Parents

Son of George C TERRY & Louisa UNKNOWN.

Life History

Notes

• William was born in Murray County, as part of a large Terry clan.  His father was George C Terry, almost 60 when William was born, and hismother, only about 20 at his birth.  His father died in January 1888,and he and his mother moved to Texas, as other Terrys had from the 1870s on.
  
  In 1900, Louisa and William are in Erath County, west of Fort Worth.They have moved farther west than others in their family except for Thomas L Terry, a son of Joseph Lewis and Dovina Terry.  In 1900, Thomas L and his family  is in San Angelo, in Tom Green County, even farther west, near Abilene.  In 1880 Thomas and his family had been in Milam County, along with other Terrys of this family.  Terrys from this same Murray County clan had moved to McLellan County (Waco area) and Milam County (Cameron county seat, near San Antonio) by 1880.
  
  Louisa is living with her son William L and his wife Cora, who have no children.  They have been in Texas at least two years, because William and Cora and William have been married 2 years.  Cora was born in Texas.
  
  1900 Federal Census, Erath County, Texas, 11 June, Dublin City, District 69, page 17A, Hse #328, Fam #343
  Terry, William  Head W M May 1866  34  Married 2 years  GA NC SC School Teacher;
  Terry, Cora  Wife W F Feb 1877 23  Married 2 years  TX AL GA;
  Terry, Louisa  Mother W F May 1844 56  Widow  SC SC SC
  
  I note that this census corrects a report in the 1880 census that William's father was born in Virginia.  However, the report of North Carolina is also in error, according to family sources and previous censuses.  He was born in South Carolina, as was Louisa.
  
  The 1910 census in Ryan City, Jefferson County, Oklahoma, tells us that Louisa's husband, George W Terry, died before 1910.  She is living with their son William L and his wife Cora and their 3 children.  William has established his own business, though the census tells us only "Own Store."
  
  1910 Federal Census, Jefferson County, Oklahoma, 23 April, Ryan City,Blackburn Township, District 148, page 8A, Hse#150, Fam #158,
  Terry, W L  Head M W 43 Married 12 years GA SC SC Salesman, His Own Store
  Terry, Cora B  Wife F W 31 Married 12 years TX AL GA
  Terry, Nina Belle  Daughter F W 9 TX GA TX
  Terry, Mary Bird  Daughter F W 5 TX GA TX
  Terry, Willis Clay  Son M W 4 OK GA TX
  Terry, Louisa  Mother F W 65 Widow SC SC SC
  
  The ages of the children help us determine when they moved from Texasto Oklahoma.  The oldest girl Nina Belle was born about 1901 in Texas.  The second girl Mary Bird was born about 1905, also in Texas.  Butthe third child, Willis Clay, born in about 1906, was born in Oklahoma.  So they moved form Texas within about one year, from 1905-1906.
  
  This census corrects the errors in the birth place of William's father, reporting South Carolina as his state of birth.
  
  In 1920, they are still in Ryan, Jefferson County, Oklahoma.  Williamis reported as working on his own as a wholesaler, and it appears he deals in cattle.  They have another daughter, Ailene born about 1917.(Her name is spelled Ailene in 1930, an Alieen in 1920.)
  
  1920 Federal Census, Jefferson County, Oklahoma, 3 February, Ryan, District 211, page 7B, Hse/Fam #142,
  Terry, William Head M W 53 GA NC SC Wholesale Cattle(?);
  Terry, Cora B Wife F W 42 TX AL GA;
  Terry, Nina Dau F W 19 TX GA TX;
  Terry, Mary Dau F W 15 TX GA TX;
  Terry, Willis Son M W 14 OK GA TX;
  Terry, Aliene [Ailene] Dau F W 3 OK GA TX
  
  In 1930, William has moved his family back down to Texas, and they are living in the city of Fort Worth.
  
  1930 Federal Census, Tarrant County, Texas, 17 April, Enumeration District 79, Fort Worth, Ward 21W, page 40A, 2900 Avenue F, Hse #557, Family #644
  Terry, William L Head M W 63 GA NC NC Merchant
  Terry, Cora B Wife F W 53 TX AL GA
  Terry, Nina B Dau F W 27 TX GA TX Public School Teacher
  Terry, Mary B Dau F W 25 TX GA TX Public School Teacher;
  Terry, Aileen Dau F W 13 OK GA TX
  
  He is still designated as a Merchant, but I cannot read the word for the industry.  It could be cotton, but he was in retail in Oklahoma, with his own store.  Perhaps he is working in jobbing cotton for a gin,or selling dry goods.  It is not clear from the fields of this censuswhether William owns his own business or is employed.

Sources

• 1. 1880 Federal Census, Murray County, Georgia
  • 3 June, Doolittle (Militia District 972), District 154, page 7, Hse #6
• 2. 1910 Federal Census, Jefferson County, Oklahoma
  • 23 April, Ryan City, Blackburn Township, District 148, page 8A, Hse#15
• 3. 1900 Federal Census, Erath County, Texas
  • 11 June, Dublin City, District 69, page 17A, Hse #328, Fam #343
• 4. 1930 Federal Census, Tarrant County, Texas
  • 17 April, Enumeration District 79, Fort Worth, Ward 21W, page 40A, 290
• 5. 1870 Federal Census, Murray County, Georgia
  • 19 July, Militia District 972, PO Spring Place, page 8, Hse/Fam #52
• 6. 1920 Federal Census, Jefferson County, Oklahoma
  • 3 February, Ryan, District 211, page 7B, Hse/Fam #142
• 7. Texas Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 and 1966-2002