Ruth Pearl Gentry

Notes:

Known as Pearl. Ruth Pearl Gentry had a picture of her grandmother Pamelia Harpole. As a child she was very close to her cousin Harry Carl Payne. They were about the same age. Died at the age of 91. This needs confirmation.

Ruth married Scott Phillip Hall on 3 Jun 1918 in Stephens County, Oklahoma. Scott was born on 19 Oct 1896 in McKinney, Collin County, Texas; died on 15 Nov 1976 in Pampa, Gray County, Texas; was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Pampa, Gray County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Vol. 4, Stephens County Marriage Book:, Lic. # 211
Pearl Gentry to Scottie Hall of Arthur Oklahoma on 6-3-1918

1. Living
2. Living
3. Living

Notes:

The following biography was written by Kenneth Charles Harvey.

The eldest child in his family, he was known as Will to his wife and Billie to his siblings. He was about eight years old when he was taken to Texas from Missouri, he remembered nothing of Tenessee. His eldest daughter, Grace, recalls his middle name instead as Melton. This is almost certainly incorrect.

He was never involved in the Civil War, according to Lewis Adair Payne.

He helped dismantle the frontier fort at Fort Worth, Texas by assisting in removing the pallisade. Presumably he was still living with his parents in Johnson Co. at this time. The date of this event needs to be established.

1870 - A Wm. M. Gentry married Lucy E. Smith on 25 Apr. 1870 in Collin Co. Texas. There is no family recollection of any such previous marital event but it is highly likely that Will's first wife died. Molly may have known of this but simply never mentioned in later life that she was in fact Will's second wife. She may have preferred to keep this information to herself.

Will, who was a physically very strong man, initially used his father-in-law's wedding present, of a team of horses and wagon, to haul whisky etc. as far west as the saloons in Pecos. It was possible to make more money with transporting whisky than hauling anything else. This was a dangerous activity at the time as the Commanche Indians were still hostile, and active, in the surrounding area. He himself evidently spoke a little Indian (probably Choctaw).

He was a talented carpenter although his work never really met his wife, Molly's, exacting standards. She didn't forget easily that her own father had been a cabinet maker level of carpenter.

1880 - The family were living in Wise Co., Texas, where Will (29) was farming. Mollie (23) was keeping house and looking after the children Carrie (5), Gertie (2) and baby Frank. The enumeration locality was 130 (possibly near Decatur). (Microfilm page 225).

Will's paternal grandfather was a Baptist preacher who started a church, probably in Hillsboro, Hill Co., Texas. The old man appears to have moved from there to Wise Co. at some point either prior to or after 1873. He must have been nearby to his grandson, Will Gentry, around this time as he used to borrow Will's horse team and wagon without asking. Presumably this occurred when young William was not around. He would just hitch the horses up and take them off without a word. This used to greatly annoy his granddaugher-in-law, Molly. It was, after all, her father who had given the team to the couple as a wedding present. The preacher would have been in his late seventies by then. The Trawick family was also in Wise County as of the 1880 census. They lived in Wise County until around 1887.

1887-They then moved north to Indian Territory. This relocation out of Texas was to what was later to become the state of Oklahoma. Will now purchased a 320 acre farm east of Duncan on Wild Horse Creek, Stephens Co. People were moving into this Territory as pioneers because the land was much cheaper. He also had a financial interest in a cotton gin while in Oklahoma. The house that he built there consisted of two stories. There were two rooms and an entrance hall on the ground floor with a stairs, aligned east/west, leading up to a small landing at the front with two bedrooms at either side. There was an additional single story dining room accessed from the downstairs hall with the kitchen at the end of this extension. The front of the house faced east and there was a well outside the kitchen door on the south side of the building.

1903-Will was photographed in a family group picture at his parent's home in Alma. Mollie was not in the picture. His parents were living in a small, one story wooden house.

1910 - Will was listed as living in Park Township, in 1910, with his wife Molly and the youngest two of their children. Also living with them was 4 year old Louisa Payne, presumed to be the youngest daughter of Permelia Gertrude Gentry and Walter Payne. Permelia died shortly after Louisa was born. He was living on 320 acres which must have consisted of, in half, the 160 acres which was later legally described as "The East Half of the West Half of Section Four (4), Township One (1) South, Range Five (5) West, I(ndian) M(eridian)." [Payne, Grace Ellen (1948) Affidavit giving legal notice of intention to file suit in District Court of Stephens County, Oklahoma. Ref: Book 414, page 344] Will had probably owned the whole western half, of section four as described.

1911 - Described as "of Arthur" on his son John's marriage in 1911 in Stephens Co., Oklahoma.

1920-Census record has not been found.

Will left his farm and house, having basically retired in about 1920, the elderly couple now moved to what was to become 721 Spruce Street, Duncan. Will had bought a block of land there, number sixty-seven, close to the city. He proceeded to break the block up into building lots which he then began to sell off as sites for homes. He built their own new house on one of these lots. His grandson Carl Payne and Tommy Payne purchased two other lots and built homes on them. Molly was never happy in the house as she felt it was not finished properly and the side was too close to the street. People could look in and see her eating as they walked along. The house was still standing in 1997.

Frank now took over the farm and the house on Wild Horse Creek his father had left there. Frank, in turn, rented part of the 320 acres to his brother Emory. Emory was considered the best farmer in the family. Sadly, the house Will had built was burnt down much later.

1923-Celebration of their fiftieth wedding anniversary. This large family reunion started off at their own home in Spruce street and then moved the same day to son-in-law, Walter Winchell Payne's, ranch where there was presumably more space.

1929 -William M. Gentry died.

W. M. Gentry's gold watch was given, on his death, to grandson, Lewis Adair Payne. Sometime later the watch was "borrowed" by Lewis' elder brother, "Snort." At the time they all thought that the valuable heirloom was lost down the well. Later on there was a reconsideration. A neighbouring boy who had suggested that it had fallen down the well and who was playing with the children at the time probably stole it. Apparently he was known for his light fingers.

Lyn Cordell found both of the following, items:

First, a story by Sudie Thornton Sharp, born in 1877 in Texas. Her family moved to Indian Territory when her father "purchased the improvements on some Indian land, which comprised several hundred acres, near where the Arthur post office and store were located---about 10 miles northeast of Duncan." (Lyn noted that actually, Arthur is more straight east of Duncan. The Indian Base Line that my grandparent's lived on is Beech Street here in town. We live about 1/2 mile north of Beech now). Anyway, Mrs. Sharp continues to say, "After a short visit with my parents at Arthur I came to Duncan and soon had a music class, being Duncan's first music teacher. I went from house to house, giving lessons on organs and pianos. My first boarding home was with William Gentry and family. The Gentrys were the parents of Mrs. Marvin Payne and Ed Gentry." After she married Mr. Sharp they started a store in 1901 about 14 miles northwest of Duncan. In 1902 their store got a post office and it was named Nellie.

She also found the obituary of William Gentry, published in THE DUNCAN WEEKLY EAGLE, dated Thursday, Sept. 26, 1929:

County Pioneer Called By Death
W.M. Gentry, One of Oldest Citizens of County, Died Monday After Months of Suffering.

W.M. Gentry, a resident of this section for more than 39 years, died at the family home in Duncan at 9:40 o'clock Monday morning, following a lingering illness of several months duration. Mr. Gentry, who was 79 years old at the time of his death, moved to what is now Stephens county in 1890 and settled in the Arthur neighborhood, east of Duncan. He moved to Duncan some eight years ago. During his residence in the county Mr. Gentry saw the country develop from a wilderness to a great agricultural section, and played no small part in this development, for he was among the county's foremost citizens.

Funeral services were held at 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon from the First Baptist church, conducted by Rev. J. J. Ward, a pioneer minister of this county, and the pastor, Rev. T. P. Haskins. Interment was in the Duncan cemetery, the arrangements being in charge of the Beeson Grantham Funeral Home.

Mr. Gentry was a native of Tenn., and moved in Indian Territory from the land of his nativity. Surviving him are his widow, five children and 27 grandchildren. The children are: Ed J. Gentry, Ft. Worth; John W. Gentry, Alpine, Tex.; Mrs. Marvin Payne, Duncan; E. H. Gentry, Oklahoma City; and Mrs. S. P. Hall, Roxanna, Tex. Two sisters, Mrs. Lum Parsons of Oklahoma City and Mrs. Jerry Williamson of Decatur, Tex., and two brothers, J. P. Gentry of Oklahoma City and J.E. Gentry of Arthur, also attended the funeral.

(Research):"Family Record-Parents' Names-Husband William Miller Gentry Born May 23rd 1851 Tenn. Wife Mary Evelyne Gentry Born Aug 27th 1856 W. Va. Married July 13 1873 at Grayson Co. Texas, lived in Texas 1873 to 189- Moved to Ind Ter." [Gentry, Ruth Pearl (1930) Family Genealogical Record Form (probably largely compiled by Ruth circa 1911-1930)-photocopy of the double spread torn pages in possession of Penny Ethlen Payne. Original with Scott Philip Hall?]

1900 census Chickasaw Nation IT (Stephens Co. OK) ED 166 pg. 40A
169/176
Gentry, William M., May 1852, 48, married 26, TN KY TN
Mollie E., Aug. 1856, 43, 8 children/7 living, VA VA VA
Frank M., son, May 1880, 20, TX
Edgar J., son, Dec. 1882, 17, TX
John W., son, Aug. 1885, 14, TX
Grace E., dau., Nov. 1888, 11, TX
Emory H., son, May 1893, 7, IT
Ruth P., dau., Dec. 1896, 3, IT
John M., father, Dec. 1827, Married 50, KY KY KY Pamelia C., mother, Mar. 1827, 7 children/5 living, TN TN VA

William married Mary "Molly" Evelyn Mounts on 12 Jul 1872 in Grayson County, Texas. Mary (daughter of William J. Mounts and Salinda Galloway) was born on 27 Aug 1857 in West Virginia; died on 10 Sep 1940 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; was buried in Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Known as "Molly." Her birth position uncertain, she was probably the youngest. She probably had TWO older brothers.

Ken Harvey wrote the following biography of Molly Mounts Gentry based on interviews with her daughter, Grace Ellen Gentry, grandson, Lewis Adair Payne, and other family members. He wrote that Molly was said to have been abducted by her father from his ex-wife and grandparents in West Virginia. The story that has come down is that William J. did not approve of the way they were bringing her up. He had secretly let her know that he was in the area, and she met him at a pre-arranged place. His own armed brothers, who had been on the Confederate side in the war, followed them, but William who had been a Captain on the Union side, was careful to eluded their pursuit. He let it be known that he intended going south on the Mississippi from Memphis. They, father and daughter, did just this and then they quickly backtracked going north at the first steamer wood fuel stop on the river. They arrived in Chicago, presumably by train, "as the great fire was going out"-that would have been just after 8th October 1871; when Mary was fourteen years old.

She later recalled that she had plenty of good clothes [during her three years] living with her father but she was not allowed to have a man touch her stockinged feet-this was considered inappropriate behaviour. He used to make a paper cut-out of his daughter's soles when she needed shoes. He was determined on proper behaviour. She had to walk with her arms straight down her sides and fix her gaze about twenty feet in front of her when walking in the public street.

She became engaged, at about the age of fifteen, to a young man who presented her with a large and beautiful ring. It seems highly likely that this liason had been arranged somehow by her father. One day she saw her fiance riding a horse in a park with another woman. Young Molly became very upset and went up to him. Taking it off her finger she handed the ring back to him saying that "this [marriage] is not going to work!" Her father and she left Chicago shortly afterwards.

William J. had hired a Mrs. Harris to be young Molly's live-in companion in Chicago. Mrs. Harris was a very strict and religious person who was very upset to discover her church minister playing poker with William J. one night after hours in a back room of his saloon. This saloon was somewhere to the south of Chicago. She said she was never going back to his church again. He was very amused about her outraged attitude and his surprising response to his daughter's prim adult companion was to say let us all leave the town.

They all drove off next morning and he just left his saloon business as it was when he closed it down the previous night. He used to laugh all the time about Mrs Harris' reaction to her preacher's infidelity to his supposed ideals-presumably out of her earshot.

Some time later, in the early 1870's, they all wound up in north Texas. It was presumably in Johnson Co. that young Molly set her heart on William Miller Gentry. He was six years older than her.

Molly's father, made it clear that he did not approve of her choice of Will Gentry. Was he aware of Will's probable previous marriage three years previously? He did not, however, interfere when she decided to marry him. Instead he presented the couple with a team of horses and a wagon (four wheels). William J. Mounts drove away from the wedding service in Grayson Co. having made his fairwells. He was evidently very disappointed and apparently rather angry with her choice. Angry enough for he was never to wish to see her again, nor did he.

Molly's grandfather-in-law, William Gentry, was a preacher. Mary had little time for him. It is noticable that he did not marry Molly and Will.

When they were living in Stevens Co., Oklahoma, Molly discovered that a neighbour there had once lived in Chicago. The neighbour's brother, a wealthy man, was still living in that northern city and he always wore a large diamond ring that his young fiance had returned to him when she rebuffed him. He had never married after his loss. It is not known if Molly revealed her extraordinary secret to her Oklahoma neighbour on Wildhorse Creek.

She used to tell a story about a relation of hers who had joined the army just after the Civil War. He had committed some infraction of the military rule book and was walking beside a General following an investigation into the event when he anxiously enquired of his superior, "what happens next?" The General replied, "we shoot at dawn." The comment was clearly not meant to be taken seriously, but it was. The evidently very nervous and highly impressionable young man immediately dropped dead from a severe heart attack.

1900-In the census of 1900 Molly recorded that she had had eight children of whom seven were still alive. This agrees with our list as we know Carrie had died from blood poisoning the previous year.

1930 census Stephens Co. OK King Twp., Duncan city, ED 69-4 Sheet 18B 725 8th St. ? 994/433 Gentry, Mary E., FW 73 Wd WV WV WV

The Duncan Eagle-Sept. 12, 1940 Mary E. Gentry, 84, Dead After Long Illness in Home Here Mrs. Mary Evelyn Gentry, 84, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Marvin Payne, 813 Beech Ave. Tuesday afternoon, after a lingering illness with which she been afflicted for some time. She had been living with her daughter during the greater part of her illness. Other children are Ed J. Gentry, Duncan; John W. Gentry, Alpine, Texas; Emery H. Gentry, Oklahoma City; and Mrs S. P. Hall, Great Bend, Kan. Also surviving are 31 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 this afternoon in the First Baptist church with the Rev. Frank Sutton, pastor of the Immanuel Baptist church, officiating. Burial will be in Duncan cemetery. The Beeson-Grantham Funeral home was in charge of arrangements.

Notes:

Married:
Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Gentry Celebrate their "Golden Wedding Day"

Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Gentry of this city [Duncan] celebrated their "Golden Wedding Day" Friday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Payne, a few miles east of this city, surrounded by their sons and daughters, grand children, great grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.

Married 50 years ago in Pottsboro, Grayson County, Texas, Mr. and Mrs. Gentry came to Oklahoma before there was any Stephen's county of a city of Duncan. They have resided in Stephens county, near Duncan, for the last 33 years and in the city of Duncan for three years.

Mr. Gentry, who has passed the 72nd milestone of life, was born in Tennessee, and moved to Texas when that state was young. Mrs. Gentry was born in West Virginia and grew to womanhood in Illinois after which she moved with her parents to Texas.

Eight children were born to this union, six of whom are living. They are J.W. Gentry of Alpine, Texas; Mrs. Marvin Payne of Chickasha; Mrs. S.B. Hall of Garber, Oklahoma; and three sons who live on farms east of Duncan.

There are 24 grandchildren and five great grand children.

Mr. Gentry carries his age exceedingly well, as does also Mrs. Gentry and to see them as they go about their daily lives one would never suspect that they had travelled a-down the rosy pathway of love and life together for half a century.

(GOLDEN WEDDING REPORT Newspaper clipping cut from unidentified Duncan City, Oklahoma newspaper, probably the Banner)

Ken Harvey had the following to report about their union:

Will married Mary Evelyn Mounts on Saturday, 12th July 1873 in Grayson Co., Texas. The marriage licence merely states that they were married by M. F. Cole. The marriage licence gives no further information. The day was incorrectly recorded as 13th. The question does arise as to why Will's grandfather, Preacher William Gentry, did not conduct the ceremony.

His father-in-law William J. Mounts did not approve of young Will as a husband for his daughter Molly. He told his young daughter that "Will was just a Tennessee farm boy, and though pleasant enough, he would never amount to anything." She was not dissuaded.

Will, it was always generally agreed, was evidently not very ambitious and rather easy going. Much later on, after her husband, Will's, death, Molly used to remonstrate with her young grandson Lewis Adair Payne "Get up and get going, you are just like Will sitting there for half an hour on your bed before making a move."

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.

Notes:

Ken Harvey wrote the following biography of William Mounts, based on interviews with Grace Ellen Gentry, William's granddaughter, and Lewis Adair Payne, his great grandson, along with other family members. Some minor edits have since been made by Melinda Strong. Additionally, for more information about William J. Mounts and Salinda Galloway's siblings and parents contact Jay Kimmel - plainj@ieee.org

Ken wrote that "William J. Mounts apparently trained as a carpenter and was thought to have attended the University of Virginia in about 1850. Afterwards he was to join the Union cavalry. He quickly became a Captain. Some of his brothers, however, fought on the Confederate side during the Civil War.

William J. Mounts married in about 1854. He later maintained that he was pushed by his parents into what he claimed was an unfortunate relationship with Salinda Galloway, thought to be his step-mother's younger sister. He used to say later that people should not be bred like animals, he apparently considered that this is what had happened to him. When he divorced Salinda after the civil war, his family took Salinda's side-as did most of his own brothers. One of them, George Dobbs Mounts (apparentely a half brother0, however, evidently later maintained contact with him.

The Mount families antagonistic reaction to William J's decision to divorce Salinda was so strong that he claimed that he had to leave his parental home in West Virginia. He took with him daughter Molly, accordingly with her consent, and headed ultimately for Chicago. His training as a carpenter now paid off. He laid a parquet floor in a new saloon there that was being built, for which he was paid $40 a day. This was a small fortune at the time, but carpenters were worth their weight in gold in Chicago after the fire. At the time a labourer earned only a dollar a day. In his woodwork he always drove a nail in at an angle as he was a very careful worker.

Later he purchased or rented a saloon himself and set up business for a year or so.

Father, daughter and live-in companion Mrs. Harris were said to have then moved south to Texas in the early 1870's. After his daughter Mary's was married to Will Gentry in 1872, he went north again.

William J. remarried in about 1879, this time to an educated Indian woman originally from Kentucky whose name is unknown. The marriage probably took place in Arkansas City. He was living in Dewey, OK, at time of his death twenty-six years later. His second wife's former husband was said to have been a fellow Union officer of William J's who was killed in the Civil War. William and she had originally met in Kentucky. There were no children to this marriage.

He was an intellectual type with very high standards. It was said of him, with some hyperbole, that he had voted in twenty states. William J. was a very fastidious dresser. However he apparently had no great strong family feelings. He always seemed to have money when it was needed.

He broke off all contact with his daughter Mary after her marriage to Will Gentry. She heard occasionally about him but she never saw him again, nor is it thought that she ever saw her mother Salinda, although it is possible there was some contact.

In old age he visited Arkansas City in order to get a horse and had a fatal stroke as he returned home to Dewey, Oklahoma. He fell from the buggy and was still clutching the horse's reins when his body was found by locals. His wife was unable to attend the funeral as she may have been ill and the ceremony was too far away from Dewey. His half-brother, George Dobbs Mounts, looked after his funeral arrangements. His funeral director was Undertaker Oldroyd. His son, David, was in San Francisco. Daughter Molly Mounts Gentry didn't hear about the event until someone sent her a newspaper cutting which described his death. She was to say that this was the first time she knew he had been living in Dewey, although in retrospect this is a little hard to believe.

Mary was definitely in contact with both her step-brother James McCoy and her own brother David Mounts. One of them probably sent the newspaper cutting to her in Stephen's Co. Mary said that she knew that her father had been south visiting near her on several occasions but he never actually came to see her. She had been upset by this. He presumably would have heard about where she was even though he appears to have refused to contact her.

She was to say that if he wanted her to have anything of his estate he would have said so and he didn't, so she never made any inquires about the matter."

William married Salinda Galloway after 1853. Salinda was born about 1835 in Virginia; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

There is an oval format, quarter length, photograph of Salinda Galloway aged about fifty in the possession of Lewis Adair Payne (1997). It would have been taken in about 1885 and passed to Lewis via his grandmother Mary Evelyn Mounts and his Aunt Pearl. On the reverse is the inscription "My grandmother, Salinda Galloway McCoy."

Pearl Gentry (later Hall) wrote on the back. Her children have another larger picture of Salinda.

Ken Harvey said that Salinda married second a McCoy, and they had a son James F. McCoy. Jim was a 33rd degree Free Mason who was a Post Master in Wichita, Kansas. Mary Evelyn Mounts had a very high opinion of him and used to refer to him as "Brother Jim." He was evidently very popular. His children were Carl, Frank and Mary McCoy. Mary might have married a Mr. Cross.

Notes:

Ken Harvey writes that "William was known to have been a Baptist preacher. The sober preacher trained in the dialectics of the seminary was rare west of the Appalachians. The Baptists boasted that in 1817, in the State of New York, that there were only three preachers west of the Hudson that had ever been to college. The settlers demanded personality rather than diplomas from the men who called them to God. Kentucky was famous for the pathological intensity of the religious revivals that shook the populous at the turn of the century. Evangelists had swarmed over the area preaching in great open-air camp meetings where silent, lonely frontiersmen gathered to sing and shout. Revivalists knew their hell intimately---geography, climate, and vital statistics---and painted the sinners fate so hideously that shuddering crowds surged forward to the bushel-box alters to be born again. Hundreds fell to the ground senseless, the most elegantly dressed women in Kentucky lying in the mud alongside ragged trappers."

1817--A William Gentry appears on a Wayne Co, Kentucky list of Delinquent taxpayers. It is noted, as a reason for non-payment, that he had gone to Tennessee. If this is "our" William, he must have been born earlier than 1804, possibly as early as 1795.

1826 - Approximate year of the marriage, of William to Mary "Polly" ???, based on the date of birth of their eldest known child. Note, however, that there could have been earlier children who had left home before the 1850 census.

1830 - It has not been possible to find Preacher William Gentry in the 1830 census in Illinois (where several of his children were born).

1840 - A search for his location, in Kentucky, in the 1840 census has been negative using FTM Census Index on CD ROM (1996).

1846 - William Gentry was listed as a MG (Minister of the Gospel) and a JP (Justice of the Peace) in Obion Co., Tennessee. He officiated at the marriage of John Marr and Nancy R. Mills (Miles) on 11 Feb 1846, and at the marriage of Allen Walker to Margarette Jones on 29 July 1846.

Ken Harvey further noted that the Tennessee Baptist Historical Society has failed to find any reference to Preacher William Gentry in its Baptist collection. They should be contacted again, at their request, if the Obion County Church with which he may have been associated with can be identified. The first organization for the Missionary Baptists in Obion county was in Beulah, which was formed by the 1830s. At this period, the Methodists, Presbyterians and Baptists worshipped in the same building. The church, known as Solitude, was located about 4 1/2 miles north of Union City. That original church building burned down in 1838 and a few years later (1841) the Beulah Baptist Church was built. There are no extant records for the next 12 years. However, it is most probably the church attended by the Gentry family, since it was located in their general area and was the only Baptist Church in the county. In 1858, W.H. McGowan was listed as pastor, and their were 72 members. (Adapted from Marshall and Goodspeed). It is assumed that William was a lay preacher. The reason for this assumption is that William is not referred to in the book by: Carroll, James Milton (1923) "A History of the Texas Baptists."

The postmaster of Bulah, Obion County, Tennesse as of 27 Sept 1847 was a William Gentry. This may well have been our William. (Source: TNGenWeb Project "Obion Post Office and Postmasters of Obion County, TN", cited by Lynell Cordell). Bulah (1847-1859) later became State Line, Fulton County, KY.

The document below, dated March 15, 1850, was found by Charles R. Strong and his daughter, Mary Pat Strong during mid June 2002. This was the only document found in the land records of Obion County Tennessee. No record was found of land purchase or land sale! (Also there were no land records found in Weakley County Tennessee). This may be due to fact that the old town of Bulah, Tennessee, was renamed State Line Kentucky after a border correction at some date. State Line KY located in Fulton County KY was not searched for land records.

Charles and Mary Pat observed that there was an abandoned store in State Line KY named Shaw as highlighted in the document below. Also, the "(???)" in the document might be either "etc." or "and so on and so forth".

Obion County #1 - Wm Gentry

Book 1 - I, page 201-202

William G Gentry Mortgage to L. S. Barnes Registered 15th day of March 1850

This indenture made and entered into this day of March 1850 between William G Gentry of Obion County Tennessee of the one part and L.S. Barnes of Fulton County Kentucky of the other part. Witnesseth [sic] that the said Gentry for and in consideration of seven hundred and seven dollars and 05 cents in hand paid hath this day sold and by these presents doth convey unto said Barnes his assigns. (???) a certain gelding horse about six years old a sorrel mare about 11 years old six head of stock cattle one farm horse wagon also all my house hold and kitchen furniture consisting of feather and under beds clothing furniture (???) bed steads [sic] side bordes[sic] chairs cooking utensils and cup board ware also my stock hogs about 25 in number all of which property is now in my possession my farm and in and about my dwelling house in said Obion County. I also sell and convey to said Barnes my two succeeding crops which are to be made on my farm and I do sell and convey to him all the corn tobacco oats fodder potatoes and all other production which maybe thereon raised so what my family may be protected in (???) law as exempt from sale and I do sell him all of the profits production and mumments [sic] of my said farm for two years to come and I have assigned to said Barnes the following notes towit [sic] one on John Shaw & John Bayer for sixty seven dollars and 50 cts due 9th Feby [sic]1850 and on N. Gurley for one hundred and eighty dollars due 1st Feby [sic] 1850 one on RR Powel for one hundred dollars due 19th June 1850 one on same for fifty dollars due 19th April 1850 - one on Charles S. Tally for seventy five dollars due 1st May 1850 and whereas said Barnes is to pay for me to Messers [sic] Robinson and Keith seventy five dollars and Thos Mitchell thirty nine dollars and 50 cts and whereas he has also paid me two hundred dollars over and above the amount of said notes now shall I within two years pay to said Barnes or his order or cause the same to be done said Robinson and Keith and Mitchell debts said two hundred dollars and all liabilities that I may be under as the assignor of said notes and it is expressly understood that Gurley and Tally are not to be sued the first court nor under aliberal [sic] time and that I am to guaranty these debts then this obligation to be null and void else to remain in full force and virtue and it is further understood and so agreed between these parties that said Barnes to act as my agent in and about the management of sell of all the herein mortgaged property or interest and he is to have the right from time to sell and dispose of the same for the purposes of paying of dispersing this mortgage and I said Gentry for myself my heirs administrators (???) doth and will forever warrant and defend the title in (???) to the property things interests profits (???) herein sold against any and all claims whatever. In witness where of I have hereto set my hand and seal this day and date above written. John M. Gentry & James C. Gentry /s/ witnesses. -- /s/ Will Gentry (Seal

1850 - Unfortunately Preacher William Gentry was not listed as being present in his Obion Co. home, in Tennessee, at the time of the 1850 census enumeration. He is therefore presumably recorded elsewhere in the census of that year, possibly while on a visit to Kentucky, if he is recorded at all. Could he have already gone on to Texas, and left his wife and eldest son in charge of the family?

From the evidence above it would appear probable that;

1. Preacher William Gentry was born and married in Kentucky.

2. A few years following the marriage, ca. 1829, the young family moved to Illinois, probably to the southern part of that state.

3. They returned to Kentucky in about 1835 and remained in that state until ca. 1846 when they moved again

4. This time they moved to Tennessee and they had only been in Tennessee for a few years by the time of the 1850 census.

Using further data

5. The family then moved to, and stayed in, Missouri from about 1854. They would have been in that state for about four years (grand-daughter Ellen was born there in 1855, as was Virginia in 1858).

6. They then all headed to Texas in about 1859.

This assumes that William and his son John Melton Gentry stayed together as they migrated south. William could have gone ahead to Texas, before John and his family, without staying with them in Missouri. He was more mobile on account of the age of his children.

1860 - William Gentry is described (microfilm page 58), in 1860, simply as a Baptist Minister, age 55, born in Tennessee. Mary was the same age, but like all the children, listed as born in Kentucky. Clearly this contradicts the 1850 census. The family were living in Hillsboro, Hill Co., Texas. William's real estate here, at the time, was valued at $1,250 and his personal property at $3,115.

At this time there was a very high per capita income in Texas. This was to collapse in a few years with the civil war and it took a very long time to recover.

Preacher William's eldest son, John Melton Gentry (32), had real estate in Grandview area in nearby Johnson Co. This was valued at $270 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 his family.

1861-The book HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY noted that on June 14, 1861 the Masonic Blue Lodge #266 A.F. and A.M. was chartered. The charter members included W.F. and J.M. Gentry. The book also noted that the first organization of a Baptist church in Alvardo, TX is due to the Rev. William C.(G.?) Gentry. The church was organized on October 6, 1861 in the old Union Building, located on the corner of what is now Cummings ans Atchley streets. The upper story was used for Masonic meetings, the lower floor was a school and church. The records state that "after a few remarks by Brother William C. Gentry, the members present appointed Brother Gentry moderator pro-tem. They then adopted the Trinity River Association Constitution or by laws, written by Brother Carroll. After they organized,the door of th church was opened. Brother William C. Gentry was elected pastor and Jonathan Burk elected pastor and Jonathan Burk elected clerk." On the first Sunday in July 1862 Brother W.B. Senter was chosen to be pastor and moderator. Was this Rev. William Gentry our Preacher William moving to be closer to his son John? If it was not our William, there is a slight possibility that it could be William Gravit Gentry, born 23 Jan 1786 in Louisa Co, VA, son of John and Milly (Edwards) Gentry [THE GENTRY FAMILY IN AMERICA, p 24].

W. G. Gentry also purchased land in Hill County from Thomas A. Flippin and N.J. Fritze sometime in the 1860's. Also, the Johnson County Deeds Vol. D, Pg 84-December 27, 1860- W.G. Gentry-Land Patent in Hill County, Texas from Smith, 200 acres--witnessed by John M. Gentry

1870 - "Mary Gentry, 65 years of age, born in Kentucky, died in August of this year in Grayson Co., Texas." Was this Preacher William's wife? It certainly seems highly likely.

William's Grayson Co., Texas, census entry is proving difficult to find. He would have been aged 66. Ken Harvey believes he was still alive.

1871-Land records from Grayson County, Vol 38 pg 442 dated November 6, 1871 show that Mary Gentry owned, with her husband William G., 20 acres of land situated about one mile west of Sherman on the Gainsville and Sherman road at the time of her death. (Grayson Co, TX Vol 38 pages 442, 443 & 444)

1875 - A Rev. Gentry performed a wedding in Grayson Co. Texas and another one in Collin Co., Texas. Were these two ceremonies performed by the same man and was it "our" Rev. William Gentry? An unknown Rev. M. Gentry was active in Collin Co, also. He is not thought to be related.

1880 - Preacher William's, Wise Co., Texas, census return is proving difficult to find. He would have been aged 76. He might well have died before this. Zada Trawick's family was also in Wise Co. in 1880. I wonder if John M. and Pamelia could have moved there after the 1880 census and Zada and [James] Ed[win Gentry] met and married there in 1890/91.

"LOCALS ... ... A well known citizen by the name of Gentry, of the Sand Hill country, who was stopping in the East Mound country for his health died one day last week." Could this have been Preacher William's "obituary"? The newspaper date needs to be rechecked. Could the East Mound area be where Will and Molly lived? Their Wise Co. census return gives their location as E[numeration] D[istrict] 130.

From the deed listed below, it is known that William died before 1883.

Charles Strong located the following deed in Hill County, Texas (Hill Co, Vol. N)

1883-"Know all men by these presents that whereas on or about the ___ day of ___ A.D. 186_, W.G. Gentry, then a resident in Hill County, Texas now deceased, did make, execute and deliver to Thomas A. Flippin and N.J. Fritze for a valuable consideration to him in hand paid, a good and sufficient warranty deed to the following tract of land....and whence the said deed has been lost, mislaid or destroyed, and the record of the same in the deed records of said Hill County, having been destroyed by fire, now therefore in consideration of the ??? and the fact of the payment in full of the purchase money of said land, to said W.G. Gentry by the said Flippin & Fritze which we here acknowledge, We J.M. Gentry, James C. Gentry, Mitchell C. Gentry, Jesse A. Gentry, J.W. Gentry & Minerva A. Gentry his wife, B.F. Hodges and wife Sarah M. Hodges and L.B. Bush and wife Mary E. Bush, sole surviving heirs at law of the said W.G. Gentry, do bargain and sell, and by these presents do transfer and convey unto J.W. Siddons the ....title to said land...Witness our hands this the 19 day of September A.D. 1882. John M. Gentry, J.W. Gentry [Minerva's husband], M.A. Gentry, L.B. Bush, M.E. Bush, J.C. Gentry, M.C. Gentry, B.F. Hodges et ux, Sarah M. Hodges J.A. Gentry

It would be worth searching for the burial place and gravestone of Preacher William. He could be buried near Decatur. Lewis Payne remembers his maternal grandmother, Molly, speaking of Decatur and it seems that her husband, Will, and she could at the time, have lived outside this town, the Wise County seat.

William Gentry's parents are still unknown.According to Ken Harvey, the following are considered to be possible, but unlikely, parents of Preacher William Gentry, born circa 1804.

Gentry, (1909), M.S., Ph. D. "The Gentry Family in America 1676 to 1909 etc." The Grafton Press:New YPatrick Gentry (abt.1780-1820) of Louisa Co., Virginia. His son William B. Gentry (1802-?) married Sallie Sargent March 11, 1824. (p 74)

--Robert Gentry of Jackson Co., Tennessee. Robert was fifth generation but there are no dates. His son William was probably born in Jackson Co. where he was definately reared. (p 134)

--Mathew Gentry (abt. 1782-? ), son of Samuel. Matthew had migrated from Surrey Co., North Carolina to Warwick Co., indiana in 1822 where he settled and reared a large family. His children were: William, James, Mathew, Samuel and Thomas. (p 270)

--Thomas Gentry (1779-?) and Sussana Caster (1781-1854). Son William was born in 1806. Thomas' father was William Gentry of Gloucester Co., N.J. said to have been a revolutionary soldier. (p 292)

--Joseph Gentry (abt.1785-1835) of King William Co., Virginia. (p 294)

1810 - There are thirty-one potential Gentry parents of William in the state of Kentucky in 1810 when he would have been circa six years old at the time.

1820 - Of these there are, however, only seven possible candidates as William's parents in Madison Co. Kentucky in 1820 This ASSUMES that he was born c. 1804 in Madison Co., Kentucky. There is no compelling reason for this assumption however.

These Madison parental candidates, with some of their probable wives, have all been arrived at by a process of elimination, they are;

1. Bartlett Gentry and Elizabeth Timberlake, 2. ? Gentry and Elizabeth ?, 3. John Gentry, 4. John (Stumpy) Gentry, 5. John P. Gentry, 6. Josiah Gentry, 7. Josiah Gentry and Winney Musick

(Research):
Census Information:

1850 census, Obion Co. TN
District 2 West of District 1 (NE corner before the panhandle was included), North border is Kentucky.
496.
Polly GENTRY, 48, KY;
John, 23, KY, farmer;
Permelia, 23, TN;
James, 20, IL, farmer;
Michel, 18 IL, farmer;
Manerva, 13, KY;
Sarah, 12, KY;
Wesly, 8, KY;
Abram, 5, KY;
Mary, 4/12,TN

1860 census in Hill Co. TX
Hillsboro twp. ED 58 Pg. 459
397
Gentry, William 55 M Baptist Minister TN
Mary 55 F KY
Menerva 23 F KY
Sarah 20 F KY
Wesley 18 M KY
Abram 15 M KY
Mary 10 F KY


(Courtesy of Lynell Gentry Cordell)

(Medical):Y DNA Results, FTDNA Haplogroup:

I1 Haplogroup
Predicted Y-DNA Haplogroup 1-M253

A direct male descendant of William G. Gentry, still bearing the Gentry surname, volunteered to have his yDNA tested. The results can be found at www.ysearch.org, under the user ID #CBFD9, and the FamilyTreeDNA Kit number is 49107.

The DNA sample was a high resolution match to several documented descendants of Nicholas Gentry I of Hanover County, Virginia. Nicholas was said to be the original immigrant of his family line, and can first be found on colonial records of Virginia in 1684.

More about the Gentry DNA study can be found at:

http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/g/gentry/

I is often called the "Viking Haplogroup." This haplogroup is common among Icelandic populations, and is generally considered indicative of Scandinavian or Anglo-Saxon ancestry when it is found in a person of British descent.

A good website that discusses Haplogroup I1a is located at:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gallgaedhil/haplo_i1a_part_1.htm

William married Mary "Polly" ??? about 1826 in Kentucky. Mary was born on 23 Jan 1805 in Kentucky; died on 13 Jun 1869 in Texas; was buried in Oakland Cemetery, Grandview, Johnson County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1850-She is recorded in the census of 1850 as Polly Gentry, born in Kentucky in 1805,

1860-She is recorded as Mary Gentry. Polly is a familiar form of the formal name Mary.

1870 - "Mary Gentry, 65 years of age, born in Kentucky, died in August of this year in Grayson Co., Texas." Was this Preacher William's wife? It certainly seems highly likely.

1871-Land records from Grayson County, Vol 38 pg 442 dated November 6, 1871 show that Mary Gentry owned, with her husband William G., 20 acres of land situated about one mile west of Sherman on the Gainsville and Sherman road at the time of her death. (Grayson Co, TX Vol 38 pages 442, 443 & 444)

Charles Strong located the following probate record:

Grayson Co, TX Vol 38, pgs 442-444

The State of Texas, County of Grayson

Whereas on the 13th day of June, 1869, Mary Gentry, Wife of William G. Gentry, departed this life in said County and State leaving as her sole & only heirs the following named children to wit, John M. Gentry, James C. Gentry, Cyrus M. Gentry, Minerva A. Gentry wife of William J. Gentry, Sally M. Hodges wife of Benjamin F. Hodges, Jesse A. Gentry and Mary E. Gentry; and also the said Mary, dec'd, at the time of her death owned as community property with William G. Gentry, a certain tract of land situated in said County and State about one mile West of Sherman on the Gainsville x Sherman road and more particularly detailed as follows.....now the said Gentry suriviving Matrimonial partner of said Mary Gentry, desceased, as well as the heirs of the said Mary above named and who are all the lawful age to contract---being mutually desirous of settling the estate of said Mary and partitioning the same among themselves...have agreed with each other to partition said lands and to invest the title to the part set apart to each heir named in the portion so set apart and divest said heir of all interest in the remaining portion and they, the parties aforesaid, mutually agree that the followig plat and division of said lands illustrates substantially the division and partition agreed upon.

Witness our hands at Sherman this 6th day of November 1871

Signed by W.G. Gentry, J.A. Gentry, J. William Gentry, Minerva A. Gentry, Sarah M. Hodges, B.F. Hodges, J.M. Gentry, M.E. Gentry, C.M. Gentry and attested be L. Hare and Joseph Bledsoe

Could Mary's surname have been Miller? Her grandson by her son John Melton Gentry, William Miller Gentry, was clearly not given his mother's, Harpole surname, as his middle name. On the other hand it would have been quite reasonable for him to have received his paternal grandmother's surname.

Oakland Cemetery of Johnson Co., TX Miltenberger's Report, copied 1969 GENTRY, Mary Mrs. 23 Jan 1805 - 13 Jun 1869

The later recording of that cemetery is the one we found first:

Sacred to the Memory of M. Mary Gentry Jan. ?, 18?5 ? , 1869

Notes:

1792-John Harpole was born in Virginia [Harpole, John Thomas (1887) Recorded by him on the assumed questionaire form from which his "biography" was compiled for inclusion in; Goodspeed, W.A. (1887) HISTORY OF TENNESSEE pub. Goodspeed:Nashville, TN

1797-"John Harpole came from Virginia to Wilson County, Tennessee when a young man..." [Harpole, Andrew J. (1887) Recorded by him on the assumed questionaire form from which his "biography" was compiled for inclusion in Goodspeed]. A suggested hypothetical date might be later than 1797, however, we know that his father Solomon purchased land in Sumner County in 1797---when John would have been five years old

1808-Death of John's father, Solomon Harpole. John was sixteen years of age. John Harpole Sr was guardian of William and Polly, and may also have been named guardian of John. This close relationship indicates that John Sr. might actually have been another son of Solomon's, and not just a nephew.

1812-[The twenty year old John Harpole] was a soldier in the War of 1812. [Harpole, John Thomas (1887) Recoreded by him on the assumed questionaire form from which his "biography" was compiled for inclusion in; Goodspeed, W.A. (1887) HISTORY OF TENNESSEE pub. Goodspeed:Nashville, TN] John Harpole, Trumpeter, Major General Andrew Jackson, Capt. E. Kirkpatrick, Mounted Gunmen [Sistler, Byron & Barbara (1992) ENLISTED MEN, WAR OF 1812]

1813-Allotment to the heirs of Solomon Harpole. Heirs: William Harpole, Polly Patterson, John Harpole. 21 June 1813. Recorded in Deed Book E.

1814-On a receipt dated 25 Nov 1814, "Rec. from Wyatt Bettis the sum of ninety-six cents for the direct tax ont he property of John Harpole. [Harpole, Belma & Agnes TENNESSEE COUSINS]

1815-John Harpole...married Elizabeth Swigley...(of) Wilson County, TN [Harpole, Andrew J. (1887) Recorded by him on the assumed questionaire form from which his "biography" was compiled for inclusion in Goodspeed] This marriage took place on 26 January 1815 and the bondman was [John's first cousin] George Harpole. [Whitley, Edythe Rucker--compiler (1981) MARRIAGES OF WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE 1802-1850]

1815-John Harpole was bondsman at the marriage of George Bullard and Elizabeth Spradlin of 2 Mar 1815 in Wilson County, Tennessee

1815-Solomon Wesley Harpole [the oldest child of John and Elizabeth] was born in Wilson [County] Tennessee (later that same year of 1815) [Harpole, John Thomas (1887) Recorded by him on the assumed questionaire form from which his "biography" was compiled for inclusion in Goodspeed]

1816-"This is to certify that I, John Jr., heir of Solomon Harpole deceased do relinquish all claims to a tract of land to Thomas Patterson who conveyed it to Wyatt Bettes, Jr. Dated 30 July 1816." Recorded in Wilson County Deed Book G.

"This is to certify that John Harpole, Sr., guardian for William Harpole and Thomas Patterson, heirs of Solomon Harpole reqlinquish their claims to land on Spring Creek to John Harpole, Jr. dated 30 July 1816." Recorded in Wilson County Deed Book G.

Thomas Patterson and Polly, his wife, formerly Polly Harpole, daughter of Solomon Harpole, deceased, transferred ownership of 56 acres on Spring Creek to Wyatt Bettes on 16 August 1816. Recorded in Wilson County Deed Book F. Presumably this was the land she inherited from her father.

"This is to certify that we John Harpole, Jr. and Thomas Patterson relinquish our claims to land on Spring Creek being a part of the dower of Christina Bettes, formerly the wife of Solomon Harpole to William Harpole. Dated 30 July 1816. Recorded in Wilson County Deed Book G.

1816-John Harpole was a soldier (again under General Jackson) int he Seminole war which was fought from 1816-1818 in the Florida Everglades. [Harpole, Andrew J (1887) Recorded by him on the assumed questionaire form from which his "biography" was compiled for inclusion in; Goodspeed, W.A. (1887) HISTORY OF TENNESSEE pub. Goodspeed:Nashville, TN

1817----Received this 21st day of Feb 1817 from John Harpole the sum of 92 1/2 cents for the direct tax of Wilson County for 1816. [Harpole, Belma & Agnes HARPOLE COUSINS]

1819-The first settler, Elisha Parker, was recorded in the Western District of Tennessee. This was the same area that John, and his brother William, were to settle a few years later. Obion County was eventually created from this Western District in 1832 from the Chickasaw Indian Cession and named after the Obion River.

1820-John Harpole and Jonas Swingley had 314 acres of land on Barton's Creek, Wilson County, transferred to them by Joseph Swingley on 25 May 1820. Recorded in Wilson County, Tennessee Deed book H [Partlow, Thomas E. (1984) WILSON COUNTY TENNESSEE DEED BOOKS C-M, 1793-1829 [An Index] page 252]

1822-Received of John Harpole Jr Four Hundred and Eighteen Dollars Thirty Six cents in full of my estate January 26, 1822. /s/ William Harpole [Harpole, Belma & Agnes HARPOLE COUSINS] William Harpole must have sold his share of their father's estate to John Harpole Jr. If this reference is to sixty acres, as is understood, John paid $7 an acre

1824-John's first wife, Elizabeth, dies in December in Wilson County, Tennessee. This was the same year their daughter, Milly, was born and the two events may well have been connected. [Acklen, Jeannette Tillotson compiler (1976) TENNESSEE TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS Lebanon, Wilson County]. Extant Obion County marriage records start in this year and the first Circuit Court is held there in the home of W.M. Wilson.

1825-John Harpole transfers 200 acres of land in Wilson County to Jonas Swingley on 3 December 1828. Recorded in Wilson County Deed Book L. [Partlow, Thomas E. (1984) WILSON COUNTY TENNESSEE DEED BOOKS C-M, 1793-1829 [An Index] page 198]

1826-John Harpole marries for the second time, in Rutherford County, Tennessee. This county is next door to Wilson County on the southside. His wife, Mary Ann, is probably in ther late thirties based on the 1830 census. She is identified as Mary Ann McMinamy. She is not described as a widow.

1826-[John Harpole's military] services was acknowledged...by the [Tennessee State] Government granting him 160 acres of land in what was to become Obion County, Tennessee. [Harpole, John Thomas (1887) Recorded by him on the assumed questionaire form from which his "biography" was compiled for inclusion in Goodspeed]

-John Harpole was listed, among others, as an early settler in the north-east of Obion County (later District No. 1 of Obion County). "Among other early settlers were Obidah Roberts, northwest of Union City; Benjamin Totten at Totten's well, in the northeast part of the county; also in the same locality Jethro L. Byrd, John Harpole and Thomas Sayles." [Goodspeed (1887) THE GOODSPEED HISTORY OF TENNESSEE pub. Goodspeed:Nashville, TN] It is recorded that John's son Solomon Wesley Harpole...."came to Obion County in 1826 (when he would have been eleven years old) and resided on the farm later owned by (his own son) John T(homas Harpole), for two years..." [Harpole, John Thomas (1887) Recorded by him on the assumed questionaire form from which his "biography" was compiled for inclusion in Goodspeed]

"The first wheat planted in Obion County was planted by Lemuel Curlin and John Harpole. They cleared the land together. The forest was so very heavy, clearing land was no easy task." [Curlin, Thomas R. in convesation with his son R.T. Curlin. Extracted from Marshall's OBION COUNTY HISTORY and quoted in "Obion Origins" pub. by Obion County Genealogical Society in August 1986]

1827-Pamelia C. Harpole, the precise spelling varies, was born in March, and almost certainly in Obion County. There is no known contemporaneous record of this event. She appears to have been the first child born to John's second wife, May Ann McMinamy. She was incorrectly thought to have been born seven years earlier to John's first wife. This misunderstanding was recorded in HARPOLE COUSINS but this secondary record (original source unknown) is still an important source and in independant of Kenneth Harvey's family confirmation of her close relationship to John Harpole. Pamelia is listed as the wife of John M. Gentry on the 1850 Obion County, Tennessee census. William Harpole was once considered as her possible father, however he was ruled out because of the existance of a full listing of William's children in both the Obion County History [Obion County History Society (1985) OBION COUNTY HISTORY, VOL II Pub. Union City, Tennessee] and in HARPOLE COUSINS.

-Received of John Harpole 25 cents in full of state and county tax for 1827. /s/ Joel S. Enloe [Harpole, Belma & Agnes HARPOLE COUSINS]

-John Harpole of Obion County, Tennessee transferred 56 acres on Spring Creek, Wilson Co, Tennessee to Thomas Kindred on 23 July 1827. Recorded in Wilson County Deed Book

1828-[John and his family, including Solomon Wesley Harpole] ...then moved two miles north of that [original] farm...[Harpole, John Thomas (1887) Recorded by him on the assumed questionaire form from which his "biography" was compiled for inclusion in Goodspeed] Presumably the homestead was relocated a few miles north. John most likely kept both farms, as a grandson of his was to be born on and inherit the southernmost property. It seems probable he received two land grant of 80 acres each, two miles apart. One of these pioneer log residences, presumably the second, was still standing until 1991, when it burnt down. It was known, at the time, to be the oldest house in north-west Tennessee. [Correspondence of Dr. David Harpole of Richmond, Virginia with Kenneth Harvey]

-Received of John Harpole 37 1/2 cents in full of his state and county tax for the year 1828. [Harpole, Belma & Agnes HARPOLE COUSINS]

1829-John Harpole, J.P. is given as the officiant at the marriage of Joseph Scott to Martha Jackson on 2 September 1829.

1829--"Some Interesting Facts About Early Obion County and Union City, TN" by T.D. Ozment states: Lem Curlin and John Harpole cleared some land in about 1829 and planted the first wheat ever planted in the county. According to Marshall's history this was just a few miles northeast of Union City."

1830-Rec. of John Harpole $3 and 50 cents for Smith work done in the year 1828 and 1829 up to the present date. February 19, 1830 /s/ Jesse Thompson. [Harpole, Belma & Agnes HARPOLE COUSINS]

1830 Federal Census: John was listed in the first Federal census of the county and his household age structure was reported as one male between ages 5/10 (Wilson P, age 8), two males aged between 10/15 (Solomon W, age 14 and Albert C., age 12) One female between 5/10 (Millie, age 6) and one female, presumably Mary Ann, aged circa 45. It is puzzling that Pamelia is not accounted for, who would have been around three years old. Kenneth Harvey does not believe that Millie is a nickname for Pamelia, as both individuals are recorded in different households in the 1850 Obion County census.

--Rec. of John Harpole two dollars and thirty seven and one-half cents in full for State and County tax. [Harpole, Belma & Agnes HARPOLE COUSINS]

1833-Rec. of John Harpole one dollar and 62 and 1/2 cents in full of State & County tax for the year 1832. [Harpole, Belma & Agnes HARPOLE COUSINS]

1834--Both John and James Harpole are summonded by the Sheriff to serve as Grand and Petty Jurors at the Circuit Court meeting in Troy in November 1834. [Minutes of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Obion County 1834-1836. Transcriptions of the County Archives of Tennessee 1941] The identity of James Harpole is unknown. Could this have actually been William?

1835-Rec. of Douglas and Ward by the hand of John Harpole five dollars and sixty two and a half cents in full of the state and county tax on 1,000 acres of land in Obion County for the year 1835. [Harpole, Belma & Agnes HARPOLE COUSINS]

1837-John Harpole was assessed as "W(hite) Poll 1" like all other 94 taxpayers in Obion County, District 1. He was recorded as owning 250 acres and no slaves.

1850-The 1850 census index for Obion County, Tennessee shows: John Harpole (59), born in Virginia, and those of his children at home; (Wilson) Page (28), Millie (26) and William (Alexander) (18). John's mother, the elderly (Anna) Christianna Bettes, born in 1770, was living in their home.

1857-John Harpole is recorded as possessing no slaves, three horses, one mule, eleven cattle, fifteen sheep, thirty five swine, 72 bushels of wheat and 250 bushels of corn. [Agricultural Wealth of the County of Obion 1857 (extracted from a book containing the statistics in the Registry of Deeds Office in Obion County]

1860-Not located in the 1860 census.

1861-Date of death cited in HARPOLE COUSINS was 12 February 1861. May actually have died prior to the 1860 census.

The Harpole cemetery is located on land belonging to Tom Elam (as of 1986), east of Jordan Highway on the old Hickman-Dresden Road. No tombstones have been found but John Harpole and his two wives are buried to the east of the Log House, according to CEMETERIES OF OBION COUNTY, TENNESSEE VOL. ONE. This reference to John Harpole, and his two wives by a non-family source, confirms that John was known locally to have married a second time. The "second wife" referred to in this case was probably actually his mother, Anna Christina Dice. His real first wife, Elizabeth Swingley, was buried in Wilson County.

John married Mary Ann McMinamy on 21 Sep 1826 in Rutherford County, Tennessee. Mary was born on 20 Jun 1788; died before 1850. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1826-John Harpole marries for the second time, in Rutherford County, Tennessee. This county is next door to Wilson County on the southside. His wife, Mary Ann, is probably in ther late thirties based on the 1830 census. She is identified as Mary Ann McMinamy. She is not described as a widow.

(Lucas, Silas Emmett-compiler (1981) 35,000 Tennessee Marriage Records and Bonds 1783-1870)

Notes:

Married:
1826-John Harpole marries for the second time, in Rutherford County, Tennessee. This county is next door to Wilson County on the southside. His wife, Mary Ann, is probably in ther late thirties based on the 1830 census. She is identified as Mary Ann McMinamy. She is not described as a widow.

(Lucas, Silas Emmett-compiler (1981) 35,000 Tennessee Marriage Records and Bonds 1783-1870)