Merrill Delwin Williamson

Notes:

College of Arts and Sciences
Alumni Appreciation Day honorees (didn't find a date)
Engineering Technology
Dr. Merrill D. Williamson
Argyle, TX - BS 1947; MS 1952
Professor Emeritus from UNT. Dr. Williamson was also head of the Industrial Education Department at Abilene Christian University from 1962 to 1986, Industrial Education Coordinator at Southwest Mississippi Junior College and Visiting Professor at Iowa State University, Texas A&M University and the University of Northern Colorado.

Dr. Williamson has received the Distinguished Service Award and Distinguished Leadership Award from the Texas Industrial Arts Association, the Teacher Educator of the Year Award from the Texas Council on Industrial Arts Teacher Education and was inducted into the Hall of Honor for the Association for Texas Technology Education.

The North Texan Online
University of North Texas.

Merrill Delwin Williamson ('47, '52 M.S.), Denton, Professor Emeritus of industrial arts, 1962-1984. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he received his bachelor's and master's degrees from North Texas and his doctorate from the University of Missouri. Before joining North Texas, he taught at several schools and colleges, including Southwest Mississippi Junior College, the Dallas ISD and Abilene Christian College. He served as executive secretary and president of the Texas Industrial Arts Association and also served on the state Child Welfare Board and was active in Habitat for Humanity.

University of North Texas Bulliten Board, Feb. 11, 2005 (online)

Obituary:
MERRILL DELWIN WILLIAMSON, 85, Professor Emeritus of industrial arts who worked at North Texas from 1962 to 1984, died Dec. 10 in Denton. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he received his bachelor's degree in 1947 and master's degree in 1952 from North Texas, then earned his doctorate at the University of Missouri in 1958. He taught at several schools and colleges before joining North Texas, including Southwest Mississippi Junior College, the Dallas ISD and Abilene Christian College. He was a member of many organizations, including Phi Delta Kappa, the Texas State Teachers Association, the Texas Industrial Arts Association and the American Council on Industrial Arts Teacher Education. He served as executive secretary and later as president of the TIAA. He also served on the state Child Welfare Board and was active in Habitat for Humanity. Survivors include five sons, Byron, Greg, Tim, Scott and David Williamson, professor of sociology at UNT; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Celia Williamson, associate professor of rehabilitation, social work and addictions and special assistant to the provost, is his daughter-in-law. A funeral service was held Dec. 14 at Singing Oaks Church of Christ in Denton. Burial was at Roselawn Cemetery.


(Above courtesy of Lynell Gentry Cordell)

Family/Spouse: Ruth Marie Gage. Ruth was born on 21 Jan 1923 in Sycamore, Wise County, Texas; died on 8 Aug 2002 in Denton County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Wise Co. Messenger -- Aug. 1964

Services Held for Elmer Williamson

Elmer Williamson, 72, a lifelong resident of Wise County, died July 30 in a Decatur hospital. Funeral services were held August 1 in Alvord Church of Christ with J.E. Doggett officiating. Burial was in Alvord. Mr. Williamson was born at Greenwood March 8, 1892. He taught school for 25 years at Prarie Point, Roe, Greenwood and Rush Creek and served with the U.S. Post Office for 1928 to 1961. Survivors include his widow; one son, Delwin Williamson of Denton; two daughters, Mrs. Weldon McNeely of Shreveport and Mrs. Ray Helms of Dallas; four brothers, Luther Williamson of Ardmore, Jayson Williamson of Lubbock, Weaver Williamson of Pharr and Irvin Williamson of Lawton, Oklahoma and eight grandsons.

(Courtesy of Lynell Cordell)

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J6MJ-8Y7
name: Elmer Williamson
death date: 30 Jul 1964
death place: Decatur, Wise, Texas
gender: Male
race: White
death age: 72 years
estimated birth date:
birth date: 08 Mar 1892
birthplace: Greenwood, Texas
marital status: Married
spouse's name:
father's name: Jerry Williamson
father's birthplace:
mother's name: Lou Gentry
mother's birthplace:
occupation: Retired Postal Service
place of residence: Alvord, Wise, Texas
cemetery: Alvord
burial place: Alvord, Texas
burial date: 01 Aug 1964
additional relatives: X
film number: 2117595
digital film number: 4028380
image number: 1819
reference number: CN 47289
Collection: "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," Elmer Williamson, 1964


(Research):Census Listings:

1930 census Wise Co. TX

ED 249-15 Sheet 15B
County road in Greenwood 328/344

Williamson Elmer, MW 38 M 24 TX MO MO
Williamson, Ivon, FW 34 M 20 TN TN TN
Williamson, Lourine, dau. FW 12 TX TX TN
Williamson, Delwin, son MW 10 TX TX TN
Williamson, Doris, dau. FW 8 TX TX TN

Elmer married Ivan Coleman. Ivan was born on 21 Sep 1897 in Martin, Weakley County, Tennessee; died on 24 Jan 1966 in Denton County, Texas; was buried in Alvord Cemetery, Wise County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Wise County Messenger

Thursday, 27 January 1966

Mrs. Elmer Williamson, age 59, of Alvord passed away Monday Afternoon in a Denton hospital. Funeral services were held from Alvord Church of Christ, Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. conducted by Avon Malone, minister of Denton Church of Christ, assisted by Dale Scott, minister of the Alvord Church. Interment was in Alvord Cemetery. Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Laurene McNeely of Shreveport, La. and Mrs. Doris Helms of Dallas; one son, Delwin Williamson of Denton and eight grandsons. Mr. Williamson preceded his wife in death in August 1964. Mr. and Mrs. Williamson had moved to Alvord four years ago. They formerly lived at Greenwood where he was postmaster and also taught school there.

(Courtesy of Lynell Cordell)

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JXPF-Z5J
name: Ivan Williamson
death date: 24 Jan 1966
death place: Denton, Denton, Texas
gender: Female
race: White
death age: 68 years
estimated birth date:
birth date: 21 Sep 1897
birthplace: Martin, Tenn.
marital status: Widowed
spouse's name:
father's name: John Coleman
father's birthplace:
mother's name:
mother's birthplace:
occupation: Housewife
place of residence: Alvord, Wise, Texas
cemetery: Alvord Cemetery
burial place: Alvord, Wise, Texas
burial date: 26 Jan 1966
additional relatives:
film number: 2117923
digital film number: 4028383
image number: 2273
reference number: cn 8219
Collection: "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," Ivan Williamson, 1966

Notes:

Lynell shows him as the son of John Alvis Williamson, and Juanita Rainey notes that his mother was Harriett Ann Harvey. This is confirmed by Bryan Patterson, a direct descendant.

Wise County Messenger, page 1, 11 August 1960

Jerry Williamson, 102, Buried at Greenwood (sic)

Funeral services were held at 2 pm Wednesday in Christian Chapel here for Jerry Williamson, 102-year-old pioneer Wise County resident, who died Monday in a Lubbock convalescent home. Burial was in Cottonwood Cemetery, north of Decatur. Williamson, a native of Missouri, came with his parents from Tennessee in 1863 to the Greenwood Community north of here. On the wagon journey, the family's goods were confiscated by Union soldiers.

Williamson, a retired farmer, had lived in Lubbock about five years. He resided at Greenwood most of his life, but lived also at Haskell and Vega.

His wife died in 1939 after 55 years of marriage.

Surviving are seven sons, Claude Williamson of Amarillo, Homer and J.C. Williamson of Lubbock, Elmer Williamson of Greenwood, Luther Williamson of Ardmore, Oklahoma, Weaver Williamson of Pharr and Irving Williamson of Lawton, Oklahoma, and a sister, Mrs. Fannie Mauldin----(?) (illegible).

(Courtesy of Lynell Cordell)

(Research):
Census Information:

1930 census Wise Co. TX

ED 247-15 Sheet 12A 248/259

Williamson, Jerry, MW 71 M 27 MO TN TN
Lou E., FW 63 M 19 TX TN TN
Doyle, son MW 28 TX MO TX
Ellen, dau. FW 22 TX MO TX

(Courtesy of Lynell Cordell)

Jeremiah married Lou Emma Gentry on 2 Nov 1884 in Wise County, Texas. Lou (daughter of John Melton Gentry and Pamelia C Harpole) was born on 20 Jun 1866 in Johnson County, Texas; died on 10 Dec 1939 in Wise County, Texas; was buried in Cottonwood Cemetery, Wise County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her children were listed by Ruth Pearl Gentry and given to Lewis Adair Payne in about 1969.

One of Lou's boys may have had a middle name "Gerald" that he was known by and referred to as. This could have been Doyle Williamson i.e. he would have been Doyle Gerald Williamson.

Lewis Adair Payne remembers a Gerald Williamson saying to him "Take a fool's advise and never join the cavalry." He also vividly remembers him recounting to him that while he was in the cavalry he used to attempt to cut pillows in half with the sabre and the secret was to draw the highly sharpened blade across the falling pillow as it was being slashed. Apparently they used to hold competitions about this.

Notes:

John's middle name is not known with certainty. Milton was recorded by the undertakers following his death. They probably misheard this however. Grace Gentry has told Lynell Gentry it was actually Melton. And as a grandson was nameed Franklin Melton Gentry, the balance of probability suggests that he was John Melton Gentry.

The Salt Lake Ancestral File gives John M. Gentry's birthdate as 1828 in Madison Co., Kentucky. However, on the 1870 Johnson Co, TX census, his computed date of birth would be 1830. On the 1900 Stephens Co, OK census, his computed date of birth would be December 1827.

John's son, William, recorded his father's birth state as Kentucky although John himself had recorded it as Tennessee ten years previously.

Significantly no parents for John are listed in the Ancestral File and a Samuel Gentry is given as "relation." Unfortunately the source of this data concerning Samuel is not immediately indicated. This ancestor entry was made on 20 Dec. 1937 by a member of the Mormon Church, probably long gone by now. The original data entry should be followed up. The Microfilm Reference is 183571 page 650. Ordinance 22555 Salt Lake.

1850-Recorded in Obion County, Tennessee Dist #2, page 705

1854 - "History of Johnson County, Texas" states that a John Gentry was elected County Commissioner. This probably was another John Gentry as census records cited below show that our John M. Gentry must have moved to Missouri sometime around this period.

1855 and 1859-- The family moved to Missouri where daughters Ellen, Sallie and Virginia were born.

1859 - John M. Gentry (31) probably migrated to Texas circa 1859, after a stay of about four years in Missouri. His son, William Miller Gentry, was therefore eight years old when they migrated to Texas. In later life he apparently had no memories of life in Tennessee, we can assume however that the boy did remember life in Missouri. They moved from Missouri to Texas shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War. The raging debates leading to the Missouri compromise, prior to the Civil War, may have hastened their departure. In the book APRIL 1865, Jay Winik notes that "On one level, (Missouri) was the very embodiment of the Civil War itself: a conflict-ridden slave state that didn't secede, a state deeply divided in loyalties, a state with an ill-formed identity. On yet another level, as it descended into full-scale guerilla war, Missouri became a very different creature altogether, less a reflection of what the Civil War was and more a mirror for what the Civil War could become. It became a killing field."

1860 - John's real estate in the Grandview Post Office area in Johnson Co., Texas, was valued at $270 in 1860 and his personal property at $525. He was a farmer and he was now employing a farm labourer from Alabama, Sam Benge (23), who lived with the family.

His father was possibly in nearby Hillsboro, Hill Co. where he was presumably developing his newly founded Baptist Church.

1861-On March 30, A Jno M. Gentry (33) was elected an officer in the Grandview Calvary, Johnson Co, Texas. He became one of six corporals in the newly formed CSA. {Johnson Co, Texas, Civil War Declaration and Muster Roll from the Commisioners Court Ledger Book "A". Muster Roll of the Grandview Cavalry, p 244}. His younger brother, Wesley (19) served as a private in the same company. Wesley was listed as #44 out of 61 privates in the same company. They were under the command of Capt. Jacob S. Morrow. {p. 245}.

The military records cited above might be for another John M. Gentry. Lynell Cordell also found the following records: "Gentry, John M--Card #50325527, Pvt, Co. A, 18th Regiment Texas Cavalry, Company Muster Roll of the organization named above, for Jan 15 to June 30, 1862. Enlisted March 1, 186- (blank) at Dallas, Texas for a period of one year. No pay received. Discharged May 29, under Conscript law [Probably too old] A.B. Mustain, Copyist

1861-"History of Johnson County, Texas" states that the Grandview Masonic Blue Lodge #266 A.F. and A.M. was chartered June 14, 1861. J.M. Gentry was listed as a charter member, along with W.G. Gentry.

1870 - Census, Johnson County, Texas ED 628

Ca. 1875-- "History of Johnson County, Texas" states that "Pupils from many places came to board in the homes of the families living in the neighborhood, and a number of new families moved here and built homes on five acre lots given for the purpose [of building Oakland College] by Philip Walker, Judge Harrison, John Gentry, Dr. L.H. Gebhard and James Houston." (p 360)

26 March 1877-Jesse W. Bell and James K. Blair relinquished and conveyed to J.M. Gentry and Jesse A. Gentry the rights, titles and interests in and to land in Grayson county. Jesse Bell and James Blair had previously purchased the land from the administrator of Christian Blair. The reason for the transfer is unknown, as is the relationship of Bell and Blair to the Gentrys. (Vol. A1 Grayson County, TX)

1878- J.M. Gentry purchased 12 acres of Timber land for $75 from J.A. Gentry in Grayson County, Texas. (Volume 44, Grayson County Bonham, TX)

1880 - Grayson County, Texas ED 7, page 145. Also living with the family was a 25 year old servant, J.C. Matthews, and John's youngest sister, Mary "Mollie" Gentry Bush. Mollie is listed as a boarder, and living with her three small sons, Willie, Harry, and Marcus Roy.

John's son William Miller Gentry is now living in Wise Co. with his wife and young family. Zada Trawick's family was also in Wise Co. in 1880. It is possible that John M. and Pamelia could have moved there after the 1880 census, and also that Preacher William, possibly in need of care, could have been there around that time also.

1885- Land record, Vol 5, Page 176, Wise Co., Texas J.M. and P.C. Gentry sold about 46 1/2 acres to J.C. McCraken.

1887-Land record Vol 11, page 434, Wise Co., Texas J.M. and P.C. Gentry sold (?) 130 acres to Burges. Says something about part of blk 11, league #2. Hunt School Land.

1890-Land record, Vol 19, page 310, Wise Co., Texas Sold 130 acres in Block 11, League #2, School land, to Jerry Williamson (son-in-law?)

1895- Land record Vol 31, page 284, Wise Co, Texas. Something else about the 130 acres sold to Burges Block 11, League #2, Hunt School land.

1900-He and Pamelia were living with his son and daughter in law, William M. and Mollie Gentry.

1901-A J.M. Gentry purchased "land situated in Fannin County, Texas on the waters of Brushy Creek being part of a Survey originally granted unto Wm Martin" from W.A. and Rosa B. Ayres for $400 cash and a $100 note. (Book 17, Page 488-489 Fannin Co, TX). It is not known if this is the same person a John Melton Gentry, who was residing in Oklahoma at that time.

Lewis Adair Payne has a copy (currently mislaid) of a four generation group photograph of John Milton Gentry and Pamelia Harpole taken around 1902. They, the grandparents in the picture, apparently died shortly afterwards. The original image, which is unfortunately not a very good piece of portraiture being taken from a distance, is probably the property of Dorothy Thompson. This important photograph apparently shows John (75), with a large beard and sitting. The rest of the seven people portrayed are apparently standing; Pamelia (75), William Miller Gentry (50) and his wife Mary Evelyn Mounts (46) with two of their children Permelia Gertrude (25) and Pearl (6). Gertie's husband Walter W. Payne and their first born child Carl (4). The picture was taken in front of William and Martha's house and a neighbour woman can additionally be seen nearby. This picture, when compared to Lynell's damaged double portrait of John and Pamela (Harpole) Gentry, seems to be of the same people. Anna Laura Payne confirmed the identity of the John and Pamela, remembering the portrait from her childhood. Charles Strong remembers the portrait, before damage, hanging in the home of James Edwin Gentry and Zada Trawick.

1900 - Both John Milton and Pamelia C. Gentry were living with their son William M. Gentry in Stephens Co., Oklahoma in 1900.

1902-John M. Gentry becomes the 11th Masonic Worshipful Master, Lodge No. 54, in Velma, Oklahoma.

1904 - (Tombstone Inscription, surmounted by Masonic Insignia) JOHN M./GENTRY/ BORN/ DEC. 19. 1827/ DIED/MAR. 3. 1904/AGED/ 76Yrs. 2 Mos./ &15Das.

John married Pamelia C Harpole about 1850 in Tennessee. Pamelia (daughter of John Harpole and Mary Ann McMinamy) was born on 20 Mar 1827 in Obion County, Tennessee; died on 19 Jul 1903 in Alma, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory; was buried in Alma Cemetery, Alma, Stephens County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The following biographical details were compiled by Ken Harvey:

1827-Pamelia was born in March, possibly in Obion County, although her mother may have returned to the family home in Rutherford County for the birth of her first child. No record has been found of the event. The Obion County organization was created in 1832, and it is possible that early records were lost or never created in the first place. Pamelia's birthdate is recorded on her tombstone. The following is in HARPOLE COUSINS "Permelia E. Harpole (dau. of John and Elizabeth Swingley Harpole, page 368) b. March 20, 1820; d. May 13, 1847 m July 18, 1846 to James H. Chandler, Madison County, Tennessee." The date of birth appears to be incorrect, seven years to the day too early, and Pamela was born following the death of Elizabeth Swingley. Additionally, it was her first husband, James Chandler who probably died circa 1847. Lynell Cordell wrote to the authors of "Harpole Cousins" to ask about this and they could not tell her where they obtained the original information.The birth date in the book and the birth date on Pamelia's grave stone both show March 20, so they could very well be the same person, but that still leaves the year in doubt.

The 1830 and 1840 census records for the John Harpole family:

1830 census, Obion Co. TN pg. 159 Schedule: Male-Females, 0-5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-20, then in increments of 10. Harpole, John, 012001-0100001 (The youngest female was 5-10 years old, born between 1820 and 1825)

1840 census, Obion Co. TN Schedule: Given and Surname of head of household and number of male/female. Males: 0-5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50, etc until 13th number, which is over 100. Females are the 2nd group of numbers. 133. John Harpole, 0101201-00001001 (Youngest female was between 20-30, born between 1820 and 1830)

1846 - James H. Chandler married Permilia (sic) Harpool on July 19, 1846, Obion Co., Tennessee. Bond: J. H. Chandler and Thomas G. Jenkins. Officiant: Cage Hale, J.P. The marriage license was issued the previous day. [Gary, Grace D. & Stricklin, Carolyn W. (1978) OBION COUNTY TENNESSEE MARRIAGE RECORDS 1824-1877]. "Our" Pamelia would have been aged 19 at this time. It is probable that her husband James died a short time afterwards without children and Pamelia remarried soon after. James H. Chandler died in 1849, and his estate sold the following items to Albert C. Harpole, Pamelia's brother: "table cloth, 2 peased quilts & linens, chest, bedstead & cord, 3 bed quilts, cover lid, and blanket," for a total amount of $27.25. These items may have been bough for Pamelia. At that time, if there was no will, the wife did not inherit even the necessities. According to the book, Harpole Cousins, Albert's sister Permelia was already dead by this time.

Sometime prior to 1849, Pamelia married John Melton Gentry. The marriage was probably conducted by John's father, the Baptist preacher and J.P., William Gentry. He may well have forgotten to record the ceremony in the Obion Courthouse. No marriage record for John M. Gentry and Pamelia Harpool, or Chandler, has every been found. The early death of Pamelia's full brother, William Harpole, would not have helped in perpetuating her memory with the Harpole family who remained in Tennessee after Pamelia moved to Texas with the Gentry's.

1850-Pamelia was living in the Gentry household with John and his mother, Polly, and his siblings. Pamelia and John are both shown as age 23. The rest of the census records in Texas and Indian Territory shows Pamelia only 2 to 3 years older than John, or the same age.

Lynell contends that the supposition that Pamela is the daughter of John Harpole and Mary Ann McMimany is still far from proven. Her contention is that we are ignoring some things in "Harpole Cousins," such as the books dates for John and Elizabeth McSwigley Harpole's daughter, Permelia and yet take as a fact that *our* Pamelia is the daughter of John Harpole. And until the date of birth can be proven or disproven, we don't know whether her mother is Elizabeth Swigley or Mary Ann McMinamy.

1860 - It is very noticable that there are no Harpoles in this census of Tennessee. There are however quite a lot of Harpools. Had the name undergone further anglisation? None of the 1850 Harpoles can be identified in 1860.

1903 - Transcription of Pamela's Tombstone:

MRS P. C. GENTRY/ WIFE OF /J. M. /GENTRY/ BORN MAR.20.1827/ DIED/ JULY 18. 1903

The name was pronounced Pa-meal-ya but spelled like Pamela or Pamelia.

RECORDED SPELLINGS

Pamilia Harpole

Pamelia C Gentry

Permelia C. Gentry

E. Gentry

Pamela Harpool

Permelia Gentry

P. C. Gentry Could the middle initial "C", used in the census and tombstone inscription, have, in fact, been a poorly written "G" for Gertrude? A granddaughter of Pamelia was named Permelia Gertrude in 1877; presumably named after her. The strong argument against this is that the "C" does occur three times.

Puzzlingly, Permelia name was represented by the initial "E." in the 1870 census of Johnson County, Texas. Was this simply an enumerator's error? It certainly looks like it.

Ruth Pearl Gentry had (1980) a picture of Pamelia C. Harpole which is presumably now [1996] in the possession of one of her children. Scott Philip Hall is thought to have inherited the family photographs including the portrait of Pamelia Harpole. He left Pampa, Texas, and is living (1997) in either New Mexico or Arizona. Lynell Gentry has a large portrait of Pamelia with her husband.

In 1900 Permelia recorded on the census that she had had seven children of whom two were now dead. The children who did not survive were presumably Ellen and Sallie. They may have died without issue but we cannot be certain of this.

1903-Photographed in a family group photo in her home in Alma with her husband John and two children.

Fay Payne Yeager thinks that our Pamelia [Harpole] was Cherokee Indian but I (Kenneth Harvey) have never asked her why she thinks so. This is certainly not correct.

Notes:

Married:
Fay Payne Yeager reports they had another daughter, named Mary. "She is not on a census but family history tells that John and Pamelia had a daughter named Mary that died young. An old saying was, "If a person is sitting by a window and a bird comes and sits on the window sill, that person is going to die." This happened to Mary." Ken Harvey is adament their is not daughter Mary. It was thought that a gravestone in the Oakland Cemetery in Johnson Co. TX that reads: "Sacred to the Memory of M. Mary Gentry Jan. ?, 18?5 (1865?) -- 1869" might be hers. However, an earlier transcription of the cemetery proves that this headstone was for the wife of Preacher William Gentry, whose date of birth was 1805, and who died in 1869.