John Melton Gentry b. 19 Dec 1827 Kentucky d. 3 Mar 1904 Alma, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory: Strong McLemore Ancestry

1827 - 1904 (76 years)

Name	John Melton Gentry [1, 2]
Birth	19 Dec 1827	Kentucky [1, 2]
Gender	Male
Death	3 Mar 1904	Alma, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory [1, 2]
Burial	Alma Cemetery, Alma, Stephens County, Oklahoma [2]
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.
Person ID	I5737	Strong Family Tree
Last Modified	6 Dec 2014

Father	Preacher William G. Gentry, b. Bef 1804, Kentucky d. Abt 1882, Texas (Age 78 years)
Mother	Mary "Polly" ???, b. 23 Jan 1805, Kentucky d. 13 Jun 1869, Texas (Age 64 years)
Marriage	Abt 1826	Kentucky
Family ID	F2981	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family Pamelia C Harpole, b. 20 Mar 1827, Obion County, Tennessee d. 19 Jul 1903, Alma, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory (Age 76 years)

Marriage Abt 1850 Tennessee

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.

Children

	1. William Miller Gentry, b. 23 May 1851, Tennessee d. 23 Sep 1929, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma (Age 78 years)
	2. Ellen J Gentry, b. Abt 1855, Missouri d. Bef 1900 (Age 44 years)
	3. Sallie A Gentry, b. 29 Jul 1856, Missouri d. 14 Sep 1876, Johnson County, Texas (Age 20 years)
	4. Virginia E. "Jennie" Gentry, b. Jun 1859, Missouri d. Aft 1930, Oklahoma (Age 71 years)
	5. John Price Gentry, b. 29 Mar 1862, Johnson County, Texas d. 14 Apr 1946, Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas (Age 84 years)
	6. Lou Emma Gentry, b. 20 Jun 1866, Johnson County, Texas d. 10 Dec 1939, Wise County, Texas (Age 73 years)
	7. James Edwin Gentry, b. 25 Mar 1869, Johnson County, Texas d. 16 Jan 1950, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma (Age 80 years)

Family ID F164 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Last Modified 26 Feb 2007

Event Map

	Birth - 19 Dec 1827 - Kentucky
	Marriage - Abt 1850 - Tennessee
	Death - 3 Mar 1904 - Alma, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory
	Burial - - Alma Cemetery, Alma, Stephens County, Oklahoma

= Link to Google Earth

Photos		Gentry, John Melton and wife Pamelia (nee Harpole) This sketch of John and Pamelia Gentry most likely dates prior to 1900. The original was badly damaged, and this sketch has been restored by Ken Harvey.
Photos		_Gentry, John Melton Husband of Pamelia Harpole B. 19 Dec 1827 Kentucky D. 3 Mar 1904 Indian Territory

Documents

Gentry, William of Kentucky yDNA of direct male descendant
Certificate of Y-chromosome DNA testing from The Geneographic Project. Haplogroup I is widespread throughout southeastern and central Europe and most common in the Balkans. More information can be found at the Gentry DNA Project website. This sample matches those individuals that are proven descendants of Nicholas Gentry of Essex, England, an early immigrant to this country.

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

William G. Gentry>John Melton Gentry>James Edwin Gentry>Private Gentry>Living Gentry>Living Gentry

Headstones

Gentry, John Melton

Sources

[S532] Cordell, Lynell Gentry-Family Researcher P.O. Box 1992 Duncan OK 73534-1992 Correspondence, Gedcom, Family Group Sheets, Email.
[S873] Find A Grave [database online]; http://www.findagrave.com/, (Thousands of contributors submit new listings, updates, corrections, photographs and virtual flowers every hour to the FIND A GRAVE website. When it comes to administrating, building and maintaining the site, Find A Grave is largely operated by its founder, Jim Tipton.), # 6598218 (Reliability: 3).