell, 2. Chesney, Cassie, m. James Bowie, a. Bowie, James Paul, b. Bowie, Brandy, 3. Chesney, Paulette, m. Harvey Bowie, a. Bowie, Shenell
4. Chesney, Valentine Faye (Tina), m. Clyde Armstrong Moore, a. Moore, Talesha, b. Moore, Clyde Armstrong, Jr., e Chesney, Cornelia, m. Hugh Ramsey, 1. Ramsey, Hugh (Sonny) Jr., 2. Ramsey, Betty, 3. Ramsey, Emma Rose, 4. Ramsey, infant dau., 5. Ramsey, Nancy Clara, 6. Ramsey, John L., f. Chesney, Mary, b. - d. Feb. 10, 2002; m. Carl Edward Brabson, 1. Brabson, Marian, 2. Brabson, Helen, 3. Brabson, Carl Edward, Jr., 4. Brabson, Shirley, 5. Brabson, Mary Bell, 6. Brabson, Elbert David, 7. Brabson, Jessie Ray, 8. Brabson, Wilma, 9. Brabson, Josephine, g. Chesney, Lucille, m. Jesse J. Sharp, Jr., 1. Sharp, David, 2. Sharp, Marcella, h. Chesney, Nathaniel, m. Odessa Howell, 1. Chesney, Alvin Lawrence, 2. Chesney, Clifton, 3. Chesney, Debra, i. Chesney, James David, m. Margaret Robinson
j. Chesney, George William Floyd, m. Lorene Walker, 1. Chesney, William Edward (Buster), 2. Chesney, Loretha, 3. Chesney, Patricia, 4. Chesney, Newton Mitchel, k. Chesney, Tip, Jr. b. - d. March 21, 2011, m. Ruby Cunningham, 5. Chesney, Pearl, b. 1890 - d. 1979, m. Henry David Houston, a. Houston, Haulk (Fox), b. Houston, Wynmer, c. Houston, Newell (Dumb), C. Chesney, Cynthia, m. John Woods 1876, Knox County, 1. Woods, Charles, 2. Woods, Albert, 3. Woods, Luther, 4. Woods, Henry, 5. Woods, Lee, D. Chesney, Eliza, b. 1865, m. 1891, Knox Co., Wiley Gaither,1. Chesney, Lina,2. Gaither, Grover C.,3. Gaither, Albert B.

This genealogy was originally compiled by the late David Babelay in 1987; minor additions or changes of dates have been added. Bhp
As you will note, most birth and death dates are missing. From Tip, Jr.’s, obituary, I’ve been careful to add a bi to this genealogy. We could never verify Onie’s (Ferry’s beloved wife) maiden name. It would be great to one day stumble into her last name.
Uncle Ferry’s life was more fully documented by Professor John. Corum. Webster in a book called, The Last of the Pioneers, which is out of print. Pharaoh is buried in Wyrick Cemetery
on Damewood Hollow Road in Union County.
I expect Onie was buried there, but there is no stone for her. Henry and some of his family are buried in Kelly Cemetery on Tazewell Pike.

A large portrait in an oval frame of Tip Chesney and his wife, Bell McFeeters Chesney, was still hanging on the wall of the Cracker Barrell at Lake City the last time I was there.
Remembering Uncle Ferry was seen in the Union County Shopper in March of 2011.
Bonnie Heiskell Peters, Union County Historian