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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