Life History

Notes

• 1850 Federal Census, Floyd County, Kentucky, 10 August, My District, page 863, Hse/Fam #302
  Leonard Terry 56 M Farmer $300 Real Estate value b Virginia
  Mary Terry 54 F b Kentucky
  Isom Terry 20 M Laborer b Kentucky
  Thomas Terry 18 M b Kentucky
  Nancy Terry 14 F b Kentucky
  Isaac Terry 12 M b Kentucky
  Nathaniel Terry 7 M b Kentucky
  
  1860 Federal Census, Madison County, Arkansas, 3 July, PO St Paul, Hilburn township, page 50, Hse/Fam #326
  Isham Terry 26 M Farmer $0 Real Estate $15 Personal born KY Cannot read or write
  Ceatta Terry 29 F born KY Cannot read or write
  Rachel Terry 7 F born KY
  William Terry 5 M born AR
  Mary Terry 3 F born AR
  Caroline Terry 1 F born AR
  Polly Terry 60 F Midwife born KY Cannot read or write
  
  The identity of this wife Ceatta (Seatta/Seatha) is unclear in sources.  Some genealogies have tried to identify her with Seatta Justice, but Seatta Justice was married to Rhoades Mead over the same period.  A descendant corresponding with me on the question suggested it was Seatha Sloan/Slone.  This seems likley to me.  In the 1850 census, Seatha's family was living just a few doors away, and next door to Isom's brother William.
  
  "I have started wondering if Isom was married to Seatha Slone.  They live very near each other in the 1850 Floyd County census, but of more interest to me is an old letter written by a grandson of Isom, stating he was married four or five times, once to a Sloan and once to a Hughes."
  --  Barbara Nelson, email to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 2 June 2013
  
  Hugheses lived nearby also.  In the 1880 census there is a Hughes family living a few doors away from Isom and his family.
  
  Some genealogies report Mary as Mary E, born in 1857.  This date matches her age in this 1860 census.  I found two memorials for Isom's daughter Mary Terry on Find a Grave.  One of them states that her mother was Unknown Hughes.  With no other information at that time, it seemed that Ceatta (Unknown maiden name at that time) was the wife named Hughes.  But then one descendants indicated her grandparents were firm that Isom's wife was Ceatta Slone.
  
  Since the mother of Mary is reported as named Hughes, Isom must have married his first wife named Hughes before the birth of the first two daughters.  The 1860 census reports that in 1860 Rachel was 7 years old, thus born around 1853.  Mary was 3 years old.  The next child Caroline is 1 year old, so born about 1859.  It looks like Rachel and Mary's mother (maiden name Hughes) died about 1857 or 1858, after the death of Mary.  Then about 1858, Isom married Ceatta/Seatha Slone.
  
  "... in regard to Isom's first wife, Ceatta.  My great grand Aunt Lee (Rachel's child) always told my Dad she thought her grandma was Seatty Slone. All my life (almost 50 years) I grew up thinking my direct ancestor was Slone.  Only in the last 20 or so years did I entertain the notion and try to make Ceatta Justice fit.  Just last night I asked my father again about Isom's first wife's last name and he again relayed the name Seatty Slone.  I understand this is not proof but it is a valid recollection.  My dad has been talking to "old timers" for about 50 years."
  --  Jami Sue Yarger Brandt, Geneanet Messaging communication to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 27 April 2015
  
  There is a Mary in the 1860 census.  Most genealogies report her as Mary E.  They report her married to a Woodward.  Her Find-a-Grave memorial reports her name as Mary Woodard (the name is sometimes spelled Woodward, inclduing in census entries for this famliy).  Wooward/Woodward is Mary's second married name.
  
  Mary Terry Woodard [also found as Woodward]
  Birth Mar 20, 1857
  Death Apr 1, 1881
  Burial Fort Douglas Cemetery, Fort Douglas, Johnson County, Arkansas
  Created by Bea Smith Daniel Nov 06, 2008
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #31172587, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Terry&GSiman=1&GScid=2221327&GRid=31172587&
  
  See more in Notes for Mary E Terry Self Woodward.
  
  --------------------------
  U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
  Isom Terry
  Confederate 27th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry, Company H
  Muster Date 26 May 1865 (out? no muster in date)
  
  Regimental History
  27th Arkansas Infantry Rgt.
  Cols. Beals Gaither, James R. Shaler
  Lt Cols. A. J. Magenis, James M. Riggs
  
  The regiment was formed in the summer of 1862 with men from the northern section of the state. It was assigned to R. G. Shaver's, Tappan's brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department.
  
  In the spring of 1864 it was united with the 38th Ark. Infantry Rgt.  It fought at Prairie Grove, Bayou Fourche and Jenkins' Ferry where the consolidated command lost four killed and 22 wounded.  The unit was included in the surrender of the Trans-Mississippi Department on June 2, 1865.
  
  --  Submitted by John Haseltine
  --------------------------
  
  Isom's wife Ceatta died about 1863 during the war; so Isom must have married Margaret about 1864; but the 1900 census reports Jack's birthday as June 1864.  That census is commonly one year off due apparently to a faulty formula to calculate birth from age.
  
  It is reported in some genealogies that Isom married Celia Davis in 1874.  Isom's marriage to Celia was registered with the bride's name as Sealy Hanley.  We are told by family sources that her maiden name was Davis, and we do have in the censuses what appears to be the correct Celia Davis.  The surname Hanley would appear to be her previous married name, but I have not found a record of Celia with this name Hanley or of a marriage to a Hanley.
  
  Arkansas Marriages, 1851-1900
  Isom Terry
  Sealy Hanley
  Marriage 18 Mar 1874 County, Johnson AR
  
  1880 Federal Census, Johnson County, Arkansas, 5 June, Pilot Rock Township, District 88, page 6A (scan 260A), Hse #44, Fam #52
  Terry, Isham  W M 52  Farmer Cannot read or write KY KY KY
  Terry, Celia  W F 37 Wife Keeping House Cannot write AR TN TN
  Terry, John P W M  3 Son AR KY AR
  Hobbs, Mary W F 13 Stepdau At Home Cannot read or write AR AR AR
  Woodward, Caroline  W F 20 Dau Widowed Helps work on farm AR AR AR
  
  The name of the Stepdaughter Mary seems to indicate that Sealy was married to John W Hobbs before the Hanley.
  
  "It is pretty certain that Isom was married to (or just having a child with) someone named Margaret.  Their child is Jackson Terry and I can trace him living with his mother.  They would most likely have been married either in Madison or Johnson Counties."
  --  Barbara Nelson, email to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 2 June 2013
  
  "According to all the family stories, this Ceatta dies during the war, probably around 1863, as the story is that Isom came home from the war and found her dead due to starvation, and the children almost dead.  1863 corresponds to the time he is shown to have deserted.  [But see military record above stating mustered (out?) 1865]  Shortly after this they moved to Johnson County and lived under a cliff.  I can’t find them in the 1870 census, but have seen where they lived, so it is very possible the census taker missed them."
  --  Barbara Nelson, email to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 2 June 2013
  
  The time frame seems to match for Seatha/Ceatta to have died in 1863 or so, and him to marry (or dally) while home on leave, and have a child by the end of the war with Margaret.  It is unclear whether his home was still in Kentucky or he had already moved to Arkansas at that time in the middle of the war.  Jackson was born in June 1864 (or 1865) in Johnson County, Arknasas, where Isom later lived and died.
  
  He died in 1888.  In 1880 his wife is Celia, whom he married in 1874.  It is suggested by Terry descendants that Isom may have had multiple illicit relationships along with his marriages.  We do not find an 1870 census to give us further clues.  This would fill in some of the questions around the war and the move to Arkansas.  Birth states and ages of chidlren tell us they moved to Arkansas about 1854.
  
  Note that in the 1880 census, his daughter Caroline is named Woodward and reported as a widow.  But the household next door to them is headed by a widowed man named George Woodward, The same name as Caroline's husband on her marriage record.
  
  Military Gravestone of Isom Terry, Ft Douglas Cemetery, Johnson County, Arkansas
  Isom Terry
  Pvt Co H 27 Ark Inf
  Confederate States Army
  1830 - 1888
  
  Isom Terry
  Birth 1830 Floyd County, Kentucky
  Death 1888 Fort Douglas, Johnson County, Arkansas
  Father of William Terry
  Veteran of Civil War (Confederate)
  Children (on FAG):
  Caroline Terry Woodward Bowman (1859 - 1932)
  Jack Terry (1865 - 1925)
  Burial Fort Douglas Cemetery, Fort Douglas, Johnson County, Arkansas
  Created by Erin Jun 21, 2007
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #20011288, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=20011288

Sources

• 1. U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
  • Name: Date: 2007;;
• 2. Military Gravestone of Isom Terry, Ft Douglas Cemetery, Johnson County, Arkansas
• 3. 1880 Federal Census, Johnson County, Arkansas
  • 5 June, Pilot Rock Township, District 88, page 6A (scan 260A), Hse #44, Fam #52
• 4. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 5. Arkansas Marriages, 1851-1900
• 6. U.S. Family Photo Collection, c. 1850-2000
• 7. 1860 Federal Census, Madison County, Arkansas
  • 3 July, PO St Paul, Hilburn township, page 50, Hse/Fam #326
• 8. Email Sources
• 9. 1850 Federal Census, Floyd County, Kentucky
  • 10 August, My District, page 863, Hse/Fam #302
• 10. 1900 Federal Census, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory
  • 13 June, Spiro Town, Township 9, District 179, page 5A, Hse #167, Fam #168
• 11. 1930 Federal Census, Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma
  • 3 April, Avoca Township, District 10, page 1A, Hse/Fam #9
• 12. 1920 Federal Census, Seminole County, Oklahoma
  • 3 March, Konawa Township, District 245, page 12B,  Hse #222, Fam #234
• 13. 1910 Federal Census, Latimer County, Oklahoma
  • 15 April, Buffalo Township, District 133, page 4A, Hse/Fam #70
• 14. U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
• 15. 1900 Federal Census, Johnson County, Arkansas
  • 15 June, Pilot Rock Township, District 42, page 6A,  Hse #75, Fam #77
• 16. 1910 Federal Census, Johnson County, Arkansas
  • 3 May, Pilot Point Township, District 63, page 7A, Ft Douglas and Local Rd, Hse #109, Fam #112
• 17. 1920 Federal Census, Johnson County, Arkansas
  • 31 January, Pilot Rock, District 64, page 9A, Hse/Fam #142
• 18. Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957
• 19. 1900 Federal Census, Franklin County, Arkansas
  • 9 June, Boston Township, District 187, page 5A,  Hse #74, am #76
• 20. 1880 Federal Census, Franklin County, Arkansas
  • 14 June, Boston Township, District 58, page 25, Hse #153, Fam #156
• 21. 1910 Federal Census, Johnson County, Arkansas
  • 23 May, Pilot Point, District 63, page 7A,  Fort Douglas and Local Rd, Hse #104, Fam #112
• 22. Gravestone of Presley and Caroline Bowman, Cemetery, Clarksville, Johnson County, Arkansas
• 23. 1910 Federal Census, Johnson County, Arkansas
  • 7 May, Pilot Point Township, District 63, page 9B, Hogansville & Ft Douglas Rd, Hse #154, Fam #160
• 24. 1860 Federal Census, Madison County, Arkansas
  • 3 July, PO St Paul, Hilburn Township, page 50, Hse/Fam #326
• 25. 1880 Federal Census, Johnson County, Arkansas
  • 2 June, Pilot Rock, District 88, page 10 (scan 258A), Hse #8, Fam #10
• 26. 1880 Federal Census, Johnson County, Arkansas
  • 5 June, Pilot Rock Township, District 88, page 6A (scan 260A), Hse #45, Fam #54
• 27. 1900 Federal Census, Johnson County, Arkansas
  • 15 June, Pilot Rock Township, District 42, page 6A,  Hse #80, Fam #82
• 28. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
  • Memorial #112245708
• 29. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
  • Memorial #31172587, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Terry&GSiman=1&GScid=2221327&GRid=31172587&
• 30. 1880 Federal Census, Johnson County, Arkansas
  • 5 June, Pilot Rock Township, District 88, page 6A (scan 260A), Hse #43, Fam #51