The Henrys of Eastern Kentucky and SE Virginia
The Henrys of Eastern Kentucky and Southwest Virginia
By Ethelyn Henry Coffey
And Tony Adkins
Background of Henry Families
The earliest ancestor we have for the Morgan County Henrys
is John Henry, Sr. who died in Scott Co., VA between October 23, 1828 and
January 13, 1829. An account of his coming to the “New World” has been handed
down through the generations. The Virginia branch of the family has always
believed him to be a “German Deutsche” while some of the “Kentucky” cousins
believed that he sailed from Amsterdam, Holland. Both are probably right
as many Germans traveled down the Rhine River to Holland seeking passage
to America. They fled the tyranny, war and starvation that was rampant in
the mid to 17th century. Thousands left the Palatinate area in the Middle
Rhine River area. John's daughter-in-law, Eliza Jane “Granny” Henry related
to the family the story of John arriving in America when very young. He was
a “bread boy” in the old country and while selling bread along the wharves
he became fascinated with the ships coming in from far away places. According
to family lore he was so enticed that he did stow away on a ship headed for
America. At that time, the only ships permitted to come to America were English
ships that came directly from England, therefore, it would have been difficult
to have made entire trip as a stowaway but not impossible for a determined
young man. After arriving in America he said he used to cry himself to sleep
he was so homesick, but could never get enough money together for his passage
back home. He settled in Pennsylvania which had a large German (Pennsylvania
Dutch) population, especially in Lancaster County.
John married Elizabeth (surname unknown) and at least two of their children
were born while in Pennsylvania. Records show that John Jr. was born there
in 1783. Lewis was born there in 1790. Census records indicate that
two more children, Phillip and Betsy, were also born in Pennsylvania.
Record of son Daniel’s second marriage in 1862 give his birth as Wythe Co.,
VA. The birthplaces of four other children, (Jacob, Michael, Polly and Caty)
have not been established.
Coming from Pennsylvania they would have traveled down the trail used
for hundreds of years by Indians and buffalo and known as the “Great Warrior’s
Path”. Improvements through the years by white settlers made it more usable
for wagons; thus it became “The Great Waggon (Wagon) Road. It ran from Philadelphia
south to the Yadkin Valley in western North Carolina. Many German settlements
were established along that trail, and a large one was located in the Wythe
Co. and surrounding areas. Tax records show that John Sr. paid taxes in Wythe
Co., Virginia for the years 1795 through 1799. Daughter Catherine (Caty)
married John Gose there February 20, 1800. Caty and John Gose’s family migrated
into Floyd Co., Kentucky soon after as they were listed on the 1810 Floyd
County tax list. There are many Gose descendants living in eastern KY today.
John Henry Sr.’s son, Philip, married Catherine/Katherine Etter in Wythe
Co. January 18, 1804. After many years in Virginia, they later settled and
died in Indiana.
Around 1800 John moved his family to Russell (now Scott) Co., VA. to
a farm along Copper Creek. Virginia Tax records show that John Sr. paid taxes
in Russell County in 1801. John’s wife Elizabeth died several years later
and he married Peggy (surname unknown). He sold Daniel a carding knife and
spindle for $1.00 so he could purchase the marriage license. At this time
John lived about a mile up Copper Creek from his son Daniel. John died in
1828 and is buried on the home farm, though no legible stone marks his grave.
John left a will naming nine children, six boys and three
girls. John Jr., Lewis and Caty moved to and died in what is now Morgan Co.,
KY. Jacob moved to Illinois, Philip to Indiana, and Michael to Tennessee.
Daniel remained in Virginia. Elizabeth “Betsy” married a McClellan and Mary
“Polly” married a Rhoton. Both girls are believed to have moved to Tennessee.
John Henry Jr. is listed as having sold 150 acres of land
on Big Moccasin Creek, waters of the North Fork of the Holston River in Scott
County. The sale was recorded in Deed Book 1, page 192 on August 10, 1816.
The next March 1817 records show him as being in Floyd (now Morgan) Co.,
KY. Their trip must have been long and hard. The two likely routes through
the mountains were Cumberland Gap or Pound Gap, both mere Indian trails at
the time.
An ox cart was the usual means of transport at the time and one or
two horses if the family was “well off.” John Jr. had appeared on the Russell
Co., VA Personal Property Tax List in 1814 as paying $.84 tax on four horses.
Their household items, tools and other necessities for the new homestead
were loaded up, leaving just enough room for the family members. They would
have arrived in the fall and would have had little time to build much more
than a small cabin before winter set in. There were a few families in the
area at that time from which John Jr. could have obtained staples for the
winter.
Rebecca (John Jr.’s wife) is believed to be the daughter of Revolutionary
War soldier William Howerton. They could have lived near, or with, Rebecca’s
father, as in 1822 they purchased 489 acres of land from him. William Howerton
had bought this land in 1819, from John Duncan, part of a survey of 10,000
acres made in the name of Henry French on Licking River.
John and Rebecca Howerton Henry had four small children (ages 3 to
10) at the time, making the trip more difficult. A fifth child was born soon
after arriving in Kentucky. John and family are listed in the 1820
Floyd County census living in what is now Morgan County. John died March
1, 1837 and Rebecca June 7, 1842 both in Morgan County. Their burial place
is not known, but believed to be in the small cemetery on the farm at Flatwoods
with son John 3rd and members of his family. They had ten known children:
William Henry, b. Aug 25, 1806 Russell (now
Scott) Co., VA. d. Mar 23, 1889
Montgomery Co. KY, md. Eliza W.Phillips Feb 17,1835 in Morgan Co., KY.
He
was known as “Colonel”William Henry. He served as Morgan County Sheriff
1834-1838 and was a member of the Kentucky Legislature in 1838. He sold his
large land holdings to his brother-in-law sometime after 1850 and moved to
Montgomery Co., KY. William and Eliza were the parents of John W. “Tucker
Bill” Henry of Montgomery Co., KY
Edith (Edy) Henry, b. Apr 17, 1809 Russell (now Scott) Co.,VA, d. Aug
12, 1885
Cass Co., MO, md. James H Hammonds Feb 1, 1830 Morgan Co., KY.
John Henry, 3rd, b. Sep 7, 1812 Russell (now Scott) Co., VA., d. Oct.
9, 1893
Morgan Co., KY, md. 1st: Elizabeth Lewis Nov. 16, 1834 in Morgan Co., KY
(daughter of Francis Hopkins Lewis and Eleanor Perry and granddaughter of
Thomas Lewis). They were the parents of: Mary Jane Henry who married Amos
Davis; William Henry who moved to Kansas; Eliza Henry who married Daniel
P.
Lewis and whose children included John Worth Lewis, Oliver Morton Lewis,
William Powell Lewis, and others; William Powell Henry married Elizabeth
Anne McClure (daughter of Matthew B. McClure and Mary Anne Carter) and
whose children included Gordon Henry, Mary “Mollie” Henry, Willie A. Henry,
Thomas Henry, Orville F. and Walter M Henry. John Henry 3rd, md. 2nd Hannah
Cogswell, Sep 1, 1856 (daughter of Jesse and Diadamia Lewis Cogswell
and a
first cousin to Elizabeth). They were the parents of: Jesse Clark Henry
who
married Mary “Pop” Osborne and were the parents of Nancy “Nannie” Henry
who married Greenberry Cox; Jacob A Henry who married Elizzie Henry.
They
were the parents of Nora Henry who married Jonah Ballard Wells.
John 3rd was a partner with his brother-in-law, James Hammonds, in a large
boundary of land at Flatwoods (Woodsbend). The land lay along the banks of
the Licking River between Grassy and Caney Creeks. John and his wife (Elizabeth
Lewis Henry) are buried on the Henry farm known for years as the Jim Roe
Gibson farm and now owned by Parley Cantrell. Only one stone is marked, that
of Elizabeth Lewis Henry, 1815- 1854. Ten graves are located in the small
cemetery near the barn. According to Walter Henry and his nephew Orville
Henry, John Henry 3rd (1812-1893) is buried there. The others there are believed
to be: John Mason Henry (1839-1841) son of John & Elizabeth; Frances
L. Henry (1841-) infant daughter of John and Elizabeth; Louisa Henry (1847-1915)
daughter of John & Elizabeth, never married; James Henry (1851-1852)
infant son of John & Elizabeth; Michael Henry (1859- 1861) son of John
& 2nd wife Hannah; Hannah Henry (1877-1878) infant daughter of John’s
half brother Jesse Clark Henry. The two remaining graves are believed to
be John Henry, Jr. and Rebecca Howerton Henry, parents of John 3rd and Lewis
Henry.
Mary Henry, b. Aug 21,1814 Russell (now Scott) Co., VA, d. Jul 3, 1814, md.
Robert Prater Nov. 15, 1832 Morgan Co., KY
Elizabeth Henry, b. May 5. 1817 Floyd (now Morgan) Co., KY , d. 1870 in
Montgomery Co., KY, md. 1st John Mason, Jr. Sept. 22, 1836 in Morgan
Co.,
KY. They were the parents of six children, including John Henry Mason; md.
2nd
William M Patton May 14, 1857 in Montgomery Co., KY.
Michael Henry, b. Sep 2, 1819 Floyd (now Morgan) Co., KY, d. Dec 1896 in
Morgan Co., md. Frances Carter Jun 1, 1843 in Morgan Co. They were the
parents of William M Henry and John D. Henry of Morgan Co.
Lewis “Little Lewis” Henry, b. Nov 8, 1821 in Floyd (now Morgan) Co. KY,
d.
Feb 17, 1869 in Flatwoods, Morgan Co. md. Catharine Rule Dec 7, 1842.
They
were the parents of 13 children including John Andrew who married Louisa
Jane May (daughter of Caleb and Louesa Wells May); Franklin Pierce Henry
who
married
Judith Gevedon (daughter of Benjamin Gevedon and Mary Leach) and
Jacob
Lewis Henry who married Mary Belle Gibbs.
Jacob “Big Jake” Henry, b. Jun 26, 1824 in Morgan Co., d. Aug 8, 1879 in
Morgan Co., md. Elizabeth Perry Sep 28, 1849 (daughter of Thomas Perry and
Martha Wells). Jacob and Elizabeth were the parents of Willis Green Henry
who md. Martha Cecil. They were the parents of Cecil Henry and Dr. O. P.
Henry of Mt. Sterling, KY.
Rebecca Henry, b. Dec 25, 1826 in Morgan Co., d. Dec 9, 1906 in Morgan
Co.,
md. John T Williams Feb 10, 1847 in Morgan Co., KY (son of Squire Williams,
and Phoebe Ferguson). Rebecca and John T. had only one child, Anne, who married
James M Greenwade.
Daniel Henry, b. Jun 7, 1829 in Morgan Co., d. Dec 8, 1902 in Montgomery
Co.,
KY md. Martha Frances Highland Feb 10, 1853 in Bath Co., KY.
Lewis Henry, son of John Sr. of Scott County, Va., was listed in the Scott
Co. 1820 census. In October the same year he was listed as owning land
on the waters of Caney Creek of the Licking River in present Morgan County.
Lewis had acquired 296 acres of land by 1848. He first married Annie Allen
of Scott Co., VA. (daughter of Isaac and Frances Petit Allen). Lewis and
Annie had ten children:
Matilda Henry, b. Jun 3, 1814 Scott Co., VA, d. Mar 16, 1840 Morgan
Co.,
KY, md. Asa Carter Mar 16, 1833 Morgan Co., KY, (son of Joseph Carter
and
Elizabeth Scott) and they were parents of Lewis A Carter and Emily
J Carter who
married Silas Pieratt in Morgan Co. KY.
Isaac Henry, b. Jan 15, 1816 in Scott Co., VA, d. Jan 10, 1888
in Morgan Co.,
KY, md. Mary Brenton Prater Sep 7, 1842 Morgan Co., KY (daughter of
John
Prater and Mary Brenton) and they were the parents of: Thomas
Jefferson Henry
who built the log house that stood where the Chevrolet dealership is
today in West Liberty . His son Charles Patrick Henry married Ida Mae Elam
in the late 1890s and they were the parents of Everett and Leona. Charles
ran the Durant and Star Automobile Dealership for several years. He was deputy
sheriff from 1914-1917, elected sheriff in 1917, was county judge 1926-1923
and again 1938-1942. Other children of Isaac were John L Henry; Elijah
Henry, father of Herbert Henry, well known merchant and Methodist preacher
and Charles “Charlie” Henry who married Mattie Johnston. They were the parents
of Charles Clyde Henry.
3 Elizabeth Henry, b. Sep 11, 1817 Scott Co., VA,
d. Oct 17, 1882 in Morgan Co.,
KY, md. William Henry Harrison Lewis Dec 25, 1834 Morgan Co., KY (son
of
William Lewis and Jane Perry). They were the parents of Wm. H “Red
Head
Bill” Lewis; Daniel P. Lewis who married Eliza Henry; Eliza “Lizann”
Lewis
who married Oscar McKenzie; James Mason Lewis who married Nancy
Amyx and moved to Oklahoma, and others.
4 Mary Jane Henry, b. Nov 6, 1819 Scott Co., VA.
d. May 11, 1887 Morgan Co.,
KY, md. William “Billy” L. Prater Apr 24,
1845 in Morgan Co., KY.
John D Henry, b. Feb 6, 1823 Floyd (now Morgan) Co. KY, d. Jan 10, 1862
Morgan Co., KY md. Nancy Evaline Nickell Nov. 25, 1842 (daughter of Preacher
Nickell and Rachel Kash). They were the parents of Daniel Green Henry, Milton
Kelcy Henry and others.
Frances“Frankie” Jane Henry, b. Jul 21, 1825 Morgan Co., KY d. Oct
10, 1882
Magoffin Co., KY, md. Elijah Thomas Prater Mar 25, 1843 in Morgan Co.,
KY.
(He was the son of John Prater, and grandson of Archibald Prater, one
of the first
settlers of present day Magoffin Co., KY). Frances and Elijah’s
son, James
Randall Prater, was the father of Willie Prater Mills who will be mentioned
again
in this article.
Martha Allen Henry, b. Oct 12, 1827 Morgan Co., KY, d. Jan 9, 1906 Wolfe
Co., KY, md. Bowen David Rose Aug 16, 1849 (son of David Rose and Sarah Nickell.)
David T. Henry, b. Dec 27, 1828 Morgan Co., KY, d. Oct 8, 1885 in Morgan
Co.,
KY, md. Mary Frances Caskey Oct 12, 1854 in Morgan Co., KY (daughter of
Thomas Caskey and Martha Elliott). They were the parents of William Taylor
Henry who moved to Oklahoma; Martha Frances Henry who married James K Carter;
James Monroe Henry who married Beth Haney and were
the parents of David Marion Henry, Buford Henry, William
Taylor Henry, Clayton Henry and Odas Henry, all of Morgan Co.
William T Henry, b. Apr 6, 1832 Morgan Co.,
KY, d. Nov 16, 1854 Morgan Co.,
KY. Buried near his father in the Henry Cemetery at Index, Morgan Co., KY.
Annie Allen Henry died Feb 1, 1841 and is buried in an unmarked grave in
the Henry Cemetery at Index, Morgan Co., KY. Lewis then married Sarah Ann
Ward Sep 30, 1841. They had four children:
Anne Henry, b. Jul 14, 1842 Morgan Co., d. Feb 15, 1915, md. Jonathan
Quicksall Dec 26, 1856 Morgan Co., KY (son of James Quicksall and Matilda).
Lewis “Big Lewis” Henry, Jr., b. Nov 10, 1843 Morgan Co., KY d. Jun 29,
1935 Morgan Co., md. Gillie Ann Pieratt Aug 21, 1870 in Morgan Co. (daughter
of Valentine Pieratt and Dulcena Nickell). They were the parents of Joseph
Leslie
Henry who married Rebecca Thomas and were the parents of Hendricks Henry,
Roy V. Henry, Anna Louise Henry, Earl Henry, and Carl Patrick Henry; James
V
Henry who served twice as Judge of Morgan Co. and Maude Henry who married
Scott Oldfield and they were the parents of Walter Oldfield of Index
Pauline Henry, b. Nov 25, 1846 Morgan Co., KY d. Jun 11, 1913 Morgan
Co.,
KY md. William Moore “Wil-More” Kendall Nov 20, 1867 Morgan Co., KY
4 Sarah Jane Henry, b. Sep 20, 1851 in Morgan Co., KY d.
Mar 1923, md. William
Alexander “Asa” Maxey Apr 11, 1871 in Morgan Co., KY (son of Raney Maxey
and Mary Gillespie).
Lewis Henry, Sr. d. Nov 20, 1854 and Sarah died Sep 1891. Both are buried
in the
Henry Cemetery at Index, KY.
Daniel Henry, son of John Sr. and Elizabeth, was born
in Wythe Co., VA in 1799. It is uncertain if he was the 8th or 9th child
of this couple. He died Dec 29, 1877 in Scott Co., VA. He was the only
one of John’s children to remain in Virginia throughout his life. As a very
young man he was married to Catherine Lawson Elliott Dec 17, 1816 in Scott
Co., VA. No children were born to this union. He married Eliza Jane Fletcher
and the two of them raised a large family. They lived on Copper Creek on
135 acres of the original John Henry Sr. homestead. Their children were:
1 Darthula Marilla “Barilla” Henry, b. Apr 13, 1853, d.
Dec 23, 1900 in Scott Co.,
VA md. Elijah “Lige” P. Frazier Mar 19, 1869 in Scott Co. They were the parents
of William Farley Frazier who married Della V Casteel; John Frazier who married
Clara Drenda Taylor; Sarah Frazier who married W.E. McConnell and George
W. Frazier who married Nora Lee Daugherty. George went to Berea College in
Kentucky and about 1908 went to Oklahoma to conduct music for a
Methodist evangelist and later to seminary in Tahlequah, OK which is now
Northeastern College of Oklahoma. He also wrote some very nostalgic poetry.
2 William “Billy” Detroit Henry, b. Jun 3, 1856 Scott Co.,VA,
d. Mar 10, 1926 in
Kingsport, TN, md. 1st to Margaret Malvina Frazier Mar 4, 1875 in Scott
Co.,
They were the parents of: Samuel “Sam” Drayton Henry who married Mary
Elizabeth McConnell; Lucian B. Henry; Cosby Drucilla Henry who married
Sylvester “Bud” Patton Elliott. Cosby was the cousin who would years
later
take Willie Prater Mills to the original John Henry, Sr. farm; Della Victorio
Henry who married William Arnette Addington. Her in-laws were the famous
Carter family of country music fame. Mother Maybelle Carter was an Addington
before she married Ezra Carter; and William “Bill” Reunion Henry who married
Lula Owen Penley.
William “Billy” Detroit Henry married 2nd to Buenavista Culbertson Smith
Dec 20, 1894 Scott Co.,VA. Their children were: Alba/Alby Henry; Clara Eliza
Henry who married James Worley Penley; Dessie Henry who married Ira Linkous;
and Corrie Henry.
George Hopkins Henry, b. Jun 13, 1859 in Scott Co., VA., d. Oct 27,
1942 in
Scott Co., VA, md. Mary A Burke Nov 9, 1882 Scott Co., VA. (daughter of John
Burke [e] and Nancy). Their children were: Nevada Henry who married 1st to
Thomas Foster, and 2nd to W. W. Hammonds; John Daniel Henry b. Apr 17, 1885
and married Leopolina Suzanna Johnson. John Daniel was said to walk from
VA to Berea, KY to attend school. He apparently met Herbert Lee Henry of
Index, KY, (g-grandson of Lewis Henry, Sr.) while attending school there;
Nathaniel [Napolean] Bonaparte “Bony” Henry had a son Herbert Lee Henry named
for Herbert Henry of Index, KY who was attending school in Berea; William
Jennings Bryan Henry who lived part of his life in Berea, KY; and others.
Lewis Henry, b. Jun 11, 1862 Scott Co., VA d. Feb 20, 1935, md. Nancy Cress
Aug 26, 1890 in Speers Ferry, Scott Co., VA. Their children were: Benjamin
Henry who married Rosa Owens; Eliza Victoria Henry who married Sylvester
Patton “Major” Dean; Cora B. Henry who married Granville Mitchell Dee
Shupe; William Grover Henry who married Rosalie Helen Huff. They one time
owned the homeplace of the Carter family of country music fame, located in
Hilton, Scott Co., VA. This land is now owned by Johnny Cash and June Carter;
Lewis Cephas Henry who married 1st to Effie Cornelius Smith, married 2nd
to Mary Lucille France; Garland R. Henry who married Bessie Lee Brickey;
George Alonzo “Lon” Henry who married 1st to Mildred Wampler, 2nd to Doris
Beatrice Chase; and Velma Henry who married Charles William Minton.
5 Rebecca “Becky” Margaret Ann Henry, b. Nov 1864 in Scott
Co., d. 1954 in
Riverview, Wise Co., VA, md. William Patton “Uncle Pat” McConnell (son of
George McConnell and Mary Smith). Uncle Pat was the one who was later
to tell Mamie Henry Palmer about the bucket of gold. They were the parents
of 11 children including Nathan McConnell who married Ollie Willis; Bertha
McConnell who married Worley Moore; Eliza McConnell married John C. Strong;
Daniel Carlos McConnell who married Mary V Dean; Cecil Alfonso McConnell
who married Nellie Edwards. Their daughter is one of the editors for the
“Appalachian Quarterly” published in Wise, VA through the Wise County Historical
Society.
6 Malinda Elvira Henry, b. 1869 Scott Co., VA d. Apr 7,
1907 Scott Co., VA, md.
Frederick F Bellamy. They were the parents of William
R Bellamy.
Daniel Patrick “D.P.” Henry, b. Jan 20, 1872 Scott Co., VA, d. Sep 29, 1952
Scott
Co., VA md. Nancy Jane Enix Oct 31, 1899. They were the parents of: Mamie
Ophelia Henry whose notes and letters contributed much to this story, and
was the
mother of the current owner of the “little red bucket.” Mamie was a teacher
and married Hoke Smith Palmer who was an Extension Poultry Specialist, University
of Delaware; Allen Severe Henry who married Anna Grace Dorton; Oren Henry
who married 1st Lessil Hammond, 2nd Pauline Coats and Lyle M Henry who married
a Poston.
There are numerous land warrants for John Jr. and his children in the Flatwoods/Grassy
Creek area and Lewis Sr. and his children in the Index/Caney Creek vicinity.
The warrants are too numerous to be listed in this article but are on record
in the Morgan County Court Clerk’s office. John Henry Sr.’s will, estate
settlement and land records for him, as well as many for John Jr., Lewis
Sr., Daniel and other descendants are on record in the Scott County Clerk’s
office in Gate City, VA.
II. Civil War Connection Between the Families:
Lewis Henry Jr. “Big Lewis” enlisted in the Confederate Army in the fall
of 1861. He was sworn in at Paintsville, KY on December 16, becoming a private
in Company C, 5th Infantry Regiment, Kentucky Infantry CSA. Hiram Hawkins
of Bath County had raised the company in October. In a nine-day period, 19th
through 28th of October, more than 400 men had volunteered at West Liberty.
The 5th was an army in name only; there were few weapons, uniforms, shoes,
provisions and other items necessary to support the soldiers. The weather
turned colder and snow began to fall in the mountains of eastern Kentucky.
Early on recruits began leaving because of low pay, or no pay, in addition
to the above conditions. Companies A, B and C had just fought the Yankee
Army under William Nelson on the wagon road between Prestonsburg and Piketon
(Pikeville) at Ivy Narrows. Captains A. J. May, Hiram Hawkins and Capt. Thomas
ably led them. They made a good showing and picked off a few of Nelson’s
men before being out flanked by the blue clad troopers. Their action
had allowed Colonel John S. Williams time to withdraw the bulk of the 5th
Kentucky to a winter camp at Pound Gap. About the time or soon after
Lewis joined, some Kentucky citizens in Nashville sent $1250 worth of coats
and boots to the ill equipped army. In mid December most of the 5th
and several Virginia companies led by General Humphrey Marshall were camped
south of Paintsville on the farm of Daniel Hager. Several new recruits,
probably Lewis included, marched into the camp on Hager Hill. The “veterans”
of the Kentucky and Virginia companies cheered them.
The combined force met Union Cavalry led by Colonel James
A Garfield at Tom’s Creek on January 4, 1862. A skirmish resulted with no
major gains by either side. They met again on the 10th at Middle Creek near
Prestonsburg. The larger, better-equipped Union force prevailed and the Confederates
withdrew in good order toward Prestonsburg.
The soldiers of the 5th Kentucky lacked overcoats and
blankets. They lived in chilling rain, cold winter winds and snow that made
the roads nearly impassable. The overwhelming problem was the hunger that
became a constant companion. By February the Virginia Companies had fallen
back to Gladesville in Wise County, Virginia. The 5th was in winter
“camp” at Rockhouse Creek, 16 miles below Whitesburg, KY and later joined
the Virginians at Big Moccasin and Holston Springs in Scott County, Virginia.
On April 14, 1862, Lewis is listed as absent from William Mynhier’s Company
A. Many men left their companies in the spring to return home to plant crops
and be with their families. Perhaps he went to the home of his Uncle Daniel,
John Jr. and Lewis Sr.’s brother, on Copper Creek. June saw Lewis, Jr. back
in Morgan County where the Yankees captured him. He was taken to Vicksburg,
then to Camp Chase, Ohio. He was included in a prisoner exchange on July
3, 1862. He rejoined his company but was listed as absent again the week
of September 26th. He was exchanged again and returned to his company. Captain
Thomas J Henry (no relation) listed him as absent because of sickness on
November 30th. This is the last mention of Lewis until research in later
years.
Willie Prater Mills mentioned earlier (the granddaughter
of Lewis Henry, Sr.) did research for many years, interviewing several members
of the older generations. She interviewed her cousin Daniel Patrick “D.P”
Henry on Copper Creek in Scott County, Virginia. Daniel Patrick was
the son of Daniel Henry, a brother to the John and Lewis Henry that migrated
to Kentucky. Daniel Patrick told Willie that the “Kentucky” Lewis Henry,
Jr., his cousin Rebecca (daughter of John Jr.) and her husband Captain John
T Williams came from Morgan County to his father’s home on Copper Creek and
spent most of one winter during the Civil War. Captain John T. was an officer
in the Confederate Army and had done some scouting for Gen. John Hunt Morgan.
A Virginia Cousin, Mamie Palmer, (daughter of Daniel Patrick
Henry), wrote to many of her Kentucky cousins: “John had a “little red bucket”
that he kept important papers in.” The bucket was passed down to his son
Daniel, and has been passed down through the generations. It is described
in a letter dated Jun 17, 2000 by its present owner, Mamie’s son (great-grandson
of Daniel) in Maryland. It is 18 ½ inches in circumference, 6 inches
in diameter and 6 inches high. All cutting, fitting and shaping was done
by hand by a tinsmith. A small brass lock handcrafted by a locksmith secured
the contents. His mother had sanded and painted it black, and it is highly
prized.
In January 2000 Mamie’s son shared the contents of this
bucket with some of his very fortunate cousins. One hundred and three (103)
small pieces of paper remain in this little bucket. The papers cover a time
period beginning in 1801(John Sr.’s tax receipt) and including tax receipts
for subsequent years, book accounts for supplies and sundries, personal notes
and letters, food and tax to the Confederate states paid by son, Daniel,
and extending through and including a letter dated Oct 29, 1866 from Lewis
Henry, Jr. to his Uncle Daniel. These small papers have provided a great
source of information to the contributors of this article.
Mamie’s family notes contained the following statement:
“ Uncle Pat (son-in-law of Daniel) told her that her grandfather Daniel had
a little red bucket full of gold during the Civil War. John Ir.’s daughter,
Becky, married Captain John T. William – a captain in the confederate army.
They came visiting Grandfather Daniel and talked him into selling his gold
to them for confederate money. She finished her note by adding, “Of course
you can guess the rest.” Then she added in that note, the “little red
bucket” has had quite a history. Granny Henry used to tell me she had seen
it full of gold many times.”
More research in the Kentucky Archives has revealed another
possible reason that Lewis left the state for awhile. During the Civil
War people loyal to the southern cause disliked citizens that sided with
the Union. Union supporters disliked people that supported the south.
Sometimes their property was stolen or destroyed and many killings resulted
from the bitterness felt by each side. On February 9, 1863, Logan Wilson,
a Union sympathizer from Morgan Co was shot and killed by men associated
with Capt. John T. Williams. He had sent Pvt. John J. Nickell and “two other”
guerillas to bring Wilson to camp. They returned without him and Nickell
told the Captain that he had been shot while trying to escape. Nickell was
later arrested by Federal authorities and charged with the murder of Wilson.
He was tried and convicted for the murder and “Violations of the Laws of
War” by a Union commission in Cincinnati in May of 1864. He was sentenced
to death and later hanged. The full account of the event is in W. Lynn Nickell’s
book, “Hanging Justice.” A witness stated that he overheard Nickell telling
Capt. Williams of the incident but he did not name the “two other” men.
Research done earlier this year at the State Archives in Frankfort has shown
them to be Lewis Henry, Jr. and John Calvin/Colvin.
Lewis is not heard from again until a letter to his Uncle
Daniel in Virginia dated May 27, 1865. The letter was written at Cany (Caney)
in Morgan County. Lewis told his uncle “I took the opportunity this Saturday
to write.” The family was well and he had received his parole. All ex-confederate
soldiers were given parole for their part in the war against the Union. They
were required to swear an oath of allegiance to the Union to be issued the
parole. The parole did not cover serious crimes against the military
or civilians. The majority of them took the offer, however some hard-liners
left the country or evaded the authorities for years. When being released
from the service in earlier days paroles were issued, the same as today’s
discharges. Lewis could have been talking about either one or both of the
above.
Lewis said that he had been home since the parole and had put out the
crops for the coming season. “The crops look good and we have had a heap
of rain.” He asked for his clothes, a “miniature” and a looking glass to
be sent by Mr. Havens and for his gun to be picked up at the shop. He gave
the gun to his uncle for as long as he lived. He said the “Mother and
the girls send their love and mother sends uncle some coffee. Mr. Haven will
tell you all the news. It is getting late and I must close and give my love
to all. Signed: Lewis Henry.
The Morgan County Circuit Court met in November
1865 and issued an indictment for Lewis Henry and John Calvin for the murder
of one Logan Wilson. The indictment read: “The Grand Jury of Morgan County
in the same and by the authority of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, accuse
Lewis Henry and John Calvin in the offense of murder committed as follows:
The said Lewis Henry and John Calvin on the 9th day of February 1863 in the
County and Circuit aforesaid did willfully and feloniously and with malice
aforethought kill and murder Logan Wilson by shooting him with a gun and
pistol which they then and there had loaded with Powder and ball.” A warrant
was issued for Lewis on December 4th, 1865, signed by the Clerk of the Morgan
County Court, John T. Hazelrigg. Law enforcement officers in the state were
notified to look for and pick up Lewis Henry, Jr. and when found he was to
be brought before the court to answer the charges. Morgan County Sheriff
W. H. Elam reported to the court on May 18th, 1866 that “The defendant Lewis
Henry cannot be found in my county.” Why was the indictment so long in coming?
The next known about Lewis is from a letter dated October
29, 1866. It is again to his Uncle Daniel and written from Spring Valley
in Grayson County, VA, south of Wytheville. He was planning to start for
Kentucky the next week after working there for a year. “I have cleared sixty
dollars in good money in the last year. I sold my watch and bought me a fine
horse to ride to Kentucky.” His brother-in-law, Jonathan Quicksall, had visited
two months earlier and told him that it would be “safe” for him to come home.
He warned him to not travel the Pound Gap Road, as it was very dangerous.
There were still roving bands of former guerillas waylaying and robbing travelers
along isolated areas of the country. All the family was well at home but
the “rogues” had stolen two of his mother’s horses. Lewis ended the letter
with “I hope that we will all meet again, yours forever, farewell for awhile.
Lewis Henry.”
Thomas Elliott Bramlette was elected Governor of Kentucky
in the 1863 election. He had been a commissioned Colonel in the Union Army
during the first two years of the war. He commanded the 3rd Kentucky
volunteer Infantry (USA). Bramlette resigned his commission and accepted
the Union Democrat Party’s nomination as a candidate for governor and defeated
Regular Democrat Charles A Wickliffe in the general election. Bramlette vigorously
supported the preservation of the Union and took strong action against the
guerilla movement. He did not support and resisted some of President Lincoln’s
policies that affected the state. He was strongly opposed to the suspension
of the writ of habeas corpus and interference in local elections by the Union
Army. When the Democrats swept the election of 1865, President Andrew Johnson
restored the writ of habeas corpus and ended martial law. Governor
Bramlette decided to issue a pardon to most ex-Confederates that had been
indicted in the State of Kentucky. He wanted to begin the healing process
for his divided state.
What Lewis probably was alluding to in his letter about
being able to come home was that he had been given a pardon from the governor.
Three days before his letter of the 29th, Governor Bramlette had signed a
pardon for Lewis. It read: “It appears from satisfactory evidence that the
case of said Henry present strong consideration for the indulgence of the
Executive.” Signed Thomas E. Bramlette, Governor, on the 26th day of October
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 66. The pardon named
Lewis specifically so may not have been part of the general pardon. The order
released Lewis Henry, Jr. from “all future proceedings and forever ordered
to respect this pardon and to govern themselves accordingly.
Captain John T. Williams was the son of Squire T. Williams
and Phoebe Ferguson Williams and the grandson of Elder Daniel Williams, one
of Morgan County’s first settlers. He lived on the land purchased from William
Henry until he passed away in 1884. He and his wife, Rebecca Henry Williams,
are buried on a point overlooking Liberty Road. William Lowe now owns the
farm. There is a legend that has been passed down through the years of Capt.
Williams burying a “kettle” of gold somewhere across Little Caney Creek.
It is easy to stand today and pick out the point that he went up and disappeared
out of sight supposedly with the gold. Could this have been Uncle Daniel’s
gold from Virginia? This is a “whole nuther story”in itself and has
been discussed and speculated about for decades.
This article hopefully brings the generations down far
enough for any member of the present day Morgan County Henry’s to connect
their “branch” to the family tree. There are many more stories that could
and need to be added by the present generation and preserved for the future.
Contributors:
Ethelyn Coffey, Mt. Sterling, KY. Daughter of Walter M. Henry & g-g-granddaughter
of John Henry, Jr.
James D. Henry, Rougemont, NC. Son of George Alonzo Henry & g-grandson
of Daniel Henry.
Daniel H. Palmer, Easton, MD. Son of Mamie Henry Palmer & g-grandson
of Daniel Henry.
Mamie Henry Palmer, granddaughter of Daniel Henry, letters to family member
written in 1980.
Willie Prater Mills, g-granddaughter of Lewis Henry, Sr., letters to family
members written in 1950s.
Tony Adkins, West Liberty, KY. who coordinated the article and provided the
History of the 5th Kentucky Infantry, CSA.
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