The Holmes of Azle
A Texas story that begins up North


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Holmesburg, PA

Miriah Gentry
b 1828 Alabama d 1909


a half cherokee (1) woman, was widowed in 1862. Below is W. P. (Perry) Gentry's (Rachel Gentry Holmes's father) last letter home.
He was part of a muster call June 8, 1961 in Johnson County. Texas and served in the Rock Creek Guards under Captain Shannon.
   She later married G.W. McKinney, November 27, 1873 in Johnson County.
The McKinneys were local politicians in Johnson County and it could be that this has something to do with the story about the sheriff resigning before he had to hang his son for cattle rustling.
   Miriah later moved to New Mexico and died there in 1909. She is buried in Clovis, NM.
Louisana, Codow Parish
May 18, 1862
   Dear and much respected wife and children,
It is a great pleasure to me to think that I am permitted by the kind hand of providence to spend a few moments on trying to write to you a few lines to inform you how I am.   I am not well at this time though I am in better health than I have been and I do hope and trust to God Almighty that these few lines will find you and the children in good health. We are camped with in four miles of Shreveport. We will cross the Red River tommorrow. We have changed our route to Little Rock again. There has been another great battle in Virgina in which the Federals lost in killed and wounded 40 thousand.
I am so weak and nervous that I can not write to do any good.
Pay my respects to L.T. Stewart and family and Mr. Whittsitt and Family and tell them I will write to them when I get able to write.
   Now Martha, you and Jessie must mind your mother and be kind to your little brothers and sisters.
   Miriah may God bless you and the labor of your hands and may He prosper you in all your undertakings and may He guide and protect you and your little children through life is my prayer.
   So, no more for at present but I remain your affectionate husband and father until death.

W. P. Gentry to

Miriah Gentry
Martha Gentry
Jessie Gentry
Rachel Gentry
Doris Gentry
God bless the little children.
Texas Confederate Indigent Families Index Look for Gentry, W P | Johnson
(1)  Cherokees were some of the first settlers in Texas . From the Passionate Nation -The epic history of Texas by James L. Haley. Year  1825  page 91 "Cherokees being pushed out of their old homes in Tennessee and the Carolinas and were settling in the area north of Nacogdoches."