Biographical Sketches
O. H. GENTRY
Is the efficient superintendent of the Poor Farm and Insane Asylum, of Jackson county, and no more capable official could be found for the position. Fidelity to duty is one of his chief characteristics, and he has labored for the best interests of the institution which he controls with scrupulous care. Respected by all with whom he has been brought in contact, we feel assured that the record of his life will prove of interest to many of our readers, and gladly give it a place in this volume.
Mr. Gentry is a native of Lincoln county, Kentucky, born June 16, 1836. His parents were Joseph and Elizabeth (Tribble) Gentry. The grandfather ws one of the heroes of the Revolution, and 6 of his sons participated in the 2nd war with England as defenders of their native land. The parents of our subject died in Kentucky. They had a large family of 10 children, but only 2 are now living, namely: O. H., of this review; and William, who resides in Kentucky.
The former was reared and educated in the county of his nativity and in 1851 came to Missouri, taking up his residence in Independence, where he learned and followed the carpenter's trade. In 1858 he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Henley, by whom he has 1 daughter, Elizabeth. After the war he engaged in building towns along the line of the Union Pacific Railroad in Kansas, and selling goods in villages thus established.
On the 11th of January, 1895, Mr. Gentry took charge of the Poor Farm and Insane Asylum. This institution was established 37 years ago and is located on Sections 13 and 19, Prairie township. In the Fall of 1890 the large brick asylum was erected, at a cost of $45,000. This is divided into 5 buildings. In the insane department there are 135 inmates, and in the pauper department 60 inmates, including 34 colored persons. The farm contains 312 acres. At least 70% of the inmates are foreigners, over � of them being Irish. The remaining 30% are Americans, including Negroes. There are 15 persons on the payroll, including the superintendent, 3 stewards, 1 physician, 1 engineer, a farmer, 2 cooks, a librarian, a night watchman, 3 matrons and 1 laundryman. The payroll amounts to $482.50 per month. The farm is all under cultivation and is supplied with the necessary machinery. They keep 13 fine milk cows, 9 head of work mules, 260 good hogs and have an orchard and vineyard containing some excellent varieties of fruits. The officers of the institution are superintendent, O. H. Gentry; head of the house, Mrs. O. H. Gentry; stewards, John Johnson, C. M. Crandall and Robert Foree; physician, Dr. Z. Smith, and superintendent of the farm, Henry Shrank. For the 8 months ending September 1, 1895, the per caita cost, including all expenses, was 23 cents per day. The buildings are furnished with hot and cold water and heated by steam, and there are 5 miles of steam pipes and 4 miles of water pipes. Mr. Gentry has made a special effort to keep down expenses, and while supplying every need of the institution has been able to reduce the cost by his careful and systematic management. He oversees all departments of the institution, is familiar with its needs and wants, considers no detail too unimportant to be overlooked and is discharging his duties in a most satisfactory manner.
Mr. Gentry was nominated on an independent ticket for the office of county judge in the Fall of 1894. At this election he made a good run, reducing the democratic majority from 2,500 to 300. He believes in America for Americans, and is a pronounced A. P. A. man, being the first to advocate the principles of this organization from the platform in Independence. His wife and his daughter are members of the Christian church.
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.