The Civil War, redux edition

My husband has been called to the war, again.  This time in Missouri, a place called Wilson's Creek.  It just seems like yesterday he was called to Sipsey.  Or was it Parker's Crossroads?  He's been a part of so many battles it's easy to forget their names.  I tremble every time he leaves me and the boy, wondering if he'll be injured in battle or if some illness will carry him off.

I remember the time he was felled at the Battle of Bridgeport.  I received word that he had been taken from the battlefield and was in the hospital.  Medicine being what it is these days I feared my boy would lose a daddy and I a husband.  Thank the Lord he was cured enough to be released but not enough to continue fighting the boys in blue. His comrades left him behind at the Roy Acuff Motel and they once again returned to the battle.  

I must be back to the business of making hardtack and other victuals for his haversack.  His uniform, though not new is mended and clean.  He departs on Friday.  I pray all goes well and he comes back to us soon.

written this day, August 10, 2011

His devoted wife

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J. Moss Jr, 1870

ORIGINAL POST
This is just one of the many pictures in the Moran family personal collection. Most of the people remain a mystery because there's no name written on the back.  In this instance we have a lot more information than normal.  First, we know the photograph was taken in Leavenworth Kansas by the prominent photographer E.E. Henry because of the photographers mark but more importantly we have a name and a date. On the backside of the photo Mr. Moss wrote "Compliments J. Moss, Jr., 31st Dec. 1870.

I still don't know who he is or how he knew the Moran's.  Perhaps a descendant will google his name someday and find a picture of their long lost relative.  At least, that's my hope.

John W. Moran's 1904 Ledger
J.W. Moss entry

UPDATED January 10, 2017
I picked up this photo again today after finding several references to a J.W. Moss in a 1904 ledger that belonged to John W. Moran as well as a John Moss in the Bookkeeper's Ledger, Washington Lodge No. 5, IOOF, Dresden, Weakley County Tennessee.

John Moss entry, Bookkeeper's Ledger
Washington Lodge No. 5
International Order of the Oddfellows
Dresden TN

There are a few John Moss's living in Weakley County which makes it difficult to identify exactly which might be our J. Moss.  There is one that I think fits the bill more than others but more research is needed. I have also searched Leavenworth records since that's where the photo was taken but just because it was taken there doesn't mean Moss was a resident.  J.W. Moran also was in the Leavenworth area for a time and we have photographs of his wife's family taken there but the Moran's came back home to Dresden.  I tend to think Mr. Moss did as well.

Belle Shumate and Joseph Collins Gentry Reunited

 Today I wanted to reunite Belle Shumate and her husband Joseph Collins Gentry.  Belle Shumate was the daughter of Champ Shumate and Martha J. McClary.  She and J.C. were married November 20, 1878, in Garrard County Kentucky.  Their daughter, Belle Gentry, was born in 1879 in Kentucky.

They moved to Abilene Texas and over the course of the next 5 years had four sons: Blain 1880, Richard 1881, Joseph 1882, and Nathan 1884.  In 1884, Joseph Collins Gentry sold 105 acres on the Rush Branch Turnpike near Stanford Kentucky for the sum of $45. *From Semi-Weekly Interior Journal, April 22 1884.

At the time of his death, his family was living back in Kentucky.   Joseph died suddenly from hemorrhage and his death was reported in the Semi-Weekly Interior Journal, Stanford KY, April 10, 1888.  He was buried in Abilene, Texas.

At some point, Belle and her children left Kentucky and moved to Newbern, Tennessee, most likely to be near her older brother Quincy Shumate and his family who also lived in Newbern at that time.

Belle never remarried and she survived her husband by about 52 years.  She died at the home of her daughter after being sick for several months.  Belle was buried in Newbern, Tennessee.

Semi-Weekly Interior Journal, Stanford KY, April 10, 1888.  

Joseph Collins Gentry's tombstone.

Obituary of Belle Shumate Gentry, unknown newspaper.

 Clipping found among the papers of Virginia Shumate Moran.

Tombstone of Belle Shumate Gentry.

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