Life History

Notes

• 1900 Federal Census, Jefferson County, Tennessee, 16 June, Civil District 17, Enumeration District 55, page 10A, Hse/Fam #171
  Gregory, Andrew J  Head W M Nov 1849  50 Married 22 yrs TN Unknown TN Farmer Owns
  Gregory, Leathy  Wife W F May 1854  46 Married 22 yrs 9 children, 9 living SC SC SC
  Gregory, Ethel V  Dau W F May 1892  8 Single TN TN SC
  
  Because ages vary so much in these censuses, for this region and this family, and because names change from census to census, it is often hard to track the same individual from census to census.  Ages for children in this family jump considerably between 1900 and 1910.  At least three children age 14 years in that period.  Ages vary wildly in the Tennessee censuses for these Jefferson County families.
  
  Eight-year-old Ethel V in 1900 becomes 12-year-old Ola in 1910.  Going by the 1930 census record for Viola below, it would seem that Ethel's middle name is Viola, which matches the record for Ola, a likely nickname.  The sequence of the children is consistent to make this matchup, despite the age discrepancy.
  
  The 1900 census has the birth date as May 1892, but her brother George was born 17 Oct 1892, so that won't work. The 1900 census usually is a year off, so the real year was probably 1891.  The 1930 census age of 24 would make her birth abt 1906!  But the 1900 census birth date of May 1892 and age 8 is 14 years earlier!  In 1920 the age reported as 21, with birth about 1899.  Hilarity reigns in the censuses.
  
  1910 Federal Census, Jefferson County, Tennessee, 4 May, District 8, Enumeration District 77, page 10A, Hse/Fam #150
  Gregory, Jackson  Head M W 55 Married 28 years TN TN TN Farm Laborer Owns
  Gregory, Leathy  Wife F W 51 Married 28 years 9 children/9 living TN TN TN
  Gregory, Ola Dau F W 12 Single TN TN TN [b abt 1898]
  
  1920 Federal Census, Jefferson County, Tennessee, 7 January, Civil District 8, Enumeration District 78, page 3A, Chesnut Hill Path, Hse/Fam #46
  Gregory, Jack Head Owns M W  64 AL TN TN Farmer
  Gregory, Leath Wife F W  62 SC SC SC
  Gregory, Viola  Dau F W  21 TN AL SC
  
  1930 Federal Census, Jefferson County, Tennessee, 18 April, Civil District 8, Enumeration District 14, page 5A, Hse/Fam #91
  Gregory, Andrew J Head Owns M W 78 Married at age 27 cannot read or write AL TN TN Farmer
  Gregory, Viola Dau F W 24 Single can read and write TN AL TN [b abt 1906!]
  
  The next problem is that while these three records appear to match, the age in 1930 is a problem.  If Ola (Viola) was 12 in 1910, she should be 32 in 1930, but is reported as 24 years old!  I have not found a 1920 record for the family.
  
  But if she was 24 in 1930, she should have been 4 in 1910, but there is no child that young in the 1910 census., and all 9 children are in the household.  Thus I conclude the age in 1930 was an error.
  
  In 1940, she was listed again as Ola, with her age reported as 37, matching birth in about 1903.  She wsa in the family household, now headed by her brother Arthur, since their father died in 1936
  
  1940 Federal Census, Jefferson County, Tennessee, 9 May, 8th District, Enumeration District 45-15, Page 9B, Hse #147, Owns $1500
  Gregory, Arthur M Head M W 45 Single Grade H4 b Tennessee Same place in 1935 Farming [b abt 1895]
  Gregory, Janie Sister F W 39 Single Grade 7 b Tennessee Same place in 1935 [b abt 1901]
  Gregory, Ola Sister F W 37 Single Grade 8 b Tennessee Same place in 1935 [b abt 1903]
  
  Lester's older brother Arthur is living next door to him in 1940.
  
  1940 Federal Census, Jefferson County, Tennessee, 9 May, 8th District, Enumeration District 45-15, Page 9B, Hse #148, Owns $300
  Gregory, Lester Head M W 41 Married Grade 8 b Tennessee Same place in 1935 Cannery Laborer [b abt 1890]
  Gregory, Zella L Wife F W 43 Married Grade H4 b Tennessee Same place in 1935 [b abt 1897]
  Gregory, Louise Dau F W 19 Single Grade H4 b Tennessee Same place in 1935 [b abt 1921]
  Gregory, Eleanor Dau F W 18 Grade H3 b Tennessee Same place in 1935 [b abt 1922]
  Gregory, Jack V Son M W 16 Single Grade 6 b Tennessee Same place in 1935 Farm Laborer [b abt 1924]
  Gregory, Gladys Dau F W 14 Grade 7 b Tennessee Same place in 1935 [b abt 1926]
  Gregory, David Son M W 9 Single Grade 1 b Tennessee Same place in 1935 [b abt 1931]
  Gregory, Raymond Son M W 6 Single Grade 0 b Tennessee Same place in 1935 Farm Laborer [b abt 1934]
  Gregory, Edrys Dau F W 3 Grade 0 b Tennessee Same place in 1935 [b abt 1937]
  Gregory, Mattie K Dau F W 6mos Grade 0 b Tennessee Same place in 1935 [b abt Oct 1939]
  
  No death or burial information has been found.  Her last record was the 1940 census.  No marriage record has been found.

Sources

• 1. 1920 Federal Census, Jefferson County, Tennessee
  • 7 January, Civil District 8, Enumeration District 78, page 3A, Chesnut Hill Path, Hse/Fam #46
• 2. 1900 Federal Census, Jefferson County, Tennessee
  • 16 June, Civil District 17, Enumeration District 55, page 10A, Hse/Fam #171
• 3. 1940 Federal Census, Jefferson County, Tennessee
  • 9 May, 8th District, Enumeration District 45-15, Page 9B, Hse #147, Owns $1500
• 4. 1930 Federal Census, Jefferson County, Tennessee
  • 18 April, Civil District 8, Enumeration District 14, page 5A, Hse/Fam #91
• 5. 1910 Federal Census, Jefferson County, Tennessee
  • 4 May, District 8, Enumeration District 77, page 10A, Hse/Fam #150