Charles T. Claiborne
Charles T. Claiborne, usually mentioned as C. T. Claiborne, had several ventures going in the 1890s. In 1893, he was working for Southern Bell Telephone Company. He had also started a nice hotel in Tunnel Hill. He was the proprietor. His wife and daughter helped run it. There were several little social tidbits (plugs) printed in the paper about the hotel, and a nice display ad. The Southern Bell job required Claiborne to be away from home a good bit, so perhaps his wife managed the hotel in his absence. He was still constructing telephones in 1900, as mentioned in census. He was in Atlanta by then.
1893:
"Chas. Claiborne of the Southern Bell Telefone Co. is at home enjoying a short vacation."
[Reference]: North Georgia Citizen (Dalton, Whitfield, Georgia), 08 September 1893, page 4.
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Margaret Louvenia "Venie" (Davis) Claiborne
Venie was the first wife of Wesley Dickerson Claiborne. She died young. The marriage took place in 1890 near Tunnel Hill, Whitfield County, Georgia, and was published in the paper. By 1894, she and an infant child had died, and her husband remarried. This is mentioned in her husband's obituary. There are only a few mentions of Venie in the paper. So far, no obituary has been found. Here is a tidbit, mentioning her by her married name.
Social Item from The Dalton Argus:
"Mrs. Venie Claiborne, visited Dalton last Saturday."
[Reference]: Claiborne in "Tunnel Hill News," The Dalton Argus (Dalton, Whitfield, Georgia), 23 August 1890, page 5.
