Mary Shumate Maret Garner, 1000th Identified Family Member!

September 12th marked the three month anniversary that I've been researching Billings and Moran family genealogy.  I knew I was close to reaching the 1000 entry into the family tree but yesterday I was so focused on the Scott family I didn't realize that I actually went over and am now at 1003 identified family members.

The 1000th person was Mary Shumate Maret Garner and the find for her obituary goes to findagrave contributor Honor.  I have been researching the Shumates and been pleased and frustrated by what I find.  Mary Shumate fits in quite nicely as she is the sister of Champ Shumate.  Their parents are Mitchell Shumate and Catherine Champ, two more people on my genealogy "to do" list.

Here is the transcription from The Central Record dated 11-20-1919 for Mary Shumate Maret Garner

Obituary-
On Wednesday afternoon, November the fifth, at four thirty o'clock, Mrs. Mary Maret Garner, died at her home near Paint Lick, after a lingering illness of several weeks.

Though tended by loving hands, and every comfort provided, she feel asleep in Jesus.  Bravely she fought live battles, and as bravely she bore her sufferings with uncomplaining fortitude.

Mrs. Garner was one of Garrard's oldest, highly respected and lovable women.  She was the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Shumate, of Madison county, (who were among the first settlers of Kentucky, coming here from Virginia).  She was born in Madison county, on November 30, 1836, and had she lived until her birthday she would have been 83 years of age.  On September 29, 1858, she was married to John M. Maret, of Madison county, and to this union were born two children, Fannie S. Maret (Mrs. James A. Scott) and Willis Lee Maret, (all of whom preceded her to the grave).

They moved to Garrard county in 1865, at which time she made her home until the time of her death.

She was again married on December 13, 1898 to Mr. George Garner, of Bath county, who is left to mourn her loss, together with her brother, Mr. Frank Shumate, of San Francisco, California, eleven grand-children and seven great grand-children, numerous nieces and nephews, and other relatives in Missouri, Illinois and California.

Mrs Garner was a devout member of the Christian church, having confessed her faith in Christ, at Fairview Christian church, in early life.  She was loved by both old and young alike, and will be sadly missed by all who knew her.

Funeral services were conducted from the home by Rev. Frank N. Tinder, after which the interment took place in the cemetery at Richmond.  The grand-children were all present for the burial except, Mrs. J.C. Warmoth of Wapella Illinois, and Capt. Johm M. Maret, who is stationed at Honolulu, Hawaii.

The heart felt sympathy of the community goes out to the bereaved husband, and other loved ones, who are left to mourn her loss.

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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